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This is nothing but lynching my right to expression: Twitter India forces journalist to delete tweet about Murshidabad murder

OpIndia Staff
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This is nothing but lynching my right to expression: Twitter India forces journalist to delete tweet about Murshidabad murder

Speculations that micro-blogging site Twitter often arbitrarily forces people to delete tweets for alleged violations has yet again come to fore. Twitter seems to have now forced ABP News journalist Vikas Bhadauria to delete a tweet about the heinous Murshidabad incident, in which the family of RSS worker was brutally murdered, including a 7-year-old and an unborn child as the woman was 8 months pregnant.

On Friday, ABP News journalist Vikas Bhadauria in a tweet accused the microblogging site of ‘muzzling his pen and journalistic freedom’ after it forced him to delete the tweet about the gruesome murder of RSS worker in Murshidabad, an incident reported which was widely in media.

He further claimed that his account was restored conditionally. “This is nothing but lynching my right to expression,” tweeted Bhadauria after Twitter forced him to delete his tweet on the gruesome Murshidabad murders.


Twitter had earlier asked to remove the tweet posted by ABP news after the micro-blogging site claimed that the post had violated Twitter rules. The Twitter in its notice to the journalist said that the content was ‘gratuitous gore’ which could be harmful if exposed.

Earlier on Thursday, ABP News journalist had posted the details regarding the barbaric incident that had occurred in Murshidabad, in which a 35-year old RSS worker Bandhu Prakash Pal, his pregnant wife Beauty Pal (30) and their eight-year-old son Angan Pal were brutally murdered at their residence.

Bhadauria had expressed his anguish after the incident was reported and had claimed that the Hindu population in and around Murshidabad area was almost equal to none. In his tweet, Bhadauria had tweeted the images of the incident, which according to Twitter had violated the rules.

Vikas Bhadauria’s tweet on Murshidabad incident

It is not the first time that social media users have questioned the mysterious behaviour of Twitter which is often found censoring social media users for expressing their opinion. Recently, it had also banned Kashmiri Pandit activist Rohit Kachroo after he had exposed NDTV for trying to stage a debate showing that Kashmiri Pandits are unhappy with the abrogation of Article 370.

Read: Welcome to India, Jack. If we were like Twitter, you’d have been ‘blocked’ or ‘shadow banned’ at arrival

The case of Twitter suspending accounts is not limited to common users. Earlier, several prominent users were shadow-banned by Twitter. Fact-checking accounts and other social media users who disagree with the left-wing accounts have faced bans and scrutiny from Twitter. Recently, tweets from scientist Anand Ranganathan, a free speech warrior and filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri were withheld by the Twitter ‘in response to a legal demand’.

Another prominent Twitter Historian True Indology was also locked out of the Twitter after he had exposed NDTV’s false narrative by stating that Muslim majority Jammu & Kashmir never had a Hindu Chief Minister.

Karnataka: Assembly Speaker imposes temporary ban on media coverage of proceedings, journalists protests

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Assembly Speaker imposes temporary ban on media coverage of proceedings, journalists protests

A decision by Karnataka assembly speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri to place a temporary ban on TV channels from video graphing proceedings of the house has sparked protests in the state on Friday.

Ahead of the three-day winter session of the Assembly which began from Thursday, Speaker Hegde Kageri had issued orders to restrict camera persons, both electronic and print media, from covering the proceedings of the session.

Around 50 journalists from print, digital and television news organisations, including from both regional and national organisations, have now written to the Speaker asking him to review his decision. The scribes have also joined for a protest against the speaker’s decision on Friday at the Gandhi Statue in Maurya Circle.

Read: Rs 4.52 crore cash seized by Income Tax department following raids at Congress leader G Parameshwara’s premises

Reportedly, the ban on coverage was on an experimental basis and Kageri had stated that ban was not permanent. The Speaker had clarified that the restrictions will be implemented for the next three days after which the pros and cons of it will be weighed.

Media persons will be allowed to cover the session, but they cannot carry cameras inside the house to record the proceedings.

