Annual pace of housing starts in Canada down 22% in August, CMHC says
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the annual pace of new home construction, known as housing starts, slowed 22 per cent in August compared with July. The national housing agency says the seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts came in at 217,405 units in August, down from 279,804 a month earlier. The drop came as the annual pace of urban starts fell 24 per cent to 199,478 units compared with 261,043 in July. The annual rate
of starts of multi-unit urban projects such as apartments, condominiums and townhouses dropped 29 per cent to 154,290 units, while the rate of single-detached urban starts rose three per cent to 45,188. The annual pace of rural starts was estimated at 17,927 units.
CMHC says the six-month moving average of the seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts was 248,480 units in August, down 2.9 per cent from 255,794 in July
Indian migrants seek illegal US entry via Canada to evade heavily guarded south border
As more undocumented migrants from India attempt to enter the United States, many are turning to the lightly patrolled northern border to evade the heightened security along the US-Mexico border. Analysts note that this northern route, lined with vast forests and unmarked paths, poses lifethreatening risks, yet it hasn’t deterred those pursuing better opportunities in the US.
Data from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reveals a swift increase in encounters with Indian migrants along the US-Canada border.In 2023, nearly 97,000 encounters were reported by the CBP, with those along the northern border skyrocketing from around 2,200 in 2021 to more than 30,000 last year. The number of Indians crossing via the northern border has surpassed those entering from the
south, with 22,399 encounters reported on the northern border in the first six months of 2023 compared to 11,053 on the southern border. Muzaffar Chishti, a senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute, attributed the increase in crossings at the Canadian border to new enforcement policies implemented by US President Joe Biden in December, which tightened security at the southern border and limited eligibility for asylum.
“People who can get to Canada with a visa are more likely to try the northern route than the southern because it is not as intensely patrolled as the southern border,” Chishti said. “The moment we started seeing a reduction in numbers at the southern border, we started seeing an increase in numbers at the northern border.”
Long Island Hindu temple vandalized ahead of Indian prime minister’s visit
NEW YORK (RNS) — The BAPS Melville Mandir has been a prominent, peaceful place of worship and festivals for Long Island’s growing Hindu community since 2016. Early Monday (Sept. 16), that peace was interrupted with the discovery of graffiti spraypainted on the temple’s signage and driveway that read “Hindustan Murdabad,” meaning “Death to India,” “F*ck Modi” and “Modi is a terrorist,” referring to the Indian prime minister scheduled to visit on Sunday. Continued on Page 7...
UK company underpay Indian workers
Open your wardrobe, and there's a good chance you'll find garments made in Leicester.
The city was once the engine of England's clothing industry, with companies including retail giant Next keeping tens of thousands of people in work. Then, after many years of factory closures, a profitable new industry arose – fast fashion.
Sub-contractors supplying companies such as Boohoo offered the flexibility to deliver large orders to tight deadlines, piling the stock high and selling it cheap.
But then the coronavirus pandemic lifted the lid on how intense competition had created widespread exploitation in Leicester's supply chain.
Now the city is fighting to save its garment manufacturing industry once again.
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Pakistani Man arrested in Quebec for plot to kill Jews in New York
The case of a 20-year-old man arrested over an alleged Islamic State terror plot to kill Jews in New York City was before a judge briefly on Friday and will return to court in December in Montreal.
Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a Pakistani national living in Ontario, was arrested Sept. 4 in Ormstown, Que., allegedly on his way across the border into New York state. United States officials charged Khan with one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to a terrorist organization, and they are seeking to have him extradited to stand trial.
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‘Essentially prostitution’: Councillor claims students subjected to sexual abuse by landlords
A Brampton City Councillor says some landlords are taking advantage of international students, demanding sexual favours in exchange for housing and she has the ads to prove it.
Wards 1 & 5 Councillor Rowena Santos presented the rental ads during a Sept. 4 meeting of council, saying female international students are “being prostituted for rent.”
“They exploit them in the way of sometimes having 4-5 beds in one room,” she tells OMNI News. “They exploit them in the case presented at council suggesting that sexual favours will give them discounts on rent, essentially prostitution.”
Santos says many of these international students are unaware that they are being exploited, and without permanent status in the country, they are afraid to speak out. “Because of different cultural dynamics, they don’t necessarily know what consent is and what friends with benefits mean,” she explained. “That ad showed if you’re willing to do friends with benefits then you only have to pay $200 instead of $300 and it’s absolutely disgusting.”
‘Thousands of pieces’ of mail, bank cards, a firearm seized in New Westminster: police
A former international student spoke to OMNI News about the exploitation she experienced as an Ontario renter. “They force girls to do other things … they force us to be sexual with them,” said the woman whose identity we are protecting.
The former student says she knows other women who, like her, have experienced landlords coming to their units without notice and asking for sexual favours in exchange for reduced rent.
“They don’t follow the rules that they have to give 24-48 hours’ notice, they don’t do that, they just come to your place and try to exploit you.”
Santos says the city is working with social agencies to connect with students and to support temporary residents who have been abused by their landlords. “Many of them end up going to social agencies sharing that they’ve become pregnant, having mental health issues, some have committed suicide,” she said. Councillors have also suggested the Residential Rental Licensing pilot program, launched at the beginning of 2024 to deal with the growing number of problem rentals, could also help crack down on abuses.
Police say numerous items related to fraud were seized from a residence in the Uptown neighbourhood of New Westminster. In a release Wednesday, the New Westminster Police Department says on Sept. 11 it received a call for service at a home near 8 St. and 5 Ave. for an unrelated matter but ended up locating several suspicious items that it believes are connected to identity fraud. “Patrol officers worked in partnership with the Crime Reduction Unit and a search warrant was obtained,” it said. Police say the items that were seized include around 8,000 pieces of stolen mail, three replica firearms, a real firearm with
Protesters at Indian Consulate in Vancouver calls for justice over Nijjar killing
A protest was held outside the Indian Consulate in downtown Vancouver Wednesday in relation to the killing of a prominent Sikh activist who was gunned down over a year ago. While arrests have been made, protesters say Indian officials need to be held accountable.
“These terror houses, their embassies have been providing logistics to the terrorists who are committing murders of Sikh activists. I think (the Canadian) government should hold (the) Indian government accountable and seize their embassies,” Ajaypal Singh, a demonstrator told CityNews Vancouver. It’s been more than a year since 45-year-old activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was gunned down in front of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey where he was president.
