Jodhpur: Japan F-2A jets arrive for Veer Guardian 26 as lawyers strike and gold heist make city headlines
Jodhpur commanded national attention this week on multiple fronts: the Indian Air Force hosted Japanese F-2A fighters at its station for the Veer Guardian 26 exercise — the first time Japanese aircraft have operated from an Indian base — while lawyers at the Rajasthan High Court launched a strike over allegations against the Acting Chief Justice and police cracked a multi-state gold and diamond heist that traced back to a train passing through the region. A major textile industry conclave on zero liquid discharge added another dimension to the city's week.
Japan F-2A fighters arrive at Jodhpur for Veer Guardian 26 bilateral air exercise
Air Force Station Jodhpur is hosting the second edition of Veer Guardian, the India-Japan bilateral fighter exercise, from September 11 to 22, 2026 — marking a historic milestone as Japanese fighter aircraft operate from an Indian air base for the first time. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) deployed three F-2A fighters along with approximately 110 personnel for the exercise. The aircraft and crew will participate in integrated air-combat training alongside Indian Air Force fighters and support elements. The F-2A is Japan's principal multirole fighter, a domestically developed and produced aircraft closely related to the American F-16. Jodhpur was chosen as the venue given its role as a major western-sector IAF base with extensive exercise facilities and airspace conducive to complex air-combat scenarios. The first edition of Veer Guardian was held in Japan. The reciprocal hosting at Jodhpur deepens the bilateral defence relationship between India and Japan, which has grown steadily through government-to-government agreements on defence technology and intelligence sharing. The exercise is also significant in the context of regional security dynamics, with both nations sharing concerns about shifts in the Indo-Pacific balance of power. [1]
Rajasthan HC lawyers boycott work till September 6 over allegations against Acting Chief Justice
Lawyers' associations at the Rajasthan High Court declared a work boycott lasting through September 6, citing serious allegations against Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma. The strike followed letters written by Supreme Court Justice Sandeep Mehta accusing Justice Sharma of manipulating case listings and misusing his administrative powers as the head of the Jodhpur-based High Court. The lawyers' bodies announced they would submit memoranda to the President of India, the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India and members of the Supreme Court Collegium, formally requesting intervention and accountability. The strike encompassed both the Jodhpur principal bench and allied bar associations. The dispute highlights the tensions that can arise within the judiciary when administrative authority is perceived to be exercised without adequate checks, and the willingness of the bar to take collective action when it believes institutional norms are being violated. Advocate clerks' associations subsequently announced they would join the abstention, broadening the disruption to support functions within the court. Litigants with pending hearings during the boycott period faced adjournments. [5]
Two arrested for stealing 3 crore worth of gold and diamonds from train using fake identities
Jodhpur police arrested two individuals for the theft of gold and diamonds valued at approximately Rs 3 crore from a train, in a case that revealed a sophisticated modus operandi spanning seven states including Rajasthan. The accused had used fictitious names when booking train reservations, enabling them to travel under cover and evade immediate identification after each theft. Investigators traced a pattern of similar incidents across multiple railway lines before zeroing in on the accused. The recovery of the stolen jewellery, which had been concealed and partially dispersed, required coordination with police in other states. Gold and diamond theft on trains is a persistent problem on busy intercity routes in Rajasthan, where passengers travelling to weddings and family events often carry significant jewellery. The use of fake reservation names to cover the criminals' tracks represents a level of planning that investigators say complicates detection. The arrest was reported by Bhaskar English from Jodhpur, and the case has been forwarded for prosecution. The investigation is ongoing to determine whether additional accused remain at large. [4]
Rajasthan textile industry looks beyond compliance at ZLD conclave in Jodhpur
The State Environment Department hosted a Zero Liquid Discharge conclave in Jodhpur, bringing together representatives of Rajasthan's textile manufacturing sector to discuss water management practices that go beyond minimum regulatory compliance. Rajasthan is home to a large and historically significant textile dyeing and printing industry, much of it centred on Jodhpur and the surrounding region, which has faced persistent scrutiny over effluent discharge into water bodies and groundwater. The ZLD framework requires manufacturing units to treat and recycle all process water rather than discharge it as effluent, and the conclave was designed to accelerate voluntary adoption of the standard across units that are not yet legally obligated to comply. Industry participants explored the economics of ZLD investment, technology options for smaller units with limited capital budgets, and the potential market advantages of being able to credibly claim sustainable production credentials for export markets increasingly sensitive to environmental supply-chain standards. The Indian Textile Magazine covered the conclave, which was described as an attempt to reframe ZLD from a regulatory burden into a competitive opportunity for the sector at large. [7]
Sources: [1] timesofindia.indiatimes.com · [5] The New Indian Express · [4] Bhaskar English · [7] indiantextilemagazine.in