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Weapons left by US military in Afghanistan found with terrorists killed in Kashmir, Afghan terrorists reaching LoC to infiltrate into India: Army official

OpIndia Staff
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Weapons left by US military in Afghanistan found with terrorists killed in Kashmir, Afghan terrorists reaching LoC to infiltrate into India: Army official

The large cache of arms and ammunition that the USA had left behind in Afghanistan have now found their way to Kashmir in India, as the Pakistani terrorists operating in the valley are seen using such weapons. A senior Army official has confirmed that Afghan terrorists are now infiltrating into India, and American weapons from Afghanistan were recovered from the terrorists that were recently killed in Indian Army operations.

Major General Ajay Chandpuria, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 19 Infantry Division stationed in Baramulla of North Kashmir has said in an interview with the news agency ANI that high tech modern weapons and advanced night vision devices left behind by Americans in Afghanistan after the fall of Kabul in August 2021 are now finding their ways to Indian Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir via Pakistan through the Line of Control (LoC).

19 Infantry Division falls under the 15th Chinar Corps and is responsible for the counter-terror grid and security preparedness along with some crucial areas of Line of Control with Pakistan in North Kashmir.

Major General Chandpuria has said, “It has been 75 years. We fought in 1947, 1965, 1971. Today’s terrorism began in 1990. Things were different when the US troops were present in Afghanistan. Now after the fall of Kabul, from terrorists who were fighting against the US in Afghanistan to high-tech weapons and night-vision devices have made their way to the Kashmir LoC via Pakistan.”

He further added, “As per our analysis, 100 to 120 terrorists are ready to infiltrate Kashmir anytime. Their training camps in the launch pads have been shut down. Our deployment at LoC and our intel network have failed their plans to infiltrate. But still, there are few old terrorists here and others coming from different parts of the country.”

Hw further informed, “Around 150 to 200 terrorists are present in Kashmir valley. This number is calculated without counting in the brainwashed local youth. Their training is reduced to zero and they are used only for throwing hand grenades or a pistol firing. We called them hybrid terrorists or unidentified terrorists. So, the number of properly trained terrorists comes from 150 to 200. 40 to 45 percent of them are present in the Kashmir valley even now.”

Major General Abhay Chandpuria further said, “But the situations in the north Kashmir are almost normal. You must have visited the places and met the people. Terrorist activities are reduced to a few. Recruitment of the terrorists has come down to one-third of what it had been in the last year. The number of terrorists has also been reduced.”

He added, “We believe that Pakistan will not stop its effort. Despite ceasefire understanding, there have been 6 incidents of infiltration reported. We have neutralized terrorists. Besides, there are terrorists here in front of us.”

Informing about the weapons and devices recovered from the terrorists he said, “The weapons and devices recovered from the terrorists killed at the LoC were not those commonly seen. These weapons and devices were in Afghanistan when the US troops left. So it is our analysis that not only the weapons but the terrorists also can come to Kashmir.”

Meet Yash Vyas, 2008 Ahmedabad serial blast survivor, who saw his brother and father perish at age 8 but did not lose hope

Nirwa Mehta
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Meet Yash Vyas, 2008 Ahmedabad serial blast survivor, who saw his brother and father perish at age 8 but did not lose hope

On 26 July 2008, 8 year old Yash Vyas with his 10-11 year old brother Rohan and father, Dushyant Vyas, stepped out of home to learn how to cycle. They rode the cycle for about 2-3 hours. At around 7:30-7:45 PM, someone called up his father and asked him to wait at the Civil Hospital. Yash doesn’t know exact details, but his father who worked at Ahmedabad Civil Hospital’s cancer department’s laboratory, waited.

10 minutes later, an ambulance rolled in. His father asked his two sons to wait for him with the cycle and went to check in the ambulance. And there was another blast. “I am not sure if the blast took place inside ambulance or a vehicle that passed by, but the blast was so powerful it could be heard till two kms. My brother was standing with the cycle and he was burnt beyond recognition. I ran the other way because I was so scared,” Yash said while speaking to OpIndia.

