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HBO founder and cable TV mogul Charles Dolan passes away at the age of 98

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HBO founder and cable TV mogul Charles Dolan passes away at the age of 98

Charles Dolan, a titan of the early cable industry who owned Cablevision and launched HBO, passed away at 98.

Dolan died of natural causes on December 28, his family confirmed the demise of the mogul to Newsday, Deadline reported.

“It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved father and patriarch, Charles Dolan, the visionary founder of HBO and Cablevision,” the family said in a statement to Newsday, once co-owned by Charles Dolan and his son Patrick who now owns it.

Charles Dolan is known for founding HBO in 1972 and a year later creating Cablevision, one of the nation’s largest cable operators, which was sold to Altice in 2017 for USD 17.7 billion. In 1986, he was instrumental in Cablevision’s launch of News 12 Long Island, the first 24-hour regional cable news channel in the U.S. It spawned the News 12 Networks group of local news channels in the New York area.

In 2020, Charles Dolan stepped down as executive chairman of the board of directors of AMC Networks, which had been spun out from Cablevision into a separate public company in 2011, as per Deadline.

Dolan is survived by six children, including James Dolan (and his wife, AMC Networks CEO Kristin Dolan) and Patrick Dolan, who runs Newsday. His brother, Larry Dolan, is the principal owner of baseball’s Cleveland Guardians. His wife died in August 2023 at 96.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

When Babri Masjid side had torn up map of Ram Temple provided by Kishore Kunal: Remembering the former IPS officer and Acharya

OpIndia Staff
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When Babri Masjid side had torn up map of Ram Temple provided by Kishore Kunal: Remembering the former IPS officer and Acharya

Retired IPS officer and veteran social worker Acharya Kishore Kunal died on Sunday after suffering a cardiac arrest. The 1972 batch IPS officer had taken voluntary retirement from the service for social service, and was the secretary of Mahavir Mandir Trust of Patna. He was one of the founding members of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Trust, and also the chief of Bihar State Religious Board.

Acharya Kishore Kunal was also deeply involved into the Ram Mandir movement and was the creator of a map presented as evidence during the Ram Mandi-Babri Masjid case in the Supreme Court. The Masjid side was so rattled by the map that Senior Advocate Rajeev Dhavan representing them had torn up the map in the courtroom.

The incident took place in October 2019 on the last of the hearing in the case by the CJI Ranjan Gogoi-led bench. During the hearing Hindu side’s lawyer Vikas Singh sought to place on record the book ‘Ayodhya Revisited’ by Kishore Kunal, which talks about the pre-existence of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Hindu Mahasabha said that the map created by Kishore Kunal depicted the exact location of Lord Ram’s birthplace inside the disputed site. When senior advocate Vikas Singh started showing the map, Rajeev Dhavan got angry and started tearing off papers and maps handed over to him by the Hindu Mahasabha.

CJI Gogoi let him tear the papers, saying, “if you find it irrelevant, then you can tear it off.” After which Dhavan continued to tear the maps and other documents.

According to the map prepared by Acharya Kishore, Lord Ram was born in the Kaushalya Bhavan, which was located inside the then-disputed Babri structure. The map was prepared based on various evidence, which were mentioned below the map.

Mahavir Mandir Trust made substantial donations to the Ram Mandir Trust to be used in the construction of the temple. Mahaveer Mandir Trust secretary Acharya Kishore Kunal had announced in 2020 that the trust will donate ₹10 crore for the construction.

After PM Modi had announced the formation of a trust to construct the Ram Mandir, Kishore said, “This is a very important announcement that the government has provided complete autonomy to the trust to build Ram temple in Ayodhya. It is also important that the disputed 67.07 acre of land has been handed over to the trust to build the temple.”

“We have already allocated Rs 10 crore on behalf of the Mahavir temple Nyas in Patna to be donated to build Ram temple in Ayodhya. Once the construction of the temple begins in Ayodhya, we will donate Rs 10 crore”, Acharya Kishore Kunal had said.

The entire amount of ₹10 crore was paid by the trust in multiple instalments. The last instalment of ₹2 crore was paid on 19 January 2024, ahead of the inauguration of the Mandir on 22 January.

While the Ram Madir-Babri Masjid title case was in court, Acharya Kishore Kunal was trying for an amicable solution to the dispute. He had said that there is a way to have an amicable solution to the issue, without hurting the sentiments of both sides. He believed that the Muslim side could have handed over the site to Hindus.

