During the riots in Sambhal, the rioters apparently wanted to kill advocate Vishnu Jain. For this, weapons were also distributed among the rioters. This conspiracy was hatched by Shariq Satha. His henchman Mulla Afroz had provided the weapons.
All these revelations have been made following the arrest of another henchman of Shariq Satha. Sambhal police has also arrested rioter Waris. Waris had also killed 2 youths during the riots.
Waris was caught by the police on Saturday (January 25, 2025). He is a resident of Mohalla Khaggu sarai. He later revealed in police interrogation that he was hiding in Delhi after the violence. Waris has told the police that the Shariq Satha gang had distributed weapons to kill advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain. The accused said that Jain allegedly insulted the Prophet. It is pertinent to mention that there is no evidence that Jain had said anything to that effect.
Shariq Satha gang had said that they have to ‘protect the mosque’ and commit murder during the survey. Vishnu Shankar Jain is the lawyer of the Hindu side in the Shahi Jama Masjid-Harihar Mandir dispute. Waris has also revealed that he fired bullets during the violence, killing youths named Kaif and Naeem. Waris said that Mulla Afroz gave him the weapons. Mulla has already been arrested.
An audio of Waris also went viral. In this, he had asked to bring ‘stuff’ during the violence. Police has said that ‘stuff’ meant weapons. His partner has already been arrested. Police have recovered a pistol, cartridges, a cartridge stuck in the barrel and two mobiles from Waris.
Waris has told that Shariq Satha’s gang wanted to incite riots across the country with these murders. With the arrest of Waris, the case of 4 deaths in the violence has been solved. Out of these, 2 murders were committed by Mullah Afroz and 2 by Waris. Police has also arrested another rioter from Sambhal. His name is Mohammad Nihal.
On Sunday, 26th January, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in Haryana stated that around 600 private hospitals in the state have decided to stop treating patients under the Ayushman Bharat scheme from February 3rd. The IMA’s Haryana unit said that the patients at the private hospital relying on the slated government health scheme would hardly benefit from the scheme as the doctors would not treat them under the said scheme. The IMA’s Haryana unit said that this is because the government has not yet cleared the reimbursement of the hospitals worth Rs 400 crores.
As per the reports, there are around 1300 hospitals eligible for the Ayushman Bharat scheme of which 600 are private facilities. The Ayushman Bharat scheme launched by the BJP government in 2018 aims to provide free access to health insurance coverage for low-income earners in the country. In the state of Haryana, there are around 1.2 crore people who are registered under the scheme.
The association opined that the private hospitals were not able to manage their expenses while treating the patients under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, given no reimbursement from the government. Dr Mahavir Jain, president of IMA (Haryana) commented on the matter and said that the speed of reimbursement from the government is very sluggish. He demanded that the payment of the hospitals should be released immediately.
“Our payments should be released immediately as it is exceedingly difficult for doctors to operate hospitals without funds. Around Rs 400 crore is pending. These medical bills are already discounted by the hospitals. How will they survive if they do not receive the bare minimum,” he said.
The association said that the government to date has issued only 15-20% reimbursement of the total bills raised by the hospitals. As per the reports, the hospitals treat the patients at their cost under the slated scheme and then raise the payment to the government through online portals. As per the doctors, the government has only issued 15% of the total bills raised.
“it is extremely unfortunate that even after 15 days, the members have not received any significant amount and the funds received have ‘substantial unwarranted deductions’,” Dhirendar K Soni, secretary of IMA-Haryana was quoted as saying. Several hospitals in Gurugram, including Park Hospital, Centre for Sight, Pushpanjali Hospital, and Kamla Hospital, are among those affected by the decision.
The Ayushman Bharat scheme was launched by the Narendra Modi-led government in the year 2018 to provide free healthcare up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year. About 1.2 crore individuals in the state have enlisted under the initiative, which covers everything from regular testing to surgery.
The scheme can be availed by families with annual incomes of less than Rs 2.5 lakh, the elderly, and other eligible criteria. However, with the government’s delay in releasing payments, hospitals are finding it challenging to manage their expenses.
The Donald Trump administration has intensified its crackdown on illegal immigrants in the United States. In this vein, the Department of Homeland Security agents visited Gurudwaras in New York and New Jersey on Sunday (26th January) to check for illegal immigrants.
Reports say that the Homeland Security Department officials visited the Gurudwaras in New York and New Jersey after allegations emerged that these places of worship were being used by anti-India Khalistani separatists and undocumented immigrants. Not to forget how back in November 2023, Indian Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu was heckled by pro-Khalistani elements at the Hicksville Gurudwara in Long Island, New York.
Meanwhile, the Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF) raised concern over the DHS agents visiting Gurudwaras to check for illegal immigrants.
“These places are not just places of worship; they are vital community centres that provide support, nourishment, and spiritual solace to Sikhs and the broader community. We are deeply alarmed by this decision to eliminate protections for sensitive areas and then target them.”
Within hours of Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States on 20th January 2025, the acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman issued a directive rescinding the Biden administration’s guidelines for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforcement actions that impede law enforcement “sensitive” areas such as churches and Gurudwaras.
Similar raids have also been reported to be conducted by DHS agents in churches to identify and arrest illegal immigrants. Besides, Colombian illegal immigrants are also being deported by the US government. On Sunday, high-voltage drama unfolded between the US and the Colombian government over two US military aircraft carrying illegal Colombian immigrants. The Colombian government refused to accept its citizens, however, after President Trump threatened to tariffs and sanctions, Colombia took an embarrassing U-turn and accepted its deported citizens.
The US government has initiated measures to send back illegal immigrants to their native countries right after Donald Trump assumed office on 20th January. Even during his election campaign, Donald Trump had strongly advocated for deporting illegal immigrants and ensuring that only legal immigrants make their way into America.
In September 2024, Trump said that Donald Trump raised alarms about how the Presidency of Kamala Harris would negatively impact the United States and worsen the migrant crisis. “She fought me for years on the wall. I built hundreds of miles of wall. But she was one of the people that fought me…We’ll have 100 million people in this country within four years if she gets selected. They come from prisons and jails. There’s a slight difference. And they come from mental institutions and insane asylums. And they come also as terrorists at a level that we’ve never seen before. And they’re pouring into the country. We have millions of people coming in. But hundreds of thousands of those people are criminals from Venezuela… They come from Africa, Asia, the Middle East and from South America. And they’re destroying our country.”
Meanwhile, the US Justice Department said it had begun making arrests in Chicago as part of a multi-agency enforcement operation, the New York Times reported. US Vice President JD Vance has also endorsed immigration raids on schools, and said that he hoped they would have a “chilling effect on illegal immigrants coming to our country.”
Vance said immigration raids in religious buildings and schools should not be ruled out. “If you have a person who is convicted of a violent crime, whether they are an illegal immigrant or not, you have to go and get that person to protect the public safety,” he said and added, “That’s not unique to immigration.”
Trump’s Border Czar Tom Homan has said that immigration officials will need at least 1,00,000 beds to support Trump’s sweeping deportation efforts. He called on the US Congress to “come to the table quick and give us the money we need.”
On being asked whether immigration enforcement agents would search for people in churches or schools, Homan replied that ICE would act on a “case-by-case basis.” But he seemed to suggest that high-school-aged children could be affiliated with gangs and represented legitimate targets.
Homan said that deportations would “steadily increase” as the administration moved to “open up the aperture” to target anyone in the country illegally not just those with a criminal record.
Regarding deportation funding, Tom Homan said he would “leave it up to Congress,” The Hill reported. Homan was speaking about the Trump administration’s broad immigration plan, including specifics about how they plan to fund the costly mass deportation idea.
“The Congress, I think the president has a mandate. This is the number one issue that people voted on,” Homan said. “And I think Congress has a mandate to give us money.”
The US official said there needs to be ‘pressure’ on national security. Referring to the death of Georgia student Laken Riley, who was allegedly killed by a migrant, he said the incident has become the face of the Republicans’ immigration plan.
In another major development last week, US officials also shut down an app that allowed asylum-seekers to schedule appointments for admission at a port of entry.
Homan apparently dismissed the app, which had been set up by the Biden administration, as an ‘illegitimate method’ for migrants to use. “Go to the embassy, go to the port of entry, do it the legal way,” Homan said as quoted by the New York Times. “You shouldn’t come to this country and ask to get asylum, and the first thing you do is break our laws by entering illegally.”
On Friday (24th January), Islamists on X (formerly Twitter) peddled fake news about the brutal murder of a Muslim woman by her Hindu husband with the nefarious objective of fuelling the ‘Bhagwa Love Trap (BLT)’ conspiracy theory.
The notorious Islamist handles include ‘Tanvir Rangrez (@virjust18)’ and ‘Adv.Nazneen Akhtar (@NazneenAkhtar23)’. They falsely claimed that the body of a Muslim woman named Gulnaz was chopped and recovered from a refrigerator.
While trying to draw parallels with the Shraddha Walker murder case, the Islamists claimed that the alleged victim Gulnaz was murdered by her Hindu husband Sanjay Patidar.
2882 ANALYSIS: Misleading
FACT: A video showing policemen recovering a body from a refrigerator has been circulated with the claim that a Hindu man, Sanjay Patidar, married a Muslim woman named Gulnaz and killed her at a rental property in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/CQjjdHIzLt
“This is what happens to women who do not listen to their parents and make their own decisions,” remarked Tanvir Rangrez. His tweet was accompanied by a video of policemen investigating the crime scene. The body of a dead woman could be seen in the video.
The incident occurred in Dewas city in Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh. The deceased is not Muslim but a Hindu woman named Pratibha Prajapati. She was murdered in March 2024 and her body was kept inside the refrigerator of a rented home.
The perpetrator was none other than her live-in partner Sanjay Patidar. There is no communal angle in the case as insinuated by the Islamist handles of X (formerly Twitter).
INTENT: Propagandists are circulating sensitive videos with misleading claims to set their narrative based on religion. (3/3) pic.twitter.com/NfzZs9XbWR
The attempt to give a communal spin to an incident where both the victim and the perpetrator hail from the same Faith is part of the larger ploy to mainstream the ‘Bhagwa Love Trap (BLT)’ conspiracy theory.
Islamists have been making unsubstantiated claims about Hindu men entrapping Muslim women in a ‘love trap’ to convert them to Hinduism.
Despite no evidence to back such allegations, the BLT conspiracy theory has resonated well with radical Muslims on social media. This has translated to real-life incidents of harassment, molestation, moral policing and coordinated attacks on Hindu-Muslim couples.
OpIndia has documented over 100 cases of real-life attacks on Hindu men and their female Muslim partners/ friends by extremists in the name of combating the ‘Bhagwa Love Trap’
Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani recently visited the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj with his family. The tycoon has shared a post on LinkedIn about his thoughts on the grand Hindu gathering and its spiritual significance from a perspective of leadership lessons.
