An Army Rashtriya Rifles unit Commanding Officer Colonel Manpreet Singh, a Company Commander Major Aashish Dhonchak and a Deputy Superintendent of Jammu and Kashmir Police Humayun Muzamil Bhat along with one soldier were killed in action on 13 September in the higher reaches of Kokernag in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district. Unfortunately, another soldier continues to be missing.
Notably, Colonel Manpreet, who was in his forties, was offered a peace posting upon his promotion two years ago in 2021. However, the late officer refused and volunteered to serve as its commander. The battalion is renowned for its contribution to neutralising terrorists, including Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist Burhan Wani, who was eliminated on 8 July 2016.
He responded, “No Sir, I would like to be posted in my 19 RR (Rashtriya Rifles) and be with my own men,” as he politely declined the opportunity to be away from the conflict areas. He always preferred to take the initiative and usually cited the need to “ensure the safety of everyone under my command” as his justification.
He was a sports enthusiast who consistently supported the development of youngsters and encouraged them to participate in sports. Volleyball events and women’s “Chinar Cricket tournaments” were often held at Larkipora, where the formation’s headquarters were situated.
Many local sports fans expressed their shock that the officer had passed away. Several voiced that he had always been there for young people and had inspired them to create a well-rounded society. Female cricketer Rubbiya Sayeed conveyed, “He believed that sports played an important role in building a society. There were many drug addicts whom he sent for rehabilitation.”
Colonel Manpreet Singh was a combat veteran and received the Sena Medal while posted as second-in-command of the 19 Rashtriya Rifles which is assigned with maintaining security in South Anantnag, Kokernag and Verinag Achabal, including its higher reaches which have historically been heavily plagued with terrorists, particularly of the foreign origin.
He is survived by his wife Jagmeet Kaur, a six-year-old son and a two-year-old daughter. She is an economics lecturer at Government Senior Secondary School, Madana, in Morni Hills, Panchkula. He seemed to be preoccupied and told her, “I am heading into an operation now,” when she made a routine phone call to her spouse before the fateful operation.
The 34-year-old Major Aashish Dhonchak who narrowly escaped death just one month ago, is remembered as a zealous commander who used to get down to the details of every operation. On August 10, terrorists launched a grenade, injuring three persons, including a soldier, while the officer and his crew were conducting a cordon and search operation in the Kokernag neighbourhood of Athlan Gadole.
One of the officers who knew the braveheart recounted, “This time he ran out of luck.” He left behind his wife and two-year-old daughter. His mortal remains were solemnly carried to his hometown of Binjhol in Panipat, Haryana while the colonel’s remains were respectfully brought to his residence in Mohali, Punjab.
DSP Humayun Muzamil Bhat (34) who was a second-generation cop and son of Ghulam Hassan Bhat, retired Inspector General of the J&K Police was laid to rest on 14 September. He was described as someone who “always led from the front,” by his colleagues and friends. He was married last year and is survived by his wife Fatima and one-month-old daughter.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Pralhad Joshi, on Friday, questioned the silence of the Opposition bloc — INDIA — over former DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s rant against Sanatan Dharma.
Addressing a seminar in Chennai earlier, the minister for Sports and Youth Affairs in the Tamil Nadu government, equated Sanatan Dharma with “mosquitoes, dengue, malaria, fever and corona” and called for it to be eradicated and not merely opposed.
Speaking to ANI on Friday, Joshi questioned why people should vote for the ruling Congress in Rajasthan, saying, “The son (Priyank Kharge) of the Congress’s national president (Mallikarju Kharge) equated Sanatan Dharma with a disease. I want to ask the Congress and (Rajasthan Chief Minister) Ashok Gehlot as to what they have to say on this.”
He added that the Congress was yet to condemn these statements.
While Priyank Kharge is a sitting minister in the Karnataka government, Udhayanidhi’s party is a constituent of the INDIA bloc along with the Congress.
“Only a few people are calling it INDIA. It ought to be called the INDI alliance. Since the word alliance is repeated in the name, it is INDI alliance. It is actually a
ghamandi
(arrogant) alliance,” the BJP leader, who is the party’s poll in-charge in Rajasthan, said.
