tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Monday, July 26, 1999
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Curfew relaxed in Bhaderwah
JAMMU, July 25 (PTI) — Curfew was relaxed for five hours in Bhaderwah town of Doda district as the situation improved there, a police spokesman said here. No untoward incident was reported during the relaxation period, he said, adding police and para-military personnel continued to patrol sensitive areas of the town. The curfew was clamped on Friday in the wake of communal tension after some persons held a demonstration over the recent killing of two youths in the town by masked men. Meanwhile, special police officer Deewan Singh, who was critically wounded in a encounter with militants in the Arnas area a few days ago, succumbed to his injuries at the medical college here, the spokesman said.

50 feared drowned in Rajasthan
DHOLPUR (Rajasthan), July 25 (UNI) — About 50 persons were feared to have been washed away in the Chambal river near the Barsla ghat in Dholpur district this afternoon when they were putting up a Pontoon bridge. Official sources said local boatmen were attempting to rope in part of the bridge on the swollen river when one part of the bridge got caught in the swift current. The boatmen in their attempt to bring it back also got caught in the churning waters and were carried away towards the Uttar Pradesh border. The district administration said the number of people washed away is still to be ascertained.

Bihar flood toll 135
PATNA, July 25 (UNI) — The swollen Kakraha, a tributary of the Ganga, breached its dykes and inundated fresh areas in Bhagalpur district even as the death toll due to floods in Bihar rose to 135 today. A Darbhanga report, quoting Deputy Inspector General of Police Rakesh Prasad Singh, said four persons were feared drowned in the swirling waters of the Bagmati at Jatmalpur village. Only two bodies had been recovered. Twentyone persons have met the watery grave in different boat tragedies in Darbhanga district this month.

Landslide toll 11
GUWAHATI, July 25 (PTI) — The toll in the worst-ever landslide in Guwahati city has risen to 11 as there were reports of more landslides in at least four other areas since Friday, the police said today. The toll in the Kalapahar Colony Bazaar tragedy rose to 11 with the death of one Uttam Roy in Guwahati Medical College Hospital here today.

97 die in Nepal floods
KATHMANDU, July 25 (Reuters) — At least 97 persons have been killed in Nepal due to landslides and floods triggered by monsoon rains, Home Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka said today. Mr Khadka told Nepali Parliament that 12 others were missing while 33 had been injured since the onset of the monsoons in June.

Dismiss Rabri govt: JD
PATNA, July 25 (PTI) — Bolstered by its merger with the Samata Party and the Lok Shakti, the Janata Dal today revived its demand for dismissal of the Rabri Devi government and imposition of President's rule in Bihar. "The law and order in Bihar has totally broken down.... lives and property are not safe in the hands of the RJD regime," senior party leader Ramvilas Paswan told reporters here, adding that Bihar was "a fit case" for invoking Article 356.

Indian delegation
NEW DELHI, July 25 (UNI) — Lok Sabha Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi is heading the Indian delegation at a meeting of the Asia Pacific Group of the Inter Parliamentary Union being held in Ullah Baatar in Mongolia to discuss regional cooperation in the Asian pacific region. The meeting will also have a general debate on the political, economic and social situation in the Asia Pacific region.

Minister abused
GANGTOK, July 25 (PTI) — Sikkim Health, Family Welfare and Information Minister D.P. Kharel was heckled and his house and vehicle were damaged allegedly by a group of rival political party workers in South district's Mamring last night, the police today said. Mr Kharel, who was coming to his home after a party meeting, was allegedly stopped on Mamring bridge by Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP) supporters and abused and his vehicle was also damaged, according to an FIR lodged by one of his aide.

King Hassan buried
RABAT, July 25 (DPA) — Morocco’s King Hassan II was today buried at Rabat’s royal mausoleum next to his father Mohammed V. A 75-minute funeral cortege led the monarch’s remains to the mausoleum, with world leaders from US President Bill Clinton to Spain’s King Juan Carlos walking for several kilometres to pay tribute to the longest-serving Arab ruler. The walk was so strenuous that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat had to be supported by Turkish President Suleyman Demirel.

Nigerian clashes
KANO (Nigeria), July 25 (Reuters) — At least 30 persons died after renewed ethnic clashes erupted overnight in the northern Nigerian city of Kano, residents said today. "By my own reckoning no less than 30 persons have been killed since the early hours of today," said one resident who fled the fighting in the Sabon Gari quarters of the mainly Muslim Kano. He said many houses were also burnt down.