This is a curation of what Gautam Adani wrote:
In the vast landscape of human gatherings, nothing quite compares to the Kumbh Mela. As a company, we have been deeply engaged this year in the Mela – and, every single time I have a discussion on this subject, I am humbled by the vision our forefathers had. As someone who has built ports, airports and energy networks across India, I find myself astonished by this magnificent demonstration of what I call “spiritual infrastructure” – a force that has sustained our civilization for millennia.
Probably The World’s Largest Management Case Study
When Harvard Business School studied the Kumbh Mela’s logistics, they marvelled at its scale. But, as an Indian, I see something deeper: the world’s most successful pop-up megacity isn’t just about numbers – it’s about eternal principles that we at the Adani Group strive to embrace.
Consider this: Every 12 years, a temporary city larger than New York materializes on the banks of sacred rivers. No board meetings. No PowerPoint presentations. No venture capital. Just pure, time-tested Indian jugaad (innovation) backed by centuries of iterative learnings.
The Three Indestructible Pillars of Kumbh Leadership
1. Scale with Soul
At the Kumbh, scale isn’t just about size – it’s about impact. जब समर्पण और सेवा के साथ 20 करोड़ लोग एकत्रित होते हैं, तो यह केवल आयोजन नहीं, बल्कि एक अद्वितीय आत्मिक संगम होता है। When 200 million people gather with dedication and service, it is not just an event but a unique confluence of souls. This is what I call “spiritual economies of scale.” The larger it grows, the more efficient it becomes, not just materially but in human and humanity terms. True scale is not measured in metrics but in the moments of unity it creates.
2. Sustainable Before Sustainability Was Cool
Long before ESG became a boardroom buzzword, the Kumbh Mela practiced circular economy principles. नदी केवल जल का स्रोत नहीं, जीवन का प्रवाह है। A river is not just a source of water but the flow of life. Preserving it is a testament to our ancient wisdom. The same river that hosts millions returns to its natural state following the Kumbh, having cleansed hundreds of millions of devotees and confident that it can cleanse itself of all the “impurities” it washed away. Perhaps there’s a lesson here for our modern development paradigms. Progress, after all, is not in what we take from the earth, but in how we give back to it.
3. Leadership Through Service
The most powerful aspect? The absence of a single controlling authority. सच्चा नेतृत्व आदेश देने में नहीं, सबको साथ लेकर चलने की क्षमता में होता है।| True leadership lies not in giving orders but in the ability to take everyone along. Various akharas (religious orders), local authorities and volunteers work in harmony. It’s leadership through service, not dominance – a principle that modern corporations would do well to study. It teaches us that great leaders do not command or control – they create conditions for others to work together and collectively rise.
सेवा साधना है, सेवा प्रार्थना है और सेवा ही परमात्मा है। Service is devotion, Service is prayer and Service itself is God.
What The Kumbh Teaches Global Business
As India aims for a $10 trillion economy, the Kumbh Mela offers unique insights:
1. Inclusive Growth
The Mela welcomes everyone – from sadhus to CEOs, villagers to foreign tourists. It’s the ultimate example of what we at Adani call “Growth with Goodness.”
2. Spiritual Technology
While we pride ourselves on digital innovation, the Kumbh showcases spiritual technology – time-tested systems for managing human consciousness at scale. This soft infrastructure is as crucial as physical infrastructure in an era where the biggest threat is mental illness!
3. Cultural Confidence
In an era of global homogenization, the Kumbh stands as a testament to cultural authenticity. It’s not a museum piece – it’s a living, breathing example of tradition adapting to modernity.
Is the Future Ancient?
As I walk through our ports or solar farms, I often reflect on the Kumbh’s lessons. Our ancient civilization didn’t just build monuments – it created living systems that sustain millions. This is what we must aspire to in modern India – not just building infrastructure, but nurturing ecosystems.
And, while nations compete with military might and economic muscle, the Kumbh represents India’s unique soft power. Vasudeva Kutumbukam! It’s not just about hosting the world’s largest gathering. It’s about showcasing a sustainable model of human organization that has survived millennia.
The Leadership Challenge
Therefore, for modern leaders, the Kumbh poses a profound question: Can we build organizations that last not just years, but centuries? Can our systems handle not just scale, but soul? In an age of AI, climate crisis and social fragmentation, the Kumbh’s lessons are more relevant than ever and encompass all of the following:
Sustainable resource management
Harmonious mass collaboration
Technology with human touch
Leadership through service
Scale without losing soul
The Way Forward As India marches towards becoming a global superpower, we must remember: our strength lies not just in what we build, but in what we preserve. The Kumbh isn’t just a religious gathering – it’s a blueprint for sustainable civilization. It is a reminder for me that true scale isn’t measured in balance sheets but in positive impact on human consciousness.
In the Kumbh, we see the essence of India’s soft power – a power not rooted in conquest but in consciousness, not in dominance but in service. India’s true strength lies in its soul, where growth is not just economic power but a confluence of human consciousness and service. This is the lesson Kumbh teaches us – that true legacy is not in structures built, but in the consciousness, we build – and that thrives for centuries.
Therefore, the next time you hear about India’s growth story, remember: our most successful project isn’t a massive port or a renewable energy park – it’s a spiritual gathering that has run successfully for centuries, serving millions without depleting resources or losing its soul.
That’s the real India story.
Adani Group and Maha Kumbh
Gautam Adani’s organisation has been involved in the organisation and services at the Maha Kumbh from the beginning. The Adani Group has joined hands with the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) to serve meals to devotees at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj starting next week. The two organisations will offer Mahaprasad Seva to the devotees during the entire duration of the Maha Kumbh Mela, from January 13 to February 26. Gautam Adani recently visited the Maha Kumbh with his family and offered Puja at Sangam.
On 27th January, the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) examining the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, adopted all amendments proposed by BJP-led NDA members. The decision was made during a clause-by-clause discussion. However, the amendments suggested by the opposition MPs were rejected, leading to opposition leaders crying foul over the process. The opposition leaders accused the committee chairperson of undermining democratic norms.
Amendments and voting dynamics
The amendments accepted in 14 clauses of the Bill include provisions such as allowing state government officials, along with district magistrates, to take on certain roles and increasing Waqf tribunal members from two to three. While 16 MPs from the ruling alliance backed the changes, 10 opposition members opposed them.
The opposition had proposed amendments to all 44 clauses of the Bill, which were defeated by the same 10:16 margin, deepening the divide between the two sides.
Opposition leaders called the proceedings undemocratic
Following the JPC meeting, opposition MPs expressed dismay and labelled the proceedings as “undemocratic.” Criticising the proceedings, Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain said, “Ever since JPC meetings began, stakeholders were called. 95-98% of stakeholders opposed the Bill… Be it the chairman or Ministry, their replies were not supplied to Members. They were not discussed. Clause-to-clause discussions are held after meeting stakeholders…But it wasn’t done…We were not provided minutes of the discussion…We moved amendments. Without any discussion or explanation, they put the amendments up for voting. They defeated it (in voting)…All procedures were bypassed and Chairman made minor changes to the Bill and pushed it forward. There was no discussion at all…Entire JPC process is farce…So, we have opposed and boycotted it now.”
#WATCH | After the meeting of the JPC on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, one of its members – Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain says, "Ever since JPC meetings began, stakeholders were called. 95-98% of stakeholders opposed the Bill… Be it the chairman or Ministry, their replies were… pic.twitter.com/8We8iWdDLx
SP MP Mohibbullah Nadvi said, “This is a joke with the minority of the country, with the Waqf Board. Constitution has been bulldozed…This makes it seem that the Bill that was brought in was just a joke…This is a process to loot Waqf Board. Parliamentary procedure was not followed.”
#WATCH | After the meeting of the JPC on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, one of its members – SP MP Mohibbullah Nadvi says, "This is a joke with the minority of the country, with the Waqf Board. Constitution has been bulldozed…This makes it seem that the Bill that was brought in… pic.twitter.com/AKTthyFjsC
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant said, “Clause by clause discussions were supposed to be held. But it was not done at all. They only held voting on the Amendments…It was not discussed…They say that the will move the final draft report on January 29. We will read it and see…Democracy is being murdered in Amrit Varsh.”
#WATCH | After the meeting of the JPC on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, one of its members – Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant says, "…Clause by clause discussions were supposed to be held. But it was not done at all. They only held voting on the Amendments…It was not… pic.twitter.com/1YANtw8gRP
Ruling alliance, however, countered the allegations. BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi said, “The entire proceeding of the committee meeting was held in a democratic manner. The chairperson allowed everybody to speak and everybody to put forth his/her point. He patiently listened to all of them. As far as the opposition members are concerned, they moved amendments with respect to 43 out of 44 clauses, today. The NDA members moved 24 amendments with respect to 16 clauses. Since, they were 10 members in total, and we were 16; obviously each of their amendments which they proposed couldn’t see the light of the day and crashed. All the amendments that we moved were upheld… Tomorrow, the bill in its revised form will be circulated among the members. On the 29th (January) the committee will meet again to discuss the adoption of the bill…”
#WATCH | Delhi | JPC member on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 & BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi says, "…The entire proceeding of the committee meeting was held in a democratic manner. The chairperson allowed everybody to speak and everybody to put forth his/her point. He patiently… pic.twitter.com/WepS6Wawiz
Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske said, “There were 44 resolutions and discussion and voting was held on each one of them along with amendments… Opposition was against each resolution but their objection did not get majority of the votes… We added 14 resolutions in the bill and the final draft will be presented to us on 29th January… This was a bill for the profit of the nation and the betterment of poor Muslims, to give them stature… Opposition spread false claims that this is anti-Muslim and did politics… Bala Saheb Thackeray used to say the Waqf board should be cancelled, and his so-called successor, Uddhav Thackeray’s right-hand Arvind Sawant objected to all 44 resolutions of the bill… We condemn Uddhav Thackeray for not supporting this bill and I am grateful to Sharad Pawar for supporting it… Many of the governmental projects are halted due to Waqf Board claiming it as theirs…”
#WATCH | Delhi | On JPC meeting on Waqf Bill, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske says, "There were 44 resolutions and discussion and voting was held on each one of them along with amendments… Opposition was against each resolution but their objection did not get majority of the… pic.twitter.com/GBDmWhI8Bs
BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal said, “All clauses we discussed…It is sad that the clauses that were very important to be moved for the improvement of this Bill were opposed too…
#WATCH | After the meeting of the JPC on Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, one of its members – BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal says, "All clauses we discussed…It is sad that the clauses that were very important to be moved for the improvement of this Bill were opposed too…" pic.twitter.com/heimGlEKH9
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, introduced by Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju in the Lok Sabha on 8th August 2024, was initially expected to be tabled during the Winter Session. It was later referred to the JPC for a detailed review. The JPC has announced that the draft report will be circulated by 28th January, with formal adoption slated for 29th January.
