The Indian Panorama

Tag: GA

  • Indian American Georgia community welcomes incoming Consul General Ramesh Babu with grand reception

    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.

  • Indian American store clerk Mandeep Singh shot dead in Georgia by teens

    Indian American store clerk Mandeep Singh shot dead in Georgia by teens

    AUGUSTA, GA (TIP):  An Indian American convenience store clerk died on the spot after being shot by two 15-year-old boys in what appeared to be a case of armed robbery according to police. Two teenagers have been taken into custody after the shooting.
    Mandeep Singh, 36, of Rosier Road in Augusta, GA, was pronounced dead at the scene after being struck twice by gunfire on June 28 at Wrens Food Mart, also known as Jackie’s, located at 504 Highway 80 in East Wrens, according to local media reports.
    Ricky, as Singh was known as, had been working at the store for less than one month, the Augusta Chronicle reported citing Wrens Police Chief John Maynard. The two juveniles entered the store around 8:35 pm Wednesday evening.

    “It appeared to be an armed robbery to start with, and at some point shots were fired and the clerk was deceased,” Maynard said. The store had security cameras and Maynard said that juveniles were not wearing masks or obscuring their faces during the incident, which made it easy for the police to identify them.
    “They walked in, maybe five seconds was spent looking at a shelf. It was clear what they came to do,” Maynard said. “Within two hours we had them identified. Within four hours we had the first suspect picked up. And in just over eight hours we had both of them in custody.” “That rarely happens, but I think our citizens are sending a clear message that they are tired of this. We are following up on other leads as to why this took place,” Maynard said.
    Due to the age of the offenders, names and photos cannot be released at this time, Wrens Police said. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Singh’s body was being transported to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab.
    Meanwhile, Singh’s wife Dimple Kaur has organized a fundraiser on GoFundMe to help his family deal with this tragedy. To date $20,940 has been raised of $200,000 goal.
    “Hi, I am Dimple and I am fundraising for the family of Ricky (Mandeep) Singh. Just recently. Ricky was brutally killed in a tragic and horrible situation which left everyone devastated.
    “This situation was hard on his family members especially his wife and mother as he was their sole support. As his family member, Ricky was a great person, always there to help everyone no matter what. He was a genuine soul with an unforgettable personality,” she wrote. “We are requesting donations to help his family deal with this tragedy. Every contribution, no matter how big or small, can make a significant difference in helping the family cope with expenses, such as funeral costs and ongoing living expenses.
    “Together, we can offer support and solidarity to Ricky Singh’s family, providing them with the strength they need to navigate this tragic loss,” Kaur wrote.

  • 70-year-old Indian American motel manager pleads guilty to human trafficking

    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.