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Gujarat: Pakistan-origin man arrested for spying in India 17 years after getting citizenship, allegedly sent malware to defence personnel

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Pakistan-origin man arrested for spying in India 17 years after getting citizenship, allegedly sent malware to defence personnel

On 20th October (Friday), the Gujarat anti-terror squad (ATS) arrested a 53-year-old man named Labhshankar Duryodhan Maheshwari on charges of helping Pakistani agents to get sensitive information about Indian soldiers. Originally from Pakistan, Maheshwari was allegedly spying for Islamabad. According to the police officials, he was infecting the phones of Indian defence personnel with malware forwarded on WhatsApp.

As per the officials, Maheshwari was a Pakistani native and in 1999 he came to Gujarat’s Tarapur town in Anand district. He arrived in Gujarat with his wife for “fertility treatment”. However, he stayed in India and established himself as a successful businessman. Later in 2005, he was granted Indian citizenship. However, his extended family still remained in Pakistan. 

ATS superintendent of police Om Prakash Jat said, “Labhshankar Maheshwari, who was living in Tarapur town of Anand district, has been arrested on accusations that he circulated malware through WhatsApp among defence personnel, which was used by Pakistani intelligence agencies to get information from their phones.” 

The ATS SP Jat added that Maheshwari has been booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 123 (concealing with intent to facilitate a design to wage war against the government) and 121-A (conspiracy to wage war against the government) and under relevant sections of the Information Technology (IT) Act. 

According to the ATS officials, the investigation revealed that Maheshwari agreed to participate in this conspiracy because he wanted to expedite the visa process for himself, his wife, and two other family members who wished to visit Pakistan to meet their relatives. 

Sharing the details of the case, Jat added, “The Indian Military Intelligence recently learnt that either the Pakistan Army or Pakistan’s intelligence agency had somehow acquired an Indian SIM card, which was being used for spying on Indian defence personnel by sending them malware through WhatsApp. Based on the information, we apprehended Maheshwari from Tarapur in Anand, where he runs a grocery shop.” 

According to the ATS, Maheshwari helped Pakistani agents access an Indian SIM card, which they used to hack the phones of Indian defence personnel’s wards in Army schools. 

As per the ATS investigation, the SIM Card was issued under the name Muhammad Saklain Thaim from Jamnagar. It was then activated on the mobile belonging to Azgar Hajibhai. After activation, the SIM card was delivered in Anand, Tarapur to a person named Labhshankar Maheshwari on the instructions of a person associated with the Pakistan Embassy. 

As instructed, Maheshwari, posing as an employee of an Army school, started sending messages to defence personnel. He used to urge them to download an ‘apk’ file and upload information about their children on the official website of the school, the ATS official added.

Jat added, “In reality, that ‘apk’ file was a Remote Access Trojan, a type of malware that extracts all the information from a mobile phone, such as contacts, location and videos, and sends the data to a command and control centre outside India. As of now, we found that the mobile phone of a soldier stationed at Kargil was compromised with that malware. We are yet to ascertain how many more persons were targeted.” 

As per sources privy to the matter, in 2022, Maheshwari visited his parents in Pakistan. It is believed that the Pakistani agents “cultivated” him during the processing of his Pakistani visa. During his six-week stay with his parents, he is believed to have been in touch with a Pakistani intelligence agency, sources asserted.

The investigation findings revealed that at one point, Maheshwari posed as an employee of an army school. He then persuaded parents to download a file claiming that it was necessary to record some information. 

In another instance, he falsely claimed that the apk file was linked to the government’s ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign. On the basis of the false claim, he convinced many army personnel to install the application. Apart from encouraging recipients to install the app, he used to ask them to upload a photo of their child with the national flag, however, it is alleged that the trojan malware was helping gather sensitive information.  

While further investigation is ongoing, the officials added that other accused in the case are now on the run and are believed to have left the country.

Pakistan: Close associate of JeM chief Mohammad Masood Azhar and Lashkar-e-Jabbar founder Dawood Malik killed by unidentified men

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan: Close associate of JeM chief Mohammad Masood Azhar and Lashkar-e-Jabbar founder Dawood Malik killed by unidentified men

One more terrorist involved in anti-India activities has been assassinated by unidentified gunmen on foreign soil. A major development transpired when Dawood Malik was shot dead in North Waziristan, Pakistan in the wee hours of 20th October. He was the founder of Lashkar-e-Jabbar and a close acquaintance of Jaish-e-Mohammed’s (JeM) Mohammad Masood Azhar, who is one of India’s most wanted Islamic terrorists.

According to reports, the tribal leader was killed by masked gunmen in the Mirali area of North Waziristan. He was reportedly ambushed by anonymous assailants at a private clinic who opened fire at him before absconding from there. The occurrence has raised doubts about the possibility of a conflict between the terrorist groups active in Pakistan.

