The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Monday, January 24, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

S P O T L I G H T

CPM leader shot; Bengal tense
MIDNAPORE, Jan 23 (PTI) — A CPM leader died and 26 persons were injured seriously as clashes between Trinamool Congress and CPM supporters overnight spread to new areas in Midnapore district of West Bengal, the police said today. They said the CPM leader, Gurdupanda Bagchi, a local CPM committee member, who was shot at early Saturday, died at Midnapore Sadar Hospital last night. The police said the clashes spread to Dhandagra, Chuturberia, Amalda, Kalagram and Birberia villages.

Curfew continues
JAIPUR, Jan 23 (PTI) — No untoward incident was reported in the curfew-bound town of Bandikui in Dausa district of Rajasthan since yesterday which was the scene of a clash following the murder of a six-year-old boy, who was abducted on January 19, the police said today. “The police and RAC are patrolling the town and the situation is under control,” IGP (Law and Order) H.N. Meena said. No relaxation in curfew was proposed today,” he said.

W. Asia summit
JERUSALEM, Jan 23 (Reuters) — US President Bill Clinton will meet leaders of Israel and Palestinine in Switzerland on January 29 to try to boost West Asian peace talks, a Palestinian official said today. It will be Mr Clinton’s first three-way summit with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat since they met nearly three months ago at a memorial ceremony in Norway for slain Israeli leader Yitzhak Rabin.

Ultras kill 2 jawans
IMPHAL, Jan 23 (PTI) — Two Army jawans were killed and two others were injured seriously when armed insurgents attacked an Army vehicle in the Nungba area, about 45 km west of here, late last night, official sources said today. They said the insurgents opened fire at the vehicle from both sides of the road at Nungba along the Imphal-Silchar national highway.

Rajan aide shot
MUMBAI, Jan 23 (PTI) — An alleged member of underworld don Chhota Rajan’s gang was shot dead in an encounter with the police at a north-western suburb of the metropolis this evening. Following a tip-off that Chandrakant Ghagre would be visiting the Lokhandwala area, the police laid a trap for him leading to the encounter.

21 Tigers killed
COLOMBO, Jan 23 (AFP) — At least 21 Tamil Tiger rebels were killed in fresh fighting in northeastern Sri Lanka over the weekend, the Defence Ministry said here today. Fourteen members of the LTTE were killed in several confrontations in the northern peninsula yesterday while another seven were killed the previous day, the ministry said.