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Haldwani violence: Rioters carried illegal weapons and gasoline, SP leader Mateen Siddiqui’s brother Javed Siddiqui arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Haldwani violence: Rioters carried illegal weapons and gasoline, SP leader Mateen Siddiqui’s brother Javed Siddiqui arrested

The police administration in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani has been tirelessly working to restore order since the unrest occurred in the region. Curfew has been lifted in most regions after maintaining control over the situation, however, it continues to be in place in Banbhoolpura. Javed Siddiqui, the brother of Samajwadi Party politician Abdul Mateen Siddiqui, has been apprehended by police on suspicion of inciting violence.

The identity of Abdul Malik, the instigator of the violence has also come to light throughout the investigation. The land where the illegal mosque was taken down was under his possession. Furthermore, one other Samajwadi Party leader’s name has surfaced during the probe. Arshad Ayub is among them. Banbhulpura councillor Zeeshan Parvez is also under police surveillance.

The effort to apprehend the rioters has commenced. The rioters are being identified with the help of CCTV. Drones are monitored in the areas. Heavy police force has been deployed to manage the crisis. Meanwhile, other disclosures regarding the horrors inflicted upon the deceased have surfaced in the media. It has been reported that the agitators killed numerous innocent persons in the streets while armed with illegal firearms. The images of grieving family members of the victims are already beginning to appear.

In addition, bullet injuries claimed the lives of all five of the victims including Muslims who died in Banbhoolpura. Notably, some are disseminating false news that the tragedy was brought on by police gunshots even though the majority of police officers used batons throughout the clashes. On the other hand, the Islamist crowd possessed illegal weapons, gasoline, bricks and stones, among other things.

These rioters are now subjected to harsh police action. Three persons were critically hurt, five people died and numerous police officers were hurt during the assault. The police filed three First Information Reports (FIR) and are currently searching for the stone pelters. Some people have even disappeared owing to the severe action of the cops. The forest department fears that these individuals might be hiding in encroached or reserved forest lands.

In light of this, the forest department also patrolled the forests close to the Gola range that is Banbhoolpura but no suspect has been nabbed till now. A group of foresters maintained their patrol of the woodlands from Aawla Chowki, Indira Nagar, Lalkuan, Bagjala, Golapul, Bagjala to Danibangar. According to Ranger Gola Chandan Adhikari, every measure would be undertaken to safeguard the forest region and prevent culprits from infiltrating.

As to the article by Dainik Jagran, the forest department is preparing a report opposing the invasion, in the wake of the violence. It had previously attempted to do the same, but the action was halted midway. However, sources have it that following the recent instance, a report is being produced to launch another campaign against intrusion.

Update: An earlier version of this report mentioned that the body of a man named Prakash Kumar was found on the train tracks. Initially, reports mentioned that Prakash Kumar’s death may also have been related to the violence. But police investigation revealed later that he was murdered over personal enmity in a case related to an extramarital affair and blackmail.

Karnataka: 38 medical students record Instagram reels in hospital premises, penalised

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: 38 medical students record Instagram reels in hospital premises, penalised

On 10th February (Saturday), the Gadag Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Karnataka took action against a group of 38 medical students for recording Instagram reels inside the hospital premises. The students faced action after they created an Instagram reel with a tagline that read, ‘Reel it, feel it.’

The incident came to the fore after videos of medical students dancing to Hindi and Kannada songs in the district hospital corridor went viral on social media.

The hospital management stated that the actions of the students were a grave mistake and caused inconvenience to patients. Subsequently, the management acted against the involved medical students and extended their training period by 10 days on Saturday, February 11.

However, following the incident, the students reportedly submitted an apology and claimed that it was part of their pre-graduation ceremony.

Speaking on the incident, the Director of the Gadag Institute of Medical Science Dr. Basavaraj Bommanhalli said, “There are 38 of them who did this (Instagram reels) within the premises and violated the rules. This is a grave mistake. Whatever they wanted to do, they should have done it outside the hospital premises, avoiding inconvenience to the patients.”

The Director added, “We haven’t granted any permission for such activities. They claimed it was recorded for the pre-graduation ceremony. We have taken cognisance of this. Their housemanship was supposed to end in the next 10–20 days, and we have extended that for another 10 days.”

