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Palghar Sadhu lynching part of bigger conspiracy, area notorious for Hindu-hate: Hindu Dharma Achara Sabha writes to Maha Gov

OpIndia Staff
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Palghar Sadhu lynching part of bigger conspiracy, area notorious for Hindu-hate: Hindu Dharma Achara Sabha writes to Maha Gov

In the wake of the brutality inflicted on two Dashnami Sadhus and their driver by a murderous mob in Maharashtra’s Palghar, the Hindu Dharma Achara Sabha has written to the Maharashtra Governor, Bhagat Singh Koshyari on April 24. In the strongly worded letter, the Sabha has condemned the lynching of Sadhus and their associate in Palghar and raised questions on the circumstances, history of the region, mishandling of the case and the state government and police’s attempt to shield the perpetrators.

In the letter, shared by Amit Malviya on Twitter, the Sabha draws Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s attention towards the notorious history of the region where the gruesome crime was consummated, proving beyond doubt, that the people living in that region have a complete negative perception towards Hindus.

Past incidents that happened in Palghar

  • The Adivasi’s living in this region had massively opposed the Citizenship Amendment Act.
  • Last December, 12 illegal Bangladeshi migrants, while in February 2020, 23 illegal Bangladeshi migrants were arrested from this region.
  • The illiterate tribals in this region have been brainwashed and hateful ideologies and anti-Hindu sentiments, or anti-Sanatan Dharma ideologies have been drummed into their ignoramus minds.
  • All local Adivasis from Dahanu taluka in Palghar have a fiendish mindset towards the sadhus and saints who have dedicated their lives preaching Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which means ‘the whole world is a single-family’.

Palghar lynching part of a bigger conspiracy

Taking into account these past incidents, the sabha said it believes that the brutal lynching was not a normal crime but a part of a deeper conspiracy. It said that the mob attack in Palghar was not an assault on merely two Sadhus but a planned incursion on the Hindu society and culture as a whole.

Seeking accountability from the government

Condemning the incident without mincing words, the letter sought an answer from the Maharashtra government. It said that after the video of the lynching went viral on social media and drew sharp condemnation from Hindu’s, Home Minister Amit Shah intervened and asked the state government to take action. Buckling under pressure, the state government led by CM Uddhav Thackeray did make arrests, but the actual culprits behind the murder have not been arrested by the police. The police laxity in handling the case and the discrepancies between the complaint and the video evidence has been questioned. The Hindu Dharma Achara Sabha asks the Maharashtra governor as to why no action has been taken against the police officials who have shown laxity and created loopholes for the real culprits to escape the clutches of law.

Denouncing the heinous incident, and casting aspersion on CM Uddhav Thackeray and his governments’ laxity and the state police apathy and treachery in handling the lynching case, the Hindu Dharma Achara Sabha urged the governor to take firm action into the case.

Letter written to Maharashtra Governor by the Hindu Dharma Achara Sabha
Letter written to Maharashtra Governor by the Hindu Dharma Achara Sabha
Letter written to Maharashtra Governor by the Hindu Dharma Achara Sabha
Letter written to Maharashtra Governor by the Hindu Dharma Achara Sabha

Similar assertions made by VHP

In a strongly worded letter dated April 23, addressed to the Maharashtra Governor, VHP expressed anguish over the killing of the venerated sadhus and their associate in Palghat, Maharashtra saying that this attack seems to be part of the deeper conspiracy as many times in the past, there had been incidents of brutal violence inspired by the leftists in this area.

Questioning whether the Uddhav Thackeray government would have maintained the same silence had the victims belonged to the minority section, the VHP too sought accountability from the government and demanded stern action against the culprits.

Palghar Sadhus lynched

The blood-curdling incident happened on 16th April 2020 in Palghar, Maharashtra. Two Sadhus, 70-year-old Kalpavrishka Giri Maharaj and 35-year-old Sushil Giri Maharaj along with their driver 30-year-old Nilesh Telgade associated with the Juna Akhara were on their way from Mumbai to Gujarat to give Samadhi to another Sadhu. At Gadakchinchale village, a wild and frenzied crowd of over more than 100 people attacked them. Videos of the incident showed the local police ignoring the pleas of the bleeding Sadhus and handing them over to the murderous mob.

