S P O T L I G H T

KIDNAPPERS RENEW DEMAND FOR RANSOM
Dhaka, March 5
The tribal kidnappers, who had abducted three Europeans from the South Eastern hills of Rangamati on February 16, have renewed their demand for ransom to free the hostages. “The abductors who earlier agreed to set the hostages free without ransom, now are sticking to their demand for cash,” Minister for Chittagong Affairs Kalparanjan Chakma told reporters yesterday. The second deadline asking the kidnappers to release the hostages expired last night. The first deadline had expired on Saturday when Chakma extended it by a day on the request of kidnappers. PTI

9 HURT AS GUNMAN OPENS FIRE IN SCHOOL
Santee, (California), March 5
At least nine persons — most of them students — were wounded after a gunman opened fire inside a high school in this suburb of San Diego, the police said. The shooting took place at Santana High School just after the start of classes. The police said it had been successful in arresting one person and was in the process of evacuating the school. No further details were immediately available. Reuters