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Maharashtra ISIS module: How ‘Educated’ radicals with good jobs wanted to spread terrorism in India, NIA chargesheet reveals

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra ISIS module: How ‘Educated’ radicals with good jobs wanted to spread terrorism in India, NIA chargesheet reveals

Shocking details have been revealed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in its charge sheet filed against six ISIS terrorists. The 4000-page charge sheet has been filed in the court of NIA Special Judge AK Lahoti.

In the charge sheet based on statements of 16 witnesses, the NIA detailed the activities of six arrested ISIS terrorists namely Tabish Siddiqui, Zulfikar Ali Barodawala, Sharjeel Shaikh, Aakif Nachan, Zubair Shaikh and Dr Adnanali Sarkar.

All six were arrested during NIA’s crackdown at different days on the Maharashtra ISIS module operating in Pune and Thane.

Accused are well-educated, had plush jobs & are “technically sound”

According to the charge sheet, the arrested terrorists are “technically sound”. Two of them were employed at senior positions in corporate firms.

Barodawala worked as a senior project manage in a multinational company with an annual package of Rs 31 lakh, Zubair Shaikh worked as a senior associate, technology angular on RPA (Robotics Process Automation) with a tech-based company. Sharjeel worked as a retainer in an IT firm.

This detail bears a scary resemblance to arrests made in the Hizb-u-Tahrir terror case too. Of the over 10 terrorists arrested by the Madhya Pradesh anti-terror squad (ATS), one was a gym trainer, a teacher, an auto driver, tailor, computer technician, businessman and software engineer.

Tabish Siddiqui

In 2015, Tabish came in contact with Barodawala. As per the charge sheet, the NIA first found access to an ISIS email ID was through the ISIS magazine.

Tabish sent an email to the terrorist group on 31st July 2016. On 25th February 2017, a reply was received that read, “good job update your contact details number and address we will be in touch.”

Between 2015 and 2017-18, Tabish and Barodawala had many meetings. They later took “Bayath” (pledge of allegiance) towards the Khalifa of ISIS.

ISIS eyeing Kashmir

The NIA has said that Tabish (33) visited Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir in 2018 and stayed there for a week. Tabish sent an email to ISIS to update the latter on the situation in Kashmir and elaborated to them the plan to establish ISIS in Kashmir.

“Do It Yourself (DIY)” kits

Tabish, as per the NIA charge sheet, had shared a PDF file of a “do it yourself (DIY)” kit titled “efficincy pdf” with an email ID belonging to ISIS.

Tabish shared information on how to achieve the efficient intensity for a particular volume of white powder or any good explosive substance.

“Tabish was using virtual number and Virtual Private Network (VPN) for communication with co-accused and Islamic State contacts on Telegram, WhatsApp etc,” the NIA said.

Tabish also sent ISIS content to his contacts through Telegram app and Facebook messenger. He was in touch with his ISIS handlers including a “Formula One” from February 2023.

Tabish had plans to travel to join ISIS. He had reporedly prepared content and Urdu translations for publication in a magazine run by ISIS.

Another piece of content titled “Istishadi Operation” was prepared claiming that it denotes a suicide operation. His targets were mostly gullible Muslims.

Terrorist magazines including “Voice of Hind” and “Voice of Khurasan” were also recovered from the arrested accused.

Several meetings held to hatch violent conspiracies

As per the NIA, the accused planned to commit terrorist activities across India in support of ISIS. Meetings were held for this purpose in Padgha-Borivali of Thane district between 2021-22.

The NIA said, “It is evident from the statement of witness that accused A-2, A-4 and A-6 (Zulfikar Barodawala, Sharjeel Shaikh and Akif Nachan) and others (including Shamil Nachan, who is accused in another NIA case) had several meetings in Chhoti Masjid, Padgha-Borivali, wherein they used to plan recruitment of gullible Muslim youth for the Islamic State (ISIS), furthering the activities of Islamic State propagating the ideology of Daesh i.e. ISIS and to carry out violent jihad on the land of Al-Sham.”

Investigations have reportedly exposed a complex web of individuals committed to propagate the extremist and violent ISIS ideology in India. The accused intended to strike fear among the people of India.

Funds were also being raised and the accused were recruiting and training some youth to make IEDs and small arms.

Poor youth targeted to make them join ISIS

One of the most sensational arrests in the Pune ISIS module case was that of Dr. Adnan Ali Sarkar, who was a practicing anaesthesiologist.

He was arrested on 27th July 2023 after an NIA team conducted a raid at his Kondhwa residence in Pune, just weeks after the arrest of Tabish Nasser Siddiqui of Mumbai, Zubair Noor Mohammed Shaikh alias Abu Nusaiba of Pune, and Sharjeel Shaikh and Zulfikar Ali Barodawala of Thane.

Documents recovered from his flats revealed that Adnan was recruiting vulnerable youths. It had details of linking poor youth with terrorist organisations.

Was the Jewish Community Center on target?

Photographs of Jewish Community Center in Mumbai were recovered from four accused exposing that Jews in India were also under the target of Islamic Sate.

Security of Chabad House in Colaba was increased by the Mumbai Police. The Chabad House was one of the targets attacked in he 26/11 terror attack.

The terrorists intended to conduct aerial blasts through drones, conducted mock bomb blasts

One of the most shocking revelations is that the terrorists conducted bomb blast tests in the forests of Pune, Kolhapur and Satara. They lived in tents in the forest and learned the technique of aerial blast through drones.

The web of the Pune ISIS module case

In July 2023, the Pune Police arrested Shahnawaz and two people from MP, Mohammad Imran Khan and Mohammad Saki in connection with the theft of a two-wheeler in Pune. Shahnawaz managed to escape.

Further probe revealed a larger Pune ISIS terror module case. Three terrorists namely Talha Liaquat Khan of Pune and Rizwan Abdul Haji Ali and Abdullah Faiyaz Shaikh of Delhi were in the Pune Police’s most wanted list.

