S P O T L I G H T

Pradeep Kumar dead
Kolkata, October 27
Veteran film actor Pradeep Kumar, who appeared in lead roles in Hindi and Bengali films, died here today of a massive heart attack, according to Ramakrishna Mission Seva Partisthan hospital sources. He was 76. He is survived by his wife, son and daughter. PTI

Pathak LCP chief
Lucknow, October 27
Uttar Pradesh ministers Bachcha Pathak and Siraj Mehdi were elected national and state presidents, respectively, of the Loktantrik Congress Party (LCP) that dissociated itself from former Energy Minister Naresh Agarwal following his decision to merge his party with the Samajwadi Party (SP) recently. Forty members of the 54 member-strong executive committee attended the meeting held here today. PTI

Ram temple work to begin on March 12
Thiruvananthapuram, October 27
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) president, Mr Ashok Singhal, said today that the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya would begin on March 12, and the material, including stone carvings, required for constructing the ground floor of the temple was ready. “The Prime Minister has given us an assurance that he will be able to solve the issue by March 12,” he told newspersons here. UNI

OPEC Move
Abu Dhabi, October 27
Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Nuaimi said today that the OPEC oil cartel would again slash production in a bid to bolster sagging prices. He said the global oil supply was excessive. When asked if this meant OPEC was going to reduce production or, instead, decide to tighten members’ compliance with their quotas, he replied: “All of the above”. AFP

Bail granted
New Delhi, October 27
A Delhi court today granted bail to Air Vice-Marshal J.S. Kumar (retd) and others, accused in the Air Force espionage case. Special Judge M.L. Sahani, in his order, said the accused, arrested on July 27 by the CBI on charges of espionage, conspiracy and passing of secret defence documents to other countries, were released on bail as the CBI failed to file the charge sheet within the statutory 90 days. UNI

6 bodies recovered
Bangalore, October 27
Six bodies have been recovered from a reservoir, near here, in which a private bus had plunged last evening while trying to give way to another vehicle. Additional Director-General of Police M.D. Singh said here today that more than 40 of the 50 passengers had survived, adding that they were either rescued by local villagers or had swam to safety. PTI

Palme murder case
Stockholm, October 27
A lifelong friend of the man who was convicted, then acquitted on appeal of murdering Prime Minister Olof Palme in 1986, claimed that the man had privately confessed his guilt to him. “Christer Pettersson has said to me: ‘Of course, it was me who shot, but they can never convict me for it.”’ AP