Gujarat state administration has demolished illegal property belonging to Botad don Siraj alias Shero. Here are the visuals of the bulldozer razing down the illegal property.
Siraj was earlier arrested by the police on May 8. Over 20 officials including the DSP and PI had reached Siraj’s place for razing down illegal construction at Mohammadpura.
On May 5, Siraj had allegedly threatened businessman and VHP leader Mahendrabhai Laljibhai Mali alias Munnabhai Mali. Threatening to kill Munnabhai, Siraj Don said, “You will face the same consequences as Kishan Bharwad.”
Speaking to OpIndia, the complainant Mali said that he is satisfied with the action taken by the administration on his complaint. The accused was immediately nabbed on his complaint. He added that for the further safety and security of his family he will apply for police protection.
A complaint in this regard was lodged by Munnabhai Mali at Botad police station on 7th May 2022. The accused Siro Don has a long criminal history and complaints have been registered against him for several offenses in the past.
The accused allegedly threatened Munnabhai Mali by saying “In the village, you have put loudspeakers on Hanumanji’s temple. Get it down or else you will face the same consequences as Kishan Bharwad. What will you do to us? If I get you in the car and kidnap you, you can’t do anything to me. We are watching all of you. Stay within your limits, or else I will kill you.” And further he spoke in a loud voice and again threatened to kill him (Munnabhai Mali).
Siraj Don has as many as 34 cases filed against him including ones for illegal gambling and attempt to murder.
On 25th January 2022, a 27-year-old youth, Kishan Bharwad, was shot dead in Dhandhuka taluka, which falls in Ahmedabad (Rural), over an allegedly blasphemous social media post. Kishan Bharwad’s murderers Shabbir and Imtiyaz Pathan were arrested by the police and further investigations also revealed the involvement of a Muslim cleric.
On May 9, Amarakeerthi Athukorala, Sri Lanka’s MP from the ruling party Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), was found dead amidst violent clashes. The incident happened hours after Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned from the post. As per reports, Athukorala’s car was blocked by the protestors in Nittambuwa.
He had allegedly opened fire at the protesters and critically injured two people. He tried to escape and take refuge in a nearby building where his dead body was found.
Some media reports have suggested that Athukorala killed himself. However, according to Ceylon Today, both MP and his driver were found dead. The MP allegedly shot himself after he was attacked by the anti-government protesters. His driver is alleged to have hung himself. Those who had sustained gunshot injuries after the MP had opened fire were admitted to Wathupitiywala Base Hospital in Nittambuwa.
Leader of Opposition in Sri Lanka Sajith Premadasa had criticized the Rajapaksha family amid the new clashes. He said the emergency laws would not slow down the momentum of the change in Sri Lanka. He also warned the ruling party of repercussions if the protesters or the media were harmed. In a tweet, he said, “Every single time the Rajapaksa’s take the back alley instead of the high road. Violence, Emergency laws and fake followers will not stop the momentum of change. Expect serious repercussions if any peaceful protestors or media are harmed.”
Every single time the Rajapaksa’s take the back alley instead of the high road. Violence, Emergency laws and fake followers will not stop the momentum of change. Expect serious repercussions if any peaceful protestors or media are harmed. https://t.co/gGmnAvSYxg
Reports suggest that thousands of pro-government protesters were brought in buses and dropped where anti-government protesters were lodged. They allegedly damaged and burned anti-government posters and banners. Many anti-government protesters were reportedly injured, including women, children and the elderly. At least 78 people were reported injured and were admitted to Colombo National Hospital.
A number of houses, including the family home of the Rajapaksas in Hambantota, has been set on fire, reportedly by protestors.
Ancestral home of the Rajapaksa family in Medamulana, Hambantota set on fire by protesters. pic.twitter.com/QIEnREphjq
Not just the Rajapaksa family home, but the houses of a number of other ministers, including Sanath Nishantha, MPs, mayors and many politicians have been set on fire by protestors.
