Home Blog Page 4979

Kerala: Calicut medical college students protest against controversial order over Raksha Bandhan in govt medical colleges

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Kerala: Calicut medical college students protest against controversial order over Raksha Bandhan in govt medical colleges

The students of Calicut medical college recently held protests against a controversial circular issued by the Kerala Director of Medical Education (DME) allegedly banning the celebration of Hindu festival Raksha Bandhan celebrations in medical colleges, reports Times Now.

According to the reports, the students of Calicut medical college has raised their anger against the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Kerala government for allegedly imposing a ban against celebrating the festival in all government-run medical colleges in the state because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Referring to the DME’s order as ‘stupid’, one student said that they will be protesting against the ban and asserted that they will not allow the Kerala government to issue such orders again in the future.

“We think, they are doing such things to hide the mistakes of state government during the COVID times. We will not sit mute to these attempts aiming at defaming Raksha Bandhan. The students of Calicut medical college came up with the protest two days and all other medical, dental and nursing colleges across the state will react soon,” said another medical student protesting against the alleged ban on Raksha Bandhan by Kerala government in medical colleges.

What was the controversy?

Earlier, there were reports that Kerala State Medical Education Director Dr Ramla Beevi had issued a diktat stating that Raksha Bandhan festival will not be celebrated in government medical colleges.

The order issued by the DME had allegedly stated that RSS ‘Rakshabandhan events’ were conducted in previous years without the prior permission of authorities. Hence, taking a serious view, the Kerala government had reportedly recommended authorities to prevent recurrence of any such religious events.

However, another report by Edexlive had suggested the notice was issued by the Directorate of Medical Education on September 11. The notice reportedly talked about a particular event Raksha Bandhan in medical college without prior permission.

“In this scenario, it has been decided that these celebrations can only be conducted in government medical colleges with prior permission from the institution head and the government authorities,” the notice reportedly read.

No ban was ordered, DME clarifies

Following the order, there were several social media posts and reports claiming that the DME has ‘banned’ Raksha Bandhan celebrations. However, the authorities later clarified that nothing was banned and the order only asked prior permission to be sought before such events.

Commenting on the recent controversy,  Dr Beevi had also said that no groups were ever banned from conducting any celebrations.

“Last year, there was a clash between two groups in a medical college during the Raksha Bandhan celebrations. Keeping that in mind, we have now asked the students to only seek prior permission. No one is banned from celebrating any festival,” she said to Edexlive.

‘It is like Draupadi’s Cheerharan’: Four get life imprisonment for gang-raping Dalit woman in Alwar, Rajasthan while husband held hostage

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘It is like Draupadi’s Cheerharan’: Four get life imprisonment for gang-raping Dalit woman in Alwar, Rajasthan while husband held hostage

More than a year and a half after the Rajasthan Congress government led by CM Ashok Gehlot was slammed for the delay in police action in horrific the Alwar gang rape case, a special court in the state on Tuesday awarded life imprisonment to four accused in the case. The fifth accused was convicted under the IT Act and was sentenced to imprisonment for up to five years. Another accused, who is a minor, is being tried separately.

The incident took place on 26th April 2019, in which a Dalit woman was gang-raped by five men in front of her husband. The Rajasthan police came under scanner for delayed FIR. The court described it as Draupadi Cheerharan while announcing judgment.

Widespread criticism of Gehlot government

In the horrific incident which had transpired on April 26, 2019, a couple, shopping for a wedding in the family, was reportedly forcefully stopped by five youths and the woman was brutally gang-raped, beaten, videotaped and later blackmailed, near Thanagazi in Alwar under broad daylight.

The perpetrators assaulted the husband. Then they assaulted the wife and tried to rape her. When she protested, they started beating the husband again. In the end, she gave up to save her husband. They raped the victim alternatively for three hours and made 11 video clips.

The video clip of the Dalit victim was circulated by her attackers, triggering massive outrage and protests across the state. The police, which was informed of the rape on April 30 delayed filing the FIR until May 7, 2019.

