tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Friday, September 24, 1999
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Medha Patkar still in custody
MUMBAI, Sept 23 (UNI) — Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader Medha Patkar is still under arrest at Dhadgaon in Maharashtra even as inhabitants of the project-affected villages are preparing for an indefinite dharna. Ms Patkar, along with 300 persons, were arrested and brought to Dhadgaon by the police late last night. Water has risen to two to three feet above the ground level in the villages of Sikka, Bharad and Pipalchop, forcing people to vacate their inundated houses.

Special Patna DM
PATNA, Sept 23 (PTI) — The Election Commission today ordered appointment of Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner, Dipak Kumar as special, District Magistrate for Patna to supervise the poll, particularly in the Barh parliamentary constituency, where former Railway Minister Nitish Kumar is in the fray. State election office sources here said the commission issued the directive in order to ensure "free, fair and peaceful" poll in Barh on September 25.

RSS worker shot
PRATAPGARH, Sept 23 (PTI) — An RSS worker employed as a teacher with a local school was gunned down here yesterday by unidentified killers, the police said today. Krishna Dev Tripathi of Saraswati Vidya Mandir was going on a two-wheeler when the assailants stopped him near Shivli canal and gunned him down before fleeing the site on another two-wheeler, SP Ashish Gupta said.

Award for editor
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Sept 23 (UNI) — Mr K.M. Mathew, Chief Editor of the Malayalam daily, Malayala Manorama, has been selected for the prestigious Mar Gregorios Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to various fields. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000, a plaque and a citation.

22 feared drowned
MUNGER (Bihar), Sept 23 (UNI) — At least 22 persons were feared drowned when a boat capsized in the Ganga near Sultanganj in Bhagalpur district of the state today. Inspector-General of Police (Munger division) R.K. Katariya said here that 26 persons were in the boat which capsized in midstream. He said the ill-fated boat was on its way to Sultanganj from Parwatta ghat of Khagaria district. Four persons managed to swim to safety.

Lynched
BARIPADA (Orissa), Sept 23 (UNI) — A person, claiming to be a witch doctor, could not shield himself through his art from the tormentor, who had earlier given him 15 cocks and one goat to propitiate the goddess for curing his nephew. Sonakandra Mahali, the witch doctor of Asankudar village under Thakurmunda police station of Mayurbhanj district, was lynched by a fellow villager last week, the police said. Anguished at Sonakandra's failure to cure the ailing person through witchcraft, Bajinath killed him with bows and arrows.