Surrey temple president says shootings at his businesses connected to ongoing extortion attempts
A Surrey, B.C., man says two recent shootings at his businesses are connected to ongoing extortion attempts targeting the South Asian community.
Satish Kumar, the president of the city's Lakshmi Narayan Mandir temple, said he received video voicemails on May 28 from numbers listed as being from Italy and New Zealand that demanded $2 million. He said he refused to pay and reported it to police at the time, but officials took no action. In the early hours of June 7, shots were fired at the banquet hall he owns, he said. Shots were fired, he said, at another business he's connected to, Hub Insurance, on Tuesday.
No one was injured in the shootings at the businesses. He said he's holding a public forum on Sunday, and announcing a $100,000 reward to encourage the community to help bring an end to the extortion and violence. "I'm requesting the community [to] come forward," he said. "Don't be scared of these guys, right? They don't want to kill you. They want only money from you guys."
Kumar said that if community members come together, they can help find the shooters who live in Metro Vancouver as well as the extortionists. Continued on Page 3...
South Asian Man killed in daytime shooting in Surrey received extortion calls
The brazen murder of an Abbotsford man with no known criminal ties has reignited extortion fears in B.C.’s Lower Mainland.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) says Abbotsford resident Satwinder Sharma was shot dead in his business near 160 Street and 84 Avenue in Surrey around 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday.
While police believe the incident was targeted, Sgt. Freda Fong said police won’t speculate about the motive at this point.
“It is still early on in the investigation, and we are aware that there are unconfirmed reports and speculation on the motive behind the shooting,” she said. “We are looking at all angles.” But the killing has sent a chill through the region’s South Asian community, where speculation of a link to extortionists has spread quickly.
Police in B.C. and across Canada have been investigating extortion attempts targeting businesses, often in the South Asian community, since at least November 2023. This month, police responded to shootings on June 7 at Reflections Banquet Hall and June 10 at Hub Insurance.
As last minute invitations go, this one went down to the wire. After an initial snub, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirmed that Canada has invited him to the upcoming Group of Seven summit. President Donald Trump’s trade war is bringing the two nations, whose relations have been strained in recent years, closer together.
India isn’t a member of the G-7 — a grouping of the world’s richest countries comprising the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Japan. Continued on Page 10...
Gangster tells why India's biggest hip-hop star was murdered
It was a killing that shocked India: Punjabi hip-hop star Sidhu Moose Wala shot dead through the windscreen of his car by hired gunmen. Within hours, a Punjabi gangster named Goldy Brar had used Facebook to claim responsibility for ordering the hit.
But three years after the murder, no-one has faced trial - and Goldy Brar is still on the run, his whereabouts unknown.
Now, BBC Eye has managed to make contact with Brar and challenged him about how and why Sidhu Moose Wala became a target. His response was coldly articulate.
"In his arrogance, he [Moose Wala] made some mistakes that could not be forgiven," Brar told.
Continued on Page 15...
Family says Canadian dentist was aboard Air India flight that crashed after takeoff
The Canadian citizen believed to be on an Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff is a dentist who worked in Mississauga,
Ont., her family has confirmed. The husband of Nirali Sureshkumar Patel said she was on board the London-bound flight that crashed in northwestern India on Thursday, killing at least 240 people.
Patel's dental clinic referred The Canadian Press to the husband, who said that he was in the process of booking travel to India for himself and the couple's one-year-old child.
"That was my wife," he said during a brief telephone call. "I am not in a state to speak right now."
Continued on Page 10...
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Shelley Klassen says her 10-year-old son Lionel and his best friend since kindergarten were “super excited” on a hot, sunny Saturday to spend the afternoon tubing on the waters off Cates Park in North Vancouver.
“We thought it was a great, fun day for the kids,” said the grieving mother over the phone on Monday — while she and the family come to grips with Lionel’s death when the inflatable raft they were being towed on was hit by a speed boat, a catastrophic crash that also left his friend Onur Yucel in critical condition.
North Vancouver RCMP say the driver of the boat that hit them was arrested and released on conditions until an Aug. 27 court date, and police allege speed and alcohol are likely factors. Klassen said they knew the Yucel family well, and thought
they did their “due diligence” on who would be towing the boys behind their boat.
“The mother (Tulay Yucel) was an experienced boater and she had taken the kids out many times… It was going to be a great day of fun out on the water. “We did not think in a million years something like this would happen.”
Klassen said the boys and the adults with them were due home around 9 p.m. When they failed to show up, she texted, then called Tulay.
“She answered the phone, but she was incoherent,” said Klassen. “She couldn’t tell me, she just was mumbling and crying, and saying, ‘I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.’” “We’ve been told that he was killed on impact, thank god,” said Klassen. “I’m praying that he didn’t see it coming and he went out joyfully.”
Immigration
The Surrey Police Service is advising the public of a large motorcycle gang presence in the city between Thurs., June 12 and Sun., June 15.
Police said that officers will be monitoring a large Hells Angels motorcycle procession, which is expected to draw more than 700 motorcyclists, starting at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday in Coquitlam and ending at a banquet hall in the 12300 block of Patullo Place in Surrey. The procession is expected to cause delays, especially in Surrey northbound from Highway 1 on Highway 15, Highway 17 to Bridgeview Drive, Bridgeview Drive to King George Boulevard, and King George Boulevard to
120 Street, police said.
Officers will be stationed at many of the major intersections to ensure the safety of all drivers.
Police said it “will have additional officers
working through the weekend, with special attention paid to restaurants and bars throughout Surrey to prevent any gang-related incidents.”
The wildfire burning in Squamish has ballooned in size to 59.5 hectares.
It has also forced the evacuation of Alice Lake Provincial Park.
The District of Squamish says the fire isn’t threatening park facilities but it is growing towards access routes and reducing visibility.
The district said windy conditions led to some
growth on the fire’s north flank on Wednesday but containment lines on the south and southwest flanks are holding. “We have good access now to the areas above the homes and we now have systems in place, water lines, trails set, so we are in a good place to protect their homes right now,” Marc Simpson with the BC Wildfire Service said. The fire is suspected to be human-caused.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney's forthcoming meeting will be an important opportunity for them to explore pathways to set or reset ties based on mutual respect, shared interests, and sensitivity to each other's concerns and exchange views on bilateral and global issues.
While addressing a weekly media briefing on Thursday, Jaiswal stated that PM Modi is travelling to Canada after he received an invitation from Carney. He said that the phone call was an opportunity to reflect on India-Canada ties. India and Canada, he said are vibrant democracies, which are bound by shared democratic values, a steadfast commitment to the rule of law and very vibrant people-to-people ties.
