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Air Force test fires its version
of surface-to-air missile 

What is India News Service, Thursday, September 16, 2004, 2200 hrs IST

The Air Force version of Trishul, India's indigenously developed surface-to-air missile, was successfully test-fired on Wednesday from Chandipur, near Balasore in Orissa. 

This is the first time that this version has been launched. There are three variants of Trishul for the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.

"We are happy" with the successful launch of the Air Force version, said Prahlada, Director of the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Hyderabad, which designed the Trishul. 

The launch took place from a wheeled-vehicle base.

Cabinet panel discusses naxalite issue: The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) discussed various aspects of the Naxalite problem and the state governments could take on the rebels.

Haryana says Punjab Act unconstitutional: The Haryana Government today termed the Punjab Government’s termination of all water-sharing agreements as “unconstitutional” and “without jurisdiction.” The passing of the Act does not “discharge Punjab from complying with the judgments, decree and order of the Supreme Court,” the affidavit filed by the Haryana Government said

We are not bound to build canal, says Punjab: The Punjab Government defended its termination of all water-sharing agreements, and told the Supreme Court that it was under no obligation to build the Sutlej Yamuna Link canal despite court orders.

Probe panel visits burnt coach site at Godhra: The U. C. Banerjee high-level committee, appointed by the Centre to investigate the exact cause of fire inside the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express, in which 59 'Ram Sevaks' were killed in February 2002, today visited Godhra Railway Station, to gather "first hand" report as to how the train was burnt.

Ulfa extortion net foxes army: The army today conceded that its “best efforts” to stop extortion by militants in Assam were probably not enough to prevent the outlawed Ulfa from casting its net far and wide.

Air Force version of Trishul test-fired: The Air Force version of Trishul, India's indigenously developed surface-to-air missile, was successfully test-fired today from the Interim-Test-Range at Chandipur, near Balasore in Orissa. 

Bangladeshis arrested on Indo-Pak border: Seventeen Bangladeshi nationals were arrested when they were trying to cross over to Pakistan along the international border in Jammu and Kashmir.

Fear haunts Antaryami; Tilak Raj puts up a brave front: After being in the thick of news for 42 days, Antaryami, Sukhdev Singh and Tilak Raj would prefer to be out of it now. In fact, theirs’ was an ordinary life that was thrust into an extraordinary situation and, ironically, if they couldn’t cope with it then, they cannot do so now after their return to the ordinariness of living.

Senior Jamaat leader shot dead: Unidentified gunmen shot dead a senior activist of the Jamaat-e-Islami, advocate Peer Hissamuddin, at his Bemina residence here today. He was a close associate of APHC chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

 
States

BJP-Shiv Sena announces first list of candidates for Maharashtra polls: The Opposition Shiv Sena and its alliance partner BJP on Thursday stole a march over the ruling Democratic Front (DF) partners, Congress and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), by releasing their first lists of candidates, numbering collectively 167, for the October 13 Maharashtra Assembly polls.

Karnataka chief justice sets rider for re-look at HC Bench issue: The chief justice is upset over the government’s failure in providing infrastructure for the newly established courts in various districts.

Cattle smugglers will benefit from Lalu's decision: The lifting of the ban on ferrying cattle by trains would be to the direct benefit of smugglers. The ban was clamped following investigations carried out by the Uttar Pradesh Police after interception of three cattle trains in January, 2001, near Agra.

Karnataka power regulator cool to shock deaths: The state power regulator, which had triggered a public debate on safety, has preferred not to react to the recent electrocution of four persons.

Jaya hails Sonia's decision, all praise for PM: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa Thursday described as "good" Congress president Sonia Gandhi's decision not to take up Prime Minister's post and rejected suggestions that she had carried out a personal campaign against her in the elections.

Matsyagandha Express tragedy replay averted: Two individuals - a railway gangman and a neurosurgeon - were responsible for preventing a mishap and bringing to light the negligence of the railways. 

Thapar refuses new admissions despite seats: The Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology (TIET) has closed its door on new admissions despite more than 60 seats falling vacant in various engineering courses in the institute.



Neighbours

Nepali Maoists warn India: Police and security agencies have been put on high alert along the Indo-Nepal border after Maoist rebels threatened the Indian Government with violence through human bombs if it offers Nepal any help to fight against them. 

Sheikh Hasina receives death threat: The former Bangladesh prime minister, who narrowly survived a bomb attack in Dhaka last month, received a death threat on Thursday, her political secretary said.

Pakistan ruling on language averts crisis:  Senate chairman Muhammadmian Soomro on Wednesday averted a looming crisis in the upper house by ruling that Urdu and all languages spoken in the country were national languages of Pakistan.

Maoists abduct Jana Morcha cadres, force 40 families to flee: Maoist rebels have abducted eight cadres of Jana Morcha Nepal (People's Front Nepal -PFN) in eastern hilly district of Panchthar.

Nepal Communists' charge against India: As India and Nepal strengthen their cooperation against extremism and terrorism, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) launched a scathing attack against India.
 
Motion against assembly resolution on Musharaff's uniform: Members of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD) on Wednesday submitted a privilege motion to the National Assembly Secretariat against the Punjab Assembly for passing a resolution in support of President Gen Pervez Musharraf's uniform.

Fresh move to end Wana fighting: The government told the Senate on Wednesday that it would begin dialogue with political parties and other stake-holders as part of that looked like a new move to bring peace to South Waziristan. 

Sobhraj to appeal against life imprisonment: Notorious conman Charles Sobhraj is likely to file an appeal against the circumstantial evidence cited by a Kathmandu court in a case relating to the alleged murder of two tourists that was used to put him behind bars since August for a 20-year term.

View from abroad 


India won't create problems for Pak, says Kalam: Expecting stepped-up relations between India and Pakistan, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam today said India would not create any problems for the neighbouring country, but would definitely safegu


Overall:

Air Force test fired the Trishul: The surface-to-air missile can blast an aircraft with a 20 kg warhead.

Nepali Maoists warned India:  They said India should not help that country's government deal with the rebel problem.

Sheikh Hasina received death threat: She has just survived a bomb attack, and is living under the shadow of violence.