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Delhi Excise Policy Scam: Manish Sisodia moves Supreme Court challenging Delhi High Court order denying him bail

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi Excise Policy Scam: Manish Sisodia moves Supreme Court challenging Delhi High Court order denying him bail

Manish Sisodia, senior Aam Aadmi Party leader and former deputy chief minister of Delhi, filed a petition with the Supreme Court in an effort to overturn a decision by the Delhi High Court that had refused him bail. Sisodia is facing charges framed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) related to Delhi’s new excise policy.

Sisodia had earlier sought bail from court citing his wife’s ill health and his son being abroad. Earlier, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court ordered the Delhi police to physically produce him on the upcoming hearing date in connection with the case.

Sisodia is accused in cases that concern irregularities in the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy. He was arrested on 26 February on allegations of corruption in connection with the formulation and implementation of Delhi’s 2021–22 excise policy. CBI stated, “He (Sisodia) gave evasive replies and did not cooperate in the investigation despite being confronted with evidence to the contrary.”

On 12 April, the ED opposed his bail and informed the Delhi Court that the AAP stalwart was responsible for manufacturing emails indicating widespread support for the policy.

“We have evidence that Sisodia had planted emails. These have been received not only in the official email account of the excise department but even in Sisodia’s personal email account. This is another proof of conspiracy, the content of the email was given by Sisodia which suited his agenda,” ED attorney Zoheb Hossain revealed.

He asserted that the new policy was framed to gain incentives. “Policy making does not happen telepathically. A policy, which is touted to be transparent, and fair, is introduced without any deliberation. An illegal ecosystem was created to give illegal benefits to liquor cartels in lieu of kickbacks,” he added.

The federal investigating agency disclosed that Sisodia altered the excise policy in response to the desires of the “South Group” in exchange for an upfront advance kickback of Rs 100 crore in its remand notice, which was placed before the court on March 10.

The money was allegedly handed over to Vijay Nair, the communicator in charge of the Aam Aadmi Party, at a South Delhi hotel by representatives of the latter. According to the Enforcement Department, he took home Rs 2.2 crores through the scandal.

UP: Saddam and Rizwan arrested under UAPA for supporting terrorism, wanted Sharia rule in India and were willing to sacrifice lives for jihad

OpIndia Staff
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UP: Saddam and Rizwan arrested under UAPA for supporting terrorism, wanted Sharia rule in India and were willing to sacrifice lives for jihad

Two middle-aged men from Bengaluru and Kashmir were detained by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for supporting terrorism on social media. These individuals desired to join terrorist organisations and rule India according to Sharia law. They were prepared to give their lives in retaliation for the Jihad.

The narrative of the upcoming movie “72 Hoorian,” which delves deeply into the world of terrorists and their ideologies, is remarkably similar to the tales of these men. In the movie, terrorists are drawn into Jihad by false promises made by Jannat and Hoor. The two accused who have been identified as Saddam Sheikh and Rizwan Khan also were waiting to sacrifice their lives for Jihad. 

Both of these men frequently shared and uploaded videos on social media that encouraged terrorism and the Jihad. They expressed respect to terrorists like Osama bin Laden, Zakir Musa, Sameer Tiger, and to terrorist organizations like Lashkar-e-Taiba. Saddam Sheikh wanted India to be governed as per Sharia law. 

Saddam, the 38-year-old son of Munshi Miya, was a driver for the NTC firm and a resident of Bengaluru’s Dhabsapet area. He caught ATS’s attention because of his offensive social media posts. He had his accounts withheld several times as a result of his contentious posts.

The ATS obtained an investigative warrant and summoned Saddam to their office after the initial monitoring. Saddam acknowledged during the initial investigations that Al-Oaeda, Ansar-Gazwat-ul Hind, and Hizb-ul were influential on him. Saddam said that he had the same ideals as terrorists like Osama bin Laden, Zakir Musa, Riyaz Nayaku, Naved Jat, and Sameer Tiger. He also had a cell phone that the ATS used to recover questionable information on these terrorists.

Press release by UP ATS (Image- Organizer)

Saddam used to post videos and talks of these terrorists and terror organisations to influence other users since he wanted to be a mujahid. He intended to overturn the Supreme Court’s ruling over the Babri Mosque because he was upset with it. He made a number of social media accounts that were restricted or withheld by Facebook for their controversial content.

