SOURCE: PTI

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested a close associate of Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh Dala alias Arsh Dala from the Delhi airport. Baljeet Singh alias Baljeet Maur of Bathinda, Punjab, was taken into custody by the NIA on his arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport from the UAE, according to an official statement.

NIA investigations have revealed that Baljeet Maur was involved in logistic support, identification of extortion targets, recruitment of new cadres, as well as terror funding to India-based associates of Arsh Dala of the proscribed outfit Khalistan Terrorist Force (KTF).

SOURCE: PTI

Pakistan on Thursday said no formal meeting took place between Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines of a conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) here last week.

“It is customary for delegations in multilateral settings to exchange pleasantries and hold informal conversations over lunch and dinner, especially between the host and the guests who are participating,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.

SOURCE: IANS

In a major terrorist attack, two soldiers and civilian porters were killed and three other soldiers injured when an army vehicle came under fire in J&K’s Baramulla district on Thursday, officials said. Official sources said that terrorists fired at a vehicle of Rashtriya Rifles (RR) at Nagin Chowk of Botapathri area near Gulmarg ski resort in the evening.

“Two soldiers and two civilian porters were killed and 3 soldiers injured in this attack. The area has been cordoned off and reinforcements have been rushed to the area,” an official said. “Very unfortunate news about the attack on the army vehicles in the Boota Pathri area of North Kashmir which has resulted in some casualties & injuries. This recent spate of attacks in Kashmir is a matter of serious concern. I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms & send my condolences to the loved ones of the people who lost their lives. I also pray that injured make a complete & swift recovery,” he said in a post on X.

SOURCE: PTI

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday asked the security grid to prepare a comprehensive strategy to eliminate the terrorists and their logistics network in Jammu and Kashmir to fulfil the government’s commitment of ensuring a peaceful atmosphere in the Union territory.

Chairing the Unified Headquarters (UHQ) meeting here, Sinha told the top security brass to carry out a security audit of all vital projects in Jammu and Kashmir and plug the loopholes, if any, officials said here after the meeting.

SOURCE: UNI

Recently, a Bangladeshi woman was caught at the Rajiv Gandhi International (RGI) Airport in Hyderabad for obtaining fraudulent identity documents, including an Indian passport. The accused has been identified as Sonali Ballav. Sonali Ballav, 29, was arrested on October 16 while returning to India on flight 6E-1274 from Muscat, Oman. A Bureau of Immigration officer at the Hyderabad airport became suspicious of Sonali’s identity during routine immigration checks. She was interrogated. Eventually it came to know that she was not an Indian citizen. Officials have identified Sonali as a Bangladeshi national from Manikganj Sadar, Bangladesh.

Sonali entered India illegally in 2015 through the Petrapole-Benapole border in West Bengal. From there it reached Delhi. Settled in Pandav Nagar, Delhi. A few days later she married Indian citizen Lakshmi Kant Ballav. After that she also fraudulently obtained key identity documents including PAN Card, Voter ID, Aadhaar Card, Indian Passport.

SOURCE: ANI

Canadian Member of Parliament Chandra Arya addressed the issue of Khalistani extremism in Canada, acknowledging that the administration has long recognised the severity of this problem.

He further said that Canada’s sovereignty is “sacrosanct” and any interference by foreign state actors within Canada, in any form is “unacceptable.” In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, Arya said, “Two weeks back, I could safely participate in a Hindu event in Edmonton only with the protection of RCMP officers, as a group of Khalistani protesters staged a disruptive demonstration against me.”

SOURCE: IANS

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, October 24 approved the setting up of a Rs 1,000 crore venture capital (VC) fund dedicated to the growing space sector.

The deployment period of the proposed VC fund, under the aegis of IN-SPACe, is planned to be up to five years from the actual date of the start of the fund operations. The proposed fund is expected to boost employment in the Indian space sector by supporting startups across the entire space supply chain. The average deployment amount could be Rs 150-250 crore per year, depending on the investment opportunities and fund requirements, said the Cabinet.

