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Uttar Pradesh: Gulfam kills wife by strangling her after a Moulvi said that they may kill each other over fights for not having a child

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Gulfam kills wife by strangling her after a Moulvi said that they may kill each other over fights for not having a child

On 13th March, a man named Gulfam killed his spouse Mursleen after he was influenced by a (Moulvi) Muslim cleric in Abdullahpur of Meerut’s Bhawanpur. He first strangulated her with a wire and then severed her throat with scissors and fled from the location. However, he was arrested by the police on 14th March.

According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Dehat Kamlesh Bahadur, the accused was taken into custody close to the Fort Parikshitgarh village of Bahadarpur. The culprit claimed that he and his wife fought regularly because they didn’t have a baby and he visited a cleric after he became tired of the regular arguments. The cleric told him that he and his wife were in trouble and might end up killing each other. Afterwards, the perpetrator believed that she could murder him and decided to end her life.

He committed the horrifying crime on the morning of 13th March when the victim was making tea for him. He first choked using a wire due to which she passed out and then employed a pair of scissors to cut her throat. Bhawanpur police station in-charge Sanjay Dwivedi mentioned that the scissors have also been recovered. A murder report has been filed against Gulfam and four others. The role of the rest of the offenders is being investigated.

Gulfam of Abdullahpur married Mursleen, a resident of the Kakrauli police station area of Muzaffarnagar about eight years ago. The pair failed to conceive a child after all the years of relationship. The deceased was at her parents’ house for the past one and a half years. A few days ago, Gulfam arrived in the village of Muzaffarnagar with five family members where a panchayat was convened after which an agreement was reached and he brought his spouse back to his house.

However, the two had an altercation on the night of 12th March and he assaulted her brutally. It was initially suspected that he along with one of his relatives killed the woman while she was sleeping and then absconded from there. Some children arrived at the house in the morning while they were playing. They discovered that the room’s gate was open and entered inside.

The neighbours were notified when the victim’s bleeding body showed up lying on the bed. The Bhawanpur police then arrived on the scene and began their inquiry. The forensic team was summoned. Her father and other family members were contacted by the authorities and the body was taken for a post-mortem. Hashim, The deceased’s father submitted a complaint in which he named Gulfam, Niaz and Aslam among five individuals.

Clash erupts at Gujarat University hostel as Afghan student hits a Hindu youth for questioning namaz in public place, students injured, rooms vandalised

OpIndia Staff
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Clash erupts at Gujarat University hostel as Afghan student hits a Hindu youth for questioning namaz in public place, students injured, rooms vandalised

On Saturday (16th March), a confrontation erupted between foreign and local students at the Gujarat University hostel, resulting in damages to laptops, AC units, and other items in room number 23 of the ‘A’ block, as well as to vehicles parked outside. The incident occurred around 10 PM. A police report was filed today at 12:45 AM, based on the complaint filed by the security personnel responsible for the Gujarat University hostel.

Approximately 300 foreign students, hailing from countries such as Afghanistan, Africa, Sri Lanka, and others, reside in the Gujarat University hostel. Among them, 75 are accommodated in the ‘A’ block. On 16th March, some of these students were offering Namaz in an open area in the hostel ground. A group of around 25 Hindu students questioned their choice of location, stating that the ground was a public place and that it was neither a mosque nor a madrasa. In response to this, one Afghan student identified as Harun Afghani rushed forward and slapped a Hindu youth. This altercation quickly escalated into a clash.

Stones were pelted and rooms were vandalised during the clashes, resulting in damages to items and injury of some students.

According to the police, two foreign students – one from Sri Lanka and the other from Kazakhstan – were injured in the altercation. The City Police Commissioner reported that law enforcement arrived at the scene within ten minutes of the incident. He also mentioned that various videos capturing the clash, including the pivotal slap, are currently under scrutiny.

Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police GS Malik said, “Around 300 foreign students study in Gujarat University and around 75 foreign students stay in A Block (Hostel). Yesterday, at around 10:30 pm a group of students were offering Namaz. Around 20-25 people came and asked them why they were offering Namaz here & should instead read it in the Masjid. An argument broke out between them, stones were pelted and their rooms were vandalised by the people who came from outside…Police took swift action & FIR has been registered against 20-25 people…Action will be taken against those involved in this…One person has been identified. Law & order situation is under control now…Two students from Sri Lanka & Tajikistan are admitted to the hospital…”

Investigations have revealed that recently, a wall and stage were unlawfully utilised as an open mosque by foreign students. Arabic script reading ‘Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim’ (In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful) was written on the wall, where Namaz was performed by foreign students in groups five times a day.

Congress and AIMIM have voiced their support for the foreign Muslim students involved in the incident. AIMIM chief Owaisi has shared videos from the perspective of the foreign students, escalating the communal undertones. Former Congress MLA Gyasuddin Sheikh has also spoken out in favour of foreign Muslim students.

Officials at the ACP and DCP levels arrived at the Gujarat University hostel, along with the Vice Chancellor of the University. Additionally, nine investigative teams have been assembled to delve into the incident. The Minister of State for Home convened a meeting with the Police Commissioner at the State circuit house to address the matter further.

Students organisation Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad said in a statement, “ABVP demands strict action from Gujarat government and police, in late last night’s incident involving foreign students studying at Gujarat University. Such incidents on the campus raise serious questions about the security arrangements of the campus. ABVP demands strict security arrangements from the Gujarat University administration.”