The security agents had been closely monitoring him because of his crucial involvement in Lashkar-e-Jabbar, a radical group that is notorious for endorsing extreme views. His removal dealt a serious blow to the larger network of extremists he was affiliated with as well as to his own outfit. The number of anti-India terrorist killings in Pakistan and other nations is climbing.

This most recent instance signifies an important setback in the group’s operations and adds to the already daunting problems they encounter. The incident which happened in broad daylight is the latest in a string of premeditated executions in the country targeted at terrorists who indulge in anti-India operations regularly.

This incident came after Mufti Qaiser Farooq, a close friend of Lashkar-e-Taiba’s (LeT) Hafiz Muhammad Saeed was recently murdered in the centre of Karachi. A Dera Ismail Khan native, he had a close relationship with the internationally designated JeM terrorist and his death dealt a serious blow to the terror outfit. He was walking with a group of his madrasa students when he was ambushed mercilessly. The event was captured on CCTV footage that is in the custody of Pakistani security forces. Two people riding motorcycles swiftly opened fire and ended his life in an instant.

The death of Mufti Qaiser Farooq is the sixteenth anti-India terrorist to be eliminated in the Pakistan-Canada region in the last nineteen months by attackers who remain unidentified. The episode was eerily similar to the killing of Maulana Ziaur Rahman, a prominent LeT terrorist which unfolded on 12 September in Karachi.

The death of JeM member Mistri Zahoor Ibrahim also known as Zahid Akhoond who was a hijacker of the IC-814 flight marked the start of a ruthless series of planned murders of anti-India terrorists and activists abroad. He was shot twice in the head at close range by unidentified perpetrators. Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) and law enforcement officials are deeply perturbed by these bold executions.

On 18 June pro-Khalisatn terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed by two assailants within the premises of Guru Nanak Gurdwara Sahib in Canada’s Surrey four days after another Khalsitani terrorist and supremo of banned Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF) died in a London hospital.

The terrorist Ripudaman Singh Malik a Khalistani was subsequently killed on 15 July 2022 in Surrey. He was the target of a premeditated operation. He was connected to multiple terror assaults including the bombing of Air India flight Kanishka on 23 April 1985, which claimed the lives of 329 innocent persons.

These intentional murders have sent a warning that has rippled through Pakistan’s military corridors and forced the ISI to promptly relocate twelve of its most important ‘assets’ to safe havens. The deaths of two more LeT members, Abu Qasim Kashmiri in Rawalkot and Qari Khurram Shehzad in Nazimabad earlier this year made the implementation of this preventive measure necessary.

A Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Bashir Ahmad Peer alias Imtiaz Alam was killed in an aggressive attack which took place inside the perimeter of ISI Headquarters and the military garrison town. The situation left the agency and Pakistan’s law enforcement authorities in a state of turmoil.

Even in their zealous search for solutions, Pakistan’s security forces have been quick to blame India’s external intelligence agency and brushed aside information that indicated that local individuals were involved. The assailants were familiar with the neighbourhoods around their victims and they orchestrated their attack with unnerving accuracy. Complicity also made it easier for them to flee and blend in with the local population.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeu’s Canadian government also accused India of the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on the basis of ‘credible allegations’ which led to a major diplomatic row between the two countries and their relations continued to deteriorate.

The reality of these occurrences highlights the complex network of terror and treachery that still permeates the region. These attackers who were familiar with the surroundings of their victims plotted their schemes with alarming accuracy with the help of accomplices who enabled them to escape easily.

‘Hamas is not a terror outfit, they are fighting for Muslims’: SP leader Sumaiya Rana justifies Hamas terror attacks against Israel

OpIndia Staff
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‘Hamas is not a terror outfit, they are fighting for Muslims’: SP leader Sumaiya Rana justifies Hamas terror attacks against Israel

On Friday (20th October), the national spokesperson of Samajwadi Party and poet Munawar Rana’s daughter Sumaiya Rana justified Palestinian terrorist group Hamas’s attacks on Israel which resulted in the death of over 1300 civilians. While speaking to News18, Rana claimed that Hamas is not a terrorist group, rather they are fighting to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque. She asserted that there is a conspiracy against Muslims and Islam in calling Hamas a terror organisation.

“Everyone can see Hamas’s attack on Israel but no one is noticing the internal damage inflicted on Palestine,” Sumaiya Rana said while justifying Hamas’s onslaught. She added that lakhs of Palestinians have been killed over the last ten years by Israel.

She further expressed her apprehension that the Israel-Hamas war may transition into a third-world war since several countries are getting involved in it.

When asked about Hamas’s decision to attack innocent Israeli civilians, Sumaiya Rana asserted that Hamas’s attacks on Israeli people are due to the ongoing conflict pertaining to the land as well as ‘atrocities’ on Palestinians over the last decade. The Samajwadi Party leader went on to say that Hamas’s ‘reaction’ “is still not up to the level” and that Hamas will not back off.

