tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Saturday, October 9, 1999
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15 Tigers killed in naval attack
VAVGUNIYA, Oct 8 (AP) — The Sri Lankan Navy destroyed two Tamil rebel boats off the northern coast, killing 15 insurgents, a rebel-run radio station said here today. The Voice of Tigers Radio, monitored from the northern town of Vavuniya, said a Sri Lankan naval patrol detected the boats at dawn yesterday as they approached the town of Talaimannar, 220 km north of capital, Colombo. The military confirmed the attack, but said it was unable to give casualty figures.

8 buried alive
FARRUKHABAD (UP), Oct 8 (PTI) — Eight members of a family, including six children, were buried alive when their house collapsed due to heavy rain in a village in Kaimganj tehsil of the district, the police said here today. An old woman of the deceased family, however, survived in the mishap, police said.

DTC fares may go up
NEW DELHI, Oct 8 (UNI) — A hike in the fares of Delhi Transport Corporation buses is likely with the DTC pleading that the recent increase in the price of diesel has put a further burden on it. Meanwhile, Delhi Food and Supplies Minister Yoganand Shastri today urged Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to reconsider the hike in the price of diesel as it was likely to have a cascading effect on the prices of essential commodities.

2 hostages rescued
AGARTALA, Oct 8 (UNI) — The police has rescued two of the 17 government officials kidnapped from Manu block office in Kanchanpur in North Tripura district on September 6. Acting on a tip-off security personnel launched a combing operation in the hill areas yesterday. After an hour-long gunbattle the ultras managed to escape leaving two officials behind.

5 killed in blasts
KHULNA (Bangladesh), Oct 8 (Reuters) — At least five persons were killed and 30 injured in two bomb explosions in a mosque in Bangladesh's southern town of Khulna today, the police said. The mosque was used exclusively by the Qadiani community, who do not believe that Mohammad was the last prophet of Islam.

Buses keep off road
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Oct 8 (UNI) — Private buses and other public transport vehicles today remained off the road in Kerala to protest against the hike in diesel prices. Reports from different parts of the state indicated that the dawn to dusk strike was near total. With a majority of employees of Kerala State Road Transport Corporation also joining the strike called by the Kerala State Private Bus Operators Federation, public transport system remained almost paralysed in the state.

Heroin seized
MUMBAI, Oct 8 (PTI) — The Narcotic Control Bureau seized 1.5 kg of heroin from a member of the South African Airway's cabin crew recently. Sleuths of the bureau intercepted Mahlangu Godfrey at the international airport while he was about to board the South African Airways. An examination of his suitcase revealed a false top and bottom where the drug had been concealed.

Dam water level up
CHENNAI, Oct 8 (PTI) — Water level in the Stanley reservoir at Mettur touched half way mark today touching about 60 feet following heavy inflows, official sources said here. Water level touched 59.77 feet at 8 a.m. this morning, with a storage of a little over 24.51 tmc ft.

9 die in mishap
JOHANNESBURG, Oct 8 (DPA) — Nine persons were killed and 20 injured when a truck smashed into a bus parked by the roadside early today near Bloemfontein in South Africa, a radio report said. The police said the bus had stopped at the roadside owing to engine trouble, when the accident happened. The driver of the truck was among the dead.