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‘TMC lost in the area and so they cut off our water supply’: Residents in Asansol protest against Mamata govt for worsening water crisis

OpIndia Staff
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‘TMC lost in the area and so they cut off our water supply’: Residents in Asansol protest against Mamata govt for worsening water crisis

In a disturbing development, the residents of the Kulti neighbourhood in Asansol city of West Bengal have accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of cutting water supply in the area following the 2024 Lok Sabha election results.

As per reports, there has been an acute water crisis in the neighbourhood for a long time. According to locals, the government sent several water tankers to mitigate the water shortage in the area in the run-up to the crucial elections.

They informed that the number of water tankers which were sent to Kulti has been reduced drastically after the election results. At the same time, the availability of piped water in a day had declined from 30 minutes to a maximum of 15-20 minutes.

Forced by circumstances, the residents of Kulti launched an agitation against the Mamata Banerjee-led-government to demand immediate redressal of water crisis, which has reportedly been worsened by the ruling party.

The victims blocked the Asansol Barakar GT Road using fallen trees and set up barricades. They were joined by BJP MLA (Pachim Bardhaman) Ajay Kumar Poddar.

While speaking about the matter, he remarked, “Water is life. People in the area are not getting water…As a result, people are forced to hit the streets. This protest is not being carried out on the behest of any political party. Earlier four water tanks used to come daily. Now, it has been reduced to one.”

He further emphasised, “They could not build the infrastructure. Pipes are installed in houses but there is no water. TMC lost in the area and so they cut off our water supply.”

In the meantime, the Trinamool Congress has denied the allegations. Asansol Mayor Bidhan Upadhyay claimed, “The allegations made by the BJP are baseless. BJP also did well in Asansol South. Then the water would have been shut off there too. The real reason is that the storms and rains have caused problems in the water lines. But it will be alright. Our government and municipality do not work with any political motive. BJP is known to make excuses after losing elections. That’s their job.”

TMC dumped garbage outside housing society for voting in favour of BJP

Earlier this month, an X (formerly Twitter) user ‘Subham’ informed that the people of a housing society in Kolkata were being punished by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government for voting in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The user stated that garbage was being dumped outside ‘Sunrise Heights’ in the Beleghata neighbourhood of Central Kolkata as 543 residents of the housing complex voted against TMC.

Soon after, the State General Secretary of Trinamool Congress, Nilanjan Das, confirmed the development on X (formerly Twitter). He dubbed the action of dumping garbage outside the housing society as a ‘non-violent means of revenge.’

The BJP has slammed the TMC for his outrageous actions. “The TMC State General Secretary shamelessly boasts about dumping garbage in front of a Kolkata housing society for daring to vote against them,” it said in a tweet.

“Is this what ‘serving the people’ looks like? Pure thuggery and intimidation,” the party added. Following outrage on social media, Nilanjan Das deleted his controversial tweet.

Indian national Nikhil Gupta, accused in alleged Pannun murder plot, extradited to USA from Czech Republic

ANI
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Indian national Nikhil Gupta, accused in alleged Pannun murder plot, extradited to USA from Czech Republic

 Indian national Nikhil Gupta, who is accused of being involved in the alleged failed murder plot of India-designated pro-Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York City has been extradited from the Czech Republic to the US to stand trial, NBC News reported.

A US District Court spokesperson said Gupta is scheduled to appear in the lower Manhattan courthouse on federal murder-for-hire charges on Monday, the Amercian broadcaster said.

The US Justice Department has alleged that Gupta (52) is an associate of the Indian government and that together they and others helped plot the assassination of Pannun in New York City, NBC News reported.

In November last year, US Justice Department officials announced charges against Gupta after he was arrested in June 2023 in the Czech Republic. They said Gupta would face extradition to New York.

Pannun is an India-designated terrorist who holds American and Canadian citizenship.

Earlier in November, the US Justice Department unsealed an indictment against an Indian national for his alleged involvement in a foiled plot to assassinate a US-based leader of the Sikh Separatist Movement and a citizen in New York.

The Justice Department claimed that an Indian government employee (named CC-1), who was not identified in the indictment filed in a federal court in Manhattan, recruited an Indian national named Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman to carry out the assassination, which was foiled by US authorities, according to prosecutors.

In its indictment, the Justice Department has claimed that earlier last year, an Indian government employee working together with others, including Gupta, directed a plot to assassinate a political activist who is a US citizen of Indian origin residing in New York City. It was alleged that Gupta is an associate of CC-1, and has described his involvement in international narcotics and weapons trafficking in his communications with CC-1.

The indictment claims that CC -1 directed the assassination plot from India.At CC-1’s direction, Gupta allegedly contacted an individual whom he believed to be a criminal associate, but who was, in fact, a confidential source working with the The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of the US.

The source, it was alleged, introduced Gupta to a purported hitman, who was a DEA undercover officer. The purported hitman was offered USD 100,000 to murder the separatist leader, the Justice Department claimed. The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, the Justice Department stated in a release.

India in November last year formed a high-level inquiry committee to address the security concerns highlighted by the US government.

The Ministry of External Affairs said that India takes such inputs seriously since they impinge on national security interests as well, and relevant departments were already examining the issue.

In December last year, US Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer acknowledged India’s establishment of a Committee of Enquiry to investigate the plot to allegedly kill Pannun in the US. 

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Chinese security agencies using AI cameras to systematically track Uyghurs, reports German Media citing public tenders for the system

ANI
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Chinese security agencies using AI cameras to systematically track Uyghurs, reports German Media citing public tenders for the system

Chinese security authorities are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to systematically track Uyghurs in Chinese cities, generating detailed individual movement profiles, Table.Media, a German media outlet reported.

Public tenders for corresponding software, exclusively obtained by Table.Briefings, confirm this surveillance.

The documents originate from police departments in Shanghai, various cities and counties in Zhejiang province, and the southwestern metropolis of Chengdu. These tenders specifically target the identification of Uyghur individuals in public spaces.

The documents, dated over the past six years with the most recent in 2023, highlight ongoing efforts to develop facial recognition programs focused on Uyghurs.

The 2023 document, stamped by the Shanghai Xuhui District Police Department, indicates a persistent distrust of Uyghurs despite years of state re-education efforts.

Table.Media reports that the authorities’ continued demand suggests that they still harbor a general distrust of the Uyghurs despite years of state re-education measures.

“The documents clearly show that the Chinese security authorities continue to systematically treat the Uyghurs as potential criminals and thus as second-class citizens,” says Xinjiang expert Bjoern Alpermann from the University of Wurzburg.

According to Alpermann, the fact that the tenders come from different parts of the country indicates that this practice is commonplace.

“This refutes the Chinese government’s narrative that, after a tough re-education phase, the ‘danger of extremism’ has now been banished and Uyghurs can enjoy their freedom as normal citizens of China and pursue their dreams,” says Alpermann, who discovered comparable evidence for the digital identification of Uyghurs as part of the research project “Remote Ethnography of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.”

The specifications for the bidders in the Shanghai tender are clearly formulated. Simply put, the artificial intelligence must recognize where Uyghurs are specifically located within the district and with whom they come into contact. Using images from 3,700 surveillance cameras in Xuhui alone, the software not only needs to be able to identify the individuals in question, but also alert the authorities in real-time.

The analysis results include facial images and facial data information. People with glasses or beards must also be recognized. In addition, the system needs to compare the analysed information with the police’s facial image database to retrieve further data on the individuals immediately.

The system will be used in 14 police stations, detention centers, and traffic police offices in Xuhui.

“The tenders are striking. They clearly indicate that the Uyghurs are still seen as a threat,” says anthropologist and China researcher Adrian Zenz from the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation in Washington.

“The conclusion is that a police state like China’s does not create security; it creates a mentality of insecurity,” says Zenz. His research on internment in Xinjiang is considered groundbreaking and has also been taken up by the United Nations.

All five documents available to Table.Briefings explicitly mention the need to identify Uyghurs, including an alert function. The 2022 document from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan in southwest China, also requires the analysis of “racial characteristics.”

