Author: Ajay Ghosh

(New York, NY July 14, 2016) – As the fourth anniversary of the tragic Oak Creek, WI shooting nears, sangat members across the nation are coming together to join in National Day of Seva.

On August 13-14, as the nation will be holding the fourth annual National Day of Seva (selfless community service), the Oak Creek sangat is organizing their annual Chardhi Kala 6K Memorial Walk and Run, which will be held on Saturday, August 6, 2016, in Oak Creek, WI. We strongly encourage the community to attend the 6K walk/run, and to participate in the blood drive hosted by the Oak Creek sangat if you can get there.

For those who cannot attend the walk/run in Oak Creek, the Sikh Coalition is honored to host National Day of Seva on the weekend of August 13-14, 2016 so communities across the nation can show their solidarity with all those impacted by hate crimes. Community leaders in Bakersfield, Los Angeles, Sacramento, New York, Orlando, Detroit, and Charlotte are organizing seva events in their cities. Can we count on you to organize one in yours?

If you have any questions about organizing a National Day of Seva event in your city, please email our Community Development Manager, Harjit Kaur, at harjit@sikhcoalition.org.

The Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Center of Plainview, New York (the “Temple”) filed, on June 30, 2016, a lawsuit against the Town of Oyster Bay, N.Y., its Town Board, and the individual members of the Board challenging the Town’s zoning regulations and the Board’s targeted “Resolution” effectively prohibiting the Temple’s constitutionally protected religious worship.

The Complaint alleges violations of the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (“RLUIPA”) and the New York Constitution. It describes the Town’s arbitrary, capricious and illegal actions taken to prevent the Sikh congregation from continuing to worship as it has since 1987, on the same property in a new replacement Temple building.

In 2014, the Temple applied to the Town to replace its aging house of worship with a modern facility, located at 1065 Old Country Road, Plainview, NY. In 2014 the Town approved the Temple’s site plan and a building permit was issued on March 7th, 2014. The Temple then demolished its existing building, and in October 2014, construction of the new Sikh Temple building commenced.

In direct response to local residents’ complaints, the Town issued a Stop Work Order on July 2, 2015, when construction was nearly complete. The Complaint asserts that such unfounded order was generated by local resident hostility against the Temple and its congregants. In order to accommodate a resolution, the Temple submitted a new site plan that was approved and then nullified by the Town Board, which then directed the Temple to re-apply for site plan approval. This would have left the Temple and its Congregation without a house of worship for several years.

Paul Savad, lead attorney for the Temple said: “Unless the Town can quickly come to terms with the Temple, we will proceed to a jury trial, and will recover substantial money damages, with the plaintiff’s legal fees also reimbursed by the Town.” “The Town issued illegal and improper stop work orders based upon political, biased, improper, non-existent offsite parking and environmental review issues.” “The approved site plan, for which a building permit was issued, provides 64 onsite parking spaces, although the Town Zoning Ordinance requires 21 onsite spaces; and no environmental review for the project was or is required because the new temple is a nearly complete replacement of a structure, in kind, on the same site”

Roman Storzer, co-counsel for the Temple said: “I’ve never seen a violation of RLUIPA as blatant as this.” “To process the Temple’s applications, accept their fees, approve the building, allow them to spend enormous sums for construction, and then to prevent its completion, is as significant a burden on constitutionally protected religious worship as I’ve ever seen.”

Religious land uses are protected from undue burdens, discrimination and arbitrary treatment under RLUIPA, which was passed by Congress in 2000 to prevent discrimination against religious institutions in land use regulation.

Along with litigator and trial lawyer, Paul Savad of Savad Churgin, LLP, based in Nanuet, New York, Plaintiff is represented by Roman Storzer of Storzer and Associates, P.C., based in Washington, DC. Mr. Storzer has successfully represented scores of religious entities in RLUIPA and First Amendment cases throughout the United States. He is also the former Director of Litigation for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty.

Hindus are urging West Hartford (Connecticut) to permanently rename its LaSalle Road as “Om Street”; where the popular sixth annual “Om Street: Yoga on LaSalle Road” event is being held on July 23.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, urged West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor, Deputy Mayor Leon Davidoff and Town Council to seriously look into renaming LaSalle Road as “Om Street” to honor the passionate yogis of the region who had been converging here in hundreds and informally converting it as “Om Street” annually for part of a day since 2011.

“Om” was the mystical and powerful Sanskrit seed syllable containing the universe, which in Hinduism was used to introduce and conclude religious work, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out.

Moreover, renamed “Om Street” might inspire residents of West Hartford and neighboring towns to adopt yoga lifestyle; as, according to US National Institutes of Health; yoga may help one to feel more relaxed, be more flexible, improve posture, breathe deeply, and get rid of stress; Rajan Zed indicates.

Zed further said that Yoga, referred as “a living fossil”, was a mental and physical discipline, for everybody to share and benefit from, whose traces went back to around 2,000 BCE to Indus Valley civilization.

