Briefly Nation

Jahan,who was killed in an encounter in Gujarat in 2004,has dismissed alleged claims by Lashkar-e-Toiba operative David Headley...

Ishrats kin refutes Headley8217;s claim

ALAPPUZHA: Gopinatha Pillai,father-in-law of Ishrat Jahan,who was killed in an encounter in Gujarat in 2004,has dismissed alleged claims by Lashkar-e-Toiba operative David Headley that she was a suicide bomber of the outfit. Pillai said alleged claim made by Headley to NIA interrogators was an attempt to derail his struggle 8220;to bring to light the whole truth8221;.

Pacheco denied bail by Goa court

PANAJI: A Goa court Wednesday rejected the bail plea of former state Minister Fransisco Mickey Pacheco,who is accused of abetting the suicide of his friend Nadia Torrado. Additional Sessions Judge Pramod Kamat denied bail to Pacheco,who surrendered last Saturday after the SC rejected his anticipatory bail petition. Nadia,28,died on May 30,15 days after she allegedly poisoned herself.

Police provide Kasab lawyer security

MUMBAI: Police have provided round-the-clock security cover to lawyer Amin Solkar,who has been appointed by the Bombay High Court to defend Ajmal Kasab. A constable with an automatic carbine would accompany Solkar as guard,police said. Security was provided after the lawyer recieved a threat.

Astra test-fired for 2nd consecutive day

BALASORE ORISSA: India Wednesday test-fired 8216;Astra8217;,the indigenously developed beyond visual rangeBVR air-to-air missile at Chandipur in Orissa,hours after carrying out its first night trial. Astra was fired from a launcher at the Integrated Test Range complex at about 2.07 pm,defence sources said. The missile was test-fired for the first time in inclement weather conditions on Tuesday night.

Dandi,3 villages to be a green zone

DANDI Gujarat: Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi Wednesday unveiled a Rs 25-crore plan to develop Dandi,Samapar,Matwad and Onjal as a green zone that would sorround the Gandhi memorial at Dandi. 8220;Mahatma Gandhi is the patron saint of the modern environment movement,8221; Ramesh said.

Vanzara,Dinesh in CID custody

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat CID Wednesday arrested jailed IPS officers D G Vanzara and Dinesh M N,in connection with the 2006 Tulsi Prajapati encounter case. They were arrested from Sabarmati Central Jail where they are lodged in connection with the Soharabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.