Invoking the G20 summit to take a swipe at the Opposition, Joshi said while the whole world was commending the country for its conduct of the global event, which was themed on ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, the INDIA leaders were spreading “hate” through such statements.
“Neither (Congress MP) Rahul Gandhi nor Ashok Gehlot has condemned the statements by Udhayanidhi Stalin and Priyank Kharge. The Opposition has made it a habit to abuse Sanatan Dharma and the idea behind ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’,” Joshi added.
Claiming that the Congress indulged in corruption in Rajasthan and failed to prevent rising atrocities on women, as well as members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes across the state, the Union minister called on the people to decide if it should vote it back.
“Should people vote for a party that perpetrated the killings of seers and monks? Should they vote for Congress after all the gangrapes and corruption that have taken place in the state on their watch? A member of Rajasthan’s Lok Seva Aayog was arrested in the question paper leak case. Should they vote them back for more paper leaks and corruption? Should they return to power after all the riots that happened on their watch and the appeasement politics? Should a party, that has cheated farmers and is responsible for illegal mining, be voted back?” Joshi questioned.
He claimed that the Congress-ruled Rajasthan currently tops the country in crimes against women.
“The whole world was keenly following the G20 summit in India. The summit was a reflection of the change in the world order and how India is leading from the front in more ways than one. For Rajasthan to account for 16 per cent of crimes against women at a time when the country is making forward strides sends the wrong message to the world. It is unfortunate that a sitting minister said Rajasthan is for men and, hence, gangrapes take place. Even if one accepts this bizarre argument that the state belongs to men, does that give them the licence to ill-treat women? This party is rudder-less,” Joshi told ANI.
Claiming that anti-nationals and fundamentalists were flourishing under the Congress rule, the Union minister said, “People who came to power promising to provide electricity free of cost to the people have freed them of electricity altogether.”
His reference was to frequent power cuts in Rajasthan.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Aiming to enhance public safety and provide timely alerts during emergencies, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Central Government on Friday conducted a pan-India ’emergency alert’ testing.
A sample test message titled ‘Emergency Alert: Severe’, was sent to subscribers on Vodafone Idea, Jio, Airtel, and BSNL networks. A similar alert was received earlier too
The sample test message was sent through the “Cell Broadcasting System” by DoT under the Union Ministry of Communications.
This message was sent to test the pan-India emergency alert system being implemented by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
“This is a SAMPLE TESTING MESSAGE sent through the Cell Broadcasting System by the Department of Telecommunication, Government of India. Please ignore this message as no action is required from your end. This message has been sent to test the Pan-India Emergency Alert System being implemented by the National Disaster Management Authority. It aims to enhance public safety and provide timely alerts during emergencies,” the text message read.
The message was sent in both Hindi and English to cell phones of people across India and upon receipt, cell phones started vibrating with a sharp beep sound, alerting people.
An official from the NDMA told ANI that it was a “Cell Broadcasting System” message that is currently under testing and being sent by the DoT.
“This is part of a broader plan to enhance public safety by providing timely alerts during emergencies. A pan-India emergency alert system is being implemented by the NDMA, but the messages are being circulated by the DoT. The NDMA would keep spreading awareness about disaster-related emergencies through such alerts in the future after the system is established,” said the official.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
A recent incident in Ayodhya has brought to attention a case involving the alleged coercion of a soldier to convert to Christianity. The soldier, who serves as a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army’s Signal Corps, has filed an FIR (First Information Report) in connection with the incident. Additionally, a formal complaint has been forwarded to the Ministry of Defense.
Within his formal complaint, the soldier has levelled accusations against Pastor Ashish Kumar Peter, alleging physical assault and verbal abuse. The priest purportedly discouraged the chanting of slogans like ‘Har Har Mahadev,’ ‘Raja Ramchandra Ki Jai,’ and ‘Jai Bhavani’ in the Indian Army. This case was officially registered at the Kotwali police station in Ayodhya on August 26, 2023, and is currently under investigation by the police.
The soldier’s father, who himself retired from the Indian Army’s MES department in 2015, had made the decision to construct a house in the city post-retirement. In the complaint, the soldier revealed that his father was introduced to a priest known as Ashish Kumar Peter, also known as Johnny. This introduction occurred through an old acquaintance who brought this pastor as a property dealer.