According to a report, one of the motives behind Saddam’s social media postings was his desire for these extreme organisations to get in touch with them and attain training. Saddam planned to assemble an army by enlisting all Muslims who were in precarious situations or harboured resentments towards the Indian political system.

He wanted India to make the transition to Islam and adopt Sharia as its primary legal system. Saddam was in contact with Pakistani terrorist organisations using IMO, and his profile image featured posters for ISIS, Al-Badr, and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

After conducting an investigation, the ATS arrested Saddam on July 1 and filed a FIR (number-04/2023) against him at the ATS police station in Lucknow. Saddam has been charged with violating UAPA sections 13/18/38 and 121-A.

On the other hand Rizwan stated that he wanted to sacrifice his life for Islam. The ATS personnel were alerted by intelligence that a man from Kashmir who is connected to terrorism is residing in several areas of Uttar Pradesh. After some research, the ATS discovered abusive posts and videos from Rizwan’s handle that aroused suspicion.

Press release issued by UP ATS (Organizer)

Rizwan was charged with using social media to spread hate speech and recruit followers for the same by spreading contentious remarks. He briefly stayed in Unnao and was employed as a security guard at the Indango Food Private Limited meat plant. Rizwan was being held in custody while residing in Farbis Ganj, Bihar, and working as a security guard for Marhaba Frozen Food Private Limited.

Rizwan was summoned to the headquarters by the ATS as part of a procedure using an investigation warrant, where he admitted to sharing radical content on social media. Rizwan was motivated by militants and weaponry because he aspired to join the Mujahideen in the future.

The ATS discovered images from his profile of anti-national music, weaponry, and terrorist training camps. Rizwan confessed that he aspired to be a terrorist like Burhan Wani (Hizb-ul-Mujaheeddin and Mujahid) and terrorists Zakir Musa (who led the Tanjim Group and Ansar-Gazwat-ul-Hind).

Rizwan Khan said, “Jihad ki raah par fida hone ke liye, lnshah Allah mai apni baari ka intezar kar raha tha”(I was waiting for my turn to sacrifice my life for Jihad). Following the interrogations, the ATS detained Rizwan and registered an FIR (number-05/2023) against him at the ATS police station, Lucknow. He also has been booked under IPC sections 121-A and 123 with sections 13/18/38 of the UAPA.

White House turns down question about Hunter Biden’s ‘Unacknowledged’ love child with ex-stripper Luden Alexis Roberts

OpIndia Staff
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White House turns down question about Hunter Biden’s ‘Unacknowledged’ love child with ex-stripper Luden Alexis Roberts

The White House has declined to answer yet again a question about Navy Joan Roberts, the estranged granddaughter of US President Joe Biden. Navy Joan Roberts is Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden’s 4-year-old child with Luden Alexis Roberts, a former stripper at the Mpire Gentlemen’s Club in Washington, D.C.

Referring to a report published by the New York Times on July 1, 2023, a reporter, during the daily White House press briefing, asked White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, “There was a story in the New York Times over the weekend about Hunter Biden’s daughter in Arkansas. Does the President acknowledge this little girl as his granddaughter?”

Jean-Pierre replied saying, “I don’t have anything to share from here.”

On 1st July, the NYT published a report titled “Hunter Biden’s Daughter and a Tale of Two Families”. The report talked about the battle between Lunden Alexis Roberts and Hunter Biden over child support for 4-year-old Navy Joan Roberts.

Report published by NYT on July 1

The battle ended on 29th June after both parties agreed that Hunter Biden, now a painter by profession, would hand over some of his paintings to the toddler. He will also be providing a monthly support payment to Navy Joan Roberts and in turn, Luden Alexis Roberts agreed to withdraw her counterclaim to change their child’s last name to “Biden.”

The Biden’s have resisted a lengthy fight over getting Lunden Alexis Roberts to drop her request seeking the Biden surname for her daughter. She reportedly said the decision to drop the request was mutual.

“We both want what is best for our daughter, and that is our only focus,” she said.

Joe Biden refuses to acknowledge his seventh grandchild

In the past too, the White House has refused questions about the case. It has reportedly been emphasized in several meetings in recent years that the Bidens have six grandchildren and not seven.

