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Congress high command to hold two meetings over dissent in Karnataka unit, focus on changing govt’s negative image

OpIndia Staff
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Congress high command to hold two meetings over dissent in Karnataka unit, focus on changing govt’s negative image

Amid allegations of corruption, bickering camps, and growing dissent within the party, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was forced to call for a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on Thursday, 27 July. The aim of the CLP was to address the concerns of the dissenting members and restore harmony within the party. However, it remained inconclusive and failed to arrive at any amicable solutions which alarmed the party’s high command in Delhi. 

In the wake of these developments, the Congress high command has decided to convene two meetings in New Delhi on the 2nd of August to discuss issues of the Karnataka unit. Several party members, while some maintaining anonymity, claimed that the focus of these meetings will be to quell dissent within the party and change the negative image of its state government. They also added that the recent statement made by senior leader BK Hariprasad during the earlier meetings could also be discussed in the meeting by the central leadership.  

Congress MLA from Anand, BR Patil highlighted that the conduct of some ministers had earned a bad image for the state government. For those unversed, he had earlier written a letter to CM Siddaramaiah urging him to call a CLP meeting. The letter was also signed by 30 other party MLAs. 

Patil said, “We are happy that the party leadership responded to our concerns. While it is important to build a good public perception of the government, the conduct of a few ministers, as we observed, could be bad optics for the government. And that would have put us in a difficult situation ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. We are happy that we alerted the party before the situation got out of hand.”

A Congress officer-bearer informed PTI that only senior leaders of the party will take part in the first meeting.  

According to the Congress leader, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president D K Shivakumar, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil, general secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, who is also the Karnataka in-charge and some other top functionaries will take part in the first meeting. 

The office-bearer further mentioned that the Congress ministers will participate in the second meeting, and there is a possibility of some senior party MLAs joining as well.

Several MLAs and party workers in Karnataka Congress have claimed that the Congress Ministers are inaccessible. Their discontent also stems from the fact that Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar categorically told them that there will be no development projects this year. He claimed that on account of allocating Rs 60,000 crore annually for fulfilling five guarantees, the state government has a shortage of funds for development. 

State Home Minister targets the disgruntled party MLAs

Despite these claims from supporters of one camp, state Home Minister Dr. Parameshwara denied that there were any dissenting remarks during the CLP meeting. Contrarily, he targeted those MLAs who had written a letter to the Chief Minister claiming that Siddaramaiah himself told these MLAs that writing a letter was inappropriate and this trend should discontinue. 

Parameshwara said, “A few MLAs had written to the Chief Minister saying that he has to convene a meeting of the legislative party members. The Chief Minister said if you had told me orally, I would have convened the meeting. He requested that the convention of writing letters should not be continued in the future.” 

According to reports, a senior Congress leader claimed that these developments are causing embarrassment for the party and that central leadership should discipline them. 

The leader said, “The recent developments have been causing severe embarrassment to the party. Our leaders and the party high command will warn them and bring discipline in the party.”  

Another Congress insider said, “These MLAs had also carried out a signature campaign which the party leaders did not appreciate. Even Chief Minister Siddaramaiah admonished them during the CLP meeting not to resort to such tactics as it brings a bad name to the government.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also interact with Karnataka MPs on August 2. Reportedly, between the 31st of July and the 10th of August, PM Modi will interact with more than 400 MPs of the NDA in Delhi.

Rajasthan: Minor girl caught at Jaipur Airport trying to go to Lahore lied about family and ‘Pakistani boyfriend’, wanted to be famous like Seema Haider and Anju

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: Minor girl caught at Jaipur Airport trying to go to Lahore lied about family and ‘Pakistani boyfriend’, wanted to be famous like Seema Haider and Anju

The 17-year-old Hindu girl who was apprehended while purchasing a ticket to Lahore, Pakistan, on 28 July at the Jaipur International Airport has revealed that she contorted a story just to become famous like Seema and Anju. She had earlier told the police that she was originally from Pakistan and was brought here by her aunt three years ago.

The girl had said that she had come to India three years ago from Islamabad and was living with her aunt but now wants to return to Pakistan because now she and her aunt don’t get along well. She had also claimed that her aunt was pressuring her to marry her cousin Sikar.

The girl was handed over to police by Jaipur airport authorities on Friday after they did not find any passport, visa or any other travel document with her. It is also notable that there is no flight to Pakistan from Lahore. Initially, the airport authorities thought the girl was joking when the minor girl turned up to buy a ticket to Lahore without any documents. She then announced that her boyfriend Aslam Lahori lived in Pakistan, and he taught her how to deal with authorities in the airport. This alarmed the officials and they immediately contacted the police.

But now it has been revealed that she had contorted the entire story, and no such thing ever took place. She had since relocated to Sri Madhopur, a town close to Sikar.

She claimed that her name was Ghazal Mohammed and claimed that she came to the airport to leave for Pakistan. Efforts were made to locate her aunt but by evening it was evident that no woman by that description or a girl called Gazal Mohammed lived in the mentioned hamlet.

Senior officials, including Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Gyan Chandra Yadav and ACP (Malviya Nagar) Chiranji Lal Meena, joined the probe after the Jaipur Police swiftly contacted the state intelligence. Officials also started probing the two boys who assisted her in travelling to the state capital. They were acquainted with her through social media channels.

Afterwards, it was discovered that her entire story was fraudulent. Neither her family nor her boyfriend are citizens of Pakistan. She only lied to gain popularity. She confessed that her name is not Ghazal Mohammed, and she lives in Ratanpura village of Sikar district in Rajasthan. She wanted to follow in the footsteps of Seema Haider from Pakistan and Anju from India who have crossed over to each other’s countries to meet their lovers.

She watched their videos and thought of doing something similar to become famous. She boarded a bus from Sikar and travelled to Jaipur International Airport. The girl is from Ratanpura hamlet in the Sikar district, according to Jaipur City Police Commissioner Anand Srivastava. She had earlier mentioned that her house was in Sri Madhopur, which turned out to be another lie.

She had boarded a bus from Sikar to Jaipur and then reached the airport.

Her family members had been summoned by the authorities to the police station. The policemen were also surprised by her tale. She expressed that she was deeply influenced by Seema Haider and Anju when she realised that everyone in the country was aware of the two. She did everything to be recognised like them. She is presently being questioned by the police to ascertain if she is being truthful or not.

The minor girl was detained at Jaipur International Airport after she came to buy a ticket to Lahore without a passport or visa. The 17-year-old girl had said that she was going to Pakistan to meet her friend named Aslam Lahori, who she claimed to have met through Instagram. She had claimed that she is originally from Pakistan but was living in India for the last 3 years, but later it was found that she is a native of Ratanpura village of Sikar district of Rajasthan.

Who are Anju and Seema Haider

Anju, a native of Bhiwadi, Rajasthan, had told her family that she was visiting Jaipur a few days prior. However, she reached Pakistan through Wagah Bagah leaving behind her husband and two children. Afterwards, she converted to Islam and married a 29-year-old man named Nasrullah Khan, from a remote village of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

They formalised their union through a nikah ceremony held at the district courts in Upper Dir. The pair met on social media. The 35-year-old has taken up the name Fatima now. However, she has repeatedly denied all reports of her second marriage. Notably, her visa is valid for only 90 days.

The woman insisted that she had just travelled to Pakistan for sightseeing and had no intention of marrying anyone. Later, the couple’s pre-wedding photoshoot went viral, and the news of their Nikah (Islamic marriage) ceremony surfaced.

On the other hand, Seema Haider (30) from Karachi moved to India with her four children to be with her lover 25-year-old lover Sachin Meena who lives in Noida, Uttar Pradesh. They were introduced to each other in 2019 while playing PUBG.

They then met in Nepal in March and the two reportedly got married as per Hindu rituals after she converted to Hinduism. Afterwards, the duo entered India through Nepal on 13 May with her kids. She was arrested for sneaking into India on 4 July and Sachin as well as his father, Netrapal Singh were detained for providing her shelter. However, all of them were released later.

The two are staying in a leased home in the Rabupura neighbourhood of Noida along with her kids. Passport and other documents found with her have been sent to Pakistan Embassy and she could be deported back to her home country.

Her husband Ghulam Haider, who is currently in Saudi Arabia also released a video requesting the Indian government to send his wife and children back to Pakistan. However, she accused him of harassment and abuse.

Clashes erupt between Shia and Sunni Muslims during Muharram in Varanasi, Islamists raise ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans, pelt stones

OpIndia Staff
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Clashes erupt between Shia and Sunni Muslims during Muharram in Varanasi, Islamists raise ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans, pelt stones

On Saturday, July 29, Muslims belonging to the Shia and the Sunni community clashed with each other during a Tazia procession on the occasion of Muharram in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

According to reports, both sides indulged in sloganeering while they hurled stones at each other. More than 12 vehicles were torched during the ruckus. Police vehicles have also been pelted with stones. Tazias belonging to both communities were also damaged during the uproar. The incident left several people injured.

