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India arrests IS member connected with Zahran Hashim

Published

5 months ago

December 29, 2022

editor

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India arrested a member of Islamic State (IS) who was in touch with Zahran Hashim, the mastermind of 2019 Easter Day bombings in Sri Lanka, Hindustan Times said.

The IS member was arrested for his alleged links with suspects in the October 23 blast in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore.

The federal agency also arrested another man, identified as Sanofar Ali, for allegedly taking part in plans to carry out terror attacks in the country.

NIA officers familiar with the developments said IS member Sheikh Hidayatullah was allegedly in touch with Maulvi Zahran bin Hashim, the mastermind of the deadly Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka on April 21, 2019 that claimed over 250 lives.

Both Hidayatullah and Sanofar Ali were arrested from Tamil Nadu, an NIA officer said.

According to NIA officers cited above, Hidayatullah, who has been propagating IS ideology since 2017, was earlier arrested along with Azharuddin in June 2019. He was released on bail in 2020. Azharuddin from Ukkadam and leader of Kerala-Tamil Nadu IS module is currently in jail for the Sri Lanka bombings.

All the above accused were inspired by Hashim, who masterminded and executed the Sri Lanka bombings — in which 252 people were killed — and planned to carry out similar attacks in two south Indian states at that time.

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Have inquiry how you can have better country not on me missing my flight – Venerable Ajahn (Video)

Published

6 hours ago

June 4, 2023

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Venerable Ajahn Brahmawanso Thera, who was held back at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) for 12 hours, said instead of having an inquiry about how he missed the flight, authorities should have an inquiry on how Sri Lanka can have a better country with more forgiveness.

“I learnt that the President has initiated an inquiry about how I missed my flight. Someone made a little mistake. It is not a big deal. So please instead of having an inquiry about how I missed my flight, instead have an inquiry how you can have a better country with more forgiveness. Allow people to make mistakes because one thing which I’ve noticed when you allow people to make a mistake, they’re not afraid of making mistakes. They make less mistakes,” the Thera said in a video.

The Thera said he never knew the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka was at the lounge that evening.

“I am a well-known monk. So, you go in the VIP lounge. I never knew the prime minister of Sri Lanka at the lounge that evening. He was going off to some big event over in Bangkok. Everything was orderly and plenty of time to wait for the flight. When it came to the boarding time, I asked if we are boarding soon. They said don’t worry, everything is on schedule. By the time they took me to the gate, that is when I saw the boarding bridge was moving away from the aircraft. The plane took off. I missed my flight. Nothing to do with anything which I was doing. I just got taken out only seen the lounge. Supposed to be VIP is supposed to look after VIPs please never become a VIP. You tend to lose your board. If I had just walked out by myself no problem, but you can’t exist soldiers outside,” he said.

(dailymirror.lk)

News

31 Jaffna University students suspended over a brawl

Published

7 hours ago

June 4, 2023

editor

A total of 31 students of the University of Jaffna have been suspended with immediate effect.

The 31 students of the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce have been suspended following a brawl between second-year and third-year students on Friday.

Following preliminary investigations, 16 second-year students and 15 third-year students have been banned from entering the University premises until further notice.

They will also not be allowed to enter or remain inside University hostels.