Village crosses over to PoK
Army blames it on ISI
JAMMU, June 26 — Over 280 persons, most of them Bakerwals (nomads), migrated to Pakistan-occupied- Kashmir (PoK) from the Mendhar area of Poonch sector last night, a senior defence official said here today.

PM’s assurance to Pope
Attacks on Christians to be firmly dealt with
ROME, June 26 — As anticipated, Pope John Paul II raised the issue of attacks on Christians when Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee called on him at the Vatican today.

Pope John Paul II looks at the gift received from Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at the end of their private audience in the Vatican on Monday. — photo by Reuters

‘Chawla gave money to Cronje’
CAPE TOWN, June 26 — Johannesburg sweet shop owner Hameed Cassim ‘Banjo’ today said he had arranged a meeting between bookmaker Sanjay Chawla and sacked South African cricket captain Hansie Cronje in a hotel in Durban during a one-day match between South Africa and Zimbabwe early this year.

Punjab okays power tariff hike
CHANDIGARH, June 26 — The Punjab Government today approved the increase in power tariff ranging from eight per cent to 14 per cent various categories of consumers, including domestic and Industrial. 

A farmer shows the level of water at the tail of a  tributary which brings canal water to the Jhanduka village near Rampura Phul. Debt-ridden farmers cry for help HARKISANPURA (Bathinda), June 26 — Pale looks, weary smiles and creased faces in this village reflect woes of debt-ridden farmers.