Dushyant Vyas and Rohan Vyas

Yash started running towards his house, in injured state, but someone, likely a student or someone at the hospital, saw an injured child and got him admitted instead.

“I last saw my father at 8:30 PM on the day of the blast. They were taking him away on a stretcher. I then fell unconscious,” Yash said.

Dushyant Vyas was badly injured on his legs and he bled to death because of severe loss of blood, says Yash.

At first he was admitted to the Civil Hospital. “Modi Saheb had assured the best treatment to me. He said that the state government was ready to get me admitted in any hospital in any part of the world to ensure treatment. I was then shifted to Apollo Hospital where I was in ICU for next three months. I then spent a month outside of ICU,” he said.

“Dr Shrikant Lagwankar and Dr Jyotindra Kaur of Apollo took great care of me,” he said. Yash said that Rs 1.62 crore bill was footed by the state government. The state government gave monetary compensation for the injury as loss of lives to the bereaved family.

Yash is now pursuing B.Sc. (Bachelors in Science) and wants to then take up Masters.

On the recent death sentence awarded to the convicts, Vyas said, “They should have been hanged long back. They killed innocent people, so why should they be spared. Life imprisonment is of no use to them.”

There was a certain ring in his voice of having some feeling of justice being served after over a decade. “I sometimes have difficulty in hearing because the blast sound was so loud,” he said. It was tough for him and his mother and grandmother to accept how their lives had changed forever, but they have been resilient.

He saw his brother perish in front of his eyes and father bleed to death. Instead of being vengeful and taking up route of violence, Yash chose to get himself educated and wants to finish his Masters in chemistry and take up a job somewhere, ‘like a lab’, he said.

Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind has opposed the death penalty to the convicts and has said that they will take up the fight to the High Court and even Supreme Court if needed.

A special court in Ahmedabad announced the sentences in the 2008 Ahmedabad bomb blast case on Friday 18th February 2022. In the verdict, the court had awarded death sentences to as many as 38 convicts out of the 49 accused who were convicted in this case, while the remaining 11 had been sentenced to life imprisonment until death. As per law, the death sentences will need to be confirmed by the Gujarat High Court. You could read about other terror accused who were provided legal aide and support by Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind here.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma asks the Centre to ban PFI for involvement in ‘subversive activities and radicalisation’

OpIndia Staff
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Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma asks the Centre to ban PFI for involvement in ‘subversive activities and radicalisation’

The chief minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said the Assam government has asked the centre to impose an immediate and complete ban on the Popular Front of India(PFI). Sarma, however, added that the request was made not because of PFI’s stand on the hijab row but for their direct involvement in ‘subversive activities and radicalisation’.

“Assam has demanded an immediate complete ban on PFI (Popular Front of India) from the central govt, not because of the hijab issue, it’s their democratic right, but because of their direct involvement with subversive activities & radicalisation,” Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Notably, the Popular Front of India had recently lamented over the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blast verdict wherein the court sentenced the death penalty to 38 convicts while 11 others were awarded life imprisonment. PFI chairman OMA Salam raised aspersions on the verdict, stating that the verdict in the case is a “result of a tainted process, questionable investigation and draconian laws”.

A special court in Ahmedabad announced the sentences in the 2008 Ahmedabad bomb blast case on Friday 18th February 2022. In the verdict, the court has awarded death sentences to as many as 38 convicts out of the 49 accused who were convicted in this case, while the remaining 11 have been sentenced to life imprisonment until death. Earlier on 8th February 2022, the court had convicted 49 out of 77 accused in the case. The serial bomb blasts that took place in Ahmedabad on 26th July 2008 had caused 56 deaths and 243 innocent citizens were injured in the blasts.

