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Mukhtar Ansari’s wife absconding for a year: Read about Afsa Ansari, who tops the list of UP Police’s ‘lady dons’ and who carries a reward of ₹75,000

OpIndia Staff
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Mukhtar Ansari’s wife absconding for a year: Read about Afsa Ansari, who tops the list of UP Police’s ‘lady dons’ and who carries a reward of ₹75,000

Gangster Mukhtar Ansari, who was lodged in Banda jail, died due to a heart attack on Thursday (28th March 28). More than 60 cases were registered against Mukhtar Ansari. His brother Afzal Ansari is also an accused in several cases. His son Abbas Ansari is in jail. His wife Afsa Ansari is also on the run, just as gangster Atiq Ahmed’s wife Shaista Parveen is also on the run. Atiq Ahmed was murdered in April 2023. Atiq Ahmed and Mukhtar Ansari both were considered to be the biggest gangsters in Purvanchal.

Preparations for the funeral of Mukhtar Ansari are done, but his wife Afsa Ansari is absconding. The police have also announced a reward of Rs 75,000 on her arrest. There are 13 cases registered against her including a case under the gangster act. Afsa Ansari is accused of illegal land grabbing from Ghazipur and Mau to Lucknow. The case of forced registry is also going on against her. All these have been recorded after her marriage to Mukhtar Ansari. After Mukhtar Ansari was jailed in 2005, Afsa Ansari increased her involvement in the gang.

Afsa, a resident of Darji Mohalla of Yusufpur Mohammadabad in Ghazipur, is accused of taking land by setting up a firm named ‘Vikas Construction’ near Raini village in Mau’s South Tola. A godown was built on that land and was rented out to FCI. Afsa’s two brothers Anwar Shahzad and Atif Raza are among the five accused in the case. The investigation in this case concluded that the land of Dalits was forcibly occupied. It has been freed in June 2021.

The other four accused in this case have appeared in court, but Afsa Ansari has been absconding since then. Several raids were also conducted on her hideouts in Ghazipur, but she was not found. There were already allegations against her in connection with the Ghazal Hotel land deal and the grabbing of government land in Nandganj.

Ansari’s other son Umar is also out on bail. His daughter-in-law Nikhat Bano has also been jailed for helping her husband Abbas escape from jail. Mukhtar Ansari’s family has won 16 different Lok Sabha and Assembly elections so far.

Atiq Ahmed’s wife Shaista Parveen is also absconding

Recently, the Prayagraj police nabbed Balli Pandit, a special henchman of Atiq Ahmed’s wife Shaista Parveen who is still absconding. Shaista Parveen’s name came in the Umesh Pal murder case. Umesh Pal was a witness in the MLA Raju Pal murder case. Raju Pal was murdered in January 2005 as he defeated Atiq Ahmed’s brother Ashraf from the Allahabad West assembly constituency. At present, his wife Pooja Pal is the MLA from Chail in Kaushambi. Umesh Pal was a witness in this murder case.

Umesh Pal was murdered in February 2023. Another accused in the case, Guddu Muslim, is also absconding. A reward of Rs 50,000 has been declared on Shaista Parveen. Ashraf’s wife Zainab Fatima is also absconding. Raids were also conducted this month after information about their presence in Hatwa village of Dhoomanganj, but the police could not find anyone there. Ashraf Ahmed’s in-laws hail from Hatwa village. Shaista Parveen did not even come to her husband’s funeral. Now, dead mafia Mukhtar Ansari’s wife Afsa Ansari is absconding.

B*nc**d Hindus, I did what I wanted to: Shakir, father of three kids, flees after raping 3-year old in Delhi, lived in a Hindu’s house on rent

OpIndia Staff
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B*nc**d Hindus, I did what I wanted to: Shakir, father of three kids, flees after raping 3-year old in Delhi, lived in a Hindu’s house on rent

On 28th March, a shocking incident involving the rape of a three-year-old Hindu girl has surfaced in the national capital, Delhi. The accused has been identified as 34-year-old Shakir and has three children. However, some people stated that his name is Shahir and some claimed it to be Sagir. He is presently absconding.

The victim’s health deteriorated as a result of the heinous act and she was brought to the hospital. Hindu organisations protested in front of the police station and voiced their outrage at the occurrence. The police force was deployed to the location due to the tense situation.

The matter pertained to the Mianwali Nagar police station area of Delhi where the little child lived in a rented house with her family members who worked as labourers to earn a living. The accused also stayed with his family in a rented house next to them. The little girl was reportedly playing outside the residence when he picked her up and brought her to his room where he sexually abused her.

