Latest news with #Alam
Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Indian Express
Pakistan spy case: NIA searches 3 locations in Kolkata, travel agency owner summoned
In the National Investigation Agency (NIA) raids conducted across the country in connection with the arrests linked to Pakistan espionage case, searches were conducted at three locations in Kolkata on Saturday. The officials also summoned a travel agency owner to its office for questioning with regard to some dubious money transactions. According to NIA sources, in Kolkata the searches were held at shop in Alipore, a travel agency in Khidderpore and a hotel in Park Circus. In all, raids were held at 15 locations in Delhi, Haryana, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Assam in connection with the arrest of CRPF Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Moti Ram Jat in Delhi for allegedly leaking classified information to Pakistani intelligence operatives in return of money. According to sources in the NIA, there were some suspicious money transactions through the travel agency office on three occasions, including one on April 3, 2024. These transactions are being investigated. Travel agency owner, Mohammed Masood Alam, has been summoned by the NIA for questioning on Monday. Alam told reporters that NIA officials searched his office regarding some money transfers. 'They were asking about a specific amount, but that transaction was not found. We had done three transactions in 2024 through third-party apps like Pay Point India. We do not personally know the person who came for those transactions. We only verify Aadhaar cards and process the transactions as per our job. The account number, where the money was transferred, was provided by the customer himself,' said Alam whose phone and laptop have been seized. 'As far as we know, it was said to be a Pakistan-based account. But Indian money cannot be directly sent to a Pakistan account through these platforms. This is my livelihood, and I've always done my work honestly, just like others in this business,' said Alam, adding that he would cooperate with the investigation agency. 'I have not done anything wrong. I only did my job, nothing else.' Sources said that the activity of arrested ASI, Moti Ram Jat, who was posted in Pahalgam, was under the scanner for weeks, and was transferred to Delhi just five days before the April 22 terror attack that killed 26 civilians. Prior to Pahalgam terror attack, it was found that Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra who was arrested on May 16 on charges of espionage had reportedly visited Kolkata thrice. During her visits she had taken videos and pictures of important places like Sealdah railway station, Howrah Railway station, and Bali bridge.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Patriotism a unifying force': Jamia joins hands with Association of Indian Universities for a nationwide youth pledge
In a display of collective resolve and patriotic fervour, Jamia Hamdard University in Delhi on Tuesday joined hands with the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) to take part in a nationwide youth pledge under the banner 'Yuva Shakti, Bharat Ki Shakti – One Youth, One Nation, One Resolve' at an event. Held simultaneously across five regions of India, the event was marked with what the university described as 'a powerful expression of the resolve and aspirations of India's youth.' At Jamia Hamdard, the pledge ceremony brought together a large gathering of students, including National Cadet Corps cadets and National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers, who reaffirmed their commitment to national unity, civic responsibility, and the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat, a self-reliant India. 'This event transcended a mere ceremonial gesture,' the university said in a statement Thursday. 'It underscored the belief that patriotism is a unifying force, shared equally across regions, institutions, and communities, and that the future of Bharat lies in the hands of its empowered youth.' The proceedings at Jamia Hamdard began with a recitation from the Quran, the Islamic holy book , followed by a welcome address by Prof. Reshma Nasreen, Dean of Students' Welfare. The ceremony was presided over by Vice Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) M. Afshar Alam, and featured a cultural invocation and the singing of the National Anthem before the formal pledge was taken. Prominent dignitaries in attendance included Dr Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General of AIU; Prof. Himani Sood, Pro-Chancellor of Chandigarh University, and Chandan Choudhary, MLA from Sangam Vihar. The university hosted the event under the theme 'Rashtra Pratham.' Alam, in his address, hailed the national push toward Viksit Bharat by 2047 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He called on students to embody the spirit of unity and empowerment, highlighting the crucial role of youth and women in nation-building. He drew attention to the courage of women officers in the armed forces, specifically lauding 'exemplary women leaders such as Col. Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh for their valiant roles in Operation Sindoor.' Reaffirming the university's commitment to inclusive values, Prof. Alam said, 'We are proud to stand with AIU in shaping our nation's youth as the conscience-keepers of Bharat.' The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Sarfaraz Ahsan, Registrar (Officiating), who underscored the university's message and mission — 'to empower our youth, to strengthen Bharat and to stand united in purpose and spirit.'