Hindi daily Bhaskar reported that the Islamists allegedly raised ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans while clashing with each other, however, the news outlet said that there was no official confirmation about the same yet.

The report, however, said that after the clash, the people of the Shia community sat on dharna and refused to take the Tazia to Karbala. Only after Police Commissioner Ashok Mutha Jain reached the spot with his force and spoke to the Shia members did they agree to take back their decision.

Giving details of the incident, Jain said that the Tajiya procession was being taken out from the Jaitpura Doshipura at around 2 pm. During this, some members of the Shia and Sunni communities engaged in an argument which quickly converted into a full-fledged clash. The Islamists started throwing bricks and stones to attack each other while shouting slogans.

As soon as the news of the incident spread, the police and RAF team reached the spot. The miscreants who were creating a ruckus were chased away from there. The police spoke to the remaining members of both communities and tried to pacify them. The situation returned to normalcy only by 4 pm in the evening.

Meanwhile, a large number of forces have been deployed in the area to prevent any further untoward incidents.

Police Commissioner Ashok Mutha Jain said that the entire brawl has been captured on the CCTV camera, in which both sides are seen pelting stones. On the basis of the CCTV footage, the police team has started identifying the culprits. The commissioner assured that the miscreants would not be spared.

Udupi washroom video case: Congress stages demonstrations against BJP’s protests demanding justice for victims

OpIndia Staff
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Udupi washroom video case: Congress stages demonstrations against BJP’s protests demanding justice for victims

Congress, the ruling party in Karnataka, is protesting against BJP in response to the saffron party’s protests demanding justice for the victims of the Udupi College washroom video case. 

The grand old party has staged a protest claiming that the BJP is trying to communalise the incident.

Earlier, the BJP launched a demonstration against the ruling Congress party after the three accused received bail on Friday evening. 

The protesters demanded justice for the victim and voiced their grievances against Congress and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, whom they accused of having a “Jihadi” mindset. They also labelled the Congress-led Karnataka government as “anti-Hindu.”

The BJP activists in Udupi marched from their party headquarters to the Superintendent of Police (SP) office, expressing their outrage and discontent with the handling of the situation by the Siddaramaiah Congress government.

Earlier yesterday, bail was granted to the three accused students. Additional Civil Judge Shyam Prakash heard the bail pleas of the three accused named Alimatul Shaifa, Shabanaz, and Alia, and granted them bail. Advocate Asadullah Katpadi, appearing for the students, claimed that the case was politically motivated and that the complaint was not filed by the affected student.

The court accepted the plea and granted bail to the three on personal bonds of Rs 20,000 each. However, the court ordered them to cooperate with the investigators and attend all court hearings. The court also added that witnesses should not be intimidated.

The background of the Udupi washroom video case

The incident happened on 18th July when a Hindu girl noticed that the three accused were making a video of her while she was in the bathroom. She then alerted others, following which the three accused students were suspended.The college management conducted an inquiry into the matter and concluded that the video had been deleted, closing the case. However, due to public outrage, a case was filed against the girls and the college administration by the police.The girls have been booked under They were booked under Sections 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 204 (destruction of document or electronic record to prevent its production as evi­dence), 175 (omission to produce document or electronic record to public servant by person legally bound to produce it) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section Section 66(e) (punishment for violation of privacy) of the Information Technology Act.

Electrocution during Muharram procession: Six people died and several injured in 3 separate incidents in Gujarat, Bihar, and Jharkhand

OpIndia Staff
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Electrocution during Muharram procession: Six people died and several injured in 3 separate incidents in Gujarat, Bihar, and Jharkhand

On the 29th of July, three major accidents of electrocution during the Muharram procession were reported in three states of Northern India – Gujarat, Bihar, and Jharkhand. 

The first accident came to light from Rajkot’s Dhoraji area in Gujarat. Two people lost their lives while 24 others suffered electric shocks. Out of them, four people suffered serious injuries and they are claimed to be in critical condition. As per a report in Gujarat Tak, two people who lost their lives in this accident have been identified as Juned Hanif Majothi and Sajid Juman.