PFI involvement in fuelling protests over hijab row

Recently, the role of the Campus Front of India(CFI), the notorious student wing of the radical Islamist outfit Popular Front of India, in instigating the Muslim students to create the hijab controversy in Udupi, Karnataka, had come to light. According to a January 19, 2022 report by The News Minute, the Muslim students who are protesting against uniform regulations in the state were in contact with radical Islamist outfit CFI. The students admitted that they began wearing the hijab in college only in December 2021, realising that there was no particular rule banning the hijab in the college rulebook. 

Reportedly, the Women’s Government Pre-University College in Udupi, the epicentre of the burqa protests, has become a hub for PFI to carry out its communal political events, especially over the last year. It is being said that a few Muslim students of the college had participated in a protest organised by ABVP in October 2021.

PFI being funded for promoting Islam and radicalisation drives in India: Reports

Last year, a Kerala-based journalist had made a sensational disclosure regarding how radical Islamic organisations such as the Popular Front of India and Jamaat-e-Islami were receiving funds to promote Islamism in India. In a Clubhouse discussion, Kerala-based journalist MP Basheer had revealed details about the international funding to advance radical Islam in the country.

In his disclosure, Basheer had said that he had accessed a letter written by Jamaat-e-Islami requesting the King Abdul Aziz University in Saudi Arabia to increase the financial grant to the radical Islamic organisation so that they could create awareness and promote the Islamic dress code in Kerala and India. He had further stated that Jamaat had objected to certain Muslim women journalists not wearing hijabs and had stated that Basheer should tell them to wear hijabs.

Sikhs who returned from Afghanistan thank PM Modi for saving the lives of Hindus and Sikhs and also the great culture heritage

OpIndia Staff
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Sikhs who returned from Afghanistan thank PM Modi for saving the lives of Hindus and Sikhs and also the great culture heritage

A day before Punjab goes to voting for the state assembly elections, a video has appeared on social media in which the Sikhs who returned from Afghanistan while the Taliban were taking over that country in August 2021 have expressed their gratitude towards PM Modi for saving not only the lives of Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan but also the great inheritance of culture.

Parminder Singh Brar, an England-based lawyer, and ex OSD to Deputy CM of Punjab has shared a video in which the Sikhs who were saved from the Taliban by the Modi government in July 2021 are seen expressing their gratitude towards the government and especially towards the Prime Minister. The video covers the bytes by many including Nidan Singh Sachdeva who was brought back to India safely in July 2021.

The video opens with a Sikh person saying “I would say that if there is anything impossible in the world, it becomes possible when it comes to Narendra Modi. We people understand what kind of a person Narendra Modi is and how helpful he had been to us. He had finished the tasks that many others could not. And moreover, he has showered love upon us that we can never forget.”

Another person who used to offer his services in a Gurudwara there has said in this video, “I used to work in Kabul. I would offer my services in a Gurudwara there. The Taliban abducted me from the Gurudwara and took me away. I am very happy that I am alive today all thanks to Hindustan especially PM Modi who has helped me a lot.”

Next to this, another Sikh person is seen in this video who has said, “He (PM Modi) brought our people back, sent airplanes for them. There were 400 to 500 years old copies of Shri Guru Granth Sahib, Shrimadbhagvadgeeta, Ramayana, etc. PM Modi has brought back all the historic and cultural inheritance. He walks the talk.”

Another Sikh person has said, “Many of our problems are solved including the CAA issue. There were issues regarding our commutation to and fro India. These issues were pending for the last 25 years but they were addressed and solved only after the BJP was elected to power and Modi became the PM.”

Another Sikh person in this video has said, “The Prime Minister has saved the lives of Hindus and Sikhs living in Afghanistan. The airports in Afghanistan were not operative. The airplanes of the Indian Air Force arrived and took them out of the danger.”

After this, another Sikh person in this video has said, “Besides the Hindu and Sikh Indians in Afghanistan, the Muslims there also love him so much that we can’t sum it up in words. He takes bold decisions which are actually in the good interest of all of us including Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs. Everyone gets benefitted by this.”

