Srinagar siege ends
2 holed-up LeT fidayeen killed
Srinagar, January 7
Both militants holed up in a hotel in Lal Chowk were killed by security forces in a surgical operation today, bringing to an end the 22-hour long gunfight in the heart of the city.

Ultras were in touch with Pak handlers
Editorial : Message from Lal Chowk

Punjab hotel in flames during a gunbattle between holed-up militants and security forces in Srinagar on Thursday. Tribune photo: Amin War

Flight plans go awry as fog returns to Delhi
New Delhi, January 7
Thick fog enveloped the Capital on Thursday morning disrupting air and rail services and throwing normal life out of gear.

Some sun, but no let-up in cold

BJP wins power war 
Chandigarh, January 7
The Punjab BJP today won a major victory in its war of attrition with its SAD coalition partner on the power hike rollback issue with the latter assenting to a complete withdrawal of the hike as far as the domestic sector is concerned and a 50 per cent withdrawal for the commercial and industrial sectors.

Punjab page : BJP to take ‘victory’ to people
Punjab page : Power pangs for Manpreet

Will quit if charges proved: Sodhi
Chandigarh, January 7
Claiming himself to be a victim of innocence, Congress leader and Guru Harsahai MLA, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, says he will quit his Vidhan Sabha seat if any allegation against his character or integrity is proved.

Nation page : Cong seeks explanation from Sodhi

Ruchika Case
School found guilty
Chandigarh, January 7
Following a magisterial inquiry, the UT Administration today held Sacred Heart School, Sector 26, guilty of expelling Ruchika Girhotra in an arbitrary, harsh and mala fide manner under the apparent pressure from former DGP SPS Rathore.

SC stays Koli’s death sentence
New Delhi, January 7
The Supreme Court today stayed the death sentence of Surinder Koli, prime accused in Nithari serial killings, who argued co-accused Moninder Singh Pandher as owner of the house had “more responsibility for the actions of his servants” but was acquitted. A Bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan also sought UP government’s response to Koli’s petition challenging his conviction  and sentence.

Oz visa-seekers drop by half  Even as the Victorian Police has been quoted as backing the Indian government’s travel advisory issued to current and prospective Indian students to Australia to take safety precautions, figures released by Australia’s immigration department reveals a 46 per cent drop in Indian student applications from 20,557 to 11,183 for the period July to October 2009 compared to the corresponding period in 2008. Be discreet in choosing courses in Oz: Krishna