In a shocking incident, a hospital staff member was brutally thrashed by the kin of a 45-year-old patient named Tashinara Bibi. The incident took place at Jagannath Gupta Institute of Medical Sciences in Budge Budge area in South 24 Parganas of West Bengal.
The Background of the incident
According to the authorities, Tashinara Bibi was brought to the hospital in a critical condition. The doctors informed the patient’s family that she had to be admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). However, they expressed regret that all beds were occupied. Meanwhile, the kin of the patient barged into the ICU ward, without seeking permission, and began clicking pictures. Later, they returned to the hospital, thrashed, and gravely injured frontline worker Soumyadeep Sen.
Family members intimidate security personnel with lethal weapon
At the same time, another family member intimidated a security personnel at the hospital with a lethal weapon. Speaking to Khabar 24 X 7, a security guard recounted, “They came to the emergency ward with the patient. There were two people with the patient. We allowed one person in the emergency ward and asked the other person to wait.”
He continued, “The doctors told them that an ICU bed would be required but there were none available. Then, several other family members came and forcefully made their way to the ICU. One of them showed me a weapon and asked, ‘Do you want this?’ Meanwhile, they started beating our staff member.” He further stated that they will hold demonstrations, demanding justice for a fellow frontline worker. “Why was our staff member assaulted?” he asked.
Soumyadeep Sen thrashed unprovoked by kin of Tashinara Bibi
In the video shared by BJP Bengal, the victim can be seen as bed-ridden with crepe bandage tied to his arm. Shattered by the harrowing experience, Soumyadeep Sen stated, “I was filling the ICMR form for COVID (test). A family member came to me and asked about the patient’s health. Konkon da (another hospital staff member) told me that the patient needed an ICU bed. I told the family member politely that no bed was available for the patient. Other family members told me to accompany them to the ICU but I continued with my work.”
Kin of one Tashinara Bibi physically assaulted and threatened Covid front-liners with firearms in a medical college in Bengal’s Budge Budge area. Hospital staff are still in shock. Expectedly, no police action even after 24 hours. Pishi heads both home and health department. pic.twitter.com/qv5wARDcIZ
On being asked by the reporter whether he will continue to work, post his recovery, Sen broke down in tears. He lamented, “I will not be able to work here anymore. I have been staying in Budge Budge area for 8 years now…. I last went home during Durga Puja. I have liver problems. I am on saline for the past 3 days.”
No hospital staff should every get beaten like me, hopes victim
“Ami kosto te bhogchi tarpor o duty korchi, tao abar COVID ward e sobair jonno. Ami bhalobasha bolechilam ja sotti hi chilo na bed. Tarpor o tara sunlo na…Ami chai jara hospital e duty kora tara jeno amar moto maar na khai.Keu jono amon maar na khai. Ami khub koshto pacchi (I am in pain but still I am doing my duty at a COVID ward for the people… I told them cordially and thrutfully that there was no bed at the ICU… They did not listen to me and (instead thrashed me)… I want that no hospital worker ever gets assaulted as I did. I am in intense pain)”, the victim told reporters.
BJP demands for police action against the accused
The State Unit of the BJP has condemned the incident and complained about the lack of police action. In a tweet addressed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the party stated, “Kin of one Tashinara Bibi physically assaulted and threatened COVID front-liners with firearms in a medical college in Bengal’s Budge Budge area. The hospital staff is still in shock. Expectedly, no police action even after 24 hours. Pishi heads both home and health departments.”
Muslim mob attacks Kolkata hospital
NRS Medical College and Hospital was attacked by a violent mob last year in June 2019, following the death of an old patient. Mohammed Sayeed, a resident of Tangra in Kolkata, was brought to the hospital in a critical condition. Although he was admitted to the Emergency immediately, family members claimed that no proper care was given. The deceased was a local imam, claimed sources.
The Hospital turned into a battleground after family members assaulted junior doctors at the institution. The Police, when it arrived eventually, had to resort to lathi-charge to bring the situation under control. Doctors at the institution were forced to temporarily shut down its gates demanding protection.
The current obsession of the English and Hindi TV media is the Sushant Singh Rajput case. Thousands and thousands of hours’ worth of content has been aired over the past couple of months. Reams and reams of content have been written on how a massive waste of time these thousands and thousands of hours’ have been! And most of this written content has one underlying theme – It is Arnab Goswami who is responsible for the fall of the English TV media! With Arnab now overtaking Aaj Tak to become the most-watched Hindi news channels too, the attacks have only sharpened and increased.
My mind immediately went back to something I wrote way back in 2012. Past few years, we have seen many memes that make jokes on how there -10 panellists on the TV screen shouting over each other. More often than not, meme makers have focused on Arnab’s shows only. Well, here is a snapshot from the year 2011.
Figure 1: Snapshot of a debate on CNN-IBN from the year 2011
The snapshot is from then Sagarika Ghose’s show – “Face the Nation”. 8 people debating the Lokpal bill, and the debate ends in 20 minutes! The anchor isn’t in the picture so that actually makes it 9 people debating the Lokpal bill for a whopping 20 minutes. The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha discussed this bill for about 12-13 hours each! Make as many memes as you want; make as many jokes as you want – but it wasn’t Arnab who pioneered the art of filling up your TV screens with multiple people. That fault lies elsewhere!
We all have just seen how an anchor was chided for asking a panellist to focus on the topic (Sushant Singh) and not diver the topic (towards the GDP). There are examples galore can be cited on non-serious issues that have been aired by the media. So, what is the answer to the question on why aren’t seriously debated on prime time? For today, we go back all way to the year 2009.
In May 2009, in an online chat, I asked Dr. Prannoy Roy: “What do you think the media has learned from this election?”.
His full reply is in the snapshot below. The relevant line from his answer is this – “serious issues like hunger or unemployment do not come into focus because these are hard to sensationalise.“
Figure 2: Snapshot of an online chat with Dr. Prannoy Roy in the year 2009
Back in 2009, Dr Prannoy Roy was one of the most powerful media owners (perhaps the most powerful too!). NDTV was at their peak and was often the go-to channel for thousands of viewers. Some surveys even indicated that they had a 60% market share. NDTV’s anchors were involved in cabinet berth negotiations. And the words of the then most powerful media organization – “hunger or unemployment are hard to sensationalise”.
Also, don’t miss this in his answer – “So media needs to learn to focus on real issues during campaigning“. And this was the year 2009. I don’t have to tell you, the smart viewer, how absolutely nothing changed from the year 2009. It only got worse with every passing year. So, make as many memes as you want; make as many jokes as you want – but it wasn’t Arnab who pioneered the art of filling up your TV screens with multiple people. That fault lies elsewhere!
When Obama came to India in 2010, another sermonizer Bhupendra Chaubey gave us a very critical piece of news that redefined the political paradigm of our country – “Gursharan Kaur and Sonia Gandhi were wearing a similar colour saree, a sort of red colour”.
In February 2012, the media conducted day-long debates on a Supreme Court Judgment. The biggest sermonizer of them all, Rajdeep Sardesai was at the forefront of conducting the debates the whole day. And he tweets late into the night that “Reading SC judgement on the way back from office.” And when questioned how he conducted debates the entire day without even reading the judgment, he replies “read the main points in the day. now reading the fine print. thedevil often in the detail!”
Who amongst us can forget how Sagarika Ghose faked an entire interview with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar in the year 2011? Who amongst us can forget how she first tried to brazen it out and later issued a small apology on TV? What can be worse than faking an interview? What can be more damaging than cheating your viewers?
There is no dearth of many such examples (dearth of coverage of important debates in Parliament, linking the sterling and pioneering discovery of Higgs Boson to Internet Hindus, falsely accusing people of murder etc). Prannoy Roy, Rajdeep Sardesai, Sagarika Ghose, Barkha Dutt – these were popular names during the times of the rise of the reach of English TV media. These were powerful names with clout in the corridors of power. At the peak of their power, each one of them has sermonized on what ails the very same media they are pioneers of!
Journalism needs to rediscover its soul – Rajdeep Sardesai (2012). Rajdeep was disillusioned with journalism when he has owned a powerful media channel in 2012. After 2012, Rajdeep has gone on to get violent on the streets, conducted extremely ill-prepared interviews with senior politicians, announced the death of a former President of India while he was alive, got called out by many interviewees for his boorish nature and yet survives in the industry!
I don’t watch English news anymore. In fact, haven’t watched any channel for many years. I am not a fan of loud debates. I am not a fan of Arnab Goswami, just like I am no more a fan of Rajdeep and Prannoy. I have written against their style of coverage extensively, even rejecting an invite for a “debate” on NDTV back in 2012!
The chicanery, lies, agenda and incompetence of some big names in the TV media have been first exposed by ordinary people. They continue to be on the forefront to do so. So, make as many memes as you want; make as many jokes as you want – but it isn’t Arnab who is responsible for the situation in the TV media. Those who pioneered this fall must stop faking their concern and also stop sermonizing us. Because facts speak otherwise!
After Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut was provided Y category security by the Home Ministry, ‘liberals’ rushed to draw false equivalence and criticised government for not providing security to Deepika Padukone when she was threatened ahead of the release of her film Padmaavat in 2017-18.
Did @deepikapadukone get ‘Y’ grade security when the Karni sena threatened to cut off her nose during Padmaavat controversy/protests ? Fair point made on my show by @karunanundy
While lawyer Karuna Nundy made this point on India Today, many pro-Congress people on Twitter, some with dubious profiles, too made such comparisons.
During Padmawat controversy, Karni Sena threatened to cut off Deepika Padukone’s nose. Did she get ‘Z’ security? No, because she was not fan girl of Modi like Kangana https://t.co/03qUTP1NCd
Some even claimed that Deepika never ‘asked’ for security when Karni Sena threatened her and hence she is ‘braver’.
Deepika never asks for Y security when Karni Sena threatened to chop her nose. Kangna asks security even if someone shoots gun to scare bats in her garden or asks her not to travel back. Khali naam ki sherni hai ?
However, there are several issues with this comparison between Deepika and Kangana. First being Karni Sena, that threatened to chop off Deepika Padukone’s nose over a character she was playing on screen was not a political party ruling a state. Karni Sena chief was not the Chief Minister of the state where Deepika was being threatened. On the other hand, Kangana Ranaut is being threatened by the politicians of the party which is ruling Maharashtra. She is being abused and referred to as ‘haramkhor’ with FIRs filed against her by Shiv Sena leaders. From Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut to NCP leader and Home Minister of state Anil Deshmukh, many politicians have gone to lengths to give veiled threats to Ranaut.
She has been asked not to go back to Mumbai from Himachal Pradesh where she currently is if she ‘feels’ unsafe by the leaders of ruling party.
Hence, the very comparison of threats by Karni Sena to threats by Shiv Sena is unfair. Just because both have Sena in their name and both may appear fringe, it is not so.
Secondly, to make things clearer, Deepika Padukone was given security too when Karni Sena had threatened her.
Deepika Padukone was given security cover in 2017
In November 2017, when BJP was the ruling party in Maharashtra with Shiv Sena as alliance partner, the Mumbai Police had provided special security cover to Deepika Padukone.
Further, in Kangana’s case, she had alleged that Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh had ‘liked’ a tweet abusing her, thereby stating that she feels unsafe even from Mumbai Police. Mumbai mayor and Shiv Sena leader Kishori Pednekar had also backed violence against Kangana. So clearly, the current administration in Mumbai and Maharashtra also don’t appear to be dying to protect her.
Hence, comparing the threats received by Kangana and Deepika is like comparing apples to oranges.
Days after the Supreme Court sought a response from the Maharashtra government on the petitions seeking CBI, NIA probe into the case of the brutal lynching of Hindu Sadhus in Palghar, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray have submitted an affidavit in the apex court. In the affidavit, the Maha government has opposed the transfer of Palghar lynching case to the CBI.
