BALASORE (Odisha) Dec 10:

India successfully test-firednuclear-capable ballistic missileAgni-5, which has a strike rangeof 5,000 km, from Dr AbdulKalam Island off the Odishacoast Monday.

This is the seventh trial ofthe indigenously-developed sur-face-to-surface missile, defencesources said.

Agni-V is a three stage mis-sile, 17 metres tall, two metreswide and capable of carrying1.5 tonne of nuclear warheads.

"The missile was launchedwith the help of a mobilelauncher from launch pad-4 ofthe Integrated Test Range (ITR)at Dr Abdul Kalam Island in theBay of Bengal on Monday after-noon," said a defence source.

"It was an user associatedtrial and strategic force com-mand with DRDO scientist con-ducted it," they said.

The missile has beendesigned to hit the designatedtarget point accurately, guidedby the on-board computer withthe support of a Ring LaserGyro-based Inertial NavigationSystem, the Micro InertialNavigation System, fully-digitalcontrol system and advancedcompact avionics, as per DRDOofficials.

The first two flights of Agni-5 in 2012 and 2013 were in openconfiguration.

The third, fourth and fifthlaunches were from canister

integrated with a mobile launch-er, in its deliverable configura-tion to enable launch of the mis-sile with a very short prepara-tion time as compared to anopen launch.

The sixth trial was in Juneduring which the missile wasfired from a mobile launcher.Several new technologies weresuccessfully tested during thesixth trial.

The Agni-5 also has advan-tages of higher reliability,longer shelf life, less mainte-nance and enhanced mobility,according to sources.(PTI)

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6 lakh beneficiaries enrolled by CSCs for Ayushman Bharat scheme in J&K

NEW DELHI, Dec 10:

As many as six lakh benefi-ciaries have been enrolled byCommon Service Centres(CSCs) for Ayushman Bharatscheme in Jammu and Kashmir,an IT Ministry official has said.

Nearly 3,500 CommonService Centres (CSCs) -- a net-work that is a part of theGovernment's rural outreachprogramme for delivery of digi-tal services -- have been ropedin for registration and verifica-tion of Ayushman Bharat bene-ficiaries, the official added.

The ambitious healthcareprogramme of the NDAGovernment - Ayushman Bharat- was launched in J&K recentlywith a target of covering over 31lakh poor and vulnerable fami-lies in all 22 districts.

When contacted, CSC CEO,Dinesh Tyagi said that so fararound six lakh beneficiarieshave been enrolled by CSCs, ofwhich over 2.5 lakh applicationshave been cleared (by the stateauthorities).

Maximum registrations havebeen reported from districts likeAnantnag, Baramulla, Badgam,Pulwama, Kulgam, andGanderbal.

Tyagi said that apart fromregistration of beneficiaries,CSCs are carrying out publicity

and advocacy work for the uni-versal health programme,mobilising people to get regis-tered, and getting necessarydocumentation done for regis-tration of beneficiaries.

"Due to this, there has beenmajor rush for registration underAyushman Bharat scheme.CSCs have become a singlewindow service provider forAyushman Bharat in J&K... Inmany cases, CSC workers areeven visiting homes of sick andfeeble people to get their regis-trations done," he said.

Prime Minister NarendraModi, in September, launchedthe Ayushman Bharat- PradhanMantri Jan Aarogya Yojana,which aims to provide a cover-age of Rs 5 lakh per familyannually, benefiting more than10.74 crore poor families forsecondary and tertiary care hos-pitalisation through a networkof empanelled health careproviders.

CSCs, said Tyagi, havebecome major platform for reg-istrations under AyushmanBharat schemes across India. Sofar, 20 lakh pan-India registra-tions in 13 states have beenfacilitated by CSCs. Top regis-trations have been reported fromJharkhand, J&K, Gujarat,Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradeshand Bihar. (PTI)

VVIP chopper case: Delhi Court grants further 5-day remand of Christian Michel

NEW DELHI, Dec 10:

Christian Michel James,alleged middleman chargesheet-ed and arrested in the graft-tainted Agusta Westland VVIPchopper deal, was allowed by aDelhi court today to be interro-gated further by the CBI in itscustody for five more days.

57-year-old Michel was pro-duced before Special JudgeArvind Kumar on the expiry ofhis five-day CBI remand duringwhich he was confronted withvarious documents relating tothe case.

He will be produced againbefore the court on December15.

Seeking extension ofMichel's police custody by ninedays, the agency contended thathe was "not cooperating" in theinvestigation and was giving"evasive" answers and when hefinds himself in problem, hegets out of it by denying it.

It contended that Michel wasrequired to be confronted withsome witnesses to unearth thedeep rooted conspiracy and toidentify his accomplices includ-ing the IAF officials, bureau-crats and politicians.

Prosecutor D P Singh,appearing for CBI, argued thatMichel was being "tutored" byhis advocates during their visita-tions at the agency's office andthe court's order allowing thelawyers to meet the accusedtwice a day was hampering theirinterrogation.

His counsel denied the alle-gation and said he was not beingtutored.

Advocate Aljo K Joseph,appearing for Michel, said hispolice custody was not requiredany further and no incriminatingevidence was shown to him dur-ing the interrogation.

When the defence counselalleged that Michel was being"tortured", CBI prosecutorobjected to the choice of theword and said the advocate wassaying this only to create head-lines in the media, and theaccused was treated with

"utmost respect".Joseph said he sent a mail to

the British High Commission onSaturday regarding an officer ofthe agency.

He added that nothingwrong has been found on thepart of the accused by the Italiancourt, which was opposed bythe prosecutor.

The prosecutor contendedthat Michel's custody wasrequired as he has to be con-fronted with incriminatingmaterial and other accused inthe case.

Singh said documents havebeen received from five coun-tries pursuant to the Letter ofRequest sent to these nations.

The judge, while remandingMichel to five-day in CBI cus-tody, said he should be medical-ly examined as per rules.

At the outset, Michel with-drew his earlier bail plea andfiled fresh detailed bail applica-tion which would be heard later.

Michel, who is a citizen ofthe United Kingdom, wasbrought to India on the night ofDecember 4, following hisextradition by the UAE in con-nection with the case and thenext day, he was producedbefore the court which hadallowed his five-day custodialinterrogation by the CBI.

On Monday, CBI alsosought permission to take speci-men signatures of the accusedand the court listed it for hearingtomorrow after Michel's counselsaid he would file a reply to it.

Michel's counsel submittedthat Michel's special power ofattorney Santrolli RosemaryPatrizi Dos Anjos wants to meether once to provide some docu-ments and she be allowed to doso.

The plea was opposed by theCBI after which the court keptthe application pending saying itcould be heard only when she ispresent before it and even her'vakalatnama' was not on record.

CBI prosecutor said the for-eign lawyer was always in newsfor her controversial statementsgiven to Press and otherwise.(PTI)

Agni-5 missile test fired