Resignation of Mahinda Rajapaksha
Sri Lanka is going through the worst economic crisis. On Monday, Rajapaksa announced that he had officially handed over his resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who is his younger brother.
Effective immediately I have tendered my resignation as Prime Minister to the President.
Mahinda Rajapaksa has appealed to the public to exercise restraint and not take to violence. On Friday, a state of emergency was imposed in Sri Lanka, which gave tremendous power to the military to arrest and detain anyone. The Defence Ministry on Sunday alleged that the anti-government protestors were behaving in a threatening manner and disrupting essential services.
On April 20 this year, the Punjab police wrote to Twitter, seeking personal details of a political analyst and activist Ramnik Singh Mann for uploading a leaked conversation between Arvind Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal and her friend on the micro-blogging platform.
Ramnik Singh Mann has been vocal against Khalistani terror in Punjab and the nexus that ails the state. He has regularly reiterated that Khalistan is a failed Pakistani project and hardly any Sikhs in Punjab support it.
The Nurpur Bedi police station, located in the Rupnagar district of Punjab, had issued a notice to Twitter under Section 91 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
“It is submitted that the FIR no. 35, dated 16/04/2022 U/S 171F, 465, 469, 471, 120B IPC and 66 of IT act have been registered in PS Nurpur Bedi, Punjab(India) regarding the circulation of fabricated audio conversation by impersonating voice,” the notice read.
Screengrab of the notice to Twitter by Punjab police, image via Twitter/ @ARanganathan72
It further added, “So, kindly assist us with the following details related to the aforementioned account on the priority basis for further investigation in this aforesaid case: 1) Kindly provide us the complete IP logs details and mobile no. of the above mentioned Twitter ID from dated 01/02/2022 to 20/04/2022.”
The Punjab police also directed the micro-blogging platform to comply with the notice and send a compliance report in this regard.
The Background of the controversy
Earlier on February 20 this year, political analyst Ramnik Singh Mann had uploaded a leaked conversation between Sunita Kejriwal and her friend wherein she could be heard claiming that AAP leader Raghav Chadha had bought a bungalow in Chandigarh.
“Raghav ji is taking care of the PR. He has now bought a kothi (bungalow) in Section 8 of Chandigarh. You know that the environment there is great. Let’s wait. The election results are due on March 10, 2022,” Sunita Kejriwal was heard as saying.
While posting the audio clip, Mann inquired, “Raghav Chadha, how much money did you collect? Bought a Kothi (Bungalow) in Sector 8, Chandigarh? I have been working hard for 24 years, couldn’t buy a Kothi in Chandigarh. #Corruption”
Soon after, the Nurpur Bedi police station registered a First Information Report against him for allegedly circulating a ‘fabricated’ audio clip.
Ramnik Singh Mann reacts to the development
The matter came to light when scientist Anand Ranganathan posted about it on the micro-blogging platform.
“After TajinderBagga it is now the turn of Ramnik Mann. Acting on an FIR he says is purely to intimidate him, the Punjab Police is demanding a two-month log from Twitter. ArvindKejriwal is going to make sure everyone who tweets against him is put in Jail. I Stand with Ramnik,” he had tweeted.
While reacting to the development, Ramnik Singh Mann had tweeted, “Come, oh tyrant, lets test our skills. You put your arrows to test, I will test my courage.”
Intimidation of BJP leader Tajinder Bagga
In a high voltage drama on May 6, Tajinder Bagga was arrested by Punjab Police from his home without due process, which led to a case of kidnapping against Punjab Police.
Bagga immediately through his counsel moved to the Dwarka Court. His plea mentioned that he was being taken by some unknown persons. The Delhi Police, therefore, swung into action after the Court ordered his production. The Delhi Police informed the Haryana Police who stopped the Punjab police from taking Bagga to Punjab.
