&w=3840&q=100)
Pahalgam attack: 7 terrorists, including 5 from Pakistan, may have been involved, report says
Security personnel inspect the aftermath of the attack in Pahalgam, about 90 kilometres from Srinagar. Source: AFP
Some six to seven terrorists may have been reportedly involved in the tragic terrorist attack on tourists at the Baisaran valley meadow in Pahalgam Tuesday (April 22), including four to five from Pakistan. According to an Indian Express report; which cited sources, eyewitness accounts and intelligence reports; at least two of them were local militants.
Earlier reports suggested that the two local terrorists have been identified as Aadil Thakur of Bijbehara and Aasif Sheikh of Tral.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
'The Urdu that they (the foreign terrorists) spoke is spoken in certain parts of Pakistan… At least two local militants are suspected to be accompanying them but we don't yet know which part of Kashmir they came from,' a security officer was quoted as saying by the paper.
Officials have shared sketches of three terrorists and offered a reward of ₹20 lakh ($23,500) for information about each one. It's believed the attackers have escaped to the higher areas of the Pir Panjal mountains. The Army, central forces, and Jammu & Kashmir police are now searching the area.
The gunmen reportedly filmed the entire ordeal through their body cameras, something that the officer described as 'a normal practice these days'.
'All attacks in Jammu in the past three years have been shot through body or gun-mounted cameras. These videos are used for propaganda purposes. The LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba) has already come out with propaganda material using the footage,' the officer said.
It was still not known how the foreign terrorists involved in the attack managed to enter the Indian territory and how long they had been there.
'It is still being ascertained. There are some indications based on existing vulnerabilities on the border and some inputs that have been received but nothing is confirmed. Agencies are verifying the details and the border is being checked for signs of infiltration,' an officer said.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
According to media reports, Indian intelligence agencies had already warned the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of a potential Pakistan-backed terror activity in the region.
(With inputs from agencies)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
8 minutes ago
- Hans India
Yash Dayal Faces Rape Allegations: FIRs Filed in Jaipur and Ghaziabad
Indian cricketer Yash Dayal, who plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL, is facing serious legal trouble. A new FIR (police report) has been filed against him in Jaipur, where a young woman has accused him of rape and emotional blackmail over two years. She was 17 years old when the first incident reportedly happened. The case is being handled under the POCSO Act, which protects minors. According to reports, Yash Dayal promised her help in cricket and allegedly assaulted her in a hotel in Sitapura. This is the second case against Dayal. Earlier in Ghaziabad, another woman accused him of sexually exploiting her by falsely promising marriage. The Allahabad High Court has given a temporary stay on his arrest in that case. So far, RCB and BCCI have not commented on the matter.
Indian Express
8 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Govt bans over 20 OTT platforms including Ullu, ALTT, Desiflix for ‘obscene content'
In a bid to crack down on unlawful and obscene content, the government has directed Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to disable public access to over 20 OTT platforms, including big and popular names like Ullu, ALTT, and Desiflix. A notification issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) emphasised that the intermediaries are responsible for removing or disabling access to unlawful information under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. It said the move is aimed at curbing the dissemination of content that is deemed sexually explicit and violative of Indian legal and cultural standards. The banned apps include Big Shots App, Boomex, Navarasa Lite, Gulab App, Kangan App, Bull App, Jalva App, Wow Entertainment, Look Entertainment, Hitprime, Feneo, ShowX, Sol Talkies, Adda TV, HotX VIP, Hulchul App, MoodX, NeonX VIP, Fugi, Mojflix, Triflicks. These have been found in violation of various laws, including Section 67 and Section 67A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 4 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. The government has explicitly directed Internet Service Providers to disable or remove public access to these websites within India. 'MIB has also intimated to the Director (DS-II), Department of Telecommunications, with a request to facilitate compliance by the ISPs,' as per media reports, and the action shows the government's commitment to enforcing digital content regulations and ensuring adherence to the laws in the country. In April, the Supreme Court responded to a petition calling for a ban on sexually explicit content on OTT and social media. 'It's not our domain, you do something,' the SC said. However, the Justices also highlighted the need for executive action, with the Solicitor General indicating existing regulations and further measures under consideration.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Shell companies, Hawala network: How UP man used overseas links to run fake embassy
