President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, and Indian National Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge congratulated Indian chess grandmaster D. Gukesh on his historic triumph in the FIDE World Championship.
D. Gukesh made history on Thursday, becoming the youngest-ever International Chess Federation (FIDE) World Champion after defeating China’s Ding Liren in the final game of their championship tie.
“Heartiest congratulations to Gukesh for becoming the youngest player to win the World Chess Championship. He has made India immensely proud. His victory cements India’s position as a chess powerhouse. Well done, Gukesh! On behalf of every Indian, I wish you continued success in the future,” wrote President Murmu on X.
Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar posted, “Heartiest congratulations to @DGukesh on scripting history and becoming the youngest World Chess Champion! This extraordinary achievement marks a milestone in the world of chess and is a moment of immense pride for Bharat. Wishing him continued success in all his future endeavours. May his exceptional talent and unwavering focus continue to earn him laurels.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded Gukesh’s accomplishment, calling it “historic and exemplary.” He wrote, “Congratulations to Gukesh D on his remarkable accomplishment. This is the result of his unparalleled talent, hard work, and unwavering determination. His triumph not only etches his name in chess history but also inspires millions to dream big and pursue excellence. My best wishes for his future endeavours. @DGukesh.”
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted, “Chess Prodigy. Extending my warm wishes to @DGukesh for clinching the prestigious World Chess Championship title and becoming the youngest World Champion in the history of #Chess. Your hard work and dedication have made the entire nation proud!”
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin highlighted Gukesh’s contribution to India’s chess legacy, stating, “Congratulations to @DGukesh on becoming the youngest-ever World Chess Champion at 18! Your remarkable achievement continues India’s rich chess legacy and helps Chennai reaffirm its place as the global Chess Capital by producing yet another world-class champion. Tamil Nadu is proud of you!”
Indian National Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also extended his congratulations, saying, “Many congratulations to the phenomenal 18-year-old Gukesh D for becoming the youngest-ever undisputed classical chess champion! Your dedication, perseverance, and passion for chess have truly paid off, making India immensely proud. May this incredible milestone propel you to even greater achievements!”
The championship, which saw the scores tied at 6.5-6.5 heading into the final game, culminated with Gukesh delivering a stellar performance to secure a historic 7.5-6.5 victory over Ding Liren, according to FIDE’s official website.
The official X handle of FIDE declared, “Gukesh D is the YOUNGEST WORLD CHAMPION in history!”
In April, Gukesh had already made headlines by winning the FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament 2024, becoming the youngest-ever challenger to Ding’s world title.
Overwhelmed with emotions after his victory, Gukesh termed it the “best moment of his life” during the post-match press conference.
Reflecting on his loss, Ding Liren remarked, “I was totally in shock when I realised I made a blunder. I will continue to play. I think I played my best tournament of the year. It could be better, but considering yesterday’s lucky survival, it is a fair result to lose in the end. I have no regrets.”
The thrilling finale capped an intense series, with Game 13 ending in a draw and setting the stage for the decisive final round. Ultimately, it was Gukesh’s unmatched composure and skill that earned him the title, further solidifying India’s dominance in the chess world.
Uttar Pradesh Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Rakesh Sachan announced on Thursday that approximately 45-50 crore devotees are expected to attend the Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj.
Sachan further mentioned that he is in Patna to extend an invitation to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the Maha Kumbh. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is set to review the preparations in Prayagraj tomorrow.
“We are here to invite Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to the Maha Kumbh, organised by the UP government after 12 years. Preparations for the Mela began a year ago. Tomorrow, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will visit Prayagraj to assess the preparations. Around 45-50 crore devotees are expected to attend the Maha Kumbh,” Sachan told reporters.
Meanwhile, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, CM Yogi Adityanath personally reviewed the preparations in Mahakumbhnagar on Thursday. Following his directives, extensive arrangements are being made at the Sangam to ensure smooth rituals and worship.
According to an official release, Brahmins, priests, and pandas will be present at the venue to guide and assist devotees in performing rituals, ensuring a seamless experience.
The Yogi Adityanath government is committed to making Maha Kumbh 2025 the grandest yet, with a focus on providing a welcoming and well-organised experience for pilgrims from across the globe. In line with the Chief Minister’s vision, special arrangements are being made to enhance the safety and comfort of female devotees.
