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Operation Maznoo: Man arrested in Odisha for duping multiple women in the name of marriage, victims took loans to give him money, cars, motorcycles; trapped by a lady cop

OpIndia Staff
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Operation Maznoo: Man arrested in Odisha for duping multiple women in the name of marriage, victims took loans to give him money, cars, motorcycles; trapped by a lady cop

On Saturday (3rd August), Odisha’s Commissionerate Police arrested a 36-year-old man on the charges of duping multiple women on the pretext of marriage. According to police, the accused has been identified as Satyajit Managovind Samal. He married 5 women and was in touch with another 49 women through matrimonial sites.

As per reports, he used to trap his victims including divorced women and widows through matrimonial sites by introducing himself as an Inspector of Odisha Police or Intelligence Bureau Inspector. After traping his targets, he used to take their money, gold and other valuables. And after duping his victims, he used to flee to Dubai. When he ran out of money after spending a luxurious time in Dubai, he used to come back to loot his next victim.

After receiving complaints against him, the Police initiated Operation Maznoo and a lady police officer started interacting with him pretending to be a rich woman. She then lured him to visit Odisha to meet her and when he arrived in Bhubaneshwar, the police took him into custody. 

Apart from arresting him, the Police also seized Rs 2.10 lakh cash, a car, a motorcycle, one small arm and ammunition from the possession of the accused. Additionally, they have frozen his bank accounts with balances totaling Rs 1.75 lakh. They have also seized two marriage agreement documents.

The Police Commissioner Sanjeeb Panda explained the Modus operandi of the arrested accused. According to the senior Police officer, the accused used to introduce himself as an Inspector of Odisha Police or Intelligence Bureau Inspector to widows and divorced women and lured them to marry him.

Panda said, “The accused is a native of Jajpur district and staying in the Chandrasekharpur area of Bhubaneswar.” He added, “The accused used to target divorcees and used to chat with them on matrimonial website. After entering into a marriage agreement, he used to take cash and vehicles from the victims.” 

Panda said, “After chatting with victims on matrimonial websites, the accused took cash and vehicles. After committing the crime, Satyajit used to move to Dubai and spend time there.” 

Police said that the accused also used to take loans in the name of his wives and buy cars with the loan money. He was minting money by giving these cars on rent. He married five women and from them, he looted their gold ornaments, deposits, and other valuables worth lakhs of rupees. During verification, his phone records revealed that he was in contact with 49 more girls on the matrimonial websites.

Notably, the Capital Police Station received a complaint in this matter on 26th February. He has been arrested based on the complaint filed by two victims. According to the complainants, he looted more than Rs 36 lakh from the first victim, and Rs 8 lakh along with an Enfield Motorcycle from the second victim.

As per the complaint of the first woman, she came in contact with the accused Satyajit through a matrimonial site and soon they started chatting. They also met regularly, which led to a love relationship. Later, the accused forced her into a physical relationship on the pretext of marriage and demanded money to purchase a car. 

According to the complaint, she then took a personal loan from the State Bank of India and purchased a Baleno car for the accused. It is also alleged that she gave Rs 36 lakh cash to the accused Satyajit by taking multiple personal loans. She alleged that the accused threatened to kill her at gunpoint when she asked him to return her money and car. 

During the investigation, police found that Satyajit took Rs 27 lakh cash in different ways, including a Baleno car that cost Rs 8.15 lakh. She took personal loans from HDFC Bank, Bandhan Bank, ICICI, and SBI to fulfil the demands of the accused. 

Furthermore, the police found that the accused had trapped another working woman in Bhubaneswar. He took Rs 8.60 lakh and a Royal Enfield Interceptor worth about Rs. 3,50,000 from her. 

Based on criminal intelligence and technical support, the Capital Police arrested the accused. He has been charged under sections 417, 419, 420, 506 of the IPC and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act.

