Thursday, May 16, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Badal sought UPSC berth for Sidhu
Chandigarh, May 15
Delivering a political punch to the former Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, today released two letters said to be written by Mr Badal to the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, requesting PPSC Chairman Ravinder Pal Singh Sidhu’s appointment as a member of the Union Public Service Commission. 

• Badal confesses

• Copy of letter

No freebies, no subsidies
Punjab promises investor-friendly industrial policy

Chandigarh, May 15 There will be neither any freebies nor unlimited subsidies as Punjab promises to make its new industrial policy “less regulatory, more facilitating and investor friendly” to encourage openness, fairness and transparency.
Punjab Chief Secretary Y.S. Ratra discusses a point with Chief Minister Amarinder Singh during a press conference in Chandigarh on Wednesday. — Tribune Photo Pankaj Sharma

We will retaliate: PM
New Delhi, May 15
Outraged over the terrorist attack near Jammu, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today promised “retaliation” against such incidents.
Video: (28k, 56k)

• Bush calls up Vajpayee

• Rocca apprehends war

Jammu bandh cripples life
Jammu May 15
Barring incidents of stone-pelting, the Jammu bandh, in protest against the massacre of over 32 persons at Kaluchak Army area yesterday, passed off peacefully today.

Culprits will not go unpunished: George
Jammu, May 15
Visibly upset over Tuesday’s carnage at the Kaluchak Army camp, the Defence Minister, Mr George Fernandes, said here today that “this sort of terror cannot go unpunished.”

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah makes a point during a conversation with Lt-Gen. V.G. Patnakar, GOC of 15 Corps, in the presence of Defence Minister George Fernandes at Srinagar’s Raj Bhavan on Wednesday.  — Tribune photo Amin War

Swami briefed by senior officers
Jammu, May 15
The Union Minister of State for Home, Mr I.D. Swami, suggested to senior functionaries of the Army, the BSF, the police, the CRPF the state and central intelligence agencies to coordinate efforts for containing the activities of militants aided by Pakistan.

Sonia visits site
Jammu, May 15
Escorted by the PCC president, Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad, the AICC President and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Ms Sonia Gandhi, today visited Kaluchak and Military hospital to convey her sympathies to the kin and the victims of the yesterday carnage. (28k, 56k)

ISI ferried killers to India
Jammu, May 15
The militants who attacked a Himachal Road Transport Corporation bus and an Army residential complex at Kaluchak yesterday entered the country through the confluence point of the Devat and Basantar rivers along the international border early last morning.

Pakistan post smashed,  five troops dead
13 ultras killed in valley; security camp attacked
Jammu, May 15
Eight Pakistani soldiers were killed when one of their posts, Kopra Post, was destroyed in retaliatory fire by Indian soldiers across the Poonch sector today.

Amend nomination forms, EC tells govt Move to keep corrupt, criminals out of politics New Delhi, May 15 In a significant move to educate voters and deter the corrupt and criminals from entering the poll fray, the Election Commission has urged the government to amend the nomination papers for candidates contesting parliamentary and state legislative elections to include their assets, educational and criminal background.