As per the release, SDM Mahakumbhnagar Abhinav Pathak stated that 12 special units are being set up at the Sangam to cater to women pilgrims. Each unit will measure 25 metres in length and 6 metres in width and will include changing rooms to ensure convenience after rituals and bathing.
Additionally, old and dilapidated boats are being removed from the Sangam area and replaced with newly constructed floating jetties, which are being decorated with vibrant flowers to enhance the site’s aesthetic appeal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Uttar Pradesh on December 13 to review development works for the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025. During his visit to Prayagraj, he will inaugurate and launch multiple development projects worth over Rs 6,670 crore.
According to an official release, PM Modi will arrive in Prayagraj and, at approximately 12:15 PM, will perform puja and darshan at Sangam Nose. This will be followed by a puja at Akshay Vat Vriksh around 12:40 PM, along with darshan and puja at Hanuman Mandir and Saraswati Koop. At around 1:30 PM, the Prime Minister is scheduled to walk through the Maha Kumbh exhibition site. Subsequently, at 2 PM, he will inaugurate and launch a series of development projects worth over Rs 6,670 crore in Prayagraj.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Indian chess sensation D Gukesh made history on Thursday as he was crowned the International Chess Federation (FIDE) World Champion following the final game of his FIDE World Championship tie against China’s Ding Liren, becoming the youngest-ever champion in the history of the sport.
With the scores levelled at 6.5-6.5 each heading into the final game, Gukesh managed to deliver his best when it was needed the most, with the 18-year-old sealing a historic win over Ding to become the 18th chess champion in the sport’s history. The final score was Gukesh (7.5) and Ding (6.5), as per FIDE’s official website.
The official X handle of FIDE announced, “Gukesh D is the YOUNGEST WORLD CHAMPION in history!”
The 18-year-old Indian in April created history as he won the FIDE Candidates Chess Tournament 2024, becoming the youngest-ever challenger to the world title held by Liren.
Following his triumph, Gukesh became overwhelmed with emotions and broke down in tears.
The emotional moment that 18-year-old Gukesh Dommaraju became the 18th world chess champion ?? pic.twitter.com/jRIZrYeyCF
Following the game, Liren said in the post-match press conference, “I was totally in shock when I realized I made a blunder. I will continue to play. I think I played my best tournament of the year. It could be better, but considering yesterday’s lucky survive it is a fair result to lose in the end. I have no regrets.”
"I think I played my best tournament of the year. It could be better, but considering yesterday's lucky survive it's a fair result to lose in the end. I have no regrets." ?? Ding Liren #DingGukeshpic.twitter.com/fPuS4xwPKK
The game 13 of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) World Championship between D Gukesh and the world champion ended in a draw on Wednesday, with one more round left to determine the champion of the sport.
At the end of game 13, the scores were level at six and the half points each, with one classical game left, as per FIDE. At this point, one move or one mistake could be the point of difference. The game lasted for 68 moves.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Surat Police arrested a youth accused of publicly molesting girls in Gujarat’s Surat on 11th December. The police became active and arrested him in just 48 hours owing to a lot of effort after a video of molestation on the road went viral. The accused has been identified as Mohammad Naeemuddin also known as Armaan Abdul Jabbar. The authorities reportedly took out a procession on the road to humiliate him before presenting him in court.
Footage of the offender harassing some girls went viral online after which an inquiry revealed that the video was from a society in the Udhna area of Surat. A team of 200 policemen was formed to nab the perpetrator while 700 CCTV recordings had to be examined. Seven teams of 100 officers were assembled by the city police, who spent restless nights reviewing the footage from 700 CCTV cameras along the 12-kilometre route the man took after committing the crime, as per reports. The public was furious over the crime and the authorities were under pressure to solve the case.
Furthermore, the cops also had to take the help of CCTV experts. According to information, a 33-second video of the incident went viral in which two girls were seen standing on a scooty outside the house in the society. A young man then approached and started troubling a girl sitting on the vehicle while the other one fled from there. The first girl also managed to walk away from him.
After reviewing footage from 700 CCTVs and deploying a force of 200 cops, the Surat Police have successfully arrested 19-year-old Mohd Naeemuddin, alias Armaan Abdul Jabbar, for molesting women on the road during the evenings.
After both the girls left, he tried to do the same with another pair of girls who were passing from there. They also attempted to escape but the culprit caught one of them and misbehaved with them. She also somehow managed to free herself from his clutches. The offender acknowledged that whenever he saw a girl, he would become excited. Since it was a Sunday (8th December) on the day of the incident, he was free. He went to the market to see women and girls because the night market outside Aman Society attracts a lot of people.