"As you are aware, India, Canada are vibrant democracies which are bound by shared democratic values and a steadfast commitment to the rule of law and of course very vibrant peopleto-people ties. We believe that the forthcoming meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Kananaskis in Canada will offer an important opportunity for them to exchange views on bilateral and global issues and explore pathways to set or reset the relationship based on mutual respect, shared interests, and sensitivity to each other's concerns. Our views on some of these have already been shared publicly in considerable detail," he added.
When asked about Carney's statement in the Canadian readout about PM Modi agreeing to engage in law enforcement dialogue, Jaiswal responded, "I would say that there are existing mechanisms between Indian and Canadian law enforcement agencies that have discussed issues of mutual security concern over a period of time. This engagement is likely to continue."
On PM Modi's upcoming visit to Canada for the G7 Summit, the MEA spokesperson said, "As you are aware, our Prime Minister had received a call from the Canadian Prime Minister last week. During the call, Prime Minister Carney had invited the Prime Minister to attend the G7. And as you are aware, the invitation has been accepted. It was also an occasion for the two Prime Ministers to talk about India or reflect on India-Canada relations and how do we take it forward."
On June 6, PM Modi received a call from Canadian Prime Minister Carney, who invited him to attend the upcoming G7 Summit in Canada later this month. In a post on X, PM Modi congratulated Carney on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation. PM Modi said he looks forward to meeting PM Carney later this month in Canada.
"Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister @ MarkJCarney of Canada. Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month. As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the Summit," PM Modi wrote in his post on X.
Surrey temple president says shootings at his businesses connected to ongoing extortion attempts
Continued from Page 1...
Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton, a spokesperson for the Surrey Police Service, said investigators hadn't yet connected the shootings to extortion.
"I would urge caution .... police can't jump to conclusions and immediately go from A to Z and make a connection," he told CBC News. "The evidence has to guide us in every case that we investigate." An ongoing spate of extortion attempts targeting South Asian business owners led the RCMP to form a national task force to deal with the issue, which has also been reported in Alberta and the Greater Toronto Area.
Houghton said it was far too early for police to connect that shooting and the two that occurred over the last week.
"We can't immediately connect an incident that happened over the weekend with something that happened two years ago," he said.
Kumar said he's received support from local leaders, like Surrey Newton MP Sukh Dhaliwal and Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke, and he's asking police to attend his forum on Sunday to provide answers on how business owners are being protected. Steve Kooner, a B.C. Conservative MLA and Opposition critic for the attorney general's office, said the members of the South Asian community are fearful for their lives amid the spate of extortion attempts.
He said the province has failed to respond after MLAs attended another community forum on the issue last year, and a lack of trust in authorities is holding people back from going public with their fears.
"There needs to be an open line of communication, and that's done through trust-building, and the government could take an active role in that," he said.
BC public sector jobs have more than doubled under the NDP
The number of B.C. public-sector employees in health care, schools and government ministries who make at least $75,000 a year has more than doubled since the NDP was elected in 2017, data collected by Postmedia reveals.
In the time since the NDP took power, the total number of taxpayer-funded positions in health authorities, K-12 schools and the core of government have leapt to 104,600, from 49,400. British Columbians may scratch their heads when learning that the number of workers paid at least $75,000 from the public purse has doubled — especially if their local emergency department has recently closed due to a lack of nurses or doctors, or if their grandmother’s retirement home doesn’t have
enough care aides, or if there isn’t a teacher for their child’s classroom.
Union leaders maintain their members in hospitals, schools and community services represent only part of this growth of government workers. They argue the biggest expansion has been in nonunion staff and management roles, which they say increased disproportionately compared to workers on the ground. “We’ve had this explosive growth in (non-union) management, and that hasn’t resulted in a more efficient organization,” Paul Finch, president of the B.C. General Employees’ Union, said of the public service. “That should never have been allowed to happen.” Statistics Canada estimates B.C. has 5,600 vacancies for different types of nurses.
Conservative MLA urges BC’s Attorney General to act against criminal extortion
A Conservative MLA and critic for B.C,’s Attorney General is calling on the province to take action to combat blackmailing and other criminal extortion in B.C. Richmond-Queensborough MLA Steve Kooner wrote to Attorney General Nikki Sharma this week after several incidents that police believe could be linked to organized criminal extortion. He referred to two incidents: in one, a home in Surrey was targeted by gunfire twice in two weeks. The second shooting happened in spite of a police surveillance trailer being parked outside the building. Another incident over the weekend where shots were fired at a Surrey banquet hall.
Kooner said the owner believes the shooting was related to an extortion attempt. He says the province needs to take those criminal events seriously. “This is a live issue. It needs to be addressed immediately, and it needs to be taken very seriously,” he said.
“People do not know where this is originating from, and so that is why the government needs to take leadership here,” he added. Kooner is demanding that the provincial government work closer with the federal government to increase penalties for extortion cases, along with growing partnerships with South Asian businesses to address low trust in law enforcement.He is also asking the government to establish a joint task force between RCMP and local B.C. police agencies, to combat transnational crime. The province says it has allocated $100 million annually in specialized programs to ensure British Columbians are safe from organized crime. “We recognize the significant concern within the South Asian community regarding the ongoing extortion attempts by organized criminals,” Public Safety Minister Garry Begg said in an emailed statement.”
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Canada must take action to prevent climate-related migration
As wildfire season begins, the destructive impacts of climate change are being felt across Canada. Several communities in northern Saskatchewan have been issued evacuation orders due to wildfires. In Manitoba, Pimicikamak Cree Nation worked to evacuate hundreds of people as wildfires closed in, while smoke from those fires caused air-quality issues across the country. It isn’t just wildfires threatening people’s homes and livelihoods. In May, 1,600 residents from the Kashechewan Cree First Nation in Northern Ontario evacuated again due to flooding of the Albany River, which happens almost every year.
The 2018 United Nations Climate Conference called on all states to adopt “laws, policies and strategies” meant “to avert, minimize and address displacement related to the adverse impacts of climate change.”
The figures are disquieting. By 2050, more than 140 million people could become internal climate migrants in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Latin America alone, especially if action towards reaching net-zero carbon emissions continues to be insufficient. Canada is not spared: 192,000 people were evacuated in 2023 due to disasters made more severe by climate change, including floods and wildfires. As climate change leads to more extreme weather, temporary climate displacement could become permanent migration. The World Bank defines internal climate migration as having to relocate for at least a decade to a location 14 kilometres or more away from your community because of climate impacts.
