On 2nd March, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released the first list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is contesting from Varanasi, Home Minister Amit Shah is contesting from Gandhinagar and Union Minister Smriti Irani is contesting from Amethi. One of the names that stood out in the list is of Piya Saha, who got a ticket from the Bolpur, West Bengal, constituency.
Piya Saha joined the BJP after getting inspired by Dudhkumar Mondal. She is a dedicated party worker and became a BJP councillor in 2015. She has contested Assembly Elections from Sainthia seat on BJP’s ticket twice. She contested in West Bengal Assembly Elections in 2016 and 2021 on BJP’s ticket. In 2016, she received 24,029 votes and stood in third position. CPI(M) candidate Dhiren Bagdi secured 64,765 votes and TMC’s candidate Nilabati Saha won the election with 1,03,376 votes. Voter turnout was 1,98,163.
In 2021, Piya secured 95,329 votes, a jump of 71,300 votes from 2016 elections. On the other hand, CPI(M)’s candidate Mausumi Konai secured 10,369 votes, a drop of 54,369 votes compared to previous elections. Nilabati Saha, the TMC candidate who secured the seat in 2021 as well, secured 1,10,572 votes, only 7,196 votes more than in previous elections. Voter turnout was 2,21,866 which was 23,703 more than 2016. [Data source Election Commission of India]
It was evident that Piya’s popularity in the area rose significantly between 2016 and 2021 In 2022, she became Purulia in charge of BJP Mahila Mandal. Eventually, the BJP decided to give her a ticket for the Lok Sabha elections.
37-year-old Piya Saha is a housewife and her husband Mantu Chowdhury runs a small business. She earned her Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in Sanskrit from Sainthia Abhedananada Mahavidyalaya from Burdwan University in 2008.
Notably, during the campaigning, her convoy was attacked by TMC goons. In a statement, she had said, “TMC miscreants attacked by convoy, bombs were hurled at our workers.” Following the attack, she staged a protest outside the police station with her supporters. BJP leader Suvendhu Adhikari had criticised the attack and called TMC a habitual offender.
সাঁইথিয়ার @BJP4Bengal ভারতীয় জনতা পার্টির প্রার্থী পিয়া সাহার উপর তৃণমূলের দুষ্কৃতী দ্বারা আক্রমণের প্রতিবাদে #সিউড়ি থানায় ডেপুটেশন ও অবস্থান বিক্ষোভ…
— Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) April 17, 2021
He asserted that TMC used violence to win elections. After her defeat in the 2021 Assembly elections, CPI(M) cadre allegedly harassed her and her family. However, she kept on resisting the attacks which further made her popular among the masses.
On Sunday (3rd March), leaders of the protesting farmer unions announced that the protesting farmers will hold a nationwide ‘rail roko’ protest from 12 PM to 4 pm on 10th March. Additionally, before the ‘Rail Roko’ protest, farmers from all across the country will march towards Delhi on 6th March, the leaders of the protesting unions added.
While outlining the new strategy, Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal added that it has been decided that the protestors will increase their strength on the borders.
Dallewal said,”…Our program to march to Delhi is as it is, we’ve not stepped back from it. It has been decided that we will increase our strength on the borders. On March 6, farmers will come to (Delhi) from all over the country by train, bus, and air and we will see whether the government will allow them to sit there or not. On March 10, we will hold a ‘Rail Roko’ protest across the country from 12 pm to 4 pm…”
#WATCH | Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal says, "…Our program to march to Delhi is as it is, we've not stepped back from it. It has been decided that we will increase our strength on the borders. On March 6, farmers will come to (Delhi) from all over the country by train,… pic.twitter.com/rRKmkQdlOC
Confirming the same, Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “We have decided to march to Delhi on March 6. Meanwhile, on March 10, we will block rail tracks (across the country) from 12 pm to 4 pm.”
VIDEO | Farmers' protest: "We have decided to march to Delhi on March 6. Meanwhile, on March 10, we will block rail tracks (across the country) from 12 pm to 4 pm," says farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher.
