The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Thursday, April 27, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

S P O T L I G H T

Nishant test-fired successfully
CHANDIPUR-ON-SEA (Orissa), April 26 (PTI) — Nishant, the indigenously-built unmanned air vehicle (UAV) for reconnaissance of warfronts, was test-fired from the Interim Test Range (ITR) here today, defence sources said. Nishant, designed to perform discreet reconnaissance of battlefields, including target acquisition, was fired at about 1.00 p.m., the sources said. The UAV has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL).

US sanctions
WASHINGTON, April 26 (PTI) — More of the remaining post-nuclear test sanctions against India by the USA will be lifted before Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s expected visit to Washington later this year, a top US official has said. Some of the sanctions were lifted before US President Bill Clinton’s India visit in March and some more would be lifted before Mr Vajpayee’s visit, the official said.

Orissa Cong revolt
NEW DELHI, April 26 (UNI) — Simmering differences within the Orissa Congress boiled over today with the vice-president and two secretaries openly raising a banner of revolt against PCC chief J.B. Patnaik. Four groups of Congress leaders from the state met AICC President Sonia Gandhi here demanding a change of leadership of the party in Orissa.

Sena man shot
NAVI MUMBAI, April 26 (UNI) — In a sensational shoot-out that sent panic waves in this satellite township, yet another Shiv Sena local leader Vikas Datarreya Patil was gunned down by two persons today. The police control room said he was shot at point-blank range just at the door of this residence in Khalamboli here at 11.23 a.m.

11 hurt in clashes
MIDNAPORE (West Bengal), April 26 (UNI) — At least 11 persons were injured, nine of them seriously in a series of clashes between supporters of the ruling CPI(M) and the Trinamool Congress supporters at Chowk Bazar village under Keshpur police station area in the district today.

6 PWG men shot
HYDERABAD, April 26 (UNI) — Six PWG Naxalities, including a woman, were killed in an encounter with the police at Thellavelugula village in Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh today.