Latest news with #MohammedUsman
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
The Lion's Last Roar
'More than seventy-five years after Brigadier Mohammed Usman sacrificed his life for India, there are only a few people around who have met him.' This line opens Chapter 3 of the book, The Lion Of Naushera: The Life and Times of Brigadier Mohammed Usman (Bloomsbury), written by authors and journalists Ziya Us Salam and Anand Mishra. The man who once led Indian troops in Kashmir against the kabailis backed by Pakistan in 1947, is now just a name known to military historians. The Bibipur house in Azamgarh, which Usman's father built in around 1929-30, was constructed out of raw material from Benares and Ghazipur, while the other items like tiles and chandeliers, were imported from Europe. Born on July 15, 1912, Usman grew up in an orthodox household, where he and his brothers were 'not known to come in front of their father without wearing a cap'. Usman was always respectful towards his elders, and after joining the army, he became a hero to his younger brothers. The authors describe Usman as a man of fine values and a 'good athlete', who was fond of cricket and hockey. 'He was a hero, and heroes deserve to be remembered,' says co-author Salam. 'The Army still pays him respect every year, but civil society hasn't celebrated him the way it should have. Through this book, we tried to repay some of the debt we owe him.'
Reuters
18-07-2025
- Reuters
Bandits kill six, abduct more than 100 in Nigeria's Zamfara state
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, July 18 (Reuters) - Gunmen killed at least six people and abducted more than 100 others, including women and children, in an attack on Kairu community in Nigeria's northwest Zamfara state, a local lawmaker and residents said on Friday. Zamfara is the epicentre of attacks by gangs of heavily armed men, known locally as bandits, that have wreaked havoc across Nigeria's northwest in recent years, kidnapping thousands, killing hundreds and making it unsafe to travel by road or on farms in some areas. The bandits stormed Kairu around 1040 GMT on Friday, firing indiscriminately, Abubakar Isa, a resident whose wife was abducted, told Reuters by phone. Hamisu Faru, a local lawmaker, confirmed the attack to Reuters, saying the assailants took "no fewer than 100 people, including women and children". "As I'm speaking to you right now, they are searching house-to-house, abducting people," Faru said by phone. Another resident, Mohammed Usman, said the attackers laid siege to the town for nearly two hours before taking their captives. Thousands of residents have now fled the village, he said. Zamfara police didn't immediately respond to requests for comments.
BBC News
14-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Bradford padel centre aims to 'improve health of city residents'
Three healthcare professionals say they are setting up Bradford's first city centre padel club to help tackle health issues in the city. Strike Padel is set to open at Beckside Business Park, Lidget Green, at the end of July, with an exact date due to be announced shortly. Dentist Dr Mohammed Usman is establishing the five-court facility alongside pharmacists Fahad Qureshi and Mohammed Rashad after they noticed a high prevalence of heart conditions in the city. The new centre, currently under construction, will also include a cafe, televisions showing professional padel matches and 13 parking spaces. Padel - a blend of tennis and squash - was invented in Mexico in 1969 but in recent years has grown in popularity, with an estimated 30 million players across the world.A Bradford Council meeting in January heard padel facilities already existed in nearby Ilkley and Rawdon, but this would be the first dedicated centre for the sport in the city of Bradford."I've learned that there's a really high prevalence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, in and amongst the population of Bradford," Dr Usman said. "I think that introducing a sport that's going to encourage healthy activity, movement and to encourage people of all ages to play is something that will benefit the area and the people of Bradford."Dr Usman said he and his co-founders had a "lightbulb moment" when they realised people could pick the sport up "really fast"."Working as a team with four players, networking, speaking to people, moving about and just getting a little bit of exercise will increase healthy living," he said. According to government data, the Bradford district has a higher than average rate of cardiovascular disease and is contributes to approximately 28% of all deaths in the Bradford district is also the fifth most income deprived local authority in the UK - and padel is not a cheap pastime. "Membership schemes will allow court booking to be a lot cheaper for people that may struggle to afford it." Dr Usman will also vary throughout the day, with courts being at a lower cost at off-peak Usman said women-only nights would help those who may feel uncomfortable in some sporting settings to feel confident enough to play."It's about inclusivity," Dr Usman said."If someone wasn't comfortable playing racket sports in a mixed environment, we'll allow them to meet other women and play together." 'Health benefits' Mr Qureshi added: "Bringing padel to Bradford has been a passion project that's taken over a year of meticulous planning. "With 2025 marking Bradford's year as the City of Culture, we couldn't think of a better time to introduce this fast-growing and exciting sport to the community. "It's been a real challenge, especially with no prior experience in construction, but the journey has been incredibly rewarding."Mr Rashad added: "One of the main reasons we brought padel to Bradford is because of its wide-ranging health benefits. "It's a low-impact sport that's accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels, yet it provides a full-body workout."I truly love the game, it's fun, fast-paced, and social. "I wanted to bring something new to Bradford and give the local community the chance to enjoy it too." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
USA Today
23-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Emotional Mohammed Usman says faith over fear pushed him to UFC Baku win
