tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Wednesday, June 30, 1999
weather today's calendar

"Back-channel" diplomacy
ISLAMABAD, June 29 (PTI) — Pakistan today confirmed the New Delhi visit by its former Foreign Secretary Niaz A. Naik in what was termed a "back-channel diplomacy" with India. The visit of Mr Naik to New Delhi last Saturday was "part of an informal dialogue process with India", the official APP news agency said, quoting government sources. The sources said a similar type of "back-channel diplomacy" had taken place between India and Pakistan way back in 1991.

Jessica Lal case
NEW DELHI, June 29 (UNI) — Metropolitan Magistrate V.K. Khanna today extended the judicial custody of Manu Sharma, the main accused in the Jessica Lal murder case by 14 days. Manu Sharma is in custody for the past two months. The other accused in the case — Vikas Yadav, Amit Jhingan, Amardeep Singh and three others — have already been granted bail.

Dara Singh
NEW DELHI, June 29 (UNI) — Ravinder Kumar Pal, alias Dara Singh, the main accused in the Graham Staines murder case in Orissa, has expressed his desire to surrender before the President or the Prime Minister. He has expressed this desire in a letter faxed today to the television programme, "Aaj ki Baat".

Violence marks N-E bandh
IMPHAL, June 29 (PTI) — Pelting of stones and blockade of vehicles were reported during the 48-hour North East bandh which paralysed normal life in Manipur for the second day today. The bandh, called by the North-East Students Coordinating Committee on Manipuri Identity (nesccomi) to press their demand for deletion of the word Manipuri from Bishnupriya Manipuri by the Assam and Tripura governments would end at 5 a.m. tomorrow.

RJD gets jolt
RANCH, June 29 (PTI) — The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) led by Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav received a jolt in Bihar with the resignation of its state General Secretary Baldeo Singh from the party and joining the Congress. Mr Singh had joined the Congress at the party office in front of all JRCC office-bearers yesterday, the president of the Jharkhand Regional Congress Committee (JRCC), Ms Sushila Kereketta, said here today.

Five killed
KATHMANDU, June 29 (DPA) — At least five persons were killed here during heavy rain which broke a 30-year rainfall record, reports said today. Weather officials said 99.4 millimetres fell on Sunday and yesterday, the biggest 24-hour downpour in June for 30 years. The police said at least five persons were killed when a house in the outskirts of Kathmandu collapsed on Monday as a result of the storm.

97 Tigers killed
COLOMBO, June 29 (Reuters) — Sri Lanka today said its army had killed 97 Tamil Tiger rebels and recovered their bodies in a fresh advance in the northwestern Mannar district. The Defence Ministry said in a statement 11 rebel bodies were recovered by troops who seized 61 square km (24 square miles) of territory and "a large quantity" of weapons from the guerrillas in the second phase of an offensive that began in May.

Houses ransacked
PUNE, June 29 (PTI) — An irate mob torched the household materials belonging to two relatives of suspected agents of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan in Bopodi here yesterday, the police today said. The houses of brothers of Rajesh Kamble and Abu Sheikh, who were arrested recently for their suspected links with the ISI, were ransacked by a mob who dragged out the household goods and set them afire, the police said.

IA flights
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, June 29 (PTI) — Indian Airlines (IA) will operate their flights with revised schedule with effect from July 1 from here. According to an IA press note, the daily Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram-Delhi flight will depart from Delhi at 7 a.m. and arrive at Thiruvananthapuram at 11.35 a.m. It will leave Thiruvananthapuram at 5.20 p.m. and arrive at Delhi at 9.55 p.m.

Elected unopposed
AGARTALA, June 29 (PTI) — Eighty-seven candidates of the ruling CPM have been declared elected unopposed in the Tripura panchayat elections after the last date of withdrawal yesterday, official sources said here today. While 85 candidates were elected to gram panchayats, two were elected to panchayat samities, secretary of the state Election Commission, S.R. Bhattacharya said here. Tripura will go for three-tier panchayat elections in the middle of next month.