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OpIndia Exclusive: ‘Dara Singh was denied parole on the death of his parents, sister, his surrender was misrepresented as arrest’, family narrates how they were harassed

राहुल पाण्डेय
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OpIndia Exclusive: ‘Dara Singh was denied parole on the death of his parents, sister, his surrender was misrepresented as arrest’, family narrates how they were harassed

In the year 1999, Australian pastor Graham Staines and his two sons were killed by a mob in Manoharpur, Odisha, on suspicion of converting locals to Christianity. Dara Singh’s name made the news in this case. Dara Singh was arrested as the main accused in 2000 by Odisha’s then-Congress government. Dara Singh has not been granted even a single day of parole since then.

Dara Singh’s arrest took place 24 years ago. Dara Singh’s family has undergone significant changes during the last 24 years. Despite efforts by his family to apply for a few days of parole on important occasions of grief or joy, Dara Singh was denied parole. OpIndia has spoken with Dara Singh’s family and acquired information about the case from the beginning to the present status.

How Ravindra Pal became Dara Singh

Notably, Dara Singh’s real name is Ravindra Kumar Pal. Speaking to OpIndia, Ravindra Pal’s brother, Arvind Pal, said that his family are devout Hindus. Ravindra’s father used to start his day with pooja-paath [worship]. Following the completion of his intermediate schooling, Ravindra Pal began working in Noida due to help his family financially.

Ravindra Kumar Pal was always punctual with his work. The company’s staff and management began referring to Ravindra Kumar Pal as Dara Singh after noticing his hard work and dedication towards his work. During those days, a wrestler named Dara Singh was well-known both nationally and internationally. This is how Ravindra Pal earned the moniker, Dara Singh.

Dara Singh shifted from Noida to Odisha

Arvind Kumar Pal also told us that while working in Noida, he met a friend from Odisha. Dara Singh and that person were such good friends that they started visiting each other’s homes often. Dara Singh developed a fondness for Odisha, and after a few days, he left his work in Noida with a friend and moved to Odisha.

Dara Singh took up a private job teaching children in the Keonjhar district. He taught the Hindi language and values of Hindu Dharma to the children. It is worth noting that Ravindra Kumar Pal, alias Dara Singh, is originally from Auraiya, Uttar Pradesh. However, he had made Odisha his karmabhoomi.

How Dara Singh joined Bajrang Dal

Dara Singh’s family members said that the Dharmic discussions he led at school spread to neighbouring villages. Following this, several parents started discussing with Dara Singh about Hindu Dharma. He eventually became popular in the districts of Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj.

After school, he began visiting tribal areas and educating people about Hinduism. Dara Singh soon learnt the Odia language as well. Because of his popularity, members of Hindu organisations approached him, and Dara Singh eventually joined the Bajrang Dal.

‘Christian missionaries were actively converting locals in Odisha‘

Arvind Kumar Pal went on to tell OpIndia that when Dara Singh became Bajrang Dal office bearer, Christian conversions in Odisha were on a dramatic rise. He said that entire villages were being converted to Christianity. Graham Staines, a Pastor from Australia was claimed to be the mastermind of this conversion nexus. 

It is reported that around 25 years ago, Graham Staines spent a lot of money on enticing people. He used to travel in a vehicle similar to those used by MPs and MLAs at the time. As per Arvind, his brother began warning locals about religious conversion. Consequently, he became the target of numerous conspiracies.

‘When Dara Singh was not found, police detained his brother‘

According to Arvind Kumar Pal, after the murder of Graham Staines in 1999, when the Odisha Police and CBI team could not apprehend Dara Singh, the authorities caught him. Then, local press reported that Dara Singh’s brother had been arrested.

Arvind Kumar says that the police and CBI treated his family very badly at that time. The CBI agents also harassed his mother, father, and sisters. Arvind claims that they were held in detention for a long period without being charged with a crime and paraded around Odisha forests.

Dara Singh’s brother Arvind Pal (left), his nephew Golu (right)

‘Dara Singh’s surrender was misrepresented as arrest‘

Dara Singh’s brother claimed that after receiving false information about his detention, Dara Singh surrendered at an Odisha police station. It is claimed that the government placed a bounty of lakhs of rupees on Dara Singh, and in order to obtain it, the concerned Odisha police station misrepresented Dara Singh’s surrender as his arrest.

Concerning the police station where Dara Singh surrendered, his family members claim that its officers led him to the bush and then attempted to make the surrender appear to be an arrest. However, the conspiracy was eventually uncovered and it is said that no one has received the reward money as of yet.

First picture of Dara Singh after alleged arrest (surrender)

‘Dara Singh was denied parole even on mother and father’s death‘

Arvind Kumar Pal claims that the CBI and Odisha police tortured his brother Dara Singh severely. Dara Singh’s family protested, but no one heard them. It is argued that at the time, no political leader, media, or court took a favourable position on any petition presented in support of Dara Singh.

According to Arvind Kumar Pal, Dara Singh was swapped between Keonjhar, Cuttack, and another jail. Moreover, a separate FIR was filed in Cuttack jail regarding a dispute naming Dara Singh. In the last 24 years, his father, mother, and sister have all died prematurely. Everyone was always concerned about Dara Singh.

They all hoped to meet Dara Singh once before he died. However, their wish could never be fulfilled. After the death of his father, and his sister, Dara Singh applied for parole but his application was always rejected. At some point or the other, Singh’s plea was obstructed.

‘Dara Singh’s nephew Golu says he will get married in the presence of his uncle‘

​Dara Singh’s niece got married last year. Despite his best efforts, Dara Singh was not permitted to attend this wedding. Dara Singh’s 24-year-old nephew and another 22-year-old niece are set to marry soon. Both of them want their weddings to take place in the presence of their uncle Dara Singh.

Dara Singh’s niece aspires to become a police officer, while nephew Golu is doing a private job in a local company due to the family’s financial challenges. Golu insists that irrespective of how long he has to wait, he will marry only in the presence of his “bade pitaji”, Dara Singh.

‘Ashes of parents buried in the soil, immersed in Ganga after 20 years of wait’

Dara Singh, alias Ravindra Kumar Pal, was unable to meet his father and mother before their deaths. The ashes of his parents were kept in a pot and buried in the fields for a long period. Dara Singh’s parents’ dying desire was that after being released from jail, he pour their ashes in the Ganga. This wish remained unfulfilled.

After nearly 20 years, Dara Singh’s brother finally immersed his parents’ ashes in the Ganga, as per custom. Arvind Kumar Pal explained that he needed to get his oldest daughter married, and according to Hindu religious norms, ashes buried in family property, instead of being immersed in the Ganga as per Hindu customs, are considered inauspicious for sacred rituals to take place in the home.

‘Only a few people helped’: Dara Singh’s brother thanks OpIndia

Arvind Kumar Pal thanked OpIndia for sharing his grief with the rest of the world. He expressed his emotions, saying that very few people have supported his family in the last 24 years. He and his family have faced various forms of persecution over the last two decades.

According to Arvind Kumar, his family is hopeful that Dara Singh will spend his final days with his family and at home after serving more than two decades in a prison sentence. Presently, the Supreme Court is slated to hear Dara Singh’s plea for parole in August this year.

Kerala: Devastating landslides kill 19 in Wayanad, NDRF rescue operation underway, PM Modi announces compensation for victims

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: Devastating landslides kill 19 in Wayanad, NDRF rescue operation underway, PM Modi announces compensation for victims

On Tuesday (30th July) morning, the hilly areas of Meppadi village in Wayanad district of Kerala were hit by massive landslides. The catastrophe claimed the lives of 19 people, including an infant.

A large number of victims are feared to be trapped. In the meantime, search and rescue operations are carried out by the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams.

The rescue operations have been hindered due to heavy rainfall and the destruction of a bridge. An additional NDRF team and 2 teams of Kannur Defence Security Corps are on to their way to Meppadi/

While taking cognisance of the matter, PM Modi tweeted, “”Distressed by the landslides in parts of Wayanad. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones and prayers with those injured.”

He emphasised, “Rescue ops are currently underway to assist all those affected. Spoke to Kerala CM Shri Pinarayi Vijayan and also assured all possible help from the Centre in the wake of the prevailing situation there.”

PM Modi also announced ₹2 lakh compensation for the kin of those individuals who died in the catastrophe and ₹50000 for victims injured during the landslide.

It must be mentioned that Wayanad is the Lok Sabha constituency of Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi, who has been recently been appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in the lower House of Parliament.

Uttar Pradesh: CM Yogi tables bill to make anti-conversion law more stringent, life sentence proposed as maximum punishment. Read details

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: CM Yogi tables bill to make anti-conversion law more stringent, life sentence proposed as maximum punishment. Read details

On 29th July, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, tabled the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2024, in the State Assembly. The proposed bill, when passed, will increase the maximum punishment from 10 years to life imprisonment. Furthermore, any person can file a complaint, and bail in such matters will become more difficult.

The government of UP has said that the existing provisions under the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021 are not sufficient. Bill’s statement of reasons read, “Keeping in mind the sensitivity and seriousness of the crime of illegal religious conversion, the dignity and social status of women, and the organised and planned activities of foreign and anti-national elements and organisations in illegal religious conversion and demographic change, it has been felt that the amount of fine and penalty provided in the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act should be increased and the bail conditions should be made as stringent as possible.”

It further read, “As the existing penal provisions of the Act are not sufficient to prevent and control religious conversion and mass conversion in respect of minor, disabled, mentally challenged person, woman or person belonging to Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, thus there is a need to amend the Act above. It has been decided that, in addition to the above, it has also become necessary to resolve certain difficulties that have arisen in the past in various cases regarding legal matters… (related) to Section 4 of the Act.”

The key changes proposed in the bill tabled by CM Yogi Adityanath

As per the existing provisions, any aggrieved person, his or her parents, siblings any other blood relative, and anyone related by marriage or adoption can file a complaint in the matter. However, the bill tabled by CM Yogi Adityanath proposes that the ambit be widened to “any person”. The proposed legislation read, “Any information related to violation of the provisions of the Act can be given by any person”.

As of now, the maximum punishment in such cases is 10 years. However, the bill proposes that any person intending to cause religious conversion can be put behind bars for life. Furthermore, assaults, use of force, promises or instigating marriage, conspiring or inducing any minor, woman or person to traffic or otherwise sell them or attempting on this behalf will lead to rigorous imprisonment not less than 20 years that can be extended to life imprisonment. The bill proposes that the onus to prove the conversion has not been done forcibly will lie on the accused and the person who has been converted. Those who seek to convert must notify the district magistrate using a prescribed form two months in advance. In case anyone fails to comply, he or she may face a jail term of six months to three years.

The fine imposed under the Act would be paid to the victim for medical expenses and rehabilitation. The bill tabled by CM Yogi Adityanath read, “The court shall also approve appropriate compensation payable by the accused to the victim of the said religious conversion, which may be up to Rs 5 lakh, which shall be in addition to the fine.”

The bill further proposed to increase punishment for anyone who receives foreign funding or funds from illegal institutions in connection to unlawful religious conversion to at least seven years of rigorous imprisonment that can be extended to 14 years. In addition to it, the person will be liable to pay a minimum fine of Rs 10 lakh.

The bill further proposed that whoever contravenes the provision about a minor, disabled or mentally challenged person, woman or SC/ST, will face rigorous imprisonment for up to 14 years and will be liable to pay a fine of a minimum of Rs 1 lakh. As per the current provisions, the maximum imprisonment is up to 10 years and the minimum fine is Rs 25,000.

In case of mass religious conversions, the person may face punishment of 7-14 years with a minimum fine of Rs 1 lakh. Currently, there is the provision of 3-10 years of imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 50,000.

A sub-section under Section 7 of the current Act has been proposed to make it more stringent. Section 7 states, “Notwithstanding anything contained herein, all offences under this Act shall be cognizable and non-bailable and shall be triable by the Court of Session.” The proposed sub-section states, “A person accused of any offence punishable under the Act, if in custody, shall not be released on bail unless the public prosecutor is given an opportunity of opposing the application for bail for such release, or where the public prosecutor opposes the bail application, the session court is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that he is not guilty of such offence and that no offence can be committed by him while on bail.”

The bill tabled by CM Yogi Adityanath is expected to get passed in UP Vidhan Sabha on 30th July 2024.

From Khurshid renaming dhaba multiple times to Jahangir opening ‘Sheetal Chaat’ next to ‘Lakshmi’: Hindus of Western UP consider pseudo renaming not a compulsion but a conspiracy

राहुल पाण्डेय
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From Khurshid renaming dhaba multiple times to Jahangir opening ‘Sheetal Chaat’ next to ‘Lakshmi’: Hindus of Western UP consider pseudo renaming not a compulsion but a conspiracy

This year, Islamists and the leftist ecosystem launched a smear campaign against the Kanwar Yatra even before it commenced on 22nd July. After the administration in Western Uttar Pradesh instructed eatery owners to reveal the real names of their owners and operators, concerted efforts have been going on to smear the Hindu religious procession on one pretext or the other. While propagandists and fake news peddlers like Mohammed Zubair initiated a vicious campaign against the Kanwar Yatra, journalists like Arfa Khanum have also joined in. 

Peddling the boogie of Muslim victimhood, Arfa Khanum described the eatery renaming row as a conspiracy to destroy the businesses of Muslims and Dalits. However, OpIndia’s investigation has found that her claims couldn’t be further from the truth.

‘Will not rename our eatery and give it an Islamic name even if the potential profit runs in lakhs per hour’: Hindu shopkeepers told OpIndia

OpIndia team spoke to dozens of Hindus who own eateries on the Kanwar Yatra route between Ghaziabad and Saharanpur. It also includes mobile dhabas like Desi Thath, Babe Di Dhaba, Shyam Bhojnalaya, and Pehalwan Dhaba along with small shopkeepers like Vansh Juice and Bhojnalaya. All of them unanimously told OpIndia that one should earn a fortune or fame for themselves based on the quality of their food rather than using some name. Dhaba owners like Ashwani Saini and Ram Kumar among others said that they never changed the names of their shops to take advantage during any Muslim festival. 

All of them unanimously emphasised that even if they earn a profit to the tune of Lakhs per hour by giving their eateries an Islamic name, they will not make even a minor change in the banners revealing their real identity.  

‘Our business is suffering losses due to fake names‘

A Hindu Dhaba owner located on Ambala-Dehradun road in Saharanpur district said that there were at least half a dozen dhabas owned by Muslims who were running their business under false Hindu names. According to him, following the administration’s orders, many shopkeepers had started using their real names but after the Supreme Court order, they reverted back to using false names for their eateries.  

He said that because of these activities, shopkeepers who are doing business diligently in their real names suffer losses.

‘Khurshid renames his dhaba multiple time‘

In our ground report, we came across Manav Punjabi Dhaba in the Sarsawa area near Saharanpur. It was learned that a man named Khurshid owns this dhaba. Local people told us that he had initially named it Prayagraj Hotel but later renamed it Manav Punjabi Dhaba. Incidentally, there is another dhaba by the name of Manav Punjabi in the vicinity and it is owned by a Sikh man who has been running it for a long time near Sarsawa Toll Tax, about 15 km from Khurshid’s dhaba. Local people call Khurshid’s actions a duplication of the original Manav Punjabi dhaba.

‘Jahangir’s new Sheetal Chaat adjacent to Lakshmi Chaat‘

OpIndia spoke to Abhishek Pandit, a Bajrang Dal functionary in the Saharanpur district. He told us that the use of duplicate names by Muslims is not just limited to business purposes but is also being done in many places to reduce the sales of Hindus. 

For example, Abhishek Pandit cited the name of Sheetal Chaat Bhandar located in Kailashpur. It falls on one of the busiest Kanwar Yatra routes in Saharanpur. 

He told OpIndia that Lakshmi Chaat Bhandar in Kailashpur is owned by a Hindu who hails from the backward class. It has been very popular among the people for almost 20 years.

According to Abhishek, about 3-4 years ago, a new shop named Sheetal Chaat was opened next to this chaat bhandar to reduce its sales as it exactly mirrored the interior of Lakshmi Chaat Bhandar. It is said that the owner of this Sheetal Chaat Bhandar is a man named Jahangir. It is alleged that he made all possible efforts to break the customers of Lakshmi Chaat. However, Lakshmi Chaat still continues to remain the first choice of the local people because of its better quality.

‘They do not allow any Hindu to survive even in the fruit business‘

OpIndia team contacted a local social worker and BJP leader from Kailashpur, Rajesh Johri to undertake a ground investigation of Abhishek Pandit’s allegations. 

Rajesh Johri described his area as Muslim-dominated and himself as a victim of extremism. He said that bones were hung in front of his house following Imran Masood’s victory. According to him, Abhishek Pandit’s claims about Lakshmi and Sheetal Chaat are correct.

Rajesh Johri also mentioned the Kanwar route falling in the Kailashpur area. Several retailers selling fruits on roadside carts can be seen on the Dehradun-bound road. According to him, most of the fruit retailers here belong to the Muslim community. He told OpIndia that Hindu shopkeepers are not even allowed to compete in terms of setting rates for fruits. 

He also claimed that the conditions of Kailashpur have become livable for Hindus under the present government, otherwise, it used to be worse in the previous governments.

‘Most of the commission agents in the fruit-vegetable market belong to the Muslim community‘

OpIndia visited the mandis of Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, and Saharanpur. Most of the agents selling vegetables and fruits here belong to the Muslim community. Some of them also owe money to vegetable traders from other states. 

A vegetable trader from Madhya Pradesh alleges that a Muslim trader from Saharanpur mandi has not paid him for the vegetable consignment for several years. About 3 years ago, when he approached him to ask for his money, he was threatened and sent away. Out of fear, this trader from Indore City requested anonymity.

‘Appeals are made from the Mosques to boycott the Hindu shopkeeper‘

Machendra Puri is the Mahant of Balaji Dham temple which is located in the Hindan Vihar area in Ghaziabad. He claimed that there is only 1 Hindu-owned shop in this Muslim-dominated area. He added that during meetings held inside the Mosque, announcements are made to not buy goods from the Hindu shopkeeper. 

According to Mahant Puri, the Hindu shopkeeper is not able to leave the place and go anywhere because he owns a house there. For the Hindu shopkeeper’s safety, OpIndia is not making his name public. 

Meanwhile, Mahant Puri has demanded an investigation into the real reason that forced Hindus from the Hindon Vihar area to migrate to eastern areas.

Venezuela: President Maduro declared winner by national electoral body, USA and other nations unhappy over results

ANI
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Venezuela: President Maduro declared winner by national electoral body, USA and other nations unhappy over results

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his political opponent claimed victory in the national elections, a vote that was marred by accusations of fraud and counting irregularities, CNN reported.

With 80 per cent of votes counted, Maduro secured more than 51 per cent of the vote, beating Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who got over 44 per cent of the vote, according to a statement by the National Electoral Council (CNE).

