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Watch: Turning CCTV cameras away and supplying sacks full of stones, new footage exposes the reality of Mangaluru ‘protests’

OpIndia Staff
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Watch: Turning CCTV cameras away and supplying sacks full of stones, new footage exposes the reality of Mangaluru ‘protests’

In the aftermath of violent protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, several CCTV videos have emerged that conclusively bust the pervasive myths that the ant-CAA protests were inherently peaceful in nature and a spontaneous outburst of public indignation against the government decision.

Videos of CCTV footage have emerged from Mangaluru where it can be seen that the rioters adjusted various CCTV cameras in the region to prevent them from recording their hooliganism.


In the above video, one can see masked rioters adjusting cameras in a neighbourhood of Mangaluru. However, rioters miss adjusting one of the cameras in the region that captures their nefarious designs. Soon, an auto-rickshaw laden with sacks filled with stones arrives at the location. The rioters then unload the sacks and violently throw the stones at the law enforcement officials.

The video not only exhibits that the anti-CAA protests were marked with violence and were far from being peaceful but it also shows that the plotters of these protests carefully planned and schemed to shape them into riots.


In another video shared by journalist Shiv Aroor, again from Mangaluru, protestors can be seen laying obstructions on the road before retreating back to the farthest corner of the street. When a bus carrying passengers arrives on the road, the protestors start charging towards the bus and pelting stones at it. Fortunately, the bus driver takes a reverse and manages to rescue the bus and the passengers just in the nick of time.

Another video by CNN News 18 shows that police officials were escorting school children to safety, away from rioting mobs on December 19.


In the aftermath of the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act, riots, violence, arson and vandalism by Muslim mobs in the name of ‘protests’ against the enactment of the law have taken place across the country. The police have been unwarrantedly villainized for its heavy-handed approach against the rioters which were touted by many as ‘peaceful demonstrators’. However, in the light of the recent videos, it is clearly established that the protests were meticulously planned and the protestors were anything but peaceful.

West Bengal Governor calls it collapse of law after he was heckled, forced to return without attending convocation at Jadavpur University

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal Governor calls it collapse of law after he was heckled, forced to return without attending convocation at Jadavpur University

West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, who was surrounded by ‘protesting’ students at Kolkata’s Jadavpur University this morning for the second consecutive day, has blamed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the student protests over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or the CAA.

The students reportedly surrounded the car, shouted ‘go back’ slogans, waved black flags and allegedly heckled the Governor when his convoy arrived at the university, to attend the annual convocation ceremony today.


Denouncing the student action, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar tweeted, “I am shocked and surprised how the university allow this situation and cannot control it. It’s a total collapse of the system.”

“At Jadavpur University so that the students may get their degrees and enjoy the fruits of their labour and contribute to society. Unfortunately, the way to the venue in the University is blocked. Unwholesome. No affirmative role by concerned insight. Worrisome situation.”

“The number of those obstructing is only around fifty. System being held hostage and those enjoined with the task are oblivious of their obligations. A collapse that can only lead to unwholesome consequences. Rule of law is nowhere in sight. As constitutional head concerned.”  Dhankhar said.


The Governor, who is Chancellor of Jadavpur University, was invited to the annual convocation and participate in the formalities. As per the programme of the convocation published by the university, the Chancellor was to declare the annual convocation open, administer the exhortation to the recipients of degrees and then authorise the Vice-Chancellor to award the degrees and medals.

“A painful scenario that the Jadavpur University Vice-Chancellor is oblivious deliberately of his obligations and looking for alibis. He is presiding total collapse of rule of law. Ruinous state of affairs,” the Governor wrote in another tweet.


Calling the entire fiasco orchestrated, the Governor raised concerns, saying that the management does not realise the damages it’s causing to the system: “I am amazed that the Vice-Chancellor is in passive mode and silent spectator to this unseemly spectacle that augurs painful sliding of our system. This action is orchestrated by the powers that be not knowing the damage it causes in short and long run on out education.


As he was unable to enter the premises and the convocation had already started without him, the governor left the campus. “In utter helplessness as of now I am leaving the Jadavpur University campus,” he tweeted.

Yesterday also, hundreds of students of the CPI(M)-backed SFI, Arts Faculty Students Union (AFSU), AISA and the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Students Union (FETSU), who were ‘protesting’ the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and Dhankar’s public statements in support of the act, were waiting near Aurobindo Bhavan, the administrative block that also houses the Vice Chancellor’s office and the moment the Governor’s convoy drove up, they surrounded it.

It was only after a considerable struggle against a sea of students that Dhankar, who was there to attend a meeting of university’s top officials, managed to enter the building.

The Governor had offered to take questions on Monday. When the students questioned him on police action at the Jamia Millia Islamia campus in Delhi, Dhankhar said he is the governor of West Bengal and can answer queries about this state only. The students booed him and heckled him as he left.

This is, however, not the first time when the communist and Trinamool student activists at Jadavpur University have resorted to such hooliganism. In September this year, union minister Babul Supriyo was also kept captive at the campus for over five hours by the pre-planned and coordinated efforts of left-wing students and activists when the minister had gone there to perform at a fresher’s welcome function organised by ABVP. He was heckled, pushed by pro-Naxal activists at Jadavpur University, preventing him from entering the campus

Fashion designer and BJP leader Agnimitra Paul, who was accompanying the union minister, was also on the receiving end of hooliganism by pro-Naxal activists. She was manhandled, her saree was torn by the hooligans.

The Governor who had then rushed to the university to rescue the union minister was also stuck in the campus for over an hour after the activists sat on the ground, blocking their way.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university Suranjan Das had then too refused to call the police after Babul Supriyo asked him to do so after he was held up for hours. The minister had then slammed the VC for failing to control the situation, saying that he is a leftist.

Aligarh Police puts an end to rumours, says no stun grenades were used on violent protestors at AMU

OpIndia Staff
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Aligarh Police puts an end to rumours, says no stun grenades were used on violent protestors at AMU

It all started when Delhi University professor Nandini Sundar tweeted on 19th December, 2019 that ‘stun grenades’ were used on protesting AMU ‘students’ because of which two students lost their hands.


Similar such ‘stun grenade’ usage appeared in leftist rag The Telegraph India which claimed that a report prepared by Jamia Millia Students who went to AMU to ‘fact-find’ on what transpired the previous night in violence, mentioned usage of ‘stun grenades’. Again, these were not official reports. Either Jamia Millia ‘students’ who surprisingly double up as investigators have reported or Sundar. Sundar, wife of The Wire Founding Editor Siddharth Varadarajan, is also accused of helping Maoists.

Read: Meet Nandini Sundar, the DU professor who is accused of having blood of adivasis on her hand

Sundar’s claims were then repeated by pro-Aurangzeb ‘historian’, Audrey Truschke.


Amongst other people, she was also called out by Aligarh Police which denied such allegations.


However, by then the propaganda has now spread far and wide.


Aligarh SSP Akash Kulhari has now clarified that no lethal arms were used to control the mob violence that broke out at AMU during the anti-CAA protests. He stated that he is ready to face an inquiry over social media allegations that stun grenades were used by police during the protests.

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

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

UP had seen large scale violent riots by Muslim mobs over the CAA and NRC. In the past few days, the UP government has been using CCTV and drone footage to identify and arrest stone pelters, arsonists and violent rioters who had damaged public property.

Several media and social media reports have surfaced which show that in many instances, the mob had no idea why exactly they were protesting or what is their issue with CAA or NRC. Intelligence sources have already mentioned earlier that they suspect the hand of pro-Islamist, separatist and jihadi elements behind inciting the riots in several parts of the country.

