[NATIONAL]

A rocket-propelled grenade fired at Punjab Police’s intelligence headquarters in Mohali, but it fails to explode

A rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) was fired at a high-security building housing Punjab police’s intelligence wing headquarters in Sector 77 of Mohali on Mon, around 7.45 pm. The grenade landed on the 3^rd floor of the building but did not explode. It damaged a glass door and shattered window panes. No casualty was reported. As per an Indian Express report, officers on the site said the weapon was ‘made in China’ as per the lot number written on it. Mohali Police refused to rule out the terror angle. Experts note that RPGs aren’t as effective as a rocket but go much farther and faster than a hand grenade. (here) In the wake of the explosion, Central intelligence agencies have swung into action. Agencies have intensified their operations to gather details about the incident. ANI reported citing an official, that it is suspected that an RPG was used in the attack and it is an unusual thing. On May 8, two persons were held in Punjab with over 2.5 Kg IED, while on May 5^th 4 terror suspects were held in Hariyana with the same amount of IED. Also, nearly a fortnight before an explosive device was found near Burail jail in Chandigarh. A red alert was issued, and security heightened in Punjab’s Amritsar following the explosion. Security has been increased at vital installations across the city. Law and order situation is completely under control: Amritsar Police Chief.

ABP – An intelligence report disclosed the secret plan of Pakistan ISI to reinstigate violence in Punjab, which they have termed Lashkar-e-Khasale, which they have includedAfghanistan terrorists, who are well trained to handle such equipment. There is a conspiracy to carry out attacks in J&K through this group. Efforts are also being made to include local gangsters of Punjab and Haryana in this terrorist group by luring them to earn money through drugs. (here)

Terrorists infiltrating through International Border in Jammu and Punjab, says Army chief

ThePrint-While the infiltration of terrorists has come down along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Kashmir sector, attempts are being made through the International Border in Jammu and Punjab, Army chief General Manoj Pande said Mon. He also said that Kashmir is witnessing a new trend where local youth are being used by Pakistani proxy groups to give an “indigenous color to insurgency”. The terror groups are targeting non-locals, political functionaries, and minorities in the Valley to spread sensationalism, he said. Noting that infiltration has come down since 2019, he said it was due to the strong counter-infiltration grid in Kashmir along the LoC. LoC has been used to push narcotics besides weapons. Inputs also suggest that weapons are being brought in from Uttar Pradesh. Citing sources, it is reported that to infiltrate from outside Kashmir. They said terrorists make their way into the Valley through trucks and other vehicles. (here) China intends to keep ‘boundary issue’ alive with India, says Army Chief Gen Pande – Making it clear that the main conflict between India and China concerns the border, Gen Pande Mon said Beijing intended to keep the ‘boundary issue’ alive. Gen Pande, who took over as the Army chief on 30 April, said a “whole of nation” approach was needed to tackle China. In the military domain, this will prevent and counter any attempt to alter the status quo at the Line of Actual Control, he added. On the issue of theaterization of the Indian military, Gen Pande said that the Army was all for it. He said the Army was in the last stages of completing the study on land-based theatres. (here)

SC grants interim protection from arrest to 7 Myanmarese citizens who entered India illegally

ANI – In an interim relief, the Supreme Court on Monday directed the Delhi Police not to arrest or conduct further inquiry until further orders with the 7 Myanmarese citizens, who entered India illegally, to travel to New Delhi to seek protection from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. A bench of justices AM Khanwilkar and Abhay S Oka, while granting relief to Myanmarese, said, “The fact that they will report to Police Station is only for the limited purpose of reassuring that they are available within the city of Delhi.” (here)

Six arrested for hoarding petrol bombs, lethal weapons to create ‘unrest’ in Bengaluru

As many as 6 people from 2 different criminal gangs, reportedly rivals, have been arrested for hoarding petrol bombs and lethal weapons for allegedly creating unrest in Karnataka’s Bengaluru, said police on Tue. Police have recovered petrol bombs, a country pistol, and sharp-edged weapons from their possession and a case has been registered under the relevant sections of the Arms Act. The two rival gangs were planning to attack each other and create social unrest in the city, police sources added.

The special court framed the charge under UPAP against Hurriyat leaders and other

ANI-Court of Special Judge Designated under National Investigating Agency Act, Srinagar frames charges under UAPA and IPC against Hurriyat Conference leader and chairman of Salvation Movement Zaffar Akbar Bhat and 9 others. It’s the first charge sheet in the case against people hand in glove with some educational consultancies for arranging admission of J&K residents in MBBS and other courses in colleges in Pakistan. A huge amount of money was received in lien of such admission from the parents of the students, and the money so earned was plowed into supporting terrorism in J&K. (here)

Slain journalist Danish Siddiqui among 4 Indians to get Pulitzer Prize

The award-winning journalist was killed in July last while covering clashes between Afghan troops and the Taliban in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar city. Danish Siddiqui and his colleagues Adnan Abidi, Sanna Irshad Mattoo, and Amit Dave from the Reuters news agency won the award, announced on Mon, for “images of COVID’s toll in India that balanced intimacy and devastation, while offering viewers a heightened sense of place”, according to The Pulitzer Prizes website. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

President hands over emergency powers to the military

Sri Lanka on Tue handed over emergency powers to its military and police allowing the forces to detain people without warrants, a day after the clashes took a grim turn, killing seven people and injuring more than 200. (here)

Sri Lanka economic crisis: Sri Lanka’s Colombo calm after clashes that killed seven

