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Kolkata Police had sought 7 days before transferring doctor’s rape and murder case to CBI, counsel alleges ‘top executives’ asked police to ‘get the case settled and keep shut’

OpIndia Staff
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Kolkata Police had sought 7 days before transferring doctor’s rape and murder case to CBI, counsel alleges ‘top executives’ asked police to ‘get the case settled and keep shut’

A shocking revelation has come to the fore in the 31-year-old doctor woman’s rape and murder in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College. On Thursday, 15th August, a clipping of an argument from the Calcutta High Court was shared on social media, and it was exposed that the Kolkata Police and the state investigating the case wanted 7 days before transferring the case investigation to CBI.

After the court denied the plea, the police demanded at least 24 hours before transferring the case to CBI. “This is the least the police can be expected to transfer,” the counsel representing the police could be heard. Meanwhile, the other counsel arguing in the case stated that the top executives had asked the police to ‘get the case settled’ and ‘not to talk to anyone on this issue’, and the same was conveyed to the parents of the victim.

It is alleged that the state sought time to allegedly derail the evidence and create hindrances in the central investigation. The unidentified goons however are believed to have attacked the College premises last night in a bid to allegedly destroy the evidence which could lead to substantial revelations in the case.

The video clipping of the Court argument from the hearing on 13 August is making rounds on social media. The counsel representing the petitioners in the case can be heard saying that WB Police Commissioner Vineet Goel who was the Inspector General of CID during the Kamdun rape case was responsible for the acquittal of the accused at that time. “It is due to his botching up in that case that the accused were acquitted and Kamduni failed. This time also the accused will be acquitted and I will show how it all happens,” the lawyer was heard saying.

“This person is now made a Commissioner of Police. He should be put on compulsory waiting. He is the person who is responsible for the Kamduni rape and murder case. Because he was the head of the investigation, he blotched it up completely. And the same thing he has done. What he has done? On the victim’s body, he has brought a scratch mark. In the Kamduni case, the same happened. They got a scratch mark on the victim, we argued and then this honorable court acquitted that person. The same modus operandi is being followed by the Goel. He needs to go,” the counsel defending the victim could be heard saying. (time stamp: 25:00+)

As per the reports, after the Court’s intervention, CP Vineet Goel was ordered to go on compulsory waiting in connection with the rape and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar Medical College, and the case was immediately transferred to the CBI on 14th August.

Notably, unidentified goons attacked RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Wednesday night, causing massive damage amid ongoing protests over the rape and murder of a doctor at the facility.

A mob disguised as protestors, entered the hospital grounds, vandalized property, and also pelted stones at the police officers. The violence led to the damage of a police vehicle and several two-wheelers, with some officers sustaining injuries. As per the BJP, TMC goons vandalized the hospital properties to create hindrances in the investigation. It is alleged that the mob tried to vandalise the crime scene, but they vandalised the wrong floor due to confusion with the floor number.

Kolkata Police Commissioner Goel who arrived at the scene around 2 am, selectively attributed the violence to social media posts and rumors. He stated that the police responded to the chaos by firing tear gas shells. The Police meanwhile also attempted to allegedly cover up the violence by claiming that the scene of the crime had not been disturbed during the mob vandalism that broke out late on the night of August 14. Goel also said that police could not arrest anyone just based on ‘rumors’ that were being spread.

“I can’t just arrest an intern based on some kind of rumor, it’s against my conscience… As far as I am concerned, my team is concerned we have done what is right. Now the case is already gone… CBI will be investigating it… We have been transparent with everyone… We wanted the students to form a seven-member committee on Sunday to share everything with them but they haven’t come up with the committee till today. It’s the most unfortunate thing–the motivated media campaign that was being run has portrayed the Kolkata Police in a very bad light. We are always with the people of Kolkata, but unfortunately, this kind of incident wouldn’t have happened if this kind of malicious campaign wasn’t run by the media…We have not tried to save anyone,” the Kolkata Commissioner of Police said.

On Tuesday, 13th August, the Calcutta High Court also directed the West Bengal state counsel to ensure that the Principal of RG Kar Medical College stepped down from the post immediately else the Court would pass an order. The directions from the High Court came during the hearing of the RG Kar Medical College Rape and Murder Case where a 31-year-old PG student was brutally raped and murdered inside college premises. The matter was heard by a Bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice H Bhattacharyya.

The Court pointed out that there was an attempt to cover up the matter by declaring the incident as suicide. The Principal also indulged in victim blaming suggesting it was a case of psychosis.

The petitioner’s counsel informed the court that the state said they would transfer the matter to CBI but now suggesting it would be done after seven days. “These 7 days are very crucial to wipe away evidence,” the counsel asserted.

