L A T E S T      N E W S

PM expresses grief at Haridwar tragedy

New Delhi, November 8
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Tuesday expressed grief over the loss of precious lives in the stampede at Haridwar. The Prime Minister has sanctioned an ex-gratia of one lakh rupees each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to those seriously injured in the stampede from the Prime Minister`s National Relief Fund.

At least 16 persons were killed and over 30 others were injured in a stampede that broke out during a religious procession to commemorate the centennial of a spiritual leader's birth at a ashram in Haridwar's Chandidweep area today.

The stampede broke out when devotees tried to enter gates of the Shantikunj Ashram to take part in a 'yagya' as part of the centenary celebrations of ashram founder Pandit Shreeram Sharma.

The injured are being treated at a makeshift hospital near the camps. — ANI

PM leaves for Maldives to attend SAARC Summit

New Delhi, November 9
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today left on a four-day visit to Maldives during which he will attend the SAARC Summit and have a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani.

The two-day Summit begins tomorrow in Addu Islands after which he will leave for Male, capital of Maldives, for bilateral discussions with President Mohamed Nasheed on Saturday. PTI

Police lathicharge left trade union members 

Malda (WB), November 8 
Police today lathicharged left trade union members when they broke the police cordon and forcibly tried to entered the District Collectorate here.

A lathicharge was made when members of left trade unions protesting the price rise and various alleged anti-workers policies of the Centre forcibly tried to enter the District Collectorate, police sources said.

CPI(M) Malda district secretary Jiban Mitra alleged that many left party members including a large number of women were injured in the police lathicharge.

However, police sources denied Mitra's allegation and said only one or two persons suffered mild injury in the lathicharge. PTI