Nijjar was a leader in the Khalistan referendum. While four people have been arrested in connection to the shooting, protestors in Vancouver say the Indian government and President Modi were behind Nijjar’s assassination. On this day a year ago, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also said that agencies had been “actively
ammunition, three imitation firearms, around 1,500 stolen or fraudulent bank cards and identification cards, around 50 passports, and other items that can be used to make fraudulent documents. Sgt. Andrew Leaver with the New Westminster Police Department says offences like these impact the entire community negatively. “Credit card fraud and identity theft is an invasive crime that can create significant problems for both businesses and individuals. We encourage residents to periodically check their bank and credit card statements and report any irregularities. The diligent work of our Crime Reduction Unit will likely prevent
pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing of” Nijjar, setting off a diplomatic row between India and Canada.
India, which considers many involved in the Khalistani movement terrorists, extremists and militant separatists, has denied involvement in the Nijjar case. The protestors say they will gather at the Indian Consulate in Vancouver once a month until the Canadian government steps in and shuts it down.
further residents becoming victimized,” he said.
Officers say there is an ongoing investigation on this case. They say they are considering a number of charges related to firearms offences, mail theft, identity theft and credit card fraud.
“Officers are working to process thousands of pieces of evidence and identify the rightful owners of the stolen property,” the release said. At a press conference Wednesday, Leaver said the police department has identified a suspect and will be able to update the public at a later time.
“This seizure represents a significant disruption to a fraud organization, the extent of the organization, we don’t know yet,” he said.
Former federal cabinet minister, Herb Dhaliwal wants to bring back the BC Liberals
The suspension of BC United’s election campaign left centrist voters in British Columbia “orphaned,” and a new provincial party under the Liberal brand is needed, says former federal cabinet minister Herb Dhaliwal.
Dhaliwal, who served in the House of Commons for more than a decade in multiple Liberal government cabinet positions, said Tuesday that he wants to revive a liberal party for those left politically homeless after the BC United collapse in favour of the BC Conservatives. “There are lots of people, they’re not interested in voting for either, so they feel betrayed and they feel orphaned by what’s happened,” Dhaliwal said Tuesday, referring to the BC Conservatives and the BC United Party. He said he wants to build a new party for moderate and centrist voters under the name “New Liberal Party of BC” in
time for the election on Oct. 19, but Elections BC has rejected the name due to its potential to confuse voters. Dhaliwal said in a written statement released Tuesday that the former BC Liberal Party that rebranded as BC United was doomed by a “backroom deal” with the BC Conservative Party, leaving moderate voters without a “preferred political choice on the ballot.” “I personally don’t think it’s good for British Columbia to have this, you know, extreme right and left,” he said in an interview. “This polarization of politics is not good for British Columbia or for the country.”
Dhaliwal, who left his Vancouver-area riding in 2004, said Leader Kevin Falcon’s suspension of the BC United campaign “betrayed” supporters, and the province risks returning to a “dysfunctional” state of “polarizing right versus left combat.”
Pakistan Canada Association loses case court case
A B.C. Supreme Court judge in Vancouver has dismissed an application for a writ of possession by Pakistan-Canada Association Inc. for property and premises occupied by Great Light Healing Ministries Int’l: City of Faith in Surrey.
Both are societies incorporated under the Societies Act. The PCA owns 12057-88 Ave. and leased it to Great Light in 2013.
The petitioner argued before Justice F. Matthew Kirchner that Great Light had committed a "fundamental breach of an implied term of the lease" by doing renovations without securing necessary building permits and authorization from the City of Surrey as well as extending the building across the property line, encroaching on the neighbouring railway right-of-way and exposing the PCA to a possible trespassing claim.
The petitioner demanded that the respondent give up the property by July 13 but Great Light refused, denying that the terms of the lease had been breached. Great Light also claimed the PCA consented to the renovations knowing the required permits hadn't been obtained (which the PCA denies) and that the PCA told it where it could build, "such that PCA is to blame for the encroachment on the railway right of way," Kirchner noted in his Sept. 16 reasons for judgment, Great Light also claimed that the PCA breached an agreement to sell the property to it for $2.2 million, with that matter set for a trial in September 2025 in New Westminster. Meantime, the PCA brought this petition to court under the Commercial Tenancy Act.
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Man arrested in Quebec for alleged plot to kill Jews in NYC returns to court Dec. 6
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Authorities allege that Khan, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, intended to use "automatic and semi-automatic weapons" in a mass shooting in support of the Islamic State at a Jewish centre in Brooklyn around Oct. 7, the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel.
They allege he began planning his attack in November 2023, the same time he allegedly started posting on social media and communicating with others on an encrypted messaging app about his support for ISIS; he also allegedly distributed propaganda and literature about the terror group. our plan this would be the largest attack on U.S. soil since 9/11.” U.S. officials said he took three separate vehicles while travelling to the U.S. border.
In announcing his arrest, the RCMP said, "as his actions escalated, at no point in time was Khan an immediate threat prior to his arrest."
He was not present for a hearing on Friday before the Quebec Superior Court in Montreal, where lawyers said they are waiting for extradition documents and for authorization from Canadian officials before proceeding with the case, which will return before a judge on Dec. 6. Khan's lawyer, Gaetan Bourassa, said U.S. authorities have 60 days to file the necessary paperwork and Canadian officials have 30 days to authorize the extradition process.
"He was arrested last week and they have 60 days to produce the evidence the United States has," Bourassa said outside the courtroom. "On Dec. 6, if we receive the proof, then we'll fix a date for the hearing."
Khan is expected to appear via video on that date. Bourassa said he spoke with his client, who is "reacting very well."
He called the evidence in the case "complex," noting there are witnesses in the United States whose names he doesn't know.
Earlier this week, federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller said Khan arrived in Canada in June 2023 on a student visa granted to him the previous month. On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked about what is being done to ensure other ISIS supporters haven't entered the country under false pretences.
"First of all, this is an extraordinarily serious situation and it highlights just how effective our security services and institutions are that we were able to interdict these, these very, very potentially devastating situations," Trudeau told reporters in the Montreal area.
"We work with partners around the world … sharing intelligence and there's many situations in which Canadian intelligence has been important to partners around the world." The RCMP said in a release last week that Khan faces three charges in Canada: attempting to leave Canada to commit an offence for a terrorist group; participating in activities of a terrorist group; and conspiracy to commit an offence by violating U.S. immigration law or attempting to enter the U.S. unlawfully.
He was later rearrested under a provisional warrant involving the extradition request.