Shahnawaz was then caught by the Delhi Police in October last year. It was revealed that Shahnawaz’s wife was a Hindu named Basanti Patel who converted to Islam and was known as Mariyam. The search for Mariyam and her sister is ongoing.

Shahnawaz too was a graduate from Nagpur’s NIT with a Btech in mining. According to the NIA, Shahnawaz has links with the Barodawala, who is reportedly the mastermind and financer of the Pune ISIS terror module.

Barodawala provided training and money to Mohammad Imran, Yunus and Shahnawaz. Moreover, Akif Atiq Nachan, the IED expert, had hidden Imran and Yunus. Mohammad Imran is a graphic designer.

Akid had stayed in the Kondwa flat of Imran and Yunus for several days in order to train them. He gave bomb-making training in 2022 and showed how an IED is made. Agencies are on the lookout for some other people who were part of the training too.

A reward of Rs 5 lakh was put on Imran’s head by the NIA in the case registered in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan. Additionally, a case was filed against Imran and his two associates at the Kothrud police station. Later, a case was filed against all accused under UAPA.

The extensive charge sheet exposes how ISIS has been launching all-out operations in India by consolidating all terrorist groups. It has also unleashed a web of darker radicals who are pursuing the dangerous trend of self-radicalisation.

I am not inclined: Gujarat High Court indicates no relief for ‘activist’ Teesta Setalvad, who manufactured the narrative of ‘mass graves’ after Gujarat riots

OpIndia Staff
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I am not inclined: Gujarat High Court indicates no relief for ‘activist’ Teesta Setalvad, who manufactured the narrative of ‘mass graves’ after Gujarat riots

On Monday (1st January), the Gujarat High Court indicated that it was not inclined to grant any relief to controversial ‘activist’ Teesta Setalvad in the 2005 mass grave digging case.

The matter came up for hearing before Justice Sandeep Bhatt. He noted, “After going through the record, I am not inclined. You have to satisfy (the court).”

Advocate Yogesh Ravani, representing Teesta Setalvad, claimed that it was a case of ‘political victimisation.’ He said, “It is the prerogative of the lordship. We will try to convince the court because no offence is made out. Ultimately, it is political victimisation.”

Justice Sandeep Bhatt then pointed out, “It is a very broad word used nowadays (sic). The case has been adjourned till 9th January 2023.

The Background of the Case

In December 2005, media reports stated that a mass grave purportedly comprising the human remains of 21 Gujarat riot victims had been dug up along a riverbank in Lunawada village in Gujarat’s Panchmahal district.

Rais Khan, an activist with Teesta Setalvad’s NGO Citizens for Justice and Peace, allegedly unearthed the graves without authorisation from officials on the morning of December 27. Some of the victims’ families were also present with him.

Following the discovery of the remains, Teesta Setalvad appeared on CNN IBN to disclose the finding, causing a sensation across the country. Following that, the National Human Rights Commission took cognizance of the discovery and requested a report from the state government.

An FIR was also filed against twelve people for unlawfully exhuming remains from the municipality’s “official” burial place. Rais Khan was also named in the FIR for assisting locals in excavating these dead bodies. The other 11 accused were local tribals and victims’ families who had commenced the digging.

Khan later informed the police that the exhumation took place on the directive of Teesta Setalvad, following which the latter’s name was included in the FIR. The controversial ‘activist’ had filed a petition in the case in 2017.

It must be mentioned that the unveiling of the mass grave site caused a stir across the nation. According to an affidavit from a journalist cited in the book ‘The Truth About Teesta Setalvad,’ Setalvad manufactured the narrative of the mass graves to create a sensation.

She immediately used her media contacts and leveraged them to advance her goal. According to the book, Teesta led the public into believing that the Gujarat government was involved in the mass burial of religious minority group members.

An excerpt from an affidavit submitted by a journalist who was present during the exhumation of the graves is cited. The Journalist’s words show how far Teesta went to twist facts and manufacture lies in order to back her bogus claims.

‘We lost our masjid and you can see what they are doing there’: Asaduddin Owaisi incites Muslims ahead of the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony

OpIndia Staff
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‘We lost our masjid and you can see what they are doing there’: Asaduddin Owaisi incites Muslims ahead of the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony

While the preparations for the grand consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya are in full swing, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi has given a provocative speech at an event organised at Madrasa-e-Arabiya Anwar-ul-Uloom in Hyderabad on 1st January (Monday). 

In his communally charged speech, he was heard inciting the Muslims against the central government and Ayodhya’s Bhavya Ram Mandir, the consecration ceremony of which is scheduled to take place on January 22, 2023.

His speech is going viral on social media. In the viral video, inciting the Muslim youth, Owaisi issued an appeal to the youngsters of the community to galvanise and inhabit mosques. Referring to the demolition of the disputed Babri structure at Ayodhya, he alleged that otherwise, Muslims would be bereft of Mosques and their mosques would be snatched away from them. 

In the viral video, Owaisi could be heard appealing to the Muslim youth to maintain their Milli Hamiyat (concern for community) and strength and keep their mosques populated (offer prayers in the Mosque). 

Inciting the youths of his community against the Modi-led BJP government at the Centre, he said, “Youngsters, I am telling you, we have lost our mosque and you are seeing what is being done there. Youngsters, don’t you feel any pain in your hearts?”

He added, “The place where we sat and recited Quran-e-Kareem for 500 years is not in our hands today. Youngsters, don’t you see that a conspiracy is taking place regarding three-four more mosques? In which the Sunhari Mosque of Delhi is also there. These forces want to drive you out of here. Want to finish you off.”

“These forces want to remove unity from your hearts. Why do they want this? Because Milli Geeraat should be abolished, Milli Hamiyat should be abolished. After years of hard work, we have arrived at our position today. You have to pay attention to these things,” Owaisi brazened it out. 

