Rs 1,500 crore package for Bhopal victims
Clean chit to Rajiv Gandhi
New Delhi, June 21
While recommending a Rs.1500 crore relief package for those affected by the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, the Group of Ministers (GOM) looking into all aspects of the industrial disaster today gave late Rajiv Gandhi a clean chit for his role in the release of Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson.

17 Indians may escape death
Punjabi society in Dubai to give blood money to Pak victim’s family
Chandigarh, June 21
Seventeen Punjabis facing the gallows in Sharjah on the charge of murdering a Pakistani national may escape the hangman’s noose with a Dubai-based Punjabi society finalising a deal with the victim’s family, which has agreed to accept blood money in exchange for forgiveness.

What is blood money?
Punjab page: 18 Indians face murder charge, 2 convicted

Honour Killings
SC notice to Punjab, Haryana
New Delhi, June 21
The Supreme Court today issued notice on a PIL seeking its directive to Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and five other states, besides the Centre, for taking firm steps to prevent honour killings of couples involved in inter-caste and same gotra marriages.

Centre joins efforts to revive Sukhna
Jairam Ramesh to come on July 9
Chandigarh, June 21
In an important development, following an exclusive series by The Tribune on ‘Saving Sukhna’ recently, the Centre has decided to intervene and contribute towards saving the dying beauty of the City Beautiful. Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh is scheduled to visit the lake on July 9, following which an action plan is an expected development.

Bandh in valley over youth’s death
Srinagar, June 21
At least 33 persons were injured today in fresh clashes between protesters and the police in different parts of the Kashmir valley where a bandh was observed in protest against the killing of a youth, Javed Ahmad Malla, in CRPF firing yesterday.

The Last Word
J. Craig Venter
The man who wants to play God
Maverick is a word often associated with J. Craig Venter. The scientist who last month claimed to have created ‘artificial life in the lab’ is a high school dropout but is possibly the richest scientist in the world.

Delhi Metro reaches Gurgaon Gurgaon, June 21 Metro rail service on the Gurgaon-Delhi route started without any formal inauguration ceremony today. The link connecting HUDA City Centre in Gurgaon with Qutub Minar (in Delhi) was thrown open to the public at 8 a.m. today. Metro on the Gurgaon- Qutub Minar link became functional on Monday. Tribune photo: Mukesh Aggarwal