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Qatar court accepts India’s appeal against death penalty awarded to navy veterans accused of espionage, next hearing soon

OpIndia Staff
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Qatar court accepts India’s appeal against death penalty awarded to navy veterans accused of espionage, next hearing soon

On Thursday (23rd November), a Qatari court accepted the appeal document filed by India against the death penalty awarded to eight Indian sailors in Qatar. This court will now study it to announce its decision on the matter.

On 26th October, the Qatar court issued a death penalty verdict for a group of Indian nationals on espionage charges. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) conveyed its profound dismay regarding the decision and affirmed that the government was actively investigating various legal avenues in response to the verdict. A forthcoming court session in the case is anticipated, and there is a slim chance that the court may deliver a verdict during the proceedings.

On 23rd November, The Ministry of External Affairs said, “The judgment is confidential. There is a court of first instance that gave the judgment, which was shared with our legal team. Considering all legal options, an appeal has been filed. We are in touch with the Qatari authorities.”

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “India is engaged with the Qatari authorities on the matter and that the government will continue to extend all legal and consular assistance to the former Navy personnel.”

The Indian Navy veterans who were sentenced in Qatar include Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Sailor Rajesh Gopakumar. Each of the former Navy officers boasts an illustrious service history spanning up to 20 years in the Indian Navy, having occupied significant positions of responsibility.

It may be noted that since the eight former-Indian Navy officers were detained in August last year, their bail pleas have been rejected numerous times and their detention extended by Qatari authorities. The Qatari authorities had, however, until April this year, 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.

One of the jailed officers, Commander Purnendu Tiwari (Retd), is the managing director of the firm that was conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award in 2019. The award was handed over by none other than the then-President Ram Nath Kovind. 

The eight Indians were working with the Qatari Emiri Navy, on behalf of the Qatar firm Dahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services which provided training and other technical assistance to them. The eight ex-Indian Navy officers were detained on August 30, 2022. The Qatari authorities reportedly accused them of spying for Israel on the country’s advanced submarines manufactured in Italy. These submarines are reportedly covered with metamaterials that enhance their stealth capabilities and make them harder to detect.

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.

In April this year, reports emerged revealing that there is a possibility of the ex-Indian Navy officers being “framed” by Pakistani intelligence agencies. According to reports, the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI had persuaded the Qataris that there may have been Indian participation by citing the case of former Indian navy commander Kulbhushan Yadav, who was kidnapped from Iran and detained in Pakistan on suspicion of spying.

Ever since the officers were taken into custody by the Qatari authorities, the Indian embassy has been doing everything within its power to get them released. They have been facilitating regular visits to the family members and providing consular and legal assistance to the Navy personnel. In the same efforts, India filed an appeal document in the court of Qatar which is now accepted there for consideration. India has vowed to explore all available legal options to secure the release of its citizens.

‘Bursting crackers inside theatre is dangerous, pouring milk on posters is wrong, feed the poor’: Salman Khan

OpIndia Staff
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‘Bursting crackers inside theatre is dangerous, pouring milk on posters is wrong, feed the poor’: Salman Khan

Recently, fans in Malegaon, Maharashtra, burst crackers inside a theatre while watching Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif’s latest movie, Tiger 3, which was released on Diwali. The incident went viral on social media, prompting Salman Khan to respond and criticize the act on Instagram.

In an exclusive conversation with ANI, the actor called the use of firecrackers in theatres “not cool,” emphasizing the danger and risk involved. He acknowledged that the fans had been eager about the film’s release, but added that bursting crackers inside a theatre can be dangerous. He also expressed concern about the deteriorating air quality and urged his fans not to make it worse. “The most dangerous thing one can do is burst firecrackers in theatres,” he said. 

Furthermore, Salman cited an incident in which fans poured milk on his poster, drawing attention to the disparity when children are hungry. He said that he is lactose intolerant and requested fans to stop pouring milk on his posters. “If I drink milk, my stomach gets affected, and if they are pouring milk on my posters, they also get spoilt,” he was quoted as saying. 

Instead, he said that the milk can be fed to poor children who actually need it for their growth. “Bursting crackers inside theatres is dangerous and I am not at all in support of this. Also, instead of pouring milk(on pictures of actors), poor children must be fed with it,” he said.

