The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Sunday, January 30, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

S P O T L I G H T

Curfew continues
LUCKNOW, Jan 29 (PTI) — Curfew continued in Azamgarh and Mubarakpur in Uttar Pradesh today although no untoward incident was reported from the towns which witnessed communal clashes earlier this week, an official spokesman said here. Para-military forces have been deployed in strength in four police station areas of Azamgarh to maintain strict vigil in the wake of Thursday’s clashes, the spokesman said, adding that senior officials were camping in the area.

Bihar minister quits
PATNA, Jan 29 (PTI) — Bihar Minister of State for Building Construction Basant Singh today resigned from the Rabri Devi ministry after he was denied an RJD ticket. He told reporters that he had also resigned from the primary membership of the party as it did not field him from the Dumraon Assembly constituency in Buxar. He said he would contest from the constituency as an Independent candidate.

Bodo movement
GUWAHATI, Jan 29 (PTI) — The All-Bodo Students’ Union, Bodo People’s Action Committee and the People’s Democratic Front today decided to launch a joint movement demanding creation of Bodoland. The three organisations at a joint meeting, held at Kokrajhar, decided to come together under a common platform to mobilise people and ensure mass participation of people, ABSU general secretary Nathuram Boro said in a press note.

Extradition treaty
NEW DELHI, Jan 29 (PTI) — The Union Cabinet today approved an extradition treaty signed between India and Tunisia, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan said. The Cabinet also cleared a proposal to lease 15,000 square feet of military land in Jabalpur Cantonment to the Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board for executing a World Bank aided project, he said.

Rentals reduced
MUMBAI, Jan 29 (PTI) — BPL Mobile today announced reduction in rentals and tariff rate in accordance with the recent Delhi High Court order, while continuing to offer free calls facility to frequently called numbers under the family and friends plan. The high court had directed cellular phone service providers to reduce monthly rental from Rs 600 to Rs 475 with retrospective effect from November 1, 1999, and tariff rate from Rs 6 per minute to Rs 4 per minute.

Pak ammunition
ISLAMABAD, Jan 29 (PTI) — Pakistan has indigenously developed 120 mm mortar ammunition having double the range of conventional ones, Pakistani scientists here have claimed. The Defence Science and Technology Organisation developed the ammunition at a very low cost, official news agency APP said today in a Rawalpindi datelined dispatch.