Amid the rising crimes in European nations including the UK, it has come to the fore that in London, a rape case is reported every hour. On average, 24 such incidents were reported in a day to the Metropolitan Police with a total of 8,800 cases in 2023. According to the Met Police, the charges of sexual abuse have doubled since 2022, as reported by BBC.
As per the official data, 20,000 sexual crimes were reported in London alone last year while the exact figures stood at 8,852 rape cases and 10,991 other sexual violence. While these numbers are alarming the actual number of cases is obviously much higher than documented. This is better understood from a Rape Crisis report, which states that only one in every six women who are raped reports the crime, compared to one in every five male victims, and only one in every four report other forms of sexual assault. 40% of the survivors don’t approach the police due to “embarrassment”, 38% don’t tell the police since they opine the police will not be able to help them and 34% think that seeking police help would be “humiliating”. Another disturbing aspect is that 1 in 2 adult rape survivors have been raped more than once.
Last year, the police received 11,000 reports of various sexual crimes, with over a quarter coming from youngsters under the age of 18. The BBC report says that the figures represent the number of reports issued from 2018 to 2023, “but do not necessarily mean all the crimes happened within that time period.”
One dataset focused solely on reported cases of rape, while the other included cases of sexual assault, assault by penetration, and attempted rape. From 2018 to 2023, the overall number of reported offences surged by 14%, reaching nearly 20,000. Precisely, the Metropolitan Police received a report of sexual violence or rape every 26 and a half minutes.
The alarming numbers revealed in the official data warrant discussing the existence of Muslim grooming gangs in the United Kingdom. Grooming gangs, particularly in towns and cities such as Telford, Rotherham and Rochdale, have gone unchecked for many years. Much later it was revealed that organised grooming gangs systematically sexually abused young girls. These crimes were sometimes overlooked or downplayed by authorities. The media also contributed to its downplaying by often presenting Muslim grooming gangs mostly involving Pakistani and Afghan origin, targeting white non-Muslim girls “Asian gangs”.
While the perpetrators in the Telford, Rotherham and Rochdale grooming cases were mostly Muslims, a section of the media covered up the religious and racial motivation behind the crime. Notably, drugs and alcohol were commonly used to render victims unconscious or entrap them in a cycle of abuse which went on as threats and blackmailing continued.
Rape and sexual abuse offences in the United Kingdom have frequently gone unchecked or underreported, owing to a mix of systemic failures, societal stigmas, and law enforcement challenges. The above discussion and the UK media reports suggest that victim blaming and fear of stigmatisation, Lack of Trust in Authorities coupled with the fears of being labelled “racist” or “Islamophobic” has been major reasons for the sexual abuse cases being underreported. The incidents of grooming gangs exploiting women, particularly the Telford case, demonstrated how police inaction emboldened the offenders and allowed the abuse of thousands of vulnerable girls and women to continue for years. It took three major grooming gang scandals for the Grooming Gang Taskforce leading to hundreds of arrests, the UK authorities
The union territory of Jammu Kashmir is currently undergoing its first assembly election after the abrogation of Article 370 on 5th August 2019. Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to the historic voter turnout in the first phase of the poll as proof of a “Naya (new) Kashmir” in his first rally at the She-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium in Srinagar. He stated, “J&K is witnessing a festival of democracy. The first phase of voting was held peacefully and not under the shade of terrorism. Voters, including young, old and women, voted freely and in huge numbers. Kishtwar saw 80%, Doda and Ramban 70% and Kulgam 62% voting. Compared to the previous turnout, new records have been set. People have written a new chapter of history. It shows the aspirations of people are touching new heights in J&K. The world is witnessing how the people of J&K are strengthening the Indian democracy of the country. I congratulate people for that.”
श्रीनगर की रैली में मेरे भाई-बहनों का जज्बा जम्हूरियत के जश्न में नया जोश भरने वाला है। pic.twitter.com/nJlLx0YNfC
While the people are enthusiastically participating in the assembly election and exhibiting their faith in India’s robust democracy, the jihadi elements have once again conspired to use the opportunity to stoke anti-national sentiment and create trouble, in the name of Islam. Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), which is a regional branch of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) also known as Islamic State (IS), in the latest issue of its propaganda magazine “Voice of Khurasana” has referred to Kashmir as “The Paradise Under the Control of Infidels,” and urged the Muslims in Kashmir to wage jihad against India.
It has featured dramatic pictures of pro-separatist elements holding black flags with JKIS or ISJK (Islamic State in Jammu and Kashmir), a group loyal to the IS operating in the valley, written on them along with images of alleged atrocities inflicted on the locals by the security forces. Notably, a few serene and stunning photographs of the valley are also included to showcase its beauty and imply how it is being ruined by the ‘evil infidel.’ The article is ridden with outrageous claims and outright lies intended to stir up violence in the valley, with nary a shred of supporting proof.
The article titled Kashmir: The Paradise under the Control of Infidels, the first article in the magazine, began by lamenting how Muslims have abandoned jihad and replaced the Quran with Western laws which caused a steady decline of the Ummah (Muslim community) at the hands of non-Muslims. It further read, “After the division of the Islamic Ummah, every part of its existence is filled with pain, and one part of it cannot heal the pain of any other part. Now, the infidels are standing in one rank to attack the existence of the Islamic Ummah, and all of them are shooting arrows at it from the same bow.”
“You see that the Jews, Crusaders, atheists, communists, Hindus, Magians, and other pagan nations in the world each have their separate states they defend with their persons and wealth. The United Nations, the Security Council, the international community, and other oppressive groups have also allowed this, calling it the economic right of these infidels. On the other hand, Muslims do not have the right to have an independent Islamic state under which they can gather beneath the shade of one flag and obey one Imam,” the article alleged while conveniently forgetting that there are at least fifty-seven Muslim countries in the world and they are part of all these international bodies.
Furthermore, no non-Islamic nation has established an alliance solely based on religion like the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which is exclusive to the Muslim states. Contrary to the claim, there is no Hindu country in the world, and just one Jewish nation which is always attacked by Islamist groups and countries. Similarly, while the Magians had a nation in distant past, now that land is a Shia Muslim country, Iran.
“Those Muslims who even attempt to establish an Islamic state are called extremists, terrorists, kharijites, takfiris, and many other names,” it further bemoaned the fact that the world opposes and fights against the horrific crimes committed against non-Muslims by jihadi groups like IS, including rape, murder and slavery as infidels are considered lesser humans by these Muslim fanatics.
The article then commenced its discussion on Kashmir by claiming, “One of the segments of this fragmented existence of the Islamic Ummah is Kashmir, this heavenly land that has been oppressed for decades by infidel Hindus, nationalistic militias, and so-called jihadist organisations working for the interests of intelligence agencies.” The inflammatory piece went straight to the point, condemning Hindus for retaining Kashmir, a traditionally Hindu territory that even derived its name from Sanskrit and was once known as Kasmira.
It then adopted the same worn-out rhetoric as every anti-India and anti-Hindu outfit and stated, “Kashmir, which was once synonymous with beauty and vibrant colours, has now become the symbol of oppression and desolation. This land has become a prison for a people from the Islamic Ummah, like East Turkestan, where the identity, culture, belief, civilization, and culture are in danger. Yes, the same land that was once called “Jannat” on earth is now ruled by Hindu polytheists. The same Kashmir that was once the fortress of Islam on the Indian subcontinent for Muslims is today the home in which Muslims spend the bitterest of nights.” The narrative that this terrorist organization is attempting to spread is drastically different from the reality of the prosperous valley where people are living through exciting developments and experiences that were inconceivable before 2019.
“Once upon a time, Muslim horses used to pass through the land of Kashmir to bring the vast land of India under the rule of Sharia, but today, the armies of Indian polytheists from India are trampling Islam and its ritual sand sanctities. Today, every city and village of Kashmir is crying out of subjugation and oppression, the wails of Muslims are coming from every house, and the blood of Muslims is being shed daily by the hands of Hindu polytheists and especially the Bharatiya Janata Party. They are taken to jails, abducted, and tortured under one pretext or another, and the dignity of Muslim sisters is besmirched. After the Uyghurs, the Kashmiri Muslims are the segment of the Islamic Ummah that is facing the worst massacres. Their religion, honour, and sanctity are under constant threat. Truly, the wish of the Hindu polytheists is that the Kashmiri Muslims should worship Allah as they do, chanting “Ram Ram and Bhagwan Bhagwan” instead (Nawjubillah),” the article levelled those allegations without citing any concrete incidence of the oppression committed by the ‘notorious polytheists alias Hindus’ in Kashmir.
Image via Kashmir: The Paradise Under the Control of Infidels
Unsurprisingly, the ISKP is just another Islamist outfit that has its natural nemesis in the ‘Hindu nationalist’ BJP which dissolved Article 370. The argument’s merit, not that it had any, was eroded when the article compared Kashmiri Muslims to Uyghurs who have been imprisoned in detention camps, forced to eat pork, unable to observe Ramadan and spent their life in utter misery under the Communist Party of China. On the other hand, Kashmiri Muslims, like all Indians, are entitled to the same rights and privileges under the country’s constitution.
The article then brought up the “Treaty of Amritsar” and accused, “If Kashmir once suffered from the ‘Amritsar’ agreement, then today, every day, agreements like ‘Amritsar’ are made to diminish the pride of Kashmiri Muslims. This segment of the Ummah is being sold at the hands of Hindu polytheists. Yesterday, Kashmir was oppressed by one Ranjit Singh, one Gulab Singh, and one Amrit Singh, but today, every city in Kashmir is ruled by a separate Ranjit Singh from the Indian polytheists, all of whom are engaged in tireless work to destroy standing and dignity of Kashmiri Muslims.”
It then added, “If, on the one hand, the idolaters of India have kept their feet on the chest of Kashmir, on the other hand, the Chinese communists are pushing against them, and in the same way, the apostate Pakistani government is also trying to strengthen its grip on this land. This land has become the arena of competition between these three factions, and the Muslims living in Kashmir are suffering the largest cost of this game because each of the three factions considers the Muslims living there to be their enemies.”
“At one time, Hindu and Sikh polytheists did not dare to set foot on this land. There was a time when polytheists had to get permission to enter the area. But now, this area is a haven for Hindu and Sikh polytheists, and the Muslims living there are now forced to seek permission to stay in their lands and spend the worst nights of life with the permission of the polytheists,” the article consisted yet another preposterous assertion that demonstrated its nefarious objective. Notably, the land of Kashmir has traditionally belonged to the Hindu and other Dharmic faiths until the Islamic invaders devastated the majestic valley for conversion, rape, loot and oppression.
Image via Kashmir: The Paradise Under the Control of Infidels
“The region of Kashmir, which was once inhabited by a majority of Muslims, is now occupied by Hindu and Sikh polytheists in most of the urban and influential areas. In this land they once ruled, the Muslims are now a minority. Not only is the faith and religious sanctity of the Muslims under threat, but also the houses, inns, lands, and even the mosques are being given to the Indian polytheists, where the Muslims are forcibly evicted. And if any Muslim tries to resist, the result is imprisonment and death,” claimed the piece littered with glaring falsehoods and abject misinformation. The truth is that it was minority Kashmir Hindus who were slaughtered, raped and forced to flee their homes by people who shared similar ideology and then later captured their flourishing businesses, houses and properties.
It further added, “Not only is tyranny imposed on Kashmiri Muslims, but patriotic and nationalistic organizations fighting in the name of jihad and movements created by intelligence agencies are also doing business with the blood of Muslims while professing to protect Islam and the freedom of Kashmir. These organizations are the real perpetrators of the enslavement of Kashmiri Muslims. These organizations sell the blood and sacrifices of sincere Kashmiri youth and, in return, take crores of rupees from their masters.”
The article then targeted Pakistan and its terrorist organisations including Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba for having a nationalist view which is considered a sin according to Islam. It declared, “In Kashmir, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and many other intelligence-backed nationalist movements, the bearded soldiers of Pakistani tyranny, are the real traders of the Kashmir issue who have provided an opportunity for the domination of the tawaghit (a focus of worship other than God) over Kashmir. The real solution to the Kashmir issue lies in a genuine jihad based on the doctrine of Al-Wala Wal-Bara (loyalty and disavowal which signifies loving and hating for the sake of Allah), a jihad in which there is no distinction between the Pakistani and Indian factions, and the soldiers and militias of both factions are killed with the same sword.”
