Delhi Airport operator DIAL announced that flight operations at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) will be suspended for arrivals and departures between 10:20 AM and 12:45 PM from January 19 to January 26, 2025, due to activities related to Republic Day celebrations. IGIA, the busiest airport in India, facilitates approximately 1,300 flight movements daily.

However, the exact effects of these operational restrictions on scheduled flights for different airlines remain unclear.

According to the NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) issued for the week of Republic Day, no flights will operate from Delhi Airport during the specified times. Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates regarding flight schedules.

Daily Flight Disruption Details:

• January 19 (Sunday): 85 departures and 85 arrivals impacted.
• January 20 (Monday): 85 departures and 84 arrivals affected.
• January 21 (Tuesday): 79 departures and 81 arrivals, marking the least disrupted day of the week.
• Remaining Days: Daily disruptions will vary from 81 to 84 departures and 82 to 87 arrivals.

Additionally, the airspace closures will disrupt international flights to major cities including Toronto, Washington, Tashkent, Kathmandu, and Colombo. These measures are crucial to ensure the safety and security of dignitaries and aircraft involved in the Republic Day flypast. Notably, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto is confirmed to be the chief guest for India’s Republic Day celebrations on January 26.

On Sunday, the Mumbai Police stated that the individual arrested for the attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan is suspected to be a Bangladeshi national, a conclusion drawn from evidence found among his possessions. In a media briefing, police confirmed that the attacker had taken on the name Vijay Das upon entering India.

DCP Zone 9, Dixit Gedam, identified the suspect as Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, a 30-year-old man who allegedly entered Saif Ali Khan’s residence with the intent to rob. Gedam indicated that preliminary investigations suggest the accused is of Bangladeshi descent, having entered India illegally and subsequently changed his name.

Reports indicate that he arrived in Mumbai approximately 5 to 6 months ago, initially residing in the city before moving to its outskirts. The suspect was employed by a housekeeping agency, according to police sources.

“On January 16, at around 2 am, an attack occurred at Saif Ali Khan’s residence. An FIR was filed, and the suspect was arrested soon after. His identity as Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, aged 30, has been confirmed. He broke into the home with robbery in mind. He will be presented in court, where a request for custody will be made, and further investigations will follow,” Gedam stated while raising concerns regarding the suspect’s Bangladeshi background.

He pointed out credible evidence for these suspicions, such as the lack of valid Indian documentation and items seized that suggest his nationality.

Previous reports indicated that the suspect had been using multiple aliases, including Vijay Das and Bijoy Das. The main suspect was intercepted in the early hours of Sunday in Thane West, Maharashtra.

Actor Saif Ali Khan was reportedly assaulted multiple times in his upscale apartment located in Mumbai’s Bandra area during a burglary attempt in the early hours of Thursday.

The actor resides on the 12th floor of the ‘Satguru Sharan’ building. At the time of the incident, Saif Ali Khan was at home with his wife, fellow actor Kareena Kapoor, and their two children, four-year-old Jeh and eight-year-old Taimur.

In response to the conviction of Sanjay Roy in the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case, the mother of the deceased doctor expressed her ongoing concern on Saturday, highlighting their continued wait for the arrest and punishment of additional perpetrators. She asserted that Roy was not acting alone.

“The evidence clearly proves Sanjay’s guilt through biological findings. His silence during the trial further indicates his involvement in the torture and murder of my daughter. However, he is not the only one; there are others involved who have yet to be brought to justice. Therefore, true justice has not been achieved,” the victim’s mother stated to PTI following the court’s decision.

She emphasized that the legal proceedings are far from over, vowing to fight for justice alongside her husband until their last breaths. “The case remains incomplete. It will only reach completion when everyone involved in my daughter’s murder has been brought to justice. We will wait for that day… and we won’t find peace until then. That is our only desire now,” she said.

A Sealdah court found Sanjay Roy guilty on Saturday of raping and murdering the on-duty doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9 of the previous year. The court is set to announce his sentence on January 20.

Roy was convicted under Sections 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to rape, and Sections 66 and 103 (1), which are concerned with punishments for murder and death. Section 103 (1) provides for a maximum penalty of death or life imprisonment.

Following the verdict, Sanjay Roy, a former civil volunteer, claimed in court that he was wrongfully implicated in the case. “I am innocent and have been falsely accused. The real perpetrators are being allowed to go free. One IPS officer is involved,” he asserted.