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Assam: 13-year-old abducted, assaulted and gang raped in a moving van, Rubel Rehman, Imran, Mamunur, Anowar arrested

A 13-year-old girl was gang-raped by four youths inside a moving car in the Kokrajhar district of Assam. The four accused have been identified as Rubel Rehman, Imran Hussain, Mamunur Rehman and Anowar Hussain all from Dhubri district. The Police have booked and arrested the accused under sections 363, 376(d), 328 of the Indian Penal Code and also under section 6 of the POCSO Act.

The incident is said to have happened on May 16, when the four accused forcibly took the young girl inside a van while it was moving along National Highway 31C. They assaulted her as she protested and raped her one by one in the moving vehicle.

As per the local reports, the victim was abducted from the Atiabari Tinali road along the National Highway 31C in a Maruti van whose vehicle number has been traced as ‘AS-17 M 8735’. The victim is said to have known one of the accused named Rubel Rehman.

The Police immediately began the investigation after being informed about the incident and rescued the minor at Naga checking at Dotma while the car was proceeding towards Bilasipara, Dhubri. Reports mention that the girl was in a half-conscious state when rescued by the police search party.

The girl, during the investigation, was also produced before the Child Welfare Committee Kokrajhar and her statement was recorded. The CWC Kokrajhar has taken up the case and has demanded urgent action against the culprits.

The accused boys meanwhile have been sent to the 3 days of police remand. Earlier a similar incident was reported from Assam’s Hajo town. On April 7, nine individuals were arrested for gang-raping a woman in a moving car. She was lured with false promises of employment but was brutally raped by the accused persons.

The police had then arrested the main accused in the case identified as Altaf who is a cab driver from Baksa. Eight of his accomplices were also taken into custody.

The the current case, the Assam Police has booked and arrested all the four accused under sections 363, 376(d), 328 of the Indian Penal Code and also under section 6 of POCSO Act. Further probe is underway.

Was DK Shivakumar not made the CM of Karnataka by Congress because he was ‘too Hindu’ compared to ‘Leftist’ Siddaramaiah? What a media report says

Hours after the Congress announced that Siddaramaiah will become the Chief Minister of Karnataka, a report by The Economic Times claimed that the CM bid of DK Shivakumar was not supported by the party’s high command for his dedication towards the Hindu faith.

In an article titled ‘Five reasons why Congress high command picked Siddaramaiah as Karnataka CM,’ the newspaper noted that Siddaramaiah hailed from a strong left background while Shivakumar was perceived as a ‘devout Hindu.’

“Siddaramaiah, who comes from the left background, is seen as a strong ideological opponent of the RSS and the BJP. While Shivakumar has no affinity with any right-wing group, he is seen as a devout Hindu who often visits religious places and makes no effort to hide his religious inclination,” it emphasised.

The Economic Times claimed that such a decision by the Congress party was made in light of the religiously polarised environment of Karnataka.

“This may not have posed much problem if the political climate were not as religiously polarised as it is in Karnataka today. Many believe the Muslim vote shifted to the Congress from the JD(S) in a sign of the community strongly backing the Congress in the state. With the Lok Sabha elections next year, the polarisation is likely to get more pronounced,” it added.

The newspaper emphasised that Congress threw its weight behind Siddaramiah in the hopes of keeping its ideological ‘non-Hindu’ inclinations intact and consolidating the Muslim vote bank.

“In such circumstances, the party high command had to back the candidate whose ideological leanings strongly aligned with the party agenda of resisting the BJP-RSS and cornering the Muslim vote,” it pointed out.

Congress has a deal with PFI and SDPI

It must be mentioned that the Congress party entered into a covert agreement with the PFI and its political wing SDPI for specific constituencies, resulting in the SDPI not fielding candidates against Congress in the 2018 assembly elections.

In comparison to Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the PFI’s influence was growing rapidly in Karnataka, and reports claimed that they had compiled a hitlist targeting prominent figures associated with Hinduism, including RSS leaders.

In a significant development, an entire community hall in Puttur was allegedly transformed into an arms depot, which was subsequently seized by the NIA during their raids.

While the election campaign witnessed dangerous levels of polarisation, with the opposition parties raking up the issue of hijab as well as the Congress party promising to ban the Hindu activist group, Bajrang Dal, it is worth analysing how polarisation helped Congress to consolidate Muslim voters and divide Hindu votes to emerge as victorious in the assembly polls.