Bourassa said Friday he's unaware of any charges laid against Khan in Canada, and a Justice Department lawyer present in court on Friday referred questions to a spokesperson in Ottawa.
"He was surprised, he was arrested at the border under special circumstances," Bourassa said. Khan remains detained at Montreal's Bordeaux jail.
In BC, NDP and Conservatives tied in polls
The NDP and the Conservatives remain locked in a tie just days before the provincial election campaign officially starts Saturday, but far more British Columbians at this point approve of Premier David Eby compared with Tory Leader John Rustad, according to a new Leger poll. Forty-four per cent of decided voters plan to back the NDP, just slightly higher than the 42 per cent who intend to vote for the Conservatives, based on an online survey of 1,001 British Columbians between Sept. 13 and 16. The Greens have 11 per cent support.
While NDP-Tory support is split evenly, voters’ views of the party leaders are not.
Eby has a favourability rating of 47 per cent, compared with just 34 per cent for Rustad, who is on par with Green Leader Sonia Furstenau at 35 per cent. The split between Eby and Rustad is virtually identical when voters were asked who would make the best premier.
announcements.
“It does seem like (Rustad) is a little bit one step ahead on what the public wants,” said Jared, who asked that his last name remain private. Jared and Sutherland are part of a panel of decided and undecided voters, which Postmedia News has partnered with Leger to assemble. The voters will be asked to share their opinions on a variety of issues during the campaign.
Higher overall support for the Conservative party, regardless of voters’ views of its leader, may reflect the national trend of Canadians moving farther to the right, said Steve Mossop, Leger’s executive vice-president in Western Canada. It may also come down to people not knowing Rustad yet. He recently resurrected his party from the near-dead, and it staked the only centre-right ground after the collapse of the B.C. United, but most people haven’t heard him speak.
Voter Audrey Sutherland, a retiree from Surrey, approves of the way Eby is governing.
“I like the way Eby is handling things,” said Sutherland, who intends to back the NDP.
“The housing, the mental health, the dealing with drug addiction — I’m pretty much on side with what he’s doing.” Jared, an environmental consultant from North Vancouver who plans to vote Conservative, argued Rustad was first out of the gate on campaign promises about ending the carbon tax and involuntary care for people with extreme mental health and addictions. Eby, he noted, followed Rustad with similar
The Leger poll suggests former B.C. United supporters have equally spread to the NDP, the Conservatives, the Greens and the undecided pool. While the NDP has a slight edge with leader favourability, the Conservatives are showing momentum with a jump in voter support in Metro Vancouver, which is traditionally coloured more orange than blue, Mossop said.
Forty-six per cent of Metro decided voters plan to back the Conservatives, up nearly 10 percentage points since last month, compared with 43 per cent support for the NDP, the poll found.
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If Canadian families spent and borrowed like the federal government, they would be $427,759 in debt
If the median Canadian family spent and borrowed like the federal government, they would already be $427,759 in debt and continuing to borrow, finds a new study published today by the Fraser Institute.
“If the median family in Canada spent and borrowed like the federal government, they would be in serious financial trouble,” said Grady Munro, a Fraser Institute policy analyst and co-author of Understanding the Scale of Canada’s Federal Deficit.
The $39.8 billion deficit expected by Ottawa in 2024/25 represents the 17th consecutive annual federal deficit, with continued deficits expected into the foreseeable future, eventually resulting in higher taxes for Canadians.
Continuous annual borrowing by Ottawa to finance increased spending has driven federal total debt from 53.0 per cent of the economy ($1.1 trillion) in 2014/15 up to an expected 69.8 per cent ($2.1 trillion) in 2024/25.
To put this into perspective, the study’s analysis offers an example of what a median family’s household finances would look like if they were to spend and borrow like the federal government in 2024. The study found that the median Canadian family in 2024 would spend $109,982 while only earning $101,821, meaning that it would borrow $8,161 just to pay for its normal spending. This $8,000-plus in additional debt is on top of the $427,759 in existing debt the family would already hold based on previous borrowing.
Illustrative of the burden of debt, $11,066 of the family’s income, representing almost 11 per cent, would be spent on just the interest costs of existing debt.
“Unlike most households, where debt is often offset by assets such as a home or investments, the federal government has little in the way of assets to offset its enormous debt,” said Jake Fuss, director of fiscal policy at the Fraser Institute and co-author.
“And it’s important to note that this government debt burden on Canadian families does not include the burden of provincial and municipal government debt, which depending on one’s location, can be significant.”
After the federal Liberals lost byelections in Toronto and Montreal, new polling data shows that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his party are deeply unpopular in other major Canadian cities, too. The survey, conducted by Maru Public Opinion for CityNews, found that only 21 per cent of respondents in four of Canada’s largest metro areas believe Justin Trudeau and his party deserve to be re-elected in the next election. The sentiment runs highest in Edmonton, where only 17 per cent believe the Liberals should get another chance to form government. Support is only slightly stronger in Toronto, where 25 per cent said Trudeau and his party deserve re-election.
Since losing a byelection in the once-safe Liberal riding of Toronto-St. Paul’s in June, Trudeau has faced increasing pressure to consider stepping down as leader before the next election to give his party a chance. Speculation about a leadership change has ramped up after the Liberals this week narrowly lost another stronghold in byelection in the Montreal riding of Lasalle-Emard-Verdun –a seat once held by former prime minister Paul Martin – to the Bloc Quebecois candidate. Trudeau has repeatedly rejected the suggestion the Liberals would improve their electoral prospects if he left, insisting he remains the best positioned to take on the Conservatives and their leader Pierre Poilievre.
Up to 2,600 new housing units planned for the Heather Lands in Vancouver will be sold at 60 per cent of market value, according to a joint announcement by the province, the city and the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. The 8.5-hectare parcel of land in question is located on Heather Street between West 33rd and West 37th Avenue, just west of Queen Elizabeth Park.
The development is being touted as an "attainable housing initiative," in which the province will kick in 40 per cent of the financing on the purchase price of the units, with buyers responsible for the remaining 60 per cent.
The units will be sold under a 99-year strata leasehold from the First Nations. B.C.'s shortterm rental rules cause drop in listings: study "For too long, the idea of home ownership has been out of reach for way too many people — people who earn a decent income, who are priced out of the market and do not see any path to home ownership," said Premier David Eby, speaking at the project unveiling on Thursday.
Eby said the cost to the province is $670 million. The Heather Lands initiative is aimed at middle-income home buyers who meet the following criteria:
Citizens or permanent residents of Canada. At least one buyer in the household must have resided in the province for the 24 consecutive months leading up to purchase.
