The Election Commission of India announced the assembly elections for Bihar today. The elections will be held in three phases, as opposed to 5 phases in the last election in the state. The dates of polls are 28 October, 3 November and 7 November. The counting of votes will take place on 10 November. Compared to the last election that extended three weeks, this elections will be wrapped up in just 10 days, a very compact schedule.
Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora announced that 71 seats in 16 districts will go to polls in the first phase, 94 seats in 17 districts will go to polls on the second phase, and the voting for the balance 78 seats in 15 districts will take place on the third and last phase.
With the announcement of the election schedule the model code of conduct has come into force in Bihar.
This will be the first election after the Coronavirus pandemic broke out earlier this year, therefore the EC has announced several measures to ensure social distancing. The poling time has been extended by one hour, and voters will be able to cast their votes between 7AM to 6PM. 7 lakh hand sanitisers, 46 lakh masks and 6 lakh PPE kits will be supplied by the commission for election officials to protect them from the pandemic. 6.7 lakh units of face shields and 23 lakh pairs of gloves will also be arranged.
Coronavirus patients who are in quarantine will able to vote on the last day of the voting.
The term for the current assembly in Bihar ends on 29 November this year. In the last election in 2015, the JD(U)-RJD-Congress Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) had won the election, and Nitish Kumar was re-elected as the CM. The alliance had won 178 seats out of total 243 seats in the state. The JD(U) had left the NDA in 2013 in protest against naming Narendra Modi as the PM candidate by BJP. In 2017, JD(U) terminated its alliance with RJD and Congress, returned to NDA, and formed a new govt with the alliance of BJP.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a key conspirator in the attack on the KG Halli police station in the city’s north-eastern suburb that occurred on August 11, over a Facebook post that allegedly insulted the Prophet of Islam. The action came a day after the NIA took over the investigation into two cases in which the city police has invoked the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
According to an official privy to the case, NIA on Thursday arrested one Sayed Saddiq Ali, who is said to be one of the key persons behind the ghastly attack by a frenzied Muslim mob, which led to the death of four people and left more than 60 police personnel severely injured.
The NIA confirmed that the 44-year-old, Sayed Saddiq Ali, works as a recovery agent with a bank and had been absconding since the August riots.
NIA recovers incriminating documents related to SDPI and PFI
Moreover, the NIA had also conducted searches in 30 locations across the city on Thursday. During the raids, the NIA recovered– airgun, pellets, sharp weapons, iron rods, digital devices, digital voice recordings (DVRs). It also found many incriminating documents and materials related to the radical Muslim organisations Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and Popular Front of India (PFI), informed the NIA in a statement released by them.
NIA names SDPI leader Muzammil Pasha for instigating Bengaluru violence
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) which took over the investigation into the Bengaluru riots on September 24 (Wednesday) named SDPI leader Muzamil Pasha for “instigating the mob” to unleash violence on the streets of east Bengaluru. The Muslim mob had attacked and torched down two police station and also the residence of Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivasamurthy.
“The state secretary of SDPI, Muzamil Pasha, had earlier called a meeting and directed the members of PFI/SDPI to instigate the mob and incite violence. The mob went on a rampage in DJ Halli, KG Halli, and Pulakeshi Nagar areas under Bengaluru City,” the NIA statement issued on Tuesday read.
The NIA also stated that more than 1000 people had gathered in front of Congress MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy’s residence in Kaval Byrasandra on August 11 over a derogatory post posted by his nephew Naveen on Facebook which allegedly insulted the religious sentiments of Muslims.
Till now, about 280 people in the case have been booked under the stringent UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) and various other provisions of the IPC. Some of the accused held in the riots case are said to be members of the SDPI and PFI.
The central agency will investigate if the accused persons had links with terror organisations.
The investigation being carried out by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s mysterious death appears to have opened a pandora’s box. Names of bigwigs of Bollywood are coming up in the investigation with each passing day. The latest name to join the NCB’s list is Kshitij Ravi Prasad, who is said to be a close aide of filmmaker Karan Johar.
Prasad was served a summon by the NCB yesterday and he was supposed to appear before the agency today. However, NCB officials raided his house in Versova today. According to reports, the NCB seized drugs from his residence today including Marijuana.
