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‘Women have fundamental right to choose their vocation’: Bombay High Court rules that Prostitution is not a criminal offence under the law

OpIndia Staff
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‘Women have fundamental right to choose their vocation’: Bombay High Court rules that Prostitution is not a criminal offence under the law

The Bombay High Court made some interesting observations yesterday while hearing a matter relating to the detention of three women sex workers. As reported by Live Law, a single-judge bench of Justice Prithviraj K. Chavan clarified that prostitution was not an offence under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. He added that a woman had the right to choose her vocation and cannot be detained without her consent.

Background of the Case

The plea before the High Court had challenged an order passed by the Metropolitan Magistrate (MM), Mazgaon in October last year under section 17( 2) of the Act. The order of MM was upheld by the Additional Sessions Judge, Dindoshi a month later. The complainant Police Constable Rupesh Ramachandra More had a laid a trap to nab the women sex workers after he received secret information that a person named Nijamuddin Khan, who was a pimp, offered these women for prostitution at a guest house in Malad. The women along with the pimp were taken into custody from the guest house named Yatri Guest House.

The women were produced before the MM, who on the report of the Probation Officer, granted their intermediate custody to Navjeevan Mahila Vasti Grih at Deonar in Mumbai. The MM also directed an NGO called Justice and Care to provide primary education to these women during their stay in Navjeevan Mahila Vasti Grih. The women reportedly belonged to the Bediya community wherein there was a custom of sending girls for prostitution after they attain puberty. Considering this custom, the women were not handed over to their family because of the apprehension that their families might again send them for prostitution. The MM further directed the women to be sent to Nari Niketan Prayag Vastigruh, Fultabad, Allahabad or to any other state-run institution of Uttar Pradesh for one year for their care and protection and they could also undergo vocational training in the subject of their choice.

The decision of the MM was challenged in appeal before the Additional Sessions Judge, Dindoshi but the appeal was dismissed.

What the High Court Said

Considering the relevant provisions of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, the Court observed that the victims were not being prosecuted in the case and therefore there was no question of detaining them in custody in Navjeevan Mahila Vasti Grih or in any other institution. The court further observed that under the provisions of the Act, the MM is not empowered to hold the custody of the victims for more than 3 weeks in the absence of a final order to that effect passed after following the due process of law.

The court noted that the provisions of the Act (under section 17) empowered the Magistrate to detain the victims for a period of one to three years in a protective home after passing an order in writing but there were some pre-requisites for that. The pre-requisites are that such an order can be passed only after completion of an inquiry conducted by a panel of five members summoned by the Magistrate. Three members of this panel should be women wherever practicable. In this case, no such panel, as required by the law, was conducted.

The High Court observed that no provision under the law makes prostitution per se a criminal offence or penalises a person indulging in it. It further clarified that the law punishes sexual exploitation or abuse of a person for commercial purpose. However, carrying on prostitution in a public place or soliciting or seducing another person is a punishable offence. The court said there was nothing on record to show that the women were seducing for prostitution.

The court further observed that Magistrate might have been swayed away because the victims belonged to a particular caste but the victims were major and they had a right to reside at the place of their choice, to move freely throughout the territory of India and to choose their own vocation under the Part III of the Constitution. The court said that the Magistrate should have considered the consent of the victims before ordering their detention in the protective home.

The law as clarified the Bombay High Court does not criminalise sex workers and instead, it seeks to protect them. What is prohibited under the law is sexual exploitation for commercial purposes like pimping and also soliciting or seducing in public places. Running brothels or allowing one’s place to run prostitution is also illegal. The law assumes that the persons offering their bodies in exchange for money are victims and not perpetrators. The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 does not criminalise the act of prostitution itself, but criminalises the support system that enables and promotes it.

Prostitution is said to be the oldest ‘profession’ and time and again the demands to legalise it have been raised. However, one thing is perhaps undeniable that the primary reason behind persons indulging in prostitution is either poverty or some other compelling situation. When demanding legalisation of this ‘profession’, the question to be asked is whether we are actually willing, as a society, to give prostitution the status of a profession like doctor, engineer or lawyer and that whether we are willing to allow our children to take it up as ‘career choice’.

