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Murder of Ratan Lal during anti-Hindu Delhi riots: DS Bindra, glorified by media, named in chargesheet as an instigator

OpIndia Staff
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Murder of Ratan Lal during anti-Hindu Delhi riots: DS Bindra, glorified by media, named in chargesheet as an instigator

Delhi Police recently filed a charge sheet in connection will the killing of head constable Ratan Lal during the violence that swept northeast Delhi in February this year. The police, in its charge-sheet, had stated that the murder of Ratan Lal was a part of a deeper conspiracy to gin up communal riots across the national capital. 

The Special Investigation Team of Delhi Police has filed a 1,100-page charge-sheet in the murder of Ratan Lal and deadly attacks by rioters on IPS Amit Sharma and IPS Anuj Kumar. At least 17 accused have been named in the charge-sheet. There are about 4 to 5 key conspirators in this whole case, which includes Salim Khan, Salim Munna and Shadab. The police stated that the riots were engineered in Delhi through a conspiracy to malign the image of the country. 

There were several other extremely disturbing details that emerged from the charge sheet, a part of which has been accessed by OpIndia. One name which has been mentioned in the charge sheet multiple times is that of one DS Bindra. In February, social media posts went viral praising ‘generosity’ of a Sikh man, one ‘Advocate D S Bindra’ who ‘sold his flat’ to fund ‘langar’ (community kitchen often in Gurudwara) at Shaheen Bagh.

India Today headlined its article about DS Bindra by declaring that he was serving humanity.

Headline by India Today

He was also glorified by Shaheen Bagh Twitter handle and used to claimed solidarity between Islamists and Sikhs.

This claim by DS Bindra had gone viral and unsurprisingly, the media had picked up these claims and glorified him for this ‘selfless act’. Aaj Tak and Lallantop while glorifying him, however, forget to mention two important aspects:

  1. DS Bindra was an AIMIM leader
  2. As per media reports, Bindra had also been instrumental in leading anti-CAA protests at Delhi’s Mustafabad and Khureji.

That Bindra was a leaded of AIMIM and was also leading the anti-CAA protests at Mustafabad should have sent alarm bells ringing, however, the media had found their hero through whom the Islamists could be whitewashed and they hanged on to him.

Now, it appears that DS Bindra has been named in the charge sheet filed by the Delhi Crime Branch as one of the key people who instigated the mobs that eventually murdered constable Ratan Lal during the anti-Hindu riots in Delhi.

What the chargesheet said about DS Bindra

The charge sheet said beat officers were regularly deployed in the area of the protest to ensure that no law and order situation arose. After the murder of Ratan Lal, two beat officers were also questioned and their statements recorded to ascertain facts. They revealed that Salim Khan, Salim Munna, D.S Bindra, Suleman Siddqui, Ayub, Athar, Shahdab, Upasna, Ravishand others were organizers of the protest site. At the site, provocative statements inciting Muslims were made every day. The charge sheet specifically mentions that according to the beat officers, the riot at this site was the handiwork of D.S Bindra, Salman Siddiqui, Salim Khan, Salim Munna, and Athar etc in cahoots with local rioters.

The charge sheet further mentions categorically, “The accused persons further combinedly disclosed that along with them D.S Bindra, Dr. Rizwan, Athar, Shahdab, Upasna, Tabbsum, Ravish and others were involved in the conspiracy behind the ChandBagh riots”.

Further, arrested accused Shahanawaz and Ibrahim “disclosed that the riots were a part of a conspiracy hatched by the organiser namely DSBindra, Dr Rizwan, Suleman (Salman), Saleem Khan, Saleem Munna and others with the help of others”.

Another accused, Mohd Saleem Khan (Organiser of the Chand Bagh protest) had revealed that about two months ago, DS Bindra had started community kitchen at service road, Wazirabad road, ChandBagh. Because of the community kitchen, a rather large crowd used to assemble there. He, along with Salman Siddiqui, Dr Rizwan, Salim Munna and others used to visit the community kitchen. DS Bindra instigated him and other Muslims to oppose CAA/NRC strongly and he stressed that people should come on the road to show their dissent.

The chargesheet also categorically states that the conspirators “were fully aware that violence may ensue and had accordingly directed the protestors to arm themselves”.

Further, the chargesheet says, “On 23.02.2020 the above said accused persons along with other organizers, conspirators and rioters convened a meeting at Chand Bagh and asked the residents to equip themselves with iron rods, Dandas, Petrol Bombs etc for the next day. On 24.02.2020 at around 1 pm as per plan the riots erupted and the protestors attacked the police personnel. Numbers of police personnel were injured and HC Ratan Lal was killed”.

