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Deadly bomb blast near Damascus Shia shrine ahead of Ashura

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At least six people have been killed and more than 20 wounded after a bomb exploded near a Shia Muslim shrine south of the Syrian capital Damascus a day ahead of Ashura – a day of mourning observed by Shia Muslims, according to the interior ministry.

The blast near the Sayeda Zeinab mausoleum, Syria’s most visited Shia pilgrimage site, was caused when a motorcycle exploded near a taxi, the interior ministry said on Thursday. It called it a “terrorist bombing”.

State television earlier reported that the explosion was caused by a “bomb placed in a taxi by unidentified people”.

News agency was not able to independently verify the casualty figures and the circumstances around the blast.

“We heard a huge blast and people began to run,” 39-year-old civil servant Ibrahim told news agency.

“Then ambulances arrived and security forces cordoned off the area.”

He said the explosion took place “near a security building around 600 metres from the mausoleum of Sayeda Zeinab”, granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad and the daughter of Imam Ali.

The London-based monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the explosion took place close to positions of Iranian militias, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad alongside Russia in Syria’s continuing conflict now in its 13th year.

Charred taxi surrounded by large crowds

Photos shared by Al-Ikhbariya state TV and pro-government media showed the charred taxi surrounded by large crowds of people and men in military fatigues. The area’s buildings had green, red, and black Ashura flags and banners hung.

In a video shared on social media, people carried two men covered in blood and dust off the ground while calling for help. The glass facades of shops nearby had shattered, while one was on fire.

Ashura is the 10th day of the Islamic month of Muharram, which is one of the holiest months for Shia Muslims. It marks the martyrdom of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussein, and his 72 companions in the battle of Karbala in the seventh century in present-day Iraq. Ashura marks the peak of the mourning procession.

Sunni Muslims commemorate the day through voluntary fasting as it marks the day Nuh (Noah) left the Ark and the day Musa (Moses) was saved from the pharaoh of Egypt by God.

They also emulate the Prophet Muhammad who used to fast on Ashura in Mecca, where it became a common tradition for the early Muslims.

The explosion is the second in the Sayeda Zeinab neighbourhood in the days leading to Ashura. On Tuesday, Syrian state media citing a police official said that two civilians were wounded after a motorcycle laced with explosives was detonated.

Frequent targets

Earlier this week, two people were wounded in a separate blast outside the shrine, where pilgrims have been flocking to mark a mourning period for Shia Muslims.

The Sayeda Zeinab mausoleum was hit by several deadly bombings during the country’s civil war that erupted in 2011.

Since then, the mosque complex with its turquoise ceramics and gold dome in the Iranian style has been defended by Shia militiamen, mostly Lebanese and Iraqi, as well as by the army.

Attacks have nonetheless declined in recent years, with some of the security measures relaxed.

The Islamic State armed group (ISIL/ISIS) said it was behind a double suicide attack in February 2016, 400 meters from the mausoleum, that killed 134 people, including more than 90 civilians.

The group had also claimed a triple blast near the sanctuary several weeks earlier that took the lives of at least 70 people.

Crime

12-year-old boy dies in B’luru residential school; family protests alleging assault by teacher

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Bengaluru, July 8: A 12-year-old student of a residential school in Bengaluru died under suspicious circumstances on Wednesday, prompting allegations of assault by teachers and protests by his family members and relatives.

The deceased has been identified as Gurukiran, a Class 6 student at the prominent school located in Kadayarappanahalli village in Bengaluru North Taluk. He was the son of Raghavendra, a resident of Subedarpalya.

According to the school management, Gurukiran collapsed while jogging on the school campus early in the morning. School authorities informed his parents over the phone around 6 a.m., stating that he had fallen ill and had been shifted to a hospital. However, by the time the parents reached the hospital, the boy had died.

The bereaved family has alleged that Gurukiran was physically assaulted by teachers using iron rods and sticks, and claimed that the pressure exerted on him at the residential school led to his death.

Speaking to reporters, Gurukiran’s father, Raghavendra, said, “My son was admitted to this school when he was studying in Class 5. The school claims that he collapsed while jogging this morning. But when we reached the hospital, we found him dead. I suspect something happened inside the school. The teachers might have assaulted him or done something to him.”

He further alleged that another student informed the family that Gurukiran had been beaten with an iron rod while staying in the hostel. “We have been told that the physical education teacher assaulted him. The police are protecting the teacher,” he alleged.

Raghavendra said his son had never complained about any harassment or assault at the school. “He never shared any complaints with us. What could happen to a child studying in Class 6? I strongly suspect he was assaulted. The school called us at around 6 a.m., saying he had collapsed while jogging and that his pulse rate had dropped,” he said.

Following the incident, Gurukiran’s parents and relatives gathered outside the residential school and staged a protest against the management. They alleged that the boy had been beaten with sticks and iron rods and demanded a thorough investigation.

Personnel from the Bagalur Police Station rushed to the school and attempted to pacify the agitated family members and relatives.

Another relative, Yashasvini, alleged that the family was initially not allowed to see Gurukiran’s body after reaching the hospital.

“When we reached the hospital, we were not allowed to see the child’s body. We later learned that the school staff had taken him to another hospital. We don’t know what actually happened. When we asked the management for the CCTV footage, they claimed that the cameras were damaged and the footage was unavailable,” she said.

