National Security Agency

Agencies probe live cartridges, hawala links in Delhi's Red Fort blast case

Security agencies are probing three bullet cartridges, two of them live rounds, recovered from the debris near the Red Fort blast site, a source said on Sunday. The empty shell and two live bullets -- a calibre not permitted for civilian use -- were found close to the burnt Hyundai i20 car, which exploded on November 10 near the iconic Delhi monument, killing 13 people and wounding more than two dozen. According to the source, the 9mm rounds are generally issued to specialised units or individuals with explicit permission. "The staff deployed at the spot were also asked to check their issued ammunition, but none was found missing. The cartridges were there, but there was no weapon to fire them. We are trying to understand the entire matter that how the bullets reached the spot," said the source. The person said that security agencies are also preparing to re-create the entire route of the accused, Umar Nabi, from the time he left Faridabad, visited Nuh in Haryana, and had tea in De

Proxy wars, ISIS key threats, graft in security bodies must end: NIA chief

Proxy wars and the ISIS are major challenges for India, said National Investigation Agency (NIA) chief Sadanand Date on Saturday, underscoring that corruption within institutions responsible for national security must end to tackle new hurdles. He was in Pune to attend an event where he gave a lecture on India's internal security and its challenges. While Naxalism, Khalistani elements and separatism remain internal challenges, proxy wars and the terror group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) pose a major threat to the nation, said the director general of the country's premier anti-terror probe agency. First, some countries are trying to disrupt our progress through proxy wars, and the second is ISIS. If we want to withstand new challenges, we must strengthen democracy. If we want to respond effectively to challenges, corruption within institutions responsible for national security must also end, said the senior IPS officer. India faces many internal threats, including terroris

Amit Shah directs security agencies to boost anti-terrorism efforts in J-K

Union Home Minister Amit Shah Wednesday directed all security agencies to step up the fight against terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir with the goal of achieving 'zero infiltration'. Chairing two high-level review meetings in as many days here on the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, he also said the ecosystem of terror in the Union Territory has been weakened due to the sustained and coordinated efforts of the Narendra Modi government. The home minister directed all security agencies to step up the fight against terrorism with the goal of 'zero infiltration', according to an official statement. "Our goal should be to uproot the existence of terrorists," he said. Shah said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is committed to wiping out terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir. "Terror funding from the proceeds of the narcotics trade has to be curbed with alacrity and rigour," he said. The home minister reviewed the security situation of Jammu and ..

Mumbai Police to deploy 14k personnel for security on New Year's Eve

More than 14,000 police personnel will be deployed across Mumbai to prevent any untoward incidents on New Year's Eve, officials said on Friday. The police are expecting large gatherings at prominent and popular places, including the Gateway of India, Marine Drive, Girgaum Chowpatty, Juhu beach and Bandstand in suburban Bandra on December 31. People will also throng places like hotels, restaurants and other such commercial establishments to ring in the New Year. In view of this, police are gearing up to maintain law and order in the city, they said. Accordingly, 12,048 police constables, 2,184 officers, 53 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs), 29 Deputy Commissioners of Police (ACPs), and 8 Additional Commissioners of Police-rank officers will be part of the security arrangements, he said. Besides this, the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) platoons, Quick Response Team (QRT), Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), Riot Control Police platoon and Home Guards will also be ...

50 killed, 20 injured as militants attack vehicles in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Twelve security personnel and six terrorists were killed as a suicide bomber rammed an explosive laden vehicle into a joint check post in Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the army said on Wednesday. The terrorists attempted to attack a joint check post in general area MaliKhel in Bannu district late on Tuesday night but their attempt to enter the post was effectively thwarted by troops, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Army's media wing, said. The suicide blast led to collapse of portion of perimeter wall and damaged the adjoining infrastructure, resulting in the death of 12 brave sons of soil including 10 soldiers of the security forces and two soldiers of the Frontier Constabulary, the ISPR said. In the ensuing fire exchange, six of them were killed too, it added. The injured persons have been shifted to a local hospital. Sanitisation operation was being conducted and a curfew was imposed in the area. Security forces and law enforcement agencies s