Acharya Kishore favoured mediation between the two sides to settle the title dispute. He had said, “I am always in favour of negotiations, talks and mediation between the contesting parties to the dispute, because it will solve the issue. I am again hopeful about it. But this time mediation is not directly between the contesting parties.”

His association with the Ayodhya dispute started officially in 1990, when he was an IPS officer and he was made officer on special duty (Ayodhya) to the then minister of state for home affairs Subodh Kant Sahay in the central government led by then prime minister V P singh. He was retained in the same post by the Chandra Shekhar govt too.

During the tenure of the two prime ministers, several rounds of negotiations were held between representative organisations of the two communities. Both contesting parties were present and actively participated in talks with the govt during that time.

Acharya Kishore had said in an interview that though nothing concrete came out of mediation during the V P Singh government, something concrete was about to be decided on the basis of the mediation to end the dispute during the short duration of Chandra Shekhar-led government. But the govt fell before the process could go ahead.

In his book Ayodhya Beyond Adduced Evidence, he said that PM Chandra Shekhar had taken some decisions and wanted to implement them to solve the dispute. Chandra Shekhar used to say that some people may oppose such a decision from their mouth, but all will accept it from their heart as the best solution to the dispute.

He mentioned in the book that Chandra Shekhar had said a one-time exception would be made for the Ram Mandir and other disputed sites will not be raised or touched after that. As per the plan, the govt was to give a written guarantee that there would be no claim on other sites if Muslims left the claim on Babri masjid.

Uttar Pradesh: Woman accuses Smart City Project team leader Sajjad Ali Khan of torture and forcing physical relation

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Woman accuses Smart City Project team leader Sajjad Ali Khan of torture and forcing physical relation

On 27th December, Sajjad Ali Khan was booked by Civil Lines Police, Moradabad, on a complaint filed by Fatima Khan (name changed). Fatima accused Sajjad of severe physical, emotional, and economic torture. Sajjad, who claimed to be a team leader with the Smart City Project, lured Fatima into marrying him. He also pressurised her to give him ₹2 lakhs.

Reportedly, Sajjad claimed that he was unmarried, but Fatima later discovered that he was not only married but also had two children from his first marriage.

Based on Fatima’s complaint, Civil Lines Police filed an FIR against Sajjad under Sections 85, 351(2), and 82(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2003. OpIndia accessed the FIR filed in the case. Fatima, who is a resident of Vidyanagar in Moradabad, is an employee at a local eye wear store. She stated in her complaint that Sajjad came to the store to buy eye wear on 1st January 2024.

During his visit, he deliberately took Fatima’s number on the pretext of buying spectacles. Gradually, he started visiting the store for one reason or another. He falsely claimed to be unmarried and told Fatima that he was a team leader with the Smart City Project. As time passed, he allegedly coerced her into a relationship. At one point, he pressured her into giving him ₹2 lakhs, which he never returned. Meanwhile, the victim had bought a flat with her own money.

Initially, her family did not approve of their relationship. However, later, they agreed, and the two got married on 24th November 2024. Sajjad’s family members also participated in the ceremonies. However, they left the next day, and the couple began living in the flat that Fatima had bought. At first, Sajjad was romantically involved with Fatima, but soon he started talking on the phone privately. When Fatima investigated, she found out about his first wife, Ruksana, and two children who live in Bihar.

Fatima attempted to adjust to the situation, but Sajjad subjected her to physical and mental torture. He threatened to kill her on multiple occasions and told her he would slice her into pieces and dispose of her body. On 19th December, he took a knife and attacked the victim, intending to kill her. She somehow managed to escape and hid the knife.

Fatima stated in her complaint that on that night, Sajjad forced her into a physical relationship multiple times. He told her that he wanted to impregnate her and forced her to take a pregnancy test the next morning. He also threatened to leak her private videos. On 20th December, Fatima escaped and went to her brother. She informed the police that she fears for her life and sought protection against her estranged husband.

Madhya Pradesh: Mohsin Multani poses as Pradeep Solanki, rapes 23-year-old tribal woman, blackmails her

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: Mohsin Multani poses as Pradeep Solanki, rapes 23-year-old tribal woman, blackmails her

A case of ‘love jihad’ has come to light in the Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh, where a 23-year-old tribal woman has accused a man named Mohsin Multani of raping and blackmailing her. According to media reports, a victim’s friend, identified as Sunita Jamre, introduced Mohsin to her three years ago. Mohsin introduced himself as a Hindu man named “Pradeep Solanki.”

