tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Sunday, June 13, 1999
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Pak agrees to locate PoWs
ISLAMABAD, June 12 (ANI) — Pakistan has agreed on humanitarian grounds to re-investigate the whereabouts of 54 prisoners of war (PoWs) who, according to an Indian claim, were taken into custody during the 1965 and 1971 wars by Pakistani forces. This information was provided by Pakistan Foreign Office to the Senate Standing Committee on the issue. The committee is expected to discuss the matter shortly. The Pakistan Foreign Office has further disclosed that both countries have informed each other about the whereabouts of civilian prisoners languishing in jails on either side.
Red alert sounded
MUMBAI, June 12 (UNI) — The Mumbai police has sounded a red alert and asked citizens to take precautions to thwart the evil designs of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the metropolis in the wake of the Pakistani aggression in Kargil. An official statement here today said this was necessary in view of the seizure of explosives in various parts of the country in recent days.

NCP recognised
MUMBAI, June 12 (UNI) — The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), formed by Mr Sharad Pawar was granted recognition as an independent party in Maharashtra. Leader of the Opposition in the state Legislative Council Chhagan Bhujbal said the recognition was granted through letters to him as well as Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Madhukarrao Pichad by both Legislative Assembly Speaker Datta Nalawade and Council Chairman N.S. Pharande on June 9.
Monster ‘spotted’
LONDON, June 12 (ANI) — Nessie, the shy and retiring Loch Ness monster and national mascot of Scotland, has been spotted by a couple watching via the Internet from Texas. Nora and Mike Jones said they spied the elusive beast on live pictures transmitted via the Web from a fixed camera on the shore of the narrow highland lake. "we saw a head and neck appear in front of the castle and it was travelling fairly fast. We watched till it swam off screen", Nora said on the web site www. lochness. Scotland. net.
Fishermen missing
COX'S BAZAR (Bangladesh), June 12 (Reuters) — At least 50 fishermen were still missing after a storm in the Bay of Bengal near Bangladesh's Saint Martin Island, the police said today. "The (five) boats and fishermen did not return to shore after the storm (on Friday)", a police officer quoted Chairman of the Saint Martin Administrative Council, Mr Shamsul Alam Master, as saying.
Lankan Army
COLOMBO, June 12 (PTI) — The Sri Lankan Army has captured 28 villages and made deep inroads into the LTTE held highway connecting north-western Manner with Pooneryn near Jaffna, the Defence Ministry here said today. The Army faced little resistance from the LTTE as it captured 358 square km from the rebels and "liberated" over 20,000 people, a defence press note said.
UP scribes' body
LUCKNOW, June 12 (PTI) — A leading journalists' body in Uttar Pradesh today condemned Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav for "banning" the electronic media from the party's functions and press conferences. The Uttar Pradesh Accredited Correspondents' Committee held an emergency meeting here and termed Mr Yadav's action, after mediapersons failed to turn up for SP's student wing meeting on Thursday, as "an assault on press freedom".
Vengala Rao dead
HYDERABAD, June 12 (UNI) — Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and veteran Congress Leader J. Vengala Rao, who initiated stern measures against Naxalites, died of prolonged illness here tonight. He was 78 and is survived by two sons, including former Minister J. Prasada Rao. He was also Union Industry Minister in the Rajiv Gandhi Cabinet during 1984-89. He was the Andhra Pradesh PCC(I) President between 1984-88.