China officially recognizes 56 ethnic groups. However, the software does not filter other ethnic groups besides the Uyghurs. The Uyghurs are one of the largest minorities in the People’s Republic. They are predominantly Muslim and are subject to strict family planning controls, which have significantly reduced their numbers in recent decades.

The Uyghurs concerned see their accusations against the Chinese government confirmed. “This shows how the Chinese government regards the Uyghurs as a foreign body separate from the majority Han ethnic group,” says Haiyuer Kuerban, Berlin Director of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC).

“This official stance confirms that the Uyghurs have never been part of the Chinese nation in the eyes of the government.”

He added that the open discrimination was evidence of a dangerous government stance rooted in racist ideologies. They also showed that surveillance and discrimination against the Uyghurs was not limited to their home region, but had reached a nationwide dimension.

Discrimination led to re-education camps

In 2009, hundreds of people were killed in ethnic clashes between Han Chinese and Uyghurs in Xinjiang’s capital Urumqi. In response to a series of terrorist attacks by extremists, the state ultimately introduced a re-education program for Uyghur citizens.

The discrimination against all Uyghurs increased drastically as a result and led to the creation of camps in which a seven-digit number of Uyghurs have been held against their will since around 2017.

The number of inmates in the camps has since decreased significantly. However, the number of Uyghurs sentenced to lengthy prison sentences has skyrocketed.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Union Minister George Kurian slams Congress for equating PM Narendra Modi to Jesus Christ and insulting the Christian community

OpIndia Staff
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Union Minister George Kurian slams Congress for equating PM Narendra Modi to Jesus Christ and insulting the Christian community

On Sunday (16th June), Union Minister George Kurian lambasted the Congress party for ‘insulting the Christian community’. He slammed the grand old party for equating Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Lord Jesus. He stated that the comparison was shameful, ‘absolutely uncalled for’, and insulted the Christian community who revere Jesus.   

The Union Minister made these remarks while responding to a post shared by the official handle of the Kerala Congress unit. In the post, the Kerala Congress included a picture of PM Modi in which he was holding a brief chat with the Pope who is the highest priest for Catholic Christians.

Notably, the picture was taken during the recently concluded G7 Summit where Indian PM Narendra Modi was invited along with a few other nations despite being a member of the major world grouping. Pope Francis also attended the event as he was invited to talk about the pros and cons of artificial intelligence. All world leaders present at the summit met the Pope, and photos of the same have appeared in media.

Along with the photo of Narendra Modi with Pope Francis, Kerala Congress mockingly wrote, “Finally, the Pope got a chance to meet God!” 

However, perhaps they didn’t realise that with these words they equated Narendra Modi to Jesus Christ, because the Pope’s God is Jesus Christ only.

Responding to the post, Union Minister George Kurian wrote, “This tweet by the Congress, equates Prime Minister Modi to Lord Jesus. This is absolutely uncalled for and is an insult to the Christian community, who revere Jesus. It is shameful that Congress has stopped to this level.” 

George Kurian is Kerala BJP’s General Secretary who has been included in the 3rd Modi government as a Minister of State. At present, he is not a member of any of the houses of parliament.

Moreover, several X users also slammed Kerala Congress for its mocking post.

An X user demanded action for hurting the sentiments of Christians. The user wrote, “You’re insulting the Pope and hurting sentiments of Christians !! @TheKeralaPolice @ShashiTharoor @Pontifex @CMOKerala..Will anyone take action against this handle ?”

Responding to Kerala Congress, an X user wrote, “You have posted this but don’t forget that ‘Failed Messiah’ of democracy from your party may feel infuriated reading this.”

Politicians, journalists, activists and YouTubers attempt to create doubts about EVMs by spreading fake news published by Mid-Day, ECI issues notice to the newspaper

OpIndia Staff
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Politicians, journalists, activists and YouTubers attempt to create doubts about EVMs by spreading fake news published by Mid-Day, ECI issues notice to the newspaper

After the better-than-expected results secured by opposition parties in the Lok Sabha elections, attacks on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) had almost stopped. However, some sections continued to cast doubt on India’s secure electronic voting system, which has now culminated in mass hysteria against EVMs and the Election Commission of India (ECI), a constitutional body, on 16th June. 

Notably, on Sunday (16th June), Mid-Day published a sensational report that has been found to be grossly misleading and peddling fake news. For this, the ECI has issued a notice to the media outlet for spreading disinformation about EVMs and the electoral process.

The Mid-day report falsely claimed that ‘EVMs can be unlocked by mobile phones using OTP’. Soon after, politicians from the opposition ranks, journalists from the leftist ecosystem, and habitual fake news peddlers started circulating the fake news published by Mid-Day, insinuating electoral fraud without verifying the merits of the claim or the technical details released by the poll body.

Strikingly, the Mid-day report alleged that a relative of newly elected Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Waikar was able to unlock EVMs using a mobile phone. Hours after the misleading report started doing rounds on social media, ECI officials categorically refuted the allegations. Additionally, it has released a press note categorically asserting that EVMs are stand-alone, one-time programmable devices that don’t need OTP. 

The ECI also confirmed OpIndia’s conclusion that it was a simple case of a phone found inside the counting station without authorisation. There was no quote from any police officer talking about any EVM or OTP or unlocking anything. Click here, to read OpIndia’s explanation of how the claims made in the Mid-Day report are fake and baseless.

Opposition leaders, journalists, fake news peddlers create mass hysteria against EVMs based on Mid-day report

Despite several dozen pleas getting rejected in the courts, the opposition which had been notorious for casting aspersions on EVM, the electoral process, and ECI – latched on the Mid-day report to play victim to what they consider to be an Electoral coup d’état. 

From politicians like Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Chaturvedi, and Aditya Thackeray, to journalists and YouTubers like Rajdeep Sardesai, and Dhruv Rathee and usual suspects like Prashant Bhushan added fuel to the fire and furthered the allegations along with sharing the screengrab of the misleading Mid-day report. Additionally, while several usual suspects like Ravish Kumar and Ajit Anjum among others didn’t pen the same allegations, they endorsed them by retweeting or writing loaded, one-sided comments or questions on posts making the same claims.

(Rahul Gandhi circulates Mid-day report which has been found to be grossly misleading and peddling fake news that EVMs can be unlocked by Mobile phone using OTP)

Sharing the misleading Mid-day report, Priyanka Chaturvedi went further to describe it as “the biggest election result scam”.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray brazens it out by describing the constitutionally established poll body as “entirely compromised” based on fake news about EVMs being unlocked by mobile phone OTPs.

Several units affiliated with the opposition parties like Congress Seva Dal too spread mass hysteria against EVMs.

Congress-friendly journalist Rajdeep Sardesai demanded a “full free and fair Police and EC investigation” on Mid-day report allegations.

Apart from peddling the misleading and fake news by Mid-day, pro-AAP YouTuber Dhruv Rathee went further and demanded a “re-election” in the constituency.

Disgraced Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan peddles the false allegations that the NDA candidate was declared winner after the counting of electronically collected postal ballots. It is important to note that although the system has the words “Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot”, this refers to one way of the transmission, sending the ballot to the voters. The voters do not send any electronic vote, they print the ballots and send those printed ballot papers for counting.

ECI issues notice to Mid-day for spreading disinformation about the EVM

Regarding the specific incident that triggered baseless allegations and foundation for the fake news, ECI noted that action was already being taken in that matter and a criminal case was filed. It said, “Incidence at 27-Mumbai North West Constituency Counting Centre is about unauthorizedly using a mobile phone of an authorized person by a candidate’s aide. Criminal case has already been filed by the returning officer.” 

Regarding the allegations published in the Mid-day report, ECI stated, “There is no OTP (One Time Password) on mobile phone for unlocking EVM as it is non-programmable and it has no wireless communication capabilities. It is a complete lie being spread by a newspaper, which is being used by some leaders to create a false narrative.” 

It added, “..Safeguards include conducting everything in the presence of candidates or their agents. Counting of ETPBS happens in physical form (paper Ballots) and not electronics as being spread through the false narratives. Every counting sheet at every table for ETPBS and EVM counting and postal Ballot Counting (including ETPBS) is signed by counting agents after due diligence.”

The Retürning Officer has issued the notice to the Mid-Day newspaper for spreading disinformation about the EVM and creating doubts in the Indian Electrol System, the press release added. 

Jalandhar: Family members including mothers and sisters of Canada-based terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa and his aid Yadwinder Singh arrested in extortion racket

OpIndia Staff
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Jalandhar: Family members including mothers and sisters of Canada-based terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa and his aid Yadwinder Singh arrested in extortion racket

Family members of terrorist Lakhbir Singh Landa, a resident of Canada, and his accomplice Yadwinder Singh have been taken into custody by the Jalandhar Commissionerate police in connection with extortion calls made to a businessman in Jalandhar. The development transpired after two motorcyclists had opened fire at an industrialist’s office in the city and demanded a ransom after which the cops started an inquiry and found out that gangster Yadwinder Singh was the mastermind in the case.

The arrested persons include the mothers and sisters of Lakhbir Singh Landa and Yadwinder Singh.

Earlier unidentified individuals were charged under Sections 384 (extortion), 387 (putting person in fear of death or of grievous hurt, in order to commit extortion) 212 (harbouring an offender), 216 (harbouring an offender who has escaped from custody or whose apprehension has been ordered) and 216A (the penalty for harbouring robbers) of the Indian Penal Code on 12th June at the Division No. 6 police station.

They had demanded Rs 2 crore from a businessman. According to a police spokesperson, teams were established and raids were carried out following the filing of the First Information Report, which resulted in the arrest of Yadwinder Singh and Lakhbir Singh Landa’s relatives.

Those arrested were identified as Ranjodh Singh, brother-in-law of Lakhbir Singh, Jaspal Kaur, his sister, and Parminder Kaur, his mother. Similarly, Jaikaar Singh, father of Yadwinder Singh, along with Baljeet Kaur, his mother, and Husanpreet Kaur, his sister, were nabbed by the authorities. The official mentioned, “During the course of the inquiry, the family members of the gangsters were found harbouring the accused and were directly involved in the criminal conspiracy. The arrests were made as part of investigations into extortion-related crimes allegedly conducted by the Landa gang.”

On 10th June, the Jalandhar police caught three associates for reportedly running an extortion racket. The police revealed that the suspects Gurpreet Singh alias Gopy, Bhupinder Singh alias Bunty and Jagroop Singh alias Joopa who were captured last week, were assisted by the family members by providing them with shelter and firearms.

Two bike riders entered Kohli Sports Private Limited through the main gate of the Leather Complex on 3rd June, at approximately 5:15 am. An attempt was made by one of them to kill Jatinder Singh, the on-duty security guard, by shooting him. The company’s owner had previously received a call demanding ransom from an international number, which he dismissed. The assailants started shooting at the guard to intimidate the firm owner.

Six members of Lakhbir Singh Landa and Yadwinder Singh’s family as well as three of their acquaintances who were involved in the firing event have been arrested by the police thus far.

Mumbai: Shop owner detained after visuals of goat meant for Bakrid scribbled with ‘Ram’ goes viral on social media

OpIndia Staff
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Mumbai: Shop owner detained after visuals of goat meant for Bakrid scribbled with ‘Ram’ goes viral on social media

The Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha or Bakrid is going to be celebrated this week in the country and across the world. The government and administration have instructed people to follow their faith without causing trouble to others, however, an offensive instance hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus has come to light in Mumbai the name “Ram” was written on a goat which was meant for sacrifice.

The incident is from the Navi Mumbai area where “Goodluck Goat Meat Shop” operates in the Central Business District of Belapur. The owner of this mutton store is identified as Muhammad Shafi as flashed on the board. On 15th June, some people from the Hindu organization reached there and made a video of a white goat with the word “Ram” inscribed on its back in yellow colour. They then informed the authorities who took the goat into their custody. The video of the occurrence is also going viral on social media.

The shopkeeper and the Hindu group members assembled at the shop can be seen arguing in the footage while cops are trying to manage the sensitive situation. A case has been filed against the proprietor of the store which has been shut down by the administration until further directives. Social media users, together with Hindu outfits have called for harsh punishment against the offenders.

It was kept outside a meat shop. Mumbai Police have filed a First Information Report against the owner and he has been taken into custody as well as the store has been closed. “According to the preliminary information received, a goat with Ram’s name written on it was kept for sale at Good Luck Mutton Shop in CBD Sector One, Navi Mumbai. A complaint was registered under relevant sections of the IPC (Indian Penal Code) and police have detained the shop owner,” informed a police official.

Ahead of Eid, tomato prices touch 200 Rs per Kg in Pakistan

ANI
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Ahead of Eid, tomato prices touch 200 Rs per Kg in Pakistan

The price of tomatoes has surged to over PKR 200 per kilogram in a single day just ahead of Eid al-Adha, despite the district government setting the price cap at PKR 100 per kilogram, The Express Tribune reported.

This annual occurrence during Ramadan and Eid al-Adha typically goes unnoticed by authorities, despite their assurances to the contrary.

In response to the situation, the Peshawar Deputy Commissioner has taken action by imposing a ban, under Section 144, on transporting tomatoes out of the district.

With Eid al-Adha merely two days away, local retail markets have seen tomato prices double, aligning with earlier predictions that tomatoes, along with onions, would once again be sold at inflated prices during this festive period.

Residents of the area have expressed frustration, noting that prices have escalated by Rs100 per kilogram in just one day. Many believe that the district administration’s efforts will likely be limited to verbal instructions, as has been the case in previous instances, as reported by The Express Tribune.

During the budget presentation, one of the standout assertions was the government’s commitment to maintaining inflation at 12 per cent in the upcoming fiscal year. On the surface, this goal appears supported by various planned initiatives aimed at curbing inflation rates.

However, the implementation of aggressive tax measures, highlighted as key revenue strategies, seems paradoxical as they could potentially escalate prices instead of stabilising them.

Regardless of the method used to gauge inflation, the stark reality is that any figure exceeding the previous fiscal year’s average monthly inflation rate of 24.9 per cent will inevitably lead to increased consumer prices, according to Dawn.

Abid Suleri, Executive Director of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), argues that the government ought to have adjusted the minimum taxable income thresholds to factor in inflation when outlining personal income tax brackets. He criticises the current monthly exemption of PKR 50,000 as insufficient and warns that doubling taxes on those falling within the initial tax slab could reduce their disposable income, thereby exacerbating economic hardships.

Moreover, heightened fuel expenses stemming from amplified levies and augmented GST rates in specific sectors are anticipated to drive inflation even higher, intensifying the overall cost of living. Suleri emphasises the absence of any mention regarding the taxation of agricultural income, which he believes could substantially broaden the tax base, Dawn reported.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Gujarat: Pamphlets asking for cow sacrifice issued in Bharuch ahead of Eid, Islamic organisation apologises after Hindus protested and demanded action

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Pamphlets asking for cow sacrifice issued in Bharuch ahead of Eid, Islamic organisation apologises after Hindus protested and demanded action

Ahead of Eid al Adha, image of a pamphlet is going viral on social media, which is said to have been issued by the Bharuch-based Islamic organisation Darul Uloom Barkat-e-Khawaja in Amod village. The pamphlet circulating on social media ahead of Bakrid explains how to slaughter an animal (how to offer Qurbani according to Islam).

The pamphlet, written mostly in Urdu, also mentions cows along with other animals, hurting the sentiments of the Hindu community, and sparking an outrage on social media. The Hindu community has demanded strict action in this matter. However, the organisation later issued an apology and said that cows would not be slaughtered.

