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Madhya Pradesh: Five people try to forcibly convert Hindu couple in Jabalpur under guise of medical treatment, all are linked to Ankur Narula Ministries; Read FIR details

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Five people try to forcibly convert Hindu couple in Jabalpur under guise of medical treatment, all are linked to Ankur Narula Ministries; Read FIR details

On 29th June, Jabalpur police registered an FIR against five persons named Preeti, Hariom, Namita Raikwar, Kavita Raikwar and Nikita Raikwar on the complaint of a Hindu couple for pressuring them to convert to Christianity in exchange for a promise of curing their ailing daughter. The complaint has been filed by Nikita Yadav at Adhartal police station. The couple also alleged that the accused took away jewellery and Rs 2 lakh during the process.

Content of the FIR

OpIndia accessed a copy of the FIR. The FIR has been registered under Sections 318(4), 351(2) and 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 3 and 5 of Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act. In her complaint, Nikita said that around a year ago, her daughter fell ill. During that time, she came in contact with Preeti and Hariom who live near her maternal aunt’s house. They told her to keep visiting them regularly and follow their instructions to ensure their daughter recovered properly.

Source: VHP

They asked the couple to pray to Jesus Christ and claimed that their daughter would be healed through this. They also gave the couple some suspicious medicines and referred to them as the “blood of Jesus”, which they made both her and her husband consume.

Nikita further added that they kept the child with them at times and took them to a pond beyond Tilwara to forcibly immerse them as part of religious rituals aimed at conversion. They even took the couple to Punjab twice against their will, claiming that Nikita’s daughter would recover if taken to Ankur Narula’s church in Punjab.

Over the course of a year, the accused took Rs 2 lakh in cash and jewellery worth another 2 lakh. They have been continuously pressuring the couple to convert. Around 10–15 days ago, Preeti and Hariom came to their house and threatened that if they did not accept their religion, their lives would be in danger.

Their associates Namita Raikwar, Kavita Raikwar and Nikita Raikwar also visited the victim’s house to collect money and repeated threats regarding their safety if they did not convert.

VHP protests at police station

When members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal came to know about the incident, they staged a protest outside the Adhartal police station on 30th June and demanded the immediate arrest of the accused. They asserted that there is a pattern of targeting financially vulnerable Hindu families by offering them fake treatment, medication and monetary inducements in exchange for religious conversion.

The matter is under investigation and police have assured that appropriate legal action will be taken against those found guilty.

Ankur Narula ministry and its missionary activities in Punjab

Ankur Yoseph Narula was raised in Jalandhar by a Hindu Khatri business family. He was profoundly influenced by sermons of South African preachers. Narula claims that Jesus invited him to become a Christian in a dream. In 2008, he established his ministry and had just three adherents. With over 100,000 Sunday attendees and lakhs of global memberships, it is one of the largest churches in Punjab.

On YouTube, he has over 2.7 million subscribers, a whopping one million increase in just three years. Narula calls himself a faith healer and asserts that he has the power to cure any illness, including cancer, arthritis and even the dead. Although he likes the word “Apostle”, his fans refer to him as “Papa”.

Narula has been known for controversies for a long time. In 2020, a complaint against him was filed for alleged FCRA violation. The complaint was filed against the Spiritual Welfare Society by Legal Rights Observatory with the Union Home Ministry seeking cancellation of the FCRA licence over allegations of money laundering and religious proselytisation. The organisation was linked to Narula.

In 2021, VHP alleged that a local warehouse was converted into a church overnight in Dwarka, Delhi. A VHP spokesperson alleged that pastors linked to Narula’s church were paying Rs 3 lakh per month allegedly for forced conversion. When the locals came to know about it, the owner of the warehouse cancelled the agreement. The locals drove away the ‘healers’.

Kazakhstan bans niqabs citing security concerns, President Tokayev had earlier described it as an outdated form of clothing imposed by radical groups

OpIndia Staff
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Kazakhstan bans niqabs citing security concerns, President Tokayev had earlier described it as an outdated form of clothing imposed by radical groups

Kazakhstan’s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has signed a law banning the wearing of clothing in public that conceals an individual’s face. The new law allows exceptions only in limited circumstances, which are clearly defined within the legislation.

According to local media reports, the Kazakh parliament had passed the bill, which was subsequently forwarded to the president for final approval. The legislation prohibits any form of face covering in public spaces. However, face-covering garments are permitted in specific cases, such as when required by law, for official duties, medical purposes, protection from extreme weather, or during participation in sports and cultural events.

Local authorities argue that face-covering veils hinder law enforcement’s ability to identify individuals, posing a threat to public safety. As per media reports, the move aligns with Kazakhstan’s commitment to secularism. It aims to strengthen national identity while distancing the country from religious practices considered “foreign.”

In March 2024, President Tokayev described the niqab as an outdated form of clothing imposed on Kazakh women by newly radicalized groups. He emphasized that it contradicts the country’s traditional values.

Previously, the government had banned hijabs in schools in 2017 and again in 2023, targeting both students and teachers. In 2023, the decision sparked protests, with many schoolgirls refusing to attend classes in opposition to the hijab ban.

“This principle must be strictly observed in all spheres, including education. School is, first and foremost, an educational institution where children come to gain knowledge. Religious beliefs, on the other hand, are a choice and a private matter for each citizen,” President Tokayev was quoted as saying by The Times of Central Asia.

The decision follows a similar move by neighboring Kyrgyzstan, which passed a law in January 2025 banning the niqab—a face-covering veil worn by some Muslim women—in public spaces. Kyrgyz lawmakers justified the law by arguing that such attire impedes identification in government buildings and other public areas. In the months following the ban, authorities conducted raids in several cities to enforce the law.

Other countries in the region, such as Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, have also implemented bans on face-covering veils, in 2023 and 2025 respectively.

While Islam is the dominant religion in Kazakhstan, the country is not a wholly Muslim state like Saudi Arabia or Iran. The constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and Kazakhstan officially upholds secularism, maintaining a clear separation between religion and state institutions.