Palghar mob lynching case: Maharashtra govt submits its affidavit before Supreme Court and oppose transfer of the case to CBI. The state govt, in its affidavit, states that it has taken necessary action against the accused Police officials, subsequent to disciplinary inquiry. pic.twitter.com/NQp7Ptmupq
It has not only sought that the petition seeking to transfer of the case of the brutal lynching of Sadhus in Palghar to CBI be dismissed but has also asked the court to impose a fine on the petitioner- Shashank Shekhar Jha, for wasting the precious time of the SC.
The SC was hearing the plea filed by advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha who has sought a court-monitored or CBI investigation into the Palghar case.
In the affidavit, Assistant Inspector General of Police Vinayak Deshmukh stated:
That the state CID had investigated the case in a detailed and extensive manner and filed two charge sheets before a court in Dahanu against 126 accused persons after thorough investigation.
Special IGP Konkan Range conducted a departmental inquiry against 18 police personnel prima facie found negligent and derelict in performing their duties in handling the incident and preventing the commissioning of the crime.
Assistant Police Inspector Anandrao Shivaji Kale found guilty in the departmental investigation has been dismissed from service.
Additionally, Assistant Police Sub-Inspector Ravindra Dinkar Salunkhe and Head Constable Naresh Dhondi have been given compulsory retirement.
The remaining 15 personnel have been punished by reducing their pay for a period of two to three years.
Assistant Inspector General of Police Vinayak Deshmukh in the affidavit urged the apex court bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and Sanjiv Khanna to dismiss the petition and incur a fine on the petitioner.
SC pulled up the state government
On August 6, the apex court had pulled up the state government, asking it to file a status report in connection with the brutal lynching of two Hindu sadhus and their driver in Palghar on April 16. The Supreme Court had asked the state government to submit the charge-sheets it had filed in the case within three weeks and asked what action has been taken against the police personnel who handed over the two Hindu Sadhus to the violent mob.
Following the retribution, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government had on August 31 dismissed three police personnel from service. Notably, these three policemen, along with five others, had earlier been suspended after the incident.
Palghar Lynching case
On the night of April 16, the two sadhus and their driver were travelling from Kandivali in Mumbai to attend a funeral in Gujarat’s Surat amid the nationwide lockdown when their vehicle was stopped and a blood thirsty mob had attacked and lynched them brutally in Gadchinchile village. The brutal lynching had taken place while police officers stood there like mute spectators. In later CCTV footages, it was also seen that the police officials had handed the Sadhus over to the mob.
The police claimed that their team which had rushed to the spot to rescue the Sadhus also came under the attack of the violent mob. But later videos emerged which completely debunked the claim of police. Contrary to the claims, the police personnel were handing over the Sadhus to the frenzied mob, which went on to beat them to death in front of the policemen.
Reports had later emerged that suggested that the brutal killing of the Sadhus might have been intentional and politically motivated. The involvement of Christian Missionary organisations and some local NCP leaders and leftists were also suspected.
Though the widespread liberals and the left-controlled education system are sceptical and hesitant in accepting this issue and often pass it off as a figment of the “right-wing” imagination, ‘Love Jihad’ exists. There are forces active across the country that are targeting susceptible and vulnerable Hindu women, luring, brainwashing and forcefully converting them into Islam.
Despite being an old issue, of late, these cases have seen a sudden spike, particularly in the Western part of Uttar Pradesh where there is a significant population of Muslims. Be it the Juhi Colony’s Shalini Yadav “Love Jihad” case or the case of Lakhimpur Kheri’s 18-year-old Dalit girl, whose mutilated body was found dumped near a dried-up pond by one Dilshad. The Kanpur’s Panki case in which two accused Mohsin Khan and Aamir were arrested or then the Govind Nagar’s Muskaan’s case of torture, ‘black magic’, brainwashing and conversion. All these cases have thrown Kanpur in the spotlight and compelled Uttar Pradesh police to constitute a special investigating team (SIT) to probe allegations of ‘Love Jihad’ and forced conversion.
Love Jihad: Definite pattern emerges
However, when these cases are seen together, a definite pattern emerges. In mostly all these ‘Love Jihad’ cases, the Muslim accused belong to extremely humble families living in abysmal poverty. Some are reported to be jobless, some work as small-time mechanics in maybe a puncture repair shop, a truck driver or maybe a tailor, like in the Lakhimpur Kheri case. But, when it comes to making an impression on the Hindu girls, it emerges that these youths unhesitantly throw money around. They wear expensive clothes and buy expensive gifts for these girls. Moreover, when caught, expensive legal help is sought to free them. The question arises, if these youths are so impoverished, then from where do they get these funds?
Likewise in Shalini Yadav’s case, her brother Vikash has revealed that accused – Faisal is unemployed, whereas his father works with a small furniture dealer. The brother questioned if Faizal comes from such a humble background then from where did he get the money to take his sister first from Kanpur to Delhi and then from Delhi back to Prayagraj? Who funded the travel? How could he afford to hire senior lawyers to defend him in the Delhi High Court as well as the Uttar Pradesh High Court? “Obviously, some person or organization is giving financial help to Faisal”, Vikash asserted.
Reports suggest that in the Kanpur’s Panki case too, both accused Mohsin Khan and Aamir belonged to very poor families. However, since their arrest, money is being spent like water to get the two out of jail. The victim’s father revealed that when he visited the court with his daughters, more than 100 youths were present in support of the two accused.
A systematized syndicate operating to execute this ‘organised crime’ with financial support from various Islamic organisations: Bajrang Dal activist
To delve into this further, OpIndia spoke to Bajrang Dal’s Rashtriya Mahila Parishad Head, Nidhi Awasthi. Notably, Bajrang Dal has been working relentlessly in Kanpur and nearby areas against the menace of Love Jihad. Nidhi Awasthi opined that the magnitude of crime being executed in various parts of Uttar Pradesh, especially the western fringe of the state, indicates that it cannot be the work of individuals. Evidently, a systematized syndicate has been operating to execute this ‘organised crime’ with financial and logistical support from various Islamic organisations, said Awasthi.
Bajrang Dal activist raising their voices against the ‘organised Love Jihad’ crime
Speaking on how these cartels operate, Nidhi Awasthi said that the Islamic fundamentalists who head these organisations work with the sole aim to convert as many Hindus as they can and to attain their objectives they hire youths who are good looking, attractive, have good oratory skills, but at the same time who belong to lesser privileged families. They are then trained to lure and brainwash Hindu girls.
Nidhi said that these fundamentalists have methodically categorised Hindu girls according to their castes and a clear-cut package has been affixed. For example, if the girl, who is being targetted is a Brahmin or a Thakur, the Muslim youth who has entrapped the girl would approximately be rewarded Rs 5 lakhs, in case the girl is a Yadav or a Gupta, the rate is fixed at Rs 3 lakhs. Accordingly, if the girl belongs to the SC/ST then the perpetrator would be given Rs 2-2.5 lakhs, she said.
The Rashtriya Mahila Parishad President says that this is the reason why maximum girls who have been targetted so far in Kanpur and surrounding areas belongs to a Brahmin family.
She furthers that social media plays a very vital role. Since it is practically impossible to know one’s economical condition on Facebook or Whatsapp, these youths generally target girls through social media. They upload pictures where they are extremely well-dressed on these social media platforms to impress the naive Hindu girls, who then agree to meet them. The youths, who have received training, now use their charisma to impress these girls. Speaking to the girls, these trained youths gauge the victim’s vulnerabilities and accordingly use it to their advantage to trap the victims, says Nidhi.
It is pertinent to note here, that 18-year-old Muskaan Tiwari, a resident of Govind Nagar, who was trapped by one Jajmau’s resident Asif Shah alias Nafiz also belonged to a Brahmin Family. Muskaan’s family had alleged Asif first befriended Muskaan and then brainwashed her into embracing Islam with the use of ‘back magic’ and some occult practices. She was forcefully converted and married off to Asif.
In fact, owing to this case, Juhi colony’s Shalini Yadav’s case and several such cases reported from different parts of the state, the Uttar Pradesh police have constituted a special investigating team (SIT) to probe allegations of ‘Love Jihad’ and forced conversion.