The incident attracted nationwide outrage. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BSP Chief Mayawati had condemned the Ashok Gehlot government of Rajasthan. Gehlot became the Chief Minister of Rajasthan for the third time in December 2018. The incident brought his newly elected government under a lot of criticism. 

Accused made videos of the victim

The accused had shot videos of the gang rape that went viral. The public outrage further increased after videos were made public over the internet. The accused beat the husband for three hours while making the videos. On 2nd May 2019, an FIR was registered in Thanagaji. 32 witnesses were produced in court in the case. The trial of the minor is underway in the District and Session court.

Action against the police officers

After a public uproar, the Ashok Gehlot government suspended the SP of Alwar and the SHO of Thanagaji. On 7th June 2019, FIR against SHO was registered for failing to do his duty under 166A(C). There were enough evidence and information in the case, but he did not register FIR on time. The SP did not visit the site even 24 hours after the incident.

The family members of the Alwar gang rape survivor have alleged that the police tried to suppress the case and hush up the matter due to the elections, which took place on April 29 and May 6. The victims’ kin had alleged that though they reported the crime to the Alwar police station on May 2, the cops hushed up the matter due to the polls in Rajasthan. The police had, however, cited the lack of staff due to poll duty, as the reason for delaying the investigation.

Notice from the National Human Rights Commission

The National Human Rights Commission also issued a notice to the Rajasthan government in the case. The Commission had sought a report from the Chief Secretary and the DGP on the police’s inaction. The commission also ordered the state government to submit a report on the entire episode within six weeks.

Accused tried under several sections

A Special SC-ST Court heard the case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The case was registered against five accused Chhote Lal (22), Hans Lal Gurjar (20), Ashok Kumar Gurjar (20), Indraj Singh Gurjar (22) and a minor under Section-147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful mobilization) of IPC, 323 (intentionally injuring), 327 (extortion and harm), 341 (felony obstruction), 354B (disobeying a woman’s honor), 365 (secretly kidnapping), 376D (gangrape), 384 (extortion), 395 (robbery) and 506 (criminal intimidation). Sections of the SC-ST Act and IT Act were also imposed in the case.

“The court has sentenced four of the accused- Hansraj Gurjar, Chotelal Gurjar, Ashok Gurjar and Indraj Gurjar to life imprisonment till the end of their natural life while another accused, Mukesh, who played a part in circulating the video of the incident have been sentenced to five years of imprisonment after being convicted under the IT Act,” said Special Public Prosecutor Kuldip Jain on Tuesday.

NCW issues notice to Digvijay Singh, Swara Bhaskar and Amit Malviya seeking explanation for revealing identity of the Hathras victim

OpIndia Staff
-
0
NCW issues notice to Digvijay Singh, Swara Bhaskar and Amit Malviya seeking explanation for revealing identity of the Hathras victim

The National Commission for Women (NCW) today served three separate notices to senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh, actress Swara Bhaskar and BJP IT Cell Head Amit Malviya for revealing the identity of the Hathras victim on social media. The notices seek an explanation from all three and direct them to remove the relevant posts on social media which are in violation of the Supreme Court’s direction.

Swara Bhaskar had shared a tweet yesterday sharing the image of protest being organised at Jantar Mantar in Delhi in which a banner having the photo of the Hathras victim was visible. However, she was quick to delete the tweet.

Screenshot of Swara Bhaskar’s tweet that she deleted later.

Similarly, senior Congress Digvijaya Singh had also posted a tweet having the images of the Hathras victim to target the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh. However, he also deleted his tweet later. Interestingly, the veteran Congress leader had shared a photo that was spreading misinformation in the case, claiming that the tongue of the victim was cut, a claim that was already debunked by the police.

Screenshot of Digvijaya Singh’s tweet that he deleted later.

BJP IT Cell Head Amit Malviya had also shared a video of the Hathras victim few days ago on Twitter in which she was could be seen lying on the ground after she was allegedly attacked. In the video, the victim was giving details of the incident. Her face was not blurred in the video. The NCW has taken cognisance of all the three cases and has sought an explanation from all three of them.

