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Kanpur: History sheeter Shahrukh Khan arrested for attempt to derail Kalindi Express by placing gas cylinder on track, ISIS connection suspected

OpIndia Staff
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Kanpur: History sheeter Shahrukh Khan arrested for attempt to derail Kalindi Express by placing gas cylinder on track, ISIS connection suspected

In a crucial move, Uttar Pradesh Police’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) nabbed a history-sheeter named Shahrukh Khan in connection with the attempt to derail Kalindi Express train in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The history-sheeter had travelled some distance from the scene of the occurrence when he was arrested. According to the reports, six suspects were released following interrogation, and the main suspect Shahrukh Khan was apprehended.

So far, investigations have revealed evidence of terrorist linkages in the conspiracy to overturn the train in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The investigation, led by numerous agencies, revealed that the accused who plotted to overturn the train was a self-radicalized individual with suspected ties to ISIS’s Khorasan module.

On 9th September, a major train accident of Kalindi Express (14117) which was travelling on the Anwarganj-Kasganj Route in Kanpur was averted after the loco pilot applied an emergency brake.

As per the reports, a deliberate attempt was made to derail the Kalindi Express by placing a gas cylinder on the route. However, the accident was averted after the pilot heard the suspicious sound of the cylinder hitting the train. He immediately applied the emergency brake in between the Barrajpur and Bilhaur regions ceasing the train movement.

The Rail Authorities and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) took cognizance of the incident and indicated that a deliberate attempt was made to cause a train derailment. Apart from the gas cylinder, the authorities also recovered glass bottles, a matchbox, and a suspicious bag from the route.

The authorities stated that the pilot immediately informed guard Rajiv Kumar about the matter after applying emergency brakes. Guard sent a memo to the office informing them about the cylinder after that immediate investigation was undertaken.

During the investigation, marks of rubbing of an iron-like object were also found on the track. Kannauj’s RPF Inspector OP Meena then examined the railway track and surrounding bushes with the help of a searchlight. RPF Assistant Commandant MS Khan also confirmed that filled LPG cylinders, matchsticks, bottles, and other suspicious items have been recovered from the spot.

The incidents of derailment of trains have increased massively in the recent past in India. The Rail Ministry recently took cognizance of the upsurge in such incidents or deliberate conspiracies to derail the train and noted that in the past week, three attempts of the train derailment and two incidents of stone pelting at trains have come, causing alarm. The authorities also indicated that these incidents happening in series in different parts of the country pointed to the criminal intent of miscreants.

As a result of this, the Indian Railways and probing agencies are investigating multiple sabotage attempts to derail trains. Terrorist involvement in the matter is also being looked into. A detailed report on this matter can be read here.

UP: Shiva Temple priest ‘Shivamnath’ turns out to be Sanwar Hussain, pictures retrieved from his mobile show him as a skull-cap donning namazi

राहुल पाण्डेय
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UP: Shiva Temple priest ‘Shivamnath’ turns out to be Sanwar Hussain, pictures retrieved from his mobile show him as a skull-cap donning namazi

On Tuesday (10th September 2024), a Muslim youth was apprehended in the Bijnor district of Uttar Pradesh for using the false identity of a Hindu man and acting as a Priest in a Shiva temple. The accused had been working as a priest in Bijnor’s Shiva temple for the last 6 months but when suspecting locals checked his Aadhar card, his real identity turned out to be Sanwar Hussain, a resident of Uttarakhand. However, he claimed that he is a resident of Rampur, Uttar Pradesh and he did ‘Ghar wapsi’ in 2018. But he couldn’t show evidence to back his claim. Currently, the Police are investigating the matter.  

According to media reports, this incident pertains to the Sherkot police station area of Bijnor district. A Shiva temple in the Tiperjot village is a big centre of faith for the locals and a large number of devotees gather at the temple, especially on the occasion of Shivratri. 

About 6 months ago, a young man came to this temple as a sevadar. After a few days, he became the priest of this temple. He started staying in the temple, claiming to do prayer activities. He used to call himself the temple priest ‘Shivamnath’. However, after noticing his actions, the villagers developed suspicion towards him. 

On Tuesday (10th September), they asked him to show his Aadhar card but he expressed reluctance. However, when the locals persisted, he presented them with his identity card. After seeing his ID card, locals found out that he is a Muslim man and his father’s name is Afsar Ali. As per the ID card, Sanwar Hussain’s registered address is somewhere in Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand. However, he claimed that he is a resident of Rampur district, Uttar Pradesh.

When locals checked his mobile phone, it yielded many more shocking revelations. It had many pictures of him in Islamic attire. In one picture, he was seen standing near a shrine. He was wearing a Muslim skull cap and his hands were raised in prayer.  

