Abu Bashir has confessed: Cops
Ahmedabad, August 19
Mufti Abu Bashir, the alleged mastermind of Ahmedabad blasts, has “confessed” to his involvement, Gujarat Police claimed today, adding top SIMI leader Safdar Nagori was allegedly a key conspirator and may be also involved in Jaipur and Hyderabad terror attacks.

Nation page: Centre seeks SIMI ban extension

SIMI SAGA PART-I
Masked ‘students’ echo Taliban
When “students” start wearing masks, it is time for the nation to be worried. Of late, members of the banned Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) have been operating wearing the “mask of terror”.

Pak hospital blast kills 23
Dera Ismail Khan (Pakistan), August 19
A bombing outside the emergency gate of a hospital crowded with Shiite Muslim mourners in Pakistan’s volatile northwest killed at least 23 people and wounded 15 on Tuesday, officials said. (Details on World page)

‘Jail Bharo’: Cops among 15 hurt in Jammu clash
Jammu, August 19
Even as thousands of people, including women, courted arrest here today as part of the three-day ‘jail bharo’ call given by the Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti, the situation turned tense when the protesters fought pitched battle with the police and damaged government vehicles.

Editorial: End agitations

Haryana ex-law officer Bansal still absconding
Chandigarh, August 19
Haryana’s former law officer Sanjeev Bansal continues to abscond. Three days have lapsed since the Chandigarh Police registered a corruption case against him after his clerk erroneously delivered cash at Justice Nirmaljit Kaur’s Sector 11 residence. Yet, the police has failed to lay its hands on him. (Details on Nation page)

Sports page: Germany’s Jan Frodeno wins triathlon gold Jan Frodeno (rights) sprinted away from a chasing trio in the final metres on Tuesday to win the gold medal in the Olympic men’s triathlon. Hurt Anju gets no marks Russia’s Silnov jumps highest

Substandard HIV Kits
HC refers case to larger Bench
New Delhi, August 19
The Delhi High Court today referred to a larger Bench the writ petition seeking a high level investigation into the supply of substandard and outdated HIV/AIDS medical kits by Monozyme India Limited.

Noida Firing
Oppn stages walkout in UP
Lucknow, August 19
While the Mayawati government today allowed a debate on the Noida firing, it rejected the combined opposition’s demand for an all-party probe and judicial inquiry by a sitting high court judge.

Mush may move to his farmhouse General Pervez Musharraf will get security he is entitled to as former President, adviser on interior Rehman Malik has said. World page: He may seek refuge in London: Report