Pakistan link to Paris knife attack emerges, at least one perpetrator reported to be of Pakistani origin

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan link to Paris knife attack emerges, at least one perpetrator reported to be of Pakistani origin

A knife attack was reported in Paris on Friday near the former offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Now, it is reported that at least one of the two suspects taken into custody by the Police hails from Pakistan. The individual is reported to be an 18-year old man.

As per reports, the Police had first indicated that they did not intend to conduct any further arrests after the first arrest was made. However, soon after, a second arrest was made by the Police. The arrest was made based on the description of the attacker provided by witnesses and victims. Two journalists associated with the Premieres Lignes news agency were injured during the attack. Their lives are not believed to be under threat.

The attack occurred near the Richard Lenoir Metro Station in Paris. Schools and care homes had been shut down in the area while the Police continued with the hunt for the perpetrators. It was also confirmed that a suspicious package was found at the spot. For people were injured in the attack. The attack occurred as the trial into the Charlie Hebdo attack in 2015 gets underway.

Widespread protests had erupted across the Muslim world after the french satirical magazine announced its decision to republish the cartoons of prophet Mohammed in memory of the victims of the terrorist attack against it in 2015 as the trial gets underway. Pakistan, where at least one of the perpetrators is believed to be from, saw tens of thousands march on the streets inciting violence against the magazine.

‘Maaro, Kaato’, Muslim mob shouts as they attack beleaguered Hindu family in Kanpur over Facebook post: Read details

Jhankar Mohta
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‘Maaro, Kaato’, Muslim mob shouts as they attack beleaguered Hindu family in Kanpur over Facebook post: Read details

In a brutal incident which occurred on September 18, 2020, in Makanpur village, Kanpur, Muslims by the thousands attacked a Hindu family in broad daylight, over an alleged Facebook post, posted inadvertently by a class 4 child. In an attack which lasted for over 3 hours, the irate Islamist mob allegedly pelted stones at the Hindu family’s residence, used ladders to climb over to the roof of the house, vandalised and looted the house and attacked the family members including the aged and the women of the house. Alok Gupta, the owner of the house, was critically injured in the ensuing, while his aged mother and paralysed father escaped with minor injuries.

An FIR against 58 mobsters in Bilhaur PS, Uttar Pradesh has been filed on September 21 in this regard.

Copy of the FIR filed in Makanpur PS naming 58 rioters

When the incident came to the fore, Bajrang Dal’s State Secretary Ramji Tiwari wrote a letter to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to apprise him about this particular incident and the deteriorating conditions of the Hindus in the area.

In the letter acquired by OpIndia, Ramji Tiwari explained how the minor child of Alok Gupta, a resident of Bilhaur tehsil of Makanpur district in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, while doing online studies, inadvertently, posted some post on his father’s Facebook profile which irked some Islamists in the area.

Bajrang Dal leader writes to UP CM Yogi Adityanath
Bajrang Dal leader writes to UP CM Yogi Adityanath

Next morning, before the family could realise, Islamists in hundreds of thousands accumulated in front of Alok’s house. Amidst “maro, kaato” and other provocative slogans the irate mob started pelting stones at Alok Gupta’s house.

Within no time, some miscreants climbed on to the roof of Alok’s house and started ransacking, vandalising and looting the house. Not even sparing a second for any sort of explanation, the angry mob pushed Alok’s aged mother and paralysed father to a corner and began to mercilessly beat up Alok. They snatched the jewellery from the women and looted the cash in the house as Alok lied lifeless in a pool of blood.

All this happened in broad daylight, in the presence of police personnel, said Ramji Tiwari. Mobiles and cameras of some local journalists and local youths who were trying to capture the incident were also broken by the Islamists who stood outside Alok Gupta’s house chanting slogans. A local journalist of Kanpur named Luvkush Katiyar was brutally assaulted by the mob. Due to the grave injuries he incurred in the brawl, Katiyar had to be admitted to the ICU in a hospital in Kanpur.

Ramji Tiwari added that not only Alok’s family but other Hindu families residing in the area have also been badly affected in this incident, and now they have also decided to leave Makanpur. The Hindus which have been reduced to a minority in that area, are living under constant threat. Saying so, Ramji requested the CM to take cognisance of the incident and demanded that strict action is taken against the perpetrators named in the FIR.

