gaddam@remus.rutgers.edu (Surekha Reddy Gaddam) (05/11/91)
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From:
Tanmay Agrawal
txa8755@cs.rit.edu
txa8755@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
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Indian and Bangladesh News from Dow-Jones follows :
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Major Storm Threatens Bangladesh
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DHAKA, Bangladesh - Stormy weather and flooding aggravated Bangladesh's
distress Friday, and weather officials predicted a major storm ahead.
At least 37 people died in three more tornadoes.
Four planeloads of relief supplies arrived, meanwhile, including the first
U.S. jet to bring help to survivors of the brutal April 30 cyclone that killed
126,000 and left millions homeless.
Weather officials said the new storm brewing in the turbulent Bay of
Bengal could strike by the end of the month. They couldn't predict its force.
The government says nearly 126,000 people died in the cyclone. It has
not revised the official figure in 6 days, despite the discovery of many
more bodies.
The U.S. cargo plane that arrived in Dhaka carried medicine and
humanitarian aid, and will soon be followed by another, said U.S.
Ambassador William B. Milam.
A Chinese Boeing 707 and two more planes from the charity CARE and the
U.N. also arrived with food and medicine, officials said.
Japan announced Friday it will provide $7.5 million in emergency aid
and an additional $1.5 million in food aid for Bangladesh storm victims,
bringing the amount of Japanese assistance to $20 million.
So far about $400 million in international aid has been pledged for
the survivors.
Officials Friday said at least 37 people died when three tornados roared
across separate districts of this low-lying delta country Thursday,
tearing apart mud and straw homes and disrupting communications.
About 500 people were injured. Two other twisters hit Tuesday and Wednesday
outside Dhaka, killing a total of 53 people, officials said.
The Relief Ministry said flooding in northeastern and eastern districts
has marooned at least 100,000 people and destroyed crops.
No deaths have been reported from the flooding.
India also reported disastrous flooding in its eastern states
bordering Bangladesh. Nine people were reported killed in Assam,.
The English-language Daily Star reported Friday that 250 people have
died from an epidemic of diarrhea in three of the hardest hit cyclone areas.
World health organizations have warned of a fearful cholera epidemic
from water contaminated by the corpses of thousands of people and livestock.
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Indian Troops Storm Sikh Hideout After 2-Day Battle In Punjab
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RATTOL, India - Army troops blasted into a fortified militant hideout with
grenades and mortars Thursday. They captured a Sikh gunman, the only rebel
to survive the 2-day
assault.
Seven other militants, one soldier and nine policemen, including a senior
officer, were killed in fighting that began early Tuesday, officials said.
Fifteen policemen were wounded.
It was the first time in 7 years the army was called in to support state
and federal police against Sikh militants demanding an independent Punjab.
The battle began when militants fired on police from four fortified
houses the rebels used as a base in the village of Rattol, said a district
official, Kulwant Singh.
Ten rockets, 20 hand grenades, six machine guns, six assault rifles and
four pistols were found after troops stormed the devastated houses, he
added.
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Amnesty Urges India To Curb Alleged Punjab Rights Abuses
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LONDON - Amnesty International issued a report Friday accusing the
Indian government of serious human rights abuses in the state of Punjab.
It urged the victors of upcoming elections to remedy the situation.
The human rights group said the Indian government called the report
biased and exaggerated in a 31-page response issued in London. The Indian
comments were not made available.
Amnesty International's report complained about killings, detentions,
torture and abductions by police and security forces now shielded from
prosecution by a recent law.
Indian troops have been stationed since 1987 in the northern state of
Punjab in response to a Sikh battle for an independent state there.
In the past 4 years, Sikhs have killed more than 4,000 people,
including 500 police officers, according to the government.
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Approved by Surekha Reddy Gaddam