NAGPUR: Over a hundred Shetkari Sanghatana activists, including 56 women, were taken into custody by the police on Monday when they attempted to take out a protest rally from Ganeshpeth here. They were protesting against the additional burden on the economy posed by the Fifth Pay Commission report. The activists, led by Ram Neole, president of Balirajya Vidarbha, a Sanghatana-sponsored organisation, had been denied permission to take out a morcha to the District Collectorate and stage demonstrations there. Flouting the orders, they took out a rally from Adhyapak Bhawan.

CITU bandh cripples production

NASHIK: The Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) today observed an `industrial bandh' in Nashik to protest against the arrest of its General Secretary Dr D L Karad. The bandh affected industrial production in the Ambad and Satpur industrial areas. The CITU took out a morcha from the Golf Club grounds to the district collectorate, to demand immediate release of Dr Karad. The agitators also accused the industrialists and police of conspiring against workers. Dr Karad had been arrested, along with 22 others on October 27, after a worker, Omkar Nana Deshmukh (60) was killed in a riot.

Fishermen suspend stir till next session

NAGPUR: The fishermen at Totladoh agitating under the banner of `Jan Van Andolan' have not ended their andolan, they have only suspended it until the next winter Assembly session in Nagpur. The ban, on for the last two years, has completely deprived the fishermen of their main source of livelihood. Contradicting reports that the fishermen had broken their hunger strike following a meeting with State Forest Minister Vinod Gudadhe-Patil, Bahl said the fishermen have only suspended their agitation to enable their demands to be raised at the winter Assembly session.

BSF constable stabbed to death

NAGPUR: A Border Security Force (BSF) constable was stabbed to death by villagers from Kandri mines on Monday night mistaken for a gang member of dacoits operating in the rural parts of Nagpur. The incident took place near the Kandri mines guest house of the Western Coalfields Limited (WCL), 48 kms away from the city, where a BSF company was camping. The constable Ramkaransingh Surja (48), resident of Sakarala village in Rajasthan, presently posted at the Bangalore headquarters of the BSF, was stabbed to death with spears and knives by villagers patrolling the area on Monday night.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.