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As Qatar releases 8 Navy veterans they had handed the death penalty to, read how Congress and their lackeys had tried to use it to target the Modi govt

Anurag
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As Qatar releases 8 Navy veterans they had handed the death penalty to, read how Congress and their lackeys had tried to use it to target the Modi govt

On 12th February, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that the eight Indian Navy veterans who were sentenced to jail and later commuted to prison in Qatar were released. Seven out of eight veterans returned to India. Speaking to the media, they thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his personal intervention in the matter and the Government of India’s relentless efforts to bring them back home.

Amidst the delightful reports of the returns of Indian Navy veterans, old posts of Congress leaders and their lackeys have gone viral where they took a swing at the Government of India and PM Modi in the matter. Many such reactions came, especially after the Indian Navy veterans were sentenced to death in October 2023.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh issued a lengthy statement on 6th April 2023 questioning the Government of India’s ‘inability’ to enable the return of the veterans. In a post on X, while sharing the statement, Jairam wrote, “Here is my statement on the continued detention of retired Indian Navy personnel in Qatar, a country with which Modani has a special relationship. Why has this relationship not helped the ex-servicemen so far?”

In the statement, he said, “Why is the Indian government still unable to either ascertain the facts of the case or to reassure the ex-naval personnel and their families that justice will be done? EAM Jaishankar has described this in Parliament as a “very sensitive case” and said that the detained individuals’ “interests are foremost in our minds… We assure you they are our priority”. Yet, while an Omani national who had been arrested along with the ex-Navy personnel was released in November, the Indian citizens remain in detention.

Is the Prime Minister reluctant to put pressure on Qatar because its sovereign wealth fund is a major investor in Adani Electricity Mumbai? Is that why the relatives of the imprisoned ex-naval personnel are running from pillar to post for answers? Given the time elapsed, the Congress party urges the government to explain to the families and the people of India why our ex-servicemen are being treated in this manner.” Congress leader found it an excellent chance to target PM Modi by linking the matter to business tycoon Adani.

While he had launched a personal attack on PM Modi and the Government of India in his April 2023 statement on the release of the Navy veterans, he issued a statement on behalf of the Congress party to express “happiness”. There was no word of thanks to PM Modi or the Government of India for the efforts to bring them back.

Source: X

Interestingly, when the veterans were sentenced to death, the Congress party had “hoped” and “expected” that the “Govt of India would use its diplomatic and political leverage with the Qatar government to the maximum to ensure that the officers have full recourse to appeals and also do the utmost to get them released at the earliest.”

Source: X

Now, as they have returned, no words from the party came to thank the central government. Possibly, they might be finding a way to blame PM Modi for the “delayed” release of the veterans so that it syncs with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. There is a possibility that the grand old party claims that veterans could have been released earlier, but PM Modi delayed it to earn brownie points. After all, they questioned PM Modi on the surgical strike as well. Why not this?

In fact, The Wire already played this card long back! In November 2023, The Wire published an article authored by Rohit Khanna, who claimed that during Ramadan 2024(which starts in March), the veterans could be released, and it would be a “major diplomatic coup” right in the middle of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Khanna went ahead and gave “anticipated headlines” such as “PM Intervenes to Save The Lives of 8 Indian Ex-Naval Personnel” and “Modi Hai to Mumkin Hai: Qatar Emir Pardons 8 Ex-Indian Navy Personnel After PM Intervenes”. Khanna asserted that the Government of India was playing with the lives of the veterans and questioned if the gamble was worth it.

Source: The Wire

When the veterans were sentenced to death, one of the persons who “grinned” with a sarcastic post on X was Mohammed Zubair of Alt News. Not to forget, it was Zubair’s mischievous campaign against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma where Qatar issued a statement leading to diplomatic distress between the two nations. Zubair had hit out at PM Modi and pointed out that the Prime Minister had called “Qatar his second home”.

Source: X

On 27th October, pro-Congress YouTuber Sakshi Joshi made a 10-minute video on the matter and called it “56-inch failure”. She is yet to issue any statement expressing happiness over the release.

Source: YouTube

On the same day, “journalist” Pragya Mishra released a video targeting PM Modi over the matter. She claimed that the government of India left the veterans to rot in Qatar prison. Just like Sakshi, Pragya has not released any new video on the matter following the release of the veterans.

Source: YouTube

Another journalist-turned-YouTuber, Ravish Kumar, also made a video targetting PM Modi and the Government of India over the matter. As expected, Kumar was yet to recover from the “shock” of the release of veterans and did not post any statement by the time this report was published.

When efforts are made in such matters via diplomatic channels, it is best to avoid giving statements to the media to ensure there is no contamination to the process. It was evident that the Indian Government was making efforts to expedite the release of the Indian Navy veterans. Diplomatic channels also have to ensure that they do not pressurise the Qatari authorities and allow the law of the land to take its due course. However, since the Opposition and their amplifier media believe in just blind rants against the Modi government without any reason or logic, it is not surprising how they behaved.

