tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Sunday, October 24, 1999
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Deshmukh govt wins trust vote
MUMBAI, Oct 23 (PTI) — The Democratic Front (DF) government headed by Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh in Maharashtra today won the trust vote by a voice vote and later claimed the support of 10 more MLAs, taking its strength to 160 in the 288-member House. The vote of confidence was preceded by a noisy walkout by the Shiv Sena-BJP opposition which protested over the Speaker’s refusal to admit an adjournment motion in connection with an attack on a Sena MLA in Pune recently.
ULFA chairman
NAZIRA (Assam), Oct 23 (PTI) — Assam Governor Lt-Gen S.K. Sinha (retd) has offered a "one-week safe passage" and total security to Arobindo Rajkhowa, chairman of banned ULFA, to visit his ailing parents in upper Assam’s Sibsagar district. "I guarantee Arobindo Rajkhowa, who is in self-exile in Dhaka, a safe passage and total security for a week. He can come and go back after visiting his parents and there will be no interference and strings attached to that proposal," he said yesterday.

Cyclone toll 114
BERHAMPUR, Oct 23 (PTI) — Death toll in the cyclone that devastated coastal districts of Orissa on Sunday rose to 114 today with 19 deaths reported from interior areas of the worst-hit Ganjam district, Revenue Divisional Commissioner Jaganand Panda said. Ganjam, which bore the brunt of the cyclone, accounted for 103 deaths, Keonjhar four, Puri, Gajapati and Khurda two each and Dhenkanal one.
Russian raids
GROZNY, Oct 23 (AFP) — Ten persons were killed and 15 wounded today when Russian planes attacked the Chechen town of Serjen-Yurt, according to provisional estimates released by the Chechen presidency. The raid, which took place shortly after 2.30 p.m. (IST) also caused considerable material damage in the eastern town, the presidency press office said. The reports could not be independently confirmed.
4 CRPF men killed
IMPHAL, Oct 23 (UNI) — At least four CRPF personnel, including a Sub-Inspector, were killed and two injured in an ambush at Matukhong, 11 km south-east of Jiribam police station under Imphal East district in Manipur today. The police said, some suspected ultras armed with sophisticated weapons ambushed the patrol party of 120 Bn CRPF. Two constables were seriously injured in the attack and admitted to a hospital.
Strike threat
NEW DELHI, Oct 23 (PTI) — Private bus operators under the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) have threatened to go on strike on November 1 demanding enhanced rate following DTC doubling its fares. Mr Ramesh Dalal, president of the Rashtriya Parivahan Panchayat (RPP), today claimed that nearly 2,800 private buses plying under the DTC would be off the city roads.
7 Tigers killed
COLOMBO, Oct 23 (AP) — Sri Lankan troops killed seven Tamil rebels in northern jungles, the Defence Ministry said today. The soldiers attacked a guerrilla ‘bunker yesterday with rockets and machine-gun fire, killing five guerrillas at Oddusuddan in the Wanni jungle, a statement by the ministry said.
Pope’s visit
AYODHYA, Oct 23 (UNI) — Abandoning its earlier stand on the visit of Pope John Paul, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has now decided to protest against his visit only on the ideological level. In charge of the VHP media centre Lokesh Pratap Singh said here that the decision had been taken to save the newly-installed Vajpayee government at the Centre from embarrassment. The Pope is arriving in New Delhi on a two-day visit on November 6.