People from the Muslim community which included women and children also used to gather in huge numbers. During the protest, hate speeches and instigating messages were conveyed from the stage through the mic. On 23/02/2020, the situation became tense after stone-pelting took place in Jafrabad, another site of CAA/NRC protest. On 24/02/2020, he, along with his associates and residents of ChandBagh planned to block the road and decided that in case police would intervene they would assault them too. Owing to this, he, along with his associates and local residents visited the protest site carrying sticks, Iron rods, petrol bombs, acid, stones, arms etc. In order to instigate the protesters at the protest site, hate speeches were being delivered since morning.

Beat officials from PS Dayalpur had come to the stage to call them for a discussion but they were forced to leave the protest site. They all tried to block the main Wazirabad road and when police asked them to retreat, the fully prepared crowd assaulted and lynched police officials mercilessly. The protesters snatched the tear gas shells and sticks from the police officials. In a planned manner, the CCTVs installed near the protest site were damaged before the assault upon police officials. They burnt the shops, vehicles and houses.

Further, the charge sheet says, “These are the persons who laid the foundation of the protest site. They met local people, organized meetings initially with them, made them believe that they are in a predicament and provided the initial spark. These included politicians, members of organizations like AISA, JCC etc. In the present case, D S Bindra is one of the conspirators. It has been revealed that he put up a community kitchen “Langar” at Chand Bagh at first. He was joined by some local residents whom we may term as Local organizers. Conspirators were in frequent touch with the local organizers since the inception of the protest site till the violence broke out on 24/02/2020”.

In the chargesheet, other than Ratan Lal who was mercilessly lynched and killed by the rioters, 49 other police officials who were injured in the riots were listed.

Ratan Lal’s murder was a deeper conspiracy

Constable Ratan Lal was murdered on February 24 when he was shot at by rioters while patrolling along with his seniors. The police had alleged in the charge-sheet that a group of 45 people held a meeting at the basement of a house on February 22, where the conspiracy of the riot was conceived. On February 23, after the conspiracy was hatched, rioters asked senior citizens and children to stay indoors as they ran riot on the streets, indulging in vandalism. 

A day later, on February 24, rioters and vandals again hit the streets, damaging public properties, setting vehicles on fire and causing bloodshed. Around 1 PM in Chand Bagh area, patrolling party in Chand Bagh was vastly outnumbered by a huge crowd of rioters. Senior police officials tried to placate the riotous mob but the crowd turned violent and attacked police. Head constable Ratan Lal was shot dead by the rioters. Amit Sharma, Anuj Kumar and several policemen received serious injuries, the charge-sheet said.

While police head constable Ratan Lal died of bullet injuries in Chand Bagh region, IB sleuth Ankit Sharma(26) was brutally stabbed by a violent mob sheltered inside AAP councillor Tahir Hussain’s house. Sharma’s body was recovered from a ditch in the Chand Bagh area.

‘Social media literacy is national security’: US Chief of Naval Operations raises privacy concerns over Chinese app TikTok

OpIndia Staff
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‘Social media literacy is national security’: US Chief of Naval Operations raises privacy concerns over Chinese app TikTok

The US Chief of Naval Operations has taken to Twitter to raise apprehensions over TikTok, a Chinese video-sharing social media app, and concern over the privacy of its users. Sharing an article by The Wall Street Journal, Charlie Brown, the US Navy’s Public Affairs officer, raised apprehensions about the dynamics of a social media platform owned by a Beijing-based company.

In a series of Tweets, the U.S. Navy Public Affairs officer asked his fellow soldiers to prudently choose the app they want to use to communicate with each other. He said that though TikTok is an extremely popular app, they should be choosing avenues which are more trustworthy.

TikTok sharing information of its users with Chinese Government

Raising apprehensions on the privacy of the Chinese app users, the US Navy Chief of Information stated that one needn’t be a think tank expert to understand how important it has always been for the Chinese government to have control over information, insinuating that all the information which a person shares on TikTok, including all personal information and private texts are possibly in possession of the Chinese government.

The Navy officers asserted “social media literacy is national security”, and urged all the sailors to refrain from using TikTok, instead choose from a set of other apps that are more ‘trustworthy’. He also stated that not just crucial data on the government issued-phones, but other information can also be exploited.

