Carlson was censored from the social media platform last month after Twitter said he violated one of its rules by referring to Assistant Secretary of Health Dr Rachel Levine, a transgender woman, as a man.
The Fox News host had also posted in support of the satirical website The Babylon Bee, whose account was locked out for a similar infringement.
The official Twitter account of Babylon Bee was locked out last month for what the social media company claimed to be “hateful conduct” over a joke naming U.S. Assistant Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine – a transgender woman – the site’s “Man of the Year” for 2022.
Following the buyout, Carlson during his show ‘Tucker Carlson Tonight’, stated that the SpaceX founder launched a ‘revolutionary posture’ on the internet.
“The reason that today’s sale of Twitter is big news—the reason it could turn out to be a pivot point in our history—is that Elon Musk does not agree with the rest of the billionaires in the tech business,” Carlson said. “He thinks everyone should be allowed to talk. Including people who disagree with him.”
Besides Carlson, Fox News host Mark Levin also made a comeback on Twitter, posting a tweet to say he has decided to return “thanks to new ownership.”
Thanks to new ownership, I’ve decided to come back! ?
Elon Musk, who was already the largest individual shareholder of Twitter holding 9.2% of the company, had earlier stated that he had no faith in the current management and couldn’t fulfil Twitter’s true potential under them. He aimed to make the company private so that he could have full control over it and could direct Twitter to fulfil its full potential.
Twitter’s board had tried its best to resist Elon Musk’s takeover bid, including trying to trigger the poison pill strategy. However, the price Musk offered coupled with the mood of the majority of Twitter shareholders eventually forced the Twitter board’s hand.
Elon Musk, who is already the CEO of electric vehicle giant Tesla and SpaceX, co-founder of Neuralink and OpenAI as well as the founder of The Boring Company, is now the owner of the social media giant Twitter.
Following the takeover, Twitter Inc. has also locked changes to its source code to prevent disgruntled employees from making unauthorised changes to the platform.
With the acquisition of Twitter by Musk, paranoia has set in among a raft of self-described wokes and ‘liberals’ in India and around the world, who are handwringing and losing their sleep over the probable metamorphosis the social media company may have under the leadership of a person who has made no bones about his disdain for wokeness and liberalism.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has gone on record to defend his call for burying MP Navneet Rana and MLA Ravi Rana 20 feet deep after the Hanuman Chalisa row in Mumbai. On Sunday, after the Rana couple attempted to chant the Hanuman Chalisa as a protest in front of CM Uddhav Thackeray’s house Matoshree, Sanjay Raut had commented, “Do not dare to mess up with Matoshree. Will bury you 20ft under the ground.”
On Monday, while speaking to Barkha Dutt in an interview, Raut openly clarified that he minced no words while giving a ‘death threat’ to the Ranas. When asked about his 20ft-burying remark and over his comment that if ‘anyone tried to challenge Matoshree, they should keep materials for their last rights ready’, Sanjay Raut responded with a loud grin. Raut responded, “Hahaha…Yeah, this can be a death threat. I am not denying.” When Dutt refuted Sanjay Raut that how could he justify saying this as a (Rajya Sabha) parliamentarian, he said, “This is not about me being a parliamentarian. This is about myself being a Shiv Senaite. I have spent my whole life with Balasaheb Thackeray and hence I know how and what to speak. I am maintaining what I spoke.”
Sanjay Raut elaborated, “I know this is a democracy and you have the right to protest. But when it comes to Matoshree, it is a matter of faith for us. If you try to challenge it, leaders like me would not accept that. When Raut was questioned over his language which is often ridden with abuse and violence, he said he rarely uses such language and only at times when the opponent understands the same.
When asked about the sedition charges attracted against the Rana duo for planning to chant Hanuman Chalisa in front of CM’s house, Sanjay Raut defended the case by saying, “It is the Mumbai Police which has lodged the case. They are independent institutions. The court will decide upon its legitimacy.” He stated that if anyone who wants the break the nation, or the state on the basis of religion, state and create divisions, rendition charges should be slapped on such people.
On Saturday, MP Navneet Rana and her husband MLA Ravi Rana were arrested by Mumbai police after attempting to recite Hanuman Chalisa in front of CM Uddhav Thackeray’s house Matoshree. When Navneet Rana announced her plan to do the same, Shiv Sena workers staged a counter-protest in front of her house. The duo currently faces a 14-day judicial trial at respective jails in Mumbai.