Vikas running on fast track in North East India: How the region has seen tremendous growth in Railway connectivity under Modi government

Balendu Singh Angad
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Vikas running on fast track in North East India: How the region has seen tremendous growth in Railway connectivity under Modi government

In the last eleven years, India’s Northeast, a region historically considered remote, disconnected, and underdeveloped, has undergone a transformational journey powered by railway connectivity under Modi government. Once known for its challenging terrain, insurgency, and lack of infrastructural growth, the region is now emerging as a beacon of development through unprecedented rail expansion.

Backed by the central government’s sustained focus on “Act East” and infrastructure-led growth, major railway projects like the Bairabi–Sairang line in Mizoram, the Dimapur-Zubza line in Nagaland, the Sevoke-Rangpo project in Sikkim, and the engineering marvel Bogibeel Bridge in Assam connecting to Arunachal Pradesh have brought tangible progress to the Seven Sisters & one brother of India.

A strategic push: Vision and policy

Since 2014, the Indian government has been trying hard to integrate Northeast India with the rest of the country. The government is developing the infrastructure, especially railways, as the core lever to bring socio-economic upliftment and national integration, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Vikas through connectivity”. This vision was further fueled by policies such as the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS), aimed at bridging the connectivity deficit in the region.

The result is the rapid pace of railway project execution, enhanced allocation of funds, technological innovation, and a commitment to overcoming geographic and logistical challenges. According to the Ministry of Railways, the capital outlay for rail projects in the Northeast has increased by over 370% from FY 2014-15 to FY 2023-24. This financial boost has translated into action on the ground, with new railway lines, gauge conversions, electrification, and doubling of tracks across various states.

Dimapur-Zubza railway line: Nagaland’s window to wider India

For decades, Nagaland remained without a railway network. The Dimapur-Zubza (Kohima) railway line had been on the drawing board for years. It saw accelerated work during the last decade. The project is estimated to cost ₹6,663 crore. This 82.5 km long line is not just a link between Dimapur and the capital, Kohima; it is a symbol of integration, ambition, and economic potential. The construction is being carried out in three phases. It includes more than 21 tunnels and 16 major bridges, and it passes through extremely difficult hilly terrain.

Once this line is operational, it will reduce travel time and significantly boost the logistics chain for agricultural produce, traditional crafts, and tourism. Kohima, which is still not on the railway map, is poised to become Nagaland’s next major rail hub by 2026. This project is empowering thousands of tribal communities through access to education, healthcare, and employment.

Sikkim’s first railway: Sevoke-Rangpo Line

Sikkim, a brother of the seven sisters, is finally set to join the national railway network. The Sevoke-Rangpo railway line, a 44.96 km long strategic project, is currently in advanced stages of construction. Passing through the dense forested and mountainous region of the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts in West Bengal before entering Sikkim. The project has required extraordinary engineering due to landslide-prone zones and sensitive ecological surroundings. It includes 14 tunnels and 28 bridges, and is slated for completion in 2027.

The railway line will bring Rangpo, a border town near Gangtok, just four hours away from Siliguri, to the Indian railway network. Eventually, this project is expected to be extended to Gangtok, further cementing Sikkim’s role in India’s strategic northeast frontier. The line will also benefit the Indian Army for movement near the Indo-China border, apart from giving a huge boost to tourism and horticulture-based industries.

Bogibeel bridge: Assam to Arunachal on steel and resolve

Perhaps the most iconic and publicly visible symbol of Northeast’s railway revolution is the Bogibeel Bridge, India’s longest rail-cum-road bridge, over the mighty Brahmaputra. Completed in December 2018, this 4.94 km long structure links Dhemaji on the north bank of Assam with Dibrugarh in the south, and indirectly connects to Arunachal Pradesh, significantly reducing travel time between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

Before the bridge, people traveling from Dibrugarh to Itanagar would spend 24 hours via road detours; now, the journey takes just 6 hours. The bridge has strategic military significance as well, enabling fast troop and logistics movement towards the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Electrified double-line tracks over the bridge have transformed regional connectivity, benefiting over five lakh people in adjacent districts.

Arunachal Pradesh: rail to the eastern horizon

Arunachal Pradesh had no rail link till 2013. The Naharlagun Railway Station, inaugurated in 2014, marked a historic moment as the first major railway station in the state, just 15 km from Itanagar. Since then, intercity services from Naharlagun to Guwahati and Delhi have not only reduced travel time but also symbolised national integration. Work is ongoing to extend railway lines to Tawang, the strategically sensitive district near the China border.

The Bhalukpong-Tawang railway line, covering about 200 km, has received in-principle clearance and is currently undergoing detailed project report (DPR) formulation. Once completed, it will bolster defense preparedness and open up a hidden Himalayan paradise to responsible tourism and commerce.

Meghalaya and Mizoram: From isolation to integration

The capitals of Meghalaya (Shillong) and Mizoram (Aizawl), although important administrative centers, lacked railway connectivity for decades. That is now changing. While the Teteliya-Byrnihat line is expected to eventually connect Shillong to the Indian Railways network, Mizoram’s railway dreams are coming true faster.

The Bairabi–Sairang railway line, a 51.38 km project being implemented by Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), will directly link the state capital Aizawl with the rest of India. It is one of the most challenging projects in the region, featuring 55 major bridges, 87 minor bridges, and 23 tunnels. Despite tough geography and high rainfall, significant progress has been made, and the project is now nearing completion, with final touches ongoing in 2025.

Once operational, Aizawl will no longer depend on long and difficult road journeys for essential goods, student migration, or medical emergencies. Farmers and weavers from Mizoram will have a direct connection to Guwahati, Kolkata, and Delhi markets, transforming the state’s economic fortunes.

Tripura and Manipur: The silent trailblazers

Post 2014, Tripura was one of the first northeastern states to witness the growth of the railway network in the region. The Agartala-Akhaura rail project connects India to Bangladesh. It is set to transform cross-border trade and is likely to be completed in 2025.

In Manipur, the Jiribam-Imphal railway line is under construction. The line, over 111 km long, will link Imphal to the national network for the first time, enabling Manipur’s capital to receive goods and tourists with equal ease. Once completed by 2026, the line will pass through tunnels that make up over 70% of the track, with high-speed, safe, and weather-proof rail services. It also has tremendous strategic importance due to Manipur’s proximity to Myanmar.