RG Kar Medical College Rape and Murder Case

On 9th August, a semi-nude body of a female PG trainee doctor was found inside the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. It is a government-run hospital. Following the discovery, her father had said that she was raped and killed inside the hospital, and efforts were underway to “conceal the truth.”

The doctor had dinner with four of her coworkers at 2:30 am that night after seeing Neeraj Chopra’s javelin throw event during the Paris Olympics. Afterwards, she went to the seminar hall to relax. The main accused in the case, Sanjay Roy, had access to every department as he worked at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital police outpost. He was not affiliated with the institution but often went there. CCTV evidence shows him entering the premises where the doctor was discovered, that led to his arrest on 10th August. He returned home after committing the horrifying act and slept in late. Roy also cleaned the outfit he wore to remove any evidence. The police recovered his bloodstained shoes during a search.

The Doctor was brutally tortured before she was suffocated to death, according to the post-mortem report. The four-page report stated that she had been strangled and that “perverted sexuality” and “genital torture” had resulted in a serious wounds in her private parts.

The Doctor’s thyroid cartilage was also shattered. A source stated that the rape and murder occurred on 9th August most likely between 3 and 5 am. Her lips, fingers, left leg, and abdomen were all covered with injuries.

According to sources, the Doctor’s head was slammed against a wall or the floor resulting in severe injuries and her mouth and nose were squeezed shut to stop the victim from shouting. The accused had reportedly beaten her up as she attempted to defend herself and resist. He then raped and killed her. According to the autopsy, the girl’s hands and face had cuts on them. Shards of glass from her spectacles broke and got into her eyes following an intense blow. The initial postmortem report ruled out suicide and stated that the trainee doctor had been sexually assaulted before being murdered.

Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir to be held in three phases from 18 September, counting on 4 October

ANI
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Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir to be held in three phases from 18 September, counting on 4 October

The Assembly elections in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases from September 18, the Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar announced on Friday.

Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Rajiv Kumar said that the assembly election in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases.

The elections of first phase will be held on September 18, second phase will be held on September 25 and third phase will be held on October 1. The counting of the votes will be held on October 4.

“Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three phases, with voting on September 18th, September 25th, and October 1st. Counting of votes on October 4,” Kumar said.

The dates to file the nominations for the first phase will be on August 27, nominations for the second phase will be on September 5, and September 12 is the last day to file nominations for the third phase.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said, “During Lok Sabha elections in J-K, people were there to participate in the elections. The long queues and the shine on their faces were a testament to this…There was thriving political participation in the entire election…We want the layers of democracy to be strengthened in J&K”

On August 14, the Election Commission held a meeting with Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

There are a total of 90 assembly constituencies, of which 74 are General, nine are ST and seven are SC.

In Jammu and Kashmir, there are 87.09 lakh total electors. Of which 44.46 lakh are male, 42.62 female, 169 are Transgender, 82,590 PwDs, 73943 very senior citizens, 2660 centenarians, 76092 service electors, and 3.71 lakh are first-time voters.

Meanwhile, directions were given to Enforcement Agencies, DMs, and SPs to ensure free, fair, and inducement-free elections.

In December of last year, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to conclude the election process by September 30, 2024.

Jammu and Kashmir will witness elections after a gap of ten years as the last assembly election was held in 2014.

The PDP-BJP coalition government fell in June 2018 when the latter withdrew support to the then-Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti.

 

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

Longer jail sentences and hefty fines for criminals and ₹1 lakh compensation for victims: How Modi govt is planning to curb violence against doctors

Dibakar Dutta
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Longer jail sentences and hefty fines for criminals and ₹1 lakh compensation for victims: How Modi govt is planning to curb violence against doctors

The Modi government is planning to revive the discarded draft bill ‘The Healthcare Service Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of violence and damage to property)’ amid ongoing protests over the rape-murder of a female doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

The draft bill [pdf] was first formulated in September 2019 to address cases of violence against healthcare professionals and damage to hospitals and clinics.

The legislation was proposed in the aftermath of nationwide protests over the attack on two doctors by relatives of a patient named Mohammed Sayeed at the NRS Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

Provision for longer jail terms and hefty fines

“No person shall indulge in any act of violence against a healthcare personnel or cause any damage or loss to any property in a healthcare institution,” the bill stated.

It proposed a minimum of 6 months of imprisonment, which could be extended up to 5 years, for committing acts of violence against doctors. The minimum jail term was set to three years (extendable up to 10 years) for attacks leading to grievous hurt.

Besides, a provision was made to impose fines ranging between ₹50000 and ₹5 lakhs for acts of violence. In case of grievous injury to the health professional, the fines imposed on the culprit were to range from ₹2 lakhs to ₹10 lakhs.

Non-bailable offence, investigation by DSP-level officer

Most importantly, crime committed under the proposed bill ‘The Healthcare Service Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of violence and damage to property)’ was made not only cognisable but non-bailable.

Another provision in the proposed legislation was the mandatory notification to the police by the healthcare institutions about the attack on a health professional.

“Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, upon a written request of the aggrieved healthcare service personnel, it shall be mandatory for the person in charge of a clinical establishment to inform the officer in charge of the concerned police station of the commission of an offence under this Act,” the bill emphasised.

It was also provided that such a case would be investigated by a senior cop who is not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).

Compensation for targeted doctors and damaged hospitals

The proposed legislation also directed convicted individuals to pay compensation to doctors and healthcare professionals targeted by them. This included paying ₹1 lakh for causing ‘hurt’ and ₹5 lakh for causing ‘grievous hurt’.

Besides, the compensation for vandalising a healthcare institution was set to twice of Fair Market Value (FMV) of the damaged property.

“If the convicted person does not pay the compensation granted under sub-section (1), the said sum shall be recovered as an arrear of land revenue under the Revenue Recovery Act, 1890,” the bill added.

Violence against healthcare professionals defined

The draft legislation defined violence as –

  1. Harm, injury, hurt, grievous hurt, intimidation to, or danger to the life of, a healthcare service personnel in the discharge of duty, either within the premises of a clinical establishment or otherwise;
  2. Obstruction or hindrance to a healthcare service personnel in discharge of duty, either within the premises of a clinical establishment or otherwise;
  3. Loss of or damage to any property or documents in a clinical establishment;

What happened to the bill

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Modi government promulgated the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act, 2020 which made violence against healthcare personnel cognizable and non-bailable offences.

In July 2022, it was reported that the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had dumped the ‘The Healthcare Service Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of violence and damage to property)’ Bill of 2019.

The revelation was made in an RTI reply obtained by activist K.V. Babu. “It is informed that it was decided not to pursue the draft legislation further,” it was stated.

In February 2023, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya confirmed that the government was not going forward with separate legislation for doctors and healthcare professionals.

“Thereafter it was decided not to enact a separate Legislation for prohibiting violence against doctors and other health care professionals,” he had said.

Revival of the bill

Following the rape and murder of a junior doctor at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, discussions began on the need for a new law to protect healthcare workers.

On 12th August, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) put forth a set of demands before the governemnt. One of them included the enactment of the ‘The Healthcare Service Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of violence and damage to property)’.

It has now come to light that the Modi government is forming a panel to review the proposed legislation.

A senior bureaucrat told News18, “The new panel is likely to include representations from all stakeholders involved including doctors, medical associations and senior officials from multiple ministries,” a senior bureaucrat.

“In 2019, the panel included officials from the law ministry, ministry of Home Affairs, doctors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), representatives from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and officials from health ministry. We are considering the same mix including the representatives from the young resident doctors,” the official added.

GST department seeks Rs 120 crore tax from IIT Delhi over govt research fund issued for 5 years till 2022, concerns raised on taxing of education

OpIndia Staff
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GST department seeks Rs 120 crore tax from IIT Delhi over govt research fund issued for 5 years till 2022, concerns raised on taxing of education

On Friday, 16th August, the Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi (IIT-D) was issued a show-cause notice from the Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax (GST) Intelligence, seeking ₹120 crore GST on research funds acquired by the institute between 2017 and 2022, along with interest and penalties. The notice has ignited concerns about the government allegedly taxing education grants provided by the government itself.

A senior official from the Ministry of Education while talking to Times of India called the notice disappointing and claimed that it intends to challenge it, arguing that GST should not be applied to government-funded research. The notification offers the institute 30 days to explain why the amount should not be imposed, along with the corresponding penalties.

“We believe this is a misinterpretation. In our opinion, GST should not be levied on government-funded research,” a senior education ministry official was quoted as saying. “It is regrettable that such notices are issued. Instead of viewing research as a taxable entity, we should be fostering and supporting it,” it added.

According to the reports, other educational institutions in India, including famous IITs, central universities, and state-run and private universities, have also recently received similar notices from the GST officials. These notices question the exempt status of research funding and whether they should be subject to GST. 

A well-known academician and former head of an IIT stated, “The Gs: GST, GEM (Government e-Marketplace) portal, Global Tender Enquiry (GTE), GFR (General Financial Rules), and Governance, which are essentially hurting the institutions where it hurts the most. We are not even increasing the funding and not providing decent overheads and taking back the money through GST.” 

One of the heads of a private deemed university also commented on the issue on the condition of anonymity. While talking to TOI, he said, “Imposing GST on research grants to universities is a major setback for the progress of Indian higher education institutions. The finance ministry has overlooked the fact that a substantial portion of the grant is used for purchasing assets and consumables, which are already subject to GST. Viewing educational institutions as sources of tax revenue will only increase the cost of education.” 

