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Petty politics over death of Agniveer Amritptal ends up hurting honour of both the Army as well as his family

OpIndia Staff
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Petty politics over death of Agniveer Amritptal ends up hurting honour of both the Army as well as his family

The Congress party, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and Aam Aadmi Party started playing politics over the unfortunate death of first Agniveer Amritpal Singh. The parties have criticised the lack of a military guard of honour during Agniveer Amritpal Singh’s funeral that took place on 13th October at his native town of Kotli Kalan in the Mansa district of Punjab.

The political parties failed to consider the government policy and even the Indian Army’s say on the matter and criticised the Army and the government for the lack of a military guard of honour during Agniveer’s funeral.

The Indian Army commented on the matter and said that the cause of death was a self-inflicted injury, no guard of honour or military funeral was provided, in accordance with existing policy. “Unfortunate instances of death arising out of suicide/self-inflicted injury, irrespective of the type of entry, are accorded due respect by the Armed Forces along with deep and enduring empathy with the family. Such cases, however, are not entitled to Military Funerals as per the extant Army Order of 1967, in vogue,” the Indian Army posted.

As per a report by the Indian Express, Amritpal Singh passed away on 10th October from a gunshot wound to the head while serving with his regiment, the 10 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, in the Poonch region of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Agniveer Amritpal Singh died while on sentry duty in Rajouri Sector, due to a self-inflicted gunshot injury. A Court of Inquiry to ascertain more details is in progress. Mortal remains of the deceased, accompanied by one Junior Commissioned Officer and four Other Ranks, were transported in a Civil Ambulance hired by the Unit of the Agniveer. Accompanying Army personnel also attended the last rites. The cause of death being a self-inflicted injury, no guard of honour or military funeral was provided, in accordance with the policy,” the Indian Army said on Twitter (X).

Congress, SAD, and AAP raised questions

The Congress party criticised the Army and the government over the matter. State Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring commented on the issue and said on Twitter (X), “This is a sad day for our country as this who was recruited under the Agniveer scheme was sent back home in a Pvt ambulance & not given any guard of honour by the @adgpi. Does being an Agniveer mean that their lives don’t matter as much?”

“The bereaved family had to request the local Punjab Police to give our young boy a guard of honour. Is this why BJP started this policy? Is this how we will treat our Agniveers, different from the rest of our soldiers? Does the Central Government have any answers for this inhuman treatment of our young martyr? Shameful!” he added.

Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia also wrote, “It is most tragic and unfortunate to see that due to the Modi Government’s new Agniveer Policy first martyr of the country, only 19-year-old Amritpal Singh was not even provided army ambulance to bring his body home. It is most shameful to note that even customary Guard of Honour was not provided to Martyr.”

Majithia continued by claiming that the Union Home Minister had just the day before acknowledged that Sikh community martyrs had played a key role in defending the nation. “Keeping in view the insensitive approach of Modi Government youth will desist from getting recruited under the scheme. Modi government should immediately stop this scheme…” he said.

Meanwhile, according to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the Punjab government will consider Agniveer Amritpal Singh to be a martyr and, like any other martyr, will give Rs 1 crore to the deceased’s family and file a protest with the Centre regardless of the policies of the Centre about his death.

How did Agniveer mritpal die?

Amritpal Singh is the first Agniveer to lose his life since the Agniveer scheme has been implemented. However, he lost his life due to a suspicious self-inflicted bullet. He was posted in Jammu and Kashmir. An inquiry into his death has been ordered. The matter is being investigated as to whether the bullet was fired accidentally or with the intention of committing suicide.

Meanwhile, the Indian Army in its statement confirmed that the Agniveer had died due to suicide. “It is a grave loss to the family and the Indian Army that Agniveer Amritpal Singh committed suicide by shooting himself while on sentry duty. In consonance with the existing practice, the mortal remains, after the conduct of medico-legal procedures, were transported under Army arrangements along with an escort party to the native place for the last rites,” the Army tweeted.

UP: Stones pelted on Hindu yatras while passing through Muslim-dominated areas in Kushinagar and Aligarh, police deny communal angle

OpIndia Staff
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UP: Stones pelted on Hindu yatras while passing through Muslim-dominated areas in Kushinagar and Aligarh, police deny communal angle

On 15th October, a Navratri Kalash Yatra was allegedly attacked by Islamists in the Lakshmipur area of Kuberasthan Police jurisdiction under Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh. As per reports, stones were pelted at the procession when the Kalash Yatra passed through the Muslim area. A young child was injured during the incident. Kushinagar police have, however, denied a communal angle and said it was a scuffle between two groups. Four people have been arrested in the matter.

