tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Sunday, July 26, 1998
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7 Santhals killed in Assam
GUWAHATI, July 25 (PTI) — Nine persons including seven Santhals and two National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) militants, were killed in two incidents in Kokrajhar district of lower Assam, even as the DSP had a miraculous escape. Heavily armed NDFB ultras attacked a group of Santhals on a highland near a police battalion commandant's residence at Soraipala village in Kokrajhar, killing five off them on the spot while two others died on way to hospital, official sources said. In another incident, a police patrol led by Kokrajhar SP repulsed an attack by NDFB extremists, killing two of them at Horinaguri, 6 km from Kokrajhar, today.
18 Tigers killed
COLOMBO, July 25 (UNI) — Troops killed 18 Tamil Tiger militants in continuing skirmishes in northern Sri Lanka yesterday, the military said today. Troops directed artillery and mortar fire, southeast of Mankulam and confirmed the killing of more than 15 rebels. They also recovered 20 anti-personnel mines and a claymore mine during a search operation. Two more rebels were killed in an encounter at Killinochchi, 30 km north of Mankulan.
PF Lok Adalat
NAGPUR, July 25 (PTI) — The Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Mr Jagmohan, will hold a Lok Adalat here on August 10 to deal with grievances of subscribers. According to a press note, the subscribers will have to send in their grievances to the office before July 31. Meanwhile, the Centre has doubled the administrative and inspection charges of provident fund units to 0.18 and 1.10 per cent, respectively, with effect from August 1.

3 PWG men killed
HYDERABAD, July 25 (PTI) — Three extremists belonging to the banned People's War Group (PWG) were killed in an encounter with the police in the Sarvapur reserve forest area in Warangal district, while PWG Naxalites set on fire a saw mill of a Congress sarpanch at Bheemagal village in Nizamabad district of Andhra Pradesh early today. The police said about 10 extremists of Chiral Dalam, who were holding a meeting, opened fire at a police party which was combing the area. One pistol and two revolvers were recovered from the spot.
Sonia replans visit
GUWAHATI, July 25 (PTI) — Congress president Sonia Gandhi will visit the flood-hit areas of Assam from August 5 instead of July 29 as scheduled earlier, state Congress spokesman Pradyut Bardoloi said today. Mrs Gandhi's two-day visit was deferred due to the extension of Parliament session and the ensuing election for the Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker's post.
Honour for TN CM
CHENNAI, July 25 (UNI) — Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has been selected for this year's Ramanuja Award. The award, instituted by the Alwars Research Foundation, will be conferred on him at a function here on September 12, foundation president and former minister R.M. Veerappan said in a statement here today.
Landslide kills 5
GANGTOK, July 25 (PTI) — Five members of a family were killed today following a landslide at Sajong Pendam, 45 km from here, the police said. The tragedy occurred when their house was destroyed by the landslide. However, two other members of the family had a narrow escape.
Hospital services hit
BHUBANESWAR, July 25 (PTI) — A strike by nurses, supported by other class III and IV employees, completely paralysed the functioning of Capital Hospital here today. The nurses decided to go on strike in protest against the alleged assault on one of their colleagues by relatives of a patient in the female medical ward last night, Chief Medical Officer, K.C. Das said.
Andaman Chief Secretary
PORT BLAIR, July 25 (PTI) — Mr S.R. Sharma will take over as the new Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. He is currently the Chief Secretary of Pondicherry. This will be his second stint as Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Mr T.T. Joseph, Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, will replace Mr Sharma in Pondicherry.