On Monday, July 24, the Massachusetts police recovered a body from a lake near Barack Obama’s family’s mansion in Martha’s Vineyard. The body was identified as that of Obama’s personal chef Tafari Campbell who went missing in the waters of Edgartown Great Pond on Martha’s Vineyard on Sunday, July 23.
The Obamas have a property on Martha’s Vineyard, but according to Massachusetts State Police, they were not there when Campbell died. The Massachusetts police further said that Campbell was working for the Obamas at the time of his death and had been in Martha’s Vineyard.
Campbell, of Dumfries, Va., had been a sous chef in the Obama White House and worked for the family after the 44th president left office in 2016.
Police recovered the body of Tafari Campbell, 45, roughly 100 feet from shore and eight feet underwater in a coastal inlet called Edgartown Great Pond just before 10 am on Monday, according to a news release from the Massachusetts State Police.
The search was launched on Sunday night for “a male paddleboarder who had gone into the water, appeared to briefly struggle to stay on the surface, and then submerged and did not resurface,” according to a police report.
“Another paddleboarder was on the pond with him at the time and observed him go under the water,” it added.
On Monday, his body was found “approximately 100 feet (30 meters) from shore at a depth of about eight feet,” the police report added.
After the discovery, the Obamas released a statement mourning the death of their “beloved” chef. “Campbell was a beloved part of our family who worked in the White House and continued on with the family after Obama left office. When we first met him, he was a talented sous chef at the White House – creative and passionate about food, and its ability to bring people together,” the couple said in the statement. “In the years that followed, we got to know him as a warm, fun, extraordinarily kind person who made all of our lives a little brighter.”
“That’s why, when we were getting ready to leave the White House, we asked Tafari to stay with us, and he generously agreed. He’s been part of our lives ever since, and our hearts are broken that he’s gone” the statement read.
Campbell is survived by a wife and twin boys, the Obamas said.
“Today we join everyone who knew and loved Tafari – especially his wife Sherise and their twin boys, Xavier and Savin, in grieving the loss of a truly wonderful man,” USA’s ex-president and his wife said.
On 24th July, Udupi police launched a campaign to locate Hindu human rights activist Rashmi Samant after she raised the voice of Hindu female victims whose videos were allegedly recorded by girls of the Muslim community in washrooms of a private institution.
Advocate Adhitya Srinivasan, who represents Samant, shared the detailed ordeal faced by Rashmi Samant’s family. He said at 8 PM, a group of policemen visited Rashmi’s residence when she was not at home. The police questioned her parents. They were repeatedly asked about Rashmi’s whereabouts.
1. At 8:00 PM this evening, a group of policemen visited the residence of my client, @RashmiDVS . As Rashmi was not at home at the time, it was her parents who were questioned by the police and repeatedly asked about Rashmi’s whereabouts.
Later that evening, police called her father multiple times, trying to locate Rashmi. He said, “It is clear that the police visited my client’s residence in connection with Rashmi’s recent tweets condemning the secret video recording of Hindu girls in a college toilet.”
He further added Rashmi is a staunch advocate for human rights and has consistently championed genuine causes at home and abroad. This includes publishing a report on the anti-Hindu violence in Leicester in the House of Commons in the British Parliament”.
3. @RashmiDVS is a staunch advocate for human rights and has consistently championed genuine causes at home and abroad. This includes the publication of a report on the anti-Hindu violence in Leicester in the House of Commons in the British Parliament.
Furthermore, he said Rashmi’s tweets were a fair and reasonable exercise of her freedom of speech and expression. “As there is no constitutional basis to restrict her speech, the state police seems to have adopted the disturbing “chilling effect” approach, which BTW has no constitutional sanction,” Adhitya said.
5. The Karnataka State Police turning up at @RashmiDVS’ doorstep isn’t going to somehow magically make the issue go away. The issue is already widely reported in the media (as it should be)!
He said visiting Rashmi’s house would not “somehow magically” make the issue go away. Notably, the matter is already in the public domain and has been reported extensively by local and mainstream media.
He added, “It is worrying that the authorities (who are responsible for securing the human rights of citizens) treat my client, Rashmi Samant and her family in this manner for raising awareness about a crime that has come to light in their hometown.”
6. It is worrying that the authorities (who are responsible for securing the human rights of citizens), treat my client, @RashmiDVS, and her family in this manner for raising awareness about a crime that has come to light in their hometown
Tweets of Rashmi that allegedly caused a reaction from the police
On 24th July at 2:19 AM, Rashmi published a tweet thread questioning everyone why the Udupi incident of secretly recording videos was not being talked about. She wrote, “I’m from Udupi, and nobody is talking about Alimatul Shaifa, Shabanaz and Aliya, who placed cameras in female toilets of their college to record hundreds of unsuspecting Hindu girls. The perpetrators in community WhatsApp groups circulated videos and photos.”
