S P O T L I G H T

18 injured in communal clash
Jaipur, February 24
Eighteen persons were injured when members of two communities threw stones at each other in the Subhash Chowk locality here this morning following a scuffle between children. The situation was now under control, an official spokesman said here. As tension prevailed in the area, a Rajasthan Armed Constabulary company was deployed. UNI

6 Naxalites surrender
Hyderabad, February 24
Six Naxalites surrendered before the police at Warangal in Andhra Pradesh today. Dalam commanders T. Babu Rao and M. Tirupati, alias Sudhakar, of the Praja Pratighatana group were among the extremists who surrendered before the Warangal district SP, Mr V.P. Apte. PTI

ULFA leader killed
Guwahati, February 24
A top ULFA leader was killed in an encounter with the Army in Assam, where eight ultras were apprehended yesterday, defence sources said today. Acting on a tip-off, troops of the Red Horn Division intercepted ULFA’s Kamrup district commander Dhiren Das near Hathiana village. In the ensuing encounter, Dhiren was killed. PTI

Shot dead
Agra, February 24
Samajwadi Party leader Sevaram Sharma was shot dead yesterday by motor cycle-borne assailants near Bah town, 70 km from here, the police said today. Sevaram Sharma, 70, a former block pramukh, was pulled out of his jeep and fired at from point-blank range. PTI

Census boycott
Baripada (Orissa), February 24
Residents of Rutughutu village in the district are boycotting the national Census, demanding that a revenue status be given to their village. UNI