Main Page                                                                     Archives 

 

Blasts in ammunition shed trigger off fire in Air Force depot

         Betul (MP): A major fire played havoc at the Amlanagar Air Force depot early this morning, injuring two IAF personnel during fire fighting operations that lasted for about two hours. An IAF spokesman said that a court of inquiry had been formed to look into the incident. District Collector Sudha Choudhary said that the fire erupted early in the morning in an ammunition depot. Two Air Force personnel -- Janak and Rajaram, injured during the operation, were given medical treatment. Though residents in nearby areas panicked at the sound of the explosions, there was no reports of any civilian casualty.

Army to complete fencing of LoC by September (Go To Top)

         Kolkata: The Indian Army will complete fencing of the 800-km-long border in Jammu and Kashmir by September, with 95 percent of the work having being completed within the June 30 deadline. "We have taken up border fencing work in J and K in a big way. Most of the work is completed. The rest will be done by September 30. Work in certain areas, which are covered by snow, is now being taken up." Lt. General Mathew Mammen, Engineer-in-Chief of Indian Army, was quoted as saying. Acknowledging that although fencing the border was certainly not a hundred percent guarantee against infiltration attempts by militants, "it will definitely pose a major deterrent and prevent en masse infiltration from across the border." The fence, will comprise of four strands, equipped with live wire, electronic sensors and spikes, which will send out alarm signals to border outposts during infiltration attempts. However, the army would maintain vigil in those areas where the fence got submerged under heavy snowfall.

Anantnag blast toll up to 34 (Go To Top)

         Srinagar: The grenade blast near a bus stand in southern Kashmir's Anantnag District has gone up to 34. The grenade was aimed at a police vehicle, but it exploded on a street instead, wounding civilians who were waiting at a bus stand. The injured were rushed to a hospital in Srinagar. "This happened at about 12 noon (localtime). I was standing there and something hit me," said Devender Singh, an injured. Violence has hit Kashmir with more than 70 people having died this month alone.

10 militants killed in Jammu (Go To Top)

         Srinagar: Ten militants have been killed in different encounters with the security forces in the Jammu region in the last 24 hours. In Poonch, six militants were killed in the Mandi area and three in Gundi village. One militant was killed in the Bani area of Kathua district. Meanwhile, at least 20 people were injured when militants exploded a grenade at a crowded bus stand in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir today. The grenade was hurled at a security patrol near Lal Chowk bus stand in the district headquarters. Most of the injured were waiting for Mattan-bound buses.

Govt. to issue multi-purpose national identity cards (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: The government on Saturday announced that it was "actively considering" issuing multi-purpose national identity cards (MNICs) to all citizens. "Every person in the country will be provided national identity cards and given a unique national identity number. However, the success of the project would depend on timely and complete updating of this register which again partly depends on complete registration of births and deaths", Home Minister Shivraj Patil was quoted as saying while inaugurating a seminar on Census Data Dissemination. Although in its present stage the pilot project will cover only a mere 30 lakh, the aim in the long run is to create a National Population Register for both Indian citizens and non- citizens. For the success of the project necessary amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955 has been carried out. The Minister added that the MNIC project once completed would not only enhance the country's security cover but also take e- governance to the people throughout the country.