“They [Hamas terrorists] have understood that they have been given this life only to defend Al-Aqsa mosque and that is why they have dedicated their lives for this only,” Rana said.

She further demonised the Israeli people labelling them as the most “cruel” community. The Hamas sympathiser went on to claim that Palestine is paying the price of giving refuge to the Jews. Sumaiya Rana added that the animosity between Jews and Muslims has been ongoing since the times of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.

“They [Israelis] are inflicting atrocities on the followers of Islam and this conflict will never be resolved with dialogue. It will be resolved only when one of the sides dominates the other,” Rana asserted.

She further pushed Hamas’s narrative that Israel had attacked the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza which allegedly killed over 500 people. This comes even as multiple evidence suggest that Israel was not behind the attack.

Despite being repeatedly questioned about Hamas’s killing of innocent Israelis in a brutal attack launched on 7th October, Rana downplayed Hamas’s offensive claiming that Israel has already been attacking Palestine.

“He has maintained high journalistic standards”: NYT defends rehiring Hitler-praising and pro-Hamas ‘journalist’ from Gaza for Israel-Hamas war

Paurush Gupta
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“He has maintained high journalistic standards”: NYT defends rehiring Hitler-praising and pro-Hamas ‘journalist’ from Gaza for Israel-Hamas war

On 20th October, Israel’s Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan lambasted The New York Times for rehiring a reporter from Gaza, Soliman Hijjy. Hijjy has a notorious track record of praising Hitler and taking a pro-Hamas stand. As per his author profile, he has resumed contributing to the New York Times after a gap of two years to ‘cover’ the Israel-Hamas war.  

‘Maintains high standards of Journalism’, NYT defends its decision to rehire Hitler-fanboy and pro-Hamas ‘journalist’

Responding to the criticism, NYT issued a statement defending its decision to rehire Soliman Hijjy. It claimed that after a review of his “problematic” social media posts which came to light in 2022, they took various actions following which Hijjy adhered to their standards of journalism. 

In its statement, the New York Times said, “We reviewed problematic social media posts by Mr Hijjy when they first came to light in 2022 and took a variety of actions to ensure he understood our concerns and could adhere to our standards if he wished to do freelance work for us in the future.” 

It further claimed that he maintains ‘high standards of journalism’ and has delivered impartial work for them even by putting his own life at risk in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. 

The statement added, “Mr. Hijjy followed those steps and has maintained high journalistic standards. He has delivered important and impartial work at great personal risk in Gaza during this conflict.” 

Earlier, the Israeli Envoy Erdan slammed NYT for rehiring a Nazi. He highlighted that as soon as Soliman Hijjy started contributing to the news portal, NYT immediately ran Hamas propaganda. He asserted that it carried out Hamas propaganda regarding the attack on Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza and falsely accused Israel of the attack. He also noted that Hijjy had a contribution in NYT’s reportage on the Hospital attack which later turned out to be false. However, despite facts coming to the fore on the al-Alhi hospital attack, NYT has not retracted its fabricated report, Erdan noted. 

It is important to note that on 17th October, a rocket attack took place on Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza after a Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket misfired and hit the parking space of the Hospital killing several civilians.

Initially, NYT promoted Hamas propaganda without verifying the details. Titled “Israeli Strike Kills Hundreds in Hospital, Palestinian Officials Say,” the article laid the blame for the hospital attack on Israel. Later, when the lies were busted, it changed the title to “Hundreds Dead in Blast at Gaza Hospital, Palestinians Say.”

Regarding NYT’s decision to rehire Hijjy, the Israeli Envoy tweeted, “The New York Times has just rehired a NAZI. Let that sink in. Soliman Hijjy praises Hitler, and the NYT rehired him. We all saw how the NYT immediately parroted Hamas’ lies regarding the al-Ahli hospital (which Hijjy contributed to) and still refuses to retract these fabrications. Spreading Hamas propaganda and rehiring a Holocaust-praising terror supporter, actively stokes anti-Semitism.”

Targeting the NYT for being a mouthpiece of the Palestinian terror outfit, the Israeli Ambassador urged every Jew to stop reading or giving advertisements to the mouthpieces of Hamas. He added, “Every Jew must understand that not reading or advertising in Hamas mouthpieces is an integral part of our right to self-defence. And we must defend ourselves!!!” 

Hitler-praiser and pro-Hamas ‘journalist’ Soliman Hijjy

As per Hijjy’s byline (archived) on the news website, he began contributing ‘greatly’ to the NYT on 12th October this year after a long hiatus of two years. Interestingly, the majority of his work with the Times has been centred around the Al-Ahli hospital attack which was exploited by Hamas to falsely blame Israel for the attack. 

Prior to giving ‘contribution’ to the hospital attack in Gaza, Hijjy had last reported for NYT way back in July 2021, as per his byline on the news portal. 