President Joe Biden too has publicly declared in April this year at the White House’s “Take Your Child to Work Day” that he has six grandchildren.

According to a report, Biden spoke to his staffers’ children and said that he speaks to six grandkids daily and that he is crazy about them.

The “six” grandchildren include Naomi, 29, Finnegan, 22, and Maisy, 21, Hunter’s daughters with ex-wife Kathleen Buhle; Natalie, 18, and Robert, 16, the children of his late son Beau Biden and wife Hallie; and 3-year-old Beau, Hunter’s son with current wife Melissa Cohen.

Who is Lunden Alexis Roberts?

Lunden Alexis Roberts is the mother of Hunter Biden’s 4-year-old daughter Navy Joan Roberts. She was working as a stripper at the Mpire Club in Washington DC under the stage name “Dallas”.

Hunter Biden was reportedly a regular visitor at the club. Roberts had a brief affair with Hunter Biden about five years ago that resulted in a pregnancy, not long after he ended a torrid affair with Hallie Biden, the widow of his brother, Beau Biden.

Lunden gave birth to Navy in August 2018. A paternity test had confirmed that Navy was in fact Hunter Biden’s daughter.

A paternity suit was filed in May 2019 — the same month Hunter Biden married his second wife, Melissa Cohen, with whom he now shares a young son named Beau after his late brother, who died in 2015 from brain cancer.

Hunter Biden’s obsession with prostitution and pornography

Several pictures were recovered by the forensic agency from the second laptop of Hunter Biden that was seized by federal agents. In one photo, he was seen pulling a woman by her hair while she bent on her knees in a sexually suggestive position. Joe Biden’s son also had a profile (username RHEast) on the pornography website, Pornhub. His account had 66 award badges, and a badge for having over 50 subscribers, watching 500 videos and watching porn in HD.

The hard drive of the laptop also contained explicit videos of him starring in porn films. He primarily used his laptop webcam to shoot videos and also took footage using his iPad and cell phone. He would leave the webcam on after filming sex scenes and re-watched the footage on his computer.

First IIT campus outside India to be set up be in Zanzibar in Tanzania, two governments and IIT Madras sign MoU

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First IIT campus outside India to be set up be in Zanzibar in Tanzania, two governments and IIT Madras sign MoU

 The first IIT campus outside India will be set up in Tanzania’s Zanzibar. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for setting up of campus of IIT Madras in Zanzibar was signed between the Ministry of Education, Government of India, IIT Madras, and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT) Zanzibar on Wednesday.

The setting up of the IIT campus in Zanzibar demonstrates the longstanding friendship between India and Tanzania, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in an official statement. Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, High Commissioner of India to Tanzania, Professor Raghunathan Rengaswamy, Dean (Global Engagement), IIT Madras, and Khalid Masoud Wazir, Acting Principal Secretary, MoEVT Zanzibar, signed the MoU on behalf of Ministry of Education, Government of India, IIT Madras and Ministry of Education and Vocational Training Zanzibar, respectively.

“This campus is reflective of the longstanding friendship between India and Tanzania and a reminder of the focus India places on building people-to-people ties across Africa and the Global South,” the MEA said in a press release.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Zanzibar President Hussein Ali Mwinyi witnessed the signing of the agreement on setting up of IIT Madras campus in Zanzibar. Jaishankar tweeted, “Witnessed the signing of the agreement on setting up of @iitmadras Zanzibar campus. Appreciate President @DrHmwinyi gracing the occasion, as also the presence of his Ministers. This historic step reflects India’s commitment to the Global South.”

According to MEA, the setting up of the IIT Campus shall also enhance India’s reputation across the world and its diplomatic relationships and expand the international footprint of IIT Madras. It will also likely enhance the quality of IIT Madras education and research further due to student and faculty diversity from the international campus. It will further serve to deepen research collaborations with other top-ranked academic institutions worldwide.

“IIT campus in Zanzibar-Tanzania is envisioned as a world-class higher education and research institution with a broader mission to develop competencies in response to emerging global requirements, deepen ties between the nations, and support research and innovation in the region. It will serve as an example to the world, of the aspirational qualities of Indian higher education and innovation,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

The MEA noted that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 focuses on Internationalization and recommends that “high-performing Indian universities will be encouraged to set up campuses in other countries.”

It stated that this unique partnership will bring the top-ranked educational expertise of IITM to a prime destination in Africa and serve the current imperative needs of the region.

“Recognizing the strategic partnership between Tanzania and India, the relationship of educational partnership has been formalized by signing the document which provides the framework for the Parties to detail out the setting up of the proposed campus of IIT Madras in Zanzibar- Tanzania, with plans to launch programs in Oct 2023,” the MEA said in the press release.

According to MEA, the academic programs, curricula, student selection aspects and pedagogical details will be by IIT Madras. The capital and operating expenditure will be met by the government of Zanzibar-Tanzania.

IIT Madras degrees will be awarded to the students enrolled in the campus that will be set up in Tanzania, the MEA said. The interdisciplinary degrees are expected to attract a diverse cohort and will include students from Africa and other countries as well. Indian students are also eligible to apply to these programs. 

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

Maharashtra: NCP (Sharad Pawar) concedes to Congress claim over leader of opposition, Chhagan Bhujbal says all legal aspects studied before Ajit Pawar faction joined govt

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: NCP (Sharad Pawar) concedes to Congress claim over leader of opposition, Chhagan Bhujbal says all legal aspects studied before Ajit Pawar faction joined govt

Days after Congress objected to the decision of the Sharad Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party to select NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad as the leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra legislative assembly, the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) has now taken a step back and said that whoever has the majority has the right to claim or has the prerogative to choose the leader of the opposition. NCP leader from the Sharad Pawar faction Clyde Crasto made this statement on 6th July 2023 in an interaction with the media.

Clyde Crasto said, “Congress has all the right to discuss the LoP. We have also made it very clear, our party president Sharad Pawar had also made it very clear that whoever has the majority has the right to claim or has the prerogative to choose the leader. So, if the Congress is even thinking of that, there is nothing wrong in it.”

After around 40 NCP MLAs led by Ajit Pawar defected and joined the BJP-Shiv Sena (Shinde) government in the state on Sunday, July 2, 2023, NCP leader Jitendra Awhad was named the leader of the opposition in the state assembly by the Sharad Pawar faction. But Congress then came ahead with its objection to the new leader of the opposition, as the Congress party became the largest opposition party in the house now. Congress questioned how NCP can appoint LoP when it has been reduced to just 13 MLAs. The NCP has now backtracked and said that discussions will be held and the parties will then arrive at some conclusion.

Ramdas Athawale meets Ajit Pawar

Meanwhile, the Republican Party of India (Athawale Group) leader Ramdas Athawale met Ajit Pawar in Mumbai. In a media interaction after the meeting, the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said, “I met Ajit Pawar today. We welcomed him and congratulated him on behalf of the RPI. Ajitdada has showcased great courage. Ajitdada has taken the correct decision. I have been with him and Sharad Pawar for many years in the past. But later I joined the alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena. One must change his thoughts with time. It is not right to keep ranting about the casteist issues every now and then.”

Ramdas Athawale added, “PM Narendra Modi is taking everyone together. Be it a Hindu, Muslim or a Dalit, PM Modi enjoys the support of everyone. For the first time, a person from the OBC class has become the Prime Minister of the country. The BJP is elected to power because it gets votes from every section of society. The BJP got 303 seats in 2019. In the upcoming 2024 elections too, Narendra Modi will become the Prime Minister and I am sure that we will get 325 to 350 seats.”

Ramdas Athawale said, “Ajit Pawar told me that he had this thought in mind for quite some time. He said that he respects Sharad Pawar. He is our senior leader. 2-3 meetings within NCP were also done to come together with the BJP but no conclusion was drawn.”

Chhagan Bhujbal asserts the legal accuracy of the Ajit Pawar faction

On the other hand, Chhagan Bhujbal – a senior NCP leader in the Ajit Pawar faction has clarified that Ajit Pawar took this decision only after carefully checking the legal aspects involved. Chhagan Bhujbal said, “When we decided to join the government under Ajit Pawar’s leadership, we took a decision only after discussing what legal matters we would have to face. All the legal experts told us that if we go this way, there will be no disqualification decision against the MLAs with us. After discussing with two to four legal experts, we were convinced, only after which we have taken steps to join the government.”

