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Canada: Jashandeep, Gurkaran, Parminder and three other Punjabi youths arrested over extortions targeting South Asian businesses

OpIndia Staff
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Canada: Jashandeep, Gurkaran, Parminder and three other Punjabi youths arrested over extortions targeting South Asian businesses

On 26th July, Edmonton police arrested six Punjabi youths including a girl about a recent spate of extortions directed towards the South Asian community. They have been identified as Jashandeep Kaur (19), Gurkaran Singh (19), Manav Heer (19), Parminder Singh (21), Divnoor Asht (19) and a 17-year-old are all facing a host of serious criminal charges. Furthermore, authorities have obtained nationwide search warrants for 34-year-old Maninder Singh Dhaliwal, who they suspect is the head of the gang.

The extortion series known as “Project Gaslight,” which includes weapons offences, arson, and extortions that date back to last October, is currently the subject of 40 investigations by the Edmonton Police Service. The most recent instance involved an arson at an apartment building in the Cavanagh neighbourhood on the morning of July 26. It happened at an apartment complex under construction near Cavanagh Blvd. and 30th Avenue Southwest, according to Edmonton Fire Rescue Services, soon after three in the morning.

The most recent arrests, according to police, occurred on July 25 when Edmonton Police Service (EPS) and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) agents carried out search warrants at six sites in southeast Edmonton. These arrests follow other ones that the cops made earlier in the year.

More than 100 officials, including two EPS tactical teams and one RCMP officer, were involved in the searches on July 25, according to Acting Inspector David Paton of the EPS organized crime branch. “From the standpoint of the sheer volume of information our investigators reviewed, this was likely one of the largest investigations in the history of the EPS, resulting in substantial charges for all accused,” he informed.

David Paton revealed, “These individuals prepared for their crimes by researching their victims before allegedly committing the extortions, arsons and shootings they are accused of. They were also allegedly being paid for committing these crimes. We believe that the individuals identified today represent the core members of this criminal network. However, there is a strong likelihood that more people will be charged as this investigation continues.”

Chief of Police Dale McFee promised that those accountable will face consequences. “Because it’s not just the individuals or the people that are affected by a fire or an extortion, but it scares the whole community because you just don’t know where they are. It’s time for that to stop. And I think we’re serving notice here today, we’re coming.”

The six are accused of several violations, including assault with a weapon, break, arson, extortion, and firing a firearm with intent, per the authorities. They are also charged with committing several offences for the advantage of, in collaboration with, or at the direction of a criminal organization. David Paton conveyed, “We believe that Maninder Dhaliwal is affiliated with the Brother’s Keeper organized crime group out of the Lower Mainland. However, as far as our investigative team goes, we refer to this group as the Dhaliwal crime group.”

Authorities are collaborating with federal law enforcement colleagues to find him as they are unaware of his location. Maninder Dhaliwal is from Edmonton and has connections there but the cop mentioned, “EPS is working with our federal and international counterparts, including the drug enforcement administration, to locate Dhaliwal, as investigators believe he has been orchestrating the extortions from overseas.” David Paton asserted that young adults “who may be influenced to commit crime for financial incentives” are being recruited by his criminal network.

He added, “We don’t have a whole lot of clarity as to the recruitment and how that’s being undertaken. We believe that this group has a hierarchy. That recruitment could come in the form of messages passed down to people who are in our city and then it’s their responsibility to go out and try to recruit them. We believe that that recruitment comes along with the idea that they will have financial gain were they to partake in these activities.” According to him, two of the accused are Indian nationals, one is a permanent resident, and the remaining individuals are Canadian citizens.

Is Sheikh Hasina becoming a weak ruler? Failure to counter propaganda, growing Islamism, weaponisation of violence and more

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
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Is Sheikh Hasina becoming a weak ruler? Failure to counter propaganda, growing Islamism, weaponisation of violence and more

In the wake of orchestrated violence in Bangladesh, perpetrated by the Al Qaeda-linked Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the ultra-Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), and their jihadist allies, with covert support from foreign forces, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has accused these groups of attempting to undermine the country’s development and tarnish its international reputation.

She called on the citizens to aid in apprehending those responsible and bringing them to justice, emphasizing the need to capture terrorists and subversive elements hiding throughout the country.

Since July 17, 2024, the international community and media outlets have been portraying the countrywide mayhem as protests by students demanding reforms in the government job quota system.

In reality, thousands of members of the Al Qaeda-connected BNP and ultra-Islamist Jamaat, along with their armed cadres and Pakistani spy agency Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI)-trained terrorists, were continuing extreme notoriety and terrorist acts targeting public-private properties, key-point installations, police stations, prisons, members of law enforcement agencies, religious minorities – especially Hindus – and unarmed civilians.

Meanwhile, media reports indicate that the BNP-Jamaat nexus and its Islamist-jihadist cohorts organized protests against Sheikh Hasina and her government in several Western cities, including Rome, Paris, Manchester, London [at Trafalgar Square], and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

A report published in a portal named ‘Muslim News Network,’ which claims to be the “Voice of American Muslims”, stated that a massive protest was organized by the American Bangladeshi Empowerment Initiative, South Asian Solidarity Foundation, South Asian Policy Initiative, and Human Rights and Development of Bangladesh at Times Square in New York City.

It is worth mentioning that ‘Muslim News Network’ is a project of Ansary Academy USA Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization [EIN: 87-2243207] located at 8559 168 Street, Jamaica, NY 11432.

Mohammad Imran Hossain (Ansary), a Ph.D. candidate at Robert Morris University, PA, and an active member of BNP, is running these entities.

Interestingly, none of the mainstream US media covered this so-called massive protest, as it was already clear to them that such acts were funded and planned by BNP’s acting chairman and convicted terrorist Tarique Rahman.

Following this protest, several American journalists contacted me on my regular phone (as the Internet was shut down) and asked if this matter was also reported in the local press in Bangladesh.

Some prominent American journalists also wanted to verify reports they heard about members of law enforcement agencies, including Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), being brutally murdered and hung on flyovers.

They also informed me that a few policemen were executed through beheading by the BNP-Jamaat and its Islamist-jihadist cohorts in a pattern similar to that of Al Qaeda and Islamic State (ISIS).

Meanwhile, West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, known for her extreme support for Islamists and jihadists, stated in a public address in Kolkata that she would “keep the doors of West Bengal open for people in distress from the neighboring country” and offer them shelter. She also posted similar comments on her account on platform X.

Bangladesh expressed dismay at such actions by Mamata Banerjee. The Bangladesh High Commission in India called Mamata Banerjee’s remark “provocative”, with “false elements concerning the internal affairs of Bangladesh”.

On July 26, 2024, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement strongly warning Mamata Banerjee, stating that no provincial chief minister has the right to interfere in the domestic issues of any foreign nation.

Following the countrywide mayhem in Bangladesh, media commentaries are already questioning the organizational capabilities of the ruling Awami League. They state that leaders of the party and its front organizations, such as Jubo League (youth front), Chhatra League (students front), and Swechasebak League (voluntary front), have become lethargic in focusing on strengthening the organization.

Instead, they are busy with numerous forms of financial crimes, including extortion, property grabbing, tender manipulation, and mugging, using their positions in their respective organizations as tools for accruing wealth.

During the past fifteen-and-a-half years, a large number of “highbred” leaders have emerged into various positions with no commitment to the party.

For Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the ruling Awami League, another major issue is their total inability and failure to counter propaganda on social media and international media outlets.

While well-orchestrated propaganda has been ongoing on Meta (formerly known as Facebook), YouTube, and TikTok for years, the Awami League has no mechanism or capability to effectively counter such acts. Although the ruling party has entrusted some organizations to deal with the matter, their efforts have been worthless and have often backfired.

Similarly, the Awami League government is unable to counter the propaganda campaign run in international media for years. The press department of Bangladesh’s missions abroad, which is supposed to play a vital role in this case, has also been a total failure because, in almost all cases, the press departments are filled with loyalists of the ruling party without evaluating their ability to interact with journalists, establish relations, and regularly provide them feedback about issues related to Bangladesh.

During the last fifteen-and-a-half years, Sheikh Hasina has given licenses to dozens of private television channels and daily newspapers, hoping these media outlets would play a role in favour of national interest. Unfortunately, none of the local private television channels or vernacular dailies have any non-Bengali audience in the world.

The ruling Awami League has miserably failed in establishing a genuinely effective English newspaper during these years. Although several English newspapers are known as loyalists to the ruling party and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, they fail to perform expected roles during each crisis period.

Instead, they often follow so-called popular opinions as part of their desire for clickbait. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government do not have a single effective English newspaper that would defend the ruling party. During the recent mayhem caused by the BNP-Jamaat and Islamist-jihadist conglomerate, the ruling Awami League has realized its lack of a strong media outlet to effectively counter propaganda campaigns and publish the truth, thus exposing the anti-Bangladesh elements. However, once this challenging time is over, they are likely to forget the matter, as has happened in the past.

Another extremely important matter missing attention from local media and policymakers is the case of Hizb ut-Tahrir – an anti-democracy pro-Caliphate outfit that has deeply penetrated all college and university campuses in Bangladesh.

Hizb ut-Tahrir has attracted attention for its activities on university campuses in Bangladesh. While promoting itself as a peaceful organization seeking to establish a global Islamic caliphate, its methods and ideology have raised concerns among government authorities and academic institutions.

This group advocates for the unification of Muslim-majority countries under a single Islamic state ruled by Sharia law. The organization has been banned in several countries, including Bangladesh, due to its controversial tactics and goals. It often uses campus platforms to disseminate its message, targeting young minds with its vision of a caliphate and promoting its interpretation of Islamic principles.