I'm from Udupi and nobody is talking about Alimatul Shaifa, Shabanaz and Aliya who placed cameras in female toilets of their college to record hundreds of unsuspecting Hindu girls. Videos and phots that were then circulated in community WhatsApp groups by the perpetrators.
Furthermore, she added that many of the girls featured in the video were depressed and disturbed to the extent they were contemplating self-harm or suicide. “Yet, this issue is not being condemned with the severity it deserves,” she wrote.
Let me remind you of what happened in Ajmer in the year 1992 where hundreds of girls were raped with blackmail of releasing nude photos that were illegally solicited. I cannot bear to think that Udupi could have turned to another Ajmer.
Drawing a parallel to the Ajmer mass rape incident from 1992, she wrote, “Let me remind you of what happened in Ajmer in the year 1992 where hundreds of girls were raped with blackmail of releasing nude photos that were illegally solicited. I cannot bear to think that Udupi could have turned to another Ajmer.”
Urging everyone to take action, she said, “If you have one last bone of conscience left in you, talk about what happened to the Hindu girls in Udupi so that they don’t dare to mess with our girls again.”
Media categorically mentioned girls of one community recorded videos of other community
The likes of propaganda website Alt News co-founder Muhammed Zubair accused Rashmi of spreading misinformation and giving the incident a communal angle. Contrary to the narrative being set by Zubair and his ilk, the media has categorically reported that the incident involved two communities.
In fact, Zubair relied heavily on The News Minute report that mentioned in the first paragraph itself that three Muslim girls were suspended for allegedly secretly recording videos of Hindu girls in the washrooms. TNM called it an apparent case of “bullying” but did not say it was a rumour that Muslim girls recorded a video of a Hindu girl. Here is an archived link to the TNM report.
Source: TNM
TNM further accused right-wing groups of “mobilising public opinion by spreading the rumour that the videos were shared to hundreds of Muslim men from the community as part of a “larger Jihadi conspiracy”. Interestingly, the right-wing did not make such claims, but the media initially made the claims, and pro-Hindu social media users only shared the information. During the research, OpIndia found “two communities” was mentioned in several initial reports. On 21st July, Mangalore Today pointed that the incident involved two different communities with one group of girl students “placing the camera to take pictures of students from another community”. The report further mentioned that the pictures were then shared on WhatsApp group.
Source: Mangalore Today.
Deccan Herald’s report from 21st July also mentioned that girl students from one community had placed a mobile camera in the toilet to take pictures of girl students from another community, and then the pictures were shared on WhatsApp group.
OpIndia is trying to independently verify the names of the accused.
The Rajouri police in Jammu and Kashmir have booked a Maulvi of a local Madarsa in the Pulliyan village for severely beating up a 10-year-old boy and keeping him chained in illegal confinement for three days. The accused cleric identified as Mohd Basharat has been booked under sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 342 (wrongful confinement) IPC, and section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act. An FIR has also been registered against his Madarsa.
The police have launched a manhunt to nab the accused, who has been absconding ever since the child managed to run away from the Madarsa on Sunday, July 23.
The incident came to the fore after the child, a resident of the Androot village, ran away from the Madarsa and showed up in front of a bakery in the Rajouri town. His hands were tied with a chain when the owner of the bakery spotted him. When questioned, the 10-year-old narrated his ordeal to the shopkeeper and other locals present there. The boy also showed marks of injuries on his whole body.
The victim, who studied and lived at the same madarsa, said that the cleric brutally thrashed him with a stick on Friday, July 21. The cleric then locked him up in a room and tied his hands with a metal chain, which he secured with a small lock. The child remained locked up in a dingy room of the Madarsa for the next three days.
On July 23, Sunday, the accused cleric was busy preparing for Namaz. The child used the opportunity to escape the clutches of the Maulvi. He reached Rajouri where he narrated his ordeal to the locals, who, in turn, informed the Rajouri police and the Child Protection Unit of the brutal treatment meted out to the minor child.
The minor, who was a student at the Madarsa, said that he had tried to flee the institution twice in the past but each time his parents brought him back to the Madarsa. This time, when he came back, the cleric decided to punish him by thrashing him and chaining him so that he does not dare to run away again.
The boy further told the media that he previously went to a school but his parents took him out from there when he was in class six and sent him to the Madarsa.
Some locals shot a video of the boy and posted it online. Within no time, the video went viral on various social media platforms prompting the Legal cum Probation Officer Child Protection Services Rajouri, Adv Shivangi Kant Sudan, to take cognisance of the incident.
Adv Shivangi Kant approached the Rajouri police, who acted promptly and registered an FIR against the accused Maulvi and his Madarsa. Police sent the victim for medical examination after which he was shifted to a safe place under police protection.
Police have formed search teams to nab the cleric, who is currently on the run.
Accounts of such horrors have become quite common with madarsas. Last year, two minor boys, escaped from a madarsa in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh after they were assaulted by a Maulana and kept chained to prevent them from running away. According to reports the Maulana of Suffa Madintul Ulam Madarsa in Shivlar, Gosainganj, who was running the madarsa illegally, had not only kept the two boys captive by shackling them but also thrashed them with canes in the name of disciplining them.
