Tuesday, April 23, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Ahluwalia sacked as VC
N.S. Rattan takes over
Chandigarh, April 22
The Punjab Government has removed Dr J.S. Ahluwalia as Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala. In his place Mr N.S. Rattan, Principal Secretary, Higher Education, has been asked to officiate. This was announced by the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, at a press conference here today.

• Ahluwalia’s computer seized

• VC’s removal: why did govt dither for so long?

• Editorial: Sacked at last!

639 PPSC recruitments cancelled
Chandigarh, April 22
The Punjab Government has cancelled the process related to all 639 recruitments under way in the Punjab Public Service Commission and ordered a probe into 3,446 recruitments done by it with Mr Ravi Sidhu as Chairman.

• Sidhu’s agents seek anticipatory bail

• Court orders opening of 2 more lockers
• High Court stays lecturers’ appointment

In video (28k, 56k) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh addresses a Press conference in Chandigarh on Monday. To his left is Chief Secretary Y.S. Ratra and Inspector-General of Police Vigilance A.P. Pande. Tribune photo: Manoj Mahajan

Police opens fire, 3 killed
Ahmedabad, April 22
At least three persons were killed in police firing and nine others injured in Shahpur and Behrampura areas in fresh eruption of violence in the city this afternoon, forcing the authorities to impose indefinite curfew in Shahpur, the police said.
In video (28k, 56k)

            Lay off Gujarat, says MEA

Oppn stalls House proceedings
New Delhi, April 22
Gujarat issue continued to rock Parliament for the sixth consecutive day with a determined opposition returning with renewed vigour to force adjournment in both Houses within minutes of its assembling.
In video (28k, 56k)

No deputy to Mayawati: Kanshi
New Delhi, April 22
The Bahujan Samaj Party today gave indications of the hard bargaining it was carrying out with the BJP on the issue of government formation in UP by categorically stating that a Deputy Chief Minister would not be acceptable to it.

“Please-all” reshuffle by Sonia
New Delhi, April 22
In a “please-all” reshuffle in the All-India Congress Committee, Congress President Sonia Gandhi today appointed two political secretaries, filled up vacancies in the Congress Working Committee, reallocated work among general secretaries and changed some secretaries.

Bharti slashes ISD rates
New Delhi, April 22
International long distance telephony tariffs are set to fall significantly with Bharti Group announcing upto 50 per cent reduction in call charges.

50 villagers, animals trapped in inferno
Jammu, April 22
At least 50 villagers, including women and children, and scores of animals were trapped in a fire that broke out late last night in a wildlife park in Shivalik Hills, overlooking Jammu city, officials said today.

Principal’s hunting trip costs dear
Student hurt as gun goes off
Ropar, April 22
A class X student of Dashmesh Academy, Anandpur Sahib, Gurpreet Singh son of Mr Karnail Singh, was seriously injured on being accidentally hit by a bullet from a .12-bore gun.

TRIBUNE SPECIAL UK Indian funds Briton’s hunt Chandigarh/Dharamsala, April 22 Bill Kitchen (51), a primary schoolteacher and his wife, Angie, a nurse, who were forced to abandon search for their son, Joel, in the Himalayan foothills when their life savings ran out, are back at Bir in Dhauladhar with their hopes of finding him revived, thanks to Dr Kartar Lalvani, a millionaire from London, who offered to finance a new search.