APHC not to insist on passports SRINAGAR, Jan 20 — While blaming the Centre for derailing the peace process in Jammu and Kashmir, the Hurriyat Conference has decided “not to persist” in its demand for issuance of passports to its five-member team constituted for a visit to Pakistan. Home Ministry to decide on APHC visit

Abdul Gani Lone (left), leader of the All-Party Hurriyat Conference, arrives for a meeting at the party headquarters in Srinagar on Saturday. — Reuters photo

Truce forces 450 families to flee
JAMMU, Jan 20 — More than 450 families comprising nearly 3,000 men, women and children have been living under tattered tarpauline tents on the Tawi river bed for the past one month with potable water or sufficient foodgrains and electricity.

CBI quizzes S.P. Hinduja
NEW DELHI, Jan 20 — For the first time in the politically sensitive Bofors case pay-off case, the Hinduja brothers, one of the main accused, were interrogated by the CBI here today.

• Nation page: 'Hindujas’ questioning vital'

Bush sworn in President
WASHINGTON, Jan 20 — George Walker Bush strode up the imposing Capitol Hill this afternoon to become the 43rd President of the USA.

Mr George W. Bush (left) is sworn in as the 43rd President of the USA in Washington on Saturday. 
— Reuters photo

Rumour leads to tension in Ludhiana
LUDHIANA, Jan 20 — A curfew-like situation prevailed in the city, particularly in the old interior areas, following a rumour that another shootout had taken place near CMC hospital causing the death of a man late in the evening.

Dhanaula joins SHSAD
THIKRIWALA (Barnala), Jan 20 — Mr Gurinder Pal Singh Dhanaula, a loyalist of Mr Surjit Singh Barnala, Governor of Uttaranchal, and senior vice-president of the dissolved youth wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal, along with his supporters, today left SAD for the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal.

10 killed in road accidents
HISAR, Jan, 20 — Four school students were killed and nine injured when a Matador carrying them collided with a truck on the Tohana road at Barwala, about 30 km from here, today.

Cyber law needed to meet IT challenge
CHANDIGARH, Jan 20 — The Chief Justice of India, Dr A.S. Anand, said here today that activities in cyberspace had influenced almost all branches of laws, like commercial law, banking law, intellectual property law and law of evidence. 

HUDA officers to be just a call away soon Department to go hi-tech GURGAON, Jan 20 — Following the virtual globalisation of Gurgaon, the local office of the Haryana Urban Development Authority is contemplating to go high-tech. This should come as a happy tiding for the HUDA plot holders staying across the world.