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India launches third stealth warship 'Sahyadri'

     Mumbai: India today launched the much awaited third warship of Shivalik Class, named "Sahyadri". The frigate, which has stealth features, has been built by Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL) and will be inducted into the Navy in next two years. The first ship of the Shivalik class was launched in 2003 and the second one the next year in 2004. Very few countries operate ships with total stealth features. Those countries are United States, the United Kingdom, France, Sweden and Russia. The Stealth frigates are built with smooth angled surfaces or use radar absorbent composite material which helps it evade interception. Several modifications have been made in the third frigate based on the experience gained from the earlier two versions. The total displacement of the ship is 4,900 tonnes and it will be powered by gas and diesel turbines. Arun Prakash, Indian Navy Chief, said the main feature of the ship is its stealth or radar evading capability. "The main achievement is that it is known as the stealth frigate, which means that it will be difficult for the enemy to locate with its radar. With the equipments which would be put in it, it will be a very strong ship. When it will be inducted in our fleet then it will really strengthen our force," Prakash told reporters after the launch of the ship by his wife Kumkum Prakash. Sahyadri, the 26th warship of the Indian Navy, is 143 metres in length and 16.9 metres wide. The warship is fitted with a mix of Indian, Russian and Western weaponry systems. The ship is equipped with the latest surface-to-surface vertical launch missiles, surface-to-air missiles, radar and communication equipment. The third of the P-17 class of warship, Sahyadri would be carrying deadly and potent weapons. The ships, named after mountain ranges of the Indian sub- continent, are due to enter service from 2007 onwards.

Clinton visits Nagapattinam  (Go To Top)

     Nagapattinam: Former US President and UN special envoy Bill Clinton today visited Nagapattinam district, the worst hit on the mainland during last December's killer tsunami. Of over 13,000 people who died in the country, more than 6,000 belonged to this district with a 147-km long coast. Clinton met survivors at a temporary shelter in Nagapattinam and also interacted with representatives of several non-government organizations, which are involved in rehabilitation work. Reviewing the tsunami rehabilitation work, Clinton said, "It's probably not fair to compare because I was in other countries at a much earlier stage. But I would say that the local plans here, the thing that has impressed me most is the way that a coordination office was set up to bring all the NGOs together with the local government and with the people. That is something that is a big challenge everywhere." The World Bank has provided 18 billion rupees for the Tamil Nadu state government's Emergency Tsunami Reconstruction Project. Clinton is on a three-day tour to India and is visiting the tsunami-affected areas in his capacity as Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan had named Clinton as an envoy to oversee tsunami relief worldwide.

      Earlier, the former president met Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Thursday. Patil apprised Clinton of the latest situation in the tsunami-hit areas, where rehabilitation and reconstruction work is being done and discussed means to improve and hasten rehabilitation efforts. Clinton lauded the Indian government's work in the aftermath of tsunami tragedy. He was also scheduled to meet several NGOs and activists connected with AIDS awareness programmes. On Wedenesday, Clinton called on Union Health and Family Welfare Minister A. Ramadoss and discussed the health scenario in the country, especially the spread of HIV/AIDS. Clinton, was also likely to deliver the keynote address at a national conference on HIV/AIDS, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Indian Business Trust for HIV/AIDS and National AIDS Control Organisation. After visiting Nagapattinam, Clinton will fly from Chennai to Sri Lanka on May 28 and then to other tusnami-hit countries. Clinton has visited India on a number of occasions including 2001 earthquake in Gujarat in which thousands were killed. Officials estimate that December 26 tsunami killed at least 13,230 people in India, although only 7,000 deaths have been confirmed. The killer waves killed more than 250,000 people across the Indian Ocean rim countries. Close to 100 billion rupees is needed to rebuild damaged infrastructure and rehabilitate tens of thousands of people who lost their homes, livelihood and relatives in the tragedy.