Research I presented at the 2025 Canadian Association for Refugee and Forced Migration Studies Conference at Toronto Metropolitan University analyzed how Canada addresses the climate migration challenge in its submissions under the Paris Agreement, which requires parties to adapt to climate change.
The Canadian government understated the reality of internal climate migration in its submissions under the 2015 Paris Agreement, which obscure the gravity of this phenomenon.
One of those submissions is the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), the cornerstone report each state party must present every five years. Canada’s NDC from 2021 recognizes that climate change harms certain populations more than others, but does not address temporary displacement, let alone internal climate migration.
The Fort McMurray wildfires displaced more than 80,000 people in 2016, with its population declining 11 per cent between 2015 and 2018.
An Air India plane bound for London crashed in a residential area of Ahmedabad shortly after takeoff Thursday, killing 241 people on board, the airline said. One passenger who was thrown from the plane survived.
At least five medical students in a college hostel were killed when the plane hit the building and burst into flames, according to a medical association officer.
“Most of the bodies have been charred beyond recognition,” said Vidhi Chaudhary, a top state police officer in the city in northwestern India.
Indian Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed that he met the sole survivor at the hospital. A doctor said he had examined the survivor, whom he identified as Vishwashkumar Ramesh.
“He was disoriented with multiple injuries all over his body,” Dr. Dhaval Gameti told The Associated
Press. “But he seems to be out of danger.”
Another medic said Ramesh told him that immediately after the plane took off, it began descending and suddenly split in two, throwing him out before a loud explosion.
Black smoke billowed from the site where the plane crashed near the airport in Ahmedabad, a city of more than 5 million and the capital of Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state.
Firefighters doused the smoking wreckage of the plane, which would have been fully loaded with fuel shortly after takeoff, and adjacent multistory buildings with water. Charred bodies lay on the ground and parts of the fuselage were scattered around the site. Indian army teams were assisting civil authorities to clear debris and help treat the injured.
Brotherhood Welfare Association
ChardiKala Brotherhood Welfare Association in its first official initiative honored Rai Bilal Bhatti and Rai Saeed Ullah Bhatti onJun 7 in Surrey.
Rai Bilal Bhatti and Rai Saeed Ullah Bhatti are descendants of Rai Bular Bhatti, a Muslim Rajput feudal lord of Bhatti clan, who was a noble soul and spiritual supporter of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji.
Rai Bular Bhatti, after observing Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s divine greatness, donated half of his land of 18,750 acres to Guruji where Gurudwara Nankana Sahib is situated in Pakistan.
ChardiKala Brotherhood Welfare Association is rooted in the Sikh principle of “Sarbat Da Bhala”- the well-being of all. This Association is committed to serving humanity without discrimination, embracing the belief that all races and all people are equal. With a strong
spirit of seva, the Association aims to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need through Blood donation camps, Food Drives, Community cleanup initiatives and Support for underprivileged individuals and families, including new immigrants and students.
YOG PARVA: A Sacred Celebration of Healing and Harmony to be held in Vancouver
A Yog Parva organized by Bhavna Solecmi will be held on Sunday June 22 at Bridge & Enrich Lives Society; 718 East 20th Avenue, Vancouver
Yog Parva brings together the timeless wisdom of yoga and Ayurvedic healing therapies in one tranquil space. Awaken your senses, still your mind, and nourish your soul.
Program highlights include
• Pranayama Breathing Practice Led by Nutan Thakur(10 min)
Calm your mind and connect to your breath through this gentle, guided practice.
• Shiva Yoga Bharatanatyam Performance By Santanu Chakraborty (30 min) Visiting artist from India.
Santanu Chakraborty will be performing "Shiva Shakti" in Bharatnatyam style which is a dance piece that explores the duality of life, specifically the union of Shiva (masculine) and Shakti (feminine).
A disciple of Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh and Guru V. Krishnamurthy, Santanu brings a powerful fusion of classical Indian dance and yogic expression. Internationally acclaimed. ICCR Deputation to Kathmandu for 3 years 2009-2012.
Royal University of Fine Arts, Phnom Pehn, Cambodia, 2016-2018.
Also Danced, did Lec-dem, Workshop as Solo Abroad: Canada, Moscow, Norway, Malaysia, Cambodia, Kathmandu, With Guru and Group: Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, In Europe: Germany, Holland, Croatia, Ireland, Hungary, England, Sweden, Uzbekistan. Received Rashtriya Ekta Award 2003. German Television has Made a Documentary on my Teaching as Guru Shishya Parampara and Telecast in their 1st Govt Television Channel under Festival of Germany in India.
• Soulful Kirtan by Dan,Geetanjali and Nenad(30 min)
Amazing group of artists from Vancouver hosting kirtans every week in Vancouver to share their heartfelt talents.
End the evening with a heart-opening kirtan— devotional chants set to live music that uplift and unify.
Reconnect. Rejuvenate. Rejoice. Join us for an evening of spiritual artistry and holistic healing.
Rustad says Eby 'abandoning Canadian workers' by awarding BC Ferries contract to Chinese company
John Rustad has accused David Eby of "abandoning Canadian workers" by awarding a BC Ferries contract to a Chinese company.
While no Canadian companies bid on the project, the BC Conservative leader slammed the premier for missing a deadline that could have seen the four ships built in Norway, a country that is more aligned with Canadian values.
"Premier Eby talks about building a stronger Canada — but when it mattered most, he turned his back on Canadian workers and handed the deal to Beijing," Rustad lamented. "First it was saying no to a new pipeline, now it's this new agreement. This premier has utterly abandoned Team Canada."
According to BC Ferries, four new vessels will be built by China Merchants Industry Weihai Shipyards, a subsidiary of a "state-owned enterprise directly administered by the central government." The company has built numerous ships for a number of western countries over the years.
Rustad demanded that Eby tell British Columbians why the Norway deadline was missed.
"We want to know: what's the extra cost from the NDP missing the Norway deal?" Rustad asked.
"British Columbians deserve transparency — not
botched procurement and crisis management."
The BC Conservative leader went on to criticize Eby for saying one thing and doing another.
"While the Premier was posing for cameras and excluding China from his Asian trade mission, he knew full well that BC’s largest ferry contract in years was going straight to China," he said. "You can't claim to support Canadian jobs while handing them over to a foreign country."
