Home Blog Page 2044

Amid a tussle over control of NCP, Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar call separate meetings of MLAs by issuing whips, Ajit Pawar support of over 40 MLAs

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Amid a tussle over control of NCP, Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar call separate meetings of MLAs by issuing whips, Ajit Pawar support of over 40 MLAs

On 5th July 2023, Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar separately called the meetings of the NCP MLAs by issuing whips. The Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party has claimed that a majority of the elected representatives of the party in the Maharashtra state legislative assembly are with Ajit Pawar who along with over 30 MLAs defected from the party on 2nd July 2023 to join the National Democratic Alliance led by the Bharatiya Janata Party. Ajit Pawar and 8 other leaders of the NCP also took oath as ministers in the state government. Ajit Pawar has now become the deputy chief minister of the state once again.

On 5th July 2023, both Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar called separate meetings and issued whips to MLAs. However, the exact count of MPs and MLAs supporting either Sharad Pawar or Ajit Pawar still remains uncertain.

Ajit Pawar called a meeting of NCP MLAs at 11 am today. On the other hand, Sharad Pawar has also organized a meeting of NCP MLAs at 1 pm. Ajit Pawar has called the meeting at MET College in Bandra, for which Anil Patil has issued a whip. Sharad Pawar has called a meeting at Yashvantrao Chavhan Centre. A whip has been issued by Jitendra Awhad for the same.

In the midst of these developments, Anil Patil, an NCP leader and whip of the Ajit Pawar faction, asserts that Ajit Pawar claimed the support of over 40 MLAs.

Anil Patil said, “We have issued whips to all MLAs. More than 40 MLAs are with us.” According to reports, another senior leader from the Ajit Pawar faction said that the government doesn’t want to prove any majority, so the numbers don’t matter here. He added that Ajit Pawar has the support of 95 per cent of the party MLAs. He said, “We are the NCP, our whip applies to all MLAs. If necessary, we will also face a court battle. Affidavits of 40 MLAs are with Ajit Pawar.”

Pathologist conducts postmortem exam of a dead whale in Canary Islands, finds ‘Treasure’ worth $500,000 inside it

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Pathologist conducts postmortem exam of a dead whale in Canary Islands, finds ‘Treasure’ worth $500,000 inside it

Scientists discovered a valuable treasure concealed in the entrails of a dead sperm whale that was discovered on Nogales Beach in La Palma, Canary Islands, last month. The aquatic animal may have been a staggering worth $500,000.

Antonio Fernández Rodrguez, director of the University of Las Palmas’ Institute of animal health and food security, was keen to ascertain the cause of the whale’s death despite the challenging conditions for conducting a postmortem due to rough seas and a rising tide.

He revealed that the whale’s suspected digestive ailment brought its demise while performing an autopsy on the enormous species. He detected a hard object stuck inside its colon, which later turned out to be the reason behind the loss of its life.

He informed, ‘What I took out was a stone about 50-60cm in diameter weighing 9.5kg. The waves were washing over the whale. Everyone was watching when I returned to the beach but they didn’t know that what I had in my hands was ambergris.” The lump he held in his hand was worth over $500,000 million, with some reports mentioning $540,000.

According to assessments, fewer than 1% of sperm whales have the ability to secrete ambergris. The substance is often expelled, but occasionally, as in the case of the whale in La Palma, it grows too large and ruptures the intestine, resulting in a fatality.

He concluded following the autopsy that the whale’s sepsis was brought on by the ambergris. Notably, he has conducted autopsies on more than 1,000 whales. The institution is presently seeking a buyer for the ambergris, and the proceeds from its sale would go towards helping individuals who might be impacted by the eruption of the La Palma volcano in 2021.

“The law is different in every country. In our case, I hope the money will go to the island of La Palma, where the whale ran aground and died,” the scientist hoped.

What is ambergris?

The holy grail of perfumers for generations, ambergris is a rare material that is frequently referred to as floating gold. It is commonly called whale vomit and is made up of the old French terms ‘amber’ and ‘gris,’ which roughly translates to ‘grey amber.’ The solid waxy vomit that whales spew is frequently seen floating in the sea by fishermen.

