Two school going children were killed on Friday, 19th January, in the Banar area of Rajasthan’s Jodhpur as they were struck by a train while trying to run away from aggressive dogs chasing them. The tragic incident took place in the afternoon when Jodhpur Army Children Academy School students, 11-year-old Yuvraj Singh, and his cousin 9-year-old Ananya Kanwar, residents of Ganeshpura were leaving the school. The mothers of the two deceased children are sisters.
Both children bolted for their lives, according to the officials, after a neighbour’s pet dogs started following them. They both got on to a railroad track in order to protect themselves when a goods train struck them. They died within a short distance from the Banar Cantt train station, per the authorities.
The grieving family and locals protested and demanded that the dog owner be held accountable and immediate capture of the pets by a dog squad. The neighbourhood is dangerous, according to the residents, because the owner Omprakash Rathi maintains a lot of dogs in his home and these canines bark at passersby. A group assembled near the railroad tracks, laid out the bodies of the deceased, and called for severe punishment of the pet owner. The crowd offered support to the victims’ fathers who were in the army and are currently employed by a private company after retirement.
Najim Ali, Assistant Commissioner of Jodhpur Police said, “The police received a call around 2 PM regarding the incident and the team responded immediately. The families kept the bodies on the track as a mark of protest, which lasted for almost three hours. The police persuaded the families and requested them to allow the bodies to be taken to the hospital for a post-mortem.”
The Jodhpur Municipal Corporation (South) dog squad was contacted by the police team which hurried to the scene upon receiving information about the incident. The family members accepted the corpses when the dogs were apprehended by the dog squad. A case was filed and legal proceedings were initiated against the pet owner and his relatives. A municipal team was dispatched to remove four canines from the premises and place them at the municipal dog centre.
Hindu Sena activists on Saturday put a sticker of ‘Ayodhya Marg’ on the Babar Road sign board in New Delhi.
Vishnu Gupta, Hindu Sena National President, told ANI that the organisation has been demanding for a long time that the name of Babar Road should be changed.
“Hindu Sena had been demanding for a long time that the name of Babar Road should be changed after one of our great men. We have written letters to the Home Ministry and NDMC several times but no action has been taken yet. When Babar’s Mosque is no more in Ayodhya after the order of the Supreme Court, then what is the function of Babar Road in Delhi?” he said.
“When we see this road, it seems that even today we are living in the days of Babar. That is why we changed it to Ayodhya Marg,” he added.
However, the sticker was later removed by the Delhi Police.
Meanwhile, ahead of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of Shri Ram Lalla at Ayodhya’s temple and Republic Day, security has been heightened at Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad Railway Station.
The ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony will be held on January 22; while the country observes Republic Day on January 26. The state police, along with the dog squad, were seen carrying security checks at the Railway Station.
The idol of Ram Lalla was placed in the ‘Garbha Griha’ of the Ram Temple on Thursday amid joyous chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram.’
The idol is carved by Arun Yogiraj – a famed sculptor from Karnataka. The idol is 51 inches tall and weighs 1.5 tonnes. The idol portrays Lord Ram as a five-year-old child standing on a lotus also crafted from the same stone.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform rituals to mark the ‘Pran Pratishtha’, a team of priests led by Lakshmikant Dixit will lead the main rituals. Several celebrities and noted personalities have also been invited to the ceremony.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
As the Vedic rituals ahead of the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ (consecration) of Shri Ram Lalla at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir have entered their fifth day on 20th January, the ‘Garbh Griha’ (sanctum santorum) will be washed with the holy water of Saryu River. In the Garbh Griha, the idol of Ram Lalla was installed on Thursday. Following this, the ‘Vaastu shanti’ and ‘Annadhivas’ (food abode) rituals will be performed. Moreover, ‘Sharkaradhivas’ (sweets abode) and ‘Phaladhivas’ (fruit abode) will be performed in the morning; and the evening will witness ‘Pushpadhivas’ (flower abode).
As per Vedic rites, ‘Vaastu shanti’ is performed to obtain peace from the elements of sky, water, earth, fire, and air, all of which are significant in the Vaastu shastra. The Vaastu Shanti is performed to eradicate any negativities that may linger in the new abode even after the Vaastu puja was performed on 18th January.