Sunni Ulma board chief demands Muslim deputy CM post, Home Ministry 

Meanwhile, Muslim leaders from the Sunni Ulma Board demanded that a Muslim should get the post of deputy chief minister in Karnataka from the winning candidates of the community.

They also sought portfolios like Home, Revenue, Health and other departments for five Muslim MLAs. Karnataka State Waqf Board chief Shafi Sadi claimed 72 constituencies went into Congress’s hands only because of the Muslims.

Actor Ajaz Khan gets bail in drugs case, will step out of jail on Friday after two years: Details

BiggBoss Season 7 fame actor Ajaz Khan infamous for his abusive and communal rants will be out on bail on Friday, May 19. Khan was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in March 2021 with 31 Alprazolam tablets weighing 4.5 grams. After spending over two years in Arthur Road jail, Khan will be released on Friday at around 6:40 pm.

In September last year, Ajaz Khan was denied bail by the Bombay High Court. The charge sheet filed against him, stated, “prima facie indicates Khan’s involvement in the crime, and it establishes that there were financial dealings, resulting in illicit trafficking and drug purchase.”

The court stated that a witness had disclosed Khan’s role in drug trafficking in his statement saying that Khan sold pills and exploited young boys and girls by supplying them with drugs.

Ajaz Khan was arrested by NCB officials for allegedly being a member of the syndicate of narcotics peddler Shadab Farooque Shaikh aka Shadab Batata. On March 26, 2021, Shaikh was arrested and almost 2 kilograms of the banned mephedrone drug were recovered from him. Khan was arrested on the basis of Batata’s revelations.

Bollywood actor who chose ‘Quran over Constitution’, arrested previously

Ajaz Khan has been arrested in the past as well. In April 2020, the Bollywood actor and hate-monger Ajaz Khan was reportedly arrested by the Mumbai Police for the communal remarks he recently made in a Facebook Live video. In 2016, he was arrested for sending obscene photos and lewd texts to a hairstylist. He was later released on bail.

In the year 2018, Ajaz Khan tweeted that he would choose the Quran over the Constitution “any day any time”. Back then, Khan replied to a Twitter user who was critical of Khan for referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was on a maiden visit to India, as a murderer and wrote, “Yes I will choose Quran Any Day Any time.”

OpIndia has reported in the past how Ajaz Khan had also used Facebook to spread ideas that could be labeled as hate speech and an effort to vitiate communal harmony.

Home Minister Amit Shah to hold second ‘Chintan Shivir’ with senior officers to implement PM Modi’s ‘Vision 2047’: Here is what happened in the first

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will preside over the second ‘Chintan Shivir’ of senior officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi on Friday to evolve an action plan for implementation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Vision 2047”. 

According to the sources, the objective of this ‘Chintan Shivir’ is to interact with the senior officers of the Ministry and to “evolve an action plan for implementation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Vision 2047’.” On April 18, Shah presided over the first ‘Chintan Shivir’ of senior officers of the MHA and emphasised developing an ecosystem for cybercrime management, modernization of police forces, increased use of IT in the criminal justice system, land border management and coastal security issues. 

The Union Minister then stressed on the need for enhanced use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to utilise the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) database for critical analysis of crimes, thus, making cities safer for women, children and vulnerable sections. 

The first ‘Chintan Shivir’ consisted objective to review the work of the Ministry and to evolve an action plan to implement PM Narendra Modi’s “Vision 2047”.

Shah also focussed on the need to fast-track the recruitment process and said that anticipating future vacancies recruitment should be initiated well in advance. 
He then said that meetings of Departmental Promotion Committees (DPC) should be held regularly so that employees get timely promotions. 

The Minister had also emphasised taking various welfare measures for Central Armed Police Forces personnel like creating healthcare facilities and improving the housing satisfaction ratio amongst others. 

The Home Minister also emphasised on the importance of training and said that regular training should be conducted by all wings of the MHA. 

Shah then suggested MHA officials to make field visits to monitor development schemes, and directed to fast-track construction of fencing and roads in border areas. 

The Home Minister had also emphasised the importance of sensitivity and the need to develop a personal touch by all senior officials. 