The state government has handed over the case to CID. Over 100 people, including several juveniles, have been arrested so far.

Maharashtra: Pune cop, suspected of coronavirus infection, runs pillar to post for treatment, hospitals refuse citing unavailability of critical equipment

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: Pune cop, suspected of coronavirus infection, runs pillar to post for treatment, hospitals refuse citing unavailability of critical equipment

As the scourge of coronavirus rampages through the city of Pune, the assistant sub-inspector of the Pune Police, a part of the coronavirus task force to battle the spread of the contagion in the city, had to run pillar to post for his own treatment. The police officer had allegedly come in contact with coronavirus infected patient while discharging his duty. He was having trouble breathing.

Suspected of being infected by the coronavirus, one hospital in Pune refused to admit him while the other hospital refused to send an ambulance to fetch the ailing police officer. The family of the aforesaid policeman spent 4 to 5 hours desperately wandering around the city in search of a hospital and an ambulance that could agree to admit him. Finally, after journalists intervened and apprised the seniors of his predicament, the Additional Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner and others immediately took up the matter and rushed the indisposed police official to the hospital for treatment.

However, the incident has created an atmosphere of fear among police personnel. The police officials, being amongst the country’s front line defence against the coronavirus are wary that they may also contract the contagion in the line of their duty.

The number of coronavirus cases in Maharashtra, particularly Pune and Mumbai are increasingly precipitously. Four policemen from a Pune police station were said to have contracted the infection. Concerned assistance sub-inspector was also on duty in this police station. He had taken a leave for two days but suddenly in the afternoon, he started feeling winded and complained to his family about the difficulty he was facing while breathing. The family rushed him to the central hospital but he was advised to go to another hospital citing unavailability of ventilators at the hospital. His family members inquired at some more hospitals but they were told the same thing that they were shortages of ventilators in the hospitals.

Terrified by the prospect that none of the hospitals had the equipment needed to save him, the policeman informed about the same to his relatives and some journalist friends in Pune and sought help from them. He also tried contacting his department officials but to no avail. His journalist friends then informed about the policeman’s precarious situation to the Additional Commissioner of Police Ashok Morale, Deputy Commissioner of Police Shirish Sardeshpande and Assistant Commissioner Shivaji Pawar. They immediately swung into action and got an ambulance to transport the police officer. ACP Shivaji Pawar rushed to the hospital and reassured the family. The assistant sub-inspector was later admitted to a private hospital for treatment.

Though the condition of the police personnel is stable, his struggle of getting admitted to a hospital has engendered an atmosphere of fear among police forces tackling the coronavirus. Their families are worried that their sons and husbands may not be as fortunate as the assistant sub-inspector god-forbid if they contract the infection.

The number of positive COVID-19 cases in Pune are steadily on the rise. Yesterday, 104 new patients were found in Pune city and 126 in Pimpri-Chinchwad, taking the total number of patients in the area to 1101.

Aviation authorities launch probe to check whether Prashant Kishor took cargo flight to Kolkata violating the lockdown

OpIndia Staff
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Aviation authorities launch probe to check whether Prashant Kishor took cargo flight to Kolkata violating the lockdown

The government is probing the allegation that political strategist Prashant Kishor violated lockdown and flew to Kolkata on a cargo flight on invitation on West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. As per a report by ANI, the aviation department revealed that “on the directions of the government, aviation security authorities have checked the CCTV footage of three airports of Delhi, Kolkata, and Guwahati of the last 72 hours to ascertain if political strategist Prashant Kishor travelled to Kolkata.”

Aviation authorities sought details from certain airlines including Air India, spice jet and Blue dart because in the last three days a total of nine cargo flights have been in operation from Delhi to Kolkata.

As per reports, Mamata Banerjee called Prashant Kishor to West Bengal to handle the criticism after she was summoned by centre for not allowing the Inter-Ministerial Central Team to visit Kolkata and Jalpaiguri. They were also barred from interacting with the local health workers. IMCT members are also being restricted from making an on-spot assessment of the Coronavirus crisis in the state. 

