New Delhi, Sep 30: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said the seizure of more than 500 kg of drugs and the arrest of five Pakistani nationals in the Arabian Sea off Lakshadweep was the outcome of 16 days of effective coordination among Indian security agencies.

Reacting to the Indian Coast Guard’s interception of the vessel carrying drugs, Shah also said the Narendra Modi government was determined to protect the country’s youth from the scourge of drugs.

“Upholding a stellar example of coordination and cooperation among agencies, the 16-day-long operation also seized an Iranian boat,” Shah said in a post on X.

In a joint operation involving the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), Indian Coast Guard and central intelligence agencies, 526 kg of methamphetamine and heroin were seized from an Iranian boat in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), he said.

The vessel was intercepted 160 nautical miles northwest of Lakshadweep and 490 nautical miles southwest of Mumbai. “Five Pakistani nationals have been arrested, with further investigation underway to identify the wider network and its intended receivers,” Shah said.

Pakistan’s role in narcotics smuggling once again came to light following the massive seizure in the Arabian Sea of Lakshadweep.

The seizure followed an extensive operation by the security agencies against suspected narcotics trafficking in the Arabian Sea. The operation highlights the role of coordinated surveillance and intelligence-sharing among agencies in tackling drug smuggling through India’s maritime routes.

The ICG intercepted a Pakistani vessel off the Lakshadweep coast in the Arabian Sea after a hot pursuit, seizing 526 kg of high-grade narcotics valued at over Rs 3,000 crore and apprehending five Pakistani nationals on September 25.

Acting on inputs regarding an illicit consignment traversing key maritime corridors, ICG established radar contact with the suspicious dhow west of the Lakshadweep archipelago before initiating a hot pursuit.

“Specialised boarding teams executed a high-seas tactical assault, securing the vessel and detaining all five crew members without incident,” the ICG said in an official statement.

A thorough search of the dhow yielded the illicit drugs, including high-grade heroin and methamphetamine.

The ICG officials said that the five Pakistani nationals were apprehended following a dramatic chase across international waters.

After sustained aerial and surface tracking, the Coast Guard units engaged in hot pursuit as the vessel attempted evasive manoeuvres. Specialised boarding teams executed a high-seas tactical assault, securing the vessel and detaining all five crew members without incident, the ICG said.

The Coast Guard reaffirmed its mission readiness, stating that Bharatiya Tatrakshak remains resolutely postured to secure national maritime frontiers, combat organised crime, and dismantle transnational cartels in support of the nationwide drug-free India campaign.

The apprehended vessel and the crew have been escorted to Mumbai harbour, where a multi-agency probe is underway. The agencies are now trying to map out the syndicate’s financial trail and domestic contribution networks.

The Narendra Modi government had launched a massive campaign against drugs with the promise that India would be drug-free. Home Minister Shah had recently said that in order to accomplish this mission, the agencies would work at the district level as well.

An official said that with major cities under the radar of the agencies, the Inter Services Intelligence-backed narcotics cartels had decided to move operations to smaller towns. The target is to break 100 major international and inter-state drug syndicates which have been indulging in narcotics smuggling in India.

Statistics show that between 2014 and 2026, over 1.18 crore kg valued at around Rs 1.84 lakh crore has been seized by the various agencies in the country.

This has been a result of close coordination between the state and central agencies. Further, the agencies have also been coordinating with their international counterparts to bring back drug lords and their cronies who are operating from across the borders.

Authorities said that between 2014 and 2026, 42.47 lakh kg of drugs valued at Rs 89,896 crore had been destroyed. Annual narcotics seizures reached an all-time high in 2024, when 1,330 to 1,691 tonnes were seized, marking a 55 per cent increase over 2023.

An Intelligence Bureau official said that the government has been working closely with other countries.

During all conversations that are held with international leaders, India has been clear on its commitment to dismantle the drug network.

“Further, destroying the narcotics cartels also deals a severe setback to the terror networks. The terror networks are completely reliant on the money earned through narcotics trade. Hence, dealing a blow to the narcotics cartels automatically becomes a setback for the ISI-controlled terror groups which look to hit India,” the official said.

