S P O T L I G H T

9 AIADMK men quit
MADURAI, Aug 6 (PTI) —Nine AIADMK functionaries in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts, including the Rajya Sabha MP N. Rajendran, today resigned from the party in protest against the “sidelining” of loyal party workers and lack of proper respect to them. In a joint statement at Kovilpatti, the functionaries, who included those from the Jayalalitha Peravai and the MGR youth wing, said loyal party workers were not being given due respect in the AIADMK and hence had joined the DMK, indicating that they also might joint the DMK soon. They claimed that at least 1000 AIADMK men would soon tender their resignations and take a decision within the next fortnight on joining the DMK.

Farooq meets Sonia
NEW DELHI, Aug 6 (PTI) — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today met Congress President Sonia Gandhi in the wake of latter’s demand for setting up a judicial probe into the recent massacres in the state.

Curfew clamped
UDAIPUR, Aug 6 (UNI) — An indefinite curfew was clamped this afternoon in the adjoining Rajsamand district in Rajasthan following incidents of stoning and arson during the Kawad yatra. Rajsamand District Collector Nirmal Waghwani said the situation in the district was now “under control”.

15 LTTE rebels shot
COLOMBO, Aug 6 (PTI) — At least 15 LTTE rebels were killed in northern Sri Lanka as sporadic fighting continued between the army and the guerrillas, an official press note said today. Fourteen rebels were killed by troops in the northern Jaffna peninsula in two different encounters, it said.