Shashi Tharoor
Christina Rivera Garza
Vidya Shah
Elizabeth Hsu
JLF Houston is a Literary Extravaganza You Cannot Miss Out On! LITERATURE
Houston: JLF International, which has proven itself to be an invigorating confluence of literary voices, shall be returning to Houston for its seventh iteration, with sessions running from September 6th till September 8th, 2024. Presented by Teamwork Arts in partnership with the Asia Society Texas, Inprint, Rothko Chapel, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Eternal Gandhi Museum Houston, JLF Houston promises to be an insightful literary journey.
Throughout the event, writers, performers, and artists shall be tackling an array of multifaceted conversations, from the existing interplay between tragedy and writing, to the means by which we persist in the face of imminent catastrophe. The festival shall commence with an amalgamation of music and poetry, featuring the talents of Pandit Shubhendra Rao, Saskia Rao-de Haas, Subroto Bhattacharya, and Elizabeth Hsu. This will be followed by a holistic tour across the realms of art and culture, helmed by acclaimed art historian Bradley Bailey.
Further on in the festival, attendees will have the pleasure of gaining insight into the creative process of celebrated writers such as Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni and Shashi Tharoor, who shall be conversing on countless aspects which make up the act of writing. Cristina Rivera Garza, winner of the Pulitzer Prize 2024 for her memoir, Liliana’s Invincible Summer, and Fady Joudah, a Palestinian-American poet and physician, will be reflecting on the role played
by lived experiences when putting thoughts to paper.
Environmental journalist and writer
John Vaillant shall be drawing attention to the onset of global environmental catastrophe. Beyond the many invaluable sessions on writing, JLF Houston shall be collaborating with a number of bril-
liant artists and musicians, who will be bringing their craft to the stage across the festival. This will include a tribute to the history of women in music, where classical musician Vidya Shah, in conversation with Mohan Ambikaipaker, shall illuminate the lives and contributions of artists which have all but vanished from
collective memory.
JLF Houston 2024 invites all lovers of literature to take part in a multitudinous celebration of the infinite stories, ideas, traditions, and revolutions that have shaped our cultures and identities since the dawn of history. Every year, JLF continues to inspire!
Cristina Rivera Garza Elizabeth Hsu
Fady Joudah
Shashi Tharoor Vidya Shah
COMMUNITY
Taral Patel Indicted of Four Felony Counts for Online Impersonation
By BriaH Lumpkins
Houston: Taral Patel, a oncerising political star in Fort Bend County, was indicted Tuesday by the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s office on four felony counts of online impersonation.
Patel was also handed four class A misdemeanor charges, which is punishable by up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $4,000, or both. Three were for misrepresentation of identity and one for online impersonation through email.
Investigators allege three of the misdemeanor charges were done with the intent to injure a candidate or influence the result of an election, according to the indictments.
Between the felony and misdemeanor charges, investigators allege Patel is attached to six fake online personas.
Patel is charged with the creation of four fake online personas including, the most notable, Antonio Scalywag, which used the likeness of Needville resident Patrick Ernst, an account impersonating district judge Surrendran Pattel and two accounts under the name Jane Donnie and Jennifer Tremaine.
Patel could not be reached for comment.
All the Facebook accounts were created without the victims’ consent. All four accounts were created between Aug.10 and Dec. 18, 2023, according to the indictment.
Patel was arrested in June af-
ter investigators said he used the Scalywag account to post false racist and xenophobic messages about himself online.
The investigation into Patel was prompted by his Republican opponent, incumbent Precinct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers, in October 2023. According to court documents, Meyers recognized the Scalywag account, claiming it had made posts attacking him in the past.
Patel posted on his X account in September 2023 that he was receiving a barrage of hateful messages from Scalywag and others. Many of those hateful Facebook comments featured in the post expressed support for Meyers, who has held the commissioner seat since 1997.
comment.
A similar situation played out after investigators discovered a Facebook account they believed to be impersonating district judge Surendran Pattel.
Investigators determined the profile photo on the Scalywag Facebook account belonged to Needville resident Patrick Ernst.
When brought in for questioning, Ernst said he never made the posts or sent direct messages from the account, and he didn’t give anyone consent to do so on his behalf. He considered the messages to be harmful to his reputation, search warrants show.