Canada and China have an extensive trade relationship, though the latter's partnership with the former's enemies have led many to question at which point Ottawa — and Victoria — should pull away.
"What happened to Canada First?" Rustad asked.
"The BC NDP talks a big game — but their actions consistently fail the people of this province. We need a government that stands up for Canadian workers and Canadian values."
Starting Sunday, seven of the most powerful people in the world will be at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alta., where they will discuss economic instability and security issues, including Russia’s war on Ukraine. Unsurprisingly, to bring the most powerful people in the world together, even at the best of times — and this is not the best of times — necessitates a massive security operation, with coordination across multiple Canadian agencies. “(Security) is both massive and essential,” said John Kirton, the director of the G7 Research Project at the University of Toronto. While Canadians are perhaps unlikely to have wildly strong views about French President Emmanuel Macron or Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, U.S. President Donald Trump has angered millions of Canadians with his aggressive rhetoric. Prime Minister Mark Carney has also angered many by inviting Saudia Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman and India’s Narendra Modi. Already, unspecified security concerns have led to at least one ceremonial casualty: Calgary’s White Hatter ceremony. Traditionally, the ceremony welcomes delegates to Alberta’s largest city, and they’re handed a white Smithbilt cowboy hat to celebrate Calgary’s frontier spirit.
In 2002, when the G8 Summit was also held in Kananaskis, leaders were given the ceremonial hats. U.S. president George W. Bush put it on
his head, but Jacques Chirac, the late French president, reportedly turned up his nose at the gift and Russian President Vladimir Putin — not yet the international pariah he is today — examined the hat without putting it on his head.
This time, however, there will be no ceremony.
“We have to respect that security considerations today are very different from the last time we hosted the summit in 2002 … there’s been a lot of nostalgia about what we were able to do in 2002,” said Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek earlier this week.
In 2002, a bear also died after falling from a tree as security officials were trying to scare it away from delegates. This year’s security team has a bear trap, should a curious bear get too close to the humans in the region. The meeting, last held in Canada in Charlevoix, Quebec, in 2018, will happen against the backdrop of a global economic reorientation.
Under Trump, the United States has initiated an international tariff war, breaking down decades of movement towards free trade. Meanwhile, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been invited to the conference — and Israel’s war on Hamas continues to destabilize the Middle East. The second is that three leaders — France’s Macron, the U.K.’s Keir Starmer and the U.S.’s Trump — need to have staff on hand with the nuclear football in case of nuclear war.
There’s been yet another shakeup in British Columbia politics.
Two out of three MLAs who split with the BC Conservative Party earlier this year have launched their own new political party, dubbed “OneBC.”
The party’s website went live on Thursday.
OneBC has already registered with Elections B.C., with Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Dallas Brodie listed as interim party leader.
“OneBC is for British Columbians who are proud of their history and aren’t afraid to fight for a prosperous and beautiful future,” Brodie said in a message posted to social media.
“I knew it was time to build something new to reverse the flight of capital, talent and young people, to combat the globalist assault on our history, culture and families, to rebuild our corrupted institutions and crumbling
infrastructure.” Among a long list of policy positions, Brodie pledged her party would “defund the reconciliation industry,” implement a 50 per cent tax cut on incomes under $100,000, “eradicate gender ideology and woke policies” from schools, introduce private health care options and end mail-in and early voting. Kelwona-Lake CountryColdstream MLA Tara Armstrong was also listed on the website alongside Brodie.
The duo were both elected as BC Conservatives in the 2024 provincial election. Brodie was expelled from the party in March over comments regarding residential schools, with leader John Rustad saying she had decided to “publicly mock and belittle testimony from former residential school students, including by mimicking individuals recounting stories of abuses, including child sex abuse.”
Alberta man sentenced to jail, fined nearly $800K for fraud and tax evasion
The owner of a phony Alberta drone flight company has been sentenced to jail and fined almost $800,000 for defrauding the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) of several COVID-19 subsidies and not paying taxes.
Leslie Sand of Brooks, Alta., was sentenced on June 10 in Medicine Hat to three-and-a-half years in jail and fined $798,709.02, the CRA said Thursday.
Sand was the sole shareholder and signing authority of Flyte Deck Corporation, a drone flight operations and 3D printing business.
The CRA said Flyte Deck was not a legitimate company and never had any business income. Despite this, officials said Sand applied for multiple subsidies between April 2020 and August 2022
such as the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy, the Hardest Hit Business Recovery Program, the Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program and the Canada Recovery Hiring Program.
“As part of the applications, Sand created and submitted false business records, false commercial lease agreements, false payroll records, false bank documents and false lists of employees,” the CRA said. From this, Sand appropriated $603,376.44 from the company and failed to report that taxable income. The CRA says Sand was arrested by RCMP as part of a joint investigation by both authorities.“Wilfully choosing not to follow Canada’s tax laws can result in serious consequences,” the CRA said.
‘We knew we had to act,’ say Surrey officers who rescued 8 from burning home
When three Surrey police officers arrived at a suspicious house fire on Wednesday morning, they did not hesitate to spring into action.
Const. Gideon Damong, Const. Jared Cebryk and Const. Manpreet Nijjar were on their way to another call when they were dispatched to the fire at 145 Street near 64th Avenue, as they happened to be near the area.
“We were practically on location because without knowing what the address was, we looked to our right and there was just flames going up in the air,” Nijjar told Global News.
They saw the front of the house engulfed in flames with two vehicles burning in the driveway, but the tenants remained inside, Nijjar recalled.
“Our immediate instinct was to run towards the house,” she said.
Nijjar recounted their immediate response to the
fire. “So we got on scene and our first thing was, okay, we gotta get everybody out because the fire was pretty much exploding. There was a lot of pops going off,” she told Global News.
“So we went to the side gate first. We get in, kicked the gate down. So we go to the bottom, we knocked on all the windows and we got the tenants out.”
The tenants told the officers an elderly pair were still upstairs and likely need help getting out.
The officers rushed into the home to bring the senior pair to safety.
“We knew time was of the essence,” said Damong. They spotted the seniors by the stairs. Damong described, “a lot of smoke down the stairs through the front.” “We think that she was trying to get out the front door, but at this point, the smoke and fire had gotten too big,” Cebryk said.
A family picnic organized by the Alumni Association of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
A yearly family picnic was organized In Surrey by the Alumni Association of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. Old friends and classmates refreshed old and new memories. These memories were created in a joyful environment filled with small games, laughter, and delicious food and drinks.