It is pertinent to note here, that last year, both the US Navy and the US Army had banned the social media app TikTok from government-issued mobile devices over “cybersecurity threat”. The ban followed guidance issued on December 16, 2019, by the U.S. Department of Defense, identifying TikTok as having potential security risks associated with its use.

Downgrading of the Chinese app

TikTok is owned by a Chinese company called ByteDance. The social media platform TikTok where users share short-videos witnessed a huge fallout after it was massively reported by users in India after several incidents of the platform being used for glorifying various crimes emerged in recent times. Last month, the app’s rating on Google Play Store had dropped swiftly from 4.6 to 1.3. 

In India, there have been several complaints against the potential security threat associated with the platform.

Following that, several social media users had reported how the Chinese app is propagating hate crimes by enabling ‘TikTok influencers’ to glorify hate crimes against Hindus. Recently, some TikTok ‘celebrities’ have been seen inciting violence, encouraging acid attacks against women and spreading Islamist propaganda over coronavirus spread. The country witnessed significant violence following the incident and it’s unclear still the extent to which TikTok contributed to it.

Concerned over the Chinese app’s security issues, there have been demands in India too for the government to ban the app.

India-China skirmishes at the Galwan Valley: Timeline of the events that led to the bloody clashes between the two armed forces

OpIndia Staff
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India-China skirmishes at the Galwan Valley: Timeline of the events that led to the bloody clashes between the two armed forces

At least 20 Indian soldiers, including Commanding Officer, had attained martyrdom in the violent clashes with the Chinese troopers in Eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley, the Indian Army said on Tuesday. The Army had initially claimed that 3 soldiers, including one Commanding Officer, were killed in the skirmishes but later in the evening it revised the figure to 20 saying 17 others had succumbed to their injuries due to the prolonged exposure to sub-zero temperatures.

Though Beijing remained reticent on the number of casualties suffered by it, the Indian Government said that the Chinese side endured heavy casualties with close to 43-45 PLA soldiers been seriously injured or killed in the clashes. Now, a US intel report has stated that at least 35 Chinese soldiers have perished in the brawl at the Galwan Valley.

The killing of the Indian soldiers marks the Indian Army’s worst losses since the Kargil War in 1999 and signifies the most intense military combat between India and China since 1967 when about 80 Indian soldiers and at least 300 Chinese PLA troops were killed in the course of the savage skirmishes that broke out near the Nathu La and Cho Lo passes, the strategic gateway to the crucial Chumbi valley.

Here’s the sequence of the events, as informed by India Today journalist Shiv Aroor, that led to the violent clashes between India and China in Galwan Valley in the Eastern Ladakh:-

Timeline of the violent melee at the Galwan Valley

  • Following Lieutenant General talks that concluded on June 6 between India and China, symbolic disengagement took place in an attempt to resolve the months-long border standoff in Eastern Ladakh region.
  • After the token disengagement, the Chinese came back again mid-week and erected up a fresh tent, just in 2 days of the disengagement plan agreed between the two Generals. A brawl ensued between the soldiers of the two armies which resulted in the incineration of the Chinese tent.
  • The Chinese troops returned only to come back with a larger platoon of troopers over the weekend. Stone pelting took place between the two sides on Sunday, June 14.
  • Violent clashes broke out on Monday (June 15) evening at the brink with a high gorge towards the Galwan river. According to the sources, skirmishes intensified and many Indian soldiers jumped into the valley in a bid to save themselves. The military confrontation between the Indian and Chinese troopers took place a day before the Major Generals of the sides were going to meet to take the disengagement plan further ahead.
  • As the Chinese refused to back off, an unarmed team of patrol led by Commanding Officer Colonel Babu of the 16 Bihar Regiment set out to discuss with the Chinese counterpart. However, the Chinese held their ground and refused to honour the agreed disengagement plan between the Lt Generals on June 6. The Chinese side deliberately stoked the situation by attacking the unarmed Indian patrol team with boulders, stones, iron rods, clubs wrapped in barbed wire and wooden logs with nails around them. The Indian team retaliated. The Indian military sources confirmed that no firearms were used in the clashes and that most of the injuries sustained were due to the stone-pelting and the use of iron rods by the Chinese side.
  • The CO of the 16 Bihar Regiment sustained serious injuries in the initial attack by the Chinese troopers. He, along with an injured havaldar was immediately rescued and taken back, leaving behind the injured soldiers, who were taken captive by the Chinese side.
  • After a hiatus of 40 minutes, a Major led the same unit to the site and mounted an attack against the Chinese intruders. Things escalated precipitously from that point onwards.
  • The Indian troops attacked the Chinese soldiers with brute power and inflicted serious life-threatening injuries to about 55 Chinese soldiers. The bloody brawl resulted in many casualties on the Chinese side but the sources informed that the exact number of fatalities cannot be determined.
  • The fighting was happening near the ridge and many of the soldiers perished after being pushed down the brink into the fast-moving Galwan river. The Indian unit was massively outnumbered by the Chinese, according to the sources. This is the moment when several casualties on the Indian and Chinese side happened. Sources also inform that there was a brigadier-level Chinese officer on the post waving for peace and asking the two sides to stop the clashes.
  • Fierce fistfighting continued late into the night and stones, metal clubs wrapped in barbed wire were used, resulting in head injuries to many. The clash continued for about 3 hours.
  • Fighting halted well past midnight. Bodies of the soldiers were fished from the river while many injured succumbed to their injuries by morning, sources said.