Sandeshkhali violence: Mamata govt arrests former CPIM MLA, family informs that he was not in town during women’s protest against TMC goons

OpIndia Staff
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Sandeshkhali violence: Mamata govt arrests former CPIM MLA, family informs that he was not in town during women’s protest against TMC goons

Days after violence broke out in Sandeshkhali village in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, the Mamata Banerjee-led-TMC government arrested a former CPI(M) MLA named Nirpada Sardar in connection to the case on Sunday (11th February).

As per reports, the Communist party leader was taken from his residence in Tollygunge to the Babsdroni police station. Thereafter, he was transferred to the Basirhat police station in North 24 Parganas district.

The development was confirmed by Superintendent of Police (Baisrhat) Hossain Mehedi Rahaman, who said that the arrest was made over a case registered against Nirpada Sardar at the Sandeshkhali police station.

Nirpada Sarkar was arrested under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 120 B, 147, 148, 149, 379, 427,435, and 436. The family of the CPIM MLA, who won from the Sandeshkhali constituency in 2011, said that the arrest of Nirapada Sardar was made without any prior notice.

While speaking about the matter to the media, his wife Dipa Sardar said, “He has been arrested without any reason. He has been picked up from the house like a hardened criminal. All of this was done without any prior information and notice.”

“My husband is being falsely implicated in the case. He (Nirapada Sardar) was not in Sandeshkhali between the 4th and 9th of February. Why has the police failed to arrest the actual goons who are roaming freely in Sandeshkhali,” she was heard saying.

“I am still looking for answers. The fight will continue nonetheless,” Dipa Sardar added.

In the meantime, the Left Front in West Bengal carried out a protest march and threatened to launch a 12-hour bandh on Monday (12th February) over the arrest of Nirapada Sardar.

In a statement, Communist party leader Biman Bose stated, “We strongly protest the arrest of agricultural workers’ leader Mr Sardar and demand that those accused of perpetrating atrocities on villagers be taken in custody.”

While speaking about the development, the West Bengal CPI(M) state secretary Mohammed Salim hit out at the ruling Trinamool Congress government.

“…When the women of Sandeshkhali are telling their story, instead of arresting the accused, the Police, on orders of Mamta Banerjee is arresting CPM workers…” he remarked.

Violence in Sandeshkhali

Hundreds of women residents of Sandeshkhali took to the streets on Thursday (8th February) with brooms, sticks, and farming tools, and blocked the roads. They demanded the immediate arrest of TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his two aides Shiba Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar.

The women had accused the trio of making their lives miserable for quite some time. The tension intensified on Friday (9th February) after angry villagers, led by women, in and around the Sandeshkhali area of North 24 Parganas, attacked the properties of Sheikh Shahjahan including a poultry farm owned by Shahjahan’s close confidant and Trinamool Congress leader Shibu Hazra.

The locals said that the poultry farm was set up on a plot of land that the Trinamool Congress leader had forcefully usurped. They also said that the poultry farm had developed into a centre for several illicit operations.

Locals also stated several other instances where Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides had forcefully grabbed lands from poor villagers.

On Saturday (10th February), the local police imposed Section 144 in various areas in Sandeshkhali and also banned the use of the internet in 16 panchayats scattered over the two blocks of Sandeshkhali-I and Sandeshkhali-II.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Archana Majumdar has said that TMC members and the local police “jointly raided” the houses of protesting women and BJP workers. Majumdar said that the police even arrested and tortured them.

In a bid to pacify the angry villagers of Sandeshkhali, the TMC leadership suspended Uttam Sardar from the party for six years. The suspended TMC leader and Zilla Parishad member was subsequently arrested in the Sandeshkhali police station area.

The primary accused Sheikh Shahjahan is still on the run from the law enforcement authorities.

Haldwani violence: Police arrest Junaid, Nizam, Mehboob and 27 others, efforts on to arrest main accused Abdul Malik

OpIndia Staff
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Haldwani violence: Police arrest Junaid, Nizam, Mehboob and 27 others, efforts on to arrest main accused Abdul Malik

On Sunday (11th February), the Uttarakhand Police said that another 25 rioters involved in the recent mob violence in Haldwani’s Banbhoolpura have been arrested. The police have recovered 7 country-made pistols and 54 live rounds. This takes the total arrests in the case to 30 with five already held by the police.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday SSP Nainital Prahlad Narayan Meena said, “3 FIRs (case numbers 21/24, 22/24, 23/24) have been registered in the matter. Each FIR has been allotted to an investigation team and they have begun their work. 25 people have been arrested… From these 25 people, we have recovered 7 country-made pistols and 54 live rounds. When they attacked the Banbhoolpura police station, they looted government ammunition of different calibres as well. 67 live rounds of 7.62mm and 32 live rounds of 9mm have also been recovered. Including 5 initial and 25 latest apprehensions, 30 people have been arrested so far…”

Speaking to ANI, SSP Nainital said that police have recovered 99 of the police ammunition looted by the rioters when they attacked Banbhoolpura police station on 8th February. He added that efforts are on to arrest the main accused Abdul Malik.