Earlier, Punjab Police had registered an FIR against Tajinder Bagga for his criticism of Arvind Kejriwal after the Delhi CM mocked ‘The Kashmir Files’ movie during the budget session of the Delhi assembly calling it a jhoothi film. The film depicts the sufferings of the Kashmiri Hindus during the genocide they suffered in Kashmir in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday carried out raids in as many as 24 locations in Mumbai against the associates and other hawala operatives of Indian-origin Pakistan based terrorist Dawood Ibrahim. Four people, including Sohail Khandwani, trustee of Haji Ali Dargah and Mahim Dargah have been detained. The raids began at his residence and a CRPF guard has been deployed.
NIA Conducts Multiple Searches in Maharashtra in Case Against D-Company (RC-01/2022/NIA/MUM) pic.twitter.com/QcNUrC7EAV
In a statement, the NIA said that 24 locations were raided across Mumbai in connection to case no. RC-01/2022/NIA/MUM against Dawood Ibrahim. The case was registered suo moto by the NIA on 3rd February 2022. The NIA said that the case pertains to terror, criminal activities of international terrorist network of D company involving Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and his associates including Haji Anees alias Anees Ibrahim Shaikh, Shakeel Shaikh alias Chhota Shakeel, Javed Patel alias Javed Chikna and Ibrahim Mushtaq Abdul Razzaq Memon alias Tiger Memon. These are indulging in Arms smuggling, narco terrorism, money laundering, circulation of FICN and are also involved in terror funding activities with active collaboration with international terror organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad and Al Qaeda.
Electronic devices, documents of investments in real estate, cash and fire arms were seized in the raids.
As per reports, several locations in Mumbai like Nagpada, Goregaon, Borivali, Santacruz, Mumbra, Bhendi Bazar, Bandra, Kurla and Mahim were raided. Other than Sohail Khandwani, Sameer Hingora was detained from Delite apartment in Bandra and one Kayyum was detained from Mahim. Sameer Hingora is film producer who was accused of transporting weapons to Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt after the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.
Salim Qureshi aka Salim Sayyed aka Salim Fruit, an associate of Chhota Shakeel, was also detained at his residence at Grant road in Mumbai. Some important documents were seized from him in the raids.
The NIA had filed the case against the gangsters under the UAPA in February 2022 and many including Salim Fruit were interrogated. The crackdown on hawala operators has increased since Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested NCP leader Nawab Malik over his alleged links to Dawood Ibrahim. Malik is accused of usurping large piece of land with help of Dawood’s sister Haseena Parkar in Kurla and paid some amount to her as well as 1993 Mumbai serial blast convict Sardar Shahvali Khan.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has urged Rakesh Asthana, the Delhi Police Commissioner, to identify errant officers as it said that Hindus were being falsely implicated in the Jahangirpuri violence case. VHP also said that the police was misleading the court in order to implicate Hindus in the violence that broke out when an Islamist mob attacked Hindus taking out the Hanuman Jayanti procession in Jahangirpuri.
The VHP has claimed that prior permission was sought by the organiser of the Hanuman Jayanti procession and was duly granted by the Delhi Police, however, after the violence broke out in Jahangirpuri, the police did a u-turn and denied having given permission for the rally.
“On April 15, we had intimated two local police stations in writing. We had also sent a list of shobhayatras (processions) that were to be taken out at 20 other locations in the city to the police commissioner through WhatsApp,” Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) national spokesperson Vinod Bansal told PTI.
“But we did not get any information from the police about the cancellation of these processions, except one that was scheduled to be taken out at Shahdara on April 17 (a day after the Jahangirpuri violence),” Bansal said, adding, “We have the records and we can produce those before the court if asked.” The VHP leader alleged that the violence broke out at Jahangirpuri during the Hanuman Jayanti procession on April 16 due to the “inaction of the police” and “some police officers are now trying to shift their sin of inaction on others”.
