Latest news with #TamilNadu-based
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- The Hindu
Abubacker Siddique, kingpin of 2013 Malleswaram BJP office blast, arrested by T.N. police
The Tamil Nadu police, on Tuesday, arrested Abubacker Siddique, 60, in Annamayya district, Andhra Pradesh, who was reportedly the kingpin of the bomb blast in front of the BJP head office in Malleswaram, Bengaluru, in 2013. He was absconding for over 30 years. The police said that he is a member of Al Umma, a Tamil Nadu-based organisation, which was banned after a pipe bomb attack on veteran BJP leader L.K. Advani in Coimbatore in 1998. On April 17, 2023, a time bomb placed on an old bike exploded in front of the BJP office, injuring a total of 17, including a college-going girl, who sustained severe injuries to her leg. The Central Crime Branch (CCB), Bengaluru city police, which investigated the case, unearthed a terror module allegedly put together by Abubacker Siddique from the remnants of Al Umma. The organisation was known to target only Hindutva activists, organisations and establishments. 'The bike on which the time bomb was placed led us to a used bike dealer in Tamil Nadu, who gave the number of one of those who bought the said bike. The SIM card was also stolen. But using technical analysis, we made the first arrests, and their interrogation led us to unravel the entire module,' a senior police official involved in the probe into the blast recalled. Tamil Nadu police were probing a series of targeted murders of Hindutva activists in the State in 2013, when the bomb blast happened in front of the BJP office in Bengaluru. The same module busted by the city police turned out to be behind those cases as well. Following the initial arrests, including that of Kichan Buhari, one of the key conspirators, three other key accused in the case - Panna Ismail, Police Fakruddin and Bilal Mallik - were arrested after a fierce gun battle in which an accused and a police officer were injured in Puttur, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh. Panna Ismail had parked the explosive-laden bike in front of the BJP office, the police said. 'Their interrogation revealed that the leader of the module, who had put it together, was Abubacker Siddique, who had been on the run since 1995. Siddique was a shadowy figure, known to be very radicalised. There were many alarming reports about him. Some reports even suggested that it was linked to Al Qaeda and is said to have gone and fought in the Afghan war against American forces post 9/11. All efforts to nab him did not yield any results,' a senior police official from the State, who pursued the elusive terror operative for many years, said. Abubacker Siddique has been listed as an absconding accused in the BJP office blast case chargesheet. The officials said that the city police will shortly move the court to seek his custody in the case.
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
TVS Motor launches new iQube electric scooter with enhanced features at Rs 1.03 lakh
TVS Motor Company has launched an upgraded version of its iQube electric scooter, priced at Rs 1.03 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi). The new variant boasts features like hill hold assist and a 3.1 kWh battery, providing a range of 123 km on a single charge. This addition enhances TVS iQube portfolio, offering improved battery capacity and design upgrades. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Two and three wheeler manufacturer TVS Motor Company has introduced its flagship electric scooter iQube equipped with enhanced features at Rs 1.03 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), the company said on Wednesday. TVS Motor has recorded sales of over 6 lakh iQube units and the new variant comes with hill hold assist, a 3.1 kWh battery that offers a range of 123 km on a single charge among others, the Tamil Nadu-based company said in a press release. TVS iQube has been designed for every day commuting and the price starts at Rs 1,03,727 (ex-showroom Delhi) and offers an IDC-certified range of 123 km on a single charge. The vehicle also comes with Hill Hold for added safety," the release new introduction complements the diverse TVS iQube portfolio, which was also recently upgraded with improved battery capacity, range capability and design upgrades like dual tone colours and backrest, among others, the company said. PTI
Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Standoff in Tamil cinema disrupts several productions, High Court calls for mediation
A long-simmering conflict in the Tamil film industry, between producers and technicians, reached a crucial moment on Monday as the Madras High Court declined to issue interim relief against a non-cooperation protest launched by the technicians. In the conflict between the Tamil Film Producers Council (TFPC) and the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI), Justice K Kumaresh Babu, hearing a civil suit filed by TFPC against FEFSI, suggested that both parties recommend names of retired High Court judges who could be appointed as neutral mediators. The court has given until Wednesday for both sides to submit names. The producers had sought a stay on the FEFSI's protest, which has disrupted multiple ongoing film productions in the state. The FEFSI, an umbrella body representing 24 technicians' and film workers' unions, has been at loggerheads with the TFPC since the expiry of a three-year MoU on March 9. The MoU governed wages, working conditions, and cooperative norms between producers and technicians. In court, FEFSI's legal counsel, advocate G Mohanakrishnan, painted a stark picture of inequality in the Tamil film industry. 