Met Tiger Memon in PoK after 1993 blasts, claims Kashmir MLA Usman Majeed

August 1, 2015

Srinagar, Aug 1: Former militant-turned Congress MLA Usman Majeed on Friday stoked a controversy by claiming he had met Tiger Memon after the 1993 Mumbai blasts in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir during which he seemed "worried" about his brother Yakub's surrender fearing the ISI might kill him.

Majeed's claim comes a day after Yakub was hanged in Nagpur Central Jail.

"I met Tiger in 1993. I met him 2-3 times. He used to come to our office in Muzaffarabad (capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir). I was not friends with Tiger. Hilal Beg, the founder of the Students Liberation Front and chief of Ikhwan-ul-Muslimeen militant outfit introduced me to him,"the MLA from north Kashmir'sBandipora claimed.

He said Tiger had already carried out the bomb blasts in Mumbai when they met.

"He was most wanted that time in our country. He had carried out the blasts. I asked him how and why he had done itand what was the reason behind the blasts," Majeed said.

"He replied that the main reason was the demolition of the BabriMasjid and the riots that followed it. He said people, including women, had come to him and told him that they were being killed and he had got emotional. That's is why hecarried out the blasts," Majeed claimed.

He said Tiger had told him that ISI had plannedand helped in carrying out the blasts.

"ISI helped Tiger in carrying out the blasts. Itwasn't Tiger himself who did it. According to Tiger,everything was done by Pakistan the plan and the weaponrywas provided by them (Pakistan) and the plan was executed byhis (Tiger's) gang on the directions of ISI," he claimed.

The legislator also claimed that Tiger was worried after hisbrother Yakub had "surrendered" and feared that the ISI might kill him.

"Yakub was mentioned to me when Tiger said he had surrendered. We had heard from the media that some Yakub, who was Tiger's brother, had surrendered. Tiger said Yakub had surrendered, but our people here said he was apprehended.

"ButTiger was worried about the surrender. He thought ISI wouldlose his trust. Pakistan also had the worry that he mightsurrender. Tiger said there was less respect for him in Pakistan than earlier and that ISI was looking at him with doubtful eyes."

"When Yakub surrendered, Tiger left Pakistan becausehe feared that the ISI will kill him. He felt humiliated and disgusted and fled to Dubai. But after negotiations, they (ISI) brought him back because they did not want him to surrender.

"They feared Yakub might provide the platform and hewill facilitate Tiger's surrender too," Majeed claimed.

According to him, ISI would never allow Tiger to surrender.

Majeed crossed into Pakistan from Bangladesh. After staying there for two years, he returned and surrendered to Indian authorities and was part of a counter-insurgent group headed by Kukka Parray. He later contested the assembly elections and winning as anIndependent candidate in 2002 from the Bandipora consitutency.

He became a minister of state in the then MuftiMohammad Sayeed led PDP-Congress government. In 2008 assembly polls, he was defeated by the PDP candidate but he wrested the seat in 2014 when he contested on a Congress ticket.

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India’s Tougher Pilot Fatigue Rules: Why IndiGo’s Operations Crashed Into Turbulence

News Network

December 6,2025

New Delhi: IndiGo, India’s largest airline, faced major operational turbulence this week after failing to prepare for new pilot-fatigue regulations issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The stricter rules—designed to improve flight safety—took effect in phases through 2024, with the latest implementation on November 1. IndiGo has acknowledged that inadequate roster planning led to widespread cancellations and delays.

Below are the key DGCA rules that affected IndiGo’s operations:

1. Longer Mandatory Weekly Rest

Weekly rest for pilots has been increased from 36 hours to 48 hours.

The government says the extended break is essential to curb cumulative fatigue. This rule remains in force despite the current crisis.

2. Cap on Night Landings

Pilots can now perform only two night landings per week—a steep reduction from the earlier limit of six.

Night hours, defined as midnight to early morning, are considered the least alert period for pilots.

Given the disruptions, this rule has been temporarily relaxed for IndiGo until February 10.

3. Reduced Maximum Night Flight Duty

Flight duty that stretches into the night is now capped at 10 hours.

This measure has also been kept on hold for IndiGo until February 10 to stabilize operations.

4. Weekly Rest Cannot Be Replaced With Personal Leave

Airlines can no longer count a pilot’s personal leave as part of the mandatory 48-hour rest.

Pilots say this closes a loophole that previously reduced actual rest time.

Currently, all airlines are exempt from this rule to normalise travel.

5. Mandatory Fatigue Monitoring

Airlines must submit quarterly fatigue reports along with corrective actions to DGCA.

This system aims to create a transparent fatigue-tracking framework across the industry.

The DGCA has stressed that these rules were crafted to strengthen flight safety and align India with global fatigue-management standards. The temporary relaxations are expected to remain until February 2025, giving IndiGo time to stabilise its schedules and restore normal air travel.

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