Pastor Ashish Peter lives in the FG Mission Church in the Modaha area adjacent to Ayodhya Cantt railway station. Johnny Peter, along with two other people named Shyam Shankar Peter and Sachin Chaudhary, posed as property dealers and met the victim’s father who is a former soldier. Together, they had taken around Rs 20 lakh from him for the sale of a piece of land adjacent to the church.
According to the complaint, after receiving the money, Pastor Peter ceased responding to calls from both the victim and his father. Observing his father’s distress, the Naib Subedar returned home on leave. On July 25, 2023, he visited the church to request the owed money from the priest. Reportedly, pastors Ashish Peter and Shyam Shankar Peter subjected him to severe physical assault during this encounter. It is alleged that while berating and abusing the victim soldier, the accused pastor insisted that the soldier would need to convert to Christianity if he wished to recover the money. Subsequent to this incident, the victim soldier and his family have been living in a state of heightened fear and psychological distress.
A copy of the FIR is with OpIndia. Image Source: OpIndia Hindi
As per the soldier’s account, his wife is currently receiving medical treatment at the Military Hospital. They assert that they possess documented evidence of all financial transactions conducted with the priest. The police have officially filed an FIR, citing violations of sections 420, 406, 323, 504, and 506 of the IPC. The FIR names individuals including Ashish Peter, Sachin Chaudhary, and Ramchandra Prajapati, who introduced the victim’s father to the priest. OpIndia has obtained a copy of the FIR. Despite the passage of more than 15 days, no arrests have been made in connection with the case.
Christians will rule the world
In his statement recorded with the police on September 4, 2023, the victim Naib Subedar stated that on July 25, 2023, he was lured when he went to the priest Ashish Peter. The pastor said, “What is there in your Hindu religion? In the coming time, Christians will rule the world.” At the same time, the pastor lured the victim to give land for free if he became a Christian.
Opposing the slogans chanted in the Indian Army
The victim Naib Subedar further said in his statement that Pastor Ashish Peter also spoke to him about the slogans raised by the Indian Army during the war. It is alleged that the priest started swearing to stop the slogans of ‘Jai Kali Mata’, ‘Bajrang Bali Ki Jai’, ‘Jai Jwala Mata’ and some other slogans. He lured the Naib Subedar with a lot of money and sought help in preparing such soldiers in the Indian Army who would raise their voices to stop these slogans.
Instigating against the upper caste soldiers
In a statement given to the police and a complaint sent to the government, the victim soldier said that the priest was repeatedly describing him in a derogatory manner as belonging to the OBC community. He also instigated the victim against the soldiers of the upper caste community presently serving in the Indian Army.
A copy of the FIR is with OpIndia. Image Source: OpIndia Hindi
Physical assault and abuse inside Church
In his statement, the victim soldier emphasised his unwavering commitment to his country. He recounted that when he confronted the priest and expressed his intent to report the matter to the police authorities, the priest and his associates grew agitated. They subsequently surrounded him, beat him up brutally, and boldly asserted that they didn’t consider the police a threat to them. Responding to the warning of a police complaint, pastor Johny said, “The police can’t do anything to us. If you want to see the strength of Christians, then go and see the condition of Fatehpur police officers.”
The victim has expressed surprise that in the FIR lodged on his complaint, the police have not invoked the section of conversion against the priest.
A copy of the FIR is with OpIndia. Image Source: OpIndia Hindi
The victim soldier’s father was lured into becoming a pastor
The victim’s father also recorded his statement with the police on 4th September 2023. He said that the priest first duped him of Rs 20 lakh by posing as a property dealer on the pretext of getting land. When the retired army man demanded his money back, he was lured into becoming a pastor in the church.
A copy of the FIR is with OpIndia. Image Source: OpIndia Hindi
In the statement, the father of the victim Naib Subedar said, “Ashish Peter alias Johnny said that I will make you a pastor of the church. Build your home here and you take care of the church.”
