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Rape of a 16-year-old minor girl in Mumbai by her ‘Instagram friends’ reveal a dark side of social media no one talks about

Akshita Bhadauria
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Rape of a 16-year-old minor girl in Mumbai by her ‘Instagram friends’ reveal a dark side of social media no one talks about

Mumbai police arrested six people in the age group of 19 and 23 for allegedly assaulting a 16-year-old girl sexually in the northern suburbs.

The six boys were arrested after the victim’s mother had lodged a complaint with the police when her daughter did not return home from a birthday party on the intervening night of May 31-June 01. 

A case of kidnapping was registered with the Malvani police when the mother approached the police with a missing complaint. “The accused are survivor’s social media friends,” said the police officer. On June 1, the girl returned home, however, she did not reveal anything to her parents. Her mother then informed the police who with a team took the victim into confidence to narrate the incident. 

The minor then informed that she had been invited for a friend’s birthday party near a hotel in Madh. Upon reaching the spot she saw three of her male friends were waiting for her. Post the birthday celebrations in a parked car the three boys raped her inside the vehicle. Scared to face her parents, the girl went to a friend’s house who she knew through Instagram. She said that he also raped her. She then went to the houses of two other friends she knew through Instagram, who also sexually assaulted her.

The accused have been booked under the charges of gang rape and various sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. After being produced before the court, the accused have been remanded to police custody.

Privacy, data leaks, cyber crimes, morphing and doxxing are terms alien to the young who have unlimited access to digital devices and social media without understanding the perils of it. With technology at our fingertips but very little knowledge on how to make correct use of it, the humongous virtual world act more like a trap especially for young minds.

The dark side of social media 

As per a 2021 data, social media applications such as Snapchat, Tik Tok and Instagram have the 13-34 age group as their largest active audience. With abusive, sexual and violent content unfurled all across these platforms with very little monitoring, it is simply trapping more and more children in the virtual world, dragging them far away from reality.

From making friends to fans, social media acceptance is seen as an achievement by the teens thus pushing them to indulge in age-inappropriate activities to get the ‘desired reach.’

A 2020 Netflix documentary ‘The Social Dilemma’ brought to light the world of the millennials and the Gen-Z chasing likes and shares on these virtual platforms. So much so, that rejection (not getting enough likes) has pushed enough children in the USA towards suicide and mental depression. 

Not built for children originally, the wide acceptance and very little parental control have encouraged the social media platforms to launch newer features and tools making it ‘child-friendly’ while they are busy making friends on social media. 

As if pushing the young minds into a virtual world with the existing platforms was not enough, after YouTube kids, Instagram is all set to launch ‘Instagram for kids.’

As parents worry about the mental health and growing lack of confidence and communication skills among their children, the big tech is viewing the teens and pre-teens as nothing more than an untapped market. 

17-year-old jumped to death for being labeled a ‘rapist’

On the 4th of May, 2020, a 17-year-old boy, Manav, jumped from the 11th floor of his apartment building, landing on the road below and ultimately, losing his life after being labeled as a ‘rapist’.

An Instagram group had been outed by a girl, where a bunch of teenage boys were seemingly discussing women, sharing their explicit photographs and discussing how they can gang-rape them. Though it was later found that the chat about ‘gang-rape‘ was initiated by a girl who was trying to “test” the boys, at the time, a raging discussion had erupted about the conduct of up-scale boys and the lack of respect for women and their privacy.

Amidst the controversy, a teenage girl took to Instagram and narrated a story about how she was allegedly raped over 2 years ago by a boy named Manav. In the one hour that followed, threats were made to the boy, he was vilified, branded, insulted, abused. The pressure and the prospect of a life of shame were too much for Manav to accept pushing him into committing suicide.

Girls locker room

Two days after the ‘Bois Locker Room’ Instagram chat took Twitter by storm for glorifying rape culture, another controversy, of a similar nature, had come to the fore. That time around, screenshots of voyeuristic chats between the girls of an alleged version of girls’ locker room were doing the rounds on the Internet. The alleged women-only group is run by girls and is allegedly used for objectifying men and making unsavoury remarks against them.

