The Soyuz T-10 landing module was carrying Yuri Malyshev, Gennadi Strekalov and Sharma. Sharma and his two Soviet crew mates have been awarded the Ashok Chakra.
Honour for Sharma
India’s first cosmonaut, Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma, returned from his maiden space flight, 60 km from Arkalik in Kazakhstan, in a spectacular finish to the flawless Indo-Soviet mission. The Soyuz T-10 landing module was carrying Yuri Malyshev, Gennadi Strekalov and Sharma. Sharma and his two Soviet crew mates have been awarded the Ashok Chakra.
SL Naval Blockade
Sri Lanka clamped a virtual naval blockade along its maritime boundary with India as security forces kept up their offensive against militant Tamil extremists. The National Security Minister, Lalith Athulathmudali, described the blockade as “a sea surveillance zone’’ and insisted it had been located “well away from the Indian maritime boundary.”
Three Dead In Punjab
Terrorists shot dead three persons and indulged in widespread violence and arson in Punjab during the last 24 hours, as the Akalis observed a protest day against alleged killings by the CRPF. Raghbir Chand Mittal, a brick kiln owner, and his employee, Joginder Pal, were shot dead by six terrorists in the Jalandhar district. Two armed men shot dead a shopkeeper of in Amritsar district.
President Chernenko
Konstantin Chernenko was unanimously elected President of the Soviet Union at the opening of the new Supreme Soviet of the USSR’s first session in the Kremlin. He will thus combine in his person the position of the head of state as well as chief of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Besides being CPSU general secretary, he has already assumed the key position of the chairman of the defence council.
