tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Sunday, September 19, 1999
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Hostages rescued
CALCUTTA, Sept 18 (UNI) — In yet another hostage drama, Maoist Communist Centre (MCC) activists took hostage some more eastern railway officials in Chichaki station on the Gomo-Hazaribagh road section of Eastern Railway’s Dhanbad division last night. They were kept hostage for six hours before being rescued by GRP and RPF personnel. The movement of trains in the grand chord section was disrupted.

3 inhale gas, die
LUDHIANA, Sept 18 (PTI) — Three youths died after inhaling poisonous gas while cleaning a tanker in which some chemical was brought to a local foundry in Dashmesh Nagar here last night, the police said today. The victims developed nausea and soon fell unconscious while cleaning the tanker and were rushed to a hospital but died soon afterwards. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem.

CRPF officer killed
IMPHAL, Sept 18 (UNI) — A CRPF Deputy Commandant was killed and two constables injured when some armed militants ambushed a patrol party at Kangvai in Manipur’s Churachandpur district today. The police said the victims stationed at the Churachandpur headquarters were on a patrol on the Tiddim state highway. The Deputy Commandant was identified as Mr Lal Singh.

Sonia’s tour
BHOPAL, Sep 18 (UNI) — Congress President Sonia Gandhi who was to visit Madhya Pradesh for a campaign for the elections has cancelled her tour because of inclement weather. State Congress spokesman Manak Agrawal said Mrs Gandhi left New Delhi for addressing her proposed public meetings at Kanker, Hardi (Sarangarh), Dhamtari, Dindori and Seoni but had to return because of heavy rain.

Villages submerged
BHOPAL, Sept 18 (UNI) — Life was thrown out of gear due to continuous rain in several parts of Madhya Pradesh today. A special train carrying Army personnel and relief materials has arrived from Sagar to Hoshangabad to assist the flood-affected people. Official sources said seven to eight low lying areas of the town and five villages were totally submerged in the water.

Evacuation plan
GANDHINAGAR, Sept 18 (UNI) — The Bharuch district administration in Gujarat today moved about 40 persons to safer places and made preparations to shift thousands others as the swollen Narmada threatened to invade Bharuch town by tonight. Bharuch District Collector B.B. Swain said the river was already flowing above the danger mark of 7.32 metres at Golden Bridge near the town.

Explosives seized
COIMBATORE, Sept 18 (UNI) — Personnel of the Special Task Force seized 20 gelatine sticks from a bus and arrested two persons in this connection near Thalavadi in Erode district of Tamil Nadu last night.