Connect with us
Thursday,09-October-2025
Breaking News

National News

Modi to launch infra projects, witness sail parade, fly-past during Goa visit

Published

on

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a series of infrastructure projects as well as witness a sail parade and a fly-past by the Indian Navy on December 19, during his one-day visit to Goa on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the state’s Liberation from 451 years of Portuguese rule, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Friday.

Sawant also said that Modi would felicitate freedom fighters and armed forces veterans who participated in ‘Operation Vijay’, the military operation launched by India to Liberate Goa in 1961.

Twelve Indian Navy sailing boats will participate in the sail parade, Sawant said, adding that it would be the first time that Goa would be witnessing such an event.

“The sail parade is being held for the first time. The trial run will be held on Saturday. People can witness the trial as well,” the Chief Minister told reporters.

The sail parade as well as the fly-past will be witnessed by the Prime Minister from a special enclosure at Panaji’s popular Miramar beach.

“Veterans of Operation Vijay and freedom fighters who fought for Goa’s freedom will also be felicitated by the Prime Minister,” Sawant said.

The key infrastructure projects which will be virtually inaugurated by Modi include the renovated Fort Aguada complex, a prison where several top freedom fighters were incarcerated by the Portuguese, a superspeciality block at the state’s apex health facility, the Goa Medical College, the South Goa District Hospital and the Aviation Skill Development Centre at the upcoming Mopa international airport in North Goa, Sawant said.

Crime

From Saree Shop Heist To Terror Funding: Maharashtra ATS Raids 19 Pune Locations Of ISIS Terror Module, Questions Suspects Linked To ISIS Operative

Published

on

Mumbai: In a major development in the ongoing probe into the Pune ISIS module, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), in coordination with Pune police, carried out extensive search operations across the city on Thursday.

The raids targeted the residences and offices of 19 suspected individuals in Kondhwa, Khadak, Khadki, Wanwadi, and Bhosari, officials said. ATS teams from Mumbai and Pune conducted simultaneous searches to uncover digital evidence, documents, and communication devices linked to the module’s network. Several suspects were taken into custody for questioning, though authorities did not confirm any fresh arrests or seizures. Investigations are ongoing.

According to ATS, the operations were linked to C.R. No. 7/2023, investigating individuals previously arrested for alleged involvement in a sleeper ISIS module operating in Maharashtra. Sources said the raids targeted the residences and offices of the suspects, who are believed to have close links with ISIS operative Talha Liyakat Ali Khan (37). Khan was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) after a two-year international manhunt. He was intercepted at Mumbai airport in May this year while attempting to return to India from Indonesia.

On June 4, 2025, the Maharashtra ATS arrested Khan from Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai, where he was held in NIA custody, in connection with the April 8, 2023, Satara saree showroom robbery. Khan is alleged to have raised funds and facilitated the purchase of firearms used in the heist, in which Rs 1 lakh was looted and the perpetrators escaped on a motorcycle. He is the fourth individual to be arrested in the case. Officials said the stolen proceeds were reportedly channelled to finance ISIS-linked terror activities.

Sources said that during custody, Khan made several significant disclosures aiding the investigation. Following his statements, the ATS conducted search operations on Thursday. The individuals whose premises were searched are under ATS scrutiny and are believed to be close associates of Khan. Some suspects were reportedly in contact with him during the two years he was absconding and are believed to have been involved, directly or indirectly, in radicalisation and providing logistical support to the ISIS-linked terror module.

Investigations by NIA and ATS revealed that Khan, along with co-accused Fayaz Shaikh, played a key role in raising funds for the Pune ISIS terror module and in organising a secret IED workshop in Pune’s Kondhwa area in April 2022.During this workshop, members of the ISIS module allegedly fabricated and tested improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The session was reportedly attended by several accused, including Zulfikar Barodawala, Mohammed Imran Khan, Mohammed Yunus Saki, Abdul Kadir Pathan, Simab Kazi, Shamil Nachan, Akif Nachan, and Shahnawaz Alam, among others.The suspects were reportedly involved in radicalisation, recruitment and fabrication of explosive devices as part of a larger terror conspiracy.

The plot, which could have posed a serious threat to national security, came to light in 2023 when Pune police detained two suspects from Kothrud in a bike theft case after searches of their residence and subsequent investigation revealed their alleged links to ISIS operatives, leading to the case being transferred to the Maharashtra ATS and later to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Officials said Khan and Fayaz Sheikh went underground after the Pune ISIS module was dismantled in 2022. Between July and August that year, the duo left India with their families, reportedly seeking employment in Oman. After being declared wanted by Indian agencies, Omani authorities ordered them to leave the country or face deportation. The pair then traveled to Iran, where they were detained on December 8, 2024, and interrogated for five months until May 5, 2025. In the following days, they reached Indonesia but were initially denied entry. While attempting to return to India secretly from Jakarta in May 2025, they were intercepted by the Bureau of Immigration at Mumbai International Airport (T2) and subsequently taken into NIA custody.

The ATS has said that the investigation into Khan’s network is ongoing, Further questioning and analysis of the seized digital evidence are expected to provide more leads in the case.

