The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Monday, February 28, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

S P O T L I G H T

BJP legislator dead
LUCKNOW, Feb 27 (PTI) — BJP legislator from Soron Assembly seat in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah district Onkar Singh died here yesterday after protracted illness, a party spokesman said today. He was 45. Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta and state BJP chief Om Prakash Singh have expressed deep sorrow at his death.

M’rashtra quake
NEW DELHI, Feb 27 (UNI) — Parts of Maharashtra today experienced and earthquake of slight intensity measuring 2.8 on the Richter scale. According to the India Meteorological Department here. The tremor occurred at 2.42 p.m. and its epicentre was located at 16.9° north latitude and 73.8° east longitude. No damage was reported.

UF stakes claim in Manipur
IMPHAL, Feb 27 (UNI) — The ruling United Front today formally staked its claim to form a government in Manipur to Governor Ved Marwah submitting a list of 36 MLAs. Chief Minister W. Nipamacha Singh, who is also the president of Manipur State Congress Party (MSCP), the major partner in the United Front, told a press conference today that the front already had a strength of 28 and had managed to muster the support of six MLAs each of the Manipur Peoples Party (MPP) and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) besides one MLA of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and an independent.

8 hurt in blast
NEW DELHI, Feb 27 (PTI) — At least eight persons were injured in a blast in a private guest house in the crowded Paharganj area near New Delhi Railway Station today. A major portion of the guest house was damaged in the blast that occurred at 3.07 p.m. in a room on the second floor of the building, Joint Commissioner of Police Suresh Roy told PTI.

Grenade attack
COLOMBO, Feb 27 (ANI) — A Sri Lankan deputy minister escaped a grenade attack as he left a temple in the north-central town of Mihintale, 254 km from here, today. According to officials, Shantha Premaratne, Deputy Minister for Plan Implementation and Parliamentary Affairs, jumped into a ditch when two grenades were thrown at him by two unidentified men.

Army officer killed
GUWAHATI, Feb 27 (UNI) — An Army officer was shot dead and four militants were killed in two separate incidents of violence in upper Assam since last night. According to an official report available here, a fierce encounter took place near Bogoriguri under Jajori police station near Roha of Nagaon district. In the gun battle Lieutenant N.K. Kasiher was killed on the spot while Armymen killed three militants.

Alert along LoC
ISLAMABAD, Feb 27 (UNI) — Pakistan has beefed up security along the Line of Control with India. Patrolling along the LoC has been increased and troops, police and intelligence agencies alerted after the alleged massacre of 14 civilians which Islamabad says “was the work of Indian commandos.” India has rejected the allegations that its soldiers were involved.

Emergency extended
CAIRO, Feb 27 (AP) — Egyptian Parliament has endorsed President Hosni Mubarak’s decision to extend Egypt’s 19-year-old state of emergency for three more years after a stormy debate and opposition from legislators.