Various yoga studios and allied businesses of Connecticut in Avon, Bristol, Brookfield, Collinsville, Danielson, East Hartford, Glastonbury, Hartford, Harwinton, Litchfield, Manchester, Middletown, Naugatuck, New Haven, Newington, North Haven, Old Wethersfield, Plainville, Simsbury, South Windsor, Southington, Torrington, West Hartford, Wethersfield; besides Vermont’s Northfield; are reportedly supporting/assisting in this event. Besides yoga display, it also plans to include live music on drums-gongs-didgeridoo. Two mats are suggested to protect knees on LaSalle Road (“it’s still a road and not quite the cork, wooden, or carpeted floor of your regular yoga studio”, an announcement says). There will be few dozen instructors of the area on hand to lead the yoga practice.

According to reports, about 1800 yogis turned out for this free community event last year to celebrate yoga in the street in West Hartford. This year the expectations are of 2000 participants spread over a full city block.

Rockwell Gajwani, a former CEO of a real estate investment company was arrested July 12, in Connecticut on allegations of wire fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion.  Rockwell Gajwani was presented the same day in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Frank Maas, according to U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.

Gajwani, 52, of Darien, Connecticut, is charged with one count of wire fraud, and one count of money laundering, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and three counts of tax evasion, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

“As the chief executive officer of a Manhattan real estate company, Rockwell Gajwani was supposed to put the best interests of his company first.  Instead, as alleged, he abused his position of authority to embezzle over a million dollars of company money,” Bharara is quoted saying in a press release. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the IRS were involved in the investigation.

From October 2011 through March 2013, Gajwani was the chief executive officer and president of a real estate investment company based in Manhattan where he is alleged to have taken more than $1 million in company funds, making wire transfers from the company’s bank account to his personal bank account, writing company checks to himself, and making cash withdrawals from the company’s bank account,. Investigators also allege Gajwani attempted to conceal his $700,000 salary through various means, including trying not to provide that information to the parent company.

By the time he left the company, Gajwani is alleged to have taken $1,300,000 more from the Manhattan Real Estate Company’s bank account than he was entitled to under his employment agreement.  He is also alleged to have not paid taxes on his legitimate salary or the proceeds gotten by other means.

New York: Seniors and delegates of various Indian associations celebrated 240th Independence Day of the US on July 4th at an event organized by Shashikant Patel/Gopi Udeshi at Sri Saneeswara Temple New York with Chief Guest Hon. Ushir Pandit Durant, newly elected Judge for Civil Court of New York.New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo awarded a proclamation honoring Bruhud NY Seniors for their dedication to the betterment of their community.

NYS Senator Tony Avella awarded a proclamation to Bruhud New York Seniors, Shashikant Patel and Gopi Udeshi for betterment of their community. NYS Assemblyman Andrew D. Hevesi awarded a citation honoring  Bruhud New York Seniors, Shashikant Patel and Gopi Udeshi for their dedication of betterment of their community.

Colorful performance by Eesha, Prisha, Kanisha and  Anishka dance on patriotic song and English Mari beautiful song sung by Prisha Dass. Gopi Udeshi narrated Time magazine front cover of 240 reasons to celebrate I day with pride and joy. She described history of flag was remarkable.  Diversity is one of America’s greatest strengths. Shashikant Patel presented with moral ethics and his indomitable spirit and compassion.

Spectacular speeches  by Hon. Ushir Pandit, Mukund Mehta, Subhash Patel, Pritam Shah, Urvik Trivedi,  Labhubhai Upadhaya,  Neela Pandya  and Rohit Pandya narrated  240 years of Independence of USA progress were remarkable. Participants took pledge to keep ancient cultural heritage to make strong by walk together, Move  together, think together  and resolve together.

The body of Chandan Gavai, an Indian man, who died in a road accident in the New York on July 4, is likely to be buried as his wife is in a coma and cannot give consent for his cremation, reports say.

According to India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Indian Consul General in New York Riva Ganguly has proposed that the body of Chandan Gavai, who died along with his parents when a pickup truck crashed into their car in New York on July 4, be buried till his wife, Manisha Surwade, came out of the coma.

IT professional Gavai, 38, and his parents Kamalnayan Gavai, 74, and Archana Gavai, 60, were killed when a pickup truck crashed into their car while they were returning after watching Fourth of July fireworks. The truck driver also died on the spot.

Both vehicles burst into flames immediately after the accident which happened at Yaphank in Suffolk County, New York. Surwade, 32, sustained life-threatening burns and head injuries while their 11-month-old son sustained non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

The family hails from Kalyan in Maharashtra. Stating that the bodies of the parents will be buried in the U.S., Sushma Swaraj tweeted: “Burial of Chandan as his wife Manisha is in coma and she alone can give consent for his cremation.”

According to U.S. laws, the spouse’s consent is needed for the cremation of a body. “Burial only till his wife Manisha recovers from coma. Once she gives consent, Chandan will also be cremated,” she said in another tweet.

She said that death certificates would be issued for all the three who died and the family would be helped in getting insurance money.

Sushma Swaraj added that all members of the family, including of Manisha, who are in the U.S., are agreeable to the consul general’s proposal. According to a report by WABC in New York, law enforcement source said the driver, Gustave Geyer, was drunk and had a blood alcohol content of .16, which is twice the legal limit.