The United States and multiple global leaders have voiced concerns about the official results, handing the presidential election victory to the strongman leader.

As the votes were being counted on Sunday evening, claims of election irregularities started emerging. The opposition witnesses alleged being denied access to the CNE headquarters during counting, and the CNE allegedly halted data being sent from local polling stations to their central location to prevent more votes from being processed.

The CNE has been criticized by some international bodies for its lack of impartiality, according to CNN.

Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado said in a news conference that their own records showed their candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia had received 70 per cent of the vote against Maduro’s 30 per cent.

“We won, and everyone knows it,” Machado said, adding that the opposition would “defend the truth.”

“The entire international community knows what happened in Venezuela and how people voted for change,” she said.

Gonzalez, who was also at the news conference, alleged that rules had been violated during the election.

This election was anticipated to be the biggest challenge to Maduro’s 11-year rule. Voters had turned out in droves, with many saying they would leave the country if he won, pointing to violent repression and economic collapse under his rule.

After the results were announced, Maduro described it as a “triumph of peace, stability, republican ideals, and the ideas of equality.”

“They could not overcome the sanctions, they could not overcome the aggressions, the threats, they could not now and will never be able to overcome the dignity of the people of Venezuela,” he said during his public speech, referring to his political opponents.

The results announced by the election authorities were met with mixed emotions in the capital, Caracas, with Maduro supporters cheering and celebrating outside the president’s official residence. Meanwhile, opposition supporters were seen crying and hugging on the streets.

If Maduro takes office, it will be his third consecutive six-year term and the continuation of “Chavismo,” the left-wing populist ideology named after Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chavez, as reported by CNN.

Chavez ruled Venezuela for 14 years until his death in 2013. His policies were dominated by nationalisation and the redistribution of the nation’s huge oil wealth to the marginalized and poorest communities, as well as a constant push to protect Venezuelan sovereignty against “imperialist” powers.

But, in the past few years, the oil-rich nation has experienced the world’s worst peacetime economic crash in recent history. Maduro has blamed foreign sanctions against his regime on the downturn, saying Venezuela is the victim of an “economic war.”

Meanwhile, the opposition, which galvanized this election cycle and posed the most significant threat to Maduro’s grip on power in years, had promised to restore Venezuela’s democracy and rebuild the economy if it won.

Maduro has already overseen unprecedented levels of poverty and emigration from the country over his two terms – some 8 million Venezuelans have fled the country amid shortages of vital goods and soaring inflation.

Once the fifth-largest economy in Latin America, Venezuela’s economy has shrunk to the equivalent of a medium-sized city, according to data from the International Monetary Fund. Maduro, however, has blamed the economic meltdown on sanctions imposed by his regime by the US and other Western countries. 


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

MCD seals basement of Drishti IAS, owned by Vikas Divyakirti, for illegally running study centre, students hit the streets in protest

OpIndia Staff
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MCD seals basement of Drishti IAS, owned by Vikas Divyakirti, for illegally running study centre, students hit the streets in protest

On Monday (29th July), the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) sealed the basement of the Drishti IAS, located in Mukherjee Nagar in North-West Delhi.

It has come to light that the UPSC coaching institute, owned by Vikas Divyakirti, had been illegally using the basement of the building as a study centre.

The action by MCD comes days after 3 UPSC aspirants died by drowning in the flooded basement of another coaching institute, Rau’s IAS Study Circle.

In videos that have surfaced on social media, UPSC aspirants were seen protesting outside the building of Drishti IAS in Delhi.

Opindia had previously reported how a student named Kishor Singh Kushwah complained about the illegal use of basements as study centres and libraries by a dozen coaching centres in South Patel and Old Rajinder Nagar. He had warned of the possibility of a major accident.

Despite being flagged to MCD on 3 different occasions, the AAP-controlled civic body did not act in time.

It was only after the death of 3 UPSC aspirants on 27th July that the MCD swung into action and sealed 20 coaching centres for violation of rules.

‘Stop Durga Vahini work’: Sadiq Khan arrested for attacking, trying to abduct Hindu activist in Patan, victim tells OpIndia – ‘condition of Hindu women terrible’

Krunalsinh Rajput
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‘Stop Durga Vahini work’: Sadiq Khan arrested for attacking, trying to abduct Hindu activist in Patan, victim tells OpIndia – ‘condition of Hindu women terrible’

Days after a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) worker was attacked in Kutch, a similar case has come to light from Gujarat’s Patan district. The Police have arrested one Sadiq Khan who attacked and attempted to abduct a female Durga Vahini volunteer. They also attempted to abduct her, and when she resisted, they hurled casteist abuses at her.

The incident took place on 27th July in the Sindhada village in the Patan district. In this incident, a case was registered in Santalpur police station. OpIndia has accessed a copy of the FIR. The victim’s name is Ramilaben Parmar and she lives in the village with her family. She is working as a supervisor in a private trust. The accused, Sadiq Khan, also hails from the same village and is said to be a Muslim strongman in the area.   

According to the victim’s complaint, the incident took place on Saturday (27th July 2024). In the FIR, she stated that when she was returning home, she was accompanied by her sworn brother (Muh bola bhai) Gaman Bharwad. At around 7:30 PM, Sadiq’s car stopped their bike near the chemical factory. The accused was accompanied by another person but they don’t know about his identity. When she tried to confront Sadiq and asked why they stopped the bike, without any provocation or reason, he grabbed her hair and started slapping her.  

In the sudden attack, Gaman Bharwad fell and he tried to save himself but the accused brutally assaulted him as well. According to the complaint, Sadiq pulled the kurta of his accomplice and directed him, “Grab her and drag her inside the car,” and he used abuse to say that they should teach her a lesson. 

When they resisted, Sadiq started running away while shouting and screaming at them. According to the complaint, while fleeing, he threatened the woman and said, “You should leave the work of Durga Vahini, today you survived but if you come again, I will kill you.” After threatening her, both the accused ran away. 

Following the incident, Durga Vahini member, Ramila alerted her family who rushed to the spot. She then lodged a complaint at the Santalpur police station. The Police have filed a complaint under Sections 115(2), 125(2), 296(B), 351(2), and 54 of Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and relevant sections of the SC/ST Act and Gujarat Police Act. The accused is currently in police custody. Further action is underway.

Santalpur police told OpIndia that the other accused have not been identified yet. The investigation of the case was handed over to Patan SC/ST Cell and the Police assured that the accused would be arrested at the earliest.

Had been receiving threats earlier as well: Victim’s family shared their ordeal with OpIndia

OpIndia spoke to the victim’s elder sister, Bhagwati Parmar who is also a member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Durga Vahini. She told OpIndia, “Yesterday, as my sister was late coming from work, I sent our sworn brother (Muh bola bhai), who lives in the village, to pick her up. Meanwhile, Sadiq was behind him and was recording videos. His intention behind recording the videos was to defame my brother and sister who were riding on a bike. He forcefully stopped the bike and started assaulting my sister.”

The victim’s elder sister said, “This video was an excuse. Basically, those people have objections that we volunteer in Durga Vahini and Vishwa Hindu Parishad. For the last 15 days, we have been harassed. He had given a clear threat that we should give up the cause of Hindutva or he would kill us. The police have registered an FIR including under the sections of the SC/ST act, but no arrests have been made so far. Our organizations are with us and meetings are going on regarding the case.” It is pertinent to note that hours after OpIndia spoke with the victim’s sister, Police arrested Sadiq Khan, the main accused in this case. 

Bhagwati Parmar told OpIndia that the village has over 50% Muslim population and the sarpanch also hails from their community. She added that during Hindu festivals or in temple rituals like Aarti, Hanuman Chalisa, Navratri, or Ramnavami, they have to face harassment. 

She stated that as many Hindu youths and women work in the Hindu advocacy groups, the Muslim villagers keep threatening them to leave the organization. Such is their fear that no one speaks against them. Hindus have to stay at home. They are assaulted for even performing Hanuman Chalisa. 

She further stated, “The condition of Hindu women in the village is very bad. We have been persecuted for years. We are constantly told that either we leave the work of the Hindu organization or leave the village. Out of fear, we hesitate to even give a complaint. The atmosphere is such that we have to ask their permission to breathe. They are very stubborn and also carry weapons. Our Sarpanch’s name is Mehboob Bhai. We have complained to him about this many times, but he takes the side of Muslims and insults us. Love Jihad and torture have become common in the village. Not long ago, a girl from the village was stripped and beaten in public. After the Ramnavami procession, they assaulted Hindus on the false allegations of littering the place.”

Meanwhile, the brutal assault in Patan has outraged the Hindu organizations in the area including Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, and Durga Vahini of Gujarat. A series of meetings are being held in different places regarding this incident. The organization is also going to hold various programs to demand justice in this case. As per the information received, soon Sages and Saints will visit the victim’s family. Additionally,  public programs will be held including recitation of Hanuman Chalisa to demand Justice.

Mohammed Zubair, other Islamists spread fake news about Kanwariyas attacking Police vehicle in Ghaziabad: OpIndia spoke to police. Here is the truth

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Mohammed Zubair, other Islamists spread fake news about Kanwariyas attacking Police vehicle in Ghaziabad: OpIndia spoke to police. Here is the truth

On Monday (29th July), alleged fact-checker Mohammed Zubair, Islamists, and other usual suspects started peddling misinformation about an incident from Ghaziabad to launch a smear campaign against the Hindu religious procession, Kanwar Yatra and Kanwariyas.