“Poora Tandav teen ghante tak chalta raha”, confirms the Hindu family which came under attack from the irate Islamist mob in Kanpur.

OpIndia has also accessed videos, where the beleaguered Hindu family members narrate their ordeal. Alok’s mother is describing how at around 8 in the morning a mob suddenly attacked their house and before they could realise what was happening their entire house was ransacked and looted. “Poora Tandav teen ghante tak chalta raha”, the entire ruckus continued for over 3 hours, confirms the family which came under attack from the irate Islamist mob. Alok’s mother says that the mob who entered the house pushed her and her paralysed husband and beat up Alok mercilessly. They ransacked the Mandir in the house and also vandalised the idol, recalls Alok’s mother. She also confirms hearing gunshot like noises coming from outside her house.

She furthers that none of the police personnel who watched like mute spectators came to their rescue. Only after Alok was severely beaten up, two police constables went inside and took him out, recollects Alok’s mother, lamenting that they have been rendered homeless.

Another family member adds that the Bilhaur PS Station Officer, inspector, everyone was present there but no one helped. In fact, they later took Alok away and since the incident happened during the weekend, Alok was kept in police custody for the next few days.

While the third person present in the video confirmed that the people who attempted to record the incident were also beaten up and their mobiles were broken by the frenzied Islamist mob.

OpIndia spoke to the victims nephew

OpIndia also spoke to Alok’s nephew- Kunal, who informed that due the constant pursuance of the Bajrang Dal activists, the Bilhaur PS SHO- Santosh Kumar Awasthi and Makanpur PS in-charge- Ved Prakash Mishra, who had allegedly tried to shield the accused and impede the investigation into the case, have been transferred from their posts.

Distressed by the prevailing legal system, Kunal lamented that it’s been a week since the incident happened, but no action has yet been taken against the miscreants. The Bilhaur police, Kanpur had made a few arrests, but the IPC sections invoked against them were so weak that they were immediately released on bail. He also confirmed that another few miscreants who were brought to the police station were allowed to walk free without even being asked a single question. Kunal alleged that the members of the mob had bribed the police, because of which no action was initiated against them.

OpIndia also tried to contact the Kanpur SP city Rajkumar Agarwal and SP rural Brajesh Kumar Srivastav but could not get in touch with them. We would update the article in case we get a statement from the police.

From Hindu Hriday Samrat to Secular Liberal: Why Shiv Sena transformed itself so radically

Ajay Sudame
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From Hindu Hriday Samrat to Secular Liberal: Why Shiv Sena transformed itself so radically

‘Asmita’ like many Indian words is almost impossible to translate in English. At best, it can be defined as Pride mixed with a dash of Angst. With that settled, let us move towards the main topic, the transformation of Shiv Sena.

Hindu Hriday Samrat

Though I was never a party member, I have very happy memories of Shiv Sena. Party, run by the indomitable Hindutva icon, Balasaheb Thackeray! In the nineties and well into the new millennium, Sena was on a solid ideological footing. Along with strident Hindutva, it was known to fight for ‘Marathi Manus’ (People). It never had any difficulty in explaining its position. And it proved to be an ideal foil to BJP’s Hindu Nationalism appeal. Importantly Balasaheb’s presence gave it the much-required heft and the upper hand in this relation. Shiv Sainiks used to refer to their own party as Big Brother amongst the two, which though with reluctance, BJP leaders used to nod to. Shiv Sena, more than a political party, resembled a Militia, with an air of impregnability, run from a fortress, named Matoshree (Thackeray Residence). 

This halo of impregnability was somewhat broken in 2006, when nephew Raj, decided to quit SS and start his party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). And though in direct competition with Sena, he ensured that not even a murmur of disrespect towards Balasaheb was uttered in the party. Which in a way ensured Sena’s hold over Mumbai and Balasheb’s adulation amongst Marathi populace, till his demise. 

Welcome to brave, new world of Amit Shah

Then, two events in quick succession, Balasaheb’s death in 2012 and Modi’s BJP winning a majority on its own in 2014, changed the status quo. In the assembly elections later the same year, Amit Shah, going against the conventional logic, broke the 25-year-old alliance. His reading of the situation was accurate. The Modi wave which got BJP 282 seats in 2014 General Elections, enabled BJP to win, best ever 122 seats in October. And for the first time ever, it had its own CM.