People rushed towards the place after hearing the baby’s wails. The perpetrator left her and began hurrying through the narrow streets as soon as he noticed the crowd. He also challenged, “S***f***r (abusive word using sister) Hindus, what will you do? Call other Hindus. I did what I wanted to,” according to the minor’s father when he tried to stop him. She was found unconscious when people went inside. People immediately took the bleeding child to the hospital. Her father feared that her chances of survival were very low.

The residence where the culprit lives on rent is believed to belong to a Hindu. Hindu outfit members arrived at the spot after learning about the occurrence. His family members claimed that they were unaware of the horrifying crime. The cops rushed to the scene as soon as they were notified and filed a case after receiving a complaint from the victim’s family.

Meanwhile, furious people started to gather in large numbers outside Miyanwali Nagar police station demanding Shakir’s arrest. The raised slogans of “Jai Shri Ram” and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DCP) of the area reached there and started to pacify them. A viral video showed the accused’s room in which the girl was raped. Liquor bottles, containers, some utensils and floor-bedding are visible in the tiny and grimy space. The creator of the video referred to Shakir as a jihadi.

The authorities have been given 24 hours by the enraged mob to apprehend the perpetrator and take strict action. The cops are collecting evidence from the crime scene and conducting raids to capture him.

‘Eye opener case for today’s generation’: Bharuch court denies bail to married Adil who posed as bachelor Arya Patel to trap a Hindu girl

OpIndia Staff
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‘Eye opener case for today’s generation’: Bharuch court denies bail to married Adil who posed as bachelor Arya Patel to trap a Hindu girl

On Friday, March 29, Bharuch Sessions Court rejected the bail application of Adil Abdul Patel, who was arrested in a love jihad case in January this year. The court said that it is prima facie proven that the accused trapped the Hindu girl by faking his religious identity and marital status and if he was released on bail, it would send out a wrong message to society.

While denying bail, the court also said that this case is an eye-opener for today’s young generation who are blindly without any hesitation accepting friend requests on social media without ascertaining the reality of the sender.

Excerpt of the court order, a copy of which is with OpIndia

The case came to the fore in January 2024. On January 6, the Bharuch police in Gujarat arrested Adil Abdul Patel of Chavaj village for luring a Hindu girl using a fake social media ID. Adil, using the name ‘Arya Patel’, trapped a Hindu girl on Instagram. 

After a complaint was lodged against Adil Abdul Patel, the police registered a case based on it and launched a manhunt to arrest him. After a three-day search, the police arrested the accused Adil Abdul Patel from Chavaj village. The Bharuch police subsequently filed a chargesheet in the case accusing Adil Abdul Patel of impersonation, molestation, and blackmailing a Hindu woman while posing as a Hindu man.

On March 26, 2024, Adil filed his first bail plea in the Bharuch Sessions Court, which the court duly rejected. Adil had argued in the plea that he was the victim of a false accusation and that he should be granted bail following the filing of the chargesheet.

Government opposed the bail application

When the bail plea filed by the accused was listed for hearing before the court, the Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed it. Divulging the details of the case, PP said that Adil had created an Instagram ID in the name of Arya Patel, through which he had lured a Hindu girl into a love trap. The Muslim man concealed his marital status and religion, misleading the girl into a four-year relationship under the pretence of being a single Hindu person.

Adil Patel not only assumed a Hindu identity to lure this girl but he also deceived the girl under the garb of gaining sympathy. When the girl’s family asked him about his parents, he said that his parents had died long back. He told this lie to encash sympathy from the girl’s family.

The prosecution stated that it would be appropriate to take into account the accused’s modus operandi. If he is freed on bail, he might commit the same crime again and harm other vulnerable girls. Furthermore, it was contended that if the accused was freed, he might tamper with the evidence because he and the victim were from the same village.

The prosecution contended that the accused should not be granted bail because of the seriousness of the crime. He added that a strong message needs to be sent out to society that such shameful acts should not be encouraged, for which it is important that the accused mustn’t be granted bail.

It has become clear that Adil created a false ID: Bharuch Sessions Court

After hearing the arguments from both sides, the court stated that it would not be delving into the case’s merits or discussing the evidence at this point in time because those topics would anyway be covered during the trial. Having said that, it is evident from the evidence that the accused contacted the victim using a fictitious ID. Not only this, but the accused continued to identify himself as ‘Arya Patel’ instead of revealing his real name even when he met the victim in person.

