Bhanu, Panchkula, Jan. 29: With a glint of pride in their eyes and armed with INSAS rifles, 209 women personnel on Friday joined the ranks of the ITBP to guard the Sino-Indian frontier, which Union home minister P. Chidamabaram termed as “one of the most difficult and challenging borders”.

New Delhi, Jan. 29: In fresh development after two ministries involved in a project for widening of a national highway through a national park in Madhya Pradesh resolved their differences, the Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that it would examine the implication of the decision to have an elevated corridor.

Colombo, Jan. 29: A Sri Lankan Special Task Force on Friday raided the office of ex-general Sarath Fonseka here amid confusion over his political future and concern for his safety. The STF said they were looking for Army deserters and weapons, Karu Jayasuriya, deputy leader of the United National Party, an ally in Gen. Fonseka’s failed presidential bid, told reporters at the premises during the raid. A lawyer representing Gen. Fonseka said the STF took 15 workers into custody.

New Delhi, Jan. 29: In accordance with the “advice” of defence minister A.K. Antony, Gen. Deepak Kapoor, the Army Chief, on Friday ordered disciplinary action, which could include a court martial, against the military secretary, Lt. Gen. Avdesh Prakash, in the Sukna land  case. Gen. Kapoor had earlier ordered “administrative action” against Lt. Gen. Prakash, which is considered “milder” than disciplinary action. The Army had earlier decided on disciplinary action against another top officer — Lt. Gen. P.K. Rath, former 33 Corps chief, in the same Sukna land case.

New Delhi, Jan. 29: The ministry of women and child development (WCD), headed by Ms Krishna Tirath, appears to have shown undue haste in putting the advertisement which carried the photograph of a former Pakistan Air Force Chief. So much so that it even bypassed the normal procedure of getting clearance from the Prime Minister’s Office, standard procedure which is meant to be followed by all ministries whenever an ad carrying the PM’s photograph is to be released.

Punjab governor Shivraj Patil pays obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Thursday. Mr Patil visited the Golden Temple, Durgiana Temple and Jallianwala Bagh and also met senior Congress leaders.     PHOTO: AFP

New Delhi, Jan. 28: The Samajwadi Party seems inclined to come closer to the Left parties. Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Thursday called upon all socialist parties, including the Left, to come together to fight against poverty, unemployment and price rise in the country.

Lucknow, Jan. 28: Rashtriya Lok Dal president, Choudhury Ajit Singh on Thursday said that former SP general secretary Amar Singh was welcome to join the Rashtriya Lok Dal. However, he added that Mr Singh’s inclusion into the party would only be on issues related to farmer welfare.

New Delhi, Jan. 28: Rattled by constant demands for his resignation from Rajya Sabha, Samajwadi party leader Amar Singh on Thursday said he was ready to relinquish his membership if the SP top leadership was willing to vacate Kannauj and Badaun parliamentary seats in Uttar Pradesh. Reacting to SP’s newly-appointed spokesperson Mohan Singh’s statement, he openly challenged the top brass, excluding party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, to an electoral face-off on these two seats claiming that he would win against whoever contests from SP.

PRAMOD KUMAR

New Delhi, Jan. 28: The Centre is likely to announce the setting up of a committee to examine the demand for a separate Telangana state next week. “We are almost at the end of concluding that exercise. If all goes well, we should have a committee by the end of this week. We will announce the committee by next week,” home minister P. Chidambaram said on Thursday even as he declined to reveal the names of members of the proposed committee.