Masked US officials detain Turkish PhD scholar over pro-Palestinian stance
Massachusetts: Turkish PhD scholar Rumeysa Ozturk was arrested outside her residence in Massachusetts on March 26 by masked US border security forces. Ozturk, a student at Tufts University, was reportedly detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while heading to an Iftar dinner.
Her detention is part of a broader crackdown under the Trump administration against pro-Palestinian activists. Ozturk, who previously completed her master’s at Columbia University as a Fulbright Scholar, co-authored a 2024 opinion essay in the Tufts student newspaper criticizing the university’s stance on Gaza and advocating for divestment from companies linked to Israel.
The Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MA) has condemned what it termed the “abduction” of the scholar. Ozturk’s arrest follows a pattern of detentions, including those of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil and Georgetown University researcher Badar Khan Suri. Her case has also been linked to Canary Mission, a pro-Israel website known for blacklisting pro-Palestinian students and activists.
Amid the US’ bid to curb pro-Palestinian voices, a Turkish PhD scholar was arrested outside her residence in Massachusetts on Wednesday, March 26, in the United States, by masked US border security forces.
— The Siasat Daily (@TheSiasatDaily) March 27, 2025
The scholar has been identified as Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish national and… pic.twitter.com/iYXiGAJVno
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Delhi man stages burglary at own house to repay loans, arrested
New Delhi (PTI): A 45-year-old man, who had reported a burglary at his house in Uttam Nagar, was arrested after it was found that he had staged the crime to repay his mounting debts, a police officer said on Monday.
The accused, identified as Butta Singh, worked as an AC technician and owned a shop in Sewak Park, he said.
Facing financial losses and struggling to repay loans, he allegedly stole gold jewellery from his house and reported a fake burglary, the officer added.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Ankit Singh said, "Butta Singh had lodged a complaint on March 21, stating that between 3 pm and 6 pm, unidentified people had stolen a gold necklace set, a gold mangalsutra, two gold rings, a gold chain and Rs 45,000 in cash from his residence."
A case was registered at Uttam Nagar police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
During the probe, Singh's wife told police that around the time of the incident, she had left home to buy groceries, while her husband was out for work and children in school. When she returned, the jewellery was found missing.
The DCP said investigators noted that there were no signs of forced entry, and only Singh and his wife had the house keys.
CCTV footage from the area showed no unknown persons coming to the building at the said time, but Singh himself was seen entering and leaving the house within nine minutes.
His mobile phone records revealed messages from a finance company regarding gold pledges, the DCP said.
After being confronted with the evidence, Singh confessed that he had stolen the jewellery to clear overdue loan payments. He took a loan when he purchased his shop in 2022 and later took another loan to renovate it.
Additionally, he had bought a seven-seater taxi on bank credit, but financial setbacks led him into deep debt, the officer said.
Police have recovered a gold necklace set and a gold ring from his possession. Other gold items were found to be mortgaged at a pawn shop in Uttam Nagar.
Singh has no previous criminal record, police said.
