New Delhi, May 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday morning visited the Adampur Airbase in Punjab to meet Indian Air Force personnel and express the nation’s gratitude for their courage and fearlessness in defending the country.

His visit comes just days after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire following the successful execution of ‘Operation Sindoor’, a major anti-terror operation conducted by Indian forces targeting high-value terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK).

At the base, the Prime Minister interacted with the soldiers, praising their bravery and valour.

Soldiers present at the interaction described the visit as a morale booster, noting how the Prime Minister’s presence uplifted the spirit of the troops, according to sources.

The soldiers were seen smiling in their combat uniforms, a symbol of their constant readiness.

Sharing his experience on X, PM Modi wrote, “Earlier this morning, I went to AFS Adampur and met our brave air warriors and soldiers. It was a very special experience to be with those who epitomise courage, determination and fearlessness. India is eternally grateful to our armed forces for everything they do for our nation.”

Adampur Airbase was among the targets of Pakistan’s retaliatory attempt during the night of May 9 and 10, following India’s strike on terrorist infrastructure across the border.

Pakistani drones and missiles were intercepted and neutralised by India’s air defence systems, showcasing the preparedness and effectiveness of the Indian armed forces.

The visit also coincided with PM Modi’s recent address to the nation where he commended the armed forces for the execution of ‘Operation Sindoor’, stating that it had achieved its objectives with precision and resolve.

“I salute the armed forces, Intelligence agencies and scientists for their grit that helped ‘Operation Sindoor’ achieve its objective,” the Prime Minister said.

Reaffirming India’s new doctrine in its fight against terrorism, PM Modi had said that ‘Operation Sindoor’ was dedicated to the nation’s collective spirit, particularly to the women of India, whose safety and honour were at the heart of the mission.

He underlined that the operation had sent a clear message to terrorist organisations and their backers — that any attack on India or its citizens would be met with decisive and powerful retribution.

“The world has seen India’s capability and it is clear terrorists will no longer be spared,” he asserted.

The Prime Minister stressed that ‘Operation Sindoor’ marked a new and unwavering chapter in India’s counter-terrorism strategy — one that is relentless, precise, and uncompromising.

He emphasised that India’s military carried out highly targeted strikes on terrorist hideouts in Pakistan, reinforcing the country’s resolve to safeguard its citizens and national values.

Chandigarh, May 13: At least 15 men have died after allegedly consuming spurious liquor in four villages of the Majitha area in Amritsar district, officials said on Tuesday.

The deceased, mostly labourers working in brick kilns, include residents of Bhangali, Marari Kalan Therwal and Patalpuri villages.

Superintendent of Police (Amritsar Rural), Maninder Singh said the main accused Prabhjit Singh has been arrested and he turned out to be the mastermind behind supplying the spurious liquor.

A First Information Report (FIR) was on Tuesday registered under Section 105 of the BNS and 61-A of the Excise Act.

The others arrested were Kulbir Singh, alias Jaggu, a brother of the main accused Prabhjit Singh, Sahib Singh, alias Sarai, Gurjant Singh and Ninder Kaur, wife of Jeeta.

The Investigation Police Officer told the media that preliminary investigation indicated that “all took liquor from a single source on Sunday evening. Some of them died on Monday and locals cremated them without informing the police. We received information about the deaths due to liquor late in the evening (Monday) and initiated an investigation.”

A spokesperson for the government said an investigation of the entire spurious liquor network is on.

In March 2024, as many as 24 people had died in Sangrur due to spurious liquor. Earlier in 2020, more than 100 people died across Punjab in one of the deadliest illicit liquor tragedies.

As the war against drugs ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ to eradicate the drug menace from the state completed 72 days on Monday, Punjab Police registered 6,280 FIRs and arrested 10,444 drug smugglers.

Notably, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab a drug free state.

Since the launch of the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign, Punjab Police under the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav has been conducting different operations including cordon and search operations, night domination and raids at drug hotspots across the state.

Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Law and Order, Arpit Shukla, who has been monitoring these operations, on Monday said that police teams have recovered 398 kg heroin, 186 kg opium, 117 quintals poppy husk, 8 kg charas, 135 kg ganja, 2.5 kg ICE, 1.2 kg cocaine, 23.57 lakh intoxicant pills/tablets and Rs 8.58 crore drug money from their possession.

Jerusalem, May 13: Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander arrived in Israel after being released from Gaza, where he was held in Hamas captivity for 19 months, Israel’s Defence Ministry said in a statement.

Alexander arrived at southern Israel’s Re’im military base adjacent to the Gaza Strip to reunite with his family, who landed only a few hours earlier from the United States, Xinhua news agency reported.

A photo taken earlier in Gaza showed Alexander, wearing a black T-shirt and a baseball cap, being accompanied by armed Hamas militants and a woman from the Red Cross during a handover process.

Alexander was released following direct talks between Washington and Hamas.

US President Donald Trump welcomed the release, writing in a post on his Truth Social platform: “Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage, is being released. Congratulations to his wonderful parents, family, and friends!”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that the country “embraces” Alexander. He stressed that the Israeli government “is committed to the return of all hostages and missing persons — both the living and the fallen,” vowing to “act tirelessly until they are all brought home.”

Israeli Health Ministry Spokeswoman Shira Solomon said Alexander was undergoing an initial medical assessment at the reception facility in Re’im base and would later be transferred to Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv.

“Medical teams and staff at the hospital are well-prepared to provide all necessary medical, psychological, and rehabilitative care for Alexander, as well as support for his family and any other needs that may arise,” Solomon said in a statement.

In Hostages Square, a public plaza located in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and renamed following the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack, hundreds gathered to watch Alexander’s return on large screens. They held up photos of the freed hostage and signs reading: “Only an end to the war in Gaza would secure the release of the remaining hostages.”

Hamas sources earlier confirmed that Alexander was handed over to a team from the International Committee of the Red Cross at a designated location in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis city. He was then transferred to the buffer zone controlled by the Israeli army before heading to the Re’im military base.

Eyewitnesses in Khan Younis reported that Israeli military activities in the area were halted before and during the release, and the atmosphere remained relatively calm.

In a press statement, Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ armed wing, said Alexander was released as part of the efforts made by mediators to achieve a ceasefire, open the crossings, and allow aid and relief to reach Gaza.

Alexander is a US-born soldier serving in the Israeli army. He was abducted on October 7, 2023, in the Hamas-led raid on southern Israel that resulted in the kidnapping of 251 people and the killing of about 1,200 others.

His return marks an important step toward a new round of negotiations on a Gaza truce deal that will, after the return of Alexander, also secure the release of the remaining 58 hostages in Gaza, of whom 20 are believed to be alive. The negotiations are expected to begin on Tuesday with mediation from Qatar, Egypt, and the US. Netanyahu’s office announced that an Israeli delegation will travel to Doha for talks, but stressed that the talks would take place “only under fire.”

Since October 2023, Israeli fire has killed 52,862 Palestinians and injured 119,648 others in Gaza, according to local health authorities on Monday.