|
|
Violence
follows damage to statue
VIRUDHUNAGAR
(TN), Sept 16 (PTI) — Members of two communities
clashed and government buses and shops were damaged as
violence broke out after a statue of freedom fighter
Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar was found damaged here
today. A few state government corporation buses and about
a dozen shops were damaged while bus services on
Virudhunagar Road were affected for more than three hours
following the clashes before the police intervened and
brought the situation under control. The situation in the
town was now normal. A strong contingent of police had
been deployed in sensitive areas.George meets Jaya
CHENNAI, Sept
16 (UNI) — Defence Minister and Samata Party leader
George Fernandes today discussed the political situation
with AIADMK General Secretary J. Jayalalitha at her Poes
Garden residence here this morning. The meeting lasted
about 90 minutes. The details of the meeting were not
immediately available. The meeting assumes significance
in the wake of the ruling DMK, the arch rival of the
AIADMK, moving closer to expressing support to the
Vajpayee Government at the Centre, and Prime Minister
Atal Behari Vajpayee asserting at a press conference here
this morning that he would welcome support from any
quarters.
Poisonous gas
RAIGARH, Sept 16 (PTI) — Five persons died after
inhaling a poisonous gas emanating from a well in Mahua
village in neighbouring Bilaspur district, the police
said today. The police said Suresh Rawat entered the well
in his field to examine the functioning of two motors.
When he did not come out, four others entered the well
and all of them succumbed to the poisonous gas. The
victims were identified as Suresh Rawat, Chandrashekhar
Singh, Santosh Gaur, Suraj Singh and Govardhan.
Ethnic violence
GUWAHATI,
Sept 16 (PTI) — In fresh incidents of arson today,
miscreants set ablaze several houses at Daikarguri
village even as the toll in the worst-ever ethnic clashes
between Bodos and Santhals in Lower Assam’s
Kokrajhar district rose to 35. Besides the loss of human
lives, 700 houses were set ablaze in the clashes.
Official reports received here said 25 bodies had so far
been found.
No change in dates
NEW DELHI,
Sept 16 (PTI) — There is no change in the schedule
of the National Defence Academy and Naval Academy
examinations which will be held by the UPSC on September
20, as scheduled, an official press note said here today.
Narmada
SURAT, Sept 16 (PTI) — The Narmada crossed the
danger mark by two metres at the Golden bridge of Broach
district at 5 a.m. today, Central Water Commission
sources said here. The water level of the Ukai dam was
slightly below the danger mark of 345-ft at 9 a.m. while
at Hope bridge across the Tapti river it was two feet
below the danger mark of 96-ft. Over 5000-odd marooned
people residing in the low-lying areas of Rander,
Katargam and Varachha were shifted to safer places.
People living in the villages of Chhaprabhatha, Variav
and Bhatha were also shifted by the district authorities
early this morning, district flood control office said.
Expulsion
LUCKNOW, Sept 16 (PTI) — The BSP today expelled
former Deputy Union Minister Rampujan Patel from its
primary membership for anti-party activities. The action
has been taken for his alleged acts of
"indiscipline" and "anti-party
activities", a BSP press note said. Earlier this
month, the state general secretary D.P. Bora was also
expelled from the party on similar charges.
|