Bhujbal further said, “We have sent documents to the Election Commission well before joining the government. We have recognised Ajit Pawar as the national president. We have also mentioned that Ajit Pawar is the head of the party and will continue to be so. This arrangement has been made according to the constitution of the party, and the rules of the Election Commission regarding the prevailing political parties. Ajit Pawar will be the national president of the party.”

Clarifying more about Sharad Pawar’s resignation in May 2023 and backtracking from his decision to resign Chhagan Bhujbal said, “We tried to convince Sharad Pawar. Supriya Sule was also there. We also spoke to Jayant Patil a month ago. Ajit Pawar revealed many things in his speech on Wednesday. We tried to find a way till the end, but Sharad Pawar did not listen to us.”

Regarding Sharad Pawar’s repeated attempts to join hands with the BJP and change the decisions at the last moment every time, he said, “Sharad Pawar has repeatedly talked to the BJP and twisted the word. If you start running the party only with the advice of two to four people, other members find a way. That’s what’s happened in the Nationalist Congress Party.”

Rohit Pawar criticises defected NCP leaders

In a tweet this morning, NCP MLA Rohit Pawar, who is with Sharad Pawar, took a dig at Dilip Valse-Patil who went with Ajit Pawar. He mentioned that Sharad Pawar gave various responsibilities and portfolios to Dilip Walse-Patil which includes personal assistant to Sharad Pawar, seven-time MLA, higher and technical education minister, energy minister, medical education minister, finance and planning minister, assembly speaker, labour and state excise minister, home minister.

Rohit Pawar tweeted, “What more do you need? Maharashtra knows you as a leader nurtured by Sharad Pawar like his own son. You were among the ones that Saheb trusted the most. After reading all this, people will say that such injustice should be done to us too. Maharashtra wants to know what a sudden crisis happened that you had to bury your loyalty and give up your ideology. Such a rebellion was not expected from a senior leader like you just for the sake of power.”

Rohit Pawar added, “We have the power to overcome every crisis. The whole of Maharashtra is standing on the side of Sahyadri and this Sahyadri will stand with new vigour and new strength. But Valse-Patil Saheb, can you forgive yourself for your actions?”

Rohit Pawar also criticised Praful Patel for joining the Ajit Pawar faction. He enlisted the political achievements of Praful Patel and wrote in the tweet, “Mr Praful Patel by Pawar Saheb’s grace you rarely needed to go to people. Your ‘aeroplane’ was more in the air than on the ground and most of the time your work was only to sign forms. That’s why you never knew the value of votes and the paternal love of Saheb.”

Since Sunday, the political landscape of Maharashtra has been in turmoil following the unexpected swearing-in of senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar as the state’s deputy chief minister. In a significant move, Ajit Pawar, accompanied by eight other MLAs, joined the Maharashtra government led by Eknath Shinde, asserting his claim over the Nationalist Congress Party, and its election symbol. He is believed to have the support of over 30 MLAs from the party.

The split is real – Prithviraj Chavan

Maharashtra’s former chief minister and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan said, “This shows the bitterness that was setting in for years. Maybe there were a few faults in Pawar Saheb’s management of the party. Maybe he sidelined people to push forward his daughter, but this family dispute is affecting the state’s politics. So, I said that the split is real and there is bitterness.”

‘I don’t think the US can or should lecture any other country on democracy and human rights’: Senior White House official Kurt Campbell on India

OpIndia Staff
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‘I don’t think the US can or should lecture any other country on democracy and human rights’: Senior White House official Kurt Campbell on India

Kurt Campbell, a top official in the White House, remarked that both the United States and India face difficulties and that Washington should not lecture other countries about democracy and human rights. The US National Security Council’s coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs stated on July 6, “Each of our countries is imperfect. I don’t think the United States can or should be in a position where it lectures any other country.”

“Every society, including the United States and India, has challenges and has its problems. I can tell you that Prime Minister Modi and President Biden had discrete, important conversations about some of our differences,” he responded while answering a query about democracy and human rights.

Campbell further proclaimed, “I think what President Biden sought to do was to suggest that for India to meet its full potential, it would need to become more of an example on a number of fronts. And I think that message was delivered with respect and I think it was heard in that vein.”

He also heaped praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said, “Look, Prime Minister Modi is one of the most effective, successful, popular, democratically elected leaders on the planet. And this far into his tenure, he is still extremely popular in India in a real sense that he has an agenda for bringing India into the 21st century.”

