S P O T L I G H T

287 Bihar villages flooded, 20 dead
Gopalganj (Bihar), August 22
As many as 287 villages have been inundated following breaches in the Saran embankment due to fresh floods that has claimed 20 lives in the district so far. District Magistrate M.S. Raju said the breaches developed near Tirapakar and Devapur villages following which floodwaters inundated the villages affecting about 600,000 persons. The villagers had been moved to safer places. Six persons died in floodwaters at Sidhwalia, four each at Baikunthpur and Majha villages and two each at Gopalganj, Barauli and Kuchaikot. There was a rapid rise in the level of the Gandak. UNI

3 die in police firing
Baghpat, (UP) August 22
Three persons were killed as the police fired on agitated farmers at Baleni village in the district today. More than 35 persons including 15 policemen, were injured in the clash between the villagers, and the police which took place following the firing. The villagers, however, claimed that at least five persons were killed in the police firing. UNI

Ershad disqualified
Dhaka, August 22
Jatiya Party (E) Chairman H.M. Ershad has been disqualified for the October 1 general election by the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. Supreme Court Chief Justice Mahmudul Amin Chowdhury today dismissed the leave petition filed by Mr Ershad challenging the high court verdict that affirmed the former President’s disqualification to retain Parliament membership. A writ petition was filed before the high court challenging the continuation of Mr Ershad’s Parliament membership after the Janata Tower corruption case. UNI

Threat calls
Kolkata, August 22
Sherrif of Kolkata and noted Rabindra Sangeet exponent Suchitra Mitra said today she had been receiving threat calls for protesting against the running of a hotel in the house of Rabindranath Tagore at Sudder Street in Central Kolkata. “I have received several threat calls, but am yet to inform the Chief Minister,” Ms Mitra told reporters after a meeting with Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee here. UNI

Strike in AIIMS
New Delhi, August 22
Services at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) were badly hit today following a tiff between resident doctors and institute’s employees which resulted in a flash strike by the resident doctors. Institute Director P.K. Dave said resident doctors have assured him that work at the casualty department will not be affected. PTI

Explosives haul
Etawah, August 22
In a major haul, the police today seized 1400 kg of explosives from a temple in Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh and arrested two persons in this connection. District police chief S.R. Tripathi said the explosives could be used in making small crude bombs. The police was interrogating the father and the son arrested in this regard. PTI