Earlier on Wednesday, 14th August, there was a clash between the Union and Tamil Nadu governments when the Chennai zonal unit of the Directorate General of GST Intelligence ordered that Anna University pay Rs 5.4 crore in GST on research funding received between 2017 and 2022. 

The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi has received Rs 470 crore in research funding. Last year, the institute published 4,000 research publications, which helped to enhance its global rankings. Despite a modest fall in placements, IIT Delhi has witnessed a surge in PhD aspirants and intends to expand PhD placements.

Calcutta HC pulls up West Bengal govt calling vandalism of RG Kar Hospital ‘failure of state machinery’, asks CBI to probe the attack

OpIndia Staff
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Calcutta HC pulls up West Bengal govt calling vandalism of RG Kar Hospital ‘failure of state machinery’, asks CBI to probe the attack

The Calcutta High Court on Friday again came down heavily on the West Bengal government over the RG Kar Medical College Hospital rape and murder incident, and transferred the case of vandalism in the hospital to the CBI. The court has already handed over the probe into the rape and murder of trainee doctor Moumita Debnath to the central probe agency.

The state claimed that police tried to stop the mob, but they were outnumbered by around 7000 strong mob and could not prevent the attack, adding that several cops were injured. The court responded by saying how police will protect the doctors and others if they can’t protect even themselves.

Unsatisfied with the replies of the state, the court even threatened to close down the hospital and shift the patients to a different hospital. The division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya made the observations while hearing the matter of the attack on the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on 14th August, amid the protests by doctors and students demanding justice for Moumita Debnath.

The state counsel informed the court that a mob of around 7000 attacked the hospital, and the numbers swelled quickly. Despite resistance by police who fired tear gas shells, the mob broke the barricade and vandalised the hospital. The state counsel said that 15 police personnel were injured, the DCP was seriously injured, police vehicles were damaged, and the emergency room was also ransacked.

To this, the CJ wondered why police intelligence didn’t know about the attack beforehand. Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam said, “Normally the police always has an intelligence wing. Similar things happened on Hanuman Jayanti. If 7000 people are to gather, it hard to believe the state police did not know.” When the state counsel said that no permission was granted for the crowd to assemble, the court asked why section 144 of CrPC was not imposed as already so much commotion was going on.

“You pass 144 CrPC orders for any reason, when so much commotion is going on, you should have cordoned the area,” the CJ said. The state counsel said that the mob gathered at night suddenly, the CJ lambasted the state for the failure, saying “this is an absolute failure of state machinery.”

The court also slammed the police for not even being able to protect themselves from the mob. The chief justice asked, “they couldn’t protect their own men? Sorry state of affairs. How will these doctors work fearlessly?” The court noted that while the police are taking steps now, no preventive measures were taken.

Sr Adv Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya told the court that hours after the High Court transferred the case to CBI, demolition was carried out at the hospital. “They demolished a portion after the order of the HC. In the night, when there was demonstration, there was a speech by the CM. In the dead of night hooligans attacked the place of demonstration by the doctors. Then they vandalised the hospital and the police. The police hid behind the demonstrators.” the Advocate Bhattacharya appearing for the petitioners said.

He added that the hooligans went to look for the third floor, where the crime scene is located. But as Third floor is called fourth storey in Bengali, they misunderstood and went to the second floor instead, thereby saving the crime scene. The advocate said that this proved that the attack was pre-planned.

The state counsel tried to defend the demolition by arguing that the demolition didn’t take place near the crime scene. But the court shot back, asking what was the urgency to carry out the demolition for renovation at this time. The court said that so many govt buildings like district courts lack basic amenities like ladies washrooms, and therefore there was no need to start renovations at the hospital when investigation into the case is going on.

Angered with the responses of the state, the court said, “we will close down the hospital. We will shift everyone. Close the hospital.” The court asked how many patients are there in the hospital. When the state pleaded that the crime scene is secured, the court agreed to take their word, but said that the attack on police shows failure of law and order situation.

The court said, “could this vandalism had been prevented is the question. Who did it comes later. What is the reason to break all facilities. Can never be understood. The police are also injured. Therefore, had the law and order failed? Something is required to inspire our confidence. The issue is that if this thing which happened on 14th, what will happen if it is repeated? If police got injured and couldn’t stop the mob, the law and order situation had failed?”

When the counsel of the principal said his house is threatened to be set on fire, court asked him to stay at home. The court said, “state is with you, they will give you 400-500 police people. Or you make an application, we will give you central forces.”

The court then handed over the probe into the mob attack on the hospital to the CBI. The division ordered the police to record the entire sequence of events leading to the incident. “We direct those incharge of the hospital to narrate the state of affairs over there,” the court further said, adding that the investigation team of the CBI shall also file an interim report regarding the investigation.