Addressing the gathering, Asaduddin Owaisi appeals to the youth of the Muslim community, ‘Maintain your Milli Hamiyat, your strength. Keep your mosques populated. It may happen that these mosques are taken away from us. I hope, Inshallah… these young men of today who will be the old men tomorrow… will keep their eyes ahead and think hard about how they can help themselves, their families, and their city, and save their neighbourhood. Unity is a strength, unity is a blessing.”

Owaisi emphasized that he hoped that today’s youth would think carefully about how to save the mosques. Owaisi also appealed to save madrassas. He said that our Ulemas were such that even when their funeral was held, people would accept Islam. What is happening today?

Further in his speech, Owaisi incited fear among the Muslim community and claimed that Muslims would have to answer Allah when doomsday arrived. He said, “Doomsday will come one day. Everyone will die but what answer will you give after death?”

Instigating the Muslim youth, he added that they should remember what face they will show to Allah after death. He asked youngsters to identify who wanted to destroy them.

Earlier, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) had sought public opinion on its proposal to remove the Sunhari Masjid in Delhi by January 1 adding that the mosque was causing traffic jams in the area. Referring to NDMC’s proposal, Owaisi claimed that the notification violates Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which grants the fundamental rights to freedom and religion. 

According to the AIMIM Chief Owaisi, it is both a heritage place and a place of worship.

He added that the notification violates Article 29 citing that the Article says that culture should be protected, it has been a part of the culture. Fanning the narrative of Muslim victimhood and alleging the government to be anti-Muslim, Owaisi asked why does BJP and Narendra Modi government hate Muslims so much? Why do they hate mosques? Why do you hate the sound coming from mosques?

BJP retorts sharply to Asaduddin Owaisi’s communal speech

Launching a scathing attack on Owaisi’s communally charged speech, BJP spokesperson Prem Shukla said that Owaisi’s statement is inflammatory and shows a feeling of betrayal towards Hindus. He said that the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya is being done completely under the constitutional system. He added that based on the decision of the Supreme Court, the birthplace of Shri Ram has been handed over to Hindus.

Meanwhile, the consecration ceremony of the Bhavya Ram Temple in Ayodhya is scheduled to take place on January 22. Preparations are underway in full swing for the event, which is expected to be attended by thousands of dignitaries and people from all sections of society. Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony.

Over 7,000 guests comprising 3,000 VIPs have received invites from the Ram Mandir Trust. There will also be an invitation sent to the families of the karsevaks who lost their lives in the temple movement.

Further invitees consist of 4,000 seers, writers, journalists, scientists, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) president Mohan Bhagwat, yoga guru Ramdev and esteemed figures from all around the nation.

With the 7th January elections approaching, should Hindus in Bangladesh prepare for far worse persecution? BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and challenge for Hasina

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
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With the 7th January elections approaching, should Hindus in Bangladesh prepare for far worse persecution? BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and challenge for Hasina

After 9-month’s bloody war, where three million Bengalis were butchered and 400,000 girls and women raped by the Pakistani occupation forces, on December 16, 1971, Bangladesh was born with the firm determination of being a secular country. Unfortunately, during the last 52 years, Bangladesh has been gradually slipping towards the identity of an ultra-Islamist country while there is growing fear of this South Asian nation becoming a neo-Taliban state. It may be mentioned here that, during the war of independence, Bengali Hindus were the worst-ever victims, as Pakistani occupation forces considered them as Kafir or infidels.

As the January 7, 2024 election approaches, there is growing fear within the Hindu populace in Bangladesh, as BNP, Jamaat and Islamist-jihadist forces in the country accuse Hindus of being supportive of Awami League and being its key driving force. Unfortunately, Awami League, which is supposed and expected to be protecting the Hindus in Bangladesh has also been accused of allowing persecution of Hindus, while according to several media outlets in India, Hindus in Bangladesh are “facing genocide” while the notorious Digital Security Act (now named as Cyber Security Act) has been used to “trap and jail many innocent Hindus”.

While the terminology “genocide” may be overstated – there is no argument about continuous persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh – irrespective of whichever party or force be in power. To understand the gravity of such continuous cruelty on Hindus in Bangladesh and how the country has been gradually heading towards ultra-Islamism, and antisemitism thus destroying its secularist fabric, it is important to understand the exact scenario that deserves the attention of the international media in particular.

A gruesome and horrible picture of Hindu repression is presented to the members of the media by a rights group in Bangladesh. The information said the members of the Hindu religious community have been subjected to various forms of torture and cruel persecution. This time, the ultra-Islamist Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and their ideological partner and ally – Jamaat-e-Islami (Jamaat) and pro-Islamist and jihadist forces including Hefazat-e-Islami (Hei) are trying to prevent the election and unseat Awami League government from power with visible blessings of Biden Administration. Since these ultra-Islamist and Hindu-hating forces cannot stop the elections, it is anticipated that they will start vandalism and terrorist acts targeting Hindus as had done in the past.

The statistics said, only in 2022, 154 members of the Hindu communities were killed, 849 have received life threats, and 424 have been attempted to murder while 360 have been seriously injured and 39 girls and women were raped in Bangladesh. At least 89,990 acres of land belonging to minority communities – mainly Hindus have been encroached on in the last year while 572 families were evicted from their homes and 445 families were forced to migrate to India.

Apart from this, a total financial loss of BDT 220 crore 89 lakh has been done to the minority community throughout the year.

Islamists have extorted BDT 27 crore 46 lakh and 33 thousand takas from Hindus. During this time, the minorities have suffered a total loss of BDT 22 crores and 89 lakhs of taka.

In 2022 alone, 319 Hindu families and temples were looted, 891 attacks on homes, 519 cases of arson and 173 attacks and vandalism on Hindu businesses took place. Around 57 Hindu houses, 50 business establishments and 51 temple lands were also encroached.

