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3 days ago
- Scroll.in
Nagpur woman who crossed Line of Control from Kargil booked for espionage
A woman from Maharashtra's Nagpur city who crossed the Line of Control from Kargil earlier this month has been booked on allegations of espionage, The Indian Express quoted the police as saying on Saturday. Sunita Jamgade (43), who was reported missing on May 14, had crossed the Line of Control from the Hundermaan village in Ladakh last month. She had left her teenage son behind at a hotel. The woman had crossed the Line of Control amid heightened tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack, which left 26 persons dead. Jamgade had been untraceable for nine days, till the Pakistani Rangers handed her over to Indian authorities on May 23. She was taken back to Nagpur on May 28 and presented before a special court, which sent her to police custody till June 2. The provisions invoked against her include those related to violating the Official Secrets Act, The Times of India reported. Deputy Commissioner of Police Zone V Niketan Kadam claimed that the woman crossed the Line of Control as she wanted to meet a man named Zulfikar, whom she had been in contact with on social media, The Indian Express reported. 'During the investigation, we found several chats on her phone,' the official told the newspaper. 'While there were conversations with multiple individuals, Zulfikar stood out.' Nevertheless, Kadam said that no evidence had yet emerged that Jamgade had shared sensitive information with anyone. However, the deputy commissioner of police said that her phone was found in a formatted state, and that a suspicious app had been installed on it, The Times of India reported. Forensic teams are attempting to extract any deleted data from the phone.
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
New BSF video shows Pakistani soldiers ‘fleeing' during India's Operation Sindoor strikes
A new video released by the Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday shows Pakistani soldiers seemingly fleeing during India's retaliation under Operation Sindoor, which involved targeting Pakistani border posts. The strikes were part of a strong response between May 8 and 10, following India's offensive against terror camps in Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. DIG Indreshwar, during a press conference in Jammu, said that BSF surveillance systems picked up movement from a group of 40–50 terrorists near Sialkot on the night of May 8. 'We launched a preemptive strike in the Samba region to foil their infiltration attempt,' he said. Commenting on the reaction from across the border, the DIG added, 'They fled their posts. They were not prepared for such a strong response. But we expect that they will restore their terror infrastructure in the future.' The BSF also confirmed it caused significant damage to terror infrastructure and Pakistani positions along the International Border during Operation Sindoor, which was launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack that left 26 people dead. The footage, shared by the BSF, captures a moment at 1 minute and 9 seconds where Pakistani soldiers are seen escaping after hearing Indian strikes near their posts. It also shows Pakistan Rangers scrambling for cover as Indian forces strike critical terror-linked locations. The visuals depict the destruction of Pakistani army outposts, emphasising the precision and scale of the Indian operation. The video underscores India's assertive stance on cross-border threats and highlights its push for operational transparency through recorded military action. 'The Border Security Force (BSF) has released footage of its retaliation and the destruction caused to Pakistani forces during #OperationSindoor, conducted between May 8–10,' BSF posted on X. The Border Security Force (BSF) on Tuesday revealed that it had carried out strikes on 76 Pakistani border posts and 42 forward defence locations (FDLs), while also destroying three terrorist launch pads during Operation Sindoor. The strikes came in response to unprovoked firing and shelling by the Pakistani Rangers along the International Border (IB) in the Jammu region. 'Pakistan fired on our 60 border outposts and 49 forward defence locations. In response, we opened fire on 76 of their posts and 42 FDLs,' BSF Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Chiterpaul Singh informed reporters. He said that a major terror launch pad operated by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) near the Sunderbani sector had been eliminated. 'There is no movement seen from that area now,' he added. BSF's Jammu Frontier Inspector General Shashank Anand confirmed that intelligence inputs validated the destruction of multiple launch pads, which also resulted in casualties among both terrorists and Pakistani Rangers during targeted strikes. 'A Lashkar-e-Taiba launch pad opposite the 'chicken neck' area was neutralised on the night of May 9–10 using a special weapon system,' said the IG, who also mentioned that launch pads at Loni, Mastpur, and Chabbra were destroyed. 'We are still assessing the total damage in coordination with our partner agencies. Three launch pads and several posts were destroyed. Many Pakistani villages were vacated by Rangers,' he added. Anand said that after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, the BSF and Army had intensified deployments in critical zones such as Rajouri and Poonch. In Jammu, Samba, and Kathua, the BSF also strengthened its positions. "After April 22, Pakistani Rangers reduced their visibility at forward posts, but BSF maintained aggressive field domination. Our troops, including women personnel, stood firm and ready for eventuality,' Anand said. He added that Pakistani forces, seemingly shaken, responded with shelling in Akhnoor the next night, to which the BSF gave a strong counterattack. 'On the night of May 9 and 10, we targeted Lashkar-e-Taiba launch pads and destroyed one just three kilometres from the border.' From Sunderbani, DIG Virendra Datta said intelligence had alerted them about a group of 18–20 terrorists attempting to infiltrate. 