Naxals strike on poll eve
Phase-II polling today l 2,041 candidates
l 140 seats
New Delhi, April 22
In a grim reminder of the violence during the first phase of Lok Sabha polls, Naxalites today, on the eve of the second round of voting tomorrow, tried to unleash a wave of terror in the states they are active in by hijacking a train carrying nearly 700 passengers in Jharkhand's Latehar district, bombing a BDO's office and killing a driver after setting ablaze several trucks in Bihar.

Editorial: Maya-speak

HIJACKED, RELEASED: Relieved passengers of the train that was hijacked by Naxalites at Daltangunj railway station, Jharkhand, on Wednesday. The train was hijacked on the eve of the second phase of polling. — Reuters

Editor's Column Vital issues that politicians hate to take up By H.K. Dua There is plenty of heat and dust in the elections and desperate politicians are running wild in different directions, worried like school children on the eve of exams. Windbags among them are wantonly indulging in rhetoric, bluff and bluster and in many cases dirty tricks in a scramble for power. They are out in the field promising, as they always do once in five years, that now onwards they intend to serve the people.

Two top LTTE guns surrender
Two top LTTE leaders, Velayuthan Thayanithi alias Daya Master and group’s translator George, surrendered to the Sri Lanka Army yesterday as the military said it had secured more than half of the no fire zone, trapping the leadership of the LTTE. The two LTTE leaders had surrendered along with their family members in the Puthumathalan area on Wednesday.

Editorial: Saving Tamil refugees

Recovery of black money from foreign shores
Centre assures SC of details in 48 hours
New Delhi, April 22
The Centre today assured the Supreme Court that it would provide “within 48 hours” the details of the steps it had taken to bring back the black money stashed away in secret bank accounts oversees.

Sukh Ram gets bail in assets case
New Delhi, April 22
The Delhi High Court today granted interim bail to former Union Communications Minister Sukhram, who was sentenced to three years imprisonment in a disproportionate assets case by a lower court.

Tribals not to allow cops in Lalgarh; booths to be shifted
Midnapore (WB), April 22
With tribals being adamant that only the central forces could enter the Lalgarh area for the April 30 polls to Jhargram Lok Sabha seat, it was decided to move the polling booths five km away, subject to the consent of the Election Commission.

Dausa-Sawai Madhopur: Hotbed of caste politics
Dausa/Sawai Madhopur, April 22
With tribal leader Kirori Lal Meena contesting as an Independent from Dausa and Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla in the poll fray as Congress candidate from Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, the two neighbouring Lok Sabha seats are turning out to be hotbed of caste politics in Rajasthan.

India Votes Arjun’s token fight against daughter, son Madhya Pradesh’s most fascinating and intriguing Lok Sabha election is taking place in the Sidhi constituency in the Vindhyanchal region’s northeastern borders touching Uttar Pradesh. Here, it is the story of high passions, humiliation, honour and loyalty as well.