Sharad Pawar, out of the turn extended the support to BJP, which forced Uddhav Thackeray’s hand. And Sena had to join the Government eventually. Though BJP ruled for five years with Shiv Sena as an ally, the camaraderie between BJP-Sena was over. Sena bitterly opposed BJP, on various issues throughout the term. By the time 2019 assembly elections were there, Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut, in connivance with Sharad Pawar had hatched a plan to backstab BJP.  It was promptly activated post the elections. Uddhav made impossible-to-fulfil demands to BJP and formed a Government with NCP-Congress support. Uddhav had no qualms while making this huge ideological compromise. From strident Hindutva, to sharing power with Congress, a party which, not only is steeped into minority appeasement but has also denied the very existence of Prabhu Ram, opposed Ram Mandir and many Hindu causes openly. 

Now, playing Devil’s Advocate here, one can argue that because Amit Shah decided to go alone in 2014, Uddhav returned the favour by snapping the ties after the 2019 elections. But you see this is nonsense. Sena just like most other political parties is an opportunist. It turned to Hindutva because it saw an opportunity. It stuck to Hindutva and BJP for thirty years, because BJP allowed it the space to grow. But the moment BJP became assertive and Amit Shah negotiated hard for every seat, it backstabbed BJP. 

Frenemy Shiv Sena

One look at the electoral history of Shiv Sena and it becomes even more clear. 

Lok Sabha (LS) Elections;

1971 – Contested 5 seats – won 0.
1980 – Contested 2, won 0 
1989 – Contested 3, won 1 (Alliance with BJP sealed)
1991 – Contested 22, won 4

The same year (89), it competed with BJP and fought in Goa Assembly elections, on 6 seats, drawing a blank. Again in 1991, in UP assembly elections it fought on 14 seats winning 1. In 1993, it travelled to MP, fought on 88 seats and won Zero. Here you can take a look at Sena’s electoral performance. Obviously, it’s quite abysmal other than Maharashtra. Point to be noted here is that it kept competing with BJP outside Maharashtra while having an alliance in the state for 30 long years. So this argument that Uddhav broke this alliance because a principle was compromised or some breach of faith has taken place, is just plain rubbish. Uddhav was with BJP because it suited him. In 2019 he broke the alliance to become Chief Minister. Nothing more, nothing less!

Shiv Sena when started in the sixties, used to oppose South Indians, on the pretext that they are taking away Marathi people’s jobs. They even had a shameful slogan “Uthav lungi, bajao pungi!” Obviously, targeting the attire very popular with South Indian males. It adopted Hindutva only in the eighties because they saw an emerging vote bank there. Once allied with BJP. It worked as a force multiplier for both. 

Secular, Liberal Uddhav Thackeray

If Uddhav Thackeray had made one big compromise to grab the power, to continue in power he is making a series of them. 

In December 2019 Shiv Sena supported Citizenship Amendment Law in Lok Sabha, but opposed it in Rajya Sabha. In January 2020, Uddhav equated Police action on students in JNU to 26/11. In February 2020, this Uddhav Government scrapped quota for Economically weaker Sections(EWS) in RTE, meant for poor Hindus who don’t benefit from any other quota. This was brought by the Modi Government in January 2019. I haven’t seen a more brutal attack on the interests of that section Hindu society which is poor and deprived. 

So, out of two pillars, Hindutva & protecting Interests of Marathi people, on which Sena rested, it has sacrificed Hindutva for power. And, it’s not far from giving up on the ‘Marathi party’ claim too. Just look around and you will see the telltale signs. I am not sure how many are aware, but Sena has been running a Hindi edition of Saamna since 1988. Then, there was a time when, even on national TV channels, a Marathi spokesperson used to represent the party. Since the formation of the new MVA Government, only Hindi speaking spokespersons have appeared. Regarding the prized Rajya Sabha seat, Uddhav could have nominated any old faithful party worker. But he chose a Congress defector, Hindi speaking, Priyanka Chaturvedi. There could be more reasons other than only the language. But the point remains. Another notable change, Sena, which was known to attack Gujaratis till recently, now has its leaders putting up billboards in Gujarati. 