“My request to theatre owners is not to allow firecrackers to be taken inside the cinema and security to stop them from doing so at entry point. Enjoy the film by all means but please please avoid this is my request to all my fans .. thank you,” he said.

Earlier on 13th November, Salman Khan had reacted to the viral video from a theatre where fans burst firecrackers during a screening of Tiger 3. The actor took to his X account to write, “I’m hearing about fireworks inside theaters during Tiger3. This is dangerous. Let’s enjoy the film without putting ourselves and others at risk. Stay safe.”

The incident happened on 12th November (Sunday), when Salman Khan-starrer Tiger-3 hit the theatres to encash the Diwali festival season. Soon videos started doing rounds on the internet in which a group of Salman Khan’s fans could be seen endangering the lives of other moviegoers by bursting crackers inside a cinema hall.

In the viral videos, a section of his fans could be seen creating chaos in a packed cinema hall by recklessly bursting firecrackers, causing a stampede-like situation. 

Odisha: Man kills wife and 2-year-old daughter using a cobra for Rs 8 lakh ‘snakebite’ compensation, arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Odisha: Man kills wife and 2-year-old daughter using a cobra for Rs 8 lakh ‘snakebite’ compensation, arrested

On Thursday, November 23, the Odisha Police arrested a 25-year-old man for killing his wife and daughter using a venomous Cobra snake on October 7. Initially, the deaths were declared suicide, however, with further investigation, the perfect murder plan of accused K Ganesh Patra was revealed.

The shocking incident unfolded in Adheigaon village in the Kabisurya Nagar police station precinct in the Ganjam district. K Ganesh Patra, the accused, was in a marital dispute with his 23-year-old wife K Basanti Patra. They married in 2020 and had a two-year-old daughter named Debasmita.

Accused Ganesh Patra obtained a SIM card in his father’s name on September 26. He used the SIM card to contact numerous snake charmers in his area to assist him in getting a deadly snake. The accused allegedly obtained a snake from a snake charmer while lying to him about his intention of using the reptile for “religious purposes.”

On October 6, he brought a cobra in a plastic jar and released it into the room where his wife and daughter were sleeping, while he then went to sleep in another room. Both were found dead with snake bites the next morning. The accused at around 5:45 am started screaming that his wife and daughter had died due to snakebite. The victims were taken to the Hinjlicut Government Hospital where they were pronounced dead.

A twist in the perfect murder plan

Everything was going perfectly as per accused Ganesh Patra’s plan and the police registered a case of unnatural death due to snakebite as the postmortem reports of the deceased duo confirmed death due to snakebite. However, a twist came in when victim Basanti Patra’s father Khalli Patra filed a complaint against his son-in-law accusing him of killing Basanti and her daughter. This prompted the police to investigate the murder angle.

Subsequently, the police examined the accused person’s call details record and found that the accused had contacted several snake charmers. It was revealed that the accused procured a monocled cobra from a snake charmer named Basanta Acharya. The police have said that the snake charmer was not implicated in the case being the sole witness, additionally, he was unaware of the accused person’s real motive behind getting the snake from him. The police, however, are examining if action can be taken against him under the forest laws.

Family dispute, revenge or Rs 8 lakh compensation: Why Ganesh Patra killed his wife and daughter?

Speaking about the motive behind the murders, Ganjam SP Jagmohan Meena said, “Their family feud, as well as the prospect of receiving Rs 8 lakh in government compensation that is Rs 4 lakh each for snakebite victims, may have pushed him to murder his wife and daughter.

Notably, a dowry harassment angle also emerged in the matter as it has been reported that the accused allegedly used to torture his wife for dowry who then filed a complaint against him in October last year. Subsequently, a case was registered against Ganesh Patra under section 498A (which deals with husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) of IPC.

The unusual circumstances of the deaths piqued the police’s attention. The snake bites were in the same spot on the mother’s and her daughter’s just above the ankle bone of the right leg. The police got the assistance of a snake expert, who noted that the snake’s presence in the same room after biting the two victims was unusual. The fact that the victims did not scream for help after being bitten was also odd, according to the expert. The cops are currently investigating whether or not they were sedated.

Meanwhile, the police have said that the arrested accused has admitted to having killed his wife and daughter.