The officer further said that normalcy is returning in the riot-affected area gradually. Traffic is running normally. Exams have also been conducted in which the attendance was quite good. He also said that the police had distributed milk and other essential items in Banbhoolpura. In the next few days, the curfew imposed in other areas will also be lifted.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Police released a list of accused rioters arrested. Taking to X, Uttarakhand Police wrote, “Big action by Uttarakhand Police in Banbhulpura violence, 07 pistols, 54 live cartridges and 99 live cartridges looted from the police station were also recovered from the possession of 25 unruly accused.”

The names of the arrested accused are- Junaid, Mohammad Nizam, Mehboob alias Maku, Shahzad alias Kanakada, Abdul Majid, Shajid,  Mohammad Naeem, Shahnawaz, Shakir Ahmed, Isharar Ali, Shanu alias Raja, Raees alias Bitt, Gulzar, Raees Ahmed, Farid, Javed, Saad, Tasleem, Ahmed Hasan, Shahrukh, Arjana, Rihan, Jishan, Muzammil, Majid.

List of accused arrested in Haldwai violence (Source: Uttarakhand Police)

On Sunday, a delegation from Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind and Jamaat-e-Islami Hind visited Haldwani. Maulana Arshad Madani, Jamiat chief, ‘condemned’ the police action in Haldwani and stated that the report given by the delegation was ‘extremely painful’. The Maulana claimed that is harassing people including women and forcibly entering their houses. He added that the “nefarious series of arrests should be stopped.”

Meanwhile, DGP Uttarakhand Abhinav Kumar “categorically rejected” the allegations of bias and said, “The police acted in the lawful exercise of their right to self-defence in the discharge of their official duties. We have sufficient audio-visual evidence to this effect. It will be presented in the ongoing magisterial inquiry and criminal investigation. We intend to act without any bias in full accordance with the law.”

Haldwani violence

On 8th February, the civic authorities in Haldwani went to demolish an illegal madrasa built on government land in Banbhoolpura when they were attacked by a Muslim mob. It resulted in a wave of violence across Uttarakhand’s Haldwani, leaving at least six people dead and over 300 police personnel injured. Superintendent of Police Harbans Singh confirmed the same on 9th February. Uttarakhand authorities have registered three First Information Reports (FIR) against 5000 unnamed, and 19 known individuals. As the administration is taking action against the mobsters, intellectuals and left-liberals have come out in support of the encroachers-turned-rioters who attacked the police personnel on the eventful day.

It is pertinent to note that the action by the police municipal corporation authorities against the illegal construction on government land was taken after the Uttarakhand High Court on 8th February, did not grant relief to the petitioners Safia Malik and others seeking a stay on the demolition exercise.

‘It would not have happened without PM Modi’s personal intervention’: Navy veterans released from Qatar thank PM. Here is a timeline of the saga

OpIndia Staff
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‘It would not have happened without PM Modi’s personal intervention’: Navy veterans released from Qatar thank PM. Here is a timeline of the saga

On 12th February, eight Indian Navy veterans who were given the death penalty in Qatar four months ago were finally released from captivity. Ministry of External Affairs thanked the Amir of the State of Qatar for enabling the release and home-coming of the Indian nationals.

In the press release, the ministry said, “The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar. Seven out of the eight of them have returned to India. We appreciate the decision by the Amir of the State of Qatar to enable the release and home-coming of these nationals.”

Seven of the eight Indian Navy veterans have returned to India. Notably, they were sentenced to death on the accusations of espionage. The release has been possible only because of the diplomatic efforts made by the Indian government and the personal intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself. The government of India also provided legal assistance to them as required.

Speaking to ANI, the Navy veterans lauded PM Modi for raising the matter with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. They attributed their release to relentless diplomatic efforts at his behest.

One Navy veteran said, “I feel relieved and delighted to be back home safe and sound finally. I wish to thank Prime Minister Modi as this wouldn’t have been possible had it not been for his personal intervention to secure our release. I also wish to express my gratitude to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar.”

Another veteran added, “Without the intervention of PM Modi, we would not have walked free. We wouldn’t be standing before you today had it not been for his untiring efforts and interventions at the highest levels to get us freedom.”

Another freed veteran said, “We, as well as our anxious family members back home, had been waiting for this day for a long time. It all worked out because of PM Modi and his personal intervention in the matter. He took up our case with the highest levels of the Qatari government and eventually secured our release. I don’t have enough words to express my gratitude to him and the Emir of Qatar.”

“We are very happy to be back, and it wouldn’t have been possible had the honourable Prime Minister not taken a personal interest in the matter. I also thank the Qatar Emir for his personal involvement in the matter,” said another former Navy officer.

Another Navy veteran added, “We waited almost 18 months to be back home to our loved ones in India. We are extremely grateful to PM Modi for getting us back. We wouldn’t have seen this day without the joint efforts of PM Modi and the Emir of Qatar. The personal equations that the two leaders share also helped in our release.”

Timeline of the arrest and release

These officers were arrested in Doha on 30th August 2022 and languished in the Qatar jail for over a year on the charges of espionage and spying. The Qatar authorities accused them of spying for Israel.

