Kolkata, Aug 12: Wahab Alam, the Pakistani national arrested in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, was sent by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to collect information about the Indian Army, Navy and Railways in the eastern sector of the country.

Alam was arrested in the Habra area of the district.

Insiders from the state police said that during the marathon interrogation by the sleuths of the Special Task Force (STF) of the state police, he had admitted that he entered India through the India-Nepal border in 2012 and has since been staying in different pockets of the state, shifting bases from time to time.

After his arrest, the STF sleuths also seized forged Indian identity documents from his possession, like an Aadhaar card, PAN card and EPIC card. It is learnt that he managed these forged identity documents through another person, Muhammad Izaz, who was also arrested by the STF in the Topsia area in East Kolkata following Alam’s interrogation.

In fact, state police insiders said that before shifting to Habra, from where he had been arrested, Alam used to stay at Izaz’s residence in Topsia. However, as per information collected by the STF sleuths, he left the Topsia area immediately after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise started in West Bengal earlier this year before the recently concluded Assembly polls.

STF sleuths found that Alam was probably planning to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh, and hence decided to shift to Habra, which is fairly close to the India-Bangladesh border. The STF sleuths are currently interrogating Alam and Izaz to know about their other associates in the state.

Interrogation is also ongoing to find out the kind of information that Alam has already passed on to his handlers in Pakistan.

Reacting to media persons on the arrest of the Pakistani national, the state Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister, Agnimitra Paul, said that such elements could make their roots deeper in West Bengal because of the “nurturing by the previous Trinamool Congress regime”.

“My appeal to people is to be alert. If any suspicious persons or any suspicious activity is detected in your locality, kindly contact the local police station immediately,” she said.

Seoul, Aug 12: North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Wednesday, South Korea’s military said, marking the second such launch in less than a week in an apparent protest against an upcoming combined military exercise between the South and the United States.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the missile launched from the Wonsan area on the east coast at around 6 a.m.

The missile flew more than 700 kilometres, with a detailed analysis of its specifications under way by South Korean and US authorities, according to the JCS.

While the military has yet to specify the type or range of the missile, the range it provided suggests the launch likely involved a short-range missile, which typically flies 300 to 1,000 km, reports Yonhap news agency.

North Korea has the KN-23 short-range ballistic missiles, known as the North Korean version of Russia’s Iskander, which has a maximum range of 700- 800 km.

The latest launch came six days after the North fired what the South’s military has identified as a short-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Thursday.

The recent missile launches came as South Korea and the US are set to begin their key annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise next week.

Pyongyang has strongly denounced the allies’ drills as war rehearsals and conducted its own weapons tests around the training period in a show of protest.

Unlike how the North has usually revealed its missile launches through state media the following day or so, it has not published any reports on last week’s launch.

This has raised the possibility that the launch may not have succeeded or involved the test-firing of a new type of missile, or that it could have been a longer-range missile fired at a reduced range.

“It could be a repeat of last week’s launch following its suspected failure and is believed to be a test-firing aimed at improving its missile capabilities,” said Yang Moo-jin, a senior professor at the University of North Korean Studies.

“Given the intensifying war in Ukraine, it could also be a test to upgrade the Hwasong-11 missiles, which are designed to carry tactical nuclear warheads,” Yang said.

South Korean and US intelligence authorities tracked the launch from its early stage and shared information with Japan as well, maintaining a full readiness posture through cooperation between the two countries, the JCS said.

“Under the staunch South Korea-US combined defence posture, our military is closely monitoring various North Korean activities and maintaining the capability and readiness to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation,” it said.

South Korea’s National Security Office (NSO) expressed concerns over continued missile launches since last week, urging Pyongyang to stop such provocations that are in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

The NSO convened an emergency meeting with defence and military officials shortly after Wednesday’s launch to assess the launch and its impact on security, and directed necessary measures, officials said.

The latest missile launch was also observed from an eastern coastal area in South Korea’s Goseong county in Gangwon Province, located about 130 km in a direct distance from Wonsan.

The US Pacific Command said in a media statement that it assesses the North’s recent missile launch as not posing an immediate threat to its territory and allies.

The latest launch marked the 11th such launch by North Korea this year to date.

Bogota, Aug 11: The death toll from a magnitude-7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday has risen to 132, with more than 570 others injured, the Colombian government said in its latest update.

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said in Bogota that the quake damaged 1,575 homes and infrastructure at six airports, where commercial flight operations have been suspended, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Colombian government earlier Monday declared a state of national disaster to respond to the impact of the earthquake.

According to the Colombian Geological Service, the quake struck at 7:34 a.m. local time in western Colombia. Its epicenter was near San Jose del Palmar, in the department of Choco, at a depth of 96 km.

The association said it is maintaining close contact with the capitals of affected departments and communicating with local mayors and their teams to follow the latest developments, assess damage and identify the most urgent relief needs.

Leaders across the world express solidarity and support for the people of Colombia.

French President Immannuel Macron stated that Colombia can count on France’s friendship and support and expressed solidarity.

“In the face of the terrible earthquake that has struck Colombia, I extend, on behalf of France, my most sincere thoughts to the Colombian people. I think of the victims, their families, the injured, and all those who have been affected by this disaster. Our solidarity also goes to the rescue teams and all those who are working, with courage, to assist the affected populations. In this ordeal, Colombia can count on our friendship and our support,” Macron wrote on X.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed solidarity and support and called on people around the world to support the affected people.

“Terrible news about the earthquake in western Colombia, which also affected neighbouring Ecuador. As of now, at least 25 people have been reported dead, and there are people trapped under the rubble. Our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and to everyone affected. Any loss of life is tragic. We stand in full support and solidarity with the people of Colombia and everyone who has been affected by this disaster. We call on everyone around the world who can support the affected people and countries right now to step up and help,” Zelensky stated on X.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said that she is anxiously following the updates on the violent earthquake that struck Colombia.

“In these difficult hours, Italy stands in solidarity with the Colombian people, the affected families, and all those engaged in rescue and assistance operations,” she stated on X.