It was also revealed that Sanwar Hussain had earlier spent time acting as a priest in many temples of Nagarpur Khadak Sain and Nagina area of Bijnor district. In these temples, he used to call himself Maharaj. 

After learning that he was using the false identity of a Hindu man and committing fraud, the villagers alerted the Police about the entire matter. 

The Police took Sanwar Hussain into custody and started questioning him. According to the police, as per preliminary investigation, the accused has no prior criminal record. 

In his defence, Sanwar Hussain claimed that he had converted to Hindu Dharma in 2018. However, he has not been able to provide any concrete evidence regarding the claim that he did Ghar wapsi and adopted Hindu Dharma. 

Meanwhile, his family members have been informed. Currently, the Police are investigating the matter, and further legal action is underway.

West Bengal: Judiciary faces intimidation over POCSO decisions in South 24 Parganas, Judges report police inaction amid threats

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: Judiciary faces intimidation over POCSO decisions in South 24 Parganas, Judges report police inaction amid threats

The judiciary in South 24 Parganas of West Bengal has been facing severe intimidation and security threats, according to a letter written to the Registrar of Calcutta High Court by the District Judge. The threats have been particularly prevalent in the Diamond Harbour Sub-Division over POCSO-related decisions linked to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Letters from judicial officers, including one from District Judge Subhradip Mitra, detailed a series of alarming incidents that raised questions about the safety of the judges. Furthermore, the letters raised concerns about possible police complicity in the matter. The letters were shared by Bharatiya Janata Party IT Cell Chief Amit Malviya on social media platform X.

Incident Overview

According to the letter written to the District Judge by ADJs and ACJM, Diamond Harbour, the incident took place on the night of 8th September 2024. At around 11:30 PM, Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Diamond Harbour’s house guards informed him that a police officer from Pailan police headquarters, identified as Kumaresh Das, was involved in sending two unidentified persons to Judges’ Abasan (residential complex) with the intent to disconnect electricity. The move was seen as an attempt to create a cover for a possible physical assault on the judicial officers using the darkness and chaos.

Miscreants and police inaction

At around 1:10 AM, a masked person was spotted loitering near the main gate of the judicial accommodation. He signalled the guards to allow entry. However, the guards sensed danger, denied access, and informed the judges. ACJM immediately called the Inspector in charge of Diamond Harbour police station at 1:13 AM and requested urgent assistance. The police station is located in close proximity to the judges’ accommodation. However, the police personnel delayed reaching the spot, and the miscreant continued to loiter outside the gate. At 1:22 AM, another call was made to the police, and after another 20 minutes, the police arrived at the scene.

Reports of conspiracy and fear

The letters further alleged a conspiracy involving police officer Kumaresh Das, who colluded with a local police officer from Diamond Harbour police station to help the miscreant enter the premises and possibly harm the judges. The judicial officers raised concerns that the threats against them came to the fore following certain POCSO rulings that were not in favor of the local political establishment linked to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Security footage and a short video recording of the incident confirmed that a person was seen loitering outside the residence of the judges. The judicial officers pointed out that these incidents were not isolated and that there has been a pattern of judicial interference where police are allegedly used as a tool for political vendetta.

Official correspondence

District Judge Subhradip Mitra, in his letter to the Registrar of the Kolkata High Court, West Bengal, emphasised the gravity of the situation. He described how the safety and independence of the judicial officers are under threat and expressed apprehension that there is a nexus between police personnel and the miscreants involved. He added that these threats and situations have been potentially orchestrated by people with political influence who were displeased with the judgments, specifically in POCSO cases.

Call for action by BJP

BJP’s IT Cell chief, Amit Malviya, shared the letters on social media and called it a blatant attack on judicial independence. He called for the immediate intervention of the Supreme Court of India and urged the apex court to take suo moto cognisance of the matter. He added that stringent laws like POCSO have become tools for political repression and manipulation, similar to the NDPS Act, which was used to intimidate political opponents.

In his post, Malviya said, “THIS IS ABSOLUTELY SHOCKING. JUDICIARY UNDER THREAT IN SOUTH 24 PARGANAS, DIAMOND HARBOUR SUB-DIVISION. SUPREME COURT MUST TAKE SUO-MOTO COGNIZANCE OF THE MATTER. MAMATA BANERJEE’S NEPHEW IS THE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FROM HERE. This is an unprecedented letter. Shri Subhradip Mitra, District Judge of South 24 Parganas writes to The Registrar of Kolkata High Court, suggesting that West Bengal Police is targeting Judges in Diamond Harbour Sub Division and physical harm is being planned following their decisions on some POCSO related matters, which have not gone in favour of the ruling TMC. For the uninitiated, earlier West Bengal Police would slap all opposition leaders with NDPS cases, which was a non bailable offence and ensured jail term of atleast six months (the law provides for minimum of 10 years jail, if proven), if not more.”

“After Calcutta High Courts’s diktat asking for video evidence in NDPS cases, the misuse stopped. POCSO is now the new weapon in the hands of WB Police, which is being misused to target opposition leaders and more recently protestors, demanding justice in the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital rape and murder. In this particular instance, after WB Police failed to secure police custody of rival party’s workers, under the stringent POCSO case, presumably on the instructions of local TMC leader, it was decided to attack the Judges and harm them physically.

The district police officer, Kumaresh Das, named in the letter, sent criminal elements to cut off electricity at the Judgess’ homes before assaulting them in the dark of the night. The plan was however foiled when the local security guard alerted the Judges. The local Thana incharge didn’t show up, when called, even though Judges residence is right next to the local police station. This is ALARMING and needs to be dealt with utmost seriousness. The Supreme Court, Calcutta High Court and Bar Council of India need to step in immediately to restore the confidence of the Judges and penalise those responsible for it,” he added.

“We worry for our safety when Taliban-like mob gathers on roads on Jummah”: Hindus of Shimla protesting against illegal construction of mosque

OpIndia Staff
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“We worry for our safety when Taliban-like mob gathers on roads on Jummah”: Hindus of Shimla protesting against illegal construction of mosque

In Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla, the local Hindus are protesting against the illegal construction of a mosque in the Sanjauli area. The local Hindus have been peacefully protesting against the illegal construction of the mosque complex, however, on the 11th of September, visuals of the Congress administration crushing the protests sparked outrage. Amidst the protests and subsequent crackdown,  several local people have come forward to tell the nation why they are opposing the illegal construction of a mosque and what are their concerns.

Speaking to the media, a local Hindu woman said: “They have come from other states. We don’t know if any of them came here after committing some crime in other states. More than 1500 to 2000 Muslims gather to offer namaz and block roads on jummah. They illegally built the mosque during covid. These people have no verification and pose a security risk. They are capturing local markets in a planned manner. We see people coming from UP, Saharanpur, and Bihar, we see no locals here. If the government is saying that only 190 people are registered, then where are these people coming from? Why is the government not taking action on illegal construction, when they demolish any small deviation in the houses of locals? The government should do their verification to ensure the safety of the locals.

A protestor expressed his anger over the Congress administration doing a lathi charge on protesting Hindus to disperse them and said: “Today, the Chief Minister messed with the Hindu community by doing lathi charge on women and people of Hindu samaj. The Hindu community was on its way to Sanjauli for a peaceful protest but the police of the Sukhu government used lathi-charge upon and dispersed us…”

Meanwhile, another local Hindu woman told the media that she had been residing in Sanjauli since childhood and back then the mosque had only a single floor. Although the mosque was there but nobody took care of it and children used to play there. However, after ’90s the construction of the mosque increased after one Salim Tailor arrived here. She added that while the Waqf Board is claiming that the illegal mosque is built on land owned by them, the government has said that the land belongs to them.

The Hindu woman said that a large crowd of Muslims gathers at the mosque and Hindus have to wait and see if Muslims have cleared the road then they can go to pick up their children from school or step out for other work. “We [local Hindus] get scared due to their Taliban-like outlook and since we don’t know if they are verified residents or not, we get scared for our safety,” the Hindu woman said.

As reported earlier, Shimla witnessed tumultuous scenes on Wednesday, residents and police clashed during a protest march against unauthorized construction inside a mosque complex in the Sanjauli area. Images showed demonstrators smashing police barriers and guards using water cannons and lathi charges to subdue the crowd. Protesters were heard shouting slogans including “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Himachal Ne Thaana Hai, Devbhoomi Ko Bachana Hai.”

Notably, the issue of unlawful construction also led to a dispute between Congress leaders after party MLA Harish Janartha asserted that the mosque was constructed before 1960 on Waqf Board-owned property. However, he added that three floors were illegally added in 2010 and claimed that they were demolished. According to him, the mosque was being used by both local Muslims and outsiders. Some elements, he claimed, were inflaming the issue.

Rahul is merely using ‘caste’ to divide society, and his US flip-flop is proof: From ‘ending reservations’ to ‘increasing 50 pc quota’ to ‘caste of social media influencers’

Jinit Jain
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Rahul is merely using ‘caste’ to divide society, and his US flip-flop is proof: From ‘ending reservations’ to ‘increasing 50 pc quota’ to ‘caste of social media influencers’

Ever since Congress managed to outdo its expectations and win 99 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, senior party leader Rahul Gandhi has been amping up caste rhetoric to polarise the voters back in India and chip away at the BJP’s Hindu consolidation vote share.

To this end, Mr Gandhi routinely trots out absolute lies and falsehoods that the BJP is averse to reservations and that it would ‘alter’ the constitution—something which it bandied around quite successfully during the Lok Sabha elections campaign—taking gullible votaries on a ride by appealing to their baser instincts.

However, during his visit to the United States, the ‘aura’ that the Congress ecosystem painstakingly created around Rahul Gandhi seemed to have evaporated as the public realised he was still the “Pappu” of Indian politics. From his ‘ending reservations’ comments to making a flip flop and going overboard with ‘increasing the reservation quota beyond 50 per cent’ and referring to the caste of social media influencers, it revealed that the Gandhi scion has only weapon in his quiver to take on the Modi government, and that is, dividing the country along the caste lines. 

While addressing students at Georgetown University on Monday, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, once again called for a caste census. He emphasised that the Congress party seeks to understand the socio-economic status of lower castes in India. Additionally, he stated that the Congress would consider ending reservations only when India becomes a “just and equal society.”

Back in India, outrage swept the Indian political landscape as his opponents laid into him for his remarks on ending the reservations. While Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati alleged that Congress itself had done nothing for lower castes despite being in power for decades, the BJP said the Congress leader’s comments came out of frustration. Lok Janshakti Party (LJP-Ram Vilas)’s Chirag Paswan, a BJP ally that is a key constituent in the Centre’s ruling coalition, said Gandhi’s statements had exposed the Congress’ mindset, and stressed that even thinking of ending the quota system was an anti-constitutional move.

After backlash, Rahul quickly swivelled and took a U-turn as he promised to remove the 50 per cent reservation cap limit. 

“I have been repeatedly saying that we are going to increase reservations beyond 50 per cent. We want to understand what’s going on and then we are going to apply a series of policies to correct it and reservation is one of them,” he said in an interview in the US. 

Whether it is constitutionally possible and acceptable? Whether such a decision will depend on the famed ‘caste census’ he keeps yapping about? Whether such a decision will spark protests and create a law and order problem? And most importantly, Whether such a move will prove beneficial to the reserved categories? 

Mr Gandhi didn’t deign to elaborate on these questions, most likely because he hadn’t yet thought acutely about whether the country needed it or not and, if yes, how he would make it possible, and the consequences of such polarising political moves. Perhaps Gandhi has yet to firm up his stance on reservations and caste census, which is why there have been conflicting messages about them. 

Mr Gandhi keeps harping about conducting a caste census, but he has displayed little resolve and determination in carrying it out in Congress-ruled states, which, as per his understanding, would help the state governments allocate resources and formulate policies as per caste composition.

All these instances point to an appalling level of unpreparedness on Gandhi’s part over an issue as profound as caste identity and reservations. In fact, we have often been witness to incidents that demonstrate Mr Gandhi’s poor understanding of the issue, most notably with his recent remarks about the caste of social media influencers.

In a public event in the United States, Rahul Gandhi claimed that most social media influencers came from the upper caste. While there is no credible tool or renowned methodology to identify castes of social media influencers, Gandhi’s utterances reveal his shallow grasp of the matter, undermining an issue that holds extensive significance for a large section of society, especially the Dalits and the OBCs.

Before this, Gandhi had spoken about the poor representation of Dalits, Tribals, and OBCs in beauty pageant contests, insisting that ’90 per cent” of the population lacked representation. 

Speaking at the ‘Samvidhan Samman Sammelan’ in Uttar Pradesh, Gandhi stated, “I reviewed the Miss India list and found no Dalit, Adivasi, or OBC women. Some may talk about cricket or Bollywood, but no one highlights professions like cobblers or plumbers. Even the top media anchors are not from the 90 per cent. We want to know how many people in institutions, corporations, Bollywood, and Miss India come from this 90 per cent. My point is that the 90 per cent have not had participation, and this needs to be examined.”

Such ramblings have now become a hallmark of Rahul Gandhi, who keeps making such controversial remarks aimed at stoking the cauldron of caste politics even if they sound ludicrous, hoping that his divisive agenda will stir resentment among the various caste groups within the Hindu fold, engendering anger against the current regime, and in the process, revive his political fortunes. Gandhi has yet to present a clear roadmap or outline the goals his party aims to achieve with a caste census. Additionally, he has not explained how they plan to increase the representation of the reserved classes without negatively affecting the general category.

His incoherent remarks reveal a startling lack of a cohesive vision for uniting a society made up of diverse caste groups and religious communities, or for promoting their welfare. He also fails to propose solutions for improving the situation of economically weaker sections within the general castes. For Mr Gandhi, 90 per cent of the country consists of the reserved classes, while the remaining 10 per cent are portrayed as oppressors exploiting the vulnerable and impoverished.

Though Mr Gandhi may try to present his caste rhetoric as a part of his “Mohabbat Ki Dukaan” initiative to gain approval from his supporters, in reality, it pushes a divisive agenda that risks deepening existing societal fractures and potentially dismantling the social fabric of the nation.

Merely uttering ‘caste census’ and projecting concerns for the reserved classes isn’t sufficient to alleviate their condition. Sadly, Rahul Gandhi’s caste bluster reveals he has no concrete plan and vision to help the SCs, STs, and OBCs. He is simply relying on the divisive agenda to break the Hindu consolidation and once again establish Congress in the corridors of power, after having been out for over a decade now.

Gujarat: Seven including Hussain, Asif, Sahil pelt stones on Ganesha mandap, deface idol, raise Islamic flag on temple, arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Seven including Hussain, Asif, Sahil pelt stones on Ganesha mandap, deface idol, raise Islamic flag on temple, arrested

After Surat, stones were thrown at the Ganesha mandap in the Kutch village of Nakhatrana where Muslim children are reported to have been used to execute the conspiracy due to which the idol of Lord Ganesha was vandalised. An Islamic flag was also hoisted in a Hindu temple which was a short distance from the mandap. The incident has led to a tense situation in the area. The authorities, meanwhile, registered a case and arrested seven people. Maulana Ghulam Hussain Jafar, Asif Sumra Padhiyar, Sahil Ramzan and Hanif Jusan are among the arrested.

The matter pertained to Kotada Jadodar hamlet. A video of the incident was captured on 10th September and showed the defaced idol. A man in the footage can also be heard accusing the police of not taking any action in the name of “bhai-chara” (brotherhood) for two days.

Another video that displayed a green flag on the top of a temple has come to light. Some Muslim youths were reportedly on this road after which an Islamic flag was seen on the nearby temple instead of a Dhaja (Hindu flag/banner).

The cops launched a case and apprehended seven people out of which three were minors and the remaining were adults. Some of them were also involved in raising the flag on the temple. Now, all of them have been taken into custody and further legal action is underway. Notably, the father of one of the accused kids is a maulana (cleric).

Kutch-East District Police Chief Sagar Bagmar confirmed the police action and informed, “Three minor children were involved in breaking the idol. Police have arrested four other people hoisting a green flag on the temple. A case has also been filed at the Nakhatrana police station and the situation is under control. More action is being taken in the matter.” The official added, “There were three children involved and one of them has a cleric father who has also been nabbed and is currently being questioned. Further action will be taken based on the information received from him.”

Notably, a Ganesha mandap was recently constructed in the Variyadi Bazar neighbourhood of Surat which also encountered stone pelting by a group of underage Muslims who arrived at the location through a rickshaw and perpetrated the offence. Afterwards, thousands of Hindus came out on the streets to protest against the occurrence. However, stones were again hurled from Muslim-majority areas and even cops were attacked. Twenty-seven culprits have been arrested by the police regarding the matter and further inquiry is ongoing. On the other hand, unlawful construction in the nearby Syedpura also faced bulldozer action. Importantly, the same modus operandi has been replicated in Kutch.

RJD MLA Izhar Asfi’s old video threatening a school teacher goes viral, he says 90% of criminals in jail are his men and they can do anything

OpIndia Staff
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RJD MLA Izhar Asfi’s old video threatening a school teacher goes viral, he says 90% of criminals in jail are his men and they can do anything

A video of an interaction between RJD MLA from Kochadhaman, Kishanganj Izhar Asfi, and a government school teacher has gone viral on social media. In the video, the MLA threatens to have the teacher allegedly killed by his goons inside the jail. Taking matters into his own hands, he can be heard threatening a teacher inside the jail with the assistance of his goons.

As per the reports, Muhammad Imtiaz Asfi, the MLA’s son, shared the video on Facebook. He also tagged his MLA father. The threats were reportedly given by the MLA after a teacher at the upgraded high school Ahmednagar Modho in the Kochadhaman block of Kishanganj district brutally hit a student. On July 31, 2024, MLA Izhar Asfi arrived at the school to visit.

During this moment, he threatened the teacher, saying he would have him hanged inside the jail in two days. He further stated, “Do you know that 90% of the people in jail belong to us? There’s a thief, a thug, and a murderer. If nothing happens to you outside, then we will send you to the jail and get done with you.”

The video that is making rounds on social media is believed to have been posted on 31st July this year. However, netizens are condemning the MLA saying that the party’s true face has finally been exposed. “The real face of RJD has been revealed,” commented one of the users.

Meanwhile, the other user highlighted why a maximum of the RJD people are in jail. “Imagine they are making such remarks when in opposition; no one knows what they will do if they happen to form the government. All leaders are the same, some say it in public while others do such things secretly. It is just the public who is fooled,” the user said.

When the RJD MLA was asked about the threatening viral video, he said to listen and watch the video properly. Meanwhile, former JDU MLA Mujahid Alam condemned the video and said that in the eyes of the law, be it Prime Minister, Chief Minister and MLA, all people are equal and making such a statement is condemnable.

Videos of sex with dead bodies in morgue, porn racket, missing bodies, corruption: CBI probe reveals shocking illegal activities in Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital

OpIndia Staff
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Videos of sex with dead bodies in morgue, porn racket, missing bodies, corruption: CBI probe reveals shocking illegal activities in Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital

In the ongoing investigation into the rape and murder of a female trainee doctor, the CBI has found evidence of corruption and host of illegal activities running in the RG Kar Hospital, as reported by Bengali media on Wednesday (11th September 2024). One of the places under the CBI scanner for corruption and other illegal activities is RG Kar Hospital’s morgue which reportedly has a thriving business of recording sex videos with dead bodies and running necrophilic porn rackets. 

Moreover, at least 60 to 70 bodies have gone unaccounted for every financial year since 2021, according to reports citing CBI sources,

Incidentally, the trainee doctor’s horrific rape and murder has opened a can of worms for RG Kar Hospital which had often been in the news over allegations of one criminal activity or the other or of suspicious deaths. Now, it has landed itself in another controversy as reportedly it has come to light that illegal activities were going on in the Hospital’s morgue night after night. 

Unrestricted access, necrophilia porn

As per reports, several people including Sanjay Roy, the accused arrested in the trainee doctor’s rape and murder case, had unrestricted night access to the hospital’s morgue which should have been closed at around 7:30-8 PM daily. Evidently, no post-mortems are done at night and the morgues are closed at night. The key of the main door is kept with the department head. Even if a dead body arrives late at night, it is brought to the mortuary through the back door. 

However, the investigators believe that people not only had night access to the morgue, corpses were taken out of the cold chamber late at night, and this had been going on for a long time. Necrophilic miscreants then performed intercourse with the dead bodies and recorded the obscene acts on their mobile phones. 

According to the agency sources, they found videos that were recorded in the RG Kar Hospital morgue on Sanjay’s mobile phone. In these photos and videos, he and others were seen having intercourse with dead bodies inside the morgue. 

As per reports, RG Kar Medical College and Hospital’s morgue has more than 40 cold chambers. The chambers were opened at night and the light inside the morgue remained on most of the day and night. Apart from Sanjay Roy, the civic volunteer arrested in the rape-murder case, several other civic volunteers had unrestricted access to the Hospital morgue. Additionally, some of their relatives were also in daily traffic at the morgue.

Kolkata Police arrested Sanjay Roy in the trainee doctor’s rape and murder case on the night of 9th August. At that time, Police sources said that the accused had a serious penchant for pornography, and many porn videos which are banned in India were recovered from his mobile phone. This included videos of intercourse with dead bodies, or Necrophilia. According to the investigators, some of them were taken from the hospital’s morgue.

It is also speculated that there was a corruption syndicate around dead bodies at the hospital that had been formed over the years. Many people are involved in this syndicate. Anand Bazar Patrika reported that there was a cycle of pornography behind it. The investigators have not ruled out the suspicion of selling such videos abroad for huge amounts of money.

Apart from pornography involving dead bodies, CBI has also found evidence of other corruptions involving the morgue at the medical college and hospital. It has come to light is that at least 60 to 70 bodies went unaccounted for in each financial year since 2021. The biggest problem is with the body parts. Detectives suspect that the skeletons were removed from the bodies and sold separately. It also has been found that there is no proper recording of bodies in the mortuary register.

According to CBI sources, they have collected the interior design of the morgue, cold chamber, register book, and CCTV footage of the last few months. 

The CBI has sought an explanation from Prabir Chakraborty,, head of the Department of Forensic Medicine, regarding the discrepancy in the register. However, as per the agency’s sources, he could not give satisfactory answers. Although he responded to the CBI interrogation the first time, he is not even picking up the phone, nor is he responding to any messages. 

North Bengal Lobby

Furthermore, another prominent angle in the RG Kar scandal is the alleged influence of the ‘North Bengal’ lobby. The Head of the Department of Medicine was shifted to another department on verbal instructions by former Principal Sandeep Ghosh. In February this year, he was replaced by a man who was previously working at the North Bengal Medical College.

The heads of the ‘syndicate’ allegedly made the mortuary an arena of corruption through him. From there huge sums of money reached the syndicate every month. To collect money, a minimum contract of Rs 10,000 was made for the dissection of the dead bodies coming for post-mortem examination, proper stitching, and arranging the hearse to the crematorium.

However, the investigators have yet to find out who is directly involved in this work and how deep are the roots of this cycle.

As per workers, many of the syndicate leaders used to enter the morgue at night, however, it was an unwritten rule to remain silent even after witnessing crime and injustice.

A worker, on the condition of anonymity, said, “Liquor bottles were brought to the morgue in the evening. No one, small workers like us, had the courage to say anything. They were either transferred or threatened.” 

Porn shooting and sex with death body accusations leveled earlier also

However, this is not the first time that Kolkata’s government-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital has been marred with grave allegations of pornographic racket and miscreants allegedly indulging in sex with dead bodies at the Hospital morgue. Incidentally, reports that such clandestine and illegal activities had been going on in the RG Kar Hospital came to light 23 years ago.

In 2001, the mysterious death of a fourth-year medical student, Soumitra Biswas, at RG Kar Medical College was termed a suicide by police. However, when the parents fought a legal battle, the High Court ordered a murder probe as it was alleged that the student was killed for trying to expose porn rings, including perverse acts of sex with dead bodies.

Even though Auromita Das, a female student of the medical college, was arrested in connection with the case, the West Bengal Police CID could not make much progress in the case, and it remains unresolved. The police had questioned several members of SFI, the student wing of CPM, but could not find any clue.

Soumitra’s mother had alleged that her son’s friends at the medical college were responsible for his death, as he allegedly discovered indecent activities on the campus. Notably, several students at the medical college had blamed an alleged porn ring in the RG Kar Medical College for the death of Soumitra Biswas.

According to his colleagues, Soumitra paid the price for exposing the nasty work of shooting pornographic photos and videos in one or more hostel rooms.

According to them, the shooting was done primarily on weekends by inviting sex workers into the hostel. “During the crisis, when they couldn’t find a prostitute, they even used dead bodies from the hospital used for dissection. It is a massive racket being supported by a political leader. Then they would superimpose models’ faces over naked photos of dead bodies,” claimed a student.

The students had said that shootings of porn videos took place in hospital classrooms, seminar rooms and hostel rooms. They said that authorities knew everything but they didn’t do anything. The miscreants allegedly used photos of the faces of female students at the medical college to superimpose on the videos made with prostitutes.

They claimed that when Soumitra’s girlfriend’s photo was also used in this manner, he protested against the gang, and this ultimately led to his death. The allegations were supported by the fact that after the death, tripods and reflectors were found in a hostel room, allegedly used to shoot porn videos. 

Shimla: Police resort to lathi-charge, water canons to disperse protesters demanding action against illegal mosque construction

OpIndia Staff
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Shimla: Police resort to lathi-charge, water canons to disperse protesters demanding action against illegal mosque construction

On 11th September, Shimla experienced tumultuous scenes as residents and police clashed during a protest march against unauthorized construction inside a mosque complex in the Sanjauli area. Images showed demonstrators smashing police barriers and guards using water cannons and lathi charges to subdue the crowd. Protesters were heard shouting slogans including “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Himachal Ne Thaana Hai, Devbhoomi Ko Bachana Hai.”

The state government had issued prohibitory orders in the area, and the demonstration was conducted during a bandh (strike) called by Hindu groups. Stones were allegedly pelted at the cops.

The demonstrators took down the barricades and went through the Dhalli tunnel, which goes to the Sanjauli area, the site of the unlawful construction. As the people made their way to the mosque, police used water cannons and lathi-charges to scatter the enraged crowd. Congress Minister Vikramaditya Singh stated, “The situation is very clear. Everyone has the right to protest peacefully and the government too has said this but there should not arise a situation which would affect the peaceful situation there. So, police have taken preventive measures. Section 163 has been imposed there and the area has to be turned into a police camp so that no situation arises which would raise questions on the law and order in the state.”

“As far as the construction of that illegal structure is concerned, the matter is sub-judice. The government will take a decision after the hearing. We have clearly said that if it is found to be illegal, action will definitely be taken and it will be demolished,” he further added. Prohibitive measures have been put in place in the area following growing tensions and a call for a strike. The directive will be imposed from 7 am until 11:59 pm on 11th September.

The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) section 163, which prohibits the assembly of more than five people without permission and the carrying of lethal weapons and armaments, including lathis, daggers, sticks, spears, and swords, has been enforced by District Magistrate Anupam Kashyap. Hindu organisations also arranged a large-scale demonstration on 5th September in Chaura Maidan in the city, close to Sanjauli and the Vidhan Sabha, to voice their demands.

Notably, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu declared on 10th September that a committee would be formed to draft a policy for street vendors and licenses would only be granted following their verification. His statement came amid protests and the conflict between two communities after a deadly attack on Hindu traders by some Muslim youths on 30th August which triggered the unrest.

He stated that while protest is a right, it should be done peacefully and without causing damage to property owned by the government. Additionally, he alleged that the law would take its course and a local municipal court was hearing the case about the suspected illicit development inside the Sanjauli mosque. The matter has been sub-judice for the last 14 years and the next hearing will commence on 5th October.

Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh Assembly Jairam Thakur slammed the state’s Congress government and charged, “Himachal Pradesh is a peaceful state. There have hardly been any community conflicts here. But, now the situation which has emerged, the government should have taken active measures against it, and people are agitated because of the delay. The sentiments of the Hindus and the local people must be respected. Imposing BNSS 163 is an attempt to suppress the voice of the people. There should be peaceful protests within the limits of the law. I urge the government that if it is an unauthorised construction, then this problem should be solved soon.”

Notably, the issue of unlawful construction also led to a dispute between Congress leaders after party MLA Harish Janartha asserted that the mosque was constructed before 1960 on Waqf Board-owned property. However, he added that three floors were illegally added in 2010 and claimed that they were demolished. According to him, the mosque was being used by both local Muslims and outsiders. Some elements, he claimed, were inflaming the issue.

However, Minister Anuridh Singh countered him and highlighted, “I am not against any community but they started work in 2010 without permission. Afterwards, unauthorised construction of 2500 square feet was completed. A hearing was again held on the matter in 2012, however, these people didn’t comply. There were four more illegally built floors by 2019. How was the four-story building constructed by 2019 when the lawsuit was still pending in 2010? Where was the administration sleeping? There’s another surprising detail, the government of Himachal Pradesh owns the land (where the mosque is built),” during a speech in the assembly.

“Our administration does not oppose anyone. However, I would ask the chief minister to ascertain the origins of every person involved in this. Women now find it challenging to go around the Sanjauli market. Objectionalibale comments are passed. I have personally witnessed it. They have a habit of engaging in illegal activities. They built a 5-storey mosque. This entire matter should be investigated,” he declared in the house.

Apple ordered to pay €13 billion and Google fined €2.4 billion by EU Court of Justice in separate cases: Know details

OpIndia Staff
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Apple ordered to pay €13 billion and Google fined €2.4 billion by EU Court of Justice in separate cases: Know details

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled against tech giants Apple and Google in two separate cases, fining them €13 billion and €2.4 billion, respectively. The judgments are seen as significant victories for the European Union in its efforts to regulate big tech companies. In the case against Apple, the company has been ordered to pay €13 billion in back taxes to Ireland. Meanwhile, Google has been fined €2.4 billion for abusing its market power in search services.

Apple case: Illegal tax benefits in Ireland

The case against Apple dates back to 2016, when the European Commission accused Ireland of granting the tech company illegal state aid by allowing it to pay a tax rate of under 1%. According to the Commission, the arrangement between Ireland and Apple gave the latter an unfair advantage over its competitors. In 2020, a lower court ruled against the Commission’s decision; however, the European Court of Justice reinstated the order, stating that Ireland must recover €13 billion from Apple.

During the hearing, Apple argued that it had paid taxes in line with international tax laws, citing the United States as an example. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tim Cook dismissed the European Commission’s stance and called it “total political crap.” The company maintained that it has been unfairly targeted by retroactively altering tax rules.

In the long run, the decision against Apple is likely to have broader implications for how multinational companies allocate profits. It may influence future tax arrangements within the EU. Previously, Apple had adjusted its tax structure in 2015 when Ireland closed a loophole known as the “double Irish.” Furthermore, since 2024, a global minimum tax rate of 15% has been implemented on corporate profits by many countries.

Google case: Abuse of market power

In the case related to Google, the ECJ upheld a fine of €2.4 billion against the company for abusing its dominance in the search market. The case dates back to 2017, when the European Commission fined Google for violating antitrust laws. After seven years of legal battle, the Court found that Google granted itself an illegal advantage by promoting its own shopping services over those of its competitors.

Google has expressed disappointment over the ruling against the company, stating that it pertains to a specific set of circumstances. Google claimed that it made changes in 2017 to comply with the demands laid down by the European Commission, which have been in effect over the past seven years, benefiting hundreds of comparison-shopping services.

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