Assam: Ex-Assam Police DIG PK Dutta arrested from Nepal in SI recruitment scam

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Assam: Ex-Assam Police DIG PK Dutta arrested from Nepal in SI recruitment scam

Continuing its crackdown into the police job recruitment scam in Assam, a special team of Assam Police along with a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team arrested former Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) PK Dutta, one of the prime accused in the Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment scam. He has been arrested in Nepal. According to reports, the special police team is bringing back the former DIG to Assam. They are expected to reach Guwahati by tonight.

The former DIG, who is said to be the alleged mastermind in the exams question paper leak scandal, had been on the run after the incident came to the fore on September 20. The Assam government cancelled a written exam to recruit 597 sub-inspectors to the police force after the question paper was leaked.

The Assam police, which was is constant pursue to nab the accused in the scam, had informed two days ago that Dutta might be hiding in Nepal.

Retired DIG PK Dutta and his son Ishan were suspected to have fled to Nepal by road after the scam came to light. The former police officer’s daughter is married to a Nepali citizen based in Kathmandu.

On October 3, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Assam police had arrested two more suspects from Dibrugarh district. Both are linked to DIG (retd) PK Dutta, the prime accused in the case.

BJP leader Diban Deka was expelled from the party

Prior to these arrests, another accused in the case- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Diban Deka, was also arrested after he surrendered before the Assam Police on September 30. Deka along with the retired DIG PK Dutta had allegedly hatched the conspiracy to fleece many candidates for posts of sub-inspectors by assuring them jobs in lieu of cash.

The Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) had expelled Deka from the party after his arrest.

Police had issued a look out notice for both Dutta and Deka and alerted income tax department, enforcement directorate and department of revenue intelligence after unearthing many properties belonging to the police officer.

On September 30, Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal, in a strong-worded statement had said that nobody will be spared if found responsible for the Assam Police sub-inspectors (SI) recruitment scam. The Chief Minister had confirmed that the state government has instituted an inquiry into the scam and the investing agency has been asked to conduct the inquiry impartially without any compromise.

The job scam came to light when the SI exams to fill 597 posts had to be canceled within minutes of starting the exam as the question paper was leaked. The exam was held on September 20 and around 66,000 candidates sat for the exam. The exams are now rescheduled to be held on November 22.

Uttar Pradesh: Six-year-old Hathras girl dies after being raped by cousin in Aligarh

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Uttar Pradesh: Six-year-old Hathras girl dies after being raped by cousin in Aligarh

A week after outrage over the Hathras case, another gruesome incident has been reported from Uttar Pradesh after a six-year-old girl died in a Delhi hospital on Tuesday, ten days after she was allegedly raped in Aligarh.

According to the reports, a six-year-old girl was raped by her own cousin in Iglas in Aligarh about ten days back. The minor girl belonged to Hathras but had been living with her maternal aunt after her mother had died last year. The minor succumbed to injuries ten days after she was raped.  

Reportedly, the girl was taken to Delhi for treatment after her condition deteriorated. The incident had taken place in Jatoi village in Kotwali Sadabad region. 

Arrested accused is also a minor

On September 24, the Uttar Pradesh police had arrested the minor accused and had produced before a juvenile court. The accused was then sent to Mathura Children’s Home on the orders of the Child Welfare Committee. 

Following the death of the daughter, the father of the victim has alleged that the police has arrested the wrong person. According to the father, the police officials have arrested a boy with mental illness, however, it was the elder brother of the arrested who was named by her daughter when she died, the father alleged.

Meanwhile, the family of the deceased minor girl placed her body at the Sadabad-Baldev road and protested against the Uttar Pradesh while demanding the arrest of the accused.

SSP Aligarh G Muniraj has suspended the Station House Officer of Iglas for delaying the arrest of the accused. The Uttar Pradesh police also reached the spot to pacify the protestors.

The incident comes amidst the ongoing political controversy over the death of a 19-year-old girl in Hathras that has led to protests by various political parties in several parts of the country.