Police allow terror outfit PFI’s student wing SDPI to carry Tipu Sultan poster on Independence Day: Here are some of the atrocities against Hindus he committed

OpIndia Staff
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Police allow terror outfit PFI’s student wing SDPI to carry Tipu Sultan poster on Independence Day: Here are some of the atrocities against Hindus he committed

On Thursday, 15th August, the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), which is the political wing of the banned Islamist terrorist organization Popular Front of India (PFI) organized a rally citing the occasion of India’s Independence Day in the Mumbra region of Mumbai. The SDPI members further honored Tipu Sultan who was one of the most ruthless Islamic invaders in India, and Begum Hazrat Mahal, a Muslim national icon among others as India’s freedom fighters. The SDPI members could also be heard raising the slogans of ‘Tipu Sultan Jindabad,” as they moved in a bike rally creating chaos in the capital city of Maharashtra.

The video of the bike rally is making rounds on social media in which they can be seen honoring the posters of Tipu Sultan, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Hussain Ahmad Madani, an Islamic scholar who has served as the principal of Darul Uloom Deoband, Socialist leader Yusuf Mehar Ali, Congress’ Jawaharlal Nehru, Dr BR Ambedkar and MK Gandhi. However, they could also be seen arguing with the state police who stopped the rally for creating chaos on the streets.

SDPI brought Hindu’s Kawad Yatra into argument, Police slammed

The Mumbai Police happened to take cognizance of the bike rally organized by the SDPI members and stopped them for congestion of the traffic. “You people are blocking the traffic, you’ve even employed small kids in the rally. You people need to follow the discipline,” the police could be heard saying.

To this, the SDPI leaders argued saying if kids are allowed on the streets to go shopping with their parents, why can’t they be allowed to participate in the rally? The police then ordered the SDPI members to remove the kids from the rally and allowed the rally in two rows directing two persons on one bike. But this too happened to enrage the Islamists who began comparing the Kawad Yatra performed by Hindus to the Islamist rally.

“Sir you have always been opposing us. Have you seen the Kawad Yatra? How many people travel together? They are never questioned,” one of the leading SDPI members said. The Police then slammed the SDPI for escalating the argument by bringing the Hindu yatra into the picture. The police stated that those (Kawad) Yatras are conducted only after obtaining police permission. The police further indicated that they (SDPI) should restrict their communication to the current rally.

However, later the rally was allowed by the police as the SDPI members agreed to remove the kids from the rally and move in two columns throughout the area. It seems that no prior police permission was obtained by the SDPI members for the rally in which Islamists yelled slogans of ‘Tipu Sultan Zindabad’.

Tipu Sultan’s atrocities on Hindus and tribals

It is important to note that Tipu Sultan is often credited in our history textbooks as a ‘secular’ ruler of Mysore who fought against the British in the late 1700s. But he was one of the most ruthless Islamic invaders in South India. There have been several recorded instances of Tipu’s army forcefully converting, raping, and kidnapping Hindus on his orders. Many temples are recorded to have been demolished under his reign. Several historians and researchers like Khan Hussain Ali Kirmani have recorded that Tipu Sultan had animosity toward the local Hindus and tribals in the area. 

According to historian Lewis B. Boury, the devastation Tipu Sultan inflicted on the southern part of India was harsher and more barbaric than the atrocities performed against the Hindu inhabitants in India by the infamous Mahmud of Ghazni, Alauddin Khalji, and Nadir Shah.

According to Sandeep Balakrishna, author of ‘Tipu Sultan: The Tyrant of Mysore,’ Tipu Sultan’s 17-year reign represented a united image of military, economic, and religious anguish for the Hindu population. He had openly announced that he would launch a Jihad against Hindus. He carried out the majority of his crimes and anti-Hindu activities in Malabar. Malabar was both Tipu’s wealthiest and most turbulent territory. However, he and his Moplah companions caused chaos throughout the region.

He invaded Kodagu in 1788, destroying numerous towns and villages. Mir Hussein Kirmani, Tipu’s courtier and biographer, describes how the raid destroyed hundreds of villages in Kushalapura (now Kushalnagar), Talakaveri, Madikeri, and other areas. He brags in a letter to Kurnool’s Nawab, Runmust Khan, about imprisoning 40,000 Coorgis, forcing them to convert to Islam, and enrolling them into the Ahmadi army.

Letters by Tipu Sultan to army commanders ordering them to kill Hindus

In one of the letters dated March 22, 1788, to Abdul Kadir, Tipu Sultan says, “Over 12,000 Hindus were honored with Islam. There were many Namboodri Brahmins among them. This achievement should be widely publicized among the Hindus. Then the local Hindus should be brought before you and converted to Islam. No Namboodri Brahmin should be spared.”

The letter set a precedent and it followed several other orders by Tipu Sultan, calling for violence against Hindus. One of his letters to an army commander in Calicut on 14th December 1788 says, “I am sending two of my followers with Mir Hussain Ali. Along with them you should capture and kill all Hindus. Those below 20 years may be kept in prison and 5000 from the rest should be killed by hanging from tree tops. These are my orders.”

