S P O T L I G H T

Pakistan against poll in J&K
Islamabad, August 20
The Pakistan’s Information Minister today asked India not to hold elections in Kashmir, saying these would be a sham. Addressing Kashmiris outside Parliament, Mr Nisar Memon said Pakistan would only support elections in Kashmir after a referendum allowing the Kashmiris to choose between India, Pakistan and independence. Speaking on the “Pakistan Solidarity Day”, Mr Memon also repeated Pakistan’s call for international mediation to end the Kashmir dispute. AP

20 jawans killed
Agartala, August 20
In a fresh outbreak of violence, NLFT ultras mowed down at least 20 TSR jawans and injured five in an ambush in extremist-dominated Hirapur under the Takarjala police station in West Tripura today. The police said the heavily armed National Liberation Front of Tripura guerrillas also decamped with 17 self-loading rifles, a light machinegun, a huge cache of ammunition sets before leaving the spot, 30 km away from the capital. UNI

Dam bursts, 10 missing
Balaghat, August 20
At least 10 persons went missing and five villages were inundated after the 125-year-old Jamuniya dam burst in rain-affected Balaghat district this morning. Official sources said a relief and rescue team, accompanied by the District Collector and other senior officers, rushed to the spot. UNI

Hostages taken
Berlin, August 20
The German police today said that an undisclosed number of hostages had been taken at the Iraqi embassy in Berlin. Several police vehicles had surrounded the building, witnesses said. The police gave no further details. AFP