Background of the case

In her complaint, the victim said that she worked in a bakery when the ordeal began three years ago. Sunita Jamre introduced the victim to Mohsin as a Hindu man named Pradeep Solanki. Mohsin claimed that he was from Kasrawad, Khargone. They became friends, and slowly Mohsin lured her into a relationship.

The victim was living in a rented room. Mohsin started visiting her. The accused sexually exploited her on the pretext of marriage multiple times. Meanwhile, he also recorded several objectionable videos of her. When the victim came to know about his real identity, she started maintaining distance from him. She also learned that he originally hailed from the Manawar region of Dhar district. However, Mohsin began blackmailing her with threats that he would release the videos unless she complied with his demands. He also threatened to kill her family.

The victim tried to escape multiple times, but Mohsin kept blackmailing her. Finally, she came to her family’s house and informed them about what had happened to her. They took her to the Kotwali Police Station and filed a complaint with the help of Hindu organisations. In her complaint, the victim also revealed that Mohsin extorted money from her bakery earnings.

Case registered under multiple acts

A case, based on the victim’s complaint, has been filed at Khargone Kotwali Police Station. SHO B.L. Mandloi told the media that the accused has been charged under several sections, including rape, the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act 2021. Furthermore, the victim’s friend Jamre, who introduced her to Mohsin, has also been booked in the case.

Hindu organisations demand strict action

Local Hindu organisations have come forward to support the victim. Speaking to the media, Shiv Sena’s district president of Khargone, Raju Sharma, alleged that incidents of love jihad were on the rise in bakeries across the region. He and other group members visited Khargone Police Station and demanded strict action against the accused. In his statement, Sharma said that the victim approached the organisation for help, leading to the filing of the complaint.

Media reports suggest that an investigation into the matter has been initiated by the police. The police said that they are examining all angles of the matter and appropriate legal action will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation.

Indian grandmaster Koneru Humpy wins FIDE Women’s World Rapid Championship by defeating Indonesia’s Irene Sukandar in New York

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Indian grandmaster Koneru Humpy wins FIDE Women’s World Rapid Championship by defeating Indonesia’s Irene Sukandar in New York

The Indian chess woman grandmaster Koneru Humpy on Sunday won the FIDE Women’s World Rapid Championship in New York after beating Indonesia’s Irene Sukandar with the black pieces in the final round of the tournament.

According to ESPN, it was Humpy’s second world rapid title and the fourth time she has finished in the top three of the event. Previously, the Indian chess player won the title back in 2019.

Humpy sealed the title after finishing with a score of 8.5/11 in the final round of the tournament. As per ESPN, the Indian chess player achieved the milestone of becoming the second player to win multiple women’s world rapid titles after China’s Ju Wenjun.

Back in 2023, Humpy came second at the FIDE World Rapid Championship. While, in 2012, she secured second place at the tournament.

Humpy came into the final round of the tournament with a joint lead alongside her compatriot, Harika Dronavalli.

In the final round, Humpy took on Sukandar, while, Harika locked horns against China’s Tan Zhongyi.

Harika ended her final round with a draw. Meanwhile, Humpy displayed a stunning performance and clinched the win.

Speaking after the win, Humpy said that it’s high time for India in chess. The 2024 FIDE World Rapid Championship winner added that she didn’t expect to win the title.

“It’s high time for India – we have Gukesh as the World Champion and now I got the second world title in the Rapid event. I feel very happy for winning for the second time. In fact, I didn’t expect it at all because I lost my first-round game and I never imagined that I could finish the tournament as a World Champion,” Humpy was quoted by FIDE’s X handle as saying.

She added that this victory will help her to boost confidence and work on chess again.

“This victory is very special. When I am on my lower side I think this gave me the boost to fight and to again work on chess,” she added.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Delhi police nab illegal immigrant Jahangir and his 6 children, deport them back to Bangladesh

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Delhi police nab illegal immigrant Jahangir and his 6 children, deport them back to Bangladesh

To address rising concerns over the unauthorized stay of migrants including Bangladeshi nationals in the capital, the Delhi Police has intensified efforts to identify, detain and repatriate individuals residing without valid Indian documents.

The police said that as part of the drive eight illegal migrants from Bangladesh were detected and deported to their country through the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).

The Bangladeshi nationals were identified as Jahangir, his wife Parina Begam and their six children. All were residing at Rangpuri.