Karnataka doctor dismissed for filming pre-wedding shoot in the operation theatre of a government hospital

The action on 38 medical students came a day after Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao dismissed a doctor who filmed a pre-wedding photoshoot in the operation theatre of a government hospital in Chitradurga district.

On 7th February (Wednesday), Dr Abhishek, a contract-based physician at the district hospital in Chitradurga’s Bharamasagar area, staged his pre-wedding photo shoot inside a government-run hospital’s operation theatre.

In the video, Dr. Abhishek is seen performing surgery on a patient while his partner is seen helping him. The pre-wedding photo shoot’s concept was medical procedures, with the video ending with the ‘patient’ sitting up after the operation and everyone laughing.

Reacting to the incident, Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “All contract employees, including doctors and staff performing duties in the health department, should perform their duties as per the government service rules. I have already instructed the concerned doctors and all the staff to be careful so that such abuses do not happen in government hospitals.”

No compromise on Ram and Rashtra: Acharya Pramod Krishnam’s first reaction after Congress party expelled him

OpIndia Staff
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No compromise on Ram and Rashtra: Acharya Pramod Krishnam’s first reaction after Congress party expelled him

Hours after Congress expelled him from the party for six years, Acharya Pramod Krishnam categorically asserted that there can be no compromise when it comes to the ideals of Ram and Rashtra. Reacting to his expulsion from the grand old party, Acharya Pramod Krishnam wrote a post on X stating, “On Ram and Rashtra… there can be no compromise.”

On Saturday night (10th February), an official statement from the grand old party stated that the Congress President had “approved the proposal of the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee to expel Pramod Krishnam from the party immediately for a period of six years”. According to the official release, the expulsion was taken following complaints of indiscipline and repeated public statements against the party.

The developments come in the wake of his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to invite him for the foundation stone laying ceremony on 19th February. Notably, Acharya Pramod Krishnam is the head of Shri Kalki Dham which will host the foundation laying ceremony. For those unverse, Lord Kalki will be the last avatar (re-incarnation) of Lord Vishnu in Kalyug, the last Yug in the cyclical time period.   

Following his meeting with PM Modi, he heaped praises on him and credited him for the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. In a post on X, he said, “Heartfelt gratitude and thanks to the honourable prime minister for accepting this.” 

He has also maintained that despite the Supreme Court order, the construction of Ram Mandir would not have been possible under any other Prime Minister and credit for it should go to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

In response to the invite, PM Modi thanked him and stated that it was “a privilege for me to be a part of this sacred occasion associated with faith and devotion”.

Additionally, the expelled Congress leader Krishnam had been critical of the Congress and opposition I.N.D.I.A. bloc for turning down the invitation to attend the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha event. Last month, he criticised opposition leaders for skipping the 22nd January ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, saying it was “unfortunate and suicidal decision”.

Acharya Pramod Krishnam had said, “Not even a Christian or a priest or Muslim can decline the invitation of Lord Ram. Ram is the soul of India. Without Ram, India can’t even be imagined.” 

Slamming Rahul Gandhi for his untimely Yatra, he described the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra as a tourism promotion bid. He argued that the party was busy in promoting ‘tourism’ instead of preparing for 2024 Lok Sabha elections. 

Following the back-to-back jolt in I.N.D.I.A. bloc and Nitish Kumar’s changing camps, Krishnam had claimed that the opposition bloc is dead adding that JDU Chief Kumar performed its last rights.  

He said, “I believe there is no such thing as I.N.D.I.A. any more. The alliance contracted multiple serious ailments and afflictions at birth. Then it slipped into the ICU and ventilator. Eventually, it was Nitish Kumar (one of the key architects of the Bloc) who performed its last rights in Patna. I don’t think it exists any longer.” 

In November last year, he stressed that there is a ‘chandal chaukdi’ in the Congress party that hates not just Lord Ram but also Gau, Ganga, Gita and Gayatri. 