It is being reported by Republic TV that Prasad, who is the Executive Producer and Director at Dharma Productions, used to buy large amounts of drugs regularly. The NCB had raided his house on Thursday as well. After conducting raids today, he was picked up by the NCB officials was taken to the NCB office. Prasad has not yet been arrested as informed by the NCB officials. However, he will be reportedly be taken into custody after questioning.
The NCB officials have also revealed that so far Kshitij Ravi Prasad has not been detained or arrested. Since Kshitij Prasad was summoned today, he accompanied the NCB to their office after the raids. However, they also confirmed that the Dharma Productions Executive Producer will be taken into custody after his interrogation.
Kshitij had only hours earlier landed in Mumbai from Delhi where he was on Thursday when the summons was issued to him. His house was raided by the agency officials on Thursday as well.
Actress Deepika Padukone was also issued summon by the NCB and she is expected to be questioned by the agency today.
South Korea on Friday reportedly claimed that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has tendered his apology over the killing of a South Korean official earlier this week.
South Korea’s Presidential office released a statement saying that Kim communicated his apology in a message to South Korea. It added that Kim described the incident as “unexpected” and “unfortunate”.
The apology from the North Korean dictator came as a surprise for the South Korean officials as well as the world, given that the North Korean leader is not known for expressing his regret over any issues with the South. The two countries share a troubled history and enduring dispute, going back to several decades, in the aftermath of World War II when a conflict resulted in the division of Korea into North and South.
“Comrade Kim Jong Un, the State Affairs Commission chairman, feels very sorry to give big disappointment to President Moon Jae-in and South Korean citizens because an unexpected, unfortunate incident happened”, Moon adviser Suh Hoon cited the North Korean message as saying.
According to Seoul, the message received from North Korea said that the troops fired in the air after the man did not explain why he was there, rather than just saying that he had come from South Korea. The man then tried to flee, when the North Korean troops fired 10 rounds at him. When they came close to the man’s floating object, all they could found was blood and the man wasn’t seen.
After ascertaining that the man was dead, the officials burned the floating object as per the coronavirus guidelines of the country, the message from North Korea read.
South Korea accused North Korean of shooting an offical dead
The apology came against the backdrop of allegations levelled by South Korea against the North Korean officials of shooting a fisheries official to death. South Korea on Thursday contended that one of its officials, was killed by the troops in the North and his body set ablaze for fear he might be carrying coronavirus.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in of South Korea described the shooting of its officer as a “stunning and deeply regrettable act that cannot be tolerated”. The Defense Ministry of South Korea called the incident “atrocious” and asked North to punish those responsible for the killing.
Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of private hospital Max Saket after he tested positive for Dengue. Earlier this month, Sisodia had tested positive for Coronavirus and was admitted in the ICU of Government hospital Lok Nayak hospital.
On Wednesday, Deputy CM of Delhi Manish Sisodia was admitted to the ICU of government hospital Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) after complaining of high fever and a dip in his oxygen levels. On Thursday, after testing positive for Dengue, Sisodia was shifted to private hospital Max Saket for better care.
Government officials have said that Sisodia’s “blood platelets are also falling”. Sisodia’s condition had improved on Thursday morning, and he was moved to a ward in Lok Nayak later in the day, hospital officials said according to a Hindustan Times report. However, later in the day, he was tested positive for Dengue was shifted to LNJP.
“The minister was admitted to the hospital with high fever and low oxygen saturation. He was being monitored in the ICU and was put on oxygen support while various tests were conducted. It was found that he had low platelet count which led to the doctors to believe he might have a co-infection of dengue,” a senior doctor from Lok Nayak hospital.
Manish Sisodia had tested positive for Coronavirus on 14th September and was in home isolation ever since till his condition worsened.
हल्का बुख़ार होने के बाद आज कोरोना टेस्ट क़राया था जिसकी रिपोर्ट पोज़िटिव आई है. मैंने स्वयं को एकांतवास में रख लिया है. फ़िलहाल बुख़ार या अन्य कोई परेशानी नहीं है मैं पूरी तरह ठीक हूँ. आप सब की दुआओं से जल्द ही पूर्ण स्वस्थ होकर काम पर लौटूँगा.
After contracting Coronavirus, Sisodia had tweeted, “Had got my Covid-19 test done after I had a mild fever. The report has come positive. I have gone into self-isolation. As of now, I have no fever or any other issue. I am fine. By your blessing, I will recover fully and return to work soon.”
