tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Wednesday, June 23, 1999
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10 killed in blast
NEW JALPAIGURI (West Bengal), June 22 (UNI) — At least 10 persons, two of them Kargil bound jawans, were killed and over 80 injured when a powerful bomb suspected to be planted by ISI agents exploded at a railway platform here today. Official sources said the two jawans belonging to the Gorkha Regiment were identified as Diram Bahadur Gurung and J.P. Thapa. In all, 16 Army jawans who were also heading for Kargil were injured. They were admitted to the Army Base Hospital at Bengdubi. The sources said a woman was among those killed. Of the remaining injured, 45 were admitted to North Bengal Medical College and 22 to Railway Hospital here. The condition of 25 injured was stated to be critical.
Pulses, onions
NEW DELHI, June 22 (PTI) — The government today decided to allow the import pulses and place onions under the Essential Commodities Act to keep its prices under check and prevent hoarding. The Cabinet Committee on Prices (CCP), which reviewed the prices and availability of essential commodities, decided to import pulses as it was a lean season for the crop, an official spokesperson told reporters after the meeting.

RS session
NEW DELHI, June 22 (PTI) — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today said the government had not taken any decision on convening a Rajya Sabha session to discuss the Kargil conflict. He was replying to a reporter's question at a function here to launch a new national agricultural insurance scheme. To another query, Mr Vajpayee said the President had not expressed any view on convening the session to the government.
Volcano erupts
MANILA, June 22 (DPA) — The famous Mayon volcano in the eastern Philippine province of Albay erupted today, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. "An explosion lasting 10 minutes was recorded at 4:58 p.m.", said July Sabit of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. A civil defence officer said an alert has been raised among residents at the foot of Mayon and teams have been deployed to keep a check on the area.
8 passengers killed
MUNGER (Bihar), June 22 (UNI) — At least eight persons were killed on the spot and three injured critically when a bus fell into a roadside ditch near Mirzachak village on the Munger-Kharagpur road, about 10 km from here, today. The Superintendent of Police said the accident occurred when the vehicle overturned after one of its tyres got punctured. The injured have been rushed to Patna Medical College Hospital. The bus was going to Kharagpur from Munger.
Maharashtra rocked
NEW DELHI, June 22 (PTI) — The Koyna region of Maharashtra was rocked by a mild tremor early today, the meteorology office here said. The quake, measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale, hit the region at 4.33 a.m. It was located at a latitude of 17.3° north and longitude of 73.7° east, an Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) press release said.
5 Tigers killed
COLOMBO, June 22 (PTI) —Three soldiers and five LTTE rebels were killed in separate incidents of fighting between army troops and guerrillas in northern Sri Lanka, army sources said here today. Three soldiers and one LTTE militant were killed in a rebel attack on troops at Pompaimadu in north-west Mannar district this morning.
Cong split group
SHILLONG, June 22 (UNI) — Meghalaya Assembly Speaker E.K. Mawlong today recognised the split in the state unit of the Congress on May 31. Giving his ruling on the issue at the summer session of the state Assembly, the Speaker said the new group, the Meghalaya Congress Legislature Party (MCLP), did not attract disqualification under para three of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution. Led by Mr Lotsing A. Sangma, the MCLP comprises eight other Congress rebel MLAs.
Neelam’s bail
JODHPUR, June 22 (PTI) —Bollywood actress Neelam Kothari, one of several film stars accused in the black buck poaching case, will seek fresh bail from a city court by appearing before it as the person who had furnished the bail bond for her has withdrawn the same. Judicial Magistrate Laxman Dutt Kiradu had issued fresh arrest warrant against Neelam yesterday after Rajesh, who had furnished a bail bond of Rs 50,000 for the actress in October last year, withdrew it.