In a letter dated January 18, 1790, to Syed Abdul Dulai, Tipu Sultan openly condones the killing and forced conversions of Hindus, and proclaims this as a ‘Jihad’. The letter reads, “… almost all Hindus in Calicut are converted to Islam. I consider this as jihad.”

Ordering of destruction of Hindu temples

Tipu Sultan’s military activities caused extensive damage to Hindu temples on an unprecedented scale. He and his ruthless warriors enjoyed demolishing temples, smashing idols placed within, and chopping the heads of animals over the temple deity.

As reported earlier, he demolished the Thrichambaram and Thalipparampu temples at Chirackal Taluqa, the Thiruvangatu Temple (Brass Pagoda) in Tellicherry, and the Ponmeri Temple in Badakara, as per William Logan’s Malabar Manual. According to the Malabar Manual, the Maniyoor mosque was previously a Hindu temple. According to locals, it was transformed into a mosque during Tipu Sultan’s reign.

Tipu Sultan’s forces further demolished at least three temples in South India, including the Harihareswara temple at Harihar, the Varahaswami temple in Srirangapatnam, and the Odakaraya temple in Hospet. In 1793, historian Roderick Mackenzie wrote of Tipu’s campaign to Trinomaly, describing the cruelty and violence unleashed on the Hindu population in the places he passed through.

“Here neither respect, for the grandeur and antiquity of their temples, nor veneration for the sacred rites of a religion whose origin no time records, proved any protection for the persons or property, even of the first Brahmins. Their pagodas, breached with sacrilegious cannon, were forcibly entered, their altars defiled, their valuables seized, their dwellings reduced to ashes, and the devastation was rendered still more horrible by the scattered remains of men, women, and children, mangled beneath a murderous sword,” records by historian Roderick Mackenzie read.

The Voyage to the East Indies by Portuguese missionary Fr Bartholomew further gives us a basic sight of Tipu Sultan’s catastrophic attacks. “First a corps of 30,000 barbarians who butchered everybody on the way… followed by the field-gun unit… Tipu was riding on an elephant behind which another army of 30,000 soldiers followed. Most of the men and women were hanged in Calicut, first mothers were hanged with their children tied to their necks. That barbarian Tipu Sultan tied the naked Christians and Hindus to the legs of elephants and made the elephants move around till the bodies of the helpless victims were torn to pieces… These atrocities were told to me by the victims of Tipu Sultan who escaped from the clutches of his army and reached Varappuzha..” it recalls.

Tipu Sultan, like other Islamic invaders in India, was notorious for brutally suppressing the native Hindu community and forcibly converting many Hindus. Tipu was known throughout Tamil Nadu and Malabar as the ‘Killer of Brahmins and Demolisher of Temples’. However, he is still celebrated as a freedom fighter by Islamists who want to see India as an Islamic nation by 2047.

MP: Muslim youths raise ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans in response to ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ slogans at Independence Day program in Vidisha

OpIndia Staff
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MP: Muslim youths raise ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans in response to ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ slogans at Independence Day program in Vidisha

In the Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh, several Muslim youths raised “Pakistan Zindabad” slogans on Independence Day (15th August). The Muslim accused youths raised pro-Pakistan and religious slogans during the Independence Day celebrations at Lateri tehsil headquarters.

As the video of the incident went viral on social media, local BJP leaders sent a memorandum to the municipal inspector. The police have also apprehended a student in this case. BJP leader Sanjay Jain stated that an Independence Day program was held on Thursday at the district campus.

As the program ended, some students raised Bharat Mata Ki Jai slogans, while Muslim students raised Pakistan Zindabad slogans and an altercation ensued. The police apprehended one of the students on the spot, while the others fled. The BJP and Bajrang Dal have demanded that the rest of the students who raised pro-Pakistan slogans be arrested. 

Meanwhile, SDOP Ajay Mishra said that a minor has been taken into custody and efforts are being undertaken to arrest more people by filing a case based on the complaints received. 

Ongoing ethnic cleansing in Bangladesh: How a Hindu woman was gang-raped after a mob of 35 broke into her house, her family returned only after ‘assurance’ by Jamaat

OpIndia Staff
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Ongoing ethnic cleansing in Bangladesh: How a Hindu woman was gang-raped after a mob of 35 broke into her house, her family returned only after ‘assurance’ by Jamaat

A 35-year-old Hindu woman was gang-raped in Tala upazila in the Satkhira district of Bangladesh soon after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister of the country.

According to a report by Kalbela, the incident took place on 5th August this year. The victim, who is a housewife by occupation, narrated that a mob of 30-35 men broke into her house at 7 pm and carried out vandalism.

