Category: National

In a significant breakthrough, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two wanted ISIS operatives at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The arrests were made late Friday night as the duo arrived from Jakarta, Indonesia, where they had been evading authorities. The accused, identified as Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh (alias Diaperwala) and Talha Khan, were intercepted by the Bureau of Immigration at Terminal 2. According to NIA officials, the two were key members of an ISIS sleeper cell and had been absconding in connection with a 2023 case involving the fabrication and testing of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in Pune’s Kondhwa area. Both men had organized bomb-making workshops and conducted controlled IED tests as part of a broader terror plot. They had non-bailable warrants issued against them and carried a reward of ₹3 lakh each for information leading to their arrest. They were earlier chargesheeted along with eight other accused operatives — including Mohammed Imran Khan, Mohammed Yunus Saki, Abdul Kadir Pathan, and others — who are currently in judicial custody. Investigations suggest the group was planning to disrupt national security and communal harmony under ISIS’s extremist ideology, with aims to impose Islamic rule in India through violent means. The accused are booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Explosive Substances Act, Arms Act, and the Indian Penal Code. The NIA emphasized that the arrests reaffirm India’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism and its resolve to eliminate ISIS-linked threats within the country. Shaikh and Khan will be produced before the NIA Special Court in Mumbai for further legal proceedings.

A significant security scare unfolded on May 16 after an email threatened to bomb Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. The email claimed the attacks would be carried out as revenge for the executions of Afzal Guru and S. Shankar, also known as Savukku Shankar. This prompted immediate action from Mumbai Police and intelligence agencies. The threatening email was addressed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and a recipient referred to as “Inspector Saab.” It was received on the official email ID of the Airport Police Station – ps.airport.mum@mahapolice.gov.in. Constable Mahesh Gyandev Kadam, 35, who was on duty at the time, accessed the email around 5:30 PM and promptly alerted his superiors. Officials confirmed that the email originated from the address viduthalai_puli_vellum@outlook.com and had been sent at 5:55 AM. The sender claimed that seven IED bombs made using RDX had been planted at both the airport and the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, calling for the immediate evacuation of these locations. Describing the threat as a “sacred mission,” the sender cited the hangings of Afzal Guru and Shankar as motivation. The email further stated that the explosives were prepared using locally available materials. It also included references to certain political and administrative figures, a “pink envelope,” and alleged video evidence. Constable Kadam swiftly informed Duty Supervisor PI Whatkar and Senior PI Mane. Following protocol, ATC officer PSI Sunil Khair was notified, who then called in the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) West-1 team. Between 6:35 PM and 7:30 PM, the BDDS team conducted an extensive sweep of several key areas, including the airport terminal, departure gates 1 and 2, the arrival gate, taxi stand, Hotel Taj Santacruz, and the ATC tower. However, the search yielded no explosives or suspicious items. Preliminary investigations indicate the email was likely sent anonymously with the intent to cause fear and disrupt public order. Acting on a government complaint, the Airport Police Station has registered a case under Sections 125, 351(1)(3)(4), and 353(1)(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, against the unknown sender. The matter remains under active investigation.