‘Not a single Hindu woman come outside homes wearing religious symbols’: Islamists in Bangladesh issue threats while protesting ‘hijab ban’ in India

OpIndia Staff
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‘Not a single Hindu woman come outside homes wearing religious symbols’: Islamists in Bangladesh issue threats while protesting ‘hijab ban’ in India

Amidst the ongoing ‘Hijab row’ in Karnataka which has now spread to other states, Islamists have threatened Hindus living in Bangladesh with dire consequences if Muslim students are not allowed entry into Indian classrooms with Hijab.

On Friday (February 18), radical Muslim mobs gathered in large numbers in Dhaka to protest against the ‘Hijab ban’ in Indian schools, reported Ruptly. They also protested against the rising price of commodities and large scale issuance of wine shop licences.

In a video shared by a Bangladeshi Twitter user, a large group of Muslims could be seen marching on the streets with placards while raising anti-India slogans. “The conspiracy about stopping education of Muslim girls in India should be stopped,” read one placard.

The mob, associated with the radical Islamist party Islami Andolan Bangladesh, also raised slogans of ‘Allahu Akbar’ while they rallied in support of the hijab on the streets of Dhaka. While threatening Hindus living in Bangladesh, an Islamist warned that life would become miserable for Hindu women in the country.

“Not a single Bangladeshi Hindu woman come outside homes and walk on the street with a religious symbol like Shaka, Sindoor…,” he threatened. The Islamist received overwhelming support from the Muslim mob standing in his vicinity.

Earlier on February 9 this year, the Islami Chhatra Andolan Bangladesh had staged a protest in Dhaka against the refusal of permission to some female Muslim students to attend classes in hijab in Udupi town of Karnataka.

A similar protest march was conducted by the Muslim women associated with the Bangladeshi Islami Mahila Majlis in Dhaka on February 10. “Wearing Hijab is a religious right of Muslim women,” read a banner carried by the Burqa-clad protestors.

Jamaat-e-Islami women in Pakistan extend support to hijabi girls in Karnataka

On February 10, 100s of Pakistani women, who are associated with Jamaat-e-Islami, rallied in support of the ‘right to wear hijab in schools’ of India. They held placards that read, “Hijab is our right”, “Modi Stop Terrorism” and “Why is the world silent on this extremism?”

“We salute the courage and bravery of our Muslim daughter Muskan Khan. She chanted the slogan of ‘Allahu Akbar’. She declared that Muslims would not allow our values to be infringed under any circumstances,” remarked a JeI protestor.

Another niqab-clad female protestor said, “We demand from the government of India, which has a secular constitution to allow Muslim citizens, women and girls, to live according to their culture and values.” One Jamaat-e-Islami agitator drew false equivalences with the Hindu way of life to claim that girls should be allowed to wear hijab in schools.

Besides protests in Karachi, Islamists also burnt the effigy of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Lahore city and demanded that Muslim girls be allowed to wear hijab to schools.

Relatives of Ahmedabad bomb blast convicts seen campaigning with SP chief, alleges UP CM Yogi Adityanath

OpIndia Staff
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Relatives of Ahmedabad bomb blast convicts seen campaigning with SP chief, alleges UP CM Yogi Adityanath

UP CM Yogi Adityanath has alleged in an election campaign rally at Plibhit in Uttar Pradesh that the relatives of the convicts in the Ahmedabad bomb blast case are seen campaigning with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. This statement by Yogi Adityanath has come days before the third phase of the ongoing assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Yogi Adityanath, during his address at a public meeting in Bisalpur of Pilibhit, said, “You can imagine. There is a new wave, but the SP is the same as before. SP is standing by the terrorists. This has been seen once again.” Yogi Adityanath also mentioned the verdict given by an Ahmedabad court in the 13-year old case of serial bomb blasts in Ahmedabad that took place in 2008.