The India Society at Stony Brook, meanwhile, an Indian American community organization in Long Island, New York, has set up an online fundraising effort “to secure the future of the baby,” at www.gofundme.com/2czk3bra. “We are in the process of creating a trust to hold the funds, until it is clear who gets the custody of the baby or when the mother recovers enough to take charge of everything. All expenditure will be made directly to the end service providers by way of a bank check to keep everything 100% transparent,” ISSB said in a statement. It has raised over $200,000 thus far toward a goal of $300,000.

Gundam Sankeerth, 25, from Hyderabad, was allegedly stabbed to death by his roommate in Austin, Texas on Monday, July 18th night. The Austin-based techie was stabbed by Kurremula Sai Sandeep Goud (27), also from Hyderabad, has been taken into custody by the Austin police.

Sankirth’s father, G Vijay Kumar, said the family members got the news from relatives on Tuesday morning that he was stabbed in his flat in Quarry Oaks apartment complex in North Austin. “We do not know what exactly happened. My son recently got a H1B visa. Our relatives in the US are going to hospital to find out more details,” a distraught Vijay Kumar said.

While the reason behind the killing is not known, Sankirth’s family members and friends said Sandeep used to tease him about his frail body. No one could provide much details about Sandeep. “We know that Sandeep is from Hyderabad and just 10 days ago he joined Sankirth in the flat. We came to know that Sandeep assaulted Sankirth with a kitchen knife,” Sankirth’s relative Ajay told the media.

Yahya Farooq, an Indian origin man in Ohio, who had previously been charged with providing support to Al-Qaeda was handed a three-count indictment in Toledo, Ohio on Wednesday, last week for soliciting the murder of the federal judge presiding over his case.

Yahya Farooq Mohammad, 37, was charged with attempted first-degree murder of a federal officer, solicitation to commit a crime of violence and use of interstate commerce facilities in commission of murder for hire, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

He was accused of soliciting someone to kidnap and murder U.S. District Court Judge Jack Zouhary after he told an inmate at a county jail in April that he was willing to pay $15,000 to carry out the act, the Toledo Blade reports.

Farooq Mohammad was in jail for a case in which he was indicted last year, involving charges for conspiring with three men to travel to Yemen in 2009 to give thousands of dollars in support of jihad against U.S. military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. That case still remains pending in the U.S. District Court of Northern Ohio.

“According to the charges in the indictment, this defendant not only attempted to have a federal judge murdered, but he did so to obstruct justice in a terrorism case against him,” U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade for the Eastern District of Michigan said in a statement Wednesday. “This prosecution seeks to hold the defendant accountable for attempting to victimize the judge and for trying to undermine our criminal justice system.”

The indictment said the inmate reported that information to the FBI and later introduced Mohammad to an “undercover employee” of the FBI. Mohammad was willing to pay $15,000 to have Zouhary killed. He then arranged for his wife to make a $1,000 down payment, which she did on May 5, it said. “When asked when he wanted the murder committed, Mohammad stated, ‘The sooner would be good, you know,’” the indictment said. The delivery of money to carry out the plan was handed to an FBI employee who was undercover.

Mohammad, who has been in jail since conspiring with three others including his brother Ibrahim Zubair Mohammad to travel to Yemen to provide $29,000 to known al Qaida leader Anwar Al-Awlaki to support violent jihad against U.S. military personnel throughout the world, was indicted July 6 on charges including first degree murder of a federal officer, solicitation to commit a crime of violence and use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire.

Mohammad’s attorney, Thomas Durkin, said they will “vigorously contest these highly orchestrated and preposterous charges.” Two of the new charges carry maximum sentences of 20 years in prison, while the third charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Mohammad was extradited to the U.S. from the United Arab Emirates in 2015 following the indictment being unsealed Nov. 5 of the conspiracy to commit terrorist acts. Mohammad has pleaded not guilty in the case regarding Al-Awlaki.

A horrific tragedy struck an Indian family returning home after watching July 4th fireworks when a pick-up truck crashed head-on into their sedan trapping them in a deadly fire that killed three of them, left one fighting for her life, yet miraculously left an 11-month old baby almost unscathed, thanks to firefighters.

Chandan Gavai, 38, of Middle Island, was declared dead in hospital after the crash in Yaphank around 10:45 p.m. His father Kamalnayan Gavai, 74, and mother Archana Gavai, 60, were killed instantly in the crash. His wife, Manisha Surwade, 32, is fighting for her life at Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue as of July 11, with critical burns and head injuries, Suffolk police told Desi Talk. But the infant, identified as “Baby Ibhan,” who only had minor injuries is at Stony Brook University Hospital. Yaphank firefighters rescued the baby from the burning vehicle when they heard cries from inside the car, news reports said. The elder Gavai’s were visiting from India according to the police.

The crash that took place in front of 275 Yaphank-Middle Island Road in Yaphank, in Suffolk County on New York’s Long Island, also killed Gustave Geyer, 25, the driver of the 1990 Chevrolet truck, who according to police was driving recklessly. He hit the 2014 Nissan Altima head-on in a no-passing zone.

Suffolk County Seventh Squad detectives are continuing their investigation into the incident “It’s still an active investigation,” an officer who said he could not comment on the case, told Desi Talk. He also said he could not put a timeframe on Geyer’s autopsy results that might indicate his blood-alcohol level.

Manish Sandbhor, a family friend of the Gavais, told Newsday, the Indian family was returning after watching July 4 fireworks. He also said that Surwade, who was “fighting for her life” was a “very strong person.” He described Chandan Gavai as a close friend and an “easy going” man, with whom he had been on many adventures organized by Surwade, such as indoor sky diving in New Hampshire where Sandbhor lives. “We had really good memories,” Sandbhor told the newspaper.

Chandan Gavai, a graduate of University of Mumbai according to LinkedIn, was a senior programmer and analyst at Broadbridge Financial Services of Edgewood, N.Y., since July 2011. He had worked at several IT companies in Masachusettes as a software engineer since 2007. Surwade studied at the University of Pune, according to her LinkedIn profile.

A July 6 CBS News New York report quoting unnamed sources said Geyer had a blood alcohol level that was twice the legal limit. But police refused to confirm that to Desi Talk. “That information was not generated from our office,” the spokesperson for Suffolk County Police Department said. Geyer’s body has been taken to the medical examiner’s office but no results have been made public yet.

Police said they received several 911 calls about the accident, and many of the callers said Geyer was driving “erratically,” CBSNews reported, adding that investigators believe he was returning from a party when he crashed into the Gavais’ vehicle.

The India Society of Stony Brook has set up a GoFundMe page “To Help Baby Ibhan Gavai.” Dutt Tarigoppula, president of the India Society, said on the site, “In the midst of this tragedy we need to come together and raise as much money as possible to help secure baby Ibhan’s future.”

“Many of you in the community have already begun helping by providing residence and food for the grieving family,” he said. Meanwhile, members of the Gavai family are arriving from India to conduct the funeral, according to media reports.

Chandan Gavai’s Facebook page and GoFundMe site saw an outpouring of sympathy and memories. An old friend, Shauna Brettschneider, said on Facebook that she was feeling heartbroken. “I will miss you buddy… RIP,” she said. “We are praying for her (Manisha) with every breath we take..” said a friend, Renu Punjabi, on the GoFundMe page.

The ATA Convention hosted by American Telugu Association [ATA] was marked by breathtaking spectacle drawing record-breaking attendance inundating the sprawling convention center with vibrant Telugu fervor at the silver jubilee festivities held on a grand mega scale showcasing the rich Telugu cultural heritage and its burgeoning Telugu constituency in America at the 3-day ATA Convention held on July 1-3, 2016 at the Rosemont Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.

The Rosemont city wore a colorful Telugu look as unprecedented number of attendees preliminarily estimated at 10,000 thronged the convention center to experience ostentatious showcasing of rich Telugu culture through music, dance, pageantry surpassed only by dazzling fashion shows, contemporary cinematic music and colorful epic dance presentations eclipsed by celebrities, large contingent of political leaders, Telugu icons and eminent personalities overwhelmed only by the presence of Tollywood movie stars.

Convener Chandrasekhar Reddy Palvai praised the unwavering dedication and hard work of the entire ATA chairs & co-chairs that truly brought such phenomenal results. Convention Director K.K. Reddy characterized it as a magnificent journey of 25 years culminated in such an extraordinary convention and added this as a symbol of triumph of the towering Telugu spirit. ATA President Sudhakar Perkari lauded the remarkable ATA team work that brought about this splendid outcome. ATA Founder/President Hanumanth Reddy expressed the gleeful joy at the presence of such huge masses of Telugu people under one roof and added is a shining testament to innate culture of Telugu people; while Convention Co-Convener Krishna Mushyam saluted the rallying spirit of Telugu fellowship in such magnitude.

The convention was set in motion with a grand gala banquet on Friday July 1st with Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner and Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu inaugurating the 3-day celebrations paying rich accolades to the Telugu culture in their remarks as ecstatic gala attendees rendered prolonged applause. Governor Bruce Rauner issued a proclamation declaring July 2nd and 3rd 2016 as American Telugu Association Day in the state of Illinois. Governor Rauner commended the Telugu community for keeping up the great cultural heritage and added if he gets an opportunity he would love to visit India. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs in his address inspired the families to stay rooted in Telugu culture while appreciating the other languages and cultures. Venkaiah Naidu stressed on the ripe climate in India ideal for global investments. Dinkar Karumuri exhaustively introduced Governor Rauner and described him as an outstanding champion of the Indian American community and added his presence at ATA gala is a shining testimony of his steadfast goodwill to the Telugu community.

With the invocation dance, the gala banquet in its splendor showcased the outstanding success stories of Telugu people in the United States who were applauded for their valuable contribution to the societies both in India and America. Some of the prominent attendees include Ambassador Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, Consul General of India, Democratic Nominee for U.S.Congress Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Prominent MP Kavitha Kalvakuntla, Deputy Telangana Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari, Cook County Commissioner Tim Schneider, GMR Chairman Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao ATA Benefactors Dr. Prem Reddy and Dr. Paila Malla Reddy joined by a large contingent of MPs and MLAs from A.P and Telangana state represented by all political parties including TRS, YSRCP, TDP and Congress. Other Prominent Leaders from USA include Maryland Delegate Aruna Miller, Ambassador Vinai Thummalapally, Ex-Nasscom chair BV Mohan Reddy.