Kerala man killed his wife with a cobra

The heinous double murder using a snake reminds of a similar case from Kerala’s Kollam district in 2020 wherein a man named P Suraj was convicted of murdering his wife by letting loose a cobra on her. Prima facie it appeared to be a case of accidental death, however, the victim’s family grew suspicious and her father approached the police. In a striking similarity with the Odisha case, a history of domestic violence and dowry harassment was unearthed during the investigation.

Dublin, Ireland: Angry citizens protest, burn down immigration office after Algerian ‘migrant’ stabs 3 children in a school

OpIndia Staff
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Dublin, Ireland: Angry citizens protest, burn down immigration office after Algerian ‘migrant’ stabs 3 children in a school

Violence broke out in Ireland’s capital Dublin on Thursday evening (23rd November) after at least four people including three children were injured in a knife attack by an “Irish national” believed to be of Algerian origin.

On the afternoon of 23rd November, three young children and a woman were injured in a stabbing attack in Dublin city centre. The accused too was injured and was taken to hospital following the incident on Parnell Square.

Two of the injured, a girl and a woman, reportedly sustained serious injuries. According to Gript Media, the accused is believed to have come from the North African country of Algeria. The Irish Times reported that the chief suspected is believed to be “a naturalised Irish citizen, who has lived here for 20 years”.

However, another report by PBS claims that the Irish police said they were not treating the case as a terror-related incident.

An injured 5-year-old girl is receiving emergency treatment at Temple Street Hospital after the incident and a boy, 5, and another girl, 6, were brought to the CHI Crumlin hospital for treatment. The boy has been discharged.

The injured woman is in her thirties and was receiving treatment at the Mater hospital; she was reportedly an employee of the school outside which the incident took place.

Five ambulances and four Dublin Fire Brigade vehicles were called to the spot. A number of emergency vehicles were stationed outside the Gaelscoil Cholaiste Mhuire primary school.

The attacker was reportedly stopped by passers-by on the street who subdued him and snatched the knife from him throwing it across on a grassy area. With the accused now detained, the police said they are not looking for any more suspects.

Anti-immigrant protesters took to the streets in Dublin reportedly after angry protest calls were made on social media. Public transport was “severely” disrupted in the Irish capital with vehicles including buses set ablaze.

The National Bus and Rail Union also instructed all buses in Dublin to withdraw services with “immediate effect”. All Luas and Dublin bus services have been suspended. Reports claim that groups of people were heckling the gardai (Irish police).

The Irish Times reported that shops were also looted. Even as anger amongst Irish citizens is at its peak against illegal immigration ever since the stabbing, Garda Commission Drew Harris blamed the riots on a “lunatic, hooligan faction driven by far-right ideology”.

CNN report claims that protesters were also seen kicking the police shields. Ireland’s Justice Minister Helen McEntee described the protesters as thugs and “criminals using the appalling attack to sow division and wreak havoc in the city”.

Meanwhile, several reports in the Western media have called the protests as “far-right” sparking anger amongst Irish citizens on social media.

‘If they arrest 4, we will arrest 8 of their leaders’: Mamata Banerjee issues threats to BJP in her speech at TMC meeting

OpIndia Staff
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‘If they arrest 4, we will arrest 8 of their leaders’: Mamata Banerjee issues threats to BJP in her speech at TMC meeting

On Thursday (24th November), West Bengal’s chief minister Mamata Banerjee attended a TMC party workers’ and leaders’ meeting at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata. The Trinamool Congress Party supremo launched an attack against the BJP in her speech. Mamata Banerjee issued threats to the Bharatiya Janata Party as she said ‘If they arrest our four, we will arrest eight of their leaders’.

Defending her party leaders who have been arrested by the central agencies in connection with various corruption cases, Mamata Banerjee said, “I don’t believe that they are thieves. Four of our MLAs have been sent to jail. They think by doing this they will be able to reduce our numbers. From here, I am making this announcement that if they arrest our four, we will arrest eight of their leaders.”

Mamata Banerjee added, “You are laughing as our party leaders Anubrata Mandal, Partha Chatterjee, Manik Bhattacharya, Jyoti Priya Mallick and others who are in jail. In the future, when you don’t have power, you’ll be in jail.”