Amid this, a report by India Today on 23rd April claimed that Prashant Kishor had rushed to Kolkata from Delhi after receiving an SOS message from West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s nephew and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee. The report stated that Kishor reached Kolkata on a cargo flight. After the report, BJP leaders also made the allegation and said that it is a violation of lockdown norms.

While the passenger flights are suspended due to the ongoing lockdown, cargo flights are operating to transport essential commodities and medical equipment and supplies.

However, Prashant Kishor had earlier refuted the charges and challenged the BJP to furnish the proof of his visit and if not, then apologize. Prashant Kishor has also said that he would retire from public life if the charges are proven true.

According to an aviation official, three cargo operators who flew from Delhi during the last four days have confirmed that Kishor has not flown in their aircraft. “We expect a report of the ongoing probe shortly. The DGCA and airport authorities are examining the issue,” said another aviation ministry official.

Bengal Government’s handling of coronavirus situation

A section of health care workers has exposed the mamata banerjee’s government’s carelessness in handling the crisis. Healthcare workers have put out videos which depict lack of kits, PPE, masks and gloves, showing the true picture of the health sector in the West Bengal.

The doctors had alleged they were being forced to work against medical ethics by withholding the causes of death from a patient party and in the general public even though they were writing death certificates.

Earlier, healthcare workers had written to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee demanding more transparency on detection, treatment and deaths of coronavirus positive patients in the state.

In a video shared by Babul Supriyo, BJP MP from Asansol, a person admitted to an isolation ward in MR Bangur Hospital in Tollygunge in West Bengal narrates the deplorable conditions under which suspected Coronavirus patients have been quarantined. 45 seconds into the video, the man holding the camera points towards a dead body lying unattended on a bed for over hours, while other patients looked on.

Bengal sitting on a “Time Bomb”, said health workers

The suppression of facts and fudging of data has become a major worry for authorities and health experts in West Bengal, which has now snowballed into a huge controversy between the Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government and health-care experts.

The health-care experts believe that the situation in Bengal is very grave as the Mamata Banerjee-led government has not been giving real data to assess the actual seriousness of the pandemic. From threats to doctors for whistleblowing against the state government against lack of facilities to allegations of state government illegally disposing of dead bodies, there have been serious allegations against the Mamata Banerjee government in Bengal.

Rajasthan: Cow illegally slaughtered in Banswara, locals say Christian missionaries behind indiscriminate cow slaughtering in the area

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: Cow illegally slaughtered in Banswara, locals say Christian missionaries behind indiscriminate cow slaughtering in the area

On April 23, a cow was illegally slaughtered by several drunken men in the Banswara district of Rajasthan. The case falls under the Patan police station area which is considered to be a hotbed of Christian Missionary activities.

The All India Agricultural Cow Service Association (AIACSA) has alleged that Christian missionaries are behind the rising cases of indiscriminate cow slaughter in the area. Reportedly, Ramila Khadiya, the independent MLA from Kushalgarh, has also been accused of trying to save the perpetrators through political arm-twisting.

AIACSA President (Rajasthan) Advocate Jaswant Singh Rathore and AIACSA State Organization Minister Bhuvan Mukund Pandya have strongly condemned the incident and demanded strict action in the matter. An accused has been nabbed by the Patan Police and the search for the others is underway.

Beer bottles and bucket of blood

Rajasthan State Organization Minister Bhuvan Mukund of All India Agricultural Cow Service Association told Opindia, “The cow was brutally killed in remote Jhabua of Banswara district where Christian missionary work in taking place on a very large scale. Christian churches are built in every village here o convert the innocent tribals into Christianity. This work of conversion has been going on in the region since the British rule.”

A large number of tribal forest dwellers have converted to Christianity. In this case, criminals first drank liquor, brutally killed the cow, and stripped its skin to remove the flesh. When the police were informed, they immediately reached the spot and arrested one person. However, the others managed to flee in the dark. The arrested person has confessed the names of the remaining culprits to the police. An investigation has been initiated while the search for the perpetrators continues.

Cops at the crime scene

Illegal Cow Slaughter in Ghaziabad

In February this year, the Ghaziabad police had arrested four members of a gang from the Loni area of Ghaziabad for allegedly slaughtering cows. A loader, tempo, knives, and rope had also been seized from the accused. The main accused who was identified as Momin and had several cases of cow slaughter registered against him in Ghaziabad and Baghpat was arrested along with three of his accomplices, namely, Gyasuddin, Mohin, and Shakeel.