The validity of the Church questioned
In an interaction with OpIndia, the victim said that the church led by the accused pastor Johnny Peter operates under the registration of a society known as “Free Gospel Mission and Church.” This society was officially registered on January 23, 1984, with its validity extending until September 1, 2016, as indicated on the registration certificate signed by the registrar. The soldier has raised concerns that the church may currently be operating without renewing its certificate, prompting questions about its legality. He called the church’s presence a potential encroachment on government land and a matter of forceful occupation.
The expired registration certificate of the society that owns thee church. Image Source: OpIndia Hindi
The location of this church is remarkably close, just 6-7 kilometres by road from Ramjanmabhoomi. Many travellers, including passengers arriving in Ayodhya by train, disembark at the station adjacent to the church. In a conversation with OpIndia, the victim soldier mentioned that he has forwarded a copy of the statement filed with the police to various authorities, including the Ministry of Defense, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the Director General of Police (DGP), and several other relevant officials.
OpIndia called pastor Ashish Peter alias Johnny to know his stand on the church’s certificate renewal and the allegations levelled by the soldier, but he did not pick up the phone. OpIndia contacted Ayodhya City Deputy SP Shailendra Singh in this matter. DSP Shailendra Singh told us that the sections under which the priest has been booked do not have a provision for arrest as per the rules. He also said that the investigation into the case is going on.
A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) awarded a death sentence to two individuals Atif Muzzafar and Mohammed Faisal who murdered a retired school principal Ramesh Babu Shukla (60) in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh in 2016 and imposed a fine of five lakh rupees on each of them. The amount would be handed over to the family members of the victim.
Ramesh Babu Shukla’s wife and son with his photo. (Source: India Today)
Former Indian Police Services (IPS) officer Asim Arun and Minister in the UP cabinet lauded the state government and praised the judgement. He wrote, “In March 2017, when I was in command of UP (Police) ATS, terrorist Saifullah was killed in an encounter in Thakurganj, Lucknow. The hearing took place in the NIA Special Court, in which I gave statements several times even after leaving the police service.”
The Bharatiya Janta Party MLA from Kannauj Sadar added, “As a result of effective evidence and investigation, the NIA Special Court sentenced terrorist Saifullah’s associates Muzaffar and Faisal to death. The decision of the NIA Special Court is welcome.”
योगी सरकार का प्रहार, आतंकवाद की हार
मार्च 2017 में जब @Uppolice ATS की कमान मेरे पास थी तब ठाकुरगंज, लखनऊ में आतंकी सैफ़ुल्लाह को मुठभेड़ में मार गिराया गया था।
NIA स्पेशल कोर्ट में सुनवाई चली, जिसमें मैंने पुलिस सेवा छोड़ने के बाद भी कई बार बयान दिए।
The pair were found guilty of being inspired by the terrorist organisation Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) during the hearing. The court remarked that they committed the crime in order to spread their radical ideas and instil fear in the populace.
The two were adjudged culpable by the court on charges of violating sections 302 (murder) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code along with sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention (UAPA) Act. Dinesh Kumar Mishra, a special judge for the NIA Court, issued the verdict.
The court observed, “The murder of Ramesh Babu Shukla did not fall in the ordinary category because his death was committed by the accused to show commitment to the banned terror group ISIS and the murder was committed after ensuring that Shukla belonged to a non-Muslim religion.”
It further added, “The convicts had no enmity with the deceased nor the deceased had made any objectionable comments against Muslims. The motive of committing this murder was to spread the Shariat (Islamic law) and cause terror among non-Muslims.”
Ramesh Babu Shukla, a retired principal, was shot and killed by the perpetrators in October 2016 while he was coming from work, per NIA attorney Kaushal Kishore Sharma. He mentioned that the probe was initially launched by the Kanpur Police, however in 2017, it was handed off to the counterterrorism agency.
The victim was assassinated after being recognised as a ‘Hindu’ by his ‘kalawa’ (a sacred thread that Hindus wear on their wrists) and ’tilak’ (an auspicious mark that Hindus put on their foreheads), based on the NIA probe. They also attempted to commit acts of terrorism in India but were unsuccessful.