‘TMC goons would take your wife for nights at a stretch, release them only when they are fully satisfied’: Hindu women narrate their ordeal in Sandeshkhali

OpIndia Staff
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‘TMC goons would take your wife for nights at a stretch, release them only when they are fully satisfied’: Hindu women narrate their ordeal in Sandeshkhali

Amid the ongoing violence in Sandeshkhali village in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, several Hindu women have narrated their plight of exploitation at the hands of Trinamool Congress (TMC) goons.

While speaking to Republic Bangla on Saturday (10th February), 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 narrated, “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.”

At that point, the first woman intervened and told the Republic Bangla journalist, “You (the journalist) are a woman. You know what kind of meeting is conducted at the party office at night.”

One woman informed, “Their primary target is women. Why do we have to leave my husband and children and go with them?” Another woman lamented, “We are not safe until it is morning.”

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.

‘Delhi Chalo’ protest by farmers: Section 144 imposed in Panchkula, security tightened at all border crossings and several roads barricaded

OpIndia Staff
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‘Delhi Chalo’ protest by farmers: Section 144 imposed in Panchkula, security tightened at all border crossings and several roads barricaded

A massive ‘Delhi Chalo’ march including over 200 farmers’ unions has been declared by the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political). The march is slated for the 13th to put more pressure on the national government to acquiesce to demands which comprises of introducing legislation securing a minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

However, significant administrative and security actions have been triggered by the mobilisation, involving the implementation of Section 144 in Panchkula and the suspension of bulk SMS and mobile internet services from 6 am on 11th February till 11.59 pm on 13th February in multiple Haryana districts.

Ambala: Paramilitary personnel stay vigil after security tightened ahead of the farmers’ march to Delhi. (Source: ANI)

According to Panchkula Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sumer Singh Pratap, the administration has invoked Section 144 in Panchkula which forbids processions, protests, and the carrying of weapons. Preparations are in place to close the borders between Punjab and Haryana in the districts of Ambala, Jind and Fatehabad ahead of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march by the Punjab farmers.

Mobile internet services are cut off and bulk SMS service has been halted in seven districts of Haryana, Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa to curb the dissemination of false information and preserve public order. Senior police officers including the Director General of Police (DGP) of Haryana and the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Ambala have inspected border crossings to evaluate security measures.

Due to anticipated interruptions, the Haryana Police has released a traffic advisory directing commuters to minimize their use of major highways on 13th February. People travelling between Chandigarh and Delhi have been advised to choose alternate routes to reduce the possibility of traffic congestion. Concrete barriers and road restrictions have been installed at the Shambhu border and the Ghaggar riverbed has been dredged to hinder the movement. Heavy traffic jams and interruptions to usual travellers are expected, especially for those travelling through the Shambhu border towards Ambala.

Cement barricades, barbed wire and sandbags are placed at the boundaries between Haryana and Delhi to prevent farmers from entering the capital. Drones and water cannons have also been deployed. The Haryana Police are receiving assistance from fifty companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) as well as other paramilitary forces. Shatrujeet Kapur, the chief of Haryana police threatened to take harsh measures against anyone attempting to disturb the peace. Farmers have been urged by the police to avoid the area and warned of legal action if any public property is harmed. Anil Vij, the home minister for Haryana has also declared that the state administration “will ensure complete peace.”

Meanwhile, the administration has stepped up its efforts to appease the farmers. On 10th February, the General Secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, Sarwan Singh Pandher announced that they had received an invitation from the central government to a meeting on 12th February to talk about their requests. He informed, “A meeting with Union Ministers Arjun Munda, Piyush Goyal and Nityanand Rai regarding the demands of farmers unions will take place on 12th February at 5 pm in Chandigarh.” He also condemned the Haryana government for its decision to halt mobile internet services and bulk SMS in seven districts.

On 8th February, the representatives of farmer associations participated in a thorough discussion during the first meeting with the three Union ministers, Piyush Goyal, Arjun Munda, and Nityanand Rai. Chief Minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Singh Mann who coordinated with the farmer leaders for arranging the meeting, had also participated in it.

The farmer leaders claimed that the central ministers had assured them that another round of meetings would be held shortly. Furthermore, Bhagwant Mann stated that there were many points on which the ministers and farmer leaders agreed, such as the dismissal of cases brought against farmers during the previous agitation against the repealed agricultural regulations and the harsh penalties for using fake seeds and chemicals.