Cybercrimes on a rise

With the pandemic keeping the schools shut, children locked up at home and hooked to digital devices, cybercrime cases are on a rise. As per a Money Control report, two classmates (male and female) chatted frequently on social media. One day the boy’s account was hacked and the hacker started chatting with the girl and began sending “soiled” links, vulgar images and even posted it on the boy’s social media accounts, leading to an uproar.

Only upon a legal investigation was it found that the male student’s account was broken into and that he was innocent of the crimes for which he was arrested traumatizing both the students. 

In a serious case of online radicalization, four boys went missing from the Kalyan area of Maharashtra and were found dead in another country a few weeks later.

A police investigation revealed that the boys were chatting on social media with a girl, who was nothing but a bot. The boys went on to become ISIS fighters and traveled via multiple countries to reach their destination, with their families unaware of their situation and they are not the only ones.

Lack of parental control

While the internet can be a great place to surf, connect and shop, the content floating on the world wide web is not necessarily appropriate for minors with parents having very little knowledge of the content.

From abusive meme pages that are full of sexual inuendos to glamorous ‘reels’, a wide variety of content is dished out to the minors who ultimately think of it as regular content. 

As per a 2016 survey, 51 per cent of teens do not share incidents of the web with their parents. Most parents are unaware of hacking, cyberbullying, data theft and radicalization all of which are easily possible through social media networks. 

Unfortunately, keeping an eye over the online activities of children is now seen as restricting their freedom. However, there is a need to find a balance, educate parents about the content available on especially social media and a need to monitor not just the time but even the activities of especially teens and pre-teens on social media.

Apart from making use of the very same technology to keep an eye on the activities of children like parental control applications, it is imperative for the parents to establish a strong communication bond with the kids. While the crimes can be kept at bay with several applications, it is crucial to monitor the content being consumed by children and also be aware of the content being put out by them in the virtual space.

In the digital space where even children are not spared, it is not a bad idea for parents to take up some digital courses on ‘online safety for parents’ available for free.

Ekta Kapoor alleges child rape accusations against Pearl V Puri are false, Mumbai Police refutes her claims

OpIndia Staff
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Ekta Kapoor alleges child rape accusations against Pearl V Puri are false, Mumbai Police refutes her claims

Television actor Pearl V Puri, best known for his role in the Hindi television serial Naagin 3, was arrested on June 4 in an alleged rape case of a minor, sending ripples in the television industry. The actor along with five others was taken into custody by the Malad police for interrogation.

Post his arrest, several of his colleagues came out in support of the actor including Indian television producer Ekta Kapoor. Taking to social media, Kapoor had claimed that Pearl Puri had been falsely accused in the rape case of a minor and that the case was made up by the victim’s father to win an ongoing custody battle for their child.

Reacting to Kapoor’s allegations, Vasai DCP Sanjay Kumar Patil, who is handling the case, informed in a press conference that the accusations against Pearl are not baseless and that they have enough proof.

“No, the accusations are not false. His name has come up in the investigation. There is evidence against him. That is why the police has arrested him. The truth will be decided in the trial,” DCP Patil clarified. 

The officer also revealed that the case was filed by the victim’s father who claimed the incident happened on the sets of a show being shot in Naigaon in 2019. It is said that the victim’s mother was also a part of the same show.

“The victims’ statement was recorded and a medical examination was also done. Her statement was also recorded under CrPC 164. The accused was arrested as he had a role in the incident,” added the DCP. 

Ekta Kapoor claimed Puri being dragged into the matter

Ekta Kapoor in her Instagram post claimed that the actor was being falsely accused by the victim’s father. Her post read, “Will I support a child molester…or a molester of any kind? But what I witnessed from last night to now, was the absolute low in human depravity. How can humanity go to this level? How can people who are upset with each other, drag a third person into their own fight? How can a human being take on another human being and do this?”

Putting out more information, Kapoor wrote, “After various calls with the child‘s/girl’s mother, who openly said that Pearl was not involved and it’s her husband trying to create stories to keep her child and prove that a working mother on a set cannot take care of her kid. If this is true then it is wrong on so many levels,” she added.

“Using an extremely important movement like ‘Me Too’ frivolously, to get your own agendas met with and mentally torturing a child and making an innocent person guilty. I have no right to decide, the courts will decide who is right & wrong. My opinion only comes from what the girl’s mother said to me last night & that is – Pearl is innocent …and it is very very sad if people are using various tactics to prove working mothers are unable to take care of their children, because there are predators on the set,” she added.