FIR does not mention chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’

An FIR has been registered under Sections 147, 323, 504, 506, 336 and 308 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on the complaint of Naresh Sah, uncle of 6-year-old boy Piyush, who got injured in the incident. The FIR was registered against Tarbez, the unnamed son of Mubarak, the unnamed son of Intzaar, Chunnu and unknown people. OpIndia accessed the copy of the FIR.

Source: UP Police

In his complaint, Naresh said his nephew Piyush joined Kalash Yatra with one Satyendra Gupta. When the procession entered the Mosque’s vicinity, some Muslim community members came and asked them to stop the DJ. A scuffle broke down after the accused started abusing Hindu community members. They pelted stones, and one hit Piyush on the head. Piyush fell to the ground and lost consciousness. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment and under critical condition. They also threatened to kill the members of the Hindu community.

Muslims irked by chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’; reports

Dainik Bhaskar’s report suggested that Muslims accused Hindus of chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ in front of a mosque. They also claimed that there was a lack of police presence during the procession, which gave way to the scuffle between the two communities. Notably, there have been incidents of communal tension between the two communities in the past, but the villagers said the police made no appropriate arrangements for the procession.

Following the incident, police reached the spot to maintain law and order. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ritesh Singh refused to comment on the incident. Additional police force was deployed to ensure law and order in the area.

Attack on Kalash Yatra

Nav Durga Puja Seva Samiti organised Kalash Yatra in the village on the first day of Navratri. When the procession entered the Muslim-dominating area, some Muslim community members got irked by the chants of Jai Shri Ram and pelted stones at the procession. A 6-year-old boy identified as Piyush got injured during the stone pelting. His mother told Dainik Bhaskar that she went to offer prayers at the temple. Piyush joined the procession without her supervision. He sustained minor injuries due to stone pelting.

Village Chief Vinod Gaur said in a statement that he was near the intersection when he heard stone-pelting had occurred. He pointed out that police presence was negligible at the time of the incident. Bharatiya Janata Party leader Dinesh Kumar Shrivastav criticised the police for the alleged negligence. He pointed out that similar incidents have occurred in the past, and the village falls under the sensitive areas of the police jurisdiction. However, there were no police personnel present to prevent communal conflicts at the time of the procession.

On the other hand, Muslim women claimed there was no stone-pelting. She accused Hindus of entering Muslim-dominated areas to instigate violence. She claimed that Navrari processions had never entered the vicinity of the mosque before, and three people from the Hindu community changed the route, led to the confrontation.

Following the incident, the situation remained tense in the area. Villagers said there was an ongoing demand for a police post in the area that has caused unease among the Muslim community.

Ram Baraat attacked in Aligarh

A similar incident occurred in Chandos of Aligarh, where two communities clashed after the Muslim community allegedly attacked the Ram Baraat procession. As per reports, stones were pelted at the procession and the attendees were attacked with iron rods. Following the attack, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and Hindu organisations staged a sit-in protest outside the police station, demanding the arrest of the accused.

The incident took place on the first day of Navratri. Every year, Hindus organise Ram Baraat on the first day of Navratri. However, this year, the procession was attacked. Several people were reportedly injured. The attackers allegedly came armed with sticks and swords and targeted the Hindus in the procession.

Angry Hindus gathered before the Chandos police station and demanded immediate action. FIR was filed by the police based on the complaint, and one person was arrested.

District Magistrate (DM) and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Aligarh Range arrived to calm the situation. Speaking to the media, DIG said the situation was under control. DIG added the whole incident took place in under two minutes. The police personnel present at the scene controlled the situation. Police denied the claims of stone pelting. Additional police force has been deployed in the area to prevent such incidents in the future.

Maharashtra: VHP raises objection over construction of slaughterhouse in Daund over suspicion of cow slaughter, calls it illegal, unnecessary

Siddhi Somani
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Maharashtra: VHP raises objection over construction of slaughterhouse in Daund over suspicion of cow slaughter, calls it illegal, unnecessary

On Sunday (15th October), local Hindu organizations raised an objection over the alleged illegal slaughterhouse being constructed in the Daund region of Maharashtra’s Pune district. The local Hindu members said that creating a slaughterhouse in the Daund region is unnecessary and that the state authorizing its construction has hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindus, Jain, Sikh, and Varkari Sampradaya communities.

