Imphal, Jul 4: Security forces recovered at least 11 firearms and war-like stores in Churachandpur and Bishnupur districts of Manipur, police said on Friday.

The arms included one country-made AK rifle with magazine, one lathode gun, four country-made pistols with magazine, three country-made single-barrel rifles, one country-made Sten carbine and four ‘Pumpis’.

The Pumpi is an umbrella term used for various improvised light weapons.

New Delhi, July 04: Gold prices declined Rs 600 to Rs 99,020 per 10 grams in the national capital on Friday due to fresh selling by stockists, according to the All India Sarafa Association.

The yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity had settled at Rs 99,620 per 10 grams on Thursday.

Gold of 99.5 per cent purity slipped Rs 500 to Rs 98,500 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes). It had closed at Rs 99,000 per 10 grams in the previous market close.

“Gold prices declined on Friday as the US dollar and treasury yields moved higher following stronger than expected US macroeconomic data.

“Furthermore, the macro data reduced the expectation of a interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve, which also negatively impacted gold prices,” Saumil Gandhi, Senior Analyst, Commodities at HDFC Securities, said.

Silver prices also plunged Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,04,800 per kilogram (inclusive of all taxes) on Friday. It had finished at Rs 1,05,800 per kg in the previous market close.

Spot gold in the international markets went up marginally to USD 3,334.45 per ounce.

“Gold prices may see fresh movement ahead of the upcoming US Personal Consumption Expenditures Price (PCE) inflation report.

“A stronger than expected PCE data could revive inflation worries and lift safe-haven demand, while a softer print may boost hopes for interest rate cuts,” Abans Financial Services’ Chief Executive Officer Chintan Mehta said.

New Delhi, July 04: China is using Pakistan as a proxy to test its military hardware, said Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Capability Development and Sustenance), during a keynote address at a FICCI defence seminar on Friday.

Referring to the recent Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians, Lt Gen Singh said, “It’s no surprise that 81% of the military equipment Pakistan has acquired in the past five years is Chinese. China would rather inflict pain through its neighbours than directly engage.”

He highlighted that China is using real conflicts as a “live lab” to assess its weapon systems.

“This must be taken very seriously,” he cautioned.

“We had one border and two adversaries, actually three. Pakistan was in the front. China was providing all possible support. Turkey also played an important role in providing the type of support it did. When DGMO-level talks were on, Pakistan was actually mentioning that your such and such important vectors are ready for action and requested us to pull it back. They were getting real time updates from China”, said the Lieutenant General.

On the need of a robust air defence system, he acknowledged that some indigenous air defence systems performed well during Operation Sindoor, while others revealed critical gaps.

“We don’t have the luxury of systems like Israel’s Iron Dome because of our vast geography and limited resources. Still, our population centres must be protected with layered air defence,” he said.

Lt Gen Singh underlined the growing role of drones, counter-drone systems, and long-range artillery in modern warfare.

“We need to move very fast. It’s a cat-and-mouse game,” he remarked.

He also emphasized the importance of enhancing C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) capabilities to maintain strategic dominance and civil-military fusion.

Notably, the Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory action, exposed both vulnerabilities and strengths—but more importantly, it showed the growing depth of Sino-Pak-Turkish defence cooperation.

Pune, July 04: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the responsibility of creating the India of Shivaji Maharaj’s dreams rested with 140 crore Indians, and sometimes, there is a need to fight to protect our ‘Swaraj’. He cited Operation Sindoor as an example of this.

“When there was a need to fight for Swaraj, we fought. If there is a need to fight to preserve Swaraj, we will fight. Operation Sindoor is an example of this. But alongside Swaraj, the idea of a great India also encompasses the concept of Shivaji Maharaj,” he stated in his speech after unveiling the statue of the great patriot and symbol of Maratha pride, Shriman Bajirao Peshwa, on the premises of the National Defence Academy.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, and Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol were among others present on the occasion.

“Our goal should be to create an India where we are number one in the entire world. If there is a personality that inspires effort, dedication and sacrifice for this, it is Shrimant Bajirao Peshwa,” he noted.

“PM Modi has given the formula of development and heritage. There have been many personalities in our thousand-year-old culture who keep inspiring us. Their history needs to be given to today’s youth. Bajirao never fought for himself. He fought for the country and Swarajya. The British distorted history. Despite having so much prowess and power, Bajirao was a lifelong Peshwa. He fought for Swarajya. In his 40 years of life, he wrote an immortal history that no one will be able to write for many centuries,” said the Home Minister.

“The inspiration that will come from installing the statue of Shrimant Bajirao at the National Defence Academy, where the chiefs of all three armed forces train and graduate, will ensure that no one can touch India’s borders,” he asserted.

“Some rules of the art of war never become outdated. The importance of strategy in war, the importance of swiftness, the spirit of dedication, the spirit of patriotism, and the spirit of sacrifice are important. These are what lead armies to victory; only the weapons keep changing. The most exemplary embodiment of all these qualities in 500 years of Indian history is found only in Shrimant Bajirao Peshwa,” said HM Shah.

He further stated, “Shrimant Bajirao Peshwa fought 41 battles in 20 years and did not lose a single one, a record no other commander could match. The most fitting place to install the statue of such a brave warrior, who never let defeat come near him until his death, is the National Defence Academy.”

He said the land of Pune is the birthplace of the values of Swaraj. In the 17th century, it was from here that the concept of Swaraj spread across the nation.

“When the time came to fight for Swaraj again in the face of the British, it was Tilak Maharaj who first roared like a lion — ‘Swaraj is my birthright’. The example of how much a person can do for their country in their lifetime was also set by Veer Savarkar from this sacred land of Maharashtra,” he added.

HM Shah also connected Bajirao’s legacy to the broader historical context, crediting the Maratha warrior and the Peshwas for preserving India’s cultural and structural identity through their resistance against external forces.

He stated, “Had the battle for Independence that was started by Shivaji Maharaj and taken forward by the Peshwas for 100 years not been fought, India’s basic structure would have ceased to exist.”