tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Monday, December 21, 1998
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5 LTTE men killed
COLOMBO, Dec 20 (UNI) — Five senior LTTE leaders were killed when a bomb accidentally triggered off and destroyed one of their camps in Mannar last evening. The dead included one self-styled Lt-Colonel and four Majors of the LTTE, radio reported today. In another incident, Tamil rebels damaged one electricity transformer in the area. In Mankulam, troops ambushed and killed four LTTE militants yesterday. Two soldiers were injured when militants fired at them with mortars at Walauttu in Tricomalee last night.
Pen-down strike
MUMBAI, Dec 20 (PTI) — At least 1400 gazetted officers of the Department of Sales Tax will launch a "pen-down" agitation on December 23 in support of the indefinite strike called by the Maharashtra State Employees Union. General Secretary of the Sales Tax Gazetted Officers' Association RB Matkar said if all officers and employees participated in the strike, it could result in irreversible loss to the department due to low sales tax revenue collection.

5 cops suspended
SURAT, Dec 20 (PTI) — Five cops, including a police inspector, have been suspended for dereliction of duty in connection with yesterday's murder of a woman BJP councillor. Neeta Satbhaya, local councillor and the BJP's city unit mahila cell chief, was stabbed to death by some miscreants at her residence last evening. City Police Commissioner Mani Ram said despite being informed about the incident Inspector RC Rana and four other cops took an hour to reach the spot.
Farmers' rally
NEW DELHI, Dec 20 (PTI) — A farmers' rally would be organised at the historical Red Fort here on December 23 on the occasion of the 96th birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Charan Singh. The day would also be observed as "kisan divas" all over the country, Mr Dhirendra Pratap, spokesman for the Lok Dal, which is organising the rally, said today.
Allegation denied
CHENNAI, Dec 20 (UNI) — The Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP today denied Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi's allegation that the Vajpayee government was trying to bail out AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalitha from the corruption cases pending against her in the special courts. In a hard-hitting statement here, party state unit vice-president V. Maitreyan said the Vajpayee government's stand before the Supreme Court that the power to transfer cases from one court to another rested only with the Centre was aimed at safeguarding justice and not protecting any individual.