ATLANTA, GA (TIP): An Indian national awaiting deportation because of his illegal entry into the United States has died at a hospital in Atlanta, federal authorities said Wednesday, April 17.
The Indian Consulate in New York has been notified about the death of Jaspal Singh, 57, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said, adding that his next of kin have also been notified about it.
Singh died at a hospital in Atlanta on April 15. An autopsy is pending to determine the official cause of death, ICE said. Singh, an Indian citizen, first entered the US legally on October 25, 1992. On January 21, 1998, an immigration judge ordered Singh’s removal from the US, and on an unknown date, Singh returned to India voluntarily.
On June 29, 2023, he was arrested by US Customs and Border Protection’s Border Patrol officers while illegally reentering the United States at the US-Mexico Border.
Border Patrol transferred custody of Singh to Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Atlanta. He was detained at a federal processing center in Atlanta where he continued his immigration proceedings.
When a non-citizen dies at a detention center, it is mandatory for the ERO to make notifications to Congress, nongovernmental organization stakeholders and the media and posts a news release with relevant details on its public website within two business days.
Tag: Atlanta
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Indian-origin man awaiting deportation because of his illegal entry to US dies in hospital
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Atlanta Hosts A “Riot” of Color: The Hindu Festival of “Holi”
ATLANTA , GA (TIP) : The Atlanta Chapter of Sewa International recently hosted its 17th annual Holi festival, the vibrant and colorful Hindu celebration of spring, love, and colors. The event, held at Cumming Fairgrounds on March 23, attracted an impressive turnout of nearly 18,000 people from the Atlanta Metropolitan Area and beyond, making it one of the largest Holi celebrations in the United States.
The Atlanta Holi celebration featured a variety of cultural performances, including traditional and Bollywood dances and live music. Attendees also enjoyed a wide array of traditional Indian vegetarian street food.
Visiting Dignitaries with the Sewa Team members Congressman Dr. Rich McCormick, Consul General of India in Atlanta Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan, Georgia State Representative Todd Jones, and Forsyth County Commissioner Alfred John graced the occasion with their presence. Sen. Jon Osoff sent specially recorded greetings for the event attendees. Atlanta’s own business leaders — Subhash Patel of Natson Hotels Group and Samir Bhatia, CEO of Smartcare Urgent Care — conveyed their Holi wishes to the community.
“We are thrilled to have hosted such a successful and joyous Holi celebration,” said Dr. Madhav Durbha, President of Sewa International Atlanta. “Holi is a time for spreading happiness and building community spirit, and we are delighted to see so many people come together to celebrate this colorful festival with us.”
Tesla Motors joined the fun — all colored up! The event drew the interest of various corporations. Employees of Starbucks were there to serve free coffee to Sewa volunteers early in the morning. Tesla Motors brought some of their cars to display and also to allow attendees to test drive.
Sewa Atlanta’s tradition of celebrating Holi started in 2006 in Alpharetta’s Wills Park. At the time there were other Holi celebrations around the city, but none in the proximity of Alpharetta which was starting to become the center of gravity for the Indian diaspora. Bringing the festival closer to where the people lived began to attract attention. Several volunteers who were at the 2006 event continue to serve as part of Sewa. Over the years Holi started attracting non-Indians as well turning it into a universal celebration regardless of race, religion, or ethnic backgrounds. Besides being a fun experience, a key motivation behind the event is to build awareness of the community impact activities Sewa is undertaking in Atlanta.
A core team of volunteers worked tirelessly for nearly three months leading to the event. About 250 volunteers were present at the event to tend to the needs of the attendees. The Holi celebration would not have been possible without the generous support of sponsors, volunteers, and attendees. The Cumming Police Department provided security and DJ Shaan rocked the campground with music to which the performers and attendees danced while showering each other in colors. The staff of Cumming Fairgrounds ensured that the event was effectively managed.
Sharing some love and gratitude with our Police Officers Natson Hotels Group and Paramount Software Solutions served as signature sponsors. Sanatan Mandir and Shakti Mandir sponsored the food for thousands of attendees. Amruth Ayurveda, AssureGuru, CGIngredients, Cherians, Chugh, E-Ring, Inc., Garuda Vega, Georgia Banking Company, Gupta Real Estate, Indiaco, PNC Bank, Premium Realty Group LLC, Pyramid Consulting, Royal Basmati Rice, Twinkle Pediatrics LLC were the additional sponsors.