“They are also misleading the court by changing their statements. There is a conspiracy to implicate innocent Hindus in the case,” he said while saying “the VHP will not tolerate it”. Bansal also added that Rakesh Asthana, the police commissioner, must identify and oust these officers from the police force since they are tarnishing his and the force’s name.
While rejecting the bail pleas of some of the accused, the Court shifted the blame to the Hindus and the police for failing to stop the Hindus from taking out their religious procession which seemed to have irked the Islamists. The court had further said that the issue had been “brushed aside” by senior officers.
“The issue seems to have been simply brushed aside by the senior officers. The liability on the part of the concerned officials needs to be fixed so that in future no such incident takes place and the police are not complacent in preventing the illegal activities. Their complicity, if any, also needs to be investigated,” Additional Sessions Judge Gagandeep Singh said. Interestingly, the court seems to have based this observation on the notion that the Hanuman Jayanti had no permission, however, VHP has said that they had the permission and the police are misleading the court by making these claims.
Vinod Bansal said that the police were squarely responsible for the violence as they had deployed only 3 police personnel to maintain law and order during the procession. Responding to the observation made by the court about the procession not having requisite permissions, he further said, “Then what were the policemen doing there while moving with the procession? Why did they not stop it at the starting point itself?” Reacting to a similar accusation that surfaced on social media platforms, the police on Sunday said it had a “prime and very focussed responsibility of maintaining law and order in the area. If any situation erupts, police have to see to it that the situation does not worsen and that is the reason adequate policemen were there”.
The Jahangirpuri violence and attack against Hindus taking out Hanuman Jayanti procession
On April 16, a Muslim mob attacked a Hindu procession celebrating Hanuman Jayanti with stones, bottles, and firearms in the area. So far, over two dozen people have been arrested for the violence. As reported earlier by OpIndia, the region is a hotspot for unlawful encroachment and criminal activity.
A rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) was thrown at the third floor of Punjab Police’s intelligence office in Mohali on Monday night, causing an explosion that shattered windows and damaged property. As reported by India Today, a rocket launcher was used to fire the RPG.
After the blast, a massive deployment of police was done in the area, the entire area has been cordoned off by the Police. SSP Chandigarh Kuldeep Chahal is also present at the blast site along with other senior officials. Police are currently examining the CCTV footage along with other evidence.
As per sources, an explosion was reported at the Punjab Police intelligence Headquarters in sector 77, SAS Nagar (Mohali) at around 7:45 PM. No damage has been reported to any individual. Senior officers are on the spot and an investigation team has been called to collect forensic evidence.
Meanwhile, while law & order continues to deteriorate in Punjab, local Police focus remains on Kejriwal’s critics as they continue to try to arrest anyone speaking against Delhi CM, whether it is Tajinder Bagga or Ramnik Mann.
On Sunday (May 8), a popular Twitter handle (@sincerity_pics) posted an image of a statue of MK Gandhi with red, glowing eyes and claimed that it was vandalized in the San Franciso city in the state of California in the United States of America.
In a tweet, it said, “Someone put red laser eyes on the Gandhi Statue in San Francisco.” The tweet has evoked strong reactions from netizens, with some finding it humorous while others deeming it a ‘condemnable act.’
At the time of writing, the tweet had received over 9.8K likes and was shared more than 1300 times. The Twitter account, which posted the image, has over 66,000 followers and is named, ‘It seems to be a lie, but it’s not.’
Screengrab of the tweet
As per reports, the statue of MK Gandhi is made of bronze and was installed in 1988 near the San Francisco Ferry Building. It was sculpted by Zlatko Paunov and Steven Lowe. The statue is 8 feet tall and was gifted by the Gandhi Memorial International Foundation. It is maintained by the Arts Commission.
