MUMBAI:The auction of the Navy's aircraft carrier Vikrant has been put on hold following the intervention of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. Sources said Thackeray asked Defence Minister George Fernandes to defer the auction so that the warship could be converted into a museum and war memorial. Fernandes has agreed to the request.

Red alert in city

MUMBAI:The Mumbai police have sounded a red alert in the metropolis, asking citizens to watch out for any suspicious activities in the wake of the Pakistani aggression in Kargil. An official statement issued on Saturday said this was necessary in view of the series of explosions caused in various parts of the country and in Mumbai by Pakistan's Inter Service Intelligence (ISI) agents.

Pirates killed

GUWAHATI:At least nine pirates were lynched by irate mobs in two incidents on the banks of the Brahmaputra recently. Seven of a group of 15 pirates were attacked and killed at Gasmari near Chandrapur by 70traders whose boat they had looted.

Mountaineer dead

MUMBAI: Ace mountaineer Arun Samant died in the Himalayan range, after scaling peak Gya in Ladakh region. He was 50. Samant, former secretary of the Himalayan Club and leader of the expedition, which left Mumbai on may one, died on may 30 after successfully conquering the virgin peak of Gya located at 22,280 feet.