TV celebrities come in support of Pearl Puri

Apart from Ekta Kapoor, popular television celebrities including Hina Khan, Nia Sharma, Aly Goni, Karishma Tanna and many more also have come out in support of the Naagin 3 actor. 

Actor Nia Sharma took to Instagram to register her protest against fake allegations. Her post read, “Actor Nia Sharma wrote on Instagram, “Rape is not a joke, no excuse, no means to come at someone to satisfy a bruised ego. Rape and molestation stories are terrifying and far beyond imagination in India. The real victims die, their stories go unheard, their families are waiting for justice all their lives. Do not belittle them. Do not make a mockery of it. Rape allegations cannot fu**ing be used at will. It Cannot. It should not. @pearlvpuri sorry it happened to you.”

Pearl Puri’s colleague Surbhi Jyoti tweeted, “I have worked with him. I know him very well. He is a very nice and humble human being. I stand with him. #istandwithpearl #letthetruthprevail @pearlvpuri.” Aly Goni said that he is the sweetest guy and said that the news cannot be true. On similar lines, Hina Khan too took to her Instagram stories and said that he is one of the kindest souls.

Actor Krystle D’Souza also extended her support saying, “I know @pearlvpuri and he is one of the nicest boys I’ve met in our tv industry. A thorough gentleman. Please don’t jump to conclusions on baseless allegations. Let’s wait for the truth to come out. #istandwithpearl #PearlVPuri.”

Pearl Puri has been sent to 14-day judicial custody. 

Uttar Pradesh: Hindu temple in Alampur attacked, Shivling found uprooted and desecrated

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Hindu temple in Alampur attacked, Shivling found uprooted and desecrated

A Shiva temple in the Alampur village of Saharanpur district, Uttar Pradesh was attacked on the evening of June 5. The Shivling of the temple was found uprooted and desecrated outside the temple leading to a tense situation in the village.

After the images and posts of the desecrated temple went viral on social media, the OpIndia team contacted the locals and the police of the village to know more about the incident. 

As per a local, the temple which is around 40-50 years old came under attack on Saturday. The lock of the temple was found broken with the Shivling uprooted from its original place. The local also informed that the situation was tensed after the villagers found the idol vandalized. However, with the arrival of the police, the situation was brought under control. 

SO Amardeep Lal of Mirzapur police station who was at the site of the incident when contacted confirmed to OpIndia that the Hindu temple was found attacked. With the priest, village head and locals present at the location, SO Lal assured that efforts are already being made to resurrect the idol. 

Temples under attack in Andhra Pradesh

Early this year we had reported on how a series of temple vandalism incidents across Andhra Pradesh had left Hindus all over the country horrified and shaken.

A 400-year old mūrti of Sri Rāma at Ramathirtha, Vizianagaram District, AP on the 29th of December 2020 was found decapitated. The head of Sri Rāma was found after being thrown in the temple tank.

Prior to that a 12th century Nandi was found broken to pieces at a Śiva temple in Chittur district; two old Hindu temples in Suryaraopeta, East Godavari district was illegally demolished by neighbouring Church’s Pastor, who also stole the antique idols housed within, and 23 idols of small shrines in Pithapuram, East Godavari district was brutally vandalized.

In 2020, about 228 cases of attacks on temples were registered in Andhra Pradesh, 305 cases in 2019, 267 in 2018, 318 in 2017, 332 in 2016 and 290 in 2015. 

The unprovoked, systematic attacks on Hindu temples have increased both in magnitude and seriousness over the past few years. 

Did a pet hippo kill and eat his owner six years after he was ‘adopted’ as per viral message? Here are the details

OpIndia Staff
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Did a pet hippo kill and eat his owner six years after he was ‘adopted’ as per viral message? Here are the details

Earlier this week, several users took to Twitter to share a news report claiming that a hippopotamus had dragged a South African man named Marius Els and ate him near a river, six years after he had rescued and adopted the baby hippo.

A social media account named Facts (@StrangeFactoid) shared a news report on Twitter on Friday saying, in 2005, a South African man, Marius Els, had adopted a baby hippo after rescuing it from a river. However, six years later, after years of bonding between the two, the hippo dragged him into that same river and “ate” him.