The Truth behind the viral image
The image was originally posted on Reddit 3 years ago in August 2019 by a user named ‘VickyOneTime’ with the caption, ‘What I can only imagine was Winston Churchill’s nightmare…’
Screengrab of the Reddit post
As per a report in The Indian Express, the vandalism was the act of a prankster. “Undated photos also showed an unidentified man climbing to the statue, which is a gift from the Gandhi Memorial International organization, and adding the lights to the statue’s eyes,” it stated.
The report also added that the MK Gandhi statue has been vandalized several times in the past, with missing spectacles being the most common cause of theft.
No record of vandalism exists
However, as per a report in USA Today, there is no record of any such act of vandalism. While speaking about the viral Reddit images in August 2021, Rachelle Axel confirmed the development to the news publication.
Axel is the acting director of communications for the San Francisco Arts Commission. She said, “The photos from the Reddit/Twitter posting are in fact the only evidence we have ever seen of the incident. It was never reported to the (city) officially, so there is no record of it.
“When the Arts Commission’s collections team examined the statue in 2019 there was no evidence that anything had happened, and there was no damage,” Axel further added.
A writ petition was recently filed in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court seeking directions to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to open the 22 locked rooms of the Taj Mahal to ascertain the existence of Hindu idols and scriptures there. The plea cited claims by some historians and some Hindu groups about the monument being an old Shiva Temple.
The petition was filed in the registry of the Lucknow bench of the High Court by the media in-charge of BJP’s Ayodhya unit, Rajneesh Singh. The writ petition is yet to come up for hearing.
Uttar Pradesh | A petition has been filed in the Allahabad High Court to open the closed rooms of the Taj Mahal
In the petition, I have demanded that the 22 rooms of the monument which are closed should be opened to find out the truth: Dr Rajneesh Singh, Petitioner (08.05) pic.twitter.com/L0uC9WdetJ
In the writ petition, Rajneesh Singh cited claims by some historians about the monument being an old Shiva Temple, that was demolished by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and converted into a mausoleum. The petition suggests that since many Hindu groups have been claiming that the Taj Mahal is an old Shiva Temple, an inquiry must be conducted and the controversy should be put to rest.
In his petition filed through lawyers Ram Prakash Shukla and Rudra Vikram Singh, Singh had contended that there were more than twenty closed rooms in the basement and upper floors of the Taj Mahal, which were not open to the public. He claimed that there were Hindu idols and scriptures in those rooms which proved that the Taj Mahal was in fact a Shiva Temple.
The plea urged ASI to form a fact-finding committee to ascertain the claim that Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had converted the Shiva Temple into a memorial to his wife Mumtaz Mahal after her death. It requested the court to direct ASI to submit a report on the same.
The petition read, “Some Hindu Groups and reputable Sants are claiming this monument as an old Shiv Temple which has converted into a mausoleum by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan. Some people also believe that Tejo Mahalaya @ Taj Mahal appears to be one of the Jyotirling i.e. the outstanding Shiva Temples.”
“It is respectfully submitted that there are certain rooms situated in upper and lower portions (approx 22 rooms) of the four-storied building which are permanently locked and many Historian like P N Oak and crores of Hindu Worshiper strongly believes that in those locked rooms, a temple of Lord Shiva is present,” the plea further stated.
It further stated that an RTI was filed to the ASI asking the reason for the Taj Mahal’s doors being closed, adding that “in the Reply by the department of ASI Agra it was said that due to security reasons those doors are locked.”
Notably, the petition has sought to overturn certain provisions of the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains (Declaration of National Importance) Act 1951 and the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains Act 1958, which declared the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort, and Itimad-ud-tomb Daulah’s as historical monuments.
According to the National Family Health Survey 5 (NFHS), the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in India has fallen to 2.0 at the national level. This TFR is somewhat lower than the replacement fertility threshold of 2.1 children. As per the survey, on average, women in rural regions have higher fertility than those in metropolitan areas.
National Family Health Survey
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is a multi-round, large-scale survey that is undertaken in a representative sample of homes across India. The inaugural NFHS was held in 1992-93, and it included all states except Sikkim. Since then, similar surveys have been conducted at regular intervals across India.
The fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) offers demographic, health, and nutritional data for India, each state/union territory (UT), and 707 districts as of 31st of March, 2017. All five NFHS surveys have been carried out under the supervision of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India.
The primary goal of the 2019-21 National Family Health Surveys is to provide essential data on health and family welfare, as well as data on emerging issues in these areas, such as fertility rates, infant and child mortality, maternal and child health, and other health and family welfare indicators by background.
Fertility rate in India
The rate of total fertility is the average number of children a woman would have at the end of her reproductive years if she had children at current fertility rates for her age.
In India, as per the survey, the total fertility rate (TFR) is 2.0 children per woman, which is slightly lower than the replacement fertility rate of 2.1 children per woman.
In India, the TFR has steadily decreased over time. The TFR decreased from 3.4 to 2.0 children between 1992-93 and 2019-21. In rural regions, the TFR has dropped from 3.7 children in 1992-93 to 2.1 children in 2019-21. Women in urban areas had fewer children, dropping from 2.7 children in 1992-93 to 1.6 children in 2019-21.
Fertility rate during all 5 surveys in all regions.
The number of children a woman bears is determined by a variety of factors, including the age at which she begins childbearing, the length of time between births, and her productivity.
Effect of Income on Fertility Rate
Women in the lowest income group have 1.0 more children on average than women in the highest wealth group. The women in the poorest group have 2.6 Children on average. Whereas, women who are from wealthy backgrounds have 1.6 children. This shows how wealth affects the fertility rate of a region.
Fertility by household wealth.
Effect of religion on Fertility Rate
The TFR ranges from 1.4 children per woman for Buddhists/Neo-Buddhists to 2.36 children per woman for Muslims. This demonstrates that Muslims in India have the highest fertility rate of any religion, whereas Buddhists have the lowest rate of any religion.
Furthermore, teen pregnancy is more common among Muslim women aged 15 to 19 years (8%) than among other religious groups. When it comes to the desire for another kid, Muslims have the lowest percentage of women who do not want another child. 72% of Sikh and 71% of Hindu presently married women aged 15-49 prefer no additional children, compared to 64% of Muslim currently married women.
Effect of Schooling on Fertility Rate
The total desired fertility rate for women with no schooling is 2.2 children, whereas women with 12 or more years of schooling have just 1.6 children. The difference between actual and desired fertility rates is substantially greater among women with no education (0.6) than among women with 12 or more years of education (0.2).
Furthermore, when women’s education levels rise, the optimum family size decreases. Women with no schooling believe 2.5 children to be ideal, but women with 12 or more years of schooling consider 1.8 children to be perfect.
Effect of region on Fertility Rate
The total fertility rate in Sikkim ranges from 1.1 children per woman to 3.0 children per woman in Bihar. When it comes to teen pregnancy, Tripura (22%), West Bengal (16%), Andhra Pradesh (13%), Assam (12%), Bihar (11%), and Jharkhand (10%) have higher rates than other states and union territories.
Except for Tripura, Sikkim, and Assam, the desire of women not to have any more children is relatively low in the northeast states.
Other major findings of the study show that institutional births improved from 79 per cent to 89 per cent in India, with 87 per cent of births given in institutions in rural regions and 94 per cent in urban areas.
According to the NFHS-5 statistics, more than three-fourths (77%) of children aged 12-23 months were completely immunised, compared to 62 per cent in the NFHS-4. Stunting among children under the age of five has decreased somewhat in the country during the previous four years, falling from 38 per cent to 36 per cent. In 2019-21, stunting is more common among children in rural regions (37%) than in urban areas (30%).
May 9 marks the 77th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s World War II triumph over Nazi Germany. May 9 is a national holiday in Russia honouring the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. It is known as Victory Day across Russia. The commander of the last German forces surrendered to the Red Army of the USSR on May 8, 1945, however, due to the time difference between Berlin and Moscow, the event is commemorated on May 9 in Russia.