The incident, which was perpetrated in Loni’s Dabur Talab area had come to light when few passersby spotted the carcasses lying at a field and immediately informed the police. Allegedly the police did not take any action then. As the information spread, VHP and Bajrang Dal activists had reached the spot and staged a sit-in protest demanding immediate action against the miscreants. They reportedly raised slogans against the police and administration for delaying the investigation.

Hundreds of missing Tablighi Jamaat members could spurt another Coronavirus wave: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Hundreds of missing Tablighi Jamaat members could spurt another Coronavirus wave: Report

The entire world is dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic by imposing lockdown and adopting aggressive quarantine measures. In India, while the country has been under a strict lockdown and aggressive quarantine measures are being adopted, the growth in cases came primarily after the Tablighi Jamaat congregation which led to thousands of new positive cases connected to the Delhi Markaz. After weeks of quarantining and manhunts to find hiding Tablighi Jamaat members hiding in various mosques, India stands at a precarious position where several missing Tablighi Jamaat members could spurt another wave of Coronavirus infections.

As Hundreds of them are still missing, the Tablighi Jamaat members are proving to be quite the headache for Intelligence Agencies and the police of various states and even the central government.

A report in India Today has claimed that hundreds of Tablighi Jamaat members are still missing and are untraceable. These members are being tracked and the agencies are attempting to find them. The Tablighi Jamaat members who attended the Nizamuddin Markaz in March had travelled to various states and infected several other people leading to a Coronavirus spurt in the country.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, over 4,291 positive cases have been linked to Tablighi Jamaat members in 23 states of the country. Over 40,000 have been quarantined at various facilities across states.

According to the India Today report, in various states, 40-50 Tablighi Jamaat members of those who came in contact with them are missing in Maharashtra, around 25 to 30 are untraceable in Uttar Pradesh, 20 to 30 being searched in Bihar, 20 to 25 in missing in Tamil Nadu and 15 to 20 are untraceable in Karnataka.

It is now being reported that the number of missing Tablighi Jamaat members may well be over 200, added to that, the people they may have come in contact with could result in the second wave of Coronavirus positive cases in the country unless they are traced and quarantined.

Reportedly, since the Tablighi Jamaat members have switched their phone off, the police are trying to trace tower records and phone data to track the missing members. Local informants have also been activated by the police to find Tablighis who have been hiding. Community leaders have been roped in to convince masjid trustees to cooperate with the police.

Number of missing Tablighi Jamaat members probably far more than 200

The suspicion, however, is, that the number of missing Tablighi Jamaat members missing could be far greater than just 200. It was reported only two days ago that 284 members of Tablighi Jamaat may be missing in Kerala alone.

Kerala was the first affected state in the country to be affected by the Chinese pandemic. In total, the state has reported 408 cases, with 288 recoveries and three deaths. However, the state police now fear that some of these missing 284 Tablighi members of the total 1,311 from Kerala could be carriers and infect much more people in the state. 

The Kerala police have been trying to hunt the Tablighi Jamaat attendees ever since the outbreak continued to spread in late March. The authorities were worried after call records suggested 1,311 people from the state were in the Nizamuddin area, nearly a third of the participants.

The Tablighi Jamaat Markaz that turned into Coronavirus super-spreader

The Tablighi Jamaat congregation, which took place in Nizamuddin Markaz in the first half of March, has become the mega-spreader of coronavirus in India, as many as more than one-third cases in India are linked to that event now. The persons who had attended the event, and their family members and those who came into contact with them are testing positive regularly, contributing the increase in the number of coronavirus cases in the country.

The Tablighi Jamaat event was not only attended by Indian Islamic clerics but also foreign nationals. The alarm bells should have started ringing when seven Indonesian nationals associated with the organization tested positive for the Wuhan Coronavirus in Telangana after travelling from Delhi to Karimnagar for an Ijtema. However, it was only later that the full scope of the Tablighi Jamaat’s contribution to the spreading of the virus became prominent when nearly 300 Jamaatis in the Delhi’s Banglewali Masjid had to be taken to hospital for suspected coronavirus symptoms, many testing positive eventually.

