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The gunman who stalked and killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson fled New York City by bus, police officials told CNN on Friday. Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN. Here's the latest: The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer may have fled the city on a bus, New York City police officials told CNN on Friday. Video of the suspected shooter leaving the scene of the shooting Wednesday showed him riding a bicycle to Central Park and later taking a taxi cab to a bus depot, Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny told CNN. “We have reason to believe that the person in question has left New York City,” Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. The gunman who killed the CEO of the largest U.S. health insurer made sure to wear a mask during the shooting yet left a trail of evidence in view of the nation’s biggest city and its network of security cameras that have aided authorities piecing together his movements and his identity. A law enforcement official said Friday that new surveillance footage shows the suspect riding the subway and visiting establishments in Manhattan and provided more clues about his actions in the days before he ambushed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson . The gunman’s whereabouts and identity remain unknown Friday, as did the reason for Wednesday’s killing. New York City police say evidence firmly points to it being a targeted attack . ▶ Read more about the search for the gunman In many companies, investor meetings like the one UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was walking to when he was fatally shot are viewed as very risky because details on the location and who will be speaking are highly publicized. “It gives people an opportunity to arrive well in advance and take a look at the room, take a look at how people would probably come and go out of a location,” said Dave Komendat, president of DSKomendat Risk Management Services, which is based in the greater Seattle area. Some firms respond by beefing up security. For example, tech companies routinely require everyone attending a major event, such as Apple’s annual unveiling of the next iPhone or a shareholder meeting, to go through airport-style security checkpoints before entering. Others forgo in-person meetings with shareholders. ▶ Read more about how companies protect their leaders Those images include New York’s subway system, a law enforcement official said. In establishments where the person was captured on camera, he always appeared to pay with cash, the official said. The official wasn’t authorized to discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. — Mike Balsamo Medica, a Minnesota-based nonprofit health care firm that serves 1.5 million customers in 12 states, said it’s temporarily closing all six locations. The firm has offices in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and North Dakota, and employs about 3,000 people. Employees will work from home, Medica spokesman Greg Bury said in an email Friday. “The safety of Medica employees is our top priority and we have increased security both for all of our employees,” a statement from Medica said. “Although we have received no specific threats related to our campuses, our office buildings will be temporarily closed out of an abundance of caution.” Bury also said biographical information on the company’s executives was taken down from its website as a precaution. The insurer cited the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in its announcement about the Dec. 12 event. “All of us at Centene are deeply saddened by Brian Thompson’s death and want to express our support for all of those affected. Health insurance is a big industry and a small community; many members of the CenTeam crossed paths with Brian during their careers,” Centene CEO Sarah M. London said in a news release. “He was a person with a deep sense of empathy and clear passion for improving access to care. Our hearts are with his family and his colleagues during this difficult time.” Centene Corp. has grown in recent years to become the largest insurer in Medicaid, the state- and federally funded program that covers care for people with low incomes. Insurers manage Medicaid coverage for states, and Centene has more than 13 million people enrolled in that coverage. The insurance company also said it’s focused on ensuring the safety of employees and assisting investigators. “While our hearts are broken, we have been touched by the huge outpouring of kindness and support in the hours since this horrific crime took place,” the company said. But he said Friday that he’s confident police will arrest the shooter. “We are on the right road to apprehend him and bring him to justice,” Adams said on TV station WPIX. Later, it removed their names and biographies entirely. Police and federal agents have been collecting information from Greyhound in an attempt to identify the suspect and are working to determine whether he purchased the ticket to New York in late November, a law enforcement official said. Investigators were also trying to obtain additional information from a cellphone recovered from a pedestrian plaza