S P O T L I G H T

15 die in Andhra explosion
Hyderabad, March 6
At least 15 persons were killed and 30 others injured when a massive explosion rocked a residential area at Kodumunja village in Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh today. The police said that at least 20 houses were razed to the ground following the incident, which occurred during the unloading of explosives from a van. The explosives belonged to a private contractor. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, rushed to the village after a brief halt at the Hyderabad Airport on his return from Amalapuram. UNI

10-yr RI in rape case
Patna, March 6
A Patna court today sentenced Mrityunjay Yadav, alias Babloo, to 10 years’ imprisonment and imposed upon him a fine of Rs 10,000, but ordered the release of his mother and former MLA and RJD leader Hemlata Yadav in the sensational Champa Biswas rape case. Additional District and Sessions Judge H.K. Srivastava, ordered the release of the latter. PTI