In the true spirit of the Hindu adage that “the whole world is one family,” Sewa International Atlanta organizes various charitable initiatives, including food drives, primary education initiatives, and free healthcare clinics in collaboration with Georgia Association of Physicians of Indian Heritage (GAPI) to support local communities in need.
Sewa International has also adopted several sustainability principles in minimizing waste associated with the event. Greencell Atlanta partnered with Sewa on this front. The City of Cumming provided recycling bags and containers.About Sewa International
Sewa International is a Hindu faith-based, humanitarian, nonprofit service organization registered under Internal Revenue Code 501 (c) (3). Founded in 2003, Sewa International is part of a larger movement that started in India in 1989 and is active in twenty countries. Sewa serves humanity irrespective of race, color, religion, gender or nationality. Sewa specializes in disaster relief and rehabilitation. Our development programs focus on family services; child, tribal and refugee welfare; women empowerment; health; and education. For more information about Sewa International, please visit www.sewausa.org -
Judge denies Rudy Giuliani’s request to extend deadlines in Georgia election case
ATLANTA (TIP): The Fulton County judge overseeing the Georgia election interference case has denied Rudy Giuliani’s request to push back a deadline for motions to be filed in the case.
In an order Friday, January 5, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee rejected Giuliani’s extensions request, keeping in place a Monday deadline.
The judge wrote that Giuliani “does not articulate exactly what discovery must still be reviewed, or why the review has not been completed in the approximately four months that have passed since arraignment.”
He added that while Giuliani “claims to have filed ‘many’ motions concerning discovery, none appear on the docket.” A spokesperson and attorneys for Giuliani did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday night. Attorneys for Giuliani, who was indicted along with 18 co-defendants for allegedly violating Georgia’s racketeering laws in connection with the 2020 election, previously told the court they were “still processing” voluminous discovery in the case and asked for a deadline extension. In addition to the racketeering charge, Giuliani is accused of conspiring to pressure state officials to act on false election claims.
Four defendants in the case have pleaded guilty, while Giuliani and former President Donald Trump, who each face 13 criminal counts, pleaded not guilty.
Trump has sought unsuccessfully to delay various legal challenges until after the election. His lawyers have contended that the Fulton County district attorney’s proposed Aug. 5 start date for the trial “would be the most effective election interference in the history of the United States.”Friday’s order comes as Giuliani faces mounting legal woes, and fees.
Last month, he filed for bankruptcy protection after being hit with a $148 million verdict in a defamation lawsuit that centered on false claims he made about election workers to boost Trump’s stolen election claims.
Giuliani’s former lawyers sued him last year over allegations that he had not paid legal fees that they said amounted to $1.36 million. He responded to the lawsuit by saying the amount sought was excessive. Giuliani also faces a $10 million lawsuit filed by Noelle Dunphy, a woman whose allegations included Giuliani’s harassing her and discussing the selling of presidential pardons after she was hired in 2019. Giuliani has denied the claims.
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Indian American Georgia community welcomes incoming Consul General Ramesh Babu with grand reception
ATLANTA, GA (TIP): In a spectacular gathering on November 19th, 2023, the Indian American community in Georgia warmly welcomed the newly appointed Consul General of India in Atlanta, Ramesh Babu. The event, hosted by the Federation of Indian American Associations of Georgia (FIA of Georgia), took place at the elegant Crowne Plaza in Norcross. The occasion marked the official transition from the esteemed service of Dr. Swati Kulkarni, who served as Consul General from 2018 to 2023. The banquet hall was a lively scene, filled with distinguished dignitaries, prominent community figures, and representatives from various organizations. The evening commenced with a welcoming address by Dr. Vasudev Patel, President of FIA, who expressed gratitude for the community’s continued support and highlighted the significance of the occasion.
The ceremonial lighting of the lamp was conducted by the guest of honor, Ramesh Babu, accompanied by vibrant dance performances by the students of Bharathakala Naatya Academy and Nataraja Natyanjali Kuchipudi Dance Academy, and vocal rendition in several Indian languages by Atlanta Indian Idol finalist Jyotsna Nanu, setting a joyous tone for the evening.Mayor of Norcross, Craig Newton, graced the occasion with his presence, emphasizing the strong ties between the Indian American community and the local government. Other notable speakers included Shiv Aggarwal, owner of Global Mail, Padma Bhushan Professor Jagdish Sheth, India America Cultural Association (IACA) chairman of the board, Ani Agnihotri, IACA president Kaushal Tripathi, FIA’s Rajeev Menon, Indian Friends of Atlanta (IFA) co-founder Sunil Savili, Dr. Sreeni Gangasani who represented GAPI and AAPI, Subhash Razdan, President of the Gandhi Foundation of USA & Raj Razdan, NFIA president and founder of Senior Citizens Program– each offering their perspectives on the importance of fostering cultural and diplomatic connections.