As per the information obtained by OpIndia, the permission for the slaughterhouse in question was obtained by BJP MLA Rahul Kul. The Hindu community members met state BJP chief Chandrashekar Bavankule on October 15 and demanded the revocation of permission granted for the construction of the slaughterhouse.

“This slaughterhouse is being constructed for the benefit of one specific community and the government granting permission to the same has hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus. It is said that the slaughterhouse is being created to slaughter the buffaloes but there have been many instances in the past where illegal slaughter of cows has taken place Daund. FIRs have also been filed in several such cases,” the letter read.

Letter copy obtained by Opindia

The letter further highlighted the illegality of the slaughterhouse saying that one government-approved slaughterhouse was already functioning in Pune’s Baramati region which is at a distance of 40 km from Daund, and that no new slaughterhouse should be allowed in such proximity.

“Apart from this,” the letter said, “no permission of local residents has been taken, they haven’t been even told about this. The health perspective of the local residents has also been ignored. This is condemnable. The slaughterhouse should not be given permission.”

OpIndia contacted Daund VHP chief Ganesh Akhade who confirmed the matter and said that many people from a specific community in Daund region illegally smuggle cows, slaughter cows, and insult the Hindu religion. “In the past, there have been several cases where many were caught red-handed by our gurakshaks while the former were smuggling, slaughtering the cows. This new govt-approved slaughterhouse is not needed here as there are many private slaughterhouses already functioning in the region. They illegally slaughter cows and there have been many such instances in the past,” he reiterated.

Document obtained by OpIndia

Meanwhile, Upendra Balkavade, Pune district head of the Akhil Bharatiya Krushi Goseva Sangh said that BJP’s Rahul Kul has garnered permission for the construction of the slaughterhouse and the government has also approved funds for the same. “This is unnecessary as one govt-approved slaughterhouse is only at the distance of 42 km from here. They say that the slaughterhouse is being constructed to slaughter buffaloes but people from specific communities for whose benefit this slaughterhouse is being constructed can practice illegal slaughter of cows as they do at present in the private slaughterhouses. This should stop,” he pressed.

Cow protection has been painted as a ‘communal’ issue where Gorakshaks are depicted as rogue groups that attack ‘innocent’ Muslims transporting cows to slaughterhouses. Cattle are a source of livelihood for millions in rural India and are loved as their family members. Cows, especially, are also considered holy by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs alike, and slaughtering them is considered to be a sin.

The government has imposed a ban on cow slaughter as per the Animal Welfare Act. In spite of this, numerous cows, bullocks, cattle, and other animals are smuggled across Telangana state at night in both large and small vehicles from the state of Maharashtra.

Earlier, on Tuesday (10th October) Gorakshaks in Pune saved two cows from the clutches of cow smugglers who were taking the cows to a slaughterhouse in Pune. Iqbal Alam and other two smugglers were arrested in this case based on the complaint filed by Gorakshak Upendra Balkavde. In another incident in the Pune district, cow meat was seized from a car in Manchar on 9th October.

After Islamist terror attack by Hamas on Israel, American landlord stabs 6-year-old Palestinian boy 26 times screaming ‘Muslims must die’

OpIndia Staff
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After Islamist terror attack by Hamas on Israel, American landlord stabs 6-year-old Palestinian boy 26 times screaming ‘Muslims must die’

Following the widespread devastation that the Palestinian Islamist terror group Hamas inflicted upon Israel in an unwarranted attack on October 7, an American landlord identified as 71-year-old Joseph Czuba brutally stabbed a 6-year-old Palestinian boy and his mother who were tenants in his home in Plainfield, Illinois in the USA.

Police in the United States said that in the incident that occurred on Saturday (October 14), the accused barged into the house and launched a vicious attack on the mother-son duo, screaming “You Muslims must die.”

The child was stabbed 26 times and died at the hospital. His 32-year-old mother, who was also seriously wounded, is currently undergoing treatment and is expected to survive the attack. The autopsy report revealed that the boy was stabbed with a large military-style knife. The woman too had more than a dozen stab wounds on her body.

The police, who linked the attack to the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine’s Islamist terror organisation Hamas, revealed that the 71-year-old accused was arrested on Sunday (October 15) and charged with murder and hate crimes.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office took to social media to inform, “Detectives were able to determine that both victims in this brutal attack were targeted by the suspect due to them being Muslim and the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict involving Hamas and the Israeli.”

