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Muslim mobs go on rampage in Bengal: As Mamata Banerjee vows to protect Muslims and their Waqf properties, Islamists join protests to show support for TMC

OpIndia Staff
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Muslim mobs go on rampage in Bengal: As Mamata Banerjee vows to protect Muslims and their Waqf properties, Islamists join protests to show support for TMC

Muslim mobs have been organising violent demonstrations in different parts of West Bengal against the recently implemented Waqf Act, which has been portrayed as an ant-Muslim law by several Muslim leaders as well as opposition parties, including the TMC. Amidst the ongoing violence in the state, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has voiced her opinion in support of Muslims agitating against the Waqf Act. Promising to protect the Waqf properties, Banerjee assured the Muslims in her state, “Please remember, when Didi is here, Didi will protect you and your properties”. Banerjee made the remarks on Wednesday (9th April), while speaking at an event of the Jain community in Kolkata.

Banerjee had earlier said that the Waqf Act will be repealed once the BJP led government in the centre goes out of power. “Once this government (BJP-led National Democratic Alliance) goes out of power and a new one comes to power, this bill will be nullified,” Banerjee said, speaking against the legislation. The TMC-ruled state has witnessed numerous incidents of violence led by Muslim mobs in several areas, including Murshidabad, Malda, Nadia, and Berhampore, over the past few days.

Stones pelted and vehicles torched in Murshidabad

In what began as a demonstration against the Waqf Act, mobs of Muslims pelted stones and torched vehicles in several areas of the Murshidabad district, including Jangipur and Umarpur, on Tuesday (8th April). The violent mob clashed with the security forces and pelted stones at them on the National Highway 12. Several police personnel sustained injuries in the stone pelting. The security forces had to use force and tear gas shells to disperse the mob.

Restrictions were imposed by the district administration in the Raghunathganj and the Suti police station areas, including a market shutdown and suspension of internet services. Teams of over 800 police personnel have been deployed in the district to prevent any law and order situation. “Prohibitory orders have been clamped across all sensitive areas, and it will continue till 6 pm on Thursday, April 10. The state secretariat has also ordered that all Internet facilities will remain suspended within the limits of the Jangipur subdivision till 6 pm on April 11. This step has been taken to prevent the spread of any misinformation and panic. The situation is now under control,” said a senior district police officer was quoted as saying.

Jangipur SP Ananda Roy said that the police have arrested 22 people in connection with the violence in which 2 police vehicles were set on fire. 8 out of the arrested persons have been taken into police custody. An investigation is being carried out by the police. “Violence erupted here yesterday. There had been a law and order problem. The Police took action and made arrests. 163 BNSS is in effect here. The internet is suspended here. Things are under control…Stone pelting had indeed occurred. Two police vehicles of the Police were torched. We have taken all legal actions. 22 miscreants have been arrested, 8 of them are being taken into Police custody for further investigation, a case has been registered,” said SP Roy.

State governor C.V. Ananda Bose has sought a report from the state government on the incidents of violence in the Murshidabad district.

Muslim mob chases police personnel in Nadia

Similar incidents of violence were alleged to have taken place in the Kanai Nagar area of the Nadia district on Tuesday (8th April). BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya shared some videos of violence on X, claiming that Islamist mobs attacked police personnel in the area. Malviya accused the Mamata Banerjee government of not just enabling the violence and failing to protect the police in the state. The video posted by Malviya showed a mob chasing a police officer who managed to save himself by taking shelter in a petrol pump.

“The situation in Kanai Nagar, Nadia, in West Bengal, last evening was nothing short of horrific. Incited by Mamata Banerjee, Islamist mobs launched a violent attack on the police. In a desperate attempt to save their lives, police personnel were forced to take shelter at a nearby petrol pump. Despite the gravity of the incident, Mamata Banerjee, who also holds the portfolio of Home Minister, is choosing to mislead the public with diversionary statements about the Waqf Board, rather than addressing the breakdown of law and order. She has failed to even safeguard her own police force. It is time for police personnel across West Bengal to stand up against this political misuse of the force and work to restore law and order in the state, ” Malviya wrote on X.