‘Kurbanino Tariko’ (methodology for Qurbani – animal slaughter) is written at the top of the viral pamphlet. Below that, it provides information about placing the sacrificial animal facing the Kaaba Sharif and performing ‘Zabah’ by quickly cutting the throat with a sharp knife while placing the person’s leg on the animal’s side. It also included the prayer to be recited during this process. The pamphlet mentions that if it is one’s own sacrifice, a specific prayer should be recited, and if it is for someone else, a different prayer should be recited.

The pamphlet mentions cow while issuing instructions on how to cut an animal’s neck

Further, Kalimas (verses) are written in Arabic on the pamphlet. Below that, it is written, ‘After reciting the Kalima, mention the name of the person for whom the sacrifice is being made, and if it is a large animal like a camel, cow, or buffalo, then mention the names of all the participants.’ After the mention of the cow, it is written that during the throat-cutting (Zabah), at least four and no less than three veins of the animal’s neck should be cut. It then directs to wait until the animal is cold before proceeding with further cutting or skinning.

The Islamic organisation apologised after the Hindu community outraged

After the pamphlet giving instructions on cow sacrifice went viral, there was an outburst of anger among the local Hindu community. Local Hindu activists also brought this matter to the attention of the Amod police. Additionally, after the pamphlet went viral sparking outrage among the Hindu community, an apology letter in the name of Abdurrahim Jibawa Rathod of Darul Uloom Barkat-e-Khwaja in Amod also started circulating on social media. It states, “Due to an error, cow sacrifice was mentioned in an image that was released. Sacrifices will be made for animals other than cows. We apologize if this mistakenly written text has hurt anyone’s feelings.”

Meanwhile, OpIndia contacted Amod Police Station in Bharuch to get more information about this matter. It was stated that action is being taken in this matter and only after that, any information can be given. Moreover, Darul Uloom Barakat-e-Khawajani Masjid Raza was also approached but contact could not be established.

Election Commission confirms OpIndia explanation of how Mid-Day report claiming EVM unlocked by phone is fake and it is a case of unauthorised phone in counting centre

OpIndia Staff
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Election Commission confirms OpIndia explanation of how Mid-Day report claiming EVM unlocked by phone is fake and it is a case of unauthorised phone in counting centre

After OpIndia explained how Mid-Day twisted a case of an unauthorised phone found in a counting centre to claim that the phone was used to unlock EVMs and Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System using OTPs, the Election Commission of India has released a statement confirming the same. The OpIndia report pointed out how the police quotes included in the Mid-Day report only talked about entry of an unauthorised phone in the counting centre, and the claims of using the phone to unlock EVMs were completely fake and were added by the publication, the police didn’t mention it.

A press note released to the media by the District Election Officer of Mumbai Suburban District states that the incident at Mumbai North East constituency’s counting centre was about a candidate’s aide using the mobile phone of an authorised person. The ECI said that a criminal case already has been filed by the Returning Officer.

As already explained in the OpIndia report, ECI said that there is no need for an OTP (One Time Password) on mobile phones for unlocking EVM as it is non-programmable and it has no wireless communication capabilities. “It is a complete lie being spread by a newspaper, which is being used by some leaders to create false narrative,” the press note said.

The ECI added, ”EVMs are stand-alone devices without any wired or wireless connectivity with units outside EVM system. Advance technical features and robust administrative safeguards are in place to rule out any possibility of manipulation. Safeguards include conducting every thing in the presence of candidates or their agents.”

Responding to the Mid-Day claim of the same phone used to unlock the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System, ECI said that counting of ETPBS happens in physical form (paper Ballots) and not electronics as being spread through the false narratives.

Notably, in ETPBS, the ballots are sent in electronic form to service voters in an electronic form. The voters need to download and print the forms, mark their vote and send the ballots via post. This printed ballot papers are counted at the beginning of the counting process.

The ECI added, “every counting sheet at every table for ETPBS and EVM counting and postal Ballot Counting (including ETPBS) is signed by counting agents after due diligence. “

The press note says that Returning Officer Vandana Suryavanshi has already issued a notice to Mid-Day newspaper for spreading disinformation about the EVM and creating doubts in the Indian Electoral System.

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