Homes of two LeT terrorists involved in Pahalgam attack destroyed in blasts
New Delhi: The homes of two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists allegedly involved in the recent Pahalgam terror attack were reduced to rubble in explosions carried out in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday night.
According to reports, the houses belonged to Adil Hussain Thoker and Asif Sheikh, suspected to be key conspirators behind the attack that claimed the lives of 26 tourists—25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen—on Tuesday in the popular tourist destination of Baisaran, Pahalgam.
Sources cited by NDTV indicated that explosives had been stored in the houses, leading to the destruction. Thoker, a resident of Anantnag district, is believed to have played a central role in executing the massacre, while Sheikh, hailing from Pulwama, is suspected of being involved in the broader conspiracy.
Following the incident, Anantnag Police released sketches of Thoker and announced a reward of Rs 20 lakh for credible information leading to the arrest of two other suspects believed to be Pakistani nationals.
The police notices, shared on social media platform X, identified the absconding suspects as Hashim Musa alias Suleman and Ali Bhai alias Talha Bhai, both said to be affiliated with the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba.
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.
IMF approves USD 206 million emergency funding for cyclone-hit Sri Lanka's recovery
Colombo (PTI): The IMF has approved an emergency funding of USD 206 million under its rapid finance instrument to help Sri Lanka “address the urgent needs arising from the catastrophic Cyclone Ditwah and preserve macroeconomic stability”.
The cyclone caused widespread destruction in the island nation and left over 643 people dead.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the disaster has created urgent humanitarian and reconstruction needs, generating significant fiscal pressures and balance-of-payments needs.
ALSO READ: PM arrives in Kolkata to unveil projects, address rally in Bengal''s Nadia
The emergency financial support provided by the IMF under the rapid finance instrument will help address these pressures, it said.
The IMF added that the cyclone devastation hit when the Fifth Review of Sri Lanka’s USD 2.9 billion bailout was nearing completion.
“Given the time needed to assess the economic impact of the cyclone and examine how an IMF-supported programme can best support Sri Lanka’s recovery and reconstruction efforts while preserving objectives and policy priorities, the Fifth Review has been deferred," it said.
"An IMF mission team will visit Sri Lanka in early 2026 to resume discussions,” it added.
The 48-month extended fund facility deal with the IMF in March 2023 carried hard reforms to Sri Lanka's welfare-based governance.
It was signed after Sri Lanka plunged into an unprecedented economic meltdown with its first-ever sovereign default.
Several hours before the IMF decision, the parliament here approved without a vote a supplementary estimate of LKR 500 billion, which the government said was required to restore the livelihoods of those affected by the disaster.
