PATNA, August 24: At least five labourers were killed and four injured on Saturday night when about four thousand armed people attacked the labourers' locality at Jhurkusia village in Bhagalpur district following a land dispute. Official sources said here today that one body was recovered from the spot while the rest were recovered from a field. More policemen were deployed in view of the prevailing tension in the area. Senior police officials have reached the spot.

Kerala's rice quota increased

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Centre has enhanced the monthly ration rice quota of Kerala by 30,000 tonnes for the months of August, September and October. In addition to this, the state will also get another 50,000 tonnes of rice for supply to the ration card holders on account of Onam festival season next month. The Centre's decision to hike the state's quota of rice temporarily for three months follows the state government's repeated demands in this regard to cope with increasing requirement.

Qaumi Tanzim plans rail-roko in WB

CALCUTTA: The West Bengal Pradesh Qaumi Tanzim will launch a ``rail-roko'' agitation all over West Bengal on September 10 in support of its demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the Wakf property issue and job reservation for Muslims. Qaumi Tanzim's general secretary, Idris Ali, said today that they had held discussions with the state Pradesh Congress president, Somen Mitra, about the rail-roko programme during the day.

Trains cancelled due to Mumbai rains

CHENNAI: Due to heavy rain in Mumbai, Southern Railway has announced the cancellation or rescheduling of certain trains. According to a southern railway spokesman, Bangalore-Bombay VT express, Cochin-Mangalore-Kurla Netravati Express and Kanyakumari-Bombay Chatrapati Shivaji Express have been cancelled on Monday, August 25. The Chennai-Dadar Express, with scheduled departure at 7 am, will leave at 12:15 pm on Monday, the spokesman said. The Chennai-Mumbai express will start at 2 pm instead of 11:45 am today.

New district for Karnataka opened

KOPPAL: Karnataka Chief Minister, J H Patel, today inaugurated Koppal, a new district carved out of Raichur district. Addressing a public meeting here to mark the occasion, he said the move to form small districts was aimed at overall development of the state. Patel expressed the hope that Koppal district the 24th in the state -- would be prosper as it had good irrigation potential and many industries were being set up on the Bellary-Koppal belt.

Pondy Congress to contest RS polls

PONDICHERRY: The president of the territorial committee of the congress party in Pondicherry, P Shanmugham, today said party would contest the Rajya Sabha poll, due to be held here. Pondicherry has one Rajya Sabha seat.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.