Thursday, August 30, 2007, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Govt strikes down POTA demand
New Delhi, August 29
The UPA government today rejected the Opposition’s demand for the revival of POTA but promised to have an open mind on having a federal investigating agency to deal with situations like Hyderabad blasts.

ARSON IN AGRA 50 hurt as mob goes berserk over accidental deaths; one killed in police firing Lucknow, August 29 Agra saw arson and violence for over six hours early this morning that left nine seriously another, 50 injured and property worth crores gutted. Principal secretary, home, J.N. Chamber, addressed two press conferences in Lucknow in quick succession. In video (56k)

Protesters go on the rampage after an early-morning road accident in which four persons were killed in Agra on Wednesday. — PTI

Stray incidents of violence in Haryana
Gohana remains peaceful
Chandigarh, August 29
Stray incidents of violence marked the partial bandh in Haryana today. The call for the bandh was given by the All-India Balmiki Mahasabha to protest against the killing of a Dalit youth in Gohana on August 27.

Ludhiana page: Dalits hold protests

Go public on halting N-deal, Left tells govt
New Delhi, August 29
Ahead of the possible UPA-Left meet on the Indo-US nuclear deal, the Left today asked the Manmohan Singh government to publically announce that they were going to pause the operationalisation of the 123 agreement.

Cong, BJP men clash outside Assembly
Shimla, August 29 The holding of parallel rallies by the ruling Congress and the BJP outside the Assembly today turned violent as party workers clashed forcing the police to use force to stop the situation from worsening. Former Chief Minister Shanta Kumar, who was among over 30 BJP workers injured in the lathi charge at Shimla on Wednesday. — Tribune photo by S. Chandan

Hyderabad blasts were meant to be far deadlier Chandigarh too a target; ISI hand unlikely
New Delhi, August 29 The August 25 twin Hyderabad blasts were meant to be far deadlier in scope and swathe than known so far. Sketch of suspect released The photo sketch of the alleged bomb attack suspect issued by the police in Hyderabad on Wednesday. — AFP photo

Taliban release 12 Korean hostages
Ghazni, August 29
Taliban insurgents freed 12 South Korean hostages in Afghanistan today, a day after reaching a deal with Korean and Indonesian negotiators on the release of 19 Christian volunteers held captive.

Nitish eyes Muslim votes
Bhagalpur riot-hit to get Rs 2,500 pension
Patna, August 29
As the ruling NDA in Bihar has completed 21 months in office since November, 2005, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his bete noire, Union railway minister Lalu Prasad are now seemingly vying with each other to command the strong muslim vote bank in the state.

Jet Deal
Antony promises total transparency
New Delhi, August 29
Union defence minister A.K. Antony has promised “total transparency” in the biggest global tender floated by the Indian Air Force for 126 combat jets and dismissed suggestions of a “secret deal” linking the IAF order to the Indo-US nuclear deal.

Depot Fire Rs 10-crore central relief for victims New Delhi, August 29 The centre has sanctioned Rs 10 crore for the victims of a devastating fire earlier this month in an ammunition depot in Jammu and Kashmir, according to an official announcement. Union defence minister A.K. Antony took the decision to release the money at a meeting of senior officials here last night.