Even though the news reports of a South African national being mauled to death by a hippo is true, however, it is misleading to claim that he was eaten by the same hippo that he had ‘adopted’ six years ago after rescuing from a river.

Did Hippopotamus eat the South African man?

The incident pertains to the tragic death of a farmer from South Africa named Marius Els, who was mauled to death by his pet hippo Humphrey. In an incident that had occurred in November 2011, 40-year-old Army Major Marius Els was killed by the 1.2-tonne hippo he had adopted and tried to domesticate on a farm in Free State province.

The body of Els was found in a river with marks of being bitten by a huge animal several times, which he had earlier described as his son. Els’s body was found submerged in the river where he had rescued the hippo from a flood six years ago.

The hippo grew too big for the people who adopted it and was bought by Els at the age of five months, becoming his pet on his 400-acre farm. Els was also photographed riding on the five-year-old hippo’s back.

Marius Els on the back of Humphrey near his farm/ Image Source: MTC

“Humphrey’s like a son to me, he’s just like a human,” he had said. “There’s a relationship between Humphrey and me and that’s what some people don’t understand. They think you can only have a relationship with dogs, cats and domestic animals. But I have a relationship with the most dangerous animal in Africa,” Els had said.

However, Els’s wife, Louise, a pharmacist, had a different story to tell. She had expressed misgivings about the hippo as the giant animal had caused trouble before. Earlier in 2011, a 52-year-old man and his seven-year-old grandson had to climb and stay atop a tree for two hours after being chased by Humphrey.

Similarly, Humphrey has also been accused of killing calves belonging to Els’s business partner. The animal also frequently broke out of its enclosure and chased golfers at a local golf club.

Els, who had also domesticated kept giraffe and rhino, claimed the sound of his voice would bring Humphrey back home. He regarded the hippo as “loveable” and a “gentle giant”.

Except, years later, Humphrey mauled Els in the river on that fateful day and left him submerged in the water for several hours, causing his death. Though there were some bitten marks on Els’s body, the hippo had not eaten up the body after killing him, as claimed by social media users.

Hence, social media users claiming that the hippo “killed and ate” the man, who had adopted and domesticated for years, is misleading.

Fact-check: Did a PETA activist really become pregnant with Gorilla semen to save the species

OpIndia Staff
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Fact-check: Did a PETA activist really become pregnant with Gorilla semen to save the species

On Sunday, several users took to Twitter to share a news report saying that a San Diego-based PETA activist had claimed that she has successfully impregnated herself with the semen of a gorilla with the hope of saving the endangered species.

The news outlet Sirf News published a report on Sunday saying 23-year-old Molly Heather, a former biologist at the San Diego Zoo and also a PETA activist, took hundreds of specimens of semen of the animal while at work and tried to impregnate herself unsuccessfully for many years.

The report published by Sirf News further said that PETA activist Heather claims she was unsuccessful until she realized she could use in-vitro fertilization (IVF), the process of combining Gorilla semen with Gorilla eggs to create an embryo, and successfully impregnate herself.

“For many years, I tried rubbing gorilla sperm on my vagina with no success, until I realized I could be a surrogate mother to the animal, using gorilla semen and eggs through in vitro fertilization,” the report quoted Molly as saying to the reporters.

The Sirf News report also explained how Central Africa Eastern Gorilla is critically in danger of extinction, and Molly believed that cross-species hybridization is the only way to save the species.

“I am a proud lesbian and have never had sex with a man in my life. I am pregnant today with the embryo of George’s semen and Camilla’s eggs, two San Diego Zoo gorillas,” the report quoted Molly.

The report also said that PETA activist did not deny allegations that she has had full-on sexual intercourse with the male gorilla after it was revealed that she was fired in 2018 for inappropriate behaviour, however, she said that she did it to help preserve the species and not for sexual gratification.

Interestingly, Sirf News also quoted some experts, who denied the above claims as a hoax and a “physical impossibility”, claiming that the embryo would be rejected by the human host’s immune system.

Not just media outlets, several social media users also shared the screenshot of the news report to claim that PETA activist is carrying the child of a Gorilla so that she can save the species.

A social media user named Woodsy mocked the PETA activist saying that Gorilla did not look very happy.

Did PETA activist impregnate herself with Gorilla’s sperm?

The bizarre news report put out by Sirf News and several social media users that the 23-year-old PETA activist had impregnated herself with the Gorilla’s sperm to conserve the species is not true.

