Metal Scrap Trading Corporation (MSTC) will auction the navy's decommissioned aircraft carrier INS Vikrant at Tarabai Hall, Marine Lines at 11 am on July 8.

The decision to auction the ship was taken after the state government backed out from a proposal to convert the carrier into a naval museum in Mumbai.According to a tender notice issued by the corporation on Monday, the sale of the 14,552 tonne carrier would be on an `as is where is' basis.

Inspection will be allowed till July 7. Auction entry permits will be issued against a refundable deposit of Rs 25,000.

More transfers in police brass

In yet another reshuffle, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone III) Sunil Paraskar has been transfered to the Detection and Crime Branch at the police headquarters. He has been replaced by DCP Dilip Shrirao, who was in-charge of the Narcotics Cell of the Mumbai police. DCP (headquarters) Sanjay Barve has taken charge of Zone-I after Gulabrao Pole was transfered to Pune.DCP Rajendra Singh, attached to Zone-V, has moved to Zone-VII in place of K L Prasad, who has been promoted as additional commissioner of police (Central Region). DCP P S Patankar has been shifted from the Special Branch to Zone V.

5 hurt during demolitions

Five workers were injured in a fire that broke out during the demolition of illegal slums at Bandra (E) this morning. The fire broke out when the demolition squad of the suburban collectorate was razing illegal shanties near Tata Colony at 12.40 am by which time 100 hutments had been razed.

Slum-dwellers pelted stones, injuring five members of the squad who were admitted to hospital. Nirmal Nagar police have registered a case of stone-pelting and rioting.