The Gujarat unit of Bajrang Dal posted from its X handle, “First the truth about the incident that happened in Gujarat University should be seen. The cadres were accompanied by the guard (security guard of campus) and attempted to stop the worshippers from offering namaz in public places. The worshipers got furious and attacked, and then the Hindu community gave its reaction and will continue to do so in the future also.”

Congress-ally Indian Union Muslim League protests voting dates in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, says elections on ‘Jummah’ inconveniences Muslims

OpIndia Staff
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Congress-ally Indian Union Muslim League protests voting dates in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, says elections on ‘Jummah’ inconveniences Muslims

According to the election schedule for Lok Sabha 2024, voting will take place in Tamil Nadu on April 19th and in Kerala on April 26th. Incidentally, both voting dates fall on Fridays. Shortly after the announcement, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), along with other Muslim groups in Kerala, objected to these dates, citing Jummah on Fridays. They have appealed to the poll body to postpone voting scheduled for Fridays, stating that Muslims hold large congregations to offer Jummah Namaz on that day.

On Sunday (17th March), the IUML, an ally of Congress, said that it would approach the ECI asking the poll body to change the dates of elections in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. According to the IUML, voting on Fridays will cause inconvenience to voters, officials, and candidates as it is an important day for Muslims.

Speaking with PTI, IUML’s state general secretary PMA Salam said, “Friday is Jummah, a day when Muslims gather in mosques. It would be difficult to vote on this day in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. We have brought this to the attention of the Election Commission.”

Apart from IUML, a few other Muslim organisations are also reportedly planning to approach ECI seeking a change in the voting dates in the state. A prominent Muslim organisation in Kerala, Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, also expressed concerns that Friday polls would pose challenges for voters and officials on duty and could affect voter turnout.

In a statement, the Muslim organisation said, “Jumu’ah is a worship that must be performed by the entire population of a region.” 

The president of the organisation, Syed Muhammad Jifri Muthukkoya, and the General Secretary, K Alikutty Musaliyar, have written to the Central Election Commission, urging the poll body to postpone the voting scheduled for April 26th (Friday).

Earlier, on 16th March, the Election Commission of India announced the polling dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. The polling will be done in seven phases starting from 16th April 2024. The last phase will be held on 1st June 2024, and the counting will be done on 4th June 2024. The complete list of state-wise polling dates for constituencies in a phase-wise manner can be accessed by clicking here.

ED issues 2 summons to Arvind Kejriwal: 9th summon in excise case and new summon in Jal Board case where AAP is accused of receiving bribe money as election fund

OpIndia Staff
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ED issues 2 summons to Arvind Kejriwal: 9th summon in excise case and new summon in Jal Board case where AAP is accused of receiving bribe money as election fund

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sunday issued two summons to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal concerning two money laundering cases. One summon is for questioning in the Delhi Excice Police scam case, while the other one is a new case, linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board.

ED has asked Arvind Kejriwal to appear before it at its Delhi office on Monday, March 18, to record his statement in the Jal Board case. This is the second case registered under the anti-money laundering law in which the ED has summoned Arvind Kejriwal.

The Delhi CM received the ninth summons in the Delhi excise policy scam case asking him to appear before ED on 21st March. He has been asked to arrive at the central agency’s office in central Delhi. The ninth summons from the ED was sent one day after the additional chief metropolitan magistrate of Rouse Avenue Court gave the Aam Aadmi Party chief bail sparing him from being arrested for ignoring a summons that the investigating agency had sent him over money laundering related to the liquor policy.

The purpose of the ninth summons is to record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The Delhi Chief Minister was issued a new summons after he disregarded the eighth one on 4th March.

He has dismissed eight prior ED summonses that were sent out on 4th March, 26th February, 19th February, 2nd February, 18 January, 3rd January, 22nd December and 2nd November citing them as “illegal and politically motivated.” The AAP called the eighth ED summons “illegal” in a statement, claiming that the probe agency had already addressed the court about the subject, therefore the ED should cease issuing summonses and await the court’s ruling.

Arvind Kejriwal repeatedly refuses to appear before ED

The Chief Minister has consistently declared these summons as unlawful and declined to appear in response. Last month, his party sources claimed, “The matter is in the court and the next hearing is on March 16. Instead of sending summons daily, the ED should wait for the court’s decision. We will not leave the INDIA alliance. Modi government should not create pressure like this,” when he refused to adhere to the summons.

“All five notices sent to me (by the ED) are illegal and invalid in the eyes of the law. Whenever such general, non-specific notices were sent by the ED in the past, they were quashed and declared invalid by courts. These notices are being sent as part of a political conspiracy,” he alleged when he skipped another ED summons.

The Aam Aadmi Party’s national convenor reportedly departed for a 10-day ‘Vipassana’ meditation camp in Punjab along with the state’s chief minister Bhagwant Mann in December of last year when the ED summoned him.”Lawyers are examining the ED’s notice and such steps will be taken that are legally correct. Everyone knows the Chief Minister is leaving for ‘Vipassana’ on December 19. He regularly goes for this meditation course. It’s a pre-scheduled and pre-announced plan,” stated AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha.

Arvind Kejriwal skipped the first summons in November and claimed that he had a hectic campaign schedule. He added that he couldn’t attend the summons since he was a star campaigner and state elections were approaching. He asked the agency to revoke the summons adding that it was “motivated and issued for extraneous considerations.”

Notably, the chief minister has offered different excuses regarding his unavailability to appear before the ED in relation to the Delhi liquor policy due to which prominent party leaders including former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh are behind bars.

The Delhi Jal Board case

ED has registered a money laundering case concerning alleged irregularities in the tendering process of the Delhi Jal Board. ED is investigating two separate matters of irregularities in the tendering process of the DJB, a criminal case originating from an FIR of the CBI and the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi government. It is alleged that bribes paid by contractors to get tenders from the Jal Board were passed on to the Aam Aadmi Party.

As per the CBI FIR, Jal Board officials gave “undue advantage” to a firm while awarding it the tender for the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of electromagnetic flow meters. Allegedly, the firm NKG Infrastructure Ltd was awarded the ₹38 crore tender illegally as it did not meet the technical eligibility criteria and obtained the bid by submitting forged documents. It was further alleged that DJB funds were transferred to several shell entities and “layered through a complex web of transactions”.

As per ED, DJB contractor Anil Kumar Aggarwal had paid a bribe of ₹2.5 crore to retired chief Engineer Jagdish Kumar Arora. Both of them were arrested by the agency on 1st February.

Last month, ED said that bribe money generated in this scam was “passed on” as election funds to the Aam Aadmi Party. ED said that Arora received the bribe in cash and bank transactions after awarding the contract to NKG Infrastructure, and then he passed on this money to various persons related to DJB and also persons connected to AAP.

The agency said that the DJB contract was awarded at “highly inflated rates” so that the bribes could be collected from the contractors. Against the value of ₹38 crore, only around ₹17 crore was spent on the work, and the remaining amount was looted using various fake expenses.

The agency said in a statement that incriminating documents and digital evidence apart from valuables of ₹1.97 crore and foreign currency worth ₹4 lakh were seized during the raids conducted in this case. Persons raided in the case included Bibhav Kumar, personal assistant to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, AAP Rajya Sabha MP N D Gupta, former DJB member Shalabh Kumar, chartered accountant Pankaj Mangal and others.

Delhi Excise Policy Case

The Central Bureau of Investigation’s First Information Report (FIR) which is the foundation of the case against the AAP supremo, claims several anomalies in the creation and execution of the Delhi excise policy (2021–2022). The policy was rescinded in response to accusations of corruption.

AAP leader Sanjay Singh and his aide Sarvesh Mishra are named in the ED’s sixth charge sheet which was submitted on 2nd December 2023. The ED maintained that the AAP used bribes totalling Rs 45 crore obtained via the policy as part of its campaign for the Goa assembly elections in 2022. Regarding Arvind Kejriwal’s involvement, one of the six charge sheets that were submitted in January 2023 asserted that he informed businessman Sameer Mahendru that Vijay Nair, the former AAP communications chief “is his boy” and that Mahendru ought to have faith in him.

The excise policy aimed to replace a sales-volume-based system with a license charge for dealers and revitalize the city’s failing liquor economy. It promised greater shopping experiences and swankier boutiques. The policy was the first to promote discounts and offers on booze purchases in Delhi. The policy was abandoned as a result of Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena’s decision to launch an investigation into purported anomalies in the regime.

(With inputs from ANI)

West Bengal: Police detain BJP leader Indranil Khan for protesting, seeking accountability from Mamata Banerjee govt

ANI
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West Bengal: Police detain BJP leader Indranil Khan for protesting, seeking accountability from Mamata Banerjee govt

Kolkata Police detained Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) state president Indranil Khan and other youth workers during a protest at the city’s Hazra More.

The BJYM was holding a ‘Yuva Adda’ programme during which it called on the Mamata Banerjee government to come out with details of the utilisation certificates allegedly worth 2,29,099 lakh crore.

Visuals from the spot showed BJYM youth workers raising slogans as Indranil Khan and other leaders protested from inside the police van.

Soon after the detention of the state president of the BJP’s youth wing, the party’s IT cell head Amit Malviya came down heavily on the West Bengal government over the incident.

“Shame on Mamata Banerjee’s police for arresting BJYM State President Dr Indranil Khan and other karyakartas for holding Yuva Adda at Hazra More, Kolkata. All they were demanding is account of 3,94,162 Utilisation Certificates worth 2,29,099 lakh crore, which are pending, from CM,” Malviya posted from his X handle.

“Yuva Morcha state president @IndranilKhan and all functionaries of Yuva Morcha were forcibly arrested by Mamata party’s police at BJP Yuva Morcha’s ‘Yuv Adda’ special function in Hazra,” read a post on the official X handle of BJP West Bengal.

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

Religious hatred, conversion and illegal foreign funding: FCRA license of Tamil Nadu based Christian missionary group Jesus Redeems suspended

OpIndia Staff
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Religious hatred, conversion and illegal foreign funding: FCRA license of Tamil Nadu based Christian missionary group Jesus Redeems suspended

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has decided to suspend the FCRA license of Tamil Nadu-based Jesus Redeems, a contentious Christian missionary organisation led by Mohan C Lazarus. This action follows a complaint lodged in November 2023 by the Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF), a legal activist group, accusing the outfit of severe breaches of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).

LRPF has highlighted that Mohan C Lazarus and his entity, Jesus Redeems, violated provisions of the FCRA, 2010, warranting the suspension or cancellation of their FCRA registration. This is due to illegality in funds received by the group. Lazarus is also accused of disrupting communal harmony through provocative speeches and engaging in proselytization activities.

Mohan C Lazarus operates a Christian organisation called Jesus Redeems, through which he conducts religious proselytization activities. He has gained notoriety for allegedly disrupting communal harmony by making anti-Hindu statements. Numerous First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed against him in various police stations across Tamil Nadu. These FIRs cite sections 153, 153-A(1)(a) & (b), 295-A, 505(1)(b), and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code. The allegations stem from statements made against Hindu temples and deities during large religious gatherings.

‘Jesus Redeems’ is a registered Christian religious organisation operating in Tamil Nadu under the Indian Trusts Act of 1882, and holds FCRA registration number 076160018. Its founder and signatory authority, Mohan Lazarus, also known as Mohan C. Lazarus, serves as the Chief Executive Officer of a US-registered Public Charity organization named ‘Jesus Redeems Ministries Inc.’

A central allegation revolves around recent amendments to the FCRA rules, explicitly stating that the Chief Functionary of the recipient Indian organisation should not be affiliated with the donor organisation. Allegedly, ‘Jesus Redeems’ has received substantial foreign contributions from ‘Jesus Redeems Ministries Inc., (US),’ a significant foreign donor.

The LRPF said in its complaint, “The act of Mohan Lazarus alias Mohan C. Lazarus as a Chief Functionary to the ‘Jesus Redeems’ attracts the various sections of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, 2010 which amounts to suspension/cancellation of the FCRA registration of the said organisation: Chapter II, 9 (e) (v): causing, disharmony between religious, racial, social, linguistic or regional groups, castes or communities. Chapter III. 12 (4) (f) (vi): causing disharmony between religious, racial, social, linguistic or regional groups, castes or communities.”

Jesus Redeems also received funds from an American organisation named Compassion International (USA) directly and through a Chennai-based NGO Caruna Bal Vikas. This is a violation because the Indian government has prohibited Compassion International (US) from donating to Indian NGOs due to various controversies involving child conversion and fundraising through child sponsorship schemes globally and in India. As a result, Compassion International closed its Indian operations in 2017, after the govt refused to consider the ban.

However, as per LRPF, between 2009 and 2015, Compassion International sent over ₹1.5 crore to Caruna Bal Vikas, and this money was diverted to Jesus Redeems. After the American Christian charity was banned in India, it started donating directly to the FCRA-designated bank account of Jesus Redeems, and an amount of ₹1.13 crore. This shows that Jesus Redeems is the primary affiliate of Compassion International, which is banned from operating in India.

The LRPF further urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to conduct an inquiry into the status of the official magazine of ‘Jesus Redeems,’ published by Mohan C. Lazarus. Additionally, it alleged that the organisation operates in numerous other countries, such as the United States, Australia, Dubai, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, and Sri Lanka.

The complaint highlighted that ‘Jesus Redeems’ consistently hosts Christian religious events overseas and extends invitations to pastors from various nations, including China. The LRPF emphasised the need to investigate whether the expenses incurred for these events are properly documented in the organisation’s audit reports.

‘Jesus Redeems’ also reportedly received substantial foreign funding from directors associated with the DANGOTE Group, a mining conglomerate headquartered in Nigeria, known for its close ties with Sinoma International Engineering Co. Ltd, a Chinese state-owned and state-administered company.

Sinoma International Engineering Co., Ltd. is a notable affiliate of China National Building Materials Group Co., Ltd., operating under the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC). Nigeria has shifted its primary trading partner status from the United States of America to China. Under a significant agreement, a Chinese state-owned company, Sinoma International Engineering Co., Ltd., has secured a deal valued at $4.3 billion (£2.8 billion) to construct factories for a Nigerian cement firm owned by the Dangote Group.

The complaint further highlighted from the FCRA return filed by Jesus Redeems that it received a sum of ₹3,71,154 from an individual named Shirly Rohan, whose residential address is in Bangalore. It requests clarification regarding the basis for accepting donations into the FCRA account from Indian residents.

The battle for Chandranath: How Hindus of Bangladesh are trying to save their Shaktipeeth from Islamists

Dibakar Dutta
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The battle for Chandranath: How Hindus of Bangladesh are trying to save their Shaktipeeth from Islamists

The Chandranath Temple, a famous shaktipeeth located in Sitakunda in the Chittagong district of Bangladesh, has been under the attack of Islamists since 2023.

A well-coordinated effort is underway to encroach upon Chandranth Hill which nests the Hindu shrine. Despite being a sacred pilgrimage destination, it has reportedly been transformed into a trekking spot by the Muslim community in the past couple of years.

The 1020 feet Chandranath Hill now has Muslim-owned eateries to serve their co-religionists. The matter reached a crescendo in December 2023 when an Islamist named Raihan Riad organised a ‘Beef Barbecue party’ at the Hindu pilgrimage destination.

When he posted about the event on Facebook, several other Islamists expressed their support for desecrating the sacred Chandranath Hill.

Thereafter, the local Hindu community in Sitakunda went to the Hindu shrine and distributed pamphlets calling for the protection of the Chandranath Temple and thwarting attempts to defile the pilgrimage destination.

In a video posted on YouTube, human rights activist and exiled Bangladeshi blogger Asad Noor informed that Islamists assaulted the Hindus. He stated that the local Muslims threatened to shove the Hindu deities in the posterior of the worshippers.

When Hindus protested against it, they were attacked by the same cabal of Islamists. As per reports, a total of 10 Hindus were seriously injured during the attack. The Muslim mob was reportedly armed with sharp weapons.