In October 2023, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested TMC minister Jyoti Priya Mallick in relation to the purported Public Distribution System scam. In the previous year, central agencies arrested Minister Partha Chatterjee, along with party MLAs Manik Bhattacharya and Jiban Krishna Saha, linked to the school jobs scam. Additionally, prominent TMC figure Anubrata Mondal is currently incarcerated in Tihar jail due to his alleged involvement in the cattle smuggling case.

Mamata Banerjee went on to defend her partners in the I.N.D.I. alliance including Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Rajasthan’s chief minister Congress leader Ashok Gehlot. She said, “You feel like you will do anything because you are in power at the Centre. What you are doing against Trinamool Congress, Arvind Kejriwal and son of Ashok Gehlot, you will suffer the same fate. It will be the same officers who will come after you once you are out of power.”

Banerjee claimed that the Central government is expected to last for another three months as the general elections approach. She implied that the government would not continue after that because the NDA would lose the elections. She said, “Central agencies targeting Opposition leaders at present will go after the BJP following the 2024 elections… This government at the Centre is there for three more months”

Mamata Banerjee suggested that the responsibility for curbing incidents of cattle and coal smuggling rests with the central government, as its agencies are accountable for the production and secure storage of dry fuel, as well as guarding the international border.

Notably, various leaders from the TMC have faced accusations from central agencies regarding their alleged involvement in coal and cattle smuggling. Abhishek Banerjee, TMC’s second-in-command and nephew of Mamata Banerjee, along with his family members, has been interrogated by the Enforcement Directorate about the coal scam.

Banerjee insinuated that the government led by the BJP aims to eliminate reservations, and she voiced her opposition to any such initiative. She said, “The BJP is also against the reservation for minorities, but we will bring them under the system through OBC quota.”

Afghanistan embassy in New Delhi announces permanent closure, says Indian govt will now decide whether to allow Taliban ‘diplomats’ work in the building

ANI
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Afghanistan embassy in New Delhi announces permanent closure, says Indian govt will now decide whether to allow Taliban ‘diplomats’ work in the building

The Afghanistan embassy has announced its permanent closure in New Delhi.

Releasing an official statement on the closure of its diplomatic mission in New Delhi, the Afghan embassy said, “Effective from November 23, 2023 owing to persistent challenges from the Indian government. The decision follows the embassy’s earlier cessation of operations on September 30, a move made in the hope that the Indian government stance will favourably change to let the mission operate normally.”

The embassy said it was ‘cognisant’ that some may attempt to characterise this move as an internal conflict, allegedly involving diplomats who switched allegiance to the Taliban, adding “that this decision is a result of broader changes in policy and interests”.

“To the Afghan citizens in India, the Embassy extends its sincere gratitude for their understanding and support throughout our mission’s tenure,” it added.

Despite “limitations in resources and power”, the Afghan embassy said it has worked “tirelessly for their betterment and in the absence of a legitimate government in Kabul”.

Over the past two years and three months, the Afghan community in India has witnessed a significant decline, with Afghan refugees, students, and traders leaving the country, the embassy noted in its statement, adding that the number has nearly halved since August 2021, with very limited new visas being issued during this period.

“We assure the Afghan community that the mission operated with transparency, accountability, and a commitment to fair treatment based on the goodwill and interests of Afghanistan considering historic ties and bilateral relations with India,” it added.

“Unfortunately, efforts have been made to tarnish our image and hinder diplomatic efforts in order to justify the presence and work of Taliban-appointed and affiliated diplomats. In the face of these challenges, our committed team worked diligently in the most difficult circumstances, prioritizing the interests of the 40 million Afghans in every possible sphere from securing humanitarian aid and online education scholarships to facilitating ease in trade and advocating for the formation of a broad-based government,” the Afghan embassy stated further in its statement.

It added that the Afghan embassy “exerted diplomatic pressure in its power on those who defy the will of the Afghan people by failing to form an inclusive government and denying millions of girls the right to attend school”.

As of now, there are no diplomats from the Afghan Republic in India. Those who served in the national capital have safely reached third countries, the embassy informed through its release, adding that the only individuals present in India are diplomats affiliated with the Taliban, visibly attending their regular online meetings.