During the investigation, the UP Special Task Force (STF) discovered that the so-called 'Baron of Westarctica', Harshavardhan Jain, had established multiple shell companies overseas and opened foreign bank accounts to create the illusion of international legitimacy. He also had close connections with arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, and Ahsan Ali Sayed, an Indian-origin Turkish businessman with a history of fraud read more Harshvardhan Jain's entire operation, officials say, ran on a 'modus operandi of fraud, hawala and brokerage' disguised as diplomatic dealings. Image courtesy: X Harshvardhan Jain, 47, who called himself the 'Baron of Westarctica', was arrested earlier this week after the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) uncovered a fake embassy operating out of his two-storey house in Ghaziabad's Kavi Nagar. For years, Jain managed to pass off as a high-ranking diplomat, driving around in luxury cars with fake diplomatic plates, flashing forged passports from made-up nations, and posing in doctored photos with top leaders. But according to officials, it was all a cover for a much bigger financial racket. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The STF believes Jain built a shady network that reached far beyond Ghaziabad. He had set up multiple shell companies overseas, opened foreign bank accounts in his own name, and created an illusion of international legitimacy. His entire operation, officials say, ran on a 'modus operandi of fraud, hawala and brokerage' disguised as diplomatic dealings. As investigators dig deeper, more details are emerging about the elaborate scam Jain pulled off for nearly a decade. Here's what the STF has found so far. Jain's murky global connections Harshvardhan Jain had connections that spanned abroad. According to the Uttar Pradesh STF, Jain frequently travelled to the UK and Dubai, where he built relationships with several controversial figures. During his time in London, Jain told investigators he had worked closely with controversial godman Chandraswami and arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi, both known for their murky pasts. During his time in London, Jain told investigators he had worked closely with controversial godman Chandraswami. File image/ PTI SP (Noida STF) Raj Kumar Mishra told The Times of India that Jain also became close to Ahsan Ali Sayed, an Indian-origin Turkish businessman with a history of fraud. Sayed's company, the Western Advisory Group, operated out of Switzerland and Bahrain, offering loan services to Swiss firms. Between 2008 and 2011, it collected over 25 million pounds in brokerage fees, money Sayed later absconded with. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He was arrested in November 2022 by the London Police on Switzerland's request and extradited in July 2023. A court in Zurich sentenced him to six-and-a-half years in prison for fraud and fleeing after taking money from 16 companies under the pretext of securing loans. Multiple shell companies, shady bank accounts As per the STF, Jain and Sayed registered multiple shell companies abroad, reportedly used to facilitate Hawala transactions and large-scale financial fraud. 'Together, Jain and Syed had registered several companies abroad, including State Trading Corporation Ltd and East India Company UK Ltd in the UK, Island General Trading Co LLC in the UAE, Indira Overseas Ltd in Mauritius and Cameron Ispat Sarl in Cameroon, Africa,' an officer told The Times of India. Jain is also said to have operated 11 bank accounts in four countries—six in Dubai, three in the UK, and one each in Mauritius and India. Two PAN cards recovered from his Ghaziabad residence are currently being examined, along with the accounts linked to them. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Adding to the suspicion, STF officials revealed that three of the four cars with diplomatic plates found at Jain's home were more than 15 years old and likely used in hawala transactions. A blue corner notice is expected to be issued soon as authorities work to trace the full extent of Jain's financial dealings abroad, TOI reported. How Jain ran a fake embassy as 'Baron of Westarctica' From the outside, it looked like a diplomatic mission. But inside the grand bungalow in Ghaziabad's Kavi Nagar, Harshvardhan Jain had built a facade, complete with flags, forged seals, and fake titles. According to the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), Jain posed as the ambassador of multiple self-declared micronations, including Westarctica, Seborga, Poulvia, and Ladonia. These so-called nations exist largely online, with no international recognition, but Jain used their names to build an air of legitimacy around his operations. To appear credible, he even edited photos of himself with top leaders. Image: News18 The 47-year-old, who holds an MBA from London, had earlier lived in Dubai, where he allegedly began duping businessmen by offering fake overseas job placements. After returning to India in 2011, he shifted operations to a lavish rented bungalow and scaled up the con. The Special Task Force had been observing Jain for weeks after a tip-off. When officers raided the Ghaziabad property on July 22, they found: STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 4 luxury cars, including a Range Rover, Toyota Fortuner, and a Skoda, all with fake diplomatic plates. 18 spare number plates, many marked with 'DC' or 'CD,' symbols usually reserved for official diplomats. 12 forged diplomatic passports from Westarctica and other imaginary countries. Rs 44.70 lakh in cash, along with several foreign currencies. 34 fake seals, two press cards, two PAN cards, and a collection of forged documents, including letters from the Ministry of External Affairs, invitations, and nameplates. Police say he used this persona to win trust and extract money from individuals and companies, promising international deals, jobs abroad, and high-level connections. Jain has been charged with forgery, impersonation, cheating, and criminal conspiracy under several sections of the IPC. The STF is now seeking his custody to dig deeper into the scope of the racket. With input from agencies