This particular incident was first reported by a satirical website named World News Daily Report (WNDR) earlier this year. In the news report, the WNDR had made exact claims that have been published by Sirf News in its article claiming that Molly Heather had taken hundreds of specimens of semen of the Gorilla while at work and tried to impregnate herself unsuccessfully for many years.

However, as we looked into the report’s authenticity, it was found that the website that had published the above report is a satirical website and the news report is just an art of satire and not a real news.

The news website has published several satirical article in the past as well. Here are some of the satire WNDR has published on its website.

An article published by WNDR recently taking potshots against Saudi Arabia for their stand on homosexuality.

Here is another piece of satirical work by World News Daily Reports.

From the looks of their website, it can be analysed that all the news report they have published is a satire and the news websites like Sirf News seems to have taken the story – ‘PETA activist impregnating herself with Gorilla’s sperms’ from the above website, considering it as an authentic one and have reported the same.

In addition to the above, the real name of the PETA activist, who is featured in the satirical report, is Kirsty Henderson and not Molly Heather, as claimed by the satirical website.

Kirsty Henderson, who works for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals or PETA, has been part of a campaign to prevent inhumane and profit-oriented treatment of Gorillas in Zoos in the United Kingdom. The PETA activist Henderson has been extremely vocal about the inhuman treatment of the Gorilla inside the Zoo.

Here is a video in which she is seen expressing her concerns regarding the treatment of Gorillas inside the Zoos in the United Kingdom.

Even though she works for the cause of Gorilla, it is not correct to claim that she has impregnated herself with Gorilla’s sperm to save the species from extinction.

Hence, the above claim put out by Sirf News and other social media handles are blatant fake news.

Communist China may have clamped down on Tibetans, but Dalai Lama still lives in their hearts: Tibetan activists

OpIndia Staff
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Communist China may have clamped down on Tibetans, but Dalai Lama still lives in their hearts: Tibetan activists

Tibetan activists have said that the Communist China’s claim over Tibet is based on historical lies and despite all the military prowess it has not been able successfully demonise the Dalai Lama from the hearts of the Tibetans. Speaking at a webinar on “Communist China and its Failure to Destroy the Institution of the Dalai Lama: Lessons for the Future”, human rights activists said that even though China deprives Tibetans their legitimate civil and religious rights, it has not managed to force them from stop following the spiritual leader. The webinar was organised by New Delhi-based think-tank Law and Society Alliance and geopolitical magazine Defence Capital.

Thinlay Chukki, a Special Appointee for Human Rights at the Tibet Bureau, while speaking at the webinar said that Tibet was militarily occupied by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1949 as part of its expansionist agenda. “Since then, China has constantly tried to destroy the institution of the Dalai Lama,” she said.

The Dalai Lama has been the political ruler of Tibet at least since 1642, with nearly 500 years of a Tibetan government under the institution of the spiritual leader. The 14th Dalai Lama has been living in exile in India since 1959 when he escaped from Chinese government’s occupation of Tibet.

“For China, usurping the powers of the Dalai Lama marks the first step towards consolidation of the CCP’s power. When His Holiness was forced into exile from Tibet, Mao Zedong lamented saying that China had lost the entirety of Tibet. Only if the Dalai Lama were in control of the Chinese, would their military conquest of Tibet gain some sort of legitimacy,” Chukki said.

She pointed out that in 1994, the United Nations compiled a special report after the visit of the special rapporteur on religion to China in which it was noted a consistent attack and persecution of Buddhists was in progress in Tibet. ““The Tibetan Buddhists are persecuted for even possessing a photograph of the Dalai Lama because the CCP feels that the spiritual leader, who embodies compassion, posed a greater threat to Beijing’s rule over Tibet, as the religious figure symbolizes a legitimate government of the Tibetans, even though in exile,” she said.

“By taking control of the institution of the Dalai Lama, CCP is also trying to exert influence Tibetan Buddhists settled in all parts of the world. This includes those in states such as Ladakh, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, apart from nations such as Nepal, Bhutan and Mongolia,” she added.

Tencho Gyatso, International Campaign for Tibet’s Interim Vice President and International Director for Outreach, said that the present Dalai Lama’s actions and sacrifices over these 70-odd years have only deepened the Tibetan people’s connection with the spiritual leader. “The Dalai Lama now represents the whole of Tibetan culture, religion and nationhood.”

