Post by : Saif Rahman

Authorities in India have reported that the family of Sajid Akram, implicated in the tragic Bondi Beach shooting in Australia, was unaware of his extremist beliefs. Telangana police emphasized that there's no evidence connecting his radicalisation to India or any influence from his home state.

The tragic incident, occurring during a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, has been labelled as one of Australia's worst mass shootings in nearly three decades, resulting in 16 fatalities, including that of Sajid Akram, who was killed by police.

Reports from Australian law enforcement indicate that Sajid Akram, who emigrated to Australia in 1998, was 50 years old at the time of the incident. His son, Naveed Akram (24), allegedly assisted in the attack and is currently hospitalized in critical condition following a police shooting.

A Tuesday statement from Telangana police highlighted that Sajid was originally from Hyderabad but had minimal interaction with his family in India. Family members expressed being completely unaware of his extremist ideologies or any plans he may have had, including events that could have contributed to his radicalisation.

Indian police have confirmed that Sajid visited India six times since relocating to Australia, primarily for family matters, and found no record of criminal activity during his stays.

Australian authority statements revealed that both Sajid and Naveed had traveled to the Philippines last month, with Sajid utilizing an Indian passport and Naveed an Australian one. The motivations for that trip are still being investigated, and officials are trying to determine potential connections to extremist organizations or activities.

Telangana police clarified that current findings suggest no ties to Indian radical networks in the case of the two individuals. There appears to be no local influence or involvement from Hyderabad or any region of Telangana.

This clarification is timely, given that violent incidents often spur speculation about international terrorist affiliations. Indian authorities have underscored the necessity for fact-based investigations to safeguard families or communities from unwarranted suspicion.

While investigations progress in Australia, Indian law enforcement agencies have committed to cooperating fully with any inquiries. Officials have stressed that the family of the gunman in India played no role, nor had any prior knowledge or indications of the violence that transpired far from home.

#Global News