Yogi Adityanath said “Capital punishment and life imprisonments were awarded. The convicts included some terrorists from UP too. The family members of one of them were seen with the SP chief asking for votes for the party.”

Comparing the rule of previous governments with the current BJP government he said “In the SP and BSP regimes, even electricity had a specific religion. There used to be an uninterrupted power supply on the occasion of Eid and Muharram. On the other hand, Holi and Deepawali used to witness frequent power cuts. This is not the case in the BJP government. Electricity in the BJP rule has no religion. It is supplied without any interruption to everyone.”

Yogi Adityanath also promised a medical college at Pilibhit. Polling for the third phase of the elections will take place on 20th February 2022. 59 seats from 16 districts are covered in this phase. The counting of votes will take place on 10th March 2022.

It is worth noting that Md Saif, son of SP leader Shadab Ahmed, was one of the convicts in the Ahmedabad bomb blast case. He was arrested in September 2008 following the blasts in July that year. Saif was nabbed from Delhi’s Jamia Nagar where he was staying at that time. His roommates Atif and Sajid were killed in a police shootout when they had tried to flee, while Saif was injured. After the arrest, Shadab Ahmed had said that his son had told him that he was doing an English speaking course in Delhi.

Ahmedabad Bomb Blast verdict: 38 convicts awarded death sentence, 11 others get life imprisonment

A special court in Ahmedabad announced the sentences in the 2008 Ahmedabad bomb blast case on Friday 18th February 2022. In the verdict, the court has awarded death sentences to as many as 38 convicts out of the 49 accused who were convicted in this case, while the remaining 11 have been sentenced to life imprisonment until death. Earlier on 8th February 2022, the court had convicted 49 out of 77 accused in the case. The serial bomb blasts that took place in Ahmedabad on 26th July 2008 had caused 56 deaths and 243 innocent citizens were injured in the blasts.

On 26th July 2008, 20 serial bomb blasts had left the city of Ahmedabad in shock. The haunting memories of this terror attack still leave the people in a trauma-like situation. Within three weeks of the attack, major arrests, in this case, had taken place owing to the coordinated efforts of the Gujarat police and the ATS. A big network of the Indian Mujahidin terrorists was exposed. These terrorists were also involved in the bomb blasts in other cities of the country. Then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi had extended every possible support to the investigating officers in order to ensure that a strong case is built against the terrorists.

‘Sheer violation of rule’: EC asks Punjab police to register FIR against Arvind Kejriwal for violating model code of conduct

OpIndia Staff
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‘Sheer violation of rule’: EC asks Punjab police to register FIR against Arvind Kejriwal for violating model code of conduct

The ongoing Punjab assembly elections have taken a dramatic turn after the Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab requested the senior superintendent of police Sahibjada Ajit Singh Nagar to register an FIR against AAP convenor and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for violating the model code of conduct and making frivolous allegations against other parties. This request was sent through a letter dated 19th February 2022. The Chief Electoral Officer has taken this step in response to a complaint raised by the Shiromani Akali Dal on 18th February 2022.

The letter by the Chief Electoral Commission to the police officials.

According to the copy of the letter posted by ANI, the state election commission has directed the Mohali administration to file a case against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for violating the guidelines of the election commission. Kejriwal had released a video in which he had thrown allegations against Sukhbir Singh Badal’s party Shiromani Akali Dal. The Chief Electoral Officer of Punjab has informed that the clip was not approved by the state-level media certification and monitoring committee.

The CEO in the letter said that the video was ‘sheer violation of the rule 4.4.2(B) DONT’s (v) of manual on Model Code of Conduct’ and other related guidelines. Therefore, the EC official requested the SSP of SAS Nagar to register the FIR as per legal provisions.

The video uploaded on the Facebook account of AAP Punjab, URL (https://www.facebook.com/AAPPunjab/videos/4737478313015438) of which has been mentioned by the EC in the letter, has been removed by AAP Punjab now.