She said Communist China has attempted to rewrite all of Tibet’s historical narratives. “The Chinese government calls the Dalai Lama ‘a wolf in sheep’s clothing’. The CCP has indulged in mass cover-ups of the atrocities it perpetrates in Tibet and on the Tibetans, just as it has tried to erase the Tiananmen Square massacre, as though it never happened.”

Gyatso said despite the CCP’s best efforts, the bond between the Tibetans and the Dalai Lama has only grown stronger.

“Young Tibetan monks that have been forced to grow up under the oppressive Chinese regime and have never even seen the Dalai Lama. Yet, their allegiance and spiritual connection to him are unbelievably strong. Over 150 Tibetans have self-immolated and called for the freedom of Tibet,” she added.

Gyatso noted that while Tibetans enjoyed full freedom in India, a democratic nation, this freedom was impossible to imagine for those Tibetans currently under the CCP’s rule.

“Tibetans in Tibet today have to deal with a strictly regulated society. There are cameras everywhere and any display of Tibetan culture, language or loyalty to the Dalai Lama is dealt with very harshly.”

She said the final straw was the atheist CCP trying to control the process of selection of the next Dalai Lama by introducing laws that Tibetan Buddhists are forced to follow.

“Besides, the CCP leaders these days are talking about the idea of Sinicization of Tibetan Buddhism – that is, Buddhism with Chinese characteristics,” she added.

Gyatso noted that several democratic nations globally, including the United States, are now supporting the idea of a successor to the Dalai Lama, as chosen by the present spiritual leader and that CCP would have no say in it. “This position has been supported in the US administration’s Tibetan Policy and Support Act that threatens to penalise any Chinese authority that interferes with the institution of the Dalai Lama.”

Kerala: Former Health Minister KK Shailaja accuses Rahul Gandhi and his family of ‘destroying’ India by visiting Temples

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: Former Health Minister KK Shailaja accuses Rahul Gandhi and his family of ‘destroying’ India by visiting Temples

Former Health Minister of Kerala, Shailaja Teacher, has blamed the Congress party and its ‘Soft Hindutva’ for ‘destroying’ India. KK Shailaja harked back to the times of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi as well and also blamed Rahul Gandhi for the same.

CPI(M) leader Shailaja Teacher says that the Gandhis have gone to various Temples, including Shiva Temples, which they should not have done because India is a ‘secular’ country. She called it gimmicks and said that she hopes that the state Congress leadership will not perform such ‘gimmicks’ and ensure a ‘secular’ Kerala.

KK Shailaja was at the helm of the ‘Kerala model’ of tackling Covid-19 which was acknowledged by the press but not so much by her own party. She has been replaced as the health minister in the state.

Following her outburst, Thrippunithura MLA K. Babu of the Congress party asked the speaker to pass a ruling on whether it is wrong to visit Temples. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi is known to embark on a ‘Temple-run’ spree ahead of elections in order to garner the Hindu vote.

His visits have been widely criticised as a poll gimmick orchestrated to shun the allegations of minority appeasement against the party. However, it is for the first time that someone has chosen the line of attack as outlined by the CPI(M) leader which appeared to suggest that politicians should not visit Hindu Temples in a secular country.

During the lead up to the 2019 General Elections, Youth Congress workers were spotted slaughtering a calf in full public view. Later, the accused had claimed that he had the approval of the state Congress president.

Assam: Five arrested after raw meat found in Kali Temple in Dhubri district, situation under control but tense

OpIndia Staff
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Assam: Five arrested after raw meat found in Kali Temple in Dhubri district, situation under control but tense

Tensions prevailed in Dhubri, a district in Lower Assam, after raw pieces of meat were discovered at the Samshan Kali Temple at Jinkata Part-II village in Golakgunj police station area on Thursday. Locals were incensed over the matter and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible for it.

After the meat pieces were found in the temple premises on Thursday morning, locals blocked the road in the village demanding immediate arrest of the culprits. Senior police officials, including Additional Superintendent of Police Rosyrani Sarma, arrived at the spot to calm the villages. The agitated villagers ended the road blockade after the police assured them that the culprits will be nabbed in two days.

