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How former Indian High Commissioner to Canada punctured the lies of Trudeau govt: 10 key takeaways from his interview before exiting the Khalistani hotbed

OpIndia Staff
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How former Indian High Commissioner to Canada punctured the lies of Trudeau govt: 10 key takeaways from his interview before exiting the Khalistani hotbed

On Sunday (20th October), CTV News published an interview of former Indian High Commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, who was recently recalled by the Indian government over security concerns.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) had accused the Indian career diplomat of facilitating the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil, without providing any hard evidence. The Liberal Trudeau government had additionally declared him as a ‘person of interest.’

Before leaving the country, Sanjay Kumar Verma sat down with CTV News correspondent Vassiliki “Vassy” Kapelos and exposed the logical fallacies in the claims of the Canadian government. He lashed out at the Trudeau government for jeopardising bilateral ties with India in exchange for appeasing Khalistanis.

1. No evidence shared by Canada

During the course of the 26-minute-long interview, the CTV journalist remained fixated on the sweeping claims made by the Trudeau government and the RCMP despite no evidence to back it up.

Sanjay Kumar Verma insisted that Canada show evidence before accusing a sovereign, democratic nation like India of carrying out extra-territorial killings.

At the very onset, he stated, “We needed to see some evidence on the basis of which we can converse with our Canadian counterparts. Unfortunately, not a shred of evidence has been shared with us. Any evidence which is shared has to be legally acceptable. We are a country of rule of law, and so is Canada.”

The former Indian High Commissioner to Canada emphasised, “So, therefore, anything which is acceptable in the Canadian court of law would largely also be acceptable in the Indian court of law, and therefore that evidence would work. Unfortunately, we have not got anything from any Canadian official which can lead us to a better spot.”

2. Trudeau resorted to political grandstanding

Sanjay Kumar Verma was quick to point out how Canada flouted established protocols to score political brownies and harmed ties with India in the process.

“Canada didn’t follow the practice which should have been there. Evidence should have been shared first. But someone decided to stand in the parliament and talk about a thing for which he himself has said there was no hard evidence. So let’s be very clear what we are talking about. And the day on which he did that, since then he has made sure that the bilateral relation with India only goes downwards, spiralling down,” he highlighted.

The career diplomat further added that the Trudeau government has nothing but evidence in the form of hearsay, obtained from anti-India and pro-Khalistani elements residing in Canada. Despite this, other politicians in the country was willing to accept political speeches in the Parliament as ‘biblical evidence.’

3. On political bias of RCMP

During the interview, the CTV News correspondent Vassy tried to portray the RCMP as an independent authority. Sanjay Kumar Verma instantly called her bluff out.

“How politically independent they are, we can discuss it till the cows come home. They are. That’s your view.I will give you my view. So till two days before, they said there is no evidence to share. And in PFI, in the Foreign Reference Committee meeting, and all of a sudden, there was all the evidence in the world available with them,” he stated.

“So let’s not go there. And the political motivation, I have been talking about it for a long time. No official, no institution can remain completely aloof of what’s happening politically,” he further added.

4. A deliberate ‘meeting’ stunt at the 11th hour

On being quizzed about RCMP officials willing to meet their Indian counterparts but the Indian government not entertaining them, Sanjay Kumar Verma clarified how such a request came at the 11th hour without any clear agenda for the meeting.

“They wanted to leave for India on the 8th of October. They gave their completed application form only on the 8th of October. So, visa needs to be affixed.For any delegation, government delegation, to travel to another country, you need an agenda to go by. There was no agenda at all,” he stated.

“I think it was pre-planned. They knew that the visa cannot be issued in half an hour to an hour, and therefore they did it.I think it was absolutely politically motivated,” he highlighted his concerns.

The ex-High Commissioner pointed out, “There is a time which is taken to issue a visa. Between India and Canada, there is no visa-free agreement. So, therefore, in general, I can tell you, in general, for a government official from India to come to Canada, it would take at least a week to get the visa…So, the visa is one. Second is, what did they want to talk about? That was not shared at all.”

5. On being declared a ‘person of interest’ in Canada

During the interview with CTV News, Sanjay Kumar Verma also talked about the decision of the Canadian government to declare him as a ‘person of interest.’

He outrightly rubbished the allegations levelled at him as politically motivated, devoid of any evidence. The recalled diplomat asked why the Trudeau government did not go ahead and file a chargesheet if they had the evidence.

While discussing the request of the Canadian authorities to the Indian government to waive his diplomatic immunity, Verma inquired, “On what basis? If you are a defendant, for example, which I’m not, then you will be shared with the evidence. On the basis of which anything can take place. And that happens even if you have been caught for a petty crime.”

“If I am going for an interrogation, I need to know what I am (being) interrogated for. I need to know what is the evidence that you have. So that I go prepared. Let me see what concrete evidence Mélanie Joly is talking about. As far as I’m concerned, she’s talking politically.As far as I’m concerned, she has got nothing in her hand,” he added.

6. On allegations against Indian diplomats

The RCMP and the Canadian government had accused Sanjay Kumar Verma and 5 other Indian diplomats of gathering information and providing it to the assassins of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

He clarified, “First of all, I as High Commissioner of India had never done anything of that kind. That is one. Second, my colleagues, do we want to know what pro-Kalistani elements in Canada are doing? Yes, we do. That’s my national interest. That’s my core concern with Canada which is trying to tear up Indian territory.””

“So if the Canadian politicians are so novice that they want me not to know what my enemies are doing here, I am sorry. Then they do not know what the international relation is all about. There is nothing covert. It’s all overt. So we read the newspapers, we read their statements.  Since we understand Punjabi, so we read their social media posts and try to infer from there,” he emphasised.

7. India’s position on extra judicial killings

Verma was quick to condemn the killing of Nijjar and added that India believes in the rule of law. He however pointed out how some G7 countries, with a proven track record of extra-territorial assassinations, were lecturing India without evidence.

The career diplomat stated, “It (extra judicial killings) should not happen anywhere in the world. I know the countries which have done it. And some of them are G7 countries, by the way. So let us not talk about it. There should not be double standards.”

“So as far as we are concerned, the largest democracy in the world, we are committed not to do extrajudicial killings on any territory, leave foreign countries,” he added.

8. Canada has become a hotbed of Khalistanis

The former Indian High Commissioner raised alarms about how people who come to Canada on student visa get involved in terrorist activities.

Some of them came here as innocent international students, and they turned into criminals in this country. I don’t know what happened. How did they get influenced?” he asked bluntly.

“There are so many things. Khalistani extremists are being encouraged all the time…I also know that some of these Khalistani extremists and terrorists are deep assets of CISIS,” Sanjay Kumar Verma emphasised.

The ex-Indian High Commissioner to Canada stated that India is home to the largest Sikh population and that the ones instigating seperatism of Punjab are based in Canada.

“These Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who are based out of Canada, are not Indians. They are Canadian citizens, and no government should encourage their citizens to attack sovereignty and territorial integrity of other countries,” he concluded.

9. Inaction by Trudeau govt on evidence provided by India

Sanjay Kumar Verma stated that the Indian government sent 26 dossiers to Canada, providing evidence about Khalistani terrorists operating from Canadian soil and yet no action was taken against them.

He said, “We have sent 26 dossiers to Canada. What has happened?”, he inquired. In another segment of the interview, the career diplomat pointed out, “The most important case at hand from our point of view are the 26 extradition requests, and so many other arrest requests.”

He pointed out, “We only want the Canadian regime of the day, the government of the day, to understand my core concerns, and try to act on that sincerely, rather than being bedfellows with those who are trying to challenge Indian sovereignty and territorial integrity.

10. No bullying developing country

Lastly, Sanjay Kumar Verma made it clear to the CTV News journalist Vassy, who was seemingly working on Trudeau’s agenda, that India would no longer be bullied.

“Gone are the days when the so-called developed countries or Western bloc would ask a developing country, you must do this, and they will run after them and do it,” he made it crystal clear.

“We are a rule-of-law country, as Canada prides itself to be a rule-of-law country,” the ex-Indian High Commissioner to Canada underlined.

Uttar Pradesh: Communal tension erupts over temple vandalism, Shamsad arrested for spitting pan masala on idols

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Communal tension erupts over temple vandalism, Shamsad arrested for spitting pan masala on idols

On Sunday, 20th October, Sadrpur police in Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh, arrested a man identified as Shamsad, son of Hadees from Khurwal, for spitting pan masala on idols inside a Hindu temple. As per a Live Hindustan report [archive link], the police have claimed that Shamsad is ‘mentally disturbed’ and undergoing treatment at King George Medical College. The accused was arrested for temple vandalism and the challan was sent to the Sitapur court by the police.

Reportedly, on Sunday afternoon, Shamsad entered the temple situated at the main crossroads in Sadrpur and spat pan masala [archive link] on the idols inside the temple. When devotees present in the temple confronted him, he responded with threats and abusive language, even warning the devotees of dire consequences.

The incident of temple vandalism angered the locals in Sadrpur, district Sitapur, and they began protesting. The police rushed to the temple after learning about the incident and took Shamsad into custody. Speaking to the media, acting station in-charge Dilip Singh said that the accused is mentally disturbed and undergoing treatment. He added that the investigation into the matter is underway and the police are questioning the accused.

OpIndia tried contacting the concerned police station to get more information on the matter but could not connect. This report will be updated when more details emerge.

Jammu & Kashmir: A doctor and several construction workers killed by terrorists in Ganderbal area, HM Amit Shah promises harshest punishment

OpIndia Staff
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Jammu & Kashmir: A doctor and several construction workers killed by terrorists in Ganderbal area, HM Amit Shah promises harshest punishment

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the dastardly terror attack on civilians in Gagangir area of Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir was a “despicable act of cowardice”.

Shah affirmed that those involved in this heinous act will not be spared and will face the harshest response from security forces.

Home Minister also extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Two labourers were killed in a terror attack in Gagangir area of Jammu and Kashmir’s (J-K) Ganderbal district on Sunday evening, officials said. Some media reports have mentioned that 6 persons, including a doctor have been killed and several others have been injured. Armed terrorists reportedly entered a camp where workers of a private company doing construction work in a tunnel project were staying.

In a post on X, Shah said, “The dastardly terror attack on civilians in Gagangir, J&K, is a despicable act of cowardice. Those involved in this heinous act will not be spared and will face the harshest response from our security forces. At this moment of immense grief, I extend my sincerest condolences to the families of the deceased. Praying for the speedy recovery of those injured.”

As per reports, the laborers were working on a major tunnel project for the Army. Lashkar proxy TRF has taken the responsibility for the attack and has ‘warned’ locals and non-locals against working on any such infrastructure projects carried out by Indian government. The victims of the attack include some non-locals and some locals too.

This is the second terrorist attack in less than a week of the new state government under Omar Abdullah taking oath in the Union Territory.

J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah condemned the attack, calling it a “dastardly and cowardly” attack on non-local labourers.

“Very sad news of a dastardly and cowardly attack on non-local labourers at Gagangir in Sonamarg region. These people were working on a key infrastructure project in the area. 2 have been killed and 2-3 more have been injured in this militant attack. I strongly condemn this attack on unarmed innocent people and send my condolences to their loved ones,” Omar wrote on X. 

The entire area has been cordoned off and the hunt for the terrorists is on. ANI reported that the hospital where the injured are getting treatment has also been provided with additional security.

(With inputs from ANI)

Israel to take legal and diplomatic action against French president Emmanuel Macron for banning Israeli companies from Euronaval defence show

OpIndia Staff
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Israel to take legal and diplomatic action against French president Emmanuel Macron for banning Israeli companies from Euronaval defence show

Israel has decided to take action against French President Emmanuel Macron for the decision to ban Israeli companies from the Euronaval defence trade show in November. Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz announced the decision saying that boycotting Israeli companies from the show is undemocratic which is not acceptable between friendly nations.

The minister said, “I have instructed the Foreign Ministry to take legal and diplomatic action against French President @EmmanuelMacron decision to prevent Israeli companies from showcasing their products at the @SalonEuronaval exhibition in Paris next month.”