Following the violent clashes between the Indian and Chinese forces, the multiple Colonel-to-Colonel-level talks from both sides happened at the very same post during the day. The Indian Army has now taken over the control of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) posts.

Bangladesh: In May 2020 alone, Islamists vandalised at least ten temples. Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Bangladesh: In May 2020 alone, Islamists vandalised at least ten temples. Read details

The Bangladesh chapter of the World Hindu Federation has compiled a series of incidents conducted by religious fanatics against Hindus in the country in the last one month including religiously targeted looting, murders, land grabbing efforts, temples attacks, idols vandalisation, families being forced to leave the country and targeted abductions and rapes of Hindu women.

In a press release on June 11, the federation listed all the atrocities against Hindus in the month of May. Amongst those, it mentions 10 incidents where Hindu temples were demolished and its idols were vandalized in just one month.

May 3: A local criminal Mamun and his goons attacked and vandalised Purna Chandra Roy’s house and temple for not paying one lakh taka at Dinajpur municipality area.

May 4: At around 3 in the morning, 40 people with weapons had attacked a Buddhist monastery at Bibirbila Shanti Bihar at Lohagara in Chittagong. They vandalized the temple’s windows, walls, furniture and a Buddha statue. A case by the Bibbili Shanti Bihar Managing Committee was filed in this regard.

According to the official statement of the case, an extremist, radical and terrorist group of about 30/35 people, led by radical defendants Helal Uddin and Jamal Uddin equipped with firearms, iron rods, hammer, sharp weapon and sticks came to the tri-junction on the north side of the temple, Chanting slogans against the Buddhist the radicals attacked the temple and vandalised the idols and furniture.

May 5: Some unknown miscreants vandalized the idol of Kumudganj Bazar Kali Mandir at Bakaljora Union of Durgapur Upazila in Netrokona district.

May 8: In another similar case, some religious fanatics vandalized the idols of Jidhuri Saha Para temple at Belkuchi Chala in Sirajganj district. Then, the leaders of Sirajganj district’s World Hindu Federation (WHF) Bangladesh Chapter visited the temple and demanded immediate arrest the culprits.

May 9: In yet another incident, the idol of a 100-year-old Kali temple was vandalised. Miscreants entered the temple on Saturday night and vandalized the Goddess Kali idol in the temple situated in Nagdara village of Kalmakanda Upazila in Netrokona district. This incident had created immense panic amongst the Hindus residents in the district.

May 10: Terrorists attacked Hindu families and vandalized houses and temples over comments on Facebook at Tatikona village of Chhatak Municipality in Sunamganj district. At least 10 Hindus were injured in this gruesome attack.

May 11: The miscreants vandalized the idol of the famous Sri Sri Ma Bidveshwari temple at Chaparhat Emenderghat in Lalmonirhat district.

May 13: Idols of Hindu goddesses were vandalised by some miscreants at a temple in Rangamati district town on Tuesday night. The incident took place at Sri Sri Mogdeswari temple in Rangamati district in Bangladesh. Police had confirmed that the gold ornaments put on the idol and the donation box of the temple were also looted. Police suspected that miscreants entered the temple sometime at night and looted valuables after vandalising the idol.

May 13: In yet another incident which occured on the same day, thieves broke the back wall and entered to the Perth Sarathi temple of the Kshatriya Samiti in Suihari and stole jewellery and other valuable things of the temple and belongings of the Hindu students in the dormitory at Sadar thana in Dinajpur district.

