S P O T L I G H T

7 killed in J&K
Srinagar, April 23
Seven persons, including three militants and a Special Police Officer, were killed and two abducted in Jammu and Kashmir, while the Border Security Force (BSF) smashed a militant hideout and recovered a large quantity of explosives since last night, an official spokesman said today. The SPO, Surinder Singh, was shot dead by militants in Gandoh area of Doda district. PTI

Army Subedar, 2 others killed
Jaisalmer, April 23
A landmine explosion killed an Army Naik Subedar and two others and left a Havildar seriously injured in Barmer district, close to the Indo-Pak border, last night, a senior police official said today. Barmer district Superintendent of Police S. Segatheer said here that the mishap occurred when the jeep in which the victims were travelling mistakenly entered the mine-laden Jaisidar area in Gadra region in the district. The vehicle was blown to pieces due to the impact of the blast. UNI

ED official jailed
New Delhi, April 23
A CBI court has sentenced a senior Enforcement Directorate official to five years’ rigorous imprisonment for taking a bribe of Rs 25,000 for dropping a FERA case. Jagdish Chander Makhija, an Assistant Director, will have to pay Rs 5,000 as penalty. Makhija was arrested by CBI sleuths from his house when he was receiving the bribe to drop a FERA-related case against a person. UNI