Hathras hearing: UP govt files affidavit asking Court-monitored CBI probe, SC asks for a response on its witness protection plan

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Hathras hearing: UP govt files affidavit asking Court-monitored CBI probe, SC asks for a response on its witness protection plan

Hearing the PIL on the Hathras case, the Chief Justice of India observed that the incident was shocking and extraordinary, and ensured that the investigation in the case will be smooth.

The apex court ordered the UP government to file an affidavit detailing the protection extended to the victim’s family and the witnesses, if the family has a lawyer to assist to them and providing the scope of the High Court and how can the top court widen it. The matter is adjourned till the next week.

An affidavit filed by UP government asks SC to order a CBI probe

The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that the body of the 19-year-old Dalit girl, who died on September 29, was cremated under extraordinary circumstances at night to avoid “large-scale violence”.

The Yogi Adityanath government also added that despite its “diligent probe” into the Hathras case, there had been an attempt to build “false narratives” at the behest of some “vested interests”. SG Mehta, representing the UP government, urged the court that such false narratives can be stopped if it orders monitoring and investigation by a central agency.

Asking for a CBI probe, the affidavit filed by the UP government claimed that a section of media is trying to give a communal & casteist colour to the Hathras incident and therefore the apex court should direct a court-monitored CBI investigation in the case, rooting out the false narratives.

Indira Jaising demands transfer of the case to Delhi, CJI says she had no locus standi

Senior Advocate Indira Jaising appeared in the court seeking protection of the victim’s family. She further reiterated that the justice can be done only if the trial is shifted to Delhi from Allahabad High Court, saying that a judicial probe, under the aegis of a former judge is preferable.

However, CJI sharply retorted, “We are hearing you because the incident is shocking and extraordinary. We are also appreciating your assistance but you may not have the locus. Let us hear the petitioners also.” CJI also added that whatever is being argued in the Supreme Court can be argued by the High Court as well and they may even benefit from the High Court order first.

Solicitor General also rebutted Indira Jaising, claiming the family had already been granted the security by the government. “Things are being argued here without knowing the facts. Witnesses are being protected,” he added.

Scroll gives space to journalist who writes drivel for Pakistani papers to blame India for tensions between the two countries

K Bhattacharjee
-
0
Scroll gives space to journalist who writes drivel for Pakistani papers to blame India for tensions between the two countries

Scroll has republished an article initially published on Pakistani media outlet Dawn where Hindutva and India were blamed for a lack of peace between India and Pakistan. The article, authored by one Jawed Naqvi, was supposed to be a eulogy to the late Jaswant Singh but instead, it becomes obvious through the course of it that its actual purpose is absolving Pakistan of all its sins.

The author has spent his entire life writing for Pakistani publication and deriding India, however, it may be noted that there were certain claims of him being of Indian origin.

The article speaks of the time when Jaswant Singh supposedly wished to establish peace between the two countries by turning the existing Line of Actual Control into a hard border. The plot, apparently, was sabotaged by L.K.Advani due to its Hindutva ideological predispositions and also because peace between India and Pakistan was apparently undesirable for Hindutva’s electoral prospects.

Scroll republishes article which originally appeared on Dawn

The article used fancy words to cloak the real source of tensions between the two countries. India and Pakistan are destined to be each other’s enemies due to the circumstances which led to the creation of the Republics in 1947. It would be extremely difficult for either of the two countries to look past the events of that period.

Pakistan cannot look past that hatred because it is only a morbid hatred towards India that justifies its continued existence. India cannot look past it because the Islamic state uses terrorism as a weapon of war against us to this very day. Any reasonable person would believe that an end to cross border terrorism is the minimum prerequisite for lasting peace between the two countries and the blame for tensions would only lie with the country that sponsors terrorism. But it’s only in the clown world that we live in that India is blamed for apparently not allowing a peace deal to go through.

But a journalist who has made a career out of writing for Pakistani papers cannot be expected to concede such basic truths. Unable to accept such obvious facts, it is only to be expected such a journalist would clutch at straws to absolve the military-political establishment of his own country. And when an opportunity presents itself where Hindutva can also be dragged through the mud, it is only natural that it will be the chosen course of action.