Bangladesh launches crackdown on Indian insurgents  (Go To Top)
by Nazrul Islam

     Dhaka: At least five Indian insurgents along with one of their Bangladeshi aide were killed in a fierce encounter between the security forces in north-eastern frontier district of Moulvibazar on Friday. Officials in the capital said the gunfight ensued early in the morning when elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the members of the border guards, the BRD, launched a drive against the suspected Indian insurgents at Madhabpur of Kamalganj upazila in Moulvibazar district. After the hour-long gunfight, the security forces arrested eight suspects and recovered huge quantity of firearms and ammunition from their possessions. An eyewitness told ANI that the Bangladeshi aide of the Indian insurgents who died in the encounter was identified as Sunil Chowdhury while the identities of Indian insurgents were not known. 'But it is still unclear which groups of insurgents the Indian suspects were belonging to,' said a journo who was at the spot. Officer-in-Charge of Kamalganj police station Ataur Rahman said over telephone that those killed may be linked to the insurgents of India's north east. "We are investigating to know with which group they were involved in," said Ataur adding that the bodies were sent to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital for autopsy. Officials said two RAB members were also injured during the fighting. They were brought to Dhaka by helicopter and admitted to Combined Medical Hospital (CMH). But, names of the injured RAB personnel were not disclosed. Among the arrested, one was identified as Abdus Samad, an alleged arms smuggler, who hails from Jhenaigati in Sherpur district. According to RAB, the security forces recovered six grenades, one SMG, two magazines, 105 bullets, 3 mobile phones, one wireless set, two antennas and Bangladeshi taka 6,960 from the hideout of the insurgents on a hill top surrounded by forests.

      The sources said that the encounter ensued when the RAB personnel aided by BDR members went to the area under a joint operation that began simultaneously in the frontiers of Rajshahi, Sherpur, Sylhet, Habiganj, Moulvibazar and Jessore districts at 3.00 am. RAB sources said some 500 members from six battalions of Rapid Action Battalion and 100 of Bangladesh Rifles took part in the joint drive that continued for several hours targeting the dens of arms smugglers. According to the RAB officials, they have been able to dismantle the network within a night and it would definitely reduce the illegal arms trading. India has constantly complained to Bangladesh about the anti- Indian activities that continue to be launched from its territory in the form of gun-running for northeast insurgent groups sheltered in parts of Bangladesh. Bangladesh at the official level has constantly denied these claims.

Pak okays Indian banks' entry  (Go To Top)

     Karachi: Without mentioning India by name, Pakistan's central bank the State Bank of Pakistan has okayed Indian commercial banks to begin operations in its territory by virtue of both India and Pakistan being members of SAARC. The SBP released its new guidelines and criteria for setting commercial banks in Pakistan stipulating two conditions for setting up banks in its territories. First, those banks which are from countries belonging to regional groups and associations of which Pakistan is a member, and, second, foreign banks having a global tier-1 paid-up capital of five billion dollars or more. Since India is a member of SAARC, so under prescribed definition of being member country of regional groups, Indian banks would be eligible to set up their branches, reported The News today. According to the paper, the second condition indicates that only first class foreign banks would be allowed to open their new branches in Pakistan. The SBP also placed guidelines for setting up Islamic commercial banks, Micro Finance Bank and Exchange Company. During the first year of its operation the management of bank would have to open at least 10 branches in a business calendar year. The SBP has promised that application would be processed in 6-8 weeks and in case of rejection right of appeal would be available. The SBP would be charging ten lakh rupees as non-refundable processing fee per application.

18 killed in suicide bombing in Pakistan  (Go To Top)

     Islamabad: At least 18 people were killed and many wounded by a suspected suicide bombing at a mosque in the Pakistani capital Islamabad on Friday, police said. The blast occurred at the Bari Imam shrine, which is close to Pakistan's main government buildings and the diplomatic enclave, where many embassies and diplomatic residences are located. "Our initial information suggests it was a suicide attack," said Islamabad police chief Talat Mehmood Tariq, adding that at least 14 people had been killed.

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