Despite Bangladesh’s one of the fundamental principles is secularism, the country has been inclining towards Islamism, Hindu-hatred and anti-Semitism.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its ideological ally Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and other Islamist forces in Bangladesh have chosen to boycott the upcoming election and resorted to destructive acts including blockades and terrorist attacks to destabilize the country’s law and order situation with the desire of toppling Sheikh Hasina and capturing power through undemocratic process.

As BNP’s anti-election attempts are faltering and there are speculations of the party being isolated and even going extinct, top brasses of the party are expressing anger at India for supporting Sheikh Hasina and ruling Awami League in holding the upcoming general election and ensuring its straight fourth term. This frustration is leading to a reassessment of BNP’s relationship with India, with instructions to mobilize anti-India and anti-Hindu sentiments to attract support from the Muslim masses.

According to media reports, BNP has decided to reevaluate its relationship with India as the neighbouring country is openly supporting the ruling Awami League in connection to the January 7 general election. BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has already instructed party leaders to mobilize anti-India and anti-Hindu sentiment in Bangladesh, as Tarique believes, such a move would help BNP attract enhanced support from the Muslim masses in the country.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told reporters that “with the unilateral support of India, Awami League is heading towards holding another voter-less election in Bangladesh. Delhi has snatched away the fate of Bangladeshi citizens and played a key role in killing democracy for its interest”.

He further said, “in the name of stability, India has extended its support to dictatorship”.

Reports suggest that BNP plans to launch a massive campaign targeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), using religious and nationalist sentiments to brand them as enemies of Islam and Bangladesh.

With such a nefarious agenda of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its Islamist allies, Hindus in Bangladesh may face extreme cruelties following the January 7 general elections, while BNP-Islamist cohorts and propagandists in the West may further intensify their notorious activities targeting Hindus and India.

According to media reports, a pro-Islamist individual and BNP propagandist named Zulkarnain Saer Sami, alias Zulkarnain Saer, alias Zulkarnain Saer Khan Sami alias Tanvir Md. Sadat, who after being deported from Hungary landed in the United Kingdom and sought asylum has been running activities against India, Hindus and Israel and in the recent past threatened to behead a Bangladeshi Hindu rights activist and professor named Kushal Baran Chakraborty and termed Rashtriya Swamsevak Sangh (RSS) as “top terrorists”. Prominent media outlet EuroNews reported that this notorious jihadist terrorist has been plotting attacks on the Israeli embassy as well as Jewish synagogues, homes and business establishments, while he also reportedly is plotting attacks on Jewish community members in Britain.

Zulkarnain Saer’s criminal activities are not confined to Bangladesh and Britain – he has also been implicated in transnational drug trafficking networks. He was expelled from Hungary due to his involvement in a series of illegal activities, which he conducted under the façade of running a restaurant business in Budapest. This establishment served as a nexus for individuals engaged in unlawful activities, including connections with the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah and the Palestinian terrorist outfit Hamas.

According to the Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium (TRAC), which is one of the most comprehensive compendiums of information and analysis of terrorist groups and activities in the world, jihadist Zulkarnain Saer Khan threatened to behead a Hindu rights activist and professor Kushal Baran Chakraborty in Chittagong, Bangladesh. It may be mentioned here that TRAC has listed Zulkarnain Saer as a jihadist terrorist.

Describing the notoriety of Zulkarnain Saer Khan, on June 25, 2022, Rashmi Samant, Hindu human rights activist and former president of the Oxford University student union tweeted stating: “Kushal Baran Chakraborty ji is a good friend and a well-known Bangladeshi Hindu Activist who is currently being dog-whistled by one the biggest Jihadi Pages of Bangladesh. They are posting everything from his address to his occupation to his regular routes”.

Reshmi Samant further wrote: “His crime? He has an old photo with @myogiadityanath ji and that is worthy of a death sentence in Bangladesh. One of the biggest jihadi pages of the country “Basherkella” has posted a long thread making blasphemous accusations”.

In a Facebook post dated June 27, 2022, pro-jihadist culprit Zulkarnain Saer Khan wrote:

The best thing about posting about Kushal Baran Chakraborty, a teacher at Chittagong University, about his involvement with the top cadres of the extremist organization RSS in India and its Hindutva propaganda is that it has become clear that Kushal is in fact their best friend.

Kushal is now giving “dharna” to people who are involved in RSS and Hindutva propaganda in different places and sharing various news about me published with the help of Bangladesh government and asking people to post them again.

With such intelligence, it is difficult to come up with RSS propaganda. He has approached an individual who had to resign as president of the Oxford University Student Union over racist posts. The woman [Rashmi Samant] is so smart that she is sharing the news of the propaganda newspaper Blitz on her verified Twitter [account] stating I have threatened Kushal!

Mr. Kushal can meet individuals like Yogi Adityanath, RSS hoodlum Keshab Prasad, Sanatan Vidyarthi with the secret plot of spreading Hindutva propaganda in Bangladesh and writing about this causes problem?

It may be mentioned here that, Sami maintains links with several jihadist outfits including Hizbul Mujahedin, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Pakistani spy agency Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI).

For the last several weeks, BNP propagandist Zulkarnain Saer Khan has been continuously publishing anti-India posts giving instigation to attacking Hindus in Bangladesh for “supporting Awami League” and serving “New Delhi’s agenda”.

Commenting on the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, Sumit Ganguly in an article in Foreign Policy magazine wrote, “Bangladesh’s Muslim majority has long had a divided identity. On the one hand, Bangladeshis are attached to the Bengali language, which is largely seen as a source of shared cultural pride. Linguistic discrimination more than any other factor led the nation into its 1971 independence war. (People in Pakistan, then West Pakistan, predominantly speak Urdu and Punjabi.) On the other hand, Islam has uniquely permeated present-day Bangladesh. It arrived in what was then the province of Bengal relatively late: around the 13th century, well after the Muslim conquests of present-day Pakistan and northwestern India. Unlike elsewhere on the subcontinent, Muslim rulers in Bengal introduced their religion slowly. The peasantry adopted their agricultural technology, their values, and eventually their faith—absent the orthodox norms common in other parts of the Islamic world.

However, Bangladesh’s moderate version of Islam began to shift in the 1980s, in part because of the growing influence of Wahhabism. Saudi funds enabled the building of madrassas (religious schools) and mosques, as well as supported radical imams. At the same time, many Bangladeshis travelled to the Persian Gulf in the wake of the 1970s oil boom, becoming exposed to a more rigid version of Islam. They returned to Bangladesh flush with their earnings and newfound religious zeal. The country’s largest Islamist political party, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, likely courted these returning expatriates.

Against this backdrop, several radical Islamist organizations emerged, particularly in the last two decades. Among the most prominent are Ansarullah Bangla Team, Hizb ut Tahrir, and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). These groups have attacked secular intellectuals, terrorized the Hindu community, and launched dramatic terrorist attacks, including in Dhaka, the capital. They have sought to intimidate those who dare to challenge their vision of Islam, including educators, journalists, and even politicians. Although the government has spoken out against Islamist extremism, its willingness and ability to crack down on these organizations has not been sufficient.

The Bangladeshi government’s track record does not offer much comfort in the wake of the recent violence. When the centre-right Bangladesh Nationalist Party ruled in an alliance with the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party from 2001 to 2006, the government was widely seen as unsympathetic to ethnic and religious minorities. Despite its secular values, the ruling Awami League party has not demonstrated any great commitment to protecting the Hindu community and other minorities. Barring a few constituencies, neither major party relies on minority electoral support.

Unfortunately, Hindus in Bangladesh do not have much choice. They cannot align with the ultra-Islamist and pro-Pakistan Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) or its jihadist cohorts Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat-e-Islam etcetera. On the other hand, though they cannot have confidence in the Awami League, still they remain in the frying pan instead of jumping into the fire. Politicians continue to shed crocodile tears in favour of Hindus, despite the fact, that a large number of them are directly or indirectly responsible for grabbing Hindu properties and or remained silent on ongoing Hindu persecution in Bangladesh. Still, Hindus in Bangladesh shall vote on January 7, without knowing – what fate awaits them following this election.

‘Ayodhya’s Ram is BJP’s Ram, our Ram is CM Siddaramaiah’: Congress leader in Karnataka

ANI
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‘Ayodhya’s Ram is BJP’s Ram, our Ram is CM Siddaramaiah’: Congress leader in Karnataka

Congress leader and former Karnataka minister, H Anjaneya, stoked a major controversy on Monday, equating Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with Lord Ram.

Further ruffling feathers in the saffron camp amid the feverish anticipation around the grand opening of the Ram Temple on January 22, the Congress leader said the idol to be installed inside the sanctum sanctorum in Ayodhya would be ‘BJP’s Ram’.

The minister’s remarks close on the heels of the CM’s statement earlier this week that since he hasn’t received a formal invitation to the consecration ceremony at the Ram Temple this month, he has yet to decide on attending the event.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Anjaneya said, “He (Siddaramaiah) is our Ram. Why should he visit Ayodhya for the consecration event? He could pay obeisance at his native village which has a Ram temple.”

“Why should he go there (Ram Temple in Ayodhya)? The idol that is to be installed there is the BJP’s Ram. They are only sending out invites to BJP people and singing bhajans (devotional songs). So, let them do that. Our Ram is everywhere, he’s in our hearts,” the Congress leader added.

Further accusing the BJP of dividing people along the lines of religion and communities, the Congress leader said the ruling party wasn’t prioritising the larger ‘social issues’ that the country is grappling with.

“The BJP always does this, dividing people on the lines of religion and community. They are aggressively wooing a particular community for votes at the expense of others,” Anjaneya said.

“They are talking big about raising the Ram Temple when homeless people in the country are literally living in the gutter. They are spending days and nights under trees. They should build affordable homes for them, give them a better life. Those would be the ideal Ram temples, as opposed to raising a shrine for votes,” the Congress leader said while speaking to reporters in Chitradurga on Monday.

Hitting back at the Congress leader over his statement, BJP leader Basanagouda Patil Yatnal cautioned him to speak of Lord Ram and other Hindu deities with respect and dignity.

“It is our misfortune that such idiots, anti-Hindu (leaders) have been our ministers,” Yatnal posted on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple on January 22.

Preparations are underway in full swing for the event, which is expected to be attended by thousands of dignitaries and people from all sections of society.

The idol carved by sculptor Yogiraj Arun from Karnataka has been finalised for the consecration at the Ram Temple on January 22.

Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony.

According to the Sri Ram Janambhoomi Trust, arrangements will be made for 10,000-15,000 people. 

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

Maulana Tauqeer Raza, who made genocidal speeches against Hindu community, oversees preparations for ‘All India Muslim Mahapanchayat’

OpIndia Staff
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Maulana Tauqeer Raza, who made genocidal speeches against Hindu community, oversees preparations for ‘All India Muslim Mahapanchayat’

On Monday (1st January), radical Islamic preacher Maulana Tauqeer Raza Khan reached Gajraula city in Amroha district of Uttar Pradesh to oversee preparations for the ‘All India Muslim Mahapanchayat.’

As per reports, the communal event is scheduled to take place in the first week of February this year at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi. When Maulana Tauqeer Raza reached Gajraula, he was welcomed by his fellow co-religionists.

The Islamic hate preacher claimed that Dalits and other ‘marginalised groups’ would participate in the ‘All India Muslim Mahapanchayat.’ He said that efforts would be undertaken to end the atmosphere of hate in the country.

Maulana Tauqeer Raza lamented that all political parties have supposedly distanced themselves from the ‘Muslim society.’ Interestingly, the Islamic preacher who was mouthing platitudes about uniting the Indian society had previously made genocidal speeches against the Hindu community.

