Chief Election Commissioner M.S. Gill with Congress President Sonia Gandhi at the golden jubilee celebrations of the Election Commission in New Delhi on Wednesday. — PTI photo

Govt to decide who goes to Pak: Advani
NEW DELHI, Jan 17 — In a categorical statement, the Union Home Minister, Mr L.K. Advani, has made clear to the All-Party Hurriyat Conference that its condition of issuing passports to each one of its designated team members was out of the question and travel documents would only be given to those whom it considered “appropriate”.

Pak asks APHC to cancel tour
NEW DELHI, Jan 17 — With India firmly rejecting even the “notion of tripartite talks” involving Pakistan and the All-Party Hurriyat Conference, Islamabad has advised the Hurriyat leadership to officially cancel their proposed trip and adopt a low profile for a short while.

• J8K page: APHC may cancel Pak visit

• Musharraf hopeful of early talks

End hostilities or face war: Farooq
NEW DELHI, Jan 17 — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today strongly condemned the “gun culture” of the Pakistan-backed militant groups and warned that if they did not desist from their dastardly acts, India would have no option but to wage a war against the hostile neighbour to destroy “militant training camps” run by them.

Police stations attacked in valley

Airport attack: 3 officials held

A paramilitary trooper wipes her tears during the wreath laying ceremony of four dead colleagues at a garrison at Humhama on the outskirts of Srinagar on Wednesday. — Reuters photo

SC upholds HC verdict
Recruitment of cops in Haryana
CHANDIGARH, Jan 17 — The Supreme Court today upheld the decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in quashing the recruitment of 1,600-odd constables in the Haryana police made in July, 1995.

Agni-II test-fired
NEW DELHI, Jan 17 — India today successfully test-fired Agni-II, an intermediate range ballistic missile, from the Inner Wheel Island in the Bay of Bengal. Agni-II, having a range of over 2000 km, is the upgraded version of the missile. It was test-fired at 10.11 am during its final operational configuration.

A file photo of the Agni-II ballistic missile. 
— Reuters photo

Hindujas to appear in court on Jan 19
NEW DELHI, Jan 17— The Hinduja brothers, accused in the Rs 64 crore Bofors pay-offs case, will appear before the CBI special court on January 19 to give their clarification on the charge sheet.

Shiv Sainiks ‘demolish’ mosque
LUDHIANA, Jan 17 —An ancient mosque was allegedly demolished by activists of the Shiv Sena in Dhaliwal town of Gurdaspur district on January 14.

Severe drought in Himachal SHIMLA, Jan 17 — All 12 districts in Himachal Pradesh have been declared drought-hit and a loss of about Rs 300 crore to the current rabi crop and fruits has been assessed by the authorities.