Possibility of banned radical organisations like PFI and SIMI being behind the funding of the ongoing ‘Love Jihad racket’ in Kanpur
The SIT, which has come across at least 9 such cases of recent past, has decided to broaden the scope of its investigation and probe the alleged role of the banned radical organisations like Popular Front of India (PFI) and SIMI behind the funding of the ongoing ‘Love Jihad’ racket in Kanpur.
Pertinently, the banned radical Islamic organisations like PFI and SIMI are notoriously known for funding various anti-national activities. Last year in December, during the anti-CAA protests that had literally engulfed the entire country, an Intelligence report shared with the Ministry of Home Affairs had pointed to some ‘political parties’ and banned radical Islamist outfits like SIMI and PFI for being behind the violent protests in several places across the country.
According to a Zee report, Pakistan funding might also be involved in the Love Jihad conspiracies that have been rearing its ugly head across the country, especially in Uttar Pradesh.
Meanwhile, according to Inspector General (IG) Kanpur, Mohit Agarwal, who set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by Superintendent of Police south Deepak Bhuker, to probe the matter, there is a large possibility that these Islamic outfit is trying to spread ‘jihad’ across the length and breadth of the state by providing financial assistance to a handful of organizations that are involved in such anti-national acts.
He has instructed the team to collect information about such organizations and such people from the mobile numbers of the accused.
The Hindu organisation Bajrang Dal, which has also been working on the ground level to rescue the distraught and vulnerable Hindu women from the clutches of these supposed extremists, has written a letter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressing concerns and urging him to take action. Ramji Tiwari, State Secretary, Bajrang Dal, speaking to the media also reiterated that a handful of organizations that are involved in anti-national acts.
Bajrang Dal State Secretary Ramji Tiwari protesting against Kanpur’s Love Jihad
Calling the ‘Love Jihad menace a well-planned conspiracy that is happening on a large scale in the country, he Ramji Tiwai said that it is an attempt to push the nation towards civil war. Ramji Tiwari added that these fundamentalists are spreading hatred towards the majority of Hindu society in India, they regularly engage in efforts to destabilize the country and trying to tarnish the cultural heritage of India.
Bajrang Dal State Secretary Ramji Tiwari calls ‘Love Jihad’ a well-organised conspiracy
He also opined that these cartels are operating at the behest of the Islamist organisations, who are providing the former with funding and logistical aides and these cartels are in turn helping the Islamists to spread their fanatical agenda and destabilize the country.
Notably, if these ‘Love Jihad’ cases are studied collectively, a specific pattern emerges. Muslim youths pretend to be Hindus by making fake IDs online and offline. Wear Kalava and sport a Tilak while chasing a Hindu girl. After a few weeks, they befriend them and establish physical relations. In most cases, the act is filmed. Using the recording, the pressure is created to convert and marry. Most of the marriages are done under Sharia law where women have to convert. The girls are usually in 15-20 years age group.
With no economic security and often dumped by their natal families for marrying a Muslim, these girls get trapped in an abusive relationship and a deeply unequal marital contract where women have no rights. When they protest, they are either beaten, left by the men and in some cases even killed.
Recent cases of ‘Love Jihad’ in Kanpur
Several love Jihad cases have emerged in Kanpur in the last few days. It started with the case of Shalini Yadav that was reported on 21st August. The case of Shalini Yadav started a domino effect, and other cases began to emerge. On 28th August, a case was reported in which Lucky Khan allegedly befriended a minor Hindu girl and took objectional photos to blackmail her. On 29th August, another case came in the light where a Hindu girl’s family claimed that Nafiz trapped their daughter and forcefully converted and married her.
On 7th September, the residents of Muzaffarabad in Pakistan occupied Kashmir organized protests and torch rally against the construction of Dams on the Neelam-Jhelum river by Chinese companies. The protesters were heard chanting slogans against the Pakistani government and Chinese companies. Similar protests have been happening in the area since July this year.
#WATCH Protests and torch rally took place in Muzaffarabad city of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) last night, against the construction of mega-dams that will be built by Chinese firms on Neelum-Jhelum river. pic.twitter.com/ib0Y2j6Cok
On 6th July 2020, the Azad Pattan Hydel Power Project with 700.7 megawatts of electricity capacity was awarded to Chinese companies. China Three Gorges Corporation, International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Silk Road Fund are providing financial support for the project. It is expected to be completed by 2026.