Ernst did not immediately respond to the Landing’s request for
The Scalywag fake page interacted with the judge’s real Facebook page starting in August 2021. The conversations were friendly in nature until January 2022, when it appeared Pattel took issue with a post Scalywag made, according to the search warrant. The Scalywag account made several attempts to contact Pattel in November 2023, but those attempts went unanswered.
After Patel’s arrest in June, his phone was searched for any user accounts and information stored
on his cell phone. The report revealed a Facebook account registered to the name Surrendran Pattel and attached to the email taral@movetexas.org, according to the search warrant.
When approached by investigators about this account, Pattel said the account with his name and photo didn’t belong to him, and he didn’t authorize anyone to create a Facebook account for him, according to search warrants..
Last month, Precinct 4 commissioner Dexter McCoy published an open letter calling on Patel to drop out of the race and encouraging his fellow Democrats to do the same.
“This is about the future of our community, and we cannot stand idly by and act and give our consent for this sort of behavior with our silence,” McCoy told the Houston Landing in August.
Despite calls to drop out, Patel has not dropped out from the commissioner race nor publicly addressed the accusations made against him.
According to recent search warrants, there are still other profiles under suspicion by investigators.
When Patel’s phone was seized during his June arrest, investigators found at least two other accounts linked to his phone that ei-
ther posted racist and xenophobic comments online or sent public information requests to the County.
Patel is running for Precinct 3, which covers Sugar Land. He used to serve as Fort Bend County Judge KP George’s chief of staff before serving as a White House liaison for Joe Biden’s administration.
George also faced a similar bout of racist and xenophobic online attacks in 2020 during the COVD-19 pandemic. It is unclear if Patel had any involvement in the comments attacking George years prior.
Among the several emails found on Patel’s phone were at least three campaign email accounts attached to the Judge.
In a statement to the Houston Landing, George said he understands the seriousness of the allegations against Patel.
“We must allow the legal proceedings to unfold, guided by facts and evidence, while respecting the rights of all parties involved,” George said in his statement. In a statement, Meyers said he prompted the investigation into Patel because of the impacts it would have on the county’s reputation.
“I will not tolerate racism, and I fight it whenever I encounter it,” he said in the statement.
Patel’s arraignment for the charges is set for 1 p.m. Sept. 23 at 301 Jackson Street, Richmond, Texas 77469. -- Houston Landing
COMMUNITY
Man Charged in Nepalese Student ’s Death Held without Bail
By nicoLe HensLey
Houston: The man accused of shooting a Nepalese college student to death in her Houston apartment stayed silent as prosecutors sought to have him jailed without bail until his trial.
The decision to hold a hearing to deny bail in the case against Bobby Shah, charged with capital murder in the Aug. 24 death of 21-year-old Muna Pandey, suggests the Harris County District Attorney’s Office believes the case could be pursued with the death penalty in mind. Hearings of that nature require the disclosure of evidence in court, for a judge to decide whether bail should continue to be denied, and are typically held for those accused of killing police officers.
Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Marshall cautioned it’s too early to know what punishment may be sought at trial, or when that could happen. Both sides will return within three months for a so-called proof-evident hearing to deny Shah’s bail.
Marshall requested the hearing Tuesday as more than a dozen of Pandey’s supporters, including some relatives, friends and coworkers, packed the 262nd District Court and listened intently to her reading of the allegations. Shah, 51, remained silent and displayed no emotion.
Pandey was found shot to death
Bobby Shah is photographed in custody at 262nd District Court for the death of Muna Pandey, a Houston Community College student from Nepal who was shot in her apartment, on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer
in the torso and once in the head after a man anonymously called a leasing manager and alerted her to a body in the apartment, according to court records.
Police arrested Shah last week after requesting help in identifying a man caught on camera at Pandey’s apartment in the 6300 block of West Airport the night of her death with her purse. Multiple tipsters identified Shah as the man in the footage, according to court records.
One person told authorities that someone had stalked Pandey in the past, while another said Pandey worked at a restaurant that Shah
had been a patron at, according to court documents. Marshall did not comment on who had stalked Pandey or how the two may have known each other.
A defense attorney, Wilvin Carter, identified Shah as a native of India, who came to the U.S. as a child. Court records list Shah as living 25 miles away from Pandey’s apartment.
He offered no details to Shah’s defense in court but professed his innocence afterward.