On 26th January, as the nation celebrated its 76th Republic Day, a man wearing a shirt and track pants vandalised the life-size statue of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar in Punjab’s Amritsar by climbing atop and then hitting it with a hammer. The accused, identified as Akashdeep Singh, who is a Scheduled Caste (SC) from Moga district used an extension ladder to execute his plan. He even lit flammable stuff on the stone-carved Constitution book in front of the statue and burned it.
The incident transpired at the Town Hall on Heritage Street which leads to the world-renowned Golden Temple. According to the authorities, the cause of the occurrence has not yet been determined. Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar stated that the culprit was taken into custody and a first information report (FIR) was filed. However, the probe is still in progress. The video of the instance soon went viral on social media leading to a political row, especially between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Man uses hammer to deface Baba Saheb Ambedkar ji's statue in Amritsar, Punjab!
Law & order has totally collapsed under "AAP Da"!
This is an insult of "Dalit" brothers and sisters!
Mr Arvind Kejriwal has exploited Dalit brothers and sisters from Punjab to Delhi! pic.twitter.com/ELXY5lLvWB
— Pradeep Bhandari(प्रदीप भंडारी)?? (@pradip103) January 27, 2025
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann condemned the incident on 27th January and assured strict action while cabinet minister Harbhajan Singh said that the perpetrator had been apprehended and that “an investigation is underway to reach the real conspirator.”
However, the Dalit organizations started a protest on the site and called for a strike on 27th January. Amritsar South MLA Inderbir Singh Nijjar and Punjab cabinet member Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal also arrived on the scene to assess the situation and pacify the demonstrators.
Meanwhile, the BJP launched an attack on AAP over the development. “The tallest statue of BR Ambedkar in Amritsar was desecrated by a person with a hammer under the nose of AAP’s Punjab government. The statue is in front of a police station. The statue was tall, so how did the accused get the ladder? This happened in Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP Punjab and the whole team is silent,” BJP MP Sambit Patra charged.
BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh expressed, “This incident is condemnable. Punjab AAP’s Bhagwant Mann government is in deep sleep. Punjab’s law and order has deteriorated. The Chief Minister is busy with tourism while BR Ambedkar’s statue is tampered with and the constitution is insulted. That too outside the Police Station at the main crossroads of Amritsar.”
He further demanded, “What happened in Amritsar could not have taken place without Arvind Kejriwal’s permission. Kejriwal should go to Amritsar, apologise in front of the Ambedkar statue, and resign from his position.” Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal also took to X to protest against the incident. “This heinous act has hurt the sentiments of millions. I demand stern action against the culprit and a thorough inquiry to unravel the conspiracy behind this shameful incident. Let’s stand united against such vile attempts to create divisions in our society,” he remarked.
Strongly condemn the attempt to desecrate the statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar ji’s statue at the Heritage Street in Sri Amritsar Sahib on Republic Day. This heinous act has hurt the sentiments of millions. I demand stern action against the culprit and a thorough inquiry to unravel… pic.twitter.com/uBrj7LKN6g
Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Shiromani Akal Dal MP, called the attempt to damage Ambedkar’s statue a disgraceful plot to split “our society and cause disturbance in Punjab. Such acts should be dealt with sternly. I appeal to Punjabis to maintain calm.” Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati also voiced, “The attempt to desecrate the statue of Baba Saheb Dr B.R. Ambedkar near the Golden Temple on Heritage Street in Amritsar and to set fire near a copy of the Constitution is shameful. Such incidents, caused by government negligence, must be strongly condemned.”
“Since this incident took place in the galliara of Sri Harmandar Sahib, the SGPC (Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee) and Akal Takht jathedar should also issue a clarification,” former Union minister and BJP leader Vijay Sampla conveyed on social media. Partap Singh, the secretary of the body, however, claimed, “The statue is not situated in the galliara of Sri Harmandar Sahib. It is near the Partition Museum and Kotwali police station, where the responsibility to protect it lies with the government and administration. Though the galliara also comes under the jurisdiction and control of the government, the statue is nearly 1km from the shrine. So, it is unfair for Sampla to link this incident to the Harmandar Sahib galliara.”
“The Sikh institution gives due respect to Dr Ambedkar and strongly condemns the vandalism, but creating confusion in the sangat (community) by linking this incident to Harmandar Sahib is condemnable. Such baseless statements are unfair. Sampla should withdraw his statement so that the confusion ends. Demanding a clarification from the SGPC and Akal Takht jathedar is wrong.” he added.
Earlier, Punjab police reported that they had detained a “few miscreants” for allegedly trying to damage the statue of BR Ambedkar. “A few miscreants tried to tamper with BR Ambedkar’s statue at Town hall. We caught them and a case has been registered and an investigation is going on. The motive behind the incident is yet to be found out,” Jagjit Singh Walia, the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police highlighted.
The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, conferred the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) upon Wing Commander Akshay Saxena, honouring the Indian Air Force pilot’s “indomitable courage and conspicuous gallantry” during the 76th Republic Day of India. A day before the Republic Day, President Murmu approved Gallantry awards to 93 Armed Forces and Central Armed Police Forces personnel, including 11 posthumou awards.
Wing Commander Akshay Saxena secretly airdropped MARCOs to rescue Bulgarian vessel hijacked by Somali pirates
Wing Commander Akshay Saxena has been decorated with the prestigious Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) for his demonstration of exceptional aerial prowess and courage to ensure the success of one of the covert anti-piracy operations in the Arabian Sea last year as a part of Operation Sankalp.
