Man charged with hate crime after incident at Fremont restaurant
Marcus Harper of Union City was charged with a hate crime and misdemeanor battery after he was accused of assaulting a woman and her children while they were eating at a restaurant on April 5, the Alameda County District Attorney's Office said.
The backstory
Fremont Police said the incident occurred around 2:15 p.m. at a fast food restaurant in the 38000 block of Fremont Boulevard. Harper is accused of approaching an Indian woman with her two children, taking their food from them, and eating it in front of them.
Harper then walked away from the family before returning and slapping the woman's face from behind and making a "disparaging comment" about the family, police said.
The 22-year-old yelled at the victims, threw a packet of dipping sauce at one of the children, then left, police said.
Fremont Police investigated the case as a hate crime and obtained a warrant for his arrest.
On Tuesday, officers found Harper alone in his car on Marshlands Road near Thornton Avenue and took him into custody.
What they're saying
"This act of hate based upon the perceived national origin of these victims is completely unacceptable," Alameda County DA Jones Dickson said. "The message needs to be clear that such behavior will not be tolerated, and those who commit hate crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."
Harper faces a battery charge, along with a civil rights violation and a special allegation of a hate crime.
Jail records show Harper remains in custody at the Santa Rita Jail, and an arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.
What we don't know
Police did not share the name of the fast food restaurant where the incident occurred.
It's also unclear the age of the children.
Police said the victims did not suffer any physical injuries.
The Source
Alameda County District Attorney's Office, Fremont Police
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Magazine
an hour ago
- Time Magazine
The Complex Ending of Indian Thriller 'Mandala Murders'
Mandala Murders, a gripping Indian crime thriller series on Netflix, follows detective Rea Thomas as she investigates a series of ritualistic murders in the fictional remote town of Charandaspur. Over eight episodes, the show unravels a chilling mystery involving a secret cult called the Aayastis, who are attempting to create a god-like being named Yast by assembling human body parts according to an ancient ritual. The series blends crime investigation, supernatural lore, and political intrigue, revealing how deep-rooted beliefs and family legacies can drive people to horrific acts. Throughout the season, viewers are drawn into a complex web of betrayal, faith, and moral ambiguity. The story contrasts the personal journeys of Rea and Ananya Bhardwaj, two women connected by their grandmothers' opposing roles in the cult's dark history. The finale ties together these threads, offering answers but leaving enough open to hint that the saga is far from over. What is Yast and why does the cult want to create it? At the heart of Mandala Murders is the myth of Yast, a man-made god envisioned by the Aayastis cult. Yast is a being constructed by piecing together what they see as the ideal human body parts from various victims, inspired by the concept of the Vitruvian Man and ancient Indian spirituality. The cult believes that through this unnatural creation, they can usher in a new divine era—one in which Yast will reign supreme, transforming the world and cleansing it of those deemed unworthy. This god is not just a spiritual ideal but a symbol of ultimate power and control. The cult's ambition to resurrect Yast reflects a dangerous blend of fanaticism and pseudo-science, where ancient rituals meet modern technology. However, the price of this resurrection is horrifying: the ritual requires numerous human sacrifices, with each victim selected for specific body parts that will complete the divine vessel. This blend of science, mysticism, and brutality drives the narrative and raises questions about the cost of blind devotion. The ritualistic murders and the mandala pattern The murders committed by the Aayastis are not random but carefully orchestrated rituals. Each victim is chosen for a particular body part—such as a limb, face, or other distinctive attribute—that fits into the cult's grand design of Yast's body. The killings follow the geometry of a mandala, an intricate spiritual symbol representing cosmic order and balance. This pattern connects the crime scenes and serves as a symbolic map for the cult's progress toward creating Yast. This methodical approach to murder highlights the cult's cold precision and the extent of their fanaticism. The mandala pattern is a dark twist on spiritual symbolism. While mandalas are typically associated with harmony and enlightenment, here they become the blueprint for ritual slaughter. The series uses this contrast to underscore the warped ideology behind the Ayastis' mission, showing how religious symbolism can be twisted to justify horror. Ananya and the legacy of Rukmini Devi Ananya Bhardwaj, a prominent political figure in Charandaspur, is revealed as a key antagonist who is determined to continue the cult's work. She is the granddaughter of Rukmini Devi, the original founder of the Ayasthis' project in the 1950s. Rukmini's vision combined radical science and ancient spiritual beliefs to begin the dangerous experiment of bringing Yast to life. Ananya, driven by loyalty to her grandmother's legacy and her own political ambitions, reboots this project with ruthless determination. Ananya's actions show a chilling disregard for human life. She orchestrates murders, manipulates people around her, and shows no remorse for the carnage left in her wake. Her personal flaws and toxic relationships further complicate her character—she is politically powerful but deeply flawed, willing to betray family and friends to complete the Yast project. Rea Thomas and the legacy of Nandini Opposing Ananya is Rea Thomas, a dedicated and morally grounded detective from the Crime Investigation Bureau. Unbeknownst to her at first, Rea is linked to the cult's past through her grandmother Nandini, who was once part of the original Aayastis but ultimately rejected their cause. Nandini's turning point came when she realized the catastrophic consequences of bringing Yast into the world and sabotaged the original plan by destroying a critical part of the ritual. Rea's journey is one of discovery and redemption. As she uncovers her grandmother's story and the cult's history, she becomes determined to stop Ananya and the Aayastis from completing their apocalyptic mission. Her struggle represents the theme of legacy as a choice—while Ananya embraces the cult's darkness, Rea fights to bring justice and protect her community, even at great personal cost. Vikram's role as the final sacrifice Vikram Singh, a local police officer and Rea's close ally, becomes the cult's ultimate target. His