As per a report in Dainik Jagran’s Gorakhpur edition, as the violent rioters started wreaking havoc after the Friday prayers in Mosques, the police had detained a man for stone-pelting. The man claimed to the police that his name was ‘Pankaj Tiwari’.

Report in Jagran

When the police asked the man his father’s name, he reportedly thought for some time and replied it is ‘Gauri Tiwari’. Finding his replies suspicious, when the police officials mentioned sternly that he was seen pelting stones by an on-duty policeman, the suspect replied, “Allah Kasam(by the name of Allah), I was not pelting stones”.

As per reports, the Gorakhpur violence is suspected to have been incited with ‘outsider influence’. Media reports mention citing police sources that from Friday morning, several groups of young men were active in the Shahmaruf area. They first forced the shops to close then decided to offer Namaz with black arm-bands. The police teams were keeping a close watch on such groups. Some young men were also seen distributing black arm-bands and tying them to people.

Read: UP police arrest PFI’s Uttar Pradesh head Waseem for allegedly masterminding violence during anti-CAA protests

The ground team had reported to police officers that some non-local elements are inciting local Muslims to organise violent protests. Police had decided that they will approach the men and conduct enquiries after the Friday Namaz in Mosques.

The Jagran report states that the police teams were taking swift action after the Friday riots. They had detained any person they deemed suspicious and had taken them to police stations. After scanning area-wise CCTV footage, if any persons amongst the detainees were found not to have been involved, they were being released and suspected individuals were detained. Over 24 people were released from a group of over 50.

Police investigation has revealed that some WhatsApp groups were inciting local Muslims and were also making personal calls to fan violence. Police have also found that local Muslims had collected and gathered stones and bricks for violence after the Namaz. Police are also scanning through mobile network details to determine the numbers which were actively making calls and sending messages before and during the riots to incite violence.

Normalcy returning to Assam, schools reopen in 11 districts after almost two weeks of shut down

OpIndia Staff
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Normalcy returning to Assam, schools reopen in 11 districts after almost two weeks of shut down

Assam has seen large-scale unrest over the Citizenship Amendment Act. Schools were shut in many areas and the internet was suspended after incidents of arson and vandalism. As per reports, schools are now opening in several areas.

Schools in 11 districts of Assam were opened on Monday after almost 12 days of shut down. Though protests against the CAA are still going on in Guwahati, gradually normalcy is being restored.

According to officials in the education department, schools up to 12th standard were reopened after almost two weeks of shut down in 11 districts of Assam. Businesses and banks were opened in Guwahati on December 19, but schools had mostly remained closed.

The schools were closed amidst widespread protests on December 11. Examinations in many institutions and universities have been postponed too. The All Assam Students Union, students of various colleges and universities, artists, lawyers and many civil society groups were a part of the anti-CAA protests.

Read: The Citizenship Amendment Act is constitutional: Here is how the anti-CAA propaganda has no legal basis

As per reports, Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has stated that out of 206 social media posts that were identified for inciting violence in the state, 3 had originated in the UAE. He also stated that the police have registered 28 cases for provocative and offensive social media posts and 10 people have been arrested so far.

A total of 393 persons have been arrested so far in 244 cases registered over their involvement in violence and arson. Assam CM Sonowal has stated that the state government will resolve all issues by peaceful dialogues with leaders of all groups involved.

Mamata Banerjee writes to Opposition leaders to gather support against CAA, continues to indulge in fear-mongering

OpIndia Staff
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Mamata Banerjee writes to Opposition leaders to gather support against CAA, continues to indulge in fear-mongering

Continuing to indulge in fear-mongering, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote a letter to leaders of opposition in other states urging them to come together against the Citizenship Amendment Act and ‘chalk out a plan to save the country.

Writing to chief ministers and senior leaders of opposition parties as well as NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Banerjee wrote, “Today, I write this letter to you with grave worries in my mind. The citizens of this country irrespective of caste and creed, particularly the woman and children, farmers, workers and members of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, OBCs and minorities are in the grip of fear and panic for the Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed nationwide NRC. The situation is very serious.”

Read: Mamata Banerjee ‘inspired’ the birth of two lion cubs in Kolkata zoo, claims plaque installed in the zoo

“Today, more than ever, we need to rise against this draconian regime in the united manner. I sincerely and honestly request all my senior leaders and all the political outfits to stand up against this in a concerted and united manner; let us create peaceful and meaningful opposition to these unholy efforts by the Centre and save India’s democratic soul,” the letter further read. She has urged the leaders of opposition parties to meet and chalk out a planned protest to ‘save our democracy’.

Banerjee’s call for unity came a day after Prime Minister Modi mocked her for opposing the CAA and having baseless paranoia.

Barkha Dutt’s sister Bahar Dutt caught in plagiarism row, latter denies the allegations

OpIndia Staff
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Barkha Dutt’s sister Bahar Dutt caught in plagiarism row, latter denies the allegations

Controversial journalist Barkha Dutt’s sister Bahar Dutt was caught in a plagiarism row when nature and wildlife writer Janaki Lenin accused her of lifting paragraphs from her 2007 essay “The Song of the Ganges Gharial”. Taking to Twitter, Janaki alleged that Bahar Dutt’s book ‘Rewilding’ has portions of her essay lifted off almost verbatim.


Janaki cited her own essay and shared a screenshot from Dutt’s book which were quite similar.


Her subsequent tweets showed Dutt’s book had exact same words as her essay.

Bahar Dutt’s clarification

Dutt, however, refuted these allegations and said that she had quoted Romulus Whitaker, wildlife conservationist.


Expressing shock at the allegations, Dutt said how her emails to Whitaker were on record and were based on the papers sent by him. She adds that the references to the papers she has used in her book are mentioned in the references section.


To another quote, she mentioned that in her book she had attributed the above quote to Rom as it was given to her by him. “If you were writing on his behalf, why did you not mention?” she asked Lenin. Rom is also Janaki Lenin’s husband. Responding to Dutt’s clarification, Lenin reprimanded her for not putting the verbatim quotes in quotation mark.


Lenin has further asked Dutt to share the email exchange between Dutt and her husband, Rom, as she has claimed.

After Kerala governor Arif Mohammad Khan supports CAA, Congress revokes invitation to him to attend commemoration of former CM

OpIndia Staff
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After Kerala governor Arif Mohammad Khan supports CAA, Congress revokes invitation to him to attend commemoration of former CM

Days after Kerala governor Arif Mohammad Khan voiced his support for the Citizenship Amendment Act, Congress leader and the opposition leader of Kerala asked him to not attend a program where he was invited.

This was informed by the official Twitter handle of the Kerala Governor, which said that opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala requested the governor not to attend the event. According to the letter written by Chennithala to the governor, governor Arif Mohammad Khan was originally invited to inaugurate the commemoration of former Kerala CM K Karunakaran at 4 PM on 23 December.


After thanking the governor for agreeing to attend the event, the letter addressed to the ADC to Governor states, “however due to some unexpected developments, the organisers of the programme have advised that it would not be appropriate for the Hon’ble Governor to grace the function. Taking into consideration all the aspects and the available information, Leader of Opposition also feels that it would be ideal, if the Hon’ble Governor takes out this programme from his schedule of functions for the specified day.”

The letter was sent today, 23rd December, the day when the event was scheduled, which means it was a last-minute decision. The letter does not mention the ‘unexpected developments’ that forced them to ask the governor not to attend their event, but the reason can be easily guessed. Congress party is organising protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, and they don’t want to be associated with a person who have expressed pro-CAA views.

