SOURCE: IANS

The Maharashtra Police have arrested a dreaded, wanted Maoist who carried a Rs 150 lakh reward on his head, officials said here on Friday. The accused – identified as Peka Madi Pungati (42) was caught near a traffic check post during a security blockade enforced by the CRPF and Bhamragad QRT teams.

Acting on a tip-off that a person was lurking around suspiciously in the forests near the checkpost, the security personnel detained him for questioning. During the interrogation, it emerged that he was a wanted Maoist linked with a Jan Militia active in the Gadchiroli jungles and placed him under arrest, days before the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in the state will begin on April 19.

SOURCE: AFI

ISRO has achieved a major milestone in the area of Reusable launch vehicle (RLV) technology, through the RLV LEX-02 landing experiment, the second of the series, conducted at Aeronautical Test Range (ATR), Chitradurga in Karnataka today morning at 7:10 hrs IST.

After the RLV-LEX-01 mission was accomplished last year, RLV-LEX-02 demonstrated the autonomous landing capability of RLV from off-nominal initial conditions at release from Helicopter. The RLV was made to undertake more difficult manoeuvres with dispersions, correct both cross-range and downrange and land on the runway in a fully autonomous mode. The winged vehicle, called Pushpak, was lifted by an Indian Airforce Chinook helicopter and was released from 4.5 km altitude. After release at a distance of 4 km from the runway, Pushpak autonomously approached the runway along with cross-range corrections. It landed precisely on the runway and came to a halt using its brake parachute, landing gear brakes and nose wheel steering system.

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Army has significantly bolstered its air defense capabilities along the northern borders with China by deploying new indigenous integrated drone detection and interdiction systems (IDD&IS).

Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with Bharat Electronics, these Mark-1 variant IDD&IS systems represent a significant stride in India’s domestic defense production.

SOURCE: AFI

The Indian Naval Station Rajali (INSRajali), located under the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) at Arakkonam, is gearing up to host a P-8A Poseidon aircraft from the US Navy for Exercise Tiger Triumph 24.

This joint exercise signifies a growing partnership between the Indian and US Navies. The primary focus of Tiger Triumph 24 will be on enhancing interoperability between the two forces in conducting Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions within the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

SOURCE: AFI

A high-level delegation from the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), led by Vice Admiral Egawa Hiroshi, President of the Command and Staff College, visited the Naval War College in Goa today.

The delegation interacted with staff members of the Naval War College and the National Defence College Course (NHCC) batch of 2023-24. During the visit, the JMSDF delegation expressed their appreciation for the Naval War College’s state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities.

SOURCE: PIB

National Cadet Corps (NCC) and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi on March 21, 2024 to conduct various awareness programmes throughout the country to enhance public perceptions on peaceful use of nuclear power and disseminate scientific & authentic information. The MoU was signed between DG NCC Lt Gen Gurbirpal Singh and Executive Director (Corporate Communication & Corporate Planning), NPCIL Shri BVS Shekhar.

The NPCIL will be providing resource persons in this initiative for field engagements with the NCC during the camps and various activities by educating the cadets. The MoU also facilitates a unique opportunity to the cadets to visit various facilities of NPCIL across the country, thereby giving a first-hand experience on peaceful use of nuclear energy, its technical and technological aspects.

SOURCE: ANI

The United States, the United Kingdom and Australia have welcomed the new agreement to build Australia’s SSN-AUKUS submarines and termed it a significant milestone in the endeavour of defence cooperation.

The agreement has been signed between Australia’s ASC Pty Ltd and UK-based BAE Systems, with the former being selected as Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine sustainment partner, according to a trilateral statement by Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and UK Defence Grant Shapps.

SOURCE: ANI

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted on Thursday that they will “eradicate” terrorism from the nation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His reaction came a day after the Special Task Force (STF) of Assam police apprehended two top-rung leaders of ISIS in Assam’s Dhubri district, officials said on Wednesday.

Reacting to a tweet from the Assam police, CM Biswa said, “We shall continue our fight against the fundamentalist and eradicate terrorism from the soil of our nation under the leadership of the Honorable Prime Minister @narendramodi. Thank you, @assampolice”. In a breakthrough, the Special Task Force (STF) of Assam police apprehended two top-rung leaders of ISIS in Assam’s Dhubri district, officials said on Wednesday.

SOURCE: ANI

Assam, Partha Sarathi Mahanta, said on Thursday that the Assam police had taken action against ISIS top run based on credible intelligence received fifteen days ago. Addressing a press conference at Assam police headquarters in Guwahati following the arrest of two top-rung leaders of ISIS in India by the Special Task Force, IGP Mahanta said, “15 days ago we received intelligence from the central agency that there could be movements of ISIS leaders in certain parts of the Dhubri Sector.

This was credible information, which prompted a special task force to take action.” “We deployed our men to the probable areas of movement, and by the 18th we could narrow down our focus, and by the 19th we received specific information about the likely movement,” he said.

SOURCE: ANI

 A political activist from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir criticized Pakistan at the United Nations for disregarding human rights and failing to maintain law and order in the occupied region. During the 55th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Mahmood Kashmiri, President, UK Europe Zone of United Kashmir People’s National Party, expressed deep concern about the state of human rights in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan.

He highlighted that the people in these regions are subject to the whims of Islamabad, its agencies, military, and extremist groups.

SOURCE: PTI

Jailed Kashmir separatist Shabir Ahmad Shah’s daughter Sama Shabir and Pakistan supporter Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s granddaughter Ruwa Shah have dissociated themselves from the separatist ideology and pledged their loyalty to the sovereignty of Union of India.

In identical public notices published in local newspapers, they distanced themselves from separatist politics.

SOURCE: PTI

A helpline for people seeking Indian nationality under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 became operational on Thursday for providing assistance and information. Anyone who needs assistance in applying for citizenship can make free calls to the number ‘1032’ between 8 am and 8 pm from anywhere in India.

“Helpline Number 1032 for CAA-2019 becomes operational. For assistance and information, applicants can make free calls from anywhere in India. Helpline is available from 8 am to 8 pm,” a home ministry spokesperson said.