S P O T L I G H T

Nepal expels Pak official
KATHMANDU, Jan 5 (UNI) — Nepal today ordered a Pakistan Embassy junior staff member to quit the Hindu kingdom within 72 hours for “involvement in an activity incompatible with his status.” Mr Aslam Saboor, posted as an UDC/Assistant in the visa section of the Pakistan mission here, was declared “persona non grata” by the Nepal Government and issued quit-orders this afternoon. He was caught last Sunday while dealing in fake Indian high-denomination currency notes, a Nepali Foreign Ministry official said.

Strike suspended
MUMBAI, Jan 5 (PTI) — The three-day-old transporters’ strike that affected life in the metropolis was suspended tonight following talks between the Maharashtra Government and the agitating unions. Announcing this in the presence of Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, joint convener of the transporters’ associations Sharad Rao said the agitation in protest against the state government’s implementation of the Mumbai High Court directive on vehicular emission norms stood suspended with immediate effect.

Terrorist held
JAIPUR, Jan 5 (PTI) — A Pakistan-trained Punjab terrorist has been arrested by the Rajasthan police here, Director-General of Police Amitabh Gupta said today. Paramjeet Singh alias Jarnail Singh, wanted by the Punjab police, was arrested in Jawahar Nagar area yesterday by the intelligence branch, Gupta told reporters. The terrorist had returned to India about seven months ago after receiving training, the police chief said quoting his preliminary questioning.

33 feared dead
ASTA (Norway), Jan 5 (Reuters) — Children on a shopping trip on the last day of the Christmas holiday were feared to be among the 33 persons believed to have died in a head-on collision between two trains in Norway, the police said today. Rescue workers prepared to search the burned-out wrecks of the two trains after yesterday’s collision at Asta station, 160 km north of Oslo.

27 hurt in Pak blast
KARACHI, Jan 5 (AP) — A powerful bomb exploded in the Southern Sindh province here today, injuring 27 persons, five of them seriously, the police said. The bomb went off in a congested market in Hyderabad, 180 km north from here. No one has taken responsibility for the blast.

Sharma’s ashes
BHOPAL, Jan 5 (PTI) — The ashes of the former President, Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma, were immersed today at Bodhni Ghat in the Narmada in neighbouring Sehore district, about 60 km from here.Those present at the Ghat included Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh and Sharma’s son Ashutosh Dayal Sharma.