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Uttar Pradesh: Woman injected with HIV-infected needle over dowry demands; FIR registered after court order

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Woman injected with HIV-infected needle over dowry demands; FIR registered after court order

On 11th February, Gangoh police (Saharanpur) in Uttar Pradesh filed an FIR against a man and his family for dowry demands, assault, and injecting the wife with an HIV-infected needle. The FIR has been registered against Abhishek alias Sachin on the complaint of the victim’s father following a court order under Sections 498-A, 323, 307, 328, 326, and 406 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act. OpIndia accessed FIR and court orders directing police to register the case.

Escalating dowry demands post-Marriage

According to the complaint filed by the victim’s father, the victim got married to Abhishek on 15th February 2023 in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. The bride’s family gave a car and ₹15 lakh in cash as dowry, alongside gold and silver jewelry, household appliances, and other valuables amounting to ₹42 lakh. However, the in-laws were not satisfied and soon demanded an additional ₹25 lakh and an SUV.

When the victim’s parents refused to meet the demands, her husband, along with family members, started to taunt, harass, and assault her. Within a month of marriage, she was thrown out of her marital home and returned to her parental house.

Attempts at reconciliation and continued abuse

For the next three months, the victim stayed at her parental house, and her in-laws made no effort to bring her back. In July 2023, her father and some relatives called for a “panchayat” (gathering of elders) at her husband’s residence in Jasvawala, Haridwar. Following pressure from the elders of the society, the in-laws agreed to take her back, but the harassment allegedly continued. She was again assaulted and told that Abhishek would remarry.

In October 2023, she was again thrown out of the house, and another panchayat was held where relatives tried to resolve the matter. The in-laws, however, refused to accept her this time unless their dowry demands were fulfilled. Eventually, the panchayat forcefully left her at the in-laws’ house. The complainant told the police that the torture continued after that.

In November 2023, yet another episode of dowry-related violence took place, and she was beaten before being thrown out of the house again. Another panchayat was held. The accused family apologised but insisted that they would accept her only on their terms. A written agreement was drafted in April 2024 to settle the matter, and the victim went back to her in-laws’ house. However, upon returning home, she was informed that she would never be accepted and that Abhishek would remarry as revenge for the humiliation faced in the panchayat.

Injected with HIV-infected needle

When the victim refused to leave, her in-laws allegedly started giving her harmful medicines, leading to internal organ damage. The complainant alleged that the victim’s husband and sister-in-law later administered an HIV-infected injection to weaken her further. She was confined inside the house, prevented from seeking medical help, and not allowed to contact anyone.

Despite the restrictions, she managed to contact her father and brother. In May 2024, her brother visited her and learned about the abuse. He messaged their father, who arrived the next day. Seeing her condition, they rushed her to the hospital. Medical reports confirmed that her internal organs were damaged due to the forced consumption of drugs, and she was found to be infected with HIV. When her husband was tested, he was found to be HIV-negative, strengthening suspicions that she had been deliberately infected as part of a premeditated conspiracy.

Police inaction and legal intervention

After her diagnosis, the family approached the police to file a complaint. However, the police dismissed it as a “family matter” and refused to register the case without senior officers’ approval. The victim’s father approached the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Saharanpur, but no action was taken.

Left with no alternative, the complainant filed a petition in the local court seeking legal intervention. On 6th February 2025, the court ordered the Gangoh Kotwali police to register an FIR against Abhishek, his family members, and other accused individuals under relevant sections.

The investigation into the matter is underway.

14-year-old boy killed and five people wounded in knife attack by Syrian asylum seeker in Austria

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14-year-old boy killed and five people wounded in knife attack by Syrian asylum seeker in Austria

A 23-year-old man allegedly stabbed five passersby in southern Austria’s Villach on Saturday, leaving a 14-year-old dead and four others injured, the police said, CNN reported.

Following the incident, the suspect was detained in the city of Villach, police said. The suspect was a Syrian national with legal residence in Austria, they said.

As reported by CNN, the police spokesperson Rainer Dionisio said a motive was not immediately known. He added that police were investigating the attacker’s personal background. “We have to wait until we get secure information,” he said.

A 42-year-old man who works for a food delivery company witnessed the incident from his car, police said.

As reported by CNN, the victims were all men, with two seriously injured and two sustaining minor injuries, police said.

The governor of the Austrian province of Carinthia, Peter Kaiser, expressed his condolences to the family of the 14-year-old victim.

“This outrageous atrocity must be met with harsh consequences. I have always said with clarity and unambiguously: Those who live in Carinthia, in Austria, have to respect the law and adjust to our rules and values.”

On Sunday, authorities planned to establish a zone in the city center for those who want to grieve.

Police said it wasn’t clear whether the suspect acted alone and continued to search for potential additional suspects. It wasn’t immediately known whether there was any connection between the attacker and the victims.

According to the Interior Ministry, 24,941 foreigners applied for asylum in Austria in 2024. The largest group of applicants was from Syria, followed by Afghanistan.

In Austria, migration was a prominent topic leading up to last year’s election, which resulted in the far-right Freedom Party securing its first national election victory since World War II.

Over the past two years, the number of asylum seekers has decreased significantly. In 2022, applications peaked at over 100,000, while approximately 59,000 individuals sought asylum in 2023.

In a sharp reaction, far-right leader Herbert Kickl said on the X social media platform that he is “appalled by the horrific act in Villach” and wished the family of the 14-year-old victim who was killed in the attack “much strength.”

“At the same time, I am angry–angry at those politicians who have allowed stabbings, rapes, gang wars and other capital crimes to become the order of the day in Austria. This is a first-class failure of the system, for which a young man in Villach has now had to pay with his life,” Kickl said.

“From Austria to the EU–the wrong rules are in force everywhere. Nobody is allowed to challenge them; everything is declared sacrosanct,” he said, adding that his party had outlined what he viewed as necessary changes to immigration laws in his party’s election platform.

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

Bangladesh: Muslim mob attacks Hindu shop, vandalises Durga Mandir, injures locals on resisting

OpIndia Staff
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Bangladesh: Muslim mob attacks Hindu shop, vandalises Durga Mandir, injures locals on resisting

On Friday (14th February) night, a Muslim mob launched a scathing attack on a Hindu family and a nearby Durga Mandir in Nazirpur upazila in the Pirojpur district of Bangladesh.

The mob comprising 15-20 extremists attacked the shop of Rebati Gayen and looted his belongings. They also assaulted his wife Bithi Gayen. When local Hindus intervened, the Muslim mob also attacked and injured 8 of them.

Two of the victims include Durga Mandir Committee President Milan Gayen and his wife Irani Gayen. The 10 victims were later admitted to a local hospital.

The attackers were identified as Chabbir Sheikh, Mustaqin Sheikh and Nayan Sheikh. Others involved in the attack are yet to be identified. The Muslim mob also targeted the Durga Mandir and vandalised the idol of the Hindu deity.

They were reportedly armed with rods and pipes. According to victim Rebati Gayen, he had a heated argument with Chabbir Sheikh, Mustaqin Sheikh and Nayan Sheikh over their prolonged use of his shop’s WIFI.

The extremists had threatened the Hindu businessman with physical harm and left the scene. They did not show up at an ‘arbitration meeting’ which was organised on Friday morning. Instead, they came to attack Gayen’s shop and the nearby temple at night.

Following a complaint filed by Rebati Gayen with the police, the cops swung into action and arrested Chabbir Sheikh, Mustaqin Sheikh and Nayan Sheikh.

In the meantime, Durga Mandir Committee President Milan Gayen confirmed that work has begun to restore the temple to its original condition.

Bangladesh: Mirajuddin barges into temple and vandalises idol of Goddess Saraswati

On 31st January, a Muslim man barged into a Kali temple in Faridpur city of Bangladesh and vandalised an under-construction idol of Goddess Saraswati.