body is believed to be the last piece necessary to complete Yast's perfect human form. The cult's plan culminates in harvesting Vikram's blood and body parts, tying him directly to the mythological ritual and making his survival crucial to stopping the catastrophe. Vikram's involvement raises the stakes emotionally and narratively, especially when it's revealed that he also has a mysterious connection to the cult, through his mother Vasudha's role in past events. The threat to Vikram personalizes the fight between Rea and Ananya, turning it into a race to save not only a life but the future of Charandaspur and possibly the world. The failed resurrection and the fall of Ananya The final episode builds to a tense confrontation deep within the underground chambers where the cult prepares to complete Yast's resurrection. Ananya and her followers are ready to perform the final ritual, with Yast's grotesque, incomplete form suspended in a tank. As the blood sacrifice of Vikram is about to be carried out, Rea arrives to stop the ceremony. Rea's intervention is violent and decisive. She stabs Ananya just as the latter attempts to kill Vikram. This moment disrupts the ritual, preventing Yast's full resurrection. The scene is both a climax and a turning point, symbolizing the struggle between the destructive legacy of the past and the hope for justice. However, despite the victory, the lingering presence of the cult members suggests that the threat is far from over. What the ending implies for the future Though the immediate danger is halted, the series ends on a note of uncertainty. The final scenes hint that some cult members remain free, and the ideology behind Yast has not been fully eradicated. The shadow of the Ayastis still looms over Charandaspur, leaving the door open for future conflicts. This ambiguous ending invites viewers to reflect on the cyclical nature of fanaticism and the challenges of uprooting deeply entrenched beliefs. The unresolved threads suggest that the story could continue in a second season, exploring how the battle between darkness and justice evolves in a world where faith and power collide.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
India expands its e-commerce crackdown with a new $200M case against Walmart's fashion arm Myntra
India's financial crime watchdog has filed a complaint against Walmart-backed fashion e-commerce giant Myntra, alleging the company violated foreign investment rules by channeling over $191 million through a related-party scheme that disguised retail operations as wholesale trade. This complaint marks the latest move in a broader crackdown by Indian authorities, which previously targeted Amazon and Flipkart. On Wednesday, the Enforcement Directorate said the Bengaluru-based fashion e-commerce firm violated the Foreign Exchange Management Act, known as FEMA, by engaging in multi-brand retail trading 'under the guise of wholesale cash and carry,' utilizing a related entity, Vector E-Commerce, as an intermediary to route retail sales through a wholesale structure. India restricts foreign companies engaged in wholesale business from making direct sales to consumers in an effort to protect local retailers. The law also limits sales to related group companies to a maximum of 25%. Myntra failed to meet the conditions for operating as a wholesale or cash-and-carry business, as all of its sales were made exclusively to Vector E-Commerce, the agency stated (PDF). The agency filed the complaint against Myntra, its related companies, and their directors under section 16(3) of the FEMA, 1999. Myntra controls around half of the country's overall fashion e-commerce market. The company is also gradually expanding its quick-commerce service and broadening its reach in high-growth categories, including home and living, as well as beauty. The company is also testing the waters in social commerce by partnering with celebrities and bringing on micro-influencers, taking on the likes of Instagram, YouTube, and Amazon's Live. The complaint comes as Indian officials hold talks with the Trump administration over a potential trade deal with the United States. The Modi government in New Delhi is reportedly under pressure from the Trump administration to grant Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart full access to its $125 billion e-commerce market. The Modi government has long been expected to release its e-commerce policy, but sources previously told TechCrunch that it has been on the back burner, as officials are cautious not to strain relations with the U.S. government. Nonetheless, Amazon and Flipkart have previously faced investigations by Indian agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate. One of the recent major actions against the two companies was reportedly a raid by the federal agency in November on the offices of some of their sellers, who are accused of violating the country's foreign investment rules. In April, the agency also privately sought sales data and other documents from smartphone vendors, including Apple and Xiaomi, as part of its probe into Amazon and Flipkart. Responding to the latest action, Myntra stated that it had not received a copy of the complaint and supporting documents from the authorities but remained 'fully committed to cooperating with them at any point of time.' 'At Myntra, we are deeply committed to upholding all applicable laws of the land and operating with the highest standards of compliance and integrity,' a company spokesperson said. Founded in 2007, Myntra was acquired by the Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart in 2014 and was later bought by Walmart as part of Flipkart's $1.6 billion acquisition in 2018. When contacted, a Walmart spokesperson pointed to the statement issued by Myntra. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
New York Times
18 hours ago
- New York Times
What Does It Take to Make Your Own Embassy? In India, Not Much.
There are more than 100 diplomatic missions based in India's capital, New Delhi. What does it take to set up your own? Not much, if you ask Harshvardhan Jain, a.k.a. 'Baron H.V. Jain.' Rent a bungalow, hoist some flags, park a few luxury cars on the curb, photoshop yourself into pictures with world leaders, and — voilà! — you have your own embassy. Until you are caught, that is. The Indian police arrested Mr. Jain, 47, on Tuesday for running a fake embassy in a rented residential building in Ghaziabad, a city just outside New Delhi. This house, the police said, alternately acted as the diplomatic mission for Westarctica or the Principality of Seborga or Poulbia Lodonia — depending on the day or the need or the hour. These entities, technically, are 'micronations' — self-proclaimed sovereign states that lack a legal basis for their existence, as they are not recognized by other countries. For the better part of a decade, such legal inconveniences did little to undermine Mr. Jain's operation. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