“He said that he is innocent and that he did not commit this crime,” said Carter, declining to comment on whether the man in the police-
distributed photo was his client. Drona Gautam, vice president of the Nepalese Association of Houston, spoke on behalf of Pandey’s supporters and expressed gratitude that Shah will remain jailed for now.
Pandey’s mother obtained a visa earlier Tuesday and is expected to travel to Houston ahead of funeral preparations, Gautam said. -- tHe Houston cHronicLe
The body of 21-year-old Muna Pandey was found inside a southwest Houston apartment on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024. Courtesy/Drona Gautam
IAPAC Joins Pivotal Conference on Human Trafficking in Houston
Houston: On August 20th, the Indian American Political Action Committee (IAPAC), in collaboration with Harris County and the Raindrop Foundation, hosted a pivotal conference at the RaindropTurkish House. The event, titled “Into the Light: Confronting Human Trafficking in Greater Houston”, aimed to raise awareness about the pressing issue of human trafficking in the region. The event was supported by the United Nations AssociationHouston (UNA-Houston) and the Houston Community College. The conference opened with Ananya Gupta, IAPAC Board Member and Event Chair, expressing gratitude to the collaborating organizations and their leaders. She welcomed Jagat Kamdar, one of IAPAC’s co-founders, who read proclamations from Congressman Al Green. Seher Alpaslan, Executive Director of the Raindrop Women’s Association, then introduced the work of the Raindrop Foundation and extended thanks to everyone involved in organizing the event.
IAPAC President Roopa Gir introduced the event’s moderator, Sami Khaleeq, the City of Houston’s Commissioner of Planning and Development. Khaleeq highlighted the persistent and damaging nature of human trafficking in Houston. He introduced Dr. Hamilton and Ms. Griffin, both survivors of human trafficking, who shared their powerful stories of resilience and recovery. Dr. Hamilton emphasized the importance of incremental progress and courage in facing challenges, noting that every survivor forges their own path. Ms. Griffin echoed this sentiment, discussing the vulnerability of children whose parents are incarcerated and the crucial role of the system in protecting them. She stressed the urgent need for community vigilance, particularly in the face of increasing social media influence and drug-related manipulation by traffickers.
The conference continued with
a second panel featuring State Representative Ann Johnson, Harris County Commissioner Lesley Briones, and FBI Special Agent Torrence White. Representative Johnson shared insights from her legislative and judicial experiences, detailing the challenges of advancing anti-trafficking legislation through complex bureaucratic processes.
Commissioner Briones highlighted successful county collaborations with the Houston Police Department and local school districts, which have led to a notable reduction in trafficking cases by addressing vulnerable community points. Agent White discussed the methods traffickers use to exploit vulnerable populations and the FBI’s efforts to prevent trafficking and support victims.
The event concluded with a Q&A session where panel members fielded questions about the specifics of human trafficking in Houston. The overarching takeaway from the discussion was the need for collective action. Each panelist emphasized that tackling human trafficking requires a comprehensive, united effort from the community.
By fostering strong connections with neighbors and local organizations, and by maintaining the integrity of the social fabric, communities can make significant strides in combating human trafficking.
The “Into the Light”conference underscored the critical role of community engagement in addressing human trafficking. Through collaboration and collective vigilance, Greater Houston can work towards a future free from the scourge of trafficking.
IAPAC (Indian American Political Action Committee) is a non-profit, a non-partisan organization dedicated to increasing Indian American civic engagement and facilitating dialogue between the community and elected officials. For more information about IAPAC and future events, please visit [www.iapachouston.org].
IAPAC board members with Harris County and Houston officials who participated in “Into the Light: Confronting Human Trafficking in Greater Houston”, a panel discussion with experts in the field.
OBITUARY BUSINESS
India Manufactured Solar Panels Detained in NY for Alleged Forced Labor
new york: Customs and Border Protection has detained nearly $43 million in shipments of electronics equipment from India since October under a 2022 law banning goods made with forced labor, according to agency data, representing a new focus for the trade enforcement agency.
Waaree Technologies and Adani Enterprises are the top Indian solar suppliers to the U.S. market.
While CBP does not specify what types of electronic equipment it has detained, polysilicon, a raw material in solar panels, is identified as a high-priority sector in the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), and solar panels have historically made up most of the stopped shipments in that category, according to industry sources.
The CBP did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The law bans goods made in China’s Xinjiang region where Chinese authorities are reported to have established labor camps for ethnic Uyghur and other Muslim groups.
