News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know News India Times (November 1, 2025 - November 7, 2025) November 7, 2025 12 Community Hundreds Of Legal Professionals Attend SABA-NJ Annual Gala O n October 23, 2025, the South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey hosted its 11th Annual Gala at The Marigold, attended by more than 400 attorneys, judges, and community leaders. The growing influence of the South Asian legal community in New Jersey was reflected in the gathering, a press release from the organization said. Emcee Neha Mahajan opened the night, followed by an energetic performance by Rudra Dance Academy, and later a powerful a-cappel- la set by Rutgers RAAG performers. President Mishita Jethi delivered opening remarks, followed by Immediate Past President Prema Roddam and President-Elect Hozaifa Cassubhai, who played central roles in the evening’s award presentations. Among others who addressed the gathering was NJ State Senator Vin Gopal. The keynote address was delivered by Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai of the US District Court for the District of Oregon. His words on leader- ship, justice, and identity deeply resonated with the audience, organizers said. SABA-NJ’s leadership honored outstand- ing legal professionals, presenting its annual awards. The event concluded with the presen- tation of scholarship recognitions, reaffirming the organization’s commitment to investing in the next generation of South Asian legal talent. By a StaffWriter PHOTOS:CourtesySABA New Jersey State Senator Vin Gopal addressing the 11th Annual Gala 2025 of SABA at The Marigold, NJ, October 23, 2025. SABA NJ 2025 office holders at the October 23, 2025, 11th Annual Gala held at The Marigold. Immediate Past President Prema Roddam , President Mishita Jethi and President-Elect Hozaifa Cassubhai at the October 23, 2025, SABA Annual Gala in New Jersey. President-Elect Hozaifa Cassubhai, Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai, and SABA-NJ President Mishita Jethi. Man Accused Of Stabbing Two Teens With Metal Fork During Flight A man allegedly stabbed two teenagers with a metal fork and attempted to slap a crew member aboard a Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Germany over the weekend, causing the plane to divert to Boston, authorities said Monday. A short way into Saturday’s flight, just after the meal service, one of the victims, a 17-year-old boy, awoke to find the ac- cused, Praneeth Kumar Usiripalli, 28, standing over him in the middle seat, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts said in a news release. The Indian national allegedly stabbed the boy in the left collar bone area with a metal fork before stabbing a second boy, also 17, who was seated beside him in a center row, in the back of the head with the fork, causing a laceration. The victims have not been publicly identified. As flight crew members attempted to subdue Usiripalli, authorities say he formed an imaginary gun with his fingers and gestured that he was shooting himself in the mouth. The man then slapped a female passenger to his left and attempted to slap a flight crew member, charging documents state. The plane, which took off from Chi- cago O’Hare International Airport at approximately 4:26 p.m. Saturday bound for Frankfurt, was in the air for about two hours before it landed early due to the in- cident, according to FlightAware. Usiripal- li was taken into custody at Boston Logan International Airport, authorities said. Usiripalli was charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon with the intent to do bodily harm. He faces up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a maximum fine of $250,000, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. “Usiripalli presently does not have law- ful status in the United States,” the U.S. attorney’s office said, adding that he had previously been admitted to the coun- try on a student visa and was recently enrolled in a master’s program for biblical studies. The Massachusetts State Police, Luf- thansa Airlines and the Transportation Se- curity Administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Federal Aviation Administration has warned that airlines have seen “rapid growth” in unruly passenger incidents in recent years. It defines such incidents as those “where airline passengers have disrupted flights with threatening or vio- lent behavior.” The FAA has documented at least 1,205 unruly incidents so far this year. Earlier this year, a 35-year-old Mas- sachusetts man was sentenced to time served and five years of supervised release after spending 26 months in prison for attempting to stab a flight attendant in the neck with a broken metal spoon aboard a United Airlines flight from Boston to Los Angeles in March 2023. Last year, a man aboard an Alaska Air- lines flight from Seattle to Las Vegas was arrested after authorities said he stabbed a fellow passenger with an improvised weapon made of several pens bound together by rubber bands. -TheWashington Post By Kelly Kasulis Cho