On Saturday July 2nd, the ATA Convention set the stage on fire with a huge 100-group dance troupe presenting an epic inaugural dance presentation ‘Jyothi Prajwalana’ that evoked applause and standing ovation. Key note address by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu was stirring as he inspired Telugus in America to instill and nurture Telugu language to the succeeding generations. Venkaiah Naidu said that the most successful people in North America are Indians and added half of them are Telugu’s. Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti presented Illinois Governor’s proclamation to ATA leaders. Rasamayi Balakrshinan Troupe provided an upbeat ‘Dhoom Dham’ Telangana traditional dance and musical presentation. Youth forum was inaugurated by ATA founder Hanumanth Reddy, convener Chandrasekhar Reddy Palvai and Director K.K. Reddy. Re-enactment of ‘Bahubali’ movie with its huge cast held the audience in rapt attention. TV hosted event ‘SYEATA’ had youth performing colorful cultural and western presentations.

Kuchipudi dance by Padmaja Reddy displayed wide swath of emotions. Kavitha Kalvakuntla, Telangana Member of Parliament applauded the sense of unity of Telugu people showcased at the convention. Iftekhar Shareef, Reception Chair introduced Kavitha Kalvakuntla, Telangana MP and the Telangana MPs and MLAs giving an eloquent summation of their role in continuously steering the newly-formed 29th Indian state towards the trajectory of success. Earlier, Swami Chidatmananda spoke. Kamala Chimata, Convention Coordinator who presented the overview said the convention is replete with exhaustive schedule of close-fitting events meaningfully designed for the families.

On Sunday July 3rd, the convention drew wall-to-wall crowds to witness the spectacular fashion show, contemporary dance presentations and grand musical show presented by Mani Sharma and group that send the crowds ecstatic at every song belted out. In the afternoon, heated debates with political leaders participated by TRS, YSRCP, TDP & Congress party reached a fierce pitch battle between the party leaders held by Chalma Reddy and moderated by renowned TV host Venkata Krishna and managed by Vikram Kattamreddy. Some of the politicians participated in the Political Forum include Telangana Dy CM Kadiam Srihari, L. Ramana, Pedireddy Ramachandra Reddy, Jithender Reddy, Madhu Yashki, Keshav Rao, Roja, Ambati Rambabu, Srikanth Reddy, Malla Reddy and others.

The evening segment began with youth-centric dance and musical presentations. ATA felicitated their past presidents, its board and trustees. Chandrasekhar Reddy lauded the undying commitment of over 60 committees; while K.K.Reddy expressed jubilation having such a fine contingent of committed teams.

Some of the Tollywood movie actors who attended the convention included Actors Kajol Agarwal, Jagapathi Babu, Nani Babu Ghanta, Rashi Khana, Bhanu Sree, Lavanya Tripathi, Rashmi Gautam, Jyothi, Ramya Sree Neeliya,Rachna Mourya.

Some of the prominent political elected leaders who attended included Ganta Srinivas Rao, Nayani Narasimha Reddy, Dr. Venugopala Chary, Ambati Rambabu, Roja and Jatinder Reddy.

The Youth committee organized Lake Michigan dinner cruise for youth 16 and above and 200 Youth participated. The business forum included workshops by CEO’s and Entrepreneurs who presented workshops about doing business in India and the US. The Women’s Forum workshops were designed to empower and motivate women.

Health and wellness seminars focused on preventive health screening and medical advice from leading medical experts, Matrimonial services were provided to parents of prospective brides and grooms. Seminars for Senior Citizens were organized to educate seniors about Government benefits, health Insurance options and navigation and dealing with the loss of a partner as they grow older in America. Yoga and meditation sessions were conducted throughout the day and many attendees took advantage learning and practicing these relaxation techniques. Vendor’s booths carried mouth-watering Telugu delicacies, jewelry, fashion apparels and accessories and real estate companies promoted their housing projects in India. Convention attendees were treated a great shopping experience and were able to support participating vendors. Painstaking efforts were made to serve authentic native Telugu cuisine for record number of guests.

The leaders of the American Telugu Association and the Convention team received glowing accolades for their remarkable dedication in securing runaway success of the silver jubilee convention. The convention drew to a grand conclusion with high decibel musical concert rendered by well-known Tollywood music director Mani Sharma along with a team of singers and musicians belting out exciting tunes until the wee hours past midnight which served as a grand finale to a memorable Telugu convention.

“Another area of international concern involves Indian call centers, which like their Jamaican counterparts, continue to be the source of various imposter frauds that have reached consumers throughout the English-speaking world,” Lois C. Greisman, associate director, Division of Marketing Practices, Bureau of Consumer Protection at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, said.