Pakistani Twitter handles impersonating Gulf princesses spreading anti-India propaganda suspended

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistani Twitter handles impersonating Gulf princesses spreading anti-India propaganda suspended

On Thursday, micro-blogging site Twitter suspended fake accounts handled by a Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for impersonating Noura bint Faisal, a princess of Saudi Arabia and Oman princess Mona Fahad Mahmoud Al Said for spreading fake news and propaganda against Indians in the Gulf.

Reportedly, Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI has created several fake profiles to spread anti-India propaganda in the Gulf region. One such account was @idanialusaf, impersonating Noura bint Faisal, a princess of Saudi Arabia, which was created with a fake ID named @NouraAlSaud. The handle was involved in spreading false news on India to peddle anti-India propaganda in the region.

Pakistan accounts impersonating Saudi Princess Noura bint Faisal.

Fake accounts are being created in the name of royal family members of Gulf countries to spread hatred about India.

Fake Twitter handle of Oman princess run by Pakistani

Another twitter ID @pak_fauj was found to have changed its name to Mona bint Fahd al Said @SayyidaMona, a member of the Oman royal family. This account has also been used to spread anti-India propaganda.

The Pakistani handled account had posted a tweet that went viral for its anti-India stance. “Oman stands with its Muslim brothers and sisters in India. If the Indian Govt doesn’t stop the persecution of Muslims, then 1million workers living in Oman may be expelled. I will definitely take up this issue with the Sultan of Oman. @narendramodi,” the tweet read.

Fake social media accounts impersonating Oman princess Mona Al Said.

Later, the real Princess Mona had to issue a clarification on 22 April claiming that the viral post was not posted by her. The Indian ambassador to Oman, Munu Mahawar, acknowledged the princess on the same day. “I thank HH @MonaFahad13 for clarification on fake social media posts attributed to her. India values its friendly relations with Oman and will continue working closely with the Government and people of Oman to further strengthen our special relationship.”

Both Twitter accounts have now been suspended. Reportedly. ISI was behind the two hashtags – #ShameOnModi and #ChaosInIndia, which was trending on social media this week.

Pakistan’s anti-India propaganda not limited to fake gulf princesses

The witch hunt against Indians in the Gulf countries took an ugly turn last week after Pakistani handles on Twitter pretending to be Arabs peddled false propaganda of Indians, alleging that they were Islamophobic. Several accounts impersonating Arabs started ‘complaining’ to Prime Minister Modi regarding the ‘Islamophobia’ of the Indians.

Various fake handles on social media have been created just with the purpose of spreading falsehood against India. Shockingly, Indian Muslims, joined these social media users and businessmen, religious leaders to influence the Arabs and fed them with fake narrative against India. Media platforms based out of Gulf countries like GulfNews, Al Jazeera, Khaleej Times were used to spread misinformation about India and treatment of Muslims in India.

Netizens also pointed out that in the past few days, various Twitter users changed their handles to sound more Arabic and tweet against India ‘condemning’ the ‘hate’ against Muslims. Many also changed their profile handles and pictures to that of a woman and pretended to be a Muslim woman condemning ‘atrocities against Muslims’ in India.

Delhi Anti-Hindu riots: Radical Islamist organisation PFI and ‘student activists’ under the scanner of the Delhi police

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi Anti-Hindu riots: Radical Islamist organisation PFI and ‘student activists’ under the scanner of the Delhi police

The Delhi Police is probing the role of a radical Islamist organisation, Popular Front of India (PFI), Jamia Coordination Committee (JCC) and ‘student activists’ associated with Pinjra Tod and All India Students’ Association (AISA) for their role in the Delhi Anti-Hindu riots, reported The Indian Express.

As per sources, the cops are investigating the Whatsapp chats, speeches, and funding allegedly received from PFI and abroad by the 9 people arrested in connection to the case. According to the Delhi police, the 9 accused had asked local leaders to mobilise women and children and also discussed “arrangements for protests.” A police source emphasised, “There is a common thread connecting them.”