'We responded with a strategic mortar offensive, surrounding enemy posts. Several Pakistani positions were destroyed,' he said. Anand also commended the bravery of women personnel posted at the border. 'Our women troops had the option to relocate to battalion headquarters, but they chose to remain at forward posts. Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari and other women constables engaged enemy fire with bravery,' the IG stated. The BSF also reported that Pakistan had used low-flying drones for attacks. 'On the morning of May 10, Pakistan deployed low-flying drones targeting our posts. Our troops engaged them, but one drone dropped its payload on a post, leading to the martyrdom of two BSF personnel and one Army jawan,' he said. In a retaliatory move, the BSF launched major counter-strikes targeting Pakistani bunkers, surveillance gear, and communication towers in the Sialkot area. 'To honour our martyrs, we will name two posts after them. A post in Samba will be named 'Sindoor',' Anand announced. Responding to reports of white flags on the Pakistani side, Anand said, 'There has been communication at the DGMO level. No communication was made at the lower level. We are watching their actions closely. Any decision will be based on their future conduct.' (With ANI, PTI inputs)
The Print
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
End the obscenity called Wagah-Attari parade. Right-wing, liberals, retd officers—all agree
This unlikely unity stems from a ceremony whose relevance has long been questioned. The right-wing bristles at the equivalence with Pakistan. As Rahul Shivshankar of Times Now , thundering from a comfortable studio, let us know , Operation Sindoor had already been chalked up as a resounding victory in the annals of India's history. The operation had 'exposed the true face of Pakistan's military: a morally dissolute, bumbling band of brigands that cowered behind a civilian shield. And when they mustered enough courage to retaliate, they did so by targeting unarmed civilians in India.' To even attempt an equivalence between the two countries' militaries, he suggested, would be 'an act of criminal dereliction.' The ceremony was suspended following the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people, as India implemented broader retaliation against Pakistan. But a few days ago, the BSF resumed a 'scaled down' version of the spectacle. This time, the traditional handshakes with Pakistani Rangers were eliminated, and the border gates remained firmly shut. What's left is a truncated shadow of the original circus, with reduced crowds and muted fanfare. Now critics—across the political spectrum—are demanding permanent abolition, arguing that even this scaled-down version normalises relations with Pakistan too quickly after a terror attack that claimed Indian lives. A miracle has emerged from the haze left behind by India and Pakistan's recent brush with war: the Indian right-wing and liberals have finally found something they can agree on. It's not about our divergent opinions on the government or caste—let's not get ahead of ourselves. Instead, this rare moment of political communion is centred on the absurd Attari-Wagah border ceremony. Both camps agree that the parade should be scrapped. I'm not certain if dereliction applies to regular Indian citizens, but Shivshankar sums up the right-wing response: they see no dignity in matching Pakistan's theatrical aggression lunge for lunge, moustache-twirl for moustache-twirl. For them, India's strength shouldn't require daily validation through synchronised yodels and chest-thumping—certainly not with our bête noire. This is broadly where the liberal view also lands. In addition to the indignity, they watch thousands of spectators erupt in jingoistic fervour at the function. They see citizens being fed a daily dose of performative hatred disguised as patriotism. Almost a decade ago, Sushant Singh, a military affairs expert, had argued for the ceremony to be cancelled because it promotes anti-Pakistan sentiment among regular people. 'It makes no sense,' Singh said in an interview. 'You could have film actors doing it.' Also read: What Attari-Wagah border looked like today—children split from parents, patients straight from hospital Everyone is on the same page Both factions arrive at the same devastating conclusion: it is painful to watch our professional soldiers—who undergo gruelling training for years to actually defend the nation—reduced to peacocking in the extreme. When ideological opposites unite in calling something an embarrassment to the armed forces, you know the lines of decency have been crossed. The Attari-Wagah ceremony once served a purpose, but now it only leads to bipartisan shame. A new petition has called for it to be completely scrapped. A small illustration of this is how comically the international media views the ceremony. The Guardian once labelled it 'a cross between circus ringmasters and John Cleese in Monty Python's ministry of silly walks.' The New York Times wrote about it in an article headlined 'Peacocks at Sunset.' Even the popular TV show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia caricatured the ceremony in an episode. But the most damning indictment comes from those who've actually worn the uniform. Lieutenant General Kanwal Jeet Singh Dhillon (retired) didn't mince words when he said, 'This 'nautanki' must stop. This is not a military parade. Beating the Retreat is a very solemn ceremony. Let's not call this drama the Beating Retreat.' Colonel Dr Anil Athale (retired) was even sharper 15 years ago, writing that those with armed forces backgrounds were 'aghast at the goose-stepping, aggressive staring match' and warned that 'by participating in this mindless display of 'jingoism' (not confident nationalism), we Indians descend to the level of Pakistan.' The colonel pointed out that a few years prior, 'the Chinese used to broadcast anti-India abuse in Hindi at Nathu La. But we never retaliated. Eventually, the Chinese stopped their mischief.' Earlier this year, when we were far from any murmurs of war, Colonel NN Bhatia (retd) called it 'hostile and vulgar, with troops twitching their moustaches on