“The accused had already been misleading the victim by concealing his religious identity. Above that, he proposed to her even though he was married and living with his wife,” the court noted, turning down the bail request.

“The two had never met previously, and the accused used a fictitious name to get in touch with the victim and was successful to some extent. Such behaviour ought to be denounced.” the court added.

Bail would embolden such criminals: Court

The court said, “Given the modus operandi of the accused, if bail is granted, it will embolden such criminals and they would continue to exploit the girls by luring them under the grab of false promises. If he is acquitted, it will open the door for more criminals who are searching for ways to take advantage of helpless girls, the court added.

The judge further stated, “In this case the accused has not only played with the sentiments of the victim but also wronged his wife.” The court noted the significance of the case, saying, “This case can be an eye-opener for today’s generation, who mindlessly accept requests on social media without knowing anything about the other person.”

The court denied the bail request after hearing arguments from both parties and taking into account the facts, the evidence, and the accused’s mode of operation. The order was delivered on March 26, a copy of which is with OpIndia.

‘Remember, the people who belittle women can never be trusted’: Kangana Ranaut holds roadshow in Mandi, slams Supriya Shrinate for derogatory comments

OpIndia Staff
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‘Remember, the people who belittle women can never be trusted’: Kangana Ranaut holds roadshow in Mandi, slams Supriya Shrinate for derogatory comments

On Friday (29th March), Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut who is now a BJP candidate from Himachal Pradesh, held her first public rally and roadshow in Mandi to slam Congress leader Supriya Shrinate for her derogatory comments. On 25th March, Shrinate passed derogatory and misogynist remarks against the actor after the BJP announced her ticket from Mandi Lok Sabha Constituency, which happens to be the actor’s hometown.

“Kya bhav chal raha hai Mandi me koi batayega? (Will someone tell me what the rating system in Mandi is)”, she was quoted as saying. The statement was a crude allusion to prostitution.

Condemning the remarks and slamming the Congress leader who now has been denied a ticket to the Lok Sabha Elections by the party, Ranaut said that people who see women like this can never work for their development. “Jo betiyon ke aur behenho ke bhao lagate hai, woh log aap ke kabhi nahi ho sakte hai, yeh aap yaad rakhiyega (Remember, people who see women like this can never work for your betterment, they can never be trusted),” the actress said while addressing the roadshow today.

“The issue of development is important for us and the direction in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will guide us. We will leave no stone unturned in working in that direction. The people of Mandi will show what is in their hearts,” she said.

Shrinate had posted derogatory comments against Kangana, later claimed somebody else posted on her behalf

Shrinate had posted derogatory, misogynist comments against Kangana Ranaut on Instagram on 25th March after BJP announced the latter a ticket from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. The picture created controversy with netizens slamming Shrinate for using offensive and derogatory words for the National Award winning actress.

Supriya Shrinate’s Instagram post which she claimed someone else had posted

The Congress also later denied a ticket to Shrinate from the Maharajganj constituency in Uttar Pradesh, where she was defeated in the 2019 general elections.

After the controversy snowballed, Shrinate, in her defense, said many people have access to her Facebook and Instagram accounts and one of them made the vile post.

Kangana on 29th March slammed Shrinate indirectly and urged the voters to vote only for those persons who respect the dignity of women.

‘She has daughters at home too, how would she feel if someone says such things to her children’: Kangana’s mother

Meanwhile, Kangana’s mother, Asha Ranaut also criticised Shrinate for using derogatory remarks against her daughter. “They too have daughters at home. If someone speaks like that against their children, how would they feel…I too have that same pain in me…Why should I call out the entire party if one individual is bad? Not everyone is bad,” she said.

Kangana Ranaut returned to her home constituency on Friday after meeting with the high command in Delhi. Shortly after, she launched her election campaign with a roadshow. The actor, who campaigns for the BJP in the Mandi constituency, recently spoke out against the Congress during an open session at the Times Now Summit 2024 – India Unstoppable event.

She accused the Congress of encouraging nepotism on Wednesday (27th March), claiming she has a “glorious right-wing personality” and specifically targeting Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi.

She stated that Congress has “always been an appalling party for me”. She described the opposition party as something she has long opposed throughout her film career. “The Congress has always been a disgusting party for me. The nepotism in the party has been problematic for me because I was a victim of the same system in my (film) industry. I openly opposed it and fought against it. Something was exploiting me: nepotism, groupism, dynastic politics… “I despise this party,” Ranaut stated during the Times Now Summit 2024 – India Unstoppable event.

Ranaut, 37, said she has openly supported the BJP. “Whether I’m a member of the party or not, I’ve always battled for its cause. I’ve investigated every possible avenue. I have always believed that my natural affinity and ideology are with a nationalistic administration. I have a wonderful right-wing personality,” stated the four-time National Award winner.

‘Health minister demanding action but file pending with CM for 45 days’: Delhi LG accuses Arvind Kejriwal of inaction in BSA college sexual harassment case

OpIndia Staff
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‘Health minister demanding action but file pending with CM for 45 days’: Delhi LG accuses Arvind Kejriwal of inaction in BSA college sexual harassment case

On Thursday (March 28th), Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena slammed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over a file pertaining to the sexual harassment case in Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College. The Delhi LG alleged that the file for the transfer of the accused principal has been held up for nearly 45 days.

“Even as Delhi’s Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj has been crying foul over the alleged sexual harassment at Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College and demanding the removal of its principal, the file for his transfer has been held up for nearly 45 days by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal himself,” a release issued by the LG’s office stated on Thursday.

“Saurabh Bhardwaj, in a note to LG VK Saxena on March 20, 2024, demanded the immediate removal of Ishwar Singh from his post, alleging that he was uncooperative with the girl victims in the matter and that he discouraged/demotivated them from pursuing the case further,” it added. The LG also questioned the state government’s ‘motive’, indicating the delay in deciding the removal of the accused from the position. “But what raises serious doubts over the government’s motive is the fact that the file for the removal/transfer of Ishwar Singh from Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College has been pending with CM Kejriwal since February 14, 2024, as the same has to be decided by the NCCSA, which is chaired by the Chief Minister. Member Secretary (NCCSA) had also sent reminders to the CM on March 7, 2024 and March 13, 2024, but to no avail,” the release mentioned.

“LG, VK Saxena, in a note to the Chief Minister, has brought out this glaring fact and lamented that neither transfer/posting nor “vigilance action on sensitive matters” could be initiated due to inaction on the part of CM Kejriwal. The LG sent the note to CM Arvind Kejriwal before his arrest on March 21, 2024,” it added.

According to the release, the LG has directed the Delhi police and the Chief Secretary to initiate disciplinary proceedings in the case.

“Considering the gravity of the case, LG has already directed the Delhi Police to expedite criminal proceedings. He has also directed the Chief Secretary to expedite disciplinary proceedings in the case,” the release added.

The LG further alleged that Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj did not consult CM Kejriwal in the case and accused him of inaction that delayed the initiation of vigilance action on ‘sensitive matters’.

“I find it pertinent to highlight that the Health Minister, in both the current note and a previous correspondence to the Chief Secretary, has requested the immediate transfer of the incumbent principal and the Head of the Department of Pharmacology. The irony lies in the fact that although the Health Minister has made a request for the transfer of the principal of BSA Medical College and Hospital, the file for his transfer has been held up by you, as the chairman of NCCSA, since February 14, 2024. Despite reminders from the Member Secretary of NCCSA, the proposal is still pending for your recommendations on the matter,” the LG pointed out, as mentioned in the release.

“It is evident from the above that the Minister has not consulted the Chief Minister in the matter. It would be prudent that any note on a significant issue be submitted to me through the Chief Minister. Due to inaction on your part, neither important transfers nor postings could be effected nor vigilance action on sensitive matters could be initiated. In view of the above, you are advised to ensure expeditious disposal of matters pending in NCCSA regarding transfer/posting as well as vigilance & non-vigilance matters for the purpose of initiating disciplinary proceedings,” the release stated

This comes after Aam Aadmi Party MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj had on 20th March written a letter to the Delhi LG demanding “urgent action” against the sexual harassment accused professor in the said case.

Bharadwaj also sought the Delhi LG to direct the Chief Secretary to take action against the college principal for allegedly pressuring students to drop their allegations.

“You would appreciate the concerns raised by the students, who would be future doctors and torchbearers of our society, regarding their safety and security,” the AAP leader stated in the letter.

As we reported earlier, on 18th March, protests were held by Mahila Nyay Samiti outside Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in New Delhi on Monday against one Salim Sheikh, who works as an Assistant Professor at the college.

The protest on 18th March came after two college girls complained that they were sexually harassed by Sheikh during their MBBS viva on 31st January. The victims later filed a police complaint on 22nd February. However, the protesting organisations stated that the police did not take any action in the case.

(With inputs from ANI)

Congress to fight on 9, RJD on 26: As Congress is reduced to single-digit seats in Bihar, read how it is grasping at the straws ahead of LS polls

Jinit Jain
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Congress to fight on 9, RJD on 26: As Congress is reduced to single-digit seats in Bihar, read how it is grasping at the straws ahead of LS polls

Congress and RJD partnered INDI alliance has sealed a seat-sharing agreement in Bihar, with the Congress party stated to contest on nine seats while the lion’s share of the seats, 26 to be precise, going to Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD.

Five of the 40 Lok Sabha seats have been allotted between three left parties, namely CPI-ML, CPI, and CPM.

RJD, Congress, and Left leaders held a joint press conference on Friday, March 29, and announced seat allocation.

Congress will be fielding candidates on seats such as Kishanganj, Muzaffarpur, Patna Sahib, and Maharajganj, the RJD will be fighting on Purnea, Hazipur, Gaya, Aurangabad, Darbhanga, Siwan, and Patliputra besides others.

CPI-ML will contest from Aarh, Karakat, and Nalanda, CPI from Begusarai, and CPM from Khagaria.

While it is a significant breakthrough for the opposition parties to come together and forge an alliance, given reports of disagreement over seat sharing between Congress and RJD as the grand old party reportedly sought more seats in the state while its alliance partner, RJD, agreeing to offer only 9 seats to them.

Congress and RJD seem to have buried the hatchet as they agreed with the formula of 9 and 26 seats each respectively.

The seat sharing sealed in Bihar underscores the predicament of the Congress party, which had to meet the demands of a relatively younger political party, RJD, and reduce itself to a single-digit party in a state, epitomising its decline from the national political landscape.

The Congress party has been forced to play second fiddle in Bihar owing to the emergence of RJD as a formidable regional force, winning 74 seats in assembly elections, second only to the BJP which had won 85 out of the 243 Vidhan Sabha seats. The Congress had bagged a paltry 17 seats, chipping away at its ability to mount a strong case for an increased number of seats for the Lok Sabha elections.

Another striking facet of the seat sharing announced by the INDI alliance in Bihar reveals that Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar, who was hailed by the Congress IT cell members, as the next big leader from the party, may likely not be fielded by the party for the Lok Sabha elections. In 2019, Kumar was in CPI, which had fielded him from Begusarai. Kumar, however, came as a cropper against BJP’s Giriraj Singh and suffered a humiliating defeat, following which he joined the Congress party.

This year, CPI will be fielding its candidate from Begusarai, so Kumar’s candidature from the constituency is not possible unless he quits Congress and decides to fight as an independent candidate. It is also unlikely that Congress will field him from other seats in Bihar where the competition seems to be stiff from the NDA alliance, which is expected to sweep the country with over 350-390 parliamentary seats and elect Modi back to power for a third term.

The Congress had to face a similar ignominy during the seat-sharing finalisation in Uttar Pradesh, making peace with only 17 seats while Akhilesh Yadav’s party, SP, and other INDI alliance partners got the remaining 63 seats. This is a remarkable climbdown for a national party that had fielded candidates on 67 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh in 2019. However, it is worth mentioning that 63 of the 67 candidates fielded by Congress in Uttar Pradesh in 2019 had lost their deposits.

The humiliating drubbing of 2019 is perhaps still playing on the minds of the Congress leadership, which partly explains their conservative approach to negotiating seats in this year’s Lok Sabha elections. On the contrary, PM Modi, finds himself on a stronger footing, thanks to his government’s development agenda and infrastructural advancement goals, which are bearing fruits in terms of rapid economic growth as reflected in the soaring GDP numbers among other indices. In addition to this, the ever-growing popularity of PM Modi, especially after the conclusion of the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony where he was invited as the chief Yajman.

His zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and commitment to integrate Kashmir with India with the abrogation of Article 370 have indubitably also added to his soaring nationalistic credentials, as opposed to the opposition parties who have opposed his decision, just for the sake of it, without offering cogent and cohesive reasoning.

Everywhere around the country, Congress is grappling with the challenges of mounting a credible alternative to state governments, either by the BJP or strong regional parties. In Delhi, for instance, Congress is supporting its INDI alliance partner, Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP, the same party that rose to power in the national capital after riding on the anti-corruption plank it had launched against the Congress party.

