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Assaulted for not praying to Jesus, visiting church and force-fed wine: Pandita Ramabai Mission booked for confinement, conversion of minor girls in Pune

Siddhi Somani
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Assaulted for not praying to Jesus, visiting church and force-fed wine: Pandita Ramabai Mission booked for confinement, conversion of minor girls in Pune

Last month, OpIndia reported an exclusive case from the Pune district of Maharashtra where two minor girls were forcefully sent to an orphanage in Daund and were forcefully converted to Christianity. The girls were also forced to clean toilets, were influenced against Hinduism and Hindu Gods and Goddesses, and were beaten, and tortured after their mother’s death in the year 2020.

The Police have taken cognizance of the event and have filed an FIR against the Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission and its three Matrons identified as Sakshi Bhalerao, Nisha More, and Vaishali Bhasker for assaulting and torturing the minor girls and converting them to Christianity.

As per the FIR copy obtained by OpIndia, all four accused have been booked under sections 354B (Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 295A (Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class) and 298 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 11 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. FIR has been filed based on the complaint registered by one of the maternal aunts of the victims.

It has come to the fore that the two minor girls aged 9 and 11 respectively were confined to the Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission orphanage which is located in the Daund region of the Pune district. The girls were forced to clean public toilets and were not provided with good food and clothes in the orphanage. They also were forced to take baths in public by the authorities at the orphanage.

FIR copy obtained by OpIndia

The girls were converted to Christianity and baptized by the authorities at the orphanage. They were also forced to go to church on Sundays and were barred from wearing Bindi, bangles, and any Hindu religious symbol in jewellery form on their body. They were brain-fed that “Hindu Gods are dead. They don’t exist. People only apply haldi kumkum on idols unnecessarily.” The girls were also made to believe that Jesus is the only existing God.

The aunt of the girl mentioned in the complaint that she was rarely allowed to meet the girls for 1 and a half years and was not allowed to take them at home for vacations. The aunt of the girls also said that the orphanage refused to hand over the girls to the family saying that they were receiving foreign funds from every girl confined in the orphanage and that they could not afford to lose the girls for money. “However, they kept on trying to convince us that the girls were being taken care of and that they would be sent to foreign countries for education. But we were being cheated,” the complainant said.

How did the two minor girls land in the Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission?

The two victim minor girls are from the Shivajinagar area of Pune. They had been staying with their maternal aunt in the Bhavani Peth area after their mother died. The girls’ father shared minimal bond with them given that they were girls. “My sister and her husband shared no relation after these two girls were born. She had been staying with our mother in Pune. And after she died in 2021, I took responsibility for her daughters (two victims of this case),” said the maternal aunt of the two minor girls.

As per the information obtained by OpIndia, the girls had been studying at the Bapusaheb Pawar Prathmik School in Bhavani Peth. Some of the NGOs like the Bharatiya Samajseva Kendra were associated with the school ensuring the welfare of the students. In the year 2021, one of the social workers from the NGO called the aunt of the girls and said that the father of the girls wouldn’t take proper care of the girls. She suggested the woman admit the girls into a good hostel for better education and lifestyle. Despite several refusals from the aunt, the social worker convinced the family and contacted the Bal Kalyan Samiti in Yerwada through which she got the girls admitted to Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission in Daund.

The aunt of the girls was assured that they would be allowed to meet the girls and talk to them over the phone whenever they wanted. The aunt and the other family members of the girls were also assured that all the financial needs of the girls would be taken care of and that they would be sent to foreign for further education. The authorities at the orphanage also reportedly told the family that the marriage expenses of the women would also be taken care of.

Earlier, the aunt of the girls was told that they would be kept at the hostel. However, they were deceptively kept at the orphanage and were confined for almost two years. The girls were not allowed to meet their aunts and were not allowed to communicate with them openly.

Representative Image (The Federal)

What happened to the girls in the orphanage; force-fed ‘wine, bread ‘grape juice’, bread

The two minor girls in their confession to the police said that they were tortured at the orphanage and were not provided with proper clothes, food, and other basic needs. The girls also said that they were made to clean public toilets and wash vessels at the orphanage.

