M A I N   N E W S

‘Test neutron bomb before signing CTBT’

MUMBAI, May 1 (PTI) — India should test neutron bomb before signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the government should not come under any kind of pressure to sign the treaty before the test, former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, Dr P.K. Iyengar has said.

Addressing nuclear scientists, who took part in Pokhran I and II tests of 1974 and 1998, respectively, here at a meeting organised by “Vijnan Bharati” yesterday, Mr Iyengar said the government would have no problem in withdrawing the self-imposed moratorium on testing nuclear devices at any time.

“The test will also not violate any international or bilateral treaty as we have not signed any”, Mr Iyengar said while speaking on “Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and CTBT — Are they steps towards nuclear disarmament?”

Rajasthan gets 20 cr from calamity fund

NEW DELHI, May 1 (PTI) — The government today sanctioned Rs 30 crore from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund for nutrition of women and children in drought affected Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Calamity Relief Fund and Plan assistance to the two states will also be considered for release in advance on requirement basis, an official statement said.

While Rajasthan was sanctioned Rs 20 crore from the PM’s Relief Fund, Gujarat will be given Rs 10 crore, it said.

Earlier, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development released a loan of Rs 146.70 crore.

2 killed, 4 hurt in Pak shelling
Tribune News Service & PTI

SRINAGAR, May 1 — Two persons, including a woman, were killed and four received injuries when Pakistani troops resorted to shelling from across the border in Karnah sector of Kupwara district yesterday.

A police spokesman said here that 21 shops in Kandi and two shops in Tanghdar were gutted as a result of the shelling from across the border. One building of the electricity department and an electric tower were damaged disrupting power supply in the area.

Those killed were identified as Shameema Begum and Mehtab Altaf of Kandi, Karnah. The injured included Sadaf Altaf, Raja Altaf, Rashida Begum and Mohammad Sharief of the same area.

The spokesman said Pakistani troops started shelling and firing from across the border in Karnah, Teetwal sector of Kupwara district on Sunday afternoon.

Defence sources said in Jammu that several Pakistani soldiers were feared killed in heavy firing exchange in northern Siachen sector.

Pakistani troops, using heavy machine guns and rockets, attacked Indian area in Siachen yesterday, as a result of which one bunker was damaged and a jawan received injuries, the sources said.

In the retaliatory action by Indian troops, a Pakistani bunker was damaged and several Pakistani troops were feared killed, the sources said, adding the number of casualties on the other side could not be ascertained.

One jawan, Naik Ranjit Singh, was injured in the Pakistani Rangers firing at border outpost of Narainpur in Ramgarh sector along international border yesterday, the sources said.

Two army jawans and one civilian were also injured in Pakistani troops firing and shelling in Pallanwala area in Akhnoor sector and Mendhar area of Poonch district during the period.

Meanwhile, two persons, including a militant, were killed and six were injured in separate incidents of militancy in Kashmir since yesterday. Militants also took away a car from SMHS Hospital here.