According to reports, Greisman said this in her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee said certain types of scams are more likely to impact older Americans, such as prize promotion and lottery schemes and imposter schemes purporting to provide technical support to “fix” non-existent computer problems. Listing the various areas of concerns, Greisman listed fraud calls originating from India as one of them.

“In addition to our enforcement cases, the FTC has organized three stakeholder meetings, including two in India, to develop a coordinated and multi-pronged approach to this threat,” she said.

Indian call centers continue to be the source of various frauds, the U.S. government told lawmakers on June 29, and said American officials were training Indian law enforcement agencies to act against the fraudsters.

The most recent event, held in May in Washington, DC, included representatives from several major technology companies; the U.S., Canadian and UK law enforcement; the Indian call center industry group, and Indian government officials, Greisman said.

“One result of this collaboration is a four-city law enforcement training in India this summer, in which the FTC is participating, aimed at developing Indian law enforcement’s capacity to arrest and prosecute the India-based individuals who perpetrate these frauds,” she said.

The FTC will also continue to develop cross-border initiatives with our sister enforcement agencies in Canada and the United Kingdom, Greisman told lawmakers.

Senator Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said criminals have found deceptive ways to “set the hook” on a particular victim and then return for more. One study found that seniors who had been scammed out of just $20 ended up losing an additional $2,000 in other scams over the next five years.

“But the most devastating impact of these crimes goes beyond seniors’ bank accounts. Victims of financial exploitation can experience loss of independence, deteriorated health and psychological distress—all of which diminish the quality of life,” Grassley said.

“In my home state of Iowa, we’re hearing more and more about sweetheart scams, where fraudsters cultivate a romantic relationship with a lonely elder—typically online—and then convince the senior to part with his or her hard earned money,” he said.

The Justice Department would strenuously pursue hate crimes and prosecute them, Vanita Gupta, chief of the Civil Rights Division, promised while delivering the keynote address at the Hindu American Foundation’s Inaugural Policy Conference event in Washington, DC on June 20.

Gupta, an Indian American holding top position at the Obama administration was responding to the recent massacre in Orlando where 49 people were killed in a club frequented by LGBTQ people, by a man who claimed to be driven by extremist Islamic ideology.

“Our conversation comes at a trying time.  Just eight days ago, we suffered a horrific terrorist attack in Orlando, Florida.  And as we continue to pray for the victims and their families, I want to assure you that – as the Attorney General said many times this past week – the Department of Justice continues to use every resource at its disposal to investigate this appalling attack,” she told the audience.

While lauding the The Hindu American Foundation’s motto – “promoting dignity, mutual respect and pluralism” – represents the very best traditions of people from many different faiths, beliefs and backgrounds around the country, Gupta said, “whether we worship another faith or whether we consider ourselves non-religious, in this country, our laws protect the rights of all people to live free from violence, discrimination and harassment.  The First Amendment of the Constitution lists religious freedom as the first right.  And today, in the 21st century, with people of many different beliefs calling America home – the values of diversity and pluralism continue to define our national identity.  In my own life – as the daughter of Indian immigrants, as the wife of a Vietnamese refugee and as a longtime civil rights lawyer – I have seen the profound power of our laws to advance America’s promise of equal protection, equal justice and equal opportunity for all.”

The FBI and different government agencies continue to lead a range of enforcement efforts in the area of religious discrimination, she said. “To further improve our efforts to combat hate violence, along with our U.S. Attorney partners and the FBI, last year we organized a series of regional hate crimes trainings – in Mississippi, California, Oregon, Kansas and Florida.  These sessions helped to train local and federal law enforcement in how to recognize, investigate and prove hate crimes.  They helped to educate communities and engage them in the process of ensuring public safety.  And they helped to encourage better hate crime reporting and data collection.”

Gupta urged the members of the group to “ask the tough questions, to tackle the hard issues and to confront the real challenges that exploit differences in our communities.  In so doing, you will help bring our country closer to its founding promise of a land that protects all people.  You will advance the values that define us as a nation.  And day-by-day, you will shape America into a more just and more free union.”

San Jose, CA: Omar Golamrabbi, a juvenile charged in the killing of his parents here, has been cleared of murder and was released from police custody on June 24th, reports here say. “Santa Clara County prosecutors dismissed murder charges Friday against the younger of two brothers accused in the shooting deaths of their parents at their San Jose home in April,” wrote San Francisco Chronicle.

The decision means Omar Golamrabbi, 17, is expected to leave the Santa Clara Jail where he had been held since the April slayings off his parents, Shamima Rabbi, 57, and her husband, Golam Rabbi, 59. Prosecutors had decided to charge him as an adult before they reversed course and dropped the charges. The Bangladeshi American couple was found dead on April 24 by relatives who had been trying to reach them for several days.

Public defender Sajid Khan, is reported to have said, Omar had been released because prosecutors said they had an “insufficiency of evidence” of his involvement in the murders. “He was present at the time, but we believe he was just a witness to the scene,” said Khan. Omar Golamrabbi  has been taken to a group home, according to Khan. His social worker will determine whether he can live with other family members.