Islamist mob blocked trains in Malda

In the Nimtita railway station in Malda, Mulsim mobs protesting against the Waqf Act reportedly blocked trains for hours on Monday (7th April). The protestors stopped the Azimganj-Malda passenger train at Nimtita station. A press release by the Railway Malda Division said that protestors also blocked trains at Sujnipara. The situation was brought under control after the intervention of the Railway Police Force (RPF).

The recent instances of mob violence in West Bengal against the Waqf Act paint a picture strikingly similar to the anti-CAA protests that started in December 2019 in Murshidabad. The anti-CAA protests also began with violent demonstrations in which ‘protestors’ set ablaze a railway station complex in Murshidabad and assaulted RPF personnel at Beldanga railway station. Similar instances of vandalising train stations and obstructing trains were reported from different areas of West Bengal. The protests soon escalated into the horrifying 2020 anti-Hindu riots in Delhi. From the anti-CAA protests to the anti-Waqf Act protests, it seems that West Bengal has been providing a perfect breeding ground for violence led by Islamist mobs on the pretext of opposing one legislation or the other.

Media, Mohammad Zubair lied that Delhi court ordered FIR against Kapil Mishra, only further probe was ordered, now stayed by special court

OpIndia Staff
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Media, Mohammad Zubair lied that Delhi court ordered FIR against Kapil Mishra, only further probe was ordered, now stayed by special court

On 1st April, several media houses reported that a Delhi court ordered the registration of an FIR against BJP leader and Delhi minister Kapil Mishra in the 2020 Delhi riots case. It was reported that Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Vaibhav Chaurasia accepted the petition of Yamuna Vihar resident Mohammad Ilyas seeking FIR Mishra, along with the Station House Officer (SHO) of Dayalpur police station and five others.

The media reports quoted the judge as saying that a cognizable offence was made out against Mishra. Md Zubair, an Islamist propagandist posing as a fact checker, also amplified such a report, saying that the court ordered an FIR against the BJP leader.

However, now it has emerged that the court never ordered the registration of any FIR against Mishra in the case. The court had only ordered a further probe on the allegations against him. The order issued by Magistrate Vaibhav Chaurasia said, “Let the further investigation be initiated with respect to proposed accused no. 2 and his associates with respect to first incident only and cognizable offence has been disclosed by the complainant.”

There is no mention of ordering any FIR in the order dated 1 April 2025. The court had also noted that FIRs were already registered in regard to other incidents mentioned by the petitioner.

Notably, Delhi Police had opposed the plea, saying that Kapil Mishra was being framed and he had no role to play in the riots.

Kapil Mishra had appealed against the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate’s order for further probe against him, and Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Kaveri Baweja of the Rouse Avenue Courts today accepted the plea and stayed the order. The court noted that Magistrate Vaibhav Chaurasia ordered a further probe against Kapil Mishra and his associates despite the fact that FIRs had already been registered in the Delhi riot cases mentioned in the petition against Mishra, and the trial was pending in the concerned Courts.

The court stated, “Let notice of the revision petition be issued to the respondents returnable on 21.04.2025. The record of the court of Ld. ACJM be also requisitioned for the next date fixed. In the meantime, the operation of the impugned order shall remain stayed till the next date of hearing.”

Delhi: BJP government cancels 177 nomination appointments made by previous AAP govt to govt boards, committees and other bodies

ANI
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Delhi: BJP government cancels 177 nomination appointments made by previous AAP govt to govt boards, committees and other bodies

The BJP government on Wednesday canceled 177 nomination appointments made by the AAP government in the government institutions of Delhi, an order stated.

Most of the appointments were political, from current MLAs to former MLAs, office bearers and members.

These appointments were made in AAP’s Delhi Government Boards, committees and other constitutional bodies where the Delhi Government nominated members and officers.

According to the order, the Delhi government has canceled its nominations in 17 constitutional institutions, including the Delhi Jal Board, Animal Welfare Board, Delhi Haj Committee, Pilgrimage Development Committee, Urs Committee, Hindi Academy, Urdu Academy, Sahitya Kala Parishad, Punjabi Academy, and Sanskrit Academy.