He had visited the society once before, so he was aware of it. He travelled there and began harassing the girls who came his way. He made sexual advances and grabbed a couple of females inappropriately. He absconded from the society later when the girls became alert. Police discovered that he assaulted two additional females in the same society, after the arrest. He had been booked under sections 74, 75 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sections 7, 8, 11, and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The matter was reported to Udhna Ploce Station after an investigation was launched. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Bhagirath Garhvi (Zone II) stated that the police started tracking the accused on the basis of CCTV footage. They also contacted the victims and their families as well as asked them to assist in the legal process. The heads of the local society were also approached and help was sought from other police stations to nab the Muslim young man.
“After we received the complaint, we made teams comprising the Udhna surveillance squad, five police stations under Zone II, and the DCB. The teams started working and traced him by watching 700 CCTVs of societies, shops, SMC, and police on the 12-kilometre route the man travelled to reach his home in Un village,” the official added and highlighted, “We are investigating if he was involved in other such activities.”
Inspector S N Desai of Udhna police station disclosed, “After leaving the society, he walked on the lanes and main roads of Udhna. As the incident took place at night, we were not able to see his face on many CCTVs. However, we traced him from his walking pattern. He also had a pattern of keeping his left hand intact as if he was a disabled person. However, he was normal. He took auto-rickshaws a couple of times and got down from the vehicles to misguide police. However, our teams finally traced him to Un village.”
He came to Surat 1.5 years ago for labour work,and comes from the Katihar area of Bihar. He was employed as a labourer and made thick thread used in making beds.
The Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh has issued a show-cause notice to Samajwadi Party MP Zia ur Rehman Barq for allegedly building a house without first obtaining the building map approval. The notice was issued on 5th December.
Earlier on Thursday, the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Department demolished several homes in the area. The demolished houses were constructed over encroached land.
On 5th December, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Sambhal issued a notice under the Uttar Pradesh (Regulation of Building Operations) Act, 1958, underlining violations of local building rules. The notice mentions that for violation of this Act, a fine of Rs 10,000 can be imposed.
“You are expected to appear before the designated authority on 12-12 24 at 10 AM and clarify the situation. You should appear on the said date in person or through an authorized person and explain the reason. You are also informed that you should immediately stop the construction work and immediately inform this office in writing about stopping the construction work,” the notice issued in Hindi reads.
District Magistrate Rajendra Pesia acknowledged that the notice had been issued. Highlighting what the regulations say, Pesia said, “Anyone constructing a house within a regulated area is required to have a building map approved by authorities”. He added that Zia ur Rehman Barq and some others in the area have been issued show-cause notices for “not complying” with the required procedures.
Zia Ur Rehman Barq’s alleged role in Sambhal violence
Notably, Barq is among those charged in connection with the violence unleashed by Islamist mobs on 24th November in response to a court-ordered survey of the disputed Jama Masjid.
According to the FIR filed against him, Barq visited the mosque days before the violence without permission and incited unrest. Barq, however, has denied the allegations. In a statement, he claimed that when the violence broke out, he was not in the state, let alone in Sambhal.
The FIR read, “On November 22, Zia ur Rehman Barq visited the Jama Masjid. After offering Namaz, he gathered a crowd without administrative permission and made provocative statements. For political gain, he incited the crowd to disturb communal harmony.”
Furthermore, the FIR mentioned Suhail Iqbal, son of MLA Iqbal Mahmood, as being present in the crowd on the day the violence broke out. The FIR read, “Suhail Iqbal incited the crowd by saying, ‘Ziaur Rahman Barq is with us, we are also with you. We will not let anything happen to you; fulfil your intentions.’ As a result, the crowd became more violent.”
Barq has been named “Accused No. 1” while Iqbal has been named “Accused No. 2” in the FIR. Seven hundred to eight hundred unidentified individuals have also been booked in the same FIR. According to the FIR, a mob comprising 700–800 armed individuals gathered to disrupt the court-ordered survey at Jama Masjid. The FIR further stated that the mob snatched official weapons from police personnel and targeted the police with intent to kill. It read, “One person from the crowd fired at Circle Officer Anuj Chaudhary to kill him. Anuj was shot in the leg and sustained injuries.”
A detailed OpIndia profile of Zia-ur-Rehman Barq can be read here.
The Samajwadi Party has a history of Muslim appeasement. Be it Mulayam Singh Yadav’s transition into “Mulla-Mulayam” and ordering firing on unarmed Karsevaks in Ayodhya in 1990, making Muslim appeasement policies, and protecting Islamist rioters as seen in the 2013 Muzaffarnagar Riots, attempting to withdraw cases against Islamic terrorists Shamim and Waliullah Khan in the 2007 serial blasts or the recent show of support to Islamists in the Sambhal violence case, the Samajwadi Party has always positioned itself as a party of the Yadav family but for the Muslim community. In Islam, there is a concept of Ummah which essentially means Muslim brotherhood implying that Muslims across the world regardless of nationalities and race are “religious brothers”.
This simply means that a Bangladeshi Muslim would support an Indian Muslim or Pakistan Muslim or so on in their fight against non-Muslims by virtue of being ‘Islamic brothers’. While a historical example of this is the Khilafat Movement of the 1920s by Indian Muslims in response to the removal of the Caliph (Khalifa) Turkey, a contemporary instance of Islamic brotherhood can be the Muslims across the world beyond their national or racial identities extending support to Palestinian terror outfit Hamas, which claims that Israel is Waqf property, in its was against the Jewish nation. Even in India, several Muslims expressed solidarity with their Palestinian Ummatis in the forms of protest marches, social media outrage and so on.
Buddhist-Rohingya Muslim conflict in Myanmar and its aftermath in India
While the Khilafat Movement despite a deliberate downplaying of the Islamic religious motives and giving it a ‘nationalistic’ and ‘secular’ outlook, is a widely known and discussed incident wherein Indian Muslims showed their allegiance to the ‘Ummah’, OpIndia has brought to its readers an incident from the year 2012. It was in a Samajwadi Party-ruled Uttar Pradesh when Muslims in Lucknow broke the idols of Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira to avenge the retaliatory violence and arson by Rakhine Buddhists in Myanmar against Rohingya Muslims after a Buddhist girl was raped and murdered by three Rohingya Muslims. The communal violence in Myanmar had a ripple effect in India, and the Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam killed four boys belonging to the Bodo community. In no time, a full-fledged riot erupted in Kokrajhar and neighbouring districts leaving over 80 people dead and numerous injured.
Azad Maidan Riots
After this, two major incidents of Islamist violence happened in the country, one was the infamous Azad Maidan Riots wherein Islamists led by Raza Academy who gathered to protest against the alleged atrocities on Muslims in Assam and Myanmar, desecrated the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial dedicated to the fighters of 1857 – the First Indian Freedom Struggle. The Islamists also clashed with the police leaving two dead and 63 injured. OpIndia earlier reported how the Mumbai Police in the then Congress-NCP alliance ruled Maharashtra waited till Eid to arrest the accused rioters so that they could celebrate their festival.
When Islamists vandalised the statues of Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira to ‘protest’ against the alleged atrocities against Muslims in Myanmar and Assam
The other and lesser discussed incident was the breaking of the idols of Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira in Lucknow by Islamists. It was the ‘holy’ month of Ramzan when Muslim organisations called for a ‘protest’ saying that Muslims in Assam and Myanmar are being oppressed. The date was 17th August 2012, and on the last Friday or Jummah, the Muslim mob came out on the streets of Lucknow after offering the Alvida namaz at the disputed Teele Wali Masjid. The mob targeted Buddha Park in Lucknow, where they vandalised the statue of Lord Buddha in a meditative posture installed in the Buddha Park and of Lord Mahavira in the Bhagwan Mahavira Park (also called the Hathi Park). The mobsters also vandalised public property, including roadside shops and attacked the media persons who clicked the photos of the vandalism. Later, the police dispersed the mob.
Images via ShrimadBhagvadGita/FB & @vjshg/X
Notably, the 9-foot-high padmasana idol of Lord Mahavira was installed on the 25th of April 2002. The Government of Uttar Pradesh had installed this idol on the occasion of the 2600th birth anniversary (Janma Kalyana – Jayanthi) of Lord Mahavira. The idol of Lord Mahavira had been brought in a procession by the members of the Jain community led by Acharya 108 Sri Viveksagarji Maharaj and other Jain ascetics.