Sharing misleading videos, they alleged that a group of kanwariyas went on a rampage, vandalized, and overturned a Police vehicle in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad district.

Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair who dog-whisteled against Nupur Sharma, shared the video and wrote, “Kanwariyas overturned a police vehicle after vandalising in Ghaziabad, UP.”

Incidentally, Zubair made another post to amplify the smear campaign. While sharing the incident again, he also went on to target ANI Chief Smita Prakash.

In his third post on the matter, Zubair partially shared the police version and wrote, “As expected, The driver is in Police custody. According to Ghaziabad Police, This vehicle was working in the vigilance department, The vehicle slightly touched the Kanwariyas without breaking the Karwar.” 

Another X user named Saba Khan wrote, “Ghaziabad: Kanwariya vandalised a police car that mistakenly entered the lane alinged for Kanwariya’s in Ghaziabad.  @ghaziabadpolice what action will be taken against this?”

National Spokesperson of the Congress party, Ragini Nayak went on to label the Kanwariyas as “rioters” and wrote, “These rioters breaking UP police vehicles cannot be ‘Kawadias’.” 

However, as the video of the incident started doing rounds on the internet with misleading claims, Ghaziabad Police revealed details about the incident and busted the fake news. 

According to the Police, the claim that the vehicle belonged to Police is false and misleading. The incident unfolded when the vehicle wrongly entered the lane which was reserved for the Kanwar Yatra. It then went on to hit the Kanwariyas and damaged his Kanwar which angered the Hindu devotees. The angry Kanwariyas then confronted the accused. The Police rushed to the spot and held discussions with the Kanwariyas and after pacifying them, they were sent away. Additionally, the Police have taken the accused vehicle and its driver identified as Awanish Tyagi into custody.  

The Police further stated that the driver uses the vehicle for the vigilance department of Power Corporation. The incident occurred near the Duhai Kanwar road in the Madhuban Bapudham police station area. 

When OpIndia did a ground investigation of this incident, it was found that the matter is from the Madhuban Bapudham police station area of Ghaziabad. Station in-charge Shailendra Tomar told OpIndia that the vehicle which was vandalized does not belong to the police department. The damaged Mahindra Bolero vehicle belongs to a private person resident of Loni, Ghaziabad. Additionally, the vehicle was illegally using a Police sticker. 

According to information received by OpIndia from the police, the vehicle with a police sticker and hooter entered the Kanwar road illegally by crossing the barricade near Muradnagar. The driver was driving the vehicle in a reckless manner in a lane that was reserved for Kanwariyas. 

After traveling about 6-7 kilometers, this vehicle hit a Kanwariya in Madhuban Bapudham police station area. He suffered minor injuries due to the collision. This enraged other Kanwariyas marching alongside him. 

Some eyewitnesses, on condition of anonymity, told OpIndia that after hitting the Kanwariya (Bhole), the accused driver Awanish Tyagi, instead of apologizing, started insulting the Kanwariyas. He also started trying to run away from the scene by blowing the hooter. The Kanwariyas, who were already angry alleging that the Kanwar was broken, had meanwhile come to know that the vehicle did not belong to the police and the hooters and stickers were being misused illegally. Angry over the development, they started vandalizing the vehicle.

Sharing details about the incident, a senior Police official said, “Today on 29th July, information was received that a vehicle hit Kanwariyas at around 10 AM near the Duhai Metro Station which falls in the Madhuban Bapudham police station area. Angered by the collision, a group of Kanwariyas vandalized the vehicle.” 

After reaching there, Police pacified them and sent them away, the official added. 

The Senior Police official further added that during the investigation of the case, it was revealed that this Bolero car was being driven by a man named Awanish Tyagi. He wrongly entered the lane reserved for kanwariyas because of which the incident took place.”

The driver and the car involved in the incident have been taken into custody. According to the official, Awanish Tyagi drives this car for the vigilance department of Power Corporation. 

Based on evidence and the statements of the driver, the police are taking further legal actions in this matter. 

RSS worker Arvind Vaishya stabbed to death in Mumbai’s Dharavi; accused Niyaz, Arif arrested: Read FIR details

Siddhi Somani
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RSS worker Arvind Vaishya stabbed to death in Mumbai’s Dharavi; accused Niyaz, Arif arrested: Read FIR details

On 28th July, an individual identified as Arvind Vaishya, 26 associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was brutally murdered by 4-5 persons. The accused persons stabbed Arvind on the evening of 28th July as he attempted to help one of his friends who was being allegedly harassed by the accused persons.

The police took cognizance of the event and booked 2 persons identified as Niyaz Sheikh and Aarif under sections 103(2), 351(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Samhita, 2023. As per the FIR copy exclusively obtained by OpIndia, the other persons named in the complaint are Yasin, Sher Ali, Shubham, and Jumman.