Thunderstorms, rain and hail predicted for southeastern BC
Severe thunderstorm warnings and watches have been posted for a large section of southeastern B.C., cautioning residents that lightning, strong winds, hail and heavy rain are all possible.
Environment Canada issued a warning for the Arrow Lakes and Slocan Lake, Boundary, South Okangana and South Thompson regions, saying its meteorologists are tracking a cluster of severe thunderstorms in the area.
A thunderstorm watch also covers a section of the province from the Cariboo south to the Canada-U.S. border and along parts of the Alberta boundary. The forecaster says conditions could see the development of severe thunderstorms with damaging hail, strong winds and rain.
Environment Canada says people need to take immediate cover if the storms approach and if they're outside, they'll need to protect themselves from flying debris and hail. The weather office says there is also the potential for more forest
fires, as the lightning that comes with the storms is sweeping over areas that have experienced a recent heat wave. In its provincial situation report issued Wednesday, the B.C. Wildfire Service said lower temperatures and increasing humidity across B.C. would help reduce the intensity of wildfires already burning. Although there is potential for new fires started by lightning, the fire service said rainfall would accompany forecasted storms, which could aid the wildfire fight.
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But it has been a regular attendee. This will be the nation’s 12th time participating and Modi’s sixth consecutive invitation. Ottawa had originally decided to leave him off the list, a move that raised questions about India’s credibility in the international arena. But newly elected Canadian leader Mark Carney1has likely made an important calculation: Getting India onside is crucial as he tries to show that democracies can still function collaboratively, even in a fragmented world order. This comes despite Freedom House classifying the South Asian giant as only partly free, noting that the government led by Modi and the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has presided over discriminatory policies and a rise in persecution affecting Muslims. Ties between Ottawa and New Delhi deteriorated sharply in recent years, hitting fresh lows after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India’s government of orchestrating the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh leader, outside a temple in British Columbia. Many Sikhs in the Canadian diaspora want a separate homeland within India for followers of the faith — an ambition that worries security authorities, who have outlawed the movement and view it as a terrorist threat.
New Delhi denied it was involved in Nijjar’s death, alleging that Ottawa has harbored Sikh separatists. The public spat led to tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions and a freeze in high-level engagements.
Hopes of a thaw were raised after Carney was elected in April as the country’s new prime minister. He’s expressed interest in rebuilding ties with “like-
minded countries” as he tries to navigate a difficult relationship with Trump and deal with the fallout from his trade war. That’s led to some positive developments, including discussions about a reset in relations and a recent friendly telephone call between foreign ministers.
Diplomatic priorities appear to have outweighed domestic political considerations. Activists in the Sikh diaspora have argued New Delhi should be kept at arm’s length until the investigation into Nijjar’s death is complete. When asked why he decided to invite Modi, Carney said it “made sense” to have India, the fifth largest largest economy, at the gathering.
He needs all the friends he can get as he tries to navigate a complex economic landscape, while Trump rewrites the rules of multilateralism. Canadian media has indicated leaders of Australia, Ukraine and Mexico have also been invited. The inclusion of the outer ring of G-7-plus partners has become commonplace as a way to get buy-in for major initiatives, particularly among emerging economies. For Modi, who has long positioned himself as the natural leader of the Global South, the late inclusion will be embarrassing, but one he will survive.
Domestically he has received both praise and criticism over the handling of recent hostilities with Pakistan. Diplomats have been on a global charm offensive to build international support for a hardline military approach to Islamabad. Images of him mingling with global heads of state will benefit his standing at home and abroad, feeding into the narrative that he’s respected globally.
Family says Canadian dentist was aboard Air India flight that crashed after takeoff
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He declined to provide his full name and requested privacy for the family.
The plane crashed in a residential area of Ahmedabad, a city of more than five million people. It marks India's worst aviation disaster in decades.
Among the dead were at least five students staying at a medical college hostel where the plane crashed. A local hospital said it had received 186 bodies.
At least one person survived the crash, according to a doctor at the hospital. The doctor identified the survivor as Vishwashkumar Ramesh and said he had multiple injuries all over his body but seems to be out of danger. News channels in India aired video that appeared to show Ramesh covered in blood and walking away from the crash site, with people running behind him.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was "devastated" to learn of the crash and was receiving regular updates on the situation,
confirming one Canadian was on the flight.
The prime minister added that Canadian transport officials are in close contact with their international counterparts.
Patel, the Canadian dentist, graduated from a dental college in India before moving to Canada, according to a biography posted on the website of her clinic, the Heritage Dental Centre.
She was a hardworking person who believed in giving back to the community and volunteered at a free dental camp every year, the page reads.
"The feeling that my work has made a difference in someone's life brightens my day," Patel is quoted as saying about why she became a dentist.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he was "saddened" to learn that a Canadian was involved in the plane crash, and offered condolences to the families of all victims.
"We are keeping you in our thoughts during this difficult time," he said in a social media post.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the crash "heartbreaking beyond words."
High Court grants restraining order for $8.8M worth of properties connected to Justin Ho who is charged in 4.1 tonne meth case
The Suva High Court has granted a Restraining Order application concerning two properties that are linked to the 4.1-tonne methamphetamine case.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions filed its application in the High Court in its civil jurisdiction pursuant to sections 19 (A-C), 34 and 35 of the Proceeds of Crimes Act 1997.
The ODPP says the application pertains to a land comprising an area of 1,293 square metres, a property and land comprising 1,157 square metres in Denarau, Nadi, identified during a financial investigation as properties used to store 4.1 tonnes of drugs.
They say the properties are worth $8.8 million and are linked to one of the accused persons, Justin Ho, who is currently on trial facing several drug-
related charges.
The ODPP, in its application, is also seeking a final order for these two properties to be forfeited to the State pursuant to section 19 (c- e) of the Proceeds of Crimes Act 1997.
The Restraining Order granted by the High Court ensures the assets remain preserved pending the determination of the forfeiture application.
In another matter, the ODPP has filed a civil forfeiture application in relation to another drugrelated offence with properties suspected to be proceeds of crime.
This matter is fixed for hearing on 30th September 2025.
The witness said that Aporosa Davelevu was the truck driver.
3 men charged with aggravated robbery after taxi ride ends in assault in Caubati
3 men who allegedly assaulted and robbed a taxi driver in Caubati on Monday afternoon will appear in the Nasinu Magistrates Court today.
Police say the three are in their 20s and allegedly assaulted and robbed the driver of his mobile phone and money.
The trio had hired the victim’s taxi from Laucala and asked to be dropped off in Caubati, where the alleged incident occurred.