Economic and strategic payoffs

The combined impact of these projects is multi-dimensional. Tourism, trade, horticulture, education, and healthcare are expected to expand dramatically. Local products like oranges from Nagaland, pineapples from Meghalaya, and bamboo handicrafts from Mizoram will have national markets through efficient logistics. Additionally, railway stations in the region are being modernized under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, bringing airport-like amenities to rural towns.

Strategically, improved connectivity enhances India’s military logistics across the Northeast’s sensitive borders with China, Bhutan, and Myanmar. The railways also act as cultural integrators, unifying distant regions with the rest of India.

Conclusion: Tracks of transformation

For over a decade now, the real story of railways reshaping Northeast India isn’t just steel tracks or new tunnels. Honestly, it’s deeper than the trains themselves. What is unfolding touches people directly, restoring dignity and genuinely opening doors for folks who felt forgotten for too long.

Think about it, each fresh rail connection becomes a lifeline. Students get better access to education, farmers find new markets closer to home, women starting businesses gain reach, and tribal communities finally see tangible links to the wider economy. As India pushes towards that massive $5 trillion economy goal, hooking the Northeast firmly into the national rail grid means something powerful. It means the “Eight siblings” aren’t just getting linked up on a map; they’re gaining real agency, real power.

And the momentum builds. With dedicated economic corridors taking shape, logistics hubs getting serious upgrades, and truly smooth connections between road, rail, and river transport… well, that long-held vision starts to feel real. The dream of knitting India together, truly united, all the way from the southern tip of Kanyakumari to the far eastern outpost of Kibithu, is finding its footing. It’s being built, quite literally, on these determined stretches of track and sheer human will.

Digital India turns 10: PM Modi reflects on India’s digital transformation journey, calls for tech that ‘unites, includes, and uplifts’

OpIndia Staff
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Digital India turns 10: PM Modi reflects on India’s digital transformation journey, calls for tech that ‘unites, includes, and uplifts’

On the 10th anniversary of Digital India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reflected on a transformative journey that has reshaped the country’s technological landscape, shattered old limitations, and positioned India as a global digital powerhouse.

“When we launched Digital India ten years ago, many doubted whether a nation as vast, diverse, and complex as India could truly go digital,” PM Modi shared.

But a decade later, those doubts have been buried under data, dashboards, and most importantly, the lived realities of 140 crore Indians.

Bridging the digital divide

In 2014, India had just 25 crore internet connections. Today, that number has surged past 97 crore, with over 42 lakh kilometres of Optical Fibre Cable connecting even the most remote corners of the nation, from Ladakh to the last village.

This inclusive vision has powered unprecedented connectivity: India’s 5G rollout is among the fastest globally, reaching not only urban centres but critical border regions like the Galwan Valley and intimidating heights of Siachen.

Building a digital backbone

Central to this revolution is India Stack, the world’s largest open digital infrastructure, enabling platforms like UPI, which now handles over 100 billion transactions annually, accounting for nearly half of all global real-time payments.

Similarly, schemes like Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) have sent ₹44 lakh crore directly to citizens, cutting middlemen and saving ₹3.48 lakh crore in leakages. Land reforms through SVAMITVA have provided 2.4 crore property cards, ending generations of uncertainty, PM Modi elaborated in his social media post.

Democratising opportunity

Technology is no longer confined to urban elites, it’s uplifting artisans, MSMEs, and entrepreneurs across India. ONDC(Open Network for Digital Commerce) recently surpassed 200 million transactions, linking sellers from Banaras to Nagaland with customers nationwide.

Meanwhile, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has clocked ₹1 lakh crore in GMV within 50 days, empowering over 22 lakh sellers, including 1.8 lakh women-led enterprises.

Digital India on the global stage

India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, from Aadhaar and CoWIN to DigiLocker and PM-WANI, is now a global model. CoWIN enabled 220 crore vaccinations with verifiable QR certificates. DigiLocker, with over 54 crore users, hosts 775 crore+ digital documents securely.

During India’s G20 Presidency, the Global DPI Repository and a $25 million Social Impact Fund were launched to help developing nations build inclusive digital ecosystems.

From Startup Nation to Tech Renaissance

India has emerged among the world’s top three startup ecosystems, with over 1.8 lakh startups fueling a homegrown tech revolution. AI is the next frontier — through the $1.2 billion India AI Mission, India offers affordable access to 34,000 GPUs, making it the world’s most cost-effective compute destination.

With humanity-first AI principles and Centres of Excellence, India is championing ethical, inclusive innovation.

The Road Ahead: India for the World

PM Modi declared that Digital India is no longer just a government program; it is a people’s movement and a pillar of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. As India transitions from digital governance to global digital leadership, the call is clear:

“To all innovators, entrepreneurs, and dreamers — the world is looking at India for the next digital breakthrough,” PM Modi said. “Let us build what empowers, solve what matters, and lead with technology that unites and uplifts.”

After RG Kar case, now Kasba Law College gang rape: How safe are young girls in Kolkata colleges and why administration needs to step up and ensure safety of women

Chandrani Das
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After RG Kar case, now Kasba Law College gang rape: How safe are young girls in Kolkata colleges and why administration needs to step up and ensure safety of women

Nearly an year after the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor, another disturbing rape case has come to light from Kolkata, West Bengal. This incident bears a chilling similarity to the RG Kar rape case as a 24-year-old female student was gang-raped inside the Kasba Law College by three men.

The Kolkata Police arrested the accused within twelve hours. Yet, this horrifying episode raises a critical question: how can such extreme acts of violence occur within educational institutions, and what must be done to prevent them?

The city, once fondly called the City of Joy, seems to be losing its soul. Kolkata, a major metropolitan city often considered progressive and culturally rich, now finds its image tarnished. The safety of women is under constant threat—even in institutions that should be safe havens. Women continue to live with fear and insecurity, whether on public roads, inside classrooms, or even within the walls of their own homes.

It’s essential to acknowledge that a systemic failure played a crucial role in both of these incidents. Nearly six years ago, the West Bengal government promised to reduce violence against doctors by installing security equipment, employing more women guards, and controlling access points in public hospitals. But none of these safety measures had been implemented at RG Kar Medical College, where the young doctor was raped and murdered on August 9, 2024. The room where she was resting after a 36-hour shift had no lock. Imagine a woman trying to rest in a place where an unknown intruder could wake her at 3 a.m. and commit such a heinous crime.

