M A I N   N E W S

Missing Flight MH370
Malaysia dials Manmohan as India suspends search
* IAF, Navy assets on standby
* Delhi wants specific inputs
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 16
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Sunday called up Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sought India's technical assistance to trace the possible pathway of the missing jetliner. The development comes on day when New Delhi suspended the search operation off the Southern Coast and was awaiting Kuala Lumpur to identify fresh zone to be scanned.

Assuring all-help, Manmohan Singh shared New Delhi's concern over the welfare of 239 passengers, including five Indians, on board MH 370 flight that went missing on March 8. Based on fresh inputs of investigators, Malaysian authorities have indicated that search operations have entered a new phase, said the Ministry of Defence, adding that a strategy for further searches was being formulated. “Accordingly, search operations have been suspended and all Indian assets earmarked for search and rescue operations have been placed on standby," said a ministry spokesperson.

New Delhi has reportedly told Kuala Lumpur that inputs needs to more specific. “If the plane flew towards the southern part of the Indian Ocean and crashed there, it would entail a different approach. There is no radar coverage and it is also one of the deepest parts of the Ocean,” said sources.

Indian passengers clean

Kuala Lumpur: Indian intelligence officials have cleared the five Indians on board the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, police said on Sunday. “We are still awaiting reply from all agencies, especially intelligence reports from many countries. So far, Indian and Chinese authorities have cleared the list," police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said. — PTI