At least 18 years old.
Buyers must have no ownership interest in any other property worldwide at the time of purchase closing.
Buyers must have a pre-qualified mortgage and minimum deposit of five per cent of the 60 per cent purchase price.
Must use home as principal residence.
Eby said the 40 per cent from the province is not a grant or ongoing subsidy, but financing that is to be repaid at the end of 25 years, or when the owner sells.
He said there will be strict oversight to prevent people from property speculation, flipping, or otherwise breaking the rules.
"Anyone who thinks they can game the system, there will be serious consequences," he said. Squamish Nation councillor and spokesperson Sxwíxwtn Wilson Williams said the Heather Lands project was conceived by the three First Nations.
B.C. health authorities responded Tuesday to a letter from Surrey ER doctors, who say the situation at Surrey Memorial Hospital (SMH) has surpassed crisis levels and has gotten even worse in the last year.
Emergency physicians at SMH released a scathing letter Monday expressing their concerns over the “little response” from Fraser Health despite its recent efforts to address the “deteriorating conditions” in their department.
The letter, signed by the emergency department’s entire staff of physicians and addressed to the CEO of Fraser Health, Dr. Victoria Lee, asks why conditions are continuing to deteriorate despite the “thoughtful proposals presented” to them.
Premier David Eby said the province is working on addressing health-care pressures by building the second hospital in Surrey and connecting more people with family doctors to reduce the need for them to go to the emergency room.
A statement from Fraser Health says it understands the seriousness of the concerns and will be responding directly to the physicians “to address them comprehensively.”
“While we have more work to do, we
are pleased to report that in addition to the thousands of staff already working at the hospital, since July 2023 we posted 575 net new positions for the Surrey Memorial Hospital and Surrey communities,” the statement says.
The letter from the doctors says that since 2021, staffing has increased eight per cent, while patient volumes have jumped 30 per cent.
The letter says doctors have tried dozens of times to declare a “Code Orange” when they believe the department is pushed beyond a safe level, but 24 of those 25 requests have been denied, making doctors reluctant to call for help.
“The combination of long shifts, overwhelming patient volumes, high acuity, inadequate support, compensation disparities, and the invalidation of our lived experiences has contributed to significant burnout among our staff,” the letter says.
“Physicians are facing exhaustion, anxiety, and an overall decline in their mental health, which ultimately compromises patient care.”
It also claims physicians are only able to spend an average of 16 minutes with each patient, compared to the average 44 minutes at Vancouver General Hospital.
Long Island Hindu temple vandalized ahead of Indian prime minister’s visit
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The vandals left “threatening messages” sometime between 7 p.m. Sunday and 6:30 a.m. Monday, according to the Suffolk County Police hate crimes unit.
“We strongly promote peace, harmony, equality, selfless service, and promote universal values of Hindus,” said Girish Patel, national coordinator for BAPS Public Affairs. “That something like this would happen is a direct way of saying, ‘I hate Hindus.'” The Indian Consulate General is in touch with BAPS leadership, which represents the largest sect of Hindus in the U.S., and has raised the matter with U.S. law enforcement authorities for “prompt action against the perpetrators of this heinous act,” it said in a statement. On Monday afternoon, local lawmakers and clergy
members from surrounding synagogues, churches and mosques lent their support and offered prayers at a news conference outside of the mandir. “We strongly condemn these acts and pray for peace amongst all communities,” said the BAPS Public Affairs team in its Appeal for Peace statement. “We also offer our deepest prayers for those who perpetrated this crime to be released of their hatred and to see our common humanity.” This incident comes after a thread of temple vandalizations that have occurred in the past year across North America. Perpetrators have damaged property at mandirs from California to New York, including statues of prominent Hindu figures such as Mahatma Gandhi. And this past July, a BAPS mandir in Edmonton, Canada, was similarly defaced.
Expensive homes creating wealth inequality, "eroding" BC economy
The high cost of homes in BC has probably been among the most critical issues facing residents for decades, and according to one group, it’s doing major damage to the economy. A Canadian Centre of Policy Alternatives (CCPA BC) report says non-profit housing, renter protections and rent controls are needed, among other critical tools. “Expensive housing is eroding the core of BC’s economy,” said Senior Economist Marc Lee.
taxation. The report states, “Sarce and expensive housing is eroding the province’s economy, and the skyrocketing price of homes [has] become a source of enormous wealth inequality.”
“In recent years, speculative behaviour from real estate investors has been top of mind as home prices rise beyond the reach of many households,” Lee added. CCPA BC is also calling on the government to reform property
One of the main recommendations from the CCPA BC is public and nonprofit housing. Lee and fellow economist Alex Hemingway say they’re needed to deliver “genuine affordability in the short run” and “maintain affordability over time.” “In the context of a housing shortage, allowing new non-market and market rental apartments is crucial, particularly in the large areas of cities currently reserved exclusively for low-density housing,” Hemingway said.
UK company underpay Indian workers
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Paramjit Kaur, 61, worked as a sewing machine operator at several Leicester companies after moving from India to join her husband Harvinder Singh.
By the time she arrived in 2015, there was already growing concern about garment factories paying well below the living wage.
Paramjit says she could not speak English and struggled to find work, so she spent years working in factories that paid her between £3 and £5 an hour. She says some employers covered their tracks by creating a paper trail, which appeared to show she earned the National Living Wage. 'We were desperate' Speaking in a mixture of Hindi and Punjabi, Paramjit described how one
company asked her to work for a £5 hourly rate, adding others did not give her holiday or sick pay. "They would show 'full pay' on the payslip but once the money was in my bank, I was told to return it," she said. "I used to give it back in cash. Three or four factories used to do this."
When asked why she returned the money, Paramjit said: "It felt dirty and bad but I needed to work. No-one was paying more.
"We were desperate. We had to pay council tax, the gas bill, rent. The bills kept coming.
"It felt horrible. 'Keep working, keep working', is what they would say." Paramjit is one of several workers from India who told the BBC they earned £5 an hour or less in different clothing factories in Leicester.
Surrey thief steals specialized bike ‘essential’ for girl with special needs’ mobility
Police in Surrey say someone stole a specialized bike that is “essential” for a child with complex health needs to get around.
Surrey RCMP said the bike was stolen near 162 Street and 88 Avenue shortly before noon on Monday.
