tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Thursday, July 22, 1999
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Curfew relaxed in Ahmedabad
AHMEDABAD, July 21 (UNI) — Curfew has been relaxed in the Dariapur and Kalupur areas of the walled city for two hours from 4 p.m. only for women and children to enable them to purchase essential commodities. At least 31 persons were arrested in connection with yesterday's violence and arson. Barring a stabbing incident in the Astodia locality of Ahmedabad today, no other fresh incident has been reported since last night. The situation was peaceful and under control. One person was killed and 18 others, including six policemen, were injured in yesterday's incidents.

26 Tigers killed
COLOMBO, July 21 (UNI) — At least 26 Tamil Tigers were killed in sporadic incidents of clash with the security forces in the embattled northern Sri Lanka, while one civilian was shot dead by the rebels during the past 24 hours, a military communique said. The rebels blew up one electric transformer, while in another incident a civil bus was set on fire in Wanni, the communique said. In Jaffna, terrorists fired mortars at troops manning defences. Troops retaliated with mortars and the terrorists had to flee.

4 killed in firing
IMPHAL, July 21 (UNI) — At least four persons, including a teenager, were killed and seven injured when Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans opened fire at a crowded bazar in Churachandpur town this morning. The police said the incident took place after an altercation broke out between the CRPF personnel and some youths. The injured included three women.

50 missing
MANAGUA, July 21 (AFP) — More than 50 persons were missing after a shipwreck off Nicaragua's Caribbean coast, army spokesman Captain Milton Sandoval has said. The boat was sailing from Sandy Bay to Prinzapolka in the Caribbean with up to 65 persons on board. Only six were rescued at sea, Captain Sandoval said yesterday. The authorities believed some 10 passengers may have swum to shore, he added.

Panchayat poll
AGARTALA, July 21 (UNI) — More than 80 per cent of the 1,43,129 electorate today exercised its franchise in the third and final phase of the three-tier panchayat elections in South and West Tripura districts' three blocks under heavy security. State Election Commissioner B B Senapati said here today no untoward incident was reported from anywhere. Elections were held to 756 gram panchayat seats, 39 panchayat samiti seats and 11 zila parishad seats.

Hostile witnesses
NEW DELHI, July 21 (UNI) — Three more witnesses today denied having given any statement to the CBI in the case relating to the alleged bribing of Opposition MPs to defeat the July 28, 1993, no-confidence motion against the then government headed by Mr P V Narasimha Rao. The witnesses were deposing before the trial court of Additional Sessions Judge Ajit Bharihoke.