June 26 1985, Forty Years Ago: Air India Tragedy
The Air India jumbo jet 'obviously broke up in the air' before crashing into the Atlantic, according to senior Indian officials who began their investigation into the cause of the airline's worst accident, which resulted in the death of all 329 people aboard. After examining the pieces of the wreckage and the bodies of the crash victims, Capt B K Bhasin, deputy managing director of Indian Airlines and one of the four senior officials who have flown from India to Ireland to conduct the investigation, said, 'It looks quite obvious that the aircraft broke up in the air.'
Security Breach
Security may have been breached during baggage inspection at Toronto airport where the ill-fated Air India jumbo jet began its journey. According to Canada's Minister for Transportation, Donald Mazankowski, an X-ray scrutinising machine failed to function after nearly three-fourths of the baggage had passed through.
Sikh Youth Held
A Sikh youth boarding an Indian Airlines flight to Bombay was arrested and a loaded revolver recovered from him by airport security personnel. Jasbir Singh Bhatia, 32, had come here a few days ago, and was staying with relatives, the police said.
Rally Lathi-charged
A big rally of Bhopal gas victims demanding proper relief and rehabilitation. was brutally lathi-charged and beaten by the police in Bhopal when they tried to break a cordon to gherao the state secretariat. Scores of gas victims, including women, were hurt in the lathi-charge. Two women activists, Sadhna and Jyotika, were dragged by their hair and brutally assaulted by lathi-wielding policemen.
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India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
At UNSC India rejects Pakistan's
New York [US], June 26 (ANI): India has called out in strong terms Pakistan's 'politically motivated remarks' and attempts to pursue a 'nefarious agenda' at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). 'We reject this attempt by Pakistan to deflect attention from the atrocities committed against children in their country, as highlighted in the Secretary General's report, as well as their rampant cross border terrorism,' India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish said. The Indian envoy in a strong rebuttal during the UNSC's open debate on Children and Armed Conflict (CAC), called out Pakistan for misusing the platform and violating the Council's agenda. India has accused Pakistan of attempting to deflect attention from its own human rights violations and state-sponsored cross-border terrorism and casting unwarranted aspersions over UN processes and also smearing India at various discussions to pursue their nefarious agenda. The Indian emvoy recalled the terror attacks in Pahalgam in which 26 people were killed by Pakistani or Pakistani trained terrorists. 'The world has not forgotten the savage targeted attacks by Pakistani and Pakistani-trained terrorists killing 26 tourists in India in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir on the 22 April 2025' Indian envoy Harish said. The Security Council had issued a Press Statement on 25 April 2025 which underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act accountable and bring them to justice, he said. The Indian envoy also reaffirming India's zero-tolerance stance against terrorism and pointed to the May 7 retaliatory strikes under Operation Sindoor. 'India had undertaken non-escalatory, proportionate and focused attacks that targeted nine terrorist infrastructure sites on the 7 May 2025 in response through Operation Sindoor,' Harish said. 'The terrorists killed in these attacks were given state funerals by Pakistan. And yet, they try to preach to others,' he said. The Indian envoy also noted the recent Secretary General's report on CAAC provides details of serious violations against children in armed conflict in Pakistan. 'Secretary General has expressed concern at the rise in such grave violations reported including attacks against schools, particularly girls' schools, against health workers, and about the incidents in the border areas with Afghanistan where a series of killing and maiming of Afghan children was directly attributed to cross border shelling and air strikes by Pakistani armed forces,' Harish noted. 'Our world is witnessing an alarming escalation in conflicts and terrorist attacks; and children are their most unfortunate casualties. As per UNSG's report, grave violations against children have surged 25 percent, while sexual violence has risen 35 percent in 2024 --a sobering indictment that demands immediate and decisive action. Therefore, today's discussion is both urgent and necessary....' 'Creating an enabling environment for holistic development of children is fundamental for child protection. Their safety, nutrition and education should be prioritized at national and household levels. Children in conflict and post-conflict situations, however require specialized attention and psycho-social support for their successful reintegration into society. Thus, sustained efforts by the State are required to build these essential ecosystems.' The Indian envoy further condemned the deliberate shelling of Pakistani army of India's border villages in May 2025, killing and injuring a number of civilians. 'To preach at this body after such behaviour is grossly hypocritical,' he said. The Indian envoy highlighted that 'the entire union territory of Jammu & Kashmir has been, is and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India irrespective of the frequent and incessant spate of lies and falsehoods by Pakistan.' (ANI)
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlights terrorism's threat to world at SCO meeting in China
Qingdao [China], June 26 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has condemned terrorism at a meeting on Thursday of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in China's Qingdao, emphasizing the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers, and sponsors of terrorist acts accountable and bring them to justice. 'We reiterate the need to hold the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of reprehensible acts of terrorism, including cross border terrorism accountable and bring them to justice. Any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation, whenever, wherever and by whomever committed. SCO members must condemn this evil unequivocally,' said Rajnath Singh. He highlighted the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which was carried out by 'The Resistance Front' (TRF), a proxy of the UN-designated terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). 'On 22 April 2025, the terror group 'The Resistance Front' (TRF) carried out a dastardly and heinous attack on innocent tourists at Pahalgam in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. 26 innocent civilans, including a Nepali national, were killed. Victims were shot at after they were profiled based on religious identity. The Resistance Front which is a proxy of UN designated terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) claimed responsibility for the attack,' added Singh. He said that India successfully launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, to dismant cross-border terrorist infrastructure. 