The Bombay High Court Tuesday dismissed a petition filed by Gautam Navlakha seeking to be removed from Tiloja jail and put under house arrest instead. In his plea, Navlakhan indicated that the unlivable conditions at Tiloja jail were the grounds for his request to be transferred from jail to house arrest. Gautam Navlakha is among the 15 urban Naxals arrested by NIA for their role in instigating violence resulting in the Bhima-Koregaon violence and planning an assassination plot of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
BREAKING: Bombay High Court dismisses Bhima Koregaon Violence accused Gautam Navlakha’s plea seeking “house arrest” instead of being lodged in prison. NIA had opposed this plea stating that the accused was “indirectly seeking bail under the garb of house arrest”.
NIA had opposed this plea stating that the accused was “indirectly seeking bail under the garb of house arrest”. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and state prison authority, while opposing the plea, had stated that sufficient facilities were provided to the accused. It said there were many prisoners who were 70 or above and had comorbidities and if Navlakha’s plea was allowed, there would be a flood of such applications in the courts.
Hearing the plea, a division bench of Justices Sunil Shukre and GA Sanap ruled that Navlakha’s issues in prison might be brought before the trial court for appropriate action.
“Petitioner would be at liberty to bring to the attention of presiding officer of special NIA court the grievances in respect of difficulties faced by him and the said officer directed to ensure grievance redressed within parameters of the law,” the court observed.
The detailed judgment will be made available in due course.
Navlakha had applied to the court for home arrest early last year. He cited the lack of medical facilities at Taloja Prison, where he is currently lodged. Navlakha’s lawyer had told the bench that the quarantine barrack, in which septuagenarian Navalakha has been lodged, was “unfit for human habitation”. “…the ward was filthy and full of grime and cockroaches and bathrooms were extremely unhygienic and extremely dirty with faeces and urine lying on the floor….” They also cited the Supreme Court’s observations when it rejected his default bail application in May 2021.
The Supreme Court had stated that, in appropriate instances, the court may order home arrest under section 167 of the CrPC, taking into account the accused’s age, health, and history. Navlakha said that he fits this definition perfectly.
Navlakha’s complaints of lack of facilities in the prison were denied by Additional Public Prosecutor Sangeeta D Shinde, who represented the state prison authorities.
Hearing both sides of the argument, the Bombay High Court dismissed Gautam Navlakha’s petition.
The Norwegian Police have arrested 20 Greenpeace activists who tried to block a tanker carrying Russian oil by chaining themselves to it. The tanker in question was the Ust Luga tanker parked at the Aasgaardstrand harbor in Norway carrying Russian oil. The tanker was on a journey to offload the fuel at Norway’s Slagen oil terminal on Monday.
— Greenpeace PressDesk (@greenpeacepress) April 25, 2022
Activists of the environmental group, Greenpeace, attempted to block the tanker alleging that the Oil trade is the root cause of War and climate crisis. Frode Pleym, head of Greenpeace Norway, said in a press release, “Oil is not only at the root of the climate crisis but also of wars and conflicts. I am shocked that Norway operates as a free port for Russian oil, which we know finances Putin’s warfare.” Greenpeace alleged that the tanker was operated by Novatek which is Russia’s second-largest natural gas producer.
In the Press Release, Greenpeace is asking the Norwegian government to ban the import of Russian fossil fuels and further demands that Esso cancels its contracts with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. “The Ukrainian president has called on Europe to halt Russian fossil fuels, and with good reason. Putin’s sources of revenue must be dried out immediately and banning oil imports is a very good place to start. We need to make this war stop,” said Pleym.
Members of Greenpeace sail next to a tanker “Ust Luga” as part of a protest against delivering Russian oil to Norway near Asgardstrand. Image Courtesy: REUTERS
On Monday, Greenpeace activists tied themselves to the tanker while sitting on a rubber kayak or boat with posters calling, “Oil fuels War.” However, Esso, the company which owns the Slagen oil terminal said that the oil was bought before Russia invaded Ukraine and that the company has not made any purchases since the war started. Company spokesperson Anne Fougner said, “The purchase contract was entered into before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Esso Norway does not have other contracts for the purchase of products from Russia.”