Squid and cuttlefish are typically the main sources of food for whales. The majority of it, meanwhile, cannot be ingested and is vomited out. However, some still remain and over time combine to make ambergris in the whale’s intestines. A portion of it is excreted and over time combines with other substances and therefore it is regularly spotted drifting in the sea.

However, at times like in the instance of the whale in La Palma, it becomes excessively big and ruptures the gut, killing the whale. Approximately one in 100 sperm whales generate ambergris, but it wasn’t until the early 19th century, when commercial whaling started, that its origins came to light.

Since ambergris contains ambrein, an odourless alcohol that can fix and prolong the duration of scents, it is popular among perfumers and possesses a sandalwood-like scent.

The trade in ambergris has been outlawed in the US, Australia, and India along with the poaching and exploitation of whales. Herman Melville, the author of Moby Dick, also made a mention of ambergris in one of his many asides.

He devoted an entire chapter to it and characterised it as “soft, waxy, and so highly fragrant and spicy, that it is largely used in perfumery. Who would think, then, that such fine ladies and gentlemen should regale themselves with an essence found in the inglorious bowels of a sick whale! Yet so it is!”

Historial significance of Ambergris

Ambergris has long been a component of both cuisine and beverage. King Charles II of England supposedly enjoyed a meal of eggs and ambergris. A cocktail from The English and Australian Cookery Book from the middle of the 19th century called for the addition of a thread of ambergris to rum, almonds, cloves, cassia, and the peel of oranges.

In 18th-century Europe, it was employed as a flavouring ingredient in hot chocolate and Turkish coffee. The substance is considered an aphrodisiac in some cultures. Ambergris was used as incense by the ancient Egyptians, and it is still utilised today in modern Egypt to flavour cigarettes.

The component was termed “dragon’s spittle fragrance” in ancient Chinese. People believed that carrying a ball of ambergris could shield them from the plague during the Black Death in Europe. This was due to the fragrance masking the air’s odour, which was thought to be the source of the epidemic. Europeans treated headaches, colds, epilepsy, and other conditions with ambergris during the Middle Ages.

Madhya Pradesh: Ganesh and John insult Hindu Gods, lure Hindu woman to convert to Christianity, arrested

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Madhya Pradesh: Ganesh and John insult Hindu Gods, lure Hindu woman to convert to Christianity, arrested

The Madhya Pradesh Police on Tuesday, July 5, arrested two persons for hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus and luring them to convert their religion to Christianity. The duo, identified as Ganesh Rajunkar and Johny, were booked under section 295A of the Indian Penal Code and have been sent to jail.

According to a Dainik Bhasker report, the duo from Indore was charged under the law after one of the women staying in the neighbourhood of the accused complained to the police that she and her family were lured and forced to convert her religion to Christianity.

The woman identified as Ramdevi Kurmi said that she was told that all her monetary liabilities would be paid off if she converted her and her family’s religion to Christianity. She was also told by the accused that she would get money for her children’s education and their wedding in future.

“We all are neighbours. Ganesh one day came home while I was performing puja of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. He insulted the deities and said that there was no benefit in worshipping ‘stones’ and that I should worship Jesus. I yelled at him at and drove him off my house,” the complainant said.

Later, as per the complaint, the accused Ganesh and his wife again arrived at Kurmi’s home and lured her for money. The duo said that all the monetary liabilities of the women would be paid off. Also, she was told that her children’s education and wedding expenses would be taken care of. Kurmi then called other people from her community for help and then informed the police about the incident.

On June 30, Kurmi said that accused Johny and his wife had invited her for a ‘prayer meet’ to which she had refused to join. However, the duo then insulted the Hindu deities and used derogatory language for the Hindu culture. Ramdevi Kurmi and her husband Manoj Kurmi also sought help from the Hindu organizations who helped the couple to file a police complaint.

As per the reports, one of the accused, Ganesh, used to work in a snack-making factory but was expelled after the workers complained against him. The workers complained that the accused lured them for money and forced them to convert their religion to Christianity. Later Ganesh joined somewhere as a domestic help.

