Latest news with #Sikh
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Saquib Nachan, ex-SIMI general secretary and terror convict, dies in custody
Saquib Nachan, the former general secretary of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and a convict in multiple terror-related cases, passed away on Saturday afternoon while in judicial custody. He was 62. Nachan had been arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in December 2023 from Padgha in Maharashtra's Thane district. He was accused of promoting the activities of designated foreign terrorist organisations, including ISIS. He had previously served prison terms after being convicted in multiple terror cases. Following his arrest, Nachan was lodged in Tihar Jail in Delhi, where he remained in custody. On June 22, he suffered a brain haemorrhage and was admitted to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for treatment. His condition reportedly worsened, and he was transferred to Safdarjang Hospital for further medical care. He succumbed to his condition on Saturday, his lawyer confirmed. Nachan's family is seeking to bring his remains back to Padgha for burial. Saquib Nachan was born into a well-established and respected Konkani Muslim family in Borivali Padgha, a village located about 53 km north of Mumbai. The third son of Abdul Hamid Nachan, a prominent community leader, Saquib grew up amid relative privilege on the family's expansive landholdings, alongside 11 siblings. A commerce graduate, Nachan began his ideological journey with the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, before aligning in the early 1980s with its student wing, SIMI, an organisation that would later be banned for its alleged extremist links. Nachan rose swiftly through SIMI's ranks. He served as the Maharashtra state president, and later as the national general secretary of the group. He played a central role in mobilising support and was instrumental in organising one of SIMI's largest public rallies in Mumbai, which reportedly drew over 10,000 participants. By the mid-1980s, intelligence agencies claimed Saquib Nachan had turned rogue, allegedly travelling to Pakistan and Afghanistan to establish ties with militant leaders. A 1992 CBI chargesheet accused him of facilitating explosives and guerrilla warfare training for Indian Muslim and Sikh youth, and of aiding ISI-backed Operation K2, which sought to build joint Islamist-Khalistani infrastructure in India. In 1992, Nachan was arrested in Ahmedabad under the TADA Act alongside Khalistani militant Lal Singh. Initially sentenced to life, his term was later reduced to 10 years by the Supreme Court, which he completed. Though he maintained his innocence, admitting only to legal trips to Pakistan, Nachan remained under watch after his release in 2001. He was acquitted in three murder cases but again became a prime suspect after a series of bombings in Mumbai in 2002 and 2003 that killed 15 people. In March 2003, his attempted arrest in Padgha led to a standoff between locals and police. Days later, a police encounter allegedly tied three terrorists to Nachan via a recovered diary. Under mounting pressure, Nachan surrendered and was arrested along with 15 others. The police claimed he confessed to organising the blasts, stockpiling weapons, and training youths to wage war against the Indian state. AK-47s, AK-56s, and bomb-making materials were allegedly seized from his network. While he was eventually discharged in the blast case, Nachan was convicted under the now-repealed Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and served another 10-year sentence for unlawful weapons possession. He was released in 2017 and returned to live quietly in Borivali Padgha until he made headlines again in 2023. Saquib Nachan was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in December 2023 for his alleged role in promoting terrorist activities linked to ISIS. According to the NIA, Nachan, along with his son Shamil Saquib Nachan and five other accused, was part of an ISIS-affiliated sleeper cell operating out of Kondhwa, Pune. The agency alleged the group was involved in the fabrication, training, and testing of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and had conducted bomb-making workshops. Investigators further claimed the group had conspired to transform Padgha into a so-called 'liberated zone' and had plans to carry out attacks aimed at disturbing communal harmony and waging war against the Indian state, in alignment with ISIS's agenda. Saquib Nachan's death marks the end of an era for a significant faction of India's radical Islamist underground. He was one of the last remaining active leaders from the banned SIMI, whose senior leadership, such as former national president C A M. Basheer, has either been jailed or fled abroad. While many SIMI figures faded from prominence, Nachan remained influential, especially in Maharashtra, where he reportedly served as a rallying figure for former cadres. His presence in judicial custody was considered significant enough for authorities to move him to Tihar Jail due to his influence in local networks. Known for representing himself in court, Nachan secured an acquittal on terror charges in the high-profile 2002-03 Mumbai blast cases. Despite his frequent run-ins with the law, Nachan continued to remain controversial even when he was not in prison. He had announced his decision to offer burial for the 26/11 Mumbai attackers on his private land, which had stirred public outrage. He had also filed a petition in the Supreme Court, where he presented his own case against the Indian government's decision to ban ISIS.