Notably, protesting farmers in large numbers, predominantly from Punjab, have been camped on the Punjab-Haryana border in the wake of the ‘Delhi Chalo’ march which started on February 13th. The protestors began their march to Delhi demanding that the Union government draft a law that ensures MSP guarantee to farmers on all crops among a host of other demands.
The protest spearheaded by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, was put on hold by farmer leaders for two days after the protestors claimed that a man died allegedly in the clashes that broke out between violent protestors and security personnel. More than 12 police personnel were also injured in these clashes at took place at the Khanauri border. The Haryana Police had also revealed that several protestors also used chili mixed stubble burnt by protestors and they attacked police personnel with sharp weapons.
Following the halt in the farmers’ protest, Delhi Police had earlier on Monday opened service lanes at Singhu, Tikri border points with Haryana. The development came two weeks after the borders were sealed because of the farmers’ “Delhi Chalo” march.
The security forces, last week, also removed two huge cement barriers to ease traffic movement at the Singhu and Tikri borders.
An officer said, “Opening these lanes will ensure vehicles will reach their destinations easily.”
On Sunday (3rd March), out on bail convicted politician Lalu Prasad Yadav addressed a rally of the opposition alliance at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, Bihar, where he said that PM Narendra Modi is not a Hindu. Rashtriya Janata Dal patriarch Yadav made this remark referring to PM Modi’s mother’s death. Bihar’s former chief minister Yadav also criticised the present chief minister of the state Nitish Kumar by calling him a Palturam (turncoat). Yadav said that Narendra Modi is not a Hindu because he did not shave his head after his mother’s demise.
Several opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, arrived at the Jan Vishwas Rally organised by RJD in Patna, the capital of Bihar on Sunday (3 March). Lalu Prasad Yadav was also present along with Tejashwi Yadav. Speaking at the same rally, Lalu Yadav attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Lalu Prasad Yadav said, “Narendra Modi is referring to dynastic politics nowadays. He doesn’t have a family. He should tell why there was no child born in his family. He only calls out people who have more children by saying that there is dynastic politics and that we are fighting for family.”
The self-styled Bihari politician said, “He is not even a Hindu. Is Modi a thing? Every Hindu shaves his hair and beard in mourning for his mother. When his mother died, tell me why he did not get it done. Among the people of Ram-Rahim, he is spreading hatred in the country. Was Bhagwan without consecration for so many days, that Modi put life in him?”
Personal attack on our leader Shri @NarendraModi ji by Convicted Scamster (out on Bail on health grounds) #Ghamandia leader Lalu Prasad clearly shows that #PappuAlliance has nothing to attack the govt on governance.
— Suresh Nakhua (सुरेश नाखुआ) ?? (@SureshNakhua) March 3, 2024
The fodder-scam convict Lalu Prasad Yadav said, “We did not abuse Nitish Kumar. Even when he left us for the first time, we did not abuse him. All we said was that he was Palturam. Shouldn’t have turned around. But again we made a mistake. Tejashwi made a mistake. Nitish Kumar went under Narendra Modi’s feet and switched sides again.
The land-for-jobs scam accused Lalu Prasad Yadav added, “I see on TV that someone is offering garlands, some are getting flowers. Isn’t Nitish Kumar ashamed to see all this? I see that his body is not working either. Seeing the gathering of today’s Gandhi Maidan, I do not know what new disease will he get.”
The former chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav is infamous for his governance being termed as ‘Jungle Raj’. He further said, “We will destroy the Bharatiya Janata Party in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Tejashwi came to know that the Governor had arranged a phone conversation between Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi. There was nothing wrong with the government. I don’t know what Nitish Kumar felt. Now if he dares to come back here again, then he will get a strong push from here.”
Praising his under-matriculate politician son, Tejashwi Yadav, he said, “Tejashwi Yadav is moving around. Working very hard. Since 1990, backward classes did not even have the right to vote. I gave them strength. Backward people were not allowed to take water from the well. Now they are standing in the corridors of power. Whatever Bihar chooses, the country follows that. Tejashwi is working very hard. He gave the jobs. I used to ask him every day how many jobs have you given today?”
On Saturday (2nd March), Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan attended the pre-wedding ceremony at Jamnagar in Gujarat. He greeted the audience with ‘Jai Shri Ram’ during his anchoring of the dance performances in the show. A video of this incident was posted on social media where the actor received hateful comments from Islamists.