Qatar’s intelligence agency had picked them up from their homes in the middle of the night on the day of the arrest. They were put in solitary confinement. For months after their arrest, the Qatar authorities never specified the charges that had been pressed against them. Only recently did they confirm that the Indian Navy personnel, who were held in solitary confinement for long spells, have been charged with the offence of spying for Israel on the country’s advanced submarines.

The Qatar State Security, the state intelligence agency, had claimed that it had intercepted electronic communications, establishing that the naval officers were spying on the submarine programme. The agency had, however, not shared the information with India.

Reports that the former Indian Navy officers may have been “framed” by Pakistani intelligence agencies surfaced in April of this year. The case of Kulbhushan Yadav, a former commander of the Indian navy who was abducted from Iran and imprisoned in Pakistan on suspicion of spying, is said to have been used by the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI to convince the Qatari authorities against these eight decorated ex-Indian Navy officers.

Though the Ministry of External Affairs did everything in its power to secure their release, the Navy veterans were awarded a death sentence on 26th October 2023.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs  reacted strongly to the verdict, saying India was “deeply shocked.” MEA added that it would continue to extend all consular and legal assistance to secure the release of the eight former Indian Navy officers.

In November 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai and discussed bilateral partnership and the “well-being of the Indian community” living in Qatar.

On 9th November 2023, India filed an appeal against the death penalty for the former navy officers. To that point, the court verdict was confidential. Later, on 24th November 2023, the Qatar court accepted India’s appeal against the death penalty awarded to the navy veterans. The efforts of the Indian government started to show signs of hope as on 28th December 2023, the Qatar court commuted the death sentence to jail terms. Finally, after a wait of another one and half months, the veterans were released on 12th February 2024 and seven out of eight returned to India.

The curious case of ‘missing 160 crores’: Three RTIs reveal potential ‘scam’ in Septic Tank Safai Yojna of Arvind Kejriwal govt

OpIndia Staff
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The curious case of ‘missing 160 crores’: Three RTIs reveal potential ‘scam’ in Septic Tank Safai Yojna of Arvind Kejriwal govt

In November 2019, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi, led by Arvind Kejriwal, launched a scheme to ensure the safety of sanitation workers and the proper management of waste. It was dubbed the ‘Mukhyamantri Septic Tank Safai Yojana.’

As per the plan, the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) was to deploy 80 trucks for cleaning and maintaining septic tanks in the National Capital. A series of three Right to Information (RTI) queries filed between 2021 and 2024 reveal contradictory statements made by the DJB.

The RTIs, filed by activist Vivek Pandey, also expose a missing trail of ₹160 crores of taxpayer’s money.

Screengrab of the RTI reply obtained on February 24, 2021

In an RTI reply obtained from the Delhi Jal Board on 24th February 2021, it was informed that ₹5 crores was released by the Delhi government for the ‘Mukhyamantri Septic Tank Safai Yojana’ during 2019-2020.

The Delhi Jal Board had also stated that no funds were utilised for the scheme during the said period. Activist Vivek Pandey filed another RTI query in this regard and obtained a ‘contradictory’ response from the DJB on 17th December 2021.

The RTI reply claimed that the Delhi government allocated ₹50 crores for 2019-2020 and ₹110 crores for the period 2020-2021. This was in complete contrast to the assertion made by the Delhi Jal Board about receiving only ₹5 crores for 2019-2020.

Screengrab of the RTI reply obtained on December 17, 2021

DJB did not explain how funds to the tune of ₹5 crores miraculously became ₹50 crores in ‘retrospect’ for 2019-2020.

If we were to consider the latest revelations of the Delhi Jal Board as the ‘gospel truth’, then, the Delhi government released a total of ₹50 crores (2019-2020) and ₹110 crores for the period 2020-2021 (until 21st November 2021).

Having said that, another RTI query filed by activist Vivek Pandey in January 2024 put the AAP government and the Delhi Jal Board in the dock over the supposed ₹160 crore funds released for ‘Mukhyamantri Septic Tank Safai Yojana.’

Vivek Pandey had sought the following information from the Delhi Jal Board:

  1. Please provide the details of amount of fund release by Delhi Govt. for Mukhyamantri septic tank safai Yojana till Jan. 24.
  2. Please provide the details of amount of money spent on Mukhyamantri septic tank safai Yojana till Jan. 24 (Please provide year wise detailed information of expenses)
  3. Please provide the details of number of trucks and tanks purchased under mukhyamantri saptic tank safai Yojana also provide details of amount of money spent to purchase these truck and tanks till Jan. 24 (Please provide year wise details)
  4. Please provide the details of number of staff working under mukhyamantri septic tank safai Yojana and also provide amount of salary given to them till Jan. 24. (Please provide year wise details)

In a surprising development, the Delhi Jal Board claimed it has never received any funds from the Delhi government for such a scheme. “No such type of budget/ fund received from Delhi government to Delhi Jal Board till date,” the RTI reply dated 5th February 2024 read.

As such, the whereabouts of ₹160 crores, as previously claimed to have been released by the AAP government for the ‘Mukhyamantri Septic Tank Safai Yojana,’ remains unknown.

