Final decision on truce after review: Advani
NEW DELHI, Jan 18 — The Centre seems to be in a catch-22 situation on whether to extend the unilateral ceasefire in Kashmir beyond January 26 as on the one hand Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s bold step has won accolades from the international community on the other hand it has been forced to rethink due to escalation of attacks by Pakistan-backed militant groups.

Farooq expresses reservations
To stand by Centre’s decision on truce
NEW DELHI, Jan 18 — The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah, has expressed his reservations about the continuance of the peace initiative in view of the continuing violence in the state.

Akal Takht supreme, says RSS
AMRITSAR, Jan 18 — The Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, an offshoot of the RSS, has bowed before the authority of Akal Takht.

Talwandi to meet RSS chief 
NEW DELHI, Jan 18 — SGPC chief, Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi, is scheduled to meet RSS leaders here on February 7 under the aegis of the National Commission for Minorities (NCM), it is learnt.

Hindujas arrive to face trial
NEW DELHI, Jan 18 — The arclights would once again focus on the Bofors case tomorrow with the Hinduja brothers set to appear before the designated court, almost 16 years after the ink on the controversial gun deal with A.B. Bofors dried up.

Film financier and diamond merchant Bharat Shah (left) is accompanied by a policeman as he is brought to court in Mumbai on Thursday. — Reuters photo

Bharat Shah’s bail plea rejected MUMBAI, Jan 18 — In a dramatic development, film financier Bharat Shah, held on charge of alleged nexus with the underworld, today did not press for liberty following which the Mumbai High Court rejected his bail petition.

USA may lift sanctions against India
WASHINGTON, Jan 18 — The incoming Bush administration has given enough indications that it might review and lift the post-Pokhran sanctions imposed against India.

Notice to Centre on ’84 riots
NEW DELHI, Jan 18 —The Nanavati Commission of inquiry probing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots today issued notices to the Union Government, the Delhi Government and the Delhi police asking them to place before it within two weeks the complete records pertaining to the riots available with them.

Move on octroi faces rough weather
CHANDIGARH, Jan 18 — A move by the Punjab Government to scrap the privatisation of octroi collection in the state in a bid to satisfy certain votebanks in view of the approaching state assembly elections has run into rough weather.

Rival claims over mosque site LUDHIANA, Jan 18 — Divergent claims are being made over the demolished structure at Dhaliwal allegedly by activists of the Shiv Sena. While Sena activists claim that a cowshed existed there and no prayers had been offered for a long period, the Muslims maintain that there was an old mosque in a dilapidated condition.