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
Man dies after fight over skull cap in Haryana's Panipat; kin allege hate crime, cops deny
A 24-year-old tailor in Haryana's Panipat died last week after being assaulted in an alleged hate crime following an argument over his skull cap. The accused in the case, a 30-year-old man, was sent to judicial custody for 15 days on Monday. The incident took place on May 24 near Flora Chowk in Sector 29. The police identified the deceased as Firdaus Alam alias Asjad Babu and the accused as Narendra alias Shishu Lala. According to the police complaint filed by Alam's elder brother, Asad Raees, on May 24, at around 6 pm, Alam had come to Flora Chowk to visit his in-laws. At 8.30 pm, he went for a walk in the vacant field near Flora Chowk with his friend, Shahnawaz. While returning, he passed in front of Lala's grocery shop, the complaint said. Lala allegedly took Alam's skull cap and wore it. When he was repeatedly asked to return it, he allegedly refused and threw it on the street, as per the complaint. Alam picked up the cap and angrily asked why Lala had thrown it on the road, the complaint said. Lala allegedly got angry at this, brought a stick from his shop, and hit Alam on the head, wounding him. After Lala returned to his shop, Shahnawaz informed Raees about the incident, and the duo took him to multiple government hospitals. He succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at PGI Rohtak. Alam, who hailed from Kari Virpur village in Bihar's Kishanganj district, stayed in Vikas Nagar with Raees. The brothers did tailoring work together. Following Raees's complaint, an FIR was lodged at the Industrial Sector 29 police station on May 25, and Lala was arrested hours later. Speaking to The Indian Express, Raees alleged that it was a hate crime. 'The fight was over the cap only, and he was beaten up badly with a stick,' he said. 'I have lost my brother, and it will take time to get justice,' he added. However, Police Sub-Inspector Subhash Khasa, Station House Officer, Industrial Sector 29 police station, denied any religious angle to the crime. 'Absolutely not. The accused just wanted to try on the cap, which he might not even have known was a proper skull cap. When he put it on and asked how he looked, the deceased asked him to return it. After that, a fight broke out. There is nothing more in the case, and the investigation is on,' Khasa added. Meanwhile, JD(U) leader and former Bihar MLA Mujahid Alam called for the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act to be invoked against the accused, along with the death penalty, saying that it was a 'clear hate crime'. 'I have met the Haryana DGP regarding this, and written to the chief minister too. If the police are saying there is no religious angle, it is wrong,' he added. It had only been seven months since Alam got married. 'What is there to talk about now? My son-in-law is no more,' his father-in-law, Rizwan Kahlu, said.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Time of India
Fake meds: Accused nabbed after 3 years
New Delhi: A man accused of trafficking spurious cancer medicines and evading arrest for over three years was nabbed by the crime branch of Delhi Police. The accused, Sabir Alam, was arrested while he was on his honeymoon in Bardhman, West Bengal, after sustained surveillance and multiple raids. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Alam had been declared a Proclaimed Offender in a case registered under IPC sections related to cheating, criminal conspiracy, and adulteration of drugs. "His arrest is the latest in a major case that began in Nov 2022, when four individuals were caught with counterfeit cancer drugs. The probe eventually led to 14 arrests, including two doctors, and the discovery of an illegal manufacturing unit in Sonipat, Haryana, and a warehouse in Tronica City, Uttar Pradesh," said DCP (crime) Harsh Indora. Police said Alam played a critical role in the distribution network, managing the circulation of counterfeit medicines in Kolkata and coordinating their shipment to Bangladesh, where they were delivered to a person identified as Dr Rasel. He also handled the finances, collecting payments and transferring the proceeds to co-accused Dr Pabitra Narayan Pradhan and Shubham Manna, after keeping his share. Following the arrests of his associates, Alam went underground. He got married in 2022 and attempted to lead a low-profile life while avoiding law enforcement. However, the Crime Branch continued efforts to trace him, conducting regular raids at his suspected hideouts in West Bengal. "The breakthrough came when officers received a tip that Alam was on his honeymoon in Raniganj. A team reached the area and began checking hotels. On May 20, they learned that Alam had boarded a bus to Kanda. Acting swiftly, the team intercepted him at the Kanda bus stand and took him into custody," said DCP Indora.
Express Tribune
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Ban on Awami League divides BD voters
The banning of fugitive ex-leader Sheikh Hasina's party offers a sliver of justice for Bangladeshis demanding she face trial for crimes against humanity but also raises concerns about the inclusivity of elections. "The government has taken the right decision," said Jahangir Alam, whose 19-year-old son was killed during the mass uprising that forced Hasina into exile in August 2024, ending the 15 years of iron-fisted control by her once all-powerful Awami League party. "Because of her, the Awami League is now ruined," Alam said, demanding Hasina return from India to comply with the arrest warrant on charges related to the crackdown that killed at least 1,400 protesters. "Who gave Sheikh Hasina the authority to kill my son?" said Alam, the father of Ibrahim Hossain Zahid, accusing 77-year-old Hasina of being a "mass murderer". "People used to hang Mujib's photo over their heads," he said. "Because of Sheikh Hasina's wrongdoing, that photo is now under our feet." Political fortunes rise and fall quickly in Bangladesh. Hasina's government was blamed for extensive human rights abuses and protesters demanded that the interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus take action. The South Asian nation of some 170 million people last held elections in January 2024, when Hasina won a fourth term in the absence of genuine opposition parties. Yunus promises that inclusive elections will be held by June 2026 at the latest. Among those demanding the Awami League ban was the National Citizen's Party made up of many of the students who spearheaded last year's uprising. Others were supporters of the Hefazat-e-Islam group and Jamaat-e-Islami, the largest Islamist political party. Jamaat-e-Islami was banned during Hasina's time in power and several of its leaders were tried and hanged. Unsurprisingly, its members were vocal supporters of the ban. The government banned the Awami League on May 12 after protests outside Yunus's home, pending the trial of Hasina. "The oppressed have begun becoming oppressors," said Latif Siddiqui, a veteran Awami League member and former minister, adding that the party was wider than Hasina alone. "She is not the whole Awami League," he said. "Many loved the party." Human Rights Watch issued stinging criticism on Thursday, warning that "imposing a ban on any speech or activity deemed supportive of a political party is an excessive restriction on fundamental freedoms that mirrors the previous government's abusive clampdown". However, political analyst Farhad Mazhar, an ideological guru for many student protesters, said the ban was required. "The democratic space may shrink, but the Awami League has shown no remorse," Mazhar said.
