Operation Samudra Setu: INS Magar with 202 citizens to reach Kochi today

New Delhi: Indian Navy Ship Magar, carrying 202 Indian nationals under Operation Samudra Setu, is expected to reach Kochi in Kerala by today evening. The Navy ship departed from Male port on Sunday in the second part of repatriation mission by the India Navy.

INS Magar departed Male this evening for Kochi on
 completion of embarkation. (Photo:INS)

Out of the total 202 personnel who are travelling onboard the ship, include 24 women, two expectant mothers and two children. One of the men, who hails from Tamil Nadu, has a fractured leg, the Navy said in release.

In line with the procedure followed on May 8, the evacuees were screened medically, their baggage disinfected and were allotted IDs as per various zones earmarked on board the ship.

Magar, the second naval ship of the Indian Navy's Op Samudra Setu arrived at Male Port earlier on Sunday.

INS Magar, an LST(L) designed for landing operations, had made all necessary logistic, medical and administrative preparations at her base port Kochi to confortably accommodate civilians before setting sail towards Marldives.

The first ship, INS Jalashwa reached Kochi on May 10 with 698 Indian Citizens.
By: ANI.

Chinese choppers spotted near Ladakh LAC prompt alert, IAF fighters rushed in

New Delhi: After the scuffle between the Chinese People's Liberation Army troops and Indian troops along the LAC in North Sikkim which let to injuries on both sides, China appears to be continuing on the path of belligerance towards India, this time along the line of Actual Control in Ladakh.

Photo:ANI

In what appears to be a multi-front deliberate ploy by China to keep india on its toes the Indian Air Force was forced to rush its fighter jet patrols in Ladakh after Chinese military choppers were found to be flying close the Line of Actual Control. This incident happened last week, around the same time the PLA troops and Indian army forces came to blows in the upper reaches of North Sikkim.

"The Chinese military helicopters were flying very close to the Line of Actual Control. After their movement was picked up, the Indian Air Force fighter jets flew patrol in the area," governement sources told ANI here.

Government sources who requested anonymity due to knowledge of frontline operations, informed that the Chinese choppers did not cross the LAC into Indian territory in that particular area, they said.

The Indian Air Force frequently flies its Sukhoi 30MKI fighter aircaft fleet from Leh air base in Ladakh along with  other planes.

This latest development comes soon after the Indian security establishment noticed that Pakistani Air Force increased its patrol of F-16S and JF-17s along its Eastern Border with India, especially night sorties, after the Handwara terror attack that led to the death of 5 Indian security personnel. A fear of retaliation by Indian forces was cited as the reason by Indian security personnel. A fear of retaliation by Indian forces was cited as the reason by Indian security establishment sources for this ramping up of PAF air patrols.

The Indian Air Force has two main bases in the Ladakh union territory including the Leh and the Thoise airbase where fighter jets are not deploy permanently but detachments from combat aircraft sqadrons are operational throughout the year.
By: ANI.

PoK Prime Minister Raja Farooq asks PM Imran Khan to attack India with forces

New Delhi: The Prime Minister of Pakistan occupied Kashmir, Raja Farooq Haider, who is known for his controversial statements of Kashmir, has asked Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan to attack India with forces.

PoK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider

He reacted while speaking to media after visiting villages near the Line of Control (LoC) amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Pakistani forces have made bunkers inside these villages near the LoC and engage in constant ceasefire violations with Indian forces.
Raja Farooq said, "PM Imran Khan must react now and take some strong steps. Only verbal statements will not work. You must move forward and order your forces to attack India."

He added, "It is your duty to protect your brothers and sisters. India is giving weather reports on PoK, we should start updating on Delhi".

A few months ago, Raja Farooq also said that the armed struggle (terrorist activities) in Jammu and Kashmir must continue. While speaking at an inaugural ceremony of the "Kashmir Centre" at National Press Club in Mirpur, he said with the current strategy of the Pakistan government, Kashmir won't get independence even in the next 700 years. Since May 5, the Indian Meteorogical Department's regional weather centre has started including areas in PoK and Gilgit Baltistan in its weather forecasts, a departure from its earliest forecast.

The development assumes significance as New Delhi has always maintained the position that all of Pakistan occupied Kashmir, including Gilgit Baltistan, which is an integral and inseparable part of India.
By: ANI.