Kurmi and her husband stated that Ganesh and his wife conducted weekly prayer meetings and invited wage and factory workers to them. He used to impose loud volume speakers and conduct prayer meetings, in which he also used to offer money to the attendees.

Notably, Ganesh and Johny are said to be good friends and Ganesh was born as a Hindu. He had recently converted his religion to Christianity. Kurmi said the chaos was also reported from Ganesh’s house in 2020 when his wife passed away during the Covid period. “He had told his children that their mother had gone to Jesus. Then he and his mother engaged in a wordy fight over the cremation of the deceased woman. Ganesh wanted his wife to be cremated the Christian way however his mother wanted him to follow the Hindu process of cremation. Eventually, the woman was cremated as per Hindu rituals,” Kurmi was quoted as saying.

The accused Ganesh Rajunkar and Johny have been booked under section 295A of the IPC and also they have been sent to jail. The police are said to have recovered a photo of Jesus and some Christian reference material from Ganesh’s home. Further investigations into the case are underway.

23 years of Naveen Patnaik rule: Odisha BJP highlights dismal performance in law and order, jobs, and more

Shraddha Pandey
-
0
23 years of Naveen Patnaik rule: Odisha BJP highlights dismal performance in law and order, jobs, and more

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has been at the helm of power in Odisha for an uninterrupted 23 years. Naveen Patnaik has been the chief minister of Odisha for over two decades.

On July 3, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed the state’s CM Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government, releasing disturbing data on the state’s economy, crime, education, and employment. 

Taking to Twitter, BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal posted a video of him showing some placards with statistics about Odisha indicating where the state stands with 23 years of the BJD in power.

“23 years of uninterrupted rule of Naveen Patnaik as Chief Minister of Odisha. Where stands #Odisha? What is the ground reality of Odisha and what is narrated in national media?” Biswal tweeted.

Biswal claimed that despite Naveen Patnaik’s 23-year uninterrupted rule as Chief Minister, Odisha now has the “third lowest” per capita income and lowest farmers’ income in the country. 

According to a National Statistical Office (NSO) survey conducted in 2019, Odisha ranked second from the bottom in the country in terms of farmer income.

According to the NSO report, each farmer’s family in Odisha earns Rs 5,112 per month, compared to Rs 4,895 in Jharkhand, which ranked lowest among all states and union territories in the country.

“Odisha highest in serious crimes against women”, claims BJP

In terms of crime against women, BJP’s Anil Biswal claimed that Odisha has the highest number of serious crimes against women. To back his assertion, Biswal shared a media report on National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) findings in ‘Crime In India 2021’ which indicated that Odisha witnessed a surge of 23% in crimes against women in the year 2021. According to the 2021 NCRB report, the state saw a surge in rape crimes and cases of domestic violence. Moreover, the state recorded the highest number of cybercrimes against women with 565 cases. 

‘Conviction rate at a record low in Odisha‘

Biswal further stated that while Odisha has the highest number of serious crimes against women, the conviction rate is only 5.7%, the lowest in the country. The BJP leader relied on his claims in a 2022 report regarding the NCRB data about the conviction rate.

According to NCRB data, the conviction rate dropped to 5.7% for offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 3.8% for offenses under Special and Local Laws (SLL). However, Odisha’s conviction rate is slightly ahead of Assam’s (5.6%).

‘Highest disproportionate assets cases in Odisha’ 

The BJP leader pointed out that the state of Odisha witnessed the highest disproportionate assets incidents in the recent past. 

Interestingly, in December last year, it was reported that in the year 2022, the Odisha Vigilance Department arrested nearly 200 government officials and filed 285 criminal cases.

According to the department’s data, Vigilance registered 84 disproportionate assets (DA) cases and 118 trap cases out of these 285 cases. In 2022, Odisha Vigilance recorded the highest number of DA cases in the country.

According to Vigilance Director YK Jethwa, the department uncovered disproportionate assets worth Rs 174 crore and accomplished the highest cash seizures with the top four recoveries totaling Rs 7 crore in 2022.