During a public meeting in Bareilly in January 2022, he was heard saying, “I want to warn my Hindu brothers that I’m scared that the day my Muslim youths are forced to take the law into their hands, you will not find a place to hide anywhere in India.”

Maulana Tauqeer Raza was seen issuing veiled threats over the death of two cow smugglers. He had also hinted that Muslims in India could start demanding a separate nation along religious lines.

The radical Islamic preacher had also warned of ‘street fight’ with Hindus over Gynavpai mosque, which has been built atop a Hindu Shiva temples in Varanasi. He had also sided with gangster Atiq Ahmed and falsely blamed Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath for his assassination.

Timeline of the proposed ‘All India Muslim Mahapanchayat’

A large congregation of Muslims was scheduled to take place at Ramlila Madian on the 29th Oct this year. Initially, the organisers of the communal event ‘All India Muslim Mahapanchayat’ even succeeded in getting permission from the Delhi police by dubbing it as ‘education about constitutional rights.’

When the police discovered the communal nature of the ‘All India Muslim Mahapanchayat,’ they revoked the permission granted to MSC. The organisers then moved the Delhi High Court, only to be told to re-schedule his event after the Hindu festive season was over.

The event was then rescheduled from 29th Oct to 4th Dec. Delhi police turned down the request, highlighting that it had already granted permission to an organisation named ‘Maha Tyagi Sewa Sansthan’ (which sought NOC two days before MSC).

The organisersyet again moved the Delhi HC, following which the court asked the MCD and the Delhi police to provide a date that is convenient for organising the ‘All India Muslim Mahapanchayat.’ As such, the event was postponed to 18th December, 2023.

But it was deferred yet again after the organisers failed to provide a written assurance to the Delhi Police about the safe and smooth conduct of the event. ‘All India Muslim Mahapanchayat’ is now scheduled to take place in first week of February 2024.

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia and Iran officially become BRICS members, 2024 summit to be held in Russia’s Kazan

OpIndia Staff
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Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia and Iran officially become BRICS members, 2024 summit to be held in Russia’s Kazan

5 new countries, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Iran, and Ethiopia have officially joined BRICS on 1 January 2024, as per reports. The membership initiation process started in August 2023 in South Africa and was formalized on Monday and the 5 new nations were welcomed into the bloc has Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa as initial members.

At the South Africa BRICS summit in August this year, invitations were extended to some nations and some nations had expressed interest in joining the group of emerging powerful economies. The Johannesburg summit had formally invited these 5 nations to join, as per reports, registering their economic potential and geostrategic positions.

It is notable here that in the Johannesburg summit, Argentina was also invited to join, as Argentina’s former government had expressed an interest in making the country a BRICS member. However, Javier Milei, the new President of Argentina, had decided to withdraw the BRICS application. Milei’s policies are more USA-centric.

It is notable here that with the beginning of 2024, President Vladimir Putin of Russia has taken over the rotating leadership of BRICS. this year. The next BRICS summit is going to be held in Kazan, Russia in October 2024, and Russia has planned to host over 200 economic, social and political events around it.

The BRICS leaders have been assertive about the fact that the world is becoming multipolar, and a growing number of nations are seeking alternatives to the current order where the West, led by the USA, seeks dominance.

Speaking in the Johannesburg summit in August, PM Modi stated that with the inclusion of the new members, BRICS will be able to infuse new momentum and new energy into the bloc’s cooperation. He noted that India has had very deep and historic relations with the new BRICS members, adding that new dimensions will be also added to the bilateral cooperation.

Together the BRICS nations account for 42% of the global population, more than 3 billion people. They account for over 26% of the global economy and have a combined GDP of over 23 trillion USD. The BRICS nations control over 30% of the world’s territory and 18% of global trade.

With Saudi Arabia and UAE as members, the BRICS now includes the largest and strongest economies of the Arab world in its sphere.

It is notable here that over 40 nations had applied to join BRICS this year. A detailed explainer of the group’s founding, goals, and strategies in the current geopolitical scenario can be read here.

Senior national wrestling camps to commence on February 9, announces Indian Olympic Association’s ad-hoc panel

OpIndia Staff
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Senior national wrestling camps to commence on February 9, announces Indian Olympic Association’s ad-hoc panel

On 1st January (Monday), the Indian Olympic Association-constituted ad-hoc panel for Wrestling announced that the national wrestling camps for men and women will commence in Sonepat and Patiala respectively from 9th February.

The camps will begin almost immediately after the senior National Championships in Jaipur concludes on 5th February in the wake of the Asian Olympics Qualifying and World Qualifying tournaments which would be around the corner by that time.  

The three-member ad-hoc panel, led by Wushu Association of India chief Bhupender Singh Bajwa, former hockey player MM Somaya, and ex-shuttler Manjusha Kanwar, has been assigned to make critical decisions for wrestling sports. Notably, the IOA-constituted panel took charge after the Sports Ministry suspended all activities of the newly-elected Sanjay Singh-led Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) body, just three days after the polls. 

In a statement, the panel head Bhupender Singh Bajwa said, “Following the conclusion of the Senior National Championships, the National Coaching Camp (NCC) will be conducted. The men’s camp (Greco-Roman and free-style) will be stationed at SAI NRC Sonepat, while the women’s camp will be held at SAI NSNIS, Patiala.” 

The national camp will select medalists from 30 weight divisions, covering senior freestyle, Greco-Roman, and women’s categories, based on their performance in the senior Nationals in Jaipur. The camp is scheduled to be conducted by the Railway Sports Promotion Board from February 2nd to 5th. 

Bajwa added, “The camp will extend until the 2024 Paris Olympics and its primary focus would be to train the grapplers for the upcoming Olympic Qualifying tournaments. These tournaments include the 2024 Asian Qualification Tournament set to be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, from April 19-21, and the 2024 World Qualification Tournament scheduled for Istanbul, Turkey, from May 9-12, 2024.” 

For a major part of last year, the national camps across different age groups were disrupted after several wrestlers led protests against former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. 

Singh was asked to resign on 20th January after allegations of sexual harassment by wrestlers Vinesh Phogat, Ravi Dahiya, Bajrang Punia, and his wife Sangita Phogat and Sakshi Malik and her husband Satyavart Kadian. His term was anyway ending, and he was not eligible to contest in the just concluded elections as he had already held the post for 3 terms, which is the maximum allowed.

Developments around WFI elections and Wrestler’s move afterward

On 24th December, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports wrote to the Indian Olympic Association to form an ad hoc committee to replace the newly-elected Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The decision came after the union sports ministry suspended all activities of the newly-elected body of the WFI. The ministry had instructed the WFI not to carry out any activities after it announced junior national championships in violation of norms.

Meanwhile, on the day when elections for the newly-elected Wrestling body concluded and Sanjay Singh was elected as its President, Sakshi Malik held a press conference. Unhappy with the election of Brij Bhushan Singh’s loyalist Sanjay Singh as WFI Chief, Malik announced her retirement from the sport. 

A day later on 22nd December, Bajrang Punia had announced that he was returning his Padma Shri award to Prime Minister Narendra Modi which was awarded to him in 2019. 

Subsequently, on 30th December (Saturday), Wrestler Vinesh Phogat returned her Arjuna and Khel Ratna Awards days after she had announced it through her X (formerly Twitter) account.

Islamists lie, blame Hindus for Muslim youth beaten in Kushinagar: Victim’s father tells OpIndia that Muslim youth beat his son the most, deny communal angle

Siddhi Somani
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Islamists lie, blame Hindus for Muslim youth beaten in Kushinagar: Victim’s father tells OpIndia that Muslim youth beat his son the most, deny communal angle

Islamists and the left-liberal cabal have begun attacking the local Hindu organizations in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh after a video of a minor Muslim boy being assaulted went viral over the internet. The boy in the video could be seen being assaulted by a group of individuals who Islamists claim belonged to the Hindu community. The Islamists further tried to give this incident a communal angle by claiming that all the accused persons who could be seen assaulting the boy belonged to the Hindu community and that they belonged to the Hindu Yuva Vahini.

However, it has come to the fore that 1 person among the mob of the accused individuals belonged to the Muslim community and that it was the Muslim community from the village who provoked the attack on the minor.

Islamists, including ‘journalist’ Ashraf Hussain, media outlet ‘The Observer Post’, ‘journalist’ Sadaf Afreen, and the organization like Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) claimed that two Muslim teenagers were ‘brutally assaulted’ by a group of men on 4th December. As per a media report, one of the victims was stripped naked, subjected to physical abuse, and forced into a pond on a freezing night. The two, according to the claimed reports, were taken to the village’s periphery by the attackers, who then threatened and physically abused them. The incident is said to have happened in the first week of December in the Ramkola village however, it came to the fore only after the video of the incident was made viral from a fake account. 

‘Journalist’ Sadaf Afreen meanwhile claimed that the attackers threatened to frame the two minors for molesting the sister of Nitin who has been named as one of the accused in the case. She also added that despite a complaint filed by the victim’s father, Aftab on December 27, the initial police response was reportedly neglectful.

Several other Islamist netizens furthered the same theory and claimed that the two students studying in the 9th grade were mercilessly beaten by a group of men allegedly belonging to the Hindu Yuva Vahini. The IAMC also blamed the police for not registering an FIR against the accused persons.

The media stories peddling the incident as a communal incident have also been liked by Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair.

Team OpIndia obtained the FIR copy of the incident to learn that the incident happened on 4th December in the Ramkola village of Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh. The FIR has been filed against Nitin Maddheshiya, Aditya Sinha, Aryan Sinha, Arjun, Yuvraj, Chandan, and four other miscreants as the accused, of whom, only four have been arrested. As per the father of the victim boy, the incident has no communal angle, and the other accused not named in the FIR are Rizwan, Irfan Ansari, and Sameer Ansari.

Though the FIR has been filed against 6 identified persons under sections section 147 (rioting — for assembly of five or more with the common intent to engage in violent conduct), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult), 506 (criminal intimidation), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement) of IPC, the father of the victim demands severe punishment against the Muslim individuals who also assaulted the victim and supported the accused on 4th December.

What happened on 4th December?

As per the FIR copy filed on 28th December based on the complaint registered by Aftab Alam, father of the victim boy, the accused persons threatened the boy and asked him to accompany them outside of the village. The accused then abused the victim and assaulted him saying that they would implicate him in a molestation case involving Nitin’s sister. “The accused assaulted the boy and abused him. They threatened him using a revolver and said that they would file a molestation case against my son involving Nitin’s sister,” the complaint by Aftab Alam read.

Team OpIndia talked to the father of the victim to verify the incident. Aftab Alam, while talking to OpIndia, denied any communal angle to the incident and said that along with Nitin and his associates, there were Muslim boys too who assaulted the victim. The accused persons not mentioned in the FIR are Rizwan, Irfan Ansari, and Sameer Ansari.

Rizwan spotted in the video as identified by Aftab Alam

Father of the victim confirms the minor was brutally assaulted by Rizwan and other Muslim accused

“This incident happened around 20-25 days ago. My boy studies at JP Intermediate College which is 15 km away from our house. The mode of conveyance used by my child is the bus. Nitin used to study with my child 2 years ago and they had engaged in some verbal brawl back then. The accused persons first assaulted my son’s Muslim friend and asked him to get my son out of the house. They told the friend to deceptively call my son and got him out of the house under the guise of some school job. They then threatened my child using a revolver and took him out of the village,” Aftab, father of the victim said while exclusively talking to OpIndia.

“I don’t exactly know why these boys were beaten but when I tried to find out what exactly happened, I learned that Rizwan, Irfan, and Sameer were also involved in the incident. Rizwan is the one who brutally assaulted my son. He can be seen in the video which is going viral over the internet. The other persons seen in the video are Aryan, Nitin, etc. He has also been caught by the police. I didn’t recall his name during the filing of the complaint. I later came to know that he was Rizwan. So his name is not mentioned in the FIR,” he added.

On asking why the Muslims assaulted the victim, the father of the victim reiterated that there is no communal angle to this case. “I don’t know what problem they had with my child. I have helped Rizwan so many times and I wonder why he must have assaulted my child. I renewed his passport twice for free and this is how he has returned the favour. I want strict action against these persons also,” he added.

The accused recorded a nude video of the victim and blackmailed him for money

The father also stated that the accused boys had recorded a nude video of the victim and were threatening him for money. “They asked for Rs 50,000 or amount plus or minus and threatened my son that they would viral the video given no money was provided to them. Days later when my son failed to give the money they made the video viral on social media. This is how the video went viral. It was posted by the accused,” Aftab was quoted as saying.

He stated that Irfan and Sameer Ansari didn’t beat the victim but they supported the accused persons. “On the next day of the incident, Irfan and Sameer invited the accused persons who assaulted my child to the village and deliberately extended their support to them. They drove the accused on the bikes with immense pride and demonstrated their power against us,” he said.

‘The case has nothing to do with Nitin’s sister,’ confirms the victim’s father

Further, while talking to OpIndia, the victim’s father also confirmed that there is no involvement of Nitin’s sister in the case. “The accused persons after assaulting my child asked him to keep shut and threatened him that he would be booked in a molestation case involving Nitin’s sister if he would open his mouth. It seems that it is Muslims who have provoked the accused persons to attack my son. Irfan, Sameer, and Nitin are friends. I don’t know the exact matter but I’ve heard that Irfan had created a fake account on Instagram in the name of a girl to lure my son. These people (Muslims from the village) have targeted my son because I think maybe they are jealous of us as a family. The police should thoroughly investigate the matter,” he said.

He added that some of the people are trying to give this incident a Hindu-Muslim angle. “All I demand is strict punishment against the accused, may it be Hindu or Muslim,” he concluded.

Media reports claim that the victim boy had proposed to Nitin’s sister which provoked the latter to create ‘chaos’

Several Islamists and media reports claim that the victim had sent some chocolates and proposed to Nitin’s sister and was accused of molestation by the accused. However, the father of the victim confirmed to OpIndia that the ‘girl matter’ is all false and that his son is being accused of what he has never done. “My son is innocent. He never proposed to the girl as claimed by several people in the media. I don’t know why my son was assaulted. Police should investigate,” he added.

Police confirm no communal angle in the case

Team OpIndia contacted the SHO Ramkola to learn that all the accused persons named in the FIR have been arrested. Earlier, the Kushinagar Police had shared a tweet claiming that 4 persons had been arrested. However, Ramkola Police exclusively informed OpIndia that all the accused persons named in the FIR have been arrested by the Police.

The Police further also confirmed to OpIndia that there was no communal angle involved in the incident and that further investigations in the case are underway. “All the accused persons will be strictly punished,” SHO assured.

Arun Yogiraj’s idol of Ram Lalla, the sculptor who had built Adi Shankaracharya in Kedarnath, finalised for installation in sanctum sanctorum: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Arun Yogiraj’s idol of Ram Lalla, the sculptor who had built Adi Shankaracharya in Kedarnath, finalised for installation in sanctum sanctorum: Report

On 1st January (Monday), the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Trust Kshetra reportedly finalised Arun Yogiraj’s idol of Ram Lalla for the Garbh Griha. As per reports, out of the three idols in the race, the idol carved by Mysuru-based sculptor Arun Yogiraj was selected for the prestigious installation in the sanctum sanctorum. Whereas, the other two idols will be placed in the temple at separate locations.

Earlier in the day, Ram Mandir Trust member Kameshwar Chaupal informed that all three idols were ready and there was no competition among the idols as all three idols will be installed within the Ram Mandir. 

“All three idols of Ramlala are ready and all three idols will be used in the temple…All three statues were necessary, the statues will be installed at three places. Keeping this in mind, all three statues have been made,” Chaupal told news agency ANI.

Strikingly, Arun Yogiraj from Mysore has used ‘Krishna Shila’ (black stone) from Karnataka to carve the Ram Lalla idol. Reportedly, Lord Ram has been depicted in the Bal Swaroop (five-year-old child). 

Krishna Shila is found in the vicinity of Karkala, a small town in Karnataka, approximately 60 kilometers away from Mangalore. According to the officials, the most attractive and durable sculptures are made with Krishna Shila as it is one of the finest stones used for sculpting. A trust official said, “The stone, weighing 10 tonnes, 6 feet wide, 4 feet thick, and almost one foot long, was specially brought from Nellikaru village in Karkala, almost a month ago.”

Notably, three sculptures were in the race to curve the best Murti for the grand consecration ceremony. 

Evidently, in May, General Secretary Champat Rai had said, “The construction work of the idol of Ram Lalla has started. Dr Ganesh Bhatt from Karnataka, Satya Narayan Pandey from Jaipur, and Arun Yogiraj from Karnataka are making idols at three different places on three different stones.”

Back then, the Trust officials had stated that the finest Ram Lalla idol would be placed in the ‘garbhagriha’, while the remaining two would be placed in another temple. The Ram Lalla idols had been curved based on the sketch of internationally acclaimed artist Vasudeo Kamath. He hails from Karnataka’s Karkala town and his paintings from the Ramayana series are acclaimed worldwide.

As per reports, the tailor, who has been creating outfits for Ram Lalla since 1985, has begun crafting a unique yellow dress for the consecration ceremony. The trust invited members of the tailor’s family to measure the finalised idol for the dress.

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