In Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur, a Muslim youth named Shahzad has undergone Ghar Wapsi and embraced Hindu Dharma on Saturday (6th January). Ahead of the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony, Shahzad, son of Yunus, reverted to Hinduism and changed his name to Karan Chaudhary. The purification rituals of the 25-year-old youth were performed at a local Hari Mandir in Sharda Nagar.
Shahzad had expressed his desire to leave Islam and revert to Hinduism. Following that, activists from the Hindu rights organisation ‘Bajrang Dal’ took him to Hari Mandir situated in the Awas Vikas. Amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras, havan-pooja, Shahzad embraced Hinduism and was given the name ‘Karan Chaudhary’. Shahzad has also submitted an affidavit to change his name. He claimed that his ancestors were all Hindus only.
“That the deponent was born in the religion of Islam and according to the Islamic religion my name was Shahzad, now I have changed my religion and adopted Hindu religion and have changed my name to Karan Choudhary, please try to publish it. God help us to speak the truth. That para no. 1 and 2 of the affidavit are true and correct and no facts have been hidden, the affidavit submitted by Shahzad/Karan Chaudhary reads.
Shahzad, now ‘Karan Choudhary,’ stated that his ancestors abandoned Hinduism and converted to Islam. He also revealed that his father, Yunus, has married for the second time. Not only that, but he has divorced his first wife and daughter. Shahzad lost control after witnessing the atrocities committed against his mother and sister. In light of these atrocities, he decided to leave Islam.
He has stated that his mother and sister will also be reverting soon. Shahzad previously worked as a contractor in the electricity department. However, he recently left this job and is now planning to open his own shoe store. After participating in the Havan-Yagya and receiving saffron tilak, he stated that Sanatan Dharma is supreme in the world and that everyone is respected here. Kapil Mohda, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s state enforcement chief, was also present during Shahzad’s ghar wapsi event.
Enforcement Directorate has revealed in an attachment order dated 11th November that Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which Congress owns, relaunched the news operations of the National Herald in 2016 to make it appear as if it was still engaged in newspaper publishing. The brand relaunching took place after ED and other agencies started probing into company affairs.
For those unaware, AJL was established by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, before independence in 1937. It published three newspapers, National Herald in English, Qaumi Awaz in Urdu, and Navjeevan in Hindi.
Reportedly, AJL got land in various cities to publish newspapers. In 2008, the company shut down its operations, and all the employees took voluntary retirement, as offered by AJL. At that time, the company had a debt of Rs 90 crores. Young Indian took over the operations. It was a company where Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi held majority of the shares.
When ED and other agencies started a probe into alleged money laundering in the company, congress announced the relaunching of the news operations.
In the 11th November attachment order of assets worth Rs 751 crores of AJL, ED said, “Around 2016, after various government agencies initiated an investigation, the company relaunched its news operations through a digital platform just to show that it is still engaged in publishing of newspapers.” Speaking to Hindustan Times, an unnamed officer said there was an alleged nexus of AJY, YI and AICC. Furthermore, she said that Moti Lal Vohra and Oscar Fernandes operated these entities. Both of them are now deceased. Furthermore, Structures were created in a “predetermined manner to acquire the properties of AJL by YI…,” said the ED.
Another ED official told HT that the three entities were “related entities having common office bearers and history of long association”. The ED said YI paid Rs 50 lakh to buy out the Rs 90 crore loan of AJL that was converted into equity, from AICC, and called it a “sham transaction”.
The National Herald Scam and its history so far
National Herald was started by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru in 1937 to convey the concerns of Congress’ liberal brigade. Following India’s independence, it metamorphosed into the mouthpiece of the Congress party.
The Associated Journals Limited (AJL) was the National Herald newspaper publishing company. It was also involved in the publication of the Urdu newspaper Qaumi Awaz and the Hindi paper Navjivan. By April 2008, AJL was in huge debt and owed the Congress party a whopping sum of Rs 90.26 crores.
The party had sanctioned loans to the company from time to time at 0% interest to keep it afloat. When it became unsustainable, AJL formally drew curtains over the printing and publication of its newspapers in 2008.