In August 2022, HonestReporting, a pro-Israel media watchdog, revealed the controversial past of Hijjy whose work had been featured by the New York Times between 2018 and 2021.  

(Image Source – New York Post)

HonestReporting highlighted that in 2012, Hijjy shared a Facebook post praising Adolf Hitler. In his 2012 FB post, Hijjy wrote, “How great you are, Hitler” in Arabic. In the post, he also attached a photoshopped image of Hitler seemingly taking a selfie. 

The Israeli outlet also highlighted that the Palestinian filmmaker Soliman Hijjy hailed the Nazi leader as recently as 2018. In a 2018 post, he shared a photo of himself with a caption that translated to either “I’m in tune like Hitler during the holocaust” or “in a state of harmony as Hitler was during the Holocaust”, as reported by Fox News. 

(Image Source – New York Post)

In a separate post, Hijjy referred to the terrorist group Hamas’ rocket fire toward Israel as “the resistance.”

In 2018, the same year when he had praised Hitler and the Holocaust, Hijjy was hired by the Times as a freelance journalist. Afterwards, he worked on a slew of “visual investigations” published by the organisation through 2021. 

However, after his anti-Semitic posts praising Hitler came to the fore, his work didn’t appear in the Times anymore. Meanwhile, he also took down his controversial pro-Hitler posts. But he was recently rehired by the Times following the 7th October terrorist attack on Israel and his first work appeared around the same time when reports of purported attacks on Hospitals started coming to the fore from Gaza. Out of which, it was later revealed that the Al-Ahli attack occurred because a PIJ’s rocket misfired and hit the parking area of the hospital.

Mahua Moitra goes on a rant on X, says PAs and interns of all MPs use their parliamentary IDs, accuses Adani of offering her deal to ‘shut up’

OpIndia Staff
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Mahua Moitra goes on a rant on X, says PAs and interns of all MPs use their parliamentary IDs, accuses Adani of offering her deal to ‘shut up’

As the noose around Mahua Moitra tightens over the cash-for-questions scam, the TMC MP Moitra went on a rant from her X handle on Saturday (21st October). In a series of posts, she expressed her frustration over the current allegations against her and made various claims in this regard.

However, she didn’t deny taking luxury gifts in exchange for asking questions in Lok Sabha, and also didn’t deny that billionaire businessman Darshan Hiranandani was using her Parliamentary portal account to post questions targeting Adani directly. Instead, Mahua Moitra claimed that every parliamentarian shares login IDs and passwords with staff, interns and others, asking the National Informatics Centre to disclose the details of the places from where the IDs of all the Members of Parliament were accessed.

Mahua Moitra wrote in her first post, “Request NIC to please release ALL details of MPs publicly to show they were physically present in place from where IDs were accessed by their PAs & researchers/interns/staff. Don’t use Fake Degree wala for leak, make this public NOW.”

It is notable that BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said in an X post that Mahua Moitra’s NIC ID was being accessed from Dubai. Notably, in an affidavit filed with the Parliamentary Ethics Committee, Hiranandani Group CEO Darshan Hiranandani acknowledged that the TMC MP provided him with her Parliamentary login credentials which he used to ask questions from the central government on her behalf. Darshan Hiranandani is based in Dubai, and his affidavit was also signed in Dubai and was notarised by the Consulate General of India in Dubai.

Darshan Hiranandani purportedly operated Moitra’s Lok Sabha account from Dubai and he would input questions against Gautam Adani on behalf of the TMC MP. In exchange, Mahua Moitra received heavy favours from the builder in cash and kind.

Now, Mahua Moitra has pointed out that Personal Assistants (PAs), interns, researchers, and staff members of all the MPs access the IDs of the MP. She is using it as a defence by claiming that sharing the ID Password with Darshan Hiranandani does not violate any norms.

However, Hiranandani is a businessman and he is not one of the Personal Assistants (PAs), interns, researchers, and staff members employed by Mahua Moitra. Mahua Moitra has not yet denied that she shared the login credentials with the real estate tycoon. If he has accessed it, it is still a violation of the rules unless Darshan Hiranandani is one of the staff members of the TMC MP.

Mahua Moitra brazenly asserted that sharing login credentials of an MP’s ID with a member who is not from her staff is not a threat to national security. To back her argument, she targeted Gautam Adani without any support for her claims against the businessman as usual. She then repeated lies and unverified allegations against Adani. She said Adani has bought Mumbai airport, which is incorrect as the business group has only won a tender to operate the airport.

She posted on X, “Unknown FPIs own Adani shares whose origin SEBI cannot find & Adani gets MHA clearance to buy Mumbai airport. This is the real question of National security. Not email ID that every PA & every unchecked intern team of every MP has publicly & accesses at will.”