The accused was found Saturday outside “Sitting upright outside on the ground near the driveway of the residence” with a cut on his forehead, the police said. The police arrested him and charged him with First Degree Murder, Attempted First Degree Murder, Hate Crime (2 counts), and Aggravated Battery with a Deadly Weapon.

The Sheriff’s office further said that the woman ran to the bathroom to call 911 for help and emerged to find that the man had stabbed her son. “It all happened in seconds,” the woman texted, according to CAIR.

“Deputies located two victims inside the residence in a bedroom. Both victims had multiple stab wounds to their chest, torso, and upper extremities,” the sheriff’s statement said.

A serrated military-style knife with a seven-inch blade was pulled from the boy’s abdomen during the autopsy, the statement said.

The names of the deceased were not released by the authorities, however, on Sunday, the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations organised a news conference with the family members of the deceased where they identified the victims as Wadea Al-Fayoume, a Palestinian-American boy who had just turned 6, and his mother Hanaan Shahin.

They said that the accused was their landlord and that they were staying on the ground floor of the home for two years.

“He knocked on the door and attempted to choke her, and said, ‘you Muslims’ must die,” Ahmed Rehab, head of CAIR’s Chicago office, told reporters, citing text messages sent by the woman to the murdered boy’s father from her hospital bed.

Hamas, a terrorist group associated with Islamist Palestine, attacked Israel fatally on October 7. The murderous Islamist attack, which has been going on for more than ten days, has claimed the lives of several Israeli citizens, military personnel, and foreigners. According to the latest update, 1300 people have been killed, with over 3600 injured. At least 29 Americans have been killed in the vicious Hamas attack on Israel.

Muslim organizations to protest at Jantar Mantar against Israel, Reza Academy, which earlier rioted for Rohingyas, to hold a press conference in Mumbai

OpIndia Staff
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Muslim organizations to protest at Jantar Mantar against Israel, Reza Academy, which earlier rioted for Rohingyas, to hold a press conference in Mumbai

On 16th October, Muslim organisations are scheduled to stage a protest against Israel to show solidarity towards the Palestinian cause and Hamas. The protest has been announced amid the Israel-Hamas war that was started after the Palestinian terrorist organisation Hamas initiated a terror attack on Israel on 7th October and killed over 1,300 Israelis, including women, children and the elderly.

The protest will take place at Jantar Mantar under the ‘Support Citizen Vigil’ banner at 2 PM.

On the other hand, Muslim organizations and Maulanas have called a press conference in Mumbai to express their support for the Palestinian cause. Raza Academy and Aman Committee members will be part of the press conference.

Notably, since Israel declared war against Hamas with an aim to wipe out the terrorist organisation from Gaza, several Muslim organisations and leaders worldwide have come out in support of the Palestinian cause. Most of them are claiming that the attack on Hamas is an attack on “innocent civilians” in Gaza and are accusing Israel of war crimes.

In India, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has already expressed its solidarity towards Palestinians, indirectly supporting the brutal terrorist attack on Israeli civilians. Furthermore, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaddudin Owaisi recently called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a devil. Jamait Ulema-e-Hind has also criticised Israel for its attack on Hamas in Gaza.

Darul Uloom Deoband’s leader and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind chief, Maulana Arshad Madani, marked his protest against Israel’s counter-attack on Hamas locations in Gaza. He said Jamiat is standing with Palestine. “Israel is an occupant nation that had occupied Palestinian land with the help of world powers. Israel now wants to wipe out Palestinians from the face of the earth with the help of those world powers”, he added.

Vandalism of Amar Jawan Jyothi memorial at Azad Maidan by Raza Academy-led mob

On 11th August 2012, Raza Academy staged a morcha at Azad Maidan ground to protest against the alleged atrocities on Muslims in Assam and Myanmar. However, the protest turned violent after the notorious group attacked the policemen. This led to police firing, resulting in 2 deaths and 63 injuries. Raza Academy had earlier assured the Mumbai Police that only 1,500 people would turn up for the protest. However, more than 15000 people assembled at the Azad Maidan, which later increased to 40000. The most shocking incident of the Azad Maidan Riots was the desecration of the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial by the Muslim mobs. Later, it came to light that the police waited for one week until Eid to arrest the 35-40 Muslim youths who were involved in rioting. The riots caused approximately Rs 2.72 crores of damages to various public properties.

