India launches global diplomatic offensive against Pakistan; Sanjay Jha-led delegation departs today
New Delhi: India has launched a full-scale diplomatic campaign to expose Pakistan’s alleged role in international terrorism, with an all-party parliamentary delegation, led by JD(U) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha, set to depart for Japan tonight. This marks the beginning of a coordinated global outreach under India’s recent military and diplomatic response, following the terror attack in Pahalgam and the subsequent Operation Sindoor.
The delegation, comprising leaders from across the political spectrum—including BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi and Brij Lal, TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee and John Barla, and Congress leader Salman Khurshid—will visit five strategic nations in East and Southeast Asia: Japan (May 22), South Korea (May 24), Singapore (May 27), Indonesia (May 28), and Malaysia (May 31). Their mission is to present concrete evidence of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and articulate the rationale behind India’s recent military action.
India's diplomatic push will extend to all members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), including permanent members like the US, UK, France, and Russia, as well as nine non-permanent members completing their terms in 2024 or 2025. However, no delegations will be sent to Pakistan or China.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has briefed three of the seven delegations departing between Wednesday and Thursday. In addition to Jha’s team, another delegation led by Shrikant Shinde will visit the UAE, Congo, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. A third group, headed by DMK leader Kanimozhi, is scheduled to leave on Thursday for Russia, Slovenia, Greece, Latvia, and Spain.
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.
South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