The Print
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Print
Parag Jain, seasoned intelligence officer with key role in Op Sindoor, is new R&AW chief
A 1989-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre, Jain is an experienced R&AW operative who has previously worked in Canada, the hub of global Sikh separatist movement. He will take over from Ravi Sinha who retires 30 June. Interestingly, Sinha got no extension, contrary to the practice of the Modi government to give at least one extension to top intelligence officers. New Delhi: Seasoned intelligence operative Parag Jain, who currently heads the Aviation Research Centre that played a critical role during he Operation Sindoor , has been appointed the new chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW). He has also worked in Sri Lanka and was one of the key officials in Jammu and Kashmir during the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Sources in the security establishment said Jain is expected to give a fresh impetus to the organisation that has seen severe setbacks over the last two years, the biggest being the failure in Bangladesh which saw the overthrow of the Sheikh Hasina government and India having failed to get the pulse on the ground. The other big failure was India being taken by surprise in Pahalgam even though Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir had given clear indications of his intent to heat up Kashmir. The last two years have also seen internal rivalry being played out within the organisation. Under Jain, the Aviation Research Centre was responsible for getting all relevant intelligence about the exact location and significance of identified targets in Pakistan. Jain is known for his expertise in utilising both HUMINT (human intelligenc) and TECHINT (technical intelligence) which gives him an edge in critical decision-making. He has an extensive ground experience in Kashmir which, sources said, will come handy in countering Pakistan's rebuilding of terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: R&AW's secret war on LeT in Pakistan secures India some retribution, but Kashmir problem far from over
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Akal Takht committee meets Amritpal Singh's father to seek support for Panthic unity and revive Shiromani Akali Dal
1 2 Amritsar: In a move that could reshape the trajectory of Punjab's panthic politics, a committee formed by the Akal Takht to revive the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has reached out to Bapu Tarsem Singh, the father of jailed MP Amritpal Singh , in a bid to unite Sikh political voices under a common platform. The five-member panel met Tarsem Singh and his associates at their home in Jallupur Khera village, marking a significant outreach beyond the party's traditional base. Sources said the discussions centred on building a broader alliance of panthic groups and rejuvenating the SAD, whose influence has waned in recent years, among Sikh youth particularly. Even though no formal role for Amritpal Singh was disclosed, his symbolic presence loomed large over the meeting. Gurpartap Singh Wadala, a member of the committee, acknowledged Amritpal's growing appeal. "Even behind bars, he commands deep respect from Sikh youth and rural voters. His sweeping electoral win was more than personal — it was a call for principled, value-driven leadership," he said. Constituted on Dec 2, 2024, the panel had seven members originally but now includes Bibi Satwant Kaur, Manpreet Singh Ayali, Santa Singh Umaidpuri, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, and Iqbal Singh Jhunda. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Iraq: New Small Electric Car For Seniors. Prices Might Surprise You. Electric Cars | Search Ads Undo In a joint statement after the meeting, the committee accused the SAD's past leadership of losing sight of its founding goals. "The party was hijacked by individuals focused on power solely, neglecting core issues like Chandigarh's status, river water disputes, and Punjabi language rights," the statement read. Tarsem Singh welcomed the outreach and said the time had come to "pull the Panth out of crisis" by consolidating panthic sentiment. Sources close to the group said aligning with Amritpal's anti-drug stance and uncompromising image was part of a broader effort to restore political credibility among Sikh voters. MSID:: 122112093 413 |
News18
3 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Who Is Parag Jain, The IPS Officer Appointed As India's New R&AW Chief?