Israel-Hamas war

On 7th October, hundreds of Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel through various means, overwhelming the Iron Dome with over 5,000 rockets in a matter of few minutes. They also abducted hostages and took them to Gaza. In a counterattack on Hamas by Israeli forces, more than 1,500 have been reportedly killed in the Israel-Hamas war. The death toll in Israel from the Hamas attack has now surpassed 1,300, with over 3,300 injured, primarily civilians. Israel launched a major offensive against Hamas in Gaza, restricting power and water supply and blocking essential goods from entering the region. Over 400,000 Gaza residents have been evacuated so far. Meanwhile, India has launched Operation Ajay to evacuate Indians from Israel.

Palestinian National Authority, which controls West Bank, criticises terror attack by Hamas, remarks removed within hours

OpIndia Staff
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Palestinian National Authority, which controls West Bank, criticises terror attack by Hamas, remarks removed within hours

Hours after the President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas criticised Hamas for its terror attack on Israel, its official news agency WAFA (Wikalat al-Anba al-Filastinija) removed all references to his remarks about the Islamist terror outfit on Sunday (October 15).

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.

He also condemned the killing of civilians on both sides and demanded the release of prisoners and detainees.

“The president also stressed that Hamas’ policies and actions do not represent the Palestinian people, and the policies, programs and decisions of the (Palestine Liberation Organization) represent the Palestinian people as their sole legitimate representative,” WAFA had originally reported.

However, within a few hours, the official news agency of the Palestinian National Authority removed references to Hamas.

The original report was tweaked to read,The president also stressed that the policies, programs, and decisions of the PLO represent the Palestinian people as their sole legitimate representative, and not the policies of any other organization.”

WAFA did not provide any explanation for its decision. The Palestinian National Authority was established in 1994 and is a self-governing body in the West Bank region. Its President Mahmoud Abbas has been opposed to Hamas since the terror outfit took control of Gazal in 2007.

Israel-Hamas War

On 7th October, hundreds of Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel through various means, overwhelming the Iron Dome with 5,000 rockets in a few minutes. They also abducted hostages and took them to Gaza.

In a counterattack on Hamas by Israeli forces, more than 1,500 Hamas terrorists have been reportedly killed amid the Israel-Hamas war. While hunting for the Hamas terrorists, IDF said it had been actively looking for the hostages.

The death toll in Israel from the Hamas attack has now surpassed 1,300, with over 3,300 injured, primarily civilians. Israel launched a major offensive against Hamas in Gaza, restricting power and water supply and blocking essential goods from entering the region.

Meanwhile, India has launched Operation Ajay and evacuated 918 Indian nationals from Israel.

Israel targets military infra inside Lebanon while USA, France warn Hezbollah against joining the war

ANI
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Israel targets military infra inside Lebanon while USA, France warn Hezbollah against joining the war

 Israel Defence Forces (IDF) have struck the Hezbollah “military infrastructure” in Lebanon as a retaliatory move to Sunday’s fire, The Times of Israel reported.

The attacks were in reaction to Sunday’s fire from Lebanon that was directed against Israel.

Notably, on Sunday morning, six anti-tank guided missiles were fired toward an Israeli town and military outposts near the Lebanon border, killing at least one civilian, according to The Times of Israel.

Nine further rockets were also fired at Nahariya, a city in the north, and adjacent towns, however, there were no reports of any casualties.

The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has been cautioned by the United States and its allies against escalating the conflict in Israel. This comes after the deployment of US military assets to prevent a potential widening of the war, multiple US officials aware of the matter told CNN.

At this point, senior administration officials do not believe that Hezbollah is likely to join Hamas’ war in force against Israel, and officials think the warnings are having an impact even though there has been some escalation on the border.

A message has been sent to Hezbollah to stay out of the conflict through a number of channels, including the Lebanese government and the Hezbollah-allied Speaker of Lebanon’s Parliament, Nabih Berri.

At Israel’s request, France has also conveyed to Hezbollah that they must stay out of the war and not escalate further or Israel will respond significantly, a source briefed on the talks said. Those discussions were also coordinated with the US, the source said.
Hezbollah is a highly trained, well-armed and sophisticated military force that also receives Iranian support, so its entry into the conflict would mark a significant escalation.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has ordered the deployment of a carrier strike group to the eastern Mediterranean in large part as a message to Hezbollah and its Iranian backers to refrain from entering the war.

