tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Saturday, March 13, 1999
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Yehudi Menuhin dies
BERLIN, March 12 (AFP) — Violonist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin (82) died today in Berlin after heart failure, his agent said. Menuhin, born in New York on April 22, 1916, to Russian Jewish immigrants, was a renowned interpreter of classical and modern music. He acquired British citizenship in 1985 and was knighted two years later by Queen Elizabeth II. In 1993 he received the title of lord. During his unusually long career, Menuhin gave countless concerts around the world, although recently he devoted more of his time to teaching and conduction.

ONGC well catches fire
MUMBAI, March 12 (PTI) — A gas well at Bombay High, about 160 km off the North-West Mumbai Coast, caught fire this afternoon. An uncontrolled flow of gas, which began at 9.30 a.m. yesterday from the "B-121-D" well, connected to the B-121 platform comprising five wells, started spewing fire from 12.20 noon today, an Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) spokesman said.

"Rail roko" stir
BHUBANESWAR, March 12 (PTI) — Train services in Orissa were thrown out of gear for five hours as supporters of the ruling Congress resorted to a "rail roko" agitation this morning in protest against the alleged neglect of the state in the area of railway development. Most long-distance trains passing through the state were regulated and detained at various stations till the agitation ended at 11 a.m.

7 IAS men transferred
JAIPUR, March 12 (PTI) — The Rajasthan Government today ordered the transfer of seven senior IAS officers with immediate effect. An official statement here said that Vinod Jutshi, presently the executive director in the Rajasthan State Electricity Board (RSEB), had been shifted to the command area development at Bikaner as Commissioner.

Pondy CM's poll
NEW DELHI, March 12 (PTI) — The Supreme Court today directed the Madras High Court to decide afresh a petition challenging the validity of the election of Pondicherry Chief Minister R.V. Jankiraman to the state assembly in 1996. The High Court had rejected the election petition of former Chief Minister D. Ramachandran, who lost to Jankiraman in the Nellithope constituency by a margin of 1449 votes, alleging unfair poll practices on preliminary grounds.

Manohar Joshi
MUMBAI, March 12 (PTI) — Stung by the strictures passed by the Mumbai High Court against him in the Girish Vyas case, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi today announced that he had decided to resign his membership of the state legislative assembly. "I have taken this decision following the adverse observations and comments by the court," he said.

15 injured in clash
JAIPUR, March 12 (PTI) — Fifteen persons, including five policemen, were injured in a clash between persons of two communities following a minor fight between children in the sensitive Ramganj area here in Rajasthan today. The police fired in the air to quell the warring groups who indulged in heavy brickbating, Superintendent of Police North P. Vyas said.