Hizb ut-Tahrir’s activities on university campuses in Bangladesh include distributing pamphlets, organizing lectures, and conducting discussions on various topics related to Islam, politics, and the establishment of a caliphate. The group often focuses on criticizing the existing political system in Bangladesh, alleging corruption and a departure from Islamic principles. It calls for the overthrow of secular governments and the implementation of its vision for an Islamic state.

During the recent student protests in Bangladesh, Hizb ut-Tahrir activists must have played an effective part, yet this matter remains under the radar of the media and law enforcement agencies.

While Bangladesh will soon recover from the injuries of the mayhem witnessed since July 18, to ensure the stability and progress of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government must address these challenges head-on.

Strengthening the organizational structure of the ruling party, enhancing the effectiveness of their media outreach, and countering extremist ideologies must be prioritized. The government’s resilience in the face of such orchestrated chaos will not only restore confidence among the citizens but also send a clear message to the international community that Sheikh Hasina remains a strong and capable leader. By taking decisive action now, the government can fortify its position and continue to guide Bangladesh towards a prosperous future.

Punjab: 11, including 3 children, injured in stray dog attack in Kharar; 5-year-old boy serious

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab: 11, including 3 children, injured in stray dog attack in Kharar; 5-year-old boy serious

In A housing society in Kharar, Punjab, a stray dog bit as many as 11 people, including 3 children, on Friday, July 26. The incident took place in the slum area near Rose Villa Housing Society in Kharar, SAS Nagar district.

Those injured in the attack by the stray dog are Bunty (24), Riya Chauhan (19), Rahul Kumar (10), Siddharth Sharma (38), Meera Devi (33), Sushmita (6), Parkash Singh (60), Bahadur Singh (50), Sachin (5), Maneesha (13), and Mohan Kumar (22). All the injured are reportedly residents of the Rose Villa society.

In the stray dog attack, five-year-old Sachin sustained serious injuries on his eyes, face and head. He has been referred to Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector-32, Chandigarh. The dog also bit Sachin’s 13-year-old sister Maneesha on both her legs. Father of the children, Ved Prakash, said, “I was working in the society while my children were playing when the stray dog attacked them. After a lot of effort, we managed to get Sachin out of its jaws.”

Locals in the area said that the children were playing in the slums near the housing society when the stray dog suddenly attacked them and started biting them. Panicked children ran for safety even as women nearby rushed to their help. Security Guards at the Rose Villa society heard the shrieks of women and children and rushed to help them.

However, the dog bit the women and the security guards as well who had rushed to help the children. The dog has still not been caught as per the reports.

Fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani, who supported anti-CAA protests, gets trolled online over the attire of Indian athletes at Paris Olympics 2024

OpIndia Staff
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Fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani, who supported anti-CAA protests, gets trolled online over the attire of Indian athletes at Paris Olympics 2024

The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris kicked off on 26th July with a dazzling ceremony. Nearly 7,000 athletes participated in an enormous and grandiose display that paraded past the ancient and iconic monuments of the French capital down the Seine River as thousands of people attended the celebration despite the torrential rain which couldn’t dampen their spirit. Meanwhile, ace badminton player PV Sindhu and Veteran table tennis star Achantha Sharath Kamal were the flag-bearers for the Indian contingent which consisted of 78 athletes and officials who made their grand entry as part of the Parade of Nations.

The spectacular event, which was attended by locals, people from the neighbouring areas and visitors from other countries featured Indian athletes dressed in traditional garments created by Tarun Tahiliani’s fashion brand TASVA, which he co-owns with Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail group. The women donned identical saris, reflecting India’s tricolour flag, while the men were dressed in traditional kurta bundi outfits which incorporated traditional ikat patterns and Banarasi brocade. Notably, the costumes failed to impress netizens who criticized the celebrity designer and the govt for the ‘mediocre designs’ and believed it was disrespectful to the athletes. The alleged poor quality of the uniforms was a buzzing topic of conversation on social media.

Dr Pooja Tripathi called the clothes “horrendous” and wanted Tarun Tahiliani and the bureaucrats of the Ministry of Textiles who approved of them to be tried for treason.

Tarun Tahiliani prepared a variety of dresses, one of which was worn by Kim Kardashian, at the lavish wedding of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant recently. A user expressed disappointment while drawing comparisons between this and Olympic attire which she referred to as “uniquely ugly” and also posted some stunning pictures of other outfits created by the designer. She then added, “Apparently the ikat digital print was done to meet timelines which is fair.”

An individual wrote that the Ambani wedding hospitality team served as an inspiration for the official Indian team uniform and mockingly remarked, “Bravo, Tarun Tahiliani.”

Another one labelled the design as mediocre and wrote that the “uniform blends seamlessly into the sea of monotony, with a design as uninspired as a rainy Monday.” He further voiced his frustration and called the “fabric lacklustre and silhouette forgettable which evoke more yawns than excitement.” He concluded, “In the parade of fashion, this piece fails to march.”

A netizen commented, “I can design better costumes than this Tarun Tahiliani,” and charged that he completely destroyed the elegance of Indian outfits for the Olympics. “Surely some Sarkari babu (bureaucrat) hired him,” she stated

“Tarun Tahiliani has caused an international embarrassment by designing such an outfit for our Olympics team,” mentioned another user. She added that customs didn’t appear “fresh and crisp” and lamented, “Couldn’t be worse than this.”

Another individual slammed the designer and remarked, “Shame on Tarun Tahiliani for creating such cheap designs for our sportspersons.”

A user reminded that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has acknowledged fifty distinct Indian textile crafts and also named a few including Banarasi, Khadi, Phulakari, Bandhani, Patola and Pashmina, among others. “Seriously, Indian Olympics and Tarun Tahiliani, this was the best,” she then questioned in dismay.

Dr Nandita Iyer dubbed the attire “a disgrace to the rich weaving culture and history of India” and stated that she has prettier sarees being sold on the streets of Mumbai for Rs 200 “than these ceremonial costumes he has designed.” She asked, “Tricolors slapped together carelessly, ikat print and cheap polyester-like fabric. Did you come up with it in the final three minutes before the deadline, or did you contract it out to an intern,” while taking a jab at the popular designer.

There were hundreds of similar sentiments expressed by social media users who were shocked by the low quality of the outfits. Some of them also blamed the administration along with designer Tarun Tahiliani, however, it should be noted that decisions pertaining to such matters are handled by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) which is headed by PT Usha and is an autonomous body. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports facilitates and assists them, but these independent organizations make their own decisions in accordance with international norms.

Meanwhile, some X users also wondered if Tarun Tahiliani misused the privilege of designing attire for Indian Olympic contingent to promote his private brand. Users noticed striking similarity between the design on the border of Sarees worn by Indian athletes and the logo of Tasva, a fashion brand owned by Indivinity Clothing, a partnership between Tarun Tahiliani and Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail Ltd.

Significantly, the govt is not even allowed to interfere in the functioning of the sports bodies. When governments are accused of interfering in the national Olympic bodies or specific sports federations, such sport bodies are suspended by their international parent organisations. For example, in 2022, FIFA suspended the All India Football Federation citing undue influence from third parties. It was the result of the Supreme Court disbanding AIFF and appointing a 3-member committee. Similarly, Sri Lanka Cricket was suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) due to government interference last year, which was lifted later.

Therefore, even if the govt or the sports ministry want to, they can’t interfere in the selection of attire for the athletes. It is also not surprising that IOA President PT Usha has yet to respond to the criticism as the current focus of the body is to exceed India’s past performances in the world’s biggest sporting event and bring home as many medals as possible.

Tarun Tahiliani’s support for anti-CAA protest

Islamists, liberals and the opposition parties headed by Congress furiously opposed the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 which provided an accelerated pathway to Indian citizenship for persecuted religious minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan who arrived in India by 2014. The agitation swiftly transformed into major riots, stubborn demonstrations, vilification of Hindus and even conspiracies to cut off the country’s North Eastern states including Assam from the rest of India.

Notably, in 2019, Tarun Tahiliani participated in the protest organised at New Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia against providing citizenship to marginalized people from India’s three Islamic neighbours. Inafct, a popular social media handle “maithun” even asked if these Olympic outfits were his way of taking revenge for the implantation of CAA in the country.

The nationwide anti-CAA-NRC protests reportedly “greatly moved” the designer who claimed, “I mostly work with Muslims in my factories. We work as brothers and that’s the only sentiment that has to be nurtured. This country has survived the partition, the Sikh riots and Babri Masjid’s demolition and we need to co-exist, be progressive and focus on more important issues that will build this country’s future.”

While sincerely appreciated, his feelings of brotherhood had no bearing on the law because CAA was irrelevant to India’s Muslims. It was a helping hand extended to the disadvantaged and marginalized people of three Islamic nations. However, like an integral part of the Islamist-liberal ecosystem, he was equally unconcerned with the veracity of the arguments used to further the narrative.

Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics

India has sent the second-largest delegation to the Paris Olympics in 2024 with 117 athletes competing in 16 disciplines for the chance to bring home glory. However, only 68 of them were present during the Paris opening ceremony since not many athletes had reached the Olympic Village yet. “IOA President PT Usha and Chef-de-Mission Gagan Narang have given top priority to athletes in the composition of the contingent in the Athletes’ Parade. Many have competitions on Saturday (27th July) and IOA has been respectful of their decision to prioritise preparation and not take part in the Opening Ceremony.” Indian Olympic Association informed.

In this year’s Summer Olympics, the athletes will compete across 32 sports in 329 competitions before the event ends on 11th August.

PIB fact-checks “microphone muted” claim by Mamata Banerjee, Nirmala Sitharaman says Bengal CM alloted due time at NITI Aayog meeting

ANI
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PIB fact-checks “microphone muted” claim by Mamata Banerjee, Nirmala Sitharaman says Bengal CM alloted due time at NITI Aayog meeting

The central government’s fact checking body on Saturday refuted as “misleading” the claim made by West Bengal chief minster about her microphone being switched off during a meeting of the NITI Aayog in the national capital on Saturday.

A PIB fact check today debunked her allegations stating that “only the clock showed that her speaking time was over.”

“It is being claimed that the microphone of CM, West Bengal was switched off during the 9th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog. This claim is Misleading. The clock only showed that her speaking time was over. Even the bell was not rung to mark it,” the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told ANI that it is “completely false” of Mamata Banerjee to claim that her microphone was switched off and claimed that every chief minister at the meeting was “allotted their due time to speak.”

“CM Mamata Banerjee attended the Niti Aayog meeting. We all heard her. Every CM was given the allotted time and that was displayed on the screen which was present before every table…She said in the media that her mic was put off. That is completely false, ” Sitharaman told ANI.

“Every CM was given their due time to speak…It’s unfortunate that the chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee has claimed that her mic was switched off which is not true…She should speak the truth behind this rather than again build a narrative based on falsehood,” the Union Finance Minister said.

According to the government fact check body PIB, Mamata Banerjee’s turn to speak would be only after lunch if one goes alphabetically but she was “accomodated” as the seventh speaker on an official request from the Chief Minister.

“Alphabetically, CM, West Bengal turn would have come after lunch. She was accommodated as the 7th speaker on an official request of the West Bengal government as she had to return early,” PIB Fact Check explained in a subsequent tweet.

Earlier today speaking to reporters, the West Bengal Chief Minister alleged “political discrimination” and said that at the NITI Aayog meeting she was not allowed to speak for more than five minutes while other chief ministers were given more time.

“…I said you (central government) should not discriminate against state governments. I wanted to speak but my mic was muted. I was allowed to speak only for five minutes. People before me spoke for 10-20 minutes,” Banerjee told reporters after she stormed out of the NITI Aayog meeting today.

“I was the only one from the opposition who was participating but still, I was not allowed to speak. This is insulting…,” Banerjee said as she walked out mid way from the meeting.

“I have come out boycotting the NITI Aayog meeting. Chandrababu Naidu was given 20 minutes to speak, Chief Ministers of Assam, Goa, Chhattisgarh spoke for 10-12 minutes. I was stopped after just 5 minutes. This is unfair,” the Chief Minister said speaking to reporters after coming out of the meeting.

Claiming that she had chosen to participate in the meeting to strengthen “cooperative federalism” Banerjee said, “There are many regional aspirations. That is why I am here, to share those aspirations. If a state is strong, the Union will be strong.”

The Chief Minister said that several states, including West Bengal, were deprived in the Union Budget that was presented in Parliament this week,

Asking the central government to treat states equally, Banerjee said, “Bengal has been deprived of MNREGA funds for the last three years, nothing was paid. Treat all states equally. I said that today. I am speaking on behalf of all the states which have been deprived.”

Hitting out at the central government over the Budget, the Chief Minister said that the Centre does not support “cooperative federalism.”

“From the Opposition side, I am here to strengthen cooperative federalism. But you are not for cooperative federalism. The Budget is totally politically biased. Why discriminate against other states?” Banerjee said.

The Trinamool Congress supremo also asked the Centre to give financial powers to NITI Aayog or bring back the Planning Commission.

“NITI Aayog has no financial powers, how will it work? Give it financial powers, or bring back the Planning Commission,” she said.

Chief Ministers of opposition-led states including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Delhi and Punjab boycotted the NITI Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister of Punjab Bhagwant Mann and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said that their government will boycott the NITI Aayog in protest against the central government’s alleged injustice to the state in the allocation of funds in the 2024 Union Budget.

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

A day after CCTV footage of brutal murder of 22-year-old Bihar girl in a Bengaluru PG went viral, the accused man arrested from Madhya Pradesh

OpIndia Staff
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A day after CCTV footage of brutal murder of 22-year-old Bihar girl in a Bengaluru PG went viral, the accused man arrested from Madhya Pradesh

On Saturday (27th July), Police arrested the accused who brutally stabbed a 22-year-old Bihar girl to death inside her Paying Guest accommodation in Bengaluru, Karnataka, earlier this week. Following the incident, the man absconded from Bengaluru and was hiding in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, from where he was taken into custody. The development comes a day after the Police released CCTV footage of the murder which captured the gruesome incident. 

The accused has been identified as Abhishek, a Bihar resident, and the ex-boyfriend of the victim’s PG roommate. The victim identified as Kriti Kumari, was also from Bihar. She had been staying at the PG since March this year. As per the Police officials, she was working as a business development associate at a project-based learning platform. 

According to the Police, during the investigation, they found out that Abhishek frequented the victim’s PG where he often had arguments with his girlfriend. However, the deceased victim would often intervene in their arguments. 

Police added that Kriti Kumari had urged her roommate to stop living with the accused and move with her. 

According to the Police, on the day of the incident, the accused was seen carrying luggage and was allowed entry by PG security when Kriti claimed that he was her brother and that he would leave soon.

Police have blamed the negligence of the PG owner for the incident. According to Police sources, a few days earlier, Kriti Kumari’s roommate had moved out of the paying guest accommodation. It is suspected that she had gone to stay with her boyfriend.

However, on 23rd July, she returned to the PG to stay with Kriti Kumari. According to Police sources, the accused doubted that Kriti Kumari could have persuaded his girlfriend to change her decision. 

According to the Police, the brutal murder took place at around 11 PM at the Bhargavi Staying Homes For Ladies in Venkatreddy Layout. Reportedly, the PG is just over a kilometre away from the South East Deputy Commissioner of Police’s office and the Koramangala police station.

As per the CCTV footage, moments before the incident, the accused Abhishek had walked up to Kriti’s room in the PG and knocked on her door. A few moments later, he is seen dragging her out. Despite strenuous efforts by the victim to resist the knife attack, he repeatedly stabbed the victim. Abhishek then fled the crime scene when girls from the PG heard the victim’s cries for help.

The Koramangala Police Inspector Nataraj had earlier stated that the Police registered a case under Section 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and initiated an investigation.

Police had added that the accused sneaked into the PG hostel and slit Kriti’s throat with a knife near her room on the third floor at 11.30 pm on Tuesday (23rd July). The woman died on the spot. Police added that the woman sustained multiple stab wounds.

Following the arrest, the Police stated that the accused was being brought to Bengaluru for further investigation. 

Jammu and Kashmir: HSS Bani principal Mohammad Hafiz, lecturer Farooq suspended over thrashing a student for writing ‘Jai Shri Ram’ reinstated

OpIndia Staff
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Jammu and Kashmir: HSS Bani principal Mohammad Hafiz, lecturer Farooq suspended over thrashing a student for writing ‘Jai Shri Ram’ reinstated

Mohammad Hafiz, the former principal of HSS Bani school in Jammu, and lecturer Mohammad Farooq, suspended in August 2023 for thrashing a student who allegedly wrote ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on the blackboard, have been quietly reinstated following a ‘departmental inquiry’.

An order by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir School Education Department said the Director of School Education had reinstated the accused principal, Mohammad Hafiz, citing a lack of evidence and witnesses to testify against him. It also recommended he “remain vigilant in the future as he holds the vital position of principal and the head of the institution.”

The committee has also recommended the reinstatement of senior lecturer, Mohammad Farooq, with the imposition of a penalty and withholding of two increments.

The period of suspension of both officers is treated as on duty, the government order dated 22 July 2027 said. Mohammad Hafiz and Mohammad Farooq will not only be reinstated but will also be granted 10 months of salary for their period of suspension.

Minor student thrashed by Mohammad Hafiz and Mohammad Farooq for writing Jai Shri Ram on the blackboard

On August 25, 2023, Mohammad Farooq and Mohammad Hafiz allegedly beat a minor student studying in the government school HSS Bani for writing ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on the blackboard.

Following the incident, a video of the hospitalised minor victim had gone viral on social media, sparking widespread outrage. In the video, the minor student (class X) was seen narrating the incident. Explaining the reason why he was in the hospital, he said that his teacher Farooq, and the school principal brutally thrashed him for writing Jai Shri Ram on the blackboard. 

Speaking with OpIndia, Kathua Police had confirmed that the minor schoolboy was beaten for writing ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on the blackboard. 

They had added that they have filed an FIR in the case against two accused under Sections 323 (deals with punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 342 (wrongful confinement), 504(intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Additionally, they had charged the accused under Section 75 (which provides for punishment, if any person having control of the child, assaults, abandons, abuses or willfully neglects the child) of the Juvenile Justice Act.

Assuring swift action, the Police said that they will soon arrest both the accused in this case. “The FIR has mentioned lecturer Farooq as the accused who thrashed the victim for writing ‘Jai Shri Ram’ on the class blackboard. Principal Mohammed Hafiz has also been named in the FIR. They will soon be arrested,” the police official told OpIndia. 

Subsequently, the Jammu and Kashmir government has formed a three-member high-level committee. This probe committee was led by the Sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Bani. The other two members of the committee include the Deputy Chief  Education Officer Kathua region and the principal of the government school HSS Kharote.

Uttar Pradesh: Speeding car travelling on the wrong side hits Hindu devotees, damages a Kanwar, Islamists and media paint accused Muslim man in car as victim

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Speeding car travelling on the wrong side hits Hindu devotees, damages a Kanwar, Islamists and media paint accused Muslim man in car as victim

On Friday (26th July) evening, a speeding car travelling on the wrong side of the Delhi-Meerut Expressway hit Hindu devotees part of the Kanwar Yatra and collided with a Kanwar. As per reports, the collision impact damaged the Kanwar making the aggrieved Kanwariya’s Yatra futile. Following the incident, Kanwariyas attempted to confront and nab the accused car occupants which led to clashes. While three out of the four accused fled from the crime scene, Kanwariyas caught one accused and handed him over to the Police. 

However, it was later found out that the accused occupants in the car belonged to the Muslim faith, which triggered Islamists to peddle the boogie of ‘Muslim victimhood’ and launch a smear campaign against Kanwar Yatra, a religious Hindu practice. Additionally, the media reports on the incident have also painted the accused car occupants as victims and blatantly accuse Kanwariyas of indulging in violence, vandalism, and terrorising Muslim car occupants for a “minor incident”.   

According to reports, the incident took place on Friday evening in Partapur near the T-point where the Delhi-Dehradun Highway and Delhi-Meerut Expressway intersect. The car which was travelling on the wrong side hit the Kanwar of a Hindu devotee who was marching on foot from Haridwar to Ghaziabad. It broke off his water pot thus ending his religious yatra before its culmination. Notably, Hindu devotees bring Ganga Jal (holy water) from Gaumukh, Gangotri in Uttarakhand, and other holy rivers to do Jal Abhishek of Shiv ji in their revered nearby temples. For this, they accumulate water in pots or other containers in Kanwar and do Padyatra from these holy cities back to their hometown.    

After the speeding car travelling on the wrong side ramped into their yatra, the Kanwariyas attempted to nab the accused car occupants which escalated into violent clashes between them. However, three out of the four accused managed to flee the area to avoid getting arrested by the Police. But the Kanwariyas caught one accused and assaulted him before handing him over to the Police. 

Meanwhile, after getting the information, SP Traffic Raghavendra Singh, CO Brahmapuri Pramod Kumar, and CEO Suchita Singh reached the spot with heavy police force and pacified the matter.

They convinced the Kanwariyas and made travel arrangements for the victim Kanwariya to fetch Ganga Jal again from Haridwar. Additionally, the police took the car involved in the accident into custody and sent it to the police yard.

Narrating the incident, the Kanwariyas recounted that the car was coming from the wrong side. They added that the riders didn’t pay heed to their warnings that they were driving on the wrong side of the road and could end up hurting Kanwariyas or disrupting their Yatra. 

The Kanwariyas said, “The Kanwar has been broken due to the collision. We signaled the car riders that we were carrying the Kanwar and that they were coming from the wrong side, but they ignored us. This is why this accident happened. Our Kanwar was broken.”

Infuriated by the incident, the Kanwariyas demanded that the miscreant car occupants be handed over to the Police and that they should face strict actions for their act. However, it led to a violent confrontation and while the three accused managed to flee, the Kanwariyas assaulted one of them and handed him over to the Police.   

However, media reports about the incident have painted victim Kanwariyas as the aggressor and accused them of assaulting and vandalising the car of the Muslim occupants for a minor collision incident. Soon, usual suspects and Islamists started peddling the boogie of Muslim victimhood and presented it as a near-lynching incident to launch smear campaigns against the Hindu religious Kanwar Yatra. 

Meanwhile, several X users also pointed out that concerted efforts have been going on to smear the Kanwar Yatra and present devout Shiva bhakts, and Kanwariyas as hooligans and vandals accusing them of wanton communal violence.

Many users pointed out the details of the incidents and called out media reports and Islamist propaganda being peddled in this incident. 

‘Don’t know about you but I have self-respect’: Shazia Ilmi blasts Rajdeep Sardesai for defending cameramen who filmed her inappropriately

OpIndia Staff
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‘Don’t know about you but I have self-respect’: Shazia Ilmi blasts Rajdeep Sardesai for defending cameramen who filmed her inappropriately

On Friday (26th July), BJP spokesperson Shazia Ilmi came down heavily on Rajdeep Sardesai after the latter accused her of ‘attacking’ the cameraman of the India Today group.

Ilmi had left the primetime debate of the ‘propagandist masquerading as journalist’ half-way after he asked to cut off the mic of the BJP spokesperson. Despite this, the cameraman kept filming without her consent, leading to a physical altercation.

In a tweet, Shazia Ilmi stated, “Don’t you ever bring down my Fader again. Remember I have been on both the sides and know how to handle bullies like you. BTW it doesn’t behove political propagandists masquerading as journalists to sermonise.”

Rajdeep Sardesai was quick to play the ‘victim card’ and accuse the BJP spokesperson of assaulting the cameraman. “I respect all my guests always. If anything, I am too indulgent: the fader is lowered only to avoid cross talk and noise on the show. If you have a grouse with me or with an army general on the show, of course that’s your prerogative. And I respect that too,” he claimed in a tweet.

“But for you to chuck the Mike and abuse our video journalist and throw him out of your house is just NOT done. He was only doing his job. No excuse for bad behaviour. The rest I leave to you. Have a good weekend (the video below is from last night…” he continued.

Sardesai had also shared a video of the physical altercation. Shazia Ilmi thanked the propagandist for providing video evidence and called out the ‘pervert’ cameraman for zooming on her chest.

“Why on earth would I stay on your show when you humiliate me and say CUT SHAZIA’s Mike off ? Only because I asked you whether you think all the Defence Chiefs are lying. Don’t know about you but I have SELF RESPECT,” she tweeted.

The BJP spokesperson detailed the problematic behaviour of the cameraman, which forced her to evict him from her house.

“Your cameraman watched me struggle as I got up and continued to film me trying to remove my mike, instead of helping me with the wheelchair. Why was he still continuing to focus on MY UPPER BODY showing it up close. It was so uncomfortable for me and I felt most embarrassed,” she pointed out.

    “Any lady would tell you that focussing on their chest is a clear NO NO. I could see this live on screen and requested him not to film me any or switch off the camera light. The pervert cameraman continued to film me despite my obvious physical and emotional discomfort after the show was over. Why ? Why would he keep filming him in my home, my SAFE place against my WILL? And that too, AFTER the show?” Shazia Ilmi asked.

    “Just because you’re a famous anchor (just as much you’re a sore loser) doesn’t mean you can humiliate people who call you out and force your crews on people , beyond the brief and violate their private space. And I dare India Today to show footage of my upper body and chest again. I will take this matter up seriously as I was deeply hurt and humiliated by this behaviour,” she warned.

    The BJP spokesperson concluded, “I have a right to choose what I want up show on air and I object to the lens focusing on my body and not my face AFTER the show. It’s my house and I’m curious whether your wife would entertain a crew shooting her remove her mike from up close and then follow her around after show. Thanks for providing this VIDEO EVIDENCE, which clearly shows how the lecherous cameraman is continuing to film me despite me not wanting to be ON air.”

    Police reach house of person who performed dangerous stunt on Mumbai local, find that Farhat Azam Shaikh already lost a leg and an arm in another train stunt

    OpIndia Staff
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    Police reach house of person who performed dangerous stunt on Mumbai local, find that Farhat Azam Shaikh already lost a leg and an arm in another train stunt

    A video of dangerous stunts by a man in a Mumbai local train went viral a few days ago. The Railway Police registered a First Information Report in the case and started an investigation after which they identified the accused Farhat Azam Sheikh. They reached his house to arrest him where it was discovered that he does not have one hand and one leg. He had lost his limbs while doing another stunt later. A railway official revealed the shocking information on 26th July.

    On 14th July, footage of Sewri railway station in Mumbai went viral on social media in which a youth was seen performing stunts and clinging on to a local train in Mumbai. In the video, the man was seen holding on to the handlebars on the doors of a running train while sliding on the platform. After sliding this way for around 15 seconds while the train speeds up, he jumps onto the coach just before he runs out of the platform. The clip from Sewri railway station is almost 5 months old, it is from 7th March and was recorded by one of his friends on the train.

    Social media users shared the clip and demanded action on the matter. The Divisional Railway Manager of Mumbai Central responded, “Thanks for the information. RPF Post VDLR has been instructed to register the case against the unknown passenger shown in the video. Efforts are on to trace him. We request all the concerned to desist from such unsafe practices and life-threatening both for them and passengers.”

    “Central Railway has issued stern warning against performing dangerous stunts following a video posted on X (Twitter) on 14th July showing a young boy engaging in risky behavior while boarding a moving train and prompted swift action from railway authorities. Upon being brought to attention, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) Post at Vadala Road registered a case against the unidentified individual seen in the footage. Efforts were made to trace and apprehend the person involved,” an official conveyed.

    Farhat Azam Shaikh, a resident of Antop Hill, Wadala, was recognized as the boy after the video became public. After a case was registered against him, the authorities arrived at his place to arrest him. But they were shocked to find out that he had already lost both his left hand and leg when carrying out a similar stunt at Mumbai’s Masjid train station on 14th April. The Railway administration immediately brought him to St George’s Hospital, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) for treatment after the accident. Given his condition, the police didn’t arrest him.

    “Central Railway’s Railway Protection Force (RPF) recently identified Shaikh as the individual from the video. On 14th April 2024, while attempting another perilous stunt, Shaikh suffered severe injuries, resulting in the amputation of his left arm and leg. He is currently bedridden due to his critical condition and has not been arrested due to the severity of his medical state,” an official stated on 26th July.

    The police have issued a strict warning regarding such stunts and the press release mentioned that Farhat Azam Shaikh has been facing tremendous trouble in completing daily tasks as a result of the stunt. “He has appealed to all passengers through a video to stay away from such acts, which are not only illegal but life-threatening. Central Railway requests passengers to desist from such unsafe stunts/activities that are life-threatening both for the individuals involved and other passengers,” the statment added.

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