Police say a team from the Southern Division was formed to apprehend the suspects, and all three men, who reside in Cunningham, were arrested and charged with one count of aggravated robbery.
They say officers managed to recover the victim’s mobile phone.
FCCC urges public to report unfair prices ahead of budget announcement
With the 2025-2026 National Budget announcement on the 27th of this month, the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission is strongly encouraging people to report any instances of unfair price hikes or suspicious trading practices. While responding to questions by fijivillage News, FCCC says while their teams are diligently carrying out these inspections, the public’s active participation is also essential in ensuring market fairness and protecting consumer welfare during this period.
They say they are maintaining a heightened state of vigilance across the market, driven by their commitment to fairness and transparency.
FCCC says their primary objective is to prevent any instances of price gouging or unfair trading practices leading up to the national budget announcement.
They say their dedicated enforcement teams are engaged in comprehensive trader inspections and market surveys, meticulously monitoring
both price-controlled and non-price-controlled items. The Commission says they conducted over 11,400 inspections nationwide in the last financial year, demonstrating their proactive presence.
FCCC says their surveillance efforts are not limited to urban areas as they are also extending their focus to rural and maritime areas to ensure that consumers across all regions are protected from exploitation.
They say this holistic approach is part of their broader strategy, often conducted in collaboration with key stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health, Fiji Police Force, Consumer Council of Fiji , Municipal Councils, Ministry of Agriculture and Fiji Revenue and Customs Service to maximize our reach and impact.
They are warning businesses not to exploit consumers by inflating prices or engaging in unfair practices ahead of the National Budget.
They say the FCCC will apply strict enforcement measures.
Bainimarama, Sayed-Khaiyum and Sharma case transferred to High Court for trial
Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, former Attorney-General Aiyaz-Sayed Khaiyum and former Health Minister Dr Neil Sharma's case has been transferred to the High Court for trial. They appeared before Magistrate Sufia Hamza this afternoon. Magistrate Hamza says this means the August trial dates have been vacated. 28 days have been given to appeal. Bail has been extended for all three.
The matter is adjourned to the 26th of June. Sayed-Khaiyum is also charged with one count of abuse of office and one of obstructing the course of justice, while Bainimarama is charged with one count of abuse of office.
It is alleged that on 20th October 2011, being employed as the Acting Minister of Finance, Sayed-Khaiyum recklessly abused his position as the Minister of Finance by granting a waiver of the tender process without lawful justification for a Ministry of Health Tender CTN 153/2011 in violation of the Procurement Regulation.
It is also alleged that on 29th June 2012, being employed in the public service as the Attorney General, Sayed-Khaiyum intentionally obstructed the FICAC investigation against Dr. Neil Sharma relating to a Health Tender CTN 66/2011 by directing all investigations to be shelved until further notice, which resulted in the cessation of the FICAC investigation and no criminal charges being filed against Dr Neil Sharma for the past 10 years.
Dr Sharma is charged with two counts of abuse of office and two counts of breach of trust by a person employed in the public service.
It is alleged that between 3rd August 2011 to 13th September 2011, Sharma abused his position as the Minister of Health by intentionally failing to comply with statutory requirements for tenders stipulated under the Procurement Regulation for the Ministry of Health Tender CTN 66/2011 and actively engaged in acts to undermine CTN 66/2011 in favour of the bidder, Hospital Engineering & Consultancy Ltd, also known as Hospineer.
Pakistan govt begins cancelling passports of deportees
Pakistan's government has initiated cancelling the passports of deportees due to fake documents and beggary to discourage such practices.
Data released by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development showed that over 7,800 Pakistanis were deported from 2019 to 2025 for different charges, including beggary. All of these deportees’ passports are being cancelled, the Pakistani media reported. Most of these deportees are from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which house a higher number of South Asian diaspora.
As reported by Khaleej Times last month, the South Asian government stated that all deportees'
passports will be cancelled upon arrival in the country and a first information report (FIR) will be filed against them for illegal practices. In addition, the government also announced that the deportees will be placed on the passport control list, ensuring that they don't travel abroad for five years.
The Ministry of Interior has started placing these deportees’ names on the passport control list to ensure that they don’t travel abroad.
The Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resources earlier this week discussed the matter of deportees and discussed steps taken to prevent such incidents.
India slams attack on Tagore’s house in Bangladesh
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “The attack falls in the broad pattern of systematic attempts by extremists to erase the symbols of tolerance and eviscerate the syncretic culture and the cultural legacy of Bangladesh”.
Jaiswal said, “We urge the interim government to rein in the extremists, and take strict action against the perpetrators
to prevent recurrence of such incidents that have sadly become a repetitive feature.”
Tagore’s home, historically called Rabindra Kachharibari, is located in Sirajganj district of Bangladesh.
The violent act is a disgrace to the memory and the inclusive philosophy and teachings that the Nobel Laureate espoused in Bangladesh, Jaiswal said.
Earthquake of magnitude 4.6 jolts Pakistan
The details were shared by the NCS in a post on X. The tremor occurred at 13:26:32 IST, with its epicentre located at latitude 29.12 North and longitude 67.26 East. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres.
"EQ of M: 4.6, On: 12/05/2025 13:26:32 IST, Lat: 29.12 N, Long: 67.26 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Pakistan," National Center for Seismology wrote on X.
Pakistan is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, being crossed by several
major faults. As a result, earthquakes in Pakistan often occur and are destructive.
Pakistan geologically overlaps both the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.
Balochistan, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and GilgitBaltistan provinces lie on the southern edge of the Eurasian plate on the Iranian Plateau. Sindh, Punjab, and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir provinces lie on the northwestern edge of the Indian plate in South Asia.
Social media influencer found dead in car in Bathinda, murder suspected
Social media influencer Kanchan Kumari (36), popularly known as Kamal Kaur Bhabhi, was found dead under mysterious circumstances last night. The body was found in her car parked outside Adesh University at Bhucho Kalan, along the Bathinda-Chandigarh highway near here. She was a resident of Lachman Colony in Ludhiana.
Some persons informed the police that a foul smell was emanating from the vehicle. The police reached the spot and found a decomposed body in the car. A case of murder has been registered at the Bathinda Cantonment police station. A CCTV footage showed a man arriving there in the car and leaving the vehicle there on Tuesday. Bathinda SP (City) Narinder Singh said, “Prima facie, it appears someone abandoned the
car in the parking area after committing the crime. The post-mortem report will provide clarity. She had told her mother before leaving Ludhiana that she was going for a promotional event.”