The girl’s father had secured the bike and gone into a school to pick up his daughter. When he returned 15 minutes later, it was gone. Police say the girl’s complex health needs require her to move from one place to another using custommade additions to the bike.
“This child has needs that require her to be in this special seat that you would have seen in the
A year
after
pictures that we have shared, that these seats that are on the bike, they are custom-made, which are specific to this child,” Surrey RCMP Cpl. Sarbjit Sangha said. “We are appealing to the suspect directly to return this bike to any of our District Office locations.” Security video captured a man cutting the bike’s lock and riding it away. The suspect was wearing a grey and maroon long-sleeve shirt, dark pants, a baseball cap and sunglasses.
The bike is described as a sage-green Eventin Abournd Cargo E-Bike with two child seats attached. Anyone with information is asked to contact Surrey RCMP 604-599-0502.
man found dead while dirt biking on Sunshine Coast, his son is charged with his murder
The son of a man found dead on the Sunshine Coast has been arrested and accused of murdering his father. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said Jackson Doyle, 26, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his father Henry Doyle, 58, who was found badly injured on the Klein Lake Forest Service Road on Sept. 23, 2023, in Egmont and died of his injuries. His dirt bike was nearby. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team said Jackson Doyle, 26, has been charged with firstdegree murder in connection with the death of his father Henry Doyle, 58, who was found badly injured on the Klein Lake Forest Service Road on Sept. 23, 2023, in Egmont and died of his injuries. His dirt bike was nearby. None of the allegations has been proven in court. Doyle will remain in
custody until a court appearance Monday.
Henry Doyle was known as a kind, successful Vancouver business consultant as well as an avid outdoorsman and athlete. He was a member of the board of directors for a national dental industry association. At the time, the Dental Industry Association of Canada said it was shocked and saddened by his sudden death. “Henry was an esteemed leader in the Canadian dental industry and his death is a great loss to all who knew him. On behalf of our members and the Canadian dental industry as a whole, we offer our deepest sympathies to Henry’s family and friends. He will be truly missed.” After his father’s death, the son dedicated his B.C. Cancer Foundation’s Tour de Cure ride fundraiser to his father, whom he called “Hero Henry” on the campaign’s web page.
Former BC correctional officer caught with SIM cards, phones, drugs, says lawsuit
A former correctional officer facing charges of working for a criminal organization smuggled phones, SIM cards, and drugs into the Kent Institution prison in Agassiz, a B.C. government lawsuit alleges. Jason Kenneth Lee was charged last month with obstruction of justice and drug trafficking as part of a criminal organization, as well as accepting a bribe and several other counts.
contraband, including drugs, weapons, and cellular phones, to inmates within an institution in the Fraser Valley.”
An RCMP news release said at the time that the charges stemmed from “the discovery of evidence consistent with a correctional officer smuggling
No specific prison was named in the release. But more details of the investigation that led to Lee’s arrest are contained in a recent statement of claim filed against Lee and his wife by B.C.’s director of civil forfeiture. The statement of claim said that the Chilliwack RCMP began its investigation in January 2023 “into a drug trafficking organization being operated out of the Kent Institution.”
Suspect in bloody Downtown Vancouver attacks in court to face murder, assault charges
The accused in two brutal attacks in Downtown Vancouver earlier this month appeared virtually in court Wednesday morning, facing murder and assault charges.
The 34-year-old White Rock Man made an appearance at Vancouver Provincial Court during its 9:30 a.m. session.
Brendan McBride has been charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault in relation to two attacks just minutes apart on the morning of Sept. 4 that left sidewalks bloody along Hamilton Street and near the Queen Elizabeth Theatre just off West Georgia Street. One victim, a 56-year-old man, had his hand severed.
The other victim, a 70-year-old man, was killed. The attacks and subsequent police response caused shock and chaos in the business district as people were preparing for the workday.
Vancouver Police Department officers made
an arrest a short time later near Olympic Village. According to police, McBride has a long history of mental health-related incidents and interactions with officers. At the time of the attacks, he was on probation after a conviction for an assault in White Rock in September 2023. While there have long been concerns and calls for action to improve public safety downtown, these latest attacks have become a lightning rod for groups putting pressure on government for changes.
On Monday, a coalition of regional mayors and public safety leaders made a plea to the federal government for further bail reform, a crackdown on the drug supply coming through Metro Vancouver’s ports, and to help facilitate plans for expanded involuntary care for severe mental health and addiction cases.
Court was adjourned Wednesday, with McBride set to reappear on Oct. 4
Eby pledges involuntary care for severe addictions ahead of October election
British Columbia will be opening secure facilities to provide involuntary care under the Mental Health Act for those with severe addictions who are mentally ill and have sustained a brain injury, the premier announced Sunday just days ahead of the start of a provincial election campaign.
David Eby pledged a re-elected NDP would change the law in the next legislative session to “provide clarity and ensure that people, including youth, can and should receive care when they are unable to seek it themselves.”
Eby told a news conference in Vancouver that involuntary help would be aimed at people struggling with overlapping addictions, mental illness, and brain injury concerns who are not able to ask for help for themselves.
“For people with these three overlapping conditions, we know that the current response that we offer is not adequate,” he said.
“It is costly for people struggling with these conditions. They are not safe, and increasingly, I’m concerned that the way that they are interacting in our communities is making everybody less safe.”
The premier’s promise comes ahead of Saturday’s anticipated launch of the provincial election campaign, in which concerns about the toxic drug crisis are expected to play a significant role, and three months after he appointed Dr. Daniel Vigo as B.C.’s first chief scientific adviser for psychiatry, toxic drugs and concurrent disorders.
Vigo said Sunday that most people with addictions in British Columbia are not mentally impaired and are able to seek help voluntarily.
“However, the system breaks down if services operate under the assumption that all the patients should be able to actively seek help, endure taxing intake processes where comorbidity is
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not considered, input from providers … is not valued, and impairments affecting their ability to consent become an exclusion criteria,” he said.
Vigo said that in order for a person to be treated involuntarily under the act, they currently have to have a mental disorder that leaves them unable to interact safely with others and regulate their own behaviour.
Eby said the province’s hospitals interpret the current Mental Health Act inconsistently, so Vigo will be sending out clarifications on how it can be applied in cases involving addiction before the legislation is formally changed.
Eby said the first site providing care for those with addictions, mental illness and brain injuries will open in Maple Ridge on the grounds of the Alouette Correctional Centre “in the coming months,” adding there are plans to expand throughout the province.
This is not the first time the B.C. government
has proposed involuntary care for youth with addictions.