According to the police, Jahangir confessed that he originally belongs to Dhaka, Bangladesh. He entered India using jungle routes and express trains and had stayed in India.

After settling himself in Delhi, he went back to Bangladesh and brought his wife Parina Begam with his six children. They started living in Rangpuri area of South West, Delhi by hiding their original identity, said the police.

During the verification drive, they were suspected by the police personnel and further enquiry revealed that they are from Bangladesh and had destroyed their Bangladeshi IDs.

Appropriate legal actions were followed based on the outcomes of the verification and investigation, said the police.

As part of the drive, the Delhi Police have carried out a series of targeted operations and joint inspections across the South West District.

Special teams comprising officers from local police stations, special units have been deployed to conduct thorough searches and gather intelligence to locate undocumented immigrants.

During the verification drive, door-to-door verifications were conducted and almost 400 families were checked and their documents were collected.

Verification forms (Parcha-12) were sent to their respective addresses of West Bengal for verification. A special team was also constituted and sent to West Bengal for manual verification of suspects, said the police.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

South Korea: Death toll from plane crash rises to 62; officials suspect ‘bird strike’

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South Korea: Death toll from plane crash rises to 62; officials suspect ‘bird strike’

The death toll from Sunday’s passenger jet crash in South Korea’s Muan County has jumped to 62, after the aircraft carrying 181 people veered off the runway and erupted into flames, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing authorities.

The incident occurred at 9:07 am (local time) when a Jeju Air flight veered off the runway during landing and struck a fence at Musan International Airport in Muan County, about 288 kilometres southwest of Seoul.

The plane, carrying 175 passengers and six crew members, was returning from Bangkok. The majority of passengers were South Korean nationals, with two Thai nationals also on board.

Videos aired by local TV stations show the plane attempting to land without its landing gear deployed. The plane skidded along the ground, crashing into a concrete wall before exploding and being engulfed in flames, Yonhap reported.

Firefighters have since extinguished the blaze, and search and rescue operations are ongoing at the crash site. Around 80 firefighters have been deployed to assist.

Preliminary investigations suggest that a possible landing gear failure, potentially caused by a bird strike, may have led to the crash. Authorities have launched an on-site investigation to determine the exact cause.

Acting President Choi Sang-mok directed officials to prioritise rescue efforts and travelled to the site of the accident, according to his office.

The presidential office announced an emergency meeting of senior officials, led by Presidential Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk, at 11:30 am (local time) to discuss the government’s response.

Acting National Police Agency Commissioner-General Lee Ho-young also ordered officials to mobilize all available resources and work with firefighting and other related agencies to help with the rescue efforts, Yonhap reported. 

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Uttar Pradesh: Women perform Navgrah Puja at new police post site in front of Jama Masjid in Sambhal, express feeling of safety

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Women perform Navgrah Puja at new police post site in front of Jama Masjid in Sambhal, express feeling of safety

On Saturday (28th December), local women in Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh performed Navgrah Puja at the construction site of the new police post being built in front of the Jama Masjid.

During the Puja, the women created Navgrah symbols with flour and lit lamps. Speaking to the media, the women expressed that the construction of a police post in the area has made them feel safer.

Notably, the Sambhal administration has decided to establish a police post in front of the Jama Masjid in Sambhal. The decision to build a police post at the said location was taken on Friday (27th December) and the construction work began the next day.

The police post has been named ‘Satyavrat Police Post’. Bhoomi Puja was conducted on Saturday morning to mark the beginning of the construction. Later, during the night, a group of women came to perform traditional rituals.

One of the women said, “We feel safer with the police post here and came to light lamps before visiting the temple. We placed lamps on the Navgrah symbols we created.”

While the local women have expressed pleasure over the decision to establish a police post in the area, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticised the idea.

Criticising the construction of a police post in front of the Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Owaisi wrote on the social media platform X that the government spends money on police posts and liquor stores but not on schools and hospitals.

Owaisi said, “A police post is being constructed in front of the Jama Masjid in Sambhal. No matter where you go in the country, the government neither builds schools nor hospitals. What they do construct are police posts and liquor stores. The government seems to have no funds for anything else, but there’s always money for police posts and liquor stores. Data itself reveals that areas with Muslim populations receive the least government facilities.”

