Police Arrests US Fugitive in Panjab; Youth Stranded in Timor-Leste

September

2026

Panjab police have arrested American citizen Manjit Singh Bedi who was on the US' Federal Bureau of Investigation Most Wanted Fraudsters list, with a reward of USD 150K for running a scam linked to the US government’s food benefits program. Panjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said, 'Bedi was wanted in connection with a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits fraud case in the US, and allegedly fled to India via Canada in April 2026 to evade the law.' Bedi defrauded the US government of at least USD 600K between March 2024–June 2025. Bedi is from Jalandhar and operated a small grocery shop called Asian Grocery Store in Tacoma, Washington. Meanwhile, Toronto, Canada police have released an image of a suspect—32-year-old Lakshitha Arakmullage—who they say is responsible for two hate-related assaults involving a weapon in Toronto’s downtown in August. The first incident occurred at Union Station on 29 Aug when Arakmullage approached a person and made anti-Sikh utterances and racial slurs. The victim, police said, was not injured. About an hour later, Arakmullage approached two people near Queens Quay West and Lower Spadina Avenue. One victim was stabbed in the leg, suffering injuries. Meanwhile, a stock market trader Jaspreet Singh from Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar and a friend accused a hotel in Salzburg, Austria, of denying them entry because they were wearing turbans. Calling it ‘religious discrimination and racism’, the men alleged that they were also denied a refund for their bookings. The hotel maintained that turbans were not allowed on their premises. Furthermore, 34 youths from Panjab and Rajasthan are stranded in Dili, Timor-Leste, for nearly five to six months after allegedly being sent there by agents who promised them employment and a better future in Australia. Families of eight of the stranded youths contacted Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament) Member of Parliament Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal through a video call seeking help for their safe return. Seechewal, currently in England, contacted the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and initiated efforts to facilitate their repatriation. The families said that agents had collected between USD 47–100K from each family after promising to arrange jobs in Australia. The families claimed they arranged the money by mortgaging houses, land and jewelry, and taking loans (earlier coverage).