“The diplomats of the Afghan Republic have handed over the mission solely to the Indian government. It now rests upon the Indian government to decide the fate of the mission, whether to maintain its closure or consider alternatives, including the possibility of handing it over to Taliban diplomats. The responsibility of diplomats appointed by the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan has officially come to an end. The unfortunate end of the Republic mission marks the conclusion of the Afghan Republic in India,” it added.
“We have considered the historic events and current circumstances carefully in arriving at this conclusion. We also extend our heartfelt gratitude to the people of India for their support and assistance to Afghanistan over the past 22 years. We reiterate our commitment to serving the people of Afghanistan and will continue to explore avenues to support our nation in these challenging times,” the statement concluded.

Notably, the Afghan embassy announced the closure of its operations on November 1, citing “lack of resources” and “failure to meet Afghanistan’s interests” by the Taliban regime.

The embassy also made an “unequivocal statement” stating that certain consulates that work on the instructions and funding from Kabul are not in consonance with the objectives of a legitimate or elected government but rather serve the interests of an “illegitimate regime”.

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

Karnataka govt issues non-bailable warrant against NCPCR chief for comparing condition of Darul Uloom orphanage in Bengaluru with medieval Taliban life

ANI
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Karnataka govt issues non-bailable warrant against NCPCR chief for comparing condition of Darul Uloom orphanage in Bengaluru with medieval Taliban life

The Karnataka government on Thursday issued a non-bailable warrant against National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) president, Priyank Kanoongo over comparing children’s condition in Bengaluru orphanage ‘Darul Uloom Sayideeya Yateemkhana’ to medieval Taliban life.

The police registered a case on the complaint of one of the members of the orphanage against Priyank Kanoongo.

“On November 19, Priyank Kanoongo along with the District Child Protection Officer (East) and other officials conducted a surprise inspection of an illegally running unregistered orphanage named Darul Uloom Sayyadiya Yatim Khana in Bengaluru, Karnataka in which many irregularities were found,” the NCPCR said.

The NCPCR president has said that the Karnataka government wants to suppress the voice of the commission which is just talking about the rights of the poor children.

Highlighting the poor condition in which children are living in orphanage in Bengaluru, Priyank Kanoongo told ANI “There was an orphanage called Sayyediya Yateemkhana in Bangalore. We visited it under the CPCR Act. This Act gives us the duty to inspect every place where children live, especially those children who are orphans. About 200 orphan children were kept at that place, not only this, eight children were kept together in rooms of 100 square feet, and 40 children lived in the remaining 5 rooms. Apart from this, 16 children were seen in the corridor.”

He also said that the employees present there said that the children do not attend school but they are imparted the same education which is 200 years old.

“Not only this, there was no playing equipment for children in this orphanage, nor was there any TV. There were very small children who were scared. After issuing the notice, it came to light that the Karnataka government has registered a case against me under non-bailable sections. They want to suppress our voices. If we talk about the rights of poor children, the Karnataka government looks at it through the prism of religion. They talk about suppressing the commission. They have to understand that their tactics will not be successful. They will have to take action in this matter,” Priyank Kanoongo said.

“A notice has been sent to Karnataka Chief secretary and the commission has requested that an action taken report be sent to the Commission within seven (7) days of issuance of this letter,” he added.

He further said that the NCPCR has sent notices to Chief secretaries of different states to close all the unregistered orphanages that are running illegally. 

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

WHO asks China to give detailed information on the outbreak of respiratory illnesses and pneumonia in the country

ANI
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WHO asks China to give detailed information on the outbreak of respiratory illnesses and pneumonia in the country

The WHO has made an official request to China for detailed information on an increase in respiratory illnesses and reported clusters of pneumonia in children in the country.

Chinese authorities from the National Health Commission at a press conference on November 13, reported an increase in the incidence of respiratory diseases in China.

Chinese authorities attributed this increase to the lifting of COVID restrictions and the circulation of known pathogens such as influenza, mycoplasma pneumonia (a common bacterial infection that typically affects younger children), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), as per a release issued by the WHO.

Authorities stressed the need for enhanced disease surveillance in healthcare facilities and community settings, as well as strengthening the capacity of the health system to manage patients.

Media and ProMED on November 21 reported clusters of undiagnosed pneumonia in children in northern China. It is unclear if these are associated with the overall increase in respiratory infections previously reported by Chinese authorities or separate events.

On 22 November, WHO requested additional epidemiologic and clinical information, as well as laboratory results from these reported clusters among children, through the International Health Regulations mechanism.