“This is Bangladesh where beef barbecue party and slogans of Allah hu Akbar are raised at Chandranath Dham… Muslims live in their own world of superiority complex,” Asad Noor was heard saying.

In the meantime, pictures and videos of Islamists giving ‘call to prayer’ (Azaan) on the Hindu pilgrimage site had also surfaced on social media. One extremist by the name of ‘Tigers Tamim’ was seen putting his feet up on the temple walls.

In a Facebook post, one Islamist named Mohammed Shibbir Bin Nazir was seen boasting about giving Azaan on Chandranath Hill. “Inshallah, the flag of Islam will fly here soon,” he had announced.

Another extremist Innamul Haq responded to his post, “I have been to that place twice and felt the absence of a masjid at that site (Chandranath Hill). Shirk (idolatry) is still going on in that mountain.”

Facebook post of Mohammed Shibbir bin Nazir, image via ‘Struggle for Hindu Existence’

This is in line with the nefarious agenda of radical Islamist outfits ‘Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh’ and ‘Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh.’

In February this year, several videos came to light where scores of Muslim men, wearing skull caps, were seen roaming around the Chandranath Temple in Sitakunda and raising Islamic slogans at the Hindu pilgrimage site.

It was also claimed on social media that burqa-clad women had also begun trespassing at the Chandranath Dham.

In the meantime, a video has surfaced on social media wherein a Muslim man was allegedly caught trying to keep a copy of the Quran inside the Chandranath Temple.

While OpIndia could not independently verify the incident, it must be mentioned that Islamists in Bangladesh pulled off similar stunts (here, here and here) in the past leading to large-scale riots and attacks on the Hindu community.

Hindus demand justice, accuse Sheikh Hasina govt of inaction

While speaking about the matter to Swarajya, an official of Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council said, “Since April 2023, a few clerics started organising namaz near the mandir every Friday and we have heard there are plans to build a masjid on the hill. A false narrative is also being spread that there was a mosque atop the hill and that it was demolished by Hindus to build a mandir.”

He further added, “The Islamists who plan to lay claim on Chandranath Hill have close links with the Awami League. So we are sceptical of our demands being considered by the government,” “

A Hindu trader named Dhananjoy Das remarked, “Visiting the shrine is now fraught with risks. Muslims raise provocative religious slogans and abuse us. They behave very menacingly towards all Hindu pilgrims and we are often abused as malauns. It appears to us that it is only a matter of time before the radical Muslims take over Chandranath Hill.”

Poster in Bengali pleading Hindus to preserve Chandranath Temple from ‘Rahu’

One Hindu priest named Bishwambhar Banerjee told Swarajya, “The narrative that a masjid atop the hill was pulled down to construct a mandir many years ago is patently false.”

Meanwhile, a poster calling upon the Hindu society to preserve the Chandranath temple has gone viral on social media. ‘Sabdhan, Rahur kobole Chandranath Dham,” it reads.

Chandranath Temple and its significance

The Chandranath Temple in Chittagong is significant for the Hindu community. The shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva.Its historical significance dates back to the 8th century when it was built by local Hindu ruler Chandrasena.

The temple is regarded as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas and attracts Hindu devotees from Bangladesh and neighbouring regions. It follows the Nagara architectural style, which is seen in many Hindu temples across the Indian subcontinent.

This style is characterised by a curvilinear tower (shikhara) with multiple tiers, topped by an amalaka (a circular disk-like structure) and a kalasha (a finial). 

Troubles with Boeing aircrafts continue: Panel of plane slips mid-flight as flight lands without external panel

OpIndia Staff
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Troubles with Boeing aircrafts continue: Panel of plane slips mid-flight as flight lands without external panel

On Friday, March 15, a Boeing 737-800 carrying 139 passengers and 6 crew members landed at the Rogue Valley International Airport in Medford, Oregon, USA at about 11:30 a.m. (local time) even as a panel of the plane went missing. This alarming debacle represents the seventh Boeing-related incident within two weeks. No injuries were reported in this incident.

The latest incident involving a Boeing 787 Dreamliner occurred at Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport in Oregon, USA. United Airlines Flight 433, which departed from San Francisco around 10:08:20 hours, experienced the issue approximately 70 minutes into the flight, prompting a landing in Oregon. Upon landing, it was discovered that a cabin panel was missing, leading to the suspension of airport operations until the runway could be inspected for safety measures.

Social media images revealed that the missing panel was located beside the landing gear, underneath the aircraft. Consequently, all outgoing and incoming flights at the airport were halted to conduct a thorough search for debris. Despite efforts extending beyond the airport vicinity to neighbouring communities, the missing section was not found.

Amber Judd, a senior official at Rogue Valley International Medford Airport, said, “The plane landed safely and the external panel was only discovered missing during a post-flight inspection. We’ll conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service. An investigation would be carried out to better understand how this damage occurred. After finding no debris on the airfield, normal operations at MFR resumed a few minutes later.”

In a statement, United Airlines said, “We’ll conduct a thorough examination of the plane and perform all the needed repairs before it returns to service.” Notably, despite the mid-flight disconnection, the flight did not encounter any issues, and there was no need to declare an emergency. As per FAA records, the aircraft was constructed in late 1998.

Boeing aircraft have been facing recurring issues in recent times. Just the day prior, an American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport due to a suspected mechanical problem with a Boeing aircraft. Earlier in the week, a United Airlines flight from Sydney to San Francisco had to turn back due to a fuel leak. The Boeing 777-300 landed safely back in Sydney with 167 passengers and 16 crew members on board. Additionally, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner travelling from Sydney to Auckland experienced a technical issue, resulting in injuries to 50 passengers.

2024 Lok Sabha Elections: Polling in 7 phases, counting on 4th June – State-wise details of polling dates phase-wise

OpIndia Staff
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2024 Lok Sabha Elections: Polling in 7 phases, counting on 4th June – State-wise details of polling dates phase-wise

On 16th March, the Election Commission of India announced the polling dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. The polling will be done in seven phases starting from 16th April 2024. The last phase will be held on 1st June 2024, and the counting will be done on 4th June 2024. Here is a list of state-wise polling dates for constituencies phase-wise.

Andhra Pradesh

In Andhra Pradesh, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 4 (13th May 2024)
Araku
Srikakulam
Vizianagaram
Visakhapatnam
Anakapalle
Kakinada
Amalapuram
Rajahmundry
Narsapuram
Eluru
Machilipatnam
Vijayawada
Guntur
Narasaraopet
Bapatla
Ongole
Nandyal
Kurnool
Anantapur
Hindupur
Kadapa
Nellore
Tirupati
Rajampet
Chittoor

Arunachal Pradesh

In Arunachal Pradesh, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Arunachal West
Arunachal East

Assam

In Assam, polling will be done in three phases.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Kaziranga
Sonitpur
Lakhimpur
Dibrugarh
Jorhat
Phase 2 (26th April 2024)
Darrang-Udalguri
Diphu
Karimganj
Silchar
Nagaon
Phase 3 (7th May 2024)
Kokrajhar
Dhubri
Barpeta
Guwahati

Bihar

In Bihar, polling will be done in seven phases.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Aurangabad
Gaya
Nawada
Jamui
Phase 2 (26th April 2024)
Kishanganj
Katihar
Purnia
Bhagalpur
Banka
Phase 3 (7th May 2024)
Jhanjharpur
Supaul
Araria
Madhepura
Khagaria
Phase 4
Darbhanga
Ujiarpur
Samastipur
Begusarai
Munger
Phase 5 (20th May 2024)
Sitamarhi
Madhubani
Muzaffarpur
Saran
Hajipur
Phase 6 (25th May 2024)
Valmiki Nagar
Paschim Champaran
Purvi Champaran
Sheohar
Vaishali
Gopalganj
Siwan
Maharajganj
Phase 7 (1st June 2024)
Nalanda
Patna Sahib
Pataliputra
Arrah
Buxar
Sasaram
Karakat
Jahanabad

Chhattisgarh

In Chhattisgarh, polling will be done in three phases.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Bastar
Phase 2 (26th April 2024)
Rajnandgaon
Mahasamund
Kanker
Phase 3 (7th May 2024)
Surguja
Raigarh
Janjgir-Champa
Korba
Bilaspur
Durg
Raipur

Goa

In Goa, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 3 (7th May 2024)
North Goa
South Goa

Gujarat

In Gujarat, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 3 (7th May 2024)
Kachchh
Banaskantha
Patan
Mahesana
Sabarkantha
Gandhinagar
Ahmedabad East
Ahmedabad West
Surendranagar
Rajkot
Porbandar
Jamnagar
Junagadh
Amreli
Bhavnagar
Anand
Kheda
Panchmahal
Dahod
Vadodara
Chhota Udaipur
Bharuch
Bardoli
Surat
Navsari
Valsad

Haryana

In Haryana, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 6 (25th May 2024)
Ambala
Kurukshetra
Sirsa
Hisar
Karnal
Sonipat
Rohtak
Bhiwani-Mahendragarh
Gurgaon
Faridabad

Himachal Pradesh

In Himachal Pradesh, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 7 (1st June 2024)
Kangra
Mandi
Hamirpur
Shimla

Jharkhand

In Jharkhand, polling will be done in four phases.

Phase 4 (13th May 2024)
Singhbhum
Khunti
Lohardaga
Palamu
Phase 5 (20th May 2024)
Chatra
Kodarma
Hazaribagh
Phase 6 (25th May 2024)
Giridih
Dhanbad
Ranchi
Jamshedpur
Phase 7 (1st June 2024)
Rajmahal
Dumka
Godda

Karnataka

In Karnataka, polling will be done in two phases.

Phase 2 (26th April 2024)
Udupi Chikmagalur
Hassan
Dakshina Kannada
Chitradurga
Tumkur
Mandya
Mysore
Chamarajanagar
Bangalore Rural
Bangalore North
Bangalore Central
Bangalore South
Chikkballapur
Kolar
Phase 3 (7th May 2024)
Chikkodi
Belgaum
Bagalkot
Bijapur
Gulbarga
Raichur
Bidar
Koppal
Bellary
Haveri
Dharwad
Uttara Kannada
Davanagere
Shimoga

Kerala

In Kerala, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 2 (26th April 2024)
Kasaragod
Kannur
Vadakara
Wayanad
Kozhikode
Malappuram
Ponnani
Palakkad
Alathur
Thrissur
Chalakudy
Ernakulam
Idukki
Kottayam
Alappuzha
Mavelikkara
Pathanamthitta
Kollam
Attingal
Thiruvananthapuram

