Friday, October 4, 2002, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 3:00 am (IST)

Nine militants shot
Captain, DSP die in encounters
Jammu, October 3
Two militants involved in Hiranagar Morh bus killings on October 1 were shot today after a 60-hour operation. Meanwhile, seven militants and an Army Captain were killed in a fierce gunbattle in Balakot area of Mendhar, Poonch district, in the wee hours of today.
In video (28k, 56k)

Ministers shy away from workplace Two militants and a policeman die in Kashmir in the latest violence to mar elections that India hopes will endorse its rule in the valley.  (28k, 56k) A member of the BSF reacts during a ceremony for his colleagues killed in a landmine explosion, at security camp in Humhama, in the troubled Kashmir region on Thursday. — Reuters photo

President’s rule likely in Gujarat
New Delhi, October 3
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is considering the option of imposing President’s rule in Gujarat. While Mr Vajpayee favours such an option, it is understood that a few of his ministerial colleagues from the allies have also put pressure on him to bring Gujarat under Central rule.

Maya wrests higher probe for her men
New Delhi, October 3
Railway Minister Nitish Kumar, conceding the demand of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, today ordered a high-level inquiry into the stampede at Charbagh railway station in Lucknow in which several BSP rallyists were killed on September 28. In video (28k, 56k)

  "Rafiganj incident was sabotage"

Plane drops objects in Bengal pond
Kolkata, October 
Reviving memories of the 1995 Purulia armsdrop incident, an unidentified aircraft today intruded into Indian airspace in West Bengal’s North Dinajpur district from the direction of Bangladesh and reportedly dropped two objects resembling sacks.

Selloff: test for PM tomorrow
New Delhi, October 3
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is likely to assert his authority for the second time this week, on October 5, when he presides over the full Planning Commission meeting which is to clear the Tenth Five Year Plan, aiming to raise a whopping Rs 80,000 crore through disinvestment over which there are dissensions in the Cabinet.

  Editorial: Questions over disinvestment
  Business page: BJP plays down RSS chief’s remarks on selloff

Salman has no licence?
Mumbai, October 3
Providing a new twist to the Salman Khan driving case, the Mumbai police said today that the star probably did not have a driving licence at all although he had claimed to own one at the time of his arrest on September 28 after he allegedly rammed into a bakery shop killing one person and injuring four.