At the presence of the police officials, the villagers also forced two men, Mannaf Ali and Aziz Haque, to promise that they will stop selling beef illegally in the area.

Today ASP Rosyrani Sarma informed that five individuals have been arrested in connection with the incident after a massive manhunt was launched in pursuit of the accused. The Police were also keeping a close watch in the area in order to prevent any untoward incident that could affect communal harmony.

The meat pieces have been sent for forensic examination at a laboratory, he said. The situation in the village is under control after locals took to the streets to register their protest.

Will the mosque at Ayodhya be named after Mughal Emperor Babur? Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Will the mosque at Ayodhya be named after Mughal Emperor Babur? Read details

On June 5, Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF) announced that the mosque-hospital project in Ayodhya would be named after the noted freedom fighter and revolutionary Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah Faizabadi. He was martyred on June 5, 164 years ago. IICF has decided to dedicate the entire project that comprises a mosque, a 200-bed hospital, a museum, a community kitchen and a research centre after Faizabadi, who was also known as the “lighthouse of Independence”. Notably, he kept Awadh free from British dominance for over two years after the 1957 revolt. The trust had decided not to name the mosque after Mughal emperor Babur nine months ago when it was constituted by Sunni Waqf Board.

Athar Hussain, secretary, IICF, told Times of India, “On his martyrdom day, we have decided to name the entire project after his name. In January, we dedicated the research centre to Maulvi Faizabadi, who was the icon of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood. Even 160 years after the first war of independence, Ahmadullah Shah Faizabadi is yet to get his due in the annals of Indian history. Masjid Sarai, Faizabad, which was Maulvi’s headquarters during the 1857 mutiny, is the lone surviving building that preserves his name.” Hussain further added that Faizabadi was killed and decapitated by a British agent. His body and head were buried in two different places to prevent people from raising a mausoleum on his grave.

Captain Afzaal Ahmad Khan, a war veteran and trustee at IICF, said, “The British feared Maulvi was as dangerous in death as he was during his lifetime. It’s unfortunate that even though British officers like George Bruce Malleson and Thomas Seaton have mentioned his courage, valour and organisational capabilities in the History of Indian Mutiny, Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah is blanked out in our school and college textbooks.”

With this announcement, the speculations over the naming of the mosque come to an end. After the UP govt had granted the plot to the Muslim parties on the order of the Supreme Court order, there was speculation whether the new mosque will also be named Babri masjid. It was suggested that the name should be retained to keep the memory of the demolished mosque alive. The mosque built at the Ram Mandir site was named after Mughal emperor Babur, as the mosque was built on his orders.

Ayodhya verdict

In 2019, the Supreme Court of India gave the verdict of the land dispute of Ayodhya in favour of Ram Lalla Virajman. A 5-acre alternate land was allotted to the defeated side by the apex court to build a mosque. The foundation of Bhavya Ram Mandir was laid down by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 5, 2020. The temple construction is expected to be completed in 2022. A trust was formed for the construction of the Ram Mandir at the beginning of 2020. The project was allotted to Larsen & Toubro, and experts from CBRI, National Geophysical Research Institute, and IITs are assisting in the construction.

Coronavirus vaccination drive: It is time to talk about the J&K model

Sanjay Singh
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Coronavirus vaccination drive: It is time to talk about the J&K model

He had recently joined a new job in Srinagar secretariat after quitting a software job in Bangalore. In third week of April, he happened to be in earshot of two senior officer hurried discussion. He was already into first week of Ramzan fasting but remained fully enthused at work, after all he had returned home with a secure position in government.

The officers had a serious issue at hand, people in different parts of the state were not turning up for vaccination. Besides hospitals and health centres, J&K government had put up mobile vans in front of mosques and were requesting those coming out after offering Namaz to get vaccinated. Some were curious to know what these vans were meant for but soon as they got to know they would turn around and leave.

Vaccination was simply not picking up. It was rumoured that a vaccine dose would actually end their Ramzan fasting, something which went against community’s religious beliefs. Even worse, another rumour was gaining ground that the vaccine causes infertility. The officers were thus discussing how to convince people, perhaps find a religious-spiritual leader of repute and acceptance who could dispel these doubts.

On hearing this young techie (name withheld on request) couldn’t contain himself and spoke out “Mufti Nasir Ul Islam (religious leader in the valley) is my uncle. I hope he would understand things in perspective. If you agree I can speak to him and he agrees you all can talk to him.”