Despite government directives issued in mid-August 2024 mandating increased CCTV coverage, better lighting, more female guards, and dedicated duty rooms, the ground reality still lags far behind. The system failed her.

A similar vulnerability existed in the Kasba Law College incident. Reports suggest that the accused included insiders—a former student and two staff members—making the case even more appalling. The survivor, who is thankfully alive, stated that she was even filmed during the act, which reveals the extent of the violation and depravity involved.

The issue extends far beyond medical and law colleges. Women face sexual assault, harassment, molestation, and rape in numerous spaces—often by known persons. While some cases are officially registered, many go unreported due to stigma, fear, or lack of support. Women face threats both outside and inside their homes—from strangers, friends, and even family members.

Sadly, this is just one case out of more than 35,000 crimes against women in West Bengal alone, and this number keeps rising. In some reports, one of the rape accused was even a local TMC leader. According to the NCRB 2022 data, approximately 85 rape cases are reported every day in India. And many more remain buried under shame and silence, especially among the marginalized who rarely make headlines.

The conviction rate for rape cases is just 28%, meaning 7 out of 10 accused walk free, while only 5–8% of cases turn out to be false. This glaring disparity is a harsh reflection of the government’s inability to thoroughly investigate and prosecute these crimes.

As per an India Today report, rape has become a daily occurrence. In 2022, India reported 86 cases per day, up from 77 in 2020 and 87 in 2021. Rajasthan recorded the highest number with 5,399 cases, followed by Madhya Pradesh (3,029), Maharashtra (2,904), and Uttar Pradesh (3,690). On the other end of the spectrum, Tamil Nadu, Nagaland, and Puducherry had only one victim per lakh population. Delhi, infamous for high-profile sexual violence cases, reported 12 victims per lakh. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, and Karnataka reported around two victims per lakh, aligning with the national average of five.

The 2012 Delhi gang rape case, commonly known as the Nirbhaya case, shook the entire nation and led to widespread protests, global outrage, and eventually, significant legal reforms. The case led to the formation of the Justice Verma Committee, which recommended faster trials, stricter punishments, and comprehensive institutional reforms. It also birthed the Nirbhaya Fund, created in 2013 to enhance women’s safety.

Yet, the effectiveness of the fund is questionable. In 2023–24, a total of ₹7,213 crore was allocated for women’s safety through the Nirbhaya Fund. Out of this, only ₹5,119 crore (around 70%) had been utilized by December 8, 2023. This means nearly one out of every three rupees remains unutilized, raising questions on government priorities and bureaucratic delays. Despite the outrage and promise of change, even 13 years after Nirbhaya, India’s women still face the same dangers—with slightly better laws but little improvement in ground-level implementation.

Despite clear laws, state funds, and media attention, the reality on the ground is bleak. Campuses aren’t safe, streets aren’t safe, and homes aren’t safe. This is not just a Kolkata problem. It’s a national emergency, and it demands more than symbolic gestures. Until we fix our systems, hold institutions accountable, and truly empower women to speak up without fear, we will continue to count the number of rapes as statistics.

It is about time that authorities in Kolkata in particular step up and ensure that women can feel safe in their colleges and workspaces without having to worry about getting raped and killed. RG Kar didn’t wake them up from their slumber, will Kasba Law College case do that?

Office of Russian media Sputnik in Baku raided by Azerbaijan officials, diplomatic events cancelled: Read why two Asian energy giants are seeing strained relations

Rukma Rathore
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Office of Russian media Sputnik in Baku raided by Azerbaijan officials, diplomatic events cancelled: Read why two Asian energy giants are seeing strained relations

The events of the previous few days have brought the already tense diplomatic ties between Russia and Azerbaijan to a new low. The offices of Russia’s state-funded news organization Sputnik were raided by Baku police on 30th June.

It continued to publish content online even after formally ceasing operations earlier this year due to restrictions on foreign ownership imposed by a new media law in Azerbaijan, but has since continued to function with fewer employees. The publication is a part of the Russian state media agency Rossiya Segodnya.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs in Azerbaijan emphasised that Sputnik had maintained activities in the nation through “illegal financing” even after its formal accreditation was cancelled in February 2025. It released a video of officers handcuffing two individuals and escorting them to police trucks.

Sputnik’s sister publication, RIA Novosti, conveyed that Igor Kartavykh and Yevgeny Belousov, the director and editor-in-chief of the media outlet in Azerbaijan were apprehended. Ruptly, another Russian media source, mentioned that one of its editors had been arrested for attempting to record the police activity at the Baku offices of Sputnik.

Sputnik and Azerbaijani officials have been attempting to reach a temporary deal that would allow Sputnik to continue operating in Baku, according to Dmitry Kiselev, General Director of Rossiya Segodnya.

He expressed that the actions of Azerbaijani security personnel escorting staff away “with their arms twisted and their heads bowed, as though they were terrorists” stunned Russia. “This all looks like a deliberate step aimed at worsening relations between our countries,” he added.

“Two suspected Federal Security Service (FSB ) agents were caught during the operation,” according to some Azerbaijani media, although Baku did not immediately confirm the detention. On the other hand, Azerbaijan’s ambassador in Moscow, Rahman Mustafayev was called “in connection with the unfriendly actions of Baku and the illegal detention of Russian journalists,” per Russia’s Foreign Ministry.

Deaths of two Azerbaijanis during a police raid in Russia

The killings of two Azerbaijanis during police raids in Russia’s Yekaterinburg have also prompted Azerbaijan to cancelled all cultural events organized by governmental and private organizations in the country. One of the deceased had dual citizenship of Azerbaijan and Russia while the other was a Russian citizen.

On 27th June, investigators in the area carried out numerous raids related to historical unsolved murders, including serial homicides and nabbed 50 people. The arrests were initially attributed to a “ethnic criminal group” connected to early 2000s murders, according to the country’s law enforcement officials.