They later killed Ramesh Babu Shukla to further their radical ideas. The pair admitted that they desired to join ISIS in Syria during questioning. The lawyer noted that the conviction of the two was made possible by the testimony of 14 Muslim men. The witnesses used to attend religious gatherings where the culprits would discuss ‘Jihad.’
One of them was an Information Technology (IT) employee who was apprehended alongside the offenders but later cooperated with authorities and turned into a witness.
Ram Babu Shukla, a Vishnapuri resident and a retired principal of Kanpur’s Swami Atmaprakash Brahmchari Junior High School was murdered on 24 October 2016 as he rode his bicycle home. The accused attacked him in Kanpur close to the village of Pyondi. The police initially started looking into the matter as a straightforward murder investigation and filed a case against anonymous people.
Atif Muzaffar and Mohammad Faisal Khan were found culpable on 5 September by a special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Lucknow. The two were held accountable for the murder of Ramesh Babu Shukla as well as for advancing the objectives of the terrorist group ISIS.
The anti-terror agency had initially submitted a charge sheet against the two suspects on 12 July 2018 following thorough inquiries that showed they had been radicalised by the ISIS ideology and were on the hunt for those they perceived to be infidels.
Atif Muzzafar and Mohammed Faisal were initially caught by the NIA in relation to the 7 March 2017 explosion on the Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train which resulted in the injury of 10 persons. This case was probed by the NIA. The breakthrough in the ISIS-backed criminal conspiracy case came when the main accused Mohammad Faisal Khan was captured for his involvement in the Madhya Pradesh train explosion.
He produced disclosures that eventually led to the arrest of Atif Muzaffar and his other associates. Afterwards, the fanatic admitted that he, Atif Muzzafar and others were responsible for the murder of the old man after they established that he was Hindu.
Mohammad Saifulla, a third suspect lost his life after a gunbattle with the Anti-Terrorist Squad in Lucknow on the day of the incident. His home yielded eight firearms and a number of cartridges. The inquiry into the matter was done by the NIA.
Atif, Faisal, and five other defendants in a 2017 terror conspiracy case were handed down death sentences by the NIA court in March of this year. Another accused Mohammad Atif received a life sentence in the matter.
A forensic examination discovered that the gun used to release the bullet found in the body of the Hindu principal was one that was retrieved from the residence. The NIA submitted a charge sheet against the duo in the special court upon the conclusion of the investigation.
Yogendra Yadav, a close aide of Sonia Gandhi and a professional disruptor, has probably taken offence at journalists expressing their displeasure at the decision of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance to boycott 14 news anchors.
On Friday, September 15, Yadav responded angrily to a post written by journalist Rahul Kanwal, in which the latter shared a copy of a press release issued by News Broadcasters and Digital Associations (NBDA) condemning the I.N.D.I Alliance’s decision to boycott some TV anchors.
On September 14, I.N.D.I. Alliance released a list of 14 anchors, saying that their alliance partners will not participate in programs hosted by them.
Soon after, India Today journalist Rahul Kanwal, who by the way is not amongst the 14 anchors whom the I.N.D.I Alliance have decided to boycott, shared a press note released by the News Broadcasters & Digital Association (NBDA) that slammed the opposition bloc for its decision to boycott shows of 14 television anchors on several platforms.
SS of press note released by NBDA
Hitting out at I.N.D.I. Alliance, NBDA said that the decision “imperils press freedom” and “goes against the ethos of democracy.” It further stated that the decision sets a dangerous precedent.
In the statement, NBDA said that the boycott of certain journalists/anchors takes the nation back to the Emergency era, when the press was gagged, and independent opinions and voices were crushed.
Urging the opposition alliance to withdraw its decision to boycott certain journalists and anchors, the association said that “such a decision would amount to browbeating journalists and stifling freedom of speech and expression of the media.”
No sooner Rahul Kanwal shared NBDA’s press note which compared the present situation to the era of emergency, the Congress loyalist Yogendra Yadav got so rattled that he quickly descended on X and lambasted the India Today journalist.