Kurt Cambell termed India as one of the most sought-after players on the global stage. He stated, “I don’t think it’s a secret that India is one of the most sought-after players on the global stage. You see a number of countries seeking to build deeper, more consequential relationships in trade, technology and people-to-people with India. I am just happy to say that the United States has taken its own step to develop a much further relationship between the two sides.”

He continued, “I have been involved in India-US relations for almost 30 years and I can tell you in the period leading up to the arrival of PM Modi here in Washington DC, the level of trust and confidence between the US and Indian interlocutors was notably different.”

The senior official referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US as “absolutely historical,” and stressed that the two countries had successfully elevated their bilateral relations.

He mentioned, “An absolutely historic visit of PM Modi to the United States for the state dinner, for a week of celebrating the US-India relationship. I think, we together, successfully took this critical bilateral relationship to the next level. For me, it’s the most important bilateral relationship on the planet and it has clearly ascended to the top layer. I think both countries leave with both a long to-do list but a much greater sense of confidence about what we can do together.”

PM Modi visited the US earlier in June as part of a state visit. He arrived at the White House to a formal welcome and guard of honour. He attended a state dinner at the White House hosted by President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden as well as a state luncheon held by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Vice President Kamala Harris.

He led the celebrations for the International Day of Yoga at the United Nations Headquarters to kick off his visit. He attended multiple meetings and events and met with prominent American and Indian CEOs.

He addressed a joint session of the US Congress there and also spoke to the Indian community at an event organized in his honor at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington DC.

“We see a lot of signs of India taking principled stands. PM Modi has clearly spoken out clearly about the devastation and the tragedy of what’s happening to the Ukrainian people. He engaged in a very positive manner with President Zelenskyy in Hiroshima. He has conveyed directly to President Putin his concerns about the war and about the potential use of nuclear weapons. I think privately Indian friends and colleagues are quite concerned about the war in Ukraine and believe that Russia has conducted this war terribly on many levels.”

He also emphasized that the United States has been actively collaborating with India to diversify its military equipment supply and more steps were taken in that direction after the US visit of PM Modi.

Kurt Campbell condemned the arson attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco by pro-Khalistan supporters. He asserted, “First of all, let me say that these are deeply regrettable events. We take very seriously the safety and security of diplomats that are living in the United States. We have been in close contact with Indian authorities, with local law enforcement. We are trying to take the necessary steps to ensure that the Indian diplomatic community feels safe and secure here. And we’ll continue with that work going forward.”

Prior to this, the US publicly denounced the reported damage and attempted arson committed on 2nd July against the Indian Consulate in San Francisco by supporters of Khalistan.

Kurt Campbell also observed the “undeniable strategic component” of India-US relationship. He expressed to have witnessed the ties that exist between Americans and Indians, citing the multiple shared ideals between the two countries.

Chhattisgarh: Tension grips Bhilai after two groups get into an argument, Hindus allege stones pelted at their temple, police says personal dispute

OpIndia Staff
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Chhattisgarh: Tension grips Bhilai after two groups get into an argument, Hindus allege stones pelted at their temple, police says personal dispute

On July 4, Tuesday, some youths vandalised a Hanuman Mandir in the Bhilai village in Chhattisgarh. According to reports, the situation escalated after an alleged dispute broke out between members of both factions.

According to residents, the dispute erupted late on Tuesday night when some local youths pelted stones and burnt flags placed in a Hanuman Mandir in the Sharda Para Chowk in Sant Ravidas Nagar in Bhilai’s Power House Camp-2 area. Nevertheless, the Chhattisgarh police rejected the communal angle and described the conflict as being personal.

Enraged by the attack on the Hindu Temple, over 200 people, including local villagers and members of Hindu organisations like the Bajrang Dal, gathered at the Sant Ravidas Nagar PS and demanded prompt and strict action against the accused. The angry Hindu locals alleged that this was not the first time their place of worship had been vandalised. They said that these occurrences were frequent and that the police do nothing to put an end to the issue at hand.

Local reports suggest that the situation escalated after some Hindu villagers lodged a complaint about mobile theft at the Cantonment Police Station. As soon as the complaint was lodged, some locals allegedly belonging to a particular community reached the Sharda Para Chowk in Sant Ravidas Nagar and began vandalising the Hanuman Mandir.