Russia’s Investigative Committee announced that one man reportedly died from heart failure and that the reason of the second death was still under inquiry. According to the relatives of the deceased, who were identified in Azerbaijani media as brothers Ziyaddin and Huseyn Safarov, both around 60 year old, their remains were transferred to their native nation and the autopsy was scheduled to take place in Baku.

Sayfaddin Huseynli, their brother, told ITV, the state broadcaster in Azerbaijan, that they were subjected to torture “without any trial or investigation, despite their innocence.” He called the raids “savagery,” alleging that other people were beaten and tormented with eletric shocks. “The so-called Russian law enforcement agencies broke into houses in the middle of the night, beat and took people away like animals,” he charged.

Baku registers strong protest, Kremlin rejects the accusation: Diplomatic events cancelled

Moscow has denied Baku’s claim that the Russian police committed extrajudicial executions “on ethnic grounds.” Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s parliament canceled a visit by a Russian deputy prime minister Alexei Overchuk and withdrew from scheduled bilateral talks in Moscow after the Foreign Ministry previously summoned Russia’s charge d’affaires over what it described as the “brutal killings.”

Azerbaijan’s cultural ministry declared that concerts, exhibitions, festivals and other performances were canceled due to “the demonstrative targeted and extrajudicial killings and acts of violence committed by Russian law enforcement agencies against Azerbaijanis on ethnic grounds in Yekaterinburg.”

It stated that Russian law enforcement invaded the residences of Azerbaijani citizens in the industrial city situated in the Ural Mountains after which two Azerbaijanis were murdered and multiple others were gravely wounded while nine were detained.

Officials declared, “The government of Azerbaijan does not consider it appropriate under the current circumstances for Overchuk or any other official representative of Russia to visit the country,” to which the Kremlin responded that it “sincerely regrets” the cancelation of its cultural events in Azerbaijan.

The Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan remarked that it anticipated “that the matter will be investigated and all perpetrators of violence brought to justice as soon as possible.” Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, confirmed that the raids were a component of a probe into past crimes and added that Russian nationals of Azerbaijani heritage were the subject of raids and detentions.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declared that they will continue to “explain the reason and nature” of the Yekaterinburg searches. He added, “Everything that took place is related to the work of law enforcement agencies, and that cannot and should not be a reason for such a reaction. We are interested in further developing our good relations with Azerbaijan.”

Russia and Azerbaijan’s deteriorating ties: December 2024 plane crash and more

Baku and Moscow have had tense relations for some months after a passenger plane, Azerbaijan Flight 8243 was struck by ground fire on 25th December 2024 while it was approaching Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya. It veered to Kazakhstan and crashed during the landing attempt, killing 38 of the 67 people on board.

According to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, it was accidentally shot down over Russia and was made uncontrolled by electronic warfare tactics amid reports that Russian air defense systems were attempting to repel a Ukrainian drone strike close to Grozny. Russia was accused by him of attempting to “hush up” the events for several days.

He received an apology from Russian President Vladimir Putin for the “tragic incident,” but the latter did not take responsibility. He even declined to go to Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow in May. “We were informed that Aliyev will not come, regrettably. They explained that he is to participate in domestic events related to (his father, former president) Heydar Aliyev,” informed a Kremlin official.

Moreover, Azerbaijan was visited by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha later that month, indicating deeper connections between Baku and Kyiv. Now, the conflict between Russia and Azerbaijan, which was once part of the Soviet Union, has once again come to the forefront due to recent developments.

Azerbaijan aims to increase its natural gas imports to Europe

The war between Russia and Ukraine prompted European nations to look for dependable and alternative energy supplies. Azerbaijan, hence, became a major force in this rearrangement and offered a natural gas supply that could be transported via safe and politically stable transit routes. The development has presented a significant challenge to Russian energy exports, which are already encountering stringent sanctions from the European Union.

The Ministry of Energy reported that Azerbaijan’s total natural gas supply to Europe has now exceeded 50 billion cubic meters (bcm). The Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), the last segment of the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC), which is now a crucial component of the European Union’s diversification policy, served as the catalyst for this accomplishment.

Furthermore, President Ilham Aliyev has set a goal for Azerbaijan to double its gas exports to Europe by 2027. On the other hand, the REPowerEU Plan which was introduced in May 2022 to lessen the bloc’s reliance on Russian energy, helped it lower its share of Russian gas imports from 45% to 19%. Nonetheless, Russian gas imports into the EU increased in 2024.

Currently, both Baku and Moscow are competitors in the European Union regarding energy supply. Russia has maintained a dominant position in the market, while Azerbaijan has steadily strengthened its foothold. A competition in the Energy export sector, though not officially cited as the reason behind the strained relations, is speculated as one of the key reasons nonetheless.

Rajdeep Sardesai avoids naming accused Zubair Ahmad while discussing rape of 70-year-old woman in Pahalgam, resorts to whataboutery after being called out

OpIndia Staff
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Rajdeep Sardesai avoids naming accused Zubair Ahmad while discussing rape of 70-year-old woman in Pahalgam, resorts to whataboutery after being called out

On Monday (30th June), ‘journalist’ Rajdeep Sardesai stirred the hornet’s nest after he deliberately avoided naming the accused in the heinous rape case of a 70-year-old widowed woman in Pahalgam.

For the unversed, the victim was raped by one Zubair Ahmed during her family trip to Jammu and Kashmir. Zubair unlawfully entered the hotel room of the 70-year-old woman when she was alone.

He gagged the victim’s mouth with a blanket and then raped her. Zubair managed to flee the crime scene using the window of her room. The brutal nature of the rape left the elderly woman with severe injuries and pain for several days.

Rajdeep Sardesai posted a tweet, mentioning details of the incident and even included an excerpt of the court verdict denying bail.

However, the controversial ‘journalist’ omitted a key information from the tweet – The name of the man who committed the heinous crime.

This raised concerns among the netizens, who questioned Rajdeep Sardesai for leaving out the name of the accused. Instead of admitting his mistake, the propagandist resorted to brazen whataboutery.