According to reports, the accused was identified as 32-year-old Mohammed Mirajuddin. He was caught red-handed attacking the Hindu place of worship, following which the accused was handed over to the people.

Mirajuddin was subsequently arrested and produced before a court. He was thereafter remanded to custody. According to the temple committee members, the Kali temple is protected by a 4-foot brick wall and the main gain is made of rods.

This facilitated the easy entry of Mohammed Mirajuddin into the temple premises. The idol which was vandalised was being prepared for Saraswati Puja, scheduled to be held on 3rd February.

Mirajuddin was previously involved in the destruction of the idol of Saraswati idol at the Faridpur ISKCON temple in February last year. Despite his arrest at that time, he was released on grounds of ‘mental instability.’

New Delhi railway station stampede leaves 18 people dead and several injured: What caused the tragedy

OpIndia Staff
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New Delhi railway station stampede leaves 18 people dead and several injured: What caused the tragedy

A fatal stampede occurred at the New Delhi railway station on Saturday (15th February) night leaving 18 people dead, including 11 women and 4 children. The stampede reportedly happened between 9 and 10 pm because of crowding of passengers due to delayed trains.

The crowd of passengers included a large number of devotees heading to attend the Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj. The injured were taken to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narain Hospital.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Railway, KPS Malhitra, explained the reason for the stampede as the delayed schedule of two trains that led to a massive number of passengers gathering at the platforms.

“When the Prayagraj Express was standing at platforms no. 14, a lot of public was present at the platform. Swatantra Senani Express and Bhubaneshwar Rajdhani were delayed and passengers of these trains were also present at platform no. 12, 13 and 14. As per the information, 1500 general tickets were sold – that’s why the crowd became uncontrollable,” the DCP said.

Expressing grief on the stampede, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that a high-level inquiry has been ordered into the incident to be conducted by a two-member committee.

As soon as the stampede happened, teams of Delhi Police and Railway Police Force (RPF) swung into action and the situation was brought under control. Four special trains were deployed at the railway station to evacuate the passengers as confirmed by the Railway Minister.

What happened at the platform

As per reports, delay in the schedule of two trains – Swatantra Senani and Bhubaneswar Rajdhani led to crowds at platform number 13 and 14 of the New Delhi Railway station. As the passengers of the delayed trains were already waiting at the platforms, the arrival of the Prayagraj Express, a special train for Mahakumbh, at platform number 16 was announced. The passengers waiting at the platform started gathering to board the Prayagraj Express which resulted in an unmanageable crowd at the platform.

According to the report of an immediate inquiry ordered into the into the incident, the delay in the schedule of two trains, the announcement of a special train to Prayagraj and the unexpected surge in the sales tickets led to the tragic incident.

Besides, the railway authorities were issuing 1500 general tickets every hour for Prayagraj. “Considering the increasing crowds and continuous ticket sales, at around 10 pm, the railways authorities announced a special train to Prayagraj from platform 16. Upon hearing this announcement, the passengers with general tickets, who were waiting on platform 14 rushed towards 16 by crossing the foot overbridge. In doing so, they trampled over passengers who were sitting on the overbridge, while a person also slipped and fell, which led to the stampede,” the inquiry report said.

Nothern Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Himanshu Shekar Upadhyay said that stampede occurred as some passengers slipped and fell on the other passengers due to heavy crowd.

“At the time of the incident, the Magadh Express heading to Patna was standing on platform 14, while the Jammu-bound Uttar Sampark Kranti was on platform 15. A passenger coming from 14 to 15 slipped and fell on the stairs, and many passengers standing behind him were hit. The stampede occurred due to this. This is being investigated by a high-level committee,” he said.

Delhi police launches Probe into the stampede

An investigation has been launched into the stampede by the Delhi Police. The police are examining the CCTV footage to find out the causes that led to the tragedy. “Our main target is to investigate the main cause which caused the stampede. We will collect all data to ascertain what exactly happened before the tragedy unfolded,” the police said.

In the aftermath of the unfortunate incident, ADG Railways Prakash D called for special vigilance on railway platforms for all the special trains bound for Prayagraj. He advised strict coordination for controlling the hike in the number of devotees at the railway stations.

