tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Monday, February 15, 1999
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ATCOs’ threat
NEW DELHI, Feb 14 (PTI) — With the Airports Authority of India (AAI) deciding to crackdown on air traffic control officers (ATCOs) whose "go-slow" has been delaying flights for over two weeks now, the agitating ATCOs today threatened they would "react" in case of any victimisation. However, leaders of the ATC Guild, spearheading the protest action, refused to divulge what form of agitation they would undertake in case the AAI decided to victimise any of them.

30 killed in bus mishap
BEIJING, Feb 14 (AP) — At least 30 persons were killed and 14 injured when a gas-powered public bus plunged over a 3-metre drop and exploded in the south-western Chinese city of Chongqing, on Friday, an official newspaper said. The explosion also injured many persons in a minibus that was behind the bus, the Yangcheng Evening News said yesterday.

Landmines unearthed
HYDERABAD, Feb 14 (UNI) — A large quantity of landmines planted by Naxalites of the People’s War Group has been unearthed by the police near a well on the outskirts of Lingampalli village in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh. The police here said the landmines, unearthed yesterday, were planted to target the special police party, which used to take rest there during combing operations. The mines, planted at least three months ago, were tucked away in seven buckets each weighing 5 kg. A former Naxalite, N. Yadagiri, his associates T. Ramesh and G. Kumaraswamy were arrested, the police said.

New insurgent group
AIZAWL, Feb 14 (PTI) — A new Hmar insurgent group called the Mizoram Accord Implementation Demand Action or Mizoram Accord Implementation Demand Force (MAIDA/MAIDF) has emerged in Mizoram. It was formed in April 1998, by a small group of the erstwhile Hmar People’s Convention (HPC) which came overground after the Mizoram peace accord was signed in 1994, intelligence reports said. While some of the outfit’s members belonged to Mizoram, majority of them were from neighbouring Manipur, the reports said.

Contempt proceedings
NEW DELHI, Feb 14 (UNI) — The Delhi High Court on Friday dropped contempt proceedings filed by recently promoted Air Marshal P.K. Ghosh against former Defence Secretary Ajit Kumar, and two senior ministry officials after they personally appeared before the court and tendered their unconditional and unqualified apology. A Division Bench comprising Mr Justice Anil Dev Singh and Mr Justice A.K. Srivastava took note of the affidavits filed by Mr Ajit Kumar, presently Secretary, Industrial Policy and Promotion, Mr J.K. Dadoo, former Director (AIR), and Mr Shyam Kapoor, UNFER Secretary (AIR).

Pak lawmaker held
ISLAMABAD, Feb 14 (AFP) — A provincial lawmaker from Pakistan’s ruling party has been arrested for allegedly harbouring terrorists, reports said today. Shahnawaz Ranjha, member of the Assembly in the country’s largest province of Punjab, was taken into custody yesterday at his home town of Sargodha, the Nation Daily said. Ranjha, who belongs to Pakistan Muslim League Party led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has also been charged with stealing electricity through illegal connections.

Vajpayee’s visit
ISLAMABAD, Feb 14 (PTI) — Hardliners in Pakistan have vowed to scuttle Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee’s planned visit to Lahore next week, the first-ever visit by an Indian Premier to the country in over a decade, saying it would harm the cause of Kashmir. "We will not allow Vajpayee to enter Pakistan... as his visit will harm the Kashmiri cause," Altaf Shakoor, central president of the Pasban, youth wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami, said at a protest meet in front of Parliament House on Friday.