Indian cricket fans protest against former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin in Calcutta on Friday. The fans are outraged because former South African captain Hansie Cronje said on Thursday that Azharuddin had introduced him to a bookmaker. Azharuddin denied the allegation. — Reuters

Pak not cooperating: USA
WASHINGTON, June 16 — Pakistan continues to be under serious and constant review for being labelled as a state “not cooperating fully” against terrorism, a senior US official has said.

False cancer alarm for ear ailment
NAGPUR, June 16 — A plea for mercy-killing of a 10-year-old girl suspected to be suffering from cancer, which was turned down recently by the high court, proved to be a false alarm as the doctors attending upon her at a local hospital found that she was suffering from an ear ailment.

Kerala row over seats blows over
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, June 16 — Crisis in the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala over the sharing of Rajya Sabha seats was resolved today with the principal partner, the CPM, deciding to withdraw its candidate, Mr K. Chandran Pillai, in favour of the CPI and RSP nominees.

Gill: I-cards to be mandatory
CHENNAI, June 16 — The production of photo identity cards (PICs) by people for casting votes during the assembly poll in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and Pondicherry would be made mandatory, Chief Election Commissioner M.S.Gill said here today.

NC may advance Assembly poll
JAMMU, June 16 — The ruling National Conference leadership is said to be toying with the idea of holding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir a year ahead than scheduled in case the Centre refused to restore to the state greater autonomy which it enjoyed till 1952.

 

Dalit woman stripped: report AMRITSAR, June 16 — In its three-page fact-finding report, the Association For Democratic Rights (AFDR) has alleged that a poor Dalit woman was stripped by some influential persons of her own Gillwali village in full public view. The AFDR has indicted the police for framing a ‘weak case’ against the accused.