US security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters at the White House on Tuesday last week: “Let me be clear, we did not move the carrier for Hamas. We moved the carrier to send a clear message of deterrence to other states or non-state actors that might seek to widen this war.”

According to the latest update, 1300 people have been killed, with over 3600 injured, reported The Jerusalem Post.

Israeli Defence Minister Gallant said that an estimated 150-200 hostages are being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, adding, “We are making every effort to locate them even in this great complexity.”

According to the latest update, 1300 people have been killed, with over 3600 injured.

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

Israel resumes water supply to Gaza but electricity supply remains suspended, Red Cross demands Hamas grant immediate access to Israeli hostages

OpIndia Staff
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Israel resumes water supply to Gaza but electricity supply remains suspended, Red Cross demands Hamas grant immediate access to Israeli hostages

Days after stopping water and electricity supply to Gaza Strip amid the retaliatory military action against Hamas in response to the horrific terror attack on 7 October, Israel has restored water supply to the Hamas-ruled Palestinian region. A senior Israeli official confirmed that Israel has resumed water supply to the Gaza Strip after stopping it briefly following the Hamas terrorist attack, The Times of Israel reported on 15th October (Sunday). 

Prior to the confirmation, US National Security Adviser (NSA) Jake Sullivan while speaking to CNN first publicised this decision that Israel has resumed water supply to the Gaza Strip. US NSA Sullivan asserted that his Israeli counterparts had informed him about the development a few hours earlier. Following this, Israeli officials confirmed the development to the Israeli media portal.

A day earlier (14 October), a US lawmaker had informed the Times of Israel that a senior Israeli official had indicated to them that Israel would allow food, water, and medicine into Gaza after imposing a siege on the enclave. The decision comes in the wake of Israel’s preparation to launch a ground invasion to dismantle Hamas prompting 4 lakh Gazans to evacuate the Southern region. 

However, the US lawmaker clarified that Israel did not commit that it would let in electricity and fuel supplies into Gaza, which according to them are not covered by the same rules under laws of armed conflict. Israel insists that Hamas will electricity in its war against Israel, and therefore it will not restore the supply. It is notable that Gaza’s own thermal power plant also shut down as it ran out of diesel.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has demanded that Hamas should grant direct access to Israeli hostages. The ICRC asserted that it is speaking directly with senior Hamas cadre to demand access to Israeli hostages, The Times of Israel reported on 15th October (Sunday).

Sarah Davies of ICRC Israel and surrounding territories said, “We are speaking with Hamas at the highest levels, face-to-face. The plight of loved ones being held hostage is one of our top priorities. We are making demands to see them. We are asking that they be able to contact family members.”

She added, “We are calling for immediate access to those taken hostage, so we can check on their well-being and contact their panicked families who are desperate for news.”

Davies further asserted, “And we have made it clear that we are ready to facilitate any eventual release.” 

She noted that on the day of the attack, October 7, the ICRC immediately offered its support to Israeli officials and has been in regular communication with them since then.

(Parents and family members of hostages abducted by Hamas terrorists want their kith and kin back. Image Source – AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
(Image Source – CNN)

Meanwhile, the families of the hostages had made public calls for the Red Cross to act, and on 13th October (Friday), they met with several ICRC representatives.

However, Davies emphasised that it was best for the organisation to do its work behind the scenes. She said, “It may feel like we are silent, but I can promise you that we are where it most counts. We are not outspoken because we know from decades of experience that the way we can best influence change for those we want to help is to keep a low profile and advocate for the best interests of those we want to help behind closed doors, directly with those who have the influence to make a difference.”

Regarding crimes committed by Hamas, she asserted that “all forms of sexual violence, when committed in the context of armed conflict either international or non-international, constitute violations under international humanitarian law.”

Neither the special envoy for Israel’s hostages and missing, Gal Hirsch nor his office has responded to questions on Israel’s cooperation with the ICRC.

Notably, on 15th October, Military spokesman Richard Hecht confirmed that around 126 people have been held as hostages by Hamas terrorists since they launched a surprise terror attack and ground invasion on 7th October.

Initially, the authorities had estimated a higher number of hostages but later, Israeli officials informed that the numbers had been revised down as bodies from the Hamas attack sites in southern Israel have been found and identified. 

The military added that its forces had also found the bodies of some of the hostages in raids into Gaza, without providing a number. On 13th October, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) rescued about 250 hostages alive and neutralised over 60 Hamas terrorists near the Gaza security fence area.