‘No state government-run university in the top 100 ranking’ 

The recently released National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings have exposed the truth beyond the Naveen Patnaik-led government’s lofty claim of providing quality education at government-run institutions. BJP’s Anil Biswal displayed a placard highlighting the poor performance of state-run universities in Odisha.

The NIRF rankings, released by the Ministry of Education in June of this year, revealed a downward trend in the state’s educational standards. In terms of overall performance, no state-run educational institution from Odisha has been able to rank among the top 100 in the country although two private universities from Odisha did make it to the top 100 list.

In the year 2022 as well, none of the state-run universities could manage to make it to the list of the top 100 universities in India. 

‘Liquor sales’ 

Biswal also attacked the BJD government over Odisha’s liquor sales. Biswal demonstrated the figures, claiming that while the state collected Rs 220 crore from liquor sales in 2000, the figure had risen to Rs 7740 crore by 2023.

According to reports, the state government collected Rs 7,628 crore in the fiscal year 2021-22, including Rs 5,528 crore in excise and Rs 2,100 crore in VAT on liquor. Meanwhile, the state collected Rs 6,186.36 crore in excise and Rs 2,585 crore in VAT on liquor, bringing the total excise revenue for 2022-23 to Rs 8,767.36 crore, the highest ever.

Job creation 

A 2016 report in Times of India had stated that the number of migrant laborers coming from Odisha seeking work in other states has risen 3 fold in the 10 years between 2006 and 2016. 2021 reports stated that the unemployment rate in the 15-29 age group in Odisha has been at a staggering 32.8%.

Additionally, the BJP has been highlighting the high unemployment rate among educated young people in Odisha. In April this year, the party cited the government’s own data that said there are approximately 8.98 lakh educated young persons in the state who are unemployed.

Biswal stated that there are over 30 lakh Odias who are working in other states as laborers because they are unable to find jobs in the state.

San Francisco attack: Khalistanis associated with SB403 main witness ‘Dalit Diva’ Thenmozhi? Congressional Candidate highlights her sharing stage with SFJ

OpIndia Staff
-
0
San Francisco attack: Khalistanis associated with SB403 main witness ‘Dalit Diva’ Thenmozhi? Congressional Candidate highlights her sharing stage with SFJ

On 4th July, US Congressional Candidate Ritesh Tandon condemned the attack on Indian Consulate in San Francisco. Tagging Ambassador of India to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Consul General of India Dr TV Nagendra Prasad, he highlighted that the Indian community is being attacked through bills like SB403 that Aishabb Wahab tabled.

Tandon published a photograph in the tweet where the main witness of SB403 and founder of Equality Labs, Thenmozhi Soundararajan, can be seen sharing the stage with Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun who is the founder of Khalistani terrorist organisation Sikhs For Justice or SFJ.

He also questioned the lack of action against pro-Khalistani individuals like Amar Singh Shergull, who previously served as Chairman in a left Democratic group and now collaborating with Democrats to “escalate attacks on the Indian community” through bills like SB403. He further called out his political opponent Ro Khanna for not saying a word against the attack on Indian Consulate in San Francisco. Khanna, who was visibly active on social media after the attack, did not condemn it from his personal or official handles.

Tandon wrote, “I strongly condemn the reported acts of vandalism, attempted arson, and fire targeting the Indian Consulate in San Francisco Dr TV Nagendra Prasad and Taranjit Singh Sandhu. These criminal offences are highly reprehensible. It is disappointing to witness the lack of action from California Governor Gavin Newsom and the US Government, President Biden and VP Harris in safeguarding the Indian Consulate. Moreover, it is concerning that no action has been taken against Khalistani individuals, particularly when the leader Amar Singh Shergill of the Khalistani movement previously served as Chairman in a left Democratic group and is now collaborating with Democrats to escalate attacks on the Indian community through bills like SB403 [tabled by] Aisha Wahab. It is truly shameful that the main witness of SB403 is associated with Khalistani individuals. It raises concerns about the state of democracy in America. No words or any action from my opponent Ro Khanna.”