Notably, several farmer associations have distanced themselves from the march. The farmers’ protest in 2020–21 that resulted in the centre rescinding three farm laws was spearheaded by the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) who revealed that they would not be joining the demonstration. Instead, they are going to protest on 16th February. However, they threatened that all unions would take to the streets if farmers participating in the 13th February demonstration were “manhandled.”

2020 witnessed a similar gathering of farmers, primarily from Punjab and the surrounding Ambala districts at the Shambhu border. They broke through police barriers and marched towards Delhi. Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, who constituted the majority of the demonstrators, staged a protest against the three farm regulations that were repealed after nearly 13 months at Singhu, Tikri, and Ghazipur, the border points of Delhi.

Sandeshkhali violence: BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari seeks Governor’s intervention to restore peace; suspended TMC leader Uttam Sardar arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Sandeshkhali violence: BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari seeks Governor’s intervention to restore peace; suspended TMC leader Uttam Sardar arrested

On Saturday (10th February), Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari, along with BJP MLAs, visited the Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum seeking the intervention of Governor CV Ananda Bose to restore peace in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district.

On Saturday, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC were issued, and internet services were snapped in Sandeshkhali. This happened after local women protested, demanding the arrest of absconding Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shajahan Sheikh and his associates: Shiba Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar.

Governor Bose was not present when BJP leaders paid a visit to Raj Bhavan. Officials stated that he is currently in Kerala. Adhikari and the BJP MLAs delivered the memorandum to Raj Bhavan officials. In the Raj Bhavan, BJP members raised slogans such as “Sandeshkhali is burning” and “Mamata is laughing”.

“I conveyed my demands to his secretary. They behaved well with us. If peace is not restored within 24 hours, we will sit on dharna in front of Raj Bhavan where the nephew of the Chief Minister sat on dharna a few days back,” Adhikari said.

During the protests, the Nandigram MLA said, “TMC is a rapist party. All BJP leaders have been arrested. No other party has any role in it but TMC… BJP is the only support of Hindu nationalists… We will not obey Section 144. All MLAs, ‘Mahila Morcha’, ‘Yuva Morcha’ will protest…”

Taking to X, Adhikari informed that the BJP leaders will meet the villagers in Sandeshkhali on Monday, February 12. He added that if the administration refuses to cooperate they will go do a sit-in protest outside Raj Bhavan.

“Today @BJP4Bengal MLAs marched to the Raj Bhavan to draw the Hon’ble Governor’s attention towards the rampant Human Rights violation in Sandeshkhali. As the Hon’ble Governor is out of the State, we conveyed our message to his OSD. We expect that Hon’ble Governor will visit Sandeshkhali instantly, once he returns. The BJP MLAs will visit Sandeshkhali on Monday to meet the Villagers. If the Administration don’t cooperate and create hurdles for us then we will sit in the demonstration at the Raj Bhavan for an indefinite period of time,” the BJP leader posted.

Meanwhile, West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose said that the situation in Sandeshkhali is the ‘worst that could happen in a civilised society’ and called upon the state government to take effective action. The governor also sought a report on it.

“The Sandeshkhali incident shows the worst that could happen in a civilised society. Women are harassed and assaulted there. The established government has to act firmly and effectively. No one will be allowed to take the law into their hands. The government has a responsibility to put an end to this. I understand that prohibitory orders have been issued there, the police are there, and the assembly is in session when in such a situation a goon or his group can take the law into their hands, then it means it’s a warning to the civil society. Let me get the report from the government. Action will be taken. Never think Bengal is a Banana Republic,” Governor Bose said.

Reacting to the Governor’s statement, Suvendu Adhikari said that it is high time to walk the talk. “I welcome the Hon’ble Governor’s statement on Sandeshkhali, but it’s high time to Walk the Talk. The People of West Bengal want to know, What Action will be Taken, if No Action is Taken by the WB Govt?” Adhikari wrote on X.

TMC in damage control mode, suspends Shahjahan Sheikh’s aide Uttam Sardar from the party

Aiming to salvage the situation, 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.