On 21st January, the temple will close for ‘darshan’ as the ‘Madhyadhivas’ ritual of Ram Lalla will be conducted. The child form of Lord Ram will be bathed with 125 urns, followed by the ‘Shayadhivas’ ritual.
Speaking about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 11-day ‘anushthan’ before ‘Pran Pratishtha’, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Chief Priest Acharya Satyendra Das said, “The person who does ‘anushthan’ has to sleep on the floor, does not speak lies, chants mantras like ‘Gayatri mantra’, has to eat on a leaf and follow ‘Brahmacharya’…”
#WATCH | On PM Modi's 11-day 'anushthan' before Ram Temple 'Pran Pratishtha', Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Chief Priest Acharya Satyendra Das says, "The person who does 'anushthan' has to sleep on the floor, does not speak lies, chants mantras like 'Gayatri mantra', has to… pic.twitter.com/lPmpH4ndZz
According to an X post by Shri Ram Mandir Teertha Kshetra, “Generally, there are Seven Adhivasas in Prana Pratistha ceremony, and a minimum of three Adhivasas are in practice. There will be 121 Acharyas conducting the rituals. Shri Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid Ji will be overseeing, coordinating, anchoring, and directing all the proceedings of the Anushthan, and the principal Acharya will be Shri Lakshmikant Dixit of Kashi.”
Details of Prana Pratishtha and Related Events:
1. Event Date and Venue: The auspicious Prana Pratishtha yoga of the Deity of Bhagwan Shri Ram Lalla arrives on the approaching Paush Shukla Kurma Dwadashi, Vikram Samvat 2080, i.e., Monday, the 22nd of January 2024.
2. Scriptural…
— Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra (@ShriRamTeerth) January 15, 2024
On Friday, the holy fire was lit, followed by the establishment of ‘Navagraha’ and a ‘Havan’. The ongoing week-long ceremonies, which began on Tuesday (16 January), will culminate in the grand event on the 22nd of January. Following that, the temple will be open to the public for ‘darshan’ from the next day (23rd January).
Govind Dev Giri, a member of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust, stated on Friday that the ‘Netronmelan’ (unveiling of Ram Lalla’s statue) will take place by adding honey to a gold bar.
As reported earlier, the photographs of the idol of Lord Ram installed in the Garbhagriha of Ram Mandir surfaced on 19th January which exhibit its delicate and complex structures. The Ram Lalla idol was installed on the marble mandapa in the sanctum sanctorum on 18th January, ahead of the consecration ceremony on 22nd January. The first photo of the deity which was covered with a white veil was revealed during the placement ceremony on 18th January.
Ahead of the consecration ceremony of Ram Mandir, school students were seen dancing on Shri Ram Bhajans in Nagpur city of Maharashtra.
In a video posted by ANI, the students were seen dancing to the tunes of the songs ‘Bharat ka bacha bacha’ and ‘Aaj Galli Galli Awadh e sajayenge’.
They were led by a female instructor and the students were seen religiously following her lead.
#WATCH | Nagpur, Maharashtra: School students dance on Shri Ram bhajans ahead of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Pran Pratishtha ceremony. pic.twitter.com/nMmAX718fl
Earlier on Thursday (18th January), the Ram Lalla idol was installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram Mandir. Photographs of the idol of Lord Ram installed in the Garbhagriha of Ram Mandir surfaced on Friday (19th January) which exhibit its delicate and complex structures.
The idol is crafted from ‘shyamal’ (dark) stone which shows the Lord Ram as a five-year-old boy standing on a lotus composed of the same stone.
The 150 kg and 51-inch idol, sculpted by popular Mysuru artist Arun Yogiraj, was brought to the temple on the night of 17th January accompanied by the chanting of prayers.
The idol’s left hand has the pose of holding a bow, which has not been placed yet. However, an image of the idol taken outside the temple shows Ram Lalla holding a bow and arrow. The Pram Pratishtha of the idol installed on the mandapa will be during the auspicious ‘Abhijeet Muhurta’ from 12.20 pm to 1 pm.
Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid, a priest and Vedic scholar from Kashi will lead and manage a group of 121 acharyas who are in charge of executing the ceremonies preceding the major event.
Laxmikant M Dixit from Kashi has been named as the principal acharya who is descended from the distinguished Kashi scholar Gaga Bhatt of the 17th century who headed the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj around 350 years ago in 1674.
