NEW DELHI: Ravinder Kumar Pal alias Dara Singh, the main accused in the Graham Staines murder case in Orissa, has expressed his desire to surrender before the President or the Prime Minister. He said this in a letter faxed today to the television programme Aaj Ki Baat.

Reiterating his innocence, Dara Singh has said that it was a conspiracy to defame him. If he was offered protection, he was willing to surrender, he said.

Assam strife kills 7

GUWAHATI: At least seven police personnel were killed and ten critically injured when suspected Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) militants set off a powerful explosion at Dholabari village in Assam's Kamrup district last night, official sources said. The explosion occurred when the police party, travelling in two vehicles, was crossing a culvert.

Harshad charges

MUMBAI: A special court, hearing the multi-crore securities scam, today ordered an independent probe by CBI into allegations levelled by the big bull HarshadMehta that he had paid huge amounts of money in 1991 to then Congress treasurer Sitaram Kesri.

BCCI coffers swell

VADODARA: The coffers of the Board of Control for Cricket in India soared by 2,50,000 pounds sterling (approx Rs 1.71 crore) as guarantee money and 15 per cent share of the profit made by organisers of the World Cup.

Delhi police chief

NEW DELHI: In a surprise move, Delhi police commissioner Virendra Narain Singh was today replaced by Ajay Raj Sharma, a senior Indian police officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre.