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UP Police rubbishes ‘activist’ Harsh Mander’s report where he claimed policemen chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans in AMU

OpIndia Staff
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UP Police rubbishes ‘activist’ Harsh Mander’s report where he claimed policemen chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans in AMU

Following the crackdown on anti-CAA rioters in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), ‘activist’ Harsh Mander and his NGO ‘Karwan e Mohabbat’, too, published a report based on utter conjecture and outright lies to demonise the Uttar Pradesh police and whitewash the crimes of the violent rioters who ran riots in AMU. Harsh Mander claimed that the ‘circumstances in which RAF entered the campus remain unclear’. He then claims that the students and faculty attest to the fact that there was no provocation from the peaceful students. This bit of propaganda was thoroughly busted when UP Police released videos of the fateful night where ‘students’ of AMU can be clearly seen engaging in violence.

There was another insidious bit of propaganda in the ‘fact-finding report’. It was claimed that students had told them of the law enforcement personnel chanted “chilling slogans like Jai Shri Ram (popular with rioters and lynch mobs) while attacking the students and setting ablaze their scooters and vehicles.” The characterization of ‘Jai Shri Ram‘ in the report speaks abundantly of the deeply Hinduphobic character of the entire exercise by Harsh Mander and his team.

Harsh Mander’s ‘fact-finding report’ on AMU anti-CAA riots

The report also says, “In the student residence, Morrison Court, they forcefully entered the building, assaulted unsuspecting students and used tear gas within a hostel room. They also beat up elderly hostel guards in the process. Almost always, attacks by police and RAF were coupled with rampant use of strong Islamophobic slurs and calls for ‘Jai Shri Ram’.”

Speaking to OpIndia, the PRO of the Aligarh Police in UP has strongly denied these claims. He said, “How can that happen? Why will Policemen chant these slogans? We are men in uniform, we maintain our discipline. And you must have seen the videos we have released regarding that night and SSP Kulhary has issued a statement on the matter as well.”

Aligarh SSP Akash Kulhary told Indian Express in response to these allegations, “There are fact-finding reports here and there and their validity should also be checked. We cannot give response to everyone… a criminal writ application has been filed at High Court and we have submitted our affidavit along with evidence…. This entire fiasco was initiated by the students of AMU. For self-defence, minimum use of force which is legal right of the police has been used.”

Regardless of the complete lack of evidence behind these absurd allegations, the mainstream media was more than happy to further the agenda of the said report. The Indian Express itself was party to it despite SSP Kulhary’s denial in the same report.

Indian Express report

If Indian Express was this shoddy, the propaganda far-left website The Wire could hardly be far behind. Their report failed to mention the violence that was initiated by the ‘students’ of the Aligarh Muslim University.

The Wire report based on Harsh Mander report

There was The Week which again worked towards furthering the lies spread by the ‘fact-finding report’ of Harsh Mander and his coterie.

The Week carrying the ‘fact-finding report’ by Harsh Mander

There is a clear propaganda at work here to demonize the UP Police and provide cover to the violent mobs mostly consisting of Muslim men that ran riot in Uttar Pradesh. It is important to remember here that such grave allegations have been made without a single shred of evidence.

In the wake of the Police crackdown on rioting mob violence in Uttar Pradesh, usual suspects have started indulging in rumour mongering and furthering the narrative that UP Police has inflicted disproportionate violence on ‘peaceful protesters’. Rana Ayyub had even gone to the extent of calling the Police crackdown on violent criminals as an ‘anti-Muslim carnage’.

The government of Uttar Pradesh has cracked down hard on the anti CAA ‘protesters’ who resorted to mob violence, vandalism and arson in the state. The UP Police also revealed that at least 62 policemen suffered bullet injuries and over 250 were injured. However, it appears that certain people want the rioters to be treated with kids gloves just because they belong to one particular community.

Far-Left propagandist Arundhati Roy tells people to lie during NPR, says ‘shouldn’t give this government 4 more years’

OpIndia Staff
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Far-Left propagandist Arundhati Roy tells people to lie during NPR, says ‘shouldn’t give this government 4 more years’

Far-Left Activist Arundhati Roy, who is infamous for her support towards the Jihad in Kashmir and Naxals across the country, has now come out and suggested that people should lie during the National Population Register (NPR) exercise.


Arundhati Roy said, “Now what is NPR? NPR has happened before. In NPR, they will come to your house, they won’t ask you anything, they ask you for your name and phone number. It is a database for NRC. But we have to fight them for the next 4 years. Firstly, we should not give them four years, but we must have a plan. When they come to your house asking for your name, you give them some other name–like Ranga Billa, Kung-Fu Kutta, give your address as seven racecourse road and let’s fix one phone number. But we need multiple subversion. We were not born for lathis and bullets.”

It is unclear by what she means when she says people should not give the democratically elected government of India the five years that it is due. But the intent of her comments is clear when she says that “we need multiple subversion”.

Read: Arundhati Roy’s ‘apology’ comes with terms and conditions and a shameless reiteration of her lies, bias and ignorance

Her comments appear consistent with the deliberate agenda we have witnessed in recent days when far-left activists have tried to whitewash the Muslim mob violence that was unleashed across the country in wake of the Citizenship Amendment Act and instead, blamed the Police for trying everything they can to stop it.

During an interview to ANI, Amit Shah clarified that no one’s citizenship will be revoked if their name is not included in the NPR. He said it is completely different from the NRC. He also iterated that NPR and NRC derive themselves from completely different laws. Shah said that there’s no proof needed for NPR, no documentation is needed from people and it is only for making a register of information.

Read: Pakistan bets on Arundhati Roy, Mamata Banerjee, Congress and Communist parties to drive their agenda over Kashmir

The Home Minister also reminded the country that the NPR was a flagship initiative of the UPA government in 2010. However, despite the repeated clarifications, it appears that people like Asaduddin Owaisi and Arundhati Roy will not relent on their fearmongering.

Firozabad anti-CAA riots: Drone camera identifies 57 houses with stones on their roof

OpIndia Staff
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Firozabad anti-CAA riots: Drone camera identifies 57 houses with stones on their roof

Several parts of the country experienced violent protests in the aftermath of the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act that intends to grant citizenship to persecuted minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. However, following the violence, numerous reports have trickled down hinting that these protests which were touted as “a spontaneous outburst of anger against the government” were in reality meticulously planned riots.

In the wake of the violence that rocked the town of Firozabad, it came to the notice of the local administration that there were stones and bricks placed on the roofs of the houses in the areas that witnessed violence. The drone camera employed by the law enforcement to keep surveillance about the law and order situation in the city had captured images of the houses where stones were kept on the terrace.

According to DM Chandravijay Singh and SSP Sachindra Patel, drones were flown over the city for two days-Sunday and Monday to keep a tab on houses in Nalband square, Urvashi Tiraha, Mohalla Rajputana, Naini Glass and Jatavpuri, areas where stone-pelting and cases of arson were reported on Friday.

Read: I am Pankaj Tiwari, ‘Allah Kasam’ I was not pelting stones: Gorakhpur riots after Friday Namaz were pre-planned, suggests report

The officials claim about 57 houses have been marked in the area on whose roofs stones and bricks were found in the drone captured images. A notice has been issued to the landlords of these houses, asking them to remove the stones failing which further action will be taken against them.

On Friday, December 20, after the Namaz prayers concluded, violence broke out in certain parts of the city in protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Four people died in the violence that erupted in the city, while more than 50 policemen were left injured. A dozen government and private vehicles were set ablaze by the protesters. A police post in the Nalband area was also set on fire.

During the protest, the police were also pelted with stones. Police retaliated and opened fire, killing four people. A case has been registered against 29 identified miscreants and 2500 unidentified miscreants.

Yesterday, CCTV videos released from Mangalore showed that the anti-CAA hoodlums meticulously adjusted the cameras to prevent the cameras from capturing their illegal activities. The presence of an auto carrying sacks full of stones indicated that the riots were meticulously pre-planned.

Karnataka govt withdraws its decision give the ex gratia amount to two killed in Mangaluru anti-CAA riots

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka govt withdraws its decision give the ex gratia amount to two killed in Mangaluru anti-CAA riots

On Wednesday, the Karnataka government led by BS Yediyurappa decided to withdraw the ex gratia amount of Rs 10 lakh each to the family of two Muslim rioters who were killed in the police firing during anti-CAA protests in Mangaluru.

Reportedly, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said that the government had withdrawn the compensation after video evidences emerged that the riots in Mangaluru where the two died could have been pre-planned. He said that a final decision will be taken once the probe was complete.

“We have not decided yet to give the exgratia to the family members of those killed in the police firing because giving criminals exgratia is an unpardonable crime in itself,” said BS Yediyurappa.

Two deceased – Jaleel (49) and Nausheen (23) – were killed following police action against anti-CAA protesters on December 19. On Saturday, the state government had announced the ex gratia amount to the next of kin of those killed in the firing. The decision to revoke the grant amount to the deceased had invoked strong response across the country.

Read: Mangaluru anti-CAA riots: Bricks brought in trucks to hurl at police, Kerala link suspected, Police receive over 1000 CCTV footages from public

Chief Minister Yediyurappa said he has directed the police to identify the hooligans who rioted on December 19 and register cases against them. He said the government will ascertain the background of those involved in violence and arrest all those involved in the crime. Earlier on Monday, the state government ordered a magisterial inquiry into the violence and police firing.

CM Yediyurappa also slammed the opposition Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) for making baseless charges against his government. Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday said that the attack was premeditated and the arson was orchestrated by anti-social elements. He also stated that the people from Kerala was behind creating trouble in anti-CAA protests in Karnataka.

The police have also released video clippings showing protesters bringing stones in an auto-trolley, hurling it at the personnel and trying to destroy the CCTV cameras. Earlier, we had reported regarding similar CCTV footages in which Muslim mob covered with their faces covered, had attempted to destroy CCTV cameras before going on the rampage.

Over a thousand CCTV video clips were shared with the police after the city police commissioner had tweeted requesting people to share footages of the riots by the Muslim mobs.

Reportedly, the Mangaluru police have registered 24 cases so far relating to the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) riots that held in the city on December 19. The police have put together over 350 footages so far. The police have identified over a hundred culprits based on facial features visible in the footage. Some of them have been taken into custody for questioning.

In the aftermath of the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act, riots, violence, arson and vandalism by rioting mobs in the name of ‘protests’ against the enactment of the law have taken place across the country.

Indian Railways reports the year 2019-20 as its safest year in the past 166 years, no passenger death recorded in current fiscal

OpIndia Staff
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Indian Railways reports the year 2019-20 as its safest year in the past 166 years, no passenger death recorded in current fiscal

With the Modi government actively engaging in the restructuring of the Indian Railways, the Indian Railways has now declared fiscal 2019-20 to be its safest year in the past 166 years as it recorded zero passengers death this year.

Marking it to be one of the greatest achievements of the Indian Railways, the data revealed that the total numbers of consequential accidents – collisions, fire in trains, level crossing accidents and derailment – have decreased by nearly 95 per cent over the last 38 years.

According to a Business Today report, in the financial year 2017-18, Indian Railways had reported 73 accidents across the railway network which reduced to 59 accidents during the financial year 2019 to due to the implementation of continuous safety measures.

Additionally, the total number of train accidents per million kilometres reduced to an all-time low of 0.06 in 2018-19.

According to reports, the number of accidents in 1960-61 was 2,131, which dipped to 840 in 1970-71. The total number of accidents in 1980-81 was recorded at 1,013, in 1990-91 it stood at 532 accidents, and in 2010-11 there were 141 such cases.

Read: Indian Railway sets one of its best safety records ever during the 2017-18 Financial Year

An average of over 500 accidents took place annually between 1990-1995, with around 2,400 deaths and 4,300 injured. However, these numbers dipped significantly to an average of 110 accidents every year between 2013-2018, in which around 990 people were killed and 1,500 injured.

The year 2014 marked by the succession of the NDA government over the UPA regime started a new chapter in the development of railways, with the government actively engaging in improving the railways system by implementing state of art practices on a war-footing basis.

Yesterday, in its continued effort, to restructure the Indian Railways, the Modi government announced some bold reforms that would break the 150-year-old legacy.

The Railway Board will be reorganised into a leaner structure on functional lines headed by CRB with four members of Infrastructure, Operations and Business Development, Rolling Stock and Finance along with Independent Members. The eight Group A services will now be unified into a central service called Indian Railway Management Services (IRMS).

Putting an end to the “Departmentalism” of the Indian Railway that has long hobbled its progress, the move to amalgamate the disparate services by the Modi government is aimed to put an end to the age-old culture of working in ‘silos’ and expedite decision making and enabling coherent vision for the organisation.

Despite police clarification, fear-mongers continue to spread lie about cops vacating hostels in north Delhi

OpIndia Staff
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Despite police clarification, fear-mongers continue to spread lie about cops vacating hostels in north Delhi

The Delhi police on Thursday clarified that the video and images claiming police is shutting down PGs and hostels in North Delhi near Delhi University campus are fake.


A video has gone viral on social media of Delhi Police officials asking students in Mukherjee Nagar in North Delhi to vacate their hostels from December 25 to January 2 and return home. Additionally, pictures of the notice pasted on the institutes in the Mukherjee Nagar area are also going viral.

The police clarified that the images that have gone viral were doctored in order to create disturbance in the area. Asserting that a case has been registered against these fake messages the Delhi police urged citizens to not fall for such fallacious news and propaganda.

Read: Viral image of man donning anti-riot gear is not of an RSS member but an AATS cop: Delhi Police

According to DCP North West Vijyanta Arya, the police have registered a case against fake messages and are also writing to the social media platforms to remove the video as its content has been edited. He further added that no instruction has been given by the Delhi Police to arrest anyone. Reportedly, the Delhi Police has registered a case at Mukherjee Nagar police station with the fake pamphlet that went viral.

In the viral video, the ACP of the Model Town, Ajit Kumar, could be heard asking the crowd surrounding him to return to their homes and take a “winter break”. Mukherjee Nagar is an area inhabited by a lot of outstation students who have moved to Delhi in order to study in one of the universities or to prepare for competitive exams like UPSC. However, Delhi Police has said that the said video is fake.


Along with that images had also gone viral where it said that Mukherjee Nagar Police Station has advised students to vacate their PG rooms by 24th December.


However, despite police clarification that no such action is being initiated by the cops, the propagandists continued to indulge in fear-mongering.

Kavita Krishnan, a communist leader who doubles up as full-time protestor, was quick to share the video claiming that the video was not fake, asserting that this video was ‘verified’ by her.


Expelled AAP leader and Swaraj India President Yogendra Yadav also took to Twitter to share the alleged doctored video asking the Delhi police for clarifications. Incidentally, Yogendra Yadav was amongst the recusant leftist gang which had actively participated in organising anti-CAA riots and incited the mob to resort to severe violence and vandalism by spreading falsehood against the newly introduced law. Notably, he was also detained by the Delhi Police for the same.


Only recently, OpIndia had exposed how NSUI (Congress’ student wing), Swarajya Abhiyaan and the Left were hand in gloves trying to foment trouble on the 19th of December by instigating and coordinating several protests across the nation. That plan seems to have been put into motion with several parties, politicians and political workers trying to foment trouble despite section 144 being imposed in several places to ensure violence does not break out in the country, thus, fuelling the protests further.

PM Modi launches Atal Bhujal Yojana to improve groundwater management, read key features of the ambitious scheme

OpIndia Staff
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PM Modi launches Atal Bhujal Yojana to improve groundwater management, read key features of the ambitious scheme

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated “Atal Bhujal Yojana“, a scheme aimed at improving groundwater management through community participation, on the occasion of 95th birth anniversary of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Stressing the need to use technology to prevent wastage of water in various spheres, especially in agriculture, PM Modi flagged off Atal Bhujal Yojana, a central sector scheme with a total outlay of Rs 6,000 crore to be implemented over a period of five years from 2020 to 2025.

Key features of Atal Bhujal Yojana:

What is Atal Bhujal Yojana?

With the intention of addressing the problem of fast depleting groundwater resources, the government of India has planned to introduce the Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY). The programme is expected to lay emphasis on the recharge of groundwater resources and better exploitation of the groundwater resources, with the involvement of people at the local level.

Atal Bhujal Yojana will promote participatory groundwater management. The scheme will improve water use efficiency on a mass scale and improve cropping pattern. The scheme will contribute towards the goal of doubling the farmers’ income.

The scheme will be implemented and looked over by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.

Major components of the scheme:

The first major component of the scheme is institutional strengthening and capacity building for sustainable groundwater management in the states including improving monitoring networks, capacity building, strengthening of water user associations.

Read: Within a day of assuming office, PM Modi fulfils pre-poll promise to create Jal Shakti Ministry

The second component is incentivising the states for achievements in improved groundwater management practices namely data dissemination, preparation of water security plans, implementation of management interventions through the convergence of ongoing schemes, adopting demand-side management practices, etc.

Beneficiaries of the scheme:

The scheme will benefit about 8,350 Gram panchayats in 78 districts in seven states. Atal Bhujal Yojana will also promote panchayat-led groundwater management and behavioural change with a primary focus on demand-side management.

A central sector scheme to be implemented over a period of five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25, it aims to improve groundwater management through community participation in identified priority areas in seven states – Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

Funding for Atal Bhujal Yojana:

In the total outlay of Rs 6,000 crore, 50% shall be in the form of World Bank loan and will be repaid by the Central Government. The remaining 50% shall be through Central assistance from regular budgetary support. The entire World Bank’s loan component and Central assistance shall be passed on to the states as grants.

The Narendra Modi’s decision to launch its ambitious project Atal Bhujal Yojana comes after the Central Ground Water Board had reported regarding the depletion of groundwater at an alarming rate in 30% of the assessed blocks during the assessment of groundwater in the country.

Read: As water crisis looms in the country, Modi govt set to launch ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan’ on lines of Swachh Bharat Mission

According to a World Bank Report, India accounts for about 25% of the total groundwater abstraction, globally. The increasing number of dark zones – the areas where annual consumption of water exceeds the annual recharge of groundwater, makes it imperative for this programme to be implemented.

Reportedly, India annually extracts 245 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM) of groundwater which accounts for nearly 25% of the total global groundwater abstraction. About 222 BCM out of 245 BCM of groundwater is being used annually for irrigation while remaining 23 BCM is consumed by the domestic and industrial sector.

Speaking after launching Atal Bhujal Yojana in New Delhi, PM Modi said that the water crisis not only affects citizens and families but also the nation and its development. He said that only three crore out of 18 crore rural households today have clean piped water and the Government has aimed to provide the remaining 15 crore rural households with piped water in the next five years.

The PM urged farmers to switch over to crops that use less water and exhorted people not to waste the precious natural resource in daily household needs. He urged start-ups to come up with technology to ensure minimal use of water for various needs. He said that the Jal Shakti Ministry has brought water from compartmentalized approach and stressed on the comprehensive approach.

Anti CAA riots: Calls made to Mangaluru police threaten to assassinate PM Modi, kill policemen and their family members

OpIndia Staff
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Anti CAA riots: Calls made to Mangaluru police threaten to assassinate PM Modi, kill policemen and their family members

The policemen and their families have reported of getting threat calls from anonymous numbers in the wake of crackdown against the anti-CAA rioters in Mangalore, reports daijiworld. A complaint has been registered in the cybercrime, economic offences, and narcotics (CEN) police station.

In a WhatsApp audio message, a caller has also threatened to assassinate PM Modi and a police inspector. As per reports, a special cyber cell has been set up to look into these threats and the police headquarters has sent several high ranking officials who had dealt with sensitive cases in the past to help in the investigation.

Even after being denied permission to hold protest rally against the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act, a raft of protestors hit the street expressing their displeasure over the government legislation. However, these protests, which were held on December 19 in Mangalore in contravention to the police order saw widespread violence with rioters clashing with police personnel and pelting stones at them.

Read: Mangaluru anti-CAA riots: Bricks brought in trucks to hurl at police, Kerala link suspected, Police receive over 1000 CCTV footages from public

The rioters had meticulously planned to instigate riots which was revealed after CCTV footage from certain areas in Mangalore came to the fore. The rioters not only adjusted the CCTV cameras in the region to prevent anything from being captured on record but they also brought along sacks filled with stones in an auto to pelt stones at the busses playing on the streets and against the security enforcement officials.

The police personnel deployed to maintain law and order had come down hard against the hoodlums who carried out unlawful activities under the garb of peaceful protests. Two were killed after police initiated action against the rampaging rioters   during the protests in Mangalore.

Read: Pakistan based Islamic terror groups may try to assassinate PM Modi at Ramlila Maidan rally: Intelligence reports

Following the incident, several top level police officers and their families have been receiving death threats from people who were infuriated by police action against the protestors. In view of threats received, these policemen have been provided with additional security.

A large number of threat calls received were for Kadri police inspector Shantaram and his family. The miscreants have been using social media websites to issue death threats to him and his family. A case has been registered againstthese anonymous miscreants at CEN police station.

Despite repeated clarifications by the govt, Asaduddin Owaisi continues to fear-monger about NPR

OpIndia Staff
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Despite repeated clarifications by the govt, Asaduddin Owaisi continues to fear-monger about NPR

In an interview to the ANI news agency last evening, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated that there is no link between the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR). However, usual suspects like AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi have continued to stoke fear among people around the NPR.


Accusing Amit Shah of misleading the people of India, Owaisi said that the NPR is the first step towards the implementation of contentious National Register of Citizens (NRC). “When the NPR will be carried out in April 2020, the officer-in-charge seeking information from people will have the discretion of updating ‘doubtful’ if he is unsure about the document furnished by citizens. This will be later used against that citizen in the NRC,” Owaisi said.

Congress leader Ajay Maken too stated that the Home Minister is misdirecting the country by claiming that NPR and NRC are decoupled. “The BJP manifesto says that they will carry out the NRC. The NPR activity is first step in that direction. Congress too carried out the NPR but we kept it limited only to seeking information as per norms set by the United Nations. However, the BJP plans to extend it to be used for NRC as well,” he said.

Read: Narendra Modi did not contradict Amit Shah on NRC, liberals are lying because they are desperate to exit the violent protests

Amit Shah also said that the NPR was first devised during the UPA regime and it was in 2010 that the exercise was first conducted. The Home Minister stated further, “The constitutional provision of census of the country is to be done in 10 years. The last census was done in 2011, so the next one is to be in 2021. The census process will begin in April 2020. Then the mapping of the houses will begin. Complete census and NPR will be in 2021.”

The Home Minister had yesterday asserted that there was no need for a debate around the NRC as there is no discussion on it in the Cabinet or the Parliament. Amit Shah also requested the Chief Ministers of Kerala and West Bengal to not stop the initiative. He said, “It will include the poor people who would then get benefits from the Central Govt. They should not take away the benefits extended to the poor.”

With the unwarranted agitation concerning the Citizenship Amendment Act gradually fizzling out as people are made aware of its provisions which in no way affects the citizens of India, regardless of their creed, the opposition leaders appear reluctant in giving up on the turmoil that has stirred in some parts of the country. Perhaps, to this end, despite repeated dismissal by multiple cabinet ministers, the opposition leaders continue to fan paranoia among people regarding NPR.

Gujarat: 12 Congress leaders including MLAs Mohammad Javed Pirzada and Bhikhabhai Joshi convicted in 2008 ransacking case

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: 12 Congress leaders including MLAs Mohammad Javed Pirzada and Bhikhabhai Joshi convicted in 2008 ransacking case

A local court in Rajkot in Gujarat convicted twelve persons, including two Congress sitting MLAs and a former MP, sentencing them to one-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000 in a rioting and vandalism case that was registered in 2008.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Roopa S Rajput convicted Congress MLAs from Junagadh and Wankaner, Bhikhabhai Joshi and Mohammad Javed Pirzada, respectively, as well as former Congress MLA from Rajkot East Indranil Rajyaguru, and former BJP MP Devji Fatepara, and six others and sent them to jail for one year and fined Rs 5,000 each.

The six others convicted include Rajkot District Milk Cooperative Society President Govind Ranparia, besides Congress leaders Ashok Dangar, Jaswant Singh Bhati, Mahesh Rajput, Bhikhu Vadodaria and Govardhan Damelia. The other two onvicted, former MP Vitthal Radadiya and Popat Jinjariya, had died during the course of the trial.

The magistrate suspended the sentence for 30 days and allowed the convicts to appeal against the verdict, said public prosecutor H D Chaudhary. All the accused were released on a bail of Rs 5,000 each, he added.

The case was lodged in Pradyumna Nagar police station on December 4, 2008, against 179 Congress leaders who led a mob of over 1,500 people against the arrest of then Congress MLA Kunvarji Bavaliya in a land grab case. Bavaliya is now with the BJP. The mob had entered the Rajkot’s collector’s office and resorted to vandalism, rioting and damaging public property.

After Bavaliya’s arrest, the Congress leaders had gathered for the rally and later went to the collector’s office to submit a memorandum. There they were told that only five representatives could meet the collector. But, dozens of party workers barged into the collector’s chamber, leading to chaos. Later, an agitated group started shouting slogans and went to the ground floor where already over 200 party colleagues were waiting.

Some leaders started addressing party workers and then the violent mob broke furniture, window panes and earthen tubs with plants in the collector office.

The case was then lodged against 179 people under sections 143, 147, 1549, 186, 188 of the IPC (for unlawful assembly, rioting and violation of a public order etc.) and section 3(7) of the Damage to Public Property Act.

The court, however, acquitted the remaining accused persons due to lack of evidence against them.

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