He also offered valuable insights on the way forward for the Ministry and exuded confidence that the discussions held at the ‘Chintan Shivir’ will help in better planning and coordination in these areas. 

Shah had asked all senior officers that they should collectively work with full dedication. 

Lauding the efforts of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Shah then stressed the need to make constant endeavours to “achieve the goal of making a safe and secure India.” 

In the first ‘Chintan Shivir’, the discussions were held in two sessions. The ‘Chintan Shivir’ commenced with an in-depth review of the status of compliance with the instructions given by the Home Minister during an earlier discussion held with the officers of the Ministry. 

The Home Minister had also reviewed the functioning of the MHA dashboard, Government Land Information System (GLIS), Budget Utilization, E-Office and Special Recruitment Drive etc. 

Shah then also reviewed the work of various divisions on their priorities and deliverables in the coming years, position on AatmaNirbhar Bharat, various Budget announcements and important pending issues.

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

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to dedicate to the nation the newly-constructed Parliament Building on 28th May

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on May 28 dedicate to the nation the newly-constructed Parliament building. 

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met the Prime Minister on Thursday and invited him to inaugurate the New Parliament Building. A Lok Sabha release said that construction of the New Parliament Building in the national capital has been completed and it symbolises the spirit of self-reliant India. 

The present building of the Parliament was completed in 1927 which is now going to be almost 100 years old. 

“The lack of space was being experienced in this building as per the present requirements. In both the Houses, there was also a lack of convenient arrangements for the sitting of the MPs which was affecting the efficiency of the work of the members,” the release said. 

Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha passed resolutions urging the government to construct a new building for the Parliament. 

The foundation stone of the new building of Parliament was laid by Prime Minister Modi on December 10, 2020. 

The newly constructed Parliament building has been built “in record time with quality construction”. 

The release said that the newly-constructed building of Parliament, which will further enrich India’s glorious democratic traditions and constitutional values, is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities which will help the Members to perform their functions in a better way. 

It said 888 members will be able to sit in the Lok Sabha. 

In the present building of the Parliament, there is a provision for the sitting of 543 Members in the Lok Sabha while 250 in the Rajya Sabha. 

Keeping in view the future requirements, arrangements have been made for a meeting of 888 members in the Lok Sabha while 384 members in the Rajya Sabha in the newly constructed building of the Parliament. The joint session of both the Houses will be held in Lok Sabha Chamber.

(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 Kerala Story’ team donates ₹51 lakhs to ‘Arsha Vidya Samajam’, the organisation working tirelessly to rescue and rehabilitate love jihad victims

Following the remarkable success of ‘The Kerala Story,’ the film’s team has generously contributed ₹51 lakhs to the organization ‘Arsha Vidya Samajam.’ This dedicated organization works tirelessly and selflessly towards the noble cause of rescuing Love Jihad victims, reintegrating them into Hinduism and assisting in their rehabilitation.

In relation to this, the film’s actress Adah Sharma tweeted, “Deities live at a place where women are worshipped. A small step from our side, The Kerala Story team donates 51 Lakh to Aarsha Vidya Samajam an initiative of Vinjana Bharathi Educational & Charitable Society for the construction of an Ashram. This organisation has been working relentlessly & selflessly to rehabilitate our daughters who were converted in the name of love through radicalisation. Please join our movement by contributing generously & take a step to save our daughters.”

Adah Sharma said that Arsha Vidya Samajam is continuously working altruistically for the rehabilitation of the daughters, who were converted under the guise of love through radicalization. It should be noted that the intention behind the work of the organisation that received ₹51 lakhs donation by the team of ‘The Kerala Story’ is to promote and spread Dharmik awareness.

This organization has been working for many years in the direction of rescuing the girls who are tapped in ‘Love Jihad’ and bringing them back to their roots, also giving them respect in society and strengthening them mentally. Arsh Vidya Samajam is an educational institution, which aims at Panch-Kartavya (study, ritual, propagation, teaching and protection of Sanatan Dharma). This institute was born with the inspiration of Rigveda’s mantra ‘Krinvanto Vishwamaryam’, which means – make all the human beings of the world follow best deeds.

