Category: Indians Abroad

ADELAIDE (TIP): Two Indian drowned in a river on the NSW Mid North Coast during the Australia Day long weekend. Sachin Khillan and Sahil Batra, both in their 30s, were visiting the Never Never River at John Locke Place in Gleniffer, near Bellingen, with their partners when the incident occurred about 6.45pm on Sunday.
According to family, they had only stepped into shallow water when a sudden and powerful current swept the men away.
Emergency services were called to the scene, but both men could not be revived after being pulled from the river. Sachin’s fiancée was injured while attempting to help and was taken to Coffs Harbour Health Campus, where she remains in serious condition.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to raise $200,000 to cover funeral and repatriation expenses and provide financial support to the grieving families. The fundraiser had raised more than $125,000 by Thursday morning, drawing support from both Australian and Indian communities.

CALGARY (TIP): A couple from Punjab was found dead in a pool of blood under mysterious circumstances at their home in Redstone, a neighborhood in northeast Calgary, Canada.
The couple, identified as Ekamveer Singh and his wife Jasmine, belonged to Chaukiman village near Jagraon in Ludhiana. The incident came as a repetition of history in the clan, as both parents of Ekamveer had also died an unnatural death a few years ago.
A pall of gloom has descended over the village, but one family member—an octogenarian grandmother—remains unable to comprehend the tragedy. Meanwhile, the deceased’s younger brother, Ekamveer, lives with his maternal grandparents in another locality, largely unknown to residents.
The village sarpanch, Kewal Singh, said the villagers came to know about the tragedy that had struck the Babbey Nikkey Ke family, only after government officials started making inquiries about the incident.
“We are really shocked to learn about the repetition of history in the family with the tragic end of Ekamveer and his wife Jasmine, but none of us knows what exactly happened to the youth who left the village in search of greener pastures a couple of years ago,” said Kewal Singh.
Referring to information received from relatives of the deceased, villagers said it was suspected that Jasmine had received a bullet injury accidentally, and Ekamveer shot himself in shock.
However, the Calgary police have not yet made any formal announcement about the sequence of events leading to the mysterious and tragic end of the couple under the roof of their own home.
Not ruling out the criminal angle to the deaths, the Calgary police have launched a detailed investigation to determine the exact cause of the tragedy.
The Calgary police have urged anyone with information regarding the case to come forward and contact them at 403-266-1234. Those requiring anonymity have been asked to call 1-800-222-8477.

LONDON (TIP): A 57-year-old Indian-origin man appeared in a UK court on Wednesday charged with the murder of a woman at a home in Ilford, east London.
Dalip Chadha was arrested at the scene at Applegarth Drive in Ilford in the early hours of Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police said. The victim, believed to be his wife, is yet to be formally identified.
“At around 04:00hrs on Tuesday, 27 January, officers were called to an address in Applegarth Drive. Upon arrival, they found a woman dead at the property,” the Met Police said in a statement.
“Formal identification has yet to take place, but the victim is believed to be 58-year-old Vanessa Puntney-Chadha. Her next-of-kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.”
“Dalip Chadha, 57, of Applegarth Drive, was arrested at the scene. He will appear before Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 28 January, charged with murder, the police said.
The force said its investigation remained ongoing and had appealed for any information that would assist their enquiries in the case.

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA (TIP):  A 51-year-old man has been charged with multiple counts of murder and assault after police say he shot and killed four relatives, including his wife, during an early-morning shooting at a Lawrenceville home on Friday, an incident that has shaken both the local community and metro Atlanta’s Indian American population.

Lawrenceville police were dispatched to the 1000 block of Brook Ivy Court at around 2:30 a.m. after receiving a report of shots fired. When officers arrived, they discovered four adults dead inside the residence, each with apparent gunshot wounds. Inside the home, police also found three children — ages 7, 10, and 12 — hiding in a closet, unharmed. Authorities said the 12-year-old child, who is the suspect’s son, placed the 911 call that alerted police.
Investigators identified the suspect as Vijay Kumar, 51, who was located a short distance away from the home following the shooting and taken into custody without incident.
The four victims were identified as the suspect’s wife Meenu Dogra, 43, her sister, Nidhi Chander, 37; their brother, Gourav Kumar, 33; and Nidhi Chander’s husband, Harish Chander, 38.

Kumar and Meenu Dogra also have an adult daughter who was not present at the house.
According to investigators, the shooting followed an argument between Kumar and his wife at their own residence earlier. Police said the couple then traveled to the Brook Ivy Court home, where the deadly shooting later took place. Authorities have not disclosed what led to the argument, what occurred once the couple arrived at the relative’s home, or what ultimately triggered the violence.
Kumar now faces a total of 15 felony charges, including four counts of malice murder, four counts of felony murder, four counts of aggravated assault, one count of cruelty to children in the first degree, and two counts of cruelty to children in the third degree. Police said the cruelty-to-children charges stem from the presence of the minors during the shooting. Court records detailing bond, legal representation, or a first court appearance were not immediately available. The incident has sent shockwaves through Lawrenceville and the wider Indian American community in metro Atlanta.
The case remains under active investigation.
The shooting has also renewed conversations within the Indian American community about domestic and family violence. Aparna Bhattacharyya, executive director of Raksha, a Georgia-based nonprofit that supports South Asian survivors of domestic violence, said the tragedy brings attention to the long-term harm such violence causes beyond the immediate loss of life. “This is heartbreaking,” Bhattacharyya said, adding that domestic violence is not a private family matter but a public health crisis that has lasting physical and emotional consequences, particularly for children who witness violence or lose family members as a result. She said communities must confront the issue openly rather than remain silent.

“Thoughts and prayers won’t keep our community safe,” Bhattacharyya said, urging families and friends to seek help and support when warning signs emerge.

BALTIMORE (TIP) : Dr. Sanjay Desai, chief academic officer of the American Medical Association (AMA), has been named the vice dean for education at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
In this role, the Indian American physician leader will oversee all education and training programs across the school of medicine, including MD, PhD, residency, postdoctoral and online, and will partner with institutional leaders to drive innovation, advance educational excellence and enhance the learner experience.
An accomplished physician leader, educator, clinician and researcher, Desai has helped shape medical education nationally, according to a media release from the Baltimore, Maryland-based institution.
At the AMA, he oversees a broad innovation portfolio with a focus on precision education using AI, in collaboration with a consortium of medical schools and health systems. He also leads accreditation-related activities with sponsorship of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, national policy development across the educational continuum, and the credit system for continuing medical education.
Desai previously served as the Johns Hopkins Myron L. Weisfeldt Professor of Medicine, director of the Osler Medical Residency and vice chair for education in the Department of Medicine — roles he held at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine prior to joining the AMA in October 2021.
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Desai back to Johns Hopkins in this critical role,” said Theodore L. DeWeese, dean of the medical faculty and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Dr. Desai is a visionary educator and leader whose record of innovation, collaboration and excellence will strengthen our educational mission and prepare the next generation of physicians and scientists to lead in medicine’s evolving landscape.”
Widely recognized for his accomplishments across academic medicine, policy, clinical practice and health systems administration, his research focuses on generating high-quality data to inform policy and practice in medical education.
Desai has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications, including articles in the New England Journal of Medicine and JAMA. Among his honors, he received the Professors’ Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
Desai graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree in bioengineering and a Bachelor of Science degree in economics with a concentration in health care management from the Wharton School of Business.
He earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his residency and subspecialty fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he also served as chief resident.

SINGAPORE (TIP) : Two Indian-origin personalities in Singapore, notable for their contributions in work, community and society, are set to be nominated as Members of Parliament next week, a media report said Friday.
The duo is part of the nine names announced to be Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs) by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on January 8 and take their oaths at the next sitting of Parliament this month, local media said.
Dr Haresh Singaraju, family physician at National University Polyclinics, and Sanjeev Kumar Tiwari, general secretary of the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees, have been named as the proposed NMPs.
The names were released by the Office of the Clerk of Parliament on Friday, the channel said.
Among the nine, CEO of apparel company Sing Lun Holdings Mark Lee Kean Phi is to return for a second term.
“They (new NMPs) have made notable contributions in work, community and society, and excelled in their respective fields.
“I am confident that their diverse expertise and experience will enrich the discussions in Parliament as we chart Singapore’s path forward in an uncertain and disrupted world,” said Leader of the House Indranee Rajah, an Indian-origin political veteran of the ruling People’s Action Party, in welcoming the new cohort to the 15th Parliament.
Earlier, a Special Select Committee had invited the general public and functional groups to submit names for its consideration.
The NMP scheme aims to ensure a wide representation of views in Parliament, and nominees should have performed distinguished public service, brought honor to Singapore or distinguished themselves in their respective fields. There can be up to nine NMPs each term, which lasts two-and-a-half-years.
Among other requirements, he or she should also be able to take an active part in Parliament proceedings, according to media reports.
The others six in the list of nominated persons are Azhar Othman, Executive Chairman of Enercon Asia; Associate Professor Goh Toh Chuan Kenneth, President of Singapore Aquatics; Associate Professor Terence Ho Wai Luen, academic/university administrator at the National University of Singapore; Kuah Boon Theng SC, managing director of Legal Clinic LLC; Dr Neo Kok Beng, Founder and CEO of NEO Aeronautics Pte Ltd, and Professor Kenneth Poon Kin Loong, professor at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University.
The last parliament had three Indian-origin NPMs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Ranjit ‘Ricky’ Singh Gill, an Indian-origin adviser to US President Donald Trump, is grabbing headlines after being awarded for his supposed role in “India-Pakistan ceasefire negotiations” following Operation Sindoor earlier this year. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio presented the National Security Council’s ‘Distinguished Action Award’ to thirty-eight-year-old Gill earlier this week in Washington.
The development comes even as New Delhi has consistently rejected the third-party mediation claims made by Donald Trump after the May conflict.
The Distinguished Action Award is among the National Security Council’s highest internal recognitions, acknowledging exceptional service in advancing US national security objectives.
The recognition was for Gill’s contribution to “internal coordination and diplomatic outreach” related to the India-Pakistan ceasefire framework during 2025, the US media reported, citing US officials.
Ricky Gill was born in Lodi, New Jersey, to parents Jasbir and Param Gill. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs and a law degree from UC Berkeley, according to his LinkedIn profile.
In 2011, he ran for the US Congress from California’s District 11 seat against Democrat Jerry McNerney but lost the tightly fought contest. He tried again four years later when the seat became the 9th District, but lost again.
In the first Trump administration, Gill served as   Director for Russia and European Energy Security at the NSC and earlier as Senior Adviser at the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations. Currently, he oversees the India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and broader South and Central Asia portfolio at the department.
Since May 10, the US leader has repeated his claim of Washington mediating a “full and immediate” ceasefire between India and Pakistan over 70 times, saying that he ended the conflict between nuclear-powered South Asian neighbors.
Trump has taken credit for ending the conflict between New Delhi and Islamabad during his meetings with world leaders and repeated the claim during his travels abroad.
India has consistently denied any third-party intervention. New Delhi has maintained that the understanding on cessation was reached after Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) reached out to his Indian counterpart regarding the issue.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also told Parliament that no world leader asked India to halt Operation Sindoor, underscoring India’s position that decisions were taken independently.
India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. India and Pakistan reached an understanding on May 10 to end the conflict after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Indian American student Adithi Garood has won the first annual Future of Architecture Scholarship instituted by Projio, a digital marketing agency for architects and building professionals, for her ability to connect architectural vision with digital storytelling.
Garood is currently pursuing a master’s degree in environmental building design at the University of Pennsylvania’s Stuart Weitzman School of Design. She was selected from a pool of applicants across the U.S. who were tasked with exploring the theme of “Storytelling Through Digital Presence,” according to a media release from the Port Washington, New York-based firm.
The scholarship was designed to support tech-forward students who bridge the gap between physical design and digital representation. Applicants were required to submit a written essay and a visual presentation detailing a strategy for presenting architectural work online, with a focus on experience, layout, and SEO.
“We were incredibly impressed by Adithi’s ability to connect her design vision across both written and visual formats,” said Victoria Silecchia, CMO of Omnizant. “Her submission demonstrated how digital platforms can help people truly understand and connect with architectural projects they may never experience firsthand. Adithi highlighted how this kind of storytelling is especially powerful for sustainable and net-zero design, where broader understanding can drive meaningful, widespread impact.”
Projio stated that it launched this annual scholarship to empower the next generation of architectural visionaries who blend aesthetics with modern technology. By highlighting the importance of a digital presence, Projio aims to help future architects effectively communicate their value in an increasingly online world.
Garood is from Bangalore and has professional experience working with architecture practices in India prior to beginning her graduate studies in the United States. She previously worked as a junior architect with Arun Nalapat Architects in Bangalore and has also completed internships and freelance assignments in India. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from RV College of Architecture, Bangalore.
“The incredibly niche program of merging sustainability along with building analysis and human centric design led me to the EBD program” at Penn, she says. “I found that it was a perfect blend between technicality and creative design freedom, where merging the two gave innovative ideas of how buildings could be shaped soon.”
Garood sees herself working at a firm that focuses on high-performance building design, while also exploring new ideas in materials, circular economy, and large-scale energy solutions that can shape the future of architecture.

TORONTO (TIP) : A 20-year-old Indian doctoral student has been shot dead near the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus (UTSC), with authorities probing the case as a homicide, officials said.
The shooting took place on Tuesday, December 23, and the Toronto police on Wednesday, December 24, identified the victim as Shivank Avasthi, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
Police were called to the area of Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road at about 3:30 pm on Tuesday for a report of an injured person lying on the ground, Duty Inspector Jeff Allington told reporters near the scene on Tuesday night.
When officers arrived, they found a person with a gunshot wound. That person was pronounced dead at the scene, the report added.
The police are probing the case as a homicide.
“Our immediate focus is on preserving evidence at the scene, determining what happened and notifying this individual’s next of kin. Because of that, there is very little information that I am able to share with you tonight,” Allington said.
Toronto police said the suspect fled the area prior to police arrival. No suspect description has been released.
Meanwhile, India’s Consulate in Toronto expressed “deep anguish” over the student’s “tragic death”.
“We express deep anguish over the tragic death of a young Indian doctoral student, Shivank Avasthi, in a fatal shooting incident near the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus. The Consulate is in touch with the bereaved family during this difficult time, and is extending all necessary assistance in close coordination with the local authorities,” the Consulate posted on X.
A UTSC spokesperson said the university was “extremely saddened” to learn about the death near their campus, but did not confirm if he was a student, CP24 Television network reported.
“We cannot comment on the identity of the victim at this time,” the spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday evening.
“We are grateful to our Campus Safety team, Toronto Police Service and emergency medical service personnel for their immediate response and action.”
The UTSC issued a safety alert advising anyone in a building to stay inside and anyone outdoors to leave the area.
In a social media post, the school said the police investigation is in the Highland Creek Valley at UTSC. It said pathways into the valley remain closed, and people are advised to avoid the valley until police reopen it.

El CENTRO, CA (TIP) : U.S. Border Patrol agents have arrested 30 Indian nationals living in the United States without legal status after discovering they were operating semi-trucks with commercial driver’s licenses, authorities said this week.

The arrests were part of a broader immigration enforcement effort in California’s El Centro Sector, where agents apprehended 49 undocumented immigrants between November 23 and December 12, 2025, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The individuals were stopped at immigration checkpoints and during highway inspections while driving commercial vehicles.
Federal officials said the operation was launched in response to growing concerns over public safety and regulatory compliance in the commercial trucking industry. Authorities noted that individuals without lawful immigration status are not permitted to operate commercial motor vehicles under federal law.
Most of the commercial driver’s licenses involved in the case were issued by California, with others traced to states including Florida, Illinois, New York, and Pennsylvania. Officials are now examining how the drivers were able to obtain and use those licenses despite lacking legal authorization to work in the United States.
The enforcement action was carried out in coordination with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations as part of a targeted initiative focusing on commercial trucking operations.
Authorities said the crackdown follows a series of serious and fatal truck crashes in recent months involving undocumented drivers, incidents that have intensified scrutiny of licensing practices and employer compliance in the freight industry.
Those arrested are expected to face immigration proceedings. Federal officials emphasized that investigations into potential employer violations and licensing irregularities are ongoing.
The case has added a new dimension to the national debate over immigration enforcement, labor shortages in the trucking sector, and the responsibility of states and employers to ensure that commercial drivers meet both safety and legal requirements.