'The pattern of Pahalgam terror attack matches with LeT's previous terror attacks in India. In exercising its right to defend against terrorism and pre-empt as well as deter further cross border terrorist attacks, India on 07th May 2025 successfully launched Op Sindoor to dismantle cross border terrorist infrastructure,' said Singh. At the SCO meeting, the Defence Minister reaffirmed India's resolve to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, adding that terrorism is a transnational threat that demands a unified response from nations. 'These threats do not respect national boundaries, and they demand a unified response rooted in transparency, mutual trust, and collaboration.' He emphasised the need to counter the technology used by terrorists, including drones, for cross-border smuggling of weapons and drugs. The Minister highlighted the complexity of modern threats, which include transnational terrorism, cyber-attacks, and hybrid warfare. 'We should seek to counter the technology used by terrorists, including drones, for cross-border smuggling of weapons and drugs. In our interconnected world, traditional borders are no longer the sole barriers against threats. Instead, we face an intricate web of challenges that range from transnational terrorism and cyber-attacks to hybrid warfare,' said Singh. He emphasised the need for proactive steps to prevent the spread of radicalization among youth. The Minister highlighted the significant role played by the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) mechanism of the SCO in this regard. 'We should also take proactive steps to prevent the spread of radicalization among our youth. The RATS mechanism of SCO has played a significant role in this regard. The joint statement of the Council of SCO Heads of State on 'Countering Radicalization leading to Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism' issued during India's Chairmanship symbolises our shared commitment,' added Singh. He highlighted India's proactive approach to defending itself against terrorist threats and emphasised that India will not hesitate to target epicentres of terrorism, ensuring that those who sponsor and perpetrate terrorism are held accountable. 'India's zero tolerance for terrorism is manifest today through its actions. This includes our right to defend ourselves against terrorism. We have shown that epicentres of terrorism are no longer safe and we will not hesitate to target them,' added Rajnath Singh. He emphasised the need for countries that sponsor, nurture, and utilize terrorism for their own interests to be held accountable for their actions and criticized the practice of using cross-border terrorism as a policy tool and providing shelter to terrorists, calling for an end to such double standards. 'It is imperative that those who sponsor, nurture and utilize terrorism for their narrow and selfish ends must bear the consequences. Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument of policy and provide shelter to terrorists. There should be no place for such double standards. SCO should not hesitate to criticise such nations,' added Singh. He said that peace and prosperity are incompatible with terrorism and the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups. 'Peace and prosperity cannot co-exist with terrorism and proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) in the hands of non-state actors and terror groups. Dealing with these challenges require decisive action and we must unite in our fight against these evils for our collective safety and security,' said Singh. The Defence Minister identified the biggest challenges facing the region as peace, security, and trust-deficit issues. According to him, these problems are primarily caused by increasing radicalization, extremism, and terrorism. 'I believe that the biggest challenges that we are facing in our region are related to peace, security and trust-deficit. And the root cause of these problems is increasing radicalization, extremism and terrorism,' added Singh. The SCO Defence Ministers' Meeting is being held from June 25 to 26 in Qingdao, bringing together defence leaders from member states including India, China, Russia, and several Central Asian nations to discuss issues related to regional and international peace and security. At the SCO meeting, Rajnath Singh also welcomed Belarus, which joined the SCO family as a new member. The SCO, established in 2001, is an intergovernmental organisation aimed at promoting regional stability and security through cooperation and dialogue. India became a full member in 2017 and held the rotating Chairmanship in 2023. China has assumed the Chair for 2025 under the theme 'Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move.' (ANI)
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Hans India
Indian Naval Personnel Detained For Alleged Intelligence Breach During Military Operations
Intelligence agencies have apprehended a naval clerk stationed at the Indian Navy's Delhi headquarters on suspicions of transmitting classified military intelligence to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency, including sensitive data during the recent Operation Sindoor military campaign. Vishal Yadav, a Haryana resident working as a clerical staff member at Navy headquarters, was detained by Rajasthan police intelligence units following extensive surveillance operations. Investigators allege that Yadav maintained regular communication with a Pakistani intelligence handler who posed as an Indian woman named Priya Sharma through various social media platforms. According to senior police official Vishnukant Gupta, the Criminal Investigation Department's intelligence division had been tracking Pakistani espionage activities when they identified Yadav's suspicious communications. The accused allegedly transmitted confidential details about naval operations and other defense installations to his foreign contact, receiving financial compensation through cryptocurrency transactions and direct bank transfers. Digital forensic analysis of Yadav's mobile device revealed years of data exchanges and communications, including information shared during Operation Sindoor, the military response to the Pahalgam terrorist incident that resulted in over 26 civilian casualties. The four-day military confrontation between Indian and Pakistani forces occurred from May 7 to 10. Investigators discovered that Yadav's involvement in online gaming had led to substantial financial losses, potentially making him vulnerable to recruitment by foreign intelligence services. Multiple security agencies are currently questioning the suspect at Jaipur's Central Interrogation Centre to determine the full scope of the security breach and identify any additional conspirators. This arrest forms part of a broader nationwide security sweep targeting suspected Pakistani intelligence networks operating within India. Recent detentions include Shakur Khan, a Rajasthan government employee from Jaisalmer, and Haryana-based content creator Jyoti Malhotra, both facing similar espionage allegations. Malhotra allegedly maintained contact with Pakistani diplomatic personnel in New Delhi during the Operation Sindoor period. The intensified crackdown on espionage activities follows heightened security concerns after the Pahalgam attack, with authorities working to dismantle suspected intelligence networks that may have compromised national security through social media recruitment and digital communication channels.