Ane Haavardsdatter Lunde, a spokesperson for Norway’s foreign affairs ministry said, “The transport of oil from Russia is not itself a violation of the sanctions that currently apply in the EU or in Norway.” It was made clear that oil carried by the tanker does not come under the scrutiny of sanctions – a point which was not considered by enraged Greenpeace activists. The Norwegian Police detained twenty of the activists and asked other protestors to leave the site.
The protest by Greenpeace came after EU sanctions against Russia were introduced in Norway on March 18. The sanctions included measures to limit trade between Norway and Russia in goods and services.
What is Greenpeace?
Greenpeace is a global network of global and national level activists known for their aggressive activism on climate change issues. Based in Amsterdam, the organization often catches eyeballs for its protests which are mired in controversies due to their political overtones. In 2017, Greenpeace activists in Washington DC scaled a 270-foot crane near the White House to unfurl a giant banner saying ‘Resist’ in opposition to former US President Donald Trump. In 2019, the Enforcement Directorate in India seized the accounts of the controversial NGO over accusations of illegal donations. The central government in India had already canceled the FCRA license of the organization in 2015, following which many of its local offices were shut down in India.
Former Assistant Professor of Lovely Professional University (LPU) Gursang Preet Kaur has apologized for her remarks against Bhagwan Ram. She was relieved from her duties at LPU after a video of an online lecture went viral in which she was using derogatory language against Bhagwan Ram.
SS of Gursang’s post on Facebook. Source: Facebook.
In her apology, she said, “I am Gursang Preet Kaur. I was working as Assistant Professor at Lovely Professional University. I had committed a huge mistake during a classroom lecture, it can be termed a sin. Though I did not have any intentions, I used derogatory words against Bhagwan Ram. My words hurt the sentiments of Hindus across the country. I have come under the protection of Bhagwan Ram to apologise. I have read Guru Granth Sahib Ji as well. I have no intentions to hurt anyone.”
Kaur further claimed she was suffering from depression and health issues at that time and did not know what she was saying in the classroom. She said, “At that time, I was going through depression and physical health issues. I did not know what I was saying in the classroom. I am apologizing to the whole country. I have hurt a lot of people. Please consider it my first and last mistake and forgive me.”
Kaur was dismissed by the LPU administration
On April 23, Gursang Preet Kaur was terminated from LPU after the video of her lecture went viral on social media in which she used derogatory language against Bhagwan Ram. The University released a statement on its official Instagram account, saying that it regretted the incident and informed that the concerned professor had been immediately relieved from the services.
In the classroom, she made insulting remarks against Lord Ram, saying that Lord Ram machinated against Ravana, who, according to Kaur, was a “good person”. According to Kaur, who appeared to be speaking to her students, it was Lord Ram’s “plan” to set a trap for Sita’s abduction and not Ravana’s fault who kidnapped her and took her to Lanka.
Her remarks resulted in outrage over social media, after which LPU sacked her.
The Indian government has successfully managed to rescue 7 Indian sailors who were held hostage by Houthi rebels in Yemen since January 2nd, 2022. The rescued sailors finally reached Delhi on 26th of April after a nearly 4 months-long ordeal in Yemen. The Indians were part of a crew of 14 who were taken captive by the Houthis when they seized the UAE-flagged merchant vessel Rwabee in the Red Sea.
The release of the Indian sailors was secured with the support of the Oman government. The rescued sailors reached Delhi via Muscat after being released in Sanaa in Yemen. External Affairs Minister, Dr. S Jaishankar, thanked Oman’s foreign minister, Badr Albusaidi, for helping them with their release from captivity.
“The issue was also taken up by the Indian delegation at the UN Security Council. The government of India would like to thank all concerned parties for the release of the Indian sailors and in particular the Government of Oman,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.
Seven Indian sailors held captive by Houthi rebels in Yemen were brought back to Delhi as they were rescued by the Government of India with assistance from Oman Government pic.twitter.com/edmkAT3BcX
Speaking to ANI, one of the rescued sailors Mohmmad Munawar said, “We were stuck there for three and a half months. We’re grateful that the Indian Government and the PM did tough negotiations and rescued us. People from 4 other countries were also rescued along with us by the govt.
We were stuck there for three and a half months. We're grateful that the Indian Government and the PM did tough negotiations and rescued us. People from 4 other countries were also rescued along with us by the govt: Mohmmad Munawar, Sailor from Mumbai pic.twitter.com/KeYDNz99Kn
Another rescued sailor Mohammed Jasim Khan from Lucknow mentioned how the Houthis treated them well after coming to know that they are from India. He said, “The situation is grave in Yemen. Rebels wanted to capture our ship and its cargo, we were held captive too as we were the crew on the ship. They treated us well once they came to know that we are Indians.”