through which the shooter fled. The fatal shooting of Brian Thompson while walking alone on a New York City sidewalk has put a spotlight on the widely varied approaches companies take to protect their leaders against threats. Experts say today’s political, economic and technological climate is only going to make the job of evaluating threats against executives and taking action to protect them even more difficult, experts say. Some organizations have a protective intelligence group that uses digital tools such as machine learning or artificial intelligence to comb through online comments to detect threats not only on social media platforms such as X but also on the dark web, says Komendat. They look for what’s being said about the company, its employees and its leadership to uncover risks. ▶ Read more about the steps companies take to protect their leadership Police said Thursday they found a water bottle and protein bar wrapper from a trash can near the scene of the ambush and think the suspect bought them from a Starbucks minutes before the shooting. The items were being tested by the city’s medical examiner.Pitt QB Eli Holstein carted off with leg injuryThe first game for the Baha Mar Hoops Championship takes place on Thursday, Nov. 21 and it involves the No. 13 Baylor Bears going against the No. 22 St. John’s Red Storm at Baha Mar Convention Center in Nassau, Bahamas. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on CBSSN . Fans looking to watch this men’s college basketball game can do so for free by using FuboTV , which offers a free trial and $20 off your first month, or DirecTV Stream , which also offers a free trial. SlingTV doesn’t offer a free trial but does have other promotional offers available. The Bears have rebounded nicely from their season-opening blowout loss to Gonzaga and have rattled off three straight wins, including one over a ranked Arkansas squad. This is the first test for St. John’s against a ranked opponent. The Johnies are 4-0 to start the season and ranked for the first time since January 2019. Who : No. 13 Baylor Bears vs. No. 22 St. John’s Red Storm When : Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. EST Where : aha Mar Convention Center in Nassau, Bahamas Stream : FuboTV (free trial) ; Sling ; DirecTV Stream What is FuboTV? FuboTV is an internet television service that offers more than 200 channels across sports and entertainment including Paramount+ with SHOWTIME . From the UEFA Champions League to the WNBA to international tournaments ranging across sports, there’s plenty of options available on FuboTV, which offers a free trial, and $20 off the first month for new costumers. What is DirecTV Stream? DirecTV Stream offers practically everything DirecTV provides, except for a remote and a streaming device to connect to your television. Sign up now and get three free months of premium channels including MAX , Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and Starz. What is SlingTV? SlingTV offers a variety of live programing ranging from news and sports and starting as low as $20 a month for your first month. Subscribers also get a month of DVR Plus free if they sign up now. Choose from a variety of sports packages without long-term contracts and with easy cancelation. More College Football RELATED CONTENT: Hansel Enmanuel making an impact for Austin Peay on court with his 1 arm By AL LESAR Associated Press KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — No hesitation. No second thoughts. Swish. The basketball rotated around the perimeter. Hansel Enmanuel caught it and in a fluid motion drained the 3-pointer. Perfect execution for any college basketball player. Quite remarkable for a guy with one arm. Two minutes later, a steal and a layup just as effortless. Then Enmanuel blocked a shot at the basket. The slender 6-foot-6 junior at Austin Peay made an impact Sunday for the Governors in their 103-68 loss to No. 11 Tennessee. Five points, a rebound, an assist and two blocks. Every time Enmanuel steps on the floor, people notice for a variety of reasons. “He’s the biggest inspiration in college sports,” Austin Peay coach Corey Gipson said. “He has developed me. I don’t know how any person on earth can watch him play and not cry. “The only way you wouldn’t get emotional is that you don’t have a relative or friend (with a handicap). You wouldn’t believe the requests I got from people in Knoxville who wanted to meet him.” Enmanuel lost his left arm after an accident when he was 6 growing up in the Dominican Republic. However, it did nothing to his competitive spirit. After going to high school in Florida, Enmanuel was recruited by Gipson to join him at Northwestern State two years ago. When Gipson took the coaching job at Austin Peay last year, he brought Enmanuel with him. Enmanuel was not available after the game. Last week he told NCAA.com: “God chose me to do this job to send a message to everybody, and that’s what I’m going to do, I can’t complain about it.” The Associated Press contributed to this articleEmotional Coleen Rooney bursts into tears as she reunites with her sons in I'm A Celeb camp as she confesses 'I've missed you so much' For all the latest news from the jungle follow our I'm A Celeb live