tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Monday, January 11, 1999
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10 die in fighting
COLOMBO, Jan 10 (PTI) — At least seven LTTE rebels and three civilians were killed in different encounters between government troops and Tamil militants in fresh clashes in northern Sri Lanka, the defence ministry said today. Troops ambushed and killed three LTTE rebels in North-West of Mankulam on Friday. Three civilians were killed and another wounded when rebels attacked them with rocket propelled grenades at Tapasavelliya yesterday. In a separate incident, the army ambushed and killed two LTTE guerrillas and also recovered bodies of two other rebels in a subsequent search operation from a nearby area.

Advocate's protest
NEW DELHI, Jan 10 (PTI) — Senior Supreme Court advocate Fali S. Nariman has refused to represent the Gujarat Government in the apex court, protesting the state government’s alleged failure to protect minorities. "It is a small protest. Somebody has to protest individually," Nariman told PTI today. He returned the brief on Narmada case to the Gujarat Government on December 31.

Farooq donates money
NEW DELHI, Jan 10 (PTI) — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, who received the 1998 National Amity Award for his efforts to bring back normalcy in the troubled valley, has donated the prize money of Rs 1 lakh for the aid of victims of recent communal violence in Gujarat and Karnataka. The award, comprising the cash prize and a citation, was given away by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at a function here last night.

Vice-President
PORT BLAIR, Jan 10 (PTI) — The Vice-President Krishna Kant arrived here today on a six-day visit to Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Lt-Governor I.P. Gupta and a host of dignitaries, including the Lok Sabha MP Manoranjan Bhakta and Portblair Municipal Council Chairman Santosh Kumar Mondal, received the Vice-President.

Bus set afire
HYDERABAD, Jan 10 (UNI) — Naxalites of the banned People's War Group (PWG) set ablaze a state road transport corporation bus near Govindwada village in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh late last night. The police here said about six Naxals stopped the bus bound for Govindwada village, asked passengers to alight and set it on fire by pouring petrol. Their action was in protest against an encounter.

Opposition stir
AGARTALA, Jan 10 (PTI) — Major opposition parties of Tripura would launch a statewide movement from tomorrow to press for their three-point charter of demands, including dismissal of the ruling Left Front government for its alleged failure to combat insurgency in the state. The decision for launching the joint agitation was taken at a meeting of three parties on January 3.