What eyewitnesses said

As per reports, one of the coolies working at the station said that a massive crowd of people had gathered at platform numbers 12, 13, 14 and 15. “ As the stampede broke out, our colleagues rushed to help people. There was a huge commotion. We helped pull people from under others. We even pulled out a few bodies,” the coolie said.

A passenger named Pappu, who lost his mother-in-law in the stampede, said that there was no police present when the stampede occurred. “Around 9 pm, the stampede broke out. There was not police presence there. The situation was so bad that no one was able to help anyone else. People were just trying to pull out those who were crushed under the crowd,” he said.

Arvind Kejriwal stealing Delhi CMO handle: CMO writes to Social media platform X asking them to restore the account Kejriwal stole

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Arvind Kejriwal stealing Delhi CMO handle: CMO writes to Social media platform X asking them to restore the account Kejriwal stole

The Delhi Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has written to social media platform ‘X’, expressing concern over the unauthorised change of its official handle “@CMODelhi “to “@KejriwalAtWork” and requested its immediate restoration. The CMO also urged the platform to deactivate a parody account that has since taken over the @CMODelhi handle.

The Email from Delhi CMO to “X” reads: “It has come to our notice that on ‘X’ (previously Twitter), a “Grey Tick” Government Handle with identity “@CMODelhi”, has now been unauthorisedly changed to “@KejriwalAtWork”.

The said account has approximately 9,90,000 followers. As per established practice, official accounts are not associated with individuals and are passed on to successors as and when change takes place.

The email further pointed out that once “@CMODelhi” became available, another user claimed it and created a parody account. The CMO noted that attempts to access @KejriwalAtWork resulted in an error message stating, “Something went wrong.”

The Delhi CMO has requested ‘X’ to restore the “@CMODelhi” handle and send the password to its official email to prevent misuse.

“In view of the above, it is requested to ‘X’ Platform to restore “@CMODelhi” and the Password of the same may kindly be sent to the official email ID. which is the authorized official ID of Chief Minister, Delhi. This, inter alia will ensure that the said Handle / ID is not misused in future and cannot be tampered with. Further, it is also requested that any ‘X’ Handle having “@cmodelhi” as its ID, must not be allowed on ‘X’ without consent of this office. Also at present any other account having “@cmodelhi” must be deactivated immediately,” the mail read.

Meanwhile, BJP is yet to announce the CM of Delhi after securing a comfortable majority in Delhi Assembly elections winning 48 seats to AAP’s 22 in the 70-member legislative assembly.

Earlier, BJP Delhi President Virendraa Sachdeva launched a scathing attack on Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday, claiming that all the official government-associated handles of Delhi Chief Minister’s Office (@DelhiCMO) were changed to ‘Arvind Kejriwal at work,’ and demanded intervention from the Lieutenant Governor.

Earlier, according to BJP, the social media handles affiliated to the CMO had their names changed and then an hour later deleted.

The party’s Delhi president Sachdeva shared a printout of the purported account change with over 9 lakh followers. The description of the account read, “Former Chief Minister of Delhi Shri Arvind Kejriwal revolutionized Delhi’s governance with reforms in education, healthcare, electricity and public services.”

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

Muslim mob creates a ruckus at Delhi Metro’s Jama Masjid station, sparks security concerns, DMRC responds ‘momentary reaction of passengers’

OpIndia Staff
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Muslim mob creates a ruckus at Delhi Metro’s Jama Masjid station, sparks security concerns, DMRC responds ‘momentary reaction of passengers’

In a video that is going viral on social media, a mob of young Muslim men wearing skull caps can be seen creating a ruckus at the Jama Masjid station of the Delhi metro. The video visuals show the mob exiting the metro station by jumping over the exit gates without using the token or swiping the metro card.