The Muslim mob’s act in Lucknow was closely aligned with the ideology and actions of Afganistan’s Taliban. Back in March 2001, the Taliban government demolished the Bamiyan Buddhas, two enormous statues carved into the cliffs of the Bamiyan Valley in the sixth century. Mullah Mohammed Omar, the Taliban leader, ordered the destruction, declaring the monuments blasphemous and against Islamic principles since idols and statues are considered haram by the Taliban as well who are Sunni Muslims of the Deobandi (Hanafi) sect.
“Those statues were for entertainment purposes”: The Akhilesh Yadav-led SP government’s apathy towards Jains and Buddhists to avoid ‘upsetting’ Muslim votebank
The Islamic skullcap-wearing Muslims climbed up and broke the Buddha idol with spades and other objects. All this was happening in the capital of Uttar Pradesh. The Jain and Buddhist communities were outraged over the incident and questioned what was the fault of their deities or those statues. It is notable that neither in Assam nor in Myanmar, the Jain community was involved in the conflicts with Muslims. Evidently, the Islamists saw it as an opportunity to destroy the statues of the Kafirs.
When the Jain community approached the High Court demanding that the Samajwadi Party government take action against the Islamists who broke the statue of Lord Mahavira and install a new one at the same park, the bureaucrats under the Akhilesh Yadav government said that those statues of Lord Mahavira and Lord Buddha were installed in the parks for “amusement purpose” and that there were only ‘minor’ damages’ to the statues. The court, however, rebuked the the Lucknow DM Anurag Yadav and Principal Secretary (Home), RN Srivastava for downplaying the seriousness of the incident. While the SP government claimed to have allotted Rs 24 lakh for the replacement of the damaged statues with new ones, nothing was done leading the court to summon the DM and Principal Secretary only for them to downplay the religiosity of the statue of the most revered figures of two Indic religions and mock their faith.
In 2017, the court once again asked the statement government about what action was taken against those Islamists who damaged the statues, however, the government did not provide any clear answer.
On 12th December 2024, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain shared the High Court order directing the Akhilesh Yadav-led government to install new statues of Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira. It was Jain’s father and lawyer Hari Shankar Jain who represented the petitioners Ranjana Agnihotri, Sandhya Dubey and Usha Tiwari. Then in power, the Samajwadi Party government trivialised the blatant display of Islamist hatred for Buddhists and Jains, and now when HS Jain’s son is representing the Hindu side in the Sambhal Jama Masjid-Harihari Temple dispute, the Samajwadi Party is supporting the Muslim side and its MP is accused of instigating violence.
Order of Hon’ble High Court directing the government on 29.08.2012 to install new idols of Lord Mahaveer and Lord Buddha after the rioters had demolished it in Lucknow in August,2012. pic.twitter.com/kSJcdIxt17
From Lucknow to Sambhal, Ayodhya, Kashi to Mathura, Hindus and other non-Muslim communities have for some or the other reason been targeted by the Islamists. In Lucknow, the Islamist mob hooliganism was a “show of solidarity” with the Ummah in Myanmar and Assam, in the cases of Sambhal Jama Masjid-Harihari Temple, Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath Temple, or the Shahi Idgah-Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi, it is the obstinacy of Islamists to let the Hindu community reclaim its cultural and religious heritage and Muslim appeasing political parties facilitate their obstinacy by shielding them and projecting them as victims for electoral gains while trivialising the attack on religious symbols of Hindus, Jains and Buddhists.
The Supreme Court of India on Thursday started hearing a bunch of petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. A special bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice KV Viswanathan heard six petitions listed before the court, including separate petitions filed by BJP leaders Ashwini Upadhyay and Subramanian Swamy.
The court issued a significant order during the hearing and ruled that no further petitions will be registered against the Places of Worship Act while the matter is being heard by the court. The court said that while new petitions can be filed, they will not be registered.
The court said, “As the matter is sub-judice before this court we deem it fit to direct that no fresh suits shall be registered or proceedings be ordered. In the pending suits, courts would not pass any effective order or final orders. When a matter is pending before us, is it just and fair for any other court to examine it. We are on vires as well as ambit of the act.”
The court noted that Places of Worship Act expressly prohibits such suits against the Act, therefore the suits cannot proceed until the validity of the law itself is decided. The Supreme Court had confirmed this in the Ayodhya verdict too.
While the court stopped registering new petitions, it allowed a counter-petition filed by Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind to be listed today. The Jamiat is seeking strict implementation of the Places of Worship Act.