The FIR has been filed based on the complaint registered by the brother of the deceased Shailendra. In the FIR, he mentioned that he witnessed his younger brother being stabbed by Niyaz (Allu) and Arif with the intention of murder.

As per the initial information gathered by OpIndia, the deceased Arvind had gone to help one of his friends, Siddesh. Siddesh and his father were allegedly being harassed and assaulted by the accused persons. Later, Arvind who went to help them was also assaulted and abused by Yasin, Sher Ali, Shubham, Niyaz (Allu), and Arif.

Someone happened to inform Shailendra about his brother being assaulted. However, Arvind calmed Shailendra saying that the fight was between the accused persons and Siddhesh and that he had gone just to help them. “I asked Arvind what the matter was. But he said that Siddhesh and his father were being assaulted and threatened and that he had been there to help them. He also informed me that he was going to Dharavi police station to file a report against the accused persons,” Shailendra mentioned in the FIR.

Shailendra further added that while he was on his way to be with Arvind at Dharavi Police Station, he was stopped by Saddam and Jumman who threatened him to keep a check on brother Arvind. “Stop this matter. Otherwise, you know what’ll happen,” Saddam and Jumman threatened Shailendra as mentioned in the FIR.

“I somehow reached the police station but I was informed that Arvind and his friend were going to Rajiv Gandhi Nagar along with the police. As soon as I reached the area, I saw Allu and Arif stabbed Arvind in his chest. Arvind and his friend were on the bike followed by a police van. However, the police managed to nab Allu from the spot while Arif attempted to flee seeing the police,” Shailendra said.

Arvind was then immediately taken to the Scion Hospital where he was declared dead.

OpIndia talked to Rahul, another brother of deceased Arvind who confirmed the incident and said that he was murdered in the police presence. He said that Arvind had gone to help his friend but he was targeted and killed. “The Police have only booked two persons in the case. But others involved are set free. We want action against all the accused persons involved Yasin, Sher Ali, Niyaz (Allu) and others,” he said.

While on the call, Rahul was at the Dharavi Police station where people could be heard yelling and demanding severe punishment against now arrested Niyaz and Arif and also others involved including Yasin, Sher Ali, Shubham, Saddam, and Jumman.

The exact reason behind the incident of attack is not yet known. Further probe is underway.

Kerala: Students at Church-run Nirmala College stage protest after being denied room to offer Friday namaz

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: Students at Church-run Nirmala College stage protest after being denied room to offer Friday namaz

On Friday, 26th July, a group of students staged protests at Church-run Nirmala College in Kerala’s Muvattupuzha, claiming that they were denied permission to hold Friday noon prayers inside a room on the campus. The incident came to the fore on the 26th, however, the demand sparked outrage, after the BJP referred to the alleged protesters as ‘extremist elements’ on Sunday, the 28th of July. 

According to the reports, some female students requested that college authorities provide a place for women to offer Namaz prayers on Friday. When their request was not met, they decided to stage protests outside the office of the college’s principal, Father Kannadan Francis on the 26th.

Responding to the event, the Father told the girls that the Mosque was just 200 meters away from the college and that they could go there to offer Friday namaz prayers. “Boys at the college go to the mosque at noon for prayers. However, the girls wanted to use a college room for their prayer, saying that they were not allowed at the mosque. We have told them the college cannot allow a room for prayers,” Father Kannadan Francis was quoted as saying.

The college administration is said to have opined that no religious activities are permitted on campus since it is a ‘secular’ institution. According to college guidelines, students who submit a written request are permitted to attend prayers at a nearby mosque and are exempt from attendance requirements.

The incident came to the fore on 26th July. As per the protesters, a few female students offered prayers in the girls’ waiting area at the college. However, on 26th July, college officials questioned the matter and ordered the students who led the prayers to meet with the principal. This sparked the protest. 

“Three girl students used to perform prayers in the waiting room and nobody had objected to it. On Thursday, the non-teaching staff questioned the students and informed the principal. On Friday the principal went to the waiting room and stopped the students from performing prayers. This led to the protest,” Muslim Students Federation (MSF) Ernakulam district president Rameez Muthirakalayil was quoted as saying.

However, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the state’s ruling CPI(M), and the Muslim Students Federation (MSF), the student wing of the Indian Union Muslim League have issued statements saying that they had nothing to do with the demands.

SFI state president K Anusree claimed that the organization stood supporting ‘secularism’ and that allowing religious practices of any particular community would affect the ‘secular’ nature of the college. “We are not associated with the demand raised at Nirmala College,” she was quoted as saying.

On the other hand, the BJP condemned the protests and said that the ‘extremist elements’ were trying to create problems in educational institutes run by Hindus and Christians. “Extremist elements are behind the demand. The Left and the Congress are supporting it. Do colleges under Muslim management give premises for prayer for students from other religious communities? If Muslim groups are trying to foment trouble at colleges, BJP will give protection,” BJP state president K Surendran commented.

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