Continue Reading

National News

World Jr C’ships: India beat Korea in quarters to assure first-ever mixed team medal

Published

on

Guwahati, Oct 9: India rode on the energy of the vociferous fans and the knowledge of the home conditions to beat Korea and assure themselves of a historic BWF World Junior Mixed Team Championships medal at the National Centre of Excellence, here on Thursday.

The hosts came through a nerve-wracking quarterfinal clash that lasted almost three hours and needed the team to pick themselves up after a heartbreaking reversal in the opening set to beat Korea 44-45, 45-30, 45-33 to set up a semi-final clash against Asian U-19 Mixed Team champions Indonesia, who defeated Chinese Taipei 45-35, 45-35.

The semi-final appearance also assured India of their first-ever mixed-team medal in the history of the BWF World Junior Championships.

The way India had lined-up for the quarterfinals, it was quite clear that they were heavily relying on their singles players to bail them out in case the Koreans made the most of their doubles strength.

The first set went accordingly as Bhargav Ram Arigela and Viswa Tej Gobburu went down 5-9 in the first boys’ doubles against Cho Hyeong Woo and Lee Hyeong Woo. The girls’ doubles combination of Vennala K and Reshika U managed to reduce the deficit by one point by beating Cheon Hye In and Moon In Seo 10-9 before Rounak Chouhan brought them within one point by beating Choi Ah Seung 11-9.

However, a 4-9 loss for C Lalramsanga and Aanya Bisht in the mixed doubles against Lee and Cheon meant that Unnati Hooda had to win 15 points before her opponent Kim Han Bi could reach nine. Unnati began strongly by taking a 3-0 lead, but Kim managed to draw level at 6-6, and it felt that the set was slipping from India’s hands.

However, Unnati dug deep, played long rallies to win five straight points to build pressure on her opponent, and then went on to draw level at 44-44. However, her serve on set point landed in the net, and the distraught Unnati just dropped her racquet in despair.

India made two substitutions ahead of the second set, with Lalramsanga replacing Gobburu in boys’ doubles and Vishakha Toppo coming in for Bisht.

Lalramsanga and Bhargav then gave India a positive start with a 9-7 win over Cho and Lee and Vennala and Reshika extended that advantage to six points. India never looked back thereafter and by the time Unnati took the court for the second set, they were already leading by nine points and all she had to do was wrap up the set.

The third set started in the same manner as Lalramsanga and Bhargav gave India a 9-4 lead but Vennala and Reshika ran out of steam after the first 10 points and the Korean combination of Cheon and Moon put their team ahead by two points.

Chouhan then stepped up turned the match decisively in India’s favour with a 11-4 win over Choi and gave India a five point lead. Lalramsanga and Bisht then increased that lead to seven points and Unnati then hammered Kim 9-4 to kick-off the celebrations.

Speaking about the tactical changes in the second set, India’s doubles coach Ivan Sozonov of Russia said the changes were made because he felt Gobburu and Bisht were feeling the pressure of the occasion and they needed to change something to catch the Koreans off-guard. “I am very happy with the way Lalramsanga played and also how Rounak and Unnati handled the pressure,” he added.

Badminton Association of India secretary general Sanjay Mishra was understandably elated as BAI and the team management had set their eyes on winning a mixed-team medal. “The players had been preparing at this very venue for the last few months and we were confident that we could win a medal if they played to their potential. I am very happy that everyone stood up when it mattered today and I am sure they have the ability to beat Indonesia and reach the final,” he added.

Continue Reading

National News

Mumbai Accident: Porsche Crashes On Western Express Highway During Alleged High-Speed Race With BMW; Driver Injured

Published

on

Mumbai: A Porsche car, reportedly engaged in a high-speed race with a BMW, lost control and crashed into a divider on Mumbai’s Western Express Highway late Wednesday night. The luxury vehicle, a 718 Boxster, bearing the number plate DN 09Q 1777, sustained extensive damage on its right side due to the violent impact, while the driver suffered injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital.

According to preliminary reports, the Porsche was allegedly being driven recklessly when the driver lost control near a busy stretch of the highway. The force of the crash caused parts of the car’s front and side panels to crumble, scattering debris across the road. Visuals shared by news agency media show the wrecked sports car lying by the divider, its airbags deployed and police personnel inspecting the site.

While no casualties have been reported so far, authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the accident. Officials are also probing whether the Porsche and the BMW were involved in illegal street racing and if there was any violation of speed limits or other traffic regulations.

This crash comes just two days after another major accident in Mumbai, where a speeding car plunged into the Arabian Sea off the Coastal Road. On Monday night, a 29-year-old driver, identified as Frashogar Darayush Battiwala, lost control of his Ertiga vehicle while allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. The car broke through the railing and fell nearly 30 feet into the water near Worli around 11 pm.

In a heroic rescue effort, Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) personnel Pandurang Kale and Vikas Rathod, along with a Byculla Police constable, jumped into the sea and pulled Battiwala to safety using a rope. He sustained minor injuries and was later taken to a hospital for treatment. Police later registered a case against him under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Motor Vehicles Act.

Continue Reading

Trending