New Delhi, As the war in West Asia rages on, former IAF chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari has said the first takeaway for India is the necessity to build a “very strong air defence” with more weapon systems, radars and other operational capabilities.. Stronger air defence takeaway for India from West Asia conflict: Ex IAF chief. Interacting with PTI on the sidelines of a national conclave here on Thursday, Chaudhari referred to the use of drones in the conflicts in Ukraine and in West Asia, and said they are going to play a huge role in any future conflict, even as he cautioned that right now “we should not place all our bets just on drones”.. “Yes, they will supplement the existing efforts, but we cannot rely completely on drones to win a war for us,” the former IAF chief said.. On February 28, the US and Israel launched an attack on Iran, pounding it with bombs. Iran, in retaliation, attacked several Gulf nations hosting American military bases, impacting global aviation operations, oil prices and triggering a looming energy crisis.. Defence and strategic affairs experts from India and neighbouring countries are taking part in a three-day conclave that started on Wednesday and is being hosted by Synergia, a Bengaluru-based think-tank, at the Manekshaw Centre.. Chaudhari on Thursday delivered a keynote address at the conference on the theme ‘India’s Multi-domain Air Spine’.. On the sidelines, when asked if he foresaw an end to the West Asia conflict any time soon, the veteran military leader quipped, “Your guess is as good as mine.”. “I think primarily, the first takeaway from the ongoing conflict is the necessity to have a very strong air defence for the nation. And because what we have probably may not suffice in a conflict of this nature, which is going on there.. “So, in order to strengthen it, we need to have more weapon systems, more radars, more integration of all the systems, integration of the cyber capabilities, into all this. So that is the need of the hour to first and foremost have a very strong air defence network over the country,” Chaudhari told PTI Videos.. The conflict in West Asia remained the dominant topic of discussion in several sessions that have been held over the two days at the conclave.. Asked for key areas in terms of integration and jointness, the former IAF chief, before his address, said, “So… to build a very robust network, a mesh network which will join all the sensors, the shooters, the platforms, all of them together on one common mesh, on one common national network.”. He added, “And this will require a lot of work… such diverse systems all onto one grid. So I think that is the first step to get everybody on one network so that in any multi-domain operational scenario, we should not look at the capabilities of individual services, but the capabilities of the national power have to be brought to bear on the adversary.”. The Indian military has drawn several lessons from the prolonged Russia-Ukraine con 

 Deonandan Prasad Singh, an additional chief engineer (superintendent), of MT Safesea Vishnu, died on Wednesday following an attack on the Marshall Island-flagged tanker. The incident occurred during ship-to-ship cargo loading operations near the Khor Al Zubair Port, near Basra, Iraq, amid ongoing strife in the region. This was confirmed through a press note issued by the directorate general of shipping.. A rescuer guides a man out of a lifeboat, after Iranian explosive-laden boats appear to have attacked two fuel tankers in Iraqi waters setting them ablaze (REUTERS). The tanker, which was carrying around 48,000 metric tonnes of naphtha, was struck by an unidentified object. Preliminary reports indicate that a white-coloured unmanned speedboat carrying explosives approached the vessel from the starboard side and rammed into it, resulting in a major fire onboard.. Singh, a native of Bihar and a resident of Kandivali, is survived by his wife and two children. He was in his mid-50s.. Singh’s brother-in-law Dr Chandan Kumar said, “We learnt about his death from his company. However, the shipping ministry has not told us anything. His son, who resides out of Mumbai, will reach the city on Friday. We are all in state of shock.”. Singh had earlier worked with Neom Maritime, United Ocean Ship Management, Bernard Schulte Ship Management, Samson Maritime and Shipping Corporation. The directorate general of shipping has been in touch with Singh’s family, and it is believed his wife is in a state of shock.. Following the incident, all crew members abandoned the vessel and entered the water for safety. They were subsequently rescued by an STS tug operating in the vicinity.. The Iraqi Coast Guard evacuated the remaining 27 crew members – which include 15 Indian and 12 Filipino nationals. They have been safely transported to a small island near the Port of Basra.. The Embassy of India in Baghdad is coordinating with Iraqi authorities to ensure the welfare of the Indian nationals. 