On March 31, the entire INDI block, including the Congress party, will convene a massive rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Grounds to protest the arrest of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal by the ED in connection to a money laundering scandal linked to the liquor policy. Incidentally, it marks the birth anniversary of the late Sheila Dikshit, one of the most towering leaders of the Congress party who was Delhi CM for 15 years before losing to Arvind Kejriwal, who had accused her of being complicit in corruption.

This desperation demonstrates that Congress is clutching at the straws as the country gears up for the Lok Sabha elections. It won’t be a surprise if Congress ends up with the lowest tally of Lok Sabha seats this time around.

“I finally found peace”, says wife of deceased contractor Manna Singh killed by Mukhtar Ansari in 2009, family garlands photo after 14 years

OpIndia Staff
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“I finally found peace”, says wife of deceased contractor Manna Singh killed by Mukhtar Ansari in 2009, family garlands photo after 14 years

The deceased mafia Mukhtar Ansari was responsible for the murder of Manna Singh also known as Ajay Prakash Singh, a contractor from the Mau district of Uttar Pradesh, and his gunner Rajesh Rai. The two were shot dead in broad daylight in 2009. Afterwards, Manna Singh’s son Vikas Singh and his family members were engaged in a relentless battle against the dreaded don.

Now, after Mukhtar Ansari died due to cardiac arrest on 28th March, Vikas Singh paid floral tribute to his father and garlanded his picture as well as shed happy tears. Manna Sigh’s wife stated, “I got peace. My husband’s soul has also found peace. I had faith in God and today justice has been delivered.” They informed that they received the news at around 9.30 in the evening.

She added, “When my husband was killed, my children were young. I continued to worry until they returned home from school.” She mentioned that Mukhtar Ansari murdered her spouse because he was not afraid of him.

On 29th August 2009, gunmen riding bikes shot and killed Manna Singh and his companion Rajesh Rai in the Ghazipur area. His brother Harendra Singh had filed a case against Mukhtar Ansari, Hanuman Pandey, Kallu Singh and Umesh Singh. Ansari was the Mau MLA at the time. An eyewitness to the crime, Ram Singh Maurya was killed in Mau city on 19th March 2010 during the hearing along with constable Satish who was serving as his guard.

However, seven years ago, eight people including Mukhtar Ansari were acquitted, while three accused individuals were convicted and given life sentences and penalties were also imposed on them. Manna Singh’s family is at present relieved that Mukhtar Ansari has left this world and that his criminal empire has been destroyed.

Last year, OpIndia conducted on-the-ground reporting and talked to the victims in the region which was under Mukhtar Ansari’s influence. There we met Ashok Singh, cousin of Manna Singh who told us how the gangster killed the gunner who was with his brother and the witnesses as well. Furthermore, Ashok Singh provided us with information about a person named Shabbir who was a driver.

Ashok Singh disclosed that Shabbir who Manna Singh hired was also hurt along with the gunner at the time of his brother’s murder. However, when it came time for Shabbir to give a statement in court, he turned hostile and sided with Mukhtar Ansari.

Mukhtar Ansari, a gangster turned politician, passed away on 28th March following a decline in his health while incarcerated. After complaining of abdominal pain, he was transferred to the Banda Medical College Hospital. According to the hospital, he had a heart attack and passed away while receiving treatment.

2005 BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case: 6 accused sentenced to life, 7th accused sent to 4 years jail, slain mafia Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf also accused in the case

OpIndia Staff
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2005 BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case: 6 accused sentenced to life, 7th accused sent to 4 years jail, slain mafia Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf also accused in the case

On Friday, March 29, the CBI Special Court in Lucknow brought an end to a case that has been lingering for more than 2 decades by holding all seven accused guilty in the murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal.

The court has awarded life imprisonment to 6 accused. The 7th accused- Farhan has been awarded 4 years of rigorous imprisonment and a Rs 20,000 fine for the possession of weapons.

Slain criminal-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were also accused in the case. The remaining accused, now convicted, include Abid, Farhan, Javed, Abdul Kavee, Gul Hasan, Israr, and Ranjit Pal.

Raju Pal murder case

After slain gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed was elected as a member of Parliament from Phulpur on Samajwadi Party ticket in 2004, Raju Pal of the BSP defeated Atiq Ahmed’s brother Ashraf Ahmed alias Khalid Azim in the Allahabad West by-election. On January 25, 2005, Raju Pal and his companions were attacked by armed assailants in the vicinity of the Dhoomanganj police station in Prayagraj.