An official of the speaker’s office said that the state-run Doordarshan’s Kannada channel Chandana will provide the video feed of the Assembly proceedings to the private news channels. “As decided by the Speaker, private news channels can also take feed from Doordarshan for live coverage of proceedings as they do in the case of Parliament,” said the official.

Even, all news channels at the national level are banned from recording proceeding inside Parliament of India. The media can only take feed from the Lok Sabha TV and the Rajya Sabha TV for live or deferred coverage of the parliamentary proceedings. The same procedure will be followed from Thursday in Karnataka.

Interestingly, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday disagreed with speaker’s decision and said he will urge Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri to reconsider the banning of national and regional private TV channels from covering the proceedings of Karnataka Assembly live.

“My government is always committed to freedom of media. I will make a sincere effort and request speaker Vishweshwara Hegde Kageri to reconsider his decision on barring media from telecasting the house proceedings,” Yediyurappa had said in a now-deleted tweet.

The decision to allow private television news channels to cover proceedings inside the Karnataka Assembly was first taken in 1994 when Congress leader KR Ramesh Kumar was the Speaker.

In 2014, during the Congress government, the then Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa had also proposed a ban on television cameras from broadcasting Assembly proceedings inside the house. However, the proposal was not followed up and it eventually lapsed.

When a few Hindu boys bought Beer in ‘Islamic’ Kashmir: What it meant for this small Kashmiri Hindu township

Ashish Tickoo
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When a few Hindu boys bought Beer in ‘Islamic’ Kashmir: What it meant for this small Kashmiri Hindu township

One fine morning, my uncle called mom. As both spoke, I understood that my brother had received some threating letter in Kashmir. He had recently moved to Kashmir for work. After completing his MBA, getting a job was tough till he got a government offer to work in Kashmir under Central government employment policy for Kashmiri Hindu migrants popularly known as “PM’s Package”. With limited options available, he decided to take up the job in Kashmir against the wishes of many in the family.

After realising that my brother was being threatened, every adult in the family was concerned. This was for the first time in two decades that the family was discussing circumstances under which we had to leave Kashmir so openly in front of us. The topic was hardly discussed in details when we were growing up, the discussion was never meant for kids. For my brother, it seemed like just another day in Kashmir, he refused to leave Kashmir even though he had received a letter threatening his life.

On Facebook, several people started breaking the news about the letter on various Kashmiri Hindu forums. Facebook threads and discussions started to grow, some discussing how they had warned against going back to Kashmir and how the people had compromised the community’s dream of going back to a safe Kashmir by taking up the Jobs offered by the government. One particular post caught my attention in which one anonymous user had written that he was currently in Kashmir as a part of PM’s employment package and the situation was very tough for them. He spoke about how the government had tricked them in signing an employment contract under which they would no longer have migrant status in-case they left the job. I understood brother’s unwillingness to leave Kashmir.

I decided to go to Kashmir. I convinced parents that I was going to drive to Ladakh and on the way, I would stop by in Kashmir to meet my brother and try to convince him to quit the job and come back. Next day I was in Kashmir. As I entered the Kashmiri Hindu compound where my brother stayed, it all felt normal. He wasn’t at home. They had gone as a delegation to meet a separatist leader living nearby.

The first question I asked my brother as he came back was “Why would you people go and meet a separatist leader?” Brother responded with a smile and his first words were “This is not your Facebook discussion forum or the US; this is Kashmir. Things work differently here. Here if anyone tries to be a Sunny Deol, he will be floating in the river the next day. We are no tourists here now, we are living and working here and to do that we have to ensure everyone is on our side including the separatists.” And the discussion continued.

Read: Imran Khan again speaks like a terrorist group leader, says supporting Kashmiris against India is ‘Jihad’ to ‘make Allah happy’

It so happened that a few boys from the township had purchased Beer from a local liquor store and gone back to their apartments in the township. Just a few days later, the township received an abusive threat letter through the post. They were warned against the “un-Islamic” acts they were indulging it and the possible ‘consequences’ in the future. It was a surprise for the township. People didn’t even pray loudly in the nearby temple in order to avoid any conflict. During urgent township meeting on the way forward, the boys revealed that they had purchased Beer a few days earlier. It was shocking to many as it meant that someone was keeping a close eye on what was happening inside the township.