Statement of Delhi Metro

The incident prompted a response from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) which issued a statement explaining the situation. “There was a temporary surge of passengers for a brief time when some passengers bypassed the AFC gate by jumping over it to exit. Security personnel and other staff were adequately present to counsel such passengers and the situation was never out of control. Rather, it was a momentary reaction of some passengers due to the sudden surge at AFC gates.”

The DMRC stated that the incident in the viral video happened on 13the February 2025 at the Jama Masjid Metro station on the Violet Line of the Delhi Metro.

The situation was reportedly caused after two trains arrived at the same time at the station and a huge crowd got down from the trains. This led to temporary malfunctioning of the exit gates due to a sudden increase in the number of passengers at the station.

While the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation issued a clarification after the video showing a sea of skull-cap-donning men flouting security checks at the Jama Masjid station had gone viral, its response nevertheless betrays a sense of helplessness of the authorities to tackle such crowds.

What police said

The Metro wing of the Delhi Metro said that they have not received any complaint regarding the incident. “We have not received any complaint yet; if a complaint is received, then legal action will be considered,” said Anuj Dayal, the Principal Executive Director of DMRC Corporate Communications. “In the video that is going viral on social media, some passengers were crossing the AFC gate and exiting. There was a temporary rush of passengers for some time when some passengers were crossing the AFC gate and exiting,” he added.

Did you know: Pakistani supervisor of Gaurav Gogoi’s wife engaged in anti-India propaganda, cheered when issue of Delhi riots was raised in Parliament

OpIndia Staff
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Did you know: Pakistani supervisor of Gaurav Gogoi’s wife engaged in anti-India propaganda, cheered when issue of Delhi riots was raised in Parliament

The controversy surrounding the wife of Congress leader, Gaurav Gogoi, ceases to exist. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who previously questioned Elizabeth Coulburn over her alleged ties to ISI, highlighted the tweets posted by her supervisor in Pakistan.

Colburn works as a project manager in the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in Delhi. Interestingly, the Regional Director of CDKN for Asia is a Pakistani national named Ali Tauqeer Sheikh.

Sheikh has a history of peddling anti-India propaganda, particularly through his X (formerly Twitter account). He had attempted to portray a false impression of India to the world through his politically motivated tweets.

Shaikh, who serves both as a colleague and the supervisor of Elizabeth Coulburn, had tried to create panic among Indian Muslims about being rendered Stateless, and sent to detention centres.

He had attempted to downplay the menace of love jihad (grooming of non-Muslim women by Muslim men to convert), and cried Islamophobia after public outcry over Tablighi Jamaat’s actions that led to the spread of Covid-19.

However, most importantly, the Regional Director of CDKN had cheered Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi for raking up the issue of Delhi riots in the Indian Parliament.

The Pakistani national had tweeted on 7th March 2020, “Bravo! Gaurav & 6 others suspended from Indian parliament by speaker for standing up for fellow citizens. Suspend me but please discuss Delhi riots, says Gaurav Gogoi of Congress.”

He had shared a news report by The Sentinel and tagged Elizabeth Gogoi with the message, “Please let him know our admiration.”

Sambhal man, resident of riot-hit Deepa Sarai neighbourhood, arrested in Pakistan, agencies suspect ties to Al Qaeda: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Sambhal man, resident of riot-hit Deepa Sarai neighbourhood, arrested in Pakistan, agencies suspect ties to Al Qaeda: Details

Mohammad Usman, a resident of Deepa Sarai in Sambhal, has been arrested in Pakistan. Although this arrest took place in 2024, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs has only now informed India about it. The ministry has asked Sambhal police to verify the information, which has now been confirmed.

Mohammad Usman had been missing since 2013, but the district intelligence department was unaware of this. The police are now trying to determine how Usman reached Pakistan. According to his family, he had left home saying he was going to Delhi, but he never returned.

There is no clear information on how he ended up in Pakistan, and his arrest only came to light after he was imprisoned. Notably, Deepa Sarai resident Maulana Asim Umar, also known as Shannu, was killed in a joint US-Afghanistan operation in 2019. He was linked to Al-Qaeda and had been missing since 1992.