The photograph that shows Thenmozhi Soundararajan with SFJ’s Gurpatwant Singh Pannun

The image shared by Tandon was from a program that took place at the Allan P. Kirby Center for Constitutional Studies and Statesmanship in Washington, DC. Upon research, we found another photograph of the same event that was shared by the Hindu Policy Research and Advocacy Collective USA (HinduPACT) in June 2022.

In a tweet, HinduPACT said the photograph was from an event that took place on 22nd May 2019. If the date is correct, this particular event shows a much larger sinister plan, as it was just one day before the Lok Sabha 2019 elections results were announced. On the same day, Soundararajan’s Equality Lab, in partnership with South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), then-API Chaya, and the office of representative Pramila Jayapal held a congressional briefing on caste discrimination in the US in Washington DC. Notably, that briefing was based on the dubious survey that Equality Labs did on caste discrimination. The same survey led to the SB403 bill that Tandon mentioned in his tweet.

Attack on Indian Consulate in San Francisco

On 2nd July (local time), Khalistanis carried out an arson attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco city of United States. The pro-Khalistani elements set the building on fire between 1:30 am and 2:30 am on Sunday. However, the damage was limited, and the staffers escaped unharmed. The San Francisco fire department quickly doused the fire. The local, State, and federal authorities were also notified about the incident. A video of the incident went viral on social media.

Amar Singh Shergill has an association with pro-Khalistani and anti-India elements

Amar Singh Shergill has a long history of anti-India activities. In February 2021, Hindu American Foundation (HAF) alleged that Shergill Amar, who is Chair of the California Democratic Progressive Caucus, and Pieter Friedrich, a known pro-Khalistani, were running campaigns against all Indian American and Hindu lawmakers.

He has been actively working against India’s interests. Recently, he has been seen siding with Hindus for Human Rights, a dubious anti-Hindu and anti-India organization that has links to George Soros. He has been a staunch promoter of the SB403 bill.

SFJ and Pannun

Sikhs For Justice, or SFJ, is a banned Khalistani terrorist organization. Its founder and deemed terrorist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has been actively promoting the Khalistani movement and inciting Sikh youth against India. He has been running a so-called referendum voting to establish Sikh nation named Khalistan by separating Punjab, parts of Himachal Pradesh, and other states from India.

SFJ has funded several anti-India activities, including defacing government buildings, installing the Khalistan flag on government buildings, and more. The organization was also accused of hoisting the alien flag on Red Fort in the background of the Tractor Rally during farmer protests on 26th January 2021 that went violent.

Uttar Pradesh: Bulldozer action continues against Sikandar Khan, who raped a 19-year-old Hindu girl and crushed her head in Fatehpur

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Uttar Pradesh: Bulldozer action continues against Sikandar Khan, who raped a 19-year-old Hindu girl and crushed her head in Fatehpur

The bulldozing action at the residence of Sonu alias Sikandar Khan accused of raping and murdering a 19-year-old Hindu girl from Fatehpur continued on 4th July 2023.

The action of the bulldozer has caused a stir in the area. A heavy police force was deployed in the Jwalaganj area of Fatehpur. During this time a large number of forces including SDM, and Nayab Tehsildar were present.

Authorities in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, had started demolishing the residence of Sikandar Khan on Tuesday, June 27 when the demolition took place in the presence of the sub-divisional magistrate and a large force of police.

Sikandar Khan, also known as Sonu, was apprehended by the police on June 26 and subsequently incarcerated as the primary accused in the heinous crime of raping and murdering a 19-year-old girl. In response to the public outcry, the administration initiated measures to address the situation. The brutal rape of the girl occurred on June 22, and tragically, the victim succumbed to her injuries in the hospital two days later.

The demolition drive at the residence of this accused continued on 4th July 2023. The authorities had initiated the action a week ago. The remaining parts of the building were demolished by the bulldozers on 4th July 2023.