SOURCE: ANI

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the 16th BRICS Summit in BRICS Plus format highlighted the significant strides made by nations that have gained independence from colonial rule, noting their accelerated development and socio-economic progress and asserted that the “BRICS itself is a statement of how profoundly the old order is changing.” Addressing the summit, Jaishankar said, “On the one hand, there is the steady diversification of production and consumption.

Nations that attained independence from colonialism have accelerated their development and socio-economic progress. New capabilities emerged, facilitating the harnessing of more talent. This economic, political and cultural rebalancing has now reached a point where we can contemplate real multi-polarity. The BRICS itself is a statement of how profoundly the old order is changing.” Jaishankar further asserted that to create a more equitable global order, strengthening and expanding independent platforms is crucial, and that’s where BRICS comes in, making a significant difference for the Global South.

SOURCE: ANI

Lisa Curtis, Director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Center for New American Security and former White House official, said that the partnership between the United States and India is crucial for maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Curtis asserted that the US-India partnership is gaining momentum, with initiatives like the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) dialogue and the recent USD4 billion deal for India to purchase 31 MQ-9B Predator drones.

She said that these developments demonstrate the deepening defence and security partnership between the two nations. The remarks by Curtis came while addressing the Indian Army’s Chanakya Defence Dialogues in New Delhi. During the address, Curtis said, “The US-India partnership is also vital for preserving peace and stability in the broader Indo-Pacific region.

SOURCE: PTI

More than 70 flights of various Indian airlines received bomb threats on Thursday, according to sources.
The sources said around 20 flights each of Air India, Vistara, and IndiGo have got the threats while Akasa Air has got the threats for about 14 flights. In 11 days, nearly 250 flights operated by the Indian carriers have received the bomb threats.

An Akasa Air spokesperson said some of its flights operating on October 24 have received security alerts.

SOURCE: PTI

Terrorists shot at and injured a labourer from Uttar Pradesh in the Tral area of Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir Thursday morning, officials said. Shubam Kumar, a resident of Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, received a gunshot injury in the arm when the terrorists fired at him at Batagund village, the officials said.

They said Kumar has been rushed to a hospital for treatment.

SOURCE: IANS

A policeman was injured on Thursday when a grenade went off accidentally in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Officials said the policeman was injured when a grenade went off accidentally in the ‘Malkhana’ of the court complex in the town.

“At around 1.05 p.m., a grenade went off accidentally in the ‘Malkhana’ of court complex in Baramulla town. The injured policeman was on duty when the accident happened. People are advised not to pay any heed to rumours. The situation in the town is completely under control,” the officials said.

SOURCE: ANI

In a series of successful joint operations, the Indian Army, Assam Rifles, in collaboration with Manipur Police and other security forces, recovered 11 weapons and other war-like stores from both hill and valley regions in the districts of Churachandpur, Chandel, and Thoubal of Manipur.

According to an official release from the Ministry of Defence, an information-based operation launched in Churachandpur district on October 22 by the Indian Army, in coordination with the Manipur Police and CRPF in the Thoroilok Area resulted in the recovery of two country-made mortar (Pompi), one country made pistol, grenades, explosives, ammunition and war like stores.

SOURCE: ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, who had a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of BRICS Summit, underlined the need to progress bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, enhance strategic communication and explore cooperation to address developmental challenges. PM Modi welcomed the recent agreement “for complete disengagement and resolution of issues” that arose in 2020 in the India-China border areas and underscored the importance of properly handling differences and disputes and not allowing them to disturb peace and tranquility.

“The two leaders agreed that the Special Representatives on the India-China boundary question will meet at an early date to oversee the management of peace and tranquility in border areas and to explore a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solution to the boundary question,” a PMO release said. The relevant dialogue mechanisms at the level of Foreign Ministers and other officials will also be utilized to stabilize and rebuild bilateral relations, it added.

SOURCE: PTI

German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann has noted that Germany has always said India is in a “very good position” to basically listen to both sides when it comes to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Though he does not know what New Delhi is intending to do, but Berlin would “welcome any engagement”, he added.
Ambassador Ackermann interacted with media at his residence here, ahead of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit to India.

On October 25, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chancellor Scholz will co-chair the seventh Intergovernmental Consultations (IGC).