Tuesday, October 31, 2006, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Mattoo killer to be hanged
New Delhi, October 30
Applying the rarest of the rare principle in the murder case of Delhi University law student Priyadarshani Mattoo 10 years ago by senior faculty member Santosh Singh, now a practising lawyer, the Delhi High Court today awarded him the death sentence. It said there could be no other punishment for him than this on the face of the gravity of the crime committed.

Verdict in Mattoo case a ‘benchmark’: CBI
Editorial: Death for a killer
Delhi page: Award of death sentence by High Court hailed 

MSP for wheat raised to Rs 750
New Delhi, October 30
Forced to import wheat to fill the shortfall in the buffer stock, the UPA government today increased the rabi crop minimum support price it would pay to farmers for wheat to Rs 750 per quintal and Rs 1715 for mustard.

Punjab page: Centre criticised for low MSP to farmers
BKU welcomes hike in MSP
Haryana page: Decision on MSP a joke, says Sampat
Dy CM hails MSP hike

Farmers’ issues to get top priority: PM
Amarinder meets Manmohan
New Delhi, October 30
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today assured Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh that the plight of farmers would receive top priority from the Centre and asked the state government to submit its proposals at the earliest.

Agitating farmers lathicharged
Sriganganagar, October 30
Around 30 persons were injured, five of them seriously, when the police resorted to a lathicharge to quell agitating farmers in Rawatsar in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan today.

72-hour trade bandh in Delhi
New Delhi, October 30
Shops in all major markets here remained closed today as traders put up the shutters to protest against the resumption of the sealing drive here on Supreme Court orders.

In video (56k)

Policemen arrest a trader protesting against the MCD sealing drive, in New Delhi on Monday. — PTI photo

20-point programme relevant, says Sonia
Dharamsala, October 30
Congress president Sonia Gandhi here today stressed the need for revival of the 20-point programme launched by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as it was aimed at bettering the lot of the underprivileged and deprived sections of society.

UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi listens to Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh during the unveiling of the statute of late Rajeev Gandhi Memorial Ayurvedic College at Paprola, 50 km from Dharamsala.

In video (56k)

Himachal page:
Kangra not discriminated against: Sonia
Sonia disappointed people, says Dhumal
Sonia’s rally at Shahpur sets HP poll tone

Kumble, Zaheer back in one-day squad
R. P. Singh, Romesh Powar shown the door
Chandigarh, October 30
Reposing their faith in pacer Zaheer Khan and veteran spinner Anil Kumble, the BCCI Selection Committee recalled them in a 16-man Indian squad for the forthcoming five-match one-day series against South Africa. (Details on Sports page)

Sensex crosses 13k milestone Mumbai, October 30 Sensex today ended at an all-time high with the benchmark Bombay Stock Exchange index closing at 13,024. In the broader markets, Nifty was up 0.8 per cent or 30 points to close at 3,769.