As reported earlier, the Uttar Pradesh Police on June 26 arrested a man identified as Sikandar Khan for raping and brutally assaulting a Hindu girl. Four police teams, led by the CO, were formed to arrest the accused. The accused crushed the face of the victim girl with a cement block and fled from the spot. The girl later breathed her last at the hospital where she was undergoing treatment.

The accused and the girl happened to meet at a wedding where the former introduced himself as a Hindu person named Sonu. He convinced the girl to meet him alone. The girl then managed to escape the wedding ceremony of her cousin and met Sonu. The accused then raped her and crushed her head with a cement block.

Sikandar fled from the spot after brutally assaulting the girl. However, the family members of the girl came looking for the girl and found her struggling for life. The girl was taken to the Kanpur Hallett Hospital where she breathed her last during the treatment.

As per the reports, the victim girl hailed from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and had come to Fatehpur for her cousin’s wedding. She was trapped by the accused who introduced himself as a Hindu person named Sonu.

The police also registered an FIR against the accused’s father and his brother. Accused Sonu alias Sikander, his father, and his brother were arrested and sent to jail. Now in this case of love jihad, bulldozer action has been taken at the house of the accused. The incident took place in the Faridpur village of Bindki. The matter was investigated by the Sadar Kotwali police station in Fatehpur.

Madhya Pradesh: Accused Pravesh Shukla who was seen urinating on a tribal youth in viral video arrested, CM Chouhan says strict action will be taken

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Madhya Pradesh: Accused Pravesh Shukla who was seen urinating on a tribal youth in viral video arrested, CM Chouhan says strict action will be taken

In Sidhi, Madhya Pradesh, a disturbing video emerged on 4th July 2023, showing a man engaging in an appalling act of urinating on a poor tribal individual. The accused individual, Pravesh Shukla, is simultaneously smoking a cigarette in the video.

Initially, the media and social media users shared that Pravesh Shukla is a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader. Still, Gurudutt Sharan Shukla, son of Sidhi MLA Kedarnath Shukla and the MLA himself stated that this person is not associated with the BJP. The video quickly went viral on social media.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan ordered the authorities to take stringent action against accused Pravesh Shukla in this case. Chief Minister Chouhan said that the accused will not be spared at any cost.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “The accused has tarnished humanity. He has committed a very inhuman act. An offence for which the harshest punishment is imposed. Even the harshest words fall short of it. But I have instructed that the strictest punishment should be given and the strictest action should be taken. There should be an action that becomes an example.”

When asked about the purported affiliation of the accused with the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, “We will not spare him at any cost. The criminal has no caste, no religion, and no party. The culprit is only a criminal, and he must face punishment.”

Shivraj Singh Chouhan also shared a tweet about the action being taken in this case. He wrote, “A viral video of Sidhi district has come to my notice. I have instructed the administration to arrest the culprit and take strict action and also impose NSA.”

BJP MLA Kedarnath Shukla denies any association with the accused Pravesh Shukla

On social media, the man who urinated on a tribal man sitting on the stairs was described as a close supporter of local MLA Kedarnath Shukla, but the MLA himself has denied this. The victim has been identified as Pale Kol. BJP MLA Kedarnath Shukla has clarified that Pravesh Shukla is not his aide.

Kedarnath Shukla said, “He (the culprit in the video) is neither my representative nor an associate. He is not connected to BJP in any way. I am demanding strict action against the culprit. When we visit our constituency, so many people click photos with us. But he is not attached to us in any way. He has shamed humanity and strict action should be taken against him.”

Congress accuses BJP of oppressing tribals

The Congress has started politics on this matter. Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath has claimed that Madhya Pradesh is number one in atrocities on tribal communities.

The BJP’s media wing has also clarified that the accused is not a party leader. Madhya Pradesh BJP media in-charge Ashish Agarwal said the man named Pravesh Shukla has no connection with the Bharatiya Janata Party. He made it clear that the Bharatiya Janata Party will always oppose any evil act against the tribal community. At the same time, he also said that the state BJP demands strict action against this person.

Earlier, on 4th July 2023, the video went viral in which the accused was seen urinating on the poor victim. As the video was circulated online it drew massive outrage and criticism from the social media users.