The WHO requested further information about recent trends in the circulation of known pathogens including influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV and mycoplasma pneumoniae, and the current burden on healthcare systems.

WHO is also in contact with clinicians and scientists through our existing technical partnerships and networks in China, according to the release.

Since mid-October, northern China has reported an increase in influenza-like illness compared to the same period in the previous three years. China has systems in place to capture information on trends in influenza, influenza-like illnesses, RSV, and SARS-CoV-2 and reports to platforms such as the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System.

The organization recommended that people in China follow measures to reduce the risk of respiratory illness, which include recommended vaccination; keeping distance from people who are ill; staying home when ill; getting tested and medical care as needed; wearing masks as appropriate; ensuring good ventilation; and regular hand-washing.

WHO will continue to provide updates, the release said.

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

Israel-Hamas war: IDF discovers Hamas control centre under Al Shifa hospital with heavy wiring, AC room, kitchen, toilets, blast door & other facilities

OpIndia Staff
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Israel-Hamas war: IDF discovers Hamas control centre under Al Shifa hospital with heavy wiring, AC room, kitchen, toilets, blast door & other facilities

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have finally unearthed the Hamas command centre and tunnels right under the Al Shifa hospital, which is Gaza’s largest hospital. Israel has claimed for decades now that the Hamas command and control centre existed under the hospital.

The IDF has now discovered the Hamas headquarter in the ground offensive it launched about two weeks ago as the next phase of its war on Hamas after the terrorists unleashed brutality on Israel on 7th October.

On 22nd November, the IDF posted two images on X, formerly Twitter, exposing the network of tunnels under Al Shifa.

In another post, the IDF shared a video showing one of its personnel taking the viewers through the tunnel shafts beneath Al Shifa. The IDF officer, referring to the hospital as “the Qatari building”, shows the large consignment of Hamas’s ammunition seized by the Israeli forces.

She then enters the tunnel and shows the doors that open to multiple rooms. In the video, a bathroom can be seen followed by a room which has an air conditioner with large wiring. “The wiring to that AC helped the combat fighters realise that there’s a tunnel here,” the IDF officer says.

The tunnel also included a separate area with a kitchen sink. Several doors could be seen through the length of the long tunnel, which the IDF claims is connected to a network of tunnels spread across under Gaza.

Another extensively shot 9 minute 3 seconds long video by the IDF shows IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari take the viewers through the infrastructure of the tunnel. A toilet, an operation room with wiring and benches can be seen in the video.

A small kitchen area with a sink is seen in the video. “All these facilities, the water, the food are coming from the hospital meaning they are using the hospital infrastructure in order to provide this terrorism mechanism to stay alive and survive,” the IDF spokesperson said.

Once more taking the viewers through the room with the air conditioner, the officer said that the wiring of the AC goes above the hospital which helped them find the tunnel.

The tunnels have apt and heavy electrical wiring for power supply taken from the hospital. Explaining the structure, the officer said that the overhead arches of the tunnel are a unique aspect.

RAdm. Hagari said that the terrorists, anticipating the offensive by Israeli forces, attempted to damage the tunnels so that there was no proof. Some steps after, the tunnels seems to hit a blockade of sorts but not a full blockade.

An officer can be seen manning the blockade in order to defend against any possible attack. This is the point where the tunnel proceeds to the hospital compound and further leads to the tunnels located in the north side of the hospital. That tunnel has an elevator, the IDF revealed.

From the blockade, the officer goes left entering a blast door. “It is really a sophisticated mechanism designed to fight,” the IDF spokesperson says. Leading to another end, a set of stairs to head out onto the hospital compound can be seen.

On 19th November, the IDF shared another footage on X. The footage shows a 55-meter-long terrorist tunnel, 10 meters underneath the Shifa Hospital complex discovered during an intelligence-based operation.

“The tunnel entrance contains various defense mechanisms, such as a blast-proof door and a firing hole, in an attempt by Hamas to block Israeli forces from entering. For weeks we’ve been telling the world about Hamas’ cynical use of the residents of the Gaza and patients of Shifa Hospital as human shields. Here is more proof,” the IDF wrote.

This comes three days after IDF release footage showing Hamas terrorists entering Al Shifa with two hostages, one of whom appeared severely injured in the video. The footage was from 7th October, when Hamas terrorists launched an brutal air, sea and land attack on Israel killing at least 1,300 people including some foreign nationals and abducting more than 200 to Gaza.

