M A I N   N E W S

President’s nod to ordinance on terrorism

New Delhi, October 24
The ordinance to counter terrorism, considered to be tougher than TADA, today got the President’s nod, informed sources said here.

The approval came after it was “scrutinised in detail” by President K.R. Narayanan as strong reservations had been expressed by Opposition parties as well as human rights groups, the sources said.

After the Cabinet had approved the legislation on terrorism, Opposition parties had assailed the “bringing through backdoor” a law to combat terrorism in place of the scrapped TADA.

The ordinance casts a duty on persons knowingly in possession of information relating to offences under the ordinance. PTI

Abu Salem arrested in Sharjah

Mumbai, October 24
Gangster Abu Salem, a close lieutenant of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and one of the accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts, was arrested in Sharjah today, the Mumbai police said.

Salem was arrested on a red-corner notice of the Interpol.

The Maharashtra police was in touch with the Interpol for his extradition to the country, a top-ranking police official said. “The necessary formalities will be completed soon,” he said.

Salem was said to be running Dawood’s operations in the UAE. He is also an accused in the murder of audio-cassette king Gulshan Kumar. UNI

Shah Rukh, Salman called in Gulshan case

Mumbai, October 24
A Sessions Judge today summoned film stars Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Chunkey Pandey to appear before him on November 1 to tender evidence in the Gulshan Kumar murder case.

The summons were issued by Sessions Judge, M.L. Tahilyani who warned the actors to appear without fail. They had been summoned earlier to depose today, but could not make it due to professional commitments. Public prosecutor, Ujjwal Nikam made a statement, asserting that the trio would appear before the court on November 1, failing which coercive action would be taken against them.

The actors are expected to throw light on the conspiracy leading to the killing of Gulshan Kumar. PTI