Quicktakes

Cops suspended

CALCUTTA: Five policemen were today suspended for opening `unprovoked’ fire on three motor-cyclists last night, as the city’s northern outskirt of Baguihati was rocked by violence prompting the government to order an administrative inquiry into the incident. Five buses were damaged and torched by a mob which blocked the arterial VIP road connecting the city with the airport, for four hours necessitating police action to disperse the protestors. Twelve arrests were made from the spot.

`Dry’Nagaland

KOHIMA: Nagaland government has decided to continue with prohibition in the face of mounting opposition from different quarters, particularly the church. State Chief Minister S C Jamir yesterday assured representatives of Nagaland Baptist Church Council and other church leaders that the government had no intention of lifting prohibition and that it would take steps to strengthen implementation of the Prohibition Act, promulgated in 1989.

Kashmir blast

SRINAGAR: Four Border Security Force jawans and a civilian were among five persons wounded in a powerful grenade explosion at Jamalatta near here yesterday. The incident occurred when militants lobbed a grenade on a BSF patrol party at Jamalatta in downtown Srinagar. A hunt has been launched to nab the militants responsible for the blast.

Papua tidal toll

VANIMO: Fears mounted today that deadly tidal waves in Papua New Guinea may have claimed up to 8,000 lives amid warnings survivors now faced a battleagainst hunger and disease. Some 10,000 people had lived in villages along the devastated 30-km stretch of remote northern coastline.