Till yesterday, there were 32,305 active COVID-19 cases in Delhi, with 5088 deaths. Health Minister Satyendar Jain had said that Delhi is facing a shortage of ICU beds, however, there is no shortage of oxygen.
In a barbaric act, a 23-year-old Hindu woman has been brutally murdered by two Muslim youth after she refused to convert to Islam after marriage. The incident has occurred in Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh.
According to the reports, the Uttar Pradesh police on Monday had recovered a beheaded body of a woman in a forest area near Preet Nagar under the Chopan police station area. The police officials said that the father of the deceased, Laxminarayan, identified the deceased as Priya Soni from her shoes and clothes.
The father of the deceased informed the police that her daughter Priya had married a Muslim youth named as Ejaz Ahmed against the wishes of the family about a month and a half ago. According to the father of the deceased, Ejaz was pressuring her to convert to Islam, to which she disagreed.
The police officials have said that Ejaz had kept her at a lodge in the Obra area and was continuously pressurising her to convert to Islam. As the Hindu girl refused to convert, the angry Ejaz called upon another friend Shoaib Akhtar. The two Muslim youth carried Priya to a nearby forest area and killed her.
Accused had run away, was later nabbed
SP Ashish Srivastava said the woman’s beheaded body was found in a forest area near Preet Nagar under the Chopan police station area on Monday.
The two accused had run away after murdering Priya. The Police had deployed teams to trace the accused. The accused were later nabbed from Baggha Nala Pul early Thursday morning, the SP said.
The police officials said that they have recovered the mobile phone of the deceased along with a knife, iron rod and car. The National Security Act will also be invoked against them, the SP added.
With various evidence emerging, it has been well established that the violence and carnage that happened during US President Donald Trump’s visit to India was not spontaneous, but pre-planned and timed. OpIndia, in its extensive report on the anti-Hindu Delhi riots had explained how the communal violence in the national capital was the manifestation of deep-seated bigotry that had been weaponised under the garb of anti-CAA protests.
Now, OpIndia has accessed screenshots of Whatsapp chats between those who controlled the Delhi riots which further explain how the communal riots were not the handiwork of locals but it was a result of deeper conspiracy and planning.
In one of the two WhatsApp chats which allegedly took place between the conspirators on February 24, the day the streets of the national capital was marred by violence, one man named Ather Yusufzai raised concerns saying that he felt that the idea of rioting was not a good one. In the Whatsapp conversation, Ather Yusufzai appeared distressed as he said that the Delhi police had been acting strictly against the rioters and he opined that as a consequence of which their side could face a lot of damage. These people were seen as mulling de-escalation.
Whatsapp chat accessed exclusively by OpIndia
The person named Yusafzai appears scared in this text. He says there is very bad rioting going on in Noor-e-Ilahi area. Rioters are being brought in buses from Loni and other areas. He further asks, “Is this idea (of violence) is good? I don’t think so.”
Yusafzai’s further message says “Today police and pro (CAA) groups are acting very brutally. We will incur more damage.”
Following Ather Yusufzai’s message, another man named Anas Tanvir also tries to convince the others in the group, how carrying out the riots is not a prudent idea. Anas Tanveer also expresses anxiety on the plans of the rioters to attack the police headquarters, saying that the proposition might be risky as the police in Delhi were on red alert. One Chirag Patnaik also agrees to Anas.
Whatsapp chat accessed exclusively by OpIndia
It is pertinent to note that in this conversation which transpired on February 24, these handfuls of people speak of de-escalation and spilling the names of those who had planned the riots. What does this imply? It becomes evident that before the violence was unleashed in the national capital, it was in these group itself that the planning of the riots had taken place, that is why these members on February 24 spoke on how the riots took an extremely brutal turn, more than that was expected and also spoke of disowning those organisations and individuals who instigated the ghastly attack.
Earlier too, WhatsApp chats of these groups had exposed the role of conspirators in the anti-Hindu Delhi riots. One Ovais Sultan had in his Facebook post on February 23, objected to the transgressions by the Pinjra Tod activists. He wrote that it was because of these Pinjra Tod women activists that the locals of Saleempur and trans-Yamuna were in trouble. He spoke how these women activists spread panic, incited violence and blocked Jafrabad main road.
