Trivandrum (Kerala), Feb 10 : Defence Minister A K Antony on Tuesday said the country is on its way to becoming self-reliant in the defence sector.

Speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of the BrahMos Integration Complex here, Antony said work to make more missiles and warships is in progress.

Kollam (Kerala), Feb 9 : Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram today said that a coastal command would be constituted soon to strengthen internal security.

Inaugurating the first coastal police station in Kollam district here, Chidambaram said, "The Central Government has ambitious plans to strengthen the national security measures along its coastal lines."

Palakkad (Kerala), Feb. 8 (ANI): Thousands of devotees, including foreigners, offered prayers for world peace and communal harmony at Palakkad in Kerala on Saturday.

The five-day event is focused on prayers for universal peace. Dressed in white robes, the devotees gathered under a makeshift tent to join priests in performing a fire ritual and in praying.

"(We have) organised this Mahayagna to split the wave of darkness and to bring the light of divine into the earth and spread this grand light of consciousness to the plight of humanity throughout the globe of the Earth," said Santosh Kumar, one of the organizers of the Mahayagna.

Kochi (Kerala), Feb. 6 : At least one woman was killed and 19 others injured when one of the seven elephants, brought to the Ernakulam Shiva Temple as part of the eight-day temple festival, ran amok on Thursday.

The elephant named Techikode Ramachandran, a famous male tusker of Kerala was brought from the Thrissur district to Ernakulam Shiva temple for the festival.

The incident took place on the last day when in the morning at around 9.30 am before being taken to perform rituals, the pachyderm ran amok at the temple premises, killing a woman and injuring others. Soon, it was brought under control and chained.

Kochi, Feb. 6 : Blackberry, one of the latest in advanced mobile technology instruments, recently drew much attention after the new U. S President Barack Obama got a special handset for himself while defying security concerns. But in Kochi city of southern India, it could be a major blessing for local cops.

As part of the total modernisation of intelligence system after Mumbai attacks, the Kerala State police are using Blackberry to check the movement of intruders, traffic violators and to control vehicle thefts in the city.

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb. 5, : Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram will open the first coastal police station at Kollam district in Kerala on February 9.

Kerala will become the first state to establish coastal police stations in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks.

Kerala was earlier sanctioned eight coastal police stations to strengthen security in coastal areas at an outlay of Rs. 43.56 crore.

In addition to Neendakara, the other stations are at Vizhinjam, Fort Kochi, Thodapalli, Beypore, Azhikel, Bekel and Kodugallore.