Main Page                                                 Archives

Four militants killed in Rajouri encounter

     Jammu: Four militants were killed in an encounter in the Budhal area of Rajouri district last night. Confirming the encounter, the Army sources said, the militants belonged to the militant outfit Hizbul Mujahideen. Four AK rifles have also been recovered from their possession added the sources. The troops moved and cordoned off the specific area after getting information about the presence of the militants. Meanwhile, the search operations are still on.

Trishul test- fired

     Balasore: India's most sophisticated short range surface-to-air missile, Trishul, was test-fired from the Integrated Test Range at Chandipur, about 15 km from here today. According to the Defence sources, Trishul, which has been indigenously developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), was test fired from a mobile launcher at about 12.53 hours. A microlight-unmanned aircraft was used as the support system for target acquisition of the missile, the sources said. Trishul, the missile powered by a two-stage solid propellant system, has been successful in achieving a target range of nine km, informed sources. However, the sources added, the range could be enhanced with the completion of its other trials. Three-metre long and with a diameter of 200 cm, the missile flies at supersonic speed and it carried a 5.5 kg fragmented warhead. All the three wings of our defence forces can use the missile. Army, Navy and Air Force can engage targets like aircraft and helicopters flying between 300 and 500 meters by using its radar command to line-of-sight guidance system. The missile has a high maneuverability and has been flight tested in the sea-skimming role and also against moving targets.

Hindu saints protest against US priest's miracle prayers (Go To Top)

     Bangalore: Hindu saints today took to streets in Bangalore demanding a ban on a proposed prayer meet by American evangelist Benny Hinn, which they say is a propaganda exercise aimed at luring impoverished tribals and villagers to change their faith. Florida-based Hinn, who claims to heal the sick and dying with his powers, is due to hold a three-day prayer from Friday in Bangalore. More than one million people are expected to attend the hugely publicised event. The entire city is dotted with posters, and pamphlets are being distributed in thousands detailing Hinn's great spiritual powers. Accusing Hinn of spreading "fraudulent" faith healing, the Hindu saints said that they would forcibly stop the prayer ceremony if the provincial authorities failed to act soon. Karnataka Revenue Minister M.P. Prakash, who accepted a memorandum from the agitating seers, promised action. "He (Hinn) can treat his own Pope. He can pray for his Pope. He can pray for America, he can pray for Pakistan. Why India? India is capable for praying for India and we are capable of praying for whole world," Prakash said.

     A group of doctors and medical students as well have joined the agitation, questioning the credential of miracle healing promised by Hinn. The doctors have urged the government to constitute a medical team to probe into his miracles of healing the sick. "We are having lots of patients, let him heal them and prove that he is a real healer. He is a fake person. If he wants to really heal, he can come to TB sanitorium and treat TB patients. When he cannot heal John Pope, how can he heal our Indian poor patients. He is misleading the patients," said B.G Muralidhar, a cardiovascular surgeon with a reputed city hospital. Meanwhile, Hinn's supporters have denied reports of conversions and urged the Hindu saints not to disrupt the prayer meeting. Conversion is a sensitive issue in the country where fundamentalists Hindu groups accuse Christian missionaries of using lures such as schools and healthcare - which they call "forced conversions" - to get poor people to join their faith. On the other hand, the Christians, who make up less than three percent of the country's estimated population, accuse the Hindu groups of fomenting a hate campaign against them, which they say hurts the roots of the country's secular constitution.