Shabbir Ahmed Profile picture
Once a paperboy, now a journalist. Senior News Editor @thenewsminute . Chevening fellow. Opinions expressed here are personal.
Jan 8, 2023 4 tweets 2 min read
She was the youngest member of our bureau. Always cheerful and full of life. For every situation she would have a film scene reference and all our conversations turned out to be such fun. She was curious, talented, opinionated and had a flair for writing. In Aug 2022, days before her theatre performance, she met with an accident. We were taking her to a hospital and she was only worried about her performance. Such was her dedication.

I’m sure she had big plans for 2023. But life is just so cruel and fragile.
Aug 27, 2021 16 tweets 7 min read
#Thread: A heist-cum-murder took place at the sprawling estate of Ex-CM #Jayalalithaa at #Kodanadu in 2017

During the robbery attempt, watchman Om Bahadur was killed and as per the chargesheet, the accused stole only 10 wrist watches & a crystal rhinoceros doll from the estate Subsequent to the heist-cum-murder at #Kodanadu, the main accused Kanakaraj died in an accident 4 days after the crime

Similarly, another accused Sayan's car met with an accident. He lost his wife & child.

Later, the computer operator at the estate died by alleged suicide.
May 4, 2021 4 tweets 2 min read
Government and private hospitals in Chennai are overwhelmed. This is not to spread panic, but people in Chennai need to realise the seriousness of the situation and understand what we are up against.

Below are visuals from 3 major govt hospitals in the city.

Stanley Hospital: Rajiv Gandhi Govt General Hospital: Patients are given oxygen in ambulance even as they wait for admission & allotment of beds.
Mar 28, 2021 25 tweets 8 min read
Just 3 major incidents relating to law and order in the last 10 years of AIADMK govt, says a political analyst. Really? How about refreshing our memory?

First, how crime statistics are managed in #TamilNadu:

google.com/amp/s/timesofi… Bank robbery & alleged fake encounter 👇

google.com/amp/s/www.decc…
Mar 26, 2021 8 tweets 5 min read
Madras High Court Chief Justice observes why not postpone the #Puducherry elections till misuse of #Aadhar data inquiry by BJP is concluded?

ECI says #BJP did not obtain their permission to carry out bulk SMS campaign.

Court direct ECI to continue their investigation. UPDATE: Aadhar data used for targeted campaigning of voters by #BJP in #Puducherry. Petitioner is Anand DYFI president, respondent 2 is ECI & 6 is BJP.
Mar 24, 2021 6 tweets 4 min read
#THREAD

Why Madras High Court Chief Justice pulled up the Election Commission of India?

In a petition filed by a DYFI activist from #Pudhucherry alleges that private data of Citizens was accessed by #BJP to engage in targeted campaigning. Image The petitioner alleges that booth wise voters have been added in #Whatsapp groups & atleast 952 whatsapp groups have been created booth wise. Image
Apr 22, 2020 7 tweets 6 min read
#THREAD

#MaduraiMadness

There seems to be some kind of #Corona competition going on in #Madurai between 2 ministers. At a time when PM, Union Ministers & State CMs are avoiding public appearances, looks like these TN Ministers can’t live without facing cameras 1/6 #Madurai reporters are already fed up & now scared to cover the events organised by these ministers where social distancing norms are blatantly flouted. Look at this report by @NairShilpa1308 to see how "well" these events are organised 👇🏽2/6
Apr 6, 2020 6 tweets 3 min read
One hand you are asking the more privileged people to put up a spectacle of lights while on the other hand the poor man’s plight is itself becoming a shameful spectacle - #KamalHaasan While your world lit up oil diyas in their balconies, the poor are struggling to gather enough oil to bake their next roti - #KamalHaasan
Jul 22, 2019 8 tweets 6 min read
Neeraj Verma & Rashmi travelled all the way to from #Nagpur to #Sriharikota to witness the historic #Chandrayaan2 take off. I asked them what do they do for a living? Their answer amazed me, We are science activists (vigyaanan sevak) said the couple. Like how? #IndiaMoonMission The couple travelled more than 1100 KM's to reach #Sriharikota from their village near #Nagpur border to be a part of @isro #Chandrayan2 launch

The couple travelled for more than 20 hours & reached #Sriharikota on 15th July, but the launch was called off in the last minute