Hotelier murdered in Chennai, body dumped in Orissa, three from Andaman Islands held
Sri Vijay Puram(Port Blair): The Chennai Police have arrested three residents of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, in Tamil Nadu for the alleged murder of Port Blair-based hotelier Niamat Ali.
Ali, 49, a co-owner of a hotel in the Shadipur area of Sri Vijay Puram( Port Blair) had travelled to Chennai on July 27, 2025, on a business trip. He went missing on the same day. His family lodged a complaint at Aberdeen Police Station, after he was unreachable. A missing persons case was registered on July 28, following which a special police team was deputed to Chennai to assist in the search.
To investigate the crime a team was formed led by Sub-Inspector G. Mohan Rao, with officers from PS Aberdeen, and PC/614 Jairaj, S2 Police Station, Chennai Airport and other local authorities. Investigators confirmed Ali's travel from Chennai Airport to the Vandalur neighborhood using CCTV footage, mobile call data and witness testimony. He was last seen with an Andaman Islands student studying in Chennai identified as Mohammed Ayaan.
The case was transferred to PS Khilambatham in Tambaram District, Tamil Nadu, based on the information gathered, for further investigation. Tamil Nadu Police later registered FIR No. 36/2025 and reclassified the matter as a murder case.
Subsequent inquiries revealed that Ali was allegedly strangulated to death inside a car. The car was later abandoned at the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border along with the body. Investigators suspect business rivalry as a possible motive, while other angles remain under examination.
According to police all four suspects linked to the case hail from the Andaman Islands and one of them is believed to be a woman. Officials have withheld her identity pending further inquiry. One accused is reportedly a resident of Shadipur, South Andaman. The remaining three are students from the Islands studying on the mainland.
The revelation of strong Andaman connections has added a new dimension to the investigation, which initially focused on disputes arising in Chennai. Authorities are now examining whether the crime was pre-planned with local involvement and not an isolated act committed during Ali’s business visit.
Hargobinder Singh Dhaliwal, IPS, the Director General of Police, Andaman and Nicobar Islands coordinated with Tamil Nadu Police to facilitate inter-state cooperation. The DGP has also assured that the matter is followed up and the victim's family receives the necessary support throughout the inquiry.
Calling for transparency during the investigation, Ali's wife, Mandeep Kaur said, "The truth needs to come out."
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