Meanwhile, the deceased’s family also reached there to complete legal formalities, but stayed away from the media.
Sources said Kanchan left Ludhiana on Monday, and her phone was switched off the next day. “Kanchan was the main earning member of her family. Her father passed away five-six years ago, her mother is a housewife and her siblings do petty jobs. She had once faced the ire of some ‘Nihangs’ over her explicit, mostly indecent, videos. She later changed her name on social media. She was unmarried, but styled herself as ‘bhabhi’,” sources added.
Shiv Sena activists assault Sikh youth, six arrested
Tensions flared up in Muktsar after a Sikh youth was allegedly assaulted by Shiv Sena chief Rajesh Garg and his supporters on Wednesday.
As Shiv Sena activists were holding a protest, Gurwinder Singh, who was behind the wheels, requested the protesters to allow him to head towards a hospital.
An argument reportedly broke out, following which the protesters allegedly dragged Gurwinder out of the vehicle, tore his clothes and thrashed him. The videos of the incident have gone viral.
Following pressure from Sikh organisations, including Akal Takht’s officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, the police registered an FIR and arrested six persons. However, Garg is still on
Muktsar SSP Akhil Chaudhary said a case under relevant Sections of the BNS had been registered against the accused. “The complainant has accused Rajesh Garg and some unknown persons. We have already nabbed six accused. Two security personnel deployed with Garg have also been sent to the Police Lines,” said the SSP. Members of several Sikh organisations, including former Muktsar MLA Kanwarjit Singh Rozy Barkandi, visited Gurwinder at the Civil Hospital and demanded strict action.
Gurwinder’ family and Sikh organisations have called a public gathering at Gurdwara Tarn Taran Sahib on Bathinda Road on Friday.
The family claimed that they were not being informed whether the case had been registered
The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), during its executive meeting on Thursday, objected to the state government’s move seeking suggestions to observe the 350th martyrdom day of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur. It called it an attempt to interfere in the SGPC affairs.
Speaking to the media after the executive body meeting, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said the state government recently sought suggestions from the Sangat regarding observing the 350th martyrdom day of Sri Guru Teg Bahadur.
“The government should confine to the overall development of towns and places related to the martyrdom of the ninth Sikh Guru, Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das and Bhai Dayala, apart from constructing memorials to them. It should leave the observation of their martyrdom days to the SGPC,” said Dhami.
The SGPC announced to observe the martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur, Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das and Bhai Dayala at national levels in November. The 350th anniversary of the anointment of Guru Gobind Singh would also be
organised at the national level.
Dhami also said that a committee would be formed to review the suggestions received from various Sikh quarters about framing proposals for the appointment and removal of Takht Jathedars.
India's first bullet train reaches major milestone
India's Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project reached a major breakthrough after completing more than 300 kilometers of viaducts were completed.
The MAHSR corridor, stretching 508 kilometers, uses Shinkansen bullet trains from Japan as part of a testing partnership between the two nations.
Newsweek contacted Indian Railway, the corridor's owner, for more information on the development via email.
The MAHSR bullet train is India's largest transportation infrastructure project and would reduce travel time from up to seven hours to just two hours between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, two of the most important cities in the Indian economy. India's success in high-speed rail, if completed, could indicate increasing competitiveness and adoption of green mobility in large emerging
economies.
The NHSRCL reported that as of June 2025, more than 300 kilometers of elevated viaduct structures had been completed, using Full Span Launching Method and Span-by-Span engineering techniques. Fourteen river bridges, seven steel bridges, and five prestressed concrete bridges are now finished. As a result, the project has entered a critical testing phase, with Japan beginning trials of the first Shinkansen bullet trains built for India. Indian-made trains, developed under the "Make in India" initiative, are currently undergoing initial tests at speeds up to 280 km/h, though the operational target upon project completion is 320 km/h. The rolling stock is designed with reclining and swiveling seats, air conditioning, modern entertainment systems, and facilities for passengers with disabilities.
UK supports India in fight against terrorism: Lammy
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Saturday expressed support for India’s fight against crossborder terrorism as Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the need for decisive international action against terrorism and those supporting it.
Lammy, who arrived here this morning on a visit to review various aspects of the strategic partnership between the two countries, separately met PM Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Condemning the Pahalgam terror attack, Lammy said, “There has been a horrific terrorist attack since
we last met and my PM wishes me to convey once again the deep condolences of the UK and a hand of friendship with India and support as we deal with the terrorism threat in a comprehensive manner.”
In a statement, the PM's Office said, "Modi underscored the need for decisive international action against terrorism and those who support it." Lammy's visit came after India and the UK agreed to the historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on May 6. The FTA targets increasing trade by more than £25 billon every year.
Leaving behind ‘mangalsutra’
in homestay made Sonam Raghuvanshi a murder suspect
Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife Sonam had left their suitcase at a homestay in Sohra before going missing, and the 'mangalsutra' and a ring found in it helped investigators crack the honeymoon murder case, Meghalaya's Director General of Police (DGP) I Nongrang said on Wednesday.
Sonam (25) and Raja (29) got married in Indore on May 11 and reached Meghalaya via Guwahati in Assam on May 20 for their honeymoon. Both went missing on May 23 in Sohra in East Khasi Hills district, hours after checking out of a homestay at Nongriat village. Raja's body was found in a gorge near Weisawdong Falls on June 2. A search
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said there was a very clear record of “what Pakistan actually is”. “We all know Pahalgam attack is only the most recent example of cross-border terrorism,” he noted.
Jaiswal reminded the US how the conspirator of 26/11 terror attacks Tahawwur Rana was extradited from the US to India.
continued for Sonam, who emerged in Uttar Pradesh's Ghazipur, around 1,200 km away, in the early hours of June 9 and surrendered as police arrested his boyfriend Raj Kushwaha and the three contract killers hired by them to murder Raja. "We recovered Sonam's 'mangalsutra' and a ring from the suitcase the couple abandoned at a homestay in Sohra. A married woman leaving behind the ornaments gave us a clue to pursue her as a suspect in the case," DGP Nongrang told PTI. 'Mangalsutra' is a sacred necklace worn by married Hindu women, signifying their bond with their husband.
US Department of Justice records show that Rana was a former officer in the Pakistan Army and was working with the Lashkar-e-Toiba. He further pointed out that it was Pakistan that gave shelter to Osama Bin Laden. “It is significant that the person – Dr Shakil Afridi – who helped locate Osama Bin laden is still imprisoned by the Pakistani military,” said Jaiswal.