No Indian electronics shipments
were detained under the UFLPA in previous years.
Nearly a third of the detained Indian electronics shipments were denied, according to CBP.
By comparison, just 5.4% of shipments from top US solar component suppliers Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand were denied entry over that period.
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The Indian detentions represent a small share of the $3 billion in electronics shipments CBP has stopped at the border under the UFLPA in the last two years.
But they are a setback for Indian producers seeking to cast themselves as an alternative for US solar project developers weary of navigating tariffs and UFLPA enforcement delays on panels made by mainly Chinese companies.
“If the solar cells for Indian panels are coming from China, then there is likely a good reason why detentions of Indian products may be increasing,” said Tim Brightbill, a trade attorney with Wiley Rein LLP. “My sense is that Customs and Border Protection did not realize for a while that many Indian solar panels contained Chinese solar cells, and therefore the UFLPA risks were (and are) high.”
Imports of solar products from India have soared in recent years, hitting $2.3 billion last year, according to U.S. trade data.
In the second quarter of 2024, India accounted for 11% of U.S. panel imports, more than double its share in the previous quarter, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.
As recently as 2018, the U.S. was not importing any solar panels from India.
TCC Summer Premier T10 Championship : Bulls Winners, WOMCC Runners Up
Houston: The TCC Summer Premier T10 Finals for Division I teams, held on August 26, 2024, showcased an exciting clash between the Bulls and WOMCC.
WOMCC won the toss and chose to bat first, setting a target of 85 runs. This was the first T10 tournament by TCC Taped Ball and it was a big resounding success due to the active participation of the teams.
WOMCC’s innings was anchored by Navin Negi, who scored a crucial 44 runs off 25 balls. Abhiram added 15 runs, and Pratap contributed 9 runs. Despite some early dropped catches, the Bulls’ bowling attack kept WOMCC under pressure right from the get-go. Sharad’s first over was economical, conceding just seven runs, while Gaurav’s second over was exceptional, giving away only five runs and claiming a key wicket.
WOMCC struggled during the powerplay, failing to hit boundaries. Pawan, Sathvik, and Srini continued the pressure. Pawan’s dismissal of Navin, caught on the boundary by Paul, was pivotal. Sathvik’s performance was noteworthy, reflecting his growth.
Gaurav’s return in the ninth over proved decisive, taking two more wickets. In the final over, Srini took another wicket ensuring WOMCC struggled to find the boundaries they needed. Captain Sandeep’s strategic field place-
ments and bowling changes were crucial in restricting WOMCC. In their chase, the Bulls started aggressively with Gaurav scoring 12 runs in the first over, including three boundaries. The opening partnership between Paul and Gaurav contributed 28 runs in the first three overs, featuring four boundaries and a six. However, Vishwa from WOMCC shifted momentum by dismissing both openers in quick
succession. Babar, instrumental in earlier rounds, was run out, adding to the tension. Sriram R and Sujith steadied the chase with 19 runs, mainly through quick running between the wickets. Sharad and Rohit then added 18 runs to the total, with Rohit hitting a critical four off a no-ball, swinging the momentum back to the Bulls. WOMCC’s Jayanth took Rohit’s wicket after giving away just 3
runs in 2 balls. Jagdish then hit a boundary easing the pressure but was run out on the last ball. With 6 runs needed from the last 6 over, Srini, known for his power-hitting, hit a boundary on the first ball and completed the chase with another boundary on the third ball. The Bulls secured victory in a dramatic finish, with Srini and Sharad maintaining their composure. The Bulls were crowned champions of the inaugural TCC Summer T10 Finals.
Rajesh managed the Bulls with poise, guiding the team throughout the tournament.
The TCC Presentation Ceremony concluded the tournament on a high note. This year’s ceremony was especially memorable as it featured simultaneous finals for the Professional and Premier leagues on adjacent grounds. The event highlighted the camaraderie and sportsmanship among teams. Jagadish Biradar organized the presentation thanking Dinesh from Gladiators for his scheduling contributions, also all teams for their effective umpiring. Umpires for the final were honored with medals.