Debt owed to the Congress party transferred to a Gandhi-owned company
Another company by the name of Young Indian Limited (YIL) was created in 2010 as a private, not-for-profit charity under Section 25 of the Companies Act of 1956. The Gandhis (including Rahul and Sonia) owned 83.3% of the shares in YIL (as per Income Tax records).
Congress leaders Motilal Vora and Oscar Fernandes owned 15.5% and 1.2% of the shares respectively. YIL paid Rs 50 lakhs to the Congress party and transferred the debt of Rs 90.26 cr owed to it by AJL to itself.
Given that AJL was not in a position to clear its debt, Young Indian Pvt Limited acquired a majority of its share equities and, eventually, the whole company. As such, all assets of the Associated Journals Limited were incorporated into the Gandhi-owned Young Indian Limited.
This included real estate assets worth over 2000 crores, which are located in posh localities of Mumbai, New Delhi, Lucknow, Bhopal, Indore, Patna, and others. After acquiring AJL, Young Indian Limited announced that the newspaper publication was not the not-for-profit charity’s objective.
Nonetheless, in 2016, YIL relaunched the three newspapers, including the National Herald, in a digital format.
In 2011, Subramanian Swamy claimed that the Gandhis floated YIL to acquire the real-estate assets of AJL. He also accused Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi of defrauding their party and approached the trial court in 2013.
Swamy claimed that YIL was able to write off debt totaling Rs 90.26 crores for just Rs 50 lakhs. Swamy said that the decision of the Congress party to extend loans to AJL for commercial purposes was illegal.
Notably, the agency in the year 2022 filed a fresh case under the criminal provisions of the PMLA after a trial court took cognisance of an Income Tax Department probe against Young Indian Pvt Ltd based on a private criminal complaint filed by former BJP MP Subramanian Swamy in 2013.
On Saturday night (6th January), the official websites of the Maldivian President, the Foreign Ministry, and the Tourism Ministry went down hours after Maldivian social media was replete with denigratory posts attacking India, Indians, and PM Modi over his visit to the Lakshadweep Islands. However, the websites are reported to have been restored and accessible now.
Upon checking, OpIndia found the websites of the Maldivian President’s office and Foreign Ministry accessible, however, the website of the Tourism Ministry is still down.
On Saturday night, the Maldivian President’s Office acknowledged the “unexpected technical disruption” to the said websites. It further said that the National Centre for Information Technology and other relevant entities are actively working to resolve the issue.
“Please note that the President’s Office website is currently facing an unexpected technical disruption. NCIT and other relevant entities are actively working on resolving this promptly. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Thank you for your understanding and patience,” the Maldivian President’s Office wrote on X.
Please note that the President’s Office website is currently facing an unexpected technical disruption. NCIT and other relevant entities are actively working on resolving this promptly.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Thank you for your understanding and patience. pic.twitter.com/jUOopsQTUs
The Maldivian media has reported that the websites are unreachable in a suspected cyber attack in the wake of a social media attack by a pro-Maldives account, denigrating India and Indians over PM Modi’s Lakshadweep visit.
On Saturday, Mariyam Shiuna, Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts, recently made insulting remarks against PM Modi, referring to him as a ‘clown’ and a ‘puppet of Israel’. Not just social media users, but ministers and prominent citizens too have weighed in on the controversy, using uncharitable and deplorable language for India, Indians, and PM Modi.
“What a clown. The puppet of Israel Mr Narendra diver with a life jacket #VisitMaldives,” Shiuna tweeted.
On Friday, January 5, Zahid Rameez, a Council member of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) took to the microblogging site X to mock Indians. The PPM member’s highly racist remark against Indians came in response to a post by popular X user Mr Sinha, where he shared pictures of PM Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep and hailed the islands as a viable option to Maldives.
Responding to a tweet posted by a user @MrSinha_, Zahid Rameez tweeted, “The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall.”
On Sunday (7th January), Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in a media interaction that India is a trusted friend of Bangladesh. She said that Bangladesh is very lucky to have such a neighbouring country like India. She made this statement while going to cast her vote as Bangladesh is undergoing the general elections on Sunday. Sheikh Hasina expects a fourth straight term and the fifth overall for her Awami League-led alliance.
