Sunday, September 3, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Beigh quits as J&K Deputy CM

Says he is deeply hurt Srinagar, September 2 After four days of lull, senior PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Beigh today announced to resign from the post of the Deputy Chief Minister and the state Cabinet, accusing party leadership of “deeply hurting” his sentiments.              Muzaffar Hussain Beigh

3 Indian pilgrims shot in Iraq

New Delhi, September 2 Three Indian and 11 Pakistani pilgrims were shot dead by insurgents in Iraq yesterday while they were on their way to the Shiite holy city of Karbala, about 80 km from Baghdad, Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed said today.

Family members of Mohammed Ali, the Hyderabad resident who was killed in a terrorist attack near Karbala in Iraq, in a dejected mood in Hyderabad on Saturday. — PTI photo

India: The Tasks Ahead
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
125TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS,
INAUGURAL SESSION

Purchase of ‘outdated’ aircraft to be probed
Patna, September 2
The ruling NDA today decided to probe the alleged irregularities in the purchase of a second hand “outdated” aircraft during the President's rule last year at a cost of Rs. 13.5 crore. Mr Buta Singh then had been functioning as the Governor of Bihar.

6 of family buried in house collapse
Jammu, September 2
All six members of a family were buried under the debris of a house that collapsed due to heavy rain in the Bani area of Kathua district today. According to reports reaching here, the house in Fatehpur village belonged to Dharam Chand who was among the killed.

Top cops booked for wireless sets scam 
Chandigarh, September 2
In the multi-crore wireless set scam in the Punjab police, several IPS officers of the state police have been booked by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). An embezzlement of about Rs 5 crore in the purchase of wireless sets has been detected by the central agency during its investigations that focused on the purchases made during 2000 to 2003.

Paswan rules out truck with Lalu
Patna, September 2
The LJP chief, Mr Ram Vilas Paswan, today ruled out any possible rapprochement with the RJD supremo Lalu Prasad in near future. Mr Paswan`s remarks came in the backdrop of the recent overtures made by Mr Lalu Prasad, stating that he had no objection to fight the coming byelections to Bhagalpur and Nalanda Lok Sabha seats together with the LJP.

Report finds shortcomings in Uphaar
New Delhi, September 2
A sessions court today provided the parties concerned with reports on the inspection of Uphaar cinema complex in which 59 persons lost their lives on June 13, 1997 after a fire broke out during the screening of Hindi film “Border”.
(Details on Nation page)

Finally, a ray of hope for ’84 riot victim
HC notice on alleged illegal occupation of land
New Delhi, September 2
Twenty-two years after the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Nirmal Singh, who has been battling to get a first information report (FIR) registered against those who allegedly occupied his piece of land with political nexus, is finally seeing the end of the tunnel. (Details on Nation page)

Maulana not sure if it was Bugti’s body
Baluch leader’s kin demand DNA test
Quetta, September 2
Dramatic developments emerged again in Baluchistan on Saturday with Maulana Abdul Malook Bugti, the imam of the Dera Bugti mosque, saying that he was not sure whether the person for whom he had recited funeral prayers and buried was actually the slain Baloch leader Akbar Khan Bugti. (Details on World page)

World page
Pak corps commanders briefed on Baluchistan

Maiden series win for eves
London, September 2
The Indian women’s cricket team created history by winning their first ever Test series in England with a five-wicket victory in the second and final Test at Taunton yesterday. (Details on Sports page)