As per the FIR-

  1. The girls were made to eat white bread and drink Grape Juice (Red wine).
  2. They were barred from praying to Hindu Gods and Goddesses and were made to believe that “Jesus is the only existent God and all Hindu Gods and Goddesses are dead.”
  3. The girls were baptized and were forcefully converted to Christianity.
  4. They were asked to attend Sunday churches and read Christian prayers failing which they would not be provided with proper food.
  5. The girls were also asked to take an open bath (with no clothes on the body) in front of the public.
  6. They had also attained infection in their fingers given they were forced to clean toilets using chemicals and acids.
  7. The girls were frequently tortured, assaulted, and beaten by the Matron Nisha More and Vaishali Bhasker
  8. They were abused over their low caste
  9. They were given weird, shapeless haircuts and were made to wear torn clothes deliberately. Photographs of the girls would be shot in such weird attire.
  10. The two minors were also barred from wearing Bindi and bangles.
  11. Matron Sakshi Bhalerao would confine the girls into the bathroom for hours if her orders were not followed.

Girls were not allowed to talk to the aunt

The aunt of the girls maintained in the complaint that the girls would not be allowed to talk properly to them. They would be kept watch on continuously when we would visit them. “After the admission of the girls to the hostel (orphanage), me and my two other sisters went to meet the girls. The first time we were treated very nicely. But as I demanded to take the girls home for a few days or vacations they would not allow. Slowly slowly they began keeping us away from the girls. Someone from the orphanage authorities would always be present with the girls ensuring that they don’t reveal the atrocities faced by them,” the aunt said.

The orphanage receives foreign funds for every child confined

On 3rd May 2023, after the mistreatment came to the fore, the father of the girls submitted a letter to the orphanage saying that he wanted his kids back and that he was capable enough to take care of them. Nisha More from the orphanage then rejected the proposal and said that the girls now belonged to the orphanage and that ‘the father now had no relation with the girls.’

Accused Nisha More also replied to the father saying that the orphanage received specific amounts from the foreign countries behind every child in the orphanage and that they would not lose the girls. She further convinced the father saying that the orphanage would take all the financial responsibility of his kids and need not worry about them now.

FIR copy obtained by OpIndia

The girl’s aunt learned about the orphanage’s response and found it scary. She sought help from the Bal Kalyan Samiti to get custody of the kids. However, the authorities at the Samiti, Wasim Sheikh, and other women officials abused her and hurled caste-related abuse. “You low-caste, illiterate people will never change,” the authorities said.

About Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission

The Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission in Kedgaon, Daund, was established in the year 1889. As per its official website, the missionary is ‘committed to the empowerment of destitute women and children since 1889’.

It is a Christ-centered home where destitute women and children irrespective of their background are ‘cared for’, transformed, and empowered as per the vision statement mentioned on its website. “We seek, in the Spirit of Christ, to sow seeds of change in the lives of every individual under the care of Mukti Mission, skillfully counselling them to Deal with the issues of life, Initiating varied opportunities of healing and shaping them prayerfully as models of God’s kingdom for the society at large,” the NGO’s mission statement reads.

Screengrab from the website

The basis and operation of the Mission are based on Isaiah 61: 1 & 4 of the Bible which reads, “The spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”

In the given case, the two minor girls have been forcefully converted by the Missionary.

NCPCR demanded action based on a complaint by IHRC

As reported earlier, the entire incident got exposed when one of the aunts got associated with a Pune-based NGO named the Indian Human Rights Council (IHRC) and local Hindu organizations. The complaint was then sent to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) which issued a notice seeking severe action in the case.

The Commission also noted that the details of the two minors had not been uploaded on the Commission’s Bal Swaraj Portal- Covid Care given the reason for the death of the minor’s mother was suspicion of COVID-19.

The girls were finally released by the Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission on 11th November 2023 and were safely handed over to the aunts by the local Hindu organizations.

Team OpIndia tried to contact the orphanage for a comment but to no avail.

A complaint has been filed against the Pandita Ramabai Mukti Mission and its three Matrons identified as Sakshi Bhalerao, Nisha More, and Vaishali Bhasker for assaulting and torturing the minor girls and converting them to Christianity.

All four accused have been booked under sections 354B (Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint), 295A (Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings of any class) and 298 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 11 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 based on the complaint registered by one of the maternal aunts of the victims.