Everyone was afraid. One of the first steps they took is to send the delegation of a few people to meet a separatist leader. The separatist had called his network across the border within the terrorist organization, who had sent the threat letter. Leader of the terrorist organization is said to have assured the delegation while on phone loudspeaker that the threat letter was fake and probably sent by a few local boys. Those who led the delegation mentioned in a meeting that conclusion of the meeting was that Kashmiri Hindus are here to work but they should remember that they are being watched and not indulge in any “Un-Islamic” acts.

Read: If Hindus try to settle in Kashmir, they should not be alive for a single moment: Pakistan endorses genocide on live TV

Over the next few weeks, the delegation went on to meet many high-ranking Police officers, senior politicians in and outside Kashmir. Everyone met them, but no one helped. No arrests were made. Nobody tried to figure out who the people behind the threat were. Nobody understood what a threat letter meant for people of a community who had made an attempt to come back to Kashmir after 2 decades since Kashmiri Hindus were ethnically cleansed from Kashmir.

Few media houses paid attention to the incident but this was the turning point for the community who were already living under below standard conditions of living. Over the next few weeks, I learnt about how the teachers from the township were threatened in their classes by young students. During an India-Pakistan match, it is better for us that Pakistan wins otherwise the situation for us in class becomes very tough, we have now learnt how not to celebrate. The Beer incident changed everything for us. It was a warning for us to live on their terms and as long as we do so, all will be fine for us.

During my 3+ weeks in the township, I learnt how we see things as right or wrong on our Facebook discussions. Many felt helpless with 18-hour power cuts, no outside help, single security guard inadequate to save the township from a terror attack, Politicians unwilling to help, an administration that had other priorities, ignoring the local boys teasing the girls from the township on their way back from work, challenges in the office.

For this Kashmiri Hindu Township in Kashmir, it was about survival and they saw no hope.

Tonk: 3 days after stone pelting on Dussehra procession, curfew relaxed for 2 hours, no internet till Sunday night

OpIndia Staff
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Tonk: 3 days after stone pelting on Dussehra procession, curfew relaxed for 2 hours, no internet till Sunday night

2 days after a curfew was imposed in Malpura town of Rajasthan’s Tonk district after a procession of Hindus on Dussehra was attacked with stones by people in a Muslim-majority locality, the curfew imposed early on Wednesday morning was finally relaxed for two hours today morning from 8.30 to 10.30 am.

The local people who had been shut inside were seen rushing to the market for buying vegetables, milk and other necessities. As per reports, the local police had allowed only two-wheelers on the road during the two hours of curfew relaxation.

The curfew is expected to remain in place for another few days. Internet services in Malpura have been restricted too. Internet services are to remain shut till Sunday night.

During the curfew, all the roads to and from the town were completely sealed. Though newspaper distribution was allowed in the last two days, buses and transport vehicles have been banned.

However, the police have informed that only two accused persons have been arrested so far over the stone-pelting incident.

Read: 8 attacks on Durga Puja and Dussehra processions in just 2 days, Durga idol vandalisation reported across India

On Thursday evening, leaders of the two communities were invited for a ‘Peace meeting’. Departmental head LN Meena reportedly informed that there were adequate security arrangements in place for the Dussehra procession. Community leaders have reportedly condemned the violence and expressed regret.

On Tuesday, the Hindus in the town taking out a Dussehra procession were confronted by members of another community near a high Muslim concentration area near Saadat Chowraha. A heated argument broke out between two groups resulting in communal clashes as members of the community pelted stones at the procession of Hindus.

The stone-pelting and attack on the Dussehra procession had generated massive outrage in the town.

Protesting against the police’s failure to nab culprits responsible for the stone pelting, Hindus in the area, led by BJP MLA Kanhaiya Lal sat on a dharna outside the police station. The Ravan Dahan was also delayed. Finally, government officials and municipality staff had burned the Ravan effigy early on Wednesday morning. The police had imposed curfew and stopped internet services from Wednesday morning.