On the 16th of March 2024, Akshay Saxena piloted the C-17 Globemaster aircraft executing a risky task to deliver two Combat Rubberised Raiding Craft (CRRC) boats and a team of 18 Marine Commandos. The MARCOs team was to seize the pirate-controlled Bulgarian ship Ruen which the Somali pirates were using as Mother Vessel. The pirates on MV Ruen not only were launching attacks on merchant vessels in the Arabian Sea but also opened fire at INS Kolkata and had shot down a naval spotter drone on 15th March 2024.
Akshay Saxena’s mission was fraught with challenges, particularly since the drop zone was perilously near the Somalian coast, 1450 Nautical Miles off Mumbai and 540 Nautical Miles out of the Indian Flight Information Region.
Despite the threat of small arms with the Somali pirates and the fact that Wing Commander Akshay Saxena had to fly the C-17 Globemaster aircraft into the airspace of another country unannounced and most importantly, undetected for about 4 hours, Saxena as Captain of the C-17 aircraft ensured a precision airdrop at dusk, that too secretly. For this, Saxena switched off all emitters and flew the aircraft at a low level over high seas and dropped after sundown to avoid detection.
“Due to the time critical and secret nature of the mission, he finalised suitable crew and ensured aircraft readiness for a quick launch. The mission involved real threat of small arms with the pirates over and above the extended mission timelines which involved flying into airspace of another country undeclared and undetected for close to four hours. The Officer as Captain of the C-17 aircraft decided to switch off all emitters, fly low level over high seas in foreign territory and drop at dusk time to avoid detection,” a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence reads.
Even after a last-moment change in drop location, Akshay Saxena guided the crew to safely execute a precision airdrop which led to the rescue of the Bulgarian vessel and its 17 crew members. As the Captain of C-17 aircraft, Akshay Saxena demonstrated sagacious strategic decision-making while under multi-faceted threats. His effective inter-service coordination with the Indian Navy marked his gallantry and ensured the rescue of MV Ruen and its captured crew including 7 Bulgarian citizens from the clutches of the 35 Somali pirates who were captured by the Indian MARCOs.
Indian MARCOs airdropped by IAF’s C-17 Globemaster aircraft piloted by Wg. Cr. Akshay Saxena (All images via IAF)
“Even after receiving the changed drop location only 50 NMs prior to the drop, he guided the crew to safely execute a precision airdrop thus resulting in the capture of the pirates and rescue of MV Ruen with its 17-member crew. He displayed effective inter-service coordination with the Indian Navy while maintaining heightened situational awareness both on the ground and in the air. All possible measures were taken to maintain the secrecy of the almost 10-hour-long mission. During the flawless execution of the extremely gruelling, mission the officer displayed exceptional courage, dynamic leadership, outstanding professionalism and steadfast determination. For his act of indomitable courage and conspicuous gallantry Wing Commander Akshay Saxena is awarded with ‘Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry)’,” the Ministry of Defence said.
The operation to rescue MV Ruen and its crew members lasted 40 hours. The Indian warship, INS Subhadra, Sea Guardian high-altitude long-endurance drones and the P-8I maritime patrol aircraft also played a key role. The Indian Airforce deemed the mission as a remarkable display of joint operations and integration, leading to the arrest of all 35 pirates.
On the 16th of March 2024, the Indian Navy spokesperson took to X to inform about the operation against Somali pirates who hijacked MS Ruen and said, “#IndianNavy thwarts designs of Somali pirates to hijack ships plying through the region by intercepting ex-MV Ruen. The ex-MV Ruen, which had been hijacked by Somali pirates on #14Dec 23, was reported to have sailed out as a pirate ship towards conducting acts of #piracy on high seas. The vessel was intercepted by the #IndianNavy warship on #15Mar. The vessel opened fire on the warship, which is taking actions iaw international law, in self-defence & to counter piracy, with minimal force necessary to neutralise the pirates’ threat to shipping and seafarers. The pirates onboard the vessel have been called upon to surrender & release the vessel & any civilians they may be holding against their will. The #IndianNavy remains committed to #maritimesecurity & safety of seafarers in the region.”
#IndianNavy thwarts designs of Somali pirates to hijack ships plying through the region by intercepting ex-MV Ruen.
The ex-MV Ruen, which had been hijacked by Somali pirates on #14Dec 23, was reported to have sailed out as a pirate ship towards conducting acts of #piracy on high… pic.twitter.com/gOtQJvNpZb
Back then, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reaffirmed India’s commitment to safeguarding freedom of navigation and combating piracy and terrorism in the Indian Ocean region. His remarks came in response to a message from Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, expressing gratitude for the safe return of seven Bulgarian nationals.
Appreciate your message President @PresidentOfBg . We are happy that 7 Bulgarian nationals are safe and will be returning home soon. India is committed to protecting freedom of navigation and combating piracy and terrorism in the Indian Ocean region. https://t.co/nIUaY6UJjP
Indian forces countering piracy in the Arabian Sea and the extended Indian Ocean Region
The Indian armed forces, particularly in the last decade, have intensified their operations against piracy in the strategically vital Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to ensure maritime security. In this direction, Operation Sankalp was launched in 2019. In addition to effectively responding to incidents, the Indian Navy has also sustained a presence in the region to deter piracy. India has deployed 10 warships with MARCOs to deter piracy and drone attacks in the region stretching from the north and central Arabian Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
With its warships like INS Kolkata and others patrolling the waters in IOR, the Indian Navy has been at the forefront of taking measures to deter piracy. The Indian Navy also collaborates with the multinational naval task force Combined Task Force-151 for various anti-piracy operations. On numerous occasions, the Indian naval vessels have not only intercepted pirate vessels but also protected and escorted the merchant ships through pirate-infested regions to ensure a safe passage for international trade. Besides, the Indian Navy also indulges in capacity building, sharing anti-piracy strategies with regional countries to foster a cooperative environment for maritime security.