On Friday (19th January), the Delhi High Court ruled that an individual, who undergoes a religious conversion to marry someone from a different faith, must submit an affidavit declaring their awareness of the consequences and implications. The affidavit must specifically talk about divorce, custody, succession, and religious rights. The Court has provided comprehensive guidelines for authorities to adhere to in marriages following conversion. Additionally, the Court outlined procedures for recording statements of sexual assault victims under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma gave this verdict.
What did the Delhi High Court say in its order
The High Court emphasised that the primary necessity in the religious conversion process for the sake of marriage is to guarantee informed consent and a thorough comprehension on the part of the individual undergoing the conversion. The Court said, “To achieve this, it becomes paramount to furnish and inform the individual with exhaustive information concerning the religious doctrines, customs, and practices associated with the chosen faith, which includes an explanation of the tenets, rituals, and societal expectations inherent in religious conversion, to ensure that consent to such conversion is an informed consent, given after fully understanding the consequences of such action.”
The High Court further said, “The same be in Hindi as well where the language spoken and understood by the prospective convert is Hindi, in addition to any other language preferred to be used by such authority. Where the language spoken and understood by the prospective convert is other than Hindi, the said language can be used.”
The High Court further noted, “An affidavit regarding age, marital history and marital status and evidence of the same shall also be furnished and the affidavit shall also say that the conversion is being undergone voluntarily after understanding the implications and consequences related to marital divorce, succession, custody and religious rights, etc.”
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma clarified that these instructions do not extend to individuals reverting to their original religion, as they are already familiar with their initial faith. The Court additionally stated that these guidelines do not pertain to marriages conducted under the Special Marriage Act, of 1954.
She added, “These guidelines are for ensuring well-informed decision on the part of the naive, uneducated, susceptible, adolescent couples who may enter into such unions after conversions, without fully comprehending the profound implications of such a conversion, the impact of which extends far beyond the immediate union, encompassing a myriad of consequences on their personal laws and various facets of life.”
What are the guidelines for recording Section 164 CrPC statements
The High Court also issued guidelines for recording Section 164 CrPC statements as follows: The statement should not be mechanically recorded and must be in a language understood by the victim. The victim should be presented before the magistrate promptly, and the Investigating Officer (IO) must identify the victim before recording the statement. The magistrate should engage with the victim, making age and education-appropriate inquiries to assess their competence, ensuring the voluntariness of the statement, and addressing specific details for accuracy.
Both preliminary inquiries and statements should be in the vernacular and avoid standardised templates. The victim’s words and descriptions of the sexual assault must be documented verbatim. The magistrate should append a certificate confirming the voluntary nature and accuracy of the statement, ensuring the victim’s understanding and obtaining signatures within the magistrate’s presence.
Guidelines issued after case involving Maksood Ahmad
The Court issued these directives when declining to dismiss the First Information Report (FIR) filed against an individual under Section 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), despite the subsequent marriage of the complainant and the accused. The petitioner, Maksood Ahmad, was represented by Advocate Shyam Kumar, while the State was presented by Additional Standing Counsel (ASC) Sanjeev Bhandari, along with advocates Kunal Mittal, Arjit Sharma, and Rishika.
In her complaint, the woman accused Maksood Ahmad of raping her on 24th September 2022. The FIR was officially filed on 18th October 2022. Notably, on the same day, 18th October 2022, the woman underwent a conversion to Islam and entered into marriage with Ahmad. After the marriage, the accused Ahmad was apprehended by authorities on 18th November 2022.
The woman said that she was divorced from her first husband during her marriage to Ahmad. However, the Court observed a lack of supporting documentation for this claim. Notably, Ahmad was already married when the complainant woman married him.
The High Court encountered a plea to quash the FIR, contending that the accused and the complainant are not legally wedded. The argument was based on the current status of the couple as husband and wife, living together with the woman’s two children from her first marriage. The woman also expressed her willingness to have the FIR quashed.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma emphasised that the complainant, at the time of marrying the accused, was not legally divorced from her first husband, making her ineligible for remarriage. The Court underscored that the mere occurrence of subsequent marriage between the complainant and the accused should not automatically warrant the quashing of FIRs in cases registered under Section 376 of the IPC.