‘Dawood Zinda Hai’ – From Gangrene to Covid to poisoning: How Pakistan-resident Dawood Ibrahim keeps dying of a different cause every year

OpIndia Staff
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‘Dawood Zinda Hai’ – From Gangrene to Covid to poisoning: How Pakistan-resident Dawood Ibrahim keeps dying of a different cause every year

On 18th December, while Indian social media was abuzz with the unconfirmed reports of notorious terrorist Dawood Ibrahim being poisoned and in critical condition, Republic TV confirmed that those were just rumours. In a report, Republic TV noted that a relative of Dawood Ibrahim dismissed the claims made in social media reports that Dawood was admitted to a hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, due to health complications.

There were reports that unknown persons poisoned the most wanted Indian terrorist. Speaking to Republic TV, the relative claimed that Dawood was not poisoned. The relative said, “News of poisoning is not correct. Also, we are unaware of his whereabouts”.

How reports of Dawood Ibrahim’ dying surfaced’s death keep surfacing over the years

Dawood Ibrahim is one of the most notorious and dreaded gangsters/terrorists that India has ever seen. A criminal mobster and drug dealer from Mumbai, it is believed that Dawood Ibrahim now resides in Karachi, Pakistan. He was designated as a global terrorist in 2003 by India and the United States, with a reward of US$25 million for his capture for his role in the 1993 Bombay bombings. In 2011, the FBI and Forbes named him number three on The World’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives. While Dawood’s death rumours are all over social media, it has to be noted that such rumours find their place on social media platforms once or twice every year. It is a fact that Dawood Ibrahim is hiding in Pakistan, and the hostile neighbour categorically refuses to accept his presence in the country.

Various ’causes’ of Dawood Ibrahim’s death

On 17th December 2023, there was a rumour on social media that some unknown assailants poisoned Dawood Ibrahim, and he was admitted to hospital in critical condition. The rumour surfaced after the internet went kaput in Pakistan to curb the circulation of videos of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s virtual rally. Fake screenshots of Pakistan PM’s posts, and fanning of the rumours by journalists fed fuel to the rumours.

In 2020, there were reports that Dawood Ibrahim and his wife contracted Coronavirus. It was one of the “silver lining” reports during the COVID-19 pandemic. Later, it was reported that he died of the infection. However, the reports were proven wrong, and Dawood lived. However, his nephew Siraj Kaskar, the son of Dawood’s elder brother Sabir Kaskar, did die of COVID-19 in Pakistan.

In 2017, there were reports that Dawood died of a heart attack. Some reports suggested he had a brain tumour that led to his worsening health. However, the reports later proved to be fake. Chota Shakeel, Dawood’s right hand man, said in a statement, “Listening to my voice, do you think any such thing has happened? These are all rumours, Bhai is fit and fine.”

In 2016, there was another rumour on social media that Dawood got gangrene on his legs, and doctors might have had to amputate them. In April 2016, CNN News18 reported that Dawood Ibrahim was suffering from an advanced stage of gangrene, and soon, doctors would not have any option but to cut off his legs. The report further claimed that if his situation worsened and he died, it would be a big blow to India’s efforts to bring him to justice. NDTV put the terrorist on death bed and reported there was a hunt for his successor. Times of India busted the rumour quoting Chota Shakeel who said, “Your agencies have the wrong information. Dawood is perfectly fit.”

While Dawood Ibrahim is still alive, several wanted terrorists and their associates have been killed by unknown assailants in Pakistan. OpIndia’s detailed report on terrorists being killed by unnamed assailants in Pakistan can be checked here.

Bangladesh: Hindus stage protest after 10 idols vandalised in 3 temples in Faridpur, one miscreant arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Bangladesh: Hindus stage protest after 10 idols vandalised in 3 temples in Faridpur, one miscreant arrested

On Friday (15th December) night, about 10 idols of deities kept in three Hindu temples were vandalised in Alfadanga upazila in Faridpur district in Dhaka Division of Bangladesh.

As per a report in Prothom Alo, the three desecrated temples were identified as Kendriya Hari Mandir, Sri Sri Vishnu Pagal Mandir and Sri Sri Damodar Akhara. The places of worship are located within 1 km of the Alfadanga municipality.

According to the Bengali daily, four idols of Goddess Manasa, Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati and one idol of Lord Shiva were vandalised at the Kendriya Hari Mandir. Similarly, two idols of Lord Shiva and Goddess Manasa were destroyed at the Sri Sri Vishnu Pagal Mandir.

