Murder of Constable
Mayawati sacks minister
Lucknow/Gorakhpur, June 8
Uttar Pradesh fisheries minister Jamuna Nishad was today sacked by Chief Minister Mayawati hours after he was charged with murder of a police constable during a violent clash involving his supporters in Maharajganj district. Mayawati also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident but ruled out the arrest of the tainted minister until the probe is completed.

Gujjar Stir
Preliminary talks likely today
Bayana/Jaipur, June 8
In the first glimmer of hope for an end to the 16-day-old agitation, Rajasthan government and the Gujjar leadership today agreed to hold preliminary talks in the community stronghold of Bayana in Bharatpur district tomorrow.

Heavy rains lash Mumbai
Motorists told to carry hammers for safety
Mumbai, June 8
Mumbai's motorists who drive through the flood-prone areas have been advised to carry adequate bottled water, a fire extinguisher and a small hammer in case they are left stranded following heavy rain. The advice from the disaster management cell of the state government comes while the city was left reeling after the very first monsoon showers this year.

3 CRPF jawans die in Naxal blast
Raipur, June 8
Three CRPF jawans were today killed when Naxals triggered a landmine blast near Dalli-Rajhara in Durg district of Chhattisgarh, the police said. The blast occurred when the jawans had gone to inspect the route before conveying explosives from Dalli-Rajhara to Mahamaya iron ore godown.

Loan Waiver
Small farmers remain at the margins
Chandigarh, June 8
Contrary to popular belief, the green revolution failed the small and marginal farmers of Punjab who could not gain from it and now the loan waiver may not benefit many of them as they have taken loans from non-institutional sources. A study of 200 suicide cases in Sangrur, Bathinda, Mansa and Ferozepur districts conducted by Gurpreet Singh, a scholar of Punjabi University, discloses the green revolution of the late 1970s did nothing for small and marginal farmers in Punjab who, experts say, are in the grip of a suicide wave.

Nadal destroys Federer
l Equals Bjorn Borg's feat of four consecutive titles at Roland Garros
l Shortest men’s final in terms of games played since 1977
Paris, June 8
Rafael Nadal produced a flawless exhibition of claycourt tennis to demolish world number one Roger Federer 6-1 6-3 6-0 on Sunday and win his fourth straight French Open title.
FOURTH BITE: Spain’s Rafael Nadal bites his trophy after beating Swiss Roger Federer during the final of French Open at Roland Garros in Paris on Sunday. Nadal won 6-1, 6-3, 6-0. The Spaniard became only the second man after Swedish great Bjorn Borg to win four successive titles in Paris since the tournament went international in 1925. — AFP
(Details on Sports page)