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Two days after Sports Ministry suspended activities of Wrestling Federation of India, Vinesh Phogat announces return of Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award

OpIndia Staff
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Two days after Sports Ministry suspended activities of Wrestling Federation of India, Vinesh Phogat announces return of Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award

On 26th December (Tuesday), wrestler Vinesh Phogat took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce that she will be returning her Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award as a mark of protest against Former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, whom rebel wrestlers have accused of sexual harassment. 

The post from Vinesh Phogat read, “I am returning my Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna and Arjun Award. Many thanks to the ‘powerful’ person who brought us to this condition.”

In her post, Phogat also shared a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh whom she alleged of making statements in the media. Notably, legal cases against Brij Bhushan Singh are already ongoing.

In her letter, Phogat mentioned the decisions of other wrestlers like Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia. 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. 

Meanwhile, a day later, Bajrang Punia announced that he was returning his Padma Shri award to Prime Minister Narendra Modi which was awarded to him in 2019.

Vinesh Phogat’s announcement to return her awards comes days after the Sports Ministry suspended all the activities of the newly-elected Wrestling Federation of India body till further notice. The Ministry took action against the sporting body stating that it announced junior national championships with “complete disregard for the existing rules and regulations”.

The ministry also reportedly said, “The newly elected body appears to be in complete control of former office bearers, disregarding the Sports Code.”

Following the decision, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports wrote to the Indian Olympic Association to form an ad hoc committee to replace the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI).

Meanwhile, former WFI President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh distanced himself from the ongoing developments related to the WFI including its suspension asserting that he had retired from wrestling administration. He noted that the Sanjay Singh-led WFI body will deal with the proceedings in the near future.

Pakistan: In a historic first, Hindu woman Dr Saveera Parkash files a nomination for general elections from Buner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan: In a historic first, Hindu woman Dr Saveera Parkash files a nomination for general elections from Buner in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

In a first for the Hindu community in Pakistan’s Buner district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dr. Saveera Parkash has submitted her nomination papers for a general seat in the country’s upcoming general elections. Prakash filed for nomination on 23rd December.

Saveera Parkash hopes to run for office on the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) ticket. Her father, retired doctor Oam Parkash, had been an active member of the party for the past 35 years.

Parkash was the first woman from Buner to file nomination papers for the upcoming general seat elections, according to Saleem Khan, a local politician affiliated with the Qaumi Watan Party. Saveera Parkash, a 2022 graduate of Abbottabad International Medical College, is the general secretary of the PPP women’s wing in Buner.

Parkash stated that she wished to follow in her father’s footsteps by working for the poor in the area.

She emphasised her commitment to working for the region’s women’s well-being, ensuring a safe environment, and advocating for their rights. “Women,” Saveera Prakash asserts, “have been oppressed and overlooked, particularly in the field of development.”

Concerning her party’s endorsement for candidature, Prakash expressed optimism, citing “senior leadership” approaching her father to allow her to run for the general seat. She claimed that her desire to “serve humanity” was innate, shaped by firsthand experiences of mismanagement and helplessness in government hospitals during her career as a doctor.

Imran Noshad Khan, a Buner-based social media influencer, expressed his unequivocal support for the candidate, regardless of her political affiliation. He emphasised that Saveera Prakash was challenging traditional patriarchal stereotypes and noted the importance of acknowledging that it had taken 55 years since Buner merged with Pakistan for a woman to step forward and contest elections.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has recently amended its rules to require the inclusion of 5% of women candidates in general elections. On 8th February 2024, general elections will be held in Pakistan to elect members of the 16th National Assembly. The Election Commission of Pakistan released the detailed schedule on 15th December. The Pakistan Muslim League (N), led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), led by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, are the two major parties contesting for the elections. 

Pennies for power: The curious case of Congress’ crowdfunding conundrum

Anurag
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Pennies for power: The curious case of Congress’ crowdfunding conundrum

The arena of Indian politics is full of vibrant experiences. One such experience emerged in the form of the Congress Party’s recent “Donate for Desh” campaign. In the peculiar episode of the crowdfunding gaffe, the Congress Party has entered into a paradox of “groundbreaking success”. The initiative was started to raise funds for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. After one week of the “grand campaign” by the grand old party, the treasury of Congress got a modest Rs 5.45 crores from an “unexpectedly” large group of over two lakh donors. It is unusual for Congress to work so hard to get so little money from donations. Though not intended to be comical, the scenario presented an intriguing narrative of contrasts and expectations in the world of political finance.

