S P O T L I G H T

17 die as truck overturns
HYDERABAD, May 27 (PTI) — Seventeen persons were killed and 24 injured, when a truck overturned near a railway crossing at Rajpalem in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh today, the police said here. The truck, carrying 43 persons, was returning to Prakasham district from Nellore when the mishap occurred. Fifteen persons were klled on the spot while two others succumbed to their injuries at a hospital.

3 Dalits killed
CHENNAI, May 27 (UNI) — Three Dalit youths, all of them brothers, were hacked to death by some unidentified persons at Puliangudi village near Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu, early today. According to the police, the assailants slit the throats of the victims, sleeping on a cot outside their house.

Hailstorm in Shimla
SHIMLA, May 27 (PTI) — Shimla and its surrounding areas were lashed by a severe hailstorm this evening. The hailstorm forced tourists and residents to rush indoors and the posh Mall Road and Ridge areas wore a deserted look.

200 Cong men held
VIJAYAWADA, May 27 (PTI) — About 200 Congress activists were taken into custody here today when they staged a “rasta-roko” on the eve of ruling TDP’s mini “mahanadu” (delegates convention). The activists were demanding allocation of adequate funds for the pending irrigation projects in Krishna district.

50 die in bus mishap
DHAKA, May 27 (Reuters) — Up to 50 persons were feared drowned when a bus fell into the Kocha river in southern Pirojpur, 350 km from the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, today, the police said.

Northern Ireland
BELFAST, May 27 (Reuters) — Britain said today it would restore home-rule to Northern Ireland from midnight on Monday after Protestant Unionists voted to share power with Roman Catholic Republicans.