Cyberspace integral part of country's security: NCSC Lt Gen M U Nair

Cyber space is an integral part of national security and it can have an impact on decision making, National Cyber Security Coordinator Lt Gen M U Nair said on Thursday. He was delivering the valedictory lecture at the grand finale of the 48-hour non-stop competition 'Pentathon 2024' at the Amity University's Noida campus. The competition is an initiative of the Ministry of Education. "Cyber space today is an integral part of national security which can not only impact decision making but also cause disruption of services," Nair said. "Data consumption is highest in India, and therefore, users need to be aware of challenges faced due to poor cyber hygiene," said the National Cyber Security Coordinator (NCSC), who functions under the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and coordinates with different agencies at the national level for cyber security matters. Nair asked the participants to find solutions to challenges in the cyber landscape and also identify cyber attacks by

NSA Ajit Doval, Netanyahu discuss war in Gaza, humanitarian assistance

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on Monday to discuss regional developments and the urgent need to address the issue of humanitarian assistance in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and updated him on recent developments in the fighting in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Prime Minister posted on X from his official handle. The sides also discussed the effort to release the hostages and the issue of humanitarian assistance, he said. Doval also met his Israeli counterpart Tzakhi Hanegbi, who was also present during the meeting with Netanyahu. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been constantly in touch with the important leaders in the region, such as the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, and is actively involved in discussions to promote peace and stability in the region. India has supported efforts to provide necessary humanitarian assistance to the ...

Jail official held over gadgets seized from 'Waris Punjab De' inmates

The superintendent of Dibrugarh Central Jail in Assam was arrested on Friday over the seizure of electronic gadgets, including a smartphone, from the possession of inmates belonging to radical outfit 'Waris Punjab De', police said. The jail official was arrested early in the morning for "laxity" and is currently at Dibrugarh Sadar Police Station, an officer said. He said the arrest was made in connection with the seizure of electronic gadgets cells of the National Security Act (NSA) detenues in the jail last month. Among the gadgets seized from the possession of the inmates belonging to the pro-Khalistani outfit were a smartphone along with a SIM card, a keypad phone, a TV remote with keyboard, a spy-camera pen, pen-drives, a bluetooth headphone and speakers. "Reference NSA Detenues at Dibrugarh Jail, Assam-On receipt of information about unauthorised activities taking place in NSA cell, additional CCTV cameras were installed in the public area of NSA block," Director General of ..

Lloyd Austin urges Senate to pass National Security Bill 'immediately'

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin urged the Senate to pass the national security bill immediately to invest in America's national security, which will further bolster its deterrence in Indo-Pacific

Security forces seize huge cache of arms in Manipur's East Imphal district

Security forces seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition during search operations in Manipur's Imphal East district, a police statement said. The arms and ammunition were seized from Shantipur, Khamenlok and Wakan areas under Sagolmang police station jurisdiction in Imphal East district on Thursday, it said. The number of seized weapons included 36 arms including three numbers of Ak 47/56, four carbine machine guns, seven SLRs and 1,615 number of ammunition and explosives including 82 numbers of hand grenades, police said. Security forces also recovered 132 war-like stores including bulletproof jackets, walkie talkie sets. The recovered weapons include three AK-47/56 rifles and carbine machine guns, the statement said. The seized items have been handed over to Sagolmang police station for further legal procedures, it said. Police also said "During the last 24 hours, the situation in the state was under control". Chief Minister N Biren Singh at the 132nd Raising Day of Manipur P

National Security Agency starting artificial intelligence security centre

The National Security Agency is starting an artificial intelligence security centre a crucial mission as AI capabilities are increasingly acquired, developed and integrated into US defense and intelligence systems, the agency's outgoing director announced Thursday. Army Gen. Paul Nakasone said the centre would be incorporated into the NSA's Cybersecurity Collaboration Center, where it works with private industry and international partners to harden the U.S. defense-industrial base against threats from adversaries led by China and Russia. We maintain an advantage in AI in the United States today. That AI advantage should not be taken for granted, Nakasone said at the National Press Club, emphasizing the threat from Beijing in particular. Asked if the U.S. has detected either Russia or China using generative AI technologies such as deepfakes to try to influence the 2024 U.S. presidential elections, Nakasone said, We haven't seen that yet." He noted that a number of elections will tak

NSA Doval meets Russian Dy PM Manturov to discuss bilateral issues

Manturov is on a two-day visit to India to co-chair the Intergovernmental Russian-Indian Commission, which is aimed at enhancing trade ties between the two countries

