S P O T L I G H T

Pak’s offensive against ultras
Islamabad, August 4
Pakistan today gave a green signal to the law enforcement agencies for an “all-out offensive” against terrorists and terrorist groups. This was decided at an inter-provincial conference, which met here today under President Pervez Musharraf. Addressing the conference, President Musharraf declared that there should be no inhibition against the use of force and all resources to combat terrorism in all its forms. He directed the provinces to make use of the police force, the rangers and other para-military troops to track down the terrorist groups. “We owe it to this nation and we shall give them peace and security at every cost”, Gen Musharraf said and asked the law enforcement agencies to be firm and act without fear or favour. UNI

Bail plea of 15 cops dismissed
Thane, August 4
The anticipatory bail application filed by 15 police personnel from Navi Mumbai, fearing arrest in a case of custodial death of an accused, has been dismissed by a sessions court. The bail plea was dismissed by Thane Additional Sessions Judge P.V. Palnitkar recently. PTI

Remand for ultras
Kanpur, August 4
Two Hizbul militants, arrested by the police here yesterday, were today remanded in a 14-day judicial custody. The police said Waseef Haider and Mohammed Zubair were produced before Remand Magistrate Amar Pal in connection with nine cases under various Sections. UNI

Four shot dead
Kolkata, August 4
An armed gang shot dead four persons after dragging them out of a bus in a village of West Bengal’s Nadia district today, the police said. The gang intercepted the bus at Phakirchand village, identified the four passengers and forced them to alight before gunning them down, the sources said. PTI

3 villagers killed
Daltonganj (Jharkhand), August 4
Three villagers have been killed by the outlawed Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) activists in Kanda valley in Jharkhand’s Palamu district, the police said here today. Deputy Inspector General of Police (Palamu range) Pervej Hayat said heavily armed MCC men overpowered three villagers last night and slit their throats. PTI

Golden Quadrangle
Gandhinagar, August 4
The Golden Quadrangle Highway project linking the four metros of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai will be completed by 2003, Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways B.C. Khanduri has said. The entire 5953-km highway is expected to cost Rs 27,000 crore and will be completed a year ahead of schedule, General Khanduri said last night after the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the expansion work of the national highway near Shamlaji. He said in the second stage 400 km of north, south, east, west corridor between Srinagar and Kanyakumari and another 3,300 km between Assam and Porbandar were expected to be completed by 2007. UNI