 Deonandan Prasad Singh, an additional chief engineer (superintendent), of MT Safesea Vishnu, died on Wednesday following an attack on the Marshall Island-flagged tanker. The incident occurred during ship-to-ship cargo loading operations near the Khor Al Zubair Port, near Basra, Iraq, amid ongoing strife in the region. This was confirmed through a press note issued by the directorate general of shipping.. A rescuer guides a man out of a lifeboat, after Iranian explosive-laden boats appear to have attacked two fuel tankers in Iraqi waters setting them ablaze (REUTERS). The tanker, which was carrying around 48,000 metric tonnes of naphtha, was struck by an unidentified object. Preliminary reports indicate that a white-coloured unmanned speedboat carrying explosives approached the vessel from the starboard side and rammed into it, resulting in a major fire onboard.. Singh, a native of Bihar and a resident of Kandivali, is survived by his wife and two children. He was in his mid-50s.. Singh’s brother-in-law Dr Chandan Kumar said, “We learnt about his death from his company. However, the shipping ministry has not told us anything. His son, who resides out of Mumbai, will reach the city on Friday. We are all in state of shock.”. Singh had earlier worked with Neom Maritime, United Ocean Ship Management, Bernard Schulte Ship Management, Samson Maritime and Shipping Corporation. The directorate general of shipping has been in touch with Singh’s family, and it is believed his wife is in a state of shock.. Following the incident, all crew members abandoned the vessel and entered the water for safety. They were subsequently rescued by an STS tug operating in the vicinity.. The Iraqi Coast Guard evacuated the remaining 27 crew members – which include 15 Indian and 12 Filipino nationals. They have been safely transported to a small island near the Port of Basra.. The Embassy of India in Baghdad is coordinating with Iraqi authorities to ensure the welfare of the Indian nationals. 

 The Karnataka government has ordered an inquiry by a retired judge into allegations that some employees in the Transport Department used fraudulent diploma certificates to obtain promotions.. Retired judge to probe fake diplomas linked to promotions in Karnataka Transport Dept. Responding to questions from JD(S) member TA Sharavana in the Legislative Council, transport minister Ramalinga Reddy on Wednesday said preliminary findings suggested irregularities and that the investigation would also examine the possible involvement of the department of technical education.. “On the face of it, irregularities appear to have taken place. It does not involve only the transport department. The technical education department also appears to be involved. Retired judge Narayana has already been appointed to conduct an inquiry and a gazette notification has been issued,” Reddy said.. Sharavana urged the government to take action against those who had allegedly submitted forged certificates, citing provisions under the Karnataka Civil Services Rules (KCSR). He also questioned how some candidates appeared to have taken examinations in multiple cities within a short time.. “Those who wrote examinations in places such as Mysuru and Belagavi are said to have appeared in Bengaluru within a short span. How was this possible, and how were certificates issued?” he asked.. Reddy said a diploma qualification is required for clerical staff seeking promotion to Group C Motor Vehicle Inspector posts. To facilitate employees pursuing higher studies, the department issued an order on October 12, 2022, allowing up to 10% of staff to enrol in further education programmes.. Under that provision, 17 employees were permitted to pursue diploma courses during the 2022–23 academic year, 24 during 2023–24, and 15 during 2024–25, the minister said.. Of those who obtained diplomas, two were not employees of the transport department, while another two had taken regular leave to pursue their studies. Questions were raised about the certificates submitted by the remaining employees, he added.. Reddy said the Transport Commissioner had written to the Director of Technical Education seeking clarification about the suspected certificates. As the response was not satisfactory, notices were issued to the employees on March 3, 2026, asking them to explain.. The inquiry led by the retired judge will examine the allegations and recommend action against those found responsible, the minister said. 

 Two people who were reportedly abducted on Wednesday were found dead on Thursday, after 21 civilians who were allegedly captured in retaliation along the Ukhrul-Imphal route were safely released, chief minister Yumnam Khemchand informed the ongoing Manipur budget session.. Congress MLA K Meghachandra sought clarification from Manipur home minister K Govindas regarding the government’s initiatives to prevent further escalation following reports of a heavy exchange of gunfire at Thawai village. (PTI/File). He said the case will be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).. The deceased were identified as Thengin Baite of Thawai Kuki village in Kamjong district and Thangboimang Khongsai of Shangkai in Ukhrul district. The CM made the statement on Thursday during the seventh session of the 12th Manipur Legislative Assembly in Imphal.. Raising the issue through a calling attention motion, Congress MLA K Meghachandra sought clarification from Manipur home minister K Govindas regarding the government’s initiatives to prevent further escalation following reports of a heavy exchange of gunfire at Thawai village and the abduction of civilians along the Imphal-Ukhrul road. Responding to the motion, Govindas informed the House that a gunfight reportedly took place between two armed groups from around 6.30 am to 9 am on Wednesday in the Mapithel hill range of Ukhrul district. The gunfight occurred after two Kuki villagers were allegedly abducted by unidentified armed groups.. During the exchange of fire, one civilian, Lalminthang Haokip, 40, sustained a minor bullet injury and was evacuated to a health centre in Kangpokpi district for treatment, the minister said. He further informed the House that in retaliation, 21 civilians belonging to the Tangkhul Naga community who were travelling along the Ukhrul-Imphal road were abducted by some members of the Kuki community at Shangkai village in Ukhrul district.. Also Read: Uphill task: One month of Manipur govt navigating unique challenges. Govindas said CM Khemchand held a meeting with governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla at Raj Bhavan in Imphal on Wednesday evening to discuss the situation.. Following the meeting, the CM issued a statement calling for safe, immediate and unconditional release of the abducted civilians. With the intervention of the district administration and civil society organisations, the 21 civilians were safely released on Thursday, he said.