Photo Journalist Manav Manglani posted the video of this event from his Instagram handle. He wrote in the caption of this video, “Shah Rukh Khan at his charming best for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant wedding festivities in Jamnagar.” In the very beginning of this video, it is seen that Shah Rukh Khan comes to the stage and greets the audience by saying ‘Jai Shri Ram’.
The video is from that segment of the pre-wedding celebrations where actor Shah Rukh Khan was anchoring the dance performances and he greeted the audience with Jai Shri Ram before introducing performers. He said, “…and for very good measure, ‘Jai Shri Ram’. God bless you all. You have seen dance performances. The brothers have danced, the sisters have danced…But the togetherness can’t go forward without the prayers and blessings.”
As this video gained traction on Instagram, it started pouring hate messages in the comments section of the post for the actor who hailed a Hindu deity, Lord Ram. One Nadir Rangrez wrote, “Shah Rukh Khan showed his worth by saying Jai Shri Ram.”
Another user by the name Mr Shahnoor wrote, “This pimp Shah Rukh Khan received money for saying Jai Shri Ram.”
Another Instagram user “@af.sar_786” posted, “He is not King Khan, but he is King Khan for money.”
Another Instagram user Affanzsh wrote, “He will say anything for money. Even losing his religion. He must have got heavy money for this.” Similarly, another handle named @saddam_sid_khan wrote, “Brother, he must have taken at least 50 crores.”
Another user @rehanpop123 wrote, “Bhikhari Bollywood.” (Meaning Beggar Bollywood.)
Besides anchoring, Shah Rukh Khan also performed on the Naatu Naatu song from the film RRR. He was joined by Amir Khan and Salman Khan in this performance. The sangeet formed a part of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s three-day pre-wedding festivities. Alongside Salman Khan and Amir Khan, numerous other performers from Bollywood were present on the occasion. Notable attendees included Sidharth Malhotra, Kiara Advani, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Varun Dhawan, Anil Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Ibrahim Ali Khan, Ananya Panday, and Aditya Roy Kapur. Also in attendance were Rani Mukerji, Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor, and Alia Bhatt, adding to the glamour of the grand celebration.
Devendra Jhajharia, the first para-athlete from the country to receive the Padma Bhushan award, will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Churu. On Saturday (2nd March), the BJP declared his name in the list of 195 candidates’ list released for the upcoming elections. Jhajharia, who won three Paralympic medals, including two golds, lost part of his left hand after he came in contact with an electric wire while climbing a tree at the age of eight. He is the only Indian in history to win two gold medals at the Olympics or Paralympics.
Devendra Jhajharia is BJP candidate for the Churu Lok Sabha seat in Rajasthan. 42-year-old Jhajharia is a well-known name in the sports world. Jhajharia was born in Churu and will now make his political debut from the place known as the gateway to the Thar Desert. Devendra Jhajharia is also the first para-athlete in the country to receive the Padma Bhushan award.
Jhajharia has won medals for the country in three Olympics. Due to his brilliant performances, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan. Jhajharia is the first player from Rajasthan who has been given this award. He won a silver medal at the Tokyo Paralympics last year. Earlier, Devendra won gold medals for the country in the Athens 2004 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
In a media interaction after getting the Lok Sabha ticket, Devendra Jhajharia said, “All I have to say is that I could have never imagined this. Today this historic decision has been taken – Devendra Jhajharia gets a Lok Sabha ticket. This is a very happy moment for me.”
#WATCH जयपुर: पैरालंपिक खिलाड़ी और चूरू से भाजपा उम्मीदवार देवेंद्र झाझरिया ने कहा, "… ये मेरे लिए बड़ी खुशी का पल है… देश के 5 से 7 करोड़ दिव्यांग लोगों में खुशी है कि आज भाजपा ने एक दिव्यांग व्यक्ति को टिकट दिया है… " pic.twitter.com/i0y0TihWOH
He added, “I have been playing the sport for so long. But, I have noticed one thing, the work done by the Modi government speaks for itself. I am a sportsman and I have seen it in our field. There are so many good schemes for sports and we are advancing in sports today. Our vision is very clear, we will make India a developed country by 2047. There are almost five to seven crore Divyang people in our country. They will be very happy today to know that the Bharatiya Janata Party has given a ticket to a Divyang person. Youths and sportspersons in the country are feeling this excitement. And most importantly, this is a ticket given to the son of a farmer. I just received a call from my mother. She said that she knew it a while ago when she was returning home from the farm.”
Devendra Jhajharia posted on his X handle, “I have been made a candidate from Churu Lok Sabha seat by the top leadership of Bharatiya Janata Party for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 under the leadership of Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, which is an unforgettable moment for me. After a long innings of sports life, I will always be indebted to you for the way the Honourable Prime Minister has trusted a person like me from an ordinary farmer family and given me a ticket. Honourable Prime Minister, I will work with hard work and dedication taking the people of the parliamentary constituency along with me to implement BJP’s slogan of ‘Ab Ki Bar 400 paar’. Once again I express my gratitude to the top leadership of Bharatiya Janata Party.”
माननीय प्रधानमन्त्री श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी के नेतृत्व में लोकसभा चुनाव 2024 के लिए भारतीय जनता पार्टी के शीर्ष नेतृत्व द्वारा मुझे चूरू लोकसभा सीट से प्रत्याशी बनाया गया है, जो मेरे लिए अविस्मरणीय पल है। खेल जीवन की लम्बी पारी के बाद आज जिस प्रकार से माननीय प्रधानमंत्री जी द्वारा…
Jhajharia was born on 10th June 1981 to an ordinary farming couple Ram Singh and Jivani Devi of Sadulpur in Churu. He never let the disadvantaged surroundings and adverse circumstances become obstacles in his path. Devendra Jhajharia started practising the sport of Javelin throw in the village by making a wooden spear.
In 1995, he commenced his javelin-throwing journey during a school competition. His prowess in both javelin throw and shot put earned him medals at the National Games in Bangalore while still in college. From there, his life’s trajectory was set, and he never faltered. Despite facing stiff competition in the general category, Devendra Jhajharia clinched the gold medal in the javelin throw at the national level in 1999, marking a significant milestone in his career. This marked the beginning of a string of accomplishments for Devendra Jhajharia.
Jhajharia secured the gold medal at the 2002 Busan Asiad. His prowess was further showcased at the 2003 British Open Games, where he clinched gold in Javelin Throw, Shot Put, and Triple Jump. A monumental achievement in Indian sports history came when Devendra Jhajharia triumphed in the javelin throw event at the 2004 Athens Para Olympics.
During these competitions, Jhajharia shattered his world record with a throw of 63.97 meters in Rio Paralympics 2016, surpassing his previous mark of 62.15 meters that he set in Athens. He continued his winning streak by claiming gold at the Malaysia Para Asian Games in 2006, followed by another triumph at the Para World Games in Taiwan in 2007. In 2013, he added to his illustrious career by clinching gold at the Athletics Championship held in Lyon, France.
The childhood tragedy that led to the amputation of his left hand was one of the many obstacles that Jhajharia struggled to climb the ladder of success. His tireless efforts earned him several medals at the Paralympics. The last medal was a silver medal at the 2021 Tokyo Games. He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 2004 and the Khel Ratna in 2017. Meanwhile, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 2012. Jhajharia received the Padma Bhushan, the country’s third-highest civilian honour, in 2022.
Upon learning that his father was battling cancer, Jhajharia contemplated bidding farewell to his athletic career. However, his father, Ram Singh, encouraged him to persevere in the sporting field. Honouring his father’s wishes, Jhajharia recommitted himself to his training. Despite being unable to be by his father’s side in his final moments, Jhajharia channeled his emotions into his performance, visibly moved after securing medals at national-level competitions in 2020 and 2021, in fond memory of his father.
Despite initially contemplating retirement from the Paralympics, Jhajharia remained dedicated to the sport even after his category was excluded. The F46 javelin throw was notably absent from the 2008 and 2012 Paralympics, a category tailored for athletes with impaired arm or weakened arm muscles. Encouraged by his wife, Manju, a national-level kabaddi player, Jhajharia found renewed motivation to persist in his athletic pursuits. Subsequently, coach Ripu Daman Singh played a pivotal role in honing and enhancing his skills, offering invaluable support along the way.
Devendra Jhajharia on Wednesday (28th February) filed his nomination papers for the post of President of the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) for the March 9 elections. Apart from him, no one has applied for this post. In such a situation, Jhajharia is certain to be elected unopposed. Currently, Deepa Malik is its chairman.
Today, I submitted my nomination from Rajasthan State for the esteemed position of President at the Paralympic Committee of India. I presented my candidacy at the PCI Election Returning Officer's chamber at JLN Stadium, Lodhi Road, New Delhi. @PMOIndia@narendramodi… pic.twitter.com/fMVT2csXcI
Jhajharia’s journey so far has been very interesting and profoundly moving. He is celebrated for his unwavering determination. Regarded as an inspirational figure, he seeks to embark on a new journey by venturing into the realm of politics, aiming to pursue yet another significant goal.
On 3rd March, a team of Punjab police reached the residence of YouTuber Nikhil Singh who goes by the name “Desi Dude With Sign” on social media at around 8 AM. At that time, Nikhil was not at home and his family members were informed that the police reached his house based on an FIR under Section 295A, 153, 153A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 3 of Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 has been registered in Satnampura Police Station in district Kapurthala, Punjab. The FIR had a mention of a video that Nikhil published on his YouTube channel exposing an alleged prostitution ring near Lovely Professional University.
I need your help for one of our YouTuber brothers, Desidudewithsign @Nikhilsingh21_ . He consistently creates pro-India content.
Two days ago, he criticized the AAP government, presenting evidence of prostitution being rampant near the LPU University campus, which is owned by… pic.twitter.com/UKQasRgxVU
— Ashwini Shrivastava (@AshwiniSahaya) March 3, 2024
OpIndia accessed the FIR registered in the matter. It turned out that an X handle “Warlock_Shabby” had shared a video clip of Nikhil’s video raising concerns over an alleged prostitution ring and anti-social activities running near Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Phagwara, Punjab. A person named Vipan Kumar approached the police against Warlock_Shabby and claimed that the video he shared of the Law Gate area near LPU had “derogatory language” against women. He also claimed that over some time, the X handle had shared derogatory content against Hindu religion and Christian religions that might hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus and Christians. He further claimed such a post might lead to a riot-like situation in the country. The X account Warlock_Shabby no longer exists.
Source: Punjab police
Nikhil raised concerns about anti-social activities near Lovely Professional University
Notably, the FIR did not mention Nikhil’s name or the name of his channel anywhere. The clip of the video mentioned in the FIR was posted by Nikhil on his YouTube channel on 29th February. In the video, Nikhil raised concerns over the alleged prostitution ring rampant near the Law Gate of Lovely Professional University, where Nikhil himself earned his degree. In the video, he also raised the question of why there were four liquor stores nearby the area where hundreds of LPU students were living. He pointed out that LPU’s founder is Aam Aadmi Party’s Rajya Sabha MP and urged the state government to take immediate steps to curb the problem of anti-social activities around the college. OpIndia could not independently verify Nikhil’s claims.
Similarity to the case of Rachit Kaushik’s arrest
The case has a striking similarity with the case of Sab Loktantra’s founder Rachit Kaushik who was arrested by Punjab Police from Uttar Pradesh in February 2023. Kaushik was arrested from Muzaffarnagar. He was there to attend the wedding of his niece. At around 7 PM when he was accompanying his niece from the parlour to the wedding location. OpIndia’s investigation revealed that a case was filed against an X handle “noconversion”.
His family alleged that Kaushik was picked up by Punjab police as he spoke against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in his videos. A clip of such videos by Kaushik was shared by the ‘conversion’ account on X on 16th January. The clip shared talked about Arvind Kejriwal’s son and his alleged income from renting treadmills to CM’s house. Apart from that clip, there was no other video featuring Kaushik on that account. OpIndia could not find any other video of Kaushik posted by ‘conversion’ mentioning conversions being done by missionaries. Furthermore, we could not confirm whether this post and video led to Kaushik’s arrest.
