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Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
With PFI down, Pakistan-based Farhatullah Ghauri leads Al Ummah revival in south India
The ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI) has created a vacuum, and multiple terror groups are trying to occupy that space. While the PFI has not been able to revive itself since most of its top leaders are behind bars, one old-time group, the Al Ummah, has been making inroads in the southern states. The blast at the Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru was an eye-opener for the agencies, since it had the Al Ummah signature. Further investigations have found that the entire responsibility of reviving the Al Ummah has been handed over to Farhatullah Ghauri, an operative based out of Pakistan. The Al Ummah is not an unknown outfit in south India. It was the same group that attempted to assassinate senior BJP leader L.K. Advani in Coimbatore in 1998. Founded by Syed Ahmed Basha in the early 1990s, the same outfit was responsible for the 1993 bombings outside the RSS office in Chennai, which claimed 11 lives. While carrying out terror attacks, the group, since its inception, has been actively urging the Indian Muslim youth to undertake terror attacks against pro-Hindu leaders and activists. The agencies say that the revival attempts being made by these groups cannot be taken one bit lightly. Al Ummah has had leaders who have been popular with the local Muslim population. An example of this was the funeral of Basha. There was a huge controversy around the funeral, with many questioning the need for a procession. In fact, there were also condolences that poured in from some political leaders, indicating the clout he enjoyed. Finally, the funeral took place on December 17, 2024, with 2,000 Tamil Nadu Police and Rapid Action Force personnel being deployed for security reasons. The Al-Ummah at the time of its formation had said that it was being founded to avenge the Babri Masjid demolition. However, later on, it operated as small groups such as the Base Movement and took on the system. Members of the outfit were unhappy with the conviction of Basha and the manner in which the system handled the Abdul Nasar Madani case. When it operated as the Base Movement, it attempted to target the judiciary and police officers. The Base Movement, however, failed to take off, and this set off the revival plans. The outfit decided that it would be called the Al Ummah itself, as the name resonates with many in south India. On encrypted messaging channels, the Al Ummah, led by the Pakistan-based Ghauri, 59, circulated messages indicating that it was time to revive. The message was titled: "Let us pledge to rebuild the Babri Masjid". Further, the cadres have also created a group called Sawt al Haq on the secure messaging platform, Signal. Created in December 2024, following the death of Basha, the messaging groups today have over 150 members, thus suggesting the rapid rate at which it has been growing. The first message to be posted on the group read: "The Sawt ul Haq team is proud to bring the story and history of Al Ummah to you. This is a humble attempt by Ustad Farhatullah Ghori and the team of Sawt ul Haq to share the profound efforts, sacrifices, and valour of the Mujahideen of Al Ummah. We aim to educate and inspire by honouring the luminous path they forged and the legacy they left behind. Through this platform, we seek to offer an informative experience that highlights the significance of their journey and the values they fought for. By exploring their history, we can better appreciate the sacrifices made and the lessons learned, ensuring their enduring legacy continues to inspire generations to come. We hope this effort serves as a reflection and connection with the remarkable individuals who laid the foundation for the battle of Ghazwa e Hind." In addition to messages, Ghauri has also posted several videos. He has posted a long video praising Basha and calling him a true warrior who never begged for mercy or concessions from the enemies. He also heaped praises on the Rameshwaram Cafe bomber. For the Al Ummah, Ghauri is their best bet. He is radical, an extremist, and knows the southern states well as he originally hails from Hyderabad. His first stint was when he joined the Darsgah Jihad-o-Shahadat or the Centre for Jihad and Martyrdom. In 1995, he left for Saudi Arabia and from there he began raising funds to finance the terror activities of the Al Ummah. Apart from the Al Ummah, he has helped in other terror missions such as the Akshardham attack in 2002 and the 2005 suicide bombing at the Task Force office in Hyderabad. These suggest clearly that Ghauri is a major threat, and hence the agencies are on his trail. The Intelligence agencies have warned the state police to keep a close watch on the gatherings, possibly by Al Ummah recruits. The agency also says that Jihadi groups are desperate for a strong terror group in the south, and in Al Ummah, they find their answer.
Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Mumbai train blasts case: What happened to the Pakistan nationals accused?