In a tweet on Monday, the Delhi Police has stressed its sincerity and impartiality while investigative the cases related to the Delhi Anti-Hindu riots. They have further clarified that the arrests of the 9 people were made on the basis of scientific, technical and forensic evidence. The cops also assured that justice would be rendered to the innocent victims, despite the motivated malicious campaign by “vested interests.”

‘Student activists’ booked under UAPA

Earlier, JNU student leader Umar Khalid has been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in a case related to the anti-Hindu riots in Delhi. Two other leaders from the Jamia Coordination Committee, Meeran Haider and Safoora Zargar, were booked under the same Act. The two are now in judicial custody after they were arrested last week. The Police have claimed in the FIR that the communal violence was a “premeditated conspiracy” by Khalid and others.

The ‘activists’ have also been booked on charges of sedition, murder, attempt to murder, promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and rioting. The FIR says that Umar Khalid had delivered provocative speeches at two different locations and appealed to citizens to hit the streets and block roads during the visit by US President Donald Trump to spread propaganda at the international level about minorities being attacked in India. The FIR also claimed that in this conspiracy, firearms, petrol bombs, acid bottles and stones were collected at numerous homes.

Rajasthan HC adjourns a bail plea after lawyer appears in ‘Baniyan’ for the hearing through video-conference, second such incident in a month

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan HC adjourns a bail plea after lawyer appears in ‘Baniyan’ for the hearing through video-conference, second such incident in a month

In a bizarre incident, an advocate appearing before the Rajasthan High Court appeared wearing a “baniyan” (vest) during a video-conference hearing forced the judge to adjourn the matter.

According to the reports, on Saturday, the Rajasthan HC was hearing cases via video-conferencing when an advocate named Ravindra Kumar Paliwal appeared before the judge in “baniyan” angering the judge Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma. The court was hearing a bail application by one Lalaram through video conferencing.

Earlier this month, Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma had already instructed the High Court Bar Association to urge all advocates to appear in their uniform during hearings that are conducted through video-conferencing amid coronavirus lockdown. 

However, advocate Paliwal failed to follow the decorum of the court, forcing Justice Sharma to adjourn the case to May 5.

In his order, Justice Sharma said, “Learned counsel for the petitioner was contacted through video conferencing he was found to be wearing Baniyan.”

Further, the order stated, “This court has already observed that during this pandemic where court functioning is being done through video conferencing, lawyers must appear in proper uniform. Even though video conferencing a decorum of the court is required to be maintained. The Advocates Act provides for lawyers to wear the uniform while pleading the case for their clients.”

Not the first appearance in Baniyan

This is the second incident of an advocate not being in uniform while hearing through video conference at the same court. On 7th April, an advocate named Naval Singh Sikarwar had appeared in a vest during a hearing for an urgent bail application. On that day too, Justice SP Sharma had adjourned the hearing saying lawyers must be uniforms during hearings, even if it through video conferencing. The advocate had defied the uniform norm despite the fact that the causelist had specifically mentioned that uniform is mandatory for lawyers. After that, justice Sharma had asked the High Court Bar Association to urge all advocates to appear in their uniform during hearings conducted through video conferencing.

After this, the bar association had assured the court that all advocates will be asked to follow the rules of the court. But it seems some advocates are still not complying with the rule.

Union govt allows all shops outside municipal limits and standalone shops within municipal limits to open, malls to remain closed

OpIndia Staff
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Union govt allows all shops outside municipal limits and standalone shops within municipal limits to open, malls to remain closed

In a major relief to the public amid the ongoing Coronavirus Lockdown, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued an order on Friday night, permitting the shops providing non-essential goods and services to open from Saturday onwards. 

The latest order from the government allows the registered neighbourhood and stand-alone shops to open amid the coronavirus lockdown.

The shops that are allowed to open during the coronavirus lockdown from Saturday include those located in residential complexes within and outside the limits of municipalities and municipal areas. However, market complexes within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities will not open from Saturday, while shops in market complexes outside municipal limits can open. Shops in single and multi-brand malls will remain closed in all areas.

Shops to be open with 50 percent staff, mandatory social distancing norms

The MHA statement has permitted shops in market complexes outside municipality areas to resume work with a maximum of 50 per cent staff during the ongoing lockdown. The order also added that the mandatory precautions such as social distancing norms and wearing masks should be followed strictly.