In January 2024, the Indian Navy rescued the Iranian fishing vessel FV Iman hijacked by Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea. India’s indigenously made INS Sumitra which was deployed to anti-piracy operations along the east coast of Somalia, received FV Iman’s distress signal informing the Indian Navy about pirates boarding the ship and taking the crew hostage. In a prompt action according to the standard operating procedure, the Indian Navy compelled the pirates into deboarding the Iranian vessel. Subsequently, the Indian authorities ensured the safety of the crew and released the Iranian ship for onward transit.
On 30th January 2024, the Indian Navy warship INS Sumitra successfully rescued a hijacked fishing vessel Al Naeemi and the 19 crew members onboard, all Pakistani nationals. The Pakistani vessel was hijacked by 11 Somali pirates, around 800 miles off the coast of Kochi, along the East Coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden.
On 26th January 2024, the British oil tanker MV Merlin Luanda was struck by a missile launched by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Following this, the British oil tanker made a distressed call to the Indian Navy which in turn deployed its guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam to rescue lives at the high sea.
Before this in the same month, INS Visakhapatnam addressed a distress call from the Marshall Island-flagged MV Genco Picardy. It was hit by a drone attack on the night of 17th January 2024.
Earlier in January 2024, all 21 crew members including 15 Indian nationals from the hijacked vessel MV Lila Norfolk off Somalia coast were safely evacuated by the Indian Navy. This came after Merchant vessel MV Lila Norfolk was hijacked by pirates 300 nautical miles east of Somalia, while it was sailing from Port Du Aco in Brazil and was bound for Khalifa Bin Salman in Bahrain. The Indian Navy’s Mission Deployed Platforms responded swiftly to the hijacking attempt on board a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier after it received a message on the UKMTO portal indicating boarding by approximately five to six unknown armed personnel. The Indian Navy launched a Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and diverted INS Chennai, deployed for maritime security operations, to assist the vessel.
In March 2024, the Indian Navy rescued 23 Pakistani nationals from the clutches of Somali pirates during a daring 12-hour-long operation in the Arabian Sea.
In December 2023, the Indian Navy swiftly responded to a hijacking incidentin the Arabian Sea. The Navy’s maritime patrol aircraft engaged in surveillance in the region, along with its warship conducting anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden, were dispatched to locate and provide assistance to the distressed vessel, MV Ruen, following the receipt of a distress call.
While exact cumulative figures of the Indian Navy saving human lives in its numerous operations over the years is not widely known, Indian forces in their anti-piracy operations particularly those under the aegis of Operation Sankalp have saved the lives of hundreds of seafarers. The inter-force cooperation between the Indian Navy and the Airforce as seen in the case of Akshay Saxena and the IAF supporting the Navy’s operation against the Somali pirates who hijacked MV Ruen, demonstrates a multi-dimensional approach wherein air assets are effectively utilised as a part of maritime security matrix enhancing capacity of rapid deployment and tactical support, especially in discreet operations far from Indian shores.
India’s maritime operations in the IOR showcase the country’s enhancing capabilities in undertaking risky and complex operations across different domains be it air, land or sea against evolving threats including piracy. With the valour of Indian bravehearts like Wing Commander Akshay Saxena, Indian forces are ensuring that the waters in the Indian Ocean Region are less a playground for pirates and more a safe conduit for international trade and peace.
On 26th January, Lakhimpur Kheri police arrested two individuals, Baburam and Pastor Pramod Kumar Balmiki, over allegations of forced religious conversions in Bejham village under Neemgaon police jurisdiction. An FIR has been registered under sections 3 and 5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021.
Details of the incident
As per media reports, Hindu organisations, including Vishva Hindu Parishad, got information about forced religious conversions happening in Bejham village. The complainant in the matter has accused the two missionaries of luring villagers into conversions with false promises, including healing powers, rice, and magical water. According to the complaint, the accused coerced individuals to abandon Hindu practices by removing their tilak and idols of deities from their homes.
On the day of the incident, Baburam, one of the accused, invited several villagers to his house under the pretext of providing special medicines for their ailments. Pastor Pramod Kumar Balmiki reportedly joined him in pressuring attendees to embrace Christianity.
Content of the FIR
OpIndia accessed a copy of the FIR filed in the matter. The complainants stated that Baburam invited them to his residence that morning, claiming he possessed medicine that could cure their ailments. He also allegedly promised a sack of rice every month as an incentive to visit.
Excerpt from the FIR. Source: UP police
When the complainants arrived at his house at around 2 PM, they were reportedly instructed by Baburam to remove the religious tilak from their foreheads. Pastor Pramod Kumar Balmiki, the other accused, further pressured them to discard all idols of Hindu deities from their homes. It has been alleged in the complaint that the accused coerced them to convert to Christianity, offering water bottles, rice, and oil to those who complied. The complainants stated that these actions were part of a deliberate and forceful attempt to convert them and others present at the location.