He further added in a post on ?, “The boycott of Israeli companies for the second time, or the imposition of unacceptable conditions, are undemocratic measures that are not acceptable between friendly nations. I urge President Macron to cancel them entirely. Israel stands alone at the forefront of the fight against the Iranian and radical Islamic axis of evil, and France, along with the entire free world, should stand with us – not against us.”

Earlier this week, it was reported that France has decided to ban Israeli companies from the Euronaval trade show. As per the report, Israeli delegations will be able to attend the event but contractors cannot showcase their military equipment at booths.

Later the organisers of the show said that Israeli companies would be allowed to participate in the show, on the condition that they are not involved in Israeli military operations in Gaza and Lebanon. However, that meant nothing, as there is no defence company in Israel that is not supplying to the Israeli military. Therefore, the ‘relaxation’ is meaningless.  

A statement on the Euronaval website states, “The exhibition organizers acknowledge the decision of the National Defense and Security Council dated October 1, 2024, as clarified by the decision of October 18, 2024, which stipulates that Israeli companies wishing to participate in the Euronaval exhibition may do so. They may have an exhibition stand, provided that their products are not used in military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.”

The list of countries participating in the trade show does not include Israel, a major defence manufacturer. Some of the top defence companies in the world are based in Israel, like Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems etc.

After the French decision to ban Israeli companies from Euronaval, Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant called it a disgrace to the French nation and the values of the free world. “The decision to discriminate against Israeli defense industries in France a second time – aids Israel’s enemies during war. This builds on the decision to place an arms embargo on the Jewish State,” he said.

Gallant tweeted that Franch has been adopting and implementing a hostile policy towards the Jewish people. He added, “We will continue defending our nation against enemies on 7 different fronts, and fighting for our future – with or without France.”

The decision to ban Israeli companies from the defence show came amid rising tensions between France and Israel after Emmanuel Macron’s criticism of Israel over civilian casualties in Israeli military action against Hamas and Hezbollah in Gaza and Lebanon.

Remarks made by Macron in a closed-door meeting were leaked, in which he had said that Israel should not ignore the decisions of the United Nations. He had said, “Mr. Netanyahu must not forget that his country was created by a U.N. decision.” Before that, Macron had said that the export of weapons to Israel was one of the key measures to stop the conflicts in the region.

This is the second time France has banned Israeli firms from a defence trade show. Earlier in June,  The French govt banned Israeli companies from attending the Eurosatory arms and defence industry exhibition in Villepinte near Paris. Eurosatory is a major international exhibition for the land, air-land defence and security industry.

While a court overturned the executive decision of Marcon govt banning Israel, it came too late, the show had already started, and Israeli companies could not participate.

Muslim mob chant ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ slogans in Muzaffarnagar over rumours that Hindu man arrested in 20 minutes over ‘objectionable post’ was released, over 700 people booked

OpIndia Staff
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Muslim mob chant ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ slogans in Muzaffarnagar over rumours that Hindu man arrested in 20 minutes over ‘objectionable post’ was released, over 700 people booked

Thousands of Muslims came out in Budhana town in Muzaffarnagar on Saturday night over the rumour of the release of a man over a blasphemous social media post, causing tension in the area. They raised slogans calling for the beheading one Akhil Tyagi, who allegedly made some objectional comments on social media.

The mob pelted stones at the shop of Akhil Tyagi, and chanted Sar Tan Se Juda slogans, calling for his beheading. Tyagi was earlier arrested by police over complaints against his post. However, after rumours that he had been arrested, a Muslim mob came out on the streets.

They blocked the Kandhla road in Budhana, raised ‘objectionable slogans’, spread rumours, and pelted stones, including at Tyagi’s shop in the area. Later a large police force arrived and dispersed the crowd.

In the videos of the protests, the mob can be heard chanting the Islamic murderous slogan, ‘Gustakh -E- Nabi Ki Aik Saza, Sar Tan Se Juda, Sar Tan Se Juda’ (There is only one punishment for being disrespectful to Prophet Mohammad, separation of head from torso, separation of head from torso).

Around 700 unnamed people were booked on Sunday for violating the model code of conduct and prohibitory orders in Muzaffarnagar, which is in force due to upcoming byelections in the Meerpur assembly constituency.