In 2024, the AAP government appointed AAP MLA Pawan Rana chairman of the Delhi Jal Board, AAP MLA Vinay Mishra vice Chairman, and AAP leader Jitendra Tomar’s wife, Preeti Tomar, member.

Similarly, former AAP MLA Abdul Rahman and Haji Yunus were nominated as members of the Delhi Haj Committee. AAP MLA Jarnail Singh was appointed as the Vice-Chairman of the Punjabi Academy in the previous government.

Former MLA Ajesh Yadav was appointed Chairman of the Agriculture Marketing Board, and member Aadil Ahmad Khan was appointed vice chairman.

Sources in the Delhi government argued that all these government institutions were political appointments of the previous government, which were made to benefit their leaders, and should be scrapped.

On April 8, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inaugurated several development projects in her constituency, Shalimar Bagh. She stated that ‘achhe din’ is beginning for slum dwellers as work will ‘actually’ be done for slums and colonies. The Chief Minister stated that the funds of Rs 700 crores in Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) is especially for the welfare of slum dwellers, and 52,000 flats that were made 10 years ago will now be given to them after renovation. Slamming the previous governments, CM Gupta asserted that they didn’t work for slum dweller and misled people that the BJP government wouldn’t work for them, but today, the BJP government is taking care of every poor and is ensuring basic facilities, water, parks, and toilets for them.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

UK: Two teens found guilty of killing 80-year-old Indian origin man in Leicester, assaulter racially abused Bhim Kohli before punching him to death

OpIndia Staff
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UK: Two teens found guilty of killing 80-year-old Indian origin man in Leicester, assaulter racially abused Bhim Kohli before punching him to death

Two teenagers, a girl and a boy, were found guilty on Tuesday (8th April) by a Leicester crown court of killing an 80-year-old Indian origin man, Bhim Kohli, in a public park near Leicester in September last year. The octogenarian was reportedly brutally attacked by the two teenagers while he was walking his dog near the entrance of Franklin Park, a few metres away from his home. The boy, who was 14 at that time, cast racial slurs at Kohli before fatally punching him without provocation, and the girl, who was 12 at that time, recorded the incident on the phone while laughing and encouraging the boy.

As per reports, the brutal attack left Kohli’s neck and three ribs fractured. He was admitted to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries the next day. After the attack, Kohli told a paramedic that the boy had racially abused him and was pushed, punched and kicked. The video of the incident recorded by the girl was played before the jury. It showed Kohli on his knees and the boy slapping him with his slider.

The teens attacked Kohli without any provocation

From the side of the prosecution, Harpreet Sandhu KC, drew the jury’s attention to the callous manner in which Kohli was attacked. Sandhu told the jury that the teens had no reason to attack Kohli, who was defenseless and vulnerable. “You heard that slap, you heard the slider making contact with Mr Kohli’s face. There was nothing for the boy to fear from an 80-year-old man who was on his knees. It was pure violence used by the boy, pure violence encouraged by the girl,” said Sandhu. He added that the girl was aware of what was about to happen. “The girl made a noise. That noise was her laughing. She laughed as the boy assaulted Mr Kohli. She knew there would be violence, and she had a desire to capture it – and capturing it provided encouragement for the violence to be meted out, ” Sandhu asserted. The boy has been remanded, while the girl has been let out on bail. The sentencing in the case has been scheduled for 20th May.

Police confirm racial element in the attack

Leicestershire Detective Chief Inspector Mark Sinski, who led the investigation in the case, termed it the ‘most shocking case’ of his career. Detective Chief Inspector Sinski said that the case was unusual and had an element of racism. “He was just enjoying a stroll with his dog during the course of that evening, and he was set about totally unprovoked in what was a vicious and fatal attack. There was a racial element – and Mr Kohli told us that himself. He said he had been racially slurred, and I won’t use the term, it’s a repugnant term. It certainly doesn’t fit in with that community. That was a community that was extremely close, happy and they all lived in harmony. Racism didn’t feature, Sinski was quoted as saying.

Kohli’s family has been left shaken to the core by the attack. Kohli is described as a gentle, social and non-aggressive person by people who know him. Kohli’s daughter, Susan Kohli, said that the family felt anger towards his attacker. “We feel anger and disgust towards the teenagers who took Dad away from us. They humiliated an 80-year-old man, assaulted him, filmed it and laughed at him,” said a grieving Susan.”It was horrendous, we have never seen him like that before. We all thought he would go to the hospital to be treated, and he would then be fine. We never imagined he wouldn’t return home. My dad passed away before our eyes, surrounded by his family,” she said. “Dad did not deserve this, and we wouldn’t wish this pain on anyone else,” she added.

Domestic terrorism: US DoJ probes network behind attacks on Tesla, Geroge Soros funded radical group also behind anti-Musk protests

OpIndia Staff
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Domestic terrorism: US DoJ probes network behind attacks on Tesla, Geroge Soros funded radical group also behind anti-Musk protests

The world’s richest man and close aide to the Unites States President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, declared on 8th April that the suspected “financers” of the attacks against his multinational automotive company Tesla “will go to prison.” He made his comment in response to a post that mentioned Attorney General Pam Bondi could start an investigation into George Soros and his son, Alexander (Alex) Soros, for reportedly financing assaults on Tesla property.

Tesla has been subjected to intense attacks due to the billionaire’s ties to the Trump administration. His position as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has resulted in the loss of federal jobs and the defunding of several government aided initiatives and departments, including the USAID (United States Agency for International Development), infamous for regime change operations and endorsing global jihad, has provoked significant backlash against both the Trump administration and Musk.

The latter wrote “FAFO (F**k around and find out) time,” in reaction to another post which claimed, “Now, the Department of Justice is digging deeper. Investigators are pursuing not just the arsonists, but also the shadowy networks that may have financed the crimes.” The user also quoted Bondi who warned, “No one, not the foot soldiers, not the financiers, will escape justice.”

In a letter, DOGE subcommittee Chairwoman Marjorie Taylor Greene asked (FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation) Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi to look into a “wave of organized attacks” that are directed at Elon Musk and Tesla. Tesla dealerships, charging stations and vehicles have been the targets of protesters because Musk has reduced government spending on the Department of Government Efficiency. According to Greene, assaults on Musk and his business “must be investigated as domestic terrorism.”

According to the letter, recent attacks on Tesla and Musk “seriously threaten public safety” and entail “coordinated acts of vandalism, arson, and other acts of violence.” It also cited some incidents including a shooting at a Tesla dealership in Portland in Oregon, on 6th March damaged the building’s windows and multiple vehicles. In a separate instance, a woman in Colorado sprayed “Nazi” on cars. Greene added that the attacks are connected to organizations that she asserted are Democrat-funded, including the Democratic Socialists of America, Troublemakers, and Rise & Resist. Musk has also blamed these groups.

Ties to George Soros and Bondi’s warning

Notably, between 2017 and 2023, Open Society of George Soros donated more than $7.6 million to the radical leftist organization Indivisible Project, which is largely responsible for the demonstrations against Musk. It was first established in 2016 as a protest against Donald Trump’s election.

On 18th March Bondi stated, “The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism. The Department of Justice has already charged several perpetrators with that in mind, including in cases that involve charges with five-year mandatory minimum sentences. We will continue investigations that impose severe consequences on those involved in these attacks, including those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes.”

She pronounced charges against three people on 20th March in relation to the violent destruction of Tesla facilities. They set Tesla vehicles and charging facilities on fire with Molotov cocktails. One person was caught after hurling about eight Molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership in Salem, Oregon, while brandishing a suppressed AR-15 rifle. Another was arrested in Loveland, Colorado, for trying to use Molotov cocktails to set Teslas on fire. Later, the defendant was discovered to be in possession of supplies needed to make more incendiary devices.

A third individual in Charleston, South Carolina, posted derogatory remarks about Trump near Tesla charging stations before using Molotov cocktails to set the premise on fire. Serious charges against each defendant attract a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum sentence of twenty years in prison.