Israel Hamas war

On 7th October, hundreds of Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel through various means, overwhelming the Iron Dome with 5,000 rockets in a matter of few minutes. Around 1,300 Israeli citizens died and over 3,300 were severely injured in the attack. 

During the attack, the Hamas terrorists also abducted countless hostages and took them to Gaza. 

Israel’s Military forensic teams during the forensic analysis of victims of the Hamas terrorist attack found multiple signs of torture, rape, and other atrocities. Speaking to reporters, a reserve warrant officer identified only by her first name of Avigayil said, “We’ve seen dismembered bodies with their arms and feet chopped off, people that were beheaded, a child that was beheaded.” 

In a counterattack on Hamas by Israeli forces, more than 1,500 Hamas terrorists have been reportedly killed in the Israel-Hamas war. 

Ubuntu takes down its latest Desktop release after finding anti-semitic, homophobic and other hate speech in Ukrainian translation

OpIndia Staff
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Ubuntu takes down its latest Desktop release after finding anti-semitic, homophobic and other hate speech in Ukrainian translation

Ubuntu, the most popular distribution of Linux, has taken down its latest version after noticing hate speech in Ukrainian translations of the release. The installation file for version 23.10 of Ubuntu contained homophobic, antisemitic and xenophobic text in the Ukrainian translation.

A note published by the Ubuntu project on a community forum on 13 October said that the latest version 23.10 of Ubuntu Desktop was removed after they “identified hate speech from a malicious contributor in a specific set of translations of the Ubuntu Desktop installer UI and have taken immediate action.”

It said that these translations are being removed and an updated ISO will be available to download once they have replaced the offending material. Ubuntu project added that the translations were provided via a third-party tool used for a subset of applications, and it is not part of Ubuntu Archive.

An update to the note said that a community contributor had submitted offensive Ukrainian translations to a public, third-party online service that is used to provide language support for the Ubuntu Desktop installer. “Around three hours after the release of Ubuntu 23.10 this fact was brought to our attention and we immediately removed the affected images,” the note added.

It said that Ubuntu Desktop 23.10 and Ubuntu Budgie 23.10 are the impacted images.

Ubuntu team said that the offensive text is not shown if the operating system is updated, and it only impacts installations through a live CD environment. The statement added, “Please keep in mind that translations are data files that support internationalisation of applications. These files are updated with the support of third-party online systems with contributions from individuals all around the world that then get integrated into Ubuntu. It’s unfortunate when that path of collaboration is undermined and used as a mechanism of social aggression. Canonical and Ubuntu do not condone hate speech or offensive language of any kind, as per our code of conduct.”

While the statement didn’t mention the kind of hate speech injected in the installation file, Bleepingcomputer spotted the altered text posted on Github. It shows that anti-Semitic, homophobic, and xenophobic slurs were injected into the Ubuntu distribution, which was spotted by alert community members, following which it was taken down.

A Github pull request shows that the “insulting [localization] strings” were spotted around 12 October. It was also found that the cryptic malicious Ukrainian strings were injected by a user by the name of “Danilo Negrilo” towards the end of the translation file, making them harder to spot.

Some lines of the text posted on Github shows maliciously altered instruction file. The instructions for installation of the OS were replaced with instructions for how to perform a homosexual act in cryptic language, as per machine translation of the Ukrainian text.

While Ubuntu has restored the Ukrainian translation to the state before it was sabotaged, it is taking additional time for a broader audit and has not restored the Live CD installation image yet.

However, users can still download legacy installer ISO images of Ubuntu Desktop 23.10, which was not injected with hate speech. Existing users also can upgrade their systems to get the latest version.

Amid diplomatic standoff over baseless allegations against India, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau extends Navratri wishes to Hindus

ANI
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Amid diplomatic standoff over baseless allegations against India, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau extends Navratri wishes to Hindus

Softening his tone while asserting that his government was committed to building closer ties with India, after claiming that Indian agents were behind the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday extended his wishes to the Hindu community on the occasion of the Navratras.

PM Trudeau posted from his official handle, “Happy Navratri! I’m sending my warmest wishes to members of the Hindu community and all those who are celebrating this festival.”

An official press statement released by the Canadian PM said that over the next nine nights and 10 days, members of the Hindu community in Canada and around the world will gather to celebrate Navratri.