Hindus stage protest against temple desecration, image via Prothom Alo

The unidentified miscreants also vandalised a Shivling and idols of Lord Shiva and Lord Narayana, which were kept at the Sri Sri Damodar Akhara. In total, they attacked 10 idols belonging to Hindu gods and Goddesses.

After the matter came to light, the locals informed the police. While speaking about the incident, Officer-in-Charge of the (Alfadanga) police station Salim Reza said that the cops reached the crime spot immediately after receiving information.

He said that a case would be filed and that the CCTV footage of the temple premises was collected.

Hindus protest against idol vandalism in Alfadanga upazila

On Sunday (17th December), members of the Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council (HBCUC) staged a demonstration at Alfadanga Chowrastra, demanding rapid action against those involved in idol vandalism.

A human chain was formed by the protestors seeking justice against religious persecution. A day earlier, another protest march was organised jointly by the Upazila Puja Udayapan Committee and HBCUC.

Idol vandalism in Shalikupa Upazila

Earlier on 6th November, a case of temple desecration and idol vandalism came to light in the Bijulia village of Shailkupa upazila of Bangladesh. After learning about the incident, the local Hindus alerted the police.

A similar case of idol vandalism took place in the area in October 2022. Islamists orchestrated it under the supervision of a Chhatra League (student wing of Bangladesh Awami League) leader.

“Last year, they broke the idol of Goddess Kali and discarded the head of the deity. There is an upcoming election in the country. I hope such incidents are not repeated this time…I hope we can live in peace,” a local Hindu woman said.

In February this year, OpIndia reported about a series of planned attacks on at least 14 Hindu temples across the Islamic country.

Update: According to a report by Dhaka Mail, one miscreant by the name of Sanatan Malo/ Sonai Malo was arrested by the police in connection to idol vandalism. He claimed that he would have nightmares featuring snakes and hence destroyed the idol of Goddess Manasa and Lord Shiva.

NIA raids 19 locations across South India, ‘highly radicalised jihadi terror group’ being targeted

ANI
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NIA raids 19 locations across South India, ‘highly radicalised jihadi terror group’ being targeted

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out searches at 19 locations in South India by busting a “highly radicalised jihadi terror group,” sources said.

The raids have been underway since this morning. The anti-terror agency is conducting these raids in close coordination with the state police forces.

The sources, privy to the development, did not share the inputs about the exact location and about the jihadi group due to some operational reasons.

Of the 19 places being searched by the NIA, the majority of them are linked to suspects affiliated with the jihadi group.

As per inputs, the terror group is engaged in anti-India activities and has learned to plan attacks, recruiting youths, said the sources.

The move comes days after the NIA raided multiple locations across Bengaluru, Karnataka, in a case relating to the radicalization of prisoners by a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist.

A total of six locations, including the houses of four accused, one of whom is still absconding, were extensively searched in the case on December 13 as part of the NIA’s continuing investigations into the case (RC-28/2023/NIA/DLI). The other locations that were searched were premises connected with two other suspects.

In that raid, the NIA teams seized a host of digital devices, various incriminating documents, and cash amounting to Rs 7.3 lakhs during the raids, conducted at the premises of Mohammed Umar, Mohammed Faisal Rabbani, Tanveer Ahmed and Mohammed Farooq, as well as absconder Junaid Ahmed. Three accused are currently absconding in the case, registered under various sections of IPC, the UA(P) Act, 1967 and the Explosive Substances Act, 1884.

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

Prayagraj: Atiq Ahmed’s aide & Umesh Pal murder accused Nafees Biryani dies after massive heart attack

OpIndia Staff
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Prayagraj: Atiq Ahmed’s aide & Umesh Pal murder accused Nafees Biryani dies after massive heart attack

Slain gangster Atiq Ahmed’s financer and aide Nafees Biryani died on Monday (18th December) morning. Nafees’s death comes a day after he suffered a cardiac arrest in the Naini Central Jail and was admitted to the ICU at the Swarooprani Nehru Hospital.

According to authorities, Nafees was admitted to the SRN Hospital but while undergoing treatment on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, he passed away owing to a heart attack.

Nafees Biryani was one of the accused in the Umesh Pal murder case in Prayagraj. He was arrested by the police on 22nd November from Anapur in the Nawabganj police station area. There was a bounty of Rs 50,000 on his head.

Nafees was shot in the leg during the encounter after which he was arrested and admitted to a hospital. He was shifted to jail on 9th December.

