S P O T L I G H T

Film maker critical
Mumbai, December 28
The condition of Sanjay Gupta, director of the latest blockbuster “Kaante”, who was seriously injured in a mishap on the Mumbai-Pune highway yesterday, is still critical, according to hospital sources. He was on ventilator today but conscious, Lilavati Hospital sources said. He underwent spleenotectomy and was given four units of blood. Although the bleeding had stopped, his chest was badly damaged. He was injured after his car, that was moving at a speed of 80 to 90 km per hour, dashed against a pole. PTI

25 die in mishap
Multan, December 28
Two passenger buses collided in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province today killing at least 25 persons and injuring several others, some of them seriously, the police said. One bus veered out of control and hit an oncoming bus, said an official at the hospital. It is not clear what caused the bus to veer out of control. AP

Protesters hurt
Lucknow, December 28
The police today resorted to lathi charge and burst teargas shells on traders, protesting against form 48 of the Value Added Tax (VAT). According to the Udyog Vyapar Mandal general secretary at least 12 traders were hurt in the lathi charge outside the Vidhan Bhavan here. UNI

Cops booked
Ghaziabad, December 28
A murder case has been registered against three policemen and warrants have been issued against them for the attachment of their properties for their alleged role in a custodial death in Muzaffarnagar district last week. Murder cases have been registered against an SHO, a Sub-Inspector and a constable. PTI

Scribe freed
Patna, December 28 
After nearly two days of captivity, Ranchi-based lensman of Hindustan Times Ashok Karn was released unharmed late this evening at a village in Nalanda district of Bihar by his abductors. Director General of Police R.R. Prasad said that Karn was brought by his kidnappers in a car and let off in a sugarcane field near Jaitipur village. The kidnappers then sped away. PTI

11 Maoists killed
Kathmandu, December 28
At least 11 Maoists were killed by the security forces in Nepal in the latest offensive against the rebels, the Defence Ministry said today. The Maoists were killed in Surkhet, Dailekh and Rasuwa districts, the ministry said. The security forces also seized arms and ammunition during the search operation. UNI