To mark the occasion, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury took to Twitter to share an iconic World War II photograph, ‘Raising a Flag over the Reichstag‘, taken during the Battle of Berlin on 2 May 1945.
While sharing the iconic photograph, Yechury, praising the communist army Tweeted, “This signalled to the world the defeat of Hitler & Nazi fascism on this day in 1945. The Red Flag is the firmest, surest defender of liberty, freedom & human dignity”
This signalled to the world the defeat of Hitler & Nazi fascism on this day in 1945. ✊? The Red Flag is the firmest, surest defender of liberty, freedom & human dignity. pic.twitter.com/2KxQxfWfpw
In the picture, a Red Army soldier is seen hoisting a communist flag (a red flag with a white hammer and sickle, the traditional symbol of communists) over the Reichstag building (a historic building in Berlin which houses the Bundestag, the lower house of Germany’s parliament) in Berlin in 1945. The photograph was taken by a Soviet soldier, Ukrainian-born Yevgeny Khaldei and was first published on May 13, 1945, in Ogonyok magazine.
It was reprinted in thousands of publications and came to be regarded around the world as one of the most significant and recognizable images of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany during World War II. The image was, however, heavily modified. In one photograph smoke was added and the contrast was manipulated to add drama and in a second version, one of the two wristwatches of one of the soldier’s wrists was removed.
As can be seen below, in the original photograph ( the one on the left-hand side) one of the soldiers is wearing a wristwatch on both his hands. In the edited image (the one on the right-hand side), the second watch worn by one of the soldiers is edited out.
The original image is on the left while the doctored image is on the right (source: vox.com)
Why the Soviets doctored their most iconic World War II victory photo- “Raising a Flag Over the Reichstag”
Khaldei stated that he modified the image at the request of the Ogonyok’s editor-in-chief, who noticed that Senior Sergeant Abdulkhakim Ismailov, who was assisting the flag-bearer, was wearing two watches. This, he concluded, could imply that the soldier had looted one of the watches, bringing to light the crimes committed by the Red Army during World War II.
Rampant atrocities, killings, mass rapes of women, and looting by Soviet soldiers during the WWII
The Soviet Union entered World War II in September 1939, when the Red Army marched into eastern Poland and attempted, in coordination with Nazi Germany, to depose the government and dismember the country, however German invasion of the USSR in 1941 changed their stance. During the later stages of World War II, when allied troops infiltrated and seized German territory, rampant atrocities, killings, mass rapes of women, and looting and plundering occurred both during combat operations and during Germany’s postwar occupation.
Actually, Germany had brutally invaded Russia in 1941, fostering in the country a hunger for vengeance that seemed unquenchable when the tables were turned on Germany the following year. The Red Army, too, committed umpteen atrocities against civilians en route their march to Germany.
Though for the Russian public, the Soviet victory over Germany in 1945 remains a source of immense pride, it is pertinent to mention that during its occupation of eastern Poland, Finland, and other East European countries from 1939 to 1941, the Red Army committed numerous crimes and massacres. Soviet soldiers were infamous for raping women in the countries they conquered during and immediately after World War II.
In fact, history reveals that when Joseph Stalin, the dictator of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) from 1929 to 1953, realised that his soldiers were indulging in mass rape in occupied territory, he dismissed it by saying that the soldiers were merely “having a little fun.”
The precise number of German women and children raped by Soviet troops during the war and occupation is unknown, although historians estimate it to be in the hundreds of thousands, and possibly as many as two million.
Furthermore, the millions of Soviet soldiers who surged into Eastern Europe and Germany in 1943-1945 disassembled and carried practically everything of value with them. According to a credible estimate, the theft totalled 2.6 million pieces of what the law refers to as “cultural property,” ranging from the smallest symbol to the Great Altar of Pergamon, a great Greek landmark from antiquity.