“The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended. Let this be a warning: if you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars,” Bondi declared. According to her office, they are “resolved to eliminate all acts of violence and arson targeting Tesla properties and other related incidents.”

FBI forms task force

The FBI has created a task force to find the culprits after receiving an increasing number of reports of damage at Tesla stores and charging points throughout the United States. The director of the bureau, Kash Patel, made the announcement and mentioned that the attacks constituted “domestic terrorism.”

Ben Williamson, the assistant director of public affairs for the FBI, announced the establishment of a task force via a tweet, stating that it would collaborate with the ATF to coordinate investigative efforts and address violent incidents involving Tesla. The development transpired hours after many incendiary devices were found at a Tesla facility in Austin, Texas.

Protests against Musk, Tesla

As criticism of CEO Elon Musk for his involvement in cutting costs at the Department of Government Efficiency intensifies, over 60 protests were scheduled for 5th April and another dozen for the following day at Tesla showrooms around the United States. A week following over 200 demonstrations at Tesla sites in the United States, Canada, and Europe, which were part of the grassroots “Tesla Takedown” movement, several locations also served as “Hands Off” rally sites on 5th April, coinciding with a nationwide day of organized protests.

The Tesla Takedown campaign urges Tesla owners to divest from their vehicles and prompts company stakeholders to liquidate their stock holdings, aiming to impact the wealth of the world’s richest individual, whose fortune is largely linked to the company.

Image via Yahoo News

DOGE has implemented significant reductions across various federal agencies by terminating contracts and either laying off employees or providing them with buyout options to exit their positions. According to the DOGE website, these actions have resulted in savings of $140 billion for taxpayers. The organizers of the Tesla Takedown initiative, currently in its eighth week, believe that the campaign will persist in gaining momentum, even in the face of opposition from Musk and the Trump administration.

Violent attacks on Tesla

Over the past few weeks, numerous protests have been held at various dealerships of the electric vehicle company, with many taking on an alarming turn including in West Palm Beach, Florida, close to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, a man was charged with aggravated assault after attempting to drive into a crowd of demonstrators. Notable assaults on Tesla in the United States include an incident on 18th March in Las Vegas, where police reported that 36-year-old Paul Hyon Kim employed a Molotov cocktail to set fire to multiple Teslas at a dealership.

He is also accused of damaging surveillance cameras with a firearm and spray-painting the word “resist” on the front doors of the Tesla center. Authorities indicated that his social media presence suggested possible connections to communist organizations and Palestinian movements. Last month, a total of four Tesla Cybertrucks were set ablaze in a Seattle Tesla lot, while two others ignited at a local dealership in Kansas City.

A fire was started at a Tesla Collision Center in Las Vegas. (Source: ABC News)

A 24-year-old named Cooper Jo Fredrick was arrested on 7th March for igniting and throwing an incendiary device at a dealership in Loveland, Colorado. The device landed between two cars, igniting a fire. Fortunately, there were no injuries, as individuals were inside the building at the time. On 13th March, a Tesla dealership in Tigard, Oregon, saw more than a dozen gunshots fired at it, the second such incident in a week.

Daniel Clarke-Pounder, 24, is accused of writing derogatory remarks about President Donald Trump and supporting Ukraine at Tesla charging stations in Charleston, South Carolina, before setting three of the charging stations on fire with Molotov cocktails on 7th March. Adam Matthew Lansky (41) is accused of throwing about eight Molotov bombs at a Tesla showroom in Salem, Oregon, on 20th January due to which s everal cars were damaged and one was totally wrecked.

Five Tesla trucks were damaged at a Kentwood lot. (Source: MLive.com)

The reported incidents involving attacks on Tesla vehicles, dealerships and charging stations have exceeded 50 along with Elon Musk’s increasing prominence within the Trump administration. A Fox News analysis indicates that there have been a minimum of 51 targeted attacks in the United States, alongside at least 17 similar incidents occurring internationally. These attacks vary in nature, from minor acts of vandalism like keying and graffiti to more severe incidents such as arson and drive-by shootings that are reportedly aimed at Tesla vehicles. There are currently at least five federal lawsuits connected to these attacks.