Earlier, Shiromani Akali Dal had objected to the video appeal of Kejriwal addressed to Akali Dal voters. The party had then filed a complaint with Punjab’s Chief Electoral Officer against Arvind Kejriwal. Advocate Arshdeep Singh Kler is the vice president and the spokesperson of the party. He had registered a complaint on 18th February 2022.

Video appeal by Arvind Kejriwal released on 18th February 2022

The party had said “Arvind Kejriwal released a video message making an appeal to the voters of Shiromani Akali Dal to vote for AAP on the basis of unsubstantiated, false and frivolous claims misleading the people of Punjab. Shiromani Akali Dal strictly objects to such malicious and immoral tactics which are against the spirit of the Model Code of Conduct which provides a level playing field to all political parties.”

Party had also cited the case of Bikram Singh Majithia and said that Kejriwal keeps alleging other leaders and parties and then furnishes an apology.

Indore municipal official who was assaulted by BJP MLA Akash Vijayvargiya with a cricket bat takes U-turn in court, says he does not know who had hit him

OpIndia Staff
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Indore municipal official who was assaulted by BJP MLA Akash Vijayvargiya with a cricket bat takes U-turn in court, says he does not know who had hit him

Three years after an Indore municipal corporation was beaten in front of the public by BJP MLA Akash Vijayvargiya using a cricket bat, the official has turned hostile in court, saying he does not know who had hit him. According to reports, the official Dhirendra Byas has now told the Indore district court that he does not recognise the person who had assaulted him.

On 18th February 2022, he told the court that he was talking on the mobile phone when the incident happened, and he didn’t see the attacker. Earlier, he had named Akash Vijayvargiya in his complaint as the attacker.

He further said as he was assaulted from his backside, he does not know who exactly was the one to hit him. He also said that when he turned back, he had seen three-four people holding bats in their hands and he had then named Akash Vijayvargiya in his complaint as he was also holding a cricket bat in his hands. The court will hear this matter next on 25th February 2022.

It may be noted that the incident was caught on camera, where BJP MLA Akash Vijayvargiya was seen assaulting Dhirendra Byas with a cricket bat. He was arrested following the incident, and a case was registered against him.

Akash Vijayvargiya had a fight of words with the municipal corporation officials of Indore over razing down an old building in the Ganji Compound area of Indore. He had hit the then corporation officer Dheerendra Bais with a cricket bat. Akash Vijayvargiya was arrested in this incident that took place on 26th June 2019. Till now this matter was being heard in a special court at Bhopal. Now that a special court has been formed in Indore in this regard, the statement recorded by the complainant officer Dheerendra Bais was cross-examined.

Senior lawyer Avinash Sirpurkar representing the BJP MLA in this case has informed that the complainant has told the judge that there were more than a hundred people when he had reached on the spot to raze the building. After 15 minutes, Akash Vijayvargiya had arrived there.

Reportedly, Bais has told the judge that he was talking on the mobile phone when he was assaulted with a cricket bat from behind. Turning back, he saw three-four people holding cricket bats in their hands. Akash Vijayvargiya was one of them. He was also holding a bat in his hands. So, Bais named him in the complaint. Other witnesses will be cross-examined on 25th February 2022, said Sirpurkar.

Groom camps outside a police station in Madhya Pradesh after police stop DJ music at the wedding procession

OpIndia Staff
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Groom camps outside a police station in Madhya Pradesh after police stop DJ music at the wedding procession

On Sunday, a high drama unfolded at a police station in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, after the police officials stopped a family from playing loud music during a marriage procession. The entire wedding party led by the groom staged protest at the police station,

According to the reports, a group of people were carrying out a wedding procession on the streets of Ratlam last Saturday while going to the bride’s place for the wedding, when the police stopped them on the pretext of playing loud music on DJ systems. As the wedding party was going through a police colony, the police had disallowed DJ music saying that the loud music would disturb families of police officials residing there.

