EC objects to creation of Haryana dist
Stops appointment of officers
New Delhi, December 18
The Election Commission today took strong objection to the creation of Satyamev Puram and appointment of the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police by the Haryana Government in view of the model code of conduct coming into force following the announcement of the poll schedule.

Haryana wants 100 companies of paramilitary forces
Haryana page: Chautala upset, wants later date for elections
Chautala seeks divine intervention
Sachin Pilot kickstarts Congress poll campaign
Parties get into poll mould

A decked-up vehicle with the photo of Guru Gobind Singh’s Sahibzadas and mother passes through Chandigarh on its way from Nadha Sahib to Chamkaur Sahib on Saturday. — Tribune photo by Manoj Mahajan

HP headmaster gets 7-year RI for raping handicapped minor
New Delhi, December 18
A primary school headmaster in Himachal Pradesh, supposed to be a guardian of children, was found guilty of raping a handicapped minor girl by the Supreme Court, which quashed the High Court order exonerating him.

Major accused of rape faces court martial
Srinagar, December 18
Major Raman alias Major Rehman Hussain, the accused in the alleged rape and molestation case in Badra Payeen village here on November 6, will be tried by a General Court Martial on December 20. The GCM proceedings will commence at Uri under Brig Syed Ata Hussain. The army claimed that the court martial proceedings will be transparent.

India not for status quo on Kashmir
New Delhi, December 18
As India and Pakistan brace themselves up for the crucial Foreign Secretary-level talks in Islamabad on December 27-28, there is a feeling in the diplomatic circles that New Delhi would be approaching these talks with an open mind and not with a hardened maximalist position.

World page: Pak sees change in India’s Kashmir policy
J&K page: Separatists’ peace suggestion has few buyers

Tripura ultras agree to lay down arms
New Delhi, December 18
The National Liberation Front of Tripura (Nayanbasi faction) has signed a Memorandum of Settlement with the Centre and Tripura Government to surrender arms and return to the mainstream, raising hopes of restoration of peace in the border state.

Boy’s killer to be hanged
Pune, December 18
A sessions court today sentenced to death a person for murdering a teenaged boy in February 2001, and awarded life imprisonment to a co-accused for his role in the crime.

Vijay Hazare dead
Vadodara, December 18
Former cricket captain Vijay Hazare, who led India to its first-ever Test win, died here today following a prolonged illness, family sources said. Hazare, 89, was suffering from intestinal cancer and breathed his last this afternoon at a private clinic where he was kept on life support system for the past two days, his son said. (Details on Sports page)

Another couple in gotra knot Bhiwani, December 18 The panchayat of Hadodi village under Badhra subdivision of this district has directed a couple to break up by December 20 following a gotra tussle. The Maan family, which is being targeted, has sought police security and decided to defy the panchayat decision in the matter.