Reports quoting sources cliam that Nafees used to run a paan shop in Prayagraj’s Civil Lines area. During this time, he came into contact with Atiq Ahmed’s brother Ashraf after which he opened a Biryani shop.

According to the police, Nafees earned Rs 2 crore in a month and a big chunk of this amount was sent to Atiq’s wife Shaista Parveen.

‘Islam is incompatible with Europian culture’: 5-year-old video of Italian PM Giorgia Meloni goes viral, reported as recent statement

OpIndia Staff
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‘Islam is incompatible with Europian culture’: 5-year-old video of Italian PM Giorgia Meloni goes viral, reported as recent statement

on 17th and 18th December, a video of Italian PM Giorgia Meloni went viral on social media. As per the subtitles in the video, she was seen saying that Islam is not compatible with European values and culture. Islam is being perpetrated (in Italy) through Saudi Arabia’s funding and Saudi Arabia has Sharia law. Meloni further says that the Sharia law is not compatible with Europian values and culture.

The same alleged statement was reported by a number of media houses, mostly Indian.

Giorgia Meloni statement

Many media portals reported that her statement came after the recent political festival held in Italy by her party, The Brothers of Italy party, where UK PM Rishi Sunak and Elon Musk were also in attendance.

Meloni’s statement reported as recent in WION

A number of Indian media houses including WION, Hindustan Times, Mint, NDTV, and Times Now reported the same claims.

NDTV used a X post embed of a handle named Geopolitical Kid and wrote that Meloni’s statement was given during the political event organised by her party.

NDTV report

However, Meloni’s statement regarding Islam’s alleged incompatibility wasn’t found in any international publications in the last 24-hour window.

Radio Genoa, a popular handle on X, seemed to have first posted the video.

However, Radio Genoa has not cited a time frame, and has not written that Meloni’s statement was recent.

Upon searching with the keywords and comparing it with Meloni’s video clip going viral, we found that the original video was posted on YouTube back in 2018.

2018 video by alanews

The video was posted by the YouTube channel alanews in 2018.

The original video can be seen here.

In the video, Meloni is seen saying, “Salvini says that Islam is incompatible with the constitution? Ask him for clarification, but I believe that Islam certainly presents incompatibility with our values ​​and our civilization, and what happens in Islamic centers demonstrates this. This does not mean generalizing, but there is an incompatibility with our culture.”

In that video, Meloni was referring to a previous statement by another conservative leader Matteo Salvini. Salvini, referring to the Cologne mass sexual attacks and Berlin terrorist attack, had said that Islam is incompatible with European values. Salvni is a leader of Italy’s Lega Nord party.

Conclusion: While the viral video of Giorgia Meloni is mostly correct in rough translation, the video, or the statement, are not recent. They are from 5 years ago, and not from the recent political event organised by Meloni’s party.

Fake schools propping up in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi? Manipur govt fact checks Congress worker, says no NOC issued since May 2023

OpIndia Staff
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Fake schools propping up in Churachandpur, Kangpokpi? Manipur govt fact checks Congress worker, says no NOC issued since May 2023

In a press release issued by the Department of Education of Manipur, the government has stated that it has not issued any no objection certificate (NOC) for the affiliation of any schools since May 2023.

This press release issued by the state was in response to a post on X by a Dr Lamtingthang Haokip claiming that 20 educational institutes in Churachandpur and 16 from Kangpokpi were recently affiliated with the CBSE.

The press release dated 14th December read, “Apropos the post of Dr. Lamtingthang Haokip on X dated 14.12.2023 claiming that 20 Educational Institutions from Churachandpur and 16 from Kangpokpi respectively are affiliated to the CBSE, it is to clarify for general information that the State Government has not issued any NOC for affiliation with CBSE to any of the educational institutions in Churachandpur and Kangpokpi Districts since May 2023.”

According to reports, an initial probe into the report of several schools getting NOC revealed that fake NOCs with forged signatures of Zonal Education Officers (ZEO). Reports quoting sources said that an official team led by state education minister Th Basanta Kumar looked into the issue.

The team found that some schools from Kangpokpi and Churachandpur districts were found processing affiliation with the CBSE. Of these, 10 schools received affiliation a few months ago before violence broke out and 15 schools during the violence period.