In a tweet posted on Tuesday (1st July), Rajdeep Sardesai. “Semi-literate Right wing Hindu twitter army is agitated that I didn’t name rape accused in Kashmir case. His name is ZUBAIR BHAT. Note: name of prime accused in Kolkata case MONOJIT MISHRA. Note also: those arrested in Tamil Nadu dowry suicide case are husband Kavin Kumar, father-in-law Eswaramoorthy, and mother-in-law Chithradevi.”

The controversial ‘journalist’ couldn’t even speak about the rape case involving Zubair Ahmed without referencing to other cases. This gives us a hint that the ommission of the accused’s name was deliberate.

He did not conclude his tweet without going on a rant about how ‘crimes against women’ have nothing to do with religion, effectively ignoring cultural prejudices and religious outlook that contribute to atrocities against women.

“Moral of the story: crimes against women aren’t about religious identity of accused as much as a BRUTAL crime. Criminals exist in EVERY community. Focus on JUSTICE for victim, not religious identity of accused,” he claimed.

Earlier on 27th June, Rajdeep Sardesai courted controversy by comparing the Jagannath Dham in Puri town of Odisha to the newly inaugurated Jagannath temple in West Bengal’s Digha.

From the days of ‘jungle raj’ to becoming the hub of weapons manufacturing for the Army: Bihar set for a remarkable turnaround with the latest proposal

अर्पित त्रिपाठी
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From the days of ‘jungle raj’ to becoming the hub of weapons manufacturing for the Army: Bihar set for a remarkable turnaround with the latest proposal

‘Thok denge katta kapaar me, aaye na hamra Bihar me’ [I will shoot you in the head with a gun, if you come to Bihar]. This is a popular line in the title track of a web series, Khaki: The Bihar Chapter. While this web series shows the story of the era of crime in Bihar and how an IPS officer fights it, we bring up this line as even today, illegal ‘Katta’ (country made gun) and Bihar remain synonymous. However, this image of Bihar is going to change as an Ordnance Factory Corridor is going to be built in the state.

In these ordnance factories, spread across five districts, weapons will be manufactured for the Indian army and the police. In addition to supplying weaponry to the Indian armed forces, guns manufactured here will also be exported abroad. This would mark a paradigm shift as Bihar will produce guns, not for gang wars and street crimes, but to obliterate the enemies of India. This ordnance corridor will be built in collaboration by the PM Modi-led Central government and the CM Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government.

Bihar ordnance factory corridor plan

Bihar’s Industry Minister Nitish Mishra has sent a proposal to Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to build an Ordnance Factory Corridor in 5 districts of Bihar. As part of this plan, ammunition and weapon manufacturing factories will be set up in every district.

Minister Mishra said that if this ordnance corridor is built in Bihar, then weapons can be supplied across the country on time. He also mentioned that about 1 lakh people will get direct employment in the state with this.

Districts where the ordnance corridor will be built

This Ordnance Factory Corridor will be built across 5 districts in Bihar. The districts covered will be Munger, Kaimur, Banka, Jamui and Arwal. This corridor will have factories for manufacturing various types of guns and ammunition for Indian security forces. Reportedly, one factory will cost around ₹1500 crore.

The government aims to give a new identity to districts like Munger, who had become synonymous with illegal weapons for the past several years.

Earlier, cases of illegal arms manufacturing and their sale have been widely reported from Munger. In the last 3-4 years alone, dozens of illegal gun factories have been found in Munger.

Once, there were many legal factories in Munger which employed thousands of workers. However, due to ‘Jungle Raj’ era of the 1990s, these factories slowly closed down. Due to this, the skilled workers became unemployed, and some of them started making illegal weapons.

Which weapons will be made

The plan is to manufacture a wide range of weaponry, from small pistols to cannons, in the factories to be set up in these districts. Once the factories are set up, there is a plan to manufacture rifles, machine guns, FN-Minimi, Negev NG-5 and Browning machine guns. In addition, grenades and grenade launchers will also be manufactured in these factories.

Besides weapons, helmets, and protective clothing used by the army will also be manufactured here. These factories will get their raw material from neighbouring Jharkhand. With the setting up of ordnance factories, development in the nearby areas is also expected to be expedited.

How the ordnance factory corridor will benefit Bihar

Bihar is grappling with a migration crisis for the last 3-4 decades, since the Jungle Raj era. A new initiative can prove to be effective on a large scale for Bihar in terms of opening up employment opportunities. It is estimated that 1 lakh people will get employment in the ordnance factory corridor. Along with that, several ancillary industries are expected to come up which will boost local economy further. Along with this, the rest of the infrastructure in Bihar will also improve due to the establishment of big industries.

These factories will be set up in Bihar with government investment; however, later on, private investment will also be incorporated to bring in more skilled workers. Currently, private companies shy away from investing in Bihar; however, this proposed ordnance corridor can bring Bihar back on the path of economic progress.

Interestingly, this is not the first big step towards industrialisation in Bihar. Earlier in the 1970s, such an attempt was made during the tenure of Lalit Narayan Mishra. However, after that came the era of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Jungle Raj, due to which the industries that were running in Bihar also closed down.

Defence corridor has been built in UP-Tamil Nadu

This idea of an Ordnance Corridor in Bihar has already been implemented successfully in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. A defence corridor has been built in 6 districts of Uttar Pradesh. Reports say that more than ₹47 thousand crores have been invested here so far, and around 7 companies have now started manufacturing there.

Many big testing facilities are being built in the Defence Corridor in Tamil Nadu. Such development in Bihar will only reinforce Modi government’s strict stand on national security. Since the Modi government came to power, there has been a sharp increase in domestic manufacturing in the defence sector and export of defence products.

In 2014, defence products worth only ₹46 thousand crore were manufactured in the country, but now it has increased to ₹1.27 lakh crore. Along with this, India’s export of defence products has increased 34 times to ₹23,622 crore when compared to 2014. Bihar’s Ordnance Corridor has the potential to make a significant contribution to India’s defence exports while also bolstering the state’s economy and providing employment.

The original report can be read here.