In his address to the audience, Hon. Ramesh Babu expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and shared his vision for his tenure as Consul General. He highlighted the significance of community engagement, cultural exchange, and fostering stronger ties between India and the United States. The community responded with enthusiastic applause, expressing their optimism for a fruitful collaboration under his leadership.The event concluded with a sumptuous dinner, providing an opportunity for attendees to network, share ideas, and celebrate the rich cultural diversity within the Indian American community.
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70-year-old Indian American motel manager pleads guilty to human trafficking
ATLANTA, GA (TIP): A 70-year-old Indian American motel manager has pleaded guilty to trafficking with respect to peonage, slavery, involuntary servitude or forced labor, according to the US Department of Justice.
Shreesh Tiwari, an Indian national and legal US permanent resident, admitted to misusing and abusing his position of power over a female tenant by compelling her to engage in “commercial sex acts”.
“We refuse to tolerate human trafficking of any kind and this conviction reinforces our commitment to protecting all victims of crime in our community — regardless of their status,” said US Attorney Ryan K Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia.
According to court documents, Tiwari began managing the Budgetel Motel in Cartersville, Georgia, in 2020, and hired the victim to work as a house cleaner at the motel.
He was aware that prior to her coming to the Budgetel, the victim had experienced homelessness, struggled with a heroin addiction and lost custody of her young child.
Tiwari promised the victim that he would help her regain custody of her child by providing her with pay, an apartment, and an attorney. Instead of following through with his promises, Tiwari monitored the victim’s interactions with motel guests and employees and forbade her from speaking to them.
In addition, he also made numerous sexual overtures to her and threatened to evict her from the room, report her to law enforcement and child welfare agencies whenever he became angry at her, knowing that she would become homeless as a result.
Eventually, Tiwari began to regularly “evict” the victim from her motel room, and even locked her out of her room at night without warning, forcing the victim to provide sexual favors. According to local media reports, multiple women were allegedly trapped in Tiwari’s net, and investigations are ongoing.
“This conviction demonstrates that the Justice Department is committed to prosecuting motel operators and other landlords who misuse and abuse their position of power over tenants to compel them to engage in commercial sex acts,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Tiwari’s sentencing is set for September 6. He faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison, as well as a $250,000 fine. As part of his plea agreement, Tiwari agreed to pay slightly over $40,000 in mandatory restitution to the victims of the offence. -
Indian American Attorney Shot Dead in Georgia
ATLANTA (TIP): An Indian origin senior staff attorney at Cobb County Magistrate was shot and killed May 9 morning while confronting a gunman outside a home in Locust Grove, a report in Atlanta Journal Constitution reported.
Rajesh Mehta, 45, was shot multiple times by 29-year-old Terrance Scott outside the home on Hansen Drive, said police.
Following the fatal shooting, Scott allegedly broke into the house, held a woman hostage and sexually assaulted her before an hours long standoff with officers, Locust Grove Police Chief Jesse Patton said. Children were inside the home at the time.
Mehta worked as the staff attorney for three separate chief magistrate judges since joining the court in 2008. Prior to that, the University of Georgia law school graduate worked under Cobb Superior Court Judge Mary Staley Clark.
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Global Entry Program Introduced for Indian citizens residing in USA
WASHINGTON (TIP): As part of the citizen-centric service, Embassy of India, Washington DC and Consulates General of India in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco introduced the system of accepting GEP applications by Indian citizens residing in USA.
Global Entry is a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Members enter the United States through automatic kiosks at select U.S. airports .
How to Apply for Global Entry:
Citizens of India are eligible for Global Entry. Applications must be submitted through CBP’s Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) website .
Application Process for background check for GEP:
Apply Online with U.S. CBP: Apply and complete application process at TTP website https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry of U.S. CBP
For those applicants presently living in USA, after completion of step ‘1’, he/she needs to submit the requisite information in the website of Global Passport Seva Project (https://embassy.passportindia.gov.in/) for completion of background check in India. After completion of online submission, he/she should submit the application at CKGS office according to the Consular jurisdiction, along with the applicable fee.