As the news spread, local Hindus reached the spot and started protesting against the same. Seeing Hindus gathering in huge numbers, the accused fled the spot. Angered by the repeated and regular harassment meted at them, the local Hindus accompanied by members of Hindu organisations reached the Cantonment Police Station and sat on a dharna.

The protest continued till about 12 at midnight. The Hindus only disbursed after the police assured prompt action in the case.

Meanwhile, a video of the purported incident is also going viral on Twitter. In the video, originally shared by a Youtube news channel Bhilai Times, local women are heard narrating the incident. The woman said that the matter escalated after a local Hindu family reported an incident of theft to the local police.

Late in the night, when the Hindu family returned after reporting the incident of theft to the local police, 10 to 12 miscreants vandalised the complaints house and vehicle. Thereafter, they went to the Hanuman Mandir and pelted stones there, she said.

Another woman standing in the crowd bemoaned how such incidents were common in their area. These youths not only carry out thefts and petty crimes but often harass their daughters making it difficult for them to move around in the area, she said.

The woman added that though she does not know the youths personally but could confirm that they all belonged to the Muslim community.

When asked what action did the police take in the matter, another woman is heard saying that the police has assured to take action after the Hindus reached the police station and protested against the incident. Infuriated by the apathy displayed by the local police in handling such incidents, the woman is heard saying that the police had arrested two youths, and they were released immediately.

Unanimously, the irate Hindus are heard accusing the local police of being biased towards the Muslim population, which is why so many of these incidents go unreported, they said.

“They detain the criminals, but nothing is done to punish them. They are in fact, released in no time, emboldening them to commit atrocities on us fearlessly,” another irate Hindu exclaimed.

Durg Additional Superintendent of Police Sanjay Dhruv, meanwhile, said that two people each from both factions were arrested. He said that the matter pertains to a personal conflict between members of the two communities. The ASP added that the police are conducting flag marches in the area and the situation in under control.

To prevent the matter from escalating further, the police restored the damaged grills and other parts of the temple that were vandalised.

Assam: Jabir Ahmed and Ansar Uddin arrested for brutally raping two minor schoolgirls in Hailakandi, one victim dies

OpIndia Staff
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Assam: Jabir Ahmed and Ansar Uddin arrested for brutally raping two minor schoolgirls in Hailakandi, one victim dies

On Thursday, July 6, Assam Police informed that two people have been arrested for raping two minor schoolgirls in Hailakandi district. One of the victims succumbed to her injuries. The accused have been identified as Jabir Ahmed Barbhuiya (21) and Ansar Uddin Mazumdar (22), both residents of Barnee Breese in the Algapur police station area. 

Reportedly, the accused with the help of some others abducted the victim girls on Tuesday at around 11 am. According to the Algapur police station in-charge Mrinal Das, the accused allegedly took the girls to a forest in the Mohanpur area where they raped the minor girls. 

Following a complaint from the father of one of the girls, police launched a search for them, and they had been found to be in critical condition. The victims were admitted to a local hospital. As one of the victim’s health deteriorated she was taken to Civil Hospital. The doctors, however, considering her condition referred the girl to Silchar Medical College Hospital (SMCH), where she succumbed on Wednesday (July 5). The other girl is reported stable now.

Taking to Twitter, Hailakandi police informed about the arrest of accused Jabir Ahmed Barbhuiya and Ansar Uddin Mazumdar.

“Accused persons Jabir Ahmed Barbhuiya, S/O Ainul Hoque Barbhuiya and Ansar Uddin Mazumder, S/O Aftab Uddin Mazumder, both of Barnee Breese, PS Algapur, have been arrested by the I/C, Mohanpur PP, Algapur PS, in connection with a POCSO Act case,” Hailakandi police tweeted.

However, another wanted accused Jubair Ahmed Talukdar is still absconding. On Wednesday, Hailakandi police tweeted details of the accused Jubair Ahmed Talukdar seeking help from people in fetching information about the accused which may lead to his arrest.

“WANTED! Accused person Jubair Ahmed Talukdar, 27 years, Vill Barnee Breese gram, PS Algapur, Hailakandi, is wanted in connection with a POCSO case. Any information leading to the apprehension of the accused person will be appreciated,” Hailakandi police tweeted.