Recently, a victim of Love Jihad named Shruti mentioned how this organization saved her and assured her family that she had returned to Hinduism. Shruti explained that when she embraced Islam, it was a shocking decision for her family, and they couldn’t accept it. Their situation became difficult. However, when she decided to return home, her father still had doubts about whether she had truly abandoned Islam. But at that time, the spiritual leader of the organisation, Acharya Manoj, reassured her father and other family members that Shruti had indeed come back to Hinduism.

The Guru informed the family that Shruti regrets her actions and is also helping other victimized girls like her, guiding them out of darkness and taking them back into Hinduism. Acharya Manoj assured the family not to worry anymore and to hold their heads high because their daughter is doing good work.

It is worth mentioning that ‘Arsha Vidya Samajam’ believes in the guru tradition. ‘Arsha Vidya Samajam’ believes that the main cause of the rampant evil in the world today is the lack of awareness about Dharma among the youth. The organisation’s goal is to ensure that there is not a single person in the world who has never heard of ‘Sanatana Dharma.’

‘Arsha Vidya Samajam’ mainly teaches 4 main courses- Adhyatma Shastram, Arsha Yoga Vidya, Indian Culture and Vidyarthi Naipunya Varga. Along with this, the Gurus also introduce different religions and tell people about the differences between them by comparing them with one another.

Delhi Liquor Scam: Manish Sisodia allegedly confesses to destroying two mobile phones

Manish Sisodia, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, allegedly confessed to destroying two mobile phones that were being sought by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the Delhi excise policy scam case. On July 22, 2022, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) instructed the CBI to initiate an investigation into the excise scam. According to reports, Manish Sisodia began using a new mobile phone after this directive.

During the course of the probe, the CBI discovered that Manish Sisodia had utilized three different mobile phones between January 1, 2020, and August 19, 2022. Subsequently, on August 19, 2022, the investigating agency conducted a search operation and seized one phone from Sisodia’s possession. These developments are significant in unravelling the details of the case and shedding light on Sisodia’s Manish involvement in the Delhi liquor scam.

A source said, “We later discovered that the mobile phone seized from Sisodia’s possession had been used by him from July 22, 2022. This was the date when we were instructed by the MHA to initiate the case in the excise matter.” According to sources, during the interrogation, Manish Sisodia allegedly admitted to the investigating agency that he had destroyed two mobile phones. Reportedly, Sisodia stated, “Prior to this, I was using two cell phones which have been destroyed.” This statement provides insight into Sisodia’s actions regarding the mobile phones in question.

According to the source, Sisodia was served a notice under Section 91 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) concerning the two mobile phones. In response to the notice, he reportedly acknowledged the same fact. This information highlights Manish Sisodia’s acknowledgement of the notice and further strengthens the case against him. The source quoted the chargesheet and said, “This willful disposal of handsets containing incriminating evidence related to the policy is another incriminating circumstance against Sisodia.”

Manish Sisodia, a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), is presently in custody due to multiple allegations against him related to the Delhi Liquor Policy Scam. Despite his numerous attempts, the court has dismissed several of his bail pleas.

‘How is Bajrang Bali’s slogan communal’: Gorakshak Mohammad Faiz Khan gives befitting answers to News 24 journalist

In the aftermath of the election results, a certain segment of the media tends to play a role in generating a negative narrative against the BJP. Following the Congress’ triumph in the recent Assembly elections in Karnataka, a journalist from ‘News 24’ named Rajiv Ranjan, who hosts the show ‘Mahaul Kya Hai,’ was caught engaging in such activities. However, he received a fitting response from Mohammad Faiz Khan, a Gorakshak. The video of this incident has now become viral on social media. Mohammad Faiz Khan asked the journalist how is Bajrang Bali’s slogan communal. He also explained why a slogan like Jai Shri Ram cannot be termed communal.

While hosting his show on News 24, journalist Rajiv Ranjan often travels to different locations and engages in conversations with people. On Sunday, May 14, 2023, he was at Connaught Place in Delhi. During the show’s introduction, he voiced criticisms against the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing its leaders of engaging in religious politics. He further asserted that the BJP’s defeat in Karnataka indicated a shift in the country’s sentiment. However, as Rajiv Ranjan proceeded to ask questions to the public, their responses contradicted his claims, indicating a different perspective.

