Crimes

Bangladesh steps up security ahead of tribunal's verdict against Hasina

Security agencies are on high alert in Bangladesh ahead of a special tribunal's verdict in a case against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina over alleged crimes against humanity committed during the anti-government protests last year. "The law enforcement agencies have already completed their necessary preparations to prevent unpleasant events across the country, Home Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury was quoted as saying by the state-run BSS news agency. Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) will deliver the verdict against 78-year-old Hasina on Monday. Hasina, her home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and then inspector general of police (IGP) Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun were accused of committing crimes under five counts, with the first one alleging the defendants of murder, attempted murder, torture, and other inhumane acts. They were tried in the tribunal. The ex-premier and Kamal were tried in absentia, with the court declaring them fugitives. Mamun faced the tri

Special Bangladeshi tribunal to deliver verdict against Hasina on Nov 17

Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) on Thursday announced it would deliver the verdict against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina on November 17 in a case over crimes against humanity. The three-judge tribunal set Nov 17 for delivering the verdict, a journalist attending the tightly secured special court in the capital told PTI. Hasina, her home minister in the ousted Awami League government, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and then inspector general of police (IGP) or police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun were tried in the tribunal, where the ex-premier and Kamal were tried in absentia, with the court declaring them fugitives. The then police chief faced the trial in person but emerged as an approver, admitting his own role and describing the role of the two co-accused in taming last year's student-led street movement called July Uprising. Mamun appeared on the dock as the ICT-BD chair Justice Mohammad Golam Mortuza Majumder fixed the date.

Gujarat ATS unravels Ricin poison terror plot; arrests 'doctor', two others

The Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad has busted a suspected terror syndicate by arresting a 'doctor' with a Chinese MBBS degree, who was allegedly preparing highly-lethal chemical poison, 'Ricin', and whose handler is associated with the Islamic State Khorasan Province, and two others. One of the accused, Dr Ahmed Mohiyuddin Saiyed, and two other arrested accused, identified as Azad Suleman Sheikh and Mohammad Suhail Mohammad Saleem, had conducted a recce of several sensitive locations in Lucknow, Delhi, and Ahmedabad, a senior ATS officer said on Sunday. "Dr Ahmed Mohiyuddin Saiyed is highly educated and radicalised, and had planned to collect funds and recruit persons as part of a conspiracy to carry out major terrorist activities", Gujarat ATS DIG Sunil Joshi told reporters. The accused men have also disclosed that their handler sends the arms consignment via a drone across the Pakistan border, he said. Acting on a tip-off, an ATS team arrested Dr Saiyed, originally from Hyderabad,

Mumbai police rescue 17 children in Powai hostage case, accused shot dead

Mumbai Police on Thursday rescued 19 persons including 17 children from a studio in Powai area while the man who had held them hostage succumbed to bullet injuries sustained during the operation, officials said. Rohit Arya, who had released a video statement during the hostage drama that went on for about an hour, was shot by police when he tried to harm the children with an air gun and later died at hospital, an official said. "All the children are safe," said Satyanaranyan, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order). Arya had apparently called the children -- boys and girls around 15 years old -- for an audition for a web series, the official said. Besides an air gun, Arya was carrying some chemicals, he added. Initially, police did not mention that there had been a firing during the operation. Police received a call at about 1.45 pm about a man holding children hostage inside R A Studio in Mahavir Classic building, said Deputy Commissioner of Police Datta Nalawade. Powai p

India sees 94% jump in reported Pocso cases from 2017 to 2022: Report

India has shown a 94 per cent rise in reported sexual offences against children under POCSO between 2017 and 2022, from 33,210 to 64,469 cases, but despite the rising numbers, the prosecution rate remains above 90 per cent, signalling stronger enforcement and reporting mechanisms, according to a new report. The Childlight Global Child Safety Institute, hosted by the University of Edinburgh and the University of New South Wales, this week launched the findings from its latest Into the Light Index 2025, describing the situation as a "human tragedy of global proportions". According to the Into the Light Index 2025, India has shown a 94 per cent rise in reported sexual offences against children under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act) between 2017 and 2022, from 33,210 to 64,469 cases. "Despite rising numbers, the country's prosecution rate remains above 90 per cent, signalling stronger enforcement and reporting mechanisms. India stands out in South Asia for the dep

Canadian police arrest 8 Indian-origin men over cases of mail theft

Canadian police have arrested eight Indian-origin men over mail thefts, including credit cards and cheques, and slapped them with over 300 charges, with some facing deportation, local media reported. Peel police recovered more than 450 pieces of stolen mail, such as credit cards and cheques, worth more than CAD 400,000, from the suspects, CTV News reported. The investigation uncovered a group of individuals working together to target residential mailboxes, resulting in widespread theft and disruption to community members, the report quoted from a police news release on Friday. Peel police, Halton police and Canada Post launched a joint operation called Project Undeliverable in April to investigate reports of a series of mail thefts in the region. The investigation uncovered a group of individuals working together to target residential mailboxes, resulting in widespread theft and disruption to community members, police added. Investigators executed search warrants in September dur