There’s more. In its second avatar, Sena has consciously presented Aditya, a younger, liberal face, loving Cinema and seen to be friendly towards Bollywood personalities. Someone who supports nightlife, talks about soccer and ecology. 

And the reason, Sena is going for this image makeover, are cold numbers. The continuous influx from other states has reduced the Marathi population in Mumbai to 38 % only. So depending upon ‘Local’ or ‘Marathi Manus’ appeal is dangerous. Another important data point which must be haunting Uddhav is, that a sizable Marathi population has a preference for BJP over Sena in many elections. 

Hence it makes perfect sense for Sena to make a shift from a ‘Marathi Manus’ party to a more inclusive outfit. Episodes like destroying Kangana Ranaut’s office or attacking ex-Navy officer Madan Sharma are decoys to make Marathi people believe that it’s still their old Shiv Sena. 

Panipat triple murder: Noor Hasan raped the bodies of his wife, her sister and mother after killing them, burnt faces to prevent identification

OpIndia Staff
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Panipat triple murder: Noor Hasan raped the bodies of his wife, her sister and mother after killing them, burnt faces to prevent identification

The Haryana Police have cracked the Panipat triple-murder case and arrested accused Noor Hasan, who had murdered his wife, sister-in-law and mother-in-law in. The accused is from the Samalkha town of Panipat.

According to a report in Hindustan Times, the 27-year-old Noor Hasan, belonging to Patti Kaliyana village of Sonepat district, confessed to killing his 25-year-old wife Madhu, 18-year-old sister-in-law Manisha, 48-year-old mother-in-law Jamila. Shockingly, the accused Hasan has also reportedly revealed to the police that he had raped the dead bodies after killing the three women. 

The accused Noor Hasan was staying in a rented house in Samalkha town with his wife Madhu, and two sons. Madhu’s sister was also staying in their house at the time of the incident.

On September 5, Hasan drugged and killed his wife and sister-in-law with sharp-edged weapons. He covered their bodies in quilts and dumped them. While’s Madhu’s body was dumped near the Chulkana railway crossing, Manisha’s body was dumped in a drain. Hasan had burnt their faces to prevent identification.

Later, on September 8, he had strangled his mother-in-law to death near Bursham Village and had tried to burn her body.

Hasan suspected that his wife was having an extra marital affair

DSP (headquarters) Satish Vats said that Hasan had murdered his wife on suspicion of having an illicit relationship with someone. He added that Noor Hasan killed his wife Madhu and Manisha, who stayed with them, with an axe.

Later, he also poured diesel on them and burnt their faces, so that nobody could recognise them and dumped both the bodies. A report in Jagran has stated that Hasan had planned the murders. He had also taken his two sons to work. Hasan has confessed to the police that he had planned the murders because the women had made his life difficult. Madhu was Hasan’s second wife. He has three children with his first wife too.

The police had recovered the dead bodies from three different locations a week later. A special team was formed by the Haryana police on September 11 under the Panipat Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) to probe the case.

A case has been registered by the Haryana Police against Hasan under IPC Section 302, 201. Noor Hasan was produced before the court on Thursday, which sent him to four days’ police remand.

Tales from the Baburnama: Babur’s homosexuality and ‘love’ for a young child

Nivan
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Tales from the Baburnama: Babur’s homosexuality and ‘love’ for a young child

Babur, an Islamic invader of Turkic descent, is widely renowned as the founder of the blood-stained Mughal empire which is recorded to have oppressed native Indians under Islamic patriarchy.

Often idolised by the radicalised and extremist section of Islamic society, Babur is assumed to be an ideal Muslim who followed all the modern day practises of Islam. However, this image of the murderous invader might be the reason why you’re going to be shocked when you know about his sexuality.

Babur was a self proclaimed bi-sexual, if not gay, Islamic ruler. According to the Baburnama (the personal memoirs of the first Mughal Emperor), a 17 year old Babur fell madly in love with a younger boy named ‘Baburi’ in Urdu Bazaar. There is some confusion over the age of the boy, most believe him to be a teenager although there are those who believe he was a pre-teen.

