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The National
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Friends and family mourn Dubai resident killed in shooting in Kashmir
The funeral of Dubai resident Niraj Udhwani, who was among 26 people killed by militants in one of the worst attacks in years in Indian-controlled Kashmir, took place on Thursday. Mr Udhwani was among 25 Indians and one Nepali killed when gunmen opened fire on tourists on Tuesday in the Baisaran valley, a popular holiday destination in the Pahalgam region of the Himalayan territory. Several others were injured. Family and friends gathered in Jaipur, the accountant's home city, on Thursday for his funeral. Mr Udhwani lived in Dubai with his wife and had been in India to celebrate the wedding of a friend. A finance manager with a school group in Dubai, where he worked for more than four years, he was also remembered by his colleagues in the UAE. 'Our community is deeply saddened by the passing of Niraj Udhwani, a much-loved and respected member of our finance team,' said a Cognita school group representative. 'He was a dedicated and inspiring member of staff, and a kind, generous colleague. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his family, friends and colleagues at this incredibly difficult time.' Mr Udhwani, who was in his early 30s, worked with education consultancies and insurance companies in Dubai for more than a decade and had studied at the Indian High School in the emirate. Indian media reported he and his wife Aayushi were on holiday in Pahalgam after attending a friend's wedding. 'After the wedding, Niraj and Aayushi left for Pahalgam on holiday. They were supposed to head back to Dubai in a few days,' his uncle Bhagwandas Udhwani told The Indian Express newspaper. Kashmiri media reported witnesses recalling at least four armed militants emerging from the surrounding forest and opening fire on tourists in a meadow where authorities said about 1,000 people had gathered. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack, accused it of supporting 'cross-border terrorism,' has downgraded diplomatic ties and closed a main land border crossing with Pakistan. Pakistan has denied involvement and a previously unknown group called The Resistance Front has claimed responsibility for the attack. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday vowed India would 'identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers'. 'Terrorism will not go unpunished,' he said in a speech. 'Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done. The entire nation is firm in its resolve. Everyone who believes in humanity is with us.' The attack came on the second day of US Vice President JD Vance's visit to India. Offering his condolences, Mr Vance said his thoughts and prayers were with the victims of the 'devastating terrorist attack'. US President Donald Trump called the attacks 'deeply disturbing.' India and Pakistan each administer a part of Kashmir, though both claim the territory in its entirety. The attacks on Tuesday will escalate tension between the neighbours. India has announced a clampdown on travel to India by Pakistani citizens, cut the number of its high commission staff and withdrawn its naval, defence and air advisers from Islamabad.
The National
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The National
Friends and family mourn Dubai resident killed in terror attack in Indian Kashmir
The funeral of Dubai resident Niraj Udhwani, among 26 people killed by militants in one of the worst attacks in years in Indian-controlled Kashmir, took place on Thursday. Mr Udhwani was among 25 Indian citizens and one Nepali killed when gunmen opened fire on tourists on Tuesday in the Baisaran valley, a popular holiday destination in the Pahalgam region of the Himalayan territory. Several others were injured. Family and friends gathered in Jaipur, the young accountant's home city, on Thursday for his funeral. Mr Udhwani lived in Dubai with his wife and had been in India to celebrate the wedding of a friend. A finance manager with a school group in Dubai where he worked for more than four years, he was also remembered by his colleagues in the UAE. 'Our community is deeply saddened by the passing of Niraj Udhwani, a much-loved and respected member of our finance team,' said a Cognita school group representative. 'He was a dedicated and inspiring member of staff, and a kind, generous colleague. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his family, friends and colleagues at this incredibly difficult time.' Mr Udhwani, who was in his early 30s, worked with education consultancies and insurance companies in Dubai for more than a decade and had studied at the Indian High School in the emirate. Indian media reported he and his wife Aayushi were on holiday in Pahalgam after attending a friend's wedding. 'After the wedding, Niraj and Aayushi left for Pahalgam on holiday. They were supposed to head back to Dubai in a few days,' Bhagwandas Udhwani, his uncle told The Indian Express newspaper. Kashmiri media quoted witnesses who recalled at least four armed militants emerging from the surrounding forest and opening fire on tourists in a meadow where authorities said about 1,000 people had gathered. India has blamed Pakistan for the attack, accused it of supporting 'cross-border terrorism,' has downgraded diplomatic ties and closed a main land border crossing with Pakistan. Pakistan has denied involvement and a previously unknown group called The Resistance Front has claimed responsibility for the attack. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday vowed India would 'identify, track and punish every terrorist and their backers'. 'Terrorism will not go unpunished,' he said in a speech. 'Every effort will be made to ensure that justice is done. The entire nation is firm in its resolve. Everyone who believes in humanity is with us.' The attack came on the second day of US Vice President JD Vance's visit to India. Offering his condolences, Mr Vance said his thoughts and prayers were with the victims of the 'devastating terrorist attack'. US President Donald Trump called the attacks 'deeply disturbing.' India and Pakistan each administer a part of Kashmir though both claim the territory in its entirety. The attacks on Tuesday will escalate tension between the neighbours. India has announced a clampdown on travel to India by Pakistani citizens, cut the number of its high commission staff and withdrawn its naval, defence and air advisers from Islamabad.
