PM tells SC not to get into policy formulation
n Says it’s not possible to give free grain to the poor
n Firmly rules out retirement, disconnect with Cong
n Hints at Cabinet reshuffle
New Delhi, September 6
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today told the Supreme Court not to get into “the realm of policy formulation”. In his first comments on the recent Supreme Court order directing the government to distribute foodgrains free to the poor rather than let them rot, Manmohan Singh said policy formulation should “remain the concern of the policy makers and the government of the day”.

Will Manmohan in his bold new avatar deliver?
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is not particularly known for his eloquence. Yet when he does speak extempore, as he did while interacting with editors of the country’s leading dailies (including The Tribune) and magazines on Monday morning, he demonstrated coherence, cogency and candour.

The Tribune Ladakh Relief Fund: An Appeal To Readers

Bihar polls from Oct 21
New Delhi, September 6
Bihar will have a six-phase poll from October 21 to November 20, the first major poll exercise that would test the mood of the people after the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.

Finally free, abducted cops come home
Patna, September 6
The week-long hostage crisis that had kept the entire state administration on its toes finally ended on Monday, with the Naxals freeing the remaining three police officials from their captivity in the morning.


SI Rupesh Sinha hugs his mother after release. — PTI

4 killed in Baramulla violence
Srinagar, September 6
After a week-long lull, violence erupted in Baramulla today, leaving four persons dead and 16 others injured when the security forces allegedly opened fire on a stone-throwing mob that had attacked Inspector General of Police SM Sahai’s convoy in the Pattan area. (Details on J&K page)

Akshardham attack
SC stays death penalty of 2 terrorists
New Delhi, September 6
The Supreme Court today stayed the death sentence of two terrorists in the daring attack on the Akshardham Temple in Ahmedabad in which 33 persons were killed in 2002. Four death row convicts had alleged that tainted IPS officer D Vanzara, arrested in connection with the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case, had implicated them in the attack.