We must acknowledge that “large” donations came from Congress leaders themselves. For example, Congress’s ‘Shehzada’ Rahul Gandhi donated Rs 1.38 lakh for the campaign. Similarly, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Sachin Pilot, Congress Chairperson Social Media & Digital Platforms Supriya Shrinate, Arvinder Loverly, Jairam Ramesh, and others donated a similar amount. Now, as we applaud them for donating such large amounts while forgetting that Kharge categorically said “Ek mahine ki salary gai” on the campaign launch, it brings us to a more complex story.

It is evident that Congress leaders made notable donations. The collected sum in the campaign clocked at Rs 5.45 crore on 25th December from over two lakh donors. If we calculate the average, it comes to be approximately Rs 272 per donor. Keeping in mind the amount donated by leaders and other large donors, it can be assumed that the donors could not even spend Rs 250 per head for their favourite political party.

The two lakh individuals that the party is boasting to be under by political ideology collectively contributed less than the cost of a mid-range meal in most Indian cities. Remember, it is not just a fundraising drive. It reflects the current state of the grand old political party that ruled the country for decades.

It is also notable to mention that the Congress party had been lousy with the ‘Donate for Desh’ campaign right from the start. The party launched the campaign for crowdsourcing without booking a domain name for the same, laying themselves open to ridicule, especially after BJP and OpIndia booked domain names for ‘Donate for Desh’ and directed users to their respective donation pages.

The curious fundraising episode of the Congress party is not just about the money. It showcased the challenges the Congress party faces ahead of the Lok Sabha election. It is a narrative less about the quantum of funds raised and more about what people expect from the party, even if it projects to be the biggest challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term as the country’s leader. As we progress towards the elections, the minuscule collection will give nightmares to the Congress Party when it sits with the other stakeholders in the I.N.D.I Alliance for seat distribution. We can just hope this time, there will be samosas in all-party meetings of the Alliance. Till then, visit donatefordesh.com to donate to the right people!

Tigeress resting on a wall in UP’s Pilibhit creates a frenzy, draws massive crowds to catch a glimpse of the big cat

OpIndia Staff
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Tigeress resting on a wall in UP’s Pilibhit creates a frenzy, draws massive crowds to catch a glimpse of the big cat

On 26th December, the forest department rescued a distressed tigress who climbed on a wall of a Gurdwara in Athkona village in district Pilibhit of Uttar Pradesh. The adult tigress came out of the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve forest. A video of her sitting on the wall while hundreds of villagers watched her from a distance went viral on social media.

Several netizens expressed their worry for the tigress as there was a large crowd around watching it.

While others said the tigress appeared sick.

As per reports, the tigress was either injured or sick. She climbed the wall and sat there till the time forest department officials came and rescued her. She was distressed as she remained calm and did not react to the crowd standing at a distance.

The front department was informed about the tigress on the morning of 26th December. The officials rushed to the village and cornered off the area using a net before the rescue operation began to ensure the safety of the tigress and the villagers. After reaching the village, the officials took around ten hours to rescue the tigress. The tiger reserve’s veterinarian, Daksh Gangwar, checked her health. It is unclear if the tigress will be taken in for recovery by the forest department or if it will be released in the forest immediately and kept under observation till it recovers.

Blast reported near Israeli Embassy in New Delhi: Delhi Police Special Cell investigates after Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirms the blast

OpIndia Staff
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Blast reported near Israeli Embassy in New Delhi: Delhi Police Special Cell investigates after Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirms the blast

On 26th December (Tuesday), a blast was reported near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi. As per reports, at around 5:47 PM, the fire brigade had received a call about a blast outside the Israeli embassy. The caller, an unknown person, said there was a blast behind the embassy building.

Delhi Police Crime Unit team and forensics team have reached the Israel Embassy to conduct a probe after a call was received about a blast on 26th December evening, as reported by News agency ANI. 

Police said teams of the district staff, Special Cell, and the Delhi Fire Services were sent to the spot.

The security forces are conducting a search operation near the spot where the reported blast took place, however, so far they haven’t been able to find anything, as per initial reports. 

The fire Brigade official said, “No further information about the blast has been received yet. Currently, fire and other security agencies are investigating the incident.”

However, the spokesperson of Israel’s foreign ministry has confirmed the reports of the blast. It said, “Yes, there was an incident here. Not sure what it is exactly yet. The police and our security team are still investigating.”

