Sweltering Heat
Relief on way, says Met office
New Delhi, June 27
The northwest region of the country can expect “substantial respite” from sweltering heat in the coming week. The Met office on Saturday predicted pre-monsoon showers in parts of northwest India, comprising Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttrakhand and Uttar Pradesh, by June-end and beginning of July.

Sarabjit gets new lawyer
To file fresh review petition
Amritsar/Islamabad, June 27
Indian death row prisoner Sarabjit Singh, who is languishing in a Pakistani jail for the last 18 years, has got a new lawyer, days after the Supreme Court in Islamabad dismissed his appeal against capital punishment.

Maoist stronghold captured
Ramgarh (WB), June 27
Security forces today captured key Maoist stronghold of Ramgarh as they launched a two-pronged attack to reclaim areas in West Midnapore district under control of Left-wing ultras who offered stiff resistance by detonating landmines and opening gunfire.

Gill denied visit to Lalgarh

Baitullah’s aides killed in attack
Islamabad, June 27
Pakistani warplanes today pounded the bases of Tehrik-e-Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud in restive Waziristan, killing at least 22 militants and wounding several others, while police shot dead five other radicals in the port city of Karachi.

Prez: Make judiciary transparent
Mumbai, June 27
President Pratibha Singh Patil on Saturday emphasised the need for reforms to make the judiciary transparent, effective and people-oriented.

Mamata Effect
CPM unlikely to head rly panel
New Delhi, June 27
Reverberations of the fierce political rivalry between the UPA’s key partner, the Trinamool Congress, and the CPM can be felt in Parliament even before the commencement of next week’s Budget session.

Tea vendor, an unlikely saviour Ludhiana, June 27 Before the murderous assault on him, the Tehsildar merely acknowledged the existence of the tea vendor. But since Friday (June 19) - when the vendor risked his life to save him - a strong bond has developed between Major Gurjinder Singh Benipal (Retd) and Bikram Singh. When everybody else was running for cover, it was the frail-looking tea vendor, Dana (R), who showed exemplary courage to save Tehsildar Major Gurjinder Singh Benipal (Retd) from armed miscreants.