The residents of the area are against the economic, environmental, and demographic impact of major construction projects in the area. They have alleged that the Pakistan government and China have violated UN Security Council resolutions by occupying rivers. Both countries have signed an agreement to build a 1,124 MW hydropower project in Kohala. The total cost of the project will be around $2.4 billion.
The dam is being built as a part of China Pakistan Economic Corridor or CPEC.
Hours after China alleged India of transgressing the Line of Actual Control in southern bank of Pangong Tso lake region, the Indian Army has released a statement, categorically refuting the allegations levelled by the Chinese that Indian Army had breached the LAC.
In its statement, Indian Army had claimed that it was China’s PLA troops, who were trying to close-in on one of the Army’s forward positions along the LAC and when dissuaded by the Indian forces, they resorted to firing in the air, so as to intimidate the Indian Army personnel.
Breaking: Indian army issues statement on India China Face Off; This after China claimed shots were fired at LAC on monday pic.twitter.com/83Lo2djr9R
The Indian Army further added that it is committed to de-escalation and disengagement on the LAC while China continues to undertake activities that heat up the simmering tensions.
“At no stage has the Indian Army transgressed across the LAC or resorted to use of any aggressive means, including firing,” the statement issued by the Indian Army said.
The Indian Army further added, “It is the PLA that has been blatantly violating agreements and carrying out aggressive manoeuvres, while engagement at military, diplomatic and political level is in progress.”
The statement added that despite the grave provocation by Chinese troops, the Indian troops showed great restraint and behaved in a mature and responsible manner.
China accuses Indian forces of firing shots, crossing LAC
On Tuesday, China alleged that the Indian army ‘illegally’ crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and fired shots at Shenpao mountain near the south bank of Pangong Tso in Eastern Ladakh. The Communist-ruled country further claimed that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) took ‘countermeasures’ to stabilise the situation.
Chinese State-owned newspaper Global Times tweeted, “The Indian army again illegally crossed the Line of Actual Control in Shenpao mountain near the south bank of Pangong Tso Lake on Monday, PLA Western Theater Command spokesperson revealed.”
It further added, “Chinese border defence troops were forced to take countermeasures to stabilize the situation after the Indian troops outrageously fired warning shots to PLA border patrol soldiers who were about to negotiate, said the spokesperson.
Days after Congress leader Kavitha Reddy had led a mob attack to abuse and heckle Kannada actress Samyuktha Reddy and her friends in Bengaluru for wearing a sports bra, she has now been booked by the Bengaluru police. A case was registered against Reddy at the HSR Layout police station.
Reportedly, the accused has been booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 504b (intentional insult with an intent to provoke) and 506 (criminal intimidation).
Congress worker Kavitha Reddy booked under sections 323, 504(b) and 506 of the IPC in connection with alleged attack on actor Samyuktha Hegde: HSR Layout Police Station, Bengaluru, Karnataka
The development comes a day after the Congress worker apologised for her outrageous behaviour. Taking to social media, Reddy tweeted a statement wherein she claimed that she is against moral policing. In her letter, she claimed that she unconditionally apologises for her behaviour towards Hegde and her friends as well as to everyone else for whatever happened on 4th September 2020. Kavitha said that she agrees her behaviour was not proper and that no woman should have to face what Hegde did. She claimed that in hindsight, she regrets her social media posts and that she has taken them down.
Kavitha Reddy had abused, led a mob to heckle and harass actress
According to Kannada actress Samyuktha Hegde, she and her two friends had visited the Agara lake on Friday evening to practice Hula hoops. As she was working out, Kavitha Reddy, along with her supporters, had approached and began to hurl abuses at them for alleged ‘indecent behaviour’. “Are you cabaret dancers? What sort of clothes are you wearing? A@&&&@s! If you wear such clothes and something happens to you the next time, don’t come crying to anyone,” the Congress leader had Kavitha Reddy had said, as per Hegde.
The mob led by Reddy had joined in, raising slogans against the actress and her friends. They were seen abusing and hurling insults at the women at the park, accusing them of ‘indecent behaviour’.
