Bangladeshi immigrant NYPD officer Didarul Islam killed in Manhattan mass shooting
Despite Shooter Shane Tamura being a U.S.-born non-Muslim, Islamophobes blame immigrants, Muslims
New York City: In one of the deadliest mass shootings in New York City in nearly 25 years, four people were killed when a gunman opened fire inside a Manhattan office building Monday evening. Among the victims was 36-year-old NYPD officer Didarul Islam, a Bangladeshi immigrant and father of two, who is now being remembered as a hero by city officials and his community.
According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the suspect, identified as Shane Devon Tamura, a 27-year-old Nevada resident with a documented mental health history, entered the lobby of 345 Park Avenue just after business hours and began shooting with an M4-style rifle. After killing Officer Islam and others on multiple floors of the building, Tamura ultimately died by suicide.
Police recovered a note from the scene in which Tamura expressed anger over his mental health struggles, suggesting a possible link to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) from his time playing football. Authorities believe this may explain why Tamura appeared to target the building, which houses the NFL’s headquarters among other major firms.
Officer Islam, who was working an off-duty security job at the time, was the first person shot. Eyewitnesses say he tried to respond to the threat before being fatally struck. He leaves behind a pregnant wife, two sons, and elderly parents. According to reports, his father suffered a stroke upon hearing the tragic news.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD colleagues have publicly praised Officer Islam’s bravery. “He died doing what he believed in — serving his community,” said a senior police official. Officer Islam had joined the force three and a half years ago after leaving a job as a school security guard. Friends and family recall that he took great pride in wearing the NYPD badge as a symbol of dedication and sacrifice.
Community leaders and civil rights advocates have pointed out that while Islam’s heroism was clear, right-wing figures quickly resorted to Islamophobic rhetoric in the immediate aftermath of the attack, despite the fact that the shooter was a U.S.-born non-Muslim man. Commentator Wajahat Ali, writing in Zeteo, condemned far-right influencers like Laura Loomer and Charlie Kirk for using the tragedy to spread hate against immigrants and Muslims.
“Even facts can’t deter Loomer’s relentless crusade to demonize and annihilate Muslims,” Ali wrote. “Officer Islam died protecting his neighbors. That’s his legacy. Not even their hate can erase that.”
Ali also drew parallels to Mohammad Salman Hamdani, a 23-year-old Muslim NYPD cadet who was vilified in the media after 9/11, only to be later recognized as a hero who died trying to save lives during the terror attack.
The shooting has reignited debates around mental health, gun violence, and racialized narratives in media and politics. Yet amid the noise, Officer Islam’s story stands out, a Muslim immigrant who gave his life in service of a city that too often overlooks the sacrifices of its most marginalized residents.
As New York mourns, tributes continue to pour in for Officer Islam from across the country. From local mosques to fellow officers, one message is clear: he died a hero, and his legacy will not be forgotten.
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