Rs 4.52 crore cash seized by Income Tax department following raids at Congress leader G Parameshwara’s premises

OpIndia Staff
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Rs 4.52 crore cash seized by Income Tax department following raids at Congress leader G Parameshwara’s premises

Following Income Tax department raids at former Karnataka Deputy CM and Congress leader G Parameshwara’s premises, cash to the tune of Rs 4.52 crore cash has been recovered till now. IT sleuths carried out raids at around 30 premises of former deputy chief minister of Karnataka.


The IT department said that today also the raids will continue at the premises of Siddhartha Medical College in Bengaluru. The college is run by a trust related to G Parameshwara.

Read: Read the details of Enforcement Directorate’s case against Congress leader D K Shivakumar

The IT raids are also underway at the home of G Parameshwara’s brother’s son, Anand’s house. Residence of his personal assistant Ramesh were also searched. Yesterday, too, the IT department carried out raids at various locations linked to G Parameshwara. As per reports, these raids are in connection with multi-crore tax evasion case linked to NEET exams.

Tripura villagers detain 3 Bangladeshi soldiers allegedly trying to kidnap Indian man: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Tripura villagers detain 3 Bangladeshi soldiers allegedly trying to kidnap Indian man: Report

In Tripura’s Sipahijala district, 3 Bangladeshi soldiers were detained by villagers allegedly for trying to kidnap an Indian man. As per a report in The Hindu, villagers near the India-Bangladesh border confronted three Bangladeshi soldiers in plainclothes trying to enter the village and kidnap an Indian man.

The Bangladeshi soldiers reportedly belonged to the Rapid Action Batallion (RAB). The incident occurred near the border pillar number 2059 near Kalamchara. At around 9 am on Thursday, villagers reportedly caught the Bangladeshi soldiers in the village and beat them up.

As the news of the detained Bangladeshi soldiers spread, BSF personnel rushed to the spot and rescued the RAB paratroopers. The Bangladeshi soldiers were then taken to the Ashabari border outpost on the Indian side.

The villagers stated that the paratroopers had come to kidnap one Abu Khayer. Khayer’s mother had passed away in the early hours of Thursday.

After the RAB paratroopers were held, the BSF officials reportedly held a flag meeting with the Border Guards of Bangladesh (BGB) officials later in the afternoon yesterday.

Read: 31 Rohingyas stranded at India-Bangladesh border handed over to Tripura Police

It is notable here that India shares over 4156 km of border with Bangladesh and Tripura shares over 800 km of it. The India-Bangladesh border at Tripura has been notorious for illegal immigration and cross border crimes. Tripura CM Biplab Deb has been highlighting the need for tightening border security.

Rohingya Muslims have been entering illegally through the porous India-Bangladesh border over the years. The Sipahijala district has also seen many cross border crimes.

In August, 2 BSF jawans patrolling the border were kidnapped by Bangladeshi smugglers after a skirmish in the same district.

‘Congress should introspect’: UP leader who once worked closely with Rahul Gandhi refuses to be Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s adviser

OpIndia Staff
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‘Congress should introspect’: UP leader who once worked closely with Rahul Gandhi refuses to be Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s adviser

The dissidence in the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Congress party seems to be out in public just days after Ajay Kumar Lallu was made party’s state unit chief. Senior Congress leader and former MP from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajesh Mishra has now turned down the post of member of the advisory council to party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

According to the reports, the AICC after appointing Lallu as Uttar Pradesh Congress chief had constituted the state Congress Committee to accommodate other senior leaders. Eighteen senior party leaders, including former Union ministers and former MPs, have been inducted in the newly formed advisory council.

However, the signs of dissent is now visible after Uttar Pradesh Congress leader Rajesh Mishra, who once worked very closely with former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, declined to be an adviser to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and said he was “just a worker” and that he did not “have the stature to advise someone”.