The accident took place during the Muharram procession in Rajkot’s Dhoraji area when the Tajia hit a high-tension electric line. 

Following the incident, the injured were admitted to Dhoraji government hospital and a private hospital for treatment. 

Reportedly, the incident took place in the Rasoolpara area of Dhoraji. When the Muslim community was taking out Tajia as part of the Muharram procession, the Tajia collided with the electric high-tension cable passing from above. While some people fainted after getting hit by an electric shock, others ran in panic. 

When the news about the accident spread, GEB officers along with Dhoraji police reached the spot. Family members of the injured, local residents, and several leaders also rushed to the hospital to see the injured.  

Apart from them, Deputy SP Ratno PI Gohil, and PSI Jadeja also reached Dhoraji’s private hospital, where they inquired about the health of the injured people.

Apparently, the video of the electrocution has also come to the fore. In the video, it can be seen that the metal part atop the Tajia collided with the power line. Afterward, many people suddenly fainted and fell on the road. While some people started running here and there. According to reports, numerous children were also injured by the electric current during the accident.

All Injured out of danger in Gopalganj’s electrocution accident during Muharram procession

Another major incident of electrocution during Tajia as part of the Muharram procession was reported from Gopalganj in Bihar. Reportedly, 8 people sustained injuries after getting hit by electric shocks. Subsequently, all the injured were admitted to the emergency ward of Gopalganj Sadar Hospital. Though they were admitted to the emergency ward, the condition of all the victims is said to be normal.

The accident took place in Harpur Dharma Chak village under the Uchkagaon police station area. 

Gopalganj SP Swarna Prabhat stated that Tajia processions are being taken out at various places in Gopalganj as part of Muharram. 

He added that a procession was also taken out on behalf of the people in Dharam Chak village of Harpur in Uchkagaon. Some people involved in the procession carried green bamboo and tree branches in their hands. These green bamboo and tree branches touched the electric wire passing from above. After which, the crowd got electrocuted and 8 people sustained injuries.

Following the accident, the officials asserted that during Tajia, the procession will only commence after a power cut.

Third electrocution incident in the Muharram procession in a day

Earlier in the day, four men were killed and 13 others were left severely injured due to electrocution during a Muharram procession in the Bokaro district of Jharkhand. 

The Tajia being carried in the procession collided with a high-tension electric wire resulting in a blast in Khetko village of Peterwar Block in Bokaro, killing four and causing burn injuries to thirteen people. As per reports, the Tajia was en route from Dargah Mohalla to Karbala when the incident took place.

According to police, the Muharram procession was carrying a religious flag on an iron pole which came in contact with the high-tension wire. 

Punjab police foil Khalistani terror module planning targeted killings, bust narco crime syndicate in intelligence-driven operations

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab police foil Khalistani terror module planning targeted killings, bust narco crime syndicate in intelligence-driven operations

In an intelligence-driven operation, the Punjab Police, in collaboration with the State Special Operation Cell, SAS Nagar, successfully thwarted a foreign-based terror module associated with the alleged Khalistan Liberation Force. The module’s sinister plot aimed to disturb peace in Punjab through targeted killings.

As a result of their swift action, the law enforcement authorities apprehended five members of the terror module who were assigned to carry out the planned target killings. Additionally, the police seized two illegal weapons along with live ammunition during the operation, as confirmed by Punjab’s Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav in a tweet.

DGP Punjab police tweeted, “In an intelligence-led operation, the State Special Operation Cell SAS Nagar has foiled a foreign-based terror module of the Khalistan Liberation Force planning to disrupt peace in Punjab through targeted killings. 5 module members tasked to execute target killings have been arrested and 2 illegal weapons and live ammunition seized.”

During a recent operation, the Punjab police successfully dismantled a narco crime syndicate, which was allegedly run by gangster Ravi Balachauria. As a result of the operation, two individuals were apprehended.

The police seized a significant amount of arms and ammunition along with over one kilogram of heroin from the arrested individuals. This successful bust marks a major blow to the illicit drug trade in the region.

DGP Punjab Police tweeted, “In a major breakthrough, the SBS Nagar police has busted a narco-organised crime syndicate operated by gangster Ravi Balachauria 2 main operatives arrested with the seizure of 1.2 Kg Heroin, 3 pistols, 260 live cartridges and Rs. 1.4 lakh drug money. Further investigations ongoing for forward & backward linkages.”