In 2022, a plan that would have forced youth to undergo treatment for up to seven days after an overdose was scrapped following public criticism.
Eby said Sunday he understands the concern that youth might be less likely to ask for help if they fear being taken to treatment against their will.
“So these are the things we’re trying to balance as a society. It’s incredibly challenging, and our goal is to work with … the experts in this area, because I think that we need to keep revisiting these decisions and make sure that they’re taking us in the right direction,” he said.
Last week, B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad said if elected, he would introduce legislation to allow for involuntary treatment and build secure facilities.
BC NDP, BC Conservatives in close race ahead of election campaign period: poll
Mere days away from the start of the provincial election campaign, a new poll shows the BC NDP and BC Conservatives are still neck and neck. Results from a survey by Research Co. show that 44 per cent of voters polled are throwing their weight behind the NDP — but the BC Conservatives are just two points behind, with 42 per cent.
Company president Mario Canseco tells 1130 NewsRadio that Conservative leader John Rustad has an opportunity to capitalize on the fall of BC United — even if it hasn’t happened so far. “Right now, what we’re seeing is a lot of people who maybe are dissatisfied with the way the NDP has been governing, but haven’t seen enough to make that emotional connection with the Conservatives yet,” he said.
He says a theory that BC United’s collapse last month would push all its voters towards the BC Conservatives hasn’t necessarily panned out at this point. “We do have an increase for the Conservatives of four points compared to July, but there’s also an increase of three points for the NDP compared to July. So, people are making their own decisions based on the
candidates and also in the way they feel about the political parties.”
Canseco says independent candidates are also seeing momentum in the poll — especially in northern B.C., where two popular incumbent candidates — previously with BC United — are running under their own banners.
“To have already 16 per cent of people in Northern BC considering independents certainly suggests that there might be a pool, particularly for the two incumbents from the from BC United in the Peace River that could actually do something to lower the level of support for the Conservatives,” said Canseco.
Judge decides in Surrey church's favour in lease dispute
Continued from Page 1...
The judge concluded that if Great Light breached an implied term of the lease agreement, "that breach, while serious, is neither fundamental nor a breach of a true condition that would allow PCA to terminate the lease. I would therefore dismiss PCA’s petition seeking a writ of possession but PCA remains free to pursue other remedies against Great Light." The $300,000 in renovations and expansion
were completed by volunteers from the church's congregation in 2021 with Great Light nearly doubling the building's footprint. On June 2, 2022, the City of Surrey issued a Stop Work Order. "Since the renovations and expansion had long finished, there was no longer any work to stop," Kirchner noted. "However, the order identified that the work had been done without a permit, that it had been done “in right of way”, and that it covered a manhole."
Speight and six others granted Presidential pardon
2000 coup leader, George Speight and six others have been officially discharged from custody today. Mr Speight, was charged with treason and convicted on his own plea of guilty in 2001. He had his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment in 2002. He has been imprisoned for 24 years, one month and 23 days, which is 8,820 days, both on Nukulau Island and at the Naboro Correction Facility. A statement by the Fiji Corrections Services released today says the Mercy Commission, during its meeting held on September 18, 2024 reviewed the petitions for mercy submitted by the following individuals:
• Sekina Vosavakatini
• Nioni Tagici
• James Sanjesh Goundar
• Adi Livini Radininausori
• John Miller
• George Speight
• Shane Stevens
Following the Commission’s
deliberations, recommendations for mercy were made, and His Excellency, the President of Fiji, acting under Section 119(5) of the Constitution, granted pardons to all of the above petitioners.
These pardons were formally granted on September 18, 2024. As a result, the named individuals have been officially discharged from custody today, Thursday, September 19, 2024.
However, in the case of James Sanjesh Goundar, who passed away on September 6 at the Minimum Corrections Center, the pardon, unfortunately, came too late for him. The Fiji Correction Service and the government remain committed to the principles of justice, rehabilitation, and the rule of law, and the Mercy Commission plays a vital role in ensuring that petitions for clemency are considered carefully, with due regard to the circumstances of each case.
FICAC to look into alleged leak
FICAC will look into the alleged leak of a letter written by former acting deputy commissioner Francis Puleiwai calling for Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad to be charged.
FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali said while they would look into the leak, they were also continuing with the inquiry into Professor Biman. “Leaks from FICAC we will look into that,” said Ms Malimali.
“And investigations into DPM Prasad. I am aware of the investigations, and I will leave it with the team that’s dealing with it.”
She said she was yet to look at the case files against the 17 prominent figures that were referred to FICAC. “To be quite honest, some of the case files I have not seen. “I have been asking for them, but they have not made it to my desk, but each referral is with our team of investigators and I will leave it to them to look at each complaint.”
Japan provides $19 million for aviation safety upgrades in Fiji
$19 million has been donated by the Government of Japan to improve Fiji’s aviation safety through a project that will enhance the country’s transport infrastructure.
The agreement signed by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Japan’s Ambassador Rokuichiro Michii will provide equipment like two VHF Omnidirectional Radio Beacons
(VOR/DME), five airport fire engines, and three rescue boats for major airports including Nadi, Nausori, Labasa, Savusavu, and Matei.
Rabuka says this timely support strengthens Fiji's position as the Pacific’s regional aviation hub, coinciding with the recent opening of the International Civil Aviation Organisation Pacific liaison office in Nadi. Ambassador Michii says this initiative not only upgrades Fiji’s aviation capabilities but also strengthens ties between Fiji and Japan.
He says this version keeps the most relevant details clear and focused on how this impacts Fiji’s people and aviation sector.
FICAC closes file against Bainimarama as there is insufficient evidence to support claims made by FEO
FICAC reveals that it had written to the Supervisor of Elections, Ana Mataiciwa on 24th July 2024 advising of its decision to close the file into the matter pertaining to Voreqe Bainimarama on the allegation of submitting false declaration of Income, Assets and Liabilities for the years 2014 to 2019 and 2022.
FICAC says the matter was referred to them by the Fijian Elections Office in February year. They say investigation findings revealed that Bainimarama declared his dividend as well as declared his shared value and term saver account in which the dividend was credited. FICAC says the investigation findings
also concluded that in accordance with Income Tax (Exempt Income) Regulation 2016 Schedule (Regulation 3), the allowance is exempted.
They says this exempt income is classified for all official allowances paid to Members of Parliament. FICAC however says, Section 15 (c) of the Income Tax Act outlines it does not recognize any allowance to the extent expending the performance of the employee’s duties of employment which includes per diem allowance. They say based on the outcome of the investigations and the legal opinion rendered thereafter, there is insufficient evidence to support the claims made by the complainant.