blog Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com By KIRSTEN MURRAY FOR MAILONLINE Published: 09:00 AEDT, 7 December 2024 | Updated: 09:14 AEDT, 7 December 2024 e-mail 13 View comments Coleen Rooney burst into tears after she was greeted by her mother Colette during Friday's emotional episode of I'm A Celeb. The friends and family of the remaining I'm A Celebrity campmates surprised their loved ones and the WAG, 38, was overcome with emotion after she ran to give her mum a huge hug as she exclaimed: 'I don't want you to leave me now!' Yet that wasn't the only surprise for the mother-of-four, as she was interrupted by a 'boo' in the background and turned over her shoulder to see her youngest sons Kit, eight, and Cass, six, running into camp to give their mum a hug. Kit joked: 'She stinks!' as he hugged her before updating her on some special news from the football pitch as he shared: 'I won City!' and she replied: 'Brilliant, did you score?' An emotional Kit nodded, as Coleen reassured him: 'I'm crying because I'm happy, because I've missed you so much!' Coleen wasted no time at all giving her mum and two boys a tour of the camp, including her bed and the dunny, before Cass tried on her jungle hat. Emotional Coleen Rooney burst into tears as she reunited with her sons in I'm A Celeb camp as she confessed 'I've missed you so much' The WAG, 38, was overcome with emotion after she ran to give her mum a huge hug as she exclaimed: 'I don't want you to leave me now!' Giving them an emotional hug goodbye she told the boys it was only a couple more days and then it would be the countdown to Christmas . Meanwhile Danny Jones was also left fighting back his tears after he was reunited with his wife Georgia and son Cooper, six. His son said: 'I'm really excited to see my dad! a s Georgia added: 'He's been doing amazing, he said he wanted to make you proud didn't he, and show you how to be brave. We think he's achieved that.' As Danny came around the corner to see his wife and son, he couldn't believe his eyes and dropped down to give Cooper and Georgia a big joint hug as he fought back tears as he asked his son: 'Are you crying happy tears as well?' An emotional Danny said: 'That was the best surprise I think I've ever had in my life, just an amazing feeling,' as Cooper joked: 'Luckily you haven't been voted out yet!' Danny asked 'Have you been telling everyone at school to vote for me?' As Cooper nodded. With Cooper in his arms, he told her and Georgia: 'Honestly this place is an amazing place, even though it's been challenging. It just makes you realise how much you love people and you put stuff into perspective.' Saying their goodbyes, Cooper hugged his dad tight for one last time as he said: 'I don't wanna let go!' Coleen was joined by her mum Colette and youngest sons Kit, eight, and Cass, six, running into camp to give their mum a hug Coleen looked overjoyed as her sons joined her in camp Coleen said: 'I'm crying because I'm happy, because I've missed you so much!' She ran into her mum's arms Danny Jones was also left fighting back his tears after he was reunited with his wife Georgia and son Cooper, six As Danny came around the corner to see his wife and son, as he fought back tears and asked his son: 'Are you crying happy tears as well?' GK Barry couldn't believe her eyes when she saw her mum Lorretta sat down at the creek as she shrieked and welled up. Giving her mum a hug she joked: 'Do I smell?' before adding: 'I've missed you guys so much!' The social media star has struck a firm but unlikely friendship with Reverend Richard Coles as she explained: 'But you and the Rev, everyone's talking about you and the Rev! 'He's a very calming influence on you' As she added: 'I think you and the Rev should go on the road!' Speaking about one of their rogue conversations, her mum joked: 'Did you really have to talk about scissoring?! Everyone knows about that now!' Richard was joined by his brother Will as the vicar joked: 'We've met in some funny places, haven't we? but this is really the funniest of them all!' Will told Richard that partner, Dickie sent his love and that they have two weeks camping in Bognor Regis to look forward to when they get back, to which Richard replied: 'Great!' Sharing his experience, he said: 'The people are great, we've had a really, really good time and everything that's worked, has worked because we've all come together.' GK Barry couldn't believe her eyes when she saw her mum Lorretta sat down at the creek as she shrieked and welled up Speaking about one of their rogue conversations, her mum joked: 'Did you really have to talk about scissoring?! Everyone knows about that now!' Richard was joined by his brother Will as the vicar joked: 'We've met in some funny places, haven't we? but this is really the funniest of them all!' In an emotional moment Will gushed: 'Seriously, we are really super proud of you,' as Richard replied: 'Don't say that, that's embarrassing!' Oti Mabuse reunited with her husband Marius as he gifted his wife with an outfit her daughter had worn the day before Marking their ten year anniversary, Marius revealed he has bought the dancer a new ring, as an excited Oti couldn't wait to try it on In an emotional moment Will gushed: 'Seriously, we are really super proud of you,' as Richard replied: 'Don't say that, that's embarrassing!' Will continued: 'Don't be embarrassed, allow yourself to be showered with love and glory and all of that malarkey.' 