Police suspect that Usman may have been associated with the same group, although this has not been confirmed. Since 1992, around 10 to 12 young men from Deepa Sarai have gone missing, with several intelligence agencies confirming that most of them are in Pakistan. Investigations into such cases are conducted from time to time.

Akhilesh Yadav demands extension of Maha Kumbh, claims 60 crore people have taken holy dip, not 50 crore as reported by govt

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Akhilesh Yadav demands extension of Maha Kumbh, claims 60 crore people have taken holy dip, not 50 crore as reported by govt

Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday alleged that the Uttar Pradesh government is underreporting the number of devotees attending the ongoing Mahakumbh in Prayagraj.

While the state administration has officially recorded 501.1 million (50.11 crore) participants so far, Yadav claimed the actual number is around 600 million (60 crore).

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, Yadav accused the government of deliberately providing lower figures to conceal its administrative shortcomings.

“By now, 600 million people (60 crores) must have taken a bath, but the government is not disclosing the actual number. They are deliberately underreporting figures so that, in the future, if someone studies the administrative or management aspects, their failures and mismanagement will be exposed,” he said.

He also urged the UP government to extend the Mahakumbh period so that elderly devotees could take a holy dip at Triveni Sangam.

“There are many elderly people–those above sixty-five or seventy years–who have not been able to take a bath. They wished to participate in religious programs, but due to various reasons, they couldn’t. At one time, the Kumbh used to last seventy-five days. During Emperor Harshavardhana’s time, it was even longer, attracting people from all religions and distant places. So, we demand the government extend it,” Yadav said.

Highlighting logistical challenges, he pointed to traffic congestion and the risk of stampedes as key reasons for elderly devotees missing the event. He also slammed the government for failing to use drone technology effectively.

“The government had earlier stated that drones should be used, and even conducted programs on it. But where drones were actually needed, they were not deployed,” the SP supremo added.

Referring to the state’s “Digital Kumbh” initiative, he added, “The government spoke about a Digital Kumbh, but it is not even able to provide accurate figures yet.”

“Our demand is that the residents of Prayagraj, who are yet to take a bath, should be given the opportunity. Therefore, this Kumbh event should be prolonged and extended,” Yadav added.

Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Information Department stated that as of today, 501.1 million people have taken a dip at the Triveni Sangam. The state administration also noted that the Mahakumbh has become the first event in the world to have more than 500 million direct participants.

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

China’s brutal assault on Tibetan Buddhism: Over 1,000 monks and nuns expelled from Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in Tibet

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China’s brutal assault on Tibetan Buddhism: Over 1,000 monks and nuns expelled from Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in Tibet

Chinese authorities have recently dealt a blow to the major hub of Tibetan Buddhist learning by expelling more than 1,000 Tibetan monks and nuns from the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, according to individuals within Tibet.

According to the sources cited by Radio Free Asia (RFA), administrators stated that they must reduce the number of Buddhist clergy living at the academy from 6,000 to 5,000 due to a lack of appropriate residency papers. This action is the most recent in a long line of actions by China to dismantle and reduce the size of the academy, which housed roughly 40,000 Buddhist monastics by the early 2000s.

Chinese authorities demolished part of the compound and expelled thousands of nuns and monks in 2016. County officials issued an order outlining the intentions for the forced expulsions and demolitions between 2016 and 2017, RFA reported.

Larung Gar is in Serthar County (Seda in Chinese), part of the Kardze (Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province. According to a report by RFA in December 2024, approximately 400 officials and police were sent there. According to the sources, officials have pressured hundreds of Buddhist religious members to voluntarily depart.

“They are strictly prohibited from taking photos freely and are only allowed to visit designated areas within the monastery.” Many of the residences of expelled Buddhist clergy have been marked for demolition, although they have not been destroyed yet, a source said as quoted by RFA.

According to the source, plans are underway to construct a road through the monastery in April, resulting in additional demolitions, RFA quoted. Beijing’s larger plan to diminish the number and power of religious organisations, especially those associated with Tibetan Buddhism, is thought to include the most recent crackdown.(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

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