The High Court said, “This Court also looks at such marriage with suspicion, and the bona fides of accused are also unclear, since the marriage in this case was immediately solemnized i.e. within a period of ten days of registration of FIR, after getting the religion of prosecutrix converted to Islam, and it cannot be ascertained at this stage as to whether the religious conversion in this case was with a bona fide intent to only marry the prosecutrix or to clandestinely project to the prosecutrix that now she was married to the accused and that both of them could now approach the Courts for seeking bail and for quashing of the FIR.”
On Friday (19th January), a man named Gopal Argal alias Gopal Ravan was arrested in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, for tearing a poster with an image of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. He also posted a video of his outrageous actions on social media. The poster seen in the video is a photo of Ram Mandir distributed by Vishwa Hindu Parishad members as a part of their “Akshat Nimantran” drive across the country.
Bheemta Gopal Argal, a supporter of Chandrashekhar Ravan has posted a derogatory video insulting Shri Ram Mandir and Pran Pratishtha.
A video of accused Gopal Ravan reading a poster of Lord Ram while using abusive language also went viral online. Upon learning about the derogatory video, the Hindu Sena, and numerous other Hindu organisations reached the police station. Subsequently, Chhotu Kushwaha of the Hindu Sena filed a complaint and showed the contentious video to Gwalior SP Rajesh Singh Chandel. As per his Instagram profile, the accused is a fan of Chandrashekhar Azad ‘Ravan’ of Bhim Army.
Meanwhile, Gwalior Senior Superintendent of Police Rajesh Singh Chandel said that on January 16, a Hindu Sena member filed a complaint, leading to the accused’s arrest for offences including hurting religious sentiments. “He was charged under Section 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code,” SP Chandel stated.
Notably, a similar incident was reported in Karnataka, wherein police arrested two persons on January 17 for tearing Shri Ram posters in Jahangir Mohalla and Gungunte Palya villages in the Kolar district. One of the accused was identified as Zaheer Khan. The CCTV footage showed the arrested individual Zaheer Khan cutting the banner with a sharp object at approximately 10:45 PM on January 16. These banners were erected to mark the celebration of the Makara Sankranti festival and the upcoming Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
On Friday (20th January), former cricketer and AAP MP Harbhajan Singh said that he will be visiting the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and seek blessing from Lord Ram. Underlining his faith in Dharma and criticising the political parties declining the invitation to Pran Pratishtha at Ayodhya, he said that if anyone has a problem with him visiting the temple they can do whatever they want. Harbhajan Singh emphasised that the temple being constructed now is a historic event and good fortune for all. He made these remarks in an interaction with ANI in Dubai.
When asked about political parties declining the invitation to Pran Pratishtha, Harbhajan Singh said, “Things said by political people is a different matter. But the right thing is that the temple is being consecrated. It is our good fortune that this temple is being built at this time – in our lifetime. So we all should go there and get the blessings. And I would like to say that irrespective of who goes there or not, I have faith in Lord Ram. I have a firm belief and I will go there.”
#WATCH | On opposition parties declining invitation to Ayodhya Ram Temple ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony, former Cricketer and Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh says, " It is our good fortune that this temple is being built at this time, so we all should go and get the blessings.… pic.twitter.com/YUAplDGMNk
The former cricketer added, “It is my stand irrespective of which party goes there or not. As an individual, I believe in Lord Ram. I will definitely go there. If Congress wants to go, they can go. If they do not want to go, they are also free to do that. The same applied to everyone else. And if anyone has a problem with me going to Ayodhya, they can do whatever they want. I am a strong believer in Bhagwan. Whatever things are happening in my life are all His Krupa. And therefore I will definitely go there and get blessings of Lord Ram.”
According to a report by ANI, Harbhajan Singh further said, “My good wishes to the people of the country. The Pran Pratishtha is going to take place. As many people as possible should join the event either in person or on television and seek blessings. It is a historic day. Lord Ram belongs to everyone. It is a big thing that the temple of Lord Ram is being constructed at his birthplace. Everyone should go.”
#WATCH | On Ayodhya Ram Temple ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony, former Cricketer and Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh says, " My greetings to people across the country…this is a historic day and Lord Ram is of everyone. A temple is being built on his birthplace, this is a big… pic.twitter.com/tOslDnP5rX
He added, “I will definitely visit the temple. I am a strict believer in religion and God. I visit every Mandir, Masjid and Gurudwara to seek blessings. I will visit the temple whenever I get a chance. There is no doubt about it. It is our fortune that the temple is being inaugurated during our lifetime. I congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under whose leadership the temple is being constructed.”