Mohammed Usman met the media Saturday after his win over Hamdy Abdelwahab at UFC on ABC 8. Usman (11-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) opened up the UFC's first event in Azerbaijan with a unanimous decision over Abdelwahab (4-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) in their heavyweight fight. Usman was a slight underdog in the fight at UFC on ABC 8 in Baku. Usman was overcome with emotion when he gave his post-fight interview to the UFC afterward. He snapped a two-fight skid with the win. Check out Usman's post-fight interview in the video below.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Time of India
Communal violence grips Nainital after rape arrest; markets, schools stay shut
1 2 3 4 5 6 Nainital/Dehradun: Shops were vandalised, schools and businesses shut as communal violence erupted in Nainital after the arrest of a 75-year-old man from a minority community on charges of raping a 12-year-old girl. The accused, identified as Mohammed Usman, a Class D contractor with the public works department, had allegedly lured the girl — who is in Class 7 — to a secluded location on April 12 and sexually assaulted her, according to a complaint filed by her family. Though the incident occurred weeks earlier, it remained unreported until Wednesday, when the girl disclosed the assault to her parents, prompting them to approach the local police. Following the filing of a formal complaint, officers took her for a medical examination. While the girl was at the hospital, news of the case spread and, within hours, groups began to gather. Nainital SSP Prahlad Narayan Meena told TOI that police were actively investigating the incident and had already taken the accused into custody. "We understand the gravity of the situation and are conducting a thorough probe," he said. "We urge all residents and visitors to maintain calm, avoid spreading rumours, and cooperate with law enforcement." An officer added that it was around dusk when right-wing groups began assembling outside the Mallital police station. The mood, he said, turned confrontational as people demanded immediate and the severe punishment, chanting slogans not just against the accused but also against Pakistan and the recent Pahalgam terror attack. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mosquito-Free Delhi? Locals Swear By This Breakthrough Device Insect Guard Click Here Undo Though police tried to de-escalate the situation by informing the crowd that the accused had been taken into custody and charged under BNS sections 65(1) for rape and 351(2) for criminal intimidation, along with section 4 of the Pocso Act, the crowd, in hundreds, moved towards market areas near the town centre, where a series of coordinated attacks on shops began. A large majority of the targeted businesses were owned by Muslims. Videos recorded on mobile phones and widely circulated on social media captured scenes of chaos — shuttered shops with broken windows, shopkeepers being dragged out and beaten and customers fleeing. In some clips, police appeared to be attempting to intervene, but their action wasn't effective. Among those affected was Monish Jalal, who has operated a restaurant in the Gadi Padaw area for more than 10 years. His establishment was one of several that suffered property damage during the attacks. "The man who committed the crime has already been arrested. We also want justice for the child," he said. "But what connection do we have with him? Why were our livelihoods put at stake?" Jalal claimed he and others had surveillance footage of individuals involved in the vandalism, but said no action had been taken against them yet. If nothing changed, he said, he and fellow business owners would be forced to file separate police complaints. Bimla Devi, who owns a modest tea stall inherited from her father-in-law — who opened it during the British era — said she had never witnessed such disruption in her six decades in the town. Her stall, she said, was "destroyed completely." She appealed for immediate legal action. On Thursday, educational institutions remained closed and traders in the town centre suspended work as a form of protest, supported and partially enforced by local right-wing groups. Police deployment increased across central Nainital, and checkpoints were set up along the main thoroughfares. For thousands of tourists visiting the town during peak season, the atmosphere had abruptly shifted from scenic leisure to caution. Simran Dhariwal, a visitor from Delhi who had arrived a day earlier with friends, described the experience as unsettling. "Everything was shut. There were police everywhere. It felt like a curfew," she said. With restaurants closed and few shops open, she said they survived the day on packaged food. Amandeep Singh, general secretary of the Nainital Vyapar Mandal, said the closure was intended to demonstrate the town's unified anger at the crime. "We are demanding punishment for the man responsible, but we are also arranging food for the tourists so that they are not caught in this disruption." Lawyers at the district court collectively agreed to withdraw legal representation from the accused. Daya Joshi, an advocate, said the bar had also requested that police investigate the background of individuals recently settled in Nainital. "No lawyer from our bar council will represent this man in any legal capacity," Joshi said. Meanwhile, Muslim organisations submitted a memorandum to DGP Deepam Seth in Dehradun on Thursday, demanding action against those "targeting Muslim shops and assaulting community members". "What happened to the girl was horrific, and we also seek justice for her. However, violence and arson against innocent members of our community, who had nothing to do with the incident, are highly condemnable," said Naeem Qureshi, president of Muslim Seva Sangathan . HC takes cognisance Uttarakhand high court has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident. During the hearing, govt counsel J S Virk informed the bench of Justices Manoj Kumar Tiwari and Vivek Bharti Sharma that substantial police deployment had been ordered and vehicles entering Nainital were being thoroughly checked at Haldwani, Bhavali, and Kaladhungi to prevent further unrest. The bench directed authorities to strictly uphold security arrangements and prohibited large gatherings from forming at any location. The court also ordered continuous monitoring of social media and rumours, urging police to appeal to citizens for cooperation in maintaining peace. "Patrols must remain active to prevent any recurrence of the unrest witnessed in Haldwani," the bench said. Gaurav Talwar