At least 80 instances of vandalism or arson of Tesla vehicles have been reported in the US and Canada in recent weeks, per an NBC News story from last month. According to reports, at least ten Tesla showrooms, charging stations and other establishments were targeted by vandals. Many of the perpetrators set fire to the vehicles. Tesla cars, infrastructures and offices have become frequent targets of vandalism as these assaults are not solely restricted to the US but they are also happening in European nations as well.

A drone view shows charred Tesla vehicles following a fire at a Tesla dealership in Rome. (Source: Hindustan Times)

Trump has referred to acts of vandalism like burning Tesla cars or charging stations as domestic terrorism and declared a boycott of Tesla goods to be “illegal.” He threatened to sentence “sick terrorist thugs” convicted of burning or other violent crimes targeting Tesla dealerships to 20 years in prison in El Salvador.

Kanpur: Cab driver Wasim and his associates attack retired Army officer for his opinions on Waqf Bill, two arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Kanpur: Cab driver Wasim and his associates attack retired Army officer for his opinions on Waqf Bill, two arrested

A retired Army Officer was attacked by a cab driver and his associates on Saturday (5th April) in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, after a heated argument over the Waqf Bill turned violent. Retired Colonel Surya Pratap Singh, who is currently serving in the District Sainik Rehabilitation Welfare Board in Kanpur, was travelling in a cab from Lucknow to Kanpur on the day of the incident.

As per reports, during his journey, the retired colonel got a call from a friend, and the two started having a discussion regarding the recently passed Waqf Bill. The cab driver, Wasim, overheard his phone conversation and took serious offense. He called his acquaintances and asked them to reach the Azad Nagar intersection in Unnao. Wasim stopped the car at the Azad Nagar intersection and started arguing with Singh, who was unaware of Wasim’s plan. Soon, Wasim’s acquaintances arrived at the spot, dragged Singh out of the car, and physically assaulted him. The cab driver allegedly looted some documents and cash from the retired colonel.

An FIR has reportedly been filed by the police, and the accused, Wasim and his associate Anuj, have been arrested. The police are searching for the others involved. An investigation is underway. “Agitated over Singh’s stand, Wasim called his associates at the Azad Nagar intersection in Unnao. While Singh was unaware of the ploy, Wasim stopped the car at the intersection and resumed arguments. After some time, a group of men reached the spot and assaulted Singh,” said the police. The attackers reportedly left the retired colonel unconscious on the road. He was later admitted to a hospital by the police.

Additional Superintendent of Police, Unnao, Akhilesh Singh said, “During questioning, Wasim and Anuj claimed that the retired officer was intoxicated. Further investigation is on”.

Karnataka MGNREGA Scam: Men dress up in sarees, pose as women to claim wages using women labourers’ job cards

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka MGNREGA Scam: Men dress up in sarees, pose as women to claim wages using women labourers’ job cards

An incident of fraud in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has surfaced in Malhar village of the Yadgir district of Karnataka. According to reports, some men dressed in sarees and posed as women to claim wages under the MGNREGA scheme.

Men dressed as women to claim benefits worth ₹ 3 lakh

A picture was reportedly uploaded in February this year on the National Mobile Monitoring Service (NMMS), an attendance monitoring system, in which some men and women labourers were seen standing near a canal dredging site. However, it was later revealed that the women labourers in the picture were men masquerading as women. These men were reportedly employed in place of women under the MGNREGA scheme, and misleading attendance photos were uploaded to show that women labourers were provided employment. Illegitimate benefits worth ₹3 lakh were reportedly claimed under the scheme by defrauding the government and depriving women labourers of employment opportunities.

Local Panchayat denies involvement

The incident caused much embarrassment to the concerned officials, and an investigation was ordered into the matter. The local gram panchayat denied having information about the scam and defended the concerned officials, alleging that some outsourced workers were involved in the incident. “I have no role in this case. An outsourced employee did this, I was unaware of the entire scam. When it came to my notice, I suspended the employee. Now, the MGNREGA work is going seamlessly in the village. We have given work to 2,500 workers,” Chennabasava, Panchayat Development Officer of the Malhar village, said.

