tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Tuesday, September 8, 1998
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Anti-Taliban forces capture hilltop
KABUL, Sept 7 (AFP) — Anti-Taliban forces today staged a heavy pre-dawn attack and broke through the Islamic militia’s defence line as fighting flared, stepping up pressure on the Taliban amid tensions with Iran. Taliban and independent sources said forces of ex-Defence Minister Ahmad Shah Masood captured a strategic hilltop north of Kabul after fierce fighting. Taliban soldiers launched a counter-attack and recaptured some lost ground but failed to retake the hilltop.

Mission chief
CALCUTTA, Sept 7 (PTI) — Swami Ranganathananda was today unanimously elected the 13th president of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission. The decision was taken at a meeting of the math board of trustees at the Belur Math, the global headquarters of the mission, a mission release said. Swami Ranganathanandaji succeeds Swami Bhuteshananda who died on August 10 last.

Gunman kills four
KARACHI, Sept 7 (AFP) — A Pakistani prosecutor investigating murder of two Iranian engineers by suspected Sunni extremists was shot dead in an ambush while three others died in violence-plagued Karachi today, the police said. Sardar Khan, government prosecuting officer, was attacked by two unidentified motor-cycle riders in the eastern Gulshan-e-Iqbal area. Assailants killed an activist of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (PML) and another person in different parts of the city, they said.

Copter crashes
GURDASPUR, Sept 7 — An MI-25 helicopter of the Air Force today crashed near Lazirpur under Dunera subdivision in this district. The three officials on board bailed out, resulting in injuries to Sqn Ldr Bhatt and Flying Officer Mohra. The injured have been admitted to the Military Hospital, Pathankot, where they are stated to be out of danger.

Dropsy cases
SHRINAGAR (Garhwal) Sept 7 (UNI) — Nine school students have been admitted to district hospital at Gopeshwar in Chamoli district with symptoms of dropsy. The students belong to the Ashram Padhati Vidyalaya-Bhimtala, 2 km from Chamoli. The school’s hostel warden said that they had taken food prepared in mustard oil in the school mess. They are, however, out of danger.

Sukh Ram case
NEW DELHI, Sept 7 (UNI) — Formal trial began today in the multicrore telecom scam in which former Communication Minister Sukh Ram and former Deputy Director-General (Telecom) Runu Ghosh are accused of showing favours in awarding a contract to Hyderabad-based company, Advance Radio Mast Ltd. proprietor of the company Paturao Ramarao also is an accused in the case. The case is being tried by special judge Ajit Bharihoke, who last month framed charges against three in the case.