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News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Dubai's Kerala Expats Say Afridi, Gul Gate-Crashed Event: ‘Couldn't Ask Them To Leave'
Last Updated: Cochin University alumni group in Dubai says it did not invite former Pakistan cricketers, who arrived at the event without prior notice. The Cochin University BTech Alumni Association (CUBAA) has clarified that former Pakistan cricketers Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul appeared uninvited at their cultural event in Dubai last week, saying the organisers were caught off guard and 'couldn't ask them to leave." The cricketers showed up at Ormachuvadukal Season 2, an inter-collegiate dance competition hosted by CUBAA at the Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) on May 25. The group said their presence was unsolicited and came just as the event was winding up. In viral videos from the event, Afridi can be seen stepping on stage to loud cheers and chants of 'Boom Boom," his nickname from his playing days. The 47-year-old responded to the crowd saying, 'Hogaya Boom Boom," prompting further applause. Afridi's appearance has drawn backlash online, particularly because it comes weeks after he made disparaging remarks about India following the Pahalgam terror attack. Afridi has frequently criticised India and made politically loaded statements, especially on Kashmir. CUBAA has maintained that the event was entirely cultural in nature and that no political undertone was intended. 'We would like to formally address recent concerns… These cricketers made an unannounced and unsolicited appearance at our event," the organisers said in a statement. After the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 innocent civilians, Shahid Afridi appeared on Pakistani television and blamed Indian security forces, questioning their competence. 'You have an 800,000-strong army in Kashmir and this still happened. It means you are inefficient and useless if you can't provide security to the people," he said. Following India's precision strikes on Pakistani military sites during Operation Sindoor, Afridi was also seen leading a car rally in Pakistan, falsely projecting the developments as a victory for his country. First Published: May 31, 2025, 15:43 IST
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Time of India
Police arrest hawala gang member in kidnap case
Kochi: Police arrested a man who was part of the hawala racket that kidnapped a youth from Kalamassery. Police identified the arrested person as Haris, a 39-year-old resident of Perambra. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He was apprehended by Kalamassery police team with the assistance of the Kozhikode district rural victim, identified as Saurav, who hails from Meppayur in Kozhikode, was abducted on April 30 from Thameem Apartment near Cochin University. He was held hostage at various locations for two days. The accused demanded Rs 5,00,000 as ransom from his police rescued him on May 2 from Balussery in Kozhikode, with the assistance of Kozhikode district rural also arrested another accused in the case, Hashir, 21, from Perambra, who was involved with the hawala mafia and came to collect the ransom. The police also seized Rs 3.6 lakh from him. He is currently in investigations by Kalamassery police revealed that an online scam gang and the hawala mafia were behind the abduction. A team led by Kalamassery inspector Latheef MB is investigating the case and the probe will be extended to other states. The accused was presented in court on Friday and was remanded to judicial held for theft: Police arrested two men on Friday morning for robbing two rings, including a wedding ring, from a man who was sitting by the roadside near Mantra Bridge. Police identified the arrested persons as Saleem Beeran, 55, alias Bandichor, of Mattancherry, and Kunjumon, 57, of robbery occurred on the night of April 20. When the victim tried to stop the robbery, the accused attacked him and escaped on a scooter. The accused were arrested by a police team led by Fort Kochi police inspector MS Faisal. They were arrested from their homes following an investigation based on CCTV footage and mobile phone locations, police said.