Questioning the school’s version, she added, “If he suffered a heart attack, there should have been some signs. They have not provided any proper explanation and are simply saying that he collapsed while jogging. He was perfectly healthy. During the summer vacation, he spent time with us and never had any health issues. He was never hospitalised before. How are we supposed to believe this?”

The family also questioned the school’s claim that Gurukiran completed two rounds of jogging before collapsing during the third one. They alleged that the management failed to provide CCTV footage from either the jogging area or the room where he was reportedly taken after collapsing.

“They are saying the CCTV footage is unavailable because the cameras were damaged. We found that the CCTV cameras had been removed and the wires had been cut. We suspect foul play. Other students have also told us that children are beaten in the school,” a relative alleged.

Tension prevailed at the school as angry parents allegedly assaulted the physical education teacher in the presence of police personnel. The police intervened and managed to rescue the teacher from the agitated crowd.

Police have launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of Gurukiran’s death. Further investigation is underway.

When contacted, the phone went unanswered at the residential school. The school is yet to react to the allegations.

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Crime

Assam road rage accused arrested, not linked to BJP: Himanta Sarma

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Guwahati, July 7: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that the accused in the recent road rage incident in Guwahati has been arrested and clarified that the individual has no association with the BJP.

The Chief Minister’s statement came amid social media posts claiming that the accused was a BJP youth leader after a video of the alleged assault surfaced online and triggered widespread outrage.

“The accused has been arrested and is not associated with the BJP,” Sarma said in a post on social media platform X.

Reiterating the state government’s zero-tolerance policy towards such incidents, the Chief Minister asserted that strict legal action would be taken against anyone involved in acts of violence on public roads.

“Road rage has no place in Assam. Anyone who indulges in such acts will face the full force of the law,” Sarma added.

The clarification came after several social media users, including public commentators, shared a dashcam video purportedly showing a confrontation between two motorists in Guwahati.

The video allegedly captured a car owner being assaulted following an altercation on the road, prompting calls for immediate action against the accused.

The incident sparked a political debate after claims circulated online that the accused was linked to the ruling BJP.

However, the Chief Minister dismissed those allegations, stating that the accused was not affiliated with the party. Police have already arrested the accused in connection with the incident. However, officials are yet to release detailed information regarding the charges invoked or the circumstances that led to the confrontation.

The viral video has generated widespread public concern over incidents of aggressive driving and road rage in urban areas. Netizens and civil society members have urged authorities to ensure swift prosecution of those responsible and to strengthen enforcement against violent behaviour on the roads.

The Assam government has repeatedly maintained that law and order violations will be dealt with firmly irrespective of the background or affiliation of those involved.

Further investigation into the incident is underway, and police are expected to record statements of witnesses and examine the video footage as part of the probe.

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Crime

Intoxicated passenger threatens to kill man in Mumbai local; arrested after threat video goes viral

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Mumbai, July 4: A disturbing incident aboard a Mumbai suburban local train has once again raised concerns over passenger safety after a man allegedly threatened to kill a fellow commuter during an altercation. The incident comes just weeks after a youth was stabbed on a Mumbai local train, leading to his death.

The accused was later arrested by the LTT Railway Police after a video of the incident went viral on social media.

The accused has been identified as Ramzan Fakir Mohammad Ibrahim Qureshi, also known as Ibba (36), a resident of Shivaji Nagar.

According to the Railway Police, he was allegedly travelling in a heavily intoxicated condition when he threatened the life of another passenger over what officials described as a trivial issue.

The Railway Police stated that the incident took place on June 29, 2026, aboard a ‘Down’ direction Mumbai local train that had departed from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). The train was passing near Govandi station at around 10:34 P.M. when the altercation occurred.

Officials said the confrontation took place between Govandi and Chembur stations. The complainant, Surendra Shukla (55), a resident of Ulwe in Navi Mumbai, told police that he had boarded the train at Govandi. He alleged that the accused was speaking to someone on his mobile phone while using abusive language in a loud voice and appeared to be heavily intoxicated.

According to Shukla, he requested the accused to refrain from using abusive language because women were travelling in the compartment. The request allegedly enraged the accused, who suddenly became aggressive, started shouting and allegedly threatened to kill him in full public view.

The incident created panic and an atmosphere of fear among passengers travelling in the compartment. During the altercation, another commuter recorded the entire episode on a mobile phone. The video was later uploaded on social media, where it spread rapidly and drew widespread attention.

After the video went viral, the LTT Railway Police took cognisance of the matter and immediately launched an investigation. Officials said the detection team carried out a technical analysis of the viral footage and examined CCTV footage from railway stations and nearby areas to identify the accused.

Based on the investigation, police tracked the accused’s movements and eventually detained him outside Reay Road railway station. He was subsequently arrested, and further legal proceedings are underway.

The incident comes close on the heels of another similar case reported in Borivali, adding to concerns over the safety and security of passengers on Mumbai’s suburban rail network.

On June 23, a 22-year-old passenger was stabbed to death inside a first-class compartment of a Churchgate-Nallasopara fast local train following an argument over keeping the coach door open during heavy rain, police said.

The victim, identified as Mayank Lohar, a resident of Virar, was travelling in the first-class coach of Train No. 90663, when the incident occurred between Andheri and Borivali stations, when he reportedly asked the accused Roshan Suvarna to close the coach door.

The request allegedly led to a heated argument between the two passengers. During the altercation, the accused Suvarna allegedly pulled out a sharp weapon and stabbed Lohar in the abdomen, inflicting serious injuries that led to his death.

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