“Do you endorse this nonsense @rahulkanwal ? Isn’t it ridiculous to compare coersive censorship and state assault on media during Emergency to voluntary boycott by opposition parties? Does INDIA coalition have ED, IT, I&B and police? Did the NDBA speak against BJP’s boycott of anchors? Did the NDBA say a word against pure hatred peddled by these anchors? Isn’t this statement and its circulation by you a proof of GODI MEDIA? #GodiMedia,” wrote Yadav.
Do you endorse this nonsense @rahulkanwal ? Isn't it ridiculous to compare coersive censorship and state assault on media during Emergency to voluntary boycott by opposition parties? Does INDIA coalition have ED, IT, I&B and police? Did the NDBA speak against BJP's boycott of… https://t.co/MLlwoC1Kul
Yadav questioned Rahul Kanwal angrily whether the police or other law enforcement agencies are members of the I.N.D.I. Alliance. He condemned NDBA for comparing the opposition bloc’s ‘voluntary boycott’ to the ‘coercive suppression and state assault on media during the Emergency’.
Essentially, Yogendra Yadav was attempting to take a dig at the BJP by claiming that, in contrast to the ruling party, states governed by Congress and his allies had never used harsh force against journalists or attempted to limit press freedom.
Well, Yogendra Yadav’s narrative is consistent with the myth that the entire secular-liberal ecosystem has been peddling since PM Modi took office in 2014, namely that freedom of expression and speech is under threat in Modi’s India in comparison to opposition parties that are extremely tolerant and respectful of press freedom.
The truth is, however, that the Opposition wields immense influence, which is frequently used to silence dissenting voices and to settle scores with opponents. Sates where Opposition parties are in power, such as Bengal, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, have always been inclined to use state machinery with an iron fist and cage dissenting voices so that it has a “chilling effect” on journalists and common people and discourages them from raising their voices on stories that are either brushed under the carpet or grotesquely misrepresented.
Be it the recent arrest of Anandabazar Patrika journalist Debmalya Bagchi in West Bengal, the witchhunt against Arnab Goswami by the then Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government or the arbitrary arrest of YouTuber Manish Kashyap aka Tripurari Kumar Tiwari from Bihar, these are just a few examples of this awful trend.
Below we have computed a list of non-BJP states where the administration has rarely allowed for dissent and has acted with an iron grip against the press whenever they have raised fingers against its transgressions. Please keep in mind that this is only an indicative list; the actual number of instances in which ordinary citizens and members of the media in these states have been harassed and chastised for expressing their opposition to the state establishment is undoubtedly higher.
West Bengal police arrest Anandabazar Patrika journalist
On 7th September 2023, leader of the opposition and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) West Bengal MLA Suvendu Adhikari informed that Anandabazar Patrika journalist Debmalya Bagchi was arrested after a report on hooch dealers was published in the newspaper.
FIR against Bhawana, Parmender and Mritunjay in AAP ruled Punjab
On May 5, a 50-year-old woman identified as Gagan filed a complaint at Division 3 police station in Police Commissionerate Ludhiana district against Times Now Navbharat reporter Bhawana Kishore, driver Parmender Singh Rawat and cameraperson Mritunjay Kumar. An FIR under Sections 279, 337 and 427 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 3X and 4 of the SC and the ST (Prevention of Atrocities) ACT were filed against them.
The Punjab police booked Bhawana, Parmender and Mritunjay for allegedly injuring a 50-year-old woman and using casteist slurs against her during an argument after the accident. Bhawana was accused of using derogatory language. Parmender was charged with recklessly driving the vehicle. Mritunjay was accused of getting into an argument with the victim.
The Judicial Magistrate and Special Court sent all three to 14-day judicial custody on 6 May. However, the High Court granted them interim bail on the same day. Times Now has alleged a conspiracy was hatched against its employees in retaliation to Operation Sheesh Mehel wherein Times Now Navbharat exposed details of “ultra-lavish and disproportionate expenditure incurred in refurbishing the official residence of the Delhi CM”.
Journalist-writer Badri Seshadri arrested by Tamil Nadu
On July 29 2023, publisher and political analyst Badri Seshadri was arrested by Tamil Nadu police. As per a report by CommuneMag, Badri Seshadri was arrested in connection to his comments on the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and Manipur violence.