What is MGNREGA?

MGNREGA is a social welfare scheme to address unemployment and poverty in rural areas. It is a centrally sponsored scheme where the centre and the state share the funding and implementation responsibilities. The scheme guarantees 100 days of employment annually to every eligible rural household. The funds for the wages are provided entirely by the central government, while 75% of the material cost is borne by the centre, and the remaining 25% is borne by the state.

Telangana HC upholds death penalty given to 5 IM terrorists including Yasin Bhatkal in Hyderabad bomb blast case of 2013

ANI
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Telangana HC upholds death penalty given to 5 IM terrorists including Yasin Bhatkal in Hyderabad bomb blast case of 2013

Telangana High Court on Tuesday confirmed the death penalty of five people awarded by the NIA Special Court in the Dilsukhnagar bomb blast case of 2013. The High Court dismissed their criminal appeal petition.

In the bomb blasts, 18 people lost their lives, and 131 people sustained injuries. The NIA court delivered its final judgment in December 2016.

The counsel for one of the convicts said that they would approach the Supreme Court in an appeal against the High Court order.

“High Court has confirmed the judgement passed by the Trial Court, confirming judgement of the trial court. I am the counsel for accused number 6. We are definitely going to appeal against the order in the Supreme Court as we believe in the justice system of our country. Definitely, we will go to appeal. Because the judgement copy has not yet been given and the judge has stated that the copies will be available today,” Advocate Mohd Shujaullah Khan told ANI.

The criminal appeal petition was filed in 2016. The petitioners wanted the High Court to set aside the judgment pronounced by the special court on December 13, 2016.

The Dilsukhnagar bomb blast case was investigated by the NIA. The petitioners who were awarded the death penalty are Ahmed Siddibappa Zarrar alias Yasin Bhatkal, Ajaz Shaikh, Zia Ur Rahman alias Waqas, Asadullah Akthar alias Haddi, and Mohammed Tahseen Akthar alias Hassan.

“On 21-02-2013 at 18:58:38 hrs and 18:58:44 hrs, two bomb blasts took place at Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad, resulting in the death of 18 persons and causing injuries to 131 persons. The first blast took place at a bus stop in Dilsukhnagar, and the second near A1 Mirchi Centre, Dilsukhnagar,” the NIA said.

The first accused in the case, Mohd Riyaz alias Riyaz Bhaktal, is still absconding. The five convicts were alleged Indian Mujahideen operatives.

2008 Jaipur Blast convicts smirk as lawyer recites poetry in court: Rehman, Saif, Salman & Azmi sentenced to life for killing 71

OpIndia Staff
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2008 Jaipur Blast convicts smirk as lawyer recites poetry in court: Rehman, Saif, Salman & Azmi sentenced to life for killing 71

On 8th April, four convicted individuals in the 2008 Jaipur serial bombing case were given life sentences by a Jaipur special court. The court convicted them on 4th April under the Explosive Substances Act, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other sections of the Indian Penal Code. The men have been identified as Saif-Ur-Rehman, Mohammed Saif, Mohammed Salman and Sarwar Azmi. The case relates to the recovery of an unexploded bomb planted in Chandpole on 13th May 2008.

Mohammed Saif and Saif-Ur-Rehman were detained in Jaipur Central Jail in connection with the live bomb detection case. However, Sarwar Azmi was free on bail. Meanwhile, the trial court had acquitted Shahbaz Ahmed who was also deemed culpable in the same case. He faced charges of dispatching emails from a cyber café to various news channels, asserting that the terrorist attacks were orchestrated by the Indian Mujahideen.

What shocked many in court wasn’t just the gravity of the crime, but the demeanor of the convicts—smirking, laughing, and utterly remorseless even as their sentence was read out. One even flashed a finger at onlookers from the police van, while another smiled for the cameras. During the hearing, their lawyer quoted poetry to argue their innocence:
“Tumhara shahar, tum hi qatil, tum hi mudda’i, tum hi munshif—humein yaqeen hai, galti hamari hi niklegi.”

