tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Sunday, October 11, 1998
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Special court set up in TN
CHENNAI, Oct 10 (PTI) — The Tamil Nadu Government today constituted a special court exclusively for the conduct of trials in cases registered in connection with the recent caste clashes in the southern districts of the state. An official press release here said the court would deal with all cases registered in Dindigul, Theni, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Tirunelveli, Toticorin and Kanyakumari districts.
Nuns' rape decried
WASHINGTON, Oct 10 (PTI) — Twentythree US Congressmen have urged Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to punish those who raped four nuns in Madhya Pradesh on September 22. In a letter to Prime Minister, they said the culprits had committed "significant violations" of human rights. The letter was released to the media through the secessionist "Council of Khalistan".

Cop killed in blast
HYDERABAD, Oct 10 (UNI) — A constable of the eighth battalion of the Andhra Pradesh Special Police was killed and three other constables were injured when three grenades exploded accidentally at Pitlam in Nizamabad district today. The police said the constables were performing "top guard" duty in Pitlam police station when the grenades kept at their side exploded, killing constable Upender Goud.
Raju Bhaiyya ill
NAGPUR, Oct 10 (PTI) Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) supremo Prof Rajendra Singh (75) was today taken ill at a cultural meeting organised by the RSS here. He complained of breathing trouble. Raju Bhaiyya, as he is popularly known, was to address the function of the 17th Kala Sadhak Sangam of Sanskar Bharati, the cultural wing of the RSS, which was inaugurated by film and TV producer Ramanand Sagar.
Afghan fighting
DUBAI, Oct 10 (PTI) — Afghan Opposition forces loyal to Ahmed Shah Masood today claimed they have captured some areas in northern Afghanistan in a fierce fighting with the Taliban militia forces loyal to Masood were fighting with the Taliban militia after capturing an airport and adjoining villages in Thakar province bordering Tajikistan yesterday. The Taliban rejected the opposition claim.
CPI (ML) plans meeting
CHENNAI, Oct 10 (UNI) — The politburo of the CPI (Marxist-Leninist) will meet in Delhi on October 17 to discuss the political situation in the country, party general secretary Vinod Mishra said here today. Mr Mishra, who is here to accompany the body of veteran Communist revolutionary and senior politburo member Nagbhushan Pattnaik to Bhubaneswar for the funeral, said the meeting would pay homage to the deceased leader who was one of the founders of the party.
Rs 80 cr for airport
CHENNAI, Oct 10 (PTI) — The Union Government has recently sanctioned Rs 80 crore for the construction of an additional new international block at the Chennai airport. It would go a long way in decongesting the present Anna international terminal, which currently caters to nearly 16 lakh passengers annually against its capacity of nine lakh.
Cardoso wins
BRASILIA, Oct 10 (AFP) — Brazilian President Fernandu Henrique Cardoso won reelection with 53.96 per cent of the vote, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal has said after concluding the vote count. In Sunday's election Cardoso, a former sociology professor, defeated three-times loser and charismatic union leader Luiz Inacio 'Lula' Da Silva, who received 31.71 per cent of ballot, the tribunal said yesterday.