26 terrorists arrested in Pak’s Punjab
Lahore, Feb 14: At least 26 terrorists, including from the banned TTP and Al-Qaeda, who had planned to target important buildings in different cities were arrested from across the Punjab province of Pakistan, law enforcement claimed on Saturday. Weapons, explosives and other prohibited materials were also recovered from the possession of the 26, including five “dangerous terrorists of Al-Qaeda and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan” from different parts of the province during the last one month, Punjab police said. The Counter Terrorism Department of Punjab police conducted 286 intelligence-based operations in different districts of the province, questioned 286 suspects and arrested 26 terrorists along with weapons, explosives and other prohibited materials, it said. Explosives, 19 detonators, 34 feet safety fuse wire, three EID bombs and literature of the banned organisations were recovered from the possession of the terrorists. The CTD said the terrorists had planned to target important buildings in different cities. The terrorists were nabbed from Lahore, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Khushab, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Faisalabad, Jhang, Chakwal, Rajanpur, Narowal and Pakpattan. (PTI)
Indian pleads guilty in US assassination plot
Washington, Feb 14: Indian national Nikhil Gupta has pleaded guilty in a US federal court to participating in a plot to assassinate a U.S.-based Sikh separatist leader in New York City, in a case that has drawn significant diplomatic attention between India and the United States, the Department of Justice said. Gupta, also known as “Nick,” admitted guilt to three charges: murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in the Southern District of New York. He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero on May 29, 2026. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Gupta acted “at the direction and coordination of an Indian government employee” to arrange the killing of a New York-based attorney and political activist who advocates for the creation of Khalistan, a proposed Sikh sovereign state carved out of Punjab. The indictment alleges that the co-defendant, Vikash Yadav, was employed by India’s Cabinet Secretariat, which houses the country’s external intelligence agency RAW. (IANS)
Indian student missing in Berkeley
Washington, Feb 14: The Consulate General of India in San Francisco has expressed deep concern over the disappearance of a 22-year-old Indian student at the University of California in Berkeley, as local authorities continue search operations in the East Bay area. “Consulate General of India in San Francisco is deeply concerned about the disappearance of Saketh Sreenivasaiah, an Indian post-graduate student of University of California, Berkeley, hailing from Karnataka,” the Consulate said on Friday in a post on social media platform X. “The Consulate is in touch with the family and also is in contact with the local authorities to locate the student,” it added. (IANS)