Deputy SP Priya Singh from Sidhi stated that appropriate action will be taken once all the facts surrounding the video are confirmed. She emphasized the need to ascertain whether a person from the Dalit community was targeted in the incident.

Accused Pravesh Shukla arrested

Meanwhile, the accused was arrested late in the night. Anjulata Patle, Additional SP, Sidhi provided more information about the investigation. She said, “As the video of urinating on the victim surfaced, a case was registered in the Bahri police station. The culprit was arrested after booking the case. A team of police personnel from three police stations was formed and they collected information from the sources. The accused was arrested at around 2 o’clock in the night. He will now be investigated.”

She added, “Based on the information, the police raided a few nearby villages. He was then arrested as per the information provided by various sources.”

Rewa Range DIG Mithilesh Shukla said that after taking cognizance of the viral video, the police have registered a case at Bahri police station. The accused has been booked under Sections 294 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The DIG said that the video is 6 days old.

USA: Cocaine found inside White House’s West Wing when President Biden was away at Camp David

ANI
-
0
USA: Cocaine found inside White House’s West Wing when President Biden was away at Camp David

A suspicious white-colored substance found at the White House over the weekend has been identified as cocaine, reported Al Jazeera citing the United States media outlets.

The powder was found by Secret Service agents in a publicly accessible area of the West Wing on Sunday around 8:45 pm local time, prompting the evacuation of the complex for a brief moment. President Joe Biden wasn’t present at the time. Instead, he was spending the weekend at Camp David, the presidential retreat.

Fire and emergency service personnel arrived to conduct quick testing on the material. These preliminary examinations revealed that the powder was cocaine.

Soon later, the White House reopened, and the powder was sent for more testing.

While stating that an “item” had been discovered and tested, the Secret Service has not yet specified what the material was.

“The item was sent for further evaluation, and an investigation into the cause and manner of how it entered the White House is pending,” the agency, which is tasked with presidential security, said in a statement, as per Al Jazeera.

However, the drug was identified by many media outlets, citing government sources. The Washington Post also reported, “a firefighter with the DC department’s hazardous materials team radioed the results of the tested powder.”

“We have a yellow bar saying cocaine hydrochloride,” said the radio dispatch. The area where the cocaine was recovered is regularly accessed by tour groups.

The West Wing is a section of the White House that is connected to the president’s residence, the executive mansion. The Oval Office, the Cabinet Room, and the Press Room are all located there, along with the president’s staff members’ offices and workplaces.

There are hundreds of people who frequently visit or work in the area.

Biden and his family left for Camp David on Friday and returned to the White House on Tuesday, where the president was scheduled to address a national teachers’ union and hold a BBQ to celebrate the US Independence Day, Al Jazeera reported.

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

Covering up and spray painting was not enough: Taliban orders closure of all hair and beauty salons run by women

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Covering up and spray painting was not enough: Taliban orders closure of all hair and beauty salons run by women

On the 4th of July, the Taliban’s morality ministry dictated that all women-run establishments like hair and beauty salons be shut down within a month of getting initial information, which was passed to them on the 2nd of July. 

As per Bloomberg, the Tabilan’s Ministry of Vice and Virtue released a text message to pass on this diktat. In the text message, the Ministry stated that “all beauty salons operated by women in Kabul and other provinces should be banned immediately and follow our order”. 

Further, the Taliban’s ministry also warned these women-run establishments to not violate its order otherwise they would have to “face legal action”. 

Spokesman of the Ministry of Vice and Virtue, Mohammad Sadiq Akif stated that starting from 2nd July, when they were initially informed about the decision, businesses have been given a one-month deadline to comply.

The Taliban-run administration did not give any explanation for banning beauty parlors. Additionally, they did not offer any alternative options for women once these hair and beauty salons are closed down. However, the Taliban stated that it respects women’s rights in accordance with its interpretation of Islamic law and Afghan customs.

“The Taliban are taking away the most basic human rights from Afghan women. They are violating women’s rights. By this decision, they are now depriving women of serving each other. When I heard the news, I was completely shocked”, said an anonymous Afghan woman while talking to BBC. 

