L A T E S T      N E W S

PM to leave for Maldives tomorrow to attend SAARC Summit

Singh, who is accompanied by External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon and Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai, will head the India n delegation to the Summit on November 10 and 11 in Addu Islands in Maldives.

From there he will go to Male, the capital of Maldives, on a bilateral visit.

But all eyes will be on the meeting between Singh and Gilani that is likely to be on November 11 when bilateral relations will come up for a review close on the heels of Pakistan's decision to give Most Favoured Nation status to India.

There has been some sort of flip-flop on the part of Pakistan in explaining the decision, a clarity on the issue may come after the meeting.— PTI

Three policemen injured in Maoist attack

Latehar (Jharkhand), November 8
Three policemen were injured when Maoists attacked their make-shift camp at Cone village in Latehar district in the wee hours today.

The ultras attacked the camp of the securitymen well past midnight triggering an encounter which continued till 4 am, Superintendent of Police D B Sharma told reporters here.

Three policemen suffered injuries in the attack, while some Maoists were believed to have suffered bullet wounds in the encounter, he said.

More than thousand bullets were traded between the two sides, he said. —PTI

West Indies all out 180, India to chase 276 

New Delhi, Nov 8 
West Indies were all out for 180 in their second innings, setting India a target of 276, on the third day of the first cricket Test here today.

Brief Scores: India: 209 all out.

West Indies: 304 and 180 all out in 57.3 overs (Shivnarine Chanderpaul 47, Darren Sammy 42, R Ashwin 6/47). - PTI

16 killed in Haridwar stampede

Haridwar, November 8
At least 16 people, mostly women, were killed and several others injured in a stampede during a religious ceremony attended by tens of thousands of devotees near Har Ki Pauri here today.

The stampede occurred when the people tried to enter the yajnashala at Chandidweep Ghat on the banks of Ganga for the centenary celebrations of acharya Pt Shriram Sharma, the founder of Shatikunj Ashram.

SDM Haridwar Harbir Singh said 16 people were killed in the stampede.

"It appears that suffocation in the area led to the stampede but exact cause will only come out after an inquiry," he said.

As the stampede broke out, the people ran helter-skelter with women and children falling on the ground.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal was also holding 'yajna' at the ashram when the stampede broke out.

Police sources said nearly two lakh people from home and abroad had gathered for the ceremony, which is considered to be biggest after the Kumbh mela.

Police officials blamed the Shantikunj Ashram authorities for not involving the police and district administration in the management of the ceremony where lakhs of people had gathered during the past few days. — PTI

HC grants bail to Yeddyurappa

Bangalore, November 8
Former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa was today granted conditional bail by the High Court in a land scam case, paving the way for his release from jail.

Justice B V Pinto allowed the bail application of Yeddyurappa, who was arrested on October 15, on the condition that he furnishes a bond for Rs five lakh and does not attempt to tamper with evidence.

The bail granted to Yeddyurappa in the third private complaint for alleged irregularities in denotifying government lands favouring his family members, comes five days after he secured similar relief on the second complaint relating to similar charges.

The judge also enlarged on bail former Minister S N Krishnaiah Setty, one of the accused along with Yeddyurappa in the third private complaint filed in the Lokayukta court by advocates Sirajin Basha and K N Balaraj.

The Lokayukta Special Court had rejected the bail applications of Yeddyurappa and Setty on October 15 and sent them to judicial custody.

Pronouncing the orders on the pleas of Yeddyurappa and Setty, Justice Pinto observed that the lower court has not taken into consideration whether the documents submitted by the complainants were verified and subjected to scrutiny.

The complainant in his seven-page sworn statement recorded before the lower court has not averred that the documents furnished by him are "true". Under these circumstances, the documents should not have been taken into consideration, the judge observed.

"Therefore, there is no impediment in granting bail to the accused", Justice Pinto said while allowing the bail applications. — PTI