Terror attack foiled in Lahore, 3 terrorists killed
Pakistan's law enforcement officials foiled a major terror attack in Lahore on Wednesday, killing three terrorists, officials said.
Acting on a tip-off, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab police raided a militants' hideout near the Nankana-Lahore interchange. During the raid, the suspects opened fire on the CTD team.
"Three terrorists were killed in an exchange of gunfire, while their two accomplices fled
Afghan
diplomat
from the scene," a CTD spokesperson said in a statement. The terrorists had planned a largescale attack in Lahore, the spokesperson said.
During the operation, the CTD recovered three hand grenades, three detonators, safety fuse wires, two rifles, ammunition and explosive material from the terrorists. A search operation is underway to capture the fleeing terrorists and the identification of the dead militants is in progress, the CTD said.
‘disrespects’ Pak national anthem
Islamabad has complained to Kabul after an Afghan diplomat failed to stand up when the Pakistani national anthem was played during an event in the country’s northwest, officials said Wednesday. The Foreign Ministry also summoned Ahmad Shakib, Afghanistan’s chargé d’affaires and its most senior diplomat
in Islamabad, in protest over the incident on Tuesday evening.
According to Pakistani officials, Mohibullah Shakir, the Afghan consul general in the northwestern city of Peshawar, remained seated when the anthem was intoned during an official ceremony.
Will US sanctions make any difference to Pakistan’s missiles programme?
Constitutional changes a bid to keep me in jail, claims Imran Khan
Pakistan’s jailed former PM Imran Khan on Monday rejected the anticipated constitutional changes, claiming that it was an effort to keep him in prison by controlling the judiciary.
The 71-year-old made the remarks during an informal conversation with journalists at the Adiala Jail, where he has been lodged since August last year. The PTI leader claimed that the government was pursuing to set up a new constitutional court out of fear of the Supreme Court. Khan also claimed that 4,000 Pakistani companies were registered in Dubai in six months and the country is being run by taking loans. He criticised Chief Justice Qazi Faiz Isa, claiming that the government wants to destroy the judiciary to bring Isa back. He also criticised amendments
to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) laws, claiming they were used to forgive billions in corruption. Announcing a peaceful protest in Lahore on September 21, he called on the public to defend their rights and the judiciary. Meanwhile, the Pakistan's coalition government on Monday was forced to once again delay the tabling of the controversial constitutional amendment bill in the Parliament, apparently due to a lack of required numbers to pass it. The details of the amendments are still a mystery as the government has not officially shared it with the media or discussed it publically. What has been reported so far shows that the government plans to increase the retirement age of judges and fix the tenure of the chief justice of the Supreme Court.
Pakistani artist finds his ‘lost’ works being displayed in a TV serial
Islamabad, Pakistan – The United States government has announced a new round of sanctions targeting a Pakistan company and several Chinese “entities and one individual” for supplying equipment and technology for what it claims is the development of ballistic missiles in Pakistan. Thursday’s announcement marks the sixth round of such sanctions to be levied by the US on Chinese and Pakistani companies since November 2021. Under these sanctions, the USbased assets of those named can be frozen, and US citizens or anyone within (or transiting) the US are banned from doing business with any group or person named. The sanctions name China-based firms Hubei Huachangda Intelligent Equipment Co, Universal Enterprise and Xi’an Longde Technology Development Co, as well as Pakistanbased Innovative Equipment and a Chinese national, for “knowingly transferring equipment under missile technology restrictions”, US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.
The Sindh government has formed a twomember committee after a Pakistani artist claimed that his paintings, which were supposedly lost/stolen seven years back, were displayed in a drama serial on television. Artist Seffy Soomro said he immediately contacted the relevant authorities at the Sindh and Karachi Cultural Department, who had told him in 2017 that his works were either lost or stolen after an exhibition held at the Frere Hall here. Soomro had made the paintings as part of a thesis for the University of Sindh’s Fine Arts Department, underscoring the
personal and academic value they held, Soomro told PTI over the telephone on Tuesday and added, “I have proof of this.” He came across his works while watching an ongoing popular drama serial starring two big actors, Hania Aamir and Fahad Mustafa. “Imagine my feelings when I see my paintings on the wall during a drama serial,” Soomro said. “I had sent them for an exhibition in 2017 and despite reminders never got them back, and was eventually told they were lost. I was not even compensated for them,” Soomro, who belongs and resides in Ghotki in Sindh, said.
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India, China signal thaw in ties with diplomatic, border efforts
After years of heightened border tensions, India and China are showing signs of de-escalation, with recent diplomatic talks offering a hopeful glimpse into improved economic ties and future cooperation. Both nations released statements indicating positive progress following discussions between India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a Brics meeting in St Petersburg on Thursday last week. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs noted that the meeting provided a platform to review efforts toward resolving outstanding issues along the Line of Actual Control, the pair’s de facto border – essential for stabilising and rebuilding relations. Just hours before the gathering in Russia, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced at a Geneva Centre for Security
Policy talk that roughly 75 per cent of India’s “disengagement problems” with China had been resolved. Earlier that week, he had emphasised his country’s openness to economic engagement with China during his discussions in Berlin with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on September 10, saying India is not “closed to business from China”.
Atishi is new chief minister of India’s capital territory after Kejriwal quits
Delhi minister Atishi will take over as the new chief minister of India’s national capital territory after the resignation of incumbent Arvind Kejriwal, says the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The announcement was made by AAP chief Kejriwal during a meeting with his
‘Misunderstandings’
party’s legislators in New Delhi on Tuesday. “Atishi steps up to lead Delhi until the upcoming elections, carrying the weight of both CM Arvind Kejriwal’s vision and the national capital’s future,” a statement from AAP said. Atishi, 43, is a prominent member of the decade-old party, which quickly rose to mainstream politics, although its clout is relatively small compared with older opposition parties in India. She has held several portfolios in the city government, including finance and education. Kejriwal, 56, on Monday said he will resign as chief minister of Delhi, a day after his release from prison on bail in a corruption case. The AAP has described his arrest as a “political conspiracy” orchestrated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
in ties with India resolved: Maldives
Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer acknowledged that Maldives-India ties witnessed rough patches in the initial days of President Mohammad Muizzu-led government, but insisted that the two countries have resolved those “misunderstandings”.