both ends… It's time we stop such theatrical, aggressive, and fruitless ceremonies and devote our meagre resources to optimising our security.' A solemn Attari-Wagah ceremony? It's now clear that the only argument for continuing the ceremony in its present form has little to do with military or strategic necessity. Instead, it's driven by a need to sustain the tourist economy that it supports. Local businesses thrive at the border, where vendors hawk trinkets and offer to paint your face in the colours of the national flag. Loud Bollywood music pervades the bleachers; visitors cheer and clap back with chants of their own. And the tragic essence of the border—the heartbreak it represents for millions of Indian families—is lost in the obscenity. A 40-minute drive from Attari lies the haunting Partition Museum in Amritsar, a modern space that also feels like a time capsule. It holds the weight of one of the cruellest chapters in India's history, with appropriate gravity. There are artefacts and testimonies of trauma, and you encounter them in silence. Grief reverberates through the museum, and I remember exiting it, surrounded by tearful faces. The museum understands that some wounds require reverence, not a carnival. Why have we not found a way to bring that solemnity to the Attari-Wagah ceremony? Not because Pakistan forces our hand to do it, but because our own history does. Journalist and author Man Aman Singh Chhina has written about visiting the grave of Company Quartermaster Havildar Abdul Hamid, who earned the Param Vir Chakra in the battle of Asal Uttar during the 1965 India-Pakistan war. Hamid disabled four Pakistani Patton tanks from near-point blank range but was eventually shot by a nearby tank. 'Why can't the Punjab Govt promote Asal Uttar as a tourist destination?' Chhina asks. Our military history is filled with similar acts of sacrifice. And that's the kind of remembrance this sacred ground should inspire, not synchronised goose-stepping. The Attari-Wagah ceremony has outlived any purpose it once served. The border that witnessed the 'ujaada'—displacement—history's greatest human tragedy, deserves better than this theatrical degradation. Some spectacles are just too undignified to survive, even if they are part of tradition. Karanjeet Kaur is a journalist, former editor of Arré, and a partner at TWO Design. She tweets @Kaju_Katri. Views are personal. (Edited by Prashant)
Mint
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
No handshakes as BSF troops, Pakistani Rangers resume beating retreat ceremony at Attari
The handshakes exercise between the Border Security Force (BSF) troops and Pakistani Rangers will remain suspended as the beating retreat ceremony resumed on Tuesday at the joint check post of the Punjab Frontier, Attari, after a temporary suspension due to Operation Sindoor. The BSF on May 8 had stopped public entry for this event in view of 'public safety' after India destroyed nine terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory military offensive against the April 22 Pahalgam attack. The Indian flag is lowered every evening by BSF troops in synchronisation with Pakistan Rangers at the joint check posts located at Attari (Amritsar district) opposite Pakistan's Wagah, Hussainiwala in Ferozepur district across Ganda Singh Wala and at Sadki in Fazilka district. The key changes included the suspension of the symbolic handshake between the Indian Guard Commander and their Pakistani counterpart will be suspended. Earlier, the gates on the border used to be opened and the parade used to be in the form of a joint drill. Now, the gates will remain closed during the parade. Also there will be no exchange of sweets or gifts on any occasion, reported PTI quoting sources. In April, the BSF had announced that it would scale down the ceremonial display during the retreat ceremony at Attari, Hussainiwala, and Sadki in Punjab. In a post on X, BSF had stated, "In the wake of the recent tragic attack in Pahalgam, a calibrated decision has been taken to scale down the ceremonial display during the Retreat Ceremony at Attari, Hussainiwala and Sadki in Punjab." Meanwhile, earlier in the day, a multi-party delegation led by JD (U) MP Sanjay Jha eft for Japan to put across India's views on terrorism emanating from Pakistan. The delegation will also visit South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore as part of New Delhi's outreach following Operation Sindoor and the subsequent conflict between India and Pakistan. The delegation led by Jha includes BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Brijlal, Pradhan Barua and Hemang Joshi, Congress leader and former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, CPI(M)'s John Brittas, and former ambassador Mohan Kumar.
Economic Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Beating Retreat ceremony resumes at Attari
The Beating Retreat ceremony at Attari resumed on Tuesday after a twelve-day pause. The event was held for media only. Public entry remained restricted due to safety concerns. No handshakes occurred between Border Security Force and Pakistani Rangers during the flag lowering. International gates on both sides stayed closed. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads After a gap of 12 days, the beating retreat ceremony resumed on Tuesday at the joint check post of the Punjab Frontier, Attari Amritsar. The retreat ceremony was held for media personnel whereas the general public was not allowed at the the flag lowering ceremony, there were no handshakes exercise between the Border Security Force troops and Pakistani Rangers while international gates on both sides remained BSF on May 8 had stopped public entry for this event in view of "public safety". The decision was taken a day after India destroyed nine terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor , a retaliatory military offensive against the April 22 Pahalgam Indian flag is lowered every evening by BSF troops in synchronisation with Pakistan Rangers at the joint check posts located at Attari (Amritsar district) opposite Pakistan's Wagah, Hussainiwala in Ferozepur district across Ganda Singh Wala and at Sadki in Fazilka district.
