Gen Harbaksh Singh
NEW DELHI, Nov 14 (PTI) — Lieut Gen Harbaksh Singh (85), former GOC-in-C of Western Command, died in a military hospital here today, family sources said. He is survived by wife and two daughters. A recipient of Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Veer Chakra, General Singh was one of the first officers to pass out of the IMA at Dehradun.

BJP leader dead
NEW DELHI, Nov 14 (PTI) — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee expressed profound shock at the demise of BJP central committee member Rajendra Sharma in Thiruvananthapuram today. Mr Sharma, had worked as secretary of the parliamentary party office of the erstwhile Jan Sangh and later the BJP for the past 40 years.

Rebels kill 17
AGARTALA, Nov 14 (UNI) — Atleast 17 persons were mowed down by the banned All-Tripura Tiger Force guerrillas at Panchabati in West Tripura tonight. Police sources said heavily armed tribal guerrillas stormed into the non-tribal dominated village and sprayed bullets indiscriminately, killing 10 persons on the spot.

Orissa Governor
BHUBANESWAR, Nov 14 (PTI) — The newly-appointed Governor of Orissa, Mr M.M. Rajendran, will be sworn-in here tomorrow, official sources said today. Mr Rajendran, former Chief Secretary to the Tamil Nadu Government, is scheduled to arrive here tomorrow, Raj Bhavan sources said.

Blast in Lanka
COLOMBO, Nov 14 (PTI) — Former Premier and Sri Lanka's main opposition presidential candidate Ranil Wickramasinghe today escaped unhurt in a bomb attack on him, but one of his United National Party activists was killed and 43 others injured in the explosion. The bomb went off soon after the Wickramasinghe had left the dais of a rally at Eppawala town, 185 km from here, the police said.

Sharma's health
NEW DELHI, Nov 14 (UNI) — Former President Shankar Dayal Sharma's health is improving but he remains in the intensive care unit of the Escort Heartcare Institute under the close observation of doctors, family sources said today. Dr Sharma would be shifted to the general ward in a week's time if there was constant improvement in his health, the source said.

Village attacked
COTABATO, (Philippines) Nov 14 (AFP) — Muslim separatists attacked a Christian village in the southern Philippines today killing one person, and taking about 100 persons hostage, the military said. About 200 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas stormed the village of Tibao in north Cotabato province before dawn today, a local army commander, Col Ernesto Lumang said.

Team in Ayodhya
AYODHYA, Nov 14 (PTI) — A team of Union Home Ministry officials today visited the Ram Janmabhoomi complex here and held a meeting with district officials, District Magistrate Navneet Sehgal said. The high-level team, led by Joint Home Secretary D.K. Haldhar, reviewed security arrangements in and around the complex, Sehgal told newsmen.

Award for Dilip
NEW DELHI, Now 14 (PTI) — Thespian Dilip Kumar has been presented with the Omega Award for Excellence for his contributions to the world of cinema and fashion. "The award recognises and commemorates individual excellence and achievement in various forms such as cinema and fashion," Omega said in a statement here today.

2 held for attack
NEW DELHI, Nov 14 (PTI) — Two persons allegedly involved in manhandling a Christian preacher here have been arrested, police sources said today. The two, identified as Kapila and Bhushan, have been charged with rioting. They along with some other persons allegedly manhandled Father S. John, who was holding a religious congregation at Khyala village in West Delhi last night. The sources denied that a copy of the Bible was torn or burnt and the Holy Cross damaged during the incident.

Lanka commanders
COLOMBO, Nov 14 (PTI) — Two top Sri Lankan field commanders have been suspended pending inquiry into their role in the recent military debacle against the LTTE in which the Army lost six key towns in northern Vanni. Defence officials here today confirmed reports that a Major-Gen and a Brigadier were placed under suspension and ordered to face the court of inquiry appointed by the Chief of the Army to investigate into the conduct of many officers and men, who were alleged to have deserted their positions in the face of heavy counter attacks from rebels.