Negligence led to fire
Experts have reservations over inquiry
NEW DELHI, May 1 - Serious doubts have been expressed over the reason for the devastating fire at the Bharatpur ammunition depot on Friday which resulted in a loss of almost 40 per cent of the Southern Command’s arsenal, especially a large number of 155 mm gun shells.

The birds are safe
NEW DELHI, May 1 — The yellow-legged pigeons, sarus cranes and hornbills that inhabit one of India’s best known bird sanctuaries — the Keoladeo National Park, in Bharatpur, Rajasthan — are safe and breeding as usual for this time of the year despite the inferno at the Indian Army’s ammunition depot, 11 km away.

CBI unable to read googly
NEW DELHI, May 1 — This is perhaps one googly that hard-boiled scam-busters are finding it difficult to read. In cricketing terms, even though the CBI is on a familiar wicket, the nature of delivery is not defined.

War game meet on May 4 & 5
Defence chiefs to converge on Chandimandir
CHANDIGARH, May 1 — Under Exercise Brahmastra, the top brass of all three services, including the service chiefs, will be congregating at Western Command Headquarters, Chandimandir, for a brainstorming session to chalk out operational doctrines to meet the battlefield requirements of the 21st century.

Lanka loses key base
COLOMBO, May 1 — Fourteen soldiers and four LTTE rebels were killed and 236 injured in heavy fighting and the Sri Lankan army’s hold on the northern Jaffna peninsula appeared shaky today with the army high command admitting the loss of yet another crucial military garrison to the Tamil guerrillas.

‘Test neutron bomb before signing CTBT’
MUMBAI, May 1— India should test neutron bomb before signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the government should not come under any kind of pressure to sign the treaty before the test, former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, Dr P.K. Iyengar has said.

Teachers on ad-hoc appointments in Delhi government schools shout slogans demanding permanent jobs as part of May Day rally in New Delhi on Monday. —Photo by Sondeep Shankar

Rajasthan gets 20 cr from calamity fund NEW DELHI, May 1 — The government today sanctioned Rs 30 crore from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for nutrition of women and children in drought affected Rajasthan and Gujarat. Calamity Relief Fund and Plan assistance to the two states will also be considered for release in advance on requirement basis, an official statement said.

2 killed, 4 hurt in Pak shelling
SRINAGAR, May 1 — Two persons, including a woman, were killed and four received injuries when Pakistani troops resorted to shelling from across the border in Karnah sector of Kupwara district yesterday.