'Whatever you do, whether you stay right through the end or whether you're out sooner, you've just done wonders. Boy done good!' Oti Mabuse reunited with her husband Marius as he gifted his wife with an outfit her daughter had worn the day before. A crying Oti hugged and smelt it, as she declared: 'This is the perfect gift!' Marking their ten year anniversary, Marius revealed he has bought the dancer a new ring, as an excited Oti couldn't wait to try it on. Oti said: 'This is exactly what I needed to spur me on until the end.' As they went their separate ways, Oti gave him lots of kisses goodbye and she told him: 'I love you.' Coleen couldn't wipe the smile off her face as she hugged her sons Later on, a surprised Alan found his brother Stephen waiting for him in the jungle clearing as he asked 'How's Sienna?' Later on, a surprised Alan found his brother Stephen waiting for him in the jungle clearing as he asked 'How's Sienna?' Stephen explained: 'Everyone's proud of you, Sienna especially, she's watching every night.' Getting emotional, Alan said: 'Will you speak to her, yeah, and give her my love? I've missed her a lot, it's been tough!' Asking his brother if he'd lost any weight whilst being in the jungle, Stephen replied: 'You have lost weight, when we see you in the shower on the telly I thought I'm the fat kid now! I'm the fat brother!' Prompting Alan to laugh and cheer: 'Yeaaah!' When the time came to say their goodbyes, Alan gave his brother a final, long hug, and said 'Obviously give everyone my love but make sure you speak to Sienna and just tell her I miss her. It comes after Maura Higgins and Barry McGuigan became the latest contestants to be evicted from I'm A Celeb just days before the final. It was a double eviction during Thursday's episode after celebrities had the chance to win immunity and go straight through to the final and the famous Cyclone challenge in a new twist which debuted this series. After the contestants went head to head in Wednesday's trial, winners Maura Higgins, Oti Mabuse , Coleen Rooney and Danny Jones battled it out for immunity in a final challenge at the Arcade of Agony. But it was Oti who was victorious as the dancer completed the Tetris like challenge in the quickest time and won the golden ticket. However the immunity twist has left the show embroiled in fix rows as fans took to Twitter to share their disappointment that they didn't have full autonomy over the votes. They wrote: 'Anyone else feeling like the Golden ticket to Cyclone has taken something away from us as the viewers? Coleen shares sons Kai, 15, Klay, 11, Kit, eight and Cass, six, with her husband Wayne It comes after Maura Higgins and Barry McGuigan were the latest contestants to be evicted from the camp just days before the final as show becomes embroiled in 'fix' row It was a double eviction during Thursday's episode after celebrities had the chance to win immunity and go straight through to the final in a new twist which debuted this series 'One of the biggest parts of this show is us voting to see our faves in this iconic trial. (No hate to Oti intended, love her. Just a thought and not that serious.)'; 'This feels like a fix. I reckon Oti was low in the voting and she somehow had a 'technique' that helped her win?'; 'For a bit, it felt like producers may have been trying to rig it for either Maura and Coleen to get through but didn't expect Oti to be smarter at figuring it out'. However others were overjoyed that Oti had won as they added: 'I am so glad Oti won the golden ticket, she really deserves that'. Meanwhile Maura was met by her friend Talia off the bridge because her 'Mammy' Sharon was unable to make the 22-hour flight Down Under. A late arrival alongside the Reverend Richard Coles, 63, the pair struck up an unlikely friendship when they were tasked with being the 'villains' of the camp by staying in the luxury Jungle junkyard. So entertaining is their partnership, that fans have since called for the pair to have their own television show when the Reverend comes out of the Jungle. Admitting she had a 'gut feeling' she told Ant and Dec in her exit interview: 'I'm really happy. I said it this morning it's my time, I had a gut feeling and they're never wrong. Oti Mabuse won immunity ahead of the final as she received a 'golden ticket' through to the Cyclone trial after battling it out with Coleen Rooney, Danny Jones and Maura Higgins However the immunity twist has left the show embroiled in fix rows as fans took to Twitter to share their disappointment that they didn't have full autonomy over the votes However others were overjoyed that Oti had won as they added: 'I am so glad Oti won the golden ticket, she really deserves that' Barry captured the nation after he opened up about the death of his daughter, Danika, who died aged 33 from bowel cancer in 2019 after a shock diagnosis Read More I'm A Celeb fans SLAM 'manipulative' twist as it is revealed one celebrity will win immunity 'I didn't think I would embrace it as much as i have and I loved every single second. It's mad how it changes you.' Sharing her love