While speaking to ANI, Sheikh Hasina said, “You (India) are most welcome. We are very lucky that India is our trusted friend. During our liberation war, they supported us. After 1975, when we lost our whole family, they gave us shelter. So our best wishes to the people of India.”
#WATCH | Dhaka: In her message to India, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says, ''You are most welcome. We are very lucky…India is our trusted friend. During our liberation war, they supported us…After 1975, when we lost our whole family…they gave us shelter. So our… pic.twitter.com/3Z0NC5BVeD
The general election in Bangladesh is set against a backdrop of escalating pre-election violence and concerns about further unrest. The main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), along with other allied parties, has declared a boycott of the elections. In a move to intensify their protest, the BNP has called for a nationwide strike lasting two days, starting on Saturday.
The opposition is shunning the polls and urging the public not to participate, citing doubts about the integrity of the electoral process. They accuse the incumbent Awami League of placing “dummy” independent candidates in the elections to create an illusion of legitimacy, an allegation that the ruling party refutes.
Tensions in Bangladesh have been rising since October 2023, following a large-scale anti-government demonstration that demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the establishment of a caretaker government to supervise the elections. However, Hasina’s government has rejected these demands, stating that there is no constitutional basis for implementing a caretaker government.
On Saturday (6th January), former Shiv Sena leader Ramesh Solanki filed a police complaint against the makers of the film ‘Annapoorani’ for demeaning Lord Ram and hurting the sentiments of the Hindu community.
Solanki, the founder of Hindu IT Cell, wrote to the Chief Inspector of the Lokmanya Tilak police station, seeking action against the anti-Hindu nature of the feature film.
‘Annapoorani’ was released on Netflix on 28th December last year and is the 75th film of Tamil actress Nayanthara. The movie is produced by Trident Arts, Zee Studios and Naad Studios.
At a time when the whole world is rejoicing in anticipation of the Pran Pratishtha of Bhagwan Shri Ram Mandir, this anti-Hindu film Annapoorani has been released on Netflix, produced by Zee Studios, Naad Sstudios… pic.twitter.com/zM0drX4LMR
“At a time when the whole world is rejoicing that the Shri Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha will happen on 22nd Jan, this film demeans our Prabhu Shri Ram and is intentionally released to hurt Hindu sentiments,” Ramesh Solanki stated in his police complaint.
According to the Hindu activist, the movie ‘Annapoorani’ featured several objectionable scenes. Those include the offering of Namaz (Islamic prayer) by the daughter of a Hindu Brahmin temple priest, glorification of love jihad, and falsehoods about Lord Ram and Maa Sita devouring meat in Ramayana.
“(The) actress doesn’t go to the temple but goes to Farhan’s place for Iftaari. Visuals of the girl’s father doing Sandhya and grandmother doing Mala are intercut with their daughter eating & consuming meat,” Ramesh Solanki pointed out.
वाल्मीकि ने रामायण में कहाँ है – जब वनवास में भूख लगी थी, राम लक्ष्मण और सीता ने जानवरों को मारकर और पकाकर खाया था। रामायण में लिखा है की उन्होंने मांस खाया था – Dialogue in anti-Hindu movie Annapoornai produced by Zee Studios, Naad & Trident, released on Netflix @ZeeStudios_… pic.twitter.com/71DW56UBYg
He added, “The actress’s father is a temple priest, making Bhog for Bhagwan Vishnu since 7 generations but his daughter is shown to cook meat, fall in love with Muslim, goes for Ramzan Iftaar & offers Namaz.”
The founder of the Hindu IT Cell emphasised, “A devout Hindu’s daughter, offering Namaz to cook Biryani, and is supported by Farhaan while quoting that Shri Ram was a meat eater, is done with the sole intent to demean Hindus and Bhagwan Shri Ram.”
Hindu Brahmin daughter of Pujari MUST offer NAMAJ to win a stupid competition.
Saath me Zihadi boyfriend free.
Full fledged conversion agenda in name of nautanki?
— Gems of Bollywood बॉलीवुड के रत्न (@GemsOfBollywood) January 5, 2024
Ramesh Solanki sought the registration of the First Information Report (FIR) against Annapoorani’s director Nilesh Krishnaa, actress Nayanthara, producers Jatin Sethi, R Ravindran and Punit Goenka, Chief Business officer of Zee Studios Shariq Patel and Netflix India Head Monika Shergil.
On 6th January, West Bengal police registered an FIR against Enforcement Directorate officials who were attacked during a raid at the house of Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Sheikh in North 24 Parganas. The raid was being conducted by the central agency in connection to a ration distribution scam.
The FIR was registered under Sections 441, 379, and 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) based on the complaint filed by the caretaker of Shahjahan’s house. Reports suggest that the FIR was registered against them for attempting to “break in without warrant”.
Notably, a complaint was registered by the ED as well via email to the Director General of Police and superintendent of Basirhat police district under Sections 147, 148, 149 and 353 of the IPC. As per the complaint, ED accused the attackers of an attempt to murder. No arrests were made in connection to ED’s complaint.
In a similar incident on 5th January, ED officials faced angry supporters of TMC when they went to arrest the former chairman of Bongaon civic body Shankar Adhya in a food grain scam. Notably, former food and supplies minister Jyoti Priya Mallick has already been arrested in the matter. Reports suggest that Adhya’s supporters circled the ED officials and broke the rear windshield of one of their vehicles. However, no ED officials were injured in that incident.
In a statement, an ED official said, “A group of Adhya’s followers attacked us when we were taking him out of his Bongaon residence. The central police force personnel had to wield batons to disperse irate supporters who also pelted stones and damaged one of our vehicles. Adhya was a close aide of Mallick and we have come across clinching evidence showing his direct involvement in the irregularities using the public distribution system.”
As per reports, Union Home Minister Amit Shah sought a report from West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on the matter. Bose had summoned Chief Secretarya and DGP at Raj Bhawan but no one came to meet the governor.
Mob of 800-1000 attacked with intention to kill, said ED
In a statement, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said that its team, along with CRPF, and journalists was attacked and their vehicles were targeted in Sandeshkhali of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. In its statement, the probe agency said that a violent mob comprising 800-1000 people attacked the ED team with CRPF, to cause death. It added that the attackers were carrying sticks and stones. The probe agency added that the mob is suspected to be instigated by TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh and his associates. It further informed that three of its officials had been injured in the mob attack and admitted to hospital for treatment. In addition to injuring the on-duty ED officials, the violent mob also stole their laptops, mobile phones, wallets, cash and other belongings.
Public Distribution System Scam
On 26th October, ED raided the residence of West Bengal Minister Jyoti Priya Mallick in Kolkata in connection to a corruption case related to ration distribution. Mallick is a senior TMC leader serving as the forest minister of Bengal. Previously, he held the food minister portfolio. In response to the raid, CM Mamata Banerjee strongly criticised the central agency and accused the BJP-led government at the centre of using such actions as part of a “broader strategy” ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Interestingly, Mallick’s daughter Priyadarshini reportedly deposited Rs 3.37 crores in her bank account after the 2016 demonetisation. Being a school teacher, she draws an annual salary of 2.48 lakhs. During ED’s interrogation, she claimed to have earned the money as tuition fees. Furthermore, ED found a deposit of Rs 4.3 crores in the IDBI bank account of Mallick’s wife, Mandipa. ED arrested Mallick over an accusation of laundering Rs 95 crores using shell companies.
On 5th January (Friday), gangster Sharad Mohol was shot dead in the Sutardara locality in the Kothrud area of Pune by his own gang members, as revealed in the Police investigation. Based on surveillance camera footage from the spot, police arrested eight accused from Pune-Satara Road near Shirwal on Friday night. The arrested accused include key suspect Sahil alias Munna Polekar (20), who had disguised himself as an accomplice of Mohol.
— Express Pune Resident Editor (@ExpressPune) January 6, 2024
The visuals of the CCTV footage revealed that the assailants (members of his own gang) who were walking with him pulled out pistols, and fired shots at him in the back, and then on his head and shoulders when he turned.
Reportedly, Sahil and other accomplices had lunch at Sharad’s house before they attacked their gang leader Sharad Mohol. As per reports, all his gang members had gathered at his house for Sharad Mohal’s wedding anniversary. They then left the house, went a short distance away, and opened fire on Sharad Mohol.
As per reports, Mohol was living in exile and was not allowed to enter Pune from July 2023 to December 2023 in some police case. Incidentally, when he came to Pune, the accused carried out his killing.
The accused carried out the killing on lines of the Marathi film Mulshi Pattern
Incidentally, the Police investigation has yielded shocking revelations including the fact that the accused carried out the killing on the lines of gangster movies like Satya and Marathi movie Mulshi Pattern. Ironically, the Marathi movie is based on Sandip Mohol, the former leader of Sharad Mohol’s gang.
(Video Courtesy – Saam TV)
According to the Police investigation, the relatives of prime accused Munna, namely Namdeo Kangude and Viththal Gadle, had disputes with Sharad Mohol over land and finance ten years ago when Munna alias Sahil was just ten years old.
A fight that took place ten years ago is said to be the main reason behind Mohol’s murder. Back then, Sharad Mohol and some of the accused had a fight. The accused Munna was young at the time.
Since Sharad Mohol and the accused used to live in the same locality, Sharad Mohol used to abuse them, beat them up, and insult them. These things angered the accused and they decided to take revenge.
The accused conducted a recce of Sharad Mohol’s entire routine and started collecting information about his daily activities. The accused Munna Polekar after infiltrating Sharad Mohol’s gang, was always with Sharad Mohol. He also passed on the information about Sharad Mohol during the day to other accused.
A month ago, the accused hatched a conspiracy to kill Sharad Mohol. For this, he bought three pistols.
It is alleged that Sharad bullied these 5-6 junior gang members every now and then. He regularly used to abuse them. Consequently, all of them developed an enmity with Sharad. Munna’s Mama who brought him into the gang, along with other accused avenged the old dispute. In his Instagram bio, the accused mentions about their special flare for Pahelwani and his mama runs an akhara.
Additionally, eight days ago, Sahil alias Munna Polekar and Sharad Mohol had an argument over a land dispute. Sharad Mohol is from Mulshi taluka. Mutha is the village of Sharad Mohol. Sharad has big land at this place. There is also a land of Polekar adjacent to Sharad’s land, there was a fight between the two for a few days about the purchase and sale of this land. A few days ago, Sharad Mohol even called Munna Polekar and beat him up.
On Friday, the accused decided to kill Sharad Mohol. Munna Polekar was with Sharad Mohol that day too. Sharad Mohol came out of his house in Sutardara at around twenty minutes past one o’clock in the afternoon. As it was his wedding anniversary, the accused took this opportunity to kill him. As per reports, Munna Polekar was the first one to fire shots at Sharad Mohol as soon as he came out of the house.
After firing shots, the accused fled in two four-wheelers. After reaching the spot, the police identified the accused with the help of CCTV in the area and through social media. The Police intercepted the car with plate number MH12YO9500 in which the accused had escaped. Within a few hours, the crime branch police arrested all these accused.
Meanwhile, it has now come to light that Police have arrested lawyers who were allegedly guiding the accused. The arrested lawyers have been identified as Ravindra Pawar and Sanjay Uddan. Both practice law in Shivaji Nagar sessions court. The crime branch team arrested the duo along with other accused in the Mohol murder case on Friday night.
The resemblance with the Mulshi Pattern
The killing had a striking similarity with what transpired in the Marathi movie, ‘Mulshi pattern’. In the film, Nanya Bhai grabs the land of Rahul when he is 17 years old. Rahul then grows up to be a gangster and joins Nanya’s gang. On finding the right opportunity, he kills Nanya just after his birthday. Ironically, to gain Nanya’s trust, he grabs the land of another farmer – the son of that farmer eventually goes on to kill Rahul.
In reality as well, in the 1990s and 2000s, many gangs in Pune used to collect ransom from various businessmen and entrepreneurs. Adolescent teenagers from various wrestling akharas of villages near Pune were directly recruited into these gangs. Paud, Pirangut, and Mulshi areas led in numbers in these gangs.
The official websites of the Maldivian President, the Foreign Ministry, and Tourism Ministry went down hours after Maldivian social media was replete with denigratory posts attacking India, Indians, and PM Modi over his visit to the Lakshadweep Islands.
The official websites are down and cannot be accessed at the moment.
BIG: Maldives President, Foreign Ministry and Tourism Websites go down and are unreachable. Development hours after Maldives Government sponsored trolls attacked India and Indian Government with vile remarks even after years of Indian Govt support to Maldives. pic.twitter.com/6AqirqNlnm
The Maldivian media has reported that the websites are unreachable in a suspected cyber attack in the wake of a social media attack by a pro-Maldives account, denigrating India and Indians over PM Modi’s Lakshadweep visit.
Not just social media users, but ministers and prominent citizens too have weighed in on the controversy, using uncharitable and deplorable language for India, Indians, and PM Modi.
Maldivian minister, social media users attack India, PM Modi over visit to Lakshadweep
Earlier today, Mariyam Shiuna, Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts, recently made insulting remarks against PM Modi, referring to him as a ‘clown’ and a ‘puppet of Israel’ after he posted pictures from his visit to Lakshadweep Islands.
“What a clown. The puppet of Israel Mr Narendra diver with a life jacket #VisitMaldives,” Shiuna tweeted.
On Friday, January 5, Zahid Rameez, a Council member of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) took to the microblogging site X to mock Indians. The PPM member’s highly racist remark against Indians came in response to a post by popular X user Mr Sinha, where he shared pictures of PM Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep and hailed the islands as a viable option to Maldives.
Responding to a tweet posted by a user @MrSinha_, Zahid Rameez tweeted, “The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Lakshadweep visit on 4th January triggered outrage among some Maldivian social media users and certain politicians. PM Modi shared some images of his trip on social media, after which several Indians commented that Lakshadweep could be a rival of Maldives in tourism, and Indians could visit the islands instead of Maldives. Many people from Maldives, including politicians and ministers, have started an online, abusing India and Indians. In response, several Indian social media users have highlighted the 1988 episode where India prevented a coup attempt in the Island nation.
Maldives is such a powerful nation that in 1988 it had fallen to just 100 gunmen. Indian Army and Navy had to launch Operation Cactus to save it. Healthy competition in tourism is fine but Maldivian radicals need to watch their words.
The article recalls the events that transpired in the first week of November 1988, when Indian troops intervened and saved the democratic setup in the neighbouring Island nation. They thwarted a coup attempt on the archipelago within hours of receiving an SOS message from the then President of Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. Notably, the coup attempt was done with the help of just around 400 armed men including militants from Sri Lanka, and the Maldives president had gone into hiding before he was rescued by Indian commandos.
Swift Operation Cactus saved Maldivian democracy
Maldivian President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom who served for 30 years, assumed office in 1978 at a time when the Island nation was gripped in economic troubles and political instability. His government suffered three coup d’état attempts in 1980, 1983, and 1988. However, the last one could have sealed the fate of Maldivian democracy if India hadn’t intervened swiftly.
On 3rd November, around four hundred gunmen of the People’s Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), a militant Lankan Tamil organisation, along with a few Maldivian locals launched a predawn coup attempt against the Maldivian President. Additionally, some assailants had infiltrated Malé earlier in the disguise of visitors. As per the Indian Navy, the assailants who attempted the coup were around 300-500 strong in numbers.
Later it was revealed that the 1988 attempted coup was the brainchild of Maldivian businessman Abdullah Luthufee and Ahmed “Sagaru” Nasir. They were supported by Uma Maheswaran, leader of PLOTE.
After months of preparations, the PLOTE fighters and disgruntled Maldivian rebels arrived in Malé aboard a couple of Lankan freighters. They were armed with heavy machine guns, AK-47s, grenades, and mortars. They quickly launched a targeted attack on strategic buildings and with minimal losses gained control of the capital, including the major government buildings, airports, ports, television, and radio stations. They also gained control over the headquarters of the NSS, Maldives’ sole armed force.
They also took the Maldivian Education Minister as hostage. However, by the time they reached the Presidential Palace where President Gayoom was residing with his family, he was escorted by the Maldivian National Security Advisor to the Defense Minister’s home and later to a safe house. By afternoon, the mercenaries had gained control over the entire Island nation.
In the meantime, President Gayoom sent requests for military intervention to India, the UK and the US. After receiving the request, India responded affirmatively and sent Indian troops within hours of his request. After India sent the troops, the governments of the UK and the USA said that they would not be interfering as India had already started operations.
The Indian High Commissioner to the Maldives, Arun Bannerjee was informed about the development at around 6.30 am when he was at his New Delhi home. At around 9 am, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi chaired a crisis committee meeting in South Block while the Indian Army headquarters had already been informed of a possible operation.
The 50th Independent Parachute Brigade camped in Agra was asked to carry out the operation under the leadership of Colonel Subhash C Joshi. At around 9.30 pm local time, the Air Force’s 44 Squadron, the vanguard of the Parachute Brigade, and the High Commissioner landed in Hulhulé, Maldives’ main airport in two Ilyushin IL-76s. At the same time, the Indian Navy also sent vessels towards Maldives. The Indian operation in the Maldives was named Operation Cactus, in which around 1,600 personnel including paratroopers participated.
The news of the arrival of Indian troops had an immediate chilling effect on the rebels who feared a resolute response from the Indian armed forces. They started fleeing to avoid their inevitable fate at the hands of Indian soldiers. The Indian soldiers immediately restored the Law and order situation upon their arrival on the Island nation and either neutralised or arrested the remaining rebels left on the Island. They secured President Gayoom by around 5 am on 4th November.
In his book Operation Cactus (2018), an Indian Air Force veteran involved in the operation, Ashok Chordia wrote, “The rebels — ignorant of the actual strength of the Indian troops — overestimated their numbers and were overwhelmed… they decided to abandon their mission and flee.”
Fearing that the Indian forces would pursue them on the high seas, Luthufee and other armed mercenaries hijacked a merchant vessel and took seven hostages including Transport Minister Ahamed Mujuthaba. They started to move towards Sri Lanka.
On Brig Bulsara’s orders, the Indian paratroopers launched an attack on the fleeing rebel ship and caused substantive damage to slow it down.
Afterwards, the Indian Navy took charge of intercepting the ship and executing the hostage rescue operation. Frigates INS Betwa (deployed from Kochi) and INS Godavari (returning from a friendly visit to Australia) were mobilised and assigned the mission of intercepting the escaping vessel before it entered the territorial waters of Sri Lanka. They caught the vessels ferrying rebels on 5th November.
When negotiations yielded no result, the Indian ships opened fire. Realising that their escape was impossible, the mercenaries laid down their weapons and surrendered. They were taken aboard INS Godavari.
(The mercenaries arrested during Operation Cactus, Image Source – The Quint)
(Image Source – The Indian Express)
As per reports, around 19 people mostly mercenaries were killed in the attempted coups. Around a few tourists were killed by the mercenaries. Around seven Maldivians and 68 Sri Lankan gunmen were arrested, interrogated, and put to trial in Maldives.
Maldivian businessman Abdullah Luthufee who masterminded the coup attempt and three others were given death sentences. However, it was later commuted at the request of Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi.
The majority of Indian paratroopers returned immediately after restoring the democratic setup in Maldives while some remained in Malé for over a fortnight. The operation deepened ties between the two neighbouring countries which however over the last few decades have seen ups and downs in the wake drop of some political forces leading the ‘India out’ campaign, in brazen pro-China bidding.
Meanwhile, India garnered global praise for Operation Cactus. US President Ronald Reagan described it as “a valuable contribution to regional stability”. Additionally, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher reportedly said, “Thank God for India: President Gayoom’s government has been saved”.
What triggered the recent social media showdown against anti-India Maldivian users
On 4th January, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared some pictures of his recent visit to Lakshadweep exhorting Indians to explore the scenic island in what could be seen as a push to his ‘vocal for local’ slogan. He also took part in some adventurous activities on the scenic islands and tried snorkelling. Taking to X, he also shared two underwater photographs of coral reefs and other marine life.