After the killings, the two brothers allegedly went to an anime cartoon convention, according to court documents. On the floor near the bodies were at least two handwritten notes in black marker pen. One chillingly read: “Sorry, my first kill was clumsy.” The other note read: “I can’t be like you, telling a lie.” Omar Golamrabbi was initially suspected of writing the notes.

Upon his arrest April 27, Hasib Golamrabbi — who initially could not be found for three days — told police he had shot his father multiple times, but added that a stranger had come into the house and forced him to do it. Hasib told police that the stranger had killed his mother.

As per reports, Omar Golamrabbi told police that his brother had murdered both his father and mother and then told him to check the garage — where the bodies were found — to make sure blood was not seeping out.

Hasib Golamrabbi is being held in Santa Clara County Jail without bail. His next court appearance has been scheduled for July 13. Documents filed in court indicate that Hasib Golamrabbi has previously been identified as having psychological issues.

“We are grateful and excited that the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office has dismissed the murder charges against Omar,” the public defender’s office said in a written statement. “We are thankful to Deputy District Attorney Matt Braker for examining the evidence in this case with an open mind and for exercising his discretion to dismiss.

After spending 16 years in prison for the killing of his former high school girlfriend, a man at the center of popular podcast “Serial” has been granted a new trial. Retired Baltimore Circuit Judge Martin Welch ruled June 30 that Adnan Syed, 35, deserved a new trial because his lawyer didn’t challenge testimony in the case that became the focus of the podcast, which captivated millions of listeners around the world.

The Pakistani American was convicted in 2000 of murdering Hae Min Lee a year earlier and burying her in a shallow grave in a park in northwest Baltimore. He was sentenced to life in prison.

During a post-conviction hearing in early February, Syed’s attorneys argued he deserved a retrial on the grounds that his original attorney, Cristina Gutierrez, did not contact Asia McClain Chapman, an alibi witness who said she saw Syed at the Woodlawn library about the same time prosecutors say Lee was murdered.

Additionally, Syed’s current attorneys argued cell tower data linking Syed’s phone to the burial site on the day of Lee’s murder was misleading because it was presented to jurors without a cover sheet warning that incoming call data was unreliable.

In Welch’s order, he disagreed that Gutierrez erred when she failed to contact Chapman, or that prosecutors breached their duty by withholding exculpatory evidence. But Welch did agree that Syed’s attorney provided “ineffective assistance for the failure to cross-examine the state’s cell tower expert about the reliability of cell tower location evidence” that placed him near the burial site.

The state had argued that because Syed didn’t raise the issue of his trial attorney’s failure to cross-examine the state’s cell tower expert in a prior proceeding, he waived his right to make it an issue now. But the judge ruled that Syed didn’t “intelligently or knowingly” waive his right to raise the issue, noting that he never completed his high school degree.

“Requiring a layman who lacks a complete high school education to understand the intricacies of cellular network design and the legal ramifications of trial counsel’s failures to challenge the evidence would be inconsistent with the spirit of the Sixth Amendment,” the judge wrote.

The judge said the attorney’s performance “fell below the standard of reasonable professional judgment” when she failed to confront the state’s expert about the reliability of the cell tower evidence.

At a news conference, Brown said he “fully expects” the state to appeal the judge’s decision. But he said he and the rest of the defense team have “dug our heels in” and remain determined to fight on Adnan Syed’s behalf, including requesting that Syed be released from jail while he awaits retrial. “This is obviously an incredible victory,” he said. “We know the state is not going to give up, and we’re ready.”

The Tamil Entrepreneurs Forum (Tefcon) at FeTNA’s annual conference this July 4 weekend in New Jersey promises to be very exciting with 25 top executives as speakers including Arvind Swamy, the actor-entrepreneur. Speaking to the media, the NJ based Nagappan,  who is Chief Information Officer with Pershing, BNY Mellon, says that Tefcon has been part of FeTNA’s annual celebration for some time, but this year the scale is a lot bigger.  There will be keynote addresses, panel discussion and inspiring TEF talks –  taking the stage will be at least eight successful women.

The presenters at the July 2 full-day session inside Patriots Theatre at the War Memorial, Trenton, will not be confined to tech fields. Inspiring speakers include ‘Dosa Man’ Thiru Kumar who started with a tiny food cart in Manhattan and has been featured widely in international media, and Hemalatha Annamalai, who makes battery operated motorcycles at low cost and her firm may turn out to be India’s future Tesla.

At the Tefcon some startups will make a pitch to investors, who would include Arvind Swamy, N. Chandra of TCS, and Jet Blue’s Eash Sundaram.  So Tefcon also acts as an incubator. Fittingly, the conference theme is Link Learn Lead.

About the stereotypical image of Tamils being the service class in India, Nagappan says the community had great entrepreneur zeal before the British rule. Then, being educated, they got into government jobs and became complacent.  But after Independence, thing have been changing again. In Silicon Valley, many Tamils hold top technology positions today.

FeTNA (Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America) convention is expecting about 2,000 attendees. Performers will include Carnatic singer T.M. Krishna, playback singer Vijay Prakash, and Super Singer title winners Hari Priya and Jesica Jude

Namboori Sridatta, 25, and P. Naresh, 24,  are reported to have drowned in two separate incidents in the U.S., according to information from their families.