for the Richard she revealed he is her winner as she continued: 'I absolutely love Reverend Coles, he is so hilarious the things he comes out with shocks me and I don't get shocked much' The star added: 'One thing I said when I came in was I do not want to say 'I'm a Celebrity Ge tme out of here' and I still don't know how I did that trial with spiders. I'm much tougher than I ever thought.' Later on I'm A Celebrity Unpacked she joked: 'I take the Lord's name in vain quite a lot and of course I was put in there with a Reverend of all people, but we just clicked.' Maura also admitted: 'I missed my Mammy, I've just been on facetime with her.' Also eliminated, Barry was reunited with his wife of 40 years, Sandra, after two weeks in the Australian jungle as she met him off the bridge. Speaking with hosts Ant and Dec he said: 'I'm the original cyclone, so I'm disappointed that I'm not slipping and looking like a clown in it. 'The Jungle was much tougher than I expected, the food was the toughest part, everything tasted bland and ridiculous.' The boxing legend also opened up on his sweet bond with McFly's Danny Jones, as he added: 'I think he's going to be the King, he's a great fella. We have a lot in common because my dad was a musician and I loved his creativity.' A late arrival alongside the Reverend Richard Coles, 63, the pair struck up an unlikely friendship and are in talks to front their own show Barry was reunited with his wife of 40 years, Sandra, after two weeks in the Australian jungle as she met him off the bridge He also told Sam on the spin off show: 'I knew as son as I saw Danny we were going to get on because he has the same humour as my sons. 'He is so talented and hilariously funny. He hasn't had a great relationship with his Dad and I said: 'I'll be your Dad'. He's a great fella and I truly think we'll be friends for life.' The former sportsman also gushed about his family as he added: 'I'm madly in love with my wife, we've been together since 1981 and I can't wait to see my grandchildren.' The father-of-four captured the nation after he opened up about the death of his daughter, Danika, who died aged 33 from bowel cancer in 2019 after a shock diagnosis. Struggling with her health at an early age, the award-winning Philomena actress was diagnosed with Leukaemia when she was 11 years old. And in what has come to be known as the most emotional moment in I'm A Celebrity's 22-year run, the Northern Irish boxing champion told his campmates about his relenting grief. Maura was met by her friend Talia off the bridge because her 'Mammy' Sharon was unable to make the 22-hour flight Down Under Later on I'm A Celebrity Unpacked she joked: 'I take the Lord's name in vain quite a lot and of course I was put in there with a Reverend of all people, but we just clicked' He said: '[Danika] had leukaemia when I was making The Boxer with Daniel Day-Lewis. 'Three weeks from the end I had to leave because she'd been diagnosed with leukaemia. 'They thought she wasn't going to get better but she fought back and she won it. She had two years of chemo.' As he began to cry campmates gathered around with McFly frontman Danny Jones and NDubz's Tulisa Contostavlos offering a hug, as Barry gushed: 'Thank you, you're all so lovely, I really appreciate it.' Later going to tell Loose Women's Jane Moore about Danika's second and final bout with cancer, he said: 'She had pains in her tummy but she was making the movie, she put it off and went to the doctor, called us all in. 'Stage 4 bowel cancer, 5 weeks, 5 weeks she died.' Meanwhile during her time in the Jungle, Maura lifted the lid about her rumoured relationship with the Strictly star, Pete Wicks, and revealed they had been dating and she missed him. Admitting she had a 'gut feeling' she told Ant and Dec in her exit interview: 'I'm really happy. I said it this morning it's my time, I had a gut feeling and they're never wrong' Sharing her love for the Richard she revealed he is her winner as she continued: 'I absolutely love Reverend Coles, he is so hilarious the things he comes out with shocks me and I don't get shocked much' Meanwhile during her time in the Jungle, Maura lifted the lid about her rumoured relationship with the Strictly star, Pete Wicks, and revealed they had been dating and she missed him She said: 'I am single but I was dating someone before I came out here.' When asked if she and the TOWIE, 39, were exclusively dating, she revealed she didn't know but this relationship felt 'different because we've known each other for so long'. Later on the spin off show Sam Thompson, who is Pete Wicks's best friend, teased: 'Just say Pete, we all know that's who you've missed most. We've all been talking about it. All I can say is, welcome to the family.' It came as sources close to Wicks told the Mail on Sunday that he had ended his 'fling' with his Strictly partner, Jowita Przystal, to 'try and win Maura back' who he is 'smitten' about. A friend said: 'Before Maura entered the jungle, Pete wanted to make their relationship exclusive but Maura, aware of Pete's reputation and his close bond with Jowita, decided to slow things down. She gave him an ultimatum: either commit to her or let it go and she went to the Jungle as a single woman.' Since then, the reality TV lothario has gone all-in, openly expressing his feelings to anyone who'll listen and is showing his support for her on his Instagram page by asking people to vote for Maura. Meanwhile, her mother Sharon, who Maura has called her 'therapist', said she 'didn't know anything' about Pete and that he was 'just some friend of Maura's'. Coleen Rooney Danny Jones Share or comment on this article: Emotional Coleen Rooney bursts into tears as she reunites with her sons in I'm A Celeb camp as she confesses 'I've missed you so much' e-mail Add comment