Lawyers seek dismissal of federal charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO murder

Lawyers for Luigi Mangione asked a New York federal judge Saturday to dismiss some criminal charges, including the only count for which he could face the death penalty, from a federal indictment brought against him in the December assassination of UnitedHealthcare's chief executive. In papers filed in Manhattan federal court, the lawyers said prosecutors should also be prevented from using at trial his statements to law enforcement officers and his backpack where a gun and ammunition were found. They said Mangione was not read his rights before he was questioned by law enforcement officers, who arrested him after Brian Thompson was fatally shot as he arrived at a Manhattan hotel for an investor conference. They added that officers did not obtain a warrant before searching Mangione's backpack. Mangione, 27, has pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges in the fatal shooting of Brian Thompson on December 4 as he arrived at a Manhattan hotel for his company's annual investor ...

Delhi Police to soon launch MCOCA unit to tackle organised crime, gangsters

The Delhi Police is gearing up to launch a specialised unit under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) to tighten the noose around gangsters and organised crime networks in the national capital and neighbouring states, police sources said on Wednesday. The proposal aims at strengthening investigations with dedicated forensic tools and technical support with senior officials specialist in cyber crime. "The unit has become necessary due to the growing number of gangsters and changing patterns of crime in the region," a source said. The new unit, according to the police source, will get support from the Crime Branch and the Special Cell providing technical and operational assistance. The initial strength of the unit will likely around 100 personnel. The source added that preliminary discussions have been held to frame the unit's structure. "It will primarily deal with cases involving gangs, foreign-based criminals, extortion rackets run from jails, gang rivalries, a

Social media celebrations after bail not grounds for cancellation: Delhi HC

The court further underlined that cancellation of bail requires "very cogent and overwhelming circumstances," such as interference with justice or abuse of liberty

Singer Zubeen Garg poisoned in Singapore, claims arrested bandmate

In a shocking claim regarding the death of Zubeen Garg, his band member Shekhar Jyoti Goswami has alleged that the singer was poisoned by his manager Siddharth Sharma and festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta. Sharma was heard shouting 'Jabo de, jabo de' (let him go, let him go) when Garg was gasping for breath, almost drowning in the sea off Singapore, the accompanying drummer said in the 'Detailed Grounds of Arrest' or remand note of the singer's manager. According to the highly sensitive document, accessed by PTI, Goswami also claimed that there was a "conspiracy" to portray Garg's death as an accident. Garg died under mysterious circumstances in Singapore on September 19 while swimming in the sea. He had gone to the Southeast Asian nation to attend the 4th edition of the NorthEast India Festival, organised by Mahanta and his company. Meanwhile, Garg's wife Garima returned the post-mortem examination report of her husband to police, saying it is not her "personal document" and ..

Two Indian men jailed in Singapore for robbing and assaulting sex workers

Arokkiyasami Daison and Rajendran Mayilarasan sentenced to over five years in prison and 12 strokes of the cane for targeting women in hotel rooms during a holiday in Singapore

Maharashtra reported decline in 'Offences Against the State' in 2023: NCRB

Maharashtra reported a drop in Offences Against the State' in 2023 compared to the previous years, according to the latest data shared by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). There were 169 cases registered in 2023, against 174 in 2022 and 218 in 2021, the report said, adding that Maharashtra ranked seventh under this head. Uttar Pradesh topped the list in this category, which includes offences like damage to public property, sedition charges and matters under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), with 1,749 cases, followed by Tamil Nadu with 834 cases and Assam (278 cases). In 2023, Maharashtra registered one case under section 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code, which the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has now replaced. Three cases were registered for imputation, assertions prejudicial to national integration in the state. The state recorded 163 cases under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and one each under the UAPA and the Official Secrets Act in ...

NCRB data shows lower crime rate than national average in UP: State Police

Despite Uttar Pradesh having the highest population in the country, the crime rate in the state in 2023 stood at 181.3, much below the national crime rate of 270.3, the state police said on Wednesday, quoting the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data. Uttar Pradesh accounts for 16.98 per cent of the total population in the country. Crime rate, defined as the number of crimes per one lakh population, is considered the most reliable indicator for assessing a state's law and order situation, as it adjusts for population size and growth, the state police said in a statement. An analysis showed that Uttar Pradesh ranks favourably across various crime heads. For total crimes reported under the Indian Penal Code, the state was placed 20th among the 28 states and eight Union Territories. It was placed 29th in the number of 'murder' cases reported, with a crime rate of 1.4 against the national crime rate of 2. The state stood 30th in 'attempt to murder' cases with a crime rate o

From gems to gadgets, Delhi lost over $680 crore to theft in 2023

From motorcycles and cars to jewellery, household items and antiques, Delhi reported property losses of more than Rs 680 crore in 2023, retaining its position among the top three regions with the highest value of stolen property across states and Union Territories for the third year in a row, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data. The city reported 'property theft', as categorised by the police, worth Rs 688.6 crore in 2023. Of this, the police recovered property valued at Rs 99.7 crore - a recovery rate of 14.5 per cent. Across India, property worth Rs 6,917.2 crore was stolen during the year, with 29.9 per cent of it recovered. Delhi ranked third nationally, after Maharashtra and Manipur. Even though Delhi accounted for a significant share of the stolen property, its contribution to the national total has reduced steadily over the last three years. In 2021, the capital made up 14 per cent of the total stolen property in India. This share dropped to 11.