May 19: As another atrocity on minorities, a Hindu priest, Shri Sameer Haldar (55) and his wife were physically assaulted by the local chairman, Shahjahan Ali Khan and his goon at Ambria village of Morelganj in Bagerhat district. They wanted to occupy the house and land of this Hindu priest.

Last month, the World Hindu Federation, Bangladesh chapter had alleged that the persecution of minorities in Bangladesh, mainly Hindus, has increased during the lockdown. Bangladesh announced a nationwide lockdown after noting a surge in Coronavirus cases in the country on 26 March.

“You can’t shoot the messenger”: Supreme Court slams Delhi govt for filing FIRs against doctors

OpIndia Staff
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“You can’t shoot the messenger”: Supreme Court slams Delhi govt for filing FIRs against doctors

Supreme Court today heard a took Suo Motu plea on the deplorable condition of treatment of Covid-19 patients in Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Justice Ashok Bhushan led the bench comprising Justices S K Kaul and M R Shah. Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain appeared on behalf of the Delhi government. He told the Supreme Court that the Delhi government is committed to patient care, dignified management of the dead and increasing the number of tests in the state.

Supreme Court questioned affidavit submitted by Delhi government

Justice Bhushan asked ASG that his affidavit shows everything is excellent in Delhi. If that is so, why are there so many reports of mismanagement? Jain replied that the government is not saying everything is perfect. They are taking the necessary steps to improve the situation and increasing the number of tests as well.

Don’t shoot the messenger

The Supreme Court showed displeasure over the FIR filed against a doctor for video-taping and disclosing the grim situation in a government hospital in Delhi. Supreme Court warned the Delhi government not to shoot the messenger. The court asked why the government suspended the doctor who was employed in a north Delhi hospital and filed an FIR against him for sharing the video. The court added that the authorities should immediately stop harassing the doctor.

The top court said that doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals are at Corona War. The government must protect them. If the government does not treat the soldiers well, how will we win the war, the court asked. Justice Bhushan said that the government could not try to hide the numbers and in no circumstances, they can shoot the messenger. Justice MR Shah said that it seems the government does not want the truth to come out to which Justice Bhushan added that the Delhi government is giving out the wrong signal to the public.

IAS officer should not manage health desks

When Jain told the court that the government has set up health desks, the court replied that an IAS officer has no authority to supervise a hospital. The court asked who is handling the help desks. Someone qualified to manage health desks should look into this matter and take necessary steps. Jain informed the court that a high power committee had been formed after Arvind Kejriwal and Home Minister Amit Shah met to discuss the Covid-19 situation in Delhi.

During the hearing, the court mentioned that the patients are being released after four and ten days without testing asymptomatic people. It is happening in the hospitals in Ahmedabad too. The court has set 19th June as the next day of the hearing and has asked the Delhi government to submit a “better” affidavit.

Intelligence agencies red-flag 52 apps linked with China that may compromise user data: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Intelligence agencies red-flag 52 apps linked with China that may compromise user data: Report

Amid the India-China standoff at LAC in eastern Ladakh, the Intelligence agencies of India have suggested the government to ban or advise people to stop using several apps from China. The agencies claimed that the apps are not safe and are extracting a large amount of data outside India.

As per the reports of Hindustan times, the list of applications sent to the government by the agency includes video conferencing app Zoom, short-video app TikTok, and other utility and content apps such as UC Browser, Xender, SHAREit, and Clean-master.

A government official stated that the recommendation made by the intelligence has been supported by the National Security Council Secretariat agreeing with the fact that these apps can be dangerous to India’s internal security.

The official revealing about the parameters and the risks attached to each app said, “The discussions on the recommendations are continuing.”

The 52 apps flagged by the intelligence report are:

  1. TikTok
  2. Vault-Hide
  3. Vigo Video
  4. Bigo Live
  5. Weibo
  6. WeChat
  7. SHAREit
  8. UC News
  9. UC Browser
  10. BeautyPlus
  11. Xender
  12. ClubFactory
  13. Helo
  14. LIKE
  15. Kwai
  16. ROMWE
  17. SHEIN
  18. NewsDog
  19. Photo Wonder
  20. APUS Browser
  21. VivaVideo- QU Video Inc
  22. Perfect Corp
  23. CM Browser
  24. Virus Cleaner (Hi Security Lab)
  25. Mi Community
  26. DU recorder
  27. YouCam Makeup
  28. Mi Store
  29. 360 Security
  30. DU Battery Saver
  31. DU Browser
  32. DU Cleaner
  33. DU Privacy
  34. Clean Master – Cheetah
  35. CacheClear DU apps studio
  36. Baidu Translate
  37. Baidu Map
  38. Wonder Camera
  39. ES File Explorer
  40. QQ International
  41. QQ Launcher
  42. QQ Security Centre
  43. QQ Player
  44. QQ Music
  45. QQ Mail
  46. QQ NewsFeed
  47. WeSync
  48. SelfieCity
  49. Clash of Kings
  50. Mail Master
  51. Mi Video call-Xiaomi
  52. Parallel Space