While all 12 Indian men convicted in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case were acquitted by the Bombay High Court on Monday, questions now linger around the Pakistani nationals who were alleged to have played a key role in the conspiracy. According to the prosecution, at least 10 Pakistani nationals infiltrated India in the months leading up to the attacks. Among these, many were said to have planted the bombs that killed over 180 people. Yet nearly two decades later, these foreign operatives remain largely unaccounted for, with most said to have fled, one killed in the blasts, and another gunned down in a police encounter. What was the Pakistani connection, as per the prosecution? The prosecution had alleged that the 7/11 Mumbai local train blasts conspiracy mastermind was a Pakistani national, Azam Cheema aka Babaji, associated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Cheema and the Indian accused, particularly Faisal Shaikh and Asif Shaikh, are alleged to have conspired sometime in 1999 to wage war against India and train Indian Muslim youth in subversive activities. The prosecution, however, does not state when and how they met. Cheema is subsequently said to have sent funds to India to train youths to 'avenge the alleged atrocities committed on Muslims in India, by causing widespread insurgent and terrorist activities by exploding/bombing financial nerve centers and causing mass damage to life and property thereby crippling the economy,' the chargesheet states. On the back of this, between 2001 and 2005, seven of the 12 now acquitted accused, namely Faisal Shaikh, Tanveer Ansari, Kamal Ansari, Muzammil Shaikh, Suhail Shaikh, Zameer Shaikh, and Shaikh Mohd Ali, were alleged to have gone to Pakistan through Iran and undertake 'subversive training'. Faisal was the first to go and is said to have gone multiple times, with the prosecution claiming that he even met Hafiz Saeed. A Pakistani Army Havaldar, Tafheem Akmal Hashmi, who is in Indian custody, had during the trial claimed to have met Faisal at a Lashkar-e-Taiba training camp near Muzaffarabad in June or July 2004. How did the alleged conspiracy unfold? The prosecution had alleged that in May 2006, Cheema asked Faisal Shaikh to identify targets, who informed Cheema that suburban trains were suitable for 'causing explosions.' In the same month, several Pakistanis infiltrated into the country. Mohammed Majid, a resident of Kolkata, made arrangements and ensured the infiltration of six Pakistani nationals, namely Sabir, Abu Bakr, Kasam Ali, Ammu Jaan, Ehsanullah, and Abu Hasan, through the Bangladesh border. They then traveled from Kolkata to Mumbai by train, the prosecution said. In the same month, four more individuals infiltrated from the Kutch border into Gujarat. They included two Pakistani individuals, Salim and Abu Umed, and two Indian nationals, Abdul Raazak from Hyderabad and Sohail Shaikh from Pune, who had settled in Pakistan. One of the accused, Kamal Ansari, is alleged to have facilitated the entry of two Pakistanis, Aslam and Hafizullah, through the Nepal border. In all, 10 Pakistanis and two Indian nationals staying in Pakistan infiltrated to carry out the blasts in May 2006, according to the prosecution. One of the Pakistanis, Ehsanullah, was believed to have brought along 15 kg of RDX. The prosecution alleged that all the 12 infiltrators reached Mumbai in May. The first group of six, who had come in from Bangladesh, were put up in a flat in Mira Road by Asif Khan. The four who came in from the Gujarat border were housed in Bandra West by Faisal Shaikh, and the two from Nepal were housed in Mira Road in the house of Sajid Ansari. Subsequently, the planning for the bombings started, with three men, including Sajid Ansari, Sohail Shaikh, an Indian staying in Pakistan, and an unnamed Pakistani assembling seven explosive devices in the house of Mohammed Ali in Govandi. The explosives were made from July 8 to 10. The prosecution has claimed that Kamal Ansari, along with Pakistani accused Salim, Hafizullah, and Aslam, planted the bomb in the train that exploded at Matunga Railway Station. Naveed Khan along with wanted Pakistani accused Abu Umed planted the bomb that blasted between Santacruz and Khar Railway Stations. Faisal Shaikh along with wanted Pakistani accused Abu Bakr put the explosives that blasted at a train on the Jogeshwari Railway Station. Asif Shaikh with Pakistani accused Sabir were responsible for the Borivali Railway Station train blast. Ehtesham Siddiqui along with wanted Pakistani accused Ammu Jaan planted the train bomb that blasted at Mira Road Railway Station. Bombs in trains also went off at Mahim and Bandra Railway Stations, but the names of the accused were not made public. What