An Indian student has died in Canada after a brutal assault. Gurvinder Nath, a resident of the Punjabi town of Karimpur Chahwala, was lured by his assailants earlier this month on July 9 near Britannia Road and Creditview in Mississauga under the guise of placing a lunch order.
Nath, a student from Loyalist College, Toronto, was viciously assaulted upon arrival, had his car stolen, and died unexpectedly on July 14 at a trauma center after battling for his life for several days with critical injuries.
Peel Regional Police said in a statement that there is cause to think there are many suspects involved in the case and that the food order was placed in order to draw the driver to the area.
Investigators have also acquired an audio recording of the Pizza order placed prior to the attack.”It is believed that Nath was an innocent victim although every potential motive is being explored,” the police said.
A white Hyundai Accent sedan from 2012 to 2017 that features a characteristic flashing blue light at the top of the windscreen has been identified by police as the suspect vehicle.
According to the police, a man described as wearing dark attire can be seen getting out of the car in a CCTV image. They also stated that there is no known relationship between Nath and his assailants.
Nearby Old Creditview and Old Derry roads, less than five kilometers from the killing site, was where Phil King of Peel Regional Police’s Homicide Bureau reported discovering Nath’s abandoned car.
“Several” pieces of evidence have been retrieved after the vehicle underwent a forensic examination, according to King. He stated that the usage of a weapon in the incident is unknown to authorities.
Reports mention that a GoFundMe campaign has been created to collect funds for Nath’s body to be sent back to India and to assist the family with costs.
A 24-year-old victim had been attending a college in the Toronto region to study business while paying the high international student tuition costs associated with his education.
According to his cousin Balram Krishan and family friend Jaswinder Meelu, Gurvinder Nath had lately purchased a Jetta, his beloved first car, which he valued like a priceless property.
Nath was making his last delivery when he became the victim of a carjacking. When the manager saw him, he hurried him to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, where he was kept connected to various machines until he passed away.
India and Maldives co-chaired the second Joint Working Group meeting on Counter-Terrorism, Countering Violent Extremism and De-radicalisation on Monday to combat terrorism and prevent the exploitation of the internet and cyberspace for terrorism and violent extremism.
Ministry of External Affairs (West) Sanjay Verma represented New Delhi and participated at the event along with Maldives Foreign Secretary MV Ahmed Latheef. “Co-chaired 2nd #India-#Maldives JWG on Counter-Terrorism, Countering Violent Extremism and De-radicalisation at @MoFAmvtoday with H.E. @ForeignSecMVAhmed Latheef. Capacity building, information sharing and cooperation on global forums is the path ahead. @MEAIndia @HCIMaldives,” the MEA official said in a tweet.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the meeting was held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere that symbolises the time-tested and good neighbourly ties between Maldives and India, and the energy, ambition and scale acquired by our bilateral relations under the leadership of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Maldives and India strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including cross-border terrorism. Emphasising the need for strengthening international cooperation to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner both countries reaffirmed counter-terrorism cooperation as an important aspect of maintaining security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Both sides also reviewed threats posed by terrorist entities that are under UN sanctions and emphasised the need for concerted action against all terrorist networks. They underlined the urgent need for all countries to take immediate, sustained, verifiable, and irreversible action to ensure that no territory under their control is used for terrorist attacks on others and to expeditiously bring to justice the perpetrators of such attacks.
Further, the two sides exchanged views on enhancing bilateral cooperation against organised crime and narcotics, repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of returnees, the Ministry stated.
Both sides pledged to strengthen cooperation that will include further assistance and capacity building for the security and law enforcement agencies and other relevant agencies of the Maldives as well as collaboration and the exchange of best practices in the areas of counter-terrorism, preventing and countering violent extremism including strategic communication, and de-radicalisation.
The two sides also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation and enhancing dialogues in multilateral fora through United Nations and at other global and regional platforms such as the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC). The Indian delegation will also visit the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) during their stay in Male, the Ministry 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)
The Congress-led government in Karnataka is setting up a ‘fact check unit’ to combat ‘misinformation’ with the help of notorious fake news peddlers such as Alt News.
Within two months of forming the government, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah directed the Departments of Information Technology, Biotechnology and Home Affairs to take action against those who supposedly post fake news.
As per a report published by the Kannada newspaper Vijayvani on Monday (July 24), the Karnataka government will seek help from dubious fact-checking portal ‘Alt News’ to fight misinformation.
Screengrab of the news report by Vijayvani
“The government will open a separate fact-check unit. It will also take the help of fact-checking agencies like Alt News, Boom Live, E Din, Logical(ly), etc,” the report read.
“There are two types of fake news attacks on social media. One is to defame personally and the other is against the government. Both types of verification will be done here. Action will be taken against such posts if the government is dragged into personal defamation and the other is to incite communal sentiments by targeting the government as a whole,” it further added.