According to sources, a lady officer interacted with the accused Satyajit, who used to flee to Dubai after duping women. During ‘Operation Maznoo’, the police traced him in Dubai where he worked with a company. A policewoman who projected herself as a rich woman started chatting with him for several days and was finally able to trap him. The accused was arrested as he arrived in Bhubaneswar to meet the policewoman.

‘Show some humanity towards victim girl’: NCPCR chief slams Akhilesh Yadav for demanding DNA test of accused SP leader in Ayodhya gang rape case

ANI
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‘Show some humanity towards victim girl’: NCPCR chief slams Akhilesh Yadav for demanding DNA test of accused SP leader in Ayodhya gang rape case

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairperson Priyank Kanoongo on Saturday targeted Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over his demand for DNA test of accused in Ayodhya gang-rape case.

In a post on X, Kanoongo said, “A minor girl has been raped, the allegations are against your party leader and you are doggedly defending him. This is the same DNA that defends rapists of girls by saying, ‘Boys make mistakes'”.

He further urged the Samajwadi Party MP to show some humanity towards the victim.

“You are a member of the Parliament that makes laws for children, please show some humanity towards the victimised girl. Honourable MP, think beyond caste, religion and DNA. You MPs are the protectors of the children of the country, the children are your responsibility,” he added.

Echoing the demand of Faizabad MP Awadhesh Prasad to conduct a DNA test in the case of the gang rape of a minor girl, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Saturday that DNA tests should be done on the rape accused to deliver justice to the victim.

In a post on X, Akhilesh said, “In the case of misdeeds, the way for justice should be found by getting DNA tests done on those who are accused, and not by merely making allegations and doing politics. Whoever is guilty should be given full punishment according to the law, but if the allegations are proven false after the DNA test, then the government officials involved should also not be spared. This is the demand for justice.”

The Ayodhya administration demolished the bakery of SP leader Moeed Khan, the main accused in the gang rape of a minor girl today.

Bahujan Samaj Party Chief Mayawati slammed the Samajwadi Party over the DNA test demand and asked how many DNA tests were done during their tenure.

“The strict action being taken by the UP government against the accused in the Ayodhya gangrape case is justified, but what should be understood by SP saying that the DNA test of the accused should be done. Whereas SP should also tell how many DNA tests have been done against such accused in their government,” she said on X.

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

Uttar Pradesh: Dilshad and Azeem record obscene videos in an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna in Amroha, booked

राहुल पाण्डेय
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Uttar Pradesh: Dilshad and Azeem record obscene videos in an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna in Amroha, booked

A case of recording obscene videos and reels inside an ancient Hindu temple has come to light in Amroha district of Uttar Pradesh. The accused have been identified as two Amroha-based YouTubers namely Dilshad and Azeem. The accused recorded obscene videos in the ancient Hindu temple, sparking outrage among the Hindu society. Subsequently, the Police took suo motu cognizance of the incident. They registered an FIR on Friday (2nd August 2024) and initiated an investigation into the matter. OpIndia has accessed the FIR copy. 

The matter pertains to the Kotwali Nagar police station area of Amroha. On Friday, Police Sub Inspector Parshuram submitted a complaint in his own police station. In the complaint, he said that a video has been going viral on the public platform since Thursday (1 August). In the video, two youths are seen recording reels in a building that looks like a temple and one of them is seen wearing women’s clothing.

On investigation, the complainant found that the place where the videos were recorded is an ancient Vasudev temple in Amroha city. Police believe that both the accused made obscene videos at the religious place and it was made viral on the internet. Upon further investigation, the police found out that the name of one of the men seen in the video was Dilshad. His father’s name is Kamaruddin.

The name of the second accused is Azeem. Both Azeem and Dilshad are residents of different police station areas of Amroha district. The police have considered the obscenity performed in the Hindu religious place as a crime. 

Subsequently, based on Police Sub Inspector Parashuram’s complaint, the police booked Dilshad and Azeem on Friday (2nd August). They have been booked under section 296 of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) as well as Section 67 of the IT Act. 

Police said that investigation and other necessary action is being taken against both the accused. The accused recorded the obscene video in the temple premises. In the video, Dilshad can also be heard talking to Azeem who is seen disguised as a girl, about taking him to the temple.

Dilshad, the main accused of recording and spreading obscenity inside a Hindu temple, is active on social media under the handle name, Jordan DS. He is active on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. Dilshad has also recorded reels with many Hindu girls. He share reels of himself roaming around the city on a sports bike and driving fast. However, the bikes used in the reels don’t bear registration numbers on them.  

In his reels, Dilshad is often seen on a red colour and another white colour bikes. He has built his own studio in Amroha from where he edits these reels. After the case of recording obscene videos inside Hindu temple premises surfaced, netizens started raising demands that strict action should be taken against the accused.

Vasudev Temple is the most sacred place of worship for Hindus in Amroha

The temple where Dilshad and Azeem recorded the lewd acts for a reel is considered one of the most sacred temples in Amroha. It is believed that the temple dates back to Krishna’s time and that Lord Krishna himself inhabits the Vasudev temple. Because of this belief, this temple is the main center of faith for the Hindus of the city and surrounding areas.

Ayodhya gangrape case: Mayawati justifies UP government’s bulldozer action on accused SP leader Moeed Khan’s illegal bakery, lambasts Akhilesh Yadav for demanding DNA test

OpIndia Staff
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Ayodhya gangrape case: Mayawati justifies UP government’s bulldozer action on accused SP leader Moeed Khan’s illegal bakery, lambasts Akhilesh Yadav for demanding DNA test

On Saturday (3rd August), Former UP CM and BSP Supremo Mayawati backed Yogi Adityanath government’s crackdown and bulldozer action against the Ayodhya gangrape accused Moeed Khan. Taking to X, she said that the strict action against the accused in the Ayodhya gangrape case is justified. However, the BSP Supremo came down heavily on Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav. She asked what should be understood from the fact that SP is demanding a DNA test in this incident. She also asked Akhilesh Yadav how many such tests were conducted when the SP government was in power.

Slamming Akhilesh Yadav and Samajwadi Party for their stance in the Ayodhya gangrape case, Mayawati wrote, “The strict action being taken by the UP government against the accused in the Ayodhya gangrape case is justified, but what should be understood by SP saying that the DNA test of the accused should be done. Whereas SP should also tell how many DNA tests have been done against such accused in their government.”

She added that strict action should be taken on matters of law and order, especially those related to women’s safety by rising above caste, community and party politics. 

It is pertinent to note that earlier in the day, SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav broke his silence on the heinous Ayodhya gangrape case as he demanded that in heinous cases, DNA tests should be done on the accused rather than doing politics over it or making allegations. He argued that the test must be conducted so that no innocent is framed in such cases.

Yadav added that if the allegations are found to be true then full punishment as per law should be given to the guilty person but if the DNA test proves that the allegations are false, then the government officials involved should not be spared. He added that this is the demand for Justice.

After receiving backlash for his tweet, he edited his post and included a screenshot of media reports about a heinous crime that took place in Jaunpur. However, Akhilesh Yadav has now deleted his tweet. In the only post on his X timeline on these heinous cases, SP Chief has made the DNA test demand without referring to any specific incident.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, SP’s Ayodhya MP Awadhesh Prasad also demanded a DNA test in the Ayodhya gangrape case as he also gave it a communal angle. 


However, the SP Chief is receiving backlash for the party’s stance in the Ayodhya gangrape case and several X users and BJP leaders have also linked its stance with the infamous remark of SP patriarch and Akhilesh’s father Mulayam Singh Yadav who had once said, ‘They are boys, mistakes are made’ while speaking over crimes against women.

Ayodhya Gangrape case

It is alleged that Samajwadi Party leader Moeed Khan and his servant Raju Khan gang-raped the minor girl who hails from OBC community a few months ago. They also recorded the video while committing the heinous crime, to blackmail the minor victim. By threatening to leak the obscene video, they continued sexually exploiting her for over 2 months. However, the family came to know about the crime when her health deteriorated and she became pregnant.

It is further alleged that the Bhadarsa Police Station didn’t file an FIR in this matter for more than 30 hours. It is also alleged that since 2012, this Police station had been running from the house of the accused SP leader Moeed Khan.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran perform Bhumi Pujan for ₹27,000 crore semiconductor assembly and test facility in the state

OpIndia Staff
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Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran perform Bhumi Pujan for ₹27,000 crore semiconductor assembly and test facility in the state

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma along with Tata Sons chairman N Chandrasekaran performed the Bhumi Pujan for the upcoming semiconductor plant in the state on 3rd August. The ₹27,000 crore plant by Tata Electronics Private Limited, which will be India’s first indigenous semiconductor assembly and test facility, is coming up at Jagiroad in Morigaon district in the state.

Both CM Sarma and Chandrasekaran performed the rituals amidst the chanting of hymns by priests from different parts of the country. The CM also unveiled a 3D model of the upcoming plant during the event.

“With the blessings of Maa Kamakhya, Srimanta Sankardev and our people, I performed the Bhumi Pujan of the Tata Semiconductor facility in Jagiroad along with Chairman of Tata Sons, Shri N Chandrasekaran,” Himanta Biswa Sarma posted on X after performing the Bhumi Pujan and addressing the gathering. He added that the “₹27,000 crore plant has an employment potential of over 27,000 jobs and will attract world-class industrial ecosystem that will spur India’s quest to become a global leader in new age tech.”

He called it a historic day for Assam, saying that it will remain an important date in Assam’s industrial development. “Once operational, it will transform the industrial landscape of Assam and herald a new era of growth,” said a tweet posted by the CM’s office.

The foundation stone for the greenfield Assembly, Testing, Marking, And Packaging (ATMP) facility by PM Narendra Modi on 13 March this year after it was approved by the union cabinet on 29 February along with two other semiconductor plants. The two other plants are a semiconductor fabrication unit by Tata Group in Gujarat’s Dholera and another ATMP unit by Murugappa Group’s CG Power in Sanand in Gujarat.

In ATMP plants, wafers produced by fabrication plants are assembled, tested and packaged into individual chips to be used in various electronic devices. The Assam plant will have a capacity of 48 million chips per day for automotive, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, telecom, and mobile phones. The plant will initially focus on three key platform technologies, wire bond, flip chip, and a differentiated offering called integrated systems in package (ISIP).

The Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test (TSAT) project has further plans to expand its operations to advanced packaging technologies in the future. Tata Electronics is developing indigenous advanced semiconductor packaging technologies including flip chip and ISIP technologies.

The company’s decision to set up the plant in Assam came after the state govt introduced a productivity-linked incentive scheme for the semiconductor industry. Assam govt has also assured enough supply of clean water for the industry. The semiconductor industry requires a large quantity of ultra-pure water during processing, and Assam has an abundant supply of water from Brahmaputra and its numerous tributaries.

The plant is coming up at the plot where a paper mill of Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited was located. After the plant was shut down and the employees were given VRS, the state govt acquired the land from the company. In June this year, the company signed a 60-year lease agreement with the Assam government to build the plant on the plot of over 170 acres.

The Assam govt also signed an MoU with Tata group today to build a 5-star hotel in Kaziranga National Park. “This property will provide world-class experience to the visitors and encourage them to spend more time in Assam,” CM Sarma said.

Amritsar: SGPC staffer murdered by ‘Sewadar’ in office near Golden Temple

OpIndia Staff
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Amritsar: SGPC staffer murdered by ‘Sewadar’ in office near Golden Temple

An employee of the accounts department at Golden Temple was murdered on Saturday after a confrontation with a colleague. The victim, Darbara Singh, clashed with another employee, Sukhbir Singh, at 1:30 pm (IST). Darbara Singh was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries during treatment. The police have initiated action based on witness statements.

Preliminary investigations revealed that an argument broke out between SGPC employees Sukhbir Singh and Darbara Singh, both working in the accounts branch. Darbara Singh was taken to Sri Guru Ramdas Hospital in an unconscious state, where doctors pronounced him dead. SGPC Secretary Pratap Singh mentioned that the conflict was domestic, escalating during lunchtime. Both employees were related, and they had already fought at home earlier that day.

The altercation resumed in the Golden Temple in the afternoon. Sukhbir Singh allegedly attacked Darbara Singh with a sword five times, continuing until Darbara Singh lost consciousness. Following the attack, Sukhbir Singh fled the scene. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee reported the incident to local police, who are now searching for the suspect.

Ayodhya MP Awadhesh Prasad brings Hindu-Muslim angle to the rape of minor girl by SP leader, claims CM Yogi has enmity with Muslims over demolition of accused Moeed Khan’s illegal bakery

OpIndia Staff
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Ayodhya MP Awadhesh Prasad brings Hindu-Muslim angle to the rape of minor girl by SP leader, claims CM Yogi has enmity with Muslims over demolition of accused Moeed Khan’s illegal bakery

On Saturday (3rd August), Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad gave a communal angle to the UP administration’s crackdown against the gangrape accused SP leader Moeed Khan. Notably, Khan has been arrested for sexually exploiting a minor 12-year-old girl for several months. On Saturday, the administration sealed his illegal property and initiated bulldozer action against it. 

While responding to the demolition of Khan’s bakery, Ayodhya (Faizabad) MP Awadhesh Prasad peddled the Muslim victimhood boogie. He went on to allege that the demolition drive against illegal property of gangrape accused Khan was initiated because UP CM Yogi Adityanath has enmity with Muslims and Yadavs.

Speaking to news agency ANI, he demanded that a DNA test should be conducted in the Ayodhya gangrape case. He also demanded that no innocent should be framed. 

Responding to the allegations that the gangrape accused Moeed Khan was his close aide, Awadhesh Prasad claimed that he has never allowed any criminal to come near him and has never taken any help from them. Referring to his picture with Khan, he defended himself saying that lakhs of people click pictures with him.  

Meanwhile, he described the Ayodhya gangrape case as a very painful and shameful incident. He added that all the people involved in this incident should be investigated and action should be taken with full force against the guilty persons. While he demanded a DNA test in the gangrape case and stated that no innocents should be framed, he claimed that the Samajwadi Party stands with the victim. He also claimed that the party will not stand with criminals. He added that this is not a moment for politics and accused BJP of indulging in politics over this incident. 

Regarding his photograph with the gangrape accused Moeed Khan, the SP MP said, “I have never allowed anyone to come near me who has even the slightest connection with the crime. I have never taken any kind of help from them. As far as the photo (with the accused) is concerned. Lakhs of people click pictures with us, take selfies……”

He, however, gave the case a communal angle and alleged that the demolition drive was initiated because UP CM has a very old ideology and has enmity with Muslims and Yadavs. 

He said, “This is a very old ideology of Chief Minister (Yogi Adityanath) and we cannot tell what enmity he has with Muslims, Yadavs. Samajwadi Party has always fought against injustice… The Bharatiya Janata Party should not do politics on such a horrific, shameful incident…”

Ayodhya Gangrape case

It is alleged that Samajwadi Party leader Moeed Khan and his servant Raju Khan gang-raped the minor girl who hails from OBC community a few months ago. They also recorded the video while committing the heinous crime, to blackmail the minor victim. By threatening to leak the obscene video, they continued sexually exploiting her for over 2 months. However, the family came to know about the crime when her health deteriorated and she became pregnant.

It is further alleged that the Bhadarsa Police Station didn’t file an FIR in this matter for more than 30 hours. It is also alleged that since 2012, this Police station had been running from the house of the accused SP leader Moeed Khan.

Punjab: Retired Assistant Inspector General of Police shoots IRS officer son-in-law dead in Chandigarh district court

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab: Retired Assistant Inspector General of Police shoots IRS officer son-in-law dead in Chandigarh district court

On Saturday, August 3, a retired Punjab Police officer shot dead his son-in-law in Chandigarh district court. The deceased son-in-law was an IRS officer. Though the police are not divulging any details, reports say the firing took place due to a matrimonial dispute between the two high-profile families.

The incident took place on Saturday, August 3, afternoon, when the former Assistant Inspector General Malwinder Singh shot dead his son-in-law Harpreet, an officer in the irrigation department in full public view and fled the spot. Immediately after the incident, the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead.

The deceased has been identified as Harpreet Singh, an officer in the irrigation department of  Punjab. The accused who carried out the murder has been identified as Malwinder Singh Sidhu, a now retired Assistant Inspector General of the Punjab police.

Following the matrimonial dispute, both families had arrived at the district court for the mediation. During the meditation session, Malwinder Singh requested to use the washroom and asked Harpreet to show him the way. Moments later, Malwinder allegedly took out a weapon and shot Harpreet twice, resulting in his death.

The police are yet to confirm whether the accused retired police officer has been arrested.

Iran: Several military and intelligence officials arrested after reports that the bomb that killed Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was planted in his room in Tehran military guesthouse 2 months ago

OpIndia Staff
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Iran: Several military and intelligence officials arrested after reports that the bomb that killed Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was planted in his room in Tehran military guesthouse 2 months ago

After Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran’s Tehran, the Iranian govt has arrested over two dozen people over suspected links with the murder. The arrested persons include senior intelligence officers, military officials and staff workers at the military-run guesthouse in Tehran where a pre-planted precision bomb killed Haniyeh and his bodyguard on 31 July, as per a report by the New York Times.

The assassination allegedly by Israel revealed a massive security breach, and as a result the arrests have been made. Iran has been humiliated following the murder of its guest, and a massive probe has been launched to catch those responsible for the breach.

“The perception that Iran can neither protect its homeland nor its key allies could be fatal for the Iranian regime, because it basically signals to its foes that if they can’t topple the Islamic Republic, they can decapitate it,” said Ali Vaez, the Iran director for the International Crisis Group.

Iran and Hamas have alleged that Israel was behind the assassination, a view supported by some US officials. However, Israel has not acknowledged its role in the attack in Tehran.

While Iran claims that Ismail Haniyeh was killed in a missile attack on the guest house he was staying in Tehran, reports indicate that it was a bomb planted in his room. The New York Times reported yesterday that the bomb was planted in the room where the Hamas chief was staying in the guest house two months ago, and it was remotely detonated after confirming his presence. The report cited seven Middle Eastern officials including two Iranians and an American official.

As per the report, the photographs of the scene do not support the missile theory, and it matches with a bomb blast. The guesthouse is run and protected by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and is part of a large compound, known as Neshat, in northern Tehran.

Ismail Haniyeh was in Tehran to attend the inauguration of the new president. Reportedly he stayed in the same guesthouse earlier during his Tehran visits. The remotely detonated bomb present in his room killed him and his security guard at around 2 AM on Wednesday.

The Telegraph reported on Friday that Mossad hired Iranian security agents to plant explosives in three separate rooms of the guesthouse in May this year. The original plan was to kill the Hamas chief in May itself, when he was in Iran to attend the funeral of former Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi. However, the plan was not executed due to the presence of large crowds in the building and the high possibility of its failure.

Therefore, two Iranian agents planted three explosive devices in three rooms of the guesthouse where Haniyeh might stay in his future visits. According to the officials who have CCTV footage of the building, the agents moved stealthily and entered and exited multiple rooms within minutes.

The Axios also confirmed independently that the bomb was smuggled in two months ago after it was reported by NYT. As per the report, it was a hi-tech device using artificial intelligence. It is also being reported that the bomb was very precise. While it destroyed the room and killed Hamas chief and his bodyguard, the occupants of the adjacent rooms were unharmed.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Ziyad al-Nakhalah was staying next door to Haniyeh, but his room was barely damaged and he was unharmed, according to Iranian officials, indicating the precise nature of the device.

However, Iran continues to claim that it was a missile fired from a drone. But, while a missile can target a building precisely, the possibility of a missile hitting a specific room in a building so precisely is very low. Moreover, the arrest of military and intelligence officials and guesthouse staff shows that Iranian authorities now believe that it was a bomb.

It is not known how the devices were planted and hidden that they could be spotted in two months. It is also not whether the bomb was detonated from inside Iran or outside.

‘No evidence of existence of Lord Ram’: DMK minister’s comments spark row, earlier Udhayanidhi Stalin had called for Sanatana Dharma’s eradication

OpIndia Staff
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‘No evidence of existence of Lord Ram’: DMK minister’s comments spark row, earlier Udhayanidhi Stalin had called for Sanatana Dharma’s eradication

On Friday, Tamil Nadu minister and DMK leader SS Sivasankar sparked controversy by asserting there is no historical evidence of Lord Ram’s existence. Comparing this to the Chola dynasty, he noted that the kingdom’s structures serve as evidence of its rulers.

Speaking at an event commemorating the birth anniversary of Rajendra Chola in Gangaikondacholapuram, Ariyalur district, Sivasankar emphasized the importance of celebrating Rajendra Chola’s legacy to avoid being forced to celebrate irrelevant figures.

“We honour Rajendra Chola, an emperor of the Chola dynasty because we have archaeological evidence like inscriptions, temples, and lakes created by him. In contrast, there is no evidence for the history of Lord Ram,” Sivasankar stated.

Drawing comparisons, he mentioned, “They claim Lord Ram lived 3,000 years ago and call him an avatar (incarnation). An avatar cannot be born. If Ram was an avatar, he couldn’t have been born; if he was born, he couldn’t be a God. This narrative manipulates us, obscures our history, and elevates another.”

The minister also criticized the Ramayana and Mahabharata, saying they lack “life lessons” while praising the Tirukkural, a collection of couplets by Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar from 2,000 years ago.

Sivasankar’s remarks drew a sharp reaction from the BJP, with the party’s state president K Annamalai questioning the DMK’s “obsession with Lord Ram” and condemning the comments on social media platform X.

“DMK’s sudden fascination with Bhagwan Shri Ram is quite remarkable—who would have imagined? Just last week, DMK’s Law Minister Thiru Raghupathy declared that Bhagwan Shri Ram was the ultimate advocate of social justice, the pioneer of secularism, and a proponent of equality. Now, we have the scandal-tainted DMK Transport Minister, Thiru Shiva Shankar, boldly stating that Lord Ram never existed, claiming it’s all a ploy to erase Chola history,” he said.

He further criticised the DMK for opposing the installation of the Sengol in the new Parliament.

“Isn’t it interesting how quickly DMK leaders forget? Aren’t they the same people who opposed our Hon PM Thiru @narendramodiavl for installing the Chola Dynasty Sengol in the new Parliament Complex? It’s almost amusing that the DMK, a party that seems to believe Tamil Nadu’s history began in 1967, has suddenly developed an appreciation for the nation’s rich culture and history. Maybe it’s time for DMK Ministers Thiru Raghupathy and Thiru Shiva Shankar to sit down, debate, and reach an agreement on Lord Ram. We’re confident that Thiru Shiva Shankar could learn a lot about Bhagwan Shri Ram from his colleague,” he added.

Earlier last week, another DMK leader, S Regupathy, called Lord Ram the forerunner of the Dravidian model, claiming he was a protector of social justice. In response to the minister’s statement, the BJP said it was absurd to compare Ram Rajya with the DMK-run Dravidian government.

These comments come nearly a year after Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin caused a stir by calling for the “annihilation” of Sanatana Dharma, comparing it to dengue and malaria. Udhayanidhi’s remarks put the DMK and its ally Congress under fire. Despite the pressure, the DMK youth wing chief stood by his comments and refused to retract them.

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