The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Thursday, April 13, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

S P O T L I G H T

15 killed in attack on Shia gathering
ISLAMABAD, April 12 (UNI) — Fifteen persons, including a policeman, attending a Shia congregation near Rawalpindi were killed last night when unidentified persons threw hand grenades and fired from automatic weapons at them. The incident took place in the Imambargha at Malowali village near Pindigheb where Shias were attending the Muharram majlis. Unconfirmed reports said two suspects had been arrested. Army troops and policemen reached the spot and cordoned off the area.

Levy sugar price up
NEW DELHI, April 12 (PTI) — The government has increased the price of sugar procured by it from the mills for supply through the public distribution system (PDS) by 60 paise a kg to Rs 11.10 a kg for the 1999-2000 sugar season (October-September), official sources said today. The decision to raise the levy sugar price is in line with the government decision to hike the Central Issue Price of sugar under the PDS by Re 1 to Rs 13 a kg.

Lanka President
COLOMBO, April 12 (Reuters) — Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga is undergoing treatment in Europe for wounds suffered during an assassination attempt late last year, official sources said today. Ms Kumaratunga, who is also the country’s Defence Minister, suffered injuries to her right eye when a suicide bomber blew herself up at an election rally here on December 18.

TMC men quit
PONDICHERRY, April 12 (PTI) — Almost all TMC office-bearers in Pondicherry today submitted their resignation letters to unit President P Kannan in protest against the offer of ministership to former Local Administration Minister C Jayakumar. TMC sources said the office-bearers were irked over the offer to Mr Jayakumar, who had recently launched a scathing attack on Mr Kannan.

Bank robbery
SHILLONG, April 12 (UNI) — Four suspected Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) militants armed with AK 47 rifles today robbed Rs 900,000 from the Mawlai branch of the State Bank of India and injured two employees before escaping. The militants also snatched a carbine and a .303 rifle from the guard on duty, who was one of the injured, the police said.