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Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann announces Rs 1 crore compensation to deceased farmer protestor Shubhkaran Singh’s family, govt job for his sister

OpIndia Staff
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Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann announces Rs 1 crore compensation to deceased farmer protestor Shubhkaran Singh’s family, govt job for his sister

On Friday (23rd February), Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann declared a Rs 1 crore compensation and a government job for the sister of farmer protestor Shubhkaran Singh, who reportedly died at the Khanauri border point. While farmer protestors claim that Singh died in police firing, Haryana Police had denied firing.

Taking to X, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced, “Financial assistance of Rs 1 crore will be given by the Punjab Government to the family of Shubhakaran Singh, who was martyred during the farmers’ protest at Khanauri border, and his younger sister will be given a government job. Appropriate legal action will be taken against the culprits.. They are performing their duty.”

According to reports, 21-year-old Shubhkaran Singh, a Bathinda local, was slain and 12 police officers were injured in clashes at the Khanauri border post on the Punjab-Haryana border on 21st February. The incident transpired as several protesting farmers attempted to approach the barricades.

As reported earlier, Shubh Karan Singh reportedly died after he was injured during a clash with police at Khanauri border. on Wednesday. He was rushed to Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala, where an injury on his head was found. While protestors claimed that he was shot by police, the police denied firing on protestors. Reportedly, doctors said that Singh was hit by a rubber bullet. On Wednesday,  Haryana Police had denied the report of the death, saying that no farmer had died.

This came after the farmer protest took a violent turn on the resumption of the Delhi Chalo march on February 21, after a brief halt. Notably, clashes broke out between protesting farmers trying to break barricades and create tear gas of their own, and security forces deployed at the Punjab-Haryana border, particularly the Khanauri border. 

Hindus for Human Rights, which endorsed ‘Dismantling Global Hindutva’ conference, now organises anti-Hindu event with George Soros-funded outfit

OpIndia Staff
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Hindus for Human Rights, which endorsed ‘Dismantling Global Hindutva’ conference, now organises anti-Hindu event with George Soros-funded outfit

The US-based anti-Hindu organisation, ironically named Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR), is hosting an event on Friday (23rd February) with the sinister objective of blaming Hinduism for supposedly being ‘anti-pluralism.’

In a reel posted on Facebook, HfHR informed that an event dubbed ‘Zionism and Hindu Supremacy: partners against Pluralism’ is scheduled at the Logan Media Centre in North Gate Hall of the University of California (Berkeley).

The contentious programme, aimed at spreading canards about Hinduism, will also be broadcast via Zoom.

“Be part of a dynamic discussion on the intersection of Zionism and Hindu Supremacy. Explore their roles in shaping world politics and human rights. Register for this thought-provoking event today!” the caption read.

In a tweet, HfHR said, “Register now! The complex nexus of Zionism and Hindu Supremacy, an eye-opening exploration of two potent ideologies.”

Screengrab of the tweet by Hindus for Human Rights

One of the speakers at the anti-Hindu event is Dana Bergen, a member of the ‘Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP).

The so-called ‘anti-Zionist’ organisation is notorious for undertaking protests and leading ‘boycott campaigns’ against the Jewish State of Israel. 

As per a report by The New York Post published in October last year, far-left billionaire George Soros donated $6,50,000 to the organisation to peddle its nefarious agenda.

In February 2023, George Soros inadvertently revealed what we have known for a long time – that the billionaire is eyeing a ‘colour revolution’ in India. George Soros and his vicious ecosystem of NGOs, activists and journalists had been trying to prove PM Modi as an ‘electoral autocrat’ who needed to be ousted for the ‘greater good’ of this country. And it has been a work in progress for a long time.

The far-left billionaire has also tried to use international institutions, which are funded by him, including Freedom House and  V-Dem (Varieties of Democracy) Institute to tarnish the image of India at a global level.

In January 2020, the American billionaire committed $1 billion to start a global university to “fight nationalists” and climate change, calling them twin challenges that threaten the survival of our civilisation.

Controversies surrounding ‘Hindus for Human Rights’

According to the popular OSINT handle ‘Disinfo Lab’, HfHR was formed in the year 2019 by Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) and the Organization for Minorities of India (OFMI).

Interestingly, the three organisations had formed another outfit called the Alliance for Justice and Accountability (AJA). As per an article in The Hindu, the Alliance for Justice and Accountability had been at the forefront of leading demonstrations against the visit of PM Modi to Houston on September 22, 2019.

Sunita Vishwanath, the co-founder of ‘Hindus for Human Rights’ had also tried to create hysteria and panic among Indian Muslims about the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in 2019.

“We are especially appalled by the most recent nightmare of the Kashmiri people, and the situation of 1.9 million people in India who are rendered stateless due to the imposition of the travesty called the National Register of Citizens”

She is also the co-founder of an organisation named ‘Women for Afghan Women’, which is funded by George Soros’ Open Society Foundations (OSF)/ Open Society Institute (OSI).

In 2021, ‘Hindus for Human Rights’ also endorsed the anti-Hindu event ‘Dismantling Global Hindutva’ conference. It also came up with a “special toolkit” to propagate against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his State visit to the US in June 2023.

In October last year, the X (formerly Twitter) account of HfHR was withheld in India in response to a legal demand.

Canada: Outrage erupts as serial killer Robert Pickton who murdered 49 women and fed their meat to pigs becomes eligible for parole

OpIndia Staff
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Canada: Outrage erupts as serial killer Robert Pickton who murdered 49 women and fed their meat to pigs becomes eligible for parole

An outrage has erupted in Canada over a jailed serial killer becoming eligible for parole. In December 2007, Robert Pickton was convicted of the murders of six women and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years.

Pickton was also accused of 20 other murders, with DNA evidence linking more missing women to his pig farm in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, however, the charges were dropped since Pickton was already serving the maximum sentence. He has been accused of murdering up to 49 women and feeding the corpses to his pigs.

According to media reports, Pickton will be eligible for full parole beginning in 2027, 25 years after his first arrest on February 22, 2002.

Taking to X on 22nd February, Canadian Conservative leader Pierre Poillevere expressed his disappointment over Pickton getting parole as he wrote, “Today, one of Canada’s most notorious serial killers, Robert Pickton, has become eligible for parole. Monsters like this should never be released from prison. Common sense Conservatives believe that mass murderers should face consecutive sentences so they only come out of jail in a box.”

In a statement, Conservative leader Rob Moore said that “monsters like Pickton should never be eligible for parole.”

“Much like Paul Bernardo, the only way Robert Pickton should ever leave prison is in a coffin. Pickton’s parole eligibility means that for every two years from now until his death, he can retraumatize the families of his victims by making them explain why he must be held in prison,” Moore said.

On Wednesday, the families of Robert Pickton’s victims held a vigil at the former pig farm.

Michele Pineault, whose daughter Stephanie Lane’s DNA was discovered on the Pickton property, said “Pickton should not walk on this earth. He doesn’t deserve to take one step out of where he is. He needs to stay where he is until he dies.”

Lorelei Williams, the cousin of a victim whose DNA was found at the pig farm said that it is disgusting that Pickton can apply for day parole.

“I already don’t trust the justice system, and this just makes me not trust it even more because of the fact that a person like this could be let out of jail, or who would apply. … I really don’t believe that he’ll be given day parole, but the fact he can apply, it’s disgusting,” Williams said.

Several Canadian netizens expressed their anger over the chances of Pickton getting a parole year after he was found guilty of second-degree murder in December 2007.

An X user wrote, “We live in a country where serial killers like Robert Pickton or Paul Bernardo have more rights than your average citizen. This is Trudeau’s Canada.”

Another one wrote, “Trudeau’s criminal-friendly policies have completely destroyed Canada’s justice system. B.C. Serial Killer Robert Pickton Qualifies for Day Parole.”

Notably, in December last year, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) was accused of attempting to dispose of evidence in the case. In a letter to the federal public safety minister, the commissioner of the RCMP, and British Columbia’s attorney general and solicitor general, the families of Pickton’s victims had written demanding that immediate steps be taken to preserve the evidence in the case.

It was reported that the RCMP was planning to dump thousands of pieces of evidence seized by police during the investigation into the gruesome murders committed by Robert Pickton on his pig farm.

Crimes of Robert Pickton and Police mishandling

Robert Pickton was a Canadian serial killer who killed women, many of whom were sex workers or Indigenous, in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood. He enticed ladies to his pig farm in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, where he killed them. Despite evidence that a serial killer was active, his atrocities went un-investigated for many years. He was eventually captured in 2002 and convicted of six charges of murder in 2007, despite claiming to have killed 49 women in total. The case exposed systematic inadequacies in how police handled missing people, in particular sex workers and Indigenous women. An investigation revealed that police were inattentive and prejudiced in their handling of the case.

Haryana Police to invoke NSA against farmer leaders, properties to be seized to recover damages as per SC orders

OpIndia Staff
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Haryana Police to invoke NSA against farmer leaders, properties to be seized to recover damages as per SC orders

Amid a stand-off with the farmers, who are protesting with their demands, Haryana Police in Ambala District has said that any loss to the government and private property during the protest will be compensated by attaching the property and seizure of bank accounts of the protestors.

According to a release from the Ambala police, from February 13, 2024, continuous efforts are being made by the farmer organizations to break the barricade imposed on Shambhu Border by the farmers regarding their march to Delhi and daily attempts are being made to spoil the law and order by pelting stones at the police administration and creating ruckus. During this period, a lot of damage has been caused to government and private property by encroachment.

Press note by Ambala police

“The damage caused to government and private property by the agitators is being assessed. The administration had already informed/warned in this regard that if the agitators caused damage to government and private property during this movement, then this loss would be compensated by seizing their property and bank accounts. If public property is damaged by the agitators during the movement, there is an amendment in the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act 1984 (PDPP Act) under the provisions of the Supreme Court in which, the people who caused damage to public property during the movement or called for the movement and the officials of that organization are held responsible for any damage caused,” the official release said.

It further added that according to the Haryana Public Administration’s Property Recovery Act 2021, in case of damage to government property, there is a provision to compensate for the loss of public property by attaching property and confiscating bank accounts of the person causing the loss.

“In this regard, the actions taken by the administration against the agitators leaders are being implemented. If there has been any damage to any community’s property during this movement, the details of the damage can be given to the administration. Proceedings to compensate for the loss of government property during the farmers’ protest, attachment of property and seizure of bank accounts of the protestors have been initiated,” it added.

Also, the police have initiated the National Security Act (NSA) against the farmer leaders.

“Proceedings have been initiated under the NSA National Security Act 1980/NSA against the chief officials of farmer organizations and the agitators,” the Ambala police said on X.

The Ambala Police press note stated that the farmer protestors have carried out heavy stone pelting and vandalism, including attacks on police personnel. Significant damages to police vehicles, properties, and private properties have been done by the protesting farmers at the call of the farmer leaders.

They added that 2 police officials have died so far on duty and another has suffered a brain hemorrhage. Over 30 police personnel have been injured in the violence carried out by the protesting farmers.

On February 21, the Haryana Police stated that at the Data Singh-Khanauri border, the farmer protestors had sprinkled chilli powder on the dry stubble in surrounding fields and set it on fire. They had then attacked police personnel with sharp weapons, causing injuries to 12 police officials.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait on Thursday said the protesting farmers led by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) will observe a ‘Black Friday’ on Friday following the death of a farmer at Khanauri Border crossing in Sangrur district, Punjab, during the ongoing protests.

The SKM will also hold a tractor march on highways towards the national capital, said the BKU leader.

In an exclusive talk with ANI, Tikait said, “We will observe a ‘Black Friday’ tomorrow condoling the death of a farmer at the Khanauri Border crossing in Punjab. We held a tractor march yesterday as well.”

An official press statement by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) has called for a massive mobilisation of farmers across India in favour of its demands and against the “repression” of the farmers movement in the country.

According to an official statement, “The SKM General Body (GB) on Thursday decided to organise a massive mobilisation of farmers with a slew of programmes to be observed all over India in support of its demands and against the repression of the farmers’ struggle.” 

( With inputs from ANI)

Former ASG Fali Nariman questioned if India was becoming ‘Hindu Rashtra’ because a priest was UP CM: How his son, SC judge Rohington, is a Parsi Priest himself

Rukma Rathore
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Former ASG Fali Nariman questioned if India was becoming ‘Hindu Rashtra’ because a priest was UP CM: How his son, SC judge Rohington, is a Parsi Priest himself

Eminent jurist Senior Advocate Fali S Nariman passed on the morning of 21st February. He was also the President of the Bar Association of India from 1991 to 2010 as well as the Additional Solicitor General of India from May 1972 to June 1975. Despite all of his accomplishments and a glorious career, he was unable to shake the hypocrisy that accompanies being a left-liberal. He in an interview in 2017, questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi if the appointment of a Hindu monk Yogi Adityanath as chief minister of India’s most populous state Uttar Pradesh was “the beginning of a Hindu state.”

In the interview taken by Shekhar Gupta, Nariman had said it is a little odd that a head priest is a chief minister. He made the statement after Shekhar Gupta asked, which constitutional rights are facing most threat according to him. To this, Fali S Nariman replied that the entire constitution was under threat due to massive electoral victory of BJP in Uttar Pradesh. He said, “You see the constitution is under threat, let me be very frank. With the massive electoral victory in Uttar Pradesh, with the priest installed at the instance of the prime minister as the chief minister, with the cherry on the victory cake. So, that is a signal, and if you can’t see it, then you must be either the spokesman of the political party, or you must have your head and eyes examined”.

Notably, Yogi Adityanath became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in March 2017 following a landslide victory of BJP in the assembly elections. The interview was taken a few months after that.

Nariman said that while the BJP was entitled to choose a Hindu priest as a CM, the message was clear. When Shekhar Gupta asked if people were complacent and were not alarmed by the development, Nariman said that people were being hypocritical, not complacent. He said that people will worry what PM Modi thinks if he knows that they are criticising his decisions.

After this, Shekhar Gupta had asked, ‘Does the constitution have the strength to withstand such a statement of majority if not majoritarianism’. To this, Narimana said, “This is the problem, constitution has the strength, but the people who support the constitution don’t.” He then asked why no MPs or no journalists were asking the prime minister, whether it is true that this is the beginning of a Hindu state.

He then added, ‘Its the Hindu majority that gave us this constitution, 85% members of the constituent assembly, 233 out of 299 or such figure, were orthodox Hindus. Rejendra Prasad was the most orthodox of all, and they gave us this magnificent constitution.’

He continued, “One should be forthright in views, including political views, ask the prime minister, is this true what these people are now pretending to say. Is there going to be a Hindu state? Please tell us, we must know. Is there going to be an amendment of the constitution? There’s going to be some problem which the judiciary may have to face etc etc etc.

He said that no member of the parliament has asked this question when the parliament is in session.

Shekhar Gupta said that the question of Yogi becoming CM is asked in public debates, and the party replies that when he can be a 5-time MP, why he can’t be a CM. To this, Fariman replied that let Modi answer that, nobody stops him, but he is asking a different question. “But it is a little odd that he is also be a head priest, little odd”.

However, he conveniently overlooked the fact that his son Rohinton Nariman, a seasoned lawyer who was elevated to the position of a Supreme Court judge later in his career, was also a Parsi priest. Justice Nariman who retired from the apex court in 2021, is skilled in conducting Navjote ceremonies, which mark the initiation of a Zoroastrian child. He is also permitted to enter the sanctum sanctorum, or innermost chamber, just like any other priest in his society.

In his book, Fali S. Nariman stated that his family was “priestly” and hence his spouse ensured that their son was ordained as a priest at the tender age of twelve. The late attorney added that his son had officiated his sister Anaheeta’s Navjote ceremony in Mumbai. Rohinton Nariman in an interview in 2021 said, “My stint as a priest, as a 12-year-old has moulded my life to a very considerable amount.”

He referred to his stay at the Agiary (Fire temple) for 28 days with only minimum facilities as the “greatest experience of his life.” He added, “Priesthood gave me discipline and chiselling of memory.” He narrated how his father had brought him to visit another legal giant, the late Jamshedji Behramji Kanga who was almost on his deathbed. “The moment my father told him he had made me a priest the old man’s eyes lit up and he beckoned me, caught me by the hand and asked how many chapters did u recite by rote.” When Justice Nariman informed him that he had done around 50 chapters, he replied, “You recited 13 chapters more than me and you have to be 13 times better than me. Kanga died two months later.”