Veera Venkata Suva Sai Girish, another sailor among the rescued, said that they will be able to return home thanks to the efforts of Prime Minister Modi.
Apart from the 7 Indians, the rescued sailors included 3 sailors from the UK, and one each from the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Ethiopia.
On Tuesday (April 26), a massive explosion took place in a vehicle outside the Commerce Department of Karachi University. The varsity is located in the Sindh province of Pakistan.
As per preliminary reports, a total of 4 people, including multiple Chinese nationals, died in the blast that occurred around 2:30 pm.
Dawn reported that the vehicle was turning towards the Confucius Institute when the explosion took place. On receiving information about the matter, police and rescue services rushed to the spot.
4 killed in a blast inside a vehicle in Karachi university, 2 among those dead are reportedly Chinese nationals. #Pakistan
Several videos have now surfaced on social media, which show a white van in flames. The area is seen surrounded by spectators. Although the police have not confirmed the cause of the explosion, Edhi rescue services claimed that it was due to a cylinder blast in a Hiace van.
Geo News reported that a total of 7-8 people were present in the car. Gulshan SP informed that a probe has been launched to determine whether the attack was an accident or a terror attack.
As per reports, the Baloch Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for the blast. They have also claimed that the Director of the Confucius Institute, Huang Guiping is among the dead.
A bomb disposal squad was called in and the injured were rushed to the hospital. Interestingly, Ghulam Nabi Memon, Karachi Police chief, had informed that it might be a suicide blast executed by a burqa-clad woman.
Suicide blast at Shia mosque in Peshawar
Earlier on March 4 this year, a massive blast took place inside a Shia mosque in Peshawar’s Kocha Risaldar area, killing 56 Pakistani citizens and injuring more than 200. The police said that the attack took place when worshipers had gathered in the mosque for their Friday prayers.
The Islamic State (ISIS) later claimed responsibility for the deadly terror attack. According to authorities, at least one assailant on a motorbike shot two police officers before entering the mosque and detonating what seemed to be a suicide vest.
Poll strategist Prashant Kishor has rejected Congress’ offer to join the party.
Following a presentation & discussions with Sh. Prashant Kishor, Congress President has constituted a Empowered Action Group 2024 & invited him to join the party as part of the group with defined responsibility. He declined. We appreciate his efforts & suggestion given to party.
Congress leader Randeep Surjewala took to Twitter to announce that the party had a discussion with Kishor after he gave a presentation on how to revive the party. Subsequently, Sonia Gandhi, the party president, had constituted an “Empowered Action Group 2024” for 2024 general elections and also invited him to join the party with a defined role and responsibility. However, Kishor has declined the offer, he said.
Surjewala said that the party appreciates the efforts and suggestions he gave to Congress.
Kishor, too, took to Twitter to announce how he has declined the ‘generous offer’.
I declined the generous offer of #congress to join the party as part of the EAG & take responsibility for the elections.
In my humble opinion, more than me the party needs leadership and collective will to fix the deep rooted structural problems through transformational reforms.
He said that in his ‘humble opinion’, more than himself, the party needs leadership and collective will to fix the deep rooted structural problems through transformational reforms. Earlier, 23 senior Congress leaders calling themselves ‘G23’ have also suggested that the Gandhis must go for party to revive. However, Gandhi family loyalists have stood by the family and have pined their hopes on Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi as hope for future.
Prashant Kishor gives 600 slides presentation, suggests hiring comedians to back Rahul Gandhi
Earlier it was reported that the celebrity poll strategist had given a 600 slide presentation to party leadership to help them revive the party and save it from oblivion. In the presentation, he had suggested Congress should try and push propaganda in digital space and get Facebook, Twitter influencers onboard along with likeminded media houses which can be used for party’s leverage. He had also suggested the party gets standup comedians on board to utilise their channels for propaganda.
On Tuesday, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Anurag Singh Thakur launched the first set of short video series named ‘Azadi Ki Amrit Kahaniya’ in collaboration with OTT platform Netflix to bring out inspiring stories of seven Indian women as a part of the celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. He also felicitated three inspiring Indian women who got featured in this special series.
