Terrorist Behind 14 Blasts In Punjab Caught In US, Say Security Agencies

by Hansraj Agrawal | Apr 17, 2025 | top-stories

New Delhi:

US-based terrorist Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia, said to be responsible for 14 terror attacks over the last six months in Punjab, have been captured in the US by its Immigration department.

Sources in security forces said he carried out the attacks in collaboration with Pakistan intelligence agency ISI and Babbar Khalsa International.

The terrorist — who carried a reward of 5 lakh on his head — is now in the custody of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

Happy Passia had conducted multiple terror attacks on the police establishments of Punjab and took responsibility for them on social media.

A series of blasts targeting police establishments in Amritsar since November 2024 had made the security agencies begin a hunt for him.

Series of Attacks

1. November 23, 2024: An IED weighing about 1.5 kg was planted outside Ajnala police station in Amritsar but it was recovered before it exploded
2. November 29, 2024: An explosion took place near a police checkpost in Gurbakhsh Nagar, Amritsar around 11 pm
3. December 2, 2024: A grenade attack was reported on the Ansar police post in Nawanshahr. The grenade did not explode and was later defused.
4. December 4, 2024: A massive grenade blast at Majitha police station in Amritsar shattered windows, but no one was injured
5. December 13, 2024: A grenade was reportedly hurled near the entry gate of Ghania’s Bangar police station in Batala; however, it did not explode
6. December 17, 2024: Around 3:15 am, an explosion took place near Islamabad police station in Amritsar, shaking nearby houses. German gangster Jivan Fauji, associated with Babbar Khalsa International, claimed responsibility for the attack.
7. December 18, 2024: A grenade blast targeted the Bakshiwala police check post in Kalanaur, Gurdaspur.
8. December 20, 2024: Another grenade blast took place at Wadala Bangar police check post in Kalanaur, Gurdaspur.
9. January 9, 2025: An explosion was reported outside the Gumtala police post in Amritsar around 8.45 pm. Initial reports said a car radiator had exploded. But Happy Passia, claimed responsibility on social media and said it was meant to avenge the killing of his two comrades in a fake encounter.
10. February 3, 2025: An explosion took place outside the boundary wall of Fatehgarh Churian police post in Amritsar.
11. February 14, 2025: A low-intensity blast targeted a policeman’s house in Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur.
12. 15 March 2025: Two people on a bike threw a grenade near Thakurdwara temple in Amritsar. The police killed one of the accused in an encounter.
13 Attack at BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia’s house
14. April 16, 2025: Grenade attack at a YouTuber’s house in Punjab

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Donald Trump Suggests Tariffs Capable Of Replacing Income Tax

by Hansraj Agrawal | Apr 17, 2025 | top-stories

Washington:

US President Donald Trump recently expressed optimism about the potential for tariffs to generate substantial revenue, possibly even replacing income tax. In a conversation with Fox Noticias, Trump highlighted the significant financial gains from tariffs, drawing parallels with the late 19th century when the US imposed tariffs and amassed considerable funds. “There is a chance that the money is so great that it could replace” income tax, Trump stated, referencing the period between 1870 and 1913 when tariffs were the primary source of revenue.

During this era, the US experienced unprecedented wealth, with Trump noting, “And that’s when our nation was relatively the richest. We were the richest.” However, Trump acknowledged that any changes to income tax would require Congressional approval, as the legislative body oversees tax policy. Trump’s goal is to utilise tariff revenue to support a tax bill that would exempt tips and Social Security from taxation, among other campaign promises. He emphasised the substantial revenue potential, saying, “It could replace the income tax, that’s the kind of money”.

Trump also discussed a historical committee established to manage excess revenue, stating, “And this committee’s sole purpose was how to dispose of it, who to give it to, what do we do? And then, brilliantly, in 1913, they went to the income tax system.” He further noted that attempts to revive tariffs in the 1930s were unsuccessful, and the Great Depression was incorrectly blamed on tariffs, when in fact, it predated the tariffs.

Regarding tariff revenue, Trump said, “Billions and billions of dollars and, hundreds of billions of dollars over a period of a year.” He also referenced the significant daily revenue generated from tariffs, stating, “Before I gave a little bit of a pause to lower just a little bit because, you know, it’s a transition. You have to be, you have to have a little flexibility. But we were making two billion and three billion dollars a day. We never made money like that.”

The Trump administration has temporarily halted reciprocal tariffs imposed on nations for 90 days, following Trump’s announcement that there would be no pause on tariffs and only negotiations. Meanwhile, the US has imposed 245% tariffs on China, reflecting the ongoing tariff dispute between the two nations.

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Cash On Wheels: Panchvati Express Becomes India's First Train With ATM

by Hansraj Agrawal | Apr 16, 2025 | top-stories

Mumbai:

In a first-of-its-kind move, the Mumbai-Manmad Panchavati Express has become the first train in India to have an ATM installed onboard.

The ATM has been set up in an air-conditioned coach of the train and successfully completed its trial run.

The machine allows passengers to withdraw cash even while the train is moving. It has been introduced as part of Indian Railways’ Innovative and Non-Fare Revenue Ideas Scheme (INFRIS).

The initiative is a result of a collaboration between the Bhusawal division of Indian Railways and the Bank of Maharashtra.

Railway officials said the trial went well, with the machine functioning smoothly throughout the journey.

However, there were some brief network issues in the stretch between Igatpuri and Kasara, which is known for poor signal due to tunnels and limited mobile connectivity.

Ity Pandey, the divisional railway manager of Bhusawal, said, “The results were good. People will now be able to withdraw cash while travelling. We will keep monitoring the performance of the machine.”

Pandey also shared that the idea was first proposed during an INFRIS meeting organised by the Bhusawal division.