Notably, the Sambhal administration and police started a crackdown on illegal activities in the region after violence broke out on 24th November 2024 during a court-mandated survey at the Jama Masjid. Since the crackdown began, it has been revealed that the Member of Parliament from Sambhal, Samajwadi Party leader Zia-ur-Rahman Barq, was allegedly stealing electricity. Furthermore, an illegal power station was discovered by the authorities at a mosque in the area, from where electricity was being provided illegally to around 100 houses.

The Sambhal administration also found an encroached temple, which was freed and cleaned by the local police, after which Puja was performed. Furthermore, the administration has discovered an ancient Baori. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team was called to inspect the Baori, where excavation work has been carried out. Earlier, ASI team surveyed Kalki Vishnu Mandir, 5 shrines, 19 wells and Shiv-Hanuman Mandir in Sambhal. Most of these sites have either been rediscovered or have been freed from the illegal encroachment done by local Muslim families.

Court-ordered survey at Jama Masjid in Sambhal and violence that erupted on 24th November

On 19th November, a court-mandated survey was conducted at Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. The court ordered the survey in response to a petition filed by Supreme Court Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, and seven co-plaintiffs, asserting that the mosque occupies the site of a temple dedicated to Bhagwan Kalki. The site in question is a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act of 1904. The survey was carried out under the supervision of Advocate Commission. A heavy police force was deployed in the area to ensure the survey proceeded peacefully.

However, on 24th November, during the second round of court-mandated survey at Jama Masjid, Islamist mobsters gathered outside the mosque and engaged in violence. They pelted stones at police, opened fire at police personnel and set ablaze vehicles and shops. At least 20 police personnel were injured during violence and four mobsters were killed in the mayhem, likely from illegal guns carried by rioters.

The Supreme Court of India stayed the hearing in the District Court, Sambhal, in response to plea filed by the Muslim side. Furthermore, the survey report submitted by the Advocate Commissioner has been ordered to be sealed and not to be opened till an order is passed by the High Court in the matter. Next hearing in the matter will be in January 2025. A judicial committee was formed by CM Yogi Adityanath to investigate the cause of the violence.

OpIndia’s detailed report on petition filed at the court can be checked here.

South Korea: Aircraft goes off runway and crashes into a wall, kills atleast 47 people onboard

OpIndia Staff
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South Korea: Aircraft goes off runway and crashes into a wall, kills atleast 47 people onboard

On Sunday (29th December) morning, at least 47 people onboard an airliner were killed after it went off the runway and crashed into a concrete fence at the Muan International Airport in South Korea.

The aircraft, identified as Jeju Air Flight 7C2216, was carrying 175 passengers and 6 crew members from Bangkok to Muan.

In visuals that have surfaced on social media, the airliner could be seen bursting into flames. The front landing gear of the aircraft failed to deploy on time.

According to reports, 2 people onboard were found alive during the rescue operations. A total of 32 fire trucks and several helicopters were deployed to extinguish the fire.

South Korean acting President Choi Sang-mok has directed authorities to conduct an all-out rescue operation.

At the same time, his Chief Secretary will discuss the plane crash with senior presidential staff later on Sunday (29th December).

Meghalaya: FIR filed against social media influencer after his video chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ at a church goes viral

OpIndia Staff
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Meghalaya: FIR filed against social media influencer after his video chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ at a church goes viral

An FIR was filed in Meghalaya against social media influencer Akash Sagar after a viral video surfaced showing him and two others innocuously chanting ‘religious song ‘Jai Shri Ram’ at a church. The controversy erupted after bigots on social media started demanding action as Akash’s video started doing the rounds on the internet.

The footage depicts Akash chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ at the Church of Epiphany in Mawlynnong, East Khasi Hills district, and engaging in actions that religious zealots deemed as disrespectful to the church’s sanctity.

A Shillong-based activist filed a complaint at Laitumkhrah Police Station, alleging that the act was deliberate and premeditated. The complaint accused Akash of intentionally insulting the Christian faith and inciting communal tensions in a region renowned for its religious harmony.

Following the complaint, the Meghalaya Police registered an FIR against Akash and his companions, charging them with trespassing, disrupting public harmony, and disrespecting religious beliefs.

However, Akash dismissed these allegations. In a now-deleted post, he questioned the complaint’s validity, stating, “For saying Jai Shree Ram?” and shared screenshots of news articles about the FIR, labelling his critics as “traitors.” He also referenced a Karnataka High Court ruling in a separate case that dismissed criminal charges against individuals chanting religious slogans in a mosque.

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