The idol of Ram Lalla was placed in the ‘Garbha Griha’ of the Ram Temple on Thursday amid joyous chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’. In a significant prelude to the upcoming ceremony, a special puja was held in the sanctum sanctorum before the idol was brought inside with the help of a crane on Wednesday night. The ‘Pran Pratishtha’ of Ram Lalla at Ayodhya’s temple will take place on 22nd January. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform rituals to mark the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ while a team of priests, led by Lakshmikant Dixit, will lead the main rituals.
Multiplex chain PVR INOX Ltd has decided to live-stream the historic Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Mandir on its cinema screens on January 22, 2024. PVR INOX has tied up with AajTak to broadcast the significant ceremony live across over 160 cinemas across over 70 cities in India.
The two-hour screening will take place from 11 AM to 1 PM on 22 January. The ticket price has been fixed at ₹100 plus applicable taxes for all categories of seats. Not just the screening of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, the ₹100 ticket also offers a complimentary popcorn and beverage combo.
Join us for a momentous occasion! Watch the live screening of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Inauguration at PVR and INOX on January 22nd, 2024.
Secure your seat for this monumental event and enjoy a complimentary popcorn combo with every ticket. *T&C applies.
Tickets for the screening can be booked through PVR INOX App, website and other ticketing platforms.
PVR INOX Co-CEO Gautam Dutta said, “Grand and historic occasions like this have to be experienced in a grand manner. The cinema screens will bring to life the emotions of a collective celebration across the country. It will be a privilege for us to be able to connect the devotees with this celebration in a truly unique manner.”
“We hope that we will be able to recreate the buzz of the temple, the auspicious chants, and the breath-taking visuals, bringing alive the magic of the most awaited moment in India’s contemporary history. Our commitment to providing a memorable and immersive cinematic experience extends beyond entertainment, and we look forward to sharing this historic moment with our patrons,” Dutta added.
Talking about the initiative, a spokesperson for AAJ TAK stated, “At AAJ TAK, our commitment to being at the forefront of historic moments remains unwavering. The collaboration with PVR INOX takes our mission to new heights, connecting millions in India during significant events like this. Whether it’s the Pran Pratistha in Ayodhya or other crucial moments, Aaj Tak continues to be the beacon for those seeking reliable coverage.”
The Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony will be broadcast live by DD News and DD National channels of Doordarshan. Other News Channels will carry the Doordarshan feed on their channels and web platforms including YouTube.
Doordarshan has installed 40 cameras at various locations in Ayodhya, including the Ram temple complex, to provide live coverage in 4K technology. Live visuals will also be shown from Ram ki Paidi near Saryu ghat and the Jatayu statue at Kuber Tila.
Apart from TV channels, the ceremony will be shown on big screens in big and small towns across the city. Various organisations have organised such screenings. Railways will screen the event on the TVs installed at the railway stations. The event will also be screened on big billboards at Times Square in New York. It will also be broadcast at Indian embassies and consulates worldwide.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries will attend the ceremony on January 22. The Ram Mandir complex will be open to the general public from January 23 onwards. The seven-day Pran Pratishtha ritual started on 16th January, with separate rituals taking place each day. The Ram Lalla idol was placed in the Sanctum-Sanctorum on 18th January.
On the one hand, Hindus worldwide are looking forward to Monday’s (22nd January 2024) Pran Pratishtha (consecration ceremony), which will take place at the birthplace of Lord Ram in Dharmanagari Ayodhya. However, the actions and statements of I.N.D.I. Alliance parties are hurting the faith of Ram devotees every day.
Recently, the Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav, the younger brother of Samajwadi Party patriarch late Mulayam Singh Yadav who was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh when the Ram Janmabhoomi movement was underway in the year 1990, made an audacious comment in which he defended the brutal killing of Karsevaks at Ayodhya on 30th October and 2nd November 1990 on the orders of his brother.
Shivpal Singh Yadav in his statement, offered ‘preserving the disputed structure’ as an excuse for the brutal open fire order passed by his brother and the Samajwadi Party patriarch then, which led to the death of countless Karsevaks. However, neither he nor any other party leader provided any explanation for the massacre committed by police in Sandpur, a village in Basti district which lies about 26 km from Ram Janmbhoomi.