In addition to Ruksana, Saif alias Saifulla, and Om Prakash Pal suffering injuries, the tragedy claimed the lives of Raju Pal and his two associates Devilal Pal and Sandeep Yadav. An FIR was filed at the Dhoomanganj police station regarding the murder and other charges against Atiq Ahmed, his brother Ashraf, and seven unnamed people based on the complaint submitted by Raju Pal’s wife Pooja. 

Later, when Atiq Ahmed was ousted from the SP, the BSP refused to offer him a ticket because of his involvement in the murder of the party’s MLA. Ashraf Ahmed contested again in the by-election that was held as a result of the murder of Raju Pal.

On February 24, 2023, the primary witness in the 2005 BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case, Umesh Pal, was fatally shot in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, close to his home. The attack took the lives of two policemen assigned to guard the lawyer. The entire incident was recorded on a CCTV camera. Umesh Pal had also disclosed that he had been kidnapped on February 28, 2006, under fear of force, since he refused to back down and submit to Atiq Ahmed’s pressure.

Who asked US spokesperson about Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest: Bangladeshi politician-journalist Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey, columnist at The Wire, and regularly pushing anti-India content

OpIndia Staff
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Who asked US spokesperson about Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest: Bangladeshi politician-journalist Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey, columnist at The Wire, and regularly pushing anti-India content

On 27th March (local time), the US States Department once again said that the US is keeping an eye on Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest. They further added that they were monitoring the allegations levelled by Congress that the Government of India froze their bank accounts ahead of Lok Sabha polls. While India has strongly objected for the second time to the comments made by the State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, it is essential to know who the journalist who raised the question during the press briefing was.

After digging into the briefing, OpIndia found that the journalist who asked the question was Mushfiqul Fazal (Ansarey), a Bangladeshi journalist working for SA Perspectives and Just News BD as a White House/UN correspondent.

He asked, “What is your response to India’s summoning of the U.S. diplomat over comments regarding the arrest of Delhi’s Chief Minister Kejriwal, and how do you view the recent political turmoil in India, in the fazing of the opposition party’s bank account? As Amnesty International described the situation, “Crackdown on opposition reaches a crisis point ahead of national elections.”

To his question, Miller said, “So concerning the second question, we continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal. We are also aware of the Congress Party’s allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to campaign in the upcoming elections effectively, and we encourage fair, transparent, and timely legal processes for each of these issues. Concerning your first question, I’m not going to talk about any private diplomatic conversations. But of course, what we have said publicly is what I just said here: that we encourage fair, transparent, and timely legal processes. We don’t think anyone should object to that, and we’ll make the same thing clear privately.”

Mushfiqul Fazal also asked the same question to the spokesperson of the UN Secretary-General during a daily press briefing on 28 March. He asked via video link, “How do you perceive the political unrest in India just before the national election, with the arrest of Delhi’s chief minister and the freezing of the opposition Congress Party’s bank accounts?  The right groups describe the situation as a crackdown on opposition, reaching a crisis point ahead of the national election.”

To this, Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric replied, “What we very much hope that in India, as in any country that is having elections, that everyone’s rights are protected, including political and civil rights, and everyone is able to vote in an atmosphere that is free and fair.”

Who is Mushfiqul Fazal (Ansarey)?

Mushfiqul Fazal (Ansarey) is a Bangladeshi journalist living in the US. According to his Facebook profile, he is the executive editor at South Asia Perspectives, executive director at Right to Freedom, White House correspondent for Just News BD and more.

Source: X

OpIndia found a report from Just News BD, the media house he works for, where it was mentioned that the Government of Bangladesh had sued him under Digital Security Act along with France-based activist Dr Pinaki Bhattacharya. As per the report from November 2022, Mushfiqul was booked by the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) department of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), and Mushfiqul was marked as ‘absconding’ in the matter. In short, the person asking questions about India is an absconder in his own country.

The same report mentioned that Mushfiqul used to run a web portal that was banned by the Bangladeshi government in 2015. He has been accused of spreading disinformation about the government on multiple occasions. Mushfiqul is pro-Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), a political party in Bangladesh in opposition to Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League. During the time his portal was banned, Mushfiqul was serving as BNP’s Foreign Affairs Committee member.

Bangladesh’s mission to the UN had objected to his participation in various programmes as a “journalist” despite his “active” political roles and affiliation. Speaking to BD News 24, then-Press Secretary of the mission, Bijob Lal Deb, had said, “If active politicians are given media cards, there will be nothing left to say.” He confirmed that the mission sent a letter to the UN objecting to Mushfiqul’s presence at the UN and US State Department events as a journalist. Interestingly, Mushfiqul spoke to BD News 24 and claimed there was nothing wrong with simultaneously being a journalist and supporter of a political party.

Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey and his fixation over India

Mushfiqul has a long history of using his credentials to push the United States to meddle in India’s affairs. Interestingly, on 14th March, he questioned White House NSC Senior Director for Democracy & Human Rights Kelly Razzaouk in India’s democracy position. To his question, Razzaouk categorically said that the US was keeping an eye on the elections happening worldwide, including in India.

Earlier, during the same briefing, Mushfiqul was baffled by the fact that the US “did not meddle” in the elections that took place in Bangladesh. He stressed that the Biden administration promised to take all necessary steps to ensure a “free, fair, and credible election” as in other countries like Nigeria and Bulgaria.

Mushfiqul’s collaborations with The Wire

Interestingly, Mushfiqul Fazal (Ansarey) is also a columnist at the propaganda portal The Wire. There are three articles under his name. In the first article he wrote in February 2024, Mushfiqul ranted against the US as Sheikh Hasina became Prime Minister again. He called the elections “dummy” because the ruling party did not have to face any competition. He further claimed that there was “Indian” influence during the elections. He wrote, “The common sentiment towards India among the people is not favourable for the neighbouring country. Regardless of the significant backsliding of democracy in Bangladesh, attributing India as the enabler of that decline is certainly not a public relations boost. Thus, Delhi will have to face the consequences for the action or inaction of the US or China in Dhaka.”

His most recent article on The Wire was on the question he asked the US State Department Rep about Arvind Kejriwal and Congress. It was a basic report without much rants or glee.

Mushfique Fazal Ansarey’s links to Jamaat-e-Islami

Multiple resources have alleged that Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP fund Mushfique Fazal Ansarey’s organisation Right To Freedom. A report in Somoy News stated that Mushfique vigorously promotes Jamaat on social media. Another report from Weekly Blitz stated Right To Freedom is funded by Jamaat. According to a report in IPA News Pack, Hunter Biden was allegedly using his influence against the Awami Party using BNP. As per the report, BNP attempted to hire Hunter Biden as its lobbyist and “succeeded” in reaching an agreement via William B Milam, who is an influential figure of the Democratic Party and a retired diplomat who runs Right To Freedom with Mushfique. Interestingly, he regularly features reports linked to Jamaat on his news portal Just News BD.

Karnataka: Congress leader files complaint against Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami and Niranjan for alleged fake news against CM Siddaramaiah, case registered

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Congress leader files complaint against Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami and Niranjan for alleged fake news against CM Siddaramaiah, case registered

On Thursday (28th March), Karnataka Congress leader Ravindra filed a case against Republic TV‘s Arnab Goswami and the editor of Republic Kannada Niranjan for allegedly broadcasting false news against the state CM Siddaramaiah. A case in this regard was registered at the SJ Park police station in Bengaluru on Thursday.

In his complaint, Congress leader Ravindra said that around 7.15 pm on Wednesday, Republic Kannada aired a news report claiming that traffic was stopped on MG Road to make way for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s vehicle and that an ambulance got stuck in the traffic. Ravindra claimed in his complaint that CM Siddaramaiah was in Mysuru, not Bengaluru, at the time as told in the Republic Kannada reporting. Ravindra accused the channel of propagating false news ahead of the general elections to wrongly influence the people’s opinion about the chief minister.

Congress spokesperson Lavanya Ballal Jain wrote on her X handle, “Case has been filed against Arnab Goswami and the Republic Kannada channel editor Niranjan J for telecasting false news against CM Siddaramaiah. They telecast a video clip claiming CM stopped vehicular traffic and obstructed the ambulance while travelling in Bangalore. But the CM had not travelled on the said date, he was in Mysore.”

In the meanwhile, Republic Kanada has said that the report was based on a video shot by a member of the public, and later the claim was found to be false. The channel has issued an apology and expressed regret over the report.

On 29th March, Republic Kannada posted on its X handle, “There was a news broadcast yesterday evening where there was an allegation that the ambulance traffic was obstructed due to the CM’s escort vehicle. The allegation was based on a video recorded by the public. Republic Kannada did a fact check of this news and during the fact check the truth was found. It is confirmed that the allegations against the CM are false and therefore Republic Kannada apologizes and regrets this news broadcast.”

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