Interestingly, Fali S Nariman who encouraged his son to become a priest and was friends with accomplished individuals who had previously held the position, exhibited a strong aversion towards PM Modi’s choice of a Hindu priest to be Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister. “The Prime Minister may deny it but that is my assumption that appointing a particular person as the chief minister is in itself an indication that he wishes to propagate a religious state,” he claimed while talking to NDTV in 2017.

He even brought up “Hindu Rashtra” which has become the Sine Qua Non of the left-liberal ecosystem’s outrage whenever something related to Hinduism comes to the fore. He bemoaned, “Is this the beginning of a Hindu state, the Prime Minister must be asked so that the people know what they should be prepared for. The Constitution is under threat. With the massive electoral victory in UP, a priest has been installed as the chief minister at the insistence of the Prime Minister is a signal and if you cannot see then either you are the spokesperson of political parties or you must have your head or eyes examined.”

However, he made a half-hearted attempt to make up for his allegations in the end by stating, “You must give it to the Prime Minister. He is quite forthright. He does not mince words and his energy is something remarkable and fantastic. I have never seen such a man. But I do not accept all the policies of the Prime Minister.” 

Whether it was because he was an exceptional counsel or he was a left-liberal or even both, Fali S. Nariman unabashedly applied different yardsticks for different people. When his son was concerned, he didn’t feel that a person’s profession and faith had to be mutually exclusive. However, he was unwilling to apply the same convictions to Yogi Adityanath and considered it as an attack on India’s secular ideals.

His son acknowledged that the priesthood aided him to do better in life including his work, however, Fali S. Nariman deemed the priesthood of a Hindu as a burden and threat to the social fabric of the country. To put it in simpler terms, ‘What’s good for the goose was definitely not good for the gander,’ for the late learned lawyer.

Kerala: Karate teacher Siddique Ali accused of raping and killing a minor girl in Mallapuram, arrested after body found in river

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: Karate teacher Siddique Ali accused of raping and killing a minor girl in Mallapuram, arrested after body found in river

Vazhakkad police arrested Oorkadavu native V Siddique Ali (43) on Thursday (22nd February) under the POCSO Act (Protection of Children Against Child Sexual Offences) in connection with the drowning of a 17-year-old girl in the Chaliyar River at Vettathur near Muttungal Kadavu. The girl was discovered dead in the river near her home at 8 pm on Monday (19th February). 

Relatives and residents in the vicinity had been searching for the missing adolescent since 6 pm when they discovered her body in a shallow portion of the river. The body was undressed. According to the reports, some witnesses observed two strangers near the location where the body was discovered on the day of the tragedy. The family stated that the situation in which the body was discovered did not appear to be the result of suicide.

According to the victim’s family’s complaint, when the neighbours confronted them, they drove away without disclosing their faces, raising suspicions.

The girl excelled academically. She was also involved in extracurricular activities. She took karate classes and had a black belt in Karate. According to the family, she was routinely harassed and sexually abused by her karate teacher. In addition, the family stated that the victim would never commit suicide. They stated the girl was motivated to fight for justice despite being under a lot of stress. The girl was not going to Karate classes for two weeks due to the harassment by the teacher.

Meanwhile, the victim’s sisters said Siddique has raped other girls too and is accused in two other POCSO cases. “When we confronted him about what he did to our sister, he avoided us, but later confessed to having committed a mistake,” they were quoted as saying.

The sister stated that the teacher sexually exploited many other girls who came to learn karate from him. She also said that he used to cross physical boundaries in the name of karate lessons.

“When joining his karate class, he said that he is their guru and God and that their body and mind should be surrendered to the guru for his satisfaction. He also said the guru can know his disciples by touching their chest and that they shall attain success only through him,” the sister said.

Earlier the victim had filed a complaint with the Kozhikode Child Welfare Office in September, documenting the abuse she had to face. Kondotty police responded to the report. However, when the police went to record the girl’s statement, she was unable to speak. The 17-year-old, who received high scores on her Class 10 examinations, dropped out of school in Plus One.

Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Ivanka Trump among others to attend the pre-wedding festivities of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant at Reliance Greens Zoo

OpIndia Staff
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Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Ivanka Trump among others to attend the pre-wedding festivities of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant at Reliance Greens Zoo

The grand pre-wedding festivities for Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani’s youngest son Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant will take place in Gujarat’s Jamnagar from March 1 to March 3. The couple is set to get married on July 12 in Mumbai.

Notably, many distinguished guests are anticipated to attend the pre-wedding ceremonies in Jamnagar. According to an EconomicTimes report the list of international guests includes Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Morgan Stanley CEO Ted Pick, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Disney CEO Bob Iger, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Adnoc CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, and EL Rothschild chairperson Lynn Forester de Rothschild.

Moreover, Lupa Systems CEO James Murdoch, Mexican business magnate Carlos Slim, Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio, Hillhouse Capital founder Zhang Lei, BP chief executive Murray Auchincloss, Exor CEO John Elkann, former Cisco chairman John Chambers, Brookfield Asset Management CEO Bruce Flatt, and Ajit Jain, vice chairman of insurance operations, Berkshire Hathaway are also expected to attend the pre-wedding celebrations.

In an Instagram post published in January this year, paparazzi Viral Bhayani shared a wildlife-themed pre-wedding invite which features several wild animals including lion and tiger. It also includes a note from Nita and Mukesh Ambani.

