Nuclear energy is clean and promotes self-reliance:Kakodkar

Panaji, Dec 28 (UNI) Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar today said that the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) continues to work with the universities for higher research in nuclear techologies including Thorium for energy production.

Replying to the felicitation by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after the top nuclear scientist was conferred honorary Doctor of Litters(D.Litt)(Honoris Causa) at the 20th Annual Convocation of the Goa University here today, he said India was identified as advanced nuclear technology leader with self-reliant technologies even as it had embarked on research, on use of Thorium as nuclear fuel.

''Interface between basic sciences and applied research is the need of the hour in this sector and we have to prepare the students to embark on such technologies as Thorium,'' Dr Kakodkar said.

Hoping that international civil cooperation will be a reality soon, he said India needs to continue research with innovative technologies for global leadership.

Atomic energy as a powerful source of energy is inevitable not only to save mother earth but to lessen climate change crisis, he observed.

''I feel greatly honoured to receive honorary D.Litt from the university along with veteran singer Lata Mangeshkar(in absentia) and I endeavour to prove worthy of the honour,'' he told the convocation.

Earlier, Goa governor and the University Chancellor S C Jamir conferred the honorary D.Litt to Dr Kakodkar in presence of Dr Singh, CM Digambar Kamat and Vice-Chancellor Dr Dileep N Dobagkar amid thunderous applause.

UNI/BM/DB VD KP1910 ZC PRIORITY BY 12 CRIME-MAH-ACB-BRIBE Two police personnel nabbed for accepting bribe Mumbai, Dec 28 (UNI) Two police personnel were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) while accepting a bribe of Rs 30,000 from a college professor.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Pandurang Shinde said here today that Police Sub Inspector (PSI) Ravindra Maruti Ranshevare had allegedly demanded Rs 50,000 from Bhavans College (Economics) Professor Sadanand Shantaram Pawar (47) to favour him in a kidnapping case, registered against him in June this year.

On December 20, Prof Pawar approached ACB and registered a complaint against Ranshevare. After the verification of the complaint, ACB sleuths laid a trap and arrested Ranshevare and his orderly police constable, Madan Thorat yesterday at Malad, a western suburb, ACP Shinde said.

They will be produced in special court later today, he added.

According to Prof Pawar, his servant Laxman Mandal had stolen a gold chain from his house in April, this year. Initially, he refused to have stolen the chain but when Prof Pawar threatened him of lodging a complaint with police, he admitted his crime. He promised to repay the money in instalments, and requested Prof Pawar not to lodge a complaint against him.

Thereafter, Laxman went to his native place on leave, during that period, his brother lodged a false missing complaint of Laxman at Charkop Police Station in Kandivali. Consequently, Prof Pawar was arrested by police in a kidnapping case.

While arguing on his bail application, Prof Pawar told the court about the incident and was granted bail.

Meanwhile, Laxman came back to Mumbai and started working here.

But, Ranshevare started demanding money to favour him in the case.

Fed-up with the harassment of the police officer, Prof Pawar lodged a complaint, and Ranshevare along with the police constable was nabbed by the ACB.

UNI ST NM AG1522 ZC PRIORITY BY 13 EXTERNAL-GUJ-ALERT Security beefed up in Kutch to check infiltration Bhuj, Dec 28 (UNI) The International border in Kutch district of Gujarat, bordering Pakistan, has been put on high alert following reports of rise in infiltration from across the border in wake of the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, whose funeral was held at Larkhana in Sindh, bordering Kutch. Larkhana is approximately 250 km from the Kutch border.

According to Bhuj Additional Collector Harshad Mehta, the Kutch coast, which comprises one-third of the Gujarat coast from Koteshwar to Surajbari, has become ''very sensitive'' and the para-military forces have been asked to keep a strict vigil. The BSF has also intensified patrolling at the border outposts along the coastline.

Two points at the border - Khavada, 70 km from Bhuj and Khadir, 170 km from Bhuj-- are important areas for infiltration.

The assassination of Ms Bhutto has plunged Pakistan in disarray.

People living in bordering areas and even terrorists may try to sneak into the Indian side, Mr Mehta said.

UNI