Earlier in June, Congress MLA Priyank Kharge publicly displayed his camaraderie with Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair by referring to the latter as ‘chief.’ Interestingly, Kharge heads the same IT and biotechnology Departments, which are now entrusted to set up the ‘fact-checking unit.’
Will do Chief
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) June 16, 2023
This has led to speculations by netizens that the Karnataka Congress government is mulling to monetarily benefit Alt News by availing its services using taxpayer’s money.
In a tweet on Monday (July 24), popular Twitter user ‘Mr Sinha’ wrote, “So Karanataka govt is planning to build a system to punish “fake news peddlers” with the help of Fault news. It’s same as US joining hands with Pakistan to control Terrorism.”
“On a serious note, it seems like INC Priyank Kharge is planning to reward them using govt’s fund in the name of fact-checking,” he emphasised.
Screengrab of the tweet by Mr Sinha
Alt News and its notorious history of spreading fake news
The ‘fact checking’ portal, run by Pratik Sinha and Mohammed Zubair, has disseminated and amplified fake news on several instances. This is without accounting for the numerous lies peddled by the founders of the Alt News themselves.
For instance, on Sunday (July 23), Zubair shared a cropped video of Kanwariyas pelting stones in Bareilly to hide the fact that it was carried out in retaliation of an unproved attack by Islamists. By shrewdly avoiding the context of the video, he thus insinuated that it was somehow a ‘free-for-all’ case of stone pelting.
In June this year, he falsely suggested that YouTuber Akshat Shrivastava took money from the Union government to criticise the Congress party. Shrivastava later took to Twitter to lambast Zubair for his ‘half-baked research’ and ‘baseless allegations.’
Doing half baked research. And, hurling baseless accusations has become a fashion.
I had already released a video on 16th May on my YouTube channel, where I had talked about the Freebie culture in context of Karnataka elections. The video is still there- you can go & check.… pic.twitter.com/ZiaKDrtaxe
A month earlier, Alt News co-founder and his lackey shared a cropped video to falsely claim that BJP Tamil Nadu chief, Annamalai, claimed credit for CSK’s win in the Indian Premier League.
Zubair had also used misinformation to target the BJP over the inauguration of the new Parliament building. The ‘ignorant’ fact-checker made it clear that he did not know the difference between the ‘foundation’ and ‘inauguration’ of a structure.
Alt News also attempted to shield Congress workers, who were allegedly heard raising ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans. Initially, he had claimed that there was no contentious sloganeering but later claimed that the proof was inconclusive.
I spoke to Police Inspector Mr. Dayanand from Belagavi, He says, They have not concluded if the slogans raised were "Pakistan Zindabad" OR "Asif (Raju) Sait Zindabad". They are sending the viral video to FLS for further investigation. https://t.co/LZOCxouhYB
It almost seemed like Zubair knew his assertions had been busted. However, to save face, he claimed that he spoke to Inspector Dayanand for Belagavi, who said that they had not confirmed yet whether the slogans were Pakistan Zindabad or Asif Sait Zindabad.
His frequent lies have been the fodder for Islamists both in India and abroad. On 14 June 2021, Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair took to Twitter to claim that an elderly Muslim man, Abdul Samad Saifi, in Ghaziabad was assaulted and forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’.
The disinformation was shared recently by Majid Freeman, the Islamist who has been infamous for fanning the anti-Hindu violence in the United Kingdom’s Leicester in 2022. Despite such a history of peddling fake news, the Congress government has now decided to onboard ‘Alt News’ in its ‘fact check unit.’
On Monday, July 24 some anti-social elements attacked a shop in the temple premise in Meghalaya’s Shillong on the afternoon of the third Monday of the auspicious Sawan (monsoon) month. The attackers also thrashed the worshipers and robbed the shop, disturbing the peace in the area of Shillong’s famous Shiva temple, Mahadev Khola Dham.
According to the local reports, the incident is said to have happened on the third Monday of the auspicious Sawan month, which drew a huge congregation of worshipers to the temple. The incident happened when a visitor visited Mahadev Khola Dham and asked one of the stores there for an Amul Kool beverage. However, he informed the shopkeeper that he would pay her later.
On refusal, he felt insulted and hurled a coconut at the woman shopkeeper. According to a statement by SP Sylvester Nongtnger, a massive fight broke out when her 21-year-old son intervened to protect her. The SP confirmed that thirty minutes later, the miscreant returned with a enraged group who attacked the woman and her son, grabbed money from the store, and fled. A group of nine to ten persons attacked them, taking their cellphones and cash worth Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000, according to a FIR that the shop’s owner filed.
Upon information, police personnel from Jhalupara OP rushed to the spot. The mother and boy are said to have suffered minor injuries, and after receiving first aid and a medical inspection, they were both released.
The CCTV footage of the incident is making rounds on social media where the miscreants can be seen creating a ruckus in the temple premises. They can be seen thrashing the devotees and also manhandling the assets of the nearby shop. The Legal Rights Observatory (LRO) shared the video and stated that the miscreants were from the Khasi Students Union.
