S P O T L I G H T

Cong’s clean chit to Deshmukh
New Delhi, November 7
The Congress high command today ruled out any change of leadership in Maharashtra and gave a clean chit to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on the handling of the situation in Malegaon following the recent communal riots in the powerloom town. This was announced by AICC treasurer Motilal Vora, who is in charge of party affairs in Maharashtra. PTI

12 miners feared dead
Giridih (Jharkhand), November 7
At least 12 persons engaged in illegal mining in abandoned coal mines of Baniadih colliery of the CCL in Giridih district were today feared killed when a wall of the mine caved in. Confirming the incident, the CCL General Manager, Mr Jairam Sharma, said the death toll was given by villagers while the company had so far received reports of only three deaths. PTI

Visit cancelled
Agartala, November 7
Defence Minister George Fernandes cancelled his visit to North Eastern states soon after his arrival at the Kumbhirgram airport in Silchar this afternoon and rushed back to New Delhi. UNI