OpIndia spoke to one of the complainant, Aman Rastogi. He said, “On the evening of 25th January, a group of us friends were sitting around a bonfire. One of us was suffering from some health issues. The accused, Baburam, told us that every Sunday a prayer meeting is held where they provide water claimed to have healing powers. When we went there, it turned out to be a Christian gathering. We were offered this “water” to drink, which they said would cure the ailment. One of us, who was wearing a tilak on his forehead, was asked to remove it. The pastor present at the scene instructed us to remove Hindu idols from our homes, claiming that only then would Yeshu come to our house and resolve our problems. We immediately approached the police and filed a complaint against them.” Aman and his friends who were asked to attend the meeting are members of Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS). Notably, RSS and other Hindu organisations have been raising voice against such conversion meetings.
संदर्भित प्रकरण में थाना नीमगांव पुलिस द्वारा प्राप्त तहरीर के आधार पर सुसंगत धाराओं में अभियोग पंजीकृत किया गया है। अग्रिम विधिक कार्यवाही प्रचलित है।
Replying to one of the complainants in the case on the social media platform X, the police stated, “In the referenced case, an FIR has been registered under the relevant sections based on the complaint received by Neemgaon Police Station. Further legal proceedings are underway.”
Police action
The police swiftly acted on the complaint and raided the location under the leadership of Neemgaon Station Officer (SO) Sunita Kushwaha. The police found dozens of people present at the house. Initial investigation in the matter confirmed that economic inducements were being used for conversions. Baburam and Pastor Pramod Kumar Balmiki were taken into custody, and further investigations are underway.
Last week on January 20th, the Maharashtra Police filed a police complaint against a school teacher in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old minor student, reportedly a Hindu girl. The accused person has been identified as Abu Nasar Sayyed (36) and is employed as a sports teacher at the ‘New Beginning International School’. The teacher Nasar Sayyed has been accused of sexually assaulting a female student studying in 9th after which a complaint was filed against him at the Fulambri Police Station.
The sections imposed against the accused person are sections 74, 75, 78, 351(2), 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita, 2023; sections 8, 9, 9(f), 9(l), 10, and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and sections 3(1)(w)(i), 3(1)(w)(ii) and 3(2)(va) of the SC/ST Act, 1989.
sections imposed against accused
As per the FIR copy exclusively obtained by OpIndia, the accused threatened the girl and blackmailed her to keep quiet. He also forced her to send derogatory images of her body and later used them to threaten her for further derogatory benefits.
The harassment started in June 2024 when the preparations for the Sports tournament began at the school. The accused sports teacher at that time had influenced the girl to be ‘friendly’ with him. He sent her a request on the Snapchat app and began chatting with her. The girl mentioned in the complaint that after that he frequently began touching her inappropriately under the guise of teaching her sports within the school premises.
“He purposefully used to touch my chest while teaching sports. In October 2024, the school was celebrating Helper Day and the preparations for the event were underway. Amid this, Nasar Sir asked me to get the decoration items from the sports room. He followed me there and threw himself at me. He pushed me against the wall and touched me everywhere with bad intentions. I got scared and asked him to stop and leave but he continued. I yelled and left from there,” the girl said.
She added that after this, the accused messaged her and apologized for his behavior. He made the girl believe that he was her best friend and that she should not mention about his behavior anywhere. Later he also lured her saying that he would help her excel in sports if she cooperated with him. Following this he forcefully kept on calling her into the sports room where he would touch her inappropriately.
After a few days, he began sending derogatory messages to the girl on Snapchat. He would send her videos of intimacy and sensualities and one day, he even demanded to send her nude pictures to him. He again lured the girl saying that he would teach her everything about the human body which would help her maintain her physical fitness while playing sports.
The girl who was being forced to reply to Nasar’s messages, got scared as he demanded her nude picture. She refused and stopped talking to him. He then began torturing her at the school. The girl said that he would yell at her unnecessarily and give her difficult sports tasks. He also threatened her saying that her selection in the sports tournament was difficult. On confronting him, he said that he wanted her to reply to his messages and cooperate with him if she wanted to get selected for a sports tournament.
“I was scared. But he forced me to do so. After deleting the picture, he said that he would not misuse it (the nude picture) and that he wanted me to trust him. This was all very scary. Amid this, he continued to send me kissing images and videos. I stopped replying to his messages and also stopped talking to him. But then he threatened me saying that he would make my nude picture viral in the school,” the girl added.
As per the complaint, the girl then stopped going to the school which concerned her parents. The girl didn’t go the school for around 2 months. The parents of the girl then took her into confidence and asked her what exactly was happening to her and why was she scared to go to school. The girl eventually revealed the entire ordeal following which the parents of the girl filed a police complaint against the accused.
Local reports suggest that the parent’s committee learned about the incident and protested against the school demanding immediate arrest of the accused teacher. They raised concerns regarding the safety of the children studying in the school. The enraged protestors also blocked the roads and created chaos in the Phulambri town following which the police authorities reached the spot to control the situation.
parent’s committee protesting (Image- Lokmat)
The police ensured the arrest of the accused teacher and also a transparent investigation into the case. “Any student or parent having a complaint should come to the police without any fear. The administration is with you all. We will conduct a fair investigation into the case and anyone found guilty will be treated by law. We are also asking the education department to look into the matter,” Dr Vinaykumar Rathod, Superintendent of Police said.
Though an FIR in the case has been filed, no arrests have yet been made. Investigations are underway.