Khasi Students Union- KSU goons attacked Mahadev Khola mandir, 101 Area Lower Iowsohtun , Shillong , Meghalaya. We can be see them assaulting priests women devotees including family of priests. Hope @SangmaConrad@MeghalayaPolice act. Will Presb Church stop hate mongering? pic.twitter.com/1Ru02yQ8QV
— Legal Rights Observatory- LRO (@LegalLro) July 24, 2023
The SP stated that a case has been filed at Lumdiengjri Police Station and that the district police are working tirelessly to apprehend the offenders.
Meanwhile, according to eyewitness accounts, the attackers attacked unarmed devotees who had gathered to pray and bring water to the shrine. The thieves attacked female worshippers physically in addition to stealing money from the believers. The eyewitnesses also stated that the miscreants were wielding knives and chains, and stopped devotees from entering the temple premises.
After the attack, the temple authorities quickly solicited police assistance. Unfortunately, the attackers had already left the site by the time the cops arrived, leaving others in a state of panic and confusion. However, crucial information was recorded by the temple’s security cameras, giving detectives a lead to find the attackers. The primary suspect was clearly seen on the CCTV tape and could be recognised by his clothing.
At present, FIR in the case has been filed and investigations are underway to capture the accused.
On Saturday, 22nd July 2023, an FIR was registered against Mukesh Machkar – editor of Marathi Cartoon Weekly Marmik – for inciting hatred and violence against Brahmin women over the recent Manipur issue. Mukesh Machkar said in his Facebook post that he would contribute money to those who pack the women with surnames Bhide, Gadgil, and Nadkarni in a sack and send them to Manipur. He also added that he will sponsor a half-litre of petrol if anyone wishes to do “something else” with them.
This FIR is filed in the Cyber Police branch of Pune City at the Alankar Police Station in the Erandwana area of Pune and it is based on the complaint filed by 35-year-old Marathi author Ashwini Kulkarni. While Mukesh Machkar represents the so-called “moral compass” of the progressive ideology of Maharashtra, it is necessary to first understand the background of the things which went on to build this controversy.
It started with the viral video of the Manipur Tragedy
On July 19 horrifying visuals of two women being stripped naked and paraded naked surfaced from Manipur. The visuals show two women being paraded naked while a group of men around them heckled them, and then being dragged into a paddy field. It was reported that the two victims were then gang-raped. It was also reported that the victims were from the Kuki community and the assailants were from the Meitei community.
A wave of condemnation spread over social media. While many people active on social media condemned the incident as a genuine response to this heinous incident, many others had their personal agenda of sieging the BJP government in the state and in the Center over this issue. They not only questioned PM Modi on this late-reported issue but also disregarded the firm resolve he showed about dealing with such crimes in his statement the next day.
While everyone condemned this heinous crime and demanded action, the Leftists and Islamists who were expressing their horror over the Manipur incident, glossed over similar incidents from West Bengal where Hindu women were raped, paraded naked and beaten up.
Mukesh Machkar particularly targeted Brahmins – and that too Brahmin women – from this clout of social media users and spewed venom against them. It is notable that Mukesh Machkar has more than 25000 followers on Facebook and holds a fairly widespread compounding impact on the opinion of the Marathi diaspora being an editor of a 63-year-old Cartoon Weekly founded by none other than Balasaheb Thackeray. Weekly Marmik served as a mouthpiece of Shiv Sena before it started a daily newspaper “Saamana”.
What did Mukesh Machkar post?
Mukesh Machkar wrote in his Facebook post, “I will give a contribution of rupees one thousand to pack Bhide, Gadgil, and Nadkarni women in a sack and send them to Manipur. Also, will give half a litre of petrol if there is any other plan!”
Notably, Bhide, Gadgil, and Nadkarni are the surnames commonly found in the Marathi Brahmin Community. Peshwas of the Maratha empire, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Veer Savarkar, and many other eminent Marathi personalities belong to this community. Nathuram Godse who shot MK Gandhi dead also comes from this community. What Mukesh Machkar incited through this post is nothing but a genocide of this community like the one witnessed by Maharashtra in 1948 after MK Gandhi’s assassination.
Facebook post by Mukesh Machkar
In this post Mukesh Machkar not only incited hatred and violence against one community, but he targeted women of the community. By ‘sending to Manipur’ he essentially meant that the women of this community deserve a similar treatment as the one received by the Kuki victims in the viral video. It therefore seems like Mukesh Machkar through this post was essentially declaring a reward of rupees 1000 for raping the women of the Brahmin community.
Mukesh Machkar is a writer and has worked in noted secular liberal media houses like Maharashtra Times. Presently. He is the editor of Weekly Marmik which was started by Balasaheb Thackeray with a tagline that read – “For Justified Rights of the Marathi People”. Mukesh Machkar incited hatred and violence against Marathi women while “decorating the editorial chair of this Weekly Marmik with his distinguished presence”.