The author also snidely remarked that the Parliament Attack of 2001, the Mumbai Terror Attack in 2008 and the Pulwama Terror Attack benefited the BJP. The author’s tenuous relationship with facts is revealed herein since on two of those three occasions, the BJP lost the subsequent General Elections. He also assiduously ignored Pakistan’s own role in each of these terror attacks.

It is reflective of the falling standards of journalism in the country that Scroll allows such drivel to be published in its platform. Only a fool would believe that peace between the two countries would magically materialise should the LOC be turned into a hard border. But Indian media outlets are so consumed by their hatred towards Hindutva that any and every opportunity to target Hindutva, no matter how inane it is, is grabbed eagerly with both hands.

Not merely that, Pakistan also uses articles published by Indian journalists to further its own propaganda against India. Recently, Dawn republished an article originally published on Shekhar Gupta’s The Print authored by Shivam Vij. Thus, it is a two-way street but the target always seems to be India and always, the state sponsor of terrorism is given a free pass.

Update: Article has been updated with relevant information

Bahujan support group continues to school Bollywood entertainer Swara Bhaskar on how not to hog the limelight and hijack the stage

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Bahujan support group continues to school Bollywood entertainer Swara Bhaskar on how not to hog the limelight and hijack the stage

A Bahujan support group, named, Revolutionary Memes for Bahujan Teens have yet again slammed actress Swara Bhaskar for hijacking their caste struggle in the aftermath of the Hathras case. While the group did not object to her participation, it expressed displeasure over the conduct of the actress in hogging the ‘limelight’ off the case and the movement. Days after calling her a ‘parasite’ for trying to hijack the movement demanding justice for Hathras victim.

“We are not saying not to participate in the anti-caste struggle, Swara Bhaskar. Our objection was the way you did it,” it tweeted. The group added that they want the movement to be spearheaded by Dalits and not Savarna (upper-caste) individuals such as Swara Bhaskar. Revolutionary Memes for Bahujan Teens also asked her to instead lead a ‘reformation’ campaign within her own community.

It stated, “Let Dalit-Bahujan take the stage, as a Savarna be a humble servant of the movement, start a Reformation among your own people FIRST. How difficult is it to understand?” The response of the Bahujan group comes after Swara Bhaskar’s tweet wherein she expressed her ‘grief’ on being targetted for leading the movement. She wrote, “Dammned if you do (something), damned if you don’t.”

Netizens slam Swara Bhaskar for hijacking Dalit movement

Several Twitter users also suggested Swara Bhaskar to not disrupt the movement. A Twitter user, (@inquietraj) suggested her to learn to take constructive criticism and work on it. Rejecting her rant as ‘petulance’, he tweeted, “Ms. Bhasker I hope you’ve made an honest effort to understand and learn from the feedback you’ve received. This kind of petulance in the face of constructive criticism is not a good look. Please do better.”

Another user (@meowist_life) accused her of generalising their campaign by ‘dismissing’ the caste angle. She stated, “The point is not about whether you do. And you definitely do, and you do good compared to your industry buddies. That’s not the point. When you say ‘our’ demands, you’re generalizing it by dismissing caste.” She further explained that a Dalit should be allowed to take on the podium instead of a Kanhaiya Kumar (who belongs to the upper-caste fold).

Another user named Walter White also told Swara Bhaskar to allow the centre-stage to a Dalit woman. The user told her that her contribution will be ‘helpful’ if she can teach the upper-caste individuals to refrain from casteist behaviour. “Please give the stage to the Bahujan Women next women (next time). It will be more helpful. And if you want to transform the society, then teaching of upper caste not to do casteism is more helpful,” the Twitter user wrote.

Bahujan support group calls Swara Bhasker ‘parasite’

Earlier, Revolutionary Memes for Bahujan Teens referred to Swara Bhaskar as a ‘parasite.’ The group said that even though she studied sociology at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) but did not seem to have read books and writings by Pierre Bourdieu, Antonio Gramsci, Jane Elliott, Peggy McIntosh, Malcolm X. It concluded that the lack of knowledge led her to jump at every opportunity to hog the limelight in the Dalit-Bahujan space.