Babur was infatuated by Baburi, and in his memoirs describes the incident when he met him as-

“In those leisurely days I discovered in myself a strange inclination….. I am maddened and afflicted myself for a boy in the camp-bazar, his very name, Baburi, fitting in. Up till then I had had no inclination for any-one,indeed of love and desire, either by hear-say or experience, I had not heard, I had not talked. From time to time Baburi used to come to my presence but out of modesty and bashfulness, I could never look straight at him; how then could I make conversation (ikhtildt) and recital (hikdyat)? In my joy and agitation I could not thank him (for coming); how was it possible for me to reproach him with going away? What power had I to command the duty of service to myself?

One day, during that time of desire and passion when I was going with companions along a lane and suddenly met him face to face, I got into such a state of confusion that I almost went right off. To look straight at him or to put words together was impossible. With a hundred torments and shames, I went on.” (Ref: Baburnama, Vol. 1, pg 120)

The above extract from the Baburnama describes the incident when Babur met Baburi on a lane at Urdu Bazaar, where he became short of words after he saw the child.

In fact, Babur writes that he wandered everywhere while deeply thinking about young Baburi’s beauty, and authored several couplets in Turki to praise the boy’s apparent handsomeness.

“In that frothing-up of desire and passion, and under that stress of youthful folly, I used to wander, bare-head, bare-foot, through street and lane, orchard and vineyard. I shewed civility neither to friend nor stranger, took no care for myself or others. Sometimes like the madmen, I used to wander alone over hill and plain ; sometimes I betook myself to gardens and the suburbs, lane by lane. My wandering was not of my choice, not I decided whether to go or stay.” (Ref: Baburnama, Vol. 1 pg 121)

So madly in love was the Mughal emperor with the child, he regularly wrote couplets describing his love for Baburi. Such as- 

Couplet 1- Out of myself desire rushed me, unknowing, That this is so with the lover of a fairy-face.

Couplet 2- Nor power to go was mine, nor power to stay; I was just what you made me, o thief of my heart. (Source: Baburnama, Vol. 1, pg 121)

It is said that Babur had many Eunuchs in the Mughal harems under him. The Mughal soldiers usually took the women and young boys of kingdoms they invaded and sent them to the harems. The boys were usually castrated and turned into eunuchs to give sexual satisfaction to the nobles. It is believed that homosexuality was very common in Muslim empires at that time, and was fairly common for young boys to be engaged in sexual activities in harems run by the emperors.

Source: The Babur-nama in English, LUZAC & CO, 1922

“Free Baba Jan,” Pakistanis demand release of activist illegally held behind bars for 6 years in occupied Gilgit-Baltistan

OpIndia Staff
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“Free Baba Jan,” Pakistanis demand release of activist illegally held behind bars for 6 years in occupied Gilgit-Baltistan

On Friday, Pakistanis took to Twitter to demand the release of activist Baba Jan who has been serving sentence behind prison bars for 6 years now. Reportedly, he is the longest-serving political prisoner in occupied Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan.

In the aftermath of a mountain landslide into the Hunza river in Gilgit-Baltistan in January 2010, more than 1000 inhabitants of the occupied territory were displaced. It was Baba Jan who then led a campaign, demanding compensation for those whose homes were destroyed due to the calamity. As a result of his continuous protests, the Government of Pakistan finally decided to compensate the victims. However, about 25 families out of 457 were yet to be compensated.

Baba Jan charged for terrorism

The protests for compensation intensified in August 2011 and the police tried to curb the growing dissent with an iron hand. Two people, namely, Afzal Baig and his father Sher Ullah Baig, were killed in police firing. The news of their killing had spread like a wildfire, and this culminated into increased incidents of violence, rioting and arson. The police then charged Baba Jan and 11 others on charges of terrorism and killing Afzal and Sher Ullah Baig.

He has been behind bars since 2014. In the succeeding year, he also contested elections from jail premises. Even though he came runners-up, a report noted, “His absence from the electoral campaign weighed heavier than the combined presence of all the other candidates and their state backers.”

Support pours in for the Gilgit-Baltistan activist

Voicing support for Baba Jan, Pashtun leader Ali Wazir tweeted, “Baba Jan and his comrades have been imprisoned in baseless political cases for several years. It may be recalled that Baba Jan was fighting for the rights of his area in Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan State institutions always want to keep powerful voices like Baba Jan in captivity.”

