Inspired by Donald Trump, US gunman kills Muslim scholar, companion

[email protected] (News Network)
August 14, 2016

New York, Aug 14: A terrorist allegedly inspired by US presidential candidate Donald Trump, killed a revered imam and his friend in New York as the pair walked home from Saturday prayers, blasting each in the back of the head without a word.

maulanaMaulama Akonjee, the Imam of Al-Furqan Jame Masjid Mosque in Ozone Park and his friend Thara Uddin were dressed in Muslim garb when the killer “approached from behind and shot” from point-blank range, said NYPD Deputy Inspector Henry Sautner of the Queens South Detective Bureau.

Akonjee, 55, a married father of three, was a respected religious leader since his arrival in Queens from Bangladesh less than two years ago. Uddin, 65, died about four hours after the attack.

“We are all crying,” said his brother Mashuk Uddin. “There's so much crying.”

Scores of worshipers from the mosque gathered within hours at the murder scene to denounce the cold-blooded ambush as a hate crime.

“That's not what America is about,” said local resident Khairul Islam, 33. “We blame Donald Trump for this . . . Trump and his drama has created Islamophobia.”

A high-ranking police source said the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force would investigate, but it was “too early to say” what the motive was.

A second source said investigators were looking into the possibility of a botched robbery because one of the men was found carrying several hundred dollars.

The shooter left his victims lying in their own blood just one block from the Al-Furqan Jame Mosque in Ozone Park, where the two victims prayed together only minutes earlier.

Police sources said they have witnesses who saw the killer holding a gun, as well as security video of the shooter following the imam and his friend. The footage then captures the man sprinting back, this time with a gun in his hand.

The imam's nephew said Akonjee had no problems with anyone in the neighborhood.

“I'm not sure what kind of an animal would kill that man,” said Rahi Majid, 26. “He would not hurt a fly. You would watch him come down the street and watch the peace he brings.”

The gunshots rang out around 1:55 p.m. on 79th St., police said. Uddin, also a father of three, was lying on the ground bleeding heavily when his nephew arrived by chance at the scene.

“I was upset. I cried. He's my uncle,” Rezwan Uddin, 28, said.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene where the silent shooter started blasting at the two unarmed victims in the middle of a blistering August afternoon.

“We are devastated,” said Kobir Chowdhury, president of a different neighborhood mosque. “We need to get to the bottom of this. We need to know if they did this just because of our religion.”

Local residents described the imam as a pious, well-regarded member of the community. Akonjee was leaving for Bangladesh in 10 days to attend his son's wedding, said Ahmed Zakria, a member of the mosque.

The imam was “a very sweet, soft-spoken, humble man,” said Chowdhury, 40. “He's a role model as an imam, as a father, as a community member. He didn't have any disputes with anybody.”

A police source said there were no reports of any problems going back several years at the mosque.

A bullet tore through the brain of Uddin, who was on life-support at Jamaica Hospital before passing away, said his brother Mashuk. The victims, both natives of Bangladesh, were apparently headed to Uddin's house when they were attacked.

“I'm very shocked,” said Mashuk Uddin. “I'm shaking, my whole body. Not any problems with anybody. He just goes to the mosque, prays and goes home.”

Cops and witnesses described the shooter as tall and Hispanic, carrying a large handgun, and wearing a dark blue shirt and shorts.

“I mean, I was scared,” said witness Steven Nauth, 27. “I had my little cousin out here and I told him to run.”

The gunfire erupted near a storage facility and a block away from the elevated A train station, officials said.

“People being shot in the head in broad daylight is unheard of,” said Millat Uddin, a 25-year resident of the neighborhood who is not related to the victim, Thara Uddin. “Killing people brutally, like they're an animal.”

Roughly 300 angry protesters clogged the streets late Saturday. “This community has been rocked by this crime,” said Councilman Eric Ulrich.

Afterward, they packed into a nearby mosque for an emotional news conference attended by Muslim leaders and a City Hall official.

“Please, read my lips. This is a hate crime no matter which way you look at it,” Chowdhury said.

Comments

saleem
 - 
Sunday, 14 Aug 2016

Inna lillahi wa inna ilahi rajioon

REHAN
 - 
Sunday, 14 Aug 2016

Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Rajioon

aharkul
 - 
Sunday, 14 Aug 2016

??? ??? ? ??? ???? ??????

May ALLAH (SWT) bestow both of them a Jennathul Firdouse for their service to Muslim Humanity.

REcognise
 - 
Sunday, 14 Aug 2016

Dear Satyameva Jayate...

Islam never teaches us to be like them even if they blame innocent people as terrorist.. Be patience and dont b like them who always blame others to get away with their drawbacks and evil acts... Our religion doesnt teaches us to be arrogant... Arrogant and the oppressors are the fuels for the hell fire. Arrogant people will always complain and the people who blindly belief even after getting lot of proofs that muslims are innocent.. will also be a part with them... which will be eternal if they dont repent to God for their mistakes. God forgives every sin except associating partners with him.

Satyameva jayate
 - 
Sunday, 14 Aug 2016

Christian terrorists. ... real enemies of Islam...

Mohammed SS
 - 
Sunday, 14 Aug 2016

??? ??? ? ??? ???? ???????

Brother
 - 
Sunday, 14 Aug 2016

inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un : Surely We belong to ALLAH and to him is his return.

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News Network
June 20,2020

Shivamogga, Jun 20: Shivamogga District unit of Congress led by party veteran Kagodu Thimmappa staged a protest against state government's proposal to amend the land reform act, which will allow non-agriculturist to buy farmland.

The leaders of Farmers' Union (Raith Sangh) also staged a protest at Mahaveer circle and questioned CM's stand as he took oath in the name of farmers.

The district congress staged a protest at the premise of the Deputy Commissioner office in Shivamogga city.

The protesters termed Karnataka Government led by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa as an anti-farmers government.

According to Congress and Raith Sang, the proposed amendments to Karnataka State Land reforms act 1961 will cause harm to farmers.

"According to the proposed amendment, non-agriculturists like business tycoons can also purchase the agriculture land. This will help the businessman and will be harmful to farmers," protesters said.

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News Network
March 9,2020

Kochi, Mar 9: A three-year old child has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, officials said in Kochi on Monday.

The child and its parents who had reached the Cochin International Airport Limited at 6 AM on March 7 from Italy were subjected to thermal screening at the universal surveillance system established, officials said.

Detecting symptoms of coronavirus in the child, they were immediately referred to the isolation ward of the Kalamassery Medical College Hospital, they said. The samples of the child sent for examination at the NiV lab at Alappuzha have tested positive for Coronavirus, they said.

The samples of the parents have also been sent for lab test, the officials added.

Five fresh coronavirus cases, including three who evaded screening on return from Italy, were reported in Kerala, prompting the government on Sunday to sound a renewed alert and warn action against those hiding travel history to affected nations.

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coastaldigest.com news network
May 25,2020

Udupi, May 25: In an early morning robbery, two miscreants snatched around 1.2 kilo grams of gold jewelleries from a jeweller and ran away in Udupi.

The incident took place at around 5:30 am near Beedinagudde junction when jeweller Vijay was carrying the gold for lapidary work from his house at Bannanje to his store at Sri Laxmi Towar in Beedinagudde. 

They bumped into him when he going to the second floor of the Sri Laxmi Towar.

According to him, the miscreants who were wearing helmets threatened him with a knife then robbed jewelleries worth around Rs 50 lakh.

While decamping, the robbers also snatched his mobile phone and threw down from building.

Udupi town police conducted the spot investigation and registered a case. Further investigations are on.

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