Disclaimer: This is a developing story. OpIndia will update the report as new information emerges.

In a major diplomatic win for India, Qatar releases 8 Navy veterans sentenced to death only 4 months ago, 7 return to India: Details

ANI
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In a major diplomatic win for India, Qatar releases 8 Navy veterans sentenced to death only 4 months ago, 7 return to India: Details

In a major diplomatic triumph for India, eight veterans of the Indian Navy who were sentenced to death in Qatar were released by Doha on Monday. The capital punishment was commuted to an extended prison term earlier following diplomatic intervention by New Delhi. 

Amid desperate pleas by the anxious kin of the Navy veterans to secure their release and safe passage back to their homeland, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had assured that it would mobilise all diplomatic channels and arrange legal assistance to bring them back. 

Of the eight former Navy officers, seven have already returned to India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed through an official statement on Monday. 
The Union government released an official statement welcoming the decision to set the veteran officers free, saying, “The Government of India welcomes the release of eight Indian nationals working for the Dahra Global company who were detained in Qatar. Seven out of the eight of them have returned to India. We appreciate the decision by the Amir of the State of Qatar to enable the release and home-coming of these nationals.” 

The eight Indian nationals were imprisoned in Qatar since October 2022 and were accused of allegedly spying on a submarine programme. The retired naval personnel were sentenced to death by a Qatar court on charges that have not yet been made public officially. 

Earlier, the Qatari Court commuted the death penalty sentence of eight ex-Indian naval officers it had arrested last year in the Dahra Global case, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a press statement. The sentence has now been reduced to jail terms. 

Describing the judgement, the Ministry of External Affairs had said, “We have noted the verdict today of the Court of Appeal of Qatar in the Dahra Global case, in which the sentences have been reduced. 

“The MEA also said that the detailed judgement in the case is awaited and are in close touch with the legal team in Qatar. MEA added, “The detailed judgement is awaited. We are in close touch with the legal team as well as the family members to decide on the next steps. Our Ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present in the Court of Appeal today, along with the family members. We have stood by them since the beginning of the matter and we will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance. We will also continue to take up the matter with the Qatari authorities.” 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai and discussed bilateral partnership and the “well-being of the Indian community” living in Qatar. 

Earlier, the newly appointed spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Jaiswal, emphasised the temporal significance of this period, stating, “As far as the issue is concerned, there is a time of 60 days when this issue can be appealed in the Court of Cassation, which is the highest court in Qatar.” 

The MEA’s legal team possesses the confidential court order detailing the commutation of the death sentences to imprisonment terms, a move revealed in a press release following the court of appeal’s judgement on December 28. 

“We issued a press release in which we informed you that the death sentence, which was originally a death penalty, has been changed to imprisonment sentences. Now our legal team has that court order, and I can confirm that all of them have received sentences of different durations, and the death penalty has been abolished,” Jaiswal said. 

Moreover, the Court of First Instance of Qatar had also passed the judgement against them, according to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs. 

The MEA spokesperson also highlighted the recent meeting that took place between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad and said that they have had a good conversation on the overall bilateral relationship. 

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

‘Baseless allegations, accused chargesheeted under abduction, rape and other offences’, Bijnor police responds to claims of harassing a ‘Dalit man’

OpIndia Staff
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‘Baseless allegations, accused chargesheeted under abduction, rape and other offences’, Bijnor police responds to claims of harassing a ‘Dalit man’

On 11 February, a lawyer at Allahabad High Court named Harsh Vardhan Shastri alleged that a Dalit person named Pankaj kumar was being harassed by Bijnor police because he had filed cases against some persons. However, Bijnor police have refuted the charges, and revealed that the ‘victim’ is actually an accused in several cases including abduction and rape.

Harsh Vardhan Shastri posted on X, ‘Najibabad police station in Bijnor district wants to send complainant Dalit victim Pankaj Kumar to jail and has kept him sitting in the police station. Because he has filed an eFIR against Sandeep, Neha Sharma etc.’

The lawyer also posted screenshots of some eFIRs filed by Pankaj Kumar against Sandeep Sharma and Shivkumar Sharma, alleging that they have threated to kill him. Harsh Vardhan also tagged SP chief Akilesh Yadav and Bhim Army chief Chandar Shekhar Azad urging them to intervene in the matter.

Notably, Pankaj Kumar has been relentlessly posting on X that he is a victim of biased investigation by Bijnor police pushing him to the verge of suicide. He alleged that the woman who filed the rape case against him filed a ‘false case’ due to family pressure.

Responding to the tweet by the lawyer, Bijnor Police issued a statement clarifying the matter. The police categorically said that the allegations made by Pankaj Kumar are false, and he is an accused in grave crimes against the woman he is accusing of blackmailing.

Giving details of the matter, the police said that a case was filed against Pankaj Kumar by the woman under IPC sections 366 (kidnapping) and 120B (criminal conspiracy). After investigation into the case, several other sections of the Indian Penal Code like 376N (repeated rape on same woman), 323 (causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) were added. This means, while originally a kidnapping case was filed, during investigation it was found that the woman was repeatedly raped by the accused and he also had assaulted her. Accordingly, a charge sheet was filed against him on 24 October 2022.