“Stories of 7 trailblazing forces of nature who defined what freedom means to them. Netflix in association with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting presents – Azadi Ki Amrit Kahaniyan. Inspiring stories of 7 incredible, independent women, narrated by Neena Gupta”, Netflix India tweeted on April 26.
Stories of 7 trailblazing forces of nature who defined what freedom means to them.
The first set of the series narrates the inspiring stories of seven women changemakers- Basanti Devi, the savior of the Kosi River, Anshu Jamsenpa, the first woman to scale Mount Everest twice in five days in 2017, Harshini Kahnekar, India’s first woman firefighter, Arohi Pandit, the first woman pilot to cross the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean, Tessy Thomas, India’s first woman to head a missile project, Tanvi Jagdish, India’s first woman paddleboarder and Poonam Nautiyal, the lady who vaccinated the entire district of Bageshwar, Uttarakhand.
Minister Anurag Thakur while felicitating Basanti Devi, Anshu Jamsenpa, and Harshini Kanhekar on the occasion lauded their remarkable achievements and said that their stories would inspire people across the country. He said that ‘the idea of Azadi is intertwined with women emancipation in India’ and that the term Azadi or freedom holds a wider connotation for women who have to fight stereotypes and taboos in society as well.
Elaborating multiple dimensions of this partnership with Netflix, the Minister announced that the OTT platform Netflix would be producing 25 videos on themes including women empowerment, environment, sustainable development, and other days of significance. “Netflix will produce two-minute short films for the Ministry which will be shared on social media platforms and telecast on the Doordarshan network”, he added.
Thakur also announced that Netflix and Ministry had plans to organize training workshops and masterclasses to encourage filmmakers in India to create inspiring content on various topics under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. “Netflix and ministry will partner to develop a creative ecosystem by organizing training programs for post-production, VFX, animation, music production among others, and will be organized on the ground and virtually”, he said.
.@NetflixIndia will be producing twenty-five videos on themes including women empowerment, environment, sustainable development, and other days of significance.
Meanwhile Bela Bajaria, Head of Global TV, Netflix said that India was one of the most vibrant entertainment industries in the world, and India was remarkably well placed in times of internet entertainment. “Netflix is excited to be part of a time when stories from India are being exported to the world and the best Indian stories are being discovered and loved on a global stage. Netflix is proud to partner with MIB to celebrate and acknowledge the evolution of India over the past 75 years by celebrating its beautiful art, culture, and storytelling”, she said.
She further added that it was in pursuance of this partnership that Netflix had created a series of short videos based on real-life stories aimed to celebrate the achievement of people from all corners of India. “Netflix’s commitment to India is strong and growing and Netflix will continue to find the country’s finest stories and share them across the globe”, she remarked.
.@NetflixIndia is proud to partner with @MIB_India to celebrate and acknowledge the evolution of India over past 75 years by celebrating its beautiful art, culture and storytelling
It is important to note that on January 20, Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings had expressed his ‘frustration’ during an investor call over the slow growth of the video streaming company in the Indian market. “In our experience in Brazil, it was brutal for the first couple of years. We thought we’d never break even. I know we’ve got this great business. The great news is that in every single other major market, we’ve got the flywheel spinning. The thing that frustrates us is why haven’t we been more successful in India”, he had said.
Also, in December last year, the OTT platform had slashed the subscription prices of Netflix in India intending to expand the market. It had also started its special operation to learn more about the Indian consumers’ tastes and had decided to include similar content on the platform.
According to the statement, ‘Azadi Ki Amrit Kahaniyan’ is an iconic initiative to bring out beautiful stories of extraordinary Indians on various themes including Women Empowerment, Environment and Sustainability, and others. The diverse set of stories seeks to motivate and empower Indians from every corner of the country. The videos will be available on various social media channels of the Ministry, the Doordarshan network, and Netflix. The stories will soon be made available in other languages also like Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, English, and Malayalam to ensure that the stories are seen and heard by people across the nation.
A fact-finding report on the Jahangirpuri communal violence has called the area a ‘ticking bomb’ of illegal immigrants, radicalisation, demographic stress and illegal encroachments. The fact-finding was undertaken by the Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA). The members of the organisation visited Delhi’s Jahangirpuri a day after the incident, when Islamists had resorted to stone-pelting, arson and vandalism when a Hanuman Jayanti procession was moving through the C block of Jahangirpuri in Delhi on April 16. During the encounter, a police officer was also shot.
