The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) assisted by the Indian Navy and the Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) seized 3,300 kg of drugs from a boat which was manned by suspected Pakistani crew members off the coast of Gujarat. This is the biggest seizure of narcotics in the Indian subcontinent. Union Home minister Amit Shah hailed the efforts of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Navy and Gujarat Police and congratulated them for pursuing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of drug free India.

The international market value of these drugs is more than Rs 2000 crore. Produce of Pakistan is written on the packets of seized drugs which include 25 kg of morphine, 158 kg methamphetamine and 3,089 kg of cannabis. Based on the inputs received from a surveillance aircraft, an Indian Navy mission-deployed ship which had been at sea for 2 days stopped the suspicious boat as it entered Indian territorial waters.

On further investigation it was discovered that the boat was carrying large amounts of drugs after which the 5 crew members were arrested and the narcotics and the vessels were seized. The seized drugs and boat with the arrested crew members have been sent to Porbandar, Gujarat.

Further probe is taking place to find out more information on the suspected Pakistani crew members and find out the origin and destination of the narcotics. NCB deputy general (operations), Gyaneshwar Singh said the 5 arrested crew members do not have any identity papers with them. He said they are either from Iran or Pakistan. Singh added this is the highest ever seizure offshore in the country.

In February 2022, 221 kg of methamphetamine was seized from a vessel near the Gujarat coast, which was followed by the confiscation of 200 kg of high grade heroin off the Kerala coast in October of the same year.  

Tensions heightened in Manipur on Tuesday as an additional superintendant of police was abducted by cadres of Arambai Tenggol, Meitei organization, in Imphal distrct. The Manipur police said that Imphal East additional superintendent of police Amit Singh was later rescued after a swift action by police officers and security forces.

Amit Singh is posted in the operations wing of Manipur Police and has been admitted to a hospital, where his condition is said to be stable. On Tuesday evening, armed cadres allegedly belonging to the Arambai Tenggol ransacked the house and damaged at least 4 vehicles with gunfire.

The Manipur Police posted on X about the firing incident at the residence of Additional SP, IW, Moirangthem Amit, MPS on Tuesday. 200 gunmen came in vehicles and stormed the residence of the Additional Superintendant of Police, Shri Moirangthem Amit Singh, MPS, s/o Dr.M.Kulla Singh of Wangkhei Tokpam Leikai, under Porompat PS of Imphal East district. The armed men vandalized the household property.

On getting information, additional security forces rushed to the spot. In the resulting police action, two individuals namely Rabinash Moirangthem, 24 yrs s/o M. Ranjan of  Kwakeithel Akham Leikai and Kangujam Bhimsen, 20 yrs c/o K Abosana K Khongman Bashikhong sustained injuries and were admitted to JNIMS Hospital, Porompat.

In the midst of the incident, the Additional SP and one of his escorts were abducted by the armed gunmen. They were later rescued from Kwakeithel Kongjeng Leikaib area and admitted to Raj Medicity for medical treatment. A case has been registered in this regard and investigation has started.

The police officials said the reason for this indiscriminate firing was that the officer concerned had arrested 6 members of the group for their alleged involvement in vehicle theft. After the arrest a group of Meira Paibis had protested and blocked roads demanding their release.

The ruling Congress in Karnataka won three seats and the BJP one in the Rajya Sabha elections in Karnataka on Tuesday. The candidates who were selected to Rajya Sabha are Syed Naseer Hussain, GC Chandrasekhar and Ajay Maken who belong to the Congress, and Narayansa K Bhandage of the BJP.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister CM DK Shivakumar said this shows the unity and integrity of Congress. He thanked all the MLAs, party workers and the media. He said he is very happy that all the candidates from Congress won. He thanked all the voters, chief minister and the party workers and the AICC president also. He said he would like to thank Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.

Congress candidates Naseer Hussain and former union minster Ajay Maken won with 47 votes, while GC Chandrasekhar secured 45 votes. The BJP won 1 Rajya Sabha seat from Karnataka with candidate Narayansa Bhandage securing 47 votes.

Each Rajya Sabha candidate needed at least 45 votes in the 224-MLA Karnataka Assembly to win a Rajya Sabha seat from the state. With 135 MLAs, the Congress had the exact number to elect its three candidates. The BJP has 66 MLAs, which secured a comfortable win for party worker Narayansa Bhandage.

The Rajya Sabha seats fell vacant following the retirement of 4 members – Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar (BJP) and Congress’s GC Chandrashekhar, Syed Naseer Hussain and L Hanumanthaiah

5 candidates contested for the 4 Rajya Sabha seats in the elections, including JD(S) contestant D Kupendra Reddy. The elections were marred by cross-voting. One of the BJP MLAs, ST Somasekhar voted for the Congress’s Maken, the other, A Shivaram Hebbar, abstained. Leader of Opposition R Ashoka said they would seek action against Somahekhar, and termed the MLA’s decision political suicide. Soon after voting, Somashekhar told the media that he voted as per his conscience.