BSF SI Mohammed Imtiaz among four killed in heavy shelling by Pakistan
Jammu/Jhunjhunu: Intensified shelling and drone attacks by Pakistani forces across the Jammu region in the past 24 hours have claimed the lives of four Indian security personnel—two Army men, an Indian Air Force (IAF) sergeant, and a Border Security Force (BSF) sub-inspector.
BSF Sub-Inspector Mohammed Imtiaz was killed when his unit, deployed along the international border in the RS Pura sector, came under heavy Pakistani firing. Seven other BSF personnel sustained injuries in the same attack and are currently reported to be stable and under medical treatment.
Subedar Major Pawan Kumar, a Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) from Himachal Pradesh, lost his life after an artillery shell exploded near his post in the Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch on Saturday morning.
Rifleman Sunil Kumar, 25, of the Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry, died of injuries sustained during overnight gunfire and shelling in the RS Pura sector.
In another fatal incident, IAF Sergeant Surendra Kumar Moga, a 36-year-old medical assistant with the IAF’s 36 Wing, was killed in a Pakistani strike while stationed in Udhampur. Originally posted in Bengaluru, he had been redeployed to Jammu & Kashmir just four days ago amid increasing hostilities. Moga’s family in Mehradasi village of Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district has been informed. He is survived by his 65-year-old mother Nanu Devi, wife Seema, and two children. A state funeral is being prepared in his native village.
These attacks come amid a surge in cross-border hostilities, with India initiating retaliatory measures under “Operation Sindoor.” Multiple drone intrusions from Pakistan were also reported across Jammu and Kashmir, accompanied by explosions, despite a recent bilateral ceasefire understanding.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Prime organiser of Messi event in Kolkata arrested over ‘mismanagement’ after stadium chaos
Kolkata (PTI): The police on Saturday arrested Satadru Datta, the prime organiser of the Lionel Messi football event at Salt Lake Stadium here, following widespread chaos at the venue, which prompted the Argentine World Cup-winning captain to leave the field early.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the stadium unrest, Datta was held by the Bidhannagar Police for “mismanagement” of the event from the Kolkata airport, where he had gone to see off Messi and his entourage on their way to Hyderabad.
"We are looking into whether there was any mismanagement from the organiser's side, which led to the chaos at the stadium. He has been detained, and the police have now brought the situation under control," West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar said at a press conference.
A senior police officer later confirmed that Dutta has been arrested. Till reports last received, the police were interrogating him and his manager inside one of the departure lounges of the airport.
The organiser has given in writing that he will refund the prices of tickets he sold to the disappointed spectators, Kumar said.
What was supposed to be a marquee football spectacle turned into widespread violence and disorder at the stadium after Messi’s brief and tightly ring-fenced appearance, his first at the venue since 2011, left large sections of the crowd frustrated, as they failed to catch a glimpse of their superstar despite having travelled from far and wide, paying hefty sums for tickets.
Police said they were also investigating how organisers allowed sale of bottled waters and beverages inside the stadium premises, which are banned items during such events.
Thousands of water bottles were used as missiles and lobbed inside the pitch by angry spectators, who also uprooted bucket seats from the gallery and used them as ammunition inside the field against the defending police and security personnel.
Spectators alleged that water bottles were being sold at a massive premium inside the stadium despite police disallowing such items from outside at the entry gates.
Police agreed there was an underlying tension in the galleries on account of Messi not showing his footballing skills on the field, which only got aggravated after a bunch of VIPs, including State Sports Minister Aroop Biswas and unidentified people, blocked the football icon’s view during the limited time he spent on the ground.
“We are on the job, and will ensure that whoever is responsible for what happened today at Salt Lake Stadium will be punished, and action will be taken against the authorities concerned,” said Jawed Shamim, ADG, Law and Order.
