The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Saturday, March 25, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

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S P O T L I G H T

Eight killed in plane crash
COLOMBO, March 24 (UNI) — Eight persons all of them crew members, were killed when a cargo plane coming Bangkok to Colombo crashed near the Bandaranaike International Airport here today. Bad weather is reported to be the cause of the crash which occurred at 6.30 p.m. Preliminary reports said five civilians on the ground were among those killed. Later it was confirmed that the dead were all crew members — seven Russians and one Sri Lankan. Several houses at the site of the crash were damaged.

Deepa Mehta’s suit
NEW DELHI, March 24 (PTI) — The Delhi High Court today issued notices to Calcutta-based author Sunil Gangopadhyay and three others on a suit by film maker Deepa Mehta, seeking damage and public apology from the writer for accusing her of plagiarising the script of the controversial film “Water” from one of his novels. Mr Justice S.K. Mahajan, issuing notices to a local school principal Aruna Chakaravarti who had translated Gangopadhyay’s “Shei Shomoy” into English under the title “Those Days”, directed all respondents to file replies by April 6, the next date of hearing.

Bill defeated
BANGALORE, March 24 (UNI) — Pandemonium prevailed in the Karnataka legislative council today after the defeat of the Karnataka Panchayati Raj (amendment) Bill 2000, forcing the Chairman to leave the House abruptly. Protesting opposition members advanced towards the Chair when the Chairman refused to accept their demand for a division after the Bill was defeated by a voice vote.

US flags burnt
KARACHI, March 24 (Reuters) — Religious students burnt US flags and shouted slogans against President Bill Clinton in Pakistan’s southern port of Karachi today, a day before his planned stopover in the Capital, Islamabad. “Go back Clinton — the killer of the Muslim world,” said a large placard in front of a rally of about 150 protesters from the Imamia Students Organisation, a militant Shi’ite group.

Gulshan’s killers
THANE, March 24 (PTI) — Four persons allegedly involved in the murders of audio king Gulshan Kumar and a Shiv Sena leader from Mumbra in Thane district were arrested at Bahadurgarh village near Delhi, the police said here today. Police Commissioner Bujangrao Mohite told newspersons that the visit of US President Bill Clinton helped in the arrest of Imtiaz Dawood Merchant, Adil Mohammed Khan, Pratap Singh (who were involved in the murder of Gulshan Kumar) and Sajid Mohammed Ali Khan.

Lawyers’ strike
NEW DELHI, March 24 (PTI) — Over 5,000 lawyers courted arrest here today demanding the suspension of police officials responsible for the lathi charge on agitating advocates in the Capital on February 24. The police detained the advocates near Windsor Place as they marched from Patiala House District Courts towards Rashtrapati Bhavan under the banner of Coordination Committee of Bar Associations, Deputy Commissioner of Police Pranab Nanda said.