LUCKNOW: The toll in violence and firing following the controversy regarding construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya in the northern India state has risen to 260 with the recovery of 12 more bodies, official sources said here Tuesday. Local sources said the toll was well over 600.

Of the 12 bodies, five were recovered from Rampur, three each from Meerut and Bijnore and one from Allahabad.

There was no report of any fresh incident in any part of the state Tuesday, an official spokesman here said.

The spokesman said five persons were killed in brick batting and exchange of fire between two communities in two separate incidents in Milak Township on Sunday night.

Three bodies were recovered from Bijnor, one person was killed and two others injured in bomb explosion in Allahabad Monday.

District authorities have given orders for the surrender of firearms in Milak Township, Bijnore and Dhampur in view of the tense situation in these districts.

Meanwhile, except Meerut, curfew was relaxed in these districts in phases during the day. Night cur will be clamped in Lucknow from Wednesday.

 Jha quits

NEW DELHI: Prem Shanker Jha resigned as information adviser to former prime minister V P Singh. Ina letter to the principle secretary, B G Deshmukh, Jha said in view of the impeding changes in the government, he was submitting his resignation.

Article extracted from this publication >> November 16, 1990