Dip in murders; cybercrimes, crimes against STs spiked: NCRB 2023

India recorded 27,721 cases of murder in 2023, less by 2.8 per cent from 2022, while crimes against Scheduled Tribes rose by a staggering 28 per cent during the same period, latest data from the National Crime Records Bureau has revealed. Cybercrimes saw a 31.2 per cent increase with 86,420 cases, as compared to 65,893 reported in 2022, it said. The national record keeper of crimes and trends revealed that 28,522 cases of murder were reported in India in 2022, which came down to 27,721 cases in 2023, a dip of 2.8 per cent. "'Disputes' (9,209 cases) was the motive in the highest number of murder cases during 2023, followed by 'Personal Vendetta or Enmity' (3,458 cases) and 'Gain' (1,890 cases)," the report said. Crimes against Scheduled Tribes saw a jump of 28.8 per cent from 10,064 cases in 2022 to 12,960 cases in 2023, it said. The overall crime rate in the category also saw a surge from 9.6 in 2022 to 12.4 in 2023. According to the NCRB, the crime rate is crimes per lakh populat

Delhi Police issues lookout circular against godman in harassment case

The Delhi Police has issued a lookout circular against self-styled godman Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati, the main accused in a harassment case, an official said on Wednesday. "A lookout circular (LOC) has been issued against him to prevent any attempt to flee the country," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southwest) Amit Goel said. The officer further said that multiple police teams are conducting raids across Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand in connection with the case. The development comes after several women students of a private management institute accused Saraswati of harassment, alleging that he summoned them to his room and threatened to lower their marks or fail them. Some students have also claimed that he lured them with promises of foreign trips. According to police, the accused was a sanchalak (management committee member) at the Sri Sharada Institute of Indian Management in southwest Delhi. This is not the first time he has faced such allegatio

NAPA urges Punjab govt to enforce strict laws against migrant crimes

The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) has written to the Punjab government expressing concerns over alleged increase in criminal activities involving migrant population in the state. In a letter, NAPA Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal said that reports indicate an increase in violent crimes, drug crimes, thefts and assaults in the state, leaving local residents fearing for their safety. Pointing out that Punjab has always been a welcoming state, Chahal said the absence of strict verification and legal security measures has allowed criminal elements to infiltrate communities. Urging that immediate action has to be taken to ensure safety of residents, the NAPA recommended necessary measures, including mandatory registration and background checks for all migrants, constant monitoring of migrant settlements, fast-track prosecution of criminals, and public awareness campaigns. The association also urged the adoption of laws similar to those in Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan

Chicago violence real, but troops not the answer: Families of crime victims

Delphine Cherry knows as well as anyone how intractable violent crime is in Chicago. In 1992, her teenage daughter was gunned down in one of the city's tawniest neighbourhoods a bystander caught up in a gang shootout. Twenty years later in a suburb just south of the city, it claimed her son. You don't think it's going to happen twice in your life, she said. Chicago has been bracing for weeks for President Donald Trump's promised deployment of National Guard troops to the nation's third-largest city. Although Trump said the troops would help fight crime in a city he described as a hellhole, his administration has been tightlipped about the operation's details, including when it would start, how long it would last, how many troops would be used and what role they would play in civilian law enforcement. Trump has also veered back and forth on sending troops to Chicago at times insisting he would act unilaterally to deploy them and at other points suggesting he would rather send them

Masked gunmen open fire at real estate company's office in Gurugram

A group of masked gunmen opened fire at a real estate company's office in Sector 45, triggering panic in the area, police said on Friday. They said the assailants fired 25-30 rounds at the office of MNR Buildmark on Thursday night. The bullets pierced windows and glass shards lay scattered at the spot. Police sources said the shooting was carried out on the orders of some gangsters based abroad. Around 9.30 pm on Thursday, four to five masked gunmen entered the office building of MNR Buildmark and fired indiscriminately before escaping, police said. After receiving information about the incident, a police team reached the spot and launched an investigation. Bullet marks were found on the office windows and on luxury cars parked inside, they said. A complaint has been registered in the matter on a complaint by a property dealer, Shravan Raheja, at Sector 40 police station, police said. A senior officer said the motive, whether extortion or anything else, behind the firing will bec

US town turns to AI surveillance to fight crime, privacy fears rise

Dunwoody, Georgia, rolls out AI cameras, drones, and gunshot detectors to reduce crime-but critics warn of surveillance overreach and privacy erosion