Ovais Sultan;s Facebook post
He wrote that these activists incited people by sloganeering “Kafan bandh ke aaye hain, jo humare saath nahi woh desh ka gaddar hain” (we have come prepared to die, those who do not support us are traitors). Ovais Sultan said that he did not approve of the Pinjra Tod activists because they were the ones who attacked the police, but none got arrested, all of them fled, and the locals instead got arrested and were facing the trials.
It is pertinent to note here, that at the time when this Ovais Sultan took to social media to express his disapproval, the planning for the next day was already completed and arson, murder and bloodshed which were to be organized in these areas the next day were already planned in a systematic manner.
Though in the above post, Ovais Sultan appeared to be against the riots, his other chats had made it clear that he too, was very much a part of the concerted plans and he too was constantly trying to convince the conspirators.
As regards to this Anas Tanvir, our source confirmed that he is a lawyer who has been actively providing legal help to anti-CAA protestors in the national capital in February this year. On February 24 when the consequence of the Delhi-riots dawned upon him and he felt that things may possibly go out of control, he took to Whatsapp to present himself as the judicious one.
The conversation shows that the concerned individuals were well aware of the elements that have been involved in orchestrating the violence. Their responses show that they had just not anticipated the swiftness and scale of police action. They are also aware that rioters are being ferried in buses etc. They are discussing de-escalation only for the fear of consequences.
The plan to block Delhi Police headquarters is also being discussed in this group. Anas Tanveer’s texts show that he (and others in the group) are aware which specific people had worked to spread violence and he is urging other group members to be ready to identify them. Why did they want to block police headquarters when riots are spreading in the capital is another question that arises in this conversation.
Eyewitness testifies that the violence was planned in the meetings held before the riots
Over these months, evidence has emerged which proves beyond doubts that the anti-Hindu Delhi violence was well orchestrated and was not a spontaneous action. Today a testimony accessed by Times Now confirmed that an eyewitness has said before the magistrate that the violence was planned in the meetings held before the riots took place in the national capital. The eyewitness confessed that “Sadko par utrenge”, “Khoon bahayenge” calls were made and the Muslim mob was brainwashed into taking to the streets.
The eyewitness confirmed that it was discussed in the meetings that even if they were required to shed blood to coerce the government into taking back the law (speaking about revoking the Citizenship Amendment Act), they should not hesitate.
OpIndia’s extensively documents events that led to the anti-Hindu Delhi riots
OpIndia in its extensive report on the anti-Hindu Delhi riots had shed light on how the communal violence in the national capital was the manifestation of a planned, well-financed and organised conspiracy timed to coincide with Donald Trump’s India visit so it could grab maximum media coverage.
Our report documented the anti-CAA protests and other significant developments related to the matter from the month of December when violence first broke out not only in Delhi but across the country. We reported the manner in which politicians, non-governmental organisations and ‘civil society’ joined hands with the extremist elements within the Muslim community to wreak havoc across the country.
Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh, the husband of Deepika Padukone, has asked the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) whether he can be present during his wife’s interrogation on Saturday, reports Republic TV.
In his application to the NCB, Ranveer Singh has stated that Deepika Padukone suffered from anxiety and gets panic attacks, therefore, has asked their permission to accompany the actress to the interrogation. Deepika Padukone, who was shooting for a film in Goa arrived in Mumbai on Thursday with her husband Ranveer Singh.
Ranveer Singh has also stated that he is a ‘law-abiding citizen’ and was aware of the fact that he is not allowed to be present at the time of Deepika Padukone’s questioning, however, he has requested the NCB to allow him to accompany his wife to the questioning. No decision has been taken by the NCB on Ranveer Singh’s application yet.
Deepika Padukone to appear before NCB on Saturday
Meanwhile, Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone will be appearing before the NCB on September 26. Along with Deepika, Sara Ali Khan and Shraddha Kapoor have also been summoned by the Narcotics Control Bureau in connection with the drug mafia case.
On Friday, actor Rakul Preet Singh and Deepika Padukone’s manager Karishma Prakash were also summoned.
The NCB officials on Friday recorded statements of fashion designer Simone Khambatta and Shruti Modi, the former manager of Sushant Singh Rajput in connection with the drugs case.
