Mumbai: Aqib Nachan, who was arrested on charges of being a liaison officer for ISIS, has been arrested by the ATS in another case of involvement in illegal activities and sandal smuggling. Saqib Nachan’s sons Aqib Nachan and Sahil Naeem Chakhlekar, both residents of Borivali Pargha, were produced in the court where they have been sent to police custody for another four days. The accused, Aqib Nachan and Sahil Naeem Chakhlekar, were arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad, Thane on March 29, 2026 in ATS Crime Register No. 10/25 (25/7/2025). Both the accused were remanded in police custody till April 2. When they were again produced before the ATS court today, the court extended their police custody till April 6. The accused has been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Saqib Nachan was also appointed as the India emir of ISIS. Saqib Nachan had several cases registered against him and was arrested in an ISIS case before his death. After that, Aqib Nachan was arrested. Aqib Nachan is accused of being involved in illegal activities. In this case, the ATS conducted a raid in Pargha. During this, objectionable materials and electric gazettes were also found. Along with this, the ATS had also started investigating the illegal timber business and funding of terrorist activities in Pargha. ATS sources have also revealed that more arrests are likely to be made during this remand.

Kabul, April 3: At least two children were killed and nearly 30 people were injured due to shelling and drone strikes carried out by Pakistani forces in eastern Afghanistan, local media reported on Friday, citing officials.

Taliban deputy spokesman Hamdullah Fitrat said the attacks targeting residential areas in Kunar, Paktika, and Khost provinces began on Wednesday, Afghanistan’s Ariana News reported.

“Since yesterday, Pakistani forces have carried out continuous mortar, rocket and drone attacks,” he said, adding that majority of the casualties were civilians, including children.

Two children were injured, and property was damaged after more than 150 mortar and long-range artillery shells hit Sarkano and Manogai districts of Kunar province. Eight children were injured, and two others were killed in shelling in the Dosaraki area of Sarkano’s Nawapas region.

Three civilians were injured after a drone strike in the Shkin district of Paktika province, while two people were injured in a separate drone strike in Zazi Maidan district in Khost.

Afghan officials have criticised Pakistan for its strikes, saying that civilian areas were being targeted intentionally, causing significant harm to local communities, Ariana News reported.

Tensions have escalated tremendously between Kabul and Islamabad over the past few months due to the Pakistani airstrikes and artillery fire, which have resulted in the deaths of dozens of people in war-torn Afghanistan. Meanwhile, talks began between officials of Pakistan and Afghanistan in China’s Urumqi on Thursday.

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said the Afghan delegation visited China to hold discussions with Pakistani officials.

On Thursday, Afghanistan’s Minister of Economy, Qari Din Mohammad Hanif, said that more than 27,000 Afghan families across nine provinces have been displaced due to attacks carried out by Pakistan’s military, local media reported.

During a coordination meeting with officials from the United Nations agencies and national and international organisations, Hanif said that Pakistan has carried out hostile actions against Afghanistan in recent months, Afghanistan-based Pajhwok Afghan News reported. He further said that at least 27,344 families have been displaced in Nuristan, Zabul, Paktia, Khost, Paktika, Kunar, Nangarhar, Laghman and Kandahar provinces of the country.

Hanif noted that many of these families are currently residing without access to basic necessities, including adequate food, clothing, shelter and healthcare. He mentioned that the Taliban has taken measures to address the economic and livelihood challenges faced by displaced people of Afghanistan. However, he urged UN agencies and partner organisations to provide humanitarian assistance.

Bhubaneswar, April 3: The Sambalpur police in Odisha have arrested two employees of the Excise Department, including a retired Excise Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), in connection with a case involving large-scale embezzlement of government funds worth over Rs 3.67 crore between 2022 and 2025, said Mukesh Kumar Bhamoo, Superintendent of Police, Sambalpur district, on Friday.

The accused persons arrested in the fraud case have been identified as Sandeep Kumar Pattnaik, a junior assistant (currently under suspension), and Sarat Chandra Behera, a retired Excise ASI.

Meanwhile, the police sources also revealed that another accused in the case, retired Excise ASI Achyuta Dehury, is still on the run. Serious financial irregularities came to light during an audit of the Excise Department’s financial records by authorities, including the Principal Accountant General (A&E), Odisha.

Subsequently, based on a written report submitted by Ashok Kumar Seth, I/C Deputy Commissioner of Excise (Northern Division), Sambalpur, the Ainthapali police registered a case (73/26) on March 9 and launched an investigation into the massive fraud.

The cops, during investigation, found that multiple unauthorised sanction orders were generated through the IFMS portal in favour of the retired Excise ASI Achyuta Dehury, leading to excess withdrawal of pension and salary arrears between November 2022 and October 2025. The official records, such as bill registers and cash books, were also found to be manipulated and not properly maintained.

“During investigation, bank account analysis showed suspicious high-value transactions, including large cash withdrawals and transfers to associates, indicating misappropriation and diversion of Government funds,” the police also added.

The accused Pattnaik, who was dealing with establishment matters, was arrested by the cops on March 28 for his involvement in the misappropriation of government funds to the tune of Rs 3.67 crore.

The police also managed to arrest another accused, Behera, Retd. ASI, on March 31. The accused persons, by abusing their official position, allegedly manipulated financial records, generated fraudulent sanctions, and siphoned off Government money, causing wrongful loss to the State exchequer and corresponding gain to themselves.

The police have so far seized Rs 23,46,500 from the possession of accused Pattnaik, while another Rs 44 lakh from the total defrauded amount transferred to various accounts has been frozen by the police.