A senior police officer stated that nothing suspicious, or signs of any fire/blast have been found yet. Atul Garg, DFS Chief, said, “Nothing has been found yet. Our teams are checking.” 

Police officials added that they are trying to trace the caller. A police officer said that it is suspected that the call was either a hoax or someone was overcautious about a minor incident.

Earlier on 29th January 2021, a minor IED blast of “very low intensity” took place near the Israel embassy on Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road on the day India and Israel marked the 29th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. No one was injured in the blast but some vehicles were damaged.

The blast occurred while the Beating the Retreat ceremony was underway at the erstwhile Rajpath. The probe was handed over to the NIA from Delhi Police within days of the incident.

Usman Khawaja, who got reprimanded by ICC for a pro-Palestine message, attacks Keshav Maharaj for the ‘Om’ sticker on his bat

OpIndia Staff
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Usman Khawaja, who got reprimanded by ICC for a pro-Palestine message, attacks Keshav Maharaj for the ‘Om’ sticker on his bat

On 25th December, Pakistan-born Australian opener Usman Khawaja made a sarcastic post on Instagram extending ‘Christmas wishes’. Using the hashtags “#inconsistent and #doublestandards”, Khawaja alleged a bias on the ICC’s part to penalise him while ‘sparing’ other cricketers. To buttress his case, he dragged South African spinner Keshav Mahara who belongs to the Hindu faith and has an ‘Om’ sticker on his bat; along with two other cricketers in his post.

The post had Kanye West’s ‘Can’t Tell Me Nothing’ song playing in the background and the caption read, “Merry Christmas everybody. Sometimes you just gotta laugh. Cya on Boxing Day! #inconsistent #doublestandards” 

In the post, he highlighted the ‘Om’ sticker on the bat of Keshav Maharaj. Additionally, it also includes his Australian teammate Marnus Labuschagne and West Indies batter Nicholas Pooran who have an eagle, bible verse on their bat, and ‘Cross’ stickers on their bats. 

Through the post, Khwaja tried to present an argument that either his “non-political” support to Palestinians should be allowed or ICC should use its ruling on “personal message” extensively to ban stickers like ‘Om’ on Keshav Maharaj’s bat and others, as alluded directly through the hashtags. 

Here it is important to note that Om is not banned under ICC regulations as its display is not in the furtherance of a political, religious, or racial cause. 

The Aussie opener also shared an ICC ruling that bars cricketers from displaying “Personal messages” on their clothing or equipment. 

Meanwhile, the ICC ruling which was also part of Khawaja’s post read, “Players and team officials shall not be permitted to wear, display or otherwise convey personal messages on their clothing, equipment or otherwise, irrespective of whether such messages are affixed to clothing, equipment or otherwise and whether such messages are displayed or conveyed through the use of the specific clothing or other items (eg. an armband) or by the use of words, symbol, graphic message, images or otherwise (‘personal messages’) unless approved in advance by both the player or team official’s board and the ICC Cricket Operations Department. Approval shall not be granted for messages which relate to political, religious or racial activities or causes.”

It further asserts that ICC will have the final say in determining whether such a message is approved. 

His Instagram post is being seen as a direct reference to the ICC’s action against him for making a political statement in support of Palestine. 

It is important to note that earlier this week Usman Khawaja was charged by the ICC for breaking regulations by wearing a black armband during the first Test against Pakistan at Perth without any prior approval. 

He wore the black armband on the field instead of writing and wearing the message “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” as he originally intended to do to extend support to the Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. 

Though black armbands are regularly worn by players to mourn the deaths of former players, family members, or other significant individuals, they need permission from the national board and the ICC before they are worn.

An ICC spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo, “Usman Khawaja has been charged for breaching Clause F of the Clothing and Equipment Regulations.” 

Interestingly, he himself later clarified that the ICC action against him was due to a “personal bereavement“. He added that he would challenge the decision before revealing that he wouldn’t do the same in the MCG Test match.

(Image Source – ESPNCricinfo)

Earlier, he was prevented from wearing shoes that had “All Lives are equal” inscribed in the colours of the Palestinian flag to support the Palestinian cause. 

However, he defended his gesture in support of Palestine claiming that his move was not a political one. He said, “What I have written on my shoes is not political. I am not taking sides. Human life to me is equal. One Jewish life is equal to one Muslim life is equal to one Hindu life and so on. I am just speaking up for those who do not have a voice.”

