Articles by News18,Yimkumla Longkumer

Technology

4 Gujarati Men Held In Iran While Attempting Illegal 'Donkey Route' To Australia Return Home

Four Indians from Gujarat, who were held captive in Tehran after attempting to reach Australia via the illegal “donkey route,” returned home on Tuesday. The group landed at Ahmedabad airport earlier in the day and have since reunited with their families, Gandhinagar Superintendent of Police (SP) Ravi Teja Vasamasetty confirmed. SP Vasamasetty noted that they tried to question the group but could not gather much information, as they remain in a state of shock and trauma. “We hope to get more details in a day or two,” he said. According to a report by Hindustan Times, the four individuals are Ajaykumar Chaudhary (31), Priyaben Chaudhary (25), Anilkumar Chaudhary (35), and Nikhilkumar Chaudhary (28), all residents of Bapupura village in Mansa taluka, Gandhinagar district. Officials said the group left Mansa for Delhi on October 19 and then travelled via Bangkok and Dubai on Emirates Airlines before arriving in Tehran. Upon reaching Imam Khomeini International Airport, they were allegedly taken captive. The case was first flagged by Mansa MLA Jayantibhai Somabhai Patel, who wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on October 26, detailing the group’s journey and listing their Tehran hotel as Hallay Hotel, Bimeh Alley, between Somayeh Street and Taleqani Street. The letter alleged they were held by a man known locally as “Baba”. This incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of the so-called “donkey route”, an illegal migration path from India to Western countries. On Sunday, 54 youths from Haryana were deported by the US for attempting to enter the country via the same route. These individuals, mostly aged between 25 and 40, were handed over to their families at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport. The Trump administration’s strict stance on illegal immigration has led to increased deportations in recent months. Officials said that US authorities are actively cracking down on people entering the country without valid visas, with hundreds of Indians sent back earlier this year. (With inputs from agencies)

Technology

'Will Be Met With Force': Pakistan Army Chief On Border Violations Amid Afghanistan Tensions

Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir on Tuesday issued a warning, saying any violation of the country’s borders will be met with a “firm and decisive response”. His remarks come amid rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan following recent clashes along their shared frontier. Speaking at the 17th National Workshop on Balochistan held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, Munir said Pakistan is committed to regional peace and stability. However, he stressed that any breach of the country’s territorial integrity, whether direct or indirect, will not be tolerated. “While Pakistan seeks regional peace and stability, any violation of its territorial integrity, direct or indirect, will be met with a firm and decisive response to safeguard the lives and well-being of its citizens,” Munir was quoted as saying in an official army statement. The Army Chief also addressed ongoing efforts to combat terrorism in Balochistan, a province he described as the pride of Pakistan, with resilient and patriotic people. He highlighted the development projects being implemented by federal and provincial governments to improve the socio-economic conditions of the region through a people-centred approach. Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, both sharing porous borders with Afghanistan, have suffered the majority of terrorist attacks in Pakistan, accounting for more than 96% of the violence nationwide. The Army Chief’s comments follow a recent flare-up in violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan. On October 9, explosions in Kabul sparked a series of cross-border clashes — the worst since the Taliban took control in 2021. The Taliban government blamed Pakistan for the blasts, while Pakistan accused Taliban forces of harbouring militant groups responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. After days of fighting that resulted in casualties on both sides, the two neighbours agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire on Wednesday, which was later extended on Sunday. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed the ceasefire and said further talks are scheduled for October 25 in Istanbul. Since the Taliban’s return to power, Pakistan has experienced a rise in militant activity, especially near the 2,600-kilometre border. Islamabad accuses armed groups such as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of operating from safe havens inside Afghanistan — allegations consistently denied by the Taliban authorities. (With inputs from agencies)