A 66-year-old Sikh man died of head injuries after being assaulted following a minor car accident, the second attack against a Sikh person within a week in New York. Jasmer Singh was attacked by 30-year-old Gilbert Augustin after their vehicles collided in Queens last week. New York City mayor Eric Adams condemned the incident and vowed to protect the community. “Jasmer Singh loved his city and deserved so much more than his tragic death. On behalf of all New Yorkers, I want our Sikh community to know you have more than our condolences. You have our sacred vow that we reject the hatred that took this innocent life and we will protect you,” Adams posted on X.
Imran indicted in cipher case
A Pakistani special court indicted jailed former PM Imran Khan and his incarcerated deputy, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, under the Official Secrets Act of 1923 in a cipher case linked to making public the contents of a classified diplomatic cable. The charge has added to legal hurdles that the PTI chief has been facing since his removal from office in 2022. Indictment for leaking confidential information carries a penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment and, in extreme cases, the death penalty, legal experts say. Imran and his party allege that the diplomatic cable contained a threat from the US to overthrow the then PTI government.
20 killed in Bangladesh train collision
At least 20 people were killed and several others injured when a freight train hit a passenger train in Bangladesh’s northeastern Kishoreganj district, officials said. The accident took place when the freight train headed towards Chattogram hit the rear coaches of the Dhaka-bound Egarosindur Godhuli Express in Bhairab area of Kishoreganj district, some 60 km from the capital Dhaka. “Twenty bodies have been recovered so far. We are extending our all possible support to the rescue operations,” an official of the elite anti-crime Rapid Action Battalion said.
Pak expels over 3,000 Afghan refugees
The state-run radio of Pakistan reported that 3,248 Afghan refugees were returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan in a single day. According to Pakistani authorities, more than 51,000 Afghans have been deported since the deadline for the expulsion of undocumented migrants was announced. Jan Achakzai, the minister of information for Balochistan Province, highlighted Pakistan’s intensified efforts to combat illegal immigration. He emphasised that these actions extend beyond Afghan refugees, as the November 1 expulsion deadline applies to all undocumented immigrants in the province.
Pak conducts flight test of ‘Ababeel’ weapon system
“Pakistan today conducted a successful flight test of the Ababeel weapon system, Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) said. The test flight was aimed at re-validating various design, technical parameters and performance evaluation of different sub-systems of the weapon system.” General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, senior officers from the Strategic Plans Division and the Strategic Forces Command, as well as scientists and engineers from Strategic Organisations, were present for the launch. The ISPR said the missile system was “aimed at strengthening deterrence and enhancing strategic stability in the region through the operationalisation of Full Spectrum Deterrence in the overall construct of Credible Minimum Deterrence”.