Ashwini Kulkarni’s Complaint against Mukesh Machkar
Noted Marathi writer Ashwini Kulkarni filed a complaint against Mukesh Machkar in the Pune City Cyber Police. Ashwini Kulkarni is known for her book based on the life of Shrimant Peshwin Kashibai (श्रीमंत पेशवीण काशीबाई) – the wife of Peshwa Bajirao the First. OpIndia has secured a copy of this complaint. In her complaint, she said, “The above post was uploaded from the Facebook profile of Mukesh Machkar. Mukesh Machkar has a lot of followers as he is the executive editor of the weekly magazine Marmik. The post, which he uploaded to Facebook, has garnered a total of 751 likes, 178 comments and 18 shares so far.”
Ashwini Kulkarni further said, “A video and news of women being stripped, paraded and tortured in Manipur have gone viral on social media. This type of thing is condemnable and slanderous in nature. There is a sense of anger among all the citizens about this incident. We also condemn this practice.”
Ashwini Kulkarni added in her complaint, “However, in response to the incident in Manipur, the social media user Mukesh Machkar posted the above on his Facebook profile, expressing his hatred towards the particular community and women of that community. By making such provocative statements, he instigated people to commit violence against women of a particular surname and caste, he instigated to use petrol by putting them in sacks and posted posts with a strong possibility of promoting enmity among the classes by stifling enmity between the castes or different religions and creating enmity between them.”
Ashwini Kulkarni concluded her complaint by saying, “The response his post received shows that many people are willing to get involved in such violent activities. So, I think there is a strong possibility of a law and order problem as atrocities are being fuelled in the state along the lines of Manipur. I have a legal complaint against this Facebook profile holder, Mukesh Machkar, for posting a post that would defame these women of a particular community and would incite hatred and enmity between different castes and religions.”
The FIR against Mukesh Machkar
The Pune Police filed an FIR against Muksh Machkar on the basis of the complaint filed by writer Ashwini Kulkarni. The police have booked Mukesh Machkar under sections 153A, 500 and 505 of the IPC. OpIndia has secured a copy of this FIR.
While speaking about this case, Ashwini Kulkarni said, “We all know about the heinous incident that took place in Manipur. It tarnished humanity. We all condemned it. It is sad that a few people are using this incident for their political gains. I saw a post by Mukesh Machkar who is the editor of Marmik. This post is objectionable and low-grade. He said that women of particular surnames should be sent to Manipur and burnt with petrol. He was ready to sponsor the act. Surprisingly, many people expressing themselves in the comments below that post were ready to assist Mukesh Machkar in this activity. To protest this, I filed a complaint in the police station. It contains non-bailable sections too. As soon as Mukesh Machkar knew that someone has filed an FIR, he realised that his post was wrong. He deleted the post and shared another post of apology on his Facebook profile.”
Ashwini Kulkarni added, “But, once a post is shared, its screenshots are viral on the internet, it does not make any sense even if you apologise or delete the post. It is useless. Therefore, an action shall be taken against him. I will not take my complaint back. I want to ask that when the whole country is outraged against the incident that took place in Manipur, how can one dare to share such a post? Who gives right to Mukesh Machkar to pack those ladies in a sack and send them to Manipur? If a common man shares such a post, it can be ignored. Mukesh Machkar should have realised that being the executive editor of a popular Weekly like Marmik, he should have shared the social media posts responsibly. I urge the government and the police to take firm action against this person as soon as possible and set an example so that no one should dare again to share any such post against any woman. If anyone dares to do so again, we will file a complaint again.”
Mukesh Machkar deleted the post and furnished a meaningless apology
Mukesh Machkar deleted the post after it reached to masses. Later he issued a practically meaningless apology on his Facebook profile. He wrote, “My post in reference to some persons who have posted insensitive posts in the context of atrocities against women in Manipur has gone viral in the sense that it is a hate speech against a particular caste. That wasn’t my intention. I don’t hate any race. However, the post remained ambiguous as it simply spelt out the last name and did not explicitly mention the people involved, leading to this misunderstanding.”
Mukesh Machkar added, “In a fit of rage, I also made inflammatory comments and mis-wording. I’m sorry about that. Let me reiterate, I am not a hater of any caste or religion. I have deleted this post after noticing the mess. Nevertheless, I sincerely apologise to those whose feelings have been hurt by that post. Sorry!”
Facebook post by Mukesh Machkar
Even in the comments of this post of apology, many followers and supporters of this Mukesh Machkar were seen backing him. One of them said, “Do not apologise at all Sir. These people deserve the same. I shared the screenshots of their posts. You did not post anything wrong at all. We are with you.”
Tushar Damgude calls out the progressive liberals of Maharashtra
While digging more about the issue, OpIndia contacted Pune-based Hindu activist Tushar Damgude. He is one of the main complainants in the Bhima-Koregaon case that unearthed the urban naxals racket activated in the Elgar Parishad in 2018.