Reuters – Streets were calm on Tue in the Sri Lankan commercial capital of Colombo, after a day of clashes that killed 7 people and injured more than 200, police said, in violence that prompted Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to resign. As the Indian Ocean nation battles its worst economic crisis in history, thousands of protesters defied curfew to attack govt figures, setting ablaze homes, shops, and businesses belonging to ruling party lawmakers and provincial politicians. PM Rajapaksa had to be rescued by heavily armed troops from his official residence in Colombo this morning after thousands of protesters stormed the main gates. Protesters then tried to force their way into ‘Temple Trees’ – the 2-story colonial-era building that serves as the Lankan PM’s home and where his family and he were sheltering. (here) World Bank expresses grave concern over the perpetration of violence in Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, the US on Mon said that it is closely monitoring the volatile situation in Sri Lanka after the protestors burned the houses of Ministers. Moreover, the houses of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) 8 MPs have also been attacked, reported local media.

India underlines ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy as Sri Lanka protests escalate

A day after Sri Lanka witnessed its bloodiest day in the ongoing anti-government protests, triggered by the island nation’s worst economic crisis since independence, India said on Tue it is ‘fully supportive’ of its neighbor’s ‘democracy, stability, and economic recovery.’ In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said that this year alone, India has provided more than USD 3.5 billion to the island nation to help it overcome its current difficulties. “India will always be guided by the best interests of the people of Sri Lanka expressed through democratic processes,” the statement further said. India has extended financial support worth over US$ 3.5 billion to the people of Sri Lanka for helping them overcome their current difficulties, Arindam Bagchi, MEA, said in a statement. (here)

Chinese power producers warn of closure if not paid dues of over Rs 300 bn

Amid pending payments of Rs 300 billion, dozens of Chinese power producers in Pakistan said that they would be forced to shut down their power plants this month unless payments were made upfront. A plethora of complaints was brought up in a meeting on Mon presided by Planning Minister with more than 30 Chinese companies operating under the flagship multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. About 25 representatives from Chinese independent power producers spoke one after the other and complained about the buildup of their dues and warned that without upfront payments they would shut down within days, reported Dawn. The power producers said the authorities were pressuring them to maximize generation to meet peak summer needs, but “this is impossible for us given serious liquidity issues“. They pointed out that the prices had gone up by 3-4 times, which meant they should at least be given 3-4 times greater liquidity to make fuel arrangements. The producers noted that payments for already used power have not been made. They also slammed the ex-PM Khan for not fulfilling the promises made by him during his visit to China. (here)

Japan gears up to confront China as tension escalates in Taiwan Strait: Report

Japan appears to be gearing up for armed conflict in the East China Sea as China’s invasion of Taiwan is becoming increasingly likely in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, stated a media report. After signing a security pact last month with the Solomon Islands (around 2,000 km away from China’s eastern border, adjacent to Australia) has achieved a military base in the Pacific region, Singapore Post reported. The security pact caused the US and its allies to fear could be used to establish a military base in the Pacific island nation. Japan has started taking measures to build its strength as the Taiwan conflict flare-up will lead to its active involvement, the report said. China wooed the Solomon Islands and forced it to drop its recognition of Taiwan through assurance of investment and tourist visits. China may use similar tactics to bring other island nations in the region such as Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and Kiribati, and Taiwan allies the Marshall Islands, Nauru, and Tuvalu to its side. Notably, Japan is in alliance with these nations through different pacts, which means Japan must join them in case an armed conflict occurs with China, said the report. Two Chinese military aircraft entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone on Sun, marking the 6^th day of intrusions this month. (here)

Biden team sees tilt to China buoyed as Putin falters in Ukraine

US officials see the conflict’s toll and the slew of sanctions placed on Moscow as leaving Russia hobbled for years to come. Combined with bolstered European defense spending, that means the US may have a freer hand to accelerate its long-term shift toward China. The officials acknowledge that the war’s outcome is uncertain. Top officials and lawmakers from both parties warn that Beijing is closely watching the US and allied response to the invasion, drawing potential lessons for any tensions over Taiwan. The move toward Asia is seen as critical, with President Joe Biden and his top aides saying China is increasingly trying to use its economic and military clout to bend the “rules-based international order” to its will, citing the country’s moves to take greater control of Hong Kong, expand its presence in the South China Sea and a crackdown on dissent and human rights in the Xinjiang region. (here)

Baloch student picked up in connection with KU blast released

Security agencies have released a Baloch student who was taken into custody in connection with a suicide blast at the University of Karachi on Apr 26, Baloch Council chairperson Ahsan Baloch told Dawn.com on Tue. Bebgar Imdad, a 7^th-semester student at Numl in Islamabad and a native of Balochistan’s Kech area, was picked up by security agencies on Apr 27 from Punjab University, where he was visiting a relative in hostel no.7. Subsequently, Baloch Council activists had staged a sit-in outside the VC office at PU, demanding Imdad’s release. Other civil rights activists also joined the chorus calling for the student’s release. (here)

The US says it will increase pressure on the Taliban if they don’t reverse decisions on women, girls

The United States will take steps to increase pressure on Afghanistan’s Taliban govt to reverse some of its recent decisions restricting the rights of women and girls if the group shows no sign of rescinding the actions on its own. “We’ve addressed it directly with the Taliban,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said in a briefing on Mon. “We have several tools that, if we feel there won’t be reversed.” He did not elaborate on the possible steps or indicate how the group, which has already implemented policies curbing 20 years of gains for girls and women’s rights, might have a change of heart. (here)