Nearly 1.5 million foreign pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia so far for annual Hajj pilgrimage
Mecca (AP): Saudi officials say close to 1.5 million foreign pilgrims have arrived in the country so far for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, the vast majority by air.
This year's pilgrimage will be the first without the restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic, starting in 2020. More pilgrims are expected to arrive before the start of the Hajj on Monday.
The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and all Muslims are required to undertake it at least once in their lives if they are physically and financially able. It is one of the world's largest religious gatherings.
The Saudi media ministry Thursday that more than 1.49 million foreign pilgrims had arrived through its international ports up to Wednesday, with 1.43 million travelling by air.
Saudi officials have said they expect the number of pilgrims in 2023 to reach pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, more than 2.4 million Muslims made the pilgrimage.
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Haryana man Devendra arrested for spying, allegedly shared sensitive information with Pakistan
Chandigarh: A resident of a village in Haryana’s Kaithal was arrested for allegedly passing on sensitive information to the Pakistan army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) during the recent Indo-Pakistan conflict.
The accused is identified as Devendra, a resident of Mastgarh Cheeka village in Kaithal.
During questioning, it was revealed that he went to Pakistan in November last year through the Kartarpur corridor and was sharing sensitive information with officers of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence agency, as reported by NDTV on Saturday.
"Intelligence information was received by the district police of Kaithal. On that basis our special detective staff arrested Devendra, son of Narwal Singh, resident of village Mastgarh Cheeka," news agency quoted DSP Kaithal Veerbhan as saying.
He added that the individual regularly shared details about the ongoing India-Pakistan dispute, as well as information related to Operation Sindoor, with the Pakistani Army and intelligence agency ISI.
The police are now conducting a detailed investigation of the electronic devices seized from him at the cyber police station.
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