Somdev touches career-best ranking
New Delhi, April 12: India’s Somdev Devvarman continues to prosper on the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour and has risen to a career-high ranking of 110 on its charts here on Monday. Somdev, who came close to knocking out former World No.1 Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in the second round of the US men's Clay Court Championship, has improved upon his previous best of 116 last week. Somdev, who shot into prominence at the university of Virginia, winning back-to-back US collegiate singles titles in 2007-8, was largely instrumental in taking India into the Davis Cup World Group this year, though they lost to Russia in the first round. US-based Indian Prakash Amritraj climbed two places to 198. In the men’s doubles ranking, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi remain unchanged at sixth and seventh position. (IANS)
Maoist attack feared in Tripura, security beefed up
AGARTALA, April 12: Security has been beefed up in Tripura following an alert issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in the wake of the Maoist attack at Dantewada in Chhattisgarh last week. Official sources here today said all the security forces in Tripura had been put on high alert while being asked to conduct search and frisking in city areas and Tripura State Rifles (TSR) was instructed to take the lead role in the counter-insurgency campaign. ‘’We have already intensified counter-insurgency operation with the announcement of election to Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) to be held on May 3 and MHA directives after the Chhattisgarh incident have asked us to be on alert,’’ police said.
They said Assam Rifles and CRPF personnel posted in Tripura were on an all-out offensive against militant groups which are a threat to the state’s peace and harmony. ‘’Though we do not apprehend much trouble this time during the ADC polls, but reports indicate that some groups are trying to sneak into the state from across the border. We are taking all necessary steps to ensure free and fair elections,’’ said a police official, adding the BSF had already been alerted to step up vigil along the border. (Agencies)