“…In 1997. Reliance built the world’s largest grassroot refining complex near Jamnagar. Over the years, we planted more than 10 million trees in this arid region, Transforming it into a bustling green community. flourishing with flowers and fruits, and housing Asia’s largest mango orchard! Jaking the spirit of this initiative further, anant has lovingly nurtured this complex into a haven of care and compassion for over thousands of rescued animals…” the note reads.

Recently, a plea was rejected by the Delhi High Court seeking its direction to Reliance Green Zoological, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC) and Radhakrishna Temple Elephant Welfare Trust (RKTEWT) not allow the wedding in the Reliance Greens zoo. The petitioner and self-proclaimed animal lover Rahul Narula had argued that the wedding would harm the animals in zoo.

However, the bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Girish Kathpalia refused to entertain the plea since it was based on apprehension. The court stated that a High-Powered Committee (HPC) formed on the directions of the Tripura High Court to investigate complaints regarding animal organisations can be present at the venue to watch over the event and take all steps to “ensure that no inhumane behaviour is caused to the animals”.

Notably, Greens Zoological, Rescue, and Rehabilitation Centre (GZRRC) is a mega zoo being developed on 280 acres by Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) near its oil refinery complex in Moti Khavdi village, around 30 kilometres from Jamnagar city in Gujarat.

Police didn’t add more serious charges under IPC and POCSO: What Calcutta HC said while ordering second post-mortem of minor girl raped and murdered

Gopal Tiwari
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Police didn’t add more serious charges under IPC and POCSO: What Calcutta HC said while ordering second post-mortem of minor girl raped and murdered

On 9th February, the Calcutta High Court instructed the West Bengal police to conduct a second post-mortem of a 13-year-old minor girl who was raped and murdered in January 2024. The girl went missing at around 5 p.m. on 22nd January and her dead body was discovered on 27th January. On the Hich Court’s order, the body of the victim was exhumed by the police for a second post-mortem, as the original post-mortem report didn’t mention some of the serious injuries, and the police didn’t impose all relevant charges in the case.

The girl’s mother had sought a second post-mortem alleging extreme negligence to the visible injury marks. Despite mentioning possible sexual interference in the report, the police authorities did not provide the samples for consequent chemical examination in this case.

Addressing these lapses, the court has now ordered the re-post-mortem of the exhumes of the dead body and instructed the police to add the IPC sections of rape and other POCSO Act sections in the FIR. Justice Jay Sengupta pronounced this order.

A complaint was filed in the Hariharpara police station in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal on 27th January 2024 by Sarjina Bibi – the mother of the victim minor girl who was abducted on 22nd January from her home. According to the complaint, the girl was found in the cultivated land of Matin Khan of the Dharampur village under the Hariharpara police station.

It is mentioned in the complaint that the victim girl’s face was bloodied and she had suffered a direct attack on her face, her eyes were gouged out, her ears were torn off, and her mandible was slit open as well. However, none of these injuries were mentioned in the post-mortem report. Additionally, the police did not provide the samples for the consequent chemical examination despite the post-mortem report mentioning the possibility of sexual interference. The post-mortem was carried out at the Murshidabad Medical College & Hospital by Dr Swapan Kumar Adhikari, Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology in the institute.

Notably, the police imposed sections 363, 302, and 34 of the IPC against accused Roni Khan (son of Rintu Khan alias Kalu), Rintu Khan alias Kalu (son of Fojol Khan), and Rasheeda Bibi (wife of Rintu Khan alias Kalu) all residents of the Dharampur village. The court has now ordered the police to add relevant sections of the POCSO Act and rape crime sections of the IPC in the FIR. The court has also ordered a second post-mortem in this case.

The court said in the order, “The petitioner’s minor daughter was raped and brutally murdered by the accused father and son duo. The said duo had earlier committed a similar offence. After the body was detected, it was found that the body was seriously disfigured. Some portions of the eyes and face were gouged out. This has not been reflected in the post-mortem report. That apart, the investigating agency had not imputed more serious charges under the IPC as well as the POCSO Act.”

The court further said, “First, from the inquest and the post-mortem report it is evident that the victim was subjected to sexual assault, then one wonders why were more serious charges under the provisions of law including the Penal Code and the POCSO Act not added. Let the investigating officer have such provisions added and proceed with the investigation. The inquest report supports the contention of the petitioner that the face of the victim was severely disfigured. Merely stating that the portions of the epidermis were peeled off, as in the post-mortem report, perhaps does not give a correct picture of the dead body.”

Instructing the police in this regard, the court said in its order, “In view of the same, let the investigating agency conduct the second post-mortem over the dead body after exhuming the same. The same be done by an expert of the SSKM Hospital, Kolkata and be videographed. Let a report about the progress of the investigation be filed by the State on the next date of hearing. The State shall produce the case diary on the next date.”

Based on this order, the body of the girl was exhumed on 16th February and then sent to SSKM Hospital, Kolkata for a second post-mortem examination. The court has ordered the second autopsy report to be submitted by 6 March. The next hearing in this matter is listed on 6th March 2024.

Sarjina Bibi – the mother of the victim minor girl had written to the Murshidabad SP seeking this second post-mortem. In her complaint, she wrote, “The post-mortem report of my daughter has left out multiple injuries that were sustained by her. It is stated that my daughter had suffered a direct attack on her face, her eyes were gouged out, her ears were torn off, and her mandible was slit open as well. None of these injuries were mentioned in the post-mortem report. It is also stated that my daughter was raped before she was killed horrifically, yet no examination for rape was conducted. Therefore, it is my humble request that another post-mortem examination be conducted for my daughter, so that the correct conclusions may be reached, and my daughter receives proper justice.”

She added, “When we found my daughter’s body, multiple videos and pictures were taken and the post-mortem report does not match or even mention the other injuries on her body. The said pictures and videos were taken by almost everyone in my entire neighbourhood. I am attaching the said post-mortem report and the pictures of my daughter’s dead body when it was discovered, for your reference. Therefore, it is my humble request that another post-mortem examination be conducted for my daughter, so that the correct conclusions may be reached. I request you to take out my daughter’s body from its burial site, and arrange for a proper post-mortem examination process with videography, so that the results are not altered unduly, and my daughter receives proper justice.”

Sangita Chakraborty – the national president of the SS Human Rights Foundation in West Bengal – had also complained to the SP of the Murshidabad district in this regard. In her complaint, she alleged, “The said post-mortem report deliberately ignores and does not mention multiple other injuries that were sustained by the victim, due to the collusion of a) Dr Swapan Kumar Adhikari, Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, b) Professor (Dr.) Amit Dan, Principal, c) Dr Amiya Kumar Bera, Medical Superintendent cum Vice Principal, Murshidabad Medical College & Hospital, Berhampore, Murshidabad, and d) the Inspector-in-charge, Hariharpara Police Station, District – Murshidabad.”

She added, “The said persons are deliberately hiding and covering up the heinousness of the crime that has been committed against the 13-year-old victim girl. The police authorities are working hand in glove with the relevant persons from the Murshidabad Medical College & Hospital, and the accused persons to allow them to escape the clutches of the law.”

Demanding a second post-mortem and chemical examination for verifying the rape crime, she added, “The police authorities are keeping the entire incident under wraps, and no media has even been involved in this case, which begs the question as to whether the Inspector-in-charge is in cohorts with the accused persons being Roni Khan, Rintu Khan alias Kalu, and Rasheeda Bibi, and is benefiting from the theft that is being committed.”

The court order, FIR, original post-mortem report, and letters to the SP by petitioner and human rights activist are available with OpIndia.

History of the case

The incident took place in the Hariharpara area of district Murshidabad. The 13-year-old minor girl went missing on 26th January 2024 after she left at around 8 PM. When she did not return, her family members launched a search operation. According to Anand Bazaar Patrika’s report, they found a note in her room that said, “Don’t worry”. The next day, her mangled dead body was recovered from mustard fields in the village some distance away from her home. She had a rope around her neck, her eyes were gouged out, and her breasts were cut off.

The family of the victim alleged that a boy from the village kidnapped her on the pretext of marriage. He then raped and physically assaulted her. Based on the complaint, police registered a case against two suspects, and arrested them, a minor boy and his father.

The police prepared a detailed panchnama, which is the document prepared by police recording the details of the crime scene.

The report said that there were multiple injury marks on the body, there was a noose around the neck, adding that she was possibly raped. These details matched with the details provided in the complaint filed by the girl’s family.

The body of the deceased girl was sent to Murshidabad Medical College, where the post-mortem was conducted. However, the post-mortem report had glaring differences from the initial police report. The post-mortem report didn’t mention many of the crucial details mentioned in the police inquest report.

It was alleged that the minor was raped and killed. The accused father-son duo made holes in the dead body and poured acid in it to speed up the rotting process. However, the allegations were mentioned in the investigation report but not in the postmortem report. The investigation report, case diary and autopsy report had different facts about the case.

After this, the girl’s family approached the Calcutta High Court. After hearing the case, the High Court ordered to exhume the body and do a post-mortem again. The court ordered that the post-mortem will be done by the doctors of SSKM Hospital in Kolkata.

UK’s TRIDENT 2 missile misfires for the second time in a row, crashes into ocean yards away from the submarine that launched it

OpIndia Staff
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UK’s TRIDENT 2 missile misfires for the second time in a row, crashes into ocean yards away from the submarine that launched it

On 20th February, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that a TRIDENT missile misfired and crashed into the ocean. The test missile was launched on 30th January from the British nuclear submarine. This was the second missed test in a row. The last time TRIDENT misfired was in 2016.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence confirmed that an anomaly occurred during the test. The nuclear submarine remained safe. The crew completed their doomsday drill and fired the TRIDENT 2 missile with compressed gas in the launch tube. However, the first-stage boosters did not ignite, leading to the missile splashing into the ocean and sinking.

The Sun quoted an unnamed source saying, “It left the submarine, but it just went plop, right next to them.” HMS Vanguard, the submarine from which it was launched, was hovering at launch depth. Though the missile sank into the ocean, it did not hit the submarine. As per the report, the 58-ton missile crashed into the ocean yards from the nuclear submarine that launched it, as its first-stage boosters did not ignite. The missile was propelled into the air by compressed gas in the launch tube, after which the boosters were supposed to ignite.

The submarine was under the surface, and the missile didn’t hit it.

A probe into the matter has been initiated, and a search operation has been commencing to recover the missile technology from the seabed at Port Canaveral, Florida.

In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said, “HMS Vanguard and her crew have been proven fully capable of operating the UK’s Continuous At-Sea Deterrent, passing all tests during a recent demonstration and shakedown operation (DASO) – a routine test to confirm that the submarine can return to service following deep maintenance work.

The test has reaffirmed the effectiveness of the UK’s nuclear deterrent, in which we have absolute confidence. During the test, an anomaly occurred.

As a matter of national security, we cannot provide further information on this; however, we are confident that the anomaly was event-specific, and therefore, there are no implications for the reliability of the wider Trident missile systems and stockpile.

The UK’s nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure and effective.”

Though the missile failed the test, the officials have stressed that the TRIDENT missile is one of the most reliable weapons systems in the world. TRIDENT missiles entered service with the Royal Navy in 1994. Since then, 12 TRIDENT 2 missiles have been fired, of which two failed. The failed missile was scheduled to travel 3,700 miles and hit the impact point in the mid-Atlantic between Brazil and West Africa. Each missile costs GBP 17 Million. 

Notably, Vanguard Subs are ageing fleet and scheduled for replacement in the 2030s.

Royal Navy fails to recruit sailors

In June 2023, it was reported that the Royal Navy faced a personnel crisis as it failed to recruit new sailors. Reportedly, there was an increase in resignations and a slowdown in recruitment for 18 months, leading to a decline in the number of sailors. Stats showed that the total combined Naval Service personnel dropped from 40,000 in 2012 to 39,000 in 2022. Notably, there was a steep fall in personnel in 2013 when it reached around 38,000. Full-time Trained Regulars dropped from 33,500 in 2012 to 29,000 in 2022

When Nehru sent police into Golden Temple to supress ‘Punjabi Suba Movement’: community kitchen captured, langar stopped, 8000 people arrested

अनुपम कुमार सिंह
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When Nehru sent police into Golden Temple to supress ‘Punjabi Suba Movement’: community kitchen captured, langar stopped, 8000 people arrested

As India gears up for the 18th Lok Sabha elections, the farmers have returned to the Delhi borders, evoking memories of the 2020–21 protests. The majority of farmers waiting to enter Delhi at the Haryana border are from Punjab. Here, it must remember, how the farmer’s stir in 2020 turned violent and chaotic after it was hijacked by Khalistani elements.

Like the 2020-2021 ‘farmers protest’, this time too, the opposition is attempting to capitalize on the agitation to gain political brownie points. The Congress has accused the Modi government of being anti-Sikh while also extending its support to the so-called farmers. Though it’s clear that the Congress party is trying to use divisional politics ahead of the next 18th Lok Sabha elections, given the current situation, we must revisit some of Jawaharlal Nehru’s policies and decisions to understand the history of Punjab and the Sikhs.

As such, when we speak about militancy in Punjab, we remember the era of former PM and Congress leader Indira Gandhi. Between the 1st and 10th of June 1984, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi launched an operation to flush out terrorists from the Golden Temple. Operation Blue Star was the code name for the Indian military action carried out to remove Khalistan terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his armed followers from the Harminder Sahib complex in Amritsar.

Operation Blue Star, however, had far-reaching ramifications well after it was over. While the military had neutralised Bhindranwale, the Army Chief, who had coordinated the operation, was brutally assassinated by Khalistani terrorists only 2 years later.

Indira Gandhi was assassinated on 31st October 1984 by her Sikh bodyguards as revenge for Operation Blue Star. From 1st November to 4th November, Sikhs across the country were killed. The government figures suggest the angry mobs, many of which were led by Congress leaders, brutally murdered 3350 Sikhs. However, the unofficial figures claim that around 8,000 to 17,000 Sikhs lost their lives.

On 19th November 1984, while giving a speech in front of thousands of people, then-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi justified the violence that took place after Gandhi’s assassination. He had said, “Jab bhi koi bada ped girta hai, to dharti thodi hilti hai. (When a big tree falls, the earth shakes.)”

Even though everyone has some memory of Operation Blue Star, which was carried out under Indira Gandhi’s directives, few people are aware that Jawaharlal Nehru’s reign also saw an identical era in Punjabi history.

When India became independent, it was divided into 552 princely states, which were united by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. In 1956, the ‘States Reorganization Act’ came, under which new territories were created and the boundaries of the former territories were changed. Kerala was separated from Mysore, Andhra Pradesh from Madras, Himachal Pradesh (then a Union Territory) from Punjab and Tripura and Manipur (both Union Territories) from Assam. Delhi got the status of Union Territory.

This was the time when the ‘Punjabi Suba movement’, a long-drawn political agitation was also at its peak. The agitation was launched by Sikhs who demanded the formation of an autonomous state for themselves within India, where the rules and regulations would be according to them. The movement is defined as the forerunner of the Khalistan movement.

The agitation was spearheaded by Akali Dal. However, there was also opposition to this idea, like the Congress party was absolutely against it. By 1950, the State Congress Committee, led by Pratap Singh Kairon, had put all its strength in opposing this movement.

As Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru also rejected the demands of the Punjab Suba Movement. It was only two years after Nehru died in 1966, that the ‘Punjab Reorganization Act’ granted Punjab the status of a distinct state.

Arya Samaj was also active in Punjab at that time. A large number of Hindus in Punjab declined to acknowledge Punjabi as their language. Akali Dal, meanwhile, urged that Punjabi be recognized as the official language of the nation. It was against this backdrop that then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru ordered that the language data should not be mentioned in the census. By 1951, this language divide led to communal polarization and rifts in the name of language started to appear in Punjab.

There were the aggressive Akali Dal supporters on the one hand and the non-Sikh community of Punjab on the other. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru stated unequivocally on January 4, 1952, in a speech in Patiala, that the formation of the province of Punjab would result in the nation’s division. “I will not allow India to be divided again,” he said out loud. “I’ll do everything in my power to put an end to any more unrest and refuse to let it start again,” he added.