The apex court also directed the lower courts to not pass any interim or final orders in the existing petitions regarding the act, including ordering any survey of religious places. The court stated, “As the matter is sub-judice before this Court, we deem it appropriate to direct that while suits may be filed, no suits would be registered and proceedings undertaken till further orders of this Court. We also direct that in the pending suits, the Courts would not pass any effective interim orders or final orders, including orders of survey till the next date of hearing.”
This means that in the existing suits like Gyanvapi mosque, Mathura Shahi Idgah, Sambhal Jama Masjid etc, the courts can’t issue order, and can’t order any new survey.
However, the bench clarified that while the courts can’t issue interim or final orders, the proceedings in the existing cases will continue, and rejected the Muslim sides plea to stay those proceedings too.
The Court also asked the Union Government to file its counter-affidavit and uploaded the same on internet so that all the petitioners can access it.
During the hearing, the court was told that at present there 18 petitions pending against 10 Islamic structures.
The court is hearing several petitions filed against the Act, with the petition filed by Ashwini Upadhyaya in 2020 being the lead petition. On the other hand, several petitions intervention applications have been filed by various political parties like CPI(M), Indian Union Muslim League, DMK and RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha, NCP (Sharad Pawar) MP Jitendra Awhad etc, seeking to keep the act.
The bench appointed Advocates Kanu Agarwal, Vishnu Shankar Jain and Ejaz Maqbool as nodal counsel to prepare compilations on behalf of the central govt, the petitioners and the parties supporting the Act respectively.
National Investigation Agency (NIA) along with the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) raided Mufti Khalid Ansari Nadvi’s house in Super Colony at 2.30 am on 12th December regarding a foreign funding and money laundering case in Jhansi district. He has also been investigated in a case involving the spread of terrorist propaganda and the radicalization of people connected to Jaish-e-Mohammed. However, when the authorities were taking him with them for further interrogation, a large number of Muslims in the area surround the NIA convoy with the intention to break Nadvi free from custody.
Jhansi Police informed later in the afternoon that though the mob tried to break Nadvi free, they weren’t successful and additional forces were called to handle the situation. They added that Nadvi was eventually taken into custody and is under probe.
थाना कोतवाली क्षेत्रान्तर्गत एन.आई.ए. व ए.टी.एस. की संयुक्त टीम द्वारा संदिग्ध व्यक्ति को हिरासत में लेकर की जा रही पूछताछ आदि के सम्बन्ध में- pic.twitter.com/BhqcYMy9hP
It was reported earlier that the mob was successful in breaking Nadvi free. But Jhansi Police have clarified that it was not the case and the mob was dealt with. The accused was taken into custody as per law and is currently under custody.
Mufti Khalid Ansari Nadvi is the nephew of the city Qazi and as the news of his detention spread, his supporters started protesting. He was sent with an investigating team for questioning and after about eight hours when the authorities began to take him with them, a massive crowd was summoned through an announcement from the mosque. Hundreds of women and men surrounded the police and NIA vehicles and tried to forcibly remove Nadvi from there.
The crowd grew and the situation deteriorated. The NIA team tried to reason with the mob but the latter started to argue. A few of them even got enraged. The throng of at least 200 people had surrounded the NIA vehicles to rescue Nadvi. The incident took place at Saleem Bagh Ali Gol Khirki in the Kotwali police station area.
#WATCH | Jhansi | On NIA officials searching his residence, Mufti Khalid says, “Around 2:30-3 in the night, people from NIA Delhi knocked on my door. I did not open out of fear because I was alone and it was late in the night… They checked the entire house thoroughly and they… https://t.co/hTCG50pIctpic.twitter.com/PAWtKyE2HB
A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Jhansi had raided super colony near Salim Bagh. The action has been taken in connection with cases related to foreign funding and dubious activities. Mufti Khalid Ansari Nadvi’s house was also searched. He delivers virtual lessons to children and people from India and abroad join his online classes. According to sources, the agency had received information about his foreign contacts and that he received financing from outside the country through these activities.
“Around 2:30-3 in the night, people from NIA Delhi knocked on my door. I did not open out of fear because I was alone and it was late in the night. They checked the entire house thoroughly and they did not find anything. They took whichever books they found suspicious. They took documents like Passport, an old VISA to Saudi Arabia. They checked my phone and enquired about my WhatsApp contacts and groups. They asked about Muhammad Ilyas Ghuman. I run an online Islamic coaching centre where I teach Indian and NRI students. They checked my bank statements as well,” Nadvi informed while talking to media.
