• Jawan killed in Kargil blast

Combing operation in Chamba
Pro-Pak cassettes seized; ultras seen
CHAMBA, Sept 23 — The security forces have intensified vigil along the Kehar area of Chamba, bordering militancy-infested Jammu and Kashmir, following seizure of “provocative” cassettes containing speeches of Pakistani Islamic preachers and reports of 45 militants in the area.

NDA for action in W. Bengal
SAD, INLD boycott meeting
NEW DELHI, Sept 23 — The NDA partners today authorised the Union Government to take “whatever steps it deems necessary” to cope with the law and order situation in West Bengal, which has seen Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu at loggerheads.

• SP threatens stir on WB issue

Farmers jam traffic; MP gheraoed
KOTKAPURA, Sept 23 — Traffic on all main roads of the town came to a halt today when paddy growers, activists of various farmers’ unions, labour unions and commission agents along with hundreds of sarpanches and panchayat members jammed traffic near the local grain market in protest against non-procurement of paddy by the agencies concerned.

Probe indicts SGPC secy
AMRITSAR, Sept 23 — In an unprecedented move a three-member inquiry committee today indicted Mr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, Secretary, SGPC, for making wrong payment of Rs 2 lakh in gross violation of rules and bylaws.


 

Girls bought for sham marriages TAORU (Gurgaon), Sept 23 — Girls from poor families from various parts of the country are bought for marriages in the Mewat areas of Haryana to be sold and resold after the nuptial knot. Middlemen and agents of dubious identities make brisk money by way of commission for acting as facilitators.