Four Hindu siblings abducted, converted, and split by court in Sindh – Pak media calls it ‘willing embrace of Islam’

Anurag
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Four Hindu siblings abducted, converted, and split by court in Sindh – Pak media calls it ‘willing embrace of Islam’

In June 2025, another case of religious persecution was reported in the Sindh province of Pakistan where four siblings, three sisters and their 13-year-old male cousin, were abducted by their teachers, forcibly converted to Islam, and then presented in court. The court allowed two adults to stay away from their family while two minors were reluctantly handed back to their parents. Pakistani media, including the notorious ARY News, which is banned in India for its anti-India propaganda, whitewashed the incident as a “willing embrace of Islam”.

Source: ARY News

Siblings lured, abducted and converted

The incident occurred in Shahdadpur, Sindh. Twenty-two-year-old Jia Bai, 20-year-old Dia Bai, 16-year-old Disha Bai and 13-year-old Harjeet Kumar were abducted. The adults among them are reportedly medical students. Their mother publicly named Farhan Khaskheli, a local computer teacher, as the man who took away all her daughters and brainwashed them. The children were later traced to Karachi and produced before the Shahdadpur court.

Despite the family’s allegations of abduction and coercion, the court ruled that the two adult girls would stay in a shelter home in Karachi. The court asserted that the adult women were free to “decide” whatever they wanted to do. The minors, however, were returned to the family but only after recording statements that they embraced Islam “willingly”. The family of the four suspect those statements were made under duress and police pressure.

Courts shielding abductors in the name of ‘freedom’

The court discharged two accused, namely Farhan Khaskheli and Zulfiqar Khaskheli, from kidnapping charges based on the statements of the children. This is not the first time Pakistani courts have seemingly acted in favour of Islamists in cases involving Hindus being forced to convert to Islam. Past rulings have cited “Islamic law” to deny parents custody, especially when minor girls are married off to their abductors post-conversion. In this case too, a penalty of Rs 1 crore was imposed if the parents tried to re-convert the minors to Hinduism.

The judicial reluctance to apply child protection and minority rights laws is not new in Pakistan. Blasphemy and religious freedom laws are routinely misused to suppress minorities.

ARY News – media arm of Islamist propaganda?

Perhaps the not-so-shocking aspect of this case is the Pakistani media’s role in whitewashing the crime. ARY News reported the entire matter under the headline “Shahdadpur: Four Hindu siblings embrace Islam in Sindh”. The wording was not accidental. It mirrored the usual state-approved script used to sanitise coercive conversions to make it seem as if teenage minors woke up one day and voluntarily renounced their faith out of some divine realisation. There was no mention of trauma, grooming, or duress. The report simply said “willing embrace”.

Notably, ARY News is not unfamiliar with peddling religious propaganda. ARY Network has a long history of promoting Islamist narratives. According to Journalist Swati Goel Sharma, ARY exclusively partnered in Pakistan for Aamir Khan, Rajkumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s controversial film PK. They promoted it with the explicit label of being a “satire on Hindu Gods”. The film, which was already accused in India of mocking Hindu practices, was rolled out in Pakistan with pride. Ironically, the same group has now pushed the story of “willing” conversion of Hindu children.

Furthermore, the network’s ideological slant becomes clearer when we recall Waar, a 2013 production. It was a high-budget, anti-India, anti-Hindu propaganda film that glorified the Pakistani military while painting Hindus and Indians as notorious villains. Until 2019, Waar was shockingly available on Netflix India. Sanjeev Newar, co-founder of Gems of Bollywood and Agni Samaj, and others, ran a campaigns against it, leading to its removal from the platform.

The film’s lead actor, Shaan Shahid, is a vocal Hindu-hater. He was reportedly offered a major role in Aamir Khan’s Ghajini, further raising questions about Bollywood’s blind eye towards Pakistan’s extremist media ties.

ARY is closely aligned with Pakistan’s spy agency ISI. It has repeatedly pushed anti-Hindu and anti-India narratives. In this case, it posed as a “source” of truth when Hindu children were abducted and converted. Disturbingly, international media houses often rely on these same biased Pakistani outlets for “ground reports”, which further whitewash the atrocities against Hindus and other minorities in Pakistan on global platforms.

Systemic persecution dating back to Partition

The case fits a long-standing pattern of religious cleansing in Sindh. Since Pakistan was created in 1947, the Hindu population in the neighbouring country has dramatically decreased, especially in rural Sindh. Abductions, forced conversions and marriages of underage Hindu girls are common and occur at an alarming frequency. Human rights groups estimate over 1,000 Hindu girls are forcibly converted and married every year, often with police protection for the perpetrators.

Despite reserved seats and constitutional assurances, the Hindu minority in Pakistan remains politically voiceless, socially ghettoised, and legally unprotected. Powerful religious clerics and Islamist groups act with impunity, while Hindu families are left to fight both the abductors and the legal system that enables them.

Horrifying past of forced conversions in Pakistan

In April 2024, it was reported that a Hindu girl was abducted and converted in Sindh.

In February 2023, 17-year-old Hindu girl was kidnapped and converted to Islam in Sindh. She had claimed to have converted on her own will.

In May 2023, a 9-year-old Hindu girl was kidnapped, converted to Islam, and married to a 55-year-old Muslim man in Sindh.

These cases are just tip of the iceberg.

Denial of basic rights and dignity

What unfolded in Shahdadpur is not just a family tragedy. It is a community trauma and a national shame, which Pakistan, sadly, promotes and prides itself on. Minors get brainwashed and separated from their families on a regular basis. They are declared converts with little regard for their age, safety and consent. And then, the media calls it a “willing embrace”. The courts sanction the atrocities. The system, repeatedly, stands with the abductors, not the victims.

Until Pakistan confronts this dangerous nexus of religious extremism, judicial double standards, and media complicity, its minorities will continue to be second-class citizens, denied the right to religion, dignity, and even childhood.

Andhra Pradesh HC judge K Srinivas Reddy grants relief to Jagan Mohan Reddy in brutal convoy death case, says ‘accidents happen even in Kumbh’

Shraddha Pandey
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Andhra Pradesh HC judge K Srinivas Reddy grants relief to Jagan Mohan Reddy in brutal convoy death case, says ‘accidents happen even in Kumbh’

In a recent ruling, the Andhra Pradesh High Court granted interim relief to former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy and others in a hit-and-run case linked to the death of a YSRCP supporter named Cheeli Singaiah, during a roadshow in Guntur district on 18th June 2025. Singaiah was crushed to death by the car in which Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party leader was seated.

