States can’t withdraw POTA cases, says SC
New Delhi, December 18
The Supreme Court today said the state governments had no power to withdraw POTA cases against an accused without the consent of the Centre, giving a major jolt to the Uttar Pradesh Government’s efforts to withdraw the cases under the Act against controversial Independent MLA Raghuraj Pratap Singh, alias Raja Bhaiya.

Indian Army may help Bhutan
New Delhi, December 18
United Liberation Front of Assam cadres, who, along with the NDFB and the KLO militants are on the run in the dense forests of Bhutan may face further stern action with the possibility of the Indian Army contingent already based there joining hands with the Royal Bhutan Army to carry out the “cleaning up operations”.

Bhutan rejects ULFA ceasefire offer

Militant attacks DC’s office, 2 cops killed
Jammu, December 18
Two policemen were killed in an encounter with a terrorist who attacked the office complex of the Deputy Commissioner in Rajouri this morning. The terrorist was later gunned down by the security forces and an AK-47 and some ammunition was recovered. The deceased policemen have been identified as Shoukat Amin and Grewal Singh.

4 fall victim to foggy weather Chandigarh, December 18 The dense fog which engulfed most parts of Punjab and Haryana claimed four lives and disrupted rail and air traffic in North India, even as people got little respite from the intense chilly weather which has gripped the region for the past week. Four persons, including an NRI woman were killed when a jeep fell into a canal while crossing a narrow bridge near Kurukshetra in Haryana, apparently due to poor visibility.