M A I N   N E W S

US sanctions may go by September

NEW DELHI, July 30 (PTI) — The US Government has indicated that the sanctions imposed against India in the wake of the 1998 nuclear tests will be withdrawn before the September visit of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to that country, convener of the Indian American Friendship Council (IAFC) Adish C. Aggarwala said.

Mr Aggarwala said IAFC members had met a number of senior Clinton administration officials, including Mr Donald A. Camp, Director, South Asian Affairs in the National Security Council, and Mr Michelle C Mayanard, Senior Adviser in the State Department, on July 18 and that they had “assured that our demands (for lifting of sanctions) will be favourably considered.”

Fresh attacks on Christians in UP

LUCKNOW, July 30 (PTI) — In fresh attacks on Christians in Uttar Pradesh, a priest’s house was burgled, the watchman of a missionary school severely beaten up and his wife robbed of ornaments.

Unidentified men who barged into the house of a cleric of a voluntary organisation at Ghansali in Tehri Garhwal last night severely beat up his servant and decamped with valuables, the police said.

The Father was not present in the house at the time of the incident, the police said, adding the injured servant had been hospitalised.

Security personnel have been deployed at the Father’s residence.