LUCKNOW: Justice D K Trivedi will preside over the three-judge Special Bench of Allahabad High Court hearing title suits of Babri Masjid-Ram Janambhoomi dispute of Ayodhya. Justice I P Vashist and Justice Rafat Alam are the two other judges of the Special Bench. The Special Bench, which is in the process of recording evidence is expected to resume the recording of witness' statement this month. There has been no sitting of the Bench since May.

Two held with gelatine sticks in TN

CHENNAI: Two persons were arrested after large quantities of gelatine sticks were found in a van, late on Tuesday night, at suburban Poonthamalee area. Police said the arrested included the driver and the cleaner of the van.

Nearly 76 boxes containing over 70,000 gelatine sticks were seized from the van which was coming from Vellore.

Freedom fighters' pension raised

PONDICHERRY: The monthly pension to the freedom fighters in this Union Territory would be raised with immediate effect from Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,600. This was announced by Pondicherry Chief Minister R V Janakiraman on Wednesday.

Seven more Orissa fishermen rescued

PARADIP: Seven missing fishermen, adrift in the sea for eight days without food or water, were rescued by a fishing trawler and brought here taking the total number of survivors of the recent storm to 29. They were part of the 40 fishermen who had entered the sea on August 2 and were missing following the recent depression in the Bay of Bengal. Six bodies were recovered while 16 fishermen who had drifted to the Andhra Pradesh coast, were among the survivors.

Survey on Mahanadi, Cauvery linkage

HYDERABAD: Preliminary investigations pertaining to the peninsular component which envisages linking of two major rivers Mahanadi and Cauveri respectively have been completed. The Peninsular and Himalayan are the two vital components of the ambitious scheme drawn up by the Centre to link major rivers in the country and avoid wastage of water and meet the requirements of the water deficient areas.

Dalits' protest rallies on I-Day

HYDERABAD: Leaders of various Dalit organisations on Wednesday demanded a judicial enquiry by a sitting high court judge into the June 11 incident of police lathi-charge on the ``Mala Mahanadu'' agitators in which two persons were killed. They also demanded the suspension of the police officers responsible for the lathicharge.

To protest against the `barbaric' incident, the Dalit organisations have decided to boycott the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Independence and hold protest rallies on August 15, Dalits leaders said.

Mayawati, Kansiram call on President

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati and BSP chief Kanshi Ram today called on President K R Narayanan. This is the first meeting of the UP Chief Minister with Narayanan after he took over as President last month. Rashtrapati Bhavan sources described today's meeting as a courtesy call.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.