Top Stories

Coastline security plan
gets cabinet approval

What is India News Service, Saturday, 29 January 2005, 2000 hrs IST

The government on Friday approved a Rs 742 crore scheme for maritime security. 

The plan will strengthen maritime security by enhancing patrolling and surveillance in the coastal areas. 

The CCS meeting, which lasted almost two-hours, was chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. It also reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the Naxalite-affected areas of the country. 

Home Minister Shivraj Patil gave a brief on the prevailing situation in these areas and the steps that the security agencies were taking to tackle the problem, especially in the Naxalite-affected areas. 

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that the scheme had been worked out by the Home Ministry costing Rs 400 crore over a five-year period and a recurring expenditure of Rs 111 crore. 

Mukherjee said that main thrust of the scheme would be to have specialised maritime police stations. These would deal specially with the maritime offences. 

The recommendations of the GoM also included the strengthening of the Coast Guard which was also approved by the CCS. These would particularly include the strengthening of the force to protect the country\92s national interests in the coastal areas.

Portugal Supreme Court clears extradition of Abu Salem: The Central Bureau of Investigation has inched closer to bringing back Abu Salem, accused in the March 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, with the Portuguese Supreme Court passing an order recently granting his extradition.

Abu Salem may unmask high-profile Bollywood personalities: The extradition of alleged gangster Abu Salem from Portugal, a key accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts, could result in a number of high-profile Bollywood personalities coming under police scrutiny.

Congress stakes claim as Goa Govt reduced to minority: The BJP government in Goa was reduced to a minority with three of its 21 party MLAs resigning from the 40-member state Assembly and an equal number withdrawing support to it in a sudden development.

Venkaiah escapes chopper crash-landing, Naxals burn it up: Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday had a miraculous escape when his helicopter crash-landed due to a technical snag in the Naxal stronghold Gaya.

30 aftershocks in 2 days in Nicobar islands: Thirty aftershocks of the magnitude of 5 on the Richter Scale and above have rocked the Nicobar group of islands in two days. One half of them occurred since the night of Thursday (around 10.30 p.m.). Camorta Island.

Child will inherit only father's caste: The Supreme Court today upheld a judgment of the Andhra Pradesh High Court that a child born out of wedlock would inherit only his/her father's caste irrespective of the caste to which the mother belonged. 

States

700 school kids seek safe future, march to Patna Raj Bhavan: Braving the early morning showers, hundreds of schoolchildren on Friday demonstrated in front of Raj Bhavan, seeking Governor Buta Singh\92s intervention for the safe release of three fellow pupils kidnapped from different parts of Bihar.

Molestation case: 60-yr old spiritual guru held in Mumbai: It took a month and a lot of courage for two women from Tandulwadi in Palghar town of Thane district to expose a spiritual guru for allegedly sexually abusing them during their visit to Kolhapur, some 300 km from here.

SC admits Judge\92s appeal in Burail jailbreak case: The Supreme Court today admitted an appeal of Chandigarh District and Sessions Judge H S Bhalla, challenging an order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, impleading him as a party in a public interest litigation (PIL) on the Burail jail break issue.


Neighbours


Six Maoists killed in Kanchanpur clash: At least six Maoist rebels were killed in an encounter with government forces at Sundarifata area in the far-western Kanchanpur district Saturday morning. 

Sri Lanka receives 'tsunami gift' from Thailand: Sri Lankans in the eastern coastal district of Batticaloa have begun worshiping two Thai Buddhist shrines washed ashore by the tsunami of December 26.

US embassy concerned over Tibetan issue: The US embassy in Kathmandu has said it is concerned over the issue of closure of Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office (T

Will cut down on smoking, says Bhutan King: The King will still smoke, but less. It's a promise that the King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, made to a small group of Indian correspondents during an hour-long meeting this evening. 
 

View from abroad

Britain's immigration policy: The Conservatives propose a radical overhaul of the immigration system.

Overall

Coastline security plan got approval: The government plans to strengthen its maritime forces.

Students petitioned president: They asked Abdul Kalam to protect them from the kidnapping spree in Bihar. 

Portugal agreed to deport Salem: He is a prime accused in the 1990 Bombay blasts case.