Pak to test-fire nuclear missile

Islamabad (AP): Pakistan will test-fire a missile with nuclear capability within the next few days despite a thaw in relations with India, a senior government official and a scientist said on Sunday.

?Yes, everything is in place for Ghazanvi?s test,? the official, who refused to be named, said of Pakistan?s new medium-range missile.

A scientist confirmed the planned test, but refused to say when it would take place.

It would be Pakistan?s second major missile test in the past six weeks, following the October 12 launch of the Ghauri V missile, which has a range of 1,500 km.

The official said Islamabad has informed neighbouring countries, including India, about the planned test.

Also on Sunday, deputy foreign minister Makhdum Khusro Bukhtyar said in a statement that Islamabad ?wants to sustain the dialogue process with India and make it result-oriented so that all outstanding issues between Pakistan and India can be resolved?.

Bukhtyar said resolution of the Kashmir issue would be the biggest confidence-building measure, ?which can rid our region of tension and usher in an era of stability and co-operation?.

School under suicide glare

Kochi (PTI): The parents of a 12-year-old schoolboy, who committed suicide after failing in a test, have filed complaints with the Kerala director-general of police and the Kochi police commissioner holding the school authorities responsible for the suicide.

Neeraj Hari Nair, a Class VII student of a public school here, had ended his life on Thursday after he failed in an English test, police said.

In the complaint, the boy?s father alleged that his son was caned by the teacher concerned and was made to stand outside the class for four periods. Unable to withstand this humiliation, he ended his life by hanging himself in the toilet at home when his parents were away.

The school authorities have denied that the child was punished, saying they were against corporal punishment and were prepared to face any kind of probe regarding the incident.

Suicide bid in VIP hub

New Delhi (PTI): A gardener employed with the Rashtrapati Bhavan attempted suicide on Sunday along with five of his family.

Nanu Ram and the five members of his family consumed poison but are now out of danger, police said. They were living in a servant?s quarters in the President?s estate.

A daughter-in-law of the family allegedly committed suicide two days ago and the family had complained they were being harassed by her relatives. The head of the family, Nanu Ram, told the police they had decided to end their lives as they could not take the harassment any longer.

Girl rescued

Bangalore (PTI): A five-year-old girl, abducted by a gang for a ransom of Rs 10 lakh, was rescued after the kidnappers were arrested on Sunday. One of the abductors is a distant relative of the child?s father, who is a businessman.

Mehbooba case

Srinagar (PTI): A court here has directed People?s Democratic Party president Mehbooba Mufti to appear personally before it on December 24 in connection with a criminal case filed against her by National Conference leader Ali Mohammad Sagar. He has accused her of making derogatory remarks against him during a poll campaign.

Body seized

New Delhi (PTI): Police on Saturday seized a half-burnt body of a 35-year-old woman from the funeral pyre after being informed about an alleged attempt by the family members to secretly cremate her. The police sprung into action after they received a call informing that the woman, who had been accidentally shot dead during a marriage party in Preet Vihar area of east Delhi on Friday night, was being secretly cremated.

Probe on tremors

Ahmedabad (PTI): Seismologists are investigating the cause behind tremors and sounds of blasts that have been reported from some villages of Talala taluka in Amreli, Gujarat. Similar incidents were reported on November 2.

The number of foreign students attending colleges in the Washington area has declined by 10 per cent since the 9/11 attacks. But Indians still constitute the largest segment of international students in the US, says a report.