The Tribune...Spotlight

			Monday, July 6, 1998
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21 LTTE rebels killed
COLOMBO, July 5 (PTI) — At least 21 LTTE militants have been killed in different encounters with the Sri Lankan forces even as the police in Colombo were put on red alert in view of LTTE’s call to observe "Black Tiger Day" today to mark the 11th anniversary of their first suicide bombing. The clandestine LTTE radio, monitored at northern Vavuniya town, announced today that 10 rebels including a Captain were killed yesterday in an explosion at an undisclosed place in Vanni where the guerrillas were resisting an Army offensive to capture a strategic highway. The Army headquarters here said 11 rebels were killed in different confrontations between the troops and rebels in the northern Vanni area yesterday.
Ceasefire
KOHIMA, July 5 (PTI) — The security forces in Nagaland are committed to observing the ongoing ceasefire with NSCN (I-M) in the state in "letter and spirit", the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 3 Corps, Lieut-Gen R. K. Nanavatty has said. Lieut-Gen Nanavatty, who paid a day-long visit to the state capital yesterday, said: "Ceasefire in Nagaland aims at lasting peace and the security forces will put in their might to create a conducive atmosphere, of course, with the cooperation of the people," according to an Army press note here today. He expressed concern over the continuing extortion as "tax collection" by a section of undergrounds, saying that the Army could not afford to be a mute spectator towards those who took law in their hands.
TDP leader
HYDERABAD, July 5 (UNI) — Former Andhra Pradesh minister and prominent Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader P. Indra Reddy, MLA, and former MP P. Radha Krishna along with leaders of the Telengana struggle committee have decided to join the Congress. In a statement here today, Mr Reddy said their decision followed Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Y. S Rajasekhar Reddy’s invitation to all those fighting for the cause of separate Telangana state to join his party.
10 die in mishap
AHMEDABAD, July 5 (PTI) — Ten persons were killed and two seriously injured when their Tata Sumo and a bus collided at Palanpur in north Gujarat today, the police said. The victims died on the spot, the police said, adding that the injured had been admitted to the civil hospital here. The private bus was heading for Rajasthan from Mumbai, while Tata Sumo was going to Vadodara from Palanpur.
BJP protest
BANGALORE, July 5 (PTI) — The Karnataka BJP will launch a statewide protest on July 15 against the Janata Dal Government in the state which, it charged, had "slipped into a coma" with its leaders engaged in "mutual squabbles". Party state unit president B. S. Yediyurappa said developmental activities had ground to a halt because of infighting in the Janata Dal. The government was not addressing the issues concerning the people.
Budget session
JAIPUR, July 5 (PTI) — The Budget session of the Rajasthan Assembly will begin here tomorrow, assembly sources said today. The state Budget for 1998-99 will be presented by Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister H.S. Bhabhra on July 9. The state government has already presented a vote on account in March, the sources said.