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Gujarat NRI shot dead near his store
ATLANTA(TIP): A man from Vadodara, Gujarat, settled in the US was shot dead in Atlanta on June 9 evening.
Forty-eight-year-old Harikrishna alias Harish Mistry was shot thrice by an African-American man near his store at about 4pm.
Police are yet to make an arrest in the case. Mistry moved to Atlanta with his family about 15 years ago and ran a gas-station-cum-store. “Our relatives in the US informed us about the killing on Sunday morning,” said Dilip Mistry, a cousin of the deceased.
“We were told that Harikrishna was leaving his store when the attack occurred. Our relatives said the man who shot Harikrishna used to work at his store and was pulled up for misconduct a few days ago.”
Harikrishna Mistry is survived by his wife Sheetal and two children — Nancy, 19, and Nayan, 4.
Mistry’s two sisters are also settled in the US.
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Hindus commend Emory University for Ramayana exhibition curated by students
ATLANTA (TIP): “Tell the Whole Story from Beginning to End:” The Ramayana in Indian Painting— exhibition has been launched at Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University (Carlos Museum), which will continue till May 20.
Claimed to be first-of-its kind art exhibit which was curated, organized and researched exclusively by Emory students; uniting artwork and classwork; in the class “The Art of an Hindu Epic”; which was taught by professors Ellen Gough and Marko Geslani from Emory’s Department of Religion.
The paintings in this exhibition are reportedly dated between the 17th and 19th centuries, including “The Coronation of Rama” (1840). Students included Darby Caso, Parth Goyal, Kristin Kimberlain, Saayli Kokitkar, Marshall Kupka-Moore, Elizabeth Muse, Thomas Shen, Tarun Swaminathan; most of whom had little background in art history; reports suggest.
Hindu statesman Rajan Zed commended Emory University for highlighting Hindu heritage through Ramayana exhibition.
Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged major universities of the world; including Harvard, Oxford, Stanford, Cambridge, Princeton, UC Berkeley, Yale, Columbia, Toronto, Tokyo, Melbourne, etc.; to frequently offer Hinduism focused classes and exhibitions, thus sharing rich philosophy-concepts-symbols-traditions-art of this oldest religion with the rest of the world. If they needed any assistance, he or other Hindu scholars would gladly help, Zed added.
Carlos Museum, founded in 1919, “collects, preserves, exhibits, and interprets art and artifacts from antiquity to the present”. Its collections include some 17,000 artifacts. Bonnie Speed is the Director.
Internationally recognized Emory University in Atlanta (Georgia), one of the world’s leading research universities, was founded by Methodists (university maintains a formal affiliation with the United Methodist Church) in 1836. It serves about 15,252 students with about $5.4 billion annual operating budget and has been ranked among top in most beautiful campuses and happiest colleges. Dr. Claire E. Sterk is the President, while Robert C. Goddard III is its Trustees Chair.
Hinduism, third largest religion of the world, has about 1.1 billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. There are about three million Hindus in USA. Ramayana, a narrative poem of about 25,000 slokas beginning in BCE period is divided into seven kandas.
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Grand 10th Anniversary Celebration of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Atlanta Georgia
ATLANTA, GA (TIP): His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the current spiritual leader of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, joined devotees and well-wishers in celebrating the ten-year anniversary of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Atlanta, GA on July 1, 2017. The Mandir was inaugurated by His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj in 2007 and has helped enrich the local community through the development of family and youth programs, community outreach, and spiritual assemblies. A true labor of love, the Mandir offers weekly services and year-round programs organized by volunteers and Swamis within the BAPS community.
As a central place of Hindu worship, the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir opened to the community on August 26, 2007 and was made possible by the spiritual support, guidance, and inspiration of Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the fifth spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Today, Mahant Swami Maharaj carries forward this work and legacy as the current spiritual successor of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. Through his leadership and guidance, Mahant Swami Maharaj invites people of all faiths and cultural backgrounds to visit and explore the mandir, its architecture, and its Hindu teachings.
Heer Patel from Memphis, Tennessee was relatively new to the BAPS community during the inaugural ceremonies in 2007 and recalled the event with great enthusiasm, “[Pramukh Swami] was truly someone special that was able to attract thousands of people from different backgrounds and bring them together for one purpose. I was not never really interested in spirituality, but after the memorable interactions with Pramukh Swami Maharaj when he inaugurated the temple in 2007, I became more and more connected with the temple.” Patel was a volunteer at the 10 year celebrations. “It has been such an amazing experience to have just as amazing interactions with Mahant Swami Maharaj as we celebrated the 10 year anniversary of the mandir”.
