Armed men bomb Bihar jail, 4 criminals escape
Patna, February 13
Six armed men triggered bomb explosions and fired indiscriminately at the main entrance of Danapur jail near here facilitating the escape of four hardcore criminals during visitors time today. The chief warder and the warder of the jail, who were injured in the attack, and five constables have been suspended for negligence of duty, officials said.

Burail jailbreak: 9 suspects held in Jammu
Jammu, February 13
The Jammu and Kashmir border police has arrested nine persons suspected of being involved in the escape of three accused in the Beant Singh assassination case from Burail jail, official sources said here today.

SC refuses to discharge Magistrate
New Delhi, February 13
The Supreme Court today turned down the plea of Ahmedabad Magistrate to discharge him in the “President warrant scam” case as he was “innocent” and directed the CBI to continue its probe, while observing that media’s right to cover any event could not be curtailed.

HP to merge 50 pc DA with basic pay
Shimla, February 13
The Himachal Pradesh Government today decided to merge 50 per cent of dearness allowance (DA) with the basic pay with effect from April 1, 2004.

“Armies” of liquor barons harass hoteliers Jalandhar: Private armies of “goon looking youngsters,” hired by certain liquor barons have not only been “coercing” a large number of hoteliers, owners of marriage palaces and marriage parties to buy liquor from the liquor vend falling in their respective areas, but they were even allegedly putting up illegal “nakas” on state highways to search vehicles for liquor and were even conducting illegal “raids” on the hotels, marriage palaces and restaurants.