Mahua Moitra did not stop here. She also implied in her next post on X that she is getting an offer from Gautam Adani to settle the matter. She alleged that she is getting an offer to shut up for six months in return for “peace” and another one to attack him but not the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mahua Moitra wrote, “Sorry Mr. Adani. I am not taking your deal to shut up for six months in return for “peace”. And nor am I taking the second deal where I am allowed to attack you but not the PM. Adani used to CASH TO NOT QUESTION. Now he is forced to create a fake CASH FOR QUESTIONS.”

She also said in another X post that she is getting threats of a CBI raid at her residence. She wrote, “Also got a message about impending CBI raid. I am busy with Durga Puja. I invite CBI to come home & count my pairs of shoes. But first please file FiR into ₹13,000 crore coal money Adani stole from Indians.”

The controversy surrounding TMC MP Mahua Moitra

On 15th October, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha (MP) Nishikant Dubey levelled serious allegations against Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra, saying she took cash and gifts from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to ask specific questions against Gauta Adani in the Parliament. MP Dubey has submitted a formal complaint to the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking an inquiry against Moitra and urged the Speaker for her immediate suspension.

Nishikant Dupey’s allegations were based on information provided to him by advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, former partner of Mohua Moitra, who has been described as a ‘jilted ex’ by the MP. After that, the statement by Dehadrai appeared in public, giving detailed accounts of the allegations against Moitra. He said that Mahua Moitra received expensive gifts and other benefits from business tycoon Darshan Hiranandani, in exchange for asking questions in parliament targeting Gautam Adani, Hiranandani’s business rival in several sectors.

While the TMC MP had denied the charges, things exploded on 19 October, when Darshan Hiranandani himself filed an affidavit, confirming the allegations. He confirmed that he was given Mahua Moitra’s Parliament login and password to post questions. Hiranandani also confirmed that he had given luxury gifts to Moitra, paid for her holidays and travels, helped her in renovating her house etc.

The real estate tycoon said that Mohua Moitra chose to target Gautam Adani to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as there was nothing to target the PM directly. Adding to the allegations, Darshan Hiranandani alleged that Mahua Moitra was getting unverified information from several people to target Adani. He specifically mentioned three names, journalist Sucheta Dalal, and lawyer couple Shardul Shroff and Pallavi Shroff. Notably, Shardul Shroff was in a bitter fight with brother Cyril Shroff over the control of their law firm, before it was split between them. Cyril Shroff’s daughter is married to Gautam Adani’s son.

Kerala: Garment company in Kannur says it will not take fresh orders for uniforms of Israel Police, repeats Hamas lies on Gaza hospital bombing

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: Garment company in Kannur says it will not take fresh orders for uniforms of Israel Police, repeats Hamas lies on Gaza hospital bombing

A Kerala-based clothing firm that provides the Israeli police with uniforms has announced it would not take orders from Israel until peace is restored. This decision of the apparel company came amid the ongoing Israeli military operations against Hamas in Gaza in retaliation to the horrific terror attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October. The owner of the business has cited moral grounds for his decision, accusing Israel of atrocities on Palestinians in Gaza. This company is situated in Kannur district of Kerala.

The Maryan Apparel Pvt Limited’s Thomas Olickal stated the company has decided not to accept any fresh orders from the Israel police force until the conflict in Gaza is resolved. The classy light blue uniform shirts for the Israel police force are produced by Maryan Apparel Pvt Limited in Kerala’s Kannur district.

Thomas Olickal said, “We have been making uniforms for the Israeli police since 2015. The Hamas attack, killing civilians cannot be accepted. Similarly, the revenge by Israel also cannot be accepted. Denying food and water to over 25 lakh people, bombing hospitals, killing innocent women and children and all cannot be accepted at all. We want the war to end and the peace to prevail.”

It is notable that now it has been proven that it was a failed rocket fired into Israel from Gaza that fell on a Gaza hospital, but the owner of the garment company is still blaming Israel for the same. Initially, Hamas had claimed that the hospital was hit by an Israeli air strike and over 500 people died. But later it was found that a rocket fired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad had failed and hit the parking lot of the hospital, and the actual number of casualties was much less.

Thomas Olickal added, “We request everyone to stop the war. The Israel force will not be short of uniforms because of our decision. But this is a moral decision. The bombing of the hospitals cannot be accepted. We have decided not to take further orders temporarily.”

He further stated that his company will respect current contracts by international agreements, but will not accept new orders until the conflict is over. He said, “In a year we make up to one lakh shirts for Israeli policemen. We also make shirts and jackets for the Israeli Jail Police. About 30,000 to 50,000 shirts and jackets are sent for the jail police in a year.” He also said that last week after the war broke out, the company was informed by Israel that an extra supply of uniforms would be needed.

Maryan Apparel Pvt Limited, which was founded in 2006 in the Kerala state-run Kinfra Park here, specialises in the uniforms of army troops, police officials, security officers, and health care professionals from all over the world. It also provides school uniforms, supermarket employee outfits, physicians’ jackets, coveralls, business attire, and other items.