Interestingly, the FIR that the family of Rachit Kaushik provided has no mention of Rachit at all. It only mentions the Twitter handle ‘no conversion’. The FIR also does not mention the video against Arvind Kejriwal and his son. It, therefore, seems likely that Rachit may have been arrested because of the video that was shared by the ‘noconversion’ Twitter handle. On 16th February, Kaushik was released from custody on bail. The case in the matter is underway.
OpIndia tried to reach out to Nikhil’s family and the concerned police station but could not connect.
The Calcutta High Court recently held that calling an unknown woman ‘darling’ is offensive and sexual harassment. The court added that it is a punishable criminal offence under Section 354A(i) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Notably, on Friday (1st March), a single-judge bench of Justice Jay Sengupta upheld the sentencing of a convict (also the appellant in this case) named Janak Ram. He was arrested in an inebriated condition. At the time of his arrest, he had asked a lady police officer (complainant) “Kya darling, challan karne aayi hai kya?” (Hey darling, have you come to impose a fine?)”.
Upholding the punishment, the court noted, “Addressing an unknown lady, whether a police constable or not, on the street by a man, drunken or not, with the word “darling” is patently offensive and the word used essentially a sexually coloured remark. Using such an expression to an unacquainted lady cannot but be an act intended to insult the modesty of the addressee.”
The court rejected the argument that there was no proof of the accused man being drunk at the time of the incident. Responding to the argument, Judge Sengupta stressed, “If this was done in a sober state, the gravity of the offence would perhaps be even more.”
The court highlighted that the prevailing standards in our society are not such that a man on the street can gleefully be permitted to use such an expression in respect of unsuspecting, unacquainted women.
According to the prosecution, the victim police constable was part of a police patrolling team that went to Lall Tikrey to maintain law and order on the eve of Durga Puja. When the Police team reached Webi junction, they received a complaint that a person was creating a nuisance in the area.
Based on the complaint, the police team reached the place to apprehend the miscreant. As the area was not well-lit, they decided to go under the street light in front of a shop. When they reached the street light, the appellant who was standing in front of the shop asked the sexually coloured question. He asked the complainant, “Kya darling challan karne aai hay kya?”
Following the incident, Mayabunder Police Station filed a first information report (FIR) under Sections 354A (1) (iv) and 509 (word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
On 24th April 2023, the Judicial Magistrate, First Class at North and Middle Andaman, Mayabunder, convicted the appellant for offences under Sections 354A(1)(iv) and 509 of IPC. It sentenced the convict to simple imprisonment for three months and a fine of ₹500 for each of the two offences. Later, his appeal was dismissed by the Additional Sessions Judge, North & Middle Andaman on 21st November 2023. Subsequently, he filed the present revisional application before the High Court against the conviction and sentence.
During proceedings, the Court also examined Sections 354A and 509 and held that using expressions like’ darling’ to address an unacquainted lady would be an offence under both provisions.
The court noted, “At least as of now, the prevailing standards in our society are not such that a man on the street can gleefully be permitted to use such expression in respect of unsuspecting, unacquainted women.”
The Court also noted that there was sufficient evidence provided by the prosecution to prove that the victim had indeed addressed the woman constable in the manner as alleged.
However, the court took a lenient approach to the aspect of sentencing. The court ruled that since the appellant had stopped after making the contagious remark, and did not aggravate the situation, it reduced the sentencing to just one-month imprisonment.
On Tuesday (27th February), the police arrested two accused for carrying out a deadly knife attack on a young Hindu man named Praveen Singh Sisodia in Rajsamand city of Rajasthan.
The accused were identified as Saddam and Sameer Mohammed. As per reports, the duo attacked the victim with a knife on Monday (26th February) and attempted to murder him for marrying a Muslim woman.
While speaking about the matter, Kankroli police station in-charge Hanuwant Singh Sodha informed that Praveen Singh Sisodia married a woman from a ‘different community.’
The victim, who is a resident of Chandradeep Colony in Kankroli, was attacked brutally when he returned to Rajsamand city after several months of his marriage.
The attack on Sisodia was orchestrated by the family members of the Muslim woman. The victim sustained injuries to his leg after being attacked with a knife by Saddam and Sameer Mohammed. Thereafter, the attackers fled the crime scene.
On receiving information about the matter, the police rushed to the spot and admitted the victim to R.K. Govt Hospital in Rajsamand. They formed a special team and began a probe into the matter.
The arrest of the accused
Based on Sisodia’s complaint, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against Saddam and Sameer Mohammed. The police arrested the duo on Tuesday (27th February) and produced them before a local court, following which they were sent on remand.
A minor was also detained by the police and sent to a children’s care home. The police are now interrogating the accused and trying to recover the weapon used in the crime. Saddam and Sameer Mohammed are residents of Kisan Mohalla in Kankroli.
‘Bhagwa love trap’ conspiracy theory and its aftermath
‘Bhagwa Love trap’ is a baseless theory about Hindu outfits, supposedly training Hindu youth to lure, and entrap Muslim women and turn them into non-Muslims. OpIndia has reported that an Islamic cleric by the name of Sajjad Nomani has been making such outrageous claims since 2021.
The conspiracy theory soon took the form of a social media hashtag, which Islamists used to share videos of random hijab-wearing Muslim women and their male Hindu friends/ acquaintances and partners without their consent.
The posts are often accompanied by emotional messages and seek public help in identifying the couples. Soon after, social media was rife with videos of Islamist mobs ambushing random Hindu-Muslim couples.
This would then be followed by heated arguments, physical assault on Hindu men, and even molestation of Muslim women. The victims have been targeted on roads, restaurants, eateries, and even hotels.
Based on local reports and social media videos, OpIndia has compiled several cases (here, here and here) where Hindu men and Muslim women were attacked by extremists under the pretext of the ‘Bhagwa love trap.’
On 28th February, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation led by Suvendu Adhikari submitted a memorandum to the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal alleging there were 16 lakh fake or duplicate votes in the state. The six-member delegation urged the commission to take immediate steps to address the issue. Notably, the BJP has been raising the issue of fake voters for years. They have pointed out that illegal Bangladeshi immigrants got access to voter cards in the state.
Addressing the media after the meeting with the CEO, Adhikari said, “Around 16 lakh fake voters have been found in West Bengal. There is evidence of double entry and deceased individuals are still named on the voters’ list. We have presented our findings to the ECI, alleging that these discrepancies were brought to facilitate the casting of fake votes in favour of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).”
Furthermore, he said that there were assurances in the past that the duplicate voters would be removed but no action was taken. He said, “Despite assurances of weeding out duplicate voters, nothing much was achieved. We regret to put on record that practically no steps were taken. There are around 16 lakh duplicate names in the voter list. Most interestingly, the gap between votes polled by the TMC and the BJP in 2019 was around 17 lakh only.”
Furthermore, they requested to conduct the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections in West Bengal in 42 phases as there are 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state. They asserted it would help in curbing malpractice.
BJP has been raising issue of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants getting voter cards for years
This is not the first time the BJP has raised the issue of fake or duplicate voters in the state of West Bengal. In December 2023, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey pointed out the problem of Bangladeshi illegal immigrants in the country and demanded that the Central government implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) as soon as possible. Dubey is an MP from Jharkhand’s Godda. He has raised the issue multiple times in the Lok Sabha since he resumed office. Dubey alleged that the demography in many parts of West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand was changing because of the increasing number of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
He said, “When Mamata Banerjee was MP she had said the demography of Bengal was changing because of Bangladeshis. Since she became chief minister, Malda, Murshidabad and Kaliachak, is full of Bangladeshi infiltrators. The same is the situation in Katihar, Kishanganj, Araria, Purnia, and Bhagalpur (of Bihar). Demography is changing because of Bangladeshis.”
