Ill-health reason for release?
While the reason behind Veerappan releasing only Mr. Govindaraju is not known, speculation is rife that it might have been his ill-health.

Central help if asked: Advani
The Union Home Minister, Mr. L.K. Advani, today said that the Centre would assist the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Governments to resolve the hostage crisis, involving Mr. Rajkumar, only if they insisted.

Oil prices won't trigger BoP crisis: Sinha
The Finance Minister, Mr. Yashwant Sinha, today said there would be no problem on the balance of payments front because of the rising international oil prices. He also disagreed with the recent rating of the economy by an international agency, saying it had been proved wrong in the past.

'Advani is BJP's choice if need be'
There is no doubt in the mind of the Bharatiya Janata Party that if the situation arises, the Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, will be its choice for the position of Prime Minister.

Vajpayee walks a bit
The Prime Minister, Mr. A. B. Vajpayee, today stepped out of his hospital room, and, using a walker, walked up and down a corridor for about 15 minutes.

Cyclonic storm off Machilipatnam
The deep depression over the west-central Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm and lay 500 km southeast off Machilipatnam this evening after moving down from Visakhapatnam side, while a wary State Government kept all the nine coastal districts on alert for the second day.

'Pak could use n-bomb'
Pakistan could use its nuclear bomb against India if its security is jeopardised, its military ruler, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, told CBS television programme yesterday.

Notice served on don
A notice has been served on Chhota Rajan to revoke his Indian passport, a close associate of the Mumbai underworld don told this correspondent from Bangkok today.