Then in February 2023, another case was filed against Pankaj Kumar under IPC section 506, and then IT Act section 67 (posting obscene material) added to the case after further probe. A charge sheet was filed in this case in April 2023.

In the meanwhile, the woman and her husband filed another case against him in April 2023, again under IPC section 506 and IT Act section 67. Pankaj Kumar was arrested and sent to jail in July 2023, and another charge sheet was filed.

Then after he was released on bail, he filed a case against Shivkumar and 4 unknown persons under IPC sections 147, 452, 323, 504, 506 and section 3(2)Va of the SC/ST Act. Accordingly, police probed the case, but found that there was no basis for the allegations. As a result, the case was dismissed on the basis of the probe report filed by the police.

Bijnor Police added that the plaintiffs have filed 3 cases against the accused, and charge sheets against the accused has been submitted with the court. Pankaj is regularly sending letters to police to put pressure on the plaintiffs, the police said. They further added that he keeps tweeting his allegations and gets others also to tweet the same.

The police said that while Pankaj shared the screenshot of an eFIR filed by him, the eFIR under the shown registration number was not found on the portal. Action will be taken once the eFIR is shown on the portal, the police assured.

Bijnor police further said that Pankaj Kumar had gone to the Najibabad police station to file a complaint against the plaintiffs alleging that they gave threats to him on the phone. He was not made to site in the police station and he was not taken into the custody, as alleged by the lawyer in the tweet, the police clarified, saying that it is baseless allegation.

Notably, ever since the case was filed against him, Pankaj Kumar has been regularly posting tweets with his allegations. He has also written several letters to various police officials.

Pankaj has also claimed that he has given the Bijnor Superintendent of Police a recording of the girl telling him that she filed fake rape against him under family pressure, but no action was taken.

In a letter sent to the SP, he had also alleged that he was being blackmailed by a woman named Neha Sharma after she had eloped with her. He added that after that, Neha Sharma’s husband Shivkumar Sharma filed a kidnapping case against him, and then the woman returned after taking nearly ₹1 lakh from him.

He said that after that the woman filed a case against him under sections 366 (kidnapping), 376N (repeated rape on same woman), 323 (causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation). As a result, he was sent to jail, but got bail later. Pankaj Kumar further alleged that after he was out on bail, Nesha Sharma is again harassing her using a fake Instagram ID, and her husband is aiding her in this.

He further claimed that the couple was threatening to frame him in false cases and using derogatory casteist remarks against him.

However, now Bijnor police have clarified his allegations were probed and found to be baseless. On the other hand, police established the charges of abduction, rape, intimidation against him, and accordingly have filed charge sheets against him in the court.

“Koi aye to theek, na aye to theek”: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge says Congress ready to go solo across India, not just in Punjab

OpIndia Staff
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“Koi aye to theek, na aye to theek”: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge says Congress ready to go solo across India, not just in Punjab

On Sunday evening (11th February), Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge declared that the party is getting ready to go solo across the country not just in Punjab if alliance partners don’t want to join their fight. His remarks come against the backdrop of I.N.D.I. alliance partner AAP announcing that it will contest all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. The announcement by AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal meant that the alliance partners would also be pitting candidates and do campaigning against each other in the state. 

Notably, addressing a rally in Samrala of Ludhiana district, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also asked party workers to be ready to contest the elections solo. 

He said that the I.N.D.I. alliance is being prepared to defeat the Modi government. The alliance is fine somewhere but in other places, reconciliations are not happening. He told the Congress workers to understand that they have to fight, at some places have to fight alone and have to fight till the end and achieve victory. Koi Aye to theek, na aye to theek. Translation – It’s well and good if alliance partners contest with us, okay if they don’t want to join their fight. 

He asserted, “We have taken this decision in the entire country. It is not just about Punjab. You have to fight strongly.” 

While giving the victory mantra to party workers, he stressed that if Congress workers want to win, they will have to come into the field. Will have to meet people. Their misconceptions have to be removed. He told Punjab Congress state president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring that the meeting could linger on. First, people need to be approached. Will have to talk to them. People have to be told what we did and what the Modi government did.

Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla said, “Mallikarjun Kharge has also said today and our party has also said to make preparations on all 13 seats. Our state unit president and LoP have been saying from the beginning that we will contest all on (Lok Sabha seats of Punjab)..” 

Nonetheless, leaders from both AAP and Congress have maintained that they are committed to the I.N.D.I.A. bloc despite recent developments.

I.N.D.I.A. bloc withering

The opposition parties formed the I.N.D.I.A. bloc to jointly take on the BJP-led NDA alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024. The erstwhile arch-nemesis first met in Patna on the call of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. 

However, going into the election, several alliance partners have left the opposition fold, further widening the rift in the bloc. While JD(U) joined the NDA camp, reports suggest that the RLD may follow its lead. Whereas, several parties have announced to go solo in their respective states of influence including TMC in Bengal and AAP in Punjab. The seat-sharing has led to ugly spats among the rest of the alliance partners and now the Congress President’s assertion to go solo could further escalate tensions within the alliance.

Journalists should stay away from politics, can give in writing that I will never accept RS ticket: Old tweets of Sagarika Ghose go viral as TMC nominates her for upper house

OpIndia Staff
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Journalists should stay away from politics, can give in writing that I will never accept RS ticket: Old tweets of Sagarika Ghose go viral as TMC nominates her for upper house

On Sunday (11th February), the Trinamool Congress (TMC) party announced that journalist Sagarika Ghose has been given a ticket for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections in West Bengal. Following the announcement of the Rajya Sabha berth for journalist-turned-politician Ghose, her old tweets in which she had sermonised that journalists should not accept the RS berth and similar remarks have surfaced online. 

In several of these tweets, Sagarika Ghose had categorically asserted that she would never accept any Rajya Sabha ticket, adding that she can give this in writing. Notably, quoting a tweet in March 2018, Ghose had tweeted, “haha! I will never accept any RS (Rajya Sabha) ticket or PS ticket or CS ticket from any political party, sir. That I can give you in writing and you can save this tweet.” 

On the same day, she opined that Journalists should stay away from politics and having loyalty to any political party. She argued that compromising independence is the worst thing that scribes can do to themselves. Ghose further advised to strengthen India’s civil society, strengthen liberal democracy, and work for justice stressing that Netas should be left alone in their hamaam. 

She had tweeted, “Journalists, IMHO, shd stay away from politics & loyalty to any political party. Compromising independence is worst thing scribes can do to themselves. Lets strengthen India’s civil society,  strengthen liberal democracy, work for justice. Let the netas be naked in their hamaam!”  

Earlier in 2012 as well, she had sermonised the same claiming that she lives by the dictums of veteran Journalist Vinod Mehta – the founder of Outlook Magazine. Back then, she had opined that being a journalist is more exciting than a Rajya Sabha ticket or government posting.  

She wrote, “I live by Vinod Mehta’s dictum, being a journalist is far grander, more exciting than RS berths, govt posts. Another good journo joins govt.”

Sharing her old tweets, netizens slammed the journalist for going against her own words and accepting the Rajya Sabha ticket.

In recent years, Sagarika Ghose had helped further the narrative of Trinamool Congress through her embedded journalism. Interestingly, the same Mamata Banerjee who approved her Rajya Sabha candidature had walked out of her interview 12 years ago.

Netizens slam her husband, Rajdeep Sardesai for preaching about journalism

Meanwhile, several netizens have also shared how her husband Rajdeep Sardesai too had been taking the moral high ground opining that journalists should not accept Rajya Sabha berth or government postings for their journalistic work. 

In a blog on his site, titled ‘The Journalist as Neta’, he began asking the question, “Should journalists enter Rajya Sabha on a political party ticket?” 

In this 2018 blog, Sardesai advises against it and labelled various tags and allegations for a berth in the upper house.   

He wrote, “The Upper House membership is afflicted by cronyism and deal making: quid pro quos for favours, past and present, are the order of the day. Media owners turned netas are even more culpable in this regard, allowing their news channels and newspapers to be shamelessly used by those in political office. Networking/influence peddling, the scent of power and money are often the name of the game rather than a genuine desire to contribute to raising the bar in public life.” 

He added, “Once a journalist enters the political domain he or she sheds any pretense at independent journalism.” Further in the blog, he claimed that he once turned down the offer by a regional political party. Concluding the blog, he opined that if a journalist wants to join politics, they should first “quit” journalism — “if you want to join politics, please do so, but quit journalism first!” 

Additionally, netizens have also been sharing an old video interaction of then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi with Rajdeep Sardesai where he had asserted that people who abuse Modi get Rajya Sabha seat and wished Sardesai for continuing his baseless tirade against him to avail that offer. 

Land grabbing, sexual exploitation by TMC goons, threats of gang rape and more: 12 video testimonies of villagers capture the horror of Sandeshkhali

Dibakar Dutta
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Land grabbing, sexual exploitation by TMC goons, threats of gang rape and more: 12 video testimonies of villagers capture the horror of Sandeshkhali

The orgy of violence in Sandeshkhali village in North 24 Parganas district is far from over. Several video testimonies of villagers (particularly women) have surfaced on social media, detailing the torture and sexual harassment meted out to them by Trinamool Congress goons.

While speaking to TV9 Bangla, residents of Sandeshkhali recounted how TMC goons led by Shibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar grabbed their land. One woman informed that the Block Development Officer (BDO) and the local police are working hands-in-gloves with the party cadre.

Some residents informed how they had to pay ‘cut money’ to the TMC, failing which they were assaulted by the goons.

One woman told TV9 Bangla how TMC goons were destroying the lives of young boys and involving them in criminal activities.

“They (TMC goons) are telling young, impressionable children that they need to take part in political activities. The kids are told that if they refrain from politics, then, they will have nothing to eat. They are told that Didi feeds them, ” a woman informed.

She added that the children are given liquor and weapons and asked to destroy houses, harass people and loot properties at the behest of the Trinamool Congress.

According to Republic Bangla, the police accompanied the Trinamool Congress workers and harassed the women protesting against party goons Sheikh Shahjahan, Uttam Sardar and Shibo Prasad Hazra.

“We could not sleep a wink since a large contingent of police came here with bikes and cars. The sound of their approaching footsteps and loud talks terrorised us throughout the night. The men in our families could not stay the night due to their fear,” a woman narrated her ordeal.

“Police came to our house at 3 am. They abused my husband and tried to molest me. They even broke my Pola (red bangle married Bengali Hindu women wear). The police threw away my daughter. Policemen were so drunk that they were unable to stand,” the wife of a local BJP worker Bhujang Das informed.

Other residents of Sandeshkhali recounted the ill-treatment by the local cops. One woman was heard saying, “The police asked me if I sleep with other men? How could they ask me this? I need an answer. What wrong have I committed to be insulted with abuses like mother f*cker?”

“The police abused my husband as a ‘son of a pig.’ He was pulled out of the house. What crime did he commit? We need justice. Can the police personnel abuse someone like this?” she continued.

“They would forcibly take our husbands, make them work and not pay them salaries. When they asked for money, they were mercilessly beaten and their backs were broken,” the women in Sandeshkhali told the reporters.

“We did not want to take the law into our own hands. Uttar Sardar has forced us to take sticks. He has exploited us for 4 long years. We are unable to take it anymore. This is why we are protesting here,” one woman told ABP Ananda.

“If we went to meetings, then they would abduct our husbands. This was a peace-loving place but they destroyed it. We want peace in Sandeshkhali,” she added.

A resident of Sandeshkhali slammed Mamata Banerjee and asked whether the increase in monthly subsidy (Lokhir Bhandar) from ₹500 to ₹1000 by the government is the ‘compensation’ for being sexually exploited by her party cadres.

“Are we paying a price for retaining our dignity and self-respect? Are they giving us these subsidies so that we can give company to TMC members at night? Is the Chief Minister paying us for entertaining her party workers?” a victim told Republic Bangla.

A resident of Sandeshkhali recounted, “TMC workers would come to the village and pick out the ‘beautiful women.’ These men would hunt for young women and send diktat to their families to hand over the victims to them.”

“You may be the husband but you cannot exercise your right. They would take your wife away for nights at a stretch. They would not release the women from their captivity until they are ‘fully satisfied. They have 20-30 goons with them. They would come in bikes and exercise their writ in the village,” she emphasised.

Another woman said, “I too have the same experience. They would forcibly take the women away to the party (TMC) office at night and free them only in the morning.”

“We have been pushed against the wall to the extent that we are now forced to take to the streets. They (TMC goons) have destroyed us physically, mentally and financially. They have even destroyed the concrete road used by villagers,” one victim informed ABP Ananda.

Another woman stated that they are being deprived of clean, drinking water.

One woman told Republic Bangla, “They (TMC goons) broke open my window. They pulled my hand and asked me to come out of the house. They told me that they would gang-rape me. All of this happened in the presence of the police.”

“There are other women whose hair and saree have been pulled. We are not safe here (in Sandeshkhali). They have misbehaved with me in front of my husband. We want peace. I feel that it is better to die instead of being humiliated in this manner, ” the victim added.

“The TMC workers would only call women to their meetings at the party office (and violated them). We had to give in to their demands to save the lives of our husbands,” recounted a victim as she broke down in tears. She added that the TMC goons did not spare her even though she was a party supporter.

The Background of the Controversy

Hundreds of women residents of Sandeshkhali took to the streets on Thursday (8th February) with brooms, sticks, and farming tools, and blocked the roads. They demanded the immediate arrest of TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his two aides Shiba Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar.

The women had accused the trio of making their lives miserable for quite some time. The tension intensified on Friday (9th February) after angry villagers, led by women, in and around the Sandeshkhali area of North 24 Parganas, attacked the properties of Sheikh Shahjahan including a poultry farm owned by Shahjahan’s close confidant and Trinamool Congress leader Shibu Hazra.

The locals said that the poultry farm was set up on a plot of land that the Trinamool Congress leader had forcefully usurped. They also said that the poultry farm had developed into a centre for several illicit operations.

Locals also stated several other instances where Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides had forcefully grabbed lands from poor villagers.

On Saturday (10th February), the local police imposed Section 144 in various areas in Sandeshkhali and also banned the use of the internet in 16 panchayats scattered over the two blocks of Sandeshkhali-I and Sandeshkhali-II.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Archana Majumdar has said that TMC members and the local police “jointly raided” the houses of protesting women and BJP workers. Majumdar said that the police even arrested and tortured them.

In a bid to pacify the angry villagers of Sandeshkhali, the TMC leadership suspended Uttam Sardar from the party for six years. The suspended TMC leader and Zilla Parishad member was subsequently arrested in the Sandeshkhali police station area.

The primary accused Sheikh Shahjahan is still on the run from the law enforcement authorities.

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