Two days ago, governor Arif Mohammad Khan had said that by enacting the CAA, the Modi government has promise made by Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Nehru and Congress to the people who were leading deplorable lives in Pakistan. He had added that the foundation of the Citizenship Amendment Act was laid in 1995 and 2003 and the BJP government has simply given a legal form to it. A couple of days before that, he had said that the amendment is an “extraordinary solution” in the wake of minorities from neighbouring countries fleeing religious persecution.

FIR filed against AAP leader Amanatullah Khan for ‘instigating violence through social media’

OpIndia Staff
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FIR filed against AAP leader Amanatullah Khan for ‘instigating violence through social media’

The Ghaziabad police on Monday registered a case against the Aam Aadmi Party leader Amanatullah Khan for inciting violence through his social media posts.


In a clampdown against hate-speech, the police filed an FIR against the leader under sections of the IT Act at Ghantaghar PS Ghaziabad. Khan is also alleged to have made inflammatory speech minutes before the violence broke out at Jamia Millia University on December 15.

However, on Friday, December 20, 2019, Khan rubbished the allegations that his speech touched off violence at Jamia Islamia University on December 15. He claimed that many RSS, VHP and BJP leaders were also involved in the protests. He also spoke in support of the Jamia students, exonerating them of the violence that erupted in the University last week.

The BJP, on the other hand, had accused the AAP leader of fomenting unrest and encouraging violence in the national capital of the country through his incendiary remarks during his speech at anti-CAA protests held at Jamia Islamia University on December 15.

In a trenchant speech on December 15 at Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh, Khan censured the BJP government for enacting the Citizenship Amendment Act that intends to grant citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim minorities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh. He also alleged that the silence of Muslims on the Triple Talaq Act was taken as their weakness by the central government. The speech which was attended by thousands of impassioned people gathered to protest against the CAA was allegedly delivered just minutes before the violence broke out.

UP police arrest PFI’s Uttar Pradesh head Waseem for allegedly masterminding violence during anti-CAA protests

OpIndia Staff
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UP police arrest PFI’s Uttar Pradesh head Waseem for allegedly masterminding violence during anti-CAA protests

The Uttar Pradesh police on Monday arrested the state head of the radical Islamic outfit Popular Front of India(PFI), Waseem and his two aides for allegedly masterminding the violence during the anti-CAA protests held in Lucknow last week.


According to the police, the PFI played an instrumental role in inciting violence in several parts of Uttar Pradesh, especially its capital, Lucknow. Waseem’s key aides, Nadeem and Ashfaq were also arrested for allegedly engineering violence during the anti-CAA and anti-NRC protests in Lucknow. Maulana Shadab and 11 members of the PFI were earlier arrested in Shamli in similar cases.

Talking to the media, SSP Lucknow, Kalanidhi Naithani said, “We have been successful in nabbing mastermind of Lucknow violence. Waseem, Nadeem and Ashfaq of PFI have been arrested by the police. While Wasim is state head, Ashfaq is treasurer and Nadeem is a member of PFI.”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTwbvddFRq4]

Earlier on Sunday, UP Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma had alleged possible role of PFI and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) in stoking violence during the anti-CAA protests in the state which has claimed 18 lives so far and left scores of people, including many policemen, injured.

SSP further added that the police have retrieved placards, flags, pamphlets and papers, literature, newspaper cuttings, banners and posters of NRC/CAA protest from the accused.

Furthermore, the SSP added that Nadeem and Ashfaq have confessed to the police of building a strategy for December 19 protests and publicising it on social media.

At least 39 FIRs have been filed in connection with the violence that erupted last week across various cities and towns in Uttar Pradesh during the anti-CAA protests. About 150 people have been arrested so far in the state.

In addition to Waseem, Nadeem and Ashfaq, the police have also arrested Robin Verma and Mohammad Shoaib of the Rihai Manch for their role in instigating the mob. Nadeem and Ashfaq were accused of inciting people for the protest through WhatsApp and other social media platforms by sharing literature and video, SSP said.

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