Missing Keralite found safe after Houthi attack in Red Sea
His family said that he first contacted them in the early hours of Friday and again on Friday evening. He told them that he was initially rescued by a fishing vessel and later handed over to the Yemen Coast Guard. Efforts to bring him back to Kerala are under way with the help of the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia, the family added.
The vessel, MV Eternity C, a Liberian-flagged cargo ship, was en route to the Israeli port of Eilat when it came under attack. At the time, the ship had a crew of 25 on board, including nationals from India, the Philippines, Russia and Greece. Four crew members were killed in the attack. Ten others, including another Keralite identified as Augustine of Parasala in Thiruvananthapuram, were rescued.
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NDTV
3 minutes ago
- NDTV
Fake Passport Racket Busted: Akola Emerges As Key Hub For Afghan Network
In a sensational twist to the recently busted inter-state fake passport racket, the communally sensitive city of Akola in eastern Maharashtra has emerged as the fourth major hub of an Afghan-led network operating across Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh. The alleged kingpin, 30-year-old Afghan national Sohbat Khan, now in the custody of the Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), has been spilling one bombshell after another during interrogation. According to sources, a religious place in Akola served as a covert meeting point for Afghans living illegally in India. It was here that Sohbat allegedly met Akbar and Iqbal, two Afghan nationals illegally residing in West Bengal, who had already managed to obtain Indian passports through this racket. "When we made the first three arrests, our investigation was limited to Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh), West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh. But Sohbat's interrogation revealed Akola's crucial role, bringing the communally sensitive city into the spotlight," a senior ATS officer said. Before settling in Jabalpur in 2010, Sohbat had also lived in Nagpur and Akola. So far, six people have been arrested - the kingpin Sohbat Khan, his aide Dinesh Garg (a forest guard posted in the district collectorate's election cell), Chandan Thakur (who posed as a lawyer), and Mahendra Kumar Sukhdan from Jabalpur - along with Afghan nationals Akbar and Iqbal from West Bengal. Investigations have revealed the pivotal role of Chandan Singh, who disguised himself as a lawyer to prepare fake documents. Wearing a black coat, he would enter government offices and handle the legal paperwork to push these fake applications through. ATS has arrested him as well. According to the ATS, Sohbat first created a fake residential proof and birth certificate showing him as a permanent resident of Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh's cultural and judicial capital. Using these forged documents, he obtained a driving licence, and in 2020, an Indian passport, followed by Aadhaar, PAN, and voter ID cards. With aides Garg, Sukhdan, and Thakur, Sohbat began replicating this modus operandi for Afghan youths living illegally in West Bengal and Chhattisgarh. All were shown as "permanent residents of Jabalpur" through fake address proofs and manipulated Aadhaar cards. The racket also hacked the delivery system. Normally, passports are delivered to the applicant's home by the postal department. But this gang would intercept the postman midway, hand him Rs 3,000 in cash, and walk away with the passport right on the street. The ATS has concrete evidence that at least three Afghans, including Akbar and Iqbal, obtained Indian passports through this racket, while 15-17 more applications were in the process. One of them, Akbar, paid Rs 1.20 lakh immediately after his passport was issued. Sohbat Khan's arrest was triggered by a Facebook photo of him posing with an AK-47, which went viral and caught the attention of security agencies. Further investigation revealed his fake Aadhaar and Indian passport. Akbar, on the other hand, had destroyed his original Afghan passport and joined the racket in hopes of returning to Afghanistan through illegal means.