But Judge Ramesh Kumar Joshi responded in kind, reminding everyone that true justice lies in the conscience:
“Kudrat ke faisle par kabhi shak mat karna, agar saza mil rahi hai toh gunaah bhi hua hoga…”

2008 Jaipur blasts

Nine explosives detonated over busy marketplaces and tourist destinations such as Manak Chowk Khanda, Chandpole Gate, Badi Chaupad, Chhoti Chaupad, Tripolia Gate, Johri Bazar and Sanganeri Gate in 15 minutes on 13th May 2008 in Jaipur. Authorities defused another unexploded bomb that was found close to Chandpole Bazar. The bombings were executed with bicycles loaded with metal splinters, RDX, and ammonium nitrate to increase the number of casualties.

Over 71 people were killed and more than 185 were injured by the explosions. Later, one unexploded live bomb was discovered, which played an essential role in tracking down and identifying the perpetrators. Shortly after the incident, the Indian Mujahideen issued an email to media outlets claiming responsibility for the attacks. Cross-border terrorism was raised by investigations that revealed potential ties to Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami Bangladesh (HuJI).

A Rajasthan special court pronounced four people guilty of involvement in the explosives in December 2019: Saifur Rehman, Mohammad Saif, Sarwar Azmi, and Mohammad Salman. They received death sentences in accordance with certain provisions of the Explosives Act, UAPA and IPC. Another person named Shahbaz Hussain, however, benefited from the doubt and was acquitted during the first trial. Due to procedural errors and a lack of evidence, the Rajasthan High Court reversed the death sentences in March 2023.

The court listed a number of the investigative team’s mistakes, including “insufficient legal knowledge” and inadequate evidence and ordered the Rajasthan DGP to take action against the negligent officers. The court also maintained Shahbaz Hussain’s acquittal. The Supreme Court is currently considering special leave applications that the state government and blast victims submitted in opposition to the high court’s ruling.

After 16 years of court cases, witness testimony and evidence analysis, the sentence was finally handed down. The four defendants were found guilty by the court of carrying out terrorist acts in a public setting and plotting to wage war against the country. Aatif Amin, the mastermind behind the explosions, was slain in September 2008 in Delhi during an encounter at Batla House.

Delhi: Himanshu stabbed to death because he married a Muslim girl, bride’s brother Shahrukh carried out the crime with his friend

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi: Himanshu stabbed to death because he married a Muslim girl, bride’s brother Shahrukh carried out the crime with his friend

A Hindu youth was murdered in Delhi’s Gokulpuri area for loving and marrying a Muslim girl. On Monday night (7th April 2025), 19-year-old Himanshu was stabbed to death by his brother-in-law Shahrukh and his friend Sahil.

Himanshu’s only fault was that he had befriended a Muslim girl, which later led to marriage. Angered by this, the girl’s brother Shahrukh and his friend Sahil stabbed Himanshu to death. Upon hearing this news, the family of the deceased has been inconsolable. They blocked the road in the area and demanded justice for their murdered son.

According to the information, Himanshu and Shahrukh’s 16-year-old sister were friends earlier. Later, both of them got married. This was so unpleasant to the girl’s family that Shahrukh and Sahil decided to kill Himanshu. Seeing the opportunity late on Monday night, both of them attacked Himanshu with knives and did not give him any chance to escape.

As soon as the news of the incident spread, there was silence in Gokulpuri. The anger of the deceased’s family burst out on the streets. They blocked the road and demanded strict action from the police. Seeing the situation worsening, the police deployed heavy force in the area so that no untoward incident takes place.

The police took immediate action and arrested both the accused, Shahrukh and Sahil, on the basis of CCTV footage. During interrogation, it was revealed that Shahrukh was so upset with Himanshu’s marriage with his sister that he conspired to kill him along with his friend Sahil. It was also revealed that Himanshu’s name was earlier linked to some criminal cases when he was a minor. However, this time the reason for taking his life was only his marriage.

Himanshu’s murder not only broke a family, but also spread fear and tension in the entire area. The police is now investigating the case in depth, so that the whole truth comes out.

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