Tushar Damgude said, “Mukesh Machkar is an executive editor of an old weekly named Marmik. Marmik was started by Balasaheb Thackeray to uphold the interests of the Marathi people. I feel sad as a Marathi Manus to see that the same Marathi weekly editor is spewing venom against Marathi women who have surnames like Bhide, Nadkarni, etc. It is a day to mourn as a Marathi Manus indeed. It is high time for Uddhav Thackeray and Rashmi Thackeray to think about whether this pervert person Mukesh Machkar should be continued as an executive editor of Marmik. Marathi Manus will know the thoughts of Thackerays about Marathi people and Maharashtra from the action they take against Mukesh Machkar.”
Tushar Damgude further said, “For the past few years we have repeatedly seen that the so-called progressive liberal seculars in this country are setting up a narrative that supports violence. We all have seen what happened in America. News spread that the electoral results are not in favour of a particular group of American people. These people captured the capitol hill. They stood against their own armed forces. Some people are trying to incite this kind of situation in India. We have seen it in Manipur. Indian people stood in front of the forces. Women stripped themselves to ensure that declared rioters get a free hand. Even in the past, we have seen rumours spread saying that mosques are demolished in Tripura. It was done to incite riots across the country.”
The Mukesh Machkar incident represents an extension of the anti-social toolkit
About social media and its responsible usage Tushar Damgude said, “One should not take the use of social media so lightly. Even mainstream media should not ignore it. Why this is being done so? It is because of the upcoming elections. If Narendra Modi is voted to power once again in 2024, these people will deduce its meaning as ‘The democracy in the country is doomed. So we will take the democratic establishment of this country into our hands by acting against the state, the armed forces and by blocking the roads, etc.’ There are some people who think in this way only and propagate this thought. This is a sign of imposing anarchy here. It is a sign of inciting people to create riots and a civil war-like situation.”
Tushar Damgude further said, “It is nothing but what we call urban naxals and the fifth-generation war. It is nothing but an attempt of capturing power by making the people of the country stand against each other. These self-proclaimed liberal secular progressive people do not trust the election commission. They do not trust the judiciary. They do not trust any news channels too. they do not trust the government elected by the people of this country through a democratic electoral process. They do not trust government officers. All they want is that everyone should accept their demands and agree to their thoughts without raising any doubts or questions. If it is not agreed and accepted, they are ready to block the roads. They are ready to attack you by gathering a huge number of people. They incite the people against you by writing on various media platforms like this Mukesh Machkar did. Such incidents are repeated frequently. The government should take serious cognizance of this and act on it. There should be some restrictions on social media and news channels too. The government should send a message to the people that this country is still ruled by law and order.”
Conclusion
Marmik which once used to be Shiv Sena mouthpiece is now published by Prabodhan Prakashan. It is led by Rashmi Uddhav Thackeray. Mukesh Machkar – a left-leaning so-called progressive liberal writer in Marathi was brought on board as an executive editor during the MVA period only. This incident is seen as a manifestation of the radical ideological shift in Uddhav Thackeray’s stance. In the prime years of the 1980s the same ‘Weekly Marmik’ had stalwart journalists like Bhau Torsekar on its editorial board who despite all odds continued to be relevant and most followed Marathi journalists even in the digital era.
Mukesh Machkar’s appointment as the executive editor of the Weekly Marmik thus represents the about turn of the pro-Marathi pro-Hindu periodical and Uddhav Thackeray and Rashmi Thackeray giving a free pass to Mukesh Machkar’s pervert post against Marathi Brahmin women indicates the violent anti-Hindu inner self of the established and self-proclaimed progressive liberal secular thought leaders in contemporary Maharashtra.
On 24th July, the Manipur government asked Assam Rifles authorities to push back 718 Myanmar nationals who entered India illegally. These illegal immigrants, including 301 children, entered India on 22nd July and 23rd July. The state government expressed concerns over illegal immigrants entering India amidst ongoing Manipur violence.
In a tweet, BJP’s Manipur MLA Rajkumar Imo Singh said the government had sought detailed clarification from authorities to clarify why these Myanmar nationals could enter Manipur illegally. “They have been ordered to push back/deport all the Myanmar Nationals immediately to their own country. Manipur is for all the indigenous people from all communities, but let us all push and deport all illegal migrants from our State,” He added.
State Government has sought a detailed clarification from authorities to clarify the reasons as to how the 718 Myanmar Nationals entered Manipur, India. They have been ordered to push back/deport all the Myanmar Nationals immediately to their own country. Manipur is for all the… pic.twitter.com/QzEX0diNF1
Singh further urged the Central Government to ensure that no illegal person enters the territory of Manipur, India and demanded proper border fencing. He said, “Porous boundary needs to be fenced properly, and identification of all illegal migrants needs to be completed on priority as ordered by the Central Government.”
In an official press release, the Home Department of the Government of Manipur said a report was received from Assam Rifles headquarters that 718 Myanmar nationals entered India illegally via the Indo-Myanmar border to the general area of New Lajang of district Chandel amidst ongoing clashes at Khampat opposite Border Pillar 58.