Reports say that the now-suspended TMC leader was arrested on the complaint lodged by a woman against him in Sandeshkhali. Meanwhile, TMC leader and minister Partha Bhowmik said that the decision to suspend Uttam Sardar was taken by Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee.

The decision to suspend came just a day after Bhowmik said the protests were limited to a small area.

“TMC and police conducted joint raids, arrested and tortured BJP workers”

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.

“Last night, in various villages of #Sandeshkhali, Trinamool and police jointly raided the homes of protesting women and BJP workers’, arrested them in false cases, and subjected them to torture. Today, when @BJP4Bengal went to meet the attacked families, we heard that section 144 has been imposed, and Mamata Banerjee’s police have detained us in AkunjiPara, 200 meters before Sheikh Shahjahan’s house, 6 kilometres before Sandeshkhali PS,” the BJP spokesperson posted on X.

Protests in Sandeshkhali

As reported earlier, several areas in Sandeshkhali of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal have been on the boil since 8th February. Locals, mainly women, have hit the streets demanding the arrest of absconding TMC leader and Mamata Banerjee’s close aides Sheikh Shahjahan and two other TMC workers Shiba Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar, believed to be close to Shahjahan. 

As the protests intensified on Saturday, the third day of the agitation, the local police, working at the behest of TMC supremo and WB CM Mamata Banerjee, 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.

Hundreds of women residents of Sandeshkhali came out on the streets on Thursday with brooms, sticks, and farming tools, and blocked the roads. They are demanding the arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan and his two aides Shiba Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar, whom they have accused of making their lives miserable for quite some time, even from before the attack on the ED’s men.

According to reports, the tension mounted on Friday (February 9) 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.

EVMs could’ve averted delayed election results, says Pakistan President Arif Alvi amidst post-poll chaos

ANI
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EVMs could’ve averted delayed election results, says Pakistan President Arif Alvi amidst post-poll chaos

Pakistan President Arif Alvi expressed his frustration on Saturday over the postponed election results and stated that if the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) had been in use during the general elections on February 8, the nation would not be facing this current crisis, Geo News reported.

Despite the commission’s lofty claims, the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) new Election Management System (EMS) failed, he said.

Notably, the election regulator has yet to release the preliminary results for every constituency, nearly seventy-two hours after the polls closed.

In a post on social media platform X, President Alvi said: “Had EVMs been there today, my dear beloved Pakistan would have been spared this crisis.”

President Alvi recalled the fight for the EVMs waged by the previous PTI-led government, saying that the entire endeavour–which involved more than 50 meetings at the presidency alone–was abandoned.

“Remember ‘our’ long struggle for EVMs. EVM had paper ballots that could be counted separately by hand (like it is being done today) but it also had a simple electronic calculator/counter of each vote button pressed,” he said.

The president, according to Geo News, said that the totals of every candidate would have been available and printed within five minutes of the closing of the poll if the machines were used.

On February 10, the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) staged a protest over alleged rigging and alteration of results in Sindh’s PS-22 constituency.

“Our [JUI-F’s] candidate was made to lose via [deliberate] change of results,” JUI-F leader Rashid Mehmood Soomro said.

“We have won by [margin of] 7,000 votes as per the Form 45s in our possession,” he said while calling for fresh elections in multiple constituencies, according to Geo News.

Amid the delay in the publication of Pakistan’s election results, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has given a call for a nationwide protest on Sunday to protect the sanctity of the vote as independent candidates are in the lead with 100 seats.

According to the report, the decision comes after the party’s core committee meeting was held and it was announced to hold ‘peaceful protests’ across the country to protect the sanctity of the vote.

The meeting also deliberated on election results and the future course of action. The core committee also discussed matters related to affiliation with specific political parties.

Important decisions were made during the meeting, which the party said would be implemented after consultation with PTI founder Imran Khan. 

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

Gang rape, blackmail and more: Congress leaders accused of violating 23 women in Rajasthan in exchange for jobs, deny charges

OpIndia Staff
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Gang rape, blackmail and more: Congress leaders accused of violating 23 women in Rajasthan in exchange for jobs, deny charges

A Congress party leader and his accomplices have come under the scanner for raping 23 women under the pretext of providing them jobs as ‘Anganwadi workers.’ The incident took place in Sirohi city of Rajasthan.