The official team inquired with the ZEOs about the matter over the phone. The ZEOs responded saying that they had not issued any NOC for any school and added that the NOC must be fake and signatures forged.

Sources reportedly said that further probe is underway to find the persons responsible for the forging of signatures on the fake NOCs.

Moreover, ZEOs are not authorised to issue NOCs as approval of the minister and concerned commissioner is mandatory. The government is also probing the ZEOs to establish whether they are lying or not.

Meanwhile, Haokip in his X post after the press release stated that this is a “diversionary tactic orchestrated by the N Biren Singh government”.

He said that he along with two more people namely Th. Brindan and JNIMS are being made easy targets in order to avoid backlash for the 60 Kuki-Zo and 4 Meitei victims of violence in the state.

“Regarding the social media post about CBSE School Affiliations, it is available on the official website of CBSE for verification. There is no mention of NOC in my social media post yet my name is being taken to create confusion and enmity.+,” he said in his post.

US: Car crashes into parked motorcade of Joe Biden, President unharmed

ANI
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US: Car crashes into parked motorcade of Joe Biden, President unharmed

US President Joe Biden and the First Lady emerged unharmed following a collision between a car and an SUV, which was part of the president’s motorcade, while stationed in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, on Sunday night.

POTUS and FLOTUS emerged from the Biden-Harris 2024 headquarters in downtown Wilmington at 8:07 am (local time). FLOTUS entered the vehicle first, saying “Happy Holidays” to the pool. POTUS then emerged and his exit was interrupted by a car that hit a motorcade SUV.

Before this, in response to a shouted question about why he’s losing to Trump in the polls, Biden says You’re reading “the wrong polls.

Moments after responding, a silver copper sedan with Delaware plates hit what seemed to be a motorcade SUV shielding the motorcade at the intersection across from the entrance of the campaign headquarters. There was a loud bang and POTUS was standing outside the vehicle with a surprised expression on his face.

A man walking by loudly said, “Oh my gosh,” when this happened. Agents quickly sprung into action, cornering the car and pulling weapons on the driver. He held his hands up and swiftly shuffled back to the van.

Before the incident, the pool was allowed to wait outside the van on the street corner next to the building housing the campaign headquarters. On a restroom break in the lobby of the building, your pooler could hear people singing a holiday song.

They joined the motorcade, which began rolling at 8:09. Potus arrived at the residence at 8:20 pm. The President and First Lady dropped by their campaign headquarters to have dinner with staff.

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

Fact Check: Did Pakistani caretaker PM confirm that unknown men poisoned Dawood Ibrahim? Here is the truth

OpIndia Staff
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Fact Check: Did Pakistani caretaker PM confirm that unknown men poisoned Dawood Ibrahim? Here is the truth

On Monday (18th December), social media was abuzz with rumours of the death of wanted terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, who has been hiding in Pakistan for decades.

As per the rumours, Ibrahim was poisoned by an unknown person, and he was rushed to hospital. Some posts on social media claimed he was critical, while others claimed that he died. The rumours began spreading on Sunday (17th December) after Pakistan’s internet went down.

Source: X

Amid the rumours, an alleged screenshot of caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan, Anwaar Ul Haq Kakar, went viral on social media with claims that the said post confirmed the death of Ibrahim.

The post read, “The Messiah of humanity, dear to every Pakistani heart, our beloved His Excellency Dawood Ibrahim passed away due to poisoned by unknown. He breathed his last in a hospital in Karachi. May Allah grant him the highest position in Jannat. Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.”

Source: X

However, when OpIndia investigated the screenshot and the official handle of the Pakistani PM, we found that there was no such tweet. Furthermore, the handle used in the screenshot was anwaar_kakkar, while the real ID of the Pakistani PM is anwaar_kakar.

There is a handle called anwaar_kakkar, but that is a fan account of PM Kakar, and there was no such tweet either. It was evident that someone artificially created the post by adding text and a Grey Verified Check Mark on the fan account.

Source: X

Pakistani journalists also fuelled the rumours. In a recent episode of Bheja Fry, Pakistani journalist Aarzoo Kazmi talked about the rumours surrounding the poisoning of Dawood Ibrahim and his critical health in the hospital.

She highlighted the fact that there was an internet shutdown in the country and emphasised that something was happening in Pakistan. She also talked about the rumours of Dawood Ibrahim’s poisoning and critical health. While she fanned the rumours, the rumours of Ibrahim’s death remained unconfirmed.