In the first-ever general elections that were held in India between 25 October 1951 and 21 February 1952, Shiromani Akali Dal was forced to concede loss as the Congress Party garnered popular support. In fact, the Congress wave was so strong at that time that it won even in Sikh-dominated areas like Gurdaspur and Amritsar.

Shiromani Akali Dal, despite not managing to secure a single vote in Sikh-dominated areas like Jalandhar and Gurdaspur, persisted in advocating for the creation of an autonomous state and blamed its electoral loss on dishonesty and degenerative communalism.

Meanwhile, it is important to note here that a province known as ‘East Punjab’ existed at that time. East Punjab means that area of Punjab which remained in India after partition. Whereas West Punjab went to Pakistan. In the Constitution of India in 1950, East Punjab was called Punjab. Then PEPSU (Patiala and East Punjab States Union) was formed, by merging 8 different princely states and 2 small princely states. During that time Shimla and Kasauli also used to be a part of it. In 1956, it was called the ‘State of Punjab’. Punjab in its present form came into existence on November 1, 1966, when most of its predominantly Hindi-speaking areas were separated to form the new state of Haryana. The city of Chandigarh, within the Chandigarh union territory, is the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana.

Following its establishment in 1954, the Akali Dal submitted an 18-page memorandum to the State Reorganization Commission demanding that Punjab be divided linguistically. The political party’s memorandum stated that Punjabi is a distinct language with its own script, Gurmukhi, derived from Brahmi. Congress, on the other hand, insisted that Punjab, PEPSU, and Himachal Pradesh be combined to form Punjabi Suba. Jana Sangh demanded the formation of a ‘Maha Punjab’ state by including Delhi in it.

The State Reorganization Commission, formed by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, rejected the call for the creation of a new state. It argued that the demand lacked majority support and that Punjabi was not grammatically very distinct from Hindi. The commission also argued that the creation of a Punjabi-majority state would lead to the division of Punjab and the creation of two separate states, one with a Sikh majority and the other with a Hindu majority. The central government at the time held the view that dividing Punjab based on language would inevitably lead to a split based on religion, from which the nation had already suffered greatly. On the other hand, Punjab was home to a sizable Hindi-speaking population.

The Akali Dal was not satisfied with the SRC’s decision. They continued to agitate for the formation of Punjabi Suba. In 1966, the Punjab Reorganization Act was passed, which split Punjab into three states: Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. Chandigarh was made the capital of both Punjab and Haryana.

According to statistics, 12,000 Sikhs who actively participated in the agitation demanding a separate Sikh state were arrested in 1955 and 26,000 Sikhs were arrested in 1956.

The situation continued to deteriorate and fearing law and order problem, the Amritsar DC on April 6, 1955, banned the slogans of ‘Punjabi Suba’ like “Seene vich goli khayenge, Punjabi Suba banavenge” and “Maha-Punjab amar rahe” under Section 144.

The imposition of the ban was seen as an attack on freedom of speech and expression. The SAD held a meeting on April 24, 1955, in Amritsar and passed a resolution to start a protest from 10 May 1955 if the ban on Punjabi Suba slogan was not revoked. Every day, dozens of Sikhs would gather in front of the Akal Takht in Amritsar for prayers, then raise slogans in support of the Punjabi Suba.

Nehru sent police to Golden Temple

In July, the agitation reached its peak with a record number of people reaching the Akaal Takht Sahib. Fearing a law and order threat, the government made extensive security arrangements around the Golden Temple and also revoked several weapons permits. The government also tried to confiscate the weapons that were owned by members of the ‘Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

Finally, around 4 am on 4 July 1955, Deputy Inspector General of Police Ashwani Kumar led the police invasion into the Golden Temple. The community kitchen was captured with the suspension of the langar service. Guru Ramdas ‘Saraan’ was also raided and various Granthi Singhs were arrested. Police also raided the offices of SGPC and SAD, which were part of the complex. Police used teargas shells in the ‘parikarma’ of Harmandir Sahib to gain control of Manji Sahib.

The police conducted a flag march inside the campus itself. This action continued throughout the day and during this time the main door of the Golden Temple was kept closed. According to police, 237 persons were arrested during the day of action.

This police action only served to strengthen the resolve of the agitation with around 8,000 arrests in the first week of July, out of a total of 12,000 in the entirety of the agitation. Finally, CM Bhim Sen Sachar relented and lifted the ban on Punjabi Suba slogans by 12 July 1955. Master Tara Singh, the leader of the “Akali Dal,” had to be let free. In September, the Chief Minister himself was required to visit the Golden Temple and offer an apology for this action. This operation has also been referred to as “Mini Blue Star.”

Nehru’s views regarding Punjab and Sikhs in 1955

It is evident that Jawaharlal Nehru thought of the “Punjabi Suba Movement” as sectarian. He expressed his deep sadness at witnessing Sikhs agitated over a pointless dispute. He had declared that neither Akali Dal nor the nation would gain from whatever the former was doing. Inquiring as to whether the nation was on the verge of another civil war, Nehru warned that the country would suffer if every small and large organization began to display their authority in this way.

He appealed to the people of Punjab, the Sikhs and Hindus, to put an end to their feud and rescue the state from chaos. In August 1955, Jawaharlal Nehru wrote a letter to the Chief Secretary of Punjab asking him to release the jailed Akalis as they had already been imprisoned for a month or two. He suggested they should be released in groups because he estimated their number to be in the thousands.

Essentially, Nehru and the Congress party, who opposed the Punjabi Suba movement in the past, are now fully supporting the Khalistani movement.

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