He added, “I have been doing online for 11 years. My fee ranges from 50 rupees to 1500 rupees. The team asked me about foreign funding. They inquired ‘Did you transfer money abroad’ to which I responsed with not at all. They were saying that they would take me to the police line and interrogate me.”
City Qazi Mufti Sabir Ansari stated that Nadvi was his nephew. He added, “He religiously teaches Urdu and Quran to children all over the world. NIA’s team arrived at 3 am. They interrogated him but recovered nothing. Afterwards, they informed that he will be taken to police line for further questioning. The people then demanded that he should be questioned here when he did not do anything. They asked why did they need to take him? He has been an online teacher for 10-12 years. We want justice and things to be improved. NIA people have not told anything, except he teaches in an institution and then took computer and other study materials from home.”
The locals alleged harassment of Nadvi for no reason and clashed with the authorities for a long time during the incident. On the other hand, the NIA team confiscated several important documents and electronic devices from his house, which will be sent to Delhi for investigation. The local administration and the police are also cooperating in this case.
Note: An earlier version of this report mentioned that Nadvi was rescued from NIA custody by the mob. However, Jhansi Police have clarified that it was not the case and the accused was taken into custody and the mob was handled peacefully with the help of additional police personnel.
A 55-year-old widow and her two sons reportedly committed suicide on 10th December (Tuesday) in Jodhpur. The incident took place in Birami village near Osian in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan. According to the police, the unfortunate tragedy was caused by family strife. Four people were named in a suicide letter that her elder son posted on social media, accusing them of harassing and defaming them. Bhanwari Devi and her two sons, 27-year-old Navratan and 24-year-old Pradeep, have been identified as the deceased.
Navratan got married only four months ago. The suicide note mentioned about torture perpetrated by the daughter-in-law along with names of three others. Navratan’s wife was at home at the time of the incident. On Tuesday afternoon, Navratan’s cousin visited them and found the three bodies. He rushed them to local hospital, where they were pronounced brought dead.
Image via NDTV Rajasthan
Authorities arrived at the scene after receiving word from the locals and took the bodies to the mortuary. Station House Officer (SHO) Osian, Rajesh Kumar informed that police learned of the joint suicide at approximately 11 am on Tuesday. The victims had froth around their mouths when they were found in their home. He disclosed, “They purchased packets of some poison from the market and consumed it by dissolving it in water. The substance they consumed will be recognised only after the post-mortem, which will be conducted by a medical board on Wednesday (11th December).”
Navratan had sent a message to his family members blaming four people for mental harassment and torture. Screenshots of the same have been making the rounds on social media following the deaths. “They harassed us and made false accusations. Lal Singh, Hukam Singh, Shravan Singh and their daughter Neetu Singh from Mandla should be punished for our deaths. They mentally tortured us. Sir, ensure that this entire family is brought to justice,” it read.
Image via NDTV Rajasthan
The trouble apparently started soon after the son’s marriage. Superintendent of Police Rural Jodhpur Rammurthy Joshi conveyed, “The bodies of the mother and two sons have been discovered along with a suicide note. The cause of death is being investigated. It appears to be a suicide. Postmortem has not been carried out yet. The reason behind the suicide will be clear after probe. The police is investigating the case in depth. The cause of the death will be known through the post-mortem report and further inquiry.”
The police mentioned, “The reason for this alleged persecution of the family and their connections with the deceased is yet to be verified and ascertained.” Sub-Inspector Sultan Singh stated that the matter seems to be of family dispute and mental harassment. He added that further action would be taken as per the investigation.
The deceased woman’s husband once owned a snacks factory in Bathinda, Punjab, but it was destroyed in a fire, according to the preliminary police inquiry. Her husband passed away in a fire accident in 2012, per other reports. The family then went back to their village. The two brothers worked in finance. The family has not filed a First Information Report (FIR) yet.
Massive tensions erupted in the Parbhani district of Maharashtra on Wednesday, 11th December after a cement replica of the Indian Constitution created near the BR Ambedkar statue in the region was vandalized by one Sopan Pawar, a resident of Murtizapur village in the Parbhani tehsil. The accused who has now been arrested is a claimed lunatic, as informed by the police. After the event of vandalization, the supporters of BR Ambedkar organized protests and demanded a lockdown claiming that the Constitution had been insulted by a Maratha.