The damning discovery only vindicates Israel’s long held position that Hamas terrorists have use the Al Shifa as a safe haven to not only carry out their terrorist activities but also use the patients as human shields.

Pune ISIS terror module wanted to repeat 26/11 Mumbai attacks by targeting restaurants and hotels in Colaba and Nariman Point: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Pune ISIS terror module wanted to repeat 26/11 Mumbai attacks by targeting restaurants and hotels in Colaba and Nariman Point: Report

The accused in the Pune (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) ISIS terror module case intended to execute a reenactment of the 2008 terror attacks against hotels and restaurants in Colaba and Nariman Point, according to a report in The Free Press Journal.

They aimed to carry out their terror operation prior to the anniversary of the deadly assaults in Mumbai which sent shockwaves around the entire world. Their goal was to launch the attacks again, particularly on hotels, restaurants and establishments such as Chabad House in Colaba.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) discovered during its inquiry that the perpetrators Shahnawaz Alam and Rizwan Ali had performed surveillance on Chabad House as well as several hotels and eateries in Mumbai. They wanted to inflict a series of explosions on the city and determine where to plant the bombs. The Intelligence reports revealed that they kept in close contact with their Pakistani handler and disclosed all the specifics of their operation, planning and implementation.

The culprits intended to follow the same course of action as the attackers on 26/11, when Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab and ten other terrorists targeted Leopold Cafe, Taj Hotel, Oberoi Hotel and Chabad House with the goal of orchestrating mass executions, per sources. A supplemental chargesheet outlining Shahnawaz Alam and Rizwan Ali’s involvement in the development and management of the terror module is scheduled for submission by the national agency.

The inquiry unveiled that the two paid Rs. 95,000 to a Vikhroli resident who had posted an advertisement for a used Enfield motorcycle on social media. They also bought a Hero XPulse from Mulund which they utilised for reconnaissance. and concealed the two-wheeler at a friend’s Panvel home after the inspection. The NIA later located and retrieved the vehicle. The probe further uncovered that they collected pictures and did an assessment of critical locations and important infrastructure.

Sangli and Satara were on target

The NIA uncovered that the accused had chosen a few areas for training close to Pune, Sangli and Satara. They also used a drone camera, which the agency eventually retrieved, to record their operations through photography and video. Furthermore, twenty-eight audio files that were taken from the offenders during the course of the investigation contained violent instructions designed to instigate Muslims to perpetrate violence on non-Muslims.

Good with technology

According to an anonymous officer, the accused have fully embraced radicalism and are deemed to be more dangerous than the attackers of 11 September 2001 who attacked the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. They were adept at building bombs, technologically astute, and above all anti-democratic. The official stated that Sharia Law is paramount above the Indian Constitution and that participating in any kind of election is “haram” based on their fundamentalist beliefs.

Pune ISIS module

An ISIS module that was operating in the state of Maharashtra was taken down by the NIA on 3 July. The central investigation agency made four arrests during raids in Mumbai, Thane, and Pune. The accused are Tabish Nasser Siddiqui, Zubair Noor Mohammed Shaikh, Sharjeel Shaikh and Zulfikar Ali Barodawala. According to reliable information provided to the NIA, the four terrorists and their allies were enlisting young people and teaching them how to construct weapons and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Mohammed Shahnawaz Shafiuzzama Alam was arrested by the Delhi Police’s Special Cell on 2 October. He was wanted by the NIA and had a bounty of Rs 3 lakh on him. He told authorities that his terror group was targeting Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh locations throughout the nation including Hindu temples in Mumbai. He claimed to have carried out practice explosives at five locations in India including Nuh, Mewat, Delhi, Lucknow, and Rudraprayag with the goal of starting a terror assault similar to what happened on 26 September 2001.

Rizwan Abdul Haji Ali, a second-year dropout from Jamia Millia Islamia against whom the NIA had also announced a reward of Rs 3 lakh was arrested in 2018 along with his brother for alleged ISIS links but no substantial evidence was found against them. He was released after a deradicalisation programme. He went to Pune two years ago and informed his parents that he was running a computer business there. He was married there and lived with his wife and the couple returned to Delhi after his father got ill and he left his month only two months before.

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