happened to the Pakistanis after the blasts? The prosecution has claimed that six Pakistanis were given shelter at the Mumbai residence of one Wahid Shaikh after the blasts, and then provided safe passage out of Mumbai by Mohamed Majid. The prosecution does not state what happened to the other Pakistanis, barring the claim that one Pakistani national, Salim, died in the blast as he could not get off the train in time, while the other, Abu Osama alias Abu Umed, a Faisalabad resident, was gunned down on August 22, a month after the blast, in an encounter with the Mumbai ATS in Antop Hill. His presence in Mumbai after all his associates allegedly returned to Pakistan remained unexplained. What does the HC verdict say about the Pakistani nationals? The court has noted that the defendants in their confession had claimed that they made seven pairs for planting bombs in the trains, which included one local and one Pakistani. The court has noted, however, that a confession by another defendant states that he was accompanied by three Pakistanis, stating that 'the truthfulness of this statement is under the cloud of doubt.' The verdict also notes that complete details of the seven pairs who were accused of planting the bombs were not given. It also notes that the details of how the Pakistanis managed to escape were also not known and pointed out that the Indian accused did not attempt to run away. 'This is important to state because many accused were called as suspects at the initial stage of investigation and they were not arrested and allowed to go home. Even then, no one ran away,' the Bench observed. The verdict also states that the prosecution has not detailed the dates on when the Pakistanis arrived in Mumbai, and neither is much known about the physical description of these men. The verdict also talks about how there are no details about how the RDX was brought to Mumbai. 'There is even no mention whether the full quantity of 15kgs RDX was used in making the bombs or some quantity was left over. If some quantity was left over, what was done with the same…' it states. The verdict also states that the prosecution's argument that the accused had visited Pakistan was not evidence to state that they had committed the blasts. It also states that while it was the prosecution's case that the accused were in contact with the key conspirator Azam Cheema and members of the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba, the prosecution failed to place the call details on record. 'It is pertinent to note that the prosecution had sought the police custody remand of the accused on the ground, inter alia, that the accused were in contact with Pakistanis, Azam Cheema and his associates. Yet, even after the defence produced the CDR, the prosecution failed to establish any nexus between the accused and Pakistani nationals, including Azam Cheema and his associates,' the verdict states.
News18
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Amitabh Bachchan praises son Abhishek: Never give up
Agency: PTI New Delhi, Jul 20 (PTI) Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan penned a heartfelt note admiring his son, Abhishek Bachchan, who has recently completed 25 years in the acting industry. Amitabh shared a post on his blog on Saturday. 'The essence of life is NEVER GIVE UP .. fight till the very end .. you may win you may lose .. BUT AT LEAST YOU FOUGHT. The 'pluckiest' .. (the trait of showing courage and determination) loser has more respect than the 'so called winner ' .. for the pluckiest loser always shall be remembered by – 'he fought and almost WON'. That has a greater sense of success than the more monetary guideline of commercial success .. 25 years !! that is no mean feat .. comparisons with others is a weakness .. the results speak more than any other 'ness'," the post began. 'You Abhishek have ever and ALWAYS compared yourself with yourself .. not many can do that .. And each day I learn more and more and more .. They tell me you have done enough sit back and relax ..NO .. sitting back is a defeat of life – you are giving up .. and one should NEVER GIVE UP," he added. Abhishek made his debut in 2000, alongside Kareena Kapoor Khan in 'Refugee". Directed by J P Dutta, the film featured Abhishek in the role of a nameless Indian Muslim, who helps illegal refugees cross the border between India and Pakistan in the Great Rann of Kutch. His latest work is 'Housefull 5", co-starring with Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri and Sonam Bajwa among others. Released on June 6, the film is the fifth installment of the 'Housefull" franchise, which began in 2010. PTI ATR ATR ATR view comments First Published: July 20, 2025, 12:00 IST 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.