Bulls’ captain Sandeep Patil received the championship trophy, while WOMCC’s captain Jayanth accepted the runners-up trophy. Gaurav Mogane was named Player of the Match for his 25 runs and three wickets and also earned the MVP of the tourna-
ment award. Tournament awards included Saad from The Legends as the best batsman with 216 runs, Dharmesh from STYX as the best bowler with 12 wickets, George from ECC as the best wicketkeeper with 11 dismissals, and Gagan from Masters as the best allrounder with 146 runs and 6 wickets. Special awards for hat-tricks went to Dharmesh from STYX, Chaithanya from RSCC, Viswatej from WOMCC, and Srinivasarao from Bulls, while George received a special award for a century. The ceremony concluded with Umpire Keith presenting the awards, marking a fitting end to an exciting T10 cricket season.
Online score card: https://cricclubs.com/3T/viewScorecard. do?matchId=2163&clubId=8675 YouTube Link: https:// www.youtube.com/ watch?v=GNAEkDQskdM
Link to TCC Website report: https://triggerscricket. com/?p=1000
Bulls Team Roster: Rohit Sharma, Sriram Ranganathan, Sandeep Patil (c), Srinivasarao Kandubothula, Rajesh Nadipalli, Paul Praveen, Gaurav Mogane, Sid Sheth, Babar Rafiq, Jagdish Prajapati, Kishore Bandlamuri, Akhilesh Pujari, Sharad Amaranth Upadhyay, Pawan Ray, Mohammed Asfar, Sujith Kurian, Sathvik Varma, Sriram Mutyala, and Anup Agrawal.
Winners: Bulls
Runners Up: WOMCC
ENTERTAINMENT
‘Khel Khel Mein’ : Wildly Entertaining Comedy
By dHavaL roy
Story: Chanderi is once again haunted by a sinister force, as women in the town are mysteriously abducted by a headless entity. Bicky, Janna, Bittu, and Rudra reunite to confront and defeat the evil once more.
Review: Horror comedy is a challenging genre, but the makers of ‘Stree 2’ have nailed it once again. This sequel retains all the charm of the first film, from the quirky small-town atmosphere to the eccentric characters and the simplicity of its people, blending these elements seamlessly for a winning formula. Sequels are often tricky, but the clever script flips the original plot—while Stree kidnapped men in the first film, this time a male villain, Sarkata, terrorizes and abducts women. With the characters already established, the story dives straight into action, delivering a fast-paced, tight screenplay that keeps viewers hooked, bolstered by a strong ensemble cast in top form.
The plot of ‘Stree 2’ picks up after the events of the first film, focusing on a new terror in Chanderi—Sarkata, a headless entity targeting and kidnapping women who have embraced modernity. The story takes a personal turn
when Bittu’s (Aparshakti Khurana) girlfriend, Chitti, falls victim to Sarkata’s attacks. A letter received by Rudra (Pankaj Tripathi) contains the missing pages of the Chanderi Puraan, which played a key role in the first film. Using these clues, Bicky (Rajkummar Rao), Bittu, and Jana (Abhishek Banerjee) embark on a mission to track down Sarkata and end his reign of terror, with help from Shraddha Kapoor’s character, who remains nameless in this installment as well.
Rajkumar Rao is once again in top form, delivering his signature performance with strong support from Aparshakti Khurana and Abhishek Banerjee. Pankaj Tripathi continues to shine as Rudra, stealing scenes with his witty one-liners and impeccable shuddh Hindi. The screenplay gives each character their moment in the spotlight, allowing them all to stand out. However, Shraddha Kapoor’s character feels underwhelming, as she appears sporadically and, apart from adding some intrigue, doesn’t contribute much. One standout moment is when Sarkata chases Jana, who is riding with Pankaj Tripathi’s character; Jana even manages to make the headless entity drink alcohol, offering a brief glimpse of a smiling Sar-
kata. Another highlight is Rajkumar Rao’s hilarious rendition of Rema’s ‘Calm Down.’ The film is filled with laughs and hits all the right notes for a horror comedy. However, in the second half, the screenplay starts to feel sloppy, as if the makers were in a rush and running out of ideas. This becomes evident with the sudden special appearances by Akshay Kumar and Varun Dhawan. While Akshay’s character does steer the plot in a new direction, it’s clear his role was added to draw in more viewers—or perhaps hint at the creation of a shared ‘StreeBhediya’ universe. The pacing feels rushed, and one wishes the writers had given more attention to this part of the film. Despite this, ‘Stree 2’ delivers plenty of entertainment, and Amar Kaushik once again excels in direction. The film retains the energy and charm of the original, with a clever script that brings a fresh twist. -- TNN
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