Saturday, February 19, 2011, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 2:30 am (IST)

Lt General gets 3-yr RI in ration scam
SK Sahni guilty on 6 charges of professional misconduct
Chandigarh, February 18
The General Court Martial (GCM) trying Lt Gen SK Sahni, former Director General, Supplies and Transport, for irregularities in the procurement of dry rations today cashiered him from service and sentenced him to three years rigorous imprisonment.

Cashiered from service

2G Spectrum Scam
CBI raids DMK-owned Kalaignar TV channel
Chennai, February 18
A special team of the Central Bureau of Investigation today raided the office of Kalaignar TV, owned by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's family members, as part of its investigation into the 2G Spectrum scam.
Office of Kalaignar TV, promoted by the DMK, in Chennai, which was raided by the CBI on Thursday night as part of the investigation in the 2G Spectrum scam. — PTI

Balwa follows Raja to Tihar Jail
Editorial: Spectrum swindle
Nation page: 2G JPC is on; motion likely on February 22

Advani apologises to Sonia over black money charges
New Delhi, February 18
Acting chairman of BJP parliamentary party LK Advani has apologised to Congress president Sonia Gandhi for a party-appointed task force report which alleged that she and her late husband Rajiv Gandhi had stashed wealth in Swiss banks.  


Nation page: CBI moves SC against Advani, Joshi

Collector’s kidnapping 
Naxals extend deadline
Bhubaneswar, February 18
Responding to the appeal of the Orissa Government and others, suspected Maoist abductors of Malkangiri district collector RV Krishna today extended the deadline fixed by them for fulfilment of their demands. A senior member of Andhra-Orissa Border Zonal Committee (AOBZC) of Maoists informed a section of media here about their decision of extending the deadline. “Secretary of AOBZC Bhaskar has suggested to PLGA (People's Liberation Guerrilla Army) to extend the deadline as the state government has agreed to have talks on the just and democratic demands of the party,” Maoist ideologue VV Rao told PTI over phone.

Editorial: Abduction in Orissa

Cash-strapped Punjab can spend Rs 20 lakh a month on SMS publicity 
Ludhiana, February 18
Even as Punjab faces a severe financial crunch, the state government has started an SMS campaign glorifying the development projects. The cost of these text messages - which would be sent to around 2 crore cell phone users across the state - would be a whopping Rs 20 lakh a month. Starting with its campaign that would continue throughout the year, the first message highlighting the air connectivity of the state through international and domestic airports was received on mobiles today.

Lanka releases Indian fishermen
New Delhi, February 18
Under relentless pressure from India, Sri Lanka today released all 136 Indian fishermen it had apprehended for allegedly poaching in its waters. The release came following intense parleys between defence personnel of Sri Lanka and officials of the Indian High Commission in Colombo.

45 killed in Libya protests
Cairo/Tripoli, February 18
Libyan security forces were expecting violent demonstrations today, a day after an estimated 45 persons were killed in clashes across the country. Online postings by opposition groups called for demonstrations against the country's ruler of 41 years, Muammer Gaddafi, to start after Friday prayers.  (Details on World page)

SC seeks status report on complaint against former CJI
New Delhi, February 18
The Supreme Court today asked Attorney-General GE Vahanvati to find out the status of a complaint of corruption lodged against former Chief Justice of India (CJI) KG Balakrishnan, who is now Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). (Details on Nation page)