Madhya Pradesh

In Madhya Pradesh, polling will be done in four phases.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Sidhi
Shahdcl
Jabalpur
Mandia
Balaghat
Chhindwara
Phase 2 (26th April 2024)
Tikamgarh
Damoh
Khajuraho
Satna
Rewa
Hoshangabad
Betul
Phase 3 (7th May 2024)
Morena
Bhind
Gwalior
Guna
Sagar
Vidisha
Bhopal
Rajgarh
Phase 4 (13th May 2024)
Dewas
Ujjain
Mandsour
Ratlam
Dhar
Indore
Khargone
Khandwa

Maharashtra

In Maharashtra, polling will be done in five phases.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Ramtek
Nagpur
Bhandara – Gondiya
Gadchiroli – Chimur
Chandrapur
Phase 2 (26th April 2024)
Buldhana
Akola
Amravati
Wardha
Yavatmal – Washim
Hingoli
Nanded
Parbhani
Phase 3 (7th May 2024)
Raigad
Baramati
Osmanabad
Latur
Solapur
Madha
Sangli
Satara
Ratnagiri – Sindhudurg
Kolhapur
Hatkanangle
Phase 4 (13th May 2024)
Nandurbar
Jalgaon
Raver
Jalna
Aurangabad
Maval
Pune
Shirur
Ahmednagar
Shirdi
Beed
Phase 5 (20th May 2024)
Dhule
Dindori
Nashik
Palghar
Bhiwandi
Kalyan
Thane
Mumbai North
Mumbai North-West
Mumbai North-East
Mumbai North – Central
Mumbai South – Central
Mumbai South

Manipur

In Manipur, polling will be done in two phases.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Inner Manipur
Outer Manipur falling in assembly segments Heirok, Wangjing Tentha, Khangabok, Wabgai, Kakching, Hiyanglam, Sugnoo, Chandel, Saikul, Kangpokpi, Saitu, Henglep, Churachandpur, Saikot and Singhat.
Phase 2 (26th April 2024)
Outer Manipur falling in assembly segments Jiribam, Tengnoupal, Phungyar, Ukhrul, Chingai, Karong, Mao, Tadubi, Tamei, Tamenglong, Nungba, Tipaimukh and Thanlon.

As Outer Manipur has been divided into two phases, the total seats in all phases ended up being 544 instead of 543.

Meghalaya

In Meghalaya, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Shillong
Tura

Mizoram

In Mizoram, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Mizoram

Nagaland

In Nagaland, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Nagaland

Odisha

In Odisha, polling will be done in four phases.

Phase 4 (13th May 2024)
Kalahandi
Nabarangpur
Berhampur
Koraput
Phase 5 (20th May 2024)
Bargarh
Sundargarh
Bolangir
Kandhamal
Aska
Phase 6 (25th May 2024)
Sambalpur
Keonjhar
Dhenkanal
Cuttack
Puri
Bhubaneswar
Phase 7 (1st June 2024)
Mayurbhanj
Balasore
Bhadrak
Jajpur
Kendrapara
Jagatsinghpur

Punjab

In Punjab, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 7 (1st June 2024)
Gurdaspur
Amritsar
Khadoor Sahib
Jalandhar
Hoshiarpur
Anandpur Sahib
Ludhiana
Fatehgarh Sahib
Faridkot
Firozpur
Bathinda
Sangrur
Patiala

Rajasthan

In Rajasthan, polling will be done in two phases.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Ganganagar
Bikaner
Churu
Jhunjhunu
Sikar
Jaipur Rural
Jaipur
Alwar
Bharatpur
Karauli-Dholpur
Dausa
Nagaur


Phase 2 (26th April 2024)
Tonk-Sawai Madhopur
Ajmer
Pali
Jodhpur
Barmer
Jalore
Udaipur
Banswara
Chittorgarh
Rajsamand
Bhilwara
Kota
Jhalawar-Baran

Sikkim

In Sikkin, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Sikkim

Tamil Nadu

In Tamil Nadu, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Tiruvallur
Chennai North
Chennai South
Chennai Central
Sriperumbudur
Kancheepurarn
Arakkonam
Vellore
Krishnagiri
Dharmapuri
Toruvannamalai
Arani
Viluppuram
Kallakurichi
Salem
Namakkal
Erode
Tiruppur
Nilgiris
Coimbatore
Pollachi
Dindigul
Karur
Tiruchirappalli
Perambalur
Cuddalore
Chidambaram
Mayiladuthurai
Nagapattinam
Thanjavur
Sivaganga
Madurai
Theni
Virudhunagar
Ramanathapuram
Thoothukkudi
Tenkasi
Tirunelveli
Kanniyakumar

Telangana

In Telangana, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 4 (13th May 2024)
Adilabad
Peddapalle
Karimnagar
Nizamabad
Zahirabad
Medak
Malkajgiri
Secunderabad
Hyderabad
Chevella
Mahbubnagar
Nagarkurnool
Nalgonda
Bhongir
Warangal
Mahabubabad
Khammam

Tripura

In Tripura, polling will be done in two phases.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Tripura West
Phase 2 (26th April 2024)
Tripura East

Uttar Pradesh

In Uttar Pradesh, polling will be done in seven phases.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Saharanpur
Kairana
Muzaffarnagar
Bijnor
Nagina
Moradabad
Rampur
Pilibhit
Phase 2 (26th April 2024)
Amroha
Meerut
Baghpat
Ghaziabad
Gautam Buddha Nagar
Bulandshahr
Aligarh
Mathura
Phase 3 (7th May 2024)
Sambhal
Hathras
Agra
Fatehpur Sikri
Firozabad
Mainpuri
Etah
Badaun
Aonla
Bareilly
Phase 4 (13th May 2024)
Shahjahanpur
Kheri
Dhaurahra
Sitapur
Hardoi
Misrikh
Unnao
Farrukhabad
Etawa h
Kannauj
Kanpur
Akbarpur
Bahraich
Phase 5 (20th May 2024)
Mohanlalganj
Lucknow
Rae Bareli
Amethi
Jalaun
Jhansi
Hamirpur
Banda
Fatehpur
Kaushambi
Barabanki
Faizabad
Kaiserganj
Gonda
Phase 6 (25th May 2024)
Sultanpur
Pratapgarh
Phulpur
Allahabad
Ambedkar Nagar
Shrawasti
Domariyaganj
Basti
Sant Kabir Nagar
Lalganj
Azamgarh
Jaunpur
Machhlishahr
Bhadohi
Phase 7 (1st June 2024)
Maharajganj
Gorakhpur
Kushi Nagar
Deoria
Bansgaon
Ghosi
Salempur
Ballia
Ghazipur
Chandauli
Varanasi
Mirzapur
Robertsganj

Uttarakhand

In Uttarakhand, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Tehri Garhwal
Garhwal
Almora
Nainital- Udhamsingh Nagar
Haridwar

West Bengal

In West Bengal, polling will be done in seven phases.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Coochbehar
Alipurduars
Jalpaiguri
Phase 2 (26th April 2024)
Darjeeling
Raiganj
Balurghat
Phase 3 (7th May 2024)
Maldaha Uttar
Maldaha Dakshin
Jangipur
Murshidabad
Phase 4 (13th May 2024)
Baharampur
Krishnanagar
Ranaghat
Bardhaman Purba
Bardhaman – Durgapur
Asansol
Bolpur
Birbhum
Phase 5 (20th May 2024)
Bangaon
Barrackpur
Howrah
Uluberia
Sreerampur
Hooghly
Arambag
Phase 6 (25th May 2024)
Tamluk
Kanthi
Ghatal
Jhargram
Medinipur
Purulia
Bankura
Bishnupur
Phase 7 (1st June 2024)
Dum Dum
Barasat
Basirhat
Jaynagar
Mathurapur
Diamond Harbour
Jadavpur
Kolkata Dakshin
Kolkata Uttar

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

In Andaman and Nicobar Islands, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Chandigarh

In Chandigarh, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 7 (1st June 2024)
Chandigarh

Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu

In Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 3 (7th May 2024)
Daman and Diu
Dadar and Nagar Haveli

Jammu and Kashmir

In Jammu and Kashmir, polling will be done in five phases.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Udhampur
Phase 2 (26th April 2024)
Jammu
Phase 3 (7th May 2024)
Anantnag-Rajouri
Phase 4 (13th May 2024)
Srinagar
Phase 5 (20th May 2024)
Baramulla

Ladakh

In Ladakh, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 5 (20th May 2024)
Ladakh

Lakshadweep

In Lakshadweep, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Lakshadweep

Delhi

In Delhi, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 6 (25th May 2024)
Chandni Chowk
North East Delhi
East Delhi
New Delhi
North West Delhi
West Delhi
South Delhi

Puducherry

In Puducherry, polling will be done in a single phase.

Phase 1 (19th April 2024)
Puducherry

Apart from General Elections, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal and Sikkim will also have Assembly Elections. Polling for Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim will take place on 19th April 2024. Polling for Andhra Pradesh will take place on 13th May 2024. Polling for Odisha will occur in four phases: 13th May 2024, 20th May 2024, 25th May 2024, and 1st June 2024. Furthermore, bye-elections for 26 Assembly constituencies of Bihar, Haryana, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal will also occur during that period. All the results will be announced on 4th June alongside General Election results.

Parents of murdered Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala welcome baby boy

ANI
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0
Parents of murdered Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala welcome baby boy

Parents of the late Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, Balkaur Singh, and Charan Kaur welcomed a baby boy on Sunday, almost two years after the singer was killed in Punjab.

Moosewala’s father posted on his Facebook official page, saying they were blessed with the younger brother of Moosewala.

“With the blessings of millions of souls who love Shubhdeep, the Almighty has put Shubh’s younger brother in our lap. With the blessings of Waheguru, the family is healthy and thankful to all the well-wishers for their immense love,” Balkaur Singh posted on Facebook.

Earlier, Balkaur Singh had denied the reports of his wife’s pregnancy at the age of 58, and even requested everyone not to believe rumours.

“We are thankful to Sidhu’s fans who are concerned about our family. But we plead that there are so many rumours going around about the family, that they are not to be believed. Whatever news, the family will share with you all,” his post shared on Facebook read.

According to media reports, Moosewala’s mother underwent vitro-fertilisation therapy (IVF) to conceive the baby.

Sidhu Moosewala, 28, was shot dead on May 29, 2022, in Mansa. The Punjabi singer was shot at point-blank range and declared dead on arrival at the Mansa Civil Hospital. The assailants fired over 30 rounds at Moosewala, who was found slumped in the driver’s seat by locals.

Moosewala had fought an election from Mansa in the last Assembly election on a Congress ticket but was defeated by AAP’s Vijay Singla.

On November 23, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Bishnoi in a case related to the alleged conspiracy to recruit youth to carry out terror strikes in Delhi and other parts of the country.

(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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