A Twitter user, Maria, highlighted the lack of freedom of speech and expression in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan. She tweeted, “Over and over again, this state punishes those who possess any form of critical consciousness, it silences those who amplify the voices of the public, it hunts down those who stand against injustices. This state has failed Baba Jan, and it has failed us all.”

Other users pointed out how anti-terror laws were misused in Gilgit-Baltistan by the Pakistani regime to curb political dissent. To several Pakistani netizens, Baba Jan has been the voice of the voiceless and has defended the rights of the poor.

POK activist Tanveer Ahmed tortured by security agencies

Earlier, the Pakistani security agencies had arrested and tortured activist Tanveer Ahmed after he removed the Pakistani flag from Maqbool Bhat Shaheed Chowk, Dadyal in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. He was then manhandled and tortured by the Pakistani agencies. In a video that went viral online, the security forces were seen forcibly dragging Tanveer Ahmed on the ground. He was then coerced into a law enforcement vehicle while onlookers watched his ordeal. Following his unconstitutional arrest, the people of Dadyal hit the streets in large numbers and demanded his immediate release.

ISI-backed Khalistanis had supported Delhi anti-Hindu riots, promised to fight against India, reveals accused Athar Khan

OpIndia Staff
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ISI-backed Khalistanis had supported Delhi anti-Hindu riots, promised to fight against India, reveals accused Athar Khan

The investigation in the Delhi anti-Hindu riots cases is leading to the exposure of more sinister elements with each passing day. In a recent development in the probe, an accused who was named in the charge sheet filed by the Delhi police in the northeast Delhi riots has named three Khalistani movement supporters and the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI.

As per reports, the accused named Athar Khan, who was arrested by the Delhi police on July 12, has been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act along with Tahir Hussain, Safoora Zargar, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Khalid Saifi and others. He made the disclosure about the involvement of the ISI and the three Khalistani supporters in his disclosure statement included in the charge sheet filed by the police.

According to reports, Khan said that one of his acquaintances named Rizwan Siddiqui had told him in February about meeting Khalistani movement supporters Bagicha Singh and Lavpreet Singh at Shaheen Bagh. Bagicha Singh and Lavpreet Singh used to allegedly work on the mission against India. Khan told that Bagicha Singh and Lavpreet Singh claimed that they had the support of the ISI. They also said that the ISI had asked Khalistan supporters to support the anti-CAA and anti-NRC protests and help people fight against the government of India.

Khalistani Supporter gave a speech against the government

Khan said that Rizwan Siddiqui had told his that these Khalistan supporters had promised to support them in the riots and they also promised to send one of their men to the protest site. He added that a person named Jabarjang Singh, who claimed to be sent by Bagicha Singh, had reached the Chand Bagh protest site around 10 days later and gave a speech against the government.

Recently, some WhatsApp chats relating to the anti-Hindu Delhi riots have emerged suggesting that the violence was a cleverly planned conspiracy.

Nashe main kaun nahi hai, mujhe batao zara? Sanjay Raut pulls an Amitabh Bachchan in an attempt to shield Bollywood: Read what he said

OpIndia Staff
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Nashe main kaun nahi hai, mujhe batao zara? Sanjay Raut pulls an Amitabh Bachchan in an attempt to shield Bollywood: Read what he said

Controversial Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Friday attempted to defend Bollywood actors who are being questioned by the Narcotics Control Bureau over their alleged involvement in the Bollywood drug case.

Attacking the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for investigating the Bollywood drug case, Sanjay Raut almost mirrored a song in a movie featuring legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan by asking who does not have any addictions. Raut went on to claim that some people have an addiction to money and some have for others.

Defending the actions of Bollywood actors, who have been exposed in the ongoing drug case investigations, the Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha leader said that it is the job of Narcotics Control Bureau to prevent drug smuggling. Raut, protesting against the NCB summons to various accused, said that the NCB was calling one person after the other instead of preventing drug smuggling.

“In which field, there is no addiction? Some have an addiction to money, some have other addictions,” said Raut while questioning the summons of NCB to Bollywood actors.

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.

Shiv Sena has been rather actively trying to shield Bollywood after several A-Listers are now being summoned by the Narcotics Bureau. With this statement of Sanjay Raut, which comes a day before Deepika Padukone is set to be interrogated, one recalls a character played by Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan in the 1984-movie “Sharaabi’, and the legendary words from a song – “Nashe main kaun nahi hai, mujhe batao zara?”.