New Delhi, Sep 30: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday said that the INDIA bloc meeting over the Special Intensive Review (SIR) issue is just another “excuse” for the Congress to “relaunch” Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi.

This came as the INDIA bloc is meeting in New Delhi’s Constitution Club, where opposition parties are discussing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and their concerns over the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari, taking to X, said that even if Congress tried to “relaunch” Rahul Gandhi in 100 different ways, the people of the country will choose Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Rahul Gandhi is fighting a battle against Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh to bargain for more seats in alliance. AAP and SP by not attending the meeting called by Congress have exposed Rahul Gandhi’s call for “Opposition Unity” on SIR,” he said.

“SIR is just “Bahana”; earlier it was ” EVM”, tomorrow it will be something else. Congress can try to relaunch Rahul in 100 different ways: 2029 People of India will chose PM Narendra Modi,” Bhandari added.

Earlier in the day, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that “no one” in the INDIA bloc, or in the Congress party, is willing to accept Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi as their leader, and hence many of the parties and leaders have “refused to attend” the Opposition alliance’s meeting.

Speaking to media, Chouhan said, “The INDI alliance fell apart even before the meeting began. DMK is not attending the meeting. Akhilesh Yadav is busy somewhere else. AAP had already refused beforehand. Uddhav Thackeray will not join physically, but virtually. Why is this happening?”

“It is because the INDI alliance is simply not ready to accept Rahul Gandhi as their leader. They do not accept Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, which is why they are not attending,” he added.

The Union Minister also claimed that several leaders in the Congress party itself are not willing to accept Rahul as their leader.

“Not just the INDIA bloc, but even the Congress leaders are not willing to accept Rahul Gandhi as their leader. Rahul Gandhi asks Congress leaders at the CWC meet to call him their leader. When Congress leaders themselves are not willing to accept Rahul Gandhi as their leader, how will the country accept him?” Chouhan questioned.

“A clean voter list is the soul of democracy. If wrong names are added to the voter list, then what is wrong with it? Why is there a problem in removing the names of people who are no longer alive or adding names of those who are not citizens? The voter list must be clean,” he added.

The INDIA bloc’s meeting assumes significance amid differences among alliance constituents over strategy and participation, with opposition parties seeking to work out a common approach on electoral-roll revisions and related concerns.

Patna, Sep 30: A motorbike-borne man and woman allegedly snatched a gold chain worth around Rs 7 lakh from a person outside his residence in Patna’s Kurji area on Wednesday morning, prompting police to launch an investigation.

The incident took place under the jurisdiction of Digha police station at around 8 a.m. on Wednesday.

According to the victim, he was standing outside his house when the duo approached him on a motorcycle and allegedly snatched the chain from his neck before fleeing.

Following the incident, Digha Station House Officer Avnish Kumar reached the spot and spoke to the victim.

Digha Police are examining CCTV footage from the area to identify the suspects and establish the route they took while escaping.

The police are also gathering other details related to the incident and are expected to take further action after receiving the victim’s formal complaint. Once the complaint is filed, Patna police will register an FIR under relevant sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sahita against two unknown individuals.

Digha SHO Avnish Kumar clarified that reports claiming the chain was snatched at gunpoint were incorrect.

He said the matter was under investigation and that an FIR would be registered on the basis of the victim’s complaint.

The incident comes days after Kankarbagh police arrested seven people allegedly linked to chain-snatching cases.

Among those arrested was a pair reportedly referred to as ‘Bunty-Babli’ by police.

However, police have not established any connection between the suspects arrested in Kankarbagh and the Kurji chain-snatching case.

Investigators are currently focussing on the CCTV footage and other available evidence to identify the man and woman allegedly involved in Wednesday’s incident.

The latest case has renewed concerns among residents over incidents of chain snatching and other street crimes involving motorcycle-borne suspects in different parts of Patna.

In recent months, incidents of chain-snatching and other street crimes have been reported frequently in Patna. The alleged involvement of women as pillion riders in such crimes has emerged as a particular concern for the police.

According to police officials, women riding as pillion passengers may attract less suspicion than two men travelling together on a motorcycle, which can make it more difficult for police to identify suspects during such incidents.