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Las Vegas concert massacre toll reaches 59 (Lead)
Las Vegas, Oct 3 (IANS) The death toll from the mass shooting at a Las Vegas country music concert has increased to 59, while 527 others were injured, police said.
Clark county Sheriff Joe Lombardo confirmed the latest casualty figures at a press conference on Monday night, reports Efe news
Stephen Paddock, 64, opened fire with automatic weapons on some 22,000 people at the Route 91 Harvest concert from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on Sunday at around 10.30 p.m.
Paddock killed himself as special response team officers broke into the hotel room, police said.
Lombardo told the media that the investigation is concentrated on four locations: the hotel room; the concert venue; Paddock’s home in Mesquite, Nevada, and another property in northern Nevada that also belonged to the shooter.
Besides the 10 guns found in the hotel room, police discovered 18 firearms, explosives and thousands of rounds of ammunition at the residence in Mesquite, a town 128 km north of Las Vegas.
Paddock also had ammonium nitrate, which can be used to make bombs, in his vehicle, the sheriff said.
Regarding the motive for the deadliest mass shooting in US history, Lombardo said that he could not “get into the mind of a psychopath”.
Paddock had not been flagged by any local, state or federal agency as a potential threat, the sheriff said.
The gunman’s roommate, Marilou Danley, was initially identified by police as a person of interest in the case, but authorities later said they did not believe she was involved in the shooting.
Lombardo said his office had learned that Danley is abroad, “apparently in Tokyo”.
President Donald Trump discussed the massacre during a brief address delivered at the White House, saying “it was an act of pure evil”.
Trump said that he plans to travel to Las Vegas on Wednesday to meet with law enforcement personnel and relatives of the victims.
Paddock’s brother, Eric, told US media outlets at his home in Central Florida that the shooting came as a complete surprise to him.
“I don’t understand. It doesn’t make sense,” Eric Paddock said.
Stephen Paddock lived in Melbourne, a city on Florida’s east-central Space Coast, until 2015, officials said.
“There’s nothing I can say. My brother did this. It’s like he shot us. I couldn’t be more dumbfounded,” Eric Paddock said.
Eric Paddock said he had not heard from his brother since last month, when Stephen texted him to see how the family had fared with hurricane Irma.
Hesaid that his and Stephen’s father was Benjamin Hoskins Paddock, a career criminal and convicted bank robber.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, meanwhile, said it could not find any links between Paddock and foreign terrorist organisations.
“We have determined, to this point, no connection with an international terrorist group,” an FBI spokesman said in a press conference in Las Vegas.
“As this investigation continues, we will continue to work with our partners to ensure that this is factually, thoroughly and absolutely investigated, to be able to bring comfort and peace back to this community.”
Earlier on Monday, the Islamic State (IS) terror group claimed responsibility.
IS said in a statement, whose authenticity has not been verified, that the gunman was “a soldier of the Islamic State”.
Sheriff Lombardo said that it would take time to identify all of the victims.
–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.