S P O T L I G H T

Vajpayee presents Bhatnagar awards
NEW DELHI, Feb 21 (PTI) — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today presented Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar awards, the nation’s most prestigious awards in science, for 1998 and 1999 to 21 scientists, including one posthumously, for outstanding research contributions. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, a citation and a plaque and is given to scientists below 45 years of age.

Army shell kills 4
LUCKNOW, Feb 21 (UNI) — Four children were killed and three injured when an artillery shell used in Army exercise exploded in a house in Bandookchi village in Saharanpur district today. The mother of the children had brought home the shell for recycling the metal when it exploded killing three children and injuring three, Principal Secretary (Home) V.K. Mittal told reporter here this evening.

Curfew relaxed
JAIPUR, Feb 21 (UNI) — The indefinite curfew in Tonk was relaxed for two hours in the afternoon today to enable the people to buy essential commodities. According to the police here, the relaxation from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. was “peaceful” and the situation was under “control”. Indefinite curfew was clamped in Tonk yesterday morning, following a clash between students that left one dead.

3 die in explosion
NASIK, Feb 21 (UNI) — Three persons were killed when a dynamite exploded in Neri village in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra yesterday. According to a report received here today, four persons were working on a well in a field when the explosion occurred.