SP leader held for MLA’s murder
Maya demands CBI probe; supporters
take to streets
Lucknow, January 27
The Lucknow police today arrested Samajwadi Party leader Mohammad Ashraf, brother of SP MP Atiq Ahmed, in connection with the murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal in Allahabad on Tuesday.

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Mohd Ashraf, brother of Samajwadi Party MP Atiq Ahmed, who was arrested in Lucknow on Thursday in connection with the murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal in Allahabad on Tuesday. — PTI photo

Editorial page: Killing of MLAs
Election page: 6 ‘tainted’ MLAs in fray

Fear stalks Maharashtra village after temple stampede
More than two days after a stampede killed 258 persons at the Kalubai temple at Wai in Maharashtra, residents of the tiny Mandhardevi village are still unable to figure out why they were attacked and their businesses destroyed in the aftermath.

International status for Srinagar airport
New Delhi, January 27
In a major incentive to the state of Jammu and Kashmir the Union Cabinet today decided to give its approval to upgrade the Srinagar airport to an international level from the present domestic status.

Nanavati for reopening case against Sajjan
New Delhi, January 27
A commission of Inquiry, which probed the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the Capital, is understood to have recommended reinvestigation of cases against some Congress leaders, including Mr Sajjan Kumar, while not blaming the entire party or the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi for the incidents.

Report on ’84 riots on Jan 31

Akali MPs meet Kalam, seek probe against Sodhi
New Delhi, January 27
The Shiromani Akali Dal today sought President APJ Abdul Kalam’s intervention for registration of a case involving Punjab Chief Parliamentary Secretary Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi over alleged payments “received by him from a Pathankot-based businessman.”

Court rejects junior seer’s bail plea
Chennai, January 27
It was another bad day for the Kanchi Mutt as a local court dismissed the bail of junior seer Sri Vijayendra Saraswati while the Madras High Court stayed the suo motu notice issued by the National Human Rights Commission to the Tamil Nadu Government concerning violation of human rights.

Pupils abducted in Nepal Kathmandu, January 27 The Maoists have abducted 1,000 students and 45 school teachers from five schools in eastern Nepal, state media reported today. The abductions occurred in Dhupo and Matsyapokhari villages of Sankhuwasabha district in east Nepal last evening, state-run Radio Nepal said. — PTI