As per a report by Gantantra News, the primary accused were identified as Municipal Corporation Chairman Mahendra Mewada and the former Municipal Commissioner Mahendra Choudhary.

The 23 women were asked to travel from Pali to Sirohi and then made to stay at a wine shop. Mahendra Mewada, Mahendra Choudhary and 10-15 other men spiked their meals, which made the victims unconscious.

Thereafter, they took turns to rape the women. They also shot videos of the heinous crime. The accused were reportedly seen laughing while gangraping the women.

The videos were later used to blackmail the women and demand a whopping sum of ₹5 lakhs from each victim. On regaining consciousness, the rapists told the victims how they were violated in the name of providing jobs.

“We had a lot of fun with all of you. That’s why we called you guys by deceit,” Mewada and Choudhary reportedly told the women. They also forced the 23 women to sign on blank papers and took their thumb impressions.

Initially, 8 women had filed a complaint with the police against Mahendra Mewara and Mahendra Choudhary. They had demanded immediate action against the accused.

It has also come to light that the complaints were filed before the Rajasthan election polls when the Congress government was in power. However, no action was taken against the accused.

It was only after the BJP government came to power that action was initiated on the orders of a Rajasthan court. The investigation is now being headed by CO Sirohi Parasaram. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has constituted a committee to probe the matter.

Accused Mahendra Mewada had ‘cried foul’ over the allegations of rape and claimed that a ‘conspiracy’ was underway to frame him.

He said, “A conspiracy has been hatched against me. Even in the year 2023, 22 women had simultaneously filed a rape case, in which the victims did not even come forward. That allegation was also proved false. Now again a case has been registered. This is also false. Everything will become clear once the investigation concludes.”

Mahendra Choudhary also said, “I don’t know anyone. The municipality does not provide Anganwadi jobs. I have retired in August 2022. Everything is fake. I was not even the commissioner when the case was registered.”

OpIndia tried to contact the Superintendent of Police (Sirohi) Jyestha Maitreyi but found her official number switched off. We also tried to reach Deputy SP Parasaram Choudhary but to no avail.

Ashok Swain’s OCI is cancelled for anti-India activities: Indian government tells the Delhi High Court

OpIndia Staff
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Ashok Swain’s OCI is cancelled for anti-India activities: Indian government tells the Delhi High Court

On 7th February, the Centre informed the Delhi High Court that Sweden-based professor Ashok Swain’s Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registration was cancelled after he was found to be indulged in “illegal activities inimical” to the interests of the sovereignty, integrity, and security of India. The response from the central government came after Swain challenged the cancellation of his OCI registration via a plea in the Delhi High Court on 30th July 2023. His registration was cancelled on order of the Indian Embassy to Sweden and Latvia.

The Ministry of Home Affairs told the High Court that it examined a report from the security agencies, and the Ministry of External Affairs about Swain’s activities and found that his OCI Card was liable to be cancelled under the provisions of Section 7D© of The Citizenship Act. The ministry noted, “Therefore, on 06.11.2020, this Ministry served a “Notice” to the petitioner through the Embassy of India in Sweden to show cause as to why his OCI Card may not be cancelled for indulging in inflammatory speeches and anti-India activities.”

The ministry further noted that Swain’s response to the notice was examined thoroughly. However, the ministry’s reports from security agencies and MEA provided enough evidence to show that Swain was consistently and willfully indulging in anti-India activities. The Centre said that Swain “persistently and willfully indulged in writings and inflammatory speeches that tarnished the image of the country and its institutions in the eyes of the international community, undermining the nation and hurting the country’s interests”.

Centre further added that the details of the inputs from the security agencies could not be revealed as they were classified as “Secret”. However, the Centre might place it before the bench in a sealed cover if the court wishes.