Team OpIndia dedicates this song to Sanjay Raut… till he comes up with his next pearl of wisdom.

Chinese government systematically destroyed 16000 mosques in Xinjiang since 2017, finds Australian study using satellite imagery

OpIndia Staff
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Chinese government systematically destroyed 16000 mosques in Xinjiang since 2017, finds Australian study using satellite imagery

The Chinese regime has destroyed around 16,000 mosques in the Xinjiang province since 2017, reported the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI). The Australia-based think-thank made the estimate using satellite imagery and statistical modelling.

As per the report, around 8500 mosques have been completely destroyed and the land on which the mosques were built lay vacant. The think tank added that while 28% mosques have been damaged or altered in some form, a whopping 30% of ‘important Islamic sites’, including pilgrimage routes, shrines and cemeteries, have been destroyed in Xinjiang. As per estimates, one of three mosques has been demolished since 2017.

Chinese government claims existence of 24000 mosques

The think tank found that contrary to the claims of the Chinese government of the existence of over 24,000 mosques, less than 15,5000 mosques exist in Xinjiang province today. Interestingly, around 7500 of the existing mosques have been damaged to some extent. ASPI emphasised that while several mosques were renovated between 2012-2016, there seems to be a policy change to ‘rectify’ things since 2017.

Decline in the number of mosques and increase in damaged Islamic sites (Image Courtesy: Australian Strategic Policy Institute)

ASPI has estimated that roughly 8,450 mosques were destroyed across Xinjiang, and a further estimated 7,550 mosques have been damaged or ‘rectified’ to remove Islamic-style architecture and symbols. It may be noted that Cultural destruction often masquerades as restoration or renovation work in Xinjiang. 

Employing satellite imagery, the think tank created a new data-set of mosques that existed before 2017. It discovered the co-ordinates of over 900 Islamic sites before 2017. using current imagery, they categorised the mosques as undamaged, slightly damaged, significantly damaged and destroyed. Through the analysis, they were able to determine visible changes in the structure of the Islamic sites.

The organisation also found that besides mosques, Chinese Government authorities have also desecrated important sacred shrines, cemeteries and pilgrimage sites. Their data and analysis suggest that 30% of those sacred sites have been demolished, most of them. An additional 27.8% have been damaged in some way. In total, 17.4% of sites protected under Chinese law have been destroyed, and 61.8% of unprotected sites have been damaged or destroyed. 

Mosques converted into cafe-bars and public toilets

The think tank found a pattern in which the demolition of the mosques was conducted. Areas with low tourist potential, such as Urumqi had lower rates of demolition. The mosques that were undamaged were found to have no existing Islamic architectural features, and therefore exempted from the ‘rectification’ campaign. Many mosques had also been converted to civic and commercial spaces like cafe-bars and public toilets. At the same time, 75% of existing mosques were either padlocked or had no visitors.

Red represents completely demolished mosques whereas orange circles represent destroyed ones (Image Courtesy: ASPI)

The report stated that more than a million Uyghurs have been placed in concentration camps in the northwestern territory and are being coerced to desert their religious practices. The policy of ‘cultural assimilation’ and ‘inter-ethnic mingling’ has been mainstreamed under the current Chinese Premier Xi Jinping. The think tank observed that the renovation work on mosques stopped after his Xi’s speech in April 2016 in which he advocated ‘sinicisation of Chinese religion.’

Chinese whitepaper reveals persecution of Uyghur Muslims

In a whitepaper published by the State Council Information Office, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has insinuated that the Uyghur Muslims are responsible for what China is doing to them. In a startling claim, China has revealed that it has placed over 1.29 million people in re-education camps between 2014 and 2019 in the Uyghur-dominated province of Xinjiang. The whitepaper claimed that Uyghur Muslims were ‘terrorists’ who believed in the ‘afterlife’ and rejected modern science owing to religious dogmatism.

The Chinese regime, keeping the rise of radical Islam in mind, justified, “Terrorists, separatists and religious extremists have long preached that “the afterlife is fated” and that “religious teachings are superior to state laws”, inciting the public to resist learning the standard spoken and written the Chinese language, reject modern science, and refuse to improve their vocational skills, economic conditions, and the ability to better their own lives.”

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