NEW DELHI: In a determined bid to check poll violence, the Election Commission on Wednesday put a blanket ban on issuance of firearm licences across the country till the completion of the general elections. In a directive to state chief secretaries and chief administrators of union territories, the EC said its order to suspend issuance of fresh arms licences would come into effect immediately. It asked the authorities to report compliance. Talking to newsmen, the Election Commissioner G V G Krishnamurty, said this decision was taken as the commission is apprehensive about participation of criminals in the elections as well as reports anticipating increased activities of criminals supporting candidates.

Cold wave

NEW DELHI: Plains of Uttar Pradesh and most parts of Himachal continued to reel under intense cold wave conditions as the higher reaches recorded heavy snowfall coupled with rain, official reports reaching here said. Strong velocity icy winds accompanied with rain and sleet disrupted normal life in the hills of Himachal. Cold wave conditions intensified in the plains where mercury dipped to below normal in a number of places, meteorological office said, adding Agra was the coldest, recording a minimum of eight degrees Celsius.

SC ruling

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved orders till December 6 on an application seeking modification of its November 20 directions imposing restrictions on persons driving school buses in the wake of a recent bus accident in which over 30 children died. A three judge bench headed by Chief Justice J S Verma, however, agreed to a suggestion made by the Delhi Transport Authority to allow school buses and other vehicles to carry children 1.5 times their normal capacity. By its November 20 order, the court had directed that only persons with 10 years experience could be hired by the managements for driving the buses. Subsequently, the apex court had reduced the experience stipulated to five years.

Mishap

CHANDIGARH: Six school children were killed and 11 injured when a van carrying them plunged into a roadside drain near Fazilka in Ferozepur district on Wednesday.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.