The NCB had launched an investigation after it received official communication from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleging a drug mafia in the Bollywood. The NCB had launched a probe after recovering various chats related to drug consumption, procurement, usage and transportation.
Update: In a battle of the ‘sources’, other media platforms are now reporting exactly the opposite of what Republic sources had reported. India Today and Hindustan Times have reported that their sources have confirmed that Ranveer Singh has made no such request to NCB.
On Wednesday, the district administration removed an illegal Christian Cross and a statue of Jesus Christ, which was put up, on Susai Paliya Hill in Chikkaballapur in Karnataka. The action was taken, following the order of the Karnataka High Court in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL).
Police oversaw the operation of the district administration
The mammoth-size Cross and the Statue was illegally placed on government-owned pasture land, also known as gomala, to facilitate encroachment. The operation was executed by Assistant Commissioner Raghunandan, Tehsildar Tulasi under the watch of Superintendent of Police (Chikkaballapur) Mithun Kumar.
While confirming the administrative action, Raghunandan informed that the operation was conducted on the orders of the Karnataka High Court after it was found that the Statue and Cross were built on the government land, without seeking prior approval of the authorities.
Christian protestors resisted against the clearance operation
Hundreds of police personnel were deployed to control the law and order in the area. Reportedly, hundreds of Christian protestors held demonstrations at the site against the operation of the district administration.
They also engaged in sloganeering against the officials and the Karnataka government. The cops took the matter into their hands and ‘pushed back’ the local Christians who tried to obstruct the administration from implementing the orders of the Court.
Church-sponsored land encroachment in Kerala
Last year, the Christian church, with the alleged help of the communist government of Kerala, was accused of encroaching the ‘sacred forests’ associated with the Sabarimala temple, known as ‘Poonkavanam’ in Kerala. A report by the Malayalam newspaper Janmabhumi suggested that there was a massive encroachment of forestland near Panchalimedu, a part of Sabarimala forests in Idukki district. The entire region is designated as an ecologically fragile under the Environment (Protection) Act.
The worrying issue was that the Church had established boards and an arch in the forest area claiming it as a Christian pilgrimage centre. The reports further suggested that the move was aimed at the Sabarimala temple which had been on the radar of the Conversion lobby for the past seventy years.
In a significant decision, the Division Bench of Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday observed that the state cannot withdraw a prosecution filed against any accused based on religion and noted that it was against the public interest, reports Hans India.
“Withdrawing prosecution based on religion is against the public interest,” a division bench comprising Justice Rakesh Kumar and Justice J Umadevi observed while hearing the public interest litigation (PIL).
A petition was filed by P Ganesh of Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF) against the decision of the Andhra Pradesh government to withdraw the prosecution of Muslim youth, who had attacked a police station in Guntur in May 2018.
A mob of more than 2,000 Muslims had unleashed terror on the Old Guntur police station demanding handing over of a youth who had allegedly committed a sexual assault on a minor girl at that time. The mob had attacked the police station leaving the police personnel severely injured.
The mob used deadly weapons and caused injuries to the police personnel and inconvenience to the public. Six FIRs were registered against the accused based on the complaint by the aggrieved police personnel.
Andhra Pradesh govt had ordered withdrawal prosecution against Muslim youth
The Andhra Pradesh government had decided to withdraw prosecution against an accused Muslim youth and had directed the DGP to issue instructions to concerned officers to file a petition under Section 321 of the CrPC for the withdrawal of prosecution in crime registered in old Guntur police station.
However, the petitioners challenged the order issued by the Home Department and argued that this attack was nothing but waging a war against the sovereignty of the government.
Issuing stay orders on the state government’s order to withdraw prosecution the Court also instructed the government to make NIA as the party in the case.
Using religion to withdraw petition was highly objectionable, observes HC
Justice Rakesh Kumar observed, “The using of Muslim youth in the GO is highly objectionable on the part of the Government. Even the language used in the GO is not correct in our secular and democratic country. It is a fit case for NIA to be probed into.”
JV Phanidath Chanakya, the counsel representing the petitioners, said that the Director-General of Police himself asked the government to withdraw the prosecution in this case, in the month of February this year.
The High Court, stay the order, also directed the government pleader to file the counter by October 1. The counsel for the petitioner was directed to implead the NIA in the case.
