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Dixit, Aziz conclude 'clandestine' talks

          New Delhi: Two days of cladestine talks between National Security Advisor JN Dixit and his Pakistani counterpart Tariq Aziz have reportedly concluded in the national capital. Dixit and Aziz are reported to be preparing ae roadmap for the next round of talks between the two countries, which takes place in October. The two officials are also reported to have discussed the agenda to be taken up between President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the forthcoming UN General Assembly meeting.

Kalam leaves for Tanzania, South Africa

          New Delhi: President A P J Abdul Kalam today left on a weeklong visit to Tanzania and South Africa - his second overseas tour after assuming office two years ago. Kalam, the first President to visit South Africa, was accompanied by Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Meira Kumar and Members of Parliament Bimal Jalan, Mehbooba Mufti and H T Sangliana. He was seen off at the airport by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad and other ministers, besides representatives of the three services.

BSF seizes contraband headed for Bangladesh (Go To Top)

          Agartala: The Border Security Force (BSF) today seized more than 6500 bottles of Phensedyl, a banned cough syrup from Ashabari border area in Tripura that was allegedly headed for Bangladesh. BSF personnel seized the consignment from three jeeps and a motorbike, which were also impounded. Varlue of the consignment of Phensedyl which is worth about 3.5 lakh, would have risen four times once it had reached Bangladesh. "We have seized 6524 bottles,which were going to be smuggled to Bangladesh.The approximate value is estimated at Rs 6,56,200," said W Rajendra, Assistant Commandant,46 battalion, BSF..

Arunachal chief minister meets Prime Minister (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: The Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang met the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today. The meeting took place at the PM's residence and was a closed door one. Later talking to the mediapersons, Gegong Apang said, " It was my courtsey visit to the honourable Prime Minister and I wanted to give him the list of problems because as you know we are going for the assembly elections. I will come back to him when the elections are over and the new government is formed. Then we will make our demands. We have to finalise our annual plan size also with the Planning Commission. So today made just a courtsey call to him." Arunachal Pradesh is going for assembly elections on October 7 this year. The sixty-member assembly was to expire on October 12, 2004 but it was dissolved by the Governor V.C. Pandey on July 6. Regarding the preparation for polls and ticket-distribution, Apang said, "Quicker distribution of the tickets will be done. The Pradesh Committee meeting is over. Yesterday, scrutiny has been done. He also met members of Election Commission." Answering to the query whether the elections will be held peacefully in Arunachal, the Chief Minister said, " There is no problem in Arunachal. Arunachal today is completely an island of peace."

Security beefed up along Indo-Nepal border (Go To Top)

          Panitanki (W.Bengal): A thick security blanket has been thrown across the India-Nepal border in Darjeeling following reports of Maoists trying to infiltrate from the Nepal. Security has been tightened along the 100 kilometre porous stretch in Panitanki border after 12 Nepalis were killed in Iraq, leading to unrest in Nepal. Darjeeling police alongwith Special Security Board are monitoring the movement of people from across the border. R.Rajasekaran, Additional Superintendent of police, said a massive combing operation has been launched in the area and police have also set up temporary posts. They have also begun thorough checking of all the vehicles and people passing through the sensitive border checkpost since last week. "We have introduced mobiles and in the day time we are doing checking. All the vehicles entering India and going to Nepal are being throughly checked. In the night time we are resorting to joint patrol alongwith Special Security Board (SSB)," said Rajaselaran. Nepalese police have also setup special checkposts in the border district of Jhapa. Visitors, who are escorted by the army, said they were afraid to venture out in the evenings. "We are labourers. Those who come for shopping in Nepal they are also scared. In the evening people are scared to venture out to the market due to fear of Maoist attack," said Prem Giri, a labourer.

Shibu Soren hints at return to Cabinet (Go To Top)

          Ranchi: JMM leader and former Union Coal and Mines Minister Shibu Soren today hinted at a possible returned to the center days after being released on bail by a Jamtara court.Shibu Soren who was released this week from Jamtara Jail has promised to carry his battle to the public of Jharkhand. He said that his future course of action will be decided after his visit to Delhi. He hinted that the UPA leaders are asking him to return to the Union Cabinet. "I have decided to move to the people's court. The negligence of the state government will receive a fitting reply from the people" said Soren. Soren had to lose his ministership in July after a Jamtara court declared him an absconder and issued a nonbailable arrest warrant in connection to the 1975 Chirudih massacre case. Soren had went underground but finally surrendered on August 2. Soren is also a coaccused in a murder case in Giridih.

7 Pak soldiers killed in WANA operation  (Go To Top)

          Islamabad: The Pakistan Army's ongoing operations in the WANA area of South Waziristan received a setback of sorts when at least seven army soldiers were reported killed in separate skirmishes with suspect militants. According to ISPR chief, Major General Shaukat Sultan, the soldiers were ambushed and killed in the Kanigoram and Karwan Manza areas of the tribal region. According to The News, however, the death toll of security forces was pegged at 11, including two officers, while seven others were said to have been injured. Major General Sultan was also quoted as saying that the situation in South Waziristan remained fluid.