MP: Arif, Shahid and 4 others arrested for assaulting 2 Dalit men, and parading them around with garland of shoes

OpIndia Staff
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MP: Arif, Shahid and 4 others arrested for assaulting 2 Dalit men, and parading them around with garland of shoes

In Varkhadi village in the Shivpuri region of Madhya Pradesh, two Dalit young men were brutally beaten by members of a community on false suspicion that they had recorded and molested some girls from the village. Six people have been detained in connection with the incident that happened on June 30. However, seven people, including two women, have been charged by the police.

Notably, a recent incident in MP involving a man peeing on a tribal youth has generated a great deal of controversy. However, in the recent incident, the six persons detained have been identified as Ajmat Khan, Arif Khan, Shahid Khan, Islam Khan, Raeesa Bani, and Saina Bano. The police are searching for the seventh accused who is absconding.

“A group of members from a minority community bashed two men, blackened their faces, garlanded them with shoes and paraded them in Varkhadi village on Friday,” confirmed Magroni police post in-charge Deepak Sharma. The video of the incident is going viral over the internet.

He said that the inquiry disproved the two men’s alleged accusations of abuse. Sharma said that the two had never even met the rural girls and had only spoken to them on the phone. According to him, police have opened an investigation under the applicable provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Ajmat Khan, Arif Khan, Shahid Khan, Islam Khan, Raeesa Bani, and Saina Bano are the names of the people that were taken into custody. Sharma stated that efforts are being made to find one more person.

“The accused claimed that two men from the Dalit community molested some girls in the village and filmed them discreetly. They also claimed that the purported act of the two men was recorded on CCTV cameras,” he said.

MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra has condemned the incident, calling it a smear on humanity. He has assured strict action against the accused. He added that NSA will be slapped against the accused persons who have participated in the hate crime and their illegal properties will be demolished.

Vishnu Dutt Sharma, the head of the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, has denounced the incident and questioned whether Congress’s “silence” on the matter is a result of its “appeasement policy.”

He stated that some attackers from the minority group forced faeces into the mouths of the two Jatav and Kevat community members. Police did not, however, confirm or deny the feces-related claim.

“A group of Muslims thrashed two Dalit youths on false allegations. They garlanded the duo with shoes, paraded them in a procession, and stuffed feces in their mouths. This is absolutely inhuman,” Vishnu Dutt Sharma said while speaking to reporters in Bhopal.

He condemned the occurrence and claimed that Congress’s “appeasement policy” caused it to remain silent. “MP Congress President Kamal Nath or Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh have not tweeted anything on this issue,” he added.

West Bengal panchayat elections: One person dies while making crude bombs, death toll reaches 16 on last day of campaign

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal panchayat elections: One person dies while making crude bombs, death toll reaches 16 on last day of campaign

The death toll from panchayat poll-related violence in West Bengal has risen to 16 after one person was killed in an explosion when he was manufacturing crude bombs at Beldanga in the Murshidabad district of the state. A police officer informed, “One person was killed in a blast at Beldanga while making crude bombs. He has been identified. We are investigating.”

A Bharatiya Janata Party member whose wife is running as an independent candidate in the upcoming polls was found dead at Mohammad Bazar in Birbhum district in a separate incident. His family members has stated that he was murdered.

The final day of campaigning for all political parties is 6 July, the panchayat elections will be held on 8 July and the counting of ballots is scheduled for 11 July. In the meantime, political conflicts persisted in several districts all around the state throughout this time.

On July 5, a 17-year-old boy was killed in an explosion by a crude bomb in Deyganga, North 24 Parganas district. The boy lost his life when a bomb exploded near him during a political clash between 2 groups.

On June 24, another person was killed in a similar blast while manufacturing improvised explosive devices in a jute field near Beldanga.

A commission to uphold peace and order was established by West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose in response to such episodes of violence connected to the election. Former Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee is to serve as the head of the “Peace and Harmony Committee.”

Further accounts of violence occurred in South 24 Parganas’ Kultali and Nadia’s Tehatta. The Calcutta High Court ordered that the central armed forces be stationed at every polling place in the state on June 21.

The state has more than 61,000 voting locations. 822 companies of the central forces and state armed police were authorized by the union ministry of home affairs to participate in the panchayat elections.

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