Ex-Congress Mayor accused in Bengaluru riots case is absconding: Police
Bengaluru: Former Mayor and sitting Congress corporator R Sampath Raj, an accused in the case related to the recent mob violence here, is 'absconding' after being discharged from a hospital where he underwent treatment for COVID-19, police said on Friday.
Police learnt about the discharge of Raj, accused of instigating the violence here in August when Assistant Commissioner of Police Venugopal visited the hospital on Thursday.
"Yes, he is absconding. We are looking for him," Venugopal, who is investigating the case, told PTI.
According to police, Venugopal had issued a notice to the hospital authorities on October 7 asking them to inform police before discharging Raj.
However, the hospital had discharged him without informing the police, following which another notice had been issued to its authorities, they said.
Over 3,000 people went on a rampage on August 11 torching the residences of Congress MLA R Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy, his sister, and the D J Halli, and KG Halli police stations here over an inflammatory social media post by the relative of the legislator.
In its charge sheet filed earlier this month, police had accused Raj of instigating the mob against the MLA to finish him politically.
The police have arrested over 400 people, including the Social Democratic Party of India leader Muzammil Pasha, in connection with the violence in which three people were killed in police firing and one died due to injuries.
The National Investigation Agency is also probing the case simultaneously and has arrested two conspirators.
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Three footballers of Indian origin named in squads for FIFA World Cup 2026
New Delhi: Three footballers of Indian origin have been named in preliminary or final squads for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held across the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19.
According to a report published by Mathrubhumi, Sarpreet Singh was included in the New Zealand national football team squad which was announced on Wednesday.
Born in Auckland to Indian parents, Singh was eligible to represent India through his family roots but chose to play for New Zealand. The 27-year-old attacking midfielder made his senior international debut in 2018 and has since become a regular member of the national side.
Singh has made 26 appearances for New Zealand and has scored three goals while providing seven assists.
Julen Lopetegui has included two players of Indian origin: Niall Mason and Tahsin Mohammed, in Qatar’s selections for the tournament.
Mason, a defender whose mother is Indian, previously trained in the youth academies of Real Madrid, Southampton FC and Aston Villa FC. Although he received his first senior call-up earlier this year, the Qatar defender is yet to make his senior international debut.
Tahsin Mohammed, 19, was born to parents from Kerala’s Kannur district. His father Jamshid is from Thalassery, while his mother Shaima belongs to Valapattanam. The winger became the first player of Indian origin to feature in the Qatar Stars League, Qatar’s premier domestic football competition.
Mohammed has made two appearances for the senior Qatar side, including in a World Cup qualifier against Afghanistan in June 2024.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be jointly hosted by United States, Mexico and Canada.