NSA invoked against Amritpal Singh, HC calls out govt intelligence failure

The stringent National Security Act has been invoked against Amritpal Singh, the Punjab government on Tuesday told the high court which rapped it over the intelligence failure that led to pro-Khalistan preacher giving police the slip. The Punjab and Haryana High Court was hearing the habeas corpus petition filed by advocate Imaan Singh Khara, seeking the release of Amritpal Singh from alleged police custody. Justice N S Shekhawat asked Punjab Advocate General Vinod Ghai how Amritpal Singh gave police the slip when the whole operation was meticulously planned, and called it an intelligence failure, a lawyer said. Police on Saturday had launched a major crackdown against Amritpal Singh and members of his outfit 'Waris Punjab De.' The elusive preacher himself, however, gave the police a slip and escaped their dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted in Jalandhar district. In his petition, Khara sought the production of Amritpal Singh from alleged police custody. Khara is the legal .

Doval meets Blinken, exchanges views on wide range of global issues

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during which they exchanged views on a wide range of global and regional issues and discussed deepening the bilateral strategic partnership. Blinken, who has just arrived from a trip to the Middle East, including Israel and Egypt, met Doval on Wednesday. The United States is expanding cooperation with India to address global challenges, Blinken said in a tweet after the meeting. "I had a good meeting with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval today to discuss deepening our strategic partnership, Blinken tweeted. Both sides exchanged views on a wide range of global and regional issues of mutual interest and how to further strengthen the #India- US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, the Indian Embassy here said in a tweet. Doval is leading a high-powered delegation to the US. He also met his American counterpart Jake Sullivan on Tuesday. During their meeting, India and the United State

NSA Ajit Doval to hold crucial talks with top US leadership on iCET

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval will hold crucial talks with the top US leadership including his counterpart Jake Sullivan on the first high-level dialogue on Initiative for Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET). Officials, academicians and industry experts believe the talks could be the next big milestone in the India-US relationship after the India-US nuclear deal. Doval will arrive here on Monday for the talks. Officials on both sides remained tightlipped on the details of the ambitious iCET meeting, the deliverables of which are expected to be announced after the conclusion of the meetings of the two sides at the White House on January 31. Both sides expect that the dialogue would lay the foundation for developing a trusted partner ecosystem between the corporate sectors, so that the two countries with public-partner partnership, driven by a culture of startups, can successfully address the challenges posed by authoritarian regimes in the domain of technology and ...

Canada cybersecurity chief warns data-harvesting apps as national security

Canada's top cybersecurity chief has warned Canadians to exercise caution when using apps that could leave their data in the wrong hands

Indian security agencies established supremacy: Home Minister Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said Indian security agencies have succeeded in establishing their supremacy and no one can ignore the country any more in any field nor stop any one from moving forward. Addressing the inaugural session of a three-day conference of the DGPs and IGPs here, he said India is now definitely safe, strong and on a good footing under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The PMO in a release said Prime Minister Modi will attend the All India Conference of Director Generals and Inspector Generals of Police being held at the National Agricultural Science Complex. "Since 2014, the prime minister has taken a keen interest in the DGP conference. Unlike the symbolic presence of prime ministers earlier, he sits through all major sessions of the conference," it said. The prime minister not only listens patiently to all the inputs, but also encourages free and informal discussions so that new ideas can come up, the release of the Prime Minister's

US, Japan agree to boost security cooperation amid China worries: Report

The United States and Japan plan to boost military and security cooperation as their top national security officials hold talks on Wednesday. The U.S. and Japanese foreign and defense ministers are set to agree to adjust the American troop presence on the island of Okinawa. And, as they prepared to meet, Japan's defense ministry announced it was ready to start construction on an uninhabited island where the two militaries will hold joint military exercises. The two nations are revising their joint defense posture as they confront rising threats from North Korea and increasing aggressiveness from China. Wednesday's discussions will be followed by a meeting on Friday between President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at which they will underscore the importance of the relationship. Fishida, on a weeklong trip to visit allies in Europe and North America, signed a defense agreement with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday that strengthens military ties ..

China represents most consequential geopolitical challenge: US NSA Sullivan

China represents America's most consequential geopolitical challenge to US, said National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan as the Biden administration released a key policy document on national security

Edward Snowden: US whistleblower, now a permanent Russian citizen

Since 2013, Edward Snowden has been living in Russia to escape prosecution in the US after leaking secret files related to the US National Security Agency (NSA) and the CIA