tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Monday, December 28, 1998
weather today's calendar

Pak 'captures' 27 fishermen
RAJKOT, Dec 27 (PTI) — Pakistani maritime security personnel captured 27 Indian fishermen while they were fishing in the Arabian Sea off Jakhau port in Kutch district yesterday, National Fish Workers Forum said today. Gujarat unit secretary of the forum Premji Bhai Khokhari said that 29 "kharvas" (fishermen) aboard four vessels from Porbandar were "captured" by the Pakistani personnel in the sea and were "forcefully" driven towards the Pakistani side but two fishermen escaped.

New pay scales
AGARTALA, Dec 27 (UNI) — The Tripura Government today announced new pay scales for its employees with effect from October 1998 but a large section of bureaucrats expressed their dissatisfaction over the pay revision. Announcing the pay revision, state Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury told newspersons here today that over Rs 18 crore would be required in addition to existing Rs 50 crore per month to give the revised pay scales.

Radio sets for trains
AGRA, Dec 27 (PTI) — Railway Minister Nitish Kumar today announced that by March all passenger trains in the country, numbering over 7,500, would have walkie-talkie facilities for better communication between guards and drivers, after laying the foundation stone of the Agra division of the Central Railway. The announcement comes after the November train tragedy in Khanna (Punjab), in which over 250 persons were killed.

Student leader held
GUWAHATI, Dec 27 (PTI) — General secretary of the North-West Students Organisation Artex Shimray was picked up by the police here late last night in connection with the December 18 car bomb blast near the state secretariat in which eight persons were killed. Official sources said here today that Shimray was picked up from Maligaon Railway Colony after his name was found in the pocket diary of BLT finance secretary, Harkhab, alias Thomas Brahma, who was killed in the car blast.

Inspector dead
MUMBAI, Dec 27 (PTI) — A senior police inspector, who suffered a bullet injury on December 20 while inspecting a country-made revolver seized after an encounter, died here today. Inspector Vishwanath Patil (54) succumbed to injury at Kem Hospital here shortly before noon, the police said.

Cold wave in UP
LUCKNOW, Dec 27 (PTI) — The plains of Uttar Pradesh reeled under intense cold wave conditions with mercury dipping to below normal in several places since yesterday. Biting cold conditions were recorded in Bareilly, Agra, Allahabad, Meerut and Garhwal divisions with Muzaffarnagar recording a minimum of 4°C temperature, the met office said here. Thirteen persons have so far died of cold wave in the state.

Six cops hurt
KOLHAPUR, Dec 27 (PTI) — Six police personnel were injured when an irate mob pelted stones at a police party that had gone to investigate a theft case at Save village in Shahuwadi taluka of the district on December 25. The police said Sub-Inspector Rajendra Mane, who was also injured in the stone pelting, fired in the air from his revolver as the villagers, protesting against the government acquisition of their land to rehabilitate project-affected people, attacked the police party.

1 ultra killed
IMPHAL, Dec 27 (PTI) — A Kuki National Front (KNF) activist was killed and two others injured in an encounter with the Army in Manipur's Senapati district today, defence sources said. The encounter took place between the Army and KNF activists near Saikul village, the sources said adding, one ultra was killed on the spot.

2 kids drowned
CALCUTTA, Dec 27 (PTI) — Two schoolchildren were drowned when a motorised country boat capsized in Kangsabati dam at Mukutmanipur in Bankura district today, the police said. Of the two, the body of a boy had already been fished out, while a nine year-old girl was still missing. The boat was carrying 15 children. Thirteen others swam ashore to safety and were given first aid.