The Home Ministry had issued an advisory on the use of the video-conferencing app Zoom in the month of April on the recommendation of the national cybersecurity agency Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT-in). Apart from India, Taiwan had also prevented its government agencies from using the app. The German Foreign Ministry had also restricted use of Zoom to emergency situations on personal computers and the United States suggested it’s Senate members use other modes of communications. The company later responded to the advisory stating that it is serious about the user’s security.

The call for a ban against certain Chinese mobile apps has been witnessed from time to time on the suspicion of the mobile app companies compromising with the user’s data. And companies who have produced apps like Tik Tok, that is owned and operated by ByteDance have also issued denials. Despite that many officials agree that many android or IOS apps which are either developed by Chinese officials or launched by a company with Chinese links possess the potential to be used as spyware or other malicious ware.

Also, several reports have emerged that the security agencies had advised security personnel to refrain from using them in view of the ‘detrimental impact that this could have on data security’.

Supreme Court asks CBSE to consider cancelling the remaining board exams, allot marks based on internal assessment

OpIndia Staff
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Supreme Court asks CBSE to consider cancelling the remaining board exams, allot marks based on internal assessment

The Supreme Court of India, while hearing a petition by a parent, told CBSE to consider possibilities to scrap remaining board exam papers of class 10th and 12th. The court suggested allotting marks based on internal assessment.

A three-judge bench, comprising AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari, and Sanjeev Khanna, was hearing a petition filed by a parent Amit Bathla, who requested the court to ask CBSE to scrap remaining exams keeping the present situation in mind. The CBSE was to conduct the remaining exams between 1st July and 15th July.

Consider internal assessment for remaining exams, said parents in plea

The plea filed by some parents sought direction from the court to ask CBSE to declare the results based on the exams they have already conducted. In the plea, parents suggested CBSE can consider the internal assessment for the remaining exams. They raised concerns about the safety of lakhs of students who may be exposed to Covid-19 infection if they appear for exams. It can drastically increase the number of Covid-19 cases in India, parents said in the plea.

In the petition, it was mentioned that many professional institutions and schools had cancelled their examinations, including the Delhi University. IITs across the country have also cancelled all the examinations, including the final year because of COVID-19. Maharastra has also cancelled University exams, including final year’s examinations.

Guidelines by the Ministry of Home Affairs will cause trouble for students of the containment zone

The plea mentioned the circular issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 20th May 2020, in which they said that no examinations could be held in the containment zone. Also, the students who fall in the containment zone will not be allowed to move to another zone to appear in the exams. That means hundreds of students may miss giving their final exams on the set dates. As public transport is not functional in many areas across the country, it is next to impossible for the students to reach the examination center on time. Every parent can’t provide private vehicle so that the students can reach the examination center.

The parents also alleged in the plea that CBSE has already cancelled the exams for class X and class XII in 250 schools situated abroad. They have adopted the criteria of allotting marks based on internal assessment marks or practical exams.

Supreme Court has sought response from CBSE. The next date of hearing is on 23rd June. The CBSE has been asked to file its response by next Tuesday.

On Monday, The Council for Indian School Certificate Examination (CISCE) had informed the Bombay high court that it has decided not to pressurise ICSE – Class X and ISC – Class XII students to appear for the remaining papers of the board exams

Yoga teacher Rafia Naz who is being threatened by radical members her own community, alleges of not receiving any help from Jharkhand government

OpIndia Staff
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Yoga teacher Rafia Naz who is being threatened by radical members her own community, alleges of not receiving any help from Jharkhand government

Rafia Naz, a Yoga teacher from Hatia area in Ranchi, Jharkhand who is now a well-known name in the field of Yoga, has been the target of radical members from her own community on multiple occasions for years for merely following her passion. This brave woman, who considers yoga to be beyond religion and has been targeted for daring to teach Yoga despite being a Muslim, has been particularly upset because of the apathy shown towards her by the Jharkhand government. Despite her life being in danger, she has alleged that the JMM/Congress government headed by Hemant Soren has refused to take cognizance of the issue and provide her with any sort of protection or help.