Image via Kashmir: The Paradise Under the Control of Infidels
The article then turns its attention to the “zealous and brave youth of Kashmir” and embraces the route of emotional manipulation combined with religious fervour. “How long will you live this bitter life of humiliation and disgrace under the oppression of tawaghit? How long will you continue to endure the atrocities of the tawaghit? How long will you shed tears of helplessness like women under the rule of the tawaghit? How long will you continue to watch the scenes of your sisters being humiliated and brothers being killed and imprisoned? How long will you wait for some divine calamity to descend upon the oppressors so that you can be saved from their atrocities? Arise and defend your faith, honour and religious sanctity, and sacrifice your person and wealth on this holy path,” it provoked.
The article incited young Kashmiri Muslims to take up arms and engage in bloodshed. It maliciously urged, “Stain the streets of Muzaffarnagar, Srinagar, Ladakh, and every city in Kashmir with the blood of idolaters and traitors! Punish them in such a way that future generations will remember them! O youth! Protect yourself from nationalist organizations and intelligence-backed militias because they trade in your blood and sacrifices, giving all the benefits of your jihad and fighting to the lords of tyranny and disbelief instead of the enforcement of Sharia. O youth! The mountains and valleys of Kashmir are waiting for your feet to touch them. Turn the high mountains of Kashmir and the dense forests of the Himalayas into the graveyard of Pakistani and Indian soldiers and strike such a blow that the jungle animals are too full to finish eating their corpses.”
Image via Kashmir: The Paradise Under the Control of Infidels
It even invoked the name of Shaykh Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, the fifth and current caliph of the Islamic State to encourage Kashmiris to adhere to the same path. “O proud youth! Raise the flag of tawhid (monotheism/belief in Allah), provide as many means and tools as possible for war, and open the front of jihad and fighting against the infidels. No one should bargain over your efforts, sacrifices, blood, and jihad. Choose the holy ranks of Dawlatul Islamiya and the shade of the black flag of tawhid under the leadership of Shaykh Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, start jihad and fight accordingly.”
The article asked Kashmiri Muslims to transform the region into Jannat (heaven) where non-believers are forbidden entry which refers to the Islamic doctrine that Muslims alone are entitled to paradise and non-Muslims will spend all of eternity in hell. It implored, “O zealous believers living in Kashmir! The ongoing humiliation, crisis, and lack of security in this subjugated and oppressed land can end only when you start an armed jihad against all the tawaghit. Arise and try once again to bring the rule of Islam to this land of Muslims and enforce the Sharia that was revealed to the Prophet. Just as this land is called the Jannat on earth, turn it into the Jannat in which the polytheists do not have a place to step, and the believers live in peace, honour, and dignity.
The article subsequently addressed the promise of invading and conquering India, known to Pakistanis as Ghazwa-e-Hind and how the country’s rulers will be bound in chains and presented before Allah to plead for forgiveness. It stated, “Finally, we give the ghazis (Muslim warriors) who are doing jihad to make the kalimah (declaration of faith in Islam) of tawhid in Kashmir reign supreme the good news of the Messenger of Allah in which he said about Ghazwatul-Hind (invasion of India).”
It then proceeded to point out religious quotes to assert the point and stressed, “Abu Hurairah (one of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad) reported that the Messenger of Allah said, ‘Some people of my Ummah will invade India and Allah will enable them to conquer it, until they bring the kings of India in chains, and Allah will forgive them their sins. Then they will return to ash-Sham, and there they will find Issa ibn Maryam.’ On the authority of Thawban (one of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad), the Messenger of Allah said, ‘There will be two groups in my Ummah whom Allah has protected from the fire. One group will invade India and the other group will follow Issa Ibn Maryam.”
Image via Kashmir: The Paradise Under the Control of Infidels
The article further added, “And Abu Huraira reported, ‘The Messenger of Allah promised us the invasion of India. If I get the opportunity to participate in it, I will spend my life and wealth in it; if I am killed, I will be counted among the best martyrs; and if I return, I will be free (from the Hellfire),” to justify why the Kashmiris must take up weapons and assist in the invasion of India.
“So, O oppressed Muslims living in Kashmir! Arise for the best battle, the best martyrdom, and the best victory. Get up! Save yourselves from the burning fire of Hell. Advance one another in attaining the greatest happiness of the best ghazis and the best martyrs. Do not waste this opportunity. Wage jihad against the polytheists and idolaters to make the kalimah of tawhid reign supreme. Do the greatest jihad! Soon, victory will kiss your feet, and you will have a free and independent land steeped in tawhid, jihad, and Sharia. Allah is mightier than all, but most of the people do not know,” the article concluded with yet another sincere appeal to butcher non-Muslims for the sake of Islam.
Image via Kashmir: The Paradise Under the Control of Infidels
The propaganda piece might be full of deception and inaccuracies but it doesn’t take away from the malevolent intent behind its release at a crucial time when assembly polls are going on in Jammu and Kashmir. Its goal is clearly to destabilise the valley which has joined the Indian mainstream and democracy is thriving in even the most isolated areas as proven by the unprecedented voting. The election was scheduled on 18th September, 25th September and 1st October while the result will be announced on 8th October.
On Thursday (19th September), violent Muslim mobs attacked the Buddhist Chakma and Hindu Tripuri communities in Dighinala and Khagrachhari Sadar in the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh.
According to reports, the accused set fire to more than 200 shops and homes belonging to the minority groups. The Muslim mob also attacked a Buddhist temple and carried out an arson attack.
The official death toll is 3 although our sources in Chittagong confirmed that the actual death toll is much higher.
The deceased were identified as 20-year-old Junan Chakma, 60-year-old Dhananjoy Chakma and 30-year-old Rubel Tripura. All of them belonged to the minority communities.
The targeted attack on Buddhist Chakmas and Hindu Tripuris came a day after a criminal named Mohammed Mamun was killed in Khagrachari on Wednesday (18th September) while trying to steal a motorcycle. Mamun had 17 criminal cases registered against him, including theft.
An organisation named ‘Bengali Chhatra Parishad’ took out a procession in the city a 4:30 pm on Thursday (19th September) to protest the death of Mamun and then carried out violence against Buddhist Chakmas and Hindu Tripuris.
The carnage continued till 8:30 pm on Thursday before the situation could be brought under control. However, fresh violence was carried out by Muslim mobs yet again on Friday (20th September) morning.
A victim named Insta Chakma told The Daily Star that the local masjid made a false announcement that the tribals were attacking the Bengalis. This emboldened the violent Muslim mob to attack Chakmas and Tripuris and set fire to their businesses.
“Then like many, we fled from that area and had no shelter in the forest. Fire and smoke could be seen from the forest,” the victim added.
The onslaught against Hindu Tripuris and Buddhist Chakmas, which started in Khagrachari, also spread to the adjoining Rangamati district.
To make matters worse, a mosque in Rangamati further incited Muslims to attack the minority groups. A man could be heard directing the Chakmas and Tripuris to retreat or face consequences.
The development took place soon after Hindus and Buddhists alike took to the streets to protest against the attack on them. Reportedly, 40000 Chakmas and Tripuris participated in “March for Identity” rally in Khagrachari.
Suhas Chakma, Director of the Rights & Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) informed, “…Bangladesh Army supported the burning down of the Chakma shops and houses at Dighinala Sadar today. Consequently, there is no Chakma left in the Dighinala sadar area.”
He added, “Such act of violence underscores the growing insecurity faced by indigenous communities in the CHTs. The issue of lack of safety and security for the Chakmas will be raised before international bodies, including the United Nations Human Rights Council”
The affected areas of Khagrachari and Rangamati are part of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, which is home to the indigenous Chakma, Marma, Tripuri, Chak, Bom, Lushei, Khumi and other tribal groups.
The local administration has imposed a curfew in Rangamati from 1:30 pm onwards on Friday to prevent any untoward situation.
The situation on the ground
OpIndia reached out to a female Hindu activist from Chittagong, whose house was attacked by Muslim mobs after the fall of Dhaka on 5th August 2024. She informed us that the conflict between Muslims and the tribal community is not new.
“There have been repeated attempts to convert Chakmas, Tripuris and other tribes to Islam. Given that there is a shortage of employment opportunities in the hill tracts, many of them live in abject poverty. Islamic groups reach out to them for Dawah and make lucrative offers.”
“If they refuse, then, they are intimidated and threatened.” She insisted that the current incident should not be looked at from a ‘Bengali Vs tribal’ perspective, given that only one community was behind the onslaught.
OpIndia is in touch with a victim, who had to flee his hometown in Dighinala and is currently in hiding. Due to safety and security reasons, he only communicates to us via messages through an interlocutor in Bangladesh.
Another source, familiar with the development, informed us that a nefarious attempt is underway to brand Chakmas and Tripuris and part of the ‘Christian-Kuki’ alliance eyeing to create their separate State.
The source added that they would use it as a pretext to ‘justify’ carrying out military action against the vulnerable minority groups and blame India at the same time.
Bangladeshi media pass off violence as ‘ethnic clash’
In the meantime, prominent Bangladeshi media began discounting the religious motivation behind the attack by presenting it as a conflict between ‘Bengalis and tribals.’
This is despite the fact that only Muslims participated in the onslaught against Chakmas and Tripuris, who predominantly belong to the Buddhist and Hindu communities. At the same time, it must be remembered that a Buddhist temple was also set ablaze by the Muslim mob.
It’s evident that the Bangladeshi media is yet again trying to shield radical Muslims involved in the religious targeting of minorities.
We have previously reported about the nefarious attempt to downplay violence against Hindus (post the undemocratic ouster of Sheikh Hasina as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister) as ‘fake‘, ‘exaggerated‘ or ‘politically motivated‘.
Attack on Hindus in Bangladesh
There have been at least 205 attacks on Hindu temples, shops and businesses since the ouster of Sheikha Hasina as Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
OpIndia had reported how a Hindu boy named Utsab Mandal was almost lynched by a Muslim mob on accusations of ‘blasphemy’ in the Sonadanga residential area of Khulna city.
We previously exposed how Muslim students have forced as many as 60 Hindu teachers, professors and government officials to resign from their positions.
Human rights activist and exiled Bangladeshi blogger, Asad Noor, has recently revealed that the minority community is now being coerced into joining ‘Jamaat-e-Islami’.
On 6th September, a procession of Hindu devotees carrying the idol of Lord Ganesha came under attack in the Kadam Mubarak area in Chittagong city of Bangladesh.
While the release of many Indian films is banned in Pakistan, a controversial Pakistani film featuring a notorious sympathiser of terrorist Hafiz Saeed, is all set to be released in India. Notably, Pakistan’s only Rs 100 crore grossing film, ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ will be released in India on 2nd October. The film has been in controversy for several years as it features Pakistani actor Hamza Ali Abbasi, a notorious sympathiser of 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.
Initially, the makers of the film had scheduled its release in December 2022 but after facing massive backlash in India, its release in India was postponed “indefinitely”.
Recently, the filmmakers shared a poster of the film from the official Instagram account of ‘Maula Jatt’ to inform about its release date. The caption read, “Two years on, The Legend of Maula Jatt is still unstoppable! Witness the epic saga on the big screen in India from 2nd October 2024. Cinema listing to be shared soon.”
Several netizens have expressed disappointment and registered their protest over the release of a Pakistani film in India when the country continues to carry out terrorism against India. They have also cited Hamza Abbasi’s praise for a terrorist who killed scores of innocent people in India and carried out one of the worst terrorist attacks on Indian soil, 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
Pak movie of actor who supported terrorist Hafiz Saeed who has killed 100s of Indians is getting released in India.
While nationalist Kangana Ranaut's 'Emergency' is not getting certificate from censorboard. pic.twitter.com/Xfp5XvaBNu
Expressing disappointment, the Head of BJP Maharashtra social media team, Ashutosh Dubey wrote, “It raises concerns about how @ZeeStudios_ can proceed with the release of this Pakistani film, considering that the funds generated from Indian audiences may potentially be utilized for activities that threaten India’s security.”
It raises concerns about how @ZeeStudios_ can proceed with the release of this Pakistani film, considering that the funds generated from Indian audiences may potentially be utilized for activities that threaten India’s security.#BoycottZeeStudiospic.twitter.com/eZwZyIvIZI
Another X user wrote, “How can Pakistani films be cleared for screening in India? Pakistan is sponsoring terror in India & we are allowing them to make money from India?”
The film is based on a 1979 Pakistani cult classic titled, ‘Maula Jatt.’ The remake features actor Fawad Khan as the hero ‘Maula Jatt’ who fights his nemesis and finest warrior in Punjab by the name of Noori Natt (played by Hamza Ali Abbassi).
Zee Studios had bought the Indian rights for this all-time high-grosser Pakistani film. In December 2022, the makers had planned to release the film in Punjab and Delhi to target Punjabi speakers. However, the announcement of the film’s release had triggered a massive outrage in the country. Netizens registered their outrage stating that Pakistani films should not be released in India especially when the Islamic Republic continues to sponsor terrorism in India. Netizens had also demanded a ban on the film’s release in India.
Moreover, the movie had also courted controversy for starting actor Hamza Ali Abbassi, known for his admiration of 26/11 terror mastermind Hafiz Saeed.
Hamza Ali Abbasi and his support for Hafiz Saeed, 2-Nation Theory
OpIndia had reported on in December 2022 that Pakistani actor Hamza Ali Abbasi, who plays a crucial role in the movie, has been unabashed in his vocal support for the 2008 Mumbai attack mastermind, Hafiz Saeed.
The movie features actor Fawad Khan as the hero ‘Maula Jatt’ who fights his nemesis and finest warrior in Punjab by the name of Noori Natt. This character of Noori Natt is played by Hamza Ali Abbasi, who is known for being a terrorist sympathiser and an active proponent of the divisive ‘Two Nation theory.’
While responding to a tweet by Donald Trump in 2019, the actor claimed, “You unbelievable idiot! Hafiz Saeed publicly condemned the Mumbai attacks in an interview I conducted.”
Following the arrest of Hafiz Saeed by Pakistani law enforcement authorities in July 2019, Hamza Ali Abbasi extended his support to the terrorist and absolved him of any wrongdoing. He also applauded the extremists who came out in support of the 26/11 mastermind.
“Hafiz Saeed is not a terrorist! His only fault? He speaks for & rallies the youth for Kashmir!” the Pakistani actor claimed in a 2019 tweet, despite being sanctioned by the United Nations a decade earlier.
In one instance, the Pakistani actor went on to claim that Hafiz Saeed had done great work for non-Muslims of Pakistan and that he bore no ill will against India or Indians.
The brainwashed Pakistani actor has been a long-proponent of the divisive ‘Two Nation Theory’, which claims that ‘Hindus’ and ‘Muslims’ are not just two religious communities but nations in themselves (and cannot coexist).
Under the pretext of criticising the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), he unleashed his bigotry on Twitter. “On 14th August 1947, we got Pakistan because Jinnah Sahab argued that Muslims of the sub-continent are in danger of being oppressed by the Hindu majority,” he had claimed.
“…And once more history proved him right because of Citizenship Amendment Act by Modi/RSS/BJP Hindutva raj, I thank Allah for PAKISTAN,” Hamza Ali Abbasi had remarked.
Reacting to the allegations of usage of animal fat in the making of the Tirupati Laddu Prasadam, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Friday that the Telegu Desam Party (TDP) is “politicising religious matters.”
Chandrababu Naidu had alleged that the previous YSR Congress-led government used animal fat in Laddus at Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati. A lab test report also showed the presence of pig fat and beef fat in the samples from the Tirupati temple.
“The tender process occurs every six months, and the qualification criteria has not changed for decades. Suppliers must provide an NABL certificate and a product quality certificate. TTD collects samples from the ghee, and only products that pass certification are used. TDP is politicizing religious matters. We have rejected the products in our regime 18 times,” Jaganmohan Reddy said.
Tirupati Laddu Prasadam row | Amaravati: YSRCP chief and former Andhra Pradesh CM, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy says, "The tender process occurs every six months, and the qualification criteria has not changed for decades. Suppliers must provide an NABL certificate and a product quality… pic.twitter.com/ln3Bl1OMvo
Former TDP Chairman and YSRCP leader YV Subbareddy had earlier denied all allegations of animal fat adulteration in ghee used to make the Laddu prasadam. He claimed that only organic ingredients were used in the preparation of Prasadam.
“All the ingredients used for Swami’s offerings from the last three years are all organic ingredients, including ghee. This is a very vile allegation that our government and our party, which have done so many programs while protecting the sanctity of Swami, are doing so many programs to mislead the people,” he said.
We got samples tested and confirmed beef fat and pig fat adulteration, says TTD Executive Officer Shamala Rao
Meanwhile, executive officer of Tirumala Tirupathi Devastanam (TTD) Shamala Rao said that there had been apprehensions about the quality of the Prasadam and under CM Naidu’s instructions a lab test of the same was ordered.
“When I took over as executive officer TTD, the CM expressed concern on the ghee procured and the quality of the laddu which is considered to be very sacred and offered as ‘Prasadam’ to Lord Venkateswara Swamy. Any deviation in the quality will cause doing ‘apavithram’ (doing something which is not sacred). He wanted me to take steps to ensure that the sanctity of this temple is restored including getting pure cow milk ghee. We started working on that… We found that we don’t have any internal lab to test adulteration in the ghee. There is no system to check the quality of ghee in outside labs also… The rates quoted by tenderers are unviable, they are so low that anyone can say that pure cow ghee cannot cost so less… We warned all suppliers, that they will be blacklisted if the ghee supplied doesn’t pass the lab test… We collected all samples and sent it to the best lab, it is government-controlled, and the reports have come and are shocking,” he said.
Rao further added, “The report says the ghee sample is adulterated with vegetable fat and also animal fat. Animal fat adulteration includes lard (pig fat), palm oil, beef tallow, and fish oil including grape seed and linseed. The ghee sample was a concoction of all this and the result was abnormally low. Pure milk fat should have a reading between 95.68 to 104.32, but all our ghee samples had values around 20, which means the ghee supplied is highly adulterated… We started the procedure for blacklisting and also penalising the supplier. We formed an expert committee to improve ghee supplies and also to strengthen our internal system so that we don’t face this problem again… We have found suppliers who have passed the tests… We have been asked by the expert committee to set up our own lab… This problem will be solved in the future.”
Rao added that the TTD is in the process of setting up an in-house lab. For the time being the TTD is working with NABL accredited labs and regularly sending samples to ensure the quality of ingredients. The process of blacklisting of the former suppliers who sent adulterated ghee is already started and the new suppliers have been found and their samples have passed the tests.
#WATCH | Tirupati Laddu Prasadam row | Executive officer of Tirumala Tirupathi Devastanam (TTD) Shamala Rao says, "The report says the ghee sample is adulterated with vegetable fat and also animal fat. Animal fat adulteration includes lard (pig fat), palm oil, beef tallow, and… pic.twitter.com/LPdyuCCvA3
Earlier on Thursday, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh shared a video clip in which Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was seen saying that previously animal fat was used in consecrated sweets–‘Tirupati Prasadam’ instead of ‘Ghee’ at Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati.
In a post on X, Andhra Minister Nara Lokesh said that he was shocked by the findings and added, “The Lord Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Tirumala is our most sacred temple. I am shocked to learn that the YS Jagan administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati Prasadam.”
“Shame on YS Jagan and the YSR party government that couldn’t respect the religious sentiments of crores of devotees,” he added.
The charges of the AP CM have been denied by former TDP Chairman and YSRCP leader YV Subbareddy, who claimed that only organic ingredients were used in the preparation of Prasadam.
Andhra Pradesh Congress President YS Sharmila on Friday said they have written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s allegation that the previous YSRCP government had used substandard ingredients and animal fat in making Tirupati laddoo, a consecrated sweet.
She also stated that the issue is related to the sentiments and faith of crores of people across the country.
“Yesterday, Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu told that the earlier government was involved in the adulteration of prasadam. This relates to the sentiment, emotions and faith of crores of people, not only in Andhra Pradesh but also all over the country and even internationally,” Sharmila told reporters.
“N Chandrababu Naidu presented a report that said a sample was taken on the day that he assumed power and this sample reported that there is beef tallow and fish oil also in the ingredients that were used to make the laddus, the prasadam in Tirupati. We do not understand why Chandrababu Naidu made this so casual,” Sharmila said.
She further added that it is not a small issue and is not related only to a group of people.
“We are demanding a CBI inquiry into this issue because it is not a small issue. It does not pertain to a small group of people but to crores of people. We have also written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding a CBI inquiry into this matter,” she said.
Earlier on Thursday, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh shared a video clip in which Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was seen saying that previously animal fat was used in consecrated sweets–‘Tirupati Prasadam’ instead of ‘Ghee’ at Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati.
In a post on X, Andhra Minister Nara Lokesh said that he was shocked by the findings and added, “The Lord Venkateswara Swamy Temple at Tirumala is our most sacred temple. I am shocked to learn that the YS Jagan administration used animal fat instead of ghee in the Tirupati Prasadam.”
“Shame on YS Jagan and the YSR party government that couldn’t respect the religious sentiments of crores of devotees,” he added.
The charges of the AP CM have been denied by former TDP Chairman and YSRCP leader YV Subbareddy, who claimed that only organic ingredients were used in the preparation of Prasadam.
“All the ingredients used for Swami’s offerings from last three three years are all organic ingredients including ghee. This is a very vile allegation that our government and our party, which have done so many programs while protecting the sanctity of Swami, are doing so many programs to mislead the people,” he said.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Friday (20th September), Assam CM and BJP’s In-charge for Jharkhand elections, Himanta Biswa Assam came down heavily on Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren. He accused the JMM leader of not “protecting the dignity of the state” and maintaining ‘silence’ on Mamata Banerjee’s remarks blaming Jharkhand for causing floods in Bengal.
Assam CM noted that Jharkhand is not at fault as the people of Bengal are suffering from floods because of the failure of the Bengal government. Consequently, he lambasted CM Soren stating that for JMM, “Rajneeti Dharm is greater than Raj Dharm”.
The recent row erupted after West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee blamed Jharkhand for floods in several districts of Bengal. Yesterday, CM Banerjee issued an order to seal West Bengal-Jharkhand border check posts, which has led to the queuing up of heavy vehicles on highways that connect the two states.
Hundreds of trucks were stopped at check posts such as Maithon on NH-19, Duburdihi in Paschim Bardhaman, and Bhalagora and Balarampur in Purulia
According to reports, CM Banerjee has ordered the sealing of the Bengal-Jharkhand border alleging that the flood-like situation in the state has risen since Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) is releasing water from its dam to save Jharkhand.
ডিভিসি'র ছাড়া বিপুল পরিমাণ জলে দক্ষিণবঙ্গের বিস্তীর্ণ এলাকা আজ বন্যা কবলিত। ঝাড়খণ্ডের জলে বাংলা প্লাবিত হচ্ছে। সাড়ে তিন লক্ষ কিউসেক জল ছাড়া হয়েছে ডিভিসি থেকে। এত জল এর আগে ছাড়া হয়নি। পরিকল্পিত ভাবে বাংলায় এই ম্যান মেড বন্যা করা হচ্ছে। আমি নিজে ডিভিসি'র সঙ্গে কথা বলেছি।… pic.twitter.com/SfWjsOunpb
She brazened it out by accusing the DVC of causing “man-made” floods in Bengal. She also threatened to sever all ties with the corporation. Furthermore, she accused the Jharkhand government of failing to conduct dredging at the DVC dams which according to her led to the release of water and caused flooding in several districts of West Bengal.
As per media reports, while the Jharkhand officials are tightlipped over her remarks blaming Jharkhand for floods in Bengal, they are shocked by this action of the Bengal government. According to government sources, senior officials have been informed about this, but the matter is yet to be resolved.
Following Mamata Banerjee’s accusations, the Union Ministry of Power clarified that the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) does not make decisions regarding the release of excess water during heavy rain periods on its own.
All releases are as advised by the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee (DVRRC), which has representatives from Govt. of W Bengal, Govt. of Jharkhand, Central Water Commission (Member Secretary) and from DVC.
Taking to X, the Ministry clarified that all releases are as advised by the Damodar Valley Reservoir Regulation Committee, which has representatives from the Government of West Bengal, the Government of Jharkhand, the Central Water Commission Member Secretary, and DVC.
Himanta Biswa Sarma slams Hemant Soren’s silence
In the wake of these developments, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma slammed Jharkhand CM for failing to “protect the dignity of the state” and remaining silent on Mamata’s remarks blaming Jharkhand when his state is not even at fault.
In a post on X, Sarma stated that CM Banerjee has sealed the Bengal-Jharkhand border to “teach a lesson” to the people of Jharkhand. He also shared a media report regarding the Bengal government’s decision to seal the border.
Slamming Jharkhand CM’s silence over this issue, CM Assam wrote, “The people of Bengal are suffering from floods due to the failure of the Bengal government. But I am surprised that Mamata Didi is not venting her anger on her officers, but on the people of Jharkhand. She is teaching a lesson to the people of Jharkhand by blocking the state’s border, and the honorable Chief Minister of Jharkhand is silent.”
बंगाल सरकार की विफलता की वजह से बंगाल के लोग बाढ़ से पीड़ित हैं। लेकिन मैं हैरान हूँ कि ममता दीदी अपनी नाराज़गी अपने अफसरों पर नहीं, बल्कि झारखंड की जनता पर निकाल रही हैं। वह राज्य की सीमा को बांधकर झारखंड की जनता को सबक सिखा रही हैं, और झारखंड के माननीय मुख्यमंत्री मौन हैं।… pic.twitter.com/xfO48rtCy0
He added, “The BJP government at the centre has also said that Jharkhand is not at fault for the Bengal floods. This issue is not related to any political party, it is a matter of honour for the people of Jharkhand. But JMM has maintained silence because for them ‘Rajneeti ka dharm’ is greater than Raj Dharm. The people of Jharkhand should think whether you should give a chance again to a party which is unable to protect the dignity of its state?”
On Thursday, 19th September, Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, launched a probe into a fake PAN card scam, which some BJP officials have described as a ‘PAN card jihad’. This is after Mumbai BJP Vice President Acharya Pawan Tripathi filed a complaint with Fadnavis, who directed the Mumbai Police Commissioner to examine the fraudulent PAN card case.
Acharya Pawan Tripathi, a BJP leader, turned over documentation of a fraudulent PAN card for the Malvani region in the Malad West Assembly constituency, a Mumbai suburb. He stated that in several Muslim-dominated communities, there were reports of more PAN cards being registered in the name of a population that probably doesn’t exist. He collected the proof and presented the before the DyCM who ordered an inquiry into the matter.
Tripathi claimed that bogus PAN cards were being manufactured on a massive scale by members of a specific group. According to him, thousands of people in Muslim-dominated areas were systematically given bogus PAN cards. In the records of the Income Tax Department, more PAN cards have been found than people surviving.
According to Acharya Tripathi, fake PAN cards could be used for unlawful transactions and money laundering. Acharya Pawan Tripathi has further hinted at the prospect of mass-producing false Aadhaar cards, voter cards, ration cards, and Ayushman cards, similar to fraudulent PAN cards.
He also in the complaint has presented Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with evidence of several PAN cards issued to the same person. This accused individual is claimed to be from the Malvani complex in the Malad assembly constituency. Tripathi has urged a comprehensive inquiry into the scam, as well as the exposure of the gang.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has urged the Mumbai Police Commissioner to take appropriate action in this regard and has requested that the central investigative authorities be notified immediately. According to Acharya Pawan Tripathi, people from a particular group are carrying out PAN card jihad by creating fraudulent PAN cards. Tripathi suggests that the fraud in Malvani, Malad West, could be the result of a larger conspiracy.
Amid an ongoing CBI investigation, the medical registration of Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College was suspended on 19th September. The West Bengal Medical Council had earlier issued a show cause notice, demanding an explanation from the accused doctor as to why his medical registration had not been revoked. Ghosh’s licence was revoked under several provisions of the Bengal Medical Act. Meanwhile, the CBI submission report related to the RG Kar College rape and murder case has revealed that Sandip Ghosh was absent from the crime scene.
Kolkata Rape Case Gets Murkier: CBI’s sensational report reveals top cop’s hand in ncident |Details pic.twitter.com/bAQBsLvedL
The CBI in its report submitted before the court alleged that Sandip Ghosh failed to monitor the situation closely during the incident. He arrived at the hospital after the local police had arrived. Moreover, Ghosh spoke multiple times to Tala Police Station in-charge Abhijit Mandal before arriving, as per reports. Ghosh was in touch with Abhijit Mondal since 10.03 am on the 9th of August when the trainee doctor’s semi-naked body was found inside the seminar hall. In addition, he was in contact with others. The CBI report suggests that Sandip Ghosh was taking ‘orders’ from ‘someone’.
Furthermore, the CBI report confirmed that the crime scene was tampered with causing complications in the investigation. Notably, Ghosh was arrested on 14th September for allegedly tampering with evidence.
As CBI’s remand note, Ghosh had also attempted to mislead the investigation and deceive the CBI. He also did not intend to get an FIR filed in the RG Kar College doctor’s rape and murder case even as he was in consultation with a lawyer. During the interrogation, Sandip Ghosh was subjected to layered voice analysis (LVA) and polygraph tests.
“As per the report of CFSL (forensic report), his [Ghosh] version has been found deceptive on certain important issues relating to this case,” the CBI remand note stated.
After reviewing the CBI’s latest status report on the inquiry’s progress, the Supreme Bench chaired by CJI DY Chandrachud stated that disclosing the line of investigation would compromise the probe, however, it opined that the CBI findings are “disturbing”.
“Making a disclosure today of what the CBI is investigating will jeopardize the process, the line, which is taken by the CBI is to unearth the truth. The SHO has been arrested himself, we have seen the status report and the CBI has responded to all of the issues we have raised, including whether the challan was given, what was the process of PMR (post-mortem report), whether the evidence was destroyed, if any complicity by another person, etc,” the CJI said.
On Thursday (19th September) night, Israel carried out massive airstrikes on terror outfit Hezbollah’s stronghold in Southern Lebanon. As per news agency Reuters, three Lebanese security officials said that these were “the heaviest aerial strikes” since the conflict began in October last year. Notably, Israel and Iran-backed terror outfits Hamas, Hezbollah, and Yemen-based Houthis have been engaged in intense conflict since 7th October 2023 when thousands of Hamas terrorists carried out attacks from land, air, and sea killing over 1,200 Israeli and foreign nationals.
Dubbing its aerial offensive as pre-emptive strikes, the Israeli military said that fighter jets struck over 100 Hezbollah rocket launchers in southern Lebanon that were ready to launch immediate attacks on Israel. Several videos showing the extent of destruction caused by the Israeli airstrikes in Southern Lebanon are also doing rounds on the internet.
Is it Israel's intelligence service, or is it God's protection exposing terrorists? Just moments ago, Hezbollah had prepared hundreds of rockets from #Lebanon aimed at Israeli civilians, schools, and hospitals. Miraculously, just minutes before the launch, #Israel discovered the… pic.twitter.com/tcNpj3OdTU
The IDF noted that in total, the destroyed Hezbollah launchers and other military infrastructure included around 1,000 launch barrels.
Israeli fighter jets in the last several hours struck over 100 Hezbollah rocket launchers in southern Lebanon that were primed for immediate attacks on Israel, the military says.
The IDF says that in total, the launchers included around 1,000 launch barrels.
Pls don't think it's a Volcano Eruption. This is Early Dipawali celebration by Israel in Lebanon.
Israeli Air Force struck 100 launchers and destroyed about 100000 shells in Lebanon in just 2 hours in Metula city when Hezbollah Terr0ri$ts were getting ready to attack Israel. pic.twitter.com/dLpcvZmMOQ
According to the IDF, several buildings and a weapons depot belonging to Hezbollah were also struck in several areas of southern Lebanon. The latest round of airstrikes began on Thursday afternoon and were carried out in several waves.
The military added, “The IDF continues to damage and degrade the terror capabilities and military infrastructure of the Hezbollah terror organisation.”
Strikingly, Israel has carried out this latest series of airstrikes in Lebanon just days after Hezbollah was rocked by a series of explosions in devices like pagers, walkie-talkies, and solar power systems among others killing at least 37 Hezbollah cadres, injuring and maiming around 3000-4000 operatives of the terror outfit.
Hezbollah has blamed Israel for the large-scale sophisticated explosions across Lebanon and parts of Syria, spanning two days. On Thursday, Hezbollah Chief Hassan Nasrallah delivered a televised address in which he alleged that device blasts ‘could be seen as a declaration of war’ and vowed to take revenge on Israel.
He ranted, “We are waiting for you to enter Lebanese territory. We are waiting for your tanks and will see this as a historic opportunity.”
Israel has not taken responsibility for the series of explosions in devices across the Hezbollah stronghold. But, its military has been holding continuous assessments, and presenting plans to its political leadership in the last few days, aimed against Hezbollah.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant held a situational assessment which he called a “new phase in the war”. Gallant said that the IDF would continue strikes in Lebanon to fulfil the newly officialised war goal of returning displaced northern residents to their homes.
We will bring our communities home. As time goes by, the price paid by Hezbollah will increase. pic.twitter.com/6u6zAfZoUv
According to IDF sources, the military was seeking to return displaced Israelis to their homes without causing the conflict with Hezbollah to expand to a regional multi-front war. The IDF expects that the hostilities with Hezbollah could intensify in the coming days.
In the wake of any possible retaliation from Hezbollah, the IDF has published a list of guidelines for its civilians in several communities and cities in northern Israel, asking them to remain close to bomb shelters.
These guidelines have been issued for civilians living in the Merom HaGalil Regional Council, Upper Galilee Regional Council, Mevo’ot HaHermon Regional Council, Yesud HaMa’ala, Hatzor, Rosh Pina, Safed, Metula, and towns in the Golan Heights from Katzrin and northward.
The IDF has asked them to reduce movement outside of homes, avoid large gatherings, guard the entrances to the communities, and remain close to bomb shelters, with the guidelines in place until further notice.
Furthermore, the Israeli defense establishment has made preparations for a possible all-out war with Hezbollah. Incidentally, Hezbollah had recently fired a heavy barrage of rockets from Lebanon on Israel’s northern communities before the Israeli airstrikes.
Head of the Magen David Adom rescue service, Eli Bin told the Ynet news site that he had received reports that an MDA station in Metula suffered a direct hit but there were no injuries reported.
The Mayor of Metual, David Azoulay released a statement claiming “tremendous damage” from rockets that struck a number of homes and sparked fires.
He said, “I haven’t seen anything like it since the start of the war.”
Incidentally, earlier on Thursday (19th September), two IDF soldiers, Maj. (res.) Nael Fwarsy (43) and Sgt. Tomer Keren (20) were killed in Hezbollah missile and drone attacks on northern Israel. Additionally, nine IDF soldiers were also injured in the attacks.
Terror outfit Hezbollah suffered massive blows in the recent past
Over two days on 17th and 18th September 2024, thousands of pagers, walkie-talkies, and other communication devices carried by Hezbollah operatives exploded in Lebanon, killing around 37 persons and injuring thousands. The pagers on Tuesday received a message, overheated, and then exploded, several of the incidents were caught in CCTV cameras. Then on Wednesday, two-way radios exploded in Beirut and other places in southern Lebanon exploded similarly.
It is largely believed that the Israeli agency Mossad is behind the sophisticated attack targeting Hezbollah operatives, even though the Israeli govt has not commented on it.
Nonetheless, Thursday’s Israeli airstrikes and a wave of mysterious explosions are only the latest series of blows that the Lebanon-based terror outfit has suffered in the recent past. A senior Hezbollah terrorist, Fuad Shukr was assassinated in July, back then, Hezbollah had also threatened vengeance. But Hezbollah’s planned retaliation at the end of August was foiled by an IDF. Back then, the Israeli military’s preemptively struck more than 100 strikes across south Lebanon.