Bill Maher took aim at an MSNBC segment in which a chief psychiatric resident at Yale University said it was OK to snub MAGA-voting family members during the holidays. “Ooo, how pure,” said Maher on Friday’s episode of . “It’s like, not letting certain people sit next to you on the bus,” he added, as a picture of civil rights activist Rosa Parks appeared beside him on the screen. The gag drew a groan from the audience followed by a patter of laughter as Maher then looked skeptically off camera. “I mean, think about that–a mental health professional advising people to isolate during the holidays and don’t forget to drink too much and put on weight,” he went on. “And at this Thanksgiving before the big meal, remember to take turns saying what you’re hateful about.” He added, “You know who I really wouldn’t want to have Thanksgiving dinner with? This overly educated, i.e. extremely stupid, ivory tower academic.” Despite his stated disdain for the Republican president-elect, mocking Democratic Party supporter’s perceived idiocy has proven something of a common refrain in Maher’s on-screen appearances since Trump’s victory earlier this month. Last week, Maher for blaming sexism and racism for Kamala Harris’ electoral loss, suggesting people have been cleaving to the kind of “identity politics” he believes saw the Democratic Party defeated at the polls. “Someone must tell the usual suspects on the far left that the saying is, ‘When you’re in a hole, stop digging.’ Not ‘keep digging’,” Maher told his audience on Nov. 15. “Talk about doubling down on what got you f---ed in the first place.”How Greg Vanney unlocked Galaxy greatness in one of the most stunning MLS turnarounds‘You Are A Trader, Sycophant’, Wike Blasts OdiliPublished 03:06 IST, December 7th 2024 India Enhances Border Surveillance Amid Reports of Turkish Drones Deployed Near Bangladesh Border New Delhi: Amidst a surge in violence against minority Hindus in Bangladesh and efforts to weaken ties with India, the Indian defence forces have heightened surveillance along its border with Bangladesh following reports of Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drones being deployed near West Bengal. This move comes in the wake of increasing intelligence inputs that suggest a rise in terrorist activities and instability along the border after the recent political turmoil in Bangladesh. According to sources, the Indian Army is currently investigating reports about the deployment of these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) near the Indian border. The drones, operated by Bangladesh’s 67th Army, are primarily used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. The Bayraktar TB2, which has been in use by the Bangladeshi military since earlier this year, is also capable of conducting light strike operations. Bangladesh has claimed that the deployment of drones is only for defensive purposes. However, India has expressed concern over the strategic significance of positioning such advanced UAVs in this sensitive region, particularly given the current political instability in Bangladesh. Intelligence sources suggest that extremist groups, which were largely suppressed during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, are now regaining influence in the areas near the Indian border under the caretaker government. This has raised alarm in India, as terror groups and smuggling networks are believed to be exploiting the political chaos in Bangladesh to infiltrate into Indian territory. The Bayraktar TB2 drones are part of a broader military modernisation effort by Bangladesh, which has acquired a total of 12 drones, six of which are now operational. These drones are seen as a key asset in enhancing Bangladesh’s surveillance capabilities, especially in border areas. However, their positioning near India has not gone unnoticed, with Indian authorities closely monitoring the situation. In response to the increased threat, Indian armed forces are on high alert. They are assessing the new drone deployments and may consider deploying Heron TP drones, along with intensifying counter-drone operations in sensitive areas along the border. India's defence strategy also involves close cooperation and intelligence sharing with international partners to track developments in Bangladesh and minimise potential risks. As per the official sources, the Indian government is closely monitoring the situation, while the security forces are keeping a close vigil near the border area for any attempt to infiltrate Indian territory or militant activity from across the border. Get Current Updates on India News , Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world. Updated 03:06 IST, December 7th 2024