“Once the suggestion was made, the team quickly started working on how to make it possible,” she mentioned.

Though the ATM is placed in an AC coach, it can be accessed by passengers from all 22 coaches of the Panchvati Express since they are connected through vestibules.

Apart from cash withdrawals, passengers can also use the ATM to order cheque books and receive account statements.

Interestingly, the same ATM will also be available to passengers of the Mumbai-Hingoli Jan Shatabdi Express, as it shares the same rake with the Panchavati Express.

This means more passengers on the longer route will also benefit from the facility.

To ensure safety, the ATM is fitted with a shutter system and is monitored by CCTV cameras round-the-clock.

Railway officials said the service may be expanded to more trains if it becomes popular among passengers.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Hemant Soren Elected Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Central President

by Hansraj Agrawal | Apr 15, 2025 | top-stories

Ranchi:

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren was on Tuesday elected as the central president of the ruling JMM, while his father Shibu Soren was made the “founding patron” of the party, a JMM leader said.

Shibu Soren had been the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s chief for the past 38 years, while his son Hemant served the party as its executive president since 2015, he said.

Senior party leader and Dumka MP Nalin Soren proposed the name of Shibu Soren as the founding patron during the JMM’s 13th Central Convention and it was seconded by the Maheshpur MLA Stephen Marandi.

Thereafter, Shibu Soren proposed the name of Hemant Soren as the central president of JMM, which was passed unanimously.

“The responsibility that respected Baba Dishom Guruji (Shibu Soren) has given me, the faith that lakhs of party colleagues have shown in me, I will work hard day and night to fulfill it. This support of all of you is my strength,” Hemant Soren later posted on X.

He said that he would serve the people of the state with double strength.

Addressing the concluding ceremony of two-day convention, the JMM central president said, “The party would decide its future journey from this point. We will move towards a long road after the end of this convention.” The CM said that Shibu Soren devoted his life to the uplift of the poor and marginalised people of Jharkhand.

“Despite limited resources, he took the pledge to protect the people and ‘Jal Jungle, Jamin’ (water, forest and land) of Jharkhand, which is not an ordinary feat. The entire country knows him as Guruji,” he said.

On being elected as the central president of the JMM, Hemant Soren said he has been given a great responsibility.

“I am preparing a roadmap so that we can take the ideals of the party to greater heights. JMM is not a party but a reflection of the thoughts of the people of Jharkhand,” he said.

The CM said India is the biggest democracy in the world but it is still reeling under discrimination on the basis of caste, creed and economic condition.

“The state government is preparing schemes for the betterment of 3.25 crore people of Jharkhand. We do not discriminate on the basis of religion. The benefits of Maiya Samman Yojana are reaching all the sections of the society,” he added.

The CM also announced that an ex gratia of Rs 1 lakh would be provided after the death of any ‘andolankari’ (who fought for Jharkhand statehood).

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Iran Says Next Round Of US Talks To Be Held In Oman On Saturday: Report

by Hansraj Agrawal | Apr 14, 2025 | top-stories

Iran said that second round of talks with US would take place in Oman’s capital on April 19.

Tehran:

The next round of talks between the United States and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear programme will be held in Oman on Saturday, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Following indirect negotiations in Muscat last weekend, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the next talks would take place in Oman’s capital on April 19, IRNA reported. The Dutch foreign minister had earlier suggested that the talks would be held in Rome.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Saif Ali Khan Attacker Wanted Rs 30,000 To Get Fake Aadhaar-PAN: Cops

by Hansraj Agrawal | Apr 14, 2025 | top-stories

Mumbai:

The Bangladeshi intruder who broke into actor Saif Ali Khan’s home and stabbed him before escaping wanted to steal Rs 30,000 to get a fake Aadhaar card and a PAN card made, Mumbai Police have told the court in its chargesheet.

According to the chargesheet, Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad told police that he crossed over to India with the sole objective of securing an Indian passport. He said it is easier for an Indian national to get work visas in foreign countries than for a Bangladeshi citizen. He wanted to get Aadhaar and PAN made first and then apply for a passport.

Saif Ali Khan was stabbed multiple times during a robbery attempt at his Bandra home on January 16. Bleeding heavily from his injuries, the actor was rushed to Lilavati Hospital. He was discharged five days later. Police arrested Shehzad in Thane three days after the attack.

Shehzad has told the police that he is from Jhalokathi district in Bangladesh and illegally entered India eight months before the robbery attempt. He stayed in Kolkata for about 15 days before travelling to Mumbai in the Gitanjali Express.

He worked at a hotel in Mumbai and took a day off on January 15. “I was not well and I needed to get a PAN card and Aadhaar card made,” he said, adding that he had spoken to someone who had asked for Rs 30,000 to get the fake documents made.

Shehzad told police that he had planned a “small theft” that would help him get his documents made.

The Night Of Attack

Shehzad has told the cops that he went to the roof of a building adjoining the one in which Saif Ali Khan stayed. From there, he then jumped into the premises of the building where the actor stayed. He then went up the staircases on the rear side of the building till he found a security net. He used a cutter and gained access to the air conditioning duct. He then gained access to Mr Khan’s home through the bathroom. “I saw a caregiver on her phone and another sleeping. A child (Jeh) was sleeping in the bed,” he told police.

When he entered the house, the shocked nanny asked what he wanted. Shehzad demanded Rs 1 crore. At this point, Mr Khan entered the room and grabbed him. “I stabbed him to escape. I stabbed him on his back and arms. Then his grip loosened. He pushed me into the room and locked the door. But I escaped through the window and used a pipe to climb down. I changed my clothes downstairs and fled to the bus stop and slept there. I later went to Bandra station,” he told police, according to the chargesheet.

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