‘Mr 420’ is now ‘Mr 316’: How sections for criminal offences have been changed in BNS as compared to IPC

OpIndia Staff
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‘Mr 420’ is now ‘Mr 316’: How sections for criminal offences have been changed in BNS as compared to IPC

On Monday (25th December), the President of India Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita bill, which was passed by both Houses of the Parliament.

With her approval, the bill has now become the law of the land and replaced the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC). Several sections of the IPC, which were afresh in the public mind about certain offences, have been moved to different sections under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

One such offence is that of cheating, earlier punishable under Section 420 of the IPC. In fact, the particular offence was made popular by Raj Kapoor through his 1955 classic ‘Shree 420 (Mr 420)’.

As such, common people began identifying cheats with ‘420.’ Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, there is no Section 420. The offence of cheating has been moved to Section 316.

The crime of ‘murder’ which was earlier punishable under Section 302 of the IPC has been moved to Section 101 of BNS. Interestingly, Section 302 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita criminalises the offence of snatching.

Similarly, section 144 of the Indian Penal Code which punished illegal assembly is now criminalised under Section 187 of the BNS. Rape, which was earlier a criminal offence under Section 376 has been moved to Section 63 and Section 64 under the new law.

The act of waging war against the Indian government, which was punishable under Section 121 of the IPC, has been moved to Section 146 of the BNS. Defamation, earlier criminalised under Section 499 of the IPC is now included in Section 354 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Rajya Sabha passes New Criminal Bills

Three momentous Bills to replace the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and Indian Evidence Act were passed by the Rajya Sabha on Thursday (21st December).

Home Minister Amit Shah replied to the debate on the three bills and said that the three new criminal justice laws have drawn from India’s own legal jurisprudence and with their implementation, the country will have vast contributions of technology in its criminal justice system.

Replying to the debate in Rajya Sabha on bills that seek to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC) of 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) and Indian Evidence Act, Amit Shah said the implementation of new criminal laws will ensure an end to ‘tareekh pe tareekh’ era and justice will be given in three years.

The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita 2023; Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita 2023; and Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill 2023 seek to replace the IPC, CrPC and the Evidence Act respectively.

The House earlier took up discussion on the Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, 2023 and the Bharatiya Sakshya (Second) Bill, 2023. The three bills were passed by Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Amit Shah said in his reply that for the first time, changes have been made in the three laws governing the nearly 150-year-old criminal justice system.He said that after the three new laws are implemented, India’s criminal justice system will take maximum advantage of technology.

“If there will be maximum contribution of technology in any system, it will be in the Indian system…The aim of the three bills is not provide punishment but give justice,” he said

He said that in old laws, instead of crimes against women, priority was given to the protection of the Treasury and the British Crown. Shah said the government has removed the section of sedition and replaced sedition with treason.

“Israel will certainly pay for this”: Iran vows revenge after an alleged Israeli strike killed senior Iranian official in Syria

OpIndia Staff
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“Israel will certainly pay for this”: Iran vows revenge after an alleged Israeli strike killed senior Iranian official in Syria

On 25th December (Monday), a senior adviser in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was killed in an alleged Israeli airstrike in the Syrian capital of Damascus, as per Iranian media. According to Iran’s mouthpiece Tasnim news agency, Brig. General Razi Mousavi was killed in a strike in the Damascus suburb of Sayeda Zeinab. 

Following the death of Mousavi, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi vowed that Israel “will certainly pay for this crime.” In a statement, Raisi said, “Without a doubt, this action is another sign of frustration, helplessness, and incapacity of the usurping Zionist regime in the region.” 

In response to the incident, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian took to X to give a stern warning to Israel stating that “Tel Aviv faces a tough countdown.” 

According to Iran’s state-owned Press TV, Hezbollah stated that it regards the killing of Mousavi as a “flagrant and shameless violation, which is off limits.” 

As per reports, three munitions hit the compound where Mousavi was located. 

In a statement quoted by Iranian media, the IRGC confirmed that Mousavi was killed near Damascus, and vowed revenge. The IRGC said, “The usurping and barbaric Zionist regime will pay for this crime.”

The Tasnim reported that Mousavi was “one of the oldest advisers of IRGC in Syria” and close to former IRGC Quds force head, Qassem Soleimani. He was killed in a 2020 US drone strike in Iraq.

(Image Source – Iranian media Tasnim news agency)

On the Israeli side, the Israel Defense Forces’ senior spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, declined to comment on the reports of Israeli strikes killing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard adviser during a press conference on Monday (25th December) evening.

The Times of Israel reported that while Israel’s military does not, as a rule, comment on specific strikes in Syria, it has admitted to conducting hundreds of sorties against Iran-backed terror groups over the last decade.

As per Israeli media, the slain IRGC adviser Mousavi was responsible for coordinating the military alliance between Iran and Syria. Israel claims that Mousavi was heavily involved in Tehran’s efforts to supply weapons to Iran-backed terror outfits in the area, including Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

In Syria, Pro-government media outlets did not immediately report the strike. This was different from previous cases as in other incidents in the past, Damascus had publicly blamed Israel for the attacks.

As per the al-Jadeed Lebanon outlet, Mousavi had lived in Syria for 30 years. He had his own office inside the Syrian Defense Ministry.

Earlier this month, Iran said that two IRGC officers were killed in an attack in the area of the Syrian capital for which it pinned the blame on Israel. The IRGC added that Mohammad Ali Atai Shoorcheh and Panah Taghizadeh were “martyred” while on an advisory mission to Syria, blaming the “Zionists” for their death.

It is important to note that Israeli PM Netanyahu recently laid out three “prerequisites for peace” in the region in an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal. These are to “destroy Hamas, demilitarise Gaza, and deradicalise the whole of Palestinian society.” 

The article further read, “The US, UK, France, Germany, and many other countries support Israel’s intention to demolish the terror group. To achieve that goal, its military capabilities must be dismantled and its political rule over Gaza must end. Second, Israel must also ensure that Gaza is never again used as a base to attack Israel. Among other things, this will require establishing a temporary security zone on the perimeter of Gaza and an inspection mechanism on the border between Gaza and Egypt that meets Israel’s security needs and prevents smuggling of weapons into the territory.”

Nuh Violence: Congress leader accused for the riots is being defended by lawyer hired by Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind

Anurag
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Nuh Violence: Congress leader accused for the riots is being defended by lawyer hired by Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind

On 26th December, Dainik Bhaskar published an interview with advocate Tahir Hussain Ruparya, who has been fighting cases of hundreds of accused in Nuh Violence. For those who are unaware, on 31st July 2023, Islamist rioters attacked Hindu devotees in Nuh of Haryana. At least six people died in the riots. Police officials, Home Guards, Hindu devotees and other officials were injured during the violence. Public and private properties worth crores were destroyed during the ensuing violence.

In the interview, Hussain proudly said that out of 210 accused whose cases he has been fighting, 204 are out on bail. He claimed that the lack of evidence led to the accused getting bail in the cases. Notably, he is also contesting cases of Congress leader Mamman Khan. Not to forget, Mamman Khan’s name was categorically taken by Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij in Haryana Assembly on 28th August. Vij alleged that police found ample evidence against Khan in matters related to the Nuh violence.

Coming back to Hussain, it is pertaining to note that he was hired to fight the cases by the controversial Muslim organisation Jamait Ulama-i-Hind. He has a long association with the Congress Party. His father was a Congress leader and fought elections on a Congress ticket. As per the Dainik Bhaskar report, his father, Choudhary Wali Mohammed, was also a famous advocate. Once, he fought the Assembly election and once fought the General Election on a Congress ticket but was defeated. When Rahul Gandhi was on his “Bharat Jodo Yatra”, Hussain met Gandhi in Nuh. He had requested Gandhi to establish a university in Nuh. Speaking to Dainik Bhaskar, Hussain claimed Gandhi promised to raise the matter in Lok Sabha, though it has not been fulfilled as yet.

Source: Tahir Hussain Ruparya/Facebook

OpIndia noticed that he was deemed a “star lawyer” by The Print for fighting cases where Muslims were arrested in matters related to cow smuggling. The report claimed he had a 99 percent acquittal record. Hussain reportedly took up hundreds of cases in the Nuh district between 2011 and 2016 filed against the alleged cow smugglers.

Jamait, legal support to Muslims and Halal certification as funding source

Jamait Ulama-i-Hind has been closely monitoring the matters related to Nuh violence as those who were arrested belonged to the Muslim community. In a press release in September 2023, the organisation mentioned that over 150 cases were being actively pursued by the Jamait legal team.

Interestingly, apart from donations, one of the significant sources of income for Jamait Ulama-i-Hind is Halal certification. The organisation claims that it is the “largest Muslim organisation” in India on the front page of its website. If a company wants to get Halal certification from the organisation, they have to pay Rs 60,000 and Rs 1,500 per product + GST. Renewal costs Rs 50,000, along with Rs 1,000 per product + taxes.