A person said while responding to the journalist, “For the past nine and a half years, the nation has consistently expressed confidence in the achievements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This steadfast support reflects the essence of democracy, where the ebb and flow of victories and defeats are inherent. In the event of the BJP experiencing a setback in Karnataka, it is anticipated that the party will emerge triumphant in other parts of the country. Regardless of individual state outcomes, Narendra Modi is poised to continue leading the nation and potentially secure a victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.” He denied that Karnataka was deciding the future of the country.

Following that, Rajiv Ranjan began suggesting that the BJP’s strong emphasis on chanting ‘Jai Bajrang Bali’ and fostering animosity towards Tipu Sultan might indicate a decline in Narendra Modi’s charisma. In response, the individual countered it by stating that it is inappropriate to make sweeping judgments based on isolated instances. When the journalist likened the situation to discerning whether an entire pot of rice is cooked by merely examining a single grain, the person asserted that the mood of the entire country cannot be accurately determined by the outcome of a single state, highlighting the need for a broader perspective.

The individual made it unequivocal that the BJP upholds the slogan ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ (Together with all, Development for all) and holds no intention of promoting animosity or harbouring prejudice against any particular religion. They emphasized that slogans such as ‘Jai Bajrang Bali’ or ‘Allahu Akbar’ are religious in nature, not political. However, journalist Rajiv Ranjan interjected by suggesting that there is aggression associated with the phrase ‘Jai Shri Ram’. In response, the person clarified that in this context, ‘Shri’ signifies the revered deity, Lakshmi, indicating a positive connotation rather than any form of aggression.

Additionally, he explained that ‘Shri’ symbolizes the empowerment of women. In response to this, the journalist from ‘News 24’ attempted to discredit the significance of the ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogan by pointing out its emergence in the 1990s. However, the person countered by questioning the longstanding existence of ‘Lord Shri Narayana’. To the journalist’s astonishment, the man revealed his own name as Mohammad Faiz Khan. He candidly stated that he is a dedicated cow protector (gau sevak). Mohammad Faiz Khan acknowledged that his name might have caused preconceived notions, but he emphasized that his fair-mindedness contradicts any preconceived biases like the one this journalist had.

When the journalist asked Mohammad Faiz Khan about the row about increasing cow vigilantism in the country and trouble created by Gau Rakshaks, Mohammad Faiz Khan said, “The number of such cases is negligible if you consider the number Gau Rakshaks being persecuted. So many cow protectors have given their lives, and many others sustained severe injuries while freeing cows from the cow traffickers. The row being created is nothing compared to it. We have the records of all the Gau Rakshaks. So many people gave their whole life and all their earnings for this work.”

Mohammad Faiz Khan said, “I can chant the whole Hanuman Chalisa. I am from Raipur in Chhattisgarh.” He also chanted a few verses from Hanuman Chalisa. Mohammad Faiz Khan also knows Gayatri Mantra. He said that he is not a member of any political party.

Zakir Naik’s agent converted my son Saurabh to Salim, I wrote to UPA govt seeking ban on Zakir Naik’s speeches, says father of the arrested HuT module chief

Ashok Raj Vaidya, the father of arrested Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) module chief Mohammad Salim aka Saurabh Rajvaidya, has opened up about how his son was lured to convert to Islam. Ashok Raj Vaidya told the media that his son was brainwashed by one Dr Kamaal who was an agent of Indian fugitive and radical Islamist preacher Zakir Naik.

Mohammad Salim aka Saurabh Rajvaidya was one of the 16 members of the Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) who were arrested in a coordinated operation with the Intelligence Bureau and the Telangana Police on May 9. Mohammad Salim was the chief of this HuT module. He was a professor at Asaduddin Owaisi-owned Deccan Medical College in Hyderabad.

After the arrest, the Madhya Pradesh anti-terrorist squad (ATS) revealed that as many as 8 of these terrorists had converted to Islam. ATS had also revealed that three arrested members of this terror module had married Hindu girls and later forced them to convert to Islam.

Speaking on this matter, Saurabh’s father Ashok Raj Vaidya said, “In our family, we allow our children to choose their life partners from other faiths and do not call it religious conversion.”

When questioned about when he felt Saurabh was embracing Islam, Ashok Raj Vaidya, who is an Ayurveda doctor by profession said, “I first observed Saurabh’s activities and arguments in 2011. He began distancing himself from our family functions and religious festivities. Sometime later, his wife also started wearing Islamic dresses. It was then that I tried explaining things to him.”

“I asked Saurabh to leave our house,” he added.

