gnreddy@cbnewsf.att.com (Narotham Reddy Gaddam) (06/14/91)
====================================================================== AIR News from the Delhi station of All India Radio. By Yashwant Singh Friday, 4:30 am Indian Standard Time. ====================================================================== The director general of Doordarshan (TV) Mr.Shiv Sharma escaped an attempt on his life by suspected terrorists near his residence in New Delhi today. He sustained injuries but reported to be in stable condition. His security personnel reported to have sustained serious injuries. According to police, the attempt was made by two assailants while Mr.Sharama was on his way to his office. The assailants who have been waiting for quite sometime outside his house entered fire with AK-47 rifles. No arrests have been made so far. A massive man hunt has been launched throughout the country. A red alert is in effect in the capital. The minister of state for home affairs Mr.Subodh Kant visited the hospital where Mr.Sharma has been admitted. While expressing shock over the attack on Mr.Sharma, the PM Mr.CS urged the people to cooperate with the security personnel. According to Delhi police, the personnel security officer to Mr.Sharma, Mr.Prem Babu has been promoted as the head constable for his act of courage in saving the life of Mr.Sharma. There will be no countermanding of polls in constituencies where polling was held on Wednesday. However, a repoll has been ordered in 124 polling stations in Bihar alone, following the reports of booth capturing, rigging and other malpractices. The election commission spokesman told newsmen in New Delhi that re-poll in Bihar will held tomorrow( 15th ) while in other states it will take place today ( 14th ). In Navada ( Bihar ) lok sabha constituency a re-poll has been ordered in 29 polling stations, there will be a repoll in 16 booths in Godarma and 11 each in Behutarai and Nalanda. The number of polling booths where repoll will take place is 9 in Rajasthan, 7 in Madhya Pradesh, 6 in Nagaland and one each in Manipur, Karnatak and Maharashtra. Polling in 4 stations in Kerala which was adjourned yesterday will be resumed today. Campaigning ended at 5:00pm yesterday for the third and final phase of Lok Sabha for which the polling will be held on Saturday. As many as 2,668 candidates are in fray for the LS polls. About 18 crore 60 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise. Saturday's polls cover 186 Lok sabha constituencies in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil nadu, Gujrat, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and the union territory of Pondicherry. Polling will also be held for the assemblies of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry and the remaining 213 seats of the Uttar Pradesh assembly and the Hosepet assembly constituency in Karnataka. The center feels that security arrangements for the Punjab polls are now adequate following the increased deployement of security personnel in the state. Reviewing the situation at a high level meeting in the capital, the minister of state for home affairs Mr.Subodh Kant said the govt is trying to create confidence in every voter in Punjab. An official spokesman said in Chandigarh that the army has been kept on high alert to assist the civil administration in checking the law and order situation in the state. Meanwhile in Punjab, election for the Ludhiana parliamentary constituency has been countermanded following the killing of Akali Dal Mann candidate Mr.Katnam/Kartar singh( name unclear). Mr.Singh was attacked while he was campaigning in a village in Durayar(sp ?) area. In another incident, the Akali Dal Badal candidate Mr.Kirpal Singh Sant escaped an attempt on his life in Bhatinda dist. Five persons were killed in the attack. The killed include three body guards and the car driver of Mr.Singh. In Srilanka, 166 Tamil civilians are reported to have been killed in Batti Koluva dist yesterday. According to an LTTE spokesman Mr.Suresh Premachandran, the civilians were caught in cross firing when security forces attacked an LTTE garrison. End of article ========================================== cross posted at the request of the sender. ==========================================