As per the press release, the 718 illegal immigrants from Myanmar included 209 men, 208 women and 301 children. They have been living in Laijang, Bonse, New Somtal, New Laijang, Yangnomphai, Yangnomphai Saw Mill and Alvomjang.
The state government pointed out that it had clearly informed Assam Rifles that, being Border Guarding Force, it has to take strict action to prevent any such infiltration of Myanmar nationals into Manipur without valid visas or travel documents. These instructions were given on behalf of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
The state added that such infiltration may have international ramifications amidst an ongoing law and order situation. Deeming it an utmost sensitive matter, Manipur Government sought a detailed report from Assam Rifles Authority to clarify why and how these Myanmar nationals were allowed to enter India in Chandel District without proper travel documents. The state home department asked Assam Rifles to immediately push back those 718 illegal Myanmar nationals.
Furthermore, the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Chandel District was instructed by the Home Department to oversee the implementation of the instructions given to Assam Rifles and keep biometrics and photographs of all illegal immigrants.
Earlier, Singh shared a letter to Assam Rifles and the Deputy Commissioner of Chandel district in Manipur, where they were asked to verify reports of fresh infiltration. He wrote, “So there is fresh 718 illegal influx of Myanmar Nationals who have entered Manipur, India on 23rd July in Chandel District.”
So there are fresh 718 illegal influx of Myanmar Nationals who has entered Manipur, India on 23rd July in Chandel District. This is what everyone in Manipur has been saying for so long that thousands of people are entering the state illegally over the last few years, many have… pic.twitter.com/tsxx4HelCA
Singh pointed out that the issue of infiltration by thousands of Myanmar nationals entering India illegally was raised by locals on several occasions. “This is what everyone in Manipur has been saying for so long that thousands of people are entering the state illegally over the last few years, many have not been detected yet, and that is why the State is trying to find out these illegal migrants and take appropriate action as per law. Central Government has to ensure the entry of illegal influx stops at the border itself, and our government has to ensure they are deported back immediately,” he added.
Manipur violence: Local Meiteis Vs Kukis that include illegal immigrants
It is notable here that the influx of illegal immigrants from Myanmar, mostly Kuki Christians who go on to live in the protected hill areas, has been a key factor in the ongoing conflict between Meitei and Kuki communities. Though the official narrative for Kukis opposing the ST status to Meiteis is that they will lose exclusive land ownership rights in the hill areas, the Meitei community, and even the state government has been vocal over the illegal immigration issues in the state.
According to Meitei groups, Kuki people are immigrating from Myanmar and occupying forest land in Manipur, and the local Kukis are supporting them. Aware of the situation, the state govt has launched an eviction drive, which is being opposed by the tribal groups.
The Central CEN Crime Police Station in Bengaluru has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against unknown suspects in connection to a death threat to a Karnataka High Court employee and six judges, police revealed on Monday, 24 July. A case has been lodged on the complaint of a Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Karnataka High Court, K Muralidhar.
According to the police, Muralidhar told them that he received a threatening call and WhatsApp messages on his official number in which a caller demanded ransom money. The suspect threatened him that if he didn’t transfer the money into his Pakistani account, he would kill him and six judges of the Karnataka High Court. However, the caller didn’t reveal his identity.
According to the complaint filed on 14 July, Muralidhar received a call and messages from an international number at 7 pm on the 12th of July. The unknown suspect sent messages in Hindi, Urdu and English.
In these threatening messages, the accused demanded a ransom of Rs 50 lakh. He gave Muralidhar details of a Pakistani bank account number linked with ‘ABL Allied Bank Limited’ and asked him to deposit the ransom amount in this account. The message sender threatened Muralidhar that if the money was not transferred, six judges of the court along with him would be killed by a ‘Dubai gang’.
The names of the High Court Judges mentioned in these threatening messages include Justices Mohammad Nawaz, HT Narendra Prasad, Ashok Nijagannanavar, HP Sandesh, K Natarajan, and Veerappa.
Additionally, five suspicious mobile phone numbers were also mentioned in these threatening messages stating, “Yah Indian hamare apne shooter hain (these are our Indian shooters).”
According to the Police, they have registered an FIR under Sections 506, 507, and 504 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 75 and 66(F) of the Information Technology Act. Additionally, they have submitted it before the 1st Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court.
A day earlier, on 23rd July, the Mumbai Police control room received a threatening call in which the caller said that a tanker filled with RDX and two Pakistani nationals onboard was going from Mumbai to Goa.
Previously, on 18 July, the Mumbai Police’s traffic control room received another threatening call, in which the caller claimed of carrying out another 26/11-style of attack in Mumbai. The unknown caller claimed that the governments of CM Yogi and PM Modi are on the target and cartridges and AK-47s are present at specific locations. The caller threatened a potential 26/11-style attack in Mumbai.
In another such threatening call, one unknown caller threatened to destroy India, if Seema Haider doesn’t return back to Pakistan.