Speaking to OpIndia, Rafia said that she had written a letter to the state government and had visited the Jharkhand Mantralay on June 16 (Tuesday), with an intention to submit her letter and meet the CM and his Principal Secretary Sanjay Kumar to plead to the state government to provide her protection, but Rafia alleged that she was not allowed to enter the premises. “I wanted to bring this matter to their notice by giving a letter to Chief Minister Hemant Soren and his Principal Secretary, but I was driven away from outside the gate,” said Rafia.

Letter written by Rafia to Jharkhand police
Letter written by Rafia to Jharkhand police

Rafia Naz rebukes state goverment for its insensitivity

Rafia said that she clearly stated to the security that she was a Yoga teacher and her life was at threat. She even informed that she had met the CM Hemant Soren and the Principal Secretary earlier and wanted to meet them to give them a letter, but she was not allowed to go inside. The security did not even bother to listen to her properly and asked her to leave. In the given situation, Rafia wondered if her mails will also be acknowledged by the state government or not.

With a heavy heart, Rafia said that she had also gone live on Facebook to narrate her ordeal. How she waited outside the Jharkhand Mantralay for over one and a half hours but was not allowed to meet the CM. Rebuking the state government for its insensitivity, she said that if anything untoward incident happens with her or her family the onus would lie on the state government. Calling out the state government’s hypocrisy Rafia said: “Its shocking how on one hand they speak of protecting women rights and on the other hand they display such impassivity towards a woman in duress”.

Rafia has approached the chief minister, SSP, DIG several times. She has also sent innumerable emails to Chief Minister’s Public Dialogue Center but to no avail. When she approached them through Twitter, the administration deferred the issue by saying that they would look into the matter, but no concrete action has been taken until now, said Rafia.

Police letter a hoax?

As we tried to delve further, we asked her whether she was provided with any kind of security from the state government? Rafia Naz answered that in 2019 she had received a letter from the state police asking her to inform them whenever she needs to go out of her house. The letter read that in such a situation, police would arrange for her security. Now, after the lockdown has been relaxed, Rafia needs to go to give Yoga classes at some orphanage. “Now, when I need protection, no one at the police station or the state administration is willing to hear my plea. Was that letter just a hoax?” asked Rafia, revealing how precarious her situation is.

Letter from the state police received by Rafia Naz in 2019

Rafia Naz more concerned for her family’s protection

Speaking to OpIndia, Rafia said that the threats do not bother her anymore. She has been receiving them for over 3 to 4 years, but what bothers her is the danger looming on her family. Recollecting the unnerving incidents of her past, Rafia said that because of her stand to keep teaching Yoga, even her family attracted the ire of those radicals. They were constantly abused and threatened. Rafia said that now when she is screaming that she needs protection the administration is turning a deaf ear. “Nobody is bothering to listen to me, what would the administration do if something untoward happens with me or my family? If I die, the state administration should be held accountable, I will name everyone before I die, said the Jharkhand girl.

Round the clock security provided by previous government

Rafia furthered that after she was tired of pleading on front of the state government, she approached the ex-CM of Jharkhand, Raghuvar Das. In 2017, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das had taken cognizance and provided Rafia with 24-hour security, which has recently been withdrawn. “I do not know why it has been removed. At that time, Rapid Action Force (RAF) and CRPF personnel were stationed outside my house”, recollected Naz. With the hope that Das would help her, Rafia approached the ex-CM who she said has given her the assurance that he would help her out.

OpIndia also got in touch with Raghuvar Das. He confirmed that he was approached by Rafia and has assured that action will be taken soon.

Rafia furthered that during the lockdown, she had filed an FIR online against one Najib Raja who had abused her on Facebook. However, Jharkhand police took no action against the accused, said Rafia.

FIR filed against one Najib Raja

Jharkand police apathy

Speaking to OpIndia, Rafia at this point, recollected how she has struggled to get justice for herself and her family but seldom succeeded. She has been advised to stop using a mobile phone or change her number in case she gets threat messages. Whenever she has tried to lodge a complaint with the Jharkhand police, she has received disappointment. If she approached them with a complaint regarding receiving vulgar posts on social media, she was advised by the police to stop using social media. If she approached them with a complaint that stone was pelted at her home, they advised her to change the house.

