S P O T L I G H T

NSCN (K) agrees on ceasefire
KOHIMA, April 9 (PTI) — Naga insurgent group NSCN (Khaplang) today announced a formal ceasefire with the Centre. “The NSCN has decided to have formal ceasefire with the government in Naga-inhabited areas to fulfil the demand of the Nagas for peace and thereafter a permanent political settlement”, an NSCN (K) press note issued here said. The note issued by the NSCN (K) information and publicity wing in-charge, Mr Kughalo Mulatonu, said, “The future of the Nagas will be decided very shortly with unanimous consensus of the Nagas” and “will not be decided by others but the Nagas alone”.

PWG leader killed
HYDERABAD, April 9 (UNI) — A top leader of the banned People’s War Group (PWG) and a woman member were among three militants killed in an encounter with the police in Yellareddypet village in Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh, in the early hours today. The police said Anjaiah, the commander of the Sircila Gorilla Squad who carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh on his head, and two other extremists flred at a police party which was combing the area. The police returned the fire, killing the three.

Woman abducted
AGARTALA, April 9 (PTI) — Insurgents of the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) today abducted the wife of a CPI candidate contesting the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTADC) elections and demanded his withdrawal from the race, the police said. A group of six insurgents raided the house of Mr Manindra Reang, who is contesting from the Birchandranagar-Kalsi constituency in South Tripura district, and abducted his wife, Ms Parvati, at gunpoint.

Greeks go to polls
ATHENS, April 9 (Reuters) — Greeks went to the polls today in a cliff-hanger general election that could end almost 20 years of nearly continuous socialist rule. Opinion polls showed the ruling Socialist Pasok Party of Prime Minister Costas Simitis, 64, running neck and neck with the conservative opposition New Democracy Party, led by Costas Karamanlis, 43.