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Infiltration still on, says Army Chief  

         New Delhi: Army Chief N.C.Vij on Sunday said infiltration in Kashmir was going on but the success rate has gone down. speaking to reporters on the eve of an investiture ceremony in New Delhi, he said infiltration bids were foiled by a multi-tiered surveillance system. "Well, infiltration is very much going on. I must clarify this point. In June last year there were six attempts, this year there have been 13 attempts in June and the first week of July put together, that is, more than double. India has nearly fenced about 500 km of the 742 km-long ceasefire line that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan, while the rest of the frontier was too inaccessible to fence. The double-row barrier built using barbed wire is about eight feet high and is electrified on stretches where power supply is available. The small stretch of land between the rows of barbed wire is mined. Militants cross over to Kashmir more easily during the summer when snow covering the Himalayan passes melts. Islamabad had initially objected to the fence. New Delhi in the past accused Pakistani troops of firing at fence pillars and construction activity along the frontier in what it said was an attempt by Islamabad to stop the fencing. But a ceasefire between the nuclear-armed neighbours that began in November allowed Indian troops to speed up construction.

Ambani, Bachchan family visit Golden Temple (Go To Top)

         Amritsar: Newly-elected Rajya Sabha members Anil Ambani, Bollywood star Jaya Bachchan along with her son Abhishek Bachchan on Sunday visited the Golden Temple and performed "ardas". They were presented Siropa by the SGPC authorities at the information centre of the Golden Temple.

Parliament Central Hall is a no-smoking zone: Somnath Chatterjee (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Sunday announced that smoking inside Parliament's Central Hall and lobbies would be banned from Monday onwards. Speaking to reporters after an all-party meeting convened by him to discuss possible issues to be taken up during the Budget session, the Speaker said: "We have now decided that Central Hall and Lobbies will be smoke free from tomorrow." Asked if there would be a ban on chewing pan in Parliament, the Speaker said smilingly that pan is not gaseous but this could be considered.

Agni testfired (Go To Top)

          Bhubaneshwar: A short-range variant of the nuclear capable surface-to-surface Agni missile was test fired from a testing site here Sunday, a defence official said. The homegrown missile, with a strike range of 700 km, was tested from a mobile launcher at Wheeler Island off the coast of Orissa at 10:10 am, the official said. The missile can carry a one-tonne payload, he added. Meanwhile, defence ministry spokesman Amitabh Chakravarty in New Delhi described the test as "a perfect launch". The test comes within weeks of talks between India and Pakistan on reducing the risk of nuclear confrontation.

We won't allow repeat of Gujarat-like riots: Shivraj Patil (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: Home Minister Shivraj Patil on Sunday said the would not allow a repeat of Gujarat-like riots and would do all that "is necessary" to check such incidents. He also said the government is considering enacting a new law to fight communal violence. "We will definitely not tolerate it (a Gujarat-like incident) and we will use all that is within our command to ensure that the situation is properly dealt with," Patil said in an interview. The Home Minister was replying to a question on the UPA government's views on the 2002 riots and the role of the Centre and state governments in such situations. Asked about the steps to mitigate suffering of the riot victims, Patil said "of course, we will help them. People who need justice will be helped.... "We will do all that is necessary and issue directions which are necessary,"he said. Patil said, if required, he would also visit the state while recalling that he had gone to Gujarat during the riots.