Overview

• Madhya Pradesh's government has launched a probe into Turkish firm Asisguard, which holds a Rs 186.52 crore contract for Automatic Fare Collection systems in Bhopal and Indore metro projects.
• The investigation follows reports that Pakistan used Asisguard's Songar armed drones in attempted attacks on Indian sites during recent hostilities.
• Urban Administration Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya stated that the contract will be terminated if the firm is found linked to anti-India activities or its products used against India's security.
• This scrutiny aligns with India's broader actions against Turkish firms, including the recent revocation of Celebi Airport Services' security clearance over national security concerns.
• Pending the investigation, further installation of AFC systems in the metro projects has been put on hold, with public and trade bodies also calling for boycotts of Turkish goods.