Approximately a week before 30th October 1990, the police had entered the Sandpur village looking for Ram devotees and shot four residents. Ram Chander Yadav and Satyawan Singh passed away instantly followed by Jairaj Yadav while Mahendra Singh’s hands still bear bullet wounds. Members of all communities including general, scheduled castes and scheduled tribes as well as other backward class (OBC) women, children and elderly were brutally beaten after police opened fire on them. Their homes were pillaged.
The First Information Report (FIR) was lodged against forty villagers and serious sections were invoked against them and they were thrown in jail. Among them were the individuals who had to carry out the final ceremonies for family members murdered by police gunshots. The dead bodies weren’t allowed to enter the hamlet.
Pleas for justice were made at every door but to no avail. (Source: OpIndia Hindi)
Human rights are sought today even in response to the deaths of violent gangsters and terrorists. Action against authorities is also demanded. What makes this unique is that, despite months of pleading with the purported constitutional protectors, the complaint letters of the villagers went unanswered. Shivpal Singh Yadav is being questioned by all of the victims of Sandpur village about the fact that there was no court stay and no contested structure. Why, therefore, did the cops murder their family members?
OpIndia reviewed the 23rd October 1990 filed FIR. Let’s analyze the official complaint that was submitted the day following the massacre.
Police were the complainants and the 40 accused belonged to all castes
The complainant in this FIR is Ram Chander Rai, who was in command of the Dubaulia police station at the time. He named 40 locals from Sandpur, Hengapur, Tedhwa and other villages in the complaint recorded on 22nd October 1990. In addition to seven criminal acts, all of the persons were reported under FIR No. 132/1990 under Sections 147, 149, 307, 332, 333, 353, 224, 225, and 336 of the Indian Penal Code. The matter known as Government versus Rajkaran Singh is still pending before the Basti District Court.
FIR registered on 23rd October 1990. (Source: OpIndia Hindi)
Ramkaran Singh, Raghavendra Pratap Singh, Satya Prakash Singh, Raj Bahadur Singh, Arjun Singh, Shravan Kumar Singh, Surendra Kumar Singh, Subhash Singh, Mata Prasad Singh, Tirath Singh, Ram Naresh Singh, Gangaram, Dodhi, Bhukkur, Chandrabhan. Singh, Ram Shankar Srivastava, Bhunai, Giju, Radheshyam Yadav, Rajit, Nandu, Krishna Chander Singh, Kashinath Tiwari, Harivansh Singh, Haribhan, Surat Singh, Ram Sanware, Ram Surat Singh, Kole Singh, Shatrughan Singh and Jairaj Yadav along with others are named in it. Among them, Gangaraj, Dodhi, Bhukkur, Bhunai, Giju, Rajit, Nandu and Ram are from the scheduled caste community.
Police station in-charge was furious after hearing ‘Ram Mandir will be built there’
All of the blame had been assigned to the villagers in the formal complaint written by police station in-charge Ram Chandra Rai. He filed an FIR after learning that some persons had assembled at the home of “Vishva Hindu Parishad” (VHP) activist Ramkaran Singh in Sandpur village through an informant. Ramkaran Singh has been also charged with taking the boats from the riverbanks by force and bringing the karsevaks to Ayodhya. The police invaded the village around five in the morning based on this information. Ramkaran Singh reportedly announced, “Get everyone together. The construction of the temple will continue if the Hindus in every village share this zeal,” according to the police station in-charge.
Police station in-charge’s submission. (Source: OpIndia Hindi)
The police have claimed in the FIR that the people were preparing to take a boat to Ayodhya. Ramkaran Singh who was heading the group declared that he would go to Ayodhya under all circumstances when he was halted. The situation was described by the police as a threat of a breach of peace. According to the police, they then detained Ramkaran Singh and a few other collaborators in accordance with sections 151/107/116. A registration with the Ram Janmbhoomi seal attached was discovered during their search which was seized by the police as well.
Police station in-charge’s second submission. (Source: OpIndia Hindi)
According to the police, certain individuals managed to get away from them when they were apprehending the accused. Ramkaran Singh reportedly stated, “Call the villagers. The time has come to make a sacrifice for Ram Janmbhoomi,” as he was being escorted from the village. Around 2,000 villagers gathered with guns in their hands after they heard him, per the police. The villagers are charged with the complaint of hitting the police with sticks and stones and trying to take their weapons, based on police station in-charge Ram Chandra Rai.
