Monday, May 20, 2002, Chandigarh, India
 Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Paramilitary forces on LoC, border under Army control
Army asked to repulse mortar attack
New Delhi, May 19
In a significant decision, the Vajpayee Government tonight placed paramilitary forces on the border and the Line of Control under the control of the Army and the Coast Guards under the direct command of the Navy.

• Situation ‘very dangerous’: Pak

• India invokes treaty with Russia
  

PM apprises Sonia of border situation
To hold meetings with other leaders
New Delhi, May 19
As part of the effort to take the Opposition into confidence on India’s offensive against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today held consultations with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and apprised her of the latest situation on the border in the wake of escalation in terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and also the diplomatic steps taken by the government against the hostile neighbour.

In video (28k, 56k) Congress President Sonia Gandhi with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at his residence in New Delhi on Sunday where they discussed the current security situation. — Tribune photo Mukesh Aggarwal

Ultras storm Army camp, kill 4
7 Pak troops killed in firing across LoC 
Jammu, May 19
In the second major attack in five days, militants stormed an Army camp in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir early today killing four security personnel while losing one of their men, official sources said.
In video (28k, 56k)

Wanted ultras not in Pak: Qazi
New Delhi, May 19
Calling for an impartial probe into Tuesday’s Kaluchak massacre, Pakistan High Commissioner Ashraf Jehangir Qazi today said none of the 20 terrorists whose extradition had been sought by New Delhi was in Pakistan.

• India to apprise USA of ties with Pak
• NGOs ask UN to probe Pak role in J-K crimes

• Pak suspended from Commonwealth

• World page: Tension: Pak may approach UN
• Benazir blames Musharraf for war-like situation
• Editorial: Depending on diplomacy

SAD leader, five others shot
Plot hatched by minister, allege kin
Bhikhiwind (Amritsar), May 19
Six persons, including a senior Akali leader Gurdial Singh who had lost the Assembly seat to Mr Gurchet Singh Bhullar (now a Cabinet minister) by a thin margin, were shot dead with automatic weapons in this border town while two sustained bullet injuries.

• Badal expresses shock over killings

One dies as farmers clash with police
Jind, May 19
A farmer was killed and 23 persons — six policemen and 17 farmers — were injured in brickbatting and firing at Nagura village in the district this afternoon, the police said. The police had to fire in the air after protesting farmers tried to break a police cordon and march to Kandela village for a protest rally of the Bhartiya Kisan Union.

Cong sweeps Punjab MC poll Chandigarh, May 19 The Congress swept to a comfortable victory in the Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala Municipal Corporation elections held today. Though the reintroduction of octroi on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court was expected to be a major issue in the municipal elections, it failed to reverse the trend in favour of the Congress which started with the Assembly elections in February this year. A policeman tries to defuse the tension between Congress and BJP supporters during the Municipal Corporation elections in Amritsar on Sunday. — Photo Rajiv Sharma