प्रवर्तन निदेशालय (ED) ने शनिवार को गुजरात समाचार से जुड़ी संपत्तियों पर छापेमारी की, जो राज्य का प्रमुख दैनिक अखबार है। यह कार्रवाई उस दिन के बाद की गई जब ईडी ने मनी लॉन्ड्रिंग मामले में इसके एक मालिक बहुबली शाह को गिरफ्तार किया। गिरफ्तारी ने राजनीतिक तूफान खड़ा कर दिया है, और विपक्ष ने भाजपा पर आलोचनात्मक आवाज़ों को दबाने का आरोप लगाया है। 73 वर्षीय बहुबली शाह, लोक प्रकाशन लिमिटेड के निदेशक हैं, जो गुजरात समाचार और GSTV का संचालन करता है। उन्हें गुरुवार देर रात ईडी ने गिरफ्तार किया था, लेकिन स्वास्थ्य कारणों से शुक्रवार को उन्हें जमानत मिल गई। गिरफ्तारी से पहले ईडी ने कंपनी से जुड़ी कई जगहों पर छापे मारे थे। इससे पहले आयकर विभाग ने भी 36 घंटे तक तलाशी अभियान चलाया था। हालांकि अब तक ईडी ने शाह की गिरफ्तारी के कारणों को लेकर कोई आधिकारिक बयान जारी नहीं किया है। बहुबली शाह 15 से अधिक व्यावसायिक संस्थाओं से जुड़े बताए जाते हैं और गुजरात समाचार के मैनेजिंग एडिटर श्रेयांश शाह के छोटे भाई हैं। गिरफ्तारी के बाद उनकी तबीयत बिगड़ने पर उन्हें ICU में भर्ती कराया गया। अदालत ने उनकी नियमित जमानत याचिका पर सुनवाई 31 मई तक टाल दी है और फिलहाल उन्हें अंतरिम जमानत पर रिहा कर दिया गया है। ईडी ने अंतरिम जमानत का विरोध नहीं किया और कहा कि यह “केवल मानवीय आधार पर और आरोपी की गंभीर चिकित्सीय स्थिति” को देखते हुए दी गई है। अदालत ने निर्देश दिया है कि ईडी को हर दूसरे दिन शाह की स्वास्थ्य स्थिति की जानकारी दी जाए, और शाह को अपनी तबीयत के अनुसार जांच में सहयोग करना होगा। इस कार्रवाई की विपक्षी नेताओं जैसे कांग्रेस नेता राहुल गांधी और आप प्रमुख अरविंद केजरीवाल ने कड़ी निंदा की है। साथ ही, कई मीडिया संस्थाओं ने भी इस पर चिंता जताई है। सभी ने यह आरोप लगाया कि यह राज्य तंत्र का दुरुपयोग कर मीडिया को डराने और असहमत आवाजों को दबाने की कोशिश है।

In a major security breach during the recent India-Pakistan conflict, a man from Mastgarh Cheeka village in Haryana’s Kaithal district has been arrested for allegedly sharing sensitive information with Pakistan’s Army and intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The accused has been identified as Devendra, son of Narwal Singh. According to Kaithal Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Veerbhan, the arrest was made following a credible intelligence tip-off. “Based on credible inputs, our special detective staff apprehended Devendra from Mastgarh Cheeka village,” said DSP Veerbhan. Post-arrest, Devendra was subjected to intensive interrogation. During questioning, he allegedly confessed to being in direct contact with Pakistan’s ISI and admitted to passing on classified information, including operational details related to Operation Sindoor, to Pakistani officials. Electronic devices recovered from Devendra’s possession have been seized and are currently being analyzed at the Cyber Police Station to determine the full extent of the data leak. “We are conducting a thorough investigation. Legal action will be taken based on the evidence that emerges,” DSP Veerbhan stated. The arrest raises serious concerns about internal security and highlights the ongoing challenges posed by espionage activities during times of heightened cross-border tension. Further developments are expected as the investigation unfolds.

The country’s unemployment rate stood at 5.1% in April 2025, according to the newly released monthly Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation. This marks the first time that unemployment data has been released on a monthly basis, as part of efforts to enable real-time monitoring of the labour market. The data, based on the Current Weekly Status (CWS) approach, reveals that the overall unemployment rate for persons of all ages was 5.1% last month. Unemployment among men was marginally higher at 5.2%, while it stood at 5% among women. The report highlighted a significantly higher unemployment rate among the youth aged 15–29 years, which stood at 13.8% nationally. Urban areas reported a much higher joblessness rate at 17.2% compared to 12.3% in rural regions. When broken down by gender, unemployment among young women (15–29 years) reached 14.4% across the country, peaking at 23.7% in urban centres and 10.7% in villages. For young men in the same age group, the unemployment rate was recorded at 13.6% nationally, with urban areas at 15% and rural areas at 13%. The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for individuals aged 15 years and above was estimated at 55.6% in April 2025. Participation in rural areas was higher at 58%, compared to 50.7% in urban areas. Among males aged 15 and above, the LFPR was 79% in rural and 75.3% in urban areas. For females, the LFPR in rural regions was 38.2%. The Worker Population Ratio (WPR), which measures the proportion of employed individuals in the total population, stood at 52.8% at the national level. Rural areas had a WPR of 55.4%, while in urban areas it was 47.4%. Among females aged 15 and above, the WPR was 36.8% in rural and 23.5% in urban areas, with an overall female WPR of 32.5% nationwide. To meet the growing need for high-frequency labour market indicators, the PLFS sampling methodology was revised from January 2025. In April alone, 7,511 first-stage sampling units were surveyed across the country, reflecting a comprehensive national coverage.