She added, “It seems the Taliban do not have any political plan other than focusing on women’s bodies. They are trying to eliminate women at every level of public life.”

Restrictions on Afghan Women

This recent restriction on women’s rights is part of a systematic and broader range of regressive measures taken by the Taliban since the terror outfit regained control over Afghan soil, two years ago. 

Under the Taliban rule, teenage girls and women have been barred from classrooms, gyms, and parks. Most recently they were banned from working for the United Nations.

Further, the Taliban have enforced a strict dress code for women. Women in Afghanistan have to cover up and wear a dress in such a way that it only reveals their eyes. Additionally, women have to be accompanied by their male relatives if they are traveling more than 72 kilometers (48 miles).

According to Bloomberg, women in Afghanistan can only work in hospitals as nurses and doctors. Currently, this is the last and only job women are allowed to perform under Taliban rule. However, media reports claim that these increasing restrictions have forced women to work secretively from home as teachers and makeup artists. 

From 1996 to 2001, the previous Taliban regime had also imposed sweeping restrictions on Women’s rights and curbed their freedoms. For Afghan women, the recent closure of beauty parlors reminds them of the dark times under the previous Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

However, when the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001, beauty salons reopened and operated normally till the Taliban regained power two years ago. Although the Taliban didn’t immediately shut down hair and beauty salons, they asked shops to cover and spray-paint their windows and posters to conceal the faces of women on them. 

The International community has yet again condemned the recent order by the Taliban regime. However, the terrorist group has continued to impose these restrictions against women’s rights.

US: 5 dead and 2 injured in Philadelphia mass shooting, shooter in custody

OpIndia Staff
-
0
US: 5 dead and 2 injured in Philadelphia mass shooting, shooter in custody

On Monday night, the 3rd of July, five people were killed and two children were injured in a mass shooting in the US city of Philadelphia. The gunman was heavily armed and fired shots indiscriminately. 

At a news conference, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw informed about the details of the case. As per the Police Commissioner, three victims were in the age range of 20 to 59 years old, while the identity of the fourth victim was not yet ascertained. But the victim’s age was estimated to be between 16 and 21. 

Later, the Police discovered a body inside a building in the same neighbourhood and he is believed to be yet another victim of this mass shooting.  

The two injured (their ages are 2 and 13) were hospitalised and are in stable condition. The Commissioner confirmed that all the victims were male. 

Police chased and arrested the gunman

Initially, the locals called Police to the city’s south-western Kingsessing area at around 8:30 PM (local time). However, when the officers were helping the gunshot victims and preparing to send them to the hospital, they heard more gunshots in two other areas of the neighbourhood.

Subsequently, the officers chased the suspected assailant on foot while the gunman kept firing and damaging parked vehicles.

After evading the Police for more than ten minutes, the assailant was cornered by the Police officers in an alley. With no way to escape, the gunman surrendered and was taken into custody without further incident.

Outlaw stated that officers chased the 40-year-old suspect, who wore a bulletproof vest, as he continued to fire, and he was arrested in an alleyway after surrendering. 

She added that the arrested suspect carried multiple magazines, an “AR-type rifle,” a handgun, and a police scanner. 

Outlaw said, “Thank God our officers were on the scene and responded as quickly as they did. I can’t even describe the level of bravery and courage that was shown, in addition to the restraint that was shown here.”

Afterward, the Police also arrested another person who had acquired a gun and shot in the direction of the alleged shooter. However, it is not clear whether the second person has any connection to the gunman or not. 

Commissioner said, “And at this point, we don’t see a connection between any of the victims and the shooter.” 

She added that she had “absolutely no idea why this happened” and is trying to find the ‘why’ behind the incident and what could be the potential motive of the shooter.

She said, “We’re canvassing the area to get as much as we can – to identify witnesses, to identify where cameras are located, and do everything we can to figure out the ‘why’ behind this happening.” 

Till the time of reporting the incident, the identity of the suspect was not revealed.

1...2,0432,0442,045...7,645Page 2,044 of 7,645