M A I N   N E W S

UK poll put off till June 7

London, April 2
British Prime Minister Tony Blair today postponed the May 3 local elections for a month because of foot-and-mouth disease.

His decision also delayed a general election, which was expected to be held the same day.

Saying that “uncertainty cannot be allowed to continue,” Mr Blair said outside Downing Street that he had weighed all arguments and “I have decided that the national interest is best served by postponing the election until June 7.”

He said it would have been “quite wrong in my view to have an indefinite delay. A short postponement is one thing. An indefinite delay is quite another. Britain is still open for business.”

It underlined the gravity of the foot-and-mouth epidemic, which in its sixth week shows no signs of abating. AFP

12 killed as 2 trucks collide
Tribune News Service

Ambala, April 2
Twelve persons, including women were killed and about 25 persons were injured when a truck carrying them collided with another truck at Mullana, near the Markanda river bridge, early today.

The truck packed with about 50-55 persons was returning from a satsang in Beas and was headed towards Yamunanagar. The other truck carrying gravel was coming from Jagadhari. The drivers of both trucks were killed in the accident which took place at about 5.15 a.m.

The deceased have been identified as Sumitra, Bhagwant Kaur, Shakuntla, Bimla, Sunny, Laxmi, Usha, Rameshwar, Honey, Naresh, Lal Chand and Bhago Devi. While five bodies were taken to Mullana Hospital, five others were brought to cantonment Civil Hospital. One body was taken to the Ambala city Civil Hospital.

The injured who have been rushed to the PGI, Chandigarh, include Chaman Lal, Paramjeet, Chandravati, Prem Chand, Kapoor Chand, Ruchi, Rajesh Kumari, Usha, Kusum, Sukhdevi and Bhupinder Kaur.

Mani, a six-year-old boy, who was travelling in the truck along with his mother and brother, said another truck suddenly hit their truck. “There was a loud sound and later people began to cry,” he said. Mani who sustained injuries in the accident has been admitted to the Civil Hospital here. His brother, however, died.

The Superintendent of Police, Mr Sandeep Khirwar, said the accident took place when the truck carrying people returning from a religious function collided with another truck carrying gravel. Ambulances had been mobilised for taking the injured to the hospitals.

CHANDIGARH: The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr Om Prakash Chautala, has expressed deep shock over the death of 12 persons, in a head-on collision between two trucks near Mullana, 20 km from Ambala.

He has sent his sympathies to members of the bereaved families. He also wished a speedy recovery to the 20 persons injured in the accident.

Zaffarwal camping in city?
Prabhjot Singh
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 2
Is Wassan Singh Zaffarwal, chief of the Khalistan Commando Force (Zaffarwal), camping in the city ?

Sources reveal that Zaffarwal, former employee of the Dhariwal Woollen Mills, was present at the reception of the grandson of a senior Akali leader in the city tonight. Accompanied by a group of of his own security guards, including one carrying a kirpan, Zaffarwal, supporting a flowing greying beard, stood in a corner of the huge pandal set up for the reception ceremony.

There have been rumours that Zaffarwal, a proclaimed offender in several cases registered against him during the militancy days , may surrender before the police or the SAD-BJP government in the state. He is reportedly in Punjab for the past few days.

Wassan Singh Zaffarwal was member of the original Panthic committee that declared the formation of Khalistan on April 29, 1986. Later, he developed differences with Gurbachan Singh Manochahal and formed his own Panthic committee. Between 1989 and 1995 he mostly stayed in Pakistan before moving to Switzerland, where he reportedly runs his own business.

Zaffarwal, who is almost 2 m tall, did not speak to anyone at the reception and left the venue in a jeep. The police , however, denied having knowledge of his presence in the city.

Wasan Singh Zaffarwal is still wanted by the Punjab police in several cases.

Some influential Sikh leaders settled abroad and a Punjab Minister were reportedly trying to persuade him to surrender. During the recent Majitha assembly byelection, an appeal purportedly signed by him asking the electorate to support Mr Rajmohinder Singh, SAD nominee, had created a stir in the constituency.

Also present at the reception were Mr Didar Singh Bains, a US-based SAD leader, and Dr Rattan Singh Ajnala, Punjab Minister.