The MHA statement also states that the order applies only to the local shops registered with the municipal corporation. However, shops in multi-brand and single-brand malls are not exempted and will remain shut till May 3.

The shops that have been exempted from the current lockdown include neighbourhood shops and stand-alone shops, the shops in residential complexes, those under municipal corporation and municipalities and registered under the Shops and Establishment Act of the respective State/UTs.

However, the restrictions will continue in hotspots and containment areas, said Ministry of Home Affairs in its new order.

Traders’ Federation thanks PM Modi, asks shop vendors to wait for state govt order

Following the order issued the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to exempt certain shops, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) thanked Prime Minister Modi for allowing to open shop across the country.

However, Praveen Khandelwal, the National General Secretary of Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Saturday said that people should wait for the state governments to take a decision in this regard.

“I want to thank PM Modi for allowing to open shops across the country. The Home Ministry has given the responsibility to state governments. We have to wait for the state government to take a decision on this. But I think state governments will take a decision,” Khandelwal said.

He added that whenever the shops will be opened, people should sanitise their shops and markets first. Masks, gloves and sanitisers should be used. Shopkeepers should also ensure social distancing, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 24 announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of Chinese pandemic coronavirus. Later, the lockdown was later extended till May 3.

Meanwhile, a total of 24,505 confirmed cases have been reported in India till Friday. There are 18,668 active cases of coronavirus cases in the country, while 5,062 positive cases have recovered. 775 people have lost their lives due to coronavirus in the country.

Clarification on the MHA order

As the legal jargon issued in the order had created some confusion on what is allowed and what is not, the ministry later issued a clarification.

The clarification says that all shops in rural areas will be open, except shopping malls. But in urban areas, both shopping malls and shops in market complexes are not allowed to open, and only standalone shops, neighborhood shops and shops in residential complexes can open.

The clarification further adds that ban on sale of non-essential items by e-commerce companies continues, they can sale only essential goods only like groceries. The ministry also says that sale of liquor sale continues to be prohibited.

“I pleaded for my life but they continued to attack me”, Sadhu in Punjab mercilessly beaten, Rs 50,000 stolen as he lay bleeding

OpIndia Staff
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“I pleaded for my life but they continued to attack me”, Sadhu in Punjab mercilessly beaten, Rs 50,000 stolen as he lay bleeding

On Friday, a Hindu Sadhu named Swami Pushpendra Swaroop was attacked and injured by two assailants at his ashram in Hoshiarpur, Punjab. He was resting alone around 10 pm when the duo climbed the wall, entered the ashram, and attacked Swami Pushpendra with sharp-edged weapons.

He was then rushed to a local hospital. The Sadhu informed the police that the unidentified assailants tied his hands and feet, prior to attacking him. The duo also tried to strangle him, before fleeing the crime scene with ₹50,000 and some other items from the Ashram. “I pleaded them to spare my life and take the money instead. But, they continued to injure me”, Swami Puspendra recounted. He was also hit on his head with a weapon that aggravated his injuries.

According to reports, the condition of the seer remains critical.

The lynching of 2 Sadhus in Palghar

On April 16, two Sadhus associated with the Juna Akhara, 70-year-old Kalpavrishka Giri Maharaj, and 35-year-old Sushil Giri Maharaj along with their driver 30-year-old Nilesh Telgadewere were on their way from Mumbai to Gujarat to give Samadhi to another Sadhu. At Gadakchinchale village, a wild and frenzied crowd of over more than 100 people attacked them. The villagers deemed them as thieves and started attacking them. The police claim that their team which had rushed to the spot to rescue the 70-year-old man also came under the attack of the violent mob.

But later videos emerged which completely debunked the claim of police, as it was seen that the sadhus were in the custody of the police, but the police personnel handed them over to the mob. The mob then proceeded them to beat them to death in front of the policemen.

The Crime Investigation Department(CID) of Maharashtra police has taken over the investigation in the Palghar lynching incident of two Sadhus and their driver last week. The Maharashtra government had earlier ordered a high-level probe and suspended two policemen who showed complete dereliction of duty.

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