Indore Police has arrested an 11-year-old minor boy on Monday for allegedly killing a 10-year-old girl in his neighbourhood. As per the reports, he was infuriated over his white pet mouse’s death, allegedly killed by the girl. It is believed that she also beat him in mobile games.
Harinarayanchari Mishra, deputy inspector general (DIG) of police, Indore, said in a statement that they found in the preliminary investigation that the girl went out of her flat to collect flowers around noon on Monday. When she did not return after some time, her father went out to look for her. He spotted her body with a smashed head at a nearby vacant plot. The girl was in class 5 while the boy is in class 6.
Boy confessed to killing the girl
Mishra added that the police took the boy in custody after they spoke to several children in the area. They also examined the CCTV footage of the area. The girl was last seen with him. One of the children in the area told the police that he had seen the boy with bloodstains on his clothes and hands. “During questioning, the boy confessed to having committed the crime,” he added.
As per reports, the children used to play an online mobile game called ‘Free Fire’ where the girl often used to beat him. She also used to help her younger brother to beat the accused boy. As per reports, the accused boy was infuriated due to constantly losing to the girl in the game.
He has also suspected that the girl had killed his pet mouse. But the girl had repeatedly denied his allegations.
During the investigation, police found that the boy was angry at her as she often defeated him in games on their mobile phones. They both had an argument on Monday that led to him striking her with a large stone on her head. She died on the spot due to blood loss. The boy ran off from the crime scene immediately.
The girl’s elder sister said that they could not believe that the boy killed her sister on such petty issues. “Police should investigate the murder seriously as there might be involvement of some adult person too in the crime,” she added.
Mishra said that after completing the required procedure, the boy would be sent to a juvenile home. Though police said they do not believe there was any sexual assault in the case, but they will be able to say anything concrete about it only after the post-mortem report. Further investigation is underway.
A West Bengal BJP Mahila Morcha leader from Bishnupur, South 24 Parganas was shot at on Monday by unidentified miscreants. Radharani Naskar, who is the vice-president of the BJP women’s wing was reportedly shot outside her residence at Raghudebpur village.
WB BJP State General Secretary Locket Chatterjee took to Twitter to inform about the incident. She added that Radharani Naskar’s condition remains critical.
According to reports, Radharani Naskar was first taken to a local medical institution for treatment. However, after being turned away from there she was later admitted to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata.
Deriding the anarchy in Mamata Banerjee-run state, Chatterjee wrote: “A new low for West Bengal as women are now murdered mercilessly. You have lost the moral mandate to continue as the CM, Mamata Banerjee”.
TMC goons have shot Radharani Naskar, a Mahila Morcha BJP worker from Bishnupur, S 24 Parganas. She’s fighting for her life at hospital.
A new low for West Bengal as women are now murdered mercilessly. You have lost the moral mandate to continue as the CM, Mamata Banerjee. pic.twitter.com/CtPfOIOnkH
Alleging that TMC goons were behind the attack, Locket Chatterjee said the ruling TMC wants to silence the voice of protest by the Mahila Morcha.
The Trinamool Congress denied the charge and claimed that the attack was the result of the infighting in the state unit of BJP. No arrests have been made so far, police said.
West Bengal BJP worker Rabin Paul lynched to death, names TMC in dying testimony
This is not the first time any BJP worker in West Bengal has come under attack. Political violence and murders, especially of BJP workers have continued unabated in Mamata Banerjee’s ruled state. Recently, a BJP worker named Rabin Paul was lynched to death in the Pathar Ghata village in Kalna in West Bengal.
According to reports, a group of 50 people belonging to the Trinamool Congress had lynched Paul to death. He was first beaten mercilessly by the TMC supporters and then taken to another place in the village where Paul was thrashed by the TMC Deputy Chief.
The victim’s family had alleged that the TMC workers not only stopped the victim’s daughter when she tried to offer him water, but also threatened to thrash her if she tried to help her father.
In his dying testimony, Rabin Paul had named the TMC goons. In his dying moment Rabin Paul had recounted, “Tara party er lok… TMC party er (They are party workers.. TMC workers).