Vaidya further stated that he reported the entire incident to the police. However, the police refused to take any action because Saurabh had willingly converted to Islam.

Saurabh’s father said one Dr Kamaal used to be around Saurabh during his college days. “We later discovered that Dr Kamaal was an agent for controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik, and he was arrested. He taught my son Islamic prayers,” he explained.

Wrote to the Congress-led Centre seeking a ban on the broadcast of Zakir Naik’s speeches: Arrested HuT chief’s father

“Saurabh used to watch speeches of Zakir Naik on his computer. I even recovered several Islamic books from his room. Watching Syrian news on TV, Saurabh used to talk about Islam and why they were attacking Syrians,” Vaidya said.

Mohammad Salim aka Saurabh Rajvaidya’s father further confirmed that he had even written to the Congress-led Centre seeking a ban on the broadcast of Zakir Naik’s speeches.

Asked about his son’s arrest, Vaidya stated that he felt Saurabh was not involved in any terrorist operations. He did, however, stress that his family weren’t going to accept Saurabh back into their home unless he quit Islam.

Saurabh Rajvaidya aka Mohammad Salim, a professor at Asaddudin Owaisi’s College, had forced his wife to convert to Islam

It may be recalled that earlier we reported the arrested chief of this module, Mohammad Salim aka Saurabh Rajvaidya was a professor at Asaduddin Owaisi-owned Deccan Medical College in Hyderabad. While some reports identify him as ‘Saurabh Rajvaidya’, a report in the Dainik Bhaskar identifies him as Saurabh Rajvaidya Jain.

In the year 2010, Saurabh converted to Islam. His parents and the community were against his conversion. Later, in 2012, Saurabh’s wife also embraced Islam. Saurabh aka Salim first tried to get a conversion certificate made in Bhopal but when his attempts failed he travelled to Maharashtra to procure the certificate. He later relocated to Hyderabad, where he worked as a professor in the Biotechnical Department of the Deccan College of Medical Sciences. Salim used to give provocative speeches and lectures to brainwash others to embrace Islam and join the terrorist organisation.

In a coordinated operation with the Intelligence Bureau and the Telangana Police on May 9, the Madhya Pradesh anti-terrorist squad (ATS) dismantled a Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) module and apprehended 16 people. Officers informed that the accused persons, including a professor from a college in Hyderabad and a computer engineer from Bhopal, intended to foment terrorism and wage war against the country.

IAS Tina Dabi, who ordered demolition of houses of Hindu refugees from Pakistan, assures to resettle them at a new place within a week, protest withdrawn

On Thursday, 18th May 2018, IAS Tina Dabi held a meeting with representatives of the Hindu refugees from Pakistan whose houses were demolished as per her order on Tuesday 16th May 2023. The District Collector and Magistrate of Jaisalmer district in Rajasthan has assured that the aggrieved Hindus will get to resettle at some other place within a week. She shared this information in a media interaction after the meeting. The refugees who were on a sit-in protest outside the collector’s office have now stopped their protests after this assurance by the collector.

As the controversy over the bulldozer action escalated, today District Collector Tina Dabi held a meeting with Hindu refugees from Pakistan. In the meeting, she explained her stand to them and assured them of resettlement in alternative locations. Following this, the refugees announced the conclusion of their protest.

Tina Dabi informed the media that the land on which the alleged encroachment was cleared had either been previously allocated by the UIT (Urban Improvement Trust) or fell within the catchment area. She said, “We explained to those people that if they settled in that area, they would face difficulties in the future. However, they did not agree, which is why the encroachment was removed on Tuesday.”

District Collector Tina Dabi stated that according to their demand, the UIT will provide them with a new location within a week, ensuring no inconvenience to them or the local residents. She said, “Additionally, a team will be formed to conduct a survey. During the action to remove encroachments, all the affected families of Hindu refugees from Pakistan whose shelters have been demolished will be provided free accommodation and meals in temporary shelters. Those who have already acquired citizenship will be allocated land. The remaining individuals will receive land allocation after obtaining citizenship.”

After the orders from Jaisalmer Collector Tina Dabi, the UIT, with the help of the police, used bulldozers to demolish the shelters of Hindu refugees from Pakistan. As a result, they were forced to live under the open sky. Subsequently, Tina Dabi faced public anger on social media.