New Delhi, June 14: The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Madhya Pradesh has intensified its crackdown on suspected anti-national activities, continuing raids for the second consecutive day and arresting alleged mastermind and senior agent Naeem Qureshi in a major development in the case.

The arrested accused was taken into custody from the Sarangpur area of Uttar Pradesh and later produced before the court, where he was remanded to four days of ATS custody for further interrogation.

He is accused of sharing sensitive information with foreign elements, training Bhopal resident Mohammad Faraz, and planning to send him to Afghanistan. Evidence of jihadist literature, suspicious documents, and calls to Afghanistan and Pakistan have been found.

Officials said that during the investigation, evidence, including suspected jihad-related literature, suspicious documents, and financial transaction records linked to religious institutions, was recovered.

ATS sources further stated that digital examination of the accused’s mobile phone revealed communication with numbers based in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Investigators also found evidence suggesting the accused used an application to communicate with foreign contacts.

The probe has also indicated that photographs and videos from multiple cities in Uttar Pradesh were allegedly being sent to Pakistan, raising concerns about a wider cross-state network.

Investigators suspect that the module may be spread across several states and could be operating in a sleeper-cell-like structure. Agencies are now working to identify additional members and establish the full extent of the alleged network.

A statement issued by the Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) said the operation also led to further arrests and detentions. It said ATS arrested Haji Azhar from Dhar (Madhya Pradesh) and also brought a suspect from Nuh, Haryana, to Bhopal for questioning.

The agency further alleged that a handler based in Saudi Arabia was inciting youths for jihad-related activities.

Officials said the investigation is ongoing, and further arrests are likely as agencies continue to examine digital evidence, financial trails, and communication records connected to the case.

New Delhi, June 13: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday expressed grief over the tragic loss of five bravehearts in the Indian Air Force aircraft crash in Assam and said that we salute their service and selfless sacrifice, and will forever remain indebted to them and their families.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge took to social media ‘X’ and said, “Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of five bravehearts in the Indian Air Force aircraft crash in Assam. My heartfelt condolences to their families and loved ones in this moment of grief. We salute their service and selfless sacrifice, and will forever remain indebted to them and their families.”

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also expressed grief over the martyrdom of five brave soldiers in an Air Force plane crash in Assam, describing the incident as deeply saddening.

Taking to social media platform X, Priyanka Gandhi said, “The news of the martyrdom of five brave soldiers in an Air Force plane crash in Assam is deeply saddening. May God grant peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families.”

She further said, “The nation will forever remain indebted to our brave soldiers and their families.”

At least five IAF personnel were killed after an AN-32 transport aircraft met with an accident while landing at the Jorhat airbase in Assam and burst into flames on Saturday, defence officials said.

According to the IAF, the incident occurred at approximately 10 a.m. after the aircraft landed at the Jorhat Air Force Station. The aircraft reportedly burst into flames shortly after touchdown, triggering an immediate emergency response from Air Force and airport firefighting teams.

“An IAF AN-32 aircraft met with an accident during a routine sortie today at approximately 1000h at Jorhat, Assam. Crash site management and initial enquiries are on at this time. IAF requests everyone to refrain from speculation till preliminary results are in,” the IAFZ said in a statement.

Defence officials later said that five people lost their lives in the incident. The identities of the deceased have not yet been officially released. Further details regarding the circumstances leading to the crash are awaited.

The IAF expressed condolences over the tragedy, stating: “IAF deeply regrets the loss of lives and stands firmly with the bereaved families in this time of grief.”

A detailed investigation is expected to be ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident. Technical experts and Air Force authorities are examining the crash site while initial enquiries remain underway.

New Delhi, June 13: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav’s claims of possible electoral manipulation in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections next year have invited quick riposte and taunt from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, as they called it the former’s acceptance of defeat even before the 2027 poll contest.

UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, reacting to Akhilesh’s allegations of likely manipulation in UP elections, on the lines of Bihar and West Bengal, said that this was a clever way of a face-saving exercise by the Opposition.

Speaking to newsmen, Pathak said, “Leaders of the Samajwadi Party and Congress, especially Akhilesh Yadav, are making such statements as a face-saving attempt as they are sensing defeat even before elections.”

Slamming the INDIA bloc’s duplicity, he said that when the Opposition wins, they say that the Election Commission is doing a good job, but when they lose, they feel that their political base is shrinking or about to lose people’s mandate, they start making such remarks to save face.”

The fresh round of political spat comes on the back of Akhilesh Yadav’s charge that the BJP manipulated the elections in Bihar and Bengal in connivance with the Election Commission, and “if the same loot and dishonesty was to happen in Uttar Pradesh, then there may never be elections in the future.”

Akhilesh levelled these charges while addressing a public meeting during the inauguration of Urmila Garden at Soron Gate in Kasganj on Friday.

He accused the BJP of stealing the elections by introducing campaigns like Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and also accused the latter of befooling the women voters with women reservation bill.

Brajesh Pathak rejected Akhilesh’s charge summarily and called out SP’s own record of governance when goons and criminals held sway.

He said that people gave a thumping majority to the BJP in West Bengal, and the public anger was only now coming to the fore after TMC’s ouster.

“Same was the condition in Uttar Pradesh during the Congress-SP regime, mafia raj prevailed over people, and the latter was left at the mercy of its strongman leaders as well as goons,” he added.

Danish Ansari, UP minister for minority welfare, also hit back at the SP supremo and compared the progressive record of the Yogi government as compared to ‘dark phase’ under SP regime.

“Samajwadi Party’s only agenda is to obstruct the development journey of the Yogi-led UP government and hinder the progress and prosperity of Uttar Pradesh. The party tries to create hurdles in the path of development and foment trouble in the state,” he said.

The minister reiterated that the double-engine BJP government has pledged to provide a corruption-free and crime-free state, and this is why the Opposition, which always shielded gangsters and goons, is having a meltdown.