The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Wednesday, March 8, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

THE TRIBUNE SPECIALS

50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

TERCENTENARY CELEBRATIONS

S P O T L I G H T

Naxals kill AP minister
HYDERABAD, March 7 (UNI) — Andhra Pradesh Panchayati Raj Minister A Madhav Reddy and three of his gunmen were killed in a landmine blast triggered by the Naxalites of the banned People’s War Group (PWG) near Ghateskar in Rangareddy district, tonight. The police said, the Naxalites blew up the car, in which Mr Reddy and his gunmen were travelling, between 10.30 p.m. and 11.30 p.m. The occupants of the car were killed instantaneously as the vehicle was blown to pieces under the impact of the explosion. Mr Reddy, who had earlier served as Home Minister, was returning to the city after campaigning for the municipal elections that ended this evening.

Bangladesh ratifies CTBT
DHAKA, March 7 (PTI) — Bangladesh today became the first South Asian nation to ratify the CTBT after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina signed an executive order ratifying the treaty days ahead of US President Bill Clinton’s visit here.

Mawlong to take oath
SHILLONG, March 7 (PTI) — Mr E.K. Mawlong, leader of the newly elected United Democratic Party (UDP) Legislature Party, will be sworn in Chief Minister of Meghalaya tomorrow, Raj Bhavan sources said. Governor M.M. Jacob has asked him to take oath at 11.30 a.m. tomorrow, the sources said. Only the Chief Minister would be sworn in.

Doctors allowed to move plea
NEW DELHI, March 7 (PTI) — The Delhi High Court today allowed the association of faculty members of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to challenge the government order on pay scales for doctors if they felt aggrieved by the government decision in this regard. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice S.N Variava and Justice Cyriac Joseph disposing of a petition which challenged the doctors’ strike in February last year for implementation of the K.K Baksi Committee pay scales, said the court had to follow an appropriate procedure as there was no such relief sought in the petition.

Id on March 17
NEW DELHI, March 7 (PTI) — Id-ul-Azha will be celebrated on March 17, Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid Mufti M. Mukarram Ahmed announced here today. "The new moon of the month Zil Hij (the month of Haj and Id-ul-Azha was not sighted yesterday... the moon of Zil Hij will be sighted today and the first day of the month will be tomorrow," he said in a press statement. Id-ul-Azha would be celebrated on the 10th day from tomorrow on March 17, he said.