Sunday, March 3, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

49 more burnt alive, toll 400
Tension erupts in Udaipur
Ahmedabad, March 2
The uneasy calm that prevailed in Gujarat’s commercial capital Ahmedabad was shattered by the killing of seven persons this evening, even as 49 persons were burnt alive in the communal violence in Mehsana, Vadodara and Godhra today, taking the official death toll to around 320. Unofficial estimates, however, have put the death figure around 400.

• British national killed in Gujarat

• Flag marches help check tempers

More photos Residents of Ahmedabad sit outside their damaged house in front of a burnt motor cycle on Saturday.  — Reuters photo

ISI hand in Godhra carnage
Report says 5 Pakistanis were spotted in mosque
New Delhi, March 2
The Gujarat government has in a report to the Centre said the ISI of Pakistan was involved in fomenting communal violence and five Pakistani nationals were spotted in a mosque in Godhra on the day of the macabre train incident on February 27.

A blot on nation’s image: PM
Appeals for calm and restraint
New Delhi, March 2
Terming the Gujarat carnage as a “blot’’ on the nation’s image putting everyone on trial, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today fervently appealed for calm and restraint in this hour of trial and voiced confidence that the current frenzy will be controlled and communal harmony restored in the state.
In video (28k, 56k)

VHP firm on temple plan
Calls emergency meeting today
New Delhi, March 2
Despite fervent appeal from Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad today declared its resolve to go ahead with its plan to shift carved pillars to the Ram Janmabhoomi site on March 15.

RSS chief rejects appeal on Ram temple
Bathinda, March 2
Taking a hard stance, RSS chief K. S. Sudarshan today rejected the appeal made by all political parties, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi to postpone the construction of Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya.

• Temple workshop gate locked

BJP defends govt steps to meet situation
New Delhi, March 2
Strongly defending the steps taken by the Narendra Modi Government to control communal violence in Gujarat, BJP president Jana Krishnamurthy asked the Opposition to strengthen hands of the government in this hour of crisis and desist from “fishing in troubled waters”.

C’wealth talks tough on terrorism
Coolum (Australia), March 2
Commonwealth leaders agreed at their summit today to expel any member state that aided, financed or harboured terrorists. 

• World page: Hand over Jaish chief: USA

Jaya back as CM
Chennai, March 2
It was a comeback in style for Ms J. Jayalalitha, who was sworn-in today as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, along with 26 other Cabinet Ministers. The Governor, Mr P.S. Ramamohan Rao, administered the oath of office and secrecy at an impressive ceremony.

Bank managers found guilty Pension scam in Amritsar district Amritsar, March 2 After the Rs 23 crore scam, a high-level probe conducted by the district administration has found many bank managers guilty of not releasing the amount to the beneficiaries for months together which added to the miseries of old people.