Belgium: Man kills mother, throws fridge containing her body parts into a canal

OpIndia Staff
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Belgium: Man kills mother, throws fridge containing her body parts into a canal

In a shocking incident in Belgium, a 30-year-old man has been booked and incarcerated in Belgium after he admitted to having murdered his mother. According to the Walloon city prosecutor, the mother’s body was discovered mutilated and dumped into a side channel of the Meuse near Liège.

A refrigerator with two limbs and two legs was discovered floating in a canal on the outskirts of Liege earlier this week, sparking an instant murder inquiry.

As the police dug deeper into the case, they found even more disturbing evidence. The deceased victim’s head and torso were unearthed in a nearby river in a trash container. Catherine Collignon, the prosecution’s spokesperson, confirmed the woman’s identification through different indicators, including her nails, jewellery, and a tattoo on her trunk.

Following the finding, the suspect was captured while attempting to flee to South Korea at a hotel in Zaventem. He confessed to the murder after being questioned by police and was brought before an examining magistrate on Friday. After being charged, he was placed in pre-trial jail.

Reportedly, the woman was murdered on July 10, with the perpetrator strangling and dismembering his mother’s body. The crime happened in Seraing, Liège, where the woman lived with her two children and granddaughter.

It was noted during the investigation that the mother and son had been arguing frequently since the son came back to reside with her during the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘Insurgent groups in northeast India receiving Chinese aids’: Ex-Army chief MM Naravane on Manipur violence

OpIndia Staff
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‘Insurgent groups in northeast India receiving Chinese aids’: Ex-Army chief MM Naravane on Manipur violence

On Friday, July 28, former army chief General MM Naravane said that the involvement of foreign agencies in the Manipur violence cannot be ruled out. Narvane asserted that several insurgent groups operating in Manipur received aid from China. 

Instability in border states, according to General (retd) Naravane, is bad for the nation’s general national security. He was speaking with reporters at the India International Centre on the theme ‘National Security Perspective’ when he was asked about the ongoing unrest in Manipur.

The former army chief also expressed his trust in the authorities taking measures to control the situation in Manipur as he urged people not to “second guess them.”

“I am sure that those who are in the chair and responsible for taking actions due to be taken are doing their best. We should avoid to second guess them. The person on the ground knows best what is to be done,” he said.

Furthermore, Naravane stated that he is certain that Chinese aid is reaching insurgent groups active in the violence-hit northeastern state. “The involvement of foreign agencies, not only cannot be ruled out, but they are definitely there particularly Chinese aid to various insurgent groups, they’ve been helping them for so many years. They will continue, I believe,” Naravane said.

When asked about the role of drug trafficking in the current turmoil in Manipur, Naravane stated it has been ongoing for a long time and the number of drugs recovered has continued to rise over the years.

“We are just a little remote from the Golden Triangle—Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos form the Golden Triangle. Myanmar is perpetually in disarray and under military administration. Even in the best of times, the government only had control over central Myanmar, not the outlying bordering states, whether with India, China, or Thailand. So drug trafficking has always been there,” General (retd) said. 

He further claimed that there will be agencies or other players in the game who benefit from the violence and who would not wish to see normalcy return to Manipur because while this instability is there, they stand to benefit.

“There will probably be agencies or other actors in the game who benefit from the violence and who would not want a situation of normalcy to get on because while this instability is there, they stand to benefit,” Naravane added.

Background of the violence in Manipur

The ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities in the northeastern state of Manipur has already resulted in more than 100 fatalities and thousands of displaced residents.

The first clashes occurred on 3 May following a “Tribal Solidarity March” organised by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) in the hill areas to oppose the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Tensions rose in April as a result of a Manipur High Court decision ordering the state administration to make a decision regarding the Scheduled Tribe status issue.

Kerala: 5-year-old missing girl found dead in garbage yard in Aluva, accused Asfaq Alam says he had sold her to one Sakeer Hussain

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: 5-year-old missing girl found dead in garbage yard in Aluva, accused Asfaq Alam says he had sold her to one Sakeer Hussain

The case of a missing 5-year-old girl from Aluva in Kerala has turned out to be a shocking homicide. Investigators discovered her body placed inside a gunny bag in a garbage dump on 29 July, a day after she was taken from her rented home in Mukkat Plaza, Kochi in Kerala. According to police, she was kidnapped while her parents were at work, by a man identified as a migrant worker named Asfaq Alam.

