NAGPUR: BJP MP Banwarilal Purohit on Friday demanded a judicial inquiry into the allocation of over 8900 acres of land to Nippon Denro Ispat Limited -- a multi-national company -- for a captive coal mine project and the agreement signed by the Maharashtra Government with the company in this regard. Purohit alleged that the land adjacent to Bhadrawati ordnance factory on the Nagpur-Chandrapur road in Chandrapur district was given in violation of defence norms despite warnings by authorities. There were clear-cut guidelines that mining involving the use of dynamite for blasting should not be allowed within 25 kms of an ordnance factory, he added.

Armed dacoits loot petrol pump

NASHIK: A gang of five armed dacoits looted two petrol pumps worth Rs 3.5 lakh after threatening the employees near Nevasa in Ahmednagar district on Wednesday night. According to delayed reports reaching here, the gang of five dacoits arrived in a car. Four of them were carrying swords. The dacoits threatened the petrol pump guard and entered the cabin by breaking the glass. They beat up the salesmen and decamped with cash and oil worth Rs 3.5 lakh. No arrests have been made so far, reports added.

Tractor mishap kills three children

KOLHAPUR: In a tragic incident, three children -- two brothers and their cousin sister -- lost their lives when a tractor in which they were seated fell into a deep well at Titave village in Radhanagari tehsil of this district on Thursday. Police sources said the tractor belonging to Dhanaji Tukaram Patil and others, was parked near his well. The children, who were playing got on to the tractor and inadvertently pushed the tractor's clutch when the mishap occurred.

PM rules out Vasco da Gama fete

PANAJI: Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral has categorically asserted that the Union Government will not participate or organise any celebration commemorating the 500th anniversary of the landing of Vasco da Gama in India. A delegation of the Desh Premi Nagarik Samiti had protested against the celebrations being organised on the occasion, saying it would be a ``humiliating affair for Goans''. The Samiti was therefore against any form of celebration on the occasion, including the release of commemorative stamp.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.