Appearing for Swain, advocate Aadil Singh Boparai submitted that because Swain critiques the Government of India’s policies, that did not make him ‘anti-India’. Responding to the submissions, the Centre argued that it may cancel the OCI card registration if “satisfied that it is necessary so to do in the interests of the sovereignty…integrity…the security of India, friendly relations of India with any foreign country, or in the interests of the general public”.

Furthermore, the Centre added that the visa grant is a “plenary sovereign function” of the Government of India, not an “enforceable right let alone a Fundamental Right”. The Centre added though Swain had an OCI card, it could not be equated with the citizenship of India as OCI card holders are foreign nationals.

The matter has been next listed for 7th May 2024.

Ashok Swain has a history of peddling fake news

Ashok Swain has a history of peddling fake news targeting the Government of India. His X account was withheld in India as he repeatedly posted fake news, spreading disinformation. On multiple occasions, Ashok Swain not only maligned India but also tried to present a false narrative of Muslim victimhood in the country.

Hamas Tunnel discovered directly under UN headquarters in Gaza: Israeli forces

OpIndia Staff
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Hamas Tunnel discovered directly under UN headquarters in Gaza: Israeli forces

On 10th February, the Israeli military said in a statement that they had discovered a Hamas tunnel under UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees) school. The tunnel network spans over hundreds of meters and runs partly under UNRWA’s Gaza headquarters. The Israeli military called it new evidence that Hamas has been exploiting the main relief agency for Palestinians.

Israeli forces have discovered a tunnel network hundreds of meters long and running partly under UNRWA’s Gaza headquarters, the military says, calling it new evidence of Hamas’s exploitation of the main relief agency for Palestinians. Army engineers took reporters from foreign news outlets through the passages at a time of crisis for UNRWA. The agency says it has launched an internal probe as it saw a string of donor countries freeze funding over allegations last month by Israel that some of its staff doubled as Hamas operatives.

In a social media post, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said, “Acting on ISA intelligence, the forces discovered a tunnel shaft near a UNRWA school, leading to an underground terrorist tunnel beneath UNRWA’s main headquarters. The forces found electrical infrastructure inside the tunnel connected to UNRWA’s main HQ, suggesting it was supplying the tunnel with electricity—generated by the fuel provided through humanitarian aid.”

IDF added that the tunnel was 700 meters long and 18 meters deep. Furthermore, it contained multiple blast doors and various intelligence assets that the IDF seized. The Israeli forces found intelligence and documents in the tunnel that confirmed that Hamas terrorists were using the tunnel. They also discovered large quantities of weapons, including rifles, ammunition, grenades and ex,plosives, hidden in the building’s offices.

Allegations against UNRWA staffers

On 26th January, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini revealed that Israel had accused a dozen UNRWA staffers of being involved in the 7th October terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas. He added that the agency had terminated the contract of these employees and launched an investigation into this case. Following the allegations, several nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Finland, Italy, Australia, Canada and Japan, suspended funding to the UNRWA.

What is UNRWA

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was created by the United Nations General Assembly in 1949. Its primary mission is to offer humanitarian aid and protection to registered Palestine refugees within its designated operational area. UNRWA operates in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.

UNRWA facilitates the realisation of the full potential in human development for Palestine refugees by delivering high-quality services in education, healthcare, relief and social services, protection, camp infrastructure and enhancement, microfinance, and emergency assistance. The agency relies heavily on voluntary contributions for its funding.

Israel has provided information to the agency that its employees were involved in conspiring the terrorist attack by Hamas on 7th October 2023. In response to the allegations, the UNRWA has terminated the employees and launched an investigation. Israel is in the middle of a war against Hamas following the terrorist attack.

7th October terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel

On 7th October, Hamas terrorists launched an all-out attack on Israel from sea, land, and air. At least 5,000 rockets were launched into Israel from Gaza, and tunnels were used to breach the Israeli territory and butcher Israeli civilians, particularly in the border villages. A music festival hosting more than 200 people was turned into a slaughter ground with many women raped, mutilated and abducted to Gaza. At least 1,300 people, including some foreign nationals, babies, women and senior citizens, died in the attacks. More than 200 were abducted and taken to Gaza. Following the attack, Israel launched a counterattack to eliminate Hamas. The Israel-Hamas war entered its 127th day on 11th February 2024.

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