Israel Hamas War

On 7th October, Hamas terrorists entered Israel using motor gliders, boats, and trucks, targeting civilians and Israeli soldiers. Since then, Hamas has taken over 300 people hostage. In response, Israel has launched counterattacks on the Islamic terrorists, vowing to dismantle their infrastructure.

The truth of the alleged attack on a hospital in Gaza

Amidst the ongoing violence, reports of a devastating explosion at the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in the Gaza Strip emerged. Palestinians and several Arab countries, including Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, were quick to point fingers at Israel, accusing them of deliberately targeting the medical facility.

The Kerala-based company has also cited the attack on the hospital as the reason to break the clothing supply chain of Israeli forces. Media houses like Al Jazeera, the Iranian channel Press TV, and the likes of Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair ran propaganda being pushed by Hamas, claiming it was an Israeli rocket.

Later, multiple proofs appeared making it clear that Israel did not attack the hospital. It was revealed that the rocket that fell on the hospital was not shot by Israel but by an Iran-backed terrorist organisation, Islamic Jihad, that operates from Gaza.

‘Art, music, culture rise above nationalities’: Bombay High Court rejects plea seeking ban on Pakistani artists in India

OpIndia Staff
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‘Art, music, culture rise above nationalities’: Bombay High Court rejects plea seeking ban on Pakistani artists in India

On Tuesday (17th October) the Bombay High Court dismissed a petition seeking an absolute ban on Pakistani artists in India. The petition was filed by a person named Faaiz Anwar Qureshi, who claims to be a cine worker and artist.

A division bench comprising Justice Sunil Shukre and Justice Firdosh Pooniwalla rejected the plea saying that the petition is a backward step in propagating cultural harmony and unity, adding that the plea holds no merit.

The court observed that arts, music, culture sports etc are beyond nationalities and bring peace and unity between different countries.

“The petition is a retrograde step in promoting cultural harmony, unity and peace, and has no merit in it. A person who is good at heart would welcome in his country any activity which promotes peace, harmony, and tranquility within the country and across the borders. Arts, music, sports, culture, dance and so on are the activities which rise above nationalities, cultures and nations and truly bring about peace, tranquility, unity and harmony in nation and between nations”, the bench noted.

The petition filed by Qureshi sought that the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, the Ministry of External Affairs, and the Ministry of Home Affairs issue relevant notifications barring the issuing of visas to Pakistani artists.

In his petition, the petitioner cited a resolution passed by the All-India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) following the Pulwama terror attack. He also mentioned similar resolutions passed by the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPPA) and the Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE), which prohibited Pakistani artists from working in the Indian film industry. The MNS Cinema Wing also warned producers not to hire Pakistani artists, according to the plea.

The petitioner’s lawyer, Vibhav Krishna, said that permitting Pakistani artists to work in the Indian entertainment industry could lead to discrimination against Indian artists because the beneficial atmosphere given to Pakistani artists in India is not available to Indian artists in Pakistan. He stated that the prohibition is vital to prevent Pakistani artists from using financial opportunities in India, which may potentially deprive Indian artists of similar opportunities.

The court, however, rejected the petitioner’s viewpoint, emphasising the importance of cultural unity and international peace. The court emphasised that patriotism should foster togetherness and cultural exchanges rather than encourage hatred.

“One must understand that in order to be a patriot, one need not be inimical to those from abroad especially, from the neighbouring country. A true patriot is a person who is selfless, who is devoted to the cause of his country, which he cannot be unless he is a person who is good at heart”, the bench stated.

Hurried trial: Supreme Court sets aside death penalty awarded to a man for rape and murder of three-month-old infant girl

OpIndia Staff
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Hurried trial: Supreme Court sets aside death penalty awarded to a man for rape and murder of three-month-old infant girl

On 19 October, the Supreme Court set aside the conviction of 25-year-old Naveen Gadke, who was awarded the death penalty for the rape and murder of a three-month-old girl. The apex court remitted the matter for a “de novo (new) trial” and mentioned that he was not given a “proper opportunity” to present his case. The trial made waves at the time after it was completed in a record 23 days from the date of the crime.

The accused, who is a homeless man, was the subject of an appeal being heard by a bench of Justices BR Gavai, PS Narasimha and Prashant Kumar Mishra. The petition was filed against a Madhya Pradesh Court ruling from December 2018 that upheld the verdict and the death penalty. A bench presided over by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi at the time approved his request for special leave in March 2019 and temporarily postponed the Indore court’s decision.

“We are of the considered view that the trial court conducted the trial in a hurried manner without giving the accused a proper opportunity to defend himself. Therefore, the judgment of conviction and sentence passed by the trial court and affirmed by the high court is hereby set aside and the matter is remitted to the trial court for de novo trial according to proper opportunity for the appellant to defend himself,” proclaimed the bench led by Justice Gavai after reserving the judgement.

