tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Friday, February 5, 1999
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School attacked
MUZAFFARPUR, Feb 4 (PTI) — A missionary school was attacked by a mob during the bandh called by the BJP-Samata combine here yesterday, official sources said today. The mob forced its way into "Prabhat Tara" school and chased the teachers and students, the sources said. An FIR lodged by a teacher of the school, Mr Robert Anthony, with the Kazi Mohammedpur police station said the mob indulged in heavy stone-throwing and smashed windows. It said the mob threatened the school authorities with dire consequences if the school was not closed down.

Tripura bandh
AGARTALA, Feb 4 (UNI) — The 12-hour statewide bandh sponsored by the Opposition Congress evoked a mixed response in Tripura, official sources said here today. Talking to mediapersons, Pradesh Congress president Gopal Roy said the bandh was called in protest against Tuesday’s militant attacks and public retaliation which claimed eight lives. The Congress has also called for a 12-hour Tripura bandh on February 8 demanding resignation of the ruling Left Front government for its failure to curb militancy and check price rise.

MNF, Cong candidates
AIZWAL, Feb 4 (PTI) — Opposition Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) today selected Mr B. Zaliana, treasurer of the Aizawl District Congress Committee (ADCC), as its official candidate to contest the byelection to the Khawbung Assembly constituency to be held on February 22. Party sources said Mr Zaliana was unanimously selected by the nomination committee of the MPCC today. The Mizo National Front (Nationalist), a breakaway MNF group, decided to field Mr C. Dinthanga, a local journalist and a popular singer, as its candidate for the bypoll.

Indonesian unrest
JAKARTA, Feb 4 (Reuters) — At least 13 persons died and hundreds were injured, many seriously, during clashes between civilians and the police in Indonesia’s rebellious Aceh province, human rights group said today. The Legal Aid Foundation said the deaths occurred when the police opened fire on a crowd in Idi Cut, about 1,530 km northwest of Jakarta yesterday. Two persons died of gunshot wounds when they tried to disperse a crowd which had gathered to listen to a separatist speech by a member of the Free Aceh Movement.

Benazir sacks 2
ISLAMABAD, Feb 4 (AFP) — Former premier Benazir Bhutto today removed two leaders of her Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) for creating an internal split in the North-West Frontier Province, the party said. The PPP chairperson sacked Mr Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao from the post of central vice-chairman and a Senator, Mr Masood Kausar, from the office of provincial president of the party, it said. Mrs Bhutto has installed a new team in the north-western province to run the party affairs.

3 die in collision
From Our Correspondent
ABOHAR, Feb 4 — Three members of a marriage party were killed and three others received injuries when a truck had a head-on collision with a jeep near Gumjal village on the national highway in this sub-division last night. Police sources said today that the jeep was taking them from Anupgarh to Malout. The deceased are Jaswant Singh, Jagtar Singh and Mukhtiar Singh. A case has been registered.