The officers informed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha about it. Mufti Nasir Ul Islam in 2018 had made a controversial statement that the Indian Muslims should demand a separate country. However, beating the pandemic became a bigger concern and the office of LG did not shy away from taking his help either. LG Sinha immediately started issuing instructions, drawing up a plan how to proceed on the matter. In last 10 months in office as LG, Sinha had acquired a reputation among officials that he meant business and worked with a zeal which this region had not seen in past decades.

Shopian and Ganderbal, districts otherwise considered to be hotbed of militancy was chosen as a test case. The idea was if a lead could come from Shopian and Ganderbal in South Kashmir, other people in other parts of the UT would be more inclined to follow the suit.

Mufti Nasir Ul Islam role became important here. He made a 1.30 minutes video clarifying to people that vaccines do not invalidate ‘fast’. It was circulated ‘informally’ through various WhatsApp groups through the UT. It worked very positively.

Added to that Saika Rasheed, a young Ladishah artist was requested to prepare a song on vaccines. Ladishah is a dying art (satire folk song) but still very popular among elderly people in the valley. This too was circulated on various WhatsApp groups. Local influencers and celebrities like Vibha Saraf and Mannat Noor (well known Kashmiri Singers) with a huge fan following in Kashmir valley were roped in. Radio jockeys played their part. Health officials, led by Dr Shahid were closely monitoring the progress in Kashmir valley on a daily basis.

The UT had lately strengthened Asha, ANM and Aanganwadi workers (all locals in respective villages). Their door to door knocking and convincing people for vaccination drives helped. Once they succeeded a bit “Vaccine on Wheels” (mobile vaccination) vans were brought in at their door steps at the earliest.

The multi-pronged strategy paid off well. Shopian became first district in the country with 100 percent first dose vaccination of 45 plus age group. Besides Shopian, Jammu, Ganderbal and Samba had achieved 100 45 plus first vaccination target. Other districts were closely following. Also districts like Kathua, Kulgam, Ramban, Resai, Udhampur and Sambha had 100 percent front line worker vaccination.

At another level, the state had developed its own app JKWIN to manage their internal rationalisation of high risk groups, comorbidities and vulnerable population.

These groups include shopkeepers, vendors (critically needed for opening the economy), journalists, lawyers, all kinds of people associated with tourism. “Vaccinated” sign was prominently displayed outside of shops where shopkeepers and vendors were vaccinated. This worked to inspire confidence among people visiting there, and also to motivate them to vaccinate.

What changed the game in J&K was this — instead of people going to health centres and waiting in queue, mobile vaccine vans were reaching to their doorstep.

A sense of confidence for UT administration sincerity in tackling pandemic also came through administration establishing five bed isolation centres with provision of oxygen cylinders in each of 4290 (over 85 percent Panchayats covered). Doorstep delivery of medicine for anyone testing positive or having such early systems helped contain the situation.

Without any hype, the region, which had over recent decades had made news for wrong reasons was making a difference, a positive one, that too in once in a century crisis.

As against the national average is 37 percent for first dose of vaccination for 45 plus age group, J&K average is 68 percent. Even among 18-44 age group J&K percentage is higher than the national average.

Compare and contrast this with a developed state like Maharashtra, which had reported maximum cases in Delta version of Covid spread. Till May 26 Maharashtra could provide first dose of vaccination to 40 percent of 45 plus age group. Kerala, which got a great deal of media hype for providing a model to contain spread of pandemic during the first phase last year could give first shot only to 49 percent of people in this age group. Telangana percentage is 30, Karnataka 46 percent, Delhi 48 percent, Andhra Pradesh 40 percent, percent Punjab 32 percent, West Bengal 29 percent, Madhya Pradesh 35 percent, Odisha 41 percent, and the list goes on with Jharkhand 23 percent, Tamil Nadu 18 at the bottom of it.

It’s time to talk of J&K vaccination model, just like we talked of Mumbai model for oxygen. More so, because for decades situation in J&K had been completely different and post formation of UT critics, political, social and academic had painted a completely gloomy picture. Also, to be noted that J&K unlike other states and UTs never reported shortage of oxygen in current wave of Covid mutated Delta virus spread. Other states and UTs may take a cue.

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