The court added, “The trial court and the District Legal Services Authority, Indore, are directed to provide assistance of a senior counsel to the appellant to contest the trial on his behalf.” Senior Advocate BH Marlapalle, who represented the plaintiff in the appeal, contended that the trial was rushed because of the intense media attention on the issue before both the top and the high court.

“It was impossible for the accused himself to produce the authors of the DNA reports in one day because the experts are government servants and could not have attended the court at the request of an accused in jail. The trial court treated the accused as if he was carrying a magic wand which is available to produce highly qualified experts, who are government servants, on a phone call. There was no opportunity, in the real sense, for the appellant to cross-examine the experts.”

The court then emphasised the value of a fair trial by citing other rulings. It further clarified the idea of ‘judicial calm’ in relation to fair trials and fervently defended adherence to the ideal in letter and spirit.

The highest court added that because the offender’s two experts were government employees and could not have attended the court at his request, it was not possible for him to produce both of them during the trial, authors of reports like DNA and FSL, in a single day. “The trial court treated the accused as if he is carrying a magic wand which is available to produce highly qualified experts, who are government servants, on a phone call. There was no opportunity, in the real sense, for the appellant to cross-examine the experts”, the court noted.

Background of the case

Following a 23-day trial in May 2018, a sessions court in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, sentenced Naveen Gadke to death for the rape and murder of a three-month-old girl. Naveen Gadke was given the death penalty after being deemed culpable for multiple violations under the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). Special Public Prosecutor Akram Sheikh pointed out the seriousness of the crime and pleaded with the court to consider it as one of the “rarest of the rare” cases.

In April of that year, a 3-month-old infant, who was sleeping on the street beside her parents, was abducted from the area outside Indore’s famous Rajwada Fort. Her body was later discovered in an adjacent building’s basement, covered with blood. After the unfortunate event, a number of people were questioned on the same day and Naveen Gadke was taken into custody. The police completed their investigation in seven days and following a quick hearing, the trial court delivered its verdict on 12th May. The Madhya Pradesh High Court’s Indore bench subsequently upheld the lower court’s decision.

“The rape of an infant is nothing but a monstrous burial of her dignity in the darkness. It is a crime against the holy body of a girl child and the soul of the society and such a crime is aggravated by the manner in which it has been committed. It was not committed by the accused under any mental stress or emotional disturbance and it is difficult to comprehend that he would not commit such acts and would be reformed and rehabilitated. The act of the appellant or accused meets the test of ‘rarest of the rare case’,” asserted the bench of Justice PK Jaiswal and Justice SK Awasthi and confirmed the death sentence.

SFI goons assault and lock up a female ABVP worker in a Kerala college room for wearing a rakhi: Report

OpIndia Staff
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SFI goons assault and lock up a female ABVP worker in a Kerala college room for wearing a rakhi: Report

On October 16, K Aradhana, a female member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), was locked up in a dimly lit room for several hours by Students’ Federation of India (SFI) goons at Government Polytechnic College in Kannur, Kerala, a report published in Organiser said. During this confinement, she was denied access to the restroom. The incident took place after she was assaulted by SFI members, an act prompted by her distribution of ABVP membership forms and wearing a rakhi on her wrist.

She was forced into providing a written statement acknowledging her actions as wrong and committing to refrain from participating in ABVP activities on campus. ABVP has condemned this action by SFI as a violation of the girl’s rights. K Aradhana, a first-year student in the Textile Department, filed a complaint with the college principal regarding the ordeal she endured.

In most cases, the principals running these colleges tend to lean towards the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), and additionally, they harbour apprehensions about the militant tendencies associated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), and SFI.

The SFI goons subjected her to verbal abuse and demanded that she remove the rakhi from her wrist, the report said. When she inquired about the reason for this demand, they argued that it shouldn’t be worn within the college premises. They proceeded to inspect her bag and subsequently locked her up in a room. Aradhana’s father had to visit the campus to secure her release from captivity. In the absence of the principal on the campus, law enforcement had to intervene to resolve the situation.

ABVP has expressed its strong opposition to the acts of violence perpetrated by SFI. Gibin Raj, the president of ABVP in the Kannur district, stated that if the Principal supports those responsible for the incident, legal action will be pursued against him. He further emphasized that ABVP is committed to mobilizing students to counter acts of aggression and violence associated with the communist ideology.

According to reports, the individuals involved in the attack have been identified as SFI members including Akash Babu, Anuprakash, Swaswat, Manas, Niranjan, Gopika, and Sukrita. The incident highlights a concerning trend where Marxist groups are influencing even young girls in a negative manner. The Kannur district has gained notoriety for instances of violence by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) against their political opponents. Some of these incidents allegedly involve high-ranking CPM leaders, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Gibin remarked that democracy has long been silenced and buried within the confines of Kannur Government Polytechnic. They target workers from other organisations, obstructing their legitimate activities. These authoritarian tendencies are unfortunately seeping into other educational institutions as well. It’s worth noting that the CPM and their affiliated groups often vociferously advocate for women’s safety, yet they are involved in actions like assaulting a girl engaged in the activities of her own organization, which presents a stark contradiction.

