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Eight militants among nine killed in Manipur violence

         Imphal: Nine people, including eight militants and a civilian, have been killed in insurgency-related violence across Manipur during the last 23 hours. Some unidentified militants attacked a patrol party of 17th Assam Rifles at Keithalmanbi area in Senapati district this morning. The paramilitary force returned the fire in which an unidentified militant was killed, while the others escaped to a nearby thick jungle. In another incident last night, a powerful bomb planted by militants to attack the security forces, exploded at Hency village in Chandel district killing a civilian and injuring another.

          Meanwhile, Assam Rifles following an encounter lasting five hours with militants of the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) shot dead seven of them at Molnom village in Ukhrul Hill district of Manipur last night. The forces recovered one AK 47 rifle, one M21 rifle, one US carbine, one.303 rifle and a large number of ammunition besides documents of the outfit from the area. Heavy enforcement was rushed to the spot today for a combing operation in the hilly area.

Gangrape accused surrender in Ahmedabad (Go To Top)

          Ahmedabad: Three accused in the gangrape of a Muslim woman and murder of 14 of her family members during the relgious violence in Gujarat in 2002, on Tuesday surrendered before a court in Ahmedabad. More than 1,000 people, including Muslims, died in revenge kilings after 59 Hindus were burned to death on a train allegedly by a Muslim mob. Bilkis Yaqoob, a key witness in the gang rape case, had alleged that a mob of 500 people had attacked them and at least three women, including his sister, were gangraped on March 3, 2002. "Today the police officials involved in the Bilkis case have surrendered in the court. They will be again presented in the court on May 18. They will be brought to the court on that day," Arvind Pandya, defence lawyer, said. Bano and her husband Yakoob Patel are the only survivors in the family of 16, the rest were burnt alive. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), had chargesheeted the 14 accused late last year. The CBI report had confirmed that pieces of cloth exhumed from the grave of those killed in Dahod matched those in a photograph taken by the police after the post-mortem examination.

One injured in Lahore-Delhi bus mishap (Go To Top)

          Khanna (Punjab): One person was injured when a bus from Lahore to Delhi collided with a car in Punjab on Tuesday. The bus of Pakistan Tourism was partially damaged in the collision which took place on the national highway in Khanna town, 25 km from Ludhiana. Shrey Bhan, senior superintendent of police for the region, said another bus was being arranged to take the passengers to Delhi. Dubbed as the "peace bus", the service connecting New Delhi to Lahore was resumed on July 11 last year and was a landmark move in the renewed peace process between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

Buddhists pray for world peace on Full Moon day (Go To Top)

         Sarnath (UP): Buddhists across the country on Monday observed the birth and death anniversary of Lord Buddha by holding special prayers for world peace and taking part in religious discourses. Devotees lighted lamps, incense sticks and candles at the Buddhist temples to commemmorate the 2,550th anniversary of Lord Buddha's birth, enlightenment and Nirvana (salvation). On Buddha Purnima or the full moon day devotees in large numbers arrived in Sarnath town. Special prayers were conducted in Sarnath's ancient Buddhist temple. Buddha Purnima has a special significance for the followers of Lord Buddha as all three stages of his life - birth, enlightenment and death - are viewed as the keys to Buddhism. The Buddhist monks who arrived in Sarnath said the devotees of Lord Buddha would renew their pledge to follow the principles of Buddhism. "Today, it is the Buddh Purnima and on this occasion people from all over, devotees from India and abroad pledge to follow the principles of Buddhism," Aryavansh, a Buddhist monk said. The Tibetans living in exile in New Delhi also devoted the day for prayers and reading from scriptures. On the holy day devotees do pious deeds and distribute food and alms.

          Buddhists constitute nearly five million or 0.75 per cent of India's population. Buddha, was born a prince at Lumbini in Nepal over 2,600 years ago. He attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya in Bihar.

Thousands take part in Ujjain's last Shahi Snan (Go To Top)

          Bhopal: A large crowd of people gathered on the banks of river Kshipra today to take part in Ujjain's last Shahi Snan (royal bath) on the last day of the month-long Simhastha Mela. The day began with sadhus of Panchdashnama Juna Akhada taking a holy dip in the river while chanting the slogan 'Har Har Mahadev'. Ujjain Commissioner C P Arora and District Collector Rajesh Rajora were present to receive the head of the Juna Akhada Parmanand Saraswati.

Pak, China to ink nuke plant accord (Go To Top)

          Islamabad: Pakistan and China will sign an agreement to build a second nuclear power plant in the country today. Official sources were quoted by national, regional and international agencies as saying that Pakistan Prime Minister Zafarullah Jamali would be one of the signatories to the pact that will see the building of a 300-megawatt nuclear power plant at Chashma, about 270 km south of the Pakistan capital. The plant will be built next to the first Chinese supplied plant, which became operational in 1999 in the same area. "The project would cost about 600 million dollars and is likely to be completed in six years," a government official was quoted as saying. Originally, the deal was to be signed in November during President Pervez Musharraf's visit to China, but it was delayed because of further negotiations on some technical aspects.

Forget Ashes, India-Australia is the real thing, says Brett Lee (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: "Forget Ashes, India-Australia is the real thing", says Brett Lee, Australian cricket player. The Australians are due for India later in October this year and speedster Brett Lee is already focussed on the task at hand. He feels the Ashes has tradition and history, but at present India is at the top of the list of their competitors. "It's become the first and foremost goal to come here in India for the first time in 40 years. So, it's a competition that go to a lot of interest not only in India but also back to Australia", said Brett Lee.

          Already out of action for this month's Tests in Zimbabwe and a home series against Sri Lanka in July because of an injury, he is due to return to action in September and hopes to be firing on all cylinders by the time Australia heads for the sub-continent. "India is on the top of the table. They (Indian cricket team) have some young talented players and all are doing extremely well. Two young bowlers come through and they have a great leader Saurabh Ganguly", he further said.

          Australia lost 2-1 in India in 2001 and only managed a 1-1 draw against them on home soil during the winter. He had to return home from a tour of Sri Lanka two months ago because of an ankle problem, but is due to return to action in September and hopes to be firing on all cylinders by the time Australia head for the sub-continent. The Australians are coming here after the Champions Trophy in England in September. Brett Lee was in the capital, as world's famous clock manufacturing company "Timex" has chosen him as a Brand Ambassodor of the company.