PM Modi’s effort to give a boost to tourism on the island is also seen as a snub to the Maldives, the island nation which under the new administration of Mohamed Muizzu has been cosying up with the Chinese regime. Soon after PM Modi’s Lakshadweep visit, the Google search engine showed a massive surge in hits on keywords like Lakshadweep and snorkelling.
Evidently, Google searches for snorkelling jumped by over 2000%, while the searches for Lakshadweep increased by around 350%. However, the surge for Lakshadweep in Indian social media led to a racial outrage from the Maldivian side which has triggered a social media showdown.
While PM Modi didn’t mention anything about Maldives and only posted photos of Lakshadweep, several Indian social media users commented that the union territory can be a rival to Maldives in tourism, given the similar landscape. However, a large number of Maldives citizens, including some politicians, didn’t like this comparison, and they ended up abusing and insulting Indians and PM Modi. Zahid Rameez, a Council member of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), made racist comments towards Indians, saying that Indians are dirty, and can’t provide services as Maldives does.
After that a Deputy Minister in the Maldives govt named Mariyam Shiuna personally attacked PM Modi, referring to him as a ‘clown’ and a ‘puppet of Israel’. She later deleted the tweet, which said, “What a clown. The puppet of Israel Mr Narendra diver with a life jacket #VisitMaldives.” In yet another post, Shiuna tweeted that the Maldives does not need the Indian Military’s presence in the island nation. Both the politicians were responding to a tweet by popular X user Mr Sinha, where he shared pictures of PM Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep and hailed the islands as a viable option to Maldives.
Mariyam Shiuna, Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts, recently made insulting remarks against PM Modi, referring to him as a ‘clown’ and a ‘puppet of Israel’ after he posted pictures from his visit to Lakshadweep Islands.
“What a clown. The puppet of Israel Mr Narendra diver with a life jacket #VisitMaldives,” Shiuna tweeted.
The post was deleted after backlash on X, formerly known as Twitter, where Indian social media users slammed the Maldives government officials, including Shiuna, for their crass remarks against the Indian Prime Minister for sharing pictures of his visit from the Lakshadweep Island. It is worth noting that PM Modi did not mention the Maldives anywhere in his tweets.
In yet another post, Shiuna tweeted that the Maldives does not need the Indian Military’s presence in the region.
Similarly, other officials and prominent personalities too have taken to social media, making obnoxious remarks against India and Indians. On Friday, January 5, Zahid Rameez, a Council member of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) took to the microblogging site X to mock Indians. The PPM member’s highly racist remark against Indians came in response to a post by popular X user Mr Sinha, where he shared pictures of PM Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Lakshadweep and hailed the islands as a viable option to Maldives.
Responding to a tweet posted by a user @MrSinha_, Zahid Rameez tweeted, “The move is great. However, the idea of competing with us is delusional. How can they provide the service we offer? How can they be so clean? The permanent smell in the rooms will be the biggest downfall.”
On January 4, PM Narendra Modi shared some pictures of his recent visit to Lakshadweep as he exhorted people to explore the scenic island in what could be seen as a push to his ‘vocal for local’ slogan, and an effort to give a boost to tourism in the island.
Recently, I had the opportunity to be among the people of Lakshadweep. I am still in awe of the stunning beauty of its islands and the incredible warmth of its people. I had the opportunity to interact with people in Agatti, Bangaram and Kavaratti. I thank the people of the… pic.twitter.com/tYW5Cvgi8N
Following PM Modi’s tweet posting stunning vistas from the Lakshadweep Islands, several social media users in India called for Indians to visit the place over foreign destinations, including the Maldives, which shares similar geographical characteristics as the Lakshadweep Islands. That touched off bitter reactions from Maldivian counterparts, including governmental functionaries and prominent citizens, many of whom resorted to making churlish remarks against India, Indians, and the Indian PM.
The discourteous outburst by Maldives ministers may likely have a bearing on the diplomatic relations between India and the Maldives, with the archipelago dependent heavily on India for tourism and the Indian military for its security requirements.