Zameer made the remarks on Friday during a visit to Sri Lanka, where he stressed the importance of the Indian Ocean archipelago’s relationships
with key allies, particularly China and India. He said relations with India had faced challenges, particularly following Muizzu’s campaign to remove a small contingent of Indian troops from the Maldives. Zameer said the “misunderstandings” had been resolved following the repatriation of Indian troops. “(We) have good relations with both China and India, and both countries continue to support Maldives.”
India faces terror threats from ISIL or AQ-linked groups active in J-K: FATF report
Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has released India's mutual evaluation report on combating terror financing and anti-moneylaundering regime. India has implemented anti-money-laundering and combating terror financing system that is effective in many respects, the FATF report said. It said major improvements were needed to strengthen prosecution in money-
laundering, terror financing cases, adding that improvements were required to protect non-profit sector from the terror abuse. India's main sources of money-laundering originate from within, from illegal activities committed within the country, it said, adding that India faces disparate range of terror threats, most significantly from ISIL or AQ-linked groups active in and around J-K.
Ex-RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh's medical registration cancelled
The West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) on Thursday cancelled the registration of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital's former principal Sandip Ghosh, an official said.
Ghosh, who is in CBI custody, has been removed from the list of Registered Medical Practitioners maintained by the WBMC, he said. His licence was cancelled under various provisions of the Bengal Medical Act of 1914, the official said. He is an orthopaedic surgeon and
without the licence, he cannot practice. Ghosh was arrested by the CBI on September 2 for his alleged involvement in the financial irregularities at the hospital amid the protests over the rape and murder of the on-duty trainee doctor. He was later accused of evidence tampering in the rapemurder case.
Aniket Mahato, one of the leading faces of the junior doctors who have been agitating over the death of their colleague, described it as a “victory”.
High Court seeks explanation from Punjab on municipal elections delay
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the Punjab Chief Secretary to file an affidavit explaining the prolonged delay in holding municipal elections across the state, expressing surprise that unelected representatives continue to run the municipal councils and corporations. “It is surprising that no elections have been held till date at the municipal council as well as municipal corporation level, thereby permitting unelected representatives to run the show,” Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal asserted.
In its detailed order, the Bench directed Punjab Chief Secretary to file an affidavit explaining, “as to why no elections were held
to the municipal councils as well as municipal corporations in the State of Punjab despite there being a Constitutional mandate?” The court noted the term of the municipal councils as well as municipal corporations in the State of Punjab expired in December 2022 and January 2023. But elections had not been held till date despite a clear mandate in the Constitution of India as well as in the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act for “holding elections before the expiry of term of the elected body in municipalities.”
Describing herself as “social worker” petitioner Beant Kumar through counsel Bhisham Kinger and Sukhcharan Singh Gill had earlier contended the existing tenure of the municipal councils in the State expired in December 2022, but the elections had not been conducted so far.
Gangster culture: HC calls for swift action, denies bail to Lawrence Bishnoi ‘gang member’
Describing gangster culture as a significant threat to the social order, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has called for decisive and swift action to address the menace of unchecked gang activities. The assertion came as Justice Harpreet Singh Brar of the High Court dismissed a regular bail plea of Kapil described by the State of Punjab as “an active member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang” in a murder case. The court observed that custody certificate’s perusal indicated that he was facing trial in nine other cases and he had already been convicted in two matters, while being acquitted in four. Justice Brar asserted gangster culture, particularly in the form of extortion rackets, had emerged as a significant threat to the social order in “today’s time”, fostering an environment of fear and lawlessness. The Bench was of the view that glorification of violence, the normalization of criminal behavior, and the recruitment of vulnerable youth into gangs not only perpetuated crime, but also eroded public trust in justice system. Besides this, extortion – a hallmark of their operations - forced individuals
and businesses to pay for ‘protection’ or face dire consequences, perpetuating a cycle of fear and lawlessness. Justice Brar added such criminal activities not only stifled entrepreneurship, but also created a parallel economy, fostering corruption and subverting the rule of law. “The way, these hardened criminals are portrayed by popular media, has led to a distorted sense of power and impunity, particularly among the
youth. The implications of unchecked gang activities are far-reaching, from rising violent crime rates to economic instability in affected communities and regions. This menace must be dealt with decisively and swiftly,” the court observed.
NRI abducted, murdered
A 76-year-old NRI from Kang Sahbu village of Nakodar, Mohinder Singh, who was abducted on Saturday evening while he was on his way to a gurdwara in his car, has been murdered with sharp-edged weapons. The accused threw the body in a canal in Moga, which was traced this evening by the SDRF teams from PAP here. England-based NRI Mohinder Singh was putting up alone at his place. Two miscreants had reportedly chased him in their car at around 6.15 pm on the main road outside the village. They hit his car from behind, forcing him to stop. Threatening him at gunpoint, they pulled him out and took him away in their car. Investigations have revealed that since the NRI was the manager of a gurdwara of his village, one of the accused had called him on phone telling him that he had been blessed with a child and wanted to give a donation at the gurdwara. The NRI was going to receive the donation when the accused intercepted and abducted him. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of SP Manpreet Singh Dhillon, DSP Nakodar Kulwinder Singh Virk, Inspector Pushap Bali (CIA Jalandhar Rural), and SHO Sadar Nakodar SI Baljinder Singh was formed to investigate the case. CCTV footages, technical analysis and witness testimonies helped the team identify the suspects, said SSP Jalandhar Rural, Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh. The car used in the crime has also been seized. The first arrest
in the case was made on Monday. Harjinder Singh alias Lali was arrested from Nakodar. He revealed to the police that the crime was committed to make a quick buck. The NRI was reportedly having a good lifestyle and had also been lending out money on interest. The police are also looking if the accused or their kin had borrowed money from the NRI in the past and had some financial dispute with him.
The second accused in the case, Manjot Singh alias Jota, was arrested on Tuesday from near Tarsikka in Amritsar. The accused had reportedly discarded Mohinder Singh’s mobile phone in a canal and disposed of their own phones elsewhere in an attempt to mislead the police.
During interrogation, the accused confessed that they chose to kill Mohinder as he had recognised Manjot by his voice despite his face being covered. They reportedly killed Mohinder with a sharp-edged weapon and threw his body into a canal on the outskirts of Moga. The police, in coordination with the Drainage Department and SDRF teams from PAP Jalandhar, had to lower the water level of the canal to recover the body.
His slipper had been found floating while the body had got trapped at a point 1.5 km further, said the police. Both suspects will be presented in court and the police will seek remand for further investigation in the case.