Police station in-charge’s third submission. (Source: OpIndia Hindi)
Police station in-charge Ram Chander Rai further informed that additional force arrived amid the chaos after which the police opened fire on the villagers. Two villagers named Satyawan Singh and Ram Chander Yadav died on the spot due to bullet injuries. The FIR also mentioned that Jairaj Yadav was arrested while he was wounded. The police have also claimed that they had recovered a machete and cartridges from the deceased Satyawan Singh. The police station in-charge alleged that three of his personnel received serious injuries during the assault by the villagers.
Police made false allegations in their defence
On 23rd October 2018, the main accused Ramkaran Singh requested the then Law Minister of Uttar Pradesh government to withdraw the case. He, in his letter, then noted that the case was registered by the cops in their defence after the killings of the karsevaks. He added that only 23 people are still alive out of all the alleged perpetrators. The rest have died on different dates. The Law Minister was also told that the ones alive were not only financially broke but also unable to walk. The accused asserted that they had been falsely implicated and maintained that the case was registered out of political animosity.
Villagers requested to the Law Minister. (Source: OpIndia Hindi)
BJP MP demanded withdrawal of case
Harish Dwivedi, Basti MP for the Bharatiya Janata Party has also stated that political rivalry is the only driving force behind this case. On 23rd October 2018, he urged that the lawsuit should be withdrawn in a letter to the Uttar Pradesh government’s Law Minister. He encouraged the latter to drop the case against the accused and called them BJP members who are actively involved in the party. The parliamentarian highlighted, “On 22nd October 1990, during the Ram Janmbhoomi movement, two people were killed in police firing on unarmed karsevaks. Even after this, concerning the dismissal of the false litigation brought against the karsevaks by the government,” as the letter’s subject.
BJP MP appealed to the government to withdraw the case. (Source: OpIndia Hindi)
No action on those who showered bullets
A then-Army Major filed a complaint regarding the police violence with the Indian Police Service (IPS) Subhash Chandra Gupta, the Basti Superintendent of Police on 22nd October 1990. Musafir Singh identified himself as a resident of the village Sandpur. He insisted that a murder case ought to be brought against the accused police officers. Ramkaran Singh remarked that despite this plea, no action was taken against the implicated cops. The Superintendent of Police Basti received multiple petitions on behalf of the deceased, however it went in vain. The bereaved relatives still possess proof of their entreaties.
A letter of complaint written by an Army Major against accused policemen in 1990. (Source: OpIndia Hindi)
Demand for action on everyone from SP to constable
The villagers continue to own the names of police officers against whom a murder case has been demanded. They were identified as Ram Chander Rai (then in-charge of police station Dubaulia), Dayashankar Singh (then in-charge of police station Canton), Sub-Inspector Sriram Arun alias Siyaram Arun, Sub-Inspector Surender Rai, Constable Radheshyam, Constable Ramnath Ojha, Constable Muralidhar Dubey, Constable Om Prakash Gaur, Constable Rama Nayan Yadav, Constable Brijanandan Singh, Constable Ashok Kumar, Constable Harishchandra and 12 other unknown constables who reportedly had rifles in their hands.
The now-deceased MLA Rana Krishna Kinkar Singh also called for action against these police officers in his capacity as a witness.
Action has been sought against these policemen. (Source: OpIndia Hindi)
However, their requests had no impact whatsoever. Speaking with OpIndia, Rajkaran Singh stated that IPS Subhash Chandra Gupta, the then-Superintendent of Police Basti had ordered the killings. The locals hope that the Yogi government will prosecute all of the police officers who slaughtered innocent people and falsely accused them. Satya Prakash Singh has kept even the postmortem report of his brother Satyawan Singh in the hope of obtaining justice today or tomorrow.
However, the family of Ram Chander Yadav could not even see the face of the deceased for the last time due to the brutality of the police, therefore, his photograph doesn’t exist today.
Satyawan’s postmortem report is still preserved in the hope of justice. (Source: OpIndia Hindi)
Confiscated licensed weapons have not been returned to date
Rajkaran Singh stated that the police came to his village several times after the 22nd October incident. During this time the police not only looted women’s jewellery and money but also seized the licensed weapons of the innocent villagers. A petition dated 9th November 1990 by 69-year-old Jagdish Singh of village Sandpur is still present with the villagers in which he is pleading with the then District Magistrate of Basti district to return his licensed firearm which was taken away by the police.
