Cong loses Solapur, Ernakulam LS seats; blames local factors
New Delhi, September 29
The Congress today lost its strongholds of Solapur (Maharashtra) and Ernakulam (Kerala) in the bypoll to the two Lok Sabha seats even as the results to by-election in six Assembly seats in various states did not cause any major surprise.

Editorial: Ballot blinkers

15 Pak intruders killed in encounter
Srinagar, September 29
At least 15 armed infiltrators have been killed during a week-long encounter when the Army foiled a major infiltration bid in the Gurez sector of Baramula district. 

In video (28k, 56k)

J&K page: Envoys taken to LoC in Baramula Defence attaches from several countries arrive in the Gurez sector along the LoC in J&K on Monday. The Army had put on display huge quantity of arms and ammunition seized from 15 Pakistani infiltrators killed while trying to sneak into Indian territory.  — PTI photo

Joshi meets Vajpayee, discusses
court verdict
New Delhi September 29
Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, who resigned as Minister for Human Resource Development on September 19 after a Special Court in Rae Bareli decided to frame charges against him in the Babri mosque demolition case, met the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee, today for over an hour.

PGI Director faces probe
Ganguly to hold temporary charge
New Delhi, September 29
The PGI Institute body, at an extraordinary meeting here today decided to initiate minor penal proceedings against its Director, Professor S.K. Sharma, and entrusted the Director-General of the Indian Council for Medical Research, Professor N.K. Ganguly, with the additional charge of PGI Director for a short period.

Minor ‘bought’ bride located
Gurgaon, September 29
Tahira, alleged to be a minor who was sold off to 35-year-old Hassan in Malab village falling under Nuh police station (Mewat) by her parents, has been located.

Kalam for on-the-spot justice Chandigarh, September 29 The President, Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, today described judiciary as a prime pillar of the democratic set-up and said it should be able to administer natural justice with speed and nobility.  Kalam for documenting medicinal knowledge Chandigarh page: Dream big, think right, Kalam urges students Red-letter day for NIPER students President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam talks to Tunisian Ambassador Elyes Kasri during the International Legal Conference at Panjab University in Chandigarh on Monday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan