Operation Sindoor Continues: India Thwarts Pakistani Drones, Missiles
new DelHi: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday told leaders at all-party meeting that Operation Sindoor is “still ongoing”. News agency PTI sources said the defence minister informed the leaders that India will hit back if Pakistan attacks in the wake of India’s targeted strike.
India armed forces destroyed nine terror bases across Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) a day earlier in which “at least 100 terrorists were killed”.
On Day 2, India continued Operation Sindoor as Pakistan continued to violate ceasefire across Line of Control and resorted to heavy shelling.
Meanwhile, defence ministry said India successfully “negated Pakistan’s bid to escalate by giving proportionate response”.
On the night of 07-08 May 2025, Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets in Northern and Western India including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj, using drones and missiles
These were neutralised by the Integrated Counter UAS Grid and air defence systems. The debris of these attacks is now being recovered from a number of locations that prove the Pakistani attacks.
On Thursday morning, Indian armed forces targeted air defence radars and systems at a number of locations in Pakistan. Indian response has been in the same domain with same intensity as Pakistan. It has been reliably learnt that an air defence system at Lahore has been neutralised.
Pakistan has increased the intensity of its unprovoked firing across the Line of Control using Mortars and heavy calibre Artillery in areas in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri,
Poonch, Mendhar and Rajouri sectors in Jammu and Kashmir.
Sixteen innocent lives have been lost, including three women and five children, due to Pakistani firing. Here too, India was compelled to respond to bring mortar and artillery fire from Pakistan to a halt.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday made it clear that while India does not seek escalation with Pakistan, any military aggression will be met with a “very firm response.”
Speaking during a meeting with visiting Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, Jaishankar said that the “barbaric” terror attack in Pahalgam had forced India to act against cross-border terror infrastructure.
“This attack compelled us to respond on May 7 by striking at the cross-border terrorist infrastructure,” Jaishankar said. “Our response was targeted and measured.”
He underlined that India’s actions were not intended to escalate tensions. “However, if there are military attacks on us, there should be no doubt that it will be met with a very, very firm response,” the minister asserted.
Jaishankar also emphasised the importance of keeping close partners informed. “As a neighbour and a close partner, it is important that Iran has a good understanding of the situation,” he told Araghchi.
Saudi Arabia’s minister of state for foreign affairs, Adel Aljubeir, arrived in India on an unannounced visit and held discussions with Jaishankar.
In a post on social media, Jaishankar described the meeting as constructive.
“A good meeting with @AdelAljubeir, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia this
morning,” he wrote. “Shared India’s perspectives on firmly countering terrorism,” he added. Meanwhile, India continued to brief nations. Jaishankar held discussions with foreign ministers from Spain, France, Germany, Japan, and Qatar on Wednesday. He emphasised India’s approach to cross-border terrorism and expressed gratitude for their solidarity and support.
Due to reports of drone explosions, downed drones, and possible airspace incursions in and near Lahore, the US Consulate General in Lahore has directed all consulate personnel to shelter-in-place. The Consulate has also received initial reports that authorities may be evacuating some areas adjacent to Lahore’s main airport.
“US citizens who find themselves in an area of active conflict should leave if they can do so safely. If it is not safe to leave, they should shelter-in-place,” said the US Embassy & Consulates in Pakistan.
India has neutralised Pakistan’s air defence system at Lahore on in retaliation to the military and drone attacks carried out by the neighbouring nation in Northern and Western regions on Wednesday night.
It resorted to Integrated Counter UAS Grid and Air Defence systems along with the use of Israeli drones, called Harpy drones to counter Pakistani attacks in areas including Awantipura, Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bhatinda, Chandigarh, Nal, Phalodi, Uttarlai, and Bhuj.
Since the commencement of Operation Sindoor, India has deployed a variety of advanced, highprecision long-range strike weapons during, including the SCALP cruise missile, HAMMER precision-guided bombs, and loitering munitions, and now Integrated
Counter UAS Grid, Air Defence systems, Harpy drones and S-400 Sudarshan Chakra.
The Indian armed forces deployed Harpy drones, specifically engineered to target and destroy radar installations, to neutralize air defence systems in Lahore.
The Indian Air Force reportedly activated its S-400 Sudarshan Chakra air defence missile systems to engage aerial threats approaching Indian airspace.
The incoming targets were successfully intercepted and neutralised during the operation. An official confirmation from the government is still awaited, ANI reported citing sources.
The Harpy is a specialized loitering munition designed for the Sup-
pression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) role, with a primary focus on targeting radar systems. Armed with a high-explosive warhead and equipped with an Anti-Radiation (AR) seeker, it autonomously detects and engages enemy radaremitting assets without external guidance. Capable of operating in deep strike missions for up to nine hours, the Harpy functions effectively in all weather conditions, both day and night, and remains operational even in environments where Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are denied or heavily contested. -- Times of India, Indian Express
Before (right) and after photos of destruction caused by precision missile attacks of Operation Sindoor
TCC WINTER 2024 | WINNERS: POWERSTARS | RUNNERS-UP: RSCC SPORTS
Houston: Powerstars clinched their second consecutive TCC Taped Ball Championship in an absolute thriller, defeating a valiant RSCC team who put up a fantastic fight.
RSCC, opting to bowl first after winning the toss, faced a determined Powerstars batting lineup. Powerstars posted a strong total of 156 in their allotted 20 overs. Navin Negi once again led from the front with a composed 50, anchoring the innings with precision. Ronald Robinson unleashed a brutal counterattack, hammering a quick-fire 44, injecting muchneeded momentum into the innings. Their aggressive partnership left RSCC bowlers searching for answers.
Chaitanya Krishna was the standout bowler for RSCC, delivering an exceptional spell of 4
overs for just 21 runs and picking up 2 crucial wickets, while the other RSCC bowlers provided solid support to keep Powerstars from running away with a bigger total.
In reply, RSCC’s innings started shakily as Sunny Nadeem struck early, taking 2 wickets in the first three overs, putting immediate pressure on the batting side. However, Sravan Bondugula stabilized the innings with a brilliantly crafted 51, keeping RSCC in the hunt. Karthik Verma almost turned the game on its head with a blistering quick-fire 35, pushing the match down to the final over.
With 7 runs needed off the final over, the pressure was at its peak.
Dylan Joseph, displaying nerves of steel, defended the total masterfully, sealing an unforgettable win for Powerstars by a narrow mar-
gin. His calmness under fire turned out to be the game-changer.
The Powerstars’ bowling unit was outstanding throughout the tournament, and special kudos go to Rohit Bade, Vinit Patel, Saad Bantawalla, and Harish Tanaki, who bowled exceptionally well, applying relentless pressure on opposition batters and contributing crucially in key moments. Their disciplined spells played a huge role in the team’s championship run.
Navin Negi’s consistent brilliance with the bat, Ronald Robinson’s explosive knock, and Dylan Joseph’s ice-cool final over defense were key highlights, supported by disciplined bowling performances throughout the game. Dylan’s composure under immense pressure in the final over showcased his nerves of steel and
Rohit Sharma Retires from Test Cricket
MuMbai: Rohit Sharma has retired from Test cricket with immediate effect, meaning India will need to name a new full-time captain almost immediately after the end of IPL 2025, with India’s five-Test series in England scheduled to begin on June 20 at Headingley.
“Hello everyone I would just like to share that I am retiring from Test cricket. It’s been an absolute honour to represent my country in whites. Thank you for all the love and support over the years. I will continue to represent India in the ODI format,” Rohit, who had retired from T20Is after India won the T20 World Cup last year with him as captain, said in a post on social media on Wednesday evening.
Rohit retires with 4301 runs in 67 Test matches, averaging 40.57 despite the poor recent run. He scored 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries over the years, with a best of
212, against South Africa in Ranchi in October 2019. Rohit Sharma has retired from Test cricket with immediate effect, meaning India will need to name a new full-time captain almost immediately after the end of IPL 2025, with India’s five-Test series in England scheduled to begin on June 20 at Headingley.
Rohit’s decision comes after poor home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand late last year and then a horror tour of Australia across December 2024 and January 2025, where he crossed 50 just once and averaged 10.93 from eight Test matches. India won both the Tests against Bangladesh, but were swept 3-0 by New Zealand under Rohit’s captaincy, and then lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia 3-1.-- Cricinfo
proved vital in securing Powerstars’ thrilling victory.
Kalyan Chivukula, the proud owner, Karthik Vadlamudi, the captain, and Rohit Bade, the energetic vice-captain, were all instrumental in leading Powerstars to yet another championship, maintaining their perfect 5/5 record in TCC finals!
The victory was followed by a vibrant presentation ceremony, organized by Jagadish Biradar and Dinesh Kasliwal, the organizers. Captain Karthik Vadlamudi received the Winners’ Trophy for Powerstars, while the Runners-up Trophy was collected by RSCC’s captain Chaitanya Krishna. Navin Negi from Powerstars was the MOM for the final for a match winning half century and he was also the MVP of the tournament. Tournament award winners
were. Sai Kiran from RSCC got best batsman with 446 runs, Tanuj from Kastech Kings got best bowler with 15 wickets. Akalanka from SLL got the best wicketkeeper with 25 dismissals. Jayan from Kastech Kings got Best All Rounder with 154 runs and 9 wickets. Sai Kiran from RSCC, Shahil from JCC, Darshan from Gladiators and Girish from HCCC got special awards for centuries. Cric clubs score card is at https://cricclubs.com/3T/info. do?matchId=2474&clubId=8675 YouTube link is at https:// www.youtube.com/ watch?v=bR4hXv55d1g Report on TCC Taped Ball website is at https://triggerscricket. com/?p=1079
Winter 2024 Runners up RSCC
Winter 2024 Champions Powerstars