Briefly Nation

The first flight of Tejas Aircraft LSP-4 Limited Series Production took place on Wednesday,touching a supersonic 1.1 Mach speed.

First flight of Tejas aircraft LSP-4

BANGALORE: The first flight of Tejas Aircraft LSP-4 Limited Series Production took place on Wednesday,touching a supersonic 1.1 Mach speed. According to DRDO,the aircraft took off at 1110 hrs from HALs Bangalore airport and landed 40 minutes later. The aircraft will finally be delivered to the IAF in December this year. Senior scientists were involved in the development and flight test planning of the newly integrated flight control software which was used by the test aircraft.

CM: Sivanandhan appointment fair

MUMBAI: Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said on Wednesday that D Sivanandan was appointed as the DGP according to the legal process. Recommendations made by the committee headed by the Chief Secretary have been considered for the DGP selection. He Sivanandan was selected on the basis of merit, Chavan said. Newly appointed DGP Sivanandan,a 1976 batch IPS officer,superseded Hasan Gafoor,an IPS officer of 1974 batch and DG Housing P P Srivastava of 1975 batch.

Shivaji function to be held at Raigad Fort

MUMBAI: Chief Minister Ashok Chavan announced on Wednesday that the Central Government has granted permission to celebrate the 336th coronation ceremony of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Raigad Fort,ending all the controversies surrounding it. Chavan said a government representative and concerned minister of the area would attend the ceremony. The Archaeological Survey of India ASI had declined permission to hold a function at Raigad Fort but Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray had said on Tuesday that his party would celebrate there regardless.

Bihar: 27 anti-Sikh riots accused freed

Sasaram: A local court has acquitted all the 27 accused in the anti-Sikh riots of 1984,in the absence of witnesses against them in Bihars Rohtas district. The four witnesses,all police personnel,did not turn up on behalf of the prosecution despite repeated reminders issued by the court to the SP office and legal cell department of the states crime department. The police,after arresting 61 anti-socials had filed an FIR against them with the Dehri-on-Sone police station on the basis of the statement of then officer-in-charge K Jha and submitted a chargesheet against them on February 28,1985,but the case was delayed because of technical difficulties.

Rahul visits Chennai unannounced

CHENNAI: Taking local police and security guards by surprise,AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday visited Chennai to attend a party function. Making an unannounced visit,Gandhi arrived by a private flight at 1:50 pm to take part in a youth Congress training session on the citys outskirts.