The accused damaged doors and windows and took away a tin box, which contained cash, gold and necessary documents. Armed with sharp weapons, they took the woman behind a cowshed and coerced her into silence.

Mob involved in gang rape yet to be identified

The men then took turns to rape her. The victim could not identify her perpetrators since their faces were covered. At that time, her husband was undergoing treatment at a hospital in Khulna.

On learning about the incident of rape, he left the area and took the family away. The victim, her husband and children returned only on Tuesday (13th August) on the ‘assurance’ of local Jamaat leaders Dr Kamal and Ebadul.

The victim’s husband said that they have not been able to ascertain the identity of the rapists so far.

Police claim to have no idea

The officer-in-charge of Tala police station, Mominul Islam, claimed that the police have not been informed about the rape case.

He said that ‘necessary action’ would be taken after talking to the victim’s family and getting information about their name and address.

While speaking about the matter, Magura UP Chairman Ganesh Debnath remarked, “I have heard from the victims’ families and the neighbours. I will not be able to help unless the political situation is normal. So I am requesting journalists to stand by the victim’s family.”

Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh

On 9th August, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad released a report detailing 205 instances of attacks on minority community members especially Hindus in the country’s 52 districts following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s departure on 5th August, reported The Daily Star.

The council made the statement in an open letter to Nobel laureate Economist Muhammad Yunus, who took the oath of office as the interim government’s chief adviser on 8th August. The letter was unveiled at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) Nasrul Hamid Auditorium.

“We have preliminarily learned that at least 205 incidents of minority persecution have occurred in 52 districts so far. We seek protection because our lives are in a disastrous state. We are staying up at night guarding our homes and temples. I have never seen such incidents in my life. We demand that the government restore communal harmony in the country,” conveyed Nirmal Rosario, the organisation’s president.

In Satkhaira, minority shops were looted in Kolaroa, the house of Biswajit Sadhu, president of the District Unity Council was attacked, looted and burnt and the house of Dr Subrata Ghosh, central assistant organizational secretary of the Unity Council, was attacked and burnt.

Kolkata Police forces young lady doctor to delete tweets against RG Kar rape and murder, asks her to visit police station, other netizens get notices

OpIndia Staff
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Kolkata Police forces young lady doctor to delete tweets against RG Kar rape and murder, asks her to visit police station, other netizens get notices

The Kolkata Police has started doing what it does best – trying to suppress voices from raising questions on the horrific rape and murder case of a doctor from the RG Kar Hospital. In the wee hours of the morning on the 16th of August 2024, a young doctor who has been raising her voice against the horrific rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Hospital posted that the Kolkata Police had visited her house, asked her to delete some tweets about the case and also, visit the police station the next day.

The young doctor, who posts from the X handle @epicnephrin_e, took to X to post about her ordeal.

She wrote that at about 7:30 PM on the 15th of August, the Kolkata Police started asking for her location in her neighborhood. The neighbors called the young doctor’s mother informing her that 3-4 uniformed police officers were looking for her, claiming that they needed to summon the young doctor for her posts on X.

She wrote, “They eventually reached my place and my brother and sister in law were present. My brother called me and put me on speaker. ‘Did you post about a student of Burdwan university?’ ‘Yes,I did.’ ‘Did you verify the credibility of the post?’ ‘I did see articles of media houses about the same but I blatantly believed an angle I saw spreading in people’s statuses(that it was related to the ‘Claim the night’ protest). I edited it under the post after verification.’ ‘Please delete the post and don’t further post information without verifying and report to the Town thana tomorrow’”.

In her X post, the young doctor informed that her brother folded his hands and pleaded with the police, telling them about how much she had been affected by the horrific rape and murder of a fellow doctor. Her mother was, she says, crying inconsolably.

The young doctor has been posting about the RG Kar rape and murder case for the past few days and demanding justice for her fellow doctor, who was subjected to horrific brutality.

On 14th August itself, a TMC supporter had openly threatened the young doctor saying that she would ensure the police came after her.

She had also tweeted about the threats from TMC goons that she was receiving, claiming that the police would act against her.

After the threats, only hours before Kolkata police showed up at her door, she had posted a Tweet where she apologized for her posts. There were several responses to her tweet which expressed concern over the doctor being threatened and intimidated by TMC supporters and the Kolkata Police.

While this young doctor had Kolkata Police knocking at her door, there were others who got notices from the Kolkata Police in a bid to silence them on X.

Shefali Vaidya, an author and commentator took to X to write about the notice she had received from the Kolkata Police.

“So I got this threatening letter from @KolkataPolice for merely asking a few questions and for exercising my right of free speech. This is a clear case of @MamataOfficial administration silencing the voice of private citizens using the power of Kolkata Police. I am just a private citizen who is so disgusted by what happened to #Moumita_Debnath that I decided to speak up. But apparently, @KolkataPolice does NOT like independent voices that speak up. As a woman and as a mother, I fear for my safety. We all know what Kolkata Police can do, and we all know what happens to women who dare to speak against @MamataOfficial in West Bengal”, Shefali wrote.