Namboori Sridatta, who was working with Tata Consultancy Services in Arizona, drowned while picnicking with friends at a waterfall. According to his family in Vanasthalipuram in Hyderabad, the incident took place June 19, but they received the information late June 20. Sridatta, who was with friends, slipped and fell down into the water. Rescue workers recovered his body.

The youth had come to the U.S. five years ago and, after his education at Arizona University, got a job at TCS. “He was to come home next month, but yesterday we got this shocking news,” said Sridatta’s father, N.V.M. Swamy, a private employee. The family has appealed to the Indian government to ensure that the body is brought home early.

In another incident, P. Naresh, 24, a student in California, drowned in a river during a picnic. The incident occurred at Livermore River Park June 19. According to information that reached his family in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, he was on a picnic with his friends on a boat when he slipped and fell into the water. His body was recovered during a search operation launched by the local police.

Naresh was a second-year student studying for his M.S. His death shattered the dreams of his poor family in Bandipalem village. His father, Purnaiah, a small farmer, said he had telephoned him recently to inform him that he will be doing a part-time job and will send money home starting next month. Naresh’s family has urged the Indian government to make arrangements to bring the body back home.

Nethinaidu Veluchamy and his wife Parameswari Veluchamy, the principal shareholders of First Mutual Bancorp of Illinois Inc., a holding company for Mutual Bank, allegedly hid cash and assets from creditors intentionally, after defaulting on $40 million in personal and corporate loans, according to an indictment returned in federal court in Chicago on June 22.

As per reports, in June 2009, the couple defaulted on personal and corporate loans totaling $40 million. The following month Mutual Bank was shut down by federal regulators. Prior to the shutdown and continuing until at least November 2015, the couple hid millions of dollars in assets by allegedly falsifying documents, moving money into domestic and foreign bank accounts, and directing employees to destroy financial records. The indictment says the couple also transferred cash to their two adult children, with nearly $8.5 million going to one and more than $10.1 million to the other.

The 12-count indictment was returned last week in U.S. District Court in Chicago.  Each count of bank fraud is punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The indictment charges Pethinaidu Veluchamy, 70, with four counts of bank fraud, two counts of destroying records to obstruct a bankruptcy proceeding, two counts of making a false statement under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding, and one count of making a false statement in an application for a U.S. passport.

Parameswari Veluchamy, 65, is charged with four counts of bank fraud, two counts of destroying records to obstruct a bankruptcy proceeding, one count of making a false statement under oath in a bankruptcy proceeding, and one count of making a false statement in an application for a U.S. passport.

According to the charges, Pethinaidu Veluchamy caused his relatives to obtain legal judgments against him for loans for which he knew he was not personally liable so that he could later assert those liens as superior to a bank creditor’s anticipated judgments.

In a 2011 deposition in a separate court case, Pethinaidu Veluchamy fraudulently claimed that certain funds transferred to his adult children represented indemnity obligations for their investments in First Mutual Bancorp. He produced a document to support this claim, but when questioned about the timing of the creation of the document, he claimed the computer he had used to create it crashed in a snowstorm.

Imran Yousuf, a former US Marine sergeant of Indian origin, has been hailed as a hero for saving scores of lives at the Orlando night club when a terrorist went on a rampage killing 49 people.

When Yousuf, who was working as a bouncer at the Pulse night club catering to the gay community in Orlando, Florida, heard the first gunshots his military experience fighting in Afghanistan kicked in, according to media reports. As everyone in the packed night club froze in fear, he jumped up and at personal risk opened a back door allowing many people to escape.

He told CBS News television that as panicked people streamed to the back of the hall, “I’m screaming ‘Open the door! Open the door!’ And no one is moving because they are scared. There was only one choice,” he added in the interview. “Either we all stay there and we all die, or I could take the chance, and I jumped over to open that latch a we got everyone that we can out of there.”

Yousuf – whose mother and grandmother are Hindus – risked his life because he could have drawn the attention of Omar Mateen, who had sworn loyalty to the Islamic State and was carrying out the attack, considered the worst mass shooting in US history.
Yousuf said his quick action saved 60 to 70 lives . CBS reported that he cried as he said, “I wish I could have saved more to be honest. There are a lot of people that are dead”

And Yousuf has been modest, brushing off the praises as a hero. Marine Corps Times newspaper reported on its web site that Yousuf posted on his Facebook page, “There are a lot of people naming me a hero and as a former Marine and Afghan veteran I honestly believe I reacted by instinct. … While it might seem that my actions are heroic I decided that the others around me needed to be saved as well and so I just reacted.”
Yousuf had left the Marine Corps just last month. His family emigrated from Guyana, where his ancestors had gone from India.

Imran Yousuf graduated from Niskayuna High School – near Schenectady, New York – in 2010 and immediately joined the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps Times reported that Yousuf served as an engineer equipment electrical systems technician in the Marine Corps from June 2010 to May 2016, according to service officials. He deployed to Afghanistan in 2011. He was last assigned to 3rd Marine Logistics Group. His military awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Korean Defense Service Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal.