‘US thwarted conspiracy to assassinate
Sikh separatist’
Washington, Nov 22: US authorities have thwarted a conspiracy to assassinate a Sikh separatist on American soil and issued a warning to India over concerns that it was involved in the plot, according to multiple people familiar with the case, a media report said. The target of the plot was Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an American and Canadian citizen who is the general counsel for Sikhs for Justice, a US-based group that is part of a movement pushing for an independent Sikh state called “Khalistan”, Financial Times reported. People familiar with the case, who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the intelligence that prompted the warning, did not say whether the protest to New Delhi led the plotters to abandon their plan, or whether the FBI intervened and foiled a scheme already in motion. (IANS)
Indians jailed for shoplifting apparel worth over Rs 1L
Singapore, Nov 22: Four Indian students were sentenced to jail in Singapore on Wednesday for conspiring to steal apparel over SG$1,700 (over Rs one lakh) from a retail store by removing the items’ price tags. Shihora Ridham Mukeshbhai, 20; Hun Smit Ashokbhai, 21; Kuvadiya Milan Ghansyambhai, 26, and Chauhan Ruchi Sanjaykumar, 25, were sentenced to between 40 and 65 days in jail, The Straits Times reported. Mukeshbhai was dealt the heaviest sentence after he pleaded guilty to one count of theft in dwelling and another count of attempting to commit a similar crime. The others admitted to one count of theft in dwelling or attempted theft each. The four shoplifters, who were on student passes in Singapore, studied at different schools. They stole the items by removing the price tags which contained radio-frequency identification. They then bought tote bags at the self-checkout area, stuffed the apparel into the bags, and pretended they had paid for all of their items. (IANS)