Rafia Naz goes on to apprise us with a mortifying incident of her past which left her and her family members flustered. She recollected how once her morphed nude pictures were circulated in social media by members of her own community for daring to defy their conservative rationale. She said that despite complaining to authorities and sharing details of like the ID, URL, link, etc., the posts were not blocked.

Even during the lockdown, Rafia said she had to face several hardships but she kept quiet, but now she said she demands justice. The bold teacher, who always considers yoga to be beyond religion, said that she has been facing challenges for many years now, but the insensitivity should by the Jharkhand government has particularly disheartened and demotivated her.

They died fighting, their sacrifice won’t go in vain: PM Modi warns China, says India will not tolerate attacks on its sovereignty

OpIndia Staff
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They died fighting, their sacrifice won’t go in vain: PM Modi warns China, says India will not tolerate attacks on its sovereignty

Prime Minister Modi, condoled death of soldiers who were martyred in the Ladakh standoff with Chinese troop and said that the sacrifice of our soldiers will not go in vain. India wants peace but if instigated, India is capable of giving a befitting reply, he said.

PM Modi condoles death of soldiers at Ladakh standoff

“I want to assure the country that the sacrifice of our soldiers will not go in vain. For us, the unity and integrity of India is of utmost importance and no one can stop us from protecting it. No one should have any doubt that India wants peace. But, if instigated, India is ready and capable of giving a befitting reply in any manner,” PM Modi said. On the brave soldiers who lost their lives, PM Modi said that the country will be proud of them that they died while killing the enemy.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh condoles death of soldiers

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday tweeted condolence messages for the martyred soldiers.

“The nation stand shoulder to shoulder with them in this difficult hour,” Singh tweeted.

Amit Shah condoles death of soldiers in Ladakh standoff

Home Minister Amit Shah today took to Twitter to condole the death of the soldiers at the Ladakh standoff with China.

“Nation salutes our immortal heroes who sacrificed their lives to keep Indian territory safe and secure,” he said.

“Entire nation and Modi government stands firmly with their families in this hour of grief. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured,” HM Amit Shah said.

Ladakh standoff at Galwan Valley

A violent face-off took place between Indian and Chinese troops on the intervening night of 15th and 16th June which led to casualties on both the sides. While India has confirmed 20 casualties, the Chinese authorities have not given official figures. However, it is believed that the casualties of Chinese troops would be above 40.

Angry over the quality of food, drunk groom and friends ram SUV, injure relatives and kill bride’s minor brother

OpIndia Staff
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Angry over the quality of food, drunk groom and friends ram SUV, injure relatives and kill bride’s minor brother

In a shocking act, a groom killed his nine-year-old brother-in-law and rammed three people with his SUV leaving them severely injured after heated arguments over the food served at the wedding. The incident was reported in Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Manoj Kumar was scheduled to marry the daughter of a farmer in the Govindpur village of Shamshabad. As per reports, on Monday night, the groom Manoj Kumar and his friends indulged in a quarrel with the bride’s relatives over the sweets served to them at the wedding ceremony in the Shamshabad area. They were reportedly unhappy over the quality of the food.

Punit, the bride’s brother informed, “They were inebriated when they started arguing. The elders intervened but they fired at my maternal uncle who escaped unhurt.” He alleged that the minor brother of the bride was taken away by the groom and his friends in an SUV while he was serving water to them.

Punit claimed, “While fleeing, they ran their SUV over two women and a teenaged girl, leaving them with serious injuries. We made several calls to Manoj to return along with Pranshu, but he refused. At 3 a.m. the next morning, he left my brother’s body in the village and fled.”

As per reports, the deceased child had strangulation marks on his neck and also had injuries on his face. The victims, Vimla,50, Mithilesh, 35, and Sapna, 17 who was rammed by the groom’s SUV were taken to Lohia hospital in Farrukhabad. The condition of Mithilesh is said to be critical.

The bride’s father Rajpal Jaatav has filed an FIR stating, “Manoj Kumar drove a speeding SUV over people standing on the roadside and injured three women relatives. My nine-year-old son was also killed by the groom and his friends.”

Rajeev Singh Gaur, the Circle officer of Kamayganj said, “Initial investigation suggests that men from both sides were engaged in a heated argument. The groom drove an SUV over three relatives and possibly also the boy. The victim’s body has been sent for post-mortem. The report will tell if the child was run over by a vehicle or was strangled.”

The accused groom and his relatives are absconding and the UP police is searching for them.

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