The wedding group initially resisted saying that the restrictions start at 11 pm in the night and argued that the police could not stop them from playing the music as it was still 9 pm.

However, the police were in no mood to relent. They ordered that the wedding party must stop playing loudspeakers, failing an action would be taken against them. The vehicle carrying the sound systems left the place on police orders.

As the police left the spot, the unyielding bridegroom, who belonged to the Scheduled Tribe community, rode the horse straight to the police station and protested against the police action of stopping them from playing loud music. The entire wedding party followed him and assembled at the police station.

The bridegroom argued with the police officials and camped at the police station along with his friends. Upon receiving information about the incident, local BJP leaders visited the police station in support of the tribal youth. The BJP leaders insisted that the wedding group should be allowed to play the music. The wedding party insisted that if they are not allowed to play music, the wedding will be conducted at the police station itself.

The drama continued for an hour until senior police officials allowed the bridegroom’s family to play DJ during his procession, but at a lower volume. Accordingly, the police also arranged for a DJ music system as the original one had already been sent away by the cops.

Mukesh Sastiya, Sub-inspector of Ratlam police station, said, “The bridegroom along with many others camped on the campus at around 10.30 pm demanding permission for DJ in his marriage procession. Earlier, the DJ was disallowed because of curbs after 10 pm. Moreover, there is also a covid curfew from 11 pm. The groom and his family members were determined to carry out a marriage ceremony on the police campus if DJ was not allowed in the procession.”

The police officer said that the senior police officials allowed the DJ to be played but with very low volume music. The procession left the police station campus around midnight after the arrangement of DJ was made, said SI Sastiya.

Australian cricketer James Faulkner quits Pakistan Super League mid-season, blames PCB for non-payment of dues

OpIndia Staff
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Australian cricketer James Faulkner quits Pakistan Super League mid-season, blames PCB for non-payment of dues

On Saturday (February 19), Australian cricketer James Faulkner withdrew from the ongoing season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) over non-payment of dues by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He played for the Quetta Gladiators’ franchise as a bowling all-rounder.

In a tweet, Faulkner informed, “I apologise to the Pakistan cricket fans. But unfortunately, I’ve had to withdraw from the last 2 matches and leave the PSL due to the PCB not honouring my contractual agreement/payments. I’ve been here the whole duration and they have continued to lie to me.”

Screengrab of the tweet by James Faulkner

As such, the 31-year-old cricketer will not play the two upcoming matches against the Multan Sultans and the Karachi Kings. He had expressed hope that the Pakistani fans will understand his precarious situation.

James Faulkner added, “It hurts to leave as I wanted to help to get international cricket back in Pakistan as there is so much young talent and the fans are amazing. But the treatment I have received has been a disgrace from the PCB and PSL.”

Screengrab of the tweet by James Faulkner

According to a report published by ESPN Cricinfo, Faulkner had grown increasingly tense over the non-payment of dues by the Pakistani Cricket Board. Things reportedly came to a head Friday when the Australian cricketer hurled his bat and helmet from the lobby floor balcony onto a chandelier following a discussion with a PCB official before leaving for the airport.

PCB cries foul, to release detailed statement soon

In a desperate bid to save its face before the international cricket community, the Pakistan Cricket Board tried to do last-minute damage control.

Screengrab of the tweet by PCB

“The PCB and Quetta Gladiators have regretfully taken note of Mr James Faulkner’s false and misleading accusations and will shortly be releasing a detailed statement on the matter,” it said in a statement. The 2022 edition of the Pakistan Super League commenced on January 27 and will conclude on February 27 this year.

As per norms followed by the PCB, they have always made player payments in advance before recovering money from the franchises, which stands to explain why Faulkner’s grouse with the PCB and not with his franchise, Quetta Gladiators, who have distanced themselves from the issue, stating that the dispute lies with the PCB.

Faulkner featured in 6 matches in this PSL season, scalping 6 wickets and scoring 49 runs.

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