“Navratri is one of the most important and sacred festivals in the Hindu faith, commemorating the victory of the goddess Durga over the buffalo-headed demon Mahishasura and the triumph of good over evil. Often seen as a celebration of feminine energy, it is a time for friends and family to come together and honour century-old traditions with prayers, joyous performances, special meals, and fireworks,” the statement quoted the Canadian PM as saying further.

He also termed the festival as a chance to grab knowledge about the culture of Hindu communities and an occasion to recognise their contributions to Canada.

“For all Canadians, Navratri also offers an opportunity to learn more about the rich history and culture of Hindu communities and to recognize their invaluable contributions to Canada’s social, cultural, and economic fabric. Today’s celebrations remind us that diversity is one of Canada’s greatest strengths,” he said.

“On behalf of my family and the Government of Canada, I extend my best wishes to everyone celebrating Navratri this year,” the statement quoted him as saying further.

Earlier, expressing deep concerns over recent statements of designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun allegedly endorsing Hamas and issuing threats against Indian Consulates in G7 nations, including Canada, the Hindu community “implored” the Trudeau government to take immediate action against the Khalistani leader.

In an urgent email addressed to Canada’s Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc, the Hindu Forum of Canada (HFC) called for immediate action against Pannun.

“On October 21st, from G7 Nations, from Canada to Australia, Sikhs for Justice is going to shut down terror houses of India in Vancouver, Washington DC, London, Frankfurt, and Milan. The People of Palestine shut down the Indian terror house in Ramallah and removed Renu Yadav (India’s first woman envoy to Palestine),” Pannun said.

“Such statements must not be tolerated. We implore the government of Canada to take immediate action, as we are deeply concerned about the safety of our community. This kind of hateful video and speech is exacerbating hatred and violence,” the HFC said in a statement.

Earlier, addressing the Canadian Parliament, PM Trudeau claimed that his government had reasons to believe that Indian agents were involved in the killing of the Khalistani leader Nijjar.

India has outrightly rejected the claims, calling it ‘absurd’ and ‘motivated’.

“We have seen and reject the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister. Allegations of Government of India’s involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated…We are a democratic polity with a strong commitment to rule of law,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

“Such unsubstantiated allegations seek to shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The inaction of the Canadian Government on this matter has been a long-standing and continuing concern. That Canadian political figures have openly expressed sympathy for such elements remains a matter of deep concern. The space given in Canada to a range of illegal activities including murders, human trafficking and organised crime is not new. We reject any attempts to connect Government of India to such developments. We urge the Government of Canada to take prompt and effective legal action against all anti-India elements operating from their soil,” it added.

Nijjar, a designated terrorist in India, was killed outside a gurdwara in Canada’s Surrey on June 18.

Significantly, Canada is yet to provide any evidence to support its claim of an Indian hand in the killing of Hardeep Nijjar.

Signalling a further souring of bilateral ties, Ottawa and New Delhi announced tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats in the wake of Trudeau’s allegation of Indian involvement in Nijjar’s killing.

India also suspended visa services for Canadian citizens amid the festering diplomatic fallout of Trudeau’s charge.

Weighing in on the diplomatic fallout of Trudeau’s claim, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the Canadian attitude towards terrorists, extremist people who openly advocate violence is “very permissive”.

“This has been an issue of great friction for many years with Canada. But in the last few years, it has come back very much into play because of what we consider to be a very permissive Canadian attitude towards terrorists, and extremist people who openly advocate violence. And they have been given operating space in Canada because of the compulsions of Canadian politics,” Jaishankar said.

At an event in Washington, DC, Jaishankar said, “Today, I’m actually in a situation where my diplomats are unsafe going to the embassy, or to the consulate in Canada. They are publicly intimidated. And that has actually compelled me to temporarily suspend even visa operations in Canada.”

“The Canadian PM made some allegations initially privately, and then publicly. And our response to him, both in private and public — what he was alleging was not consistent with our policy. And that if he had, if his government had anything relevant and specific they would like us to look into, we were open to looking at it. Now, that’s where that conversation is at this point of time,” Jaishankar said.

Amid strained ties with Canada, India also issued an advisory for its citizens and those who are travelling to Canada to exercise “utmost caution in view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence” in the country

Later, responding to reports that India had asked Canada to withdraw 41 of its 62 diplomats in the country over alleged interference in the country’s internal matters, the spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, said earlier this month that the Canadian diplomatic presence was much higher. 

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

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