COIMBATORE, November 5: Surveillance work, as part of the joint operations to capture the elusive poacher, Veerappan, have already begun on the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu forest borders, a highly placed source said here on Wednesday evening. As a first step, Superintendents of Police in the Special Task Force of the two states have taken position at their respective camps with adequate reinforcements, they said. Veerappan is believed to have been seen in the Tengumarhada area. Entry of private vehicles has been restricted in these areas, they said.

Social worker acquitted in rape case

VADODARA: Noted social worker Harivallabh Parikh was acquitted on Wednesday of a charge of raping a tribal girl by additional sessions judge V N Shah after a lengthy court hearing lasting 17 months. Shah, who interrogated more than 22 witnesses, said the DNA report filed in the case accusing Parikh of fathering an illegitimate child of the girl, was wrong. Women's organisations and political leaders had demanded action against Parikh and had urged the Chief Minister to order Parikh's arrest.

Six UNLF activists arrested

IMPHAL: Security personnel have arrested six activists of the banned United National Liberation Front from Imphal and adjoining areas since Tuesday, official sources said. One pistol, one AK 56 rifle and a large number of documents were recovered from the activists. Their interrogation is on, the sources said.

Two held for Jhelum Express blast

NEW DELHI: Two militants, involved in the Jhelum Express bomb explosion in which 14 people were killed, were nabbed by the Delhi police here on Tuesday. The militants, Balbir Singh alias Babu and Balbir Singh alias Pinka, were also responsible for the explosion in a parking stand outside Grandlay cinema hall in October last year. The ultras are members of the Khalistan Zindabad Force.

HC rejects Laloo's bail plea

PATNA: The Patna High Court on Thursday rejected a provisional bail prayer of former Bihar chief minister Laloo Prasad Yadav who sought to be with his family during the ensuing `Chhath' festival. Rejecting the bail petition, Justice D S Dhaliwal, however, allowed him to participate in the two-day festival -- in the evening of November 6 and in the morning of November 7 -- for ``worshipping the setting and rising Sun God''. The court directed the jail authorities to take Laloo to Danapur Ganga Ghat under tight security on both the days to enable him to participate in the festival.

Ludhiana court summons Kesri

LUDHIANA: A local court on Wednesday issued summons to Congress president Sitaram Kesri and two other party observers to appear on January 20 in connection with an application challenging the Congress organisational elections held recently in Punjab. The application has been filed by Gauri Shanker, a local Congress worker. The Congress dissidents are sore over the way the organisational elections in Punjab were conducted.

23 Bangladeshi nationals arrested

BATALA: Twenty three Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended by the Border Security Force (BSF) at the Dida border post while trying to cross over from the border, police said on Wednesday. Senior Superintendent of Police of Gurdaspur, Gaurav Yadav told reporters here the Bangladeshi nationals had entered India from different parts and were trying to cross the border illegally on Tuesday night. They were handed over to Narot Mehra police station for further interrogation. A case has been registered against them, he said.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.