The objective of the members of the fact-finding committee, who stayed in the riot-hit area from April 17-19, was:
To observe the situation on the Ground in Jahangirpur.
To understand the causes that led to the violence in Jahangirpuri.
To meet victims of the street rioting in Jahangirpuri.
The stone-pelting became more widespread as women and children joined in the assault
In its report, GIA chronicled details of what exactly transpired in Jahangirpuri on April 16. The report stated that the Police and local administration were informed in advance of the date, time, and route of this procession. The regular procedure with religious processions, such as Tazia processions, is that the Delhi police never sought permission. The police are just notified and security is thereby arranged. In this case, too, the organisers had intimated the police about the scheduled Shobha Yatra and accordingly, police were stationed throughout the procession route.
The procession was accompanied by tableaux and religious songs were played.
The layout of the region is such that there is a Masjid (Jama Masjid) and a few houses of the local Muslim population, which are connected by a bylane. As the procession approached the Masjid at C Block, Kushal Chowk stones were hurled at the Hanuman Jayanti Tabeleux from the Masjid’s surrounding and other houses. The stone-pelting became more widespread as women, children, and men from nearby residences near the Masjid premises joined in the assault.
Within minutes, a mob of local Muslim residents with swords, lathis, iron rods, and some carrying pistols emerged from the Kushal cinema bylane (including purportedly Bangladeshi immigrants and Rohingyas). They were also chanting “Allah hu Akbar.”
The Hanuman Jayanti procession was attacked, resulting in a dangerous street riot.
Police officers who attempted to maintain order were viciously attacked with stones and swords and were also shot at by rioters. Sub Inspector Rajeev Ranjan filed the complaint, which resulted in the filing of FIR no. 440 of 2020, Police Station Jahangirpuri, on April 16, 2022. According to the FIR, SI Meda Lal was shot in the right arm, while 6-7 other officers suffered serious injuries, read the report.
It added that the residents in the area have reported fleeing the violence by running and hiding. Several residents’ automobiles were damaged or stolen as a result of the scuffle.
The fact-finding team wrote that the attack on the Hanuman Yatra was pre-planned. Men, women, and children gathered on the rooftops shortly after the stones and bottles were arranged. There was a large throng assembled, armed with stones, petrol bombs, and swords, ready to attack the procession.
Jahangirpuri- a ticking time bomb of criminal activities, demographic upheaval, and radicalization
According to the report, the first observation made by GIA members was the presence of encroachments and unlawful activity in the area.
In this location, the GIA members observed that there is a well-established economy based on illegal buildings, unlawful occupation of public land, and illicit trading. Illegal encroachments on green land for residential reasons, illegal Kabad (scrap) sites, illegal parking, illegal slaughter-houses and Satta (gambling) are examples of illegal encroachments and the resulting economy.
Illegal parking in Jahangirpuri: The fact-finding team shared pictures of how specific areas in the DC Block road of Jahangirpuri, some near government schools, have been illegally converted into parking areas. These parking lots demand an outrageous amount of money for vehicle parking, and the resulting economy is built on extortion and unlawful possession of government land. These regions are particularly dangerous for ordinary citizens.
Govt land illegally converted to parking areas in Jahangirpuri (source: GIA)
Illegal encroachment on public land: The park beside DDA flat and Prayas Road in Block F in Jahangirpuri has been illegally converted into a junkyard. This is just another instance of illegal encroachment on public property. The kabad (junk) economy is operated from these unlawful areas, which are also hotspots for crime and risk to ordinary inhabitants. These are also sites where you can see juvenile drug addicts. They are connected to the kabad (junk) commerce network.
Public spaces in the area illegally converted to junkyards (source: GIA)
Public spaces in the area illegally converted to junkyards (source: GIA)
Illegal construction of houses in Jahangirpuri: At C Block, there is a row of houses that adjoins the Masjid. It is from these houses that the stone-pelting on the Hanuman Jayanti procession began on April 16, 2022. These are illegal structures built on green land.
Illegal house structures built on green land in Jahangirpuri (source: GIA)
Illegal slaughterhouse: The GIA report also read that some residents have claimed that illicit slaughterhouses operate behind Jahangirpuri’s Jama Masjid.
Increase in the number of Madrassas over the years: According to reports, the number of madarsas in this area has surged in recent years. According to the article, it should be investigated whether these madarsas are responsible for radicalising women and children in this area. Pertinently, a significant number of children were seen pelting stones at the police and the Shobha Yatra in footage from April 16, 2022, the Jahangirpuri riots.