Strong aversion to customs rooted in Bharatiya and Hindu traditions, such as the rakhi festival, and assertive Hindus is not an uncommon occurrence in Southern India. Recently, several leaders, including DMK’s Udhayanidhi Stalin, A Raja, and Congress’ Priyank Kharge made disparaging remarks against Sanatana Dharma. In fact, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) appears to oppose these values even more vehemently than religious extremists do. In response to the injustices suffered by Aradhana, members of ABVP organised a protest march. According to reports, the police have initiated legal action against certain SFI workers, as the college principal has not taken any measures to address the situation.

Palestinian Authority issues document containing Islamic verse calling to “murder Jews”, tells mosque clerics to incite violence

OpIndia Staff
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Palestinian Authority issues document containing Islamic verse calling to “murder Jews”, tells mosque clerics to incite violence

Days after condemning Hamas’s terrorist attacks on Israel and then backtracking, the Palestinian National Authority or simply Palestinian Authority (PA) has now reportedly issued a call to “murder Jews”.

A one-page document dated 18 October 2023 was issued by the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs. The document issued to imams of mosques lays down directives for Friday (Jummah) sermons. This document contains a verse that calls for the murder of all Jews by Muslims.

The document termed the attack on Gaza’s Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital that allegedly killed over 500 people as a “crime of the era” and blamed Israel for the attack despite the fact that it has been established that it was a failed Hamas rocket that hit the hospital.

The PA document asserts that Palestine cannot raise the white flag until Israel is defeated and a Palestinian state is established. It also mentions making Jerusalem the capital of the Palestinian state after “defeating” Israel.

“The remains of children and the mothers of the dead and the wounded are a stain of shame on those who trumpeted the occupation… Our Palestinian people, despite the wounds and tragedies, cannot raise the white flag until the defeat of the occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital,” the document in Arabic reads.

The document inciting people to wage war against the Jews mentions Islamic verses, one of them from Sahih Al Bukhari (a collection of Hadith and book of Sunnah) which reads: “The hour will not come until the Muslims fight the Jews and the Muslims kill them, until the Jew hides behind the stones and trees and the stones or trees say, ‘O Muslim, O servant of Allah, this is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.'”

The document was revealed by NGO Regavim movement, which said that this is proof that there is no difference between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. The Regavim movement said, “This document is blatant and further proof that there is no fundamental difference between the goals of Hamas and the goals of the Palestinian Authority, which is also interested in one thing: the murder of Jews wherever they are, and the elimination of Jews from all over the country.”

Interestingly, the President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas had last week criticised Hamas for its terror attack on Israel which killed over 1300 Israeli civilians. However, PA’s official news agency WAFA (Wikalat al-Anba al-Filastinija) removed all references to his remarks about the Islamist terror outfit on 15th October.

As reported earlier, during a telephonic conversation with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, Abbas said that Hamas does not represent the Palestinians and that the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) is the sole representative of the Palestinian people.

Moreover, Abbas condemned the killing of civilians on both sides and demanded the release of prisoners and detainees. Hours later, however, all the references to Hamas were removed without any explanation.

Interestingly, the Palestinian National Authority first condemned Hamas, then quietly removed references to the terrorist group and is now calling Muslims to “murder Jews.”

Palestinian Authority

The Oslo Accords established the Palestinian Authority (PA) in July 1994 as an interim authority to rule sections of Gaza and the West Bank (excluding East Jerusalem) until an agreement on a solution to the Israel-Palestine issue could be reached.

In September 1995, Oslo II interim agreement was signed which established the timeframe as well as methods for the futher processes of transfer of authority. Out of the six envisaged in the agreement, the Israeli defence forces had withdrawn from five prominent West Bank towns as the elections for chairman of the Palestinian Council and Palestinian Authority were to be held. The Israeli government, however, refused to withdraw its forces from Hebron in the wake of terrorist attacks and surging disdain for the Oslo II agreement among the Israeli people.

Notably, the Palestinian Authority has not governed the Gaza Strip since Hamas took power in 2007, a year after emerging victorious in the 2006 elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council by securing 74 out of 132 seats. This added to the ongoing rivalry between Hamas and PA which was then controlled by Fatah (political party). In 2007, Hamas defeated Fatah after a violent conflict and seized control of the Gaza Strip.

Notably, the PA President essentially serves as the Palestinian people’s spokesperson in the international community and in the negotiation bids with Israel.

The president of the Palestinian Authority presides over the executive branch, which includes a council of ministers led by a prime minister. Along with the executive branch, the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) and the judiciary system are part of the PA.

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