Last Updated: Currently serving as the head of the Aviation Research Centre, a crucial arm of R&AW, Jain played a pivotal role in Operation Sindoor The Narendra Modi government on Saturday appointed Parag Jain, a 1989-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre, as the new Secretary of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW)—India's premier external intelligence agency—for a fixed tenure of two years. He will officially take over on July 1, succeeding Ravi Sinha, whose term ends on June 30 after what many viewed as a relatively low-profile tenure. Jain's elevation was cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on June 28, ending speculation over the leadership succession in one of India's most sensitive security establishments. Currently serving as the head of the Aviation Research Centre (ARC)—a crucial arm of R&AW—Jain played a pivotal role in Operation Sindoor, India's precision retaliation following the Pahalgam terror attack. Under his command, ARC gathered actionable intelligence on Pakistani military deployments using a combination of HUMINT and TECHINT capabilities. Over 15 Years in R&AW: Deep Domain Expertise Parag Jain is currently the second-most senior officer in R&AW, directly reporting to the chief, and oversees several high-stakes operational and intelligence divisions. With over 15 years in the agency, he has built deep expertise in: Stints In Canada, Sri Lanka & J&K: Global Intel Exposure Jain's international assignments include a critical posting in Ottawa, Canada, where he monitored radical Sikh diaspora groups and worked to infiltrate separatist networks. He was later stationed in Sri Lanka during its 2022 economic crisis, witnessing regime change and political upheaval—giving him firsthand operational experience in high-volatility foreign environments. Back home, he has served in Jammu and Kashmir, contributing significantly to the Centre's counter-terrorism strategy, especially in the post-Article 370 security restructuring of the Union Territory. Grassroots Policing To Strategic Ops: A Dual Lens Before his R&AW tenure, Jain held several key policing roles across Punjab, including as Senior Superintendent of Police in Chandigarh, DIG Ludhiana Range, and postings in Bhatinda, Mansa, and Hoshiarpur. His deep familiarity with Punjab's ground-level security dynamics, especially amid the legacy of militancy, gives him a unique advantage in handling transnational threats with regional roots. Jain was empanelled for senior central postings and granted DGP rank benefits effective January 1, 2021, further underscoring his standing within the national security hierarchy. Why His Appointment Matters Parag Jain's elevation comes at a time of rising strategic challenges for India's external intelligence community—ranging from cross-border terrorism and Khalistani revivalism to China-Pakistan coordination, and evolving hybrid warfare. With a rare combination of ground policing experience, foreign intelligence postings, and technical reconnaissance leadership, Jain is expected to bring sharper focus and operational depth to R&AW's mission during a geopolitically sensitive period. First Published: June 28, 2025, 15:23 IST
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Hamas Rains Rocket On Israel From Gaza After Iran War; ‘FURIOUS' IDF Warns Palestinians
Diljit Dosanjh Snuck a Kirpan into the Met Gala |Shakira Helped Without Knowing Diljit Dosanjh didn't just walk the Met Gala red carpet, he walked in with Punjab, pride, and power stitched into every thread. The actor-singer's royal look featured the map of Punjab, Gurmukhi script, and a tribute to Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of the real moment? Diljit carried his sacred kirpan and almost couldn't get past security. Then, in a twist straight out of a movie, Shakira's metal-heavy outfit triggered the detectors and Diljit slipped through beside her. 'If we get caught, we both will… if not, then not,' he joked later. From cultural symbolism to fashion bravery, Diljit made history. This wasn't just style. It was Sikh identity on the world's biggest fashion stage. 8.9K views | 1 day ago