Important observations made by the fact-finding team
The members of the Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA), who stayed and spoke to many victim families in the riot-hit area concluded that the Jahangirpuri riot was a pre-planned street rioting by Muslim residents of the neighbourhood, together with Bangladeshis and Rohingyas (as stated by local neighbours), against the Hanuman Jayanti Shobha Yatra on April 16, 2022.
The rioters planned long in advance and stocked the houses with stones, swords, bottles, and firearms. The attacking crowd of Muslims included both residents of the local community and outsiders. A huge number of children were also visible in this crowd. This points to a growing radicalism in the area.
The team further said that the residential houses have been constructed on unauthorised land around the Masjid, which is where the attacks on the Hanuman Jayanti procession began. This is Greenland, which has been encroached upon for the construction of these dwellings.
Furthermore, there is a booming illegal trade in the neighbourhood. There are innumerable illegal kabad (junk) shops and illegal slaughterhouses. Illegal parking is being audaciously operated from unoccupied government property in the vicinity.
The report further warned that the area in Jahangirpuri is a crime-prone area due to thriving encroachment and illegal trade. Despite repeated complaints from local people, the local police (in the area) have turned a blind eye to such acts. This is a no-go zone for women. Crimes such as chain and handbag snatching are fairly widespread. People are hesitant to go out after dark.
It read that the local residents reported a major surge of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the area, who have illegally settled here over the course of several years.
Another intriguing finding made by the team was that stone-pelting on local law enforcement is a common occurrence and a component of the area’s lawlessness. It stated that on April 18, 2022, Crime Branch employees who went to conduct an investigation in the area were stoned by women and children. According to the GIA team, this proves that the Hanuman Jayanti procession was not instigated and that there is ongoing anti-law activities in the area.
Based on its findings, the GIA made some critical recommendations that could help alleviate the deteriorating situation in Jahangirpuri.
The team suggested that illegal Bangladeshi/Rohingya immigrants if any, in the area be identified and deported with immediate effect.
Unlawful activities, illegal encroachments on vacant areas where locals/outsiders have kept kabad, illegal parking, illegal slaughterhouses, and places where satta (gambling) operates must be stopped immediately.
As previously stated, women and children were involved in stone-pelting on both the Hanuman Jayanti procession and the police, therefore the team strongly recommended de-radicalization programmes in this area.
The role of local Muslims in organising these pre-planned attacks, as well as the presence of groups such as Jamat-i-Islami in this area, must be investigated.
It should also be explored whether any Bangladeshi/Rohingya immigrants have obtained legitimate citizenship papers/Aadhaar cards/passports, etc. Such individuals must be discovered and deported.
All of these unlawful operations, bastis(slums) of Bangladeshis/Rohingyas, encroachments on roadways, vacant properties, and so on, have gone unnoticed by the local police. Law enforcement officers must respond immediately.
The police must investigate and determine how such a significant number of stones and bottles were kept on the rooftops of private houses in this region.
Any development in the region on Government land, whether religious or residential, must be demolished immediately.
Since the riot model of pre-planned attacks on Hindu processions has been seen across states (Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh), and particularly in Delhi, which saw a large-scale riot in February 2020, a white paper to that effect should be shared with residents and society at large. The agencies involved must maintain complete transparency in their investigation and public communication.
All illegal shops and trade in this region must be shut down.
Victims of violence must be duly compensated.
Hindu victims are afraid, and they are not coming out to file complaints. They are terrified of the local mafia/Muslims in the area, which they refer to as ‘dabangs'(rowdies) in the area, as well as the local police, who they believe conspire with the local mafia.
The attack on Hanuman Jayanti Shobha Yatra in Jahangirpuri
On Saturday (April 16), Islamists attacked a Hanuman Jayanti procession in Delhi’s Jahangarapuri locality. The procession was proceeding quietly, according to the FIR. When the procession arrived at the Jama Masjid in C Block at 6 p.m., a man named Anshar approached the procession with several of his friends and began an altercation.
The argument immediately turned into stone-pelting, culminating in a panic in the procession. According to the FIR, police sought to take control of the situation, but a select portion of the crowd ignored the commands and increased the sloganeering while burning down several vehicles. The mob continued to bombard the procession with stones and glass bottles. During the encounter, a police officer was also shot.
