2,000 feared dead in quake
70 pc of buildings collapse in Indonesian town
Banda Aceh (Indonesia), March 29
A powerful 8.7 magnitude earthquake hammered Indonesia’s west coast, collapsing homes and burying sleeping residents inside and sparking panic across Indian Ocean countries still traumatized by the tsunami disaster three months ago. Death toll estimates varied widely, from about 200 to 2,000.
In video: Thousands of Sri Lankans evacuate homes. (28k, 56k)

Graphic: Indonesia's earthquake zone Opinions page: Why the quakes A view of buildings damaged by an earthquake in the capital city of Nias island, Gunungsitoli, in North Sumatra, on Tuesday — AFP photo

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Captain bows
Withdraws cess on diesel, petrol
Chandigarh, March 29
Bowing to pressure from both within the ruling party and the Opposition, the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, today announced the withdrawal of the proposed cess on diesel and petrol.

Punjab page: Punjab passes VAT Bill with concessions
Beopar Mandal calls for strike against VAT

Cabinet extends Vat in UTs through ordinances
New Delhi, March 29
The Union Cabinet today decided to promulgate ordinances for implementing the proposed Value Added Tax regime in the Union Territories.

Don’t take us for granted, CPI tells UPA govt
Chandigarh, March 29
The Communist Party of India today called for unity amongst all Communist parties that could act as a platform to jointly fight against the Congress and the BJP, clearly indicating that the political equations were undergoing changes in the country.

Punjab page: CPI gives call for ouster of Amarinder government

CPI General Secretary A.B. Bardhan shares a joke with foreign delegates at the mass rally organised on the eve of the 19th party congress in Chandigarh on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Pardeep Tewari

SC order on illegal mining in Haryana
New Delhi, March 29
Not satisfied with the cosmetic punitive action against people booked by the Haryana Government for illegal mining in eco-fragile Aravalli hill region of Gurgaon district, the Supreme Court, in yet another order, today directed the state authorities to put an immediate end to the menace.

Haryana page: Stone crushers violate pollution control norms

Bureaucracy set for major makeover: Cabinet Secy
New Delhi, March 29
Indian bureaucracy is readying for a “major makeover” that will include younger officers, a more performance-oriented regime and e-governance, says Cabinet Secretary B.K. Chaturvedi.

Cross-examine NHRC chief, says Zaheera
New Delhi, March 29
Gujarat riots much debated Best Bakery case key witness Zahira Sheikh in her fresh affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, has tried to give a new twist to the case by seeking cross examination of National Human Rights Commission Chairman, Mr Justice A S Anand.

How the FBI allowed Osama’s kin to flee US after 9/11 The Federal Bureau of Investigation actively assisted wealthy Saudis, including relatives of Osama bin Laden, to flee the USA soon after the September 11, 2001, attacks. The Saudis feared for their well-being following reports that 15 of the 19 hijackers that flew planes into the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon on the outskirts of Washington, and a field in Pennsylvania, were Saudi nationals.