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Business Standard
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Nimisha Priya row: Mahdi family presses for execution, rejects 'settlement'
Following the deferment of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya's execution in Yemen, the brother of the deceased has stated that the family will accept nothing less than the execution of the convict. The execution, which was originally scheduled for July 16, was postponed by local authorities in Yemen, according to sources. Nimisha Priya, who is a native of Kollengode in Kerala's Palakkad district, was convicted of murdering her business partner and Yemeni citizen, Talal Abdo Mahdi, in July 2017. Mahdi family demands death penalty In a Facebook post, Abdelfattah Mahdi, the brother of Talal Abdo Mahdi, wrote in Arabic that despite mounting pressure on the family to accept reconciliation, their demand remains unchanged: retribution, meaning the execution of Priya. 'What is achieved and heard today from mediation and attempts for peace is nothing new or surprising. There have always been efforts to mediate. This is normal and expected... But the pressure has not changed anything in us. Our demand is retribution, nothing else,' Mahdi said, according to a report by HT Media. 'Delay won't flex, pressure won't move us, and blood cannot be bought. The truth is not forgotten. Retribution will come, no matter how long the road takes. It is just a matter of time and with God's help (it will happen),' Abdelfattah Mahdi said. Intervention of Indian Muslim leader Nimisha Priya's execution was deferred following the intervention of Sunni Muslim leader Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar — also known as Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad — in Yemen. The government of Indian had made last-minute efforts to delay the execution. According to a report by news agency PTI, Sheikh Abubakr could secure a postponement of the execution with the help of his Yemeni Sufi scholar associate, Habib Umar bin Hafiz, who was likely to visit the Mahdi family in Dhamar on Tuesday to discuss the case. Indian government's efforts in the case The Indian government earlier informed the Supreme Court that it had made serious efforts in recent days to gain more time for Priya's family to reach a 'mutually agreeable' resolution with the Mahdi family. 'There is nothing more that can be done,' Attorney General R Venkataramani, appearing for the Centre, told the court. 'There's a point till which the government of India can go. We have reached that.' The Indian side had also explored the possibility of securing Priya's release through 'diyat' — or the payment of 'blood money' — but those negotiations faced obstacles. In 2020, Priya was sentenced to death by a Yemeni court, and in November 2023, the country's Supreme Judicial Council rejected her appeal. The 38-year-old nurse is currently imprisoned in Sana'a, the Yemeni capital, which remains under the control of the Iran-backed Houthi group.
NDTV
16-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Grand Mufti Of India: Cleric Who Claims Role In Stopping Kerala Nurse Execution
New Delhi: A top Indian Muslim cleric has played a key role in the postponement of the execution of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen's capital, Sana'a. Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, the Grand Mufti of India, reached out to prominent Yemeni scholar Sheikh Umar bin Hafiz, urging him to intervene with the family of Talal Abdol Mehdi, the Yemeni man Priya was convicted of killing. Nimisha Priya, a 37-year-old nurse from Kerala, was sentenced to death in Yemen. Her legal team maintains the killing was accidental and happened during a time of abuse and distress. After the Grand Mufti's request, Sheikh Umar sent his students to talk to the victim's family. After several rounds of talks, the family agreed to pause the execution for four hours, giving Priya's legal team more time to act. Who Is The Grand Mufti Of India? The title Grand Mufti of India refers to a senior Islamic legal authority, often regarded as the highest-ranking among Islamic scholars in the country. Unlike in some Muslim-majority nations where such titles are granted by the state, in India, the designation is honorary and not officially recognised by the government. Sheikh Abubakr was officially conferred the title in February 2019 by the All India Tanzeem Ulama-e-Islam during a gathering at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan. He is recognised as the 10th individual to hold this title, particularly within the Sunni (Barelvi) Muslim community. In Islamic tradition, a "Mufti" is a scholar qualified to issue legal opinions under Sharia law. Who Is Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad? Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, also known as Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar, is based in Kerala, the same state as Nimisha Priya, and is a respected religious leader in India and South Asia. Born in Kozhikode, Kerala, he serves on various Islamic scholars' councils at the state and national level and is frequently invited abroad for religious lectures and conferences, especially in the Gulf and Southeast Asia. He also leads the Markaz Knowledge City, a large educational and cultural township in Kozhikode that houses medical and law colleges, and a cultural centre. As the Grand Mufti, he offers fatwas (Islamic legal opinions) and guides on religious and social matters, particularly within the Barelvi school of Sunni Islam. Over the years, Sheikh Abubakr has courted controversy for some of his statements. During the 2019-20 protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), he advised women not to participate in street demonstrations, saying, "Men will take care of it".
