Justice R.S. Pathak passes away
New Delhi, November 18
Former Chief Justice of India and President of the Tribune Trust, Justice R.S Pathak passed away today following a brief illness at a hospital in South Delhi. He was 82. He is survived by his wife Asha Pathak and three sons — Vivek Pathak, Jai Pathak and Anand Pathak. The cremation will take place at noon tomorrow at the Lodhi Road crematorium.

Obituary: Justice Pathak, a gentleman judge Nation page: Badal, Hooda mourn legal luminary’s demise PM condoles death Editorial: Justice R. S. Pathak

US seeks release of political prisoners Quit as army chief, Musharraf told
Islamabad, November 18 In a strong message to Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, the USA has asked him to lift emergency and release all political prisoners, asserting that this alone would ensure a free and fair general elections due in January. Pak assemblies dissolved
US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte at a press conference in Islamabad on Sunday. — AFP photo

Karnataka Crisis
Trust Vote Today
BJP-JD(S) talks fail
Bangalore, November 18
A day ahead of the crucial trust vote, the fate of the week-old BJP government in Karnataka hangs in the balance as the talks between Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy over signing a 12-point “MoU” failed today.

Nandigram Killings
Main accused sent to police custody
Kolkata, November 18
The alleged Nandigram killer, Selim Naskar, who was arrested from a hideout at Canning in south 24-parganas on Friday night, was produced at the special court of the sub-divisional magistrate at Haldia today. The magistrate refused him bail and remanded him in police custody for further interrogation. Selim, a notorious killer, was allegedly hired by the CPM in its operation against the Bhumi Raksha Committee (BRC) at Nandigram.

BJP may rock Parliament

Rizwanur Case
It may be suicide: CBI
New Delhi, November 18
The mysterious death of Rizwanur Rehman in Kolkata may turn out to be a suicide case as the CBI is likely to charge a close relative of his wife, Priyanka, with abetment to it besides recommending departmental action against some Kolkata police officials. As the probe into the death of Rehman, a computer graphics teacher, was reaching its final stage, the CBI sources claimed that it looked like a case of suicide and someone had definitely forced him to take this extreme step.

Pranab, Dasmunsi meet Sonia
New Delhi, November 18
Stepping up pressure on the CPM on the Nandigram issue, a delegation of Congress leaders, including union ministers Pranab Mukherjee and Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, today met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and suggested a high-level team be sent to the area to assess the situation.

Six Air-India flights delayed
New Delhi, November 18
There was anger, frustration and helplessness among nearly a thousand passengers of five Air-India flights, which were delayed for hours at the Indira Gandhi International airport here due to technical problems. Another flight of the airlines from Dubai arrived at Kozhikode almost 24 hours behind its schedule due to fog.

Tribune Impact Patiala DC’s orders to be reviewed Allowing sale of shamlat land Mohali, November 18 The Punjab government has decided to review a series of orders passed by D.S. Grewal deputy commissioner, Patiala when he was joint development commissioner (rural development). Grewal had, during his tenure passed more than 50 orders allowing division and subsequent sale of ‘shamlat’ (common land).