M A I N   N E W S

11 Army men killed

IMPHAL, Feb 8 (PTI) — In the first major pre-poll strike by insurgents in Manipur, 11 Army personnel belonging to Kumaon Regiment were killed today in an ambush in Tamenglong district today.

About 50 armed insurgents of the the United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and the NSCN (K) opened fire on an Army patrol from both sides of the road from automatic weapons at around 12.15 pm killing the personnel on the spot at Keimai, about 190 km west of here, official sources said.

The Army returned the fire and the encounter lasted more than an hour before the insurgents escaped into nearby thick jungles, the sources said.

Casualty, if any, on the side of the underground groups was not immediately known, the sources said, adding that security reinforcements rushed to the spot from a nearby area had launched a massive combing operation.

1 more hostage released

STANSTED, Feb 8 (Reuters) — Hijackers holding more than 150 persons aboard an Afghan airliner released a sick hostage today as the airport drama headed towards a third night.

The man, dressed in Afghan clothing, left the plane carrying a black bag. He was escorted away by police, who said he was a trader in his forties and appeared to be suffering from asthma.

“He was complaining of feeling unwell, and following successful negotiations he was released and was now receiving appropriate medical treatment,’’ Police Assistant Chief Constable John Broughton told reporters.

The hostage was now being de-briefed by British officials seeking clues on the motives and morale of the hijackers.

Some of the hostages still on board have come down with stomach complaints. Mr Broughton said: “Obviously conditions on board are difficult to say the very least.’’

Nine passengers have now been released at Stansted airport near London while about 20 others were freed at stops in Central Asia and Moscow after the Boeing 727 of Afghanistan’s national airline, Ariana, was hijacked during a domestic flight on Sunday.

British negotiators have adopted a “soft’’ approach and Mr Broughton stressed their aim was to bring the three-day-old drama to a peaceful conclusion.

“The negotiations are going forward in a professional and fairly calm way,’’ he said, besides being careful not to give any information to reporters that might jeopardise the release of the remaining passengers and crew.

The police believes there are up to eight hijackers armed with pistols and grenades, but despite constant communication with them no clear picture has emerged of who they are or what they want. There has, however, been a general discussion of what the hijackers could expect if they gave themselves up, the police said.

Afghan radio quoted Foreign Minister Maulawi Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil as saying that their only demand seemed to be the release of Opposition leader Ismail Khan.

A spokesman for the Taliban said Deputy Foreign Minister Abdul Rahman Zahid, who is visiting Germany, may travel to Britain to meet the passengers, who have been freed.

As negotiators carry on their nearly non-stop dialogue with the hijackers, marksmen and other camouflaged security forces — including Britain’s elite SAS soldiers — keep watch.

Dave panel report rejected

NEW DELHI, Feb 8 (PTI) — The Central Board of Trustees of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) today rejected an expert panel’s recommendations on devising a new pension system for India saying it would impinge the working of the Employees Provident and Pension schemes.

At a meeting of the Central Board of EPF here, under the chairmanship of Labour Minister Satyanarayan Jatiya, it was decided to reject the recommendations of the committee to the extent they relate to impinging on the working of employees provident and pension schemes, an official release said.

A committee headed by former Unit Trust of India (UTI) Chairman S.A. Dave had recommended among other things a 10 per cent levy on premature withdrawals from the EPF and stoppage of government contribution of 1.18 per cent to the EPF.