The court, in its order dated 27th June, restrained police from taking coercive action against Reddy and other co-accused until the 1st of July, while adjourning the hearing on their petitions to quash the FIR.

Singaiah, a 55-year-old supporter of the YSRCP, was crushed to death by the vehicle of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy during a road show on 18th June 2025. The incident happened near the Lord Anjaneya temple on the National Highway in Etukuru village, Guntur district when Reddy was returning from Rentapalla village in Palnadu district after visiting the family of a former sarpanch, who committed suicide.

55-year-old Cheeli Singaiah lost his life after being run over by Reddy’s car after he slipped and fell while trying to shower flowers on the former CM. The front right wheel of Reddy’s car ran over Singaiah’s neck, leading to his death. The horrifying incident was caught on camera, and the videos showing the man being crushed by Reddy’s car went viral on the internet.

Initially, the police claimed that the victim was run over by a private vehicle, which was not part of the official convoy of YSRCP. However, the videos of the incident surfaced on social media show that the victim was brutally crushed under the front wheel of a black car as Reddy was stretching out from the car window on the side of the passenger seat.

In this case, Jagan Mohan Reddy has been named as Accused No. 2 and his driver as Accused No. 1 under Section 105 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. In addition, YSRCP MP Y.V. Subba Reddy, former ministers Perni Venkatramaiah and Vidadala Rajini, and Reddy’s assistant K. Nageswara Reddy have also been named as the accused.

Andhra Pradesh HC drags Kumbh stampede into hit-and-run case: Is it appropriate?

Presiding over the case, Justice K Srinivas Reddy questioned the rationale behind charging the passengers in a vehicle for a road accident. The judge asked the Advocate General, Dammalpati Srinivas, to explain how those seated inside the car can be held responsible for the accident. Justice Reddy equated the present case with the Mahakumbh stampede to assert that such accidents happen, suggesting that such incidents happen even though preventive measures are deployed.

“Despite all precautions, accidents still happened even at the Kumbh Mela,” Justice Reddy said.

Justice Reddy’s reference to the Kumbh Mela, a once-in-many-years Hindu religious gathering of crores of people, comes across as an attempt to contextualise the present case as nothing more than an unfortunate but sometimes unavoidable accident. The court’s analogy implies that even well-planned events, be it Kumbh Mela or a political roadshow, can lead to unintended tragedies and may not essentially reflect criminal intent or negligence on the part of the accused persons, in this case, Jagan Mohan Reddy and others.

However, this comparison is deeply problematic. The Kumbh Mela attracts millions of people from various parts of the world to one place in a dynamic environment, where crowd management is inherently challenging. As seen during the Mahakumbh stampede earlier this year, sometimes the sheer size of the crowd, rumours and desperation of people also trigger a stampede. At a gathering like the Kumbh Mela, no amount of preparation is enough; however, Jagan Mohan Reddy’s roadshow, though crowded, was a controlled political event with a convoy of vehicles. While crowds growing passionate at such events is not unusual, however, equating a road ‘accident’ involving a specific vehicle to a massive religious gathering is unjustified and mires the question of accountability.

Perhaps inadvertently, but this analogy trivialises the incident by framing it as some sort of inevitable accident and also diminishes the value of the innocent life lost. While even a Kumbh Mela stampede does not absolve the authorities of accountability just because of the sheer scale of crowd, an alleged hit-and-run case, especially wherein a popular politician’s convoy is involved, warrants investigation into several specifics, including the driver’s conduct, whether the convoy adhered to protocols or not, the conduct of those seated in the car at the moment the car crushed the victim and after that, among others.

This oversimplified comparison of the present case with Kumbh Mela stampedes undermines the probe into whether recklessness or negligence contributed to the victim’s death. The court, invoking an unrelated example, downplays the seriousness of the allegations levelled against the accused persons before a proper investigation is conducted.

Not to forget, the police initially claimed that the victim was run over by a private vehicle, which was not part of the official convoy of YSRCP. However, the videos of the incident surfaced on social media show that the victim was brutally crushed under the front wheel of a black car as Reddy was stretching out from the car window on the side of the passenger seat.

It can be seen in the video that Reddy’s car did not stop and kept moving even after the victim was crushed under it. The family of the victim has demanded an investigation into the incident.

Besides, Guntur Range IG Sarva Shrestha Tripathi said that vehicles exceeding the permitted number were present in Reddy’s convoy. “It’s unfortunate that the victim died in such a manner. Preliminary findings indicate that around 30 to 35 vehicles were in the convoy, even though only three were officially permitted,” said IG Tripathi.

The rich and powerful always get away easy

However, it seems that the rich and powerful often get away easily, especially in cases involving allegations of hit-and-run. Jagan Mohan Reddy and others approached the court seeking the quashing of the FIR, and the court granted interim relief after invoking unrelated examples like Kumbh Mela stampedes, reeks of privilege and dilutes the seriousness of the matter even as an innocent man has lost his life.

Even in the 2024 Pune Porsche case, it was seen how a rich brat was granted bail within hours of ramming his Porsche Taycan car into a vehicle in an inebriated state and killing two people. Besides an unusually quick bail, the Juvenile Justice Board ordered the accused to write a 300-word essay on road accidents, working with Yerwada traffic police for 15 days and undergoing de-addiction counselling.

From the Jessica Lal Murder case (1999), Sanjeev Nanda BMW hit-and-run case (1999), the 2017 Punjab and Haryana Court verdict reducing jail term of rash driver who killed one, the 2016 Mercedes hit and run case, or the one involving a Bollywood actor, there are numerous such cases wherein the police response was sluggish, and punishments were minimal. Now the Sangaiah hit-and-run case, is further hinting that we have a two-tiered justice system wherein high-profile accused have the boon of the leniency of the ‘system’.

While the probe in the Sangaiah hit-and-run case is still ongoing, the court has not only granted interim relief to Reddy and others, but has already declared the incident as an ‘accident’ and likened it to deaths in a Kumbh Mela stampede. In a system where influence outpaces accountability, it remains to be seen whether the powerful are held accountable beyond interim reliefs and insensitive analogies.

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