In November 2022, the Central Government alerted the Director General of Police of States and Union Territories about the illegal Bangladeshi immigrants living in India. They told the DGPs to take appropriate action against the illegal immigrants who sneaked into the country via West Bengal. As per reports, a well-connected network of agents and locals in West Bengal facilitated the entry of illegal immigrants. They also helped them in obtaining documents including bank passbooks, voter cards, Aadhaar cards and PAN cards. After entering into India, the illegal immigrants migrated to several other states as well including Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
In November 2022, West Bengal MLA Khokan Das stirred a controversy by saying that the Bangladesh immigrants who support TMC should get a place on the voter’s list. He said, “Many new people are coming…they are from Bangladesh. Many of these people vote for the BJP based on Hindu sentiments. Please ensure that only those who support our party get a place in the voters’ list.” The alleged statement was given during a public meeting in Bardhaman town and the video could not be independently verified by OpIndia. Later, speaking to the media, he claimed that he told the party workers that, “Illegal Bangladeshi immigrants are entering our area every day. I gave a message to TMC workers that their names should not find a place in the voters’ list.”
Reacting to the controversy, BJP’s Bardhaman organisational district’s spokesperson Soumyaraj Mukhopadhyay said MLA should inform the Centre and State government about the illegal immigrants. He added, “This is why we will implement the Citizenship [Amendment] Act.” TMC on the other hand claimed that the MLA’s statement was misconstrued.
The issue of illegal immigrants has been a political matter for years. In January 2020, BJP leader Dilip Ghosh said the National Register of Citizens would be implemented soon and one crore Bangladesh illegal immigrants would be sent back to their home country. He further alleged that the illegal immigrants were living on subsidised rice that the state government was providing for Rs 2 per KG. “These illegal Bangladeshi Muslims are involved in arsons across the state,” He said.
In October 2018, the Union Home Ministry sent details of 1.5 lakh illegal Bangladeshi immigrants to the West Bengal government. BJP leader Sidharth Nath Singh accused the Mamata Banerjee-led state government of hiding the information sent by the central government. He said, “The Union government has forwarded to the state government the details of about 1.5 lakh illegal Bangladeshi immigrants who are currently staying in West Bengal. But the state government is hiding the fact. I do not understand why they are doing so. The state government should understand that it is all about national security since people staying in West Bengal illegally is nothing but a criminal offence.”
In 2016, the Central Government informed the Rajya Sabha that there were around 2 crore illegal Bangladesh immigrants living in the country. Notably, before the 2016 revelation, in 2004, then minister of state for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal told the Rajya Sabha that there were 1.2 crore illegal Bangladesh immigrants living in India out of which around 57 lakh were living in West Bengal. In his reply to Rajya Sabha, then Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said, “Deportation of illegally staying foreign nationals is a continuous process.”
In 2014, during his election rally in May, then-prime Ministerial Candidate Narendra Modi threatened to deport Bangladeshi immigrants if NDA came to power. He accused the state government of welcoming illegal immigrants with the red carpet for vote bank politics.
A shocking case has come to light in Hyderabad where a woman named Sahnaz Khan abducted a nine-month-old baby. The incident occurred in Madannapet neighbourhood in Hyderabad at about 8 pm on the night of 2nd March. The perpetrator started working at the household only two days before she committed the crime.
After the kidnapping came to light, it became a challenge for the authorities to recover the infant safely. However, the child was successfully rescued within a few hours by the police personnel in a swift response operation. Notwithstanding the grave circumstances, an extensive investigation by the police led them to the baby who was discovered in Zaheerabad, Telangana.
The police thoroughly examined the CCTV footage material in the early phases of the inquiry which helped them identify the culprit. Sahnaz was captured carrying the child in the recorded video. The accused had boarded the bus from Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) to Zaheerabad. The Zaheerabad police were promptly notified by the Madannapet police officials of the development and tipped off to apprehend her, ensuring a coordinated effort between the two sides.
The police caught the woman and securely retrieved the child when the bus arrived at the location. The family members breathed a sigh of relief when the cops found the baby and expressed their gratitude to the Madannapet and Zaheerabad police for their prompt action. The child was later reunited with his family, bringing a quick resolution to the distressing problem.
Notably, it was also discovered that the offender was recently employed as a house-help in the residence where the abduction took place. She had started working at the house just a couple of days before the crime. However, the police managed to save the child and arrest Sahehnaz Khan before the situation escalated into a major crisis.