High in the Himalayas, where winds slice through conflict-hit Kashmir at 160 mph and temperatures swing from -20°F to 113°F, India has unveiled the world's highest rail bridge, remaking the power map of Asia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's inauguration of the Chenab Rail Bridge, a 1,178-foot-tall steel construction that is nearly 100 feet taller than the Eiffel Tower, finally connects the Kashmir Valley to other railways in the world's most populous country.
It underlines India's hold on Kashmir just weeks after an insurgent attack on tourists in Pahalgam killed 26 people and prompted the biggest confrontation in decades with Pakistan, which India blamed for the attack despite its
denials. The railway also strengthens India's transport links to the disputed region where it is also at odds with China, which has strong links to Pakistan. All three countries are nuclear powers.
The bridge completes the 200 mile Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL). "With the blessings of Mata Vaishno Devi, the Valley of Kashmir is now connected to India's vast railway network," declared PM Modi at the ceremony which was live-casted on X. "We have always invoked Maa Bharati (Mother India) with deep reverence, saying 'from Kashmir to Kanyakumari' – today, this has become a reality even in our railway network."
NIA chargesheets Goldy, 4 others in Gurugram blast case
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has chargesheeted Canada-based Khalistani terrorist Satinderjit Singh, alias Goldy Brar, and four others in connection with twin bomb attacks on clubs in Gurugram in December last year.
The NIA implicated Brar, along with Sachin Taliyan, Ankit, Bhawish and US-based Randeep Singh, alias Randeep Malik, under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Arms Act, Explosives Substance Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in its chargesheet filed before a Panchkula court on Friday. Barring Brar and Malik, all others have been arrested in the case.
The NIA had found the accused to be involved in a conspiracy to target the Warehouse Club and the Human Club in Sector 29 in Gurugram with bombs. It was part of banner terrorist outfit Babbar
Khalsa International’s (BKI) larger conspiracy to spread communal disharmony and disrupt peace in Haryana and neighbouring regions by unleashing violence, according to an official statement.
The attack, perpetrated by members and cadres of the proscribed BKI, took place on December 10, 2024, it said.
The NIA investigations later revealed that the “deep-rooted” terror conspiracy was hatched by Brar and his associates, said the statement issued by the probe agency. According to the NIA investigations, the terror syndicate is actively involved in extorting money, raising terror funds, procuring explosives and arms and ammunition, and promoting terror among people to threaten the integrity, security (including economic security) and sovereignty of the country.
265 dead as London-bound AI flight with 242 crashes
At least 265 people, including medical students having lunch in their hostel cafeteria, were killed on Thursday when a London-bound Air India plane carrying 242 passengers and crew crashed into a medical college complex in the Meghaninagar area and burst into a ball of fire less than a minute after takeoff.
The dead in the worst air disaster of the country in recent times included several people on the ground. “As many as 265 bodies have reached the city Civil Hospital,” Deputy Commissioner of Police Kanan Desai said.
Four MBBS students and a doctor's wife were among those killed, a senior official said. At least 80 medical students were having lunch when the plane crashed around 1.40 pm. The official death toll of the tragedy has not yet been announced.
Aviation experts say this is the one of the worst air crash disasters of the world. The plane developed a snag immediately after it took off. The pilot apparently gave a Mayday call to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) but the plane crashed before the ATC could respond. All pre-flight checks were done and no technical faults or irregularities were detected before the flight took off. Of the 242 passengers on board, 169 were Indian citizens, including two pilots and 10 other crew members. The flight had 53 British citizens, seven Portuguese and a Canadian. Though there were initial reports that all 242 passengers on board the flight had died, one survivor, Viswash Kumar Ramesh, a British citizen, walked out of the plane after the crash. He is now at the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital receiving primary aid. He, along with his older brother, were going to London.
Gangster tells why India's biggest hip-hop star was murdered
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"We had no option but to kill him. He had to face the consequences of his actions. It was either him or us. As simple as that." On a warm May evening in 2022, Sidhu Moose Wala was taking his black Mahindra Thar SUV for its usual spin through dusty lanes near his village in the northern Indian state of Punjab when, within minutes, two cars began tailing him.
CCTV footage later showed them weaving through narrow turns, sticking close. Then, at a bend in the road, one of the vehicles lurched forward, cornering Moose Wala's SUV against a wall. He was trapped. Moments later, the shooting began. Mobile footage captured the aftermath. His SUV was riddled with bullets, the windscreen shattered, the bonnet punctured. In trembling voices, bystanders expressed their shock and concern.
"Someone get him out of the car."
"Get some water."
"Moose Wala has been shot."
But it was too late. He was declared dead on arrival at hospital - hit by 24 bullets, a postmortem would later reveal. The 28-year-old rapper, one of modern-day Punjab's biggest cultural icons, had been gunned down in broad daylight. Sidhu Moose Wala was born Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu in a Jat-Sikh family in rural Punjab, before moving in 2016 to Canada to study engineering - a journey familiar to hundreds of thousands in the Punjabi diaspora. But it was there, far from his village of Moosa - the inspiration for his rap name - that he reinvented himself as one of Punjabi music's
most influential artists. In just five years, Moose Wala became the unmistakable voice of Punjabi hip-hop.
With his signature swagger, flashy style, and lyrical grit, Moose Wala sang openly about identity and politics, guns and revenge, pushing the boundaries of what Punjabi music had been willing to say. He was fascinated by rapper Tupac Shakur, who had been murdered, aged 25, in 1996. "In terms of personality, I want to be like him," Moose Wala once told an interviewer. "The day he died, people cried for him. I want the same. When I die, people should remember that I was someone."
Over a brief but explosive career, the singer spotlighted the darker undercurrents of India's Punjab region - gangster culture, unemployment, and political decay - while evoking a deep nostalgia for village life.
Moose Wala was also a global force. With more than five billion views of his music videos on YouTube, a Top 5 spot in the UK charts, and collaborations with international hip-hop artists including Burna Boy, Moose Wala swiftly built a fan base stretching across India, Canada, the UK and beyond, powered by a diaspora that saw him as both icon and insurgent.
But fame came at a cost. Despite his rising star and socially conscious lyrics, Moose Wala was drifting into dangerous territory. His defiant attitude, visibility, and growing influence had drawn the attention of Punjab's most feared gangsters. These included Goldy Brar, and Brar's friend Lawrence Bishnoi, who even then was in a high-security jail in India.