Immediately after this, people during the protests began pelting stones at each other giving the gathering a violent turn. Several shops and vehicles in the said region are also believed to have been damaged and vandalized in due course.
As per the police, more than 40 individuals have been arrested for creating and escalating violence in the district. SIG Nanded, Shahaji Umap confirmed the incident and said that several shops, CCTV cameras, and hoardings of the shops were destroyed by the miscreants. He said that some of the police officers were also attacked by the miscreants who pelted stones at the police vehicle. Following this, he said that the police had to resort to a lathi charge to control the situation.
#WATCH | Visuals from central Maharashtra's Parbhani city where violence broke out yesterday over the alleged vandalising of a replica of the Indian Constitution pic.twitter.com/K6flEZngAx
“We have detained about fifty people. The process of registering cases against them has started. The accused of this incident has also been arrested, and a case has been registered against him. He is currently undergoing treatment as the mob has beaten him–he is a lunatic and undergoing treatment; his mental condition is not good. We have also found the documents during the investigation. So I appeal to everyone to maintain peace without giving much importance to this incident, he added.
Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi Chief Prakash Ambedkar took cognizance of the event and condemned the violence. He meanwhile attempted to give the castiest angle to the incident. “The vandalization of the Constitution of India at Babasaheb’s statue by casteist Maratha miscreants in Parbhani is absolutely very shameful, to say the least. It is not the first time such a vandalism of Babasaheb’s statue or symbol of Dalit identity has happened. VBA Parbhani District karyakartas were the first to be on the scene and their protests led to the police filing an FIR and arresting one of the miscreants. I request everyone to maintain law and order. If all the miscreants are not arrested within the next 24 hours, consequences will follow,” he said.
The vandalisation of the Constitution of India at Babasaheb’s statue by casteist Maratha miscreants in Parbhani is absolutely very shameful to say the least.
It is not the first time such a vandalism of Babasaheb’s statue or symbol of Dalit identity has happened.
Meanwhile, the BJP has blamed the Opposition for orchestrating the violence by giving the incident a communal touch. BJP leader Amar Sable said, “This country will run on the Constitution. PM Modi, Amit Shah, and CM Devendra Fadnavis have that goal too. But the opposition, MVA, has set up a narrative against the Constitution, which is why there is unrest in Parbhani now. There has been a mockery of the Constitution, the narrative set by the opposition is one of the reasons for this unrest.”
“The second reason is that whenever Devendra Fadnavis takes oath as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, unrest between communities is promoted [by the Opposition]. We have seen this before too. There is going to be a big event in Bhima Koregaon; this is why unrest is being fuelled by the Opposition. But the people of Maharashtra will reply befittingly,” he said.
The vandalisation of the Constitution of India at Babasaheb’s statue by casteist Maratha miscreants in Parbhani is absolutely very shameful to say the least.
It is not the first time such a vandalism of Babasaheb’s statue or symbol of Dalit identity has happened.
It is important to note that initially only one person who had vandalized the replica of the Indian constitution was arrested on Wednesday. However, massive violence broke out hours after the incident resulting in 40-50 arrests. The miscreants pelted stones even at the police vehicles and damaged several public properties. Following this, prohibitory orders were issued in the region and the internet was also shut down.
Parbhani, Maharashtra: The public pelted stones at a police van, forcing the police personnel to flee with the van to save their lives pic.twitter.com/Le7BV61zuz
The supporters of BR Ambedkar, on the other hand, are accusing the police of allegedly covering up the matter by declaring the accused a mental patient. “It’s the job of doctors to check these things and certify them. Why are the police giving this certificate? People were angry with this approach to cover up the matter. Some of them used this unrest to spread violence. We have appealed to people to restore peace in the city,” said Vijay Wakode, vice president of Republican Sena led by Anandraj Ambedkar.
“As our activists caught him and took him to the police station, we think he is not mentally unstable. Someone has sent him to spread the unrest. The police should find out who it is through a narco-analysis test. We also demanded to take him in police custody for interrogation as he has been sent to a civil hospital,” he added.
Meanwhile, Parbhani District Magistrate Raghunath Khandu Gawade has also urged people to maintain peace. “Prima facie, the accused was drunk and also appeared mentally unstable, but doctors in the civil hospital are conducting medical tests. Today, we have issued prohibitory orders and also held a meeting with all organizations to restore peace. Some organizations have demanded conducting a Narco analysis test. Whether it was a conspiracy or not is a part of the investigation,” he said.
