PM’s package for Amritsar
Announces 70-cr grant for Galiara project
Amritsar, September 1
The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, today repaid his debt to his city by announcing a large package for its growth and development. The package includes the release of Rs 70-crore grant to beautify the surroundings of the Golden Temple under the two-decade-old Galiara project.

Siropa for Capt
Punjab page:
PM: construction of corridor to be taken up with Pak
Granthi carries holy book on head as rath wheel gives way
Dalai Lama hopeful about Tibetan cause
Ludhiana page: Parkash Utsav celebrated with fervour
Editorial: President’s gesture
Business page: Victorinox launches kirpan
( More stories on Punjab page)

Special feature: Sri Guru Granth Sahib - Quadricentenary Celebrations

PHOTO GALLERY I PHOTO GALLERY II

In video (28k, 56k) Devotees throng the Golden Temple for the 400th anniversary celebrations of the installation of Guru Granth Sahib in Amritsar on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by Karam Singh

Devotees crowded out
Amritsar, September 1
At the end of the day it was an out and out sarkari show. The wranglings between the religious sarkar of the SGPC and the political sarkar of Punjab never stopped, the cavalcades kept rushing past and the official seminars and orations were untiring.

Shoddy treatment to dignitaries
Parkash Utsav celebrations begin

Indian hostages released
To return on Friday
New Delhi, September 1
The three Indian hostages in Iraq were released after 42 days of their incarceration and brought from Baghdad to Kuwait by a special plane, barely a day after the brutal killing of 12 Nepali hostages in Iraq.

Finally, God heard us, say hostages’ kin

Editorial: Freedom at last   Seven captive truck drivers having dinner the night before their release in Baghdad. — Reuters photo

Violent protests against killing of Nepal hostages
Kathmandu, September 1
An indefinite curfew was imposed today in the Nepalese capital after thousands of people, protesting the killing of 12 Nepalese hostages in Iraq, set the country’s biggest mosque on fire, vandalised government offices and a former minister’s house and clashed with policemen.

Pak condemns killing In video (28k, 56k)

200 schoolchildren among 400 taken hostage in Russia
Moscow, September 1
Heavily armed Chechen suicide bombers today stormed a school in southern Russia and took more than 400 persons, including 200 children, hostage, demanding the withdrawal of federal forces from the strife-torn republic of Chechnya and the release of arrested colleagues from jails.

Scholar of Guru Granth Sahib ignored at celebrations Patiala, September 1 The only scholar who translated Guru Granth Sahib in Devnagri script alongwith its Hindi explanation has been ignored during the 400th anniversary of the installation of the Granth.