Bayya Sunny Yadav, a YouTuber from Suryapet, Telangana, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday, May 29, at Chennai airport for allegedly travelling to Pakistan without clearance, triggering concerns over potential breaches of national security.

Yadav had embarked on a solo motorcycle trip to Pakistan two months ago, which he extensively documented on his YouTube channel. His content, which featured footage near sensitive border areas, raised red flags for intelligence agencies, particularly at a time of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor.

The NIA is probing whether Yadav engaged in any suspicious activities or shared sensitive information during his stay in Pakistan. As part of the investigation, the agency has seized his digital devices for forensic analysis to determine the nature and intent of his travel.

Authorities are also examining Yadav’s prior involvement in a separate case, where he allegedly promoted illegal online betting applications on his social media platforms. Multiple FIRs have been filed against him in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. A case was registered on March 5, 2025, at the Nuthankal Police Station in Suryapet, following which a lookout circular was issued to track him during his stay abroad.

The arrest is part of a broader post-Operation Sindoor crackdown by Indian security agencies on individuals suspected of engaging in cross-border espionage or activities that compromise national security. Further investigation is underway to assess any deeper connections or violations stemming from Yadav’s Pakistan visit.

Marking a landmark achievement in India’s indigenous defence manufacturing journey, VEM Technologies handed over the first centre fuselage assembly for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas Mk1A to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The handover ceremony, held at VEM’s Hyderabad facility, was attended by top defence officials including Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar and HAL CMD Dr. D. K. Sunil.

This is the first time a major sub-assembly of the Tejas fighter jet has been manufactured by a private Indian defence company, reflecting the increasing role of the private sector in India’s defence ecosystem. The centre fuselage—crafted using a semi-monocoque structure with both metallic and carbon fibre composite materials—comprises 1,595 components, each of which underwent rigorous quality checks by HAL during production.

The LCA Tejas Mk1A is an advanced iteration of India’s indigenous fighter, featuring upgrades such as an AESA radar, superior avionics, and enhanced combat performance. The aircraft is pivotal to the Indian Air Force’s modernization strategy, and the integration of private firms like VEM Technologies is seen as a crucial step in reducing dependence on foreign suppliers, especially amid global supply chain uncertainties.

VEM Technologies employs over 900 professionals and is involved in research, design, and integration of advanced aerospace and defence systems. Besides the Tejas program, the company is actively contributing to India’s next-generation fighter initiative—the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA)—with prototypes expected by 2026–2027.

This milestone aligns with India’s long-term goal to significantly increase the indigenous content in its defence platforms. While the Tejas Mk1A currently has 62% indigenous components, the upcoming Tejas Mk2 aims to push this figure to 70%.

Nonetheless, challenges remain. The Tejas fleet continues to rely on the US-made General Electric F404 engine, with the indigenous Kaveri engine project, led by GTRE since 1986, still awaiting full operational success. Despite this, the government’s recent policy initiatives aim to achieve 80% indigenization in future aircraft programs.

The successful handover of the centre fuselage assembly signals a growing synergy between India’s public and private sectors in aerospace and defence, marking a step closer to the nation’s vision of strategic self-reliance.

China has refused to comment on the performance of its weapons used by Pakistan during the recent military confrontation with India, including the advanced PL-15E air-to-air missile, remnants of which were recovered by Indian forces. The missile was reportedly part of Pakistan’s attempted counterattacks during India’s Operation Sindoor conducted from May 7 to 10, following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that killed 26 civilians.

During a media briefing on Thursday, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Sr Col Zhang Xiaogang was asked about the effectiveness of the PL-15E missile, a Chinese export weapon frequently showcased at defence expos. He responded by saying, “The missile you mentioned is an export equipment and has been shown at defence exhibitions at home and abroad many times,” declining to offer any assessment of its performance during the conflict.

Col Zhang instead reiterated China’s call for calm and restraint, saying, “India and Pakistan are neighbours that cannot be moved away. We hope both sides remain calm and restrained and avoid actions that could escalate tensions.” He added that China supports regional peace and stands ready to play a constructive role in securing a lasting ceasefire between the two countries.

The question on the missile’s performance emerged after Indian forces recovered parts of the Chinese-made PL-15E missile that failed to detonate during Pakistan’s retaliatory strikes. The incident has cast doubts on the effectiveness of Chinese weaponry and highlighted concerns about the reliability of the military hardware being supplied to Pakistan.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), China accounted for 81% of Pakistan’s total arms imports between 2020 and 2024. These supplies have included fighter jets, submarines, naval vessels, and a wide array of missile systems. China and Pakistan also co-develop the JF-17 fighter jet, a cornerstone of Pakistan’s air force.

While the Chinese government has remained diplomatically cautious, state-run media in China have given notable attention to the India-Pakistan conflict, underscoring Beijing’s deep military engagement with Islamabad. However, the recent developments may raise further questions about the battlefield credibility of Chinese defence exports.

As per The Tribune:

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted interim bail to Ishan Shanker Roy — an accused in an accident case that claimed the life of a Chandigarh policeman — to enable him to appear for the Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) exams.

Roy had filed the petition for regular bail in the case registered on May 12 at Sector 3 police station. In his application placed before Justice Manisha Batra’s Bench, Roy was seeking interim bail from May 30 to June 14, 2025, to attend the AFSB exams scheduled from June 2, 2025, in Mysuru, Karnataka. Senior advocate R.S. Rai with counsel Gautam Dutt and Parvez Chaudhary, submitted that Roy had cleared the Air Force Common Admission Test and had received the call-up letter.

The counsel further argued that Roy had previously been granted interim bail to appear in the UPSC preliminary examination and had duly surrendered on May 27 after the exam. Roy, aged 24, had undertaken that if he failed to clear any of the AFSB tests on a particular day, he would surrender before the jail the very next day.

Granting the prayer, the Court observed: “Taking into consideration the fact that the career chances of the applicant are not marred and in the interest of justice, the present application is allowed.” Justice Batra directed that Roy be released on interim bail from May 31 till June 8 upon furnishing personal and surety bonds to the satisfaction of the trial court or duty magistrate concerned.

The order was subject to a specific undertaking from either of Roy’s parents, ensuring that he would surrender on the very next day if he failed to clear any test.