News18
11 minutes ago
- News18
Indian Entrepreneur Falls Victim To Theft In Spain: 'Few Seconds Changed Everything'
Last Updated: Blockwee founder Ayush Panchmiya rushed to the Starbucks staff and requested them to check the CCTV footage, but he was told the police would first need to intervene. A young Indian entrepreneur's work trip to Europe turned into a stressful ordeal after his passport, US visa, credit cards and cash were stolen during a short break at a Barcelona cafe. The incident, shared by Blockwee founder Ayush Panchmiya on X (formerly Twitter), has gained widespread attention and prompted fellow travellers to rethink travel safety. 'I lost my passport, US visa, and all my cash… in Spain. Let me walk you through the worst 48 hours of my travel life and how I got out of it," he wrote on X. 'Few Seconds Changed Everything' Panchmiya, who had just arrived in Barcelona with his team after attending ETHCC in Cannes, stopped at a Starbucks to catch up on work. 'We had just landed in Barcelona after a heavy week at ETHCC Cannes. It was a chill morning for us. Our team was at Starbucks, editing content for a couple of clients," he wrote. The entrepreneur then stepped outside the café to take a call and left his black bag tucked under the table, something which he had 'done a hundred times on trips like these." But moments later, it was gone. Reporting The Theft Panchmiya then rushed to the Starbucks staff and requested them to check the CCTV footage, but he was told the police would first need to intervene. 'So I rushed to the nearest station, filed a report, and explained everything in detail," he added. At the local police station, he filed a detailed report. But there was another shock waiting. 'It'll take 15 to 20 days for us to even review the CCTV footage," the police reportedly told him. His flight to India was just two days away. Indian Embassy To The Rescue With the Indian embassy closed over the weekend, Panchmiya had to wait until Monday morning. As soon as it opened, he went in person to explain the situation. Their response was swift and crucial. 'Walked in as soon as they opened. And I cannot thank them enough; they issued me an emergency certificate (a temporary passport) in just 4 to 5 hours. That same evening, I was back on a flight to India," Panchmiya continued. Sharing The Experience To Help Others His reason for sharing the ordeal wasn't to complain but to help others be better prepared. 'If you travel often, especially around Europe, this can happen to anyone. Even if you're cautious. Even if you're 'experienced." And in that moment, the confusion is real. You don't know who to call, what to do, or whether you'll make it home," he wrote. He also offered practical tips: 'Don't panic. Immediately go to the nearest police station. File a report. Walk into your embassy in person. Don't just email or call. Explain everything clearly. Ask for an emergency certificate. If your flight is close, they can issue one in hours." His post gained significant traction with several users sharing their thoughts and travel tips in the comment section. Another wrote, 'This is one of my worst fears when travelling abroad. You handled things so well." 'Just because it's 'something you'd done a hundred times on trips like this' doesn't mean it's smart," a person said. Someone else advised, 'Keep that police report safe, it'll really come in handy. The real challenge starts now, for getting a new passport." 'Safe. Grateful. Grounded.' Panchmiya ended his post by acknowledging both the chaos of the experience and the support he received from the Indian embassy and the Web3 community. top videos View all 'Now I am back home. Safe. Grateful. Grounded. This post is just my way of paying it forward, so if it ever happens to you, you'll know exactly what to do," he shared. Now back in India, he is working through the process of getting his passport and visas reissued. About the Author News18's viral page features trending stories, videos, and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : indian entrepreneur viral news view comments Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: August 04, 2025, 13:18 IST News viral Indian Entrepreneur Falls Victim To Theft In Spain: 'Few Seconds Changed Everything' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
18 minutes ago
- News18
News18 Afternoon Digest: Ex-Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren Passes Away, SC Raps Rahul Gandhi & More
Last Updated: We also covered: India And Philippines Conduct Joint Sail, Naval Drill In Disputed South China Sea and BSF Detains Man Along Indo-Pak Border In J&K's Kathua. In today's afternoon digest, News18 brings you the latest update on former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren has passed away today. He had been critically ill and on ventilator support; The Supreme Court on Monday rebuked Rahul Gandhi over his claim that the Chinese military occupied a large part of the Indian territory, and more. Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren died on Monday. He was 81. The development was confirmed by his son, Hemant Soren, the present Chief Minister of Jharkhand, via an X post. On August 2, it was reported that Shibu Soren was on a ventilator support in a critical condition. Read more A few small cockroaches were found on an Air India flight from San Francisco to Mumbai, the airline said in a statement. It added that the small cockroaches were first noticed by two passengers on board the flight, which had a halt in Kolkata. 'If you were a true Indian, you would not say this", the Supreme Court said on Monday while rebuking Rahul Gandhi over his claim that the Chinese military occupied a large part of the Indian territory. The apex court also asked the Congress leader how he came to know that the Chinese had occupied hundreds of kilometers of India's land, and said freedom of expression cannot be used to 'say anything". Read more The Border Security Force (BSF) personnel on Monday detained a man near the International Border in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir after discovering suspicious activity on his mobile phone, including call records linked to a Pakistani number. Read more Saiyaara director Mohit Suri recently shared a hilarious anecdote about Ahaan, revealing that the actor sent him all his 'bad auditions' after wrapping up Saiyaara shoot. These video clips featured his 'over-the-top' dialogues, and Ahaan showed the videos to Mohit Suri, playfully telling him 'You've cast this boy!' The filmmaker jokingly admitted that had he seen those videos before casting Ahaan, he might have reconsidered the decision. He playfully called Ahaan a 'fraud' for keeping those over-the-top auditions hidden until filming wrapped. Read more Jasprit Bumrah was always expected to play only three of the five Tests in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England. The pacer himself, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and captain Shubman Gill all said before the series began that it was to manage his workload and avoid a serious injury like the one he suffered in Australia. So, when he missed out on the team's 11 for the fifth Test at the Oval, it wasn't a surprise. Read more About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk More view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