Another X user also posted about the intimidatory notice she received for merely demanding justice for the doctor raped and murdered at RG Kar Hospital.

The horrific murder and rape of a young doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital has sparked outrage across the country. Thousands of doctors have taken to the streets to demand justice for the doctor who was subject to horrific brutality inside the hospital premises. As thousands of people took to the streets of Kolkata on the 14th of August demanding justice, a mob attacked the RG Kar Hospitals with the police being mute spectators and some of them hiding in the bathrooms. They told the doctors that they were responsible for their own protection. After the mob violence, which many speculated was aimed towards erasing evidence, Mamata Banerjee blamed the Left and ‘Ram’ for the mob violence at RG Kar.

Earlier, the Commissioner of Kolkata Police had blamed ‘social media’ for the people losing their faith in them and claimed that they had done everything they possibly could to ensure that the RG Kar victim gets justice.

Since blaming the Left, BJP and social media did not stop people from questioning the TMC government, Mamata Banerjee, and the police, Kolkata police had started threatening those reporting on the case with legal action.

In their desperation to defend the TMC government and themselves, Kolkata Police had also taken to Twitter to respond to 4 questions posed by a netizen about their investigation and conduct in the case.

Interestingly, while they responded to questions 1 and 2, they refused to respond to questions 3 and 4 – which was why Sandip Ghosh was reinstated by the state and why did the Kolkata Police allow renovation work to start at the RG Kar Hospital while the rape and murder case was still under investigation.

It is pertinent to note that Dr Sandip Ghosh resigned from the post of principal of  RG Kar Medical College and Hospital amid massive protests over the rape and murder. But he was immediately appointed as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital (CNMCH) on the same day. The Calcutta High Court strongly objected to this and ordered him to submit his resignation and go on leave. Notably, it is alleged that Dr Sandip Ghosh has close ties with the TMC.

The rape and murder of a 32-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital

The 32-year-old trainee doctor who was raped and killed at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was brutally tortured before she was suffocated to death, according to the postmortem report. The four-page report stated that she had been strangled and that “perverted sexuality” and “genital torture” had resulted in a serious wound in her private parts.

Her thyroid cartilage was also shattered. A source stated that the rape and murder occurred on 9th August most likely between 3 and 5 am. Her lips, fingers, left leg, and abdomen were all covered with injuries.

According to sources, her head was slammed against a wall or the floor resulting in severe injuries and her mouth and nose were squeezed shut to stop the victim from shouting. The accused had reportedly beaten her up as she attempted to defend herself and resist. He then raped and killed her. According to the autopsy, the girl’s hands and face had cuts on them. Shards of glass from her spectacles broke and got into her eyes following an intense blow. The initial postmortem report ruled out suicide and stated that the trainee doctor had been sexually assaulted before being murdered. Later, sexual assault was confirmed in the autopsy report. A civic volunteer Sanjoy Roy was arrested in this case and has reportedly confessed to his crime. The case was handed over to the CBI by the Calcutta High Court.

RG Kar rape and murder case: Indian Medical Association announces 24-hour strike across the country

ANI
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RG Kar rape and murder case: Indian Medical Association announces 24-hour strike across the country

A nationwide withdrawal of services has been announced by doctors of modern medicine starting from 6 am on Saturday, August 17 to 6 am Sunday, August 18, per the official statement released by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Thursday.

Notably, the strike has been called by IMA amid the ongoing protest in Kolkata over the rape-murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College.

In its official statement, IMA stated that routine OPDs and elective surgeries will not take place during those 24 hours; however, other essential services will be maintained.

“All essential services will be maintained. Casualties will be manned. Routine OPDs will not function and elective surgeries will not be conducted. The withdrawal is across all the sectors wherever modern medicine doctors are providing service. IMA requires the sympathy of the nation with the just cause of its doctors,” the release stated.

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) also announced a protest against the incident at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on August 16.

“To voice our protest against these acts, we (BMC MARD, IMA, IMA JDN, ASMI) are organising a peaceful protest at Azad Maidan, Mumbai, on 16th August 2024 at 1 pm. We urge our fellow medical colleagues, doctors, medical students, resident doctors, senior doctors and other associations to join us in this protest against the injustice,” MARD stated in a press release.

Meanwhile, people from the Bengali film and television industry have also joined hands with protesting doctors at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

On August 9, a postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered on duty at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, which led to nationwide strikes and protests by the medical fraternity.

The incident triggered massive protests. On Wednesday, the protest ground and the hospital campus at RG Kar were vandalised by a mob, forcing the security personnel to disperse the crowd. 


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

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