Read: As Priyanka Gandhi Vadra becomes the UP East in-charge, here is all you need to know about her colourful history

Reportedly, Rajesh Misra also said that the party needs to “introspect” in the current political situation. Asked if he was unhappy with the new Uttar Pradesh party-state executive, Mishra, a former MP from Varanasi said that the decision was the internal matter of the party. “If Priyanka ji or Rahul Gandhi ask me, I will tell them about my views,” said Mishra

“In the present political scenario, Congress should introspect. The party should promote ground-level workers and hardworking and devoted Congressmen,” he said.

Rajesh Mishra also added that he had no issues with the party, but said that many within the party feel that there should have been a “balance of the old and young in the committee made for the revival of the party”.

“There is a lot of work which is required on the ground. In the new committee, a majority of members are below 40-45 years of age. It has been a tradition of Congress that it takes everyone along; be it junior or senior, be it of any caste or creed. But if a committee is formed with one criterion and then there is Youth Congress also, what would be the criteria for the main party,” Mishra said.

Read: Rahul Gandhi to become ‘ideologue’ and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for PM: Congress ‘masterplan’ for 2024?

Expressing his unhappiness over the selection of Ajay Kumar Lallu as Uttar Pradesh state Congress chief, Mishra said that many in the party feel he was unable to handle even seven members in the legislature who are leaving, but added that it is the decision of the party, which would be accepted by everyone.

Vrushti Kothari case: Police trace location of Vrushti and Shivam to foothills of Himalayas, duo wanted to ‘escape’ their old lives

OpIndia Staff
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Vrushti Kothari case: Police trace location of Vrushti and Shivam to foothills of Himalayas, duo wanted to ‘escape’ their old lives

In a breakthrough in the controversial case of mysterious disappearance of Ahmedabad based Vrushti Kothari (24) and Shivam Patel (25) who went missing on 1st October, the Crime Branch has reportedly traced their location. The cops had traced their location to ‘hilly terrain’ in North India.

According to Ahmedabad Mirror, the duo’s interest in ‘breatharianism’ (belief that a person can give up on food and water altogether and live off sunlight) helped the Crime Branch trace them to a village surrounded by glaciers and and tall trees. Shivam is reportedly suffering from depression and was coaxed by Vrushti to join her in her ‘journey’ as the ‘wrong energy and wrong environment’ was affecting him negatively.

As per local Gujarati reports, the Ahmedabad Police Crime Branch has left for Ahmedabad with the duo.

Various teams were formed to look for the duo which went missing on 1st October under mysterious circumstances and were untraceable since. The Police had found CCTV footage near Shivam’s home in Navrangpura where they could be seen walking. As reported by TV9 Gujarati, the duo wanted to escape from their lives in Ahmedabad and hence kept all their belongings at home including phones. They were traced after Vrushti wrote an email to her mother that she is happy and need not worry about her. The police is expected to give more details pertaining to the case later today.

Read: The Vrushti Kothari Case: A missing daughter, a mysterious email that speaks of spiritual experiences, two worried families and clueless cops

Details of the case

Vrushti (24) went missing on the 1st of October along with her friend Shivam Patel (25). Vrushti is a fashion designer who lives with her family in Bodakdev, Ahmedabad. She had gone to visit her childhood friend and her driver had dropped her off at Shivam’s house in Vasant Vihar near H L Commerce College on the 30th of September. Her phone remained untraceable for the next two days following which her mother took to social media for help.

Her mother succeeded in attracting the attention of actress Soha Ali Khan whose post on the matter pushed the Police into action. Authorities had suspected that the two could have eloped, however, it didn’t make much sense as the two were well acquainted with each other and they visited each other at their respective homes often.

On Saturday, the Police claimed to have spotted Vrushti Kothari and Shivam at Ahmedabad Railway Station carrying bags. The guy was wearing a light blue collared Tshirt, jeans and a cap while the girl was in a maroon polka-dot dress. However, Vrushti’s family had refused to accept that the woman seen in the CCTV footage was the missing girl.

The duo has finally been traced at the foothills of Himalayas and are being brought back to Ahmedabad.

Chinese President Xi Jinping to arrive in India for informal summit: Here is the significance of summit being held at Mamallapuram

OpIndia Staff
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Chinese President Xi Jinping to arrive in India for informal summit: Here is the significance of summit being held at Mamallapuram

On Friday, 11th October 2019, Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit India for his second informal summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi since they had met in China’s Wuhan in April last year.

The summit is being held in the historic city of Mamallapuram on Friday in an attempt to reconfigure ties between two of the world’s biggest powers amidst major disagreements on certain issues between India and China.

President Xi’s visit comes after the two sides exchanged sharp words over Kashmir following Xi’s meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan two days ago. In a statement after the meeting, China said it was “paying close attention to the current situation in Jammu and Kashmir” and it “opposes any unilateral actions that complicate the situation”.

During the informal talks, the issue of terrorism and its funding, trade and border issues are likely to be key discussed between two leaders. No statement or joint communique will be issued by both sides after the visit as it is an informal and unstructured meet.

The importance of choosing Mamallapuram for Modi-Jinping summit:

The two-day informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at Mamallapuram, 56 km from Chennai, gives impetus to the cultural and trade link that once existed in the ancient era between the heritage coastal town and China around 1,600 years ago.

Mamallapuram, also known as Mahabalipuram, had ancient trade links between the Pallava kings and China. The seventh-century heritage town, which was a vibrant port city, had served as a gateway for imports and exports to China and South Asia. It was also part of China’s Silk Route.

Mahabalipuram was established by Narasimhavarman I of the Pallava dynasty in the seventh century AD. It was established as a seaport town by the Pallava king to carry out merchandise trade with other parts of the world. The city is named after Pallava king Narasimhavarman, who was hailed as “Mamallan” for his excellence in warfare and hence, the seaport town was named Mamallapuram.

According to historians, the Pallavas had sent their envoys to China as they had a good relationship with Chinese rulers. The China-Pallava dynasty relationship included an understanding of the defence ties. Narasimhavarman II had offered help to the Chinese rulers to take on the Arabs and Tibetans.

Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang went around the Pallava kingdom of Narasimhavarman I and lauded the people’s valour, conduct, and excellence in education. The rich cultural linkages of Mamallapuram’s relations with China makes it best suited for hosting Chinese President Xi Jinping for an informal summit.

The visit:

President Xi Jinping will commence his visit to India today. He will reach Chennai around 2 PM on Friday. He will then proceed to Mahabalipuram, where he will be joined by PM Modi. PM Modi is expected to show him around three of the site’s ancient monuments – Arjuna’s Penance, Panch Rathas and the Shore Temple.

President Xi Jinping is expected to travel along the scenic East Coast Road to reach Mamallapuram and would return to Chennai later in the night. Later, the two leaders will also watch a cultural programme at the magnificent Shore temple.

On Saturday morning, the two leaders will hold their informal meet at the Taj Fisherman’s Cove Resort & Spa, which will be followed by delegation-level talks. PM Modi will also host President Xi for dinner and lunch.

8 attacks on Durga Puja and Dussehra processions in just 2 days, Durga idol vandalisation reported across India

OpIndia Staff
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8 attacks on Durga Puja and Dussehra processions in just 2 days, Durga idol vandalisation reported across India

In India, Durga Puja is celebrated with much fanfare. From nine days of fasting to nine nights of dancing and celebrating the divine to mark the victory of good over evil, the Navratri is a festival close to all.

While the Hindus celebrated the divinity, some Muslims were busy perpetrating violence on the devotees and desecrating their faith. In this article, we will highlight how in just two days, eight incidents of violence, stone-pelting on procession as well as breaking of idols of Maa Durga. Not only that, pieces of meat were also thrown on the route of the procession. Many devotees fast during the nine days of Navratri and give up on consumption of meat and alcohol.

Balrampur: Durga Puja procession was attacked amidst ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ sloganeering, 8 arrested

In a video that had gone viral on social media, a Durga Puja procession can be seen getting attacked by heavy stone-pelting. The police had confirmed that eight people were arrested so far. A devotee who was part of the procession alleged conspiracy and claimed the stone-pelters chanted ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans.

Speaking to OpIndia, Suraj, a Balrampur resident part of the procession, said he was convinced that the Muslim residents of the locality had meticulously pre-planned this entire siege and the attack had nothing to do with the music not being stopped near the Mosque.

Read: Ready to dance on dead bodies of Hindus: How Raghav Bahl’s website whitewashed Islamist attack on Durga visarjan

According to Suraj, on the day the Hindus came under siege, he was walking through the same lane much before the procession was taken out. Suraj was walking through the same lane and was crossing house where a certain Zulfikar stays. According to him, while he crossed the house in the morning, Zulfikar threw a stone at him. This ensued in a mild argument which was then calmed down by Zulfikar’s old mother who asked Suraj to forgive the ‘young boys’ who were just doing mischief.

Suraj on his part paid heed to what Zulfikar’s mother was saying and did not make much of the incident. He proceeded home to prepare for the visarjan procession that was to be taken out later that day. “If I had told my people about this, maybe we would not have come under attack later. This was all pre-planned”, Suraj said. When the mother pleaded with Suraj to let go of the incident, he thought it must have been really been young boys were simply playing mischief, but the doubts were sowed. In retrospect, Suraj seems to believe that the incident was the first indication that the Muslim community was planning to attack the Hindu community and had started collecting stones and weapons in a pre-planned manner.

In Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, tensions escalated when meat pieces were found thrown on the procession route

According to reports, meat pieces were found thrown strategically on the route of Durga idol immersion procession which led to escalated tensions. An FIR has been registered against unknown people. Reportedly, 3 different visarjan processions were en route when people spotted meat pieces on the side of the road.

Idol broken in a temple in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh

In Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun, on the last day of Navratri, some miscreants broke the idol in a Shiv temple. This led to communal tension but matters were brought under control. Local residents informed the police the idols were intact when they offered their prayers the previous night but were broken the next morning.

Read: Here are 10 incidents of Temple desecration and sacrilege across the country since June 2019

In Assam, one Rafikul Ali put up a tilak on his forehead and set Goddess Lakshmi’s idol on fire, stole ornaments

One Rafikul Ali allegedly broke into a Goddess Lakshmi temple in Assam’s Barpeta and set the idol inside the temple on fire. He also reportedly stole the ornaments on the idol and also tore up the posters which informed about the upcoming Lakshmi Puja celebrations. Ali has previously been accused of bullying and harassing school, college students in the vicinity as well.

Durga idol vandalised in Arunachal Pradesh, 3 arrested

In Arunachal Pradesh’s Doimukh Bazaar’s Durga Puja pandal, the idols were broken. Three suspects have been arrested till now. The police, however, claim that the the reason behind the vandalisation was personal dispute and there was no communal angle behind it. Some social media users have claimed that the perpetrators belonged to the Christian community.

Durga idol broken and head ‘stolen’ in Bengal along with ornaments

In Wet Bengal’s Ketugram, devotees found that the idol of Maa Durga was broken and the head ‘stolen’ along with the ornaments. The ‘head’ was then found from a lake nearby. One suspect has been arrested. Villagers claim that the door of the temple was closed in the night but they found one of the windows open in the morning.

Read: ‘Dara Hua Musalman’? Here is a list of 50 hate crimes that busts the narrative

Stones pelted on Durga Visarjan procession in Gaya when passing by Jama Masjid, police beat up the devotees in pandal

On Tuesday night, during Durga Visarjan on Vijaya Dashami, stones were reportedly pelted on the procession as well as on the police when it reached the Jama Masjid area. As per reports, the police, while trying to control the crowd, used force and expletives, following which the devotees got angry. In a video that has gone viral on social media, one can see the police roughing up a devotee as it indulged in beating up people indiscriminately.

Stones pelted from mosque during Durga idol immersion in Jehanabad, 14 people injured

A Muslim mob attacked a Durga idol procession in Jehanabad district in Bihar on Thursday. The horrific attack on Hindus led to a curfew-like situation leading to the imposition of section 144 in the area. According to the reports, around 6 am on Thursday, a group of Hindus carrying an idol of Goddess Durga for immersion were attacked by a mob, which pelted stones from terrace and rooftops of mosque with stones near Bihar Studio at Arval Modh. The sudden attack led to a stampede in which around a dozen people, including four policemen, were injured.

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