S P O T L I G H T

5 feared killed in Lankan plane crash
Colombo, August 15
All five crew members aboard a Sri Lanka air force aircraft were feared killed when it crashed in a paddy field south of Colombo today, the Defence Ministry said. No survivors or casualties on the ground have been reported so far in the crash that took place at 12.35 p.m. near Nagoda, 50 km south of Colombo, an official statement said here. PTI

8 hurt in train blast
Kolkata, August 15
At least eight persons were injured when a bomb exploded in a passenger train at Kotalpukur station of the Howrah division today, Eastern Railway officials said. The explosion occurred in a general compartment of the Rampurhat-Sahebgani train. The explosives were kept under a seat, the officials said. UNI

Self-immolation bid
Lucknow, August 15
In a bid to attract Uttar Pradesh Chief minister Mayawati’s attention to alleged police inaction in a robbery case, a middle-aged woman and her teenaged son tried to immolate themselves outside her residence here last evening, the police said. According to the police, Khairun Nisa and Mohammad Irshad of Pakdi Gopal village in Jaunpur district, who doused kerosene on themselves, were nabbed by security men before they could set themselves ablaze. UNI

3 run over by train
Ferozepore, August 15
Three youths from Muktsar were run over and killed by a train at a level crossing in the cantonment here this morning. Gurmit Singh, Kulwinder Singh and an unidentified friend of theirs were crossing the track near Moga BSF crossing at around 6 am when they were run over and killed on the spot by the Bathinda-bound 2 SB train from Ferozepore, railway sources said. Their bodies were sent to the Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination. UNI