However, while Kerala-based media like Manorama and Matribhumi have reported that Asfaq Alam is from Bihar, some others like Indian Express and Hindu report that the accused is from Assam.

The body of the girl in a sac was found by daily wage workers at the Aluva market near the Periyar River.

The victim was identified by the Ernakulam Rural police as Chandini, the daughter of Ramdhar Tiwari, a native of Bishambharpur in the Pashchim Champaran region of Bihar. She was a first-grader at a nearby school and had three siblings. The accused who lived near her house was taken into custody by police.

Vivek Kumar, Superintendent of Police (Ernakulam Rural), stated that the girl was reported missing from her home on 28 July around 3 o’clock. He informed, “Her parents came to know that she was missing when they returned after work. At 7 pm, we got a complaint and around 8 pm we registered the First Information Report. CCTV footage showed a person moving along with the missing girl.”

He further added, “Later in the night, we tracked down Alam. We could not get any details from him at the time as he was in an inebriated condition. On Saturday, he confessed to the crime.” The senior official confirmed that the body was retrieved from the waste yard in the market. He pointed out, “The motive behind the crime is under investigation.”

The perpetrator came to live in the same building as the minor, two days back. The family of the victim is living there for the last four years. The residential complex provides accommodation to migrant workers.

During the interrogation, Asfaq Alam claimed that he sold her to another person in exchange for cash. He claimed that a man named Sakeer Hussain was the individual who took her away after he traded her with the help of a friend. Based on his statement, police took two more persons in custody on Saturday morning.

It has been revealed during the probe that Alam abducted the child near the railway gate at Thaikkattukara on Friday afternoon. In CCTV footage he was seen crossing the road along with the girl and then boarding a bus to Thrissur. However, it is not clear what happened after that.



Indian-origin UN-designated gangster killed in Canada two months after his brother suffered a similar fate

OpIndia Staff
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Indian-origin UN-designated gangster killed in Canada two months after his brother suffered a similar fate

On Thursday, July 27, a United Nations designated gangster named Ravinder Samra was shot dead in Richmond, Canada. Ravinder Samra’s death comes just two months after his brother Amarpreet Samra was killed in a similar targeted attack in Vancouver.

The 36-year-old UN-designated gangster was shot many times in the 8000-block of Minler Road, near Blundell, at 5:45 p.m. According to Corporal Sukhi Dhesi of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, Samra’s death was a targeted killing related to the B.C. gang violence.

“These are disturbing incidents for members of our community.” I urge anyone who wishes to talk to someone to contact victim services and IHIT investigators,” Dhesi said. According to local media reports, witnesses claimed to have heard four to five popping sounds and machine gun fire-like sounds.

Ravinder’s brother Amanpreet was named one of Canada’s top ten gangsters. On May 28, Amanpreet was murdered by the gang Brothers Group outside a wedding reception in Vancouver, Canada. The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia (CFSEU-BC) had issued public warnings about Samra in 2021 and 2022.

According to the provincial gang unit, he was one of 11 persons who posed “a significant threat” to the public because of their role in the ongoing gang fight.

“Police believe that anyone with, or in close proximity to, these individuals may be putting themselves at risk,” the CFSEU stated in 2022.

In June 2015, the elder Samra (Ravinder) and a companion were taken to Surrey Memorial Hospital with gunshot wounds following a shootout between two vehicles travelling along Highway 10 near 187th Street. Samra and his friend refused to talk to authorities about their injuries or the previous shooting.

According to a civil forfeiture case filed in 2015, police confiscated Samra’s 2003 BMW X5 and secured a search warrant for it. The car was eventually forfeited.

Following a case filed by the director of civil forfeiture in February 2017, several thousand dollars confiscated from two Surrey homes were turned over to the government as drug trafficking earnings. According to the lawsuit, the money was confiscated after B.C.’s anti-gang Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit’s investigation. 

Earlier this month, the Samra brothers were named as respondents in another civil forfeiture case, in which the government sought that a Richmond residence be forfeited to the government since it was allegedly purchased using criminal proceeds.

According to the case, which was filed on July 19, the brothers were operating “a dial-a-dope drug trafficking business” in October of last year when IHIT officers executed multiple search warrants in connection with an unidentified case.

On Friday, Corporal Dhesi of IHIT also revealed that a vehicle discovered “fully engulfed in flames” in the 12000 block of Blundell around 10 minutes after Samra’s murder is thought to be linked to the suspect or suspects in the murder.

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