As per Aaj Tak, Ibrahim was indeed admitted to the hospital two days back. It is unclear what was the reason, but several reports talked about the rumours of him being poisoned.

Internet shutdown in Pakistan and possible reason

Though the rumours of Ibrahim’s death remained unconfirmed, it was indeed a fact that internet services faced a massive crackdown in Pakistan on 17th December.

Social media services and search engines stopped working without any prior notice. No one could access social media platforms like X, Facebook, YouTube, etc., and the Google search engine was down.

While it was rumoured that the crackdown was because of the poisoning of Ibrahim, in reality, it appeared that the Pakistani government shut down the internet to limit the access and circulation of videos of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s virtual rally.

Dawood Ibrahim and rumours about his death

Dawood Ibrahim is one of the most notorious and dreaded gangsters that India has ever seen. A criminal mobster and drug dealer in Mumbai. It is believed that he now resides in Karachi, Pakistan.

He was designated as a global terrorist in 2003 by India and the United States with a reward of US$25 million for his capture for his believed role in the 1993 Bombay bombings. In 2011, the FBI and Forbes named him number three on The World’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives.

While Ibrahim’s death rumours are all over social media, it has to be noted that such rumours find their place on social media platforms once or twice every year. It is a fact that Ibrahim is hiding in Pakistan, and the hostile neighbour categorically refused to accept his presence in the country.

OpIndia’s detailed report on terrorists being killed by unnamed assailants in Pakistan can be checked here.

Beginning of collapse of constitutional machinery: Kerala Governor slams CM Pinarayi Vijayan for putting defamatory posters outside his guest house

ANI
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Beginning of collapse of constitutional machinery: Kerala Governor slams CM Pinarayi Vijayan for putting defamatory posters outside his guest house

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has taken serious note of the action of the State Police, on the direction of the Chief Minister, in placing posters defamatory to the Governor in the campus of Calicut University.

The black banners and posters have been placed inside the campus, just outside the University Guest House where the Governor is staying, Kerala Raj Bhavan released the statement.

Governor feels that this cannot happen without the direction of the chief minister and that this clearly is the beginning of the collapse of the constitutional machinery in the state. He said that such deliberate actions of the Chief Minister precipitate the breakdown of constitutional machinery.

Coming down heavily on Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday accused him of attempting to disrupt the peaceful ambience in the state. Speaking to reporters, Vijayan said, “Arif Mohammad Khan is making a move to destroy the peaceful ambience of Kerala.”

After facing a black-flag protest from members of the SFI, the students’ wing of the ruling CPI(M), the Governor claimed an attempt on his life.

However, the chief minister said the governor’s actions were such that they sparked protests.

CM Vijayan further highlighted the comments made by former Supreme Court justice Rohinton Nariman in a public event in Mumbai, outlining the “wholesale reference to the President,” of Bills by the Kerala governor.

Vijayan further accused the governor of allegedly accepting proposals from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which, according to him, resulted in the student protests. The chief minister opposed his actions, calling them “totally wrong.”

Also drawing attention to the Governor’s choice of words, Vijayan questioned how he could use such harsh language. He also expressed concern over the Governor’s approach towards individuals, who showed him black flags. He termed the action as ‘provocative’.

Earlier, SFI (Students Federation of India), the student wing of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist), staged a black-flag protest march to Calicut University, ahead of the Governor’s arrival on campus.

Black banners and posters were put up outside Calicut University Guest House where the Governor was staying. The protesters were, however, removed from the spot by the police on the instruction of the Governor’s office.

A statement from Raj Bhavan mentioned that the Governor took serious note of the action of the state police, on the direction of the Chief Minister, in placing posters defamatory to him on the campus of Calicut University.

The Governor earlier claimed that the police were prevented from acting against ‘criminals’. He also accused CM Vijayan of hatching a conspiracy to harm him.

“This is not a question of my comment, as I said in the morning. It is about law. We are a democratic republic and the law must prevail. The police stood like silent bystanders while the protesters were at it. It was because of political reasons that they stood by idly. My car was surrounded and the protesters banged on it with all the force that they could muster,” the Governor said.

He added that he was not scared of anyone. “Due to political reasons, the Kerala Police were prevented from acting against these rowdies and criminals. I believe in facing up to brutes. I am not scared of anyone,” he added.

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

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