Jagdish Singh, who claimed to be extremely ill in his plea in 1990 is no longer with us. His licensed weapon was not returned to him and no one knows about its whereabouts.
Jagdish died while requesting the return of his weapon. (Source: OpIndia Hindi)
Sold house, farm and jewellery to fight the lawsuit
The case registered under FIR number 132/90 is still going on in the court despite all the pleas of the villagers, former MLA Rana Krishna Kinkar and current MP Harish Dwivedi. Jairaj Yadav developed a drug addiction during his 33-year legal battle and ultimately passed away. Ramkaran Singh further asserted that over 23 defendants are still appearing in court on a regular basis. Many of them are suffering from ailments and have sold their fields and jewellery because of their dire financial circumstances.
The case is still ongoing in the District Court of Basti. (Source: OpIndia Hindi)
The villagers hope that the present government will not only liberate them from the injustice that has been going on for 33 years but will also take strict action against the policemen including the Superintendent of Police who were directly or indirectly involved in the instance of 22nd October, 1990. The accused parties in the case also believe that if they receive punishment in the name of Lord Ram then it will be noted in history somewhere in Ram Janmbhoomi.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday attended the 71st Plenary of the North Eastern Council (NEC) in his capacity as a member of the Council and urged the Centre to bring out a new industrial policy for the Northeast so that the region can attract more private investors.
Speaking at the plenary meet, CM Sarma expressed his gratitude towards the current administration at the Centre, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking relentless measures for the socioeconomic growth and development of the Northeastern region.
He said the Northeastern region has embarked on a transformative journey owing to the continued focus it has received from the current government at the Centre.
The Chief Minister cited the example of the Multidimensional Poverty Index 2024 recently published by the NITI Aayog, which shows Assam’s multidimensional poverty registering a sharp decline from 36.97 per cent in 2013-14 to 14.47 per cent in 2022-23. The decline in the poverty rate pulled nearly 80 lakh people in the state out of poverty in the last nine years, he added.
The current phase of unprecedented positive developments on multiple fronts, including economics, in the state can largely be attributed to the climate of general peace that has been prevalent for the past couple of years, the Chief Minister said, exuding confidence that the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for the next financial year would register significant growth over the current level.
He referred to the measures the state government has taken to improve Assam’s standing in the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) rankings. The Chief Minister added that these and other measures have led to the creation of a conducive investment climate in the state, which has resulted in many big-ticket investments in the past few years.
Chief Minister Sarma said owing to the government’s focus on fulfilling the genuine hopes and aspirations of the various aggrieved communities, peace has returned to Assam after many decades, with zero casualties amongst security personnel and civilians last year.
The Armed Forces Special Powers Act is currently in force in only four districts, he said, exuding hope that the Centre would explore the possibility of repealing it entirely from the state. The Chief Minister said the resolution of border disputes between Assam and its neighbours is going in the right direction.
The Chief Minister added that there has been marked improvement in the crime scenario in the state, especially in “crime against women,” where a significant reduction in cases has been observed.
The Chief Minister also spoke about the various infrastructure development projects, particularly on the road infrastructure front, currently under various stages of development in the state.
The state government has also put special emphasis on the development of school infrastructure in the state, he stated, adding that a huge chunk of monetary resources allotted under the North East Special Infrastructure Development Scheme (NESIDS) and PM-DevINE scheme are being spent on the improvement of secondary school infrastructure.
The Chief Minister also spoke about the measures being undertaken by Assam to attain self-sufficiency (Atmanirbharta) on many fronts, such as fish, egg and milk production.
The plenary, held at the State Convention Centre in Shillong, also saw the presence of Union Minister of Home Affairs Amit Shah, who is also the Chairman of the NEC; Union Minister for Development of the Northeastern Region (DoNER); G. Kishan Reddy; Union Minister of State for DoNER BL Verma, and the Governors and Chief Ministers of all the member states of the NEC.
Later in the day, the Chief Minister attended the 11th Meeting of the North East Space Application Centre (NESAC) Society held at the same venue, which saw the attendance of the Union Minister of Home Affairs, who is also the President of NESAC, DoNER Minister G. Kishan Reddy, NESAC Vice-President and ISRO Chairman S. Somnath.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