India is the largest exporter of buffalo meat. The product is mostly Halal certified as per the requirements of the importer countries. If the exporter gets a certificate from Jamait’s organisation, they have to pay Rs 800 per container for meat products and Rs 1,000 per product for non-meat products. In short, Halal certification is a significant money-minting game for the organisation.

Nuh Shobhayatra Attack

On 31st July, a mob of hundreds of Islmist rioters attacked Hindu devotees participating in the Brijmandal Jalabhishek Yatra in Nuh, Mewat of Haryana. At least six people were killed as a result of the riots.

During the investigation into the riots, OPIndia accessed over 25 FIRs and complaints that provided a clearer picture of what happened during the violence. Based on information available via FIRs, complaints and witnesses, it appeared that the attack was pre-planned. OPIndia came across several videos posted two days before the Jalabhishek Yatra instigating Muslims against Hindus.

Islamists have claimed the riots happened because of Bajrang Dal activist and Gau Rakshak Monu Manesar. Old videos of Monu were circulated to instigate Muslims saying he was going to Nuh on that day. The video that was mostly circulated was from October 2022. Detailed reports can be checked here.

Furthermore, a cyber crime police station was attacked in Nuh, Police officials were injured, Home Guards were killed. The rioters first shot one of the Bajrang Dal activists Abhishek, then his throat was slit and his head was crushed leading to his death.

OpIndia’s complete coverage of the Mewat Shobha Yatra Attack can be checked here.

Deadly Christmas attack in Nigeria: Over 140 dead, 300 injured in attacks by ‘bandit’ groups in Plateau

OpIndia Staff
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Deadly Christmas attack in Nigeria: Over 140 dead, 300 injured in attacks by ‘bandit’ groups in Plateau

At least 140 people were killed in a brutal attack by armed rebels in the central Nigerian state of Plateau. The death toll rose sharply on Monday (25th December) evening after the region experienced major disturbances over the Christmas weekend. The armed groups known locally as “bandits” launched orchestrated assaults on 20 different communities in Central Nigeria, the region that has been plagued with religious and ethnic tensions for several years. 

“As many as 113 persons have been confirmed killed as Saturday hostilities persisted to early hours of Monday,” Kassah, head of the local government in Bokkos, Plateau State, told local reporters on Monday (25th December). “We found more than 300 wounded people” he added.

The authorities further informed that all the injured persons had been taken to the hospitals in Bokkos, Jos, and Barkin Ladi.

Reports mention that the attacks took place when people in the villages were asleep on Sunday (24th December). The ‘bandits’ arrived in the villages and launched a series of brutal attacks, burning homes, and killing people.

“We were sleeping when suddenly loud shots rang out. We were scared because we weren’t expecting an attack. People hid, but the assailants captured many of us, some were killed, and others wounded,” Markus Amorudu, one of the residents of the village was quoted as saying.

The region, which lies on the border between Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north and predominantly Christian south, has long been driven by ethnic and religious tensions.

It was not immediately clear what prompted the latest attack or who was to blame.

Security personnel have been sent to prevent further clashes in the area, where tit-for-tat killings between herders, who are predominantly Muslim, and farmers, who are predominantly Christian, frequently escalate into village raids by heavily armed groups.

The attack, which began in the Bokkos area, spread to Barkin Lath, where 30 people were found dead. According to the reports, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwan denounced the incident as “barbaric, brutal, and unjustified” on Sunday (24th December). “The government will take proactive measures to reduce ongoing attacks against innocent civilians,” said Gyang Bere, the governor’s spokesperson.

Known as “Nigeria’s Middle Belt,” Plateau State has seen a number of ethnic and religious conflicts. The region’s violence is frequently portrayed as a conflict between Muslim herders and primarily Christian farmers.

Compounding the problem is the fact that the area has long been terrorised by bandit militias that raid villages and loot the inhabitants for ransom, operating from bases tucked away in the forest. Conflicts over natural resources have been one of the most visible factors contributing to the conflict’s persistence.

Amid the turmoil, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former Lagos governor elected in February, has promised to attract more investment to Africa’s largest economy to address the continent’s persistent security challenges.

Both the police force and the joint security task force Operation Safe Haven are yet to comment on the attacks as rescue operations are ongoing at the affected communities.

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