BAPS Atlanta 10th Anniversary: His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, the current spiritual leader of the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, joined devotees and well-wishers in celebrating the ten-year anniversary of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Atlanta, GA on July 1, 2017. Since Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s visit, participation within the local community and beyond has grown, and hundreds of individuals regularly attend celebrations of Hindu festivals throughout the year.
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Atlanta is the first of its kind in the region, and community volunteers welcomed the ten-year anniversary celebrations in the presence of Mahant Swami Maharaj with the same zeal and excitement they experienced back in 2007.
The anniversary celebrations were primarily created and led by the youth of BAPS who have been preparing for the arrival of Mahant Swami Maharaj for several months. Yash Soni from Parkland, FL says, “By participating in various performances during the 10th anniversary celebration, I have felt a deep connection with my guru and developed a greater understanding of samp (unity) and teamwork. These are two values that he has stressed to youths of my age.”
Over the past ten years, the mandir has welcomed people from all walks of life, leaving a lasting impression in their lives. Community members join in weekly events to practice spirituality and personal development while fostering a sense of unity and teamwork. Music, language, and spiritual enrichment classes actively instill Hindu values and culture in future generations of young people who will grow to lead in their communities.
Regular programs and events at the mandir provide an opportunity for community members to explore and practice Hindu traditions and faith. The mandir is also the site of various charitable initiatives that include health fairs, blood drives, and community walkathons for people of all ages – merging the spirit of service with volunteerism.
The BAPS Mandir in Atlanta unites families in spirituality, setting the tone for the anniversary events. Highlights from the program included video footage of the inaugural ceremonies and colorful cultural dances. Guests relived the past ten years of the mandir’s history, the development of youth activities, and the installation of the sacred image of Nilkanth Varni. Devotees shared stories of reaching milestones in their spirituality, growing closer to one another, and practicing peaceful living – all inspired and guided by the role of mandir in their lives.
The event was attended by several community and government officials who recalled fond moments with Pramukh Swami Maharaj and shared heartfelt reflections on their first meeting with Mahant Swami Maharaj during his current travels. The mayor of Lilburn, Mayor Johnny Crist, presented Mahant Swami Maharaj with a key to the city while saying, “Most cities in the state of Georgia want to be a place where you live, work, and play. But may I offer another alternative, or add to it, and that is we need to be a city where that is a place to live, to work, to play, and to pray.” Mayor Crist also brought a proclamation designating July 1, 2017 as Mahant Swami Maharaj Day in the city of Lilburn. In addition to Lilburn there are a total of six cities recognizing July 1, 2017 as Mahant Swami Maharaj Day including Matthews, NC; Boynton Beach, FL; Montgomery, AL; Knox County, TN; and Anderson, SC.
Georgia’s Secretary of State, Mr. Brian Kemp, conferred an Honorary Citizenship of Georgia to His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj. The honorable Mr. Nagesh Singh, the Consul General of India, was also in attendance and conveyed a hearty welcome on behalf of the Government of India.
The celebrations concluded with blessings from Mahant Swami Maharaj who encouraged all to uphold unity, maintain faith, and further develop one’s spirituality in strengthening the mandir as a community place of worship.
Follow #BAPSATL10 and #MahantSwami on social media for more details regarding anniversary celebrations and His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj’s North America visit.
More details at http://www.baps.org/News/2017/BAPS-Atlanta-10th-anniversary-11686.aspx
(Photographs and Press release /Asian Media USA)
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Indian origin Sameer Hasmukh in critical condition after being shot in Atlanta
ATLANTA (TIP): In yet another incident of shooting of an Indian origin man in the US, a 24-year-old man from Sundher village in Patan, Gujarat, Sameer Hasmukh Patel, was shot at in a departmental store here late on Monday, June 12 night. Sameer was shot after two suspects robbed the departmental store in which he worked, according to information available with The Indian Panorama.
Sameer was closing the store when two unknown persons barged into the store and shot at him and fled with the cash chest. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, but his condition was critical when family members spoke to his friends early June 13 morning.
A member of the family said that Sameer came to Atlanta three years ago to work at a departmental store and search for opportunities for his family members.”
According to information available with The Indian Panorama, Indian Consulate in Atlanta is also in touch with the family.
