Indian-American entrepreneur dies after cottage catches fire
Houston (PTI): An Indian-American entrepreneur and her dog perished in a fire which broke out at her Dix Hills cottage home in Long Island, New York on December 14, officials said.
According to police, they responded to the blaze at 2:53 am on December 14 inside the cottage in Dix Hills. Two police officers and a sergeant attempted to save Tanya Bathija (32), but the flames were too strong.
The victim died in the incident before local fire departments were able to fully extinguish the blaze. The policemen were transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment after inhaling smoke, they said on Saturday.
The Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) said after an initial investigation, the fire has been determined to be non-criminal.
"Bathija lived in the cottage behind her parents' house on Carlls Straight Path," Suffolk Police Det Lt Kevin Beyrer, head of the department's homicide squad, said.
Bathija's father, Gobind Bathija, a businessman and a community leader, woke up early to exercise before work on December 14 when he looked out of the window and noticed that the cottage was on fire, Beyrer said.
"He alerted his wife and called 911. They ran outside towards the cottage and tried to get their daughter out, but it was fully engulfed," the officer added.
Tanya Bathija was well-known in the community in Dix Hills, an affluent hamlet on Long Island in the town of Huntington in Suffolk County, New York.
After completing her MBA in accounting and finance, she went on to become a successful businesswoman. She had recently opened a Dunkin' Donuts outlet in Bellport, and had another one in the works for Blue Point.
She was also involved in both the Bellport and Patchogue chamber of commerce and worked with the Boys and Girls Club and Long Island Head Start.
"Tanya was an amazing and energetic business leader for the community. She will be dearly missed," David Kennedy, executive director, Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce said.
A funeral will take place on Sunday at 10 am at Maloney's Lake Funeral Home and Cremation Centre in Lake Ronkonkoma. A prayer service will be held the same day at 4 pm at Asamai Hindu Temple in Hicksville, family members said.
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Canadian report finds 'no definitive link' between Nijjar killing and India
Ottawa, Jan 29 (PTI): A Canada commission report has said that "no definitive link" with a "foreign state" in the killing of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was "proven", smashing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations that accused the involvement of Indian agents in the killing.
In September 2023, Trudeau said Canada had credible evidence that agents of the Indian government were involved in the murder of Nijjar in British Columbia in June 2023.
The report titled "Public Inquiry Into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions' was released on Tuesday.
In the report commissioner Marie-Josee Hogue said "Disinformation is used as a retaliatory tactic to punish decisions that run contrary to a state's interests."
The report has suggested India spread disinformation on the killing of Nijjar.
"This may have been the case with a disinformation campaign that followed the Prime Minister's announcement regarding suspected Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar (though again no definitive link to a foreign state could be proven)," the report said.
Nijjar was gunned down in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023.
The 123-page report also talked of expelling six Indian diplomats.
"In October 2024, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials in reaction to a targeted campaign against Canadian citizens by agents linked to the Government of India," it said.
However, India expelled six Canadian diplomats and announced the withdrawal of its high commissioner.
The relations between India and Canada came under severe strain following Prime Minister Trudeau's allegations in September last year of the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar.
New Delhi had rejected Trudeau's charges as "absurd".
India has repeatedly criticised Trudeau's government for being soft on supporters of the Khalistan movement who live in Canada. The Khalistan movement is banned in India but has support among the Sikh diaspora, particularly in Canada.
On Tuesday, India strongly rejected "insinuations" made against it in the report by a Canadian commission that investigated allegations that certain foreign governments were meddling in Canada's elections.
In a strong reaction, the MEA in New Delhi said it rejects the report's "insinuations" on India.
It is in fact Canada which has been "consistently interfering" in India's internal affairs, it said.