'Top actors are paid Rs 300 crore per movie, while technicians struggle to get even Rs 3,000 a day,' he argued, calling the situation untenable and exploitative. He further alleged that TFPC was attempting to undermine the livelihoods of Tamil Nadu-based technicians by importing workers from other states to continue film shoots stalled by the impasse. The producers' side, represented by advocate Krishna Ravindran, countered that TFPC comprises mainly small-budget filmmakers — not the few mega-budget producers driving exorbitant salaries for actors. He emphasised that TFPC had followed a consistent practice of signing MoUs with FEFSI every three years and was willing to renew the agreement, but was met with hostility and allegations instead. Central to the producers' grievance is the charge that FEFSI's protest has brought the industry to a standstill. 'Ongoing production works have been stalled, resulting in major financial losses,' said Ravindran. 'Technicians affiliated with FEFSI are refusing to cooperate, jeopardising the livelihood of hundreds of others involved in film projects,' he alleged. In April, the federation issued a circular to all its 23 affiliated unions, asking them not to cooperate with TFPC members. The move came after FEFSI accused TFPC of secretly backing a rival technicians' association — Tamil Nadu Thiraipada Thozhilalargal Sammelanam — in what it believes is an effort to splinter the organised workforce. The producers deny any link to the new association. 'TFPC has no involvement in setting up any rival union,' said Ravindran. But he did acknowledge that the deadlock had pushed some producers to explore working with a separate body, the Tamil Film Active Producers Association (TFAPA), as a workaround to continue stalled projects. As the impasse deepens, the Tamil Nadu government has taken note. Minister for Information and Publicity, M P Saminathan, is expected to step in to mediate talks, underlining the growing public and political pressure to resolve the conflict. In court, Justice Babu was firm in his observation that he could not compel FEFSI to resume work with TFPC, given that the binding MoU had lapsed. However, he did note that individual producers could pursue legal action if existing work agreements had been violated. He also expressed concern that both sides risk further erosion of goodwill and financial damage if the matter is not resolved swiftly. With both FEFSI and TFPC expected to submit their recommended names for a retired High Court judge to mediate, the coming week will be critical for whether this is going to be a step toward reconciliation or a deeper institutional rupture in Tamil cinema's labour landscape.
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
NIA attaches assets of arrested accused in Tamil Nadu Hizb-ut-Tahrir terror conspiracy case
New Delhi [India], June 30 (ANI) In a decisive step to counter the anti-national agenda of the banned terror outfit Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT), the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached the property of an accused linked to a Tamil Nadu-based conspiracy aimed at establishing an Islamic Caliphate in India. The attached property belongs to Bava Bahrudeen alias Mannai Bava and is located at No. 58H, Ashrath Awliya, Manshoor Thaikkal, Gandhiji Road, Thanjavur. It falls under Survey No. 2983, Ward 6, as registered in the Thanjavur Joint I Sub-Registrar Office. The action has been taken under Section 25 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. As per the NIA, the property's land is owned by Hazarat Sams Manssor Peer Avuliya Dargah Trust Board, and was 'sold' without formal registration to the accused Bava Bahrudeen. Bava Bahrudeen, along with the co-accused, was using the property for HuT's activities since 2015, said the agency. 'They were conducting clandestine indoctrination and recruitment activities through secret classes and radicalisation sessions. They had also organised Khilafah Exhibitions showcasing the military strength of Islamic nations--namely Egypt, Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan, at the said property,' it added. The case relates to the conspiracy of self-styled office bearers of HuT to promote the outfit's ideology and enforce the constitution written by HuT's founder, Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani. The NIA said that the accused persons conducted secret Bayaans to radicalise youth to follow the ideologies of HuT, which seeks military assistance (Nusra) from forces inimical to India and is working towards overthrowing the country's democratically elected government. (ANI)
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
NIA attaches property of arrested accused in HuT terror conspiracy case
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has attached a property of an accused arrested in connection with a Tamil Nadu-based criminal conspiracy allegedly aimed at establishing the Islamic Caliphate in India. The move was aimed at curtailing anti-India activities of the banned Hizb-ut-Tahrir (HuT) terror outfit, the NIA said in a press release on Monday. The property of Bava Bahrudeen alias Mannai Bava, located at Gandhiji Road in Thanjavur has been attached under Sec. 25 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The land belonged to Hazarat Sams Manssor Peer Avuliya Dargah Trust Board and was 'sold' without formal registration to the accused Bava Bahrudeen, the NIA said. Bava Bahrudeen, along with co-accused, had been allegedly using the property for HuT's activities since 2015. They were conducting clandestine indoctrination and recruitment activities through secret classes and radicalisation sessions. They had organised Khilafah exhibitions showcasing the military strength of Islamic nations such as Egypt, Iran, Turkey and Pakistan at the property, the NIA alleged. Bava Bahrudeen had been arrested earlier by the NIA in connection with the conspiracy of self-styled office-bearers of HuT to promote the outfit's ideology and enforce the constitution written by its founder, Taqi al-Din al-Nabhani.