Senior Superintendent of Police Abhishek Singh said on Sunday that police have registered two cases against 500-700 protesters. Apart from that, a case also has been filed against Akhil Tyagi.

Police said that footage of the night is being checked to identify the people in the mob. Probe is also on to identify who circulated that Tyagi has been released, and who pelted stones. The police statement can be seen here.

Police conducted a flag march in Budhana and security in the area has been tightened. Additional police forces have been deployed in the town as a precautionary measure.

As per police, a case was filed against Akhil Tyagi on a complaint by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind city president Mufti Nazeer Ahmed. Police boasted that Tyagi was arrested within 15-20 minutes of receiving the complaint.

After that, he was arrested. Muzaffarnagar Police posted on X, ‘Today, on 19.10.2024, a youth who posted a post against a community on social media in the Budhana police station area has been arrested by the Budhana Police Station.’

Post by Muzaffarnagar Police

While Tyagi remains in custody, a rumour was spread that he has been released, Islamists were angered and they came out in protest, blocked roads and raised objectionable slogans. However, when police along with Samajwadi MP Harendra Malik clarified that he is still in custody, the crowd dispersed late in the night.

After the crowd was dispersed, the police posted on X, ‘In connection with the incident of a youth sharing an objectionable post on social media against another community in Budhana police station area, the protest has been ended by appealing to the people to maintain peace by the senior officials. At present, the traffic is running smoothly.’

In the complaint filed by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, it has been alleged that on 18 October, a video was posted on Facebook on the ID of Golden Bharat against the Waqf Board Property Amendment Bill. Akhil Tyagi allegedly made some objectionable comments replying to that post, and it has hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community. The complaint added that he has made other objectionable posts too.

Editor’s note: Earlier the victim’s name was reported to be Nikhil Tyagi, however, new information indicates that his name is Akhil Tyagi. The report has been updated to reflect the change.

“Didn’t come out alive”, “Died a dog’s Death”: Celebrations on the ground and on Social Media following Ram Gopal Mishra’s murder in Bahraich

राहुल पाण्डेय
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“Didn’t come out alive”, “Died a dog’s Death”: Celebrations on the ground and on Social Media following Ram Gopal Mishra’s murder in Bahraich

On 13th October, a radicalised mob of Islamists killed Hindu devotee Ram Gopal Mishra during the Durga Visarjan procession in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh. It has been nearly a week since the brutal murder. Now, it has come to light that members of the Muslim community were celebrating his death, both on the ground and on social media. Meanwhile, Bahraich police has approached Jamiat Ulema, known for providing legal aid to terrorists, to issue appeals for peace in the region.

Celebrations over Ram Gopal’s murder

Speaking to OpIndia, Chandrapal Kumar Mishra from the Hardi area, an eyewitness to the incident in which Ram Gopal was killed, stated that several Muslims in the community are celebrating his murder. Chandrapal shared that he overheard some Muslims saying that whatever happened to Ram Gopal was “very good.” When he confronted them with, “What if this had happened in your home?”, they got offended.

Another local from the region, Aditya Mishra, who considers Bhajirao Peshwa as his idol, spoke to OpIndia and said that local Muslims have been celebrating Ram Gopal’s murder. He pointed out that not a single Muslim leader in the region has expressed condolences over the murder. Instead, they are focused on portraying the victim as a rioter.

Aditya added that the same leaders who were silent when Muslims indulged in violence are now trying to justify the murder. He pointed out that celebrations over Ram Gopal’s murder are not limited to ground level but are also visible on social media platforms. He shared a link to the Instagram account “Bahraich Queen 786” with OpIndia where videos of Ram Gopal standing on Abdul Hamid’s rooftop were posted.

The video, which carries the caption “The day Waseem and I enter the field,” has over 125,000 views. The post has more than 800 comments, mostly from the Muslim community. Users like Taufiq Khan commented with a green heart emoji, saying, “Didn’t come out alive, Inshallah.” Another user, Zeeshan, posted two laughing emojis and remarked, “He was shot dead.” Kaniz Fatima quoted Salman Azahari, writing, “Today it’s the dogs’ turn; tomorrow, our time will come, Inshallah.”

Source: Instagram

Comments like “The rioter has been crushed” and “He died a dog’s death” flooded the post, with several handles, including those of Myra and others, cheering the murderers with slogans like “Islam Zindabad” and “Pathan Zindabad.”

Source: Instagram

Jamiat Ulema’s peace appeal with letters in Urdu

Amidst the tension, Bahraich police officially approached Jamiat Ulema to help restore peace in the region. The police circulated letters written in Urdu and Hindi by Jamiat Ulema on their official WhatsApp group, appealing for calm. In the letter dated Monday, 14th October 2024, Maulana Qari Zubair Ahmed urged people not to let divisive forces succeed. Notably, Jamiat Ulema has often been in the news for providing legal aid to terrorists.

This report was first published on OpIndia Hindi which can be checked here.

Adamlanza111: The Twitter account behind most of the hoax bomb threats to Indian flights, handle named after US mass shooter

OpIndia Staff
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Adamlanza111: The Twitter account behind most of the hoax bomb threats to Indian flights, handle named after US mass shooter

The Indian aviation industry has been rocked by over 70 hoax bomb threats since 13th October this year. The Indian airlines, serving both domestic and international routes, have suffered route diversions, flight delays and loss of crores of rupees.

Air India Express, Air India, IndiGo, Vistara, Alliance Air, SpiceJet, Star Air and Akasa Ai have been hit the hardest. A whopping 70% of these hoax bomb threats were made by an X (formerly Twitter) handle called ‘adamlanza111’.

The account, which now stands suspended, issued false alarms regarding 46 domestic and international flights between Friday (18th October) and Saturday (19th October).

Screengrab of the Twitter profile of AdamLanza111

The X account ‘adamlanza111’ posted 12 hoax bomb threats on Friday and 34 on the following day. The anonymous and unverified handle later on began issuing threats to international carriers such as Jet Blue, American Airlines, and Air New Zealand.

“There are bombs onboard five of your planes…No one will make out alive. Hurry up and evacuate the plane,” the standard template of the tweet read. Some of the flights mentioned in the tweets had completed their trips while others were about to board passengers.

In the meantime, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) chief Zulfiquar Hasan met representatives of various airlines and assured the media that security protocols in India are robust and that passengers should fly without fear.

It is interesting to note that the notorious X handle, which made 70% of the total hoax bomb calls to the Indian airlines, is named after Adam Lanza – the mass shooter who orchestrated one of the deadliest elementary school shootings in US history.

On 14th December 2012, 20-year-old Adam Lanza went on a shooting spree at the Sandy Hook Elementary School (the same school where he studied for 4 years), killing 20 children aged between 6 and 7 years.

He also killed his mother, the school principal, two teachers, and two other school personnel. Adam Lanza later took his own life. The motive behind the mass shooting was never found.

It is all the more alarming that an X handle, which disrupted 46 odd flight operations in India, had named itself after a man who was obsessed with mass shootings.

Blast outside CRPF school in Delhi: Investigation by Police, NIA and NSG reveals traces of low explosives along with batteries and wires

ANI
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Blast outside CRPF school in Delhi: Investigation by Police, NIA and NSG reveals traces of low explosives along with batteries and wires

A major explosion rocked the Prashant Vihar area near Rohini in New Delhi on Sunday morning. While no injuries were reported, nearby vehicles and properties were damaged, police said.

An investigation revealed traces of low explosives near the blast site, prompting a thorough inquiry by the Delhi Police, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the National Security Guard (NSG).

Officials at the scene told ANI that traces of low explosives and other materials commonly used in crude bombs were found.

Teams from the Delhi Police, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the National Security Guard (NSG) were rushed to the spot, as the blast is being investigated from all possible angles, including a potential terror attack attempt.

The Delhi Police are investigating whether the blast was intentional and, if so, what message the perpetrators aimed to convey.

According to police sources, the blast was intended to send a message, as the suspect deliberately chose the school wall and morning hours to ensure no loss of life. “The manner of the blast on the wall side and the morning timing suggest the intention was only to send a message, not to cause significant damage,” they said.

Investigative agencies suspect that the white powder found at the site could be from a crude homemade bomb made with ammonium phosphate and other chemicals.

Experts from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and NSG collected samples from the site for analysis to determine the exact chemicals used.

Wires were also found at the scene, but it is unclear if they were present beforehand or connected to the incident. NSG officials found a battery and wire near the blast spot and are investigating whether these items were placed before the explosion.

The agencies will soon submit a report to the Home Ministry regarding the incident.

According to police, the explosion’s loud sound was heard at around 7:30 am. A call was received at the police control room at 7:47 am, regarding the blast near the CRPF school in Rohini’s Sector 14.

“On this, the station house officer and his team reached the spot, where the school wall was found damaged. A foul smell was noticed at the site, and the windows of nearby shops and cars parked nearby were shattered. However, no one was injured in the incident,” said a senior police officer.

According to sources, the blast was deliberately carried out in the morning to avoid casualties, with the intention of sending only a “message or signal.”

An eyewitness at the scene told ANI, “We were sitting at home, then we heard a loud blast. At first, we did not understand what happened, thinking that a cylinder had burst. We then ran down and saw that there was a lot of yellow smoke everywhere, so we called up the police.”

The eyewitness also described property damage. “All the glasses were broken. We heard such a loud explosion that we felt our building was shaking too. The lock at the gate near our parking is also broken due to the blast,” he said.

The agencies found white powder at the site, suspected to have been used in the crude bomb. However, the exact chemical composition will be confirmed after analysis by the FSL, CRPF, and NSG, said sources.

Officials at the scene told ANI that the odor immediately following the blast resembled ammonia and phosphate. Traces of a white powdery substance were found on the school wall and nearby objects.

The area has been cordoned off, and the police have called in crime teams and forensic experts for a thorough inspection.

A senior officer with Delhi Police said that they are investigating the materials used in the explosion.

“We are also reviewing CCTV footage from the area to identify who may have brought the explosives. Forensics teams have collected samples for analysis, which will help us determine the chemicals used and possibly trace their origin,” the officer said.

NSG teams, specializing in explosives, were called to assist in identifying the type of explosive used. NIA officials were also present on the scene to investigate the incident further.

“The NSG will help us determine the type of explosive used. If it is confirmed as a terror attack attempt, the case will be transferred to the NIA, which is why their presence is crucial,” an officer said.

Investigators believe the blast may have been intended to intimidate locals, given that it occurred early in the morning when the area was not crowded and also next to the wall of a school run by the CRPF, India’s largest paramilitary force.

The school serves students from CRPF and other paramilitary families.

After a preliminary investigation, Delhi Police filed a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, Section 3 of the Indian Explosives Act, and other relevant sections to continue the probe.

Following the incident, Delhi has been placed on high alert, and police have heightened security in markets ahead of Diwali.

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

Bihar: Protests erupted in Bhagalpur over vandalism at the Shiv Shakti Temple in Sanhaula

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar: Protests erupted in Bhagalpur over vandalism at the Shiv Shakti Temple in Sanhaula

On Sunday, 20th October, protests erupted in Bhagalpur over vandalism at the Shiv Shakti Temple located by the pond in the Sanhaula police jurisdiction. According to media reports, miscreants damaged the idols of Bhagwan Ram, Lakshman, Mata Sita, Radha Krishna, and Maa Durga. The incident sparked outrage among the local Hindu community, and hundreds of protesters took to the streets.

According to a report by Dainik Bhaskar, at around 7 AM on Sunday morning, the temple priest arrived and found that six idols had been damaged. He immediately called the villagers and informed them about the incident. A large number of Hindus gathered outside the local police station and staged a protest, blocking the road for three hours.

Angry locals stormed the police station with sticks and batons in hand. The main road connecting Sanhaula and Jharkhand near the police station was blocked. Locals demanded the arrest of those responsible for the vandalism. A heavy police force was deployed to control the situation.

The police have arrested a man for vandalism, stating that he was mentally ill. The person is being questioned in connection with the incident. However, locals claimed that the extent of the damage caused to the idols could not be the work of a single person. Furthermore, devotees alleged that jewellery worth Rs 10 lakh had also been stolen from the temple. The police are yet to confirm the allegations of theft.

The priest reportedly told the police that he had seen a man entering the temple. The police may soon review CCTV footage from cameras near the temple to identify any other suspects.

Meetings were held with the peace committee, and the police conducted a flag march in the area to restore calm. It has also been reported that when the police were speaking to locals and temple committee members, some miscreants began pelting stones, further escalating tensions in the area. However, following negotiations with the authorities, the protesters have called off their demonstration.

The district police said in a statement, “The incident took place at a temple near a pond in the Sanhaula police station area last night, where idols of different deities were vandalised by some unidentified persons. The matter was brought to the notice of the local police station.” They further added that a case had been registered. “The situation is completely under control, and a flag march was carried out by security personnel in the locality. We request people not to pay attention to rumours,” the statement added.

Speaking on the temple vandalism in Sanhaula, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said, “Some people damaged the temple and the idol in Sanhaula, Bhagalpur at 5 am. I have come to know from sources that RJD and Congress people are behind this. They want to create riots. This happened after Giriraj Singh’s visit, I tell the administration that RJD and Congress have a hand in this. Rahul Gandhi has given permission to create riots in the entire country.”

There were reports of gunfire, but these were refuted by the SDPO, who further assured the public that the situation is under control. Local administrative officials, including the Sub-Divisional Officer of Kahalgaon and police officers, have reached the scene to ensure the region remains peaceful. The district administration has also requested the public not to pay heed to rumours and to maintain peace.

After blaming UP buses for pollution, Delhi CM Atishi now blames BJP for it; AAP leader Satyendar Jain says he was arrested because he was going to clean Yamuna

ANI
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After blaming UP buses for pollution, Delhi CM Atishi now blames BJP for it; AAP leader Satyendar Jain says he was arrested because he was going to clean Yamuna

As the national capital struggles with rising pollution levels, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of playing “dirty politics” which she claims is the real cause behind both air and water pollution in the city.

She assured the public that under the leadership of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, the Delhi government is actively working to resolve the situation.

“The pollution levels in Delhi are increasing. Not only is air pollution rising, but pollution in the Yamuna River has also worsened over the past few days, as evidenced by the formation of toxic foam at Kalindi Kunj. Today, the people of Delhi want to know the reason behind this, and I tell them, the real reason is the dirty politics of the BJP. Everyone is aware that stubble burning is a major contributor to rising pollution levels in Delhi during winter. The AAP government in Punjab has significantly reduced stubble burning over the past two years. According to the Centre’s own statistics, incidents of stubble burning have been halved since the AAP took charge in Punjab. In contrast, if you look at Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, stubble burning has actually increased. In Haryana, farm fires have risen by 23%, and in Uttar Pradesh, they have surged by 70%,” said Atishi during a press conference on Sunday.

Questioning the BJP-led governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, CM Atishi asked, “If the Punjab government can reduce stubble burning, why can’t the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana do the same? In Delhi, we have only CNG and electric buses, whereas 100% of the interstate buses coming from UP and Haryana are diesel-powered. Why can’t the governments of Haryana and UP introduce electric buses? It’s because they want to play dirty politics with the people of Delhi. While Delhi has no brick kilns, there are 3,800 brick kilns in the NCR region, contributing significantly to pollution levels in the capital.”

Further criticising BJP leaders for their visits to the Yamuna River in the Kalindi Kunj area, Atishi said, “BJP leaders have been visiting Kalindi Kunj for photoshoots, but the real cause of the toxic foam in the Yamuna is industrial waste being dumped into the river by factories in Haryana. The UP government also contributes to the problem by releasing polluted water into the Yamuna.”

Promising action to combat the rising pollution levels, Atishi said, “We are continuously working to find solutions under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal. For the past two years, we have been defoaming the Yamuna, and we will begin this process again tonight.”

Speaking on the same issue, AAP leader Satyendar Jain accused the BJP of arresting AAP leaders to obstruct their efforts to clean the Yamuna.

“Kejriwal ji promised to clean the Yamuna, and we began working on this at a rapid pace. When the BJP realised we were making progress, they arrested several of our leaders. I was in charge of the Yamuna cleaning project, and that’s why I was also arrested,” said Jain.

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

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