Calling her half ‘Baman’ (Brahmin) and half Kayastha, the Bahujan support space suggested that she should start reformation movement from her own community and the states her parents come from, before hijacking Dalit-Bahujan space. The page further mentioned that her parents hail from Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, two of the states which top the list on honour killings.

India Today speaks half truth in their ‘fact check’ to shield Rahul and Priyanka as they laughed their way to Hathras

OpIndia Staff
-
0
India Today speaks half truth in their ‘fact check’ to shield Rahul and Priyanka as they laughed their way to Hathras

Amidst the politicisation of the Hathras case, a video has been doing rounds on social media showing Congress scions Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra giggling in the car on their way to Hathras where they were going to allegedly show solidarity with the family of the victim.

The video received lot of flak on social media and apparently this did not go down well with media channel India Today. India Today jumped in to ‘fact-check’ the viral video. The media channel claimed that the video was shared by a lot of Congress leaders with and without the giggling sound. The channel did not deny that both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are seated at the front in the car but it claimed that the faces of the Gandhi scions were not visible. Therefore, it cannot be ascertained as to who is laughing.

The video was shared from the Twitter profile of the student wing of the Congress party NSUI with the giggling sound.

The video was also shared by National General Secretary of Indian Youth Congress, Pratibha Raghuvanshi with giggling sound in it.

Other Congress leaders who shared the video actually shared a shorter version of it that did not have the giggling sound.

India Today could not produce a version of the viral video without the giggling sound which was as long as the video with the giggling sound. The videos without the giggling sound shared by Congress leaders are shorter videos with the giggling part edited out. If one listens closely the voices of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are clearly audible in the giggling. Therefore, there is hardly anything to doubt the authenticity of the video when it is being shared by Congress leaders themselves.

Moreover, in a bid to give a clean chit to the Gandhi siblings, India Today did a misleading ‘fact-check’.

India Today shared an image taken ahead of 2019 general elections where the Gandhi siblings are smiling and posing for camera and ‘fact-checked’ to claim that the ‘giggling video’ was ‘misleading’. India Today mischievously took two separate incidents and conveniently skipped the latest giggling video to give the Gandhi siblings a clean chit.

Bollywood drug probe: Rhea Chakraborty and brother Showik’s judicial custody extended till October 20

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Bollywood drug probe: Rhea Chakraborty and brother Showik’s judicial custody extended till October 20

The bail application of actor Rhea Chakraborty, who was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in a drugs case linked to the death of her rumoured boyfriend and actor Sushant Singh Rajput, has again been rejected and her judicial custody has been extended by another 14 days. Rhea’s brother Showik Chakraborty’s bail application was also rejected. The sister-brother duo will now have to stay on in Byculla jail until October 20.

Judicial custody of Rhea Chakraborty was earlier extended till October 6 by NDPS court

Earlier on September 22, the special Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) court had earlier extended the judicial custody of actor Rhea Chakraborty till October 6.

While applying for bail, Rhea had alleged that she had been pressurised into making self-incriminating confessions during her interrogations by the NCB. The actor had maintained that she has not committed any crime and has been falsely framed in the case. Withdrawing her ‘self-incriminating confessions’, she called her arrest as “unwarranted, unjustified,” and termed it as arbitrary.

Rhea arrested in a drugs case linked to the death of Sushant Singh Rajput

Rhea was charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances(NDPS) Act by the Narcotics Control Bureau and arrested last month for her alleged role in the drugs angle that emerged in the case following the death of Sushant on June 14. 

Rhea was charged under Section 8(c) (produce, manufacture, possess, sell, purchase, transport, warehouse, use, consume, import); 20(b)(ii) (punishment for contravention in relation to the cannabis plant and cannabis where such contravention relates to small quantity, involves quantity lesser than commercial quantity but greater than small quantity, involves commercial quantity); 22 (punishment for contravention in relation to psychotropic substances); 27A (punishment for financing illicit traffic and harbouring offenders); 28 (punishment for attempts to commit offences); and 29 (punishment for abetment and criminal conspiracy) of the NDPS act.

1...4,9784,9794,980...7,651Page 4,979 of 7,651