Khaleej Times
23-04-2025
- Khaleej Times
Dubai expat killed in Pahalgam terror attack during vacation with wife
A 33-year-old Indian expat living and working in Dubai was among the 26 people killed in a terror attack in Pahalgam on Tuesday. A close relative confirmed his death to Khaleej Times. Niraj Udhwani, a finance professional, was shot dead during the attack while he was on a short vacation in Kashmir with his wife, according to his relative. The couple had travelled to India for a friend's wedding in Himachal Pradesh. Niraj was originally from Jaipur and had been a long-time resident of Dubai. He was an alumni of Indian High School and moved to the city during his childhood. He was employed as a finance professional with a school group in the city.
Khaleej Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
'Felt humiliated': UAE-based businessman shares ordeal with Indian Customs over his Rolex
When UAE-based businessman Vasu Shroff, known as Dubai's Textile King, landed at Jaipur Airport at 7.30pm on April 12, he was expecting a peaceful welcome. Instead, the 85-year-old entrepreneur said he was 'humiliated and harassed.' 'I was treated like a criminal and smuggler at the airport,' said Shroff, who was visiting India for a two-day trip. Shroff, a wheelchair-bound business tycoon with a track record in business and community service, flew to Jaipur to meet a few VIP's including Bhajan Lal Sharma, Chief Minister of Rajasthan and attend a religious event. However, his visit turned distressing from the moment he got off the plane. As a helper pushed his wheelchair through the baggage area and toward the exit, an immigration officer suddenly stopped him and asked to see his passport. 'I had no idea why he was asking for my passport,' Shroff said. He was even more surprised when the officer pointed at his Rolex watch and said he could not carry it without declaring it. Confused, Shroff looked around for a declaration counter. 'To my surprise, there was no proper declaration point at the airport,' he said. The officer directed him to a small 5x3 ft desk and said that this was where items should be declared. 'It didn't look like a red or green channel. It was just a desk,' Shroff added, questioning the airport's infrastructure. What followed was a frustrating ordeal. Shroff, who was awarded the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the President of India for his contribution to business and social service, was made to wait for more than two hours in his wheelchair as officials handled the matter. 'I requested the officers to prepare the paperwork,' he said. Since he had to reach a temple 200 kilometers away before midnight, he asked if he could pay any duty the next day. But they refused. 'I was just trying to get to my destination,' said Shroff. 'But they wouldn't let me go and made me wait for hours.' It wasn't just the delay that hurt, it was how he was treated. 'They treated me like I was a criminal,' he said. 'In Dubai and across the Gulf, I have always been treated with respect. But here, in my own country, I was made to feel like I did something wrong.' Shroff is also the chairman of India Club and Indian High School in Dubai. 'Deeply disrespectful' treatment As the incident stretched on, Shroff's lawyer Dharmendre Singh, an advocate in the Delhi Supreme Court and Jaipur High Court, stepped in. Singh pointed out to the lack of proper customs infrastructure and said the officials' behaviour was unacceptable. 'There were no clear red or green channels at Jaipur Airport,' said Singh. 'The way Shroff was treated was not only unfair but deeply disrespectful.' Despite Shroff's willingness to cooperate, his watch was taken away. Singh said officials wrongly insisted that the Rolex could only be re-exported to Dubai after paying a questionable duty. 'They misled Shroff and his assistant,' Singh said. Return to Dubai On April 14, when Shroff was returning to Dubai, his assistant tried to collect the watch. But officials demanded Rs10,000 (Dh431.68), which Singh said was an unjustified amount. 'The only valid charge was Rs30 (Dh1.30) for locker fees,' he added. 'Yet they insisted on more money, which raises questions about the process.' Singh said that the Rolex watch worn by Shroff is a high-end luxury timepiece valued at around Rs3.5 million (Dh151,088.05). According to Indian customs rules, luxury items brought into the country without proper declaration may attract a duty of approximately 38 per cent, which in this case would amount to nearly Rs1.3 million (Dh56,118.42) . 'However, instead of following the proper legal procedure, officials at the airport demanded only Rs10,000 in cash, an amount that has no legal basis. This shows they were either unaware of the correct customs law or deliberately ignored it,' said Singh. 'They didn't follow due process, and the random amount they asked raises serious questions about their understanding and intent.' In the end, Shroff had to fly back without his watch. 'I was forced to leave without it,' he said. 'I felt humiliated. I sat there for over five hours. All I wanted was to meet a few people and visit a temple.' Shroff later gave power of attorney to Singh, who finally retrieved the watch on April 19 and brought it to Dubai himself. 'I traveled to the UAE just to return his watch,' said Singh. But the experience has left a bitter memory for Shroff. 'I have lived and worked in Dubai for decades, building a business and helping the community. But when I came to my own country, I was treated like I did something wrong,' he said. 'No one should have to go through what I did.' Shroff is now calling for better systems at Indian airports, especially in cities like Jaipur, to ensure clear customs procedures and respectful treatment of travellers.