BJP Tamil Nadu State Secretary arrested for criticising Communist MP
On June 16 night, BJP (Tamil Nadu) State Secretary SG Suryah was arrested by the cybercrime unit of Madurai police.
His arrest came days after he accused a Communist ward councillor named Viswanathan of being responsible for the death of a hygiene worker. SG Surya said that Vishwanathan compelled the deceased to clean a drain filled with faecal matter, which resulted in allergies and his eventual death.
The BJP leader had also written a strongly-worded letter to CPI(M) MP Su Venkatesan, complaining about the death of the worker and questioning his silence on the matter. It is believed that the tweet triggered the arrest of SG Suryah.
West Bengal: Kolkata-based journalist arrested for shedding light on anti-Hindu violence
In October 2022, a Kolkata-based Manab Guha was arrested and framed in non-bailable sections for sharing the ground reality of the anti-Hindu Mominpur Violence. The photojournalist’s alleged “crime” was that he dared to post footage and images of anti-Hindu violence on social media.
The West Bengal police justified the arbitrary action by claiming that such recordings could have generated additional hostility in society.
In another case of ‘witch hunt’ against media voices, the Kolkata Police, on 9 January, registered an FIR against 10 journalists and BJP state president Dr Sukanta Majumdar for allegedly ‘misreporting’ the stone pelting incidents on the Vande Bharat Express.
They were booked under specific sections of the Information Technology Act for giving the state a ‘bad name’. The arbitrary action was a follow-up of Mamata Banerjee’s earlier threat to media outlets that legal action would be taken against journalists for spreading ‘fake news’ about the stone pelting incident on Vande Bharat Express trains in West Bengal.
Chhattisgarh: How dissenting voices are stifled in a state where Congress is at the helm of affairs
In March 2022, the Chhattisgarh Police arrested Raipur-based journalist Nilesh Sharma who is an Editor of the web portal indiawriters.co.in and print magazine ‘India Writers’. He was accused of spreading ‘fake news’ against the ruling Congress leaders in the state of Chattisgarh. According to reports, Sharma runs a popular series based on political satire, ‘Ghurva Ke Mati’.
The series uses fictional characters resonating with the Congress leaders and Chattisgarh MLAs.
Tamil Nadu
Earlier this year, on 18 March, the Police arrested YouTuber Manish Kashyap aka Tripurari Kumar Tiwari from Bihar in connection with the alleged attacks on migrant workers in Tamil Nadu. A special team of the Tamil Nadu police brought him to the southern state on transit remand after the Madurai Crime Branch police registered a case against him.
Later, the Tamil Nadu police slapped stringent NSA on him. He has been in jail since then despite moving bail petitions multiple times.
Similarly, many more journalists were also booked for sharing the concerns of the migrant workers from Bihar, which, however, were reportedly found to have relied on some fake videos. In connection with this ‘fake news’ of Bihar migrant workers assaulted in Tamil Nadu, the state police had also filed FIRs against OpIndia CEO Rahul Roushan and Editor-in-Chief Nupur Sharma, for publishing articles based on claims made in a Bhaskar report – which also explicitly and prominently added the police version.
Additionally, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai, the Twitter handle of the BJP’s Bihar unit – BJP4Bihar, BJP spokesperson Prashant Umrao and Dainik Bhaskar newspaper’s editor, Mohammed Tanveer, were also booked for sharing the news of the ordeal Bihar migrant workers.
Witch-hunt against Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami by Uddhav Thackeray led Maharashtra government
In 2020, Republic TV Editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami was arrested by Mumbai Police in an old 2018 closed case of abetment of suicide. OpIndia reported how the Mumbai Police team of at least 30 police personnel, led by encounter specialist and erstwhile members of Shiv Sena Sachin Vaze, carrying assault rifles barged into Arnab’s house without any summons, documents or court papers, physically assaulted him, dragged him by the hair into a police van and arrested him. The police personnel not only stopped Arnab from handing over medicines to his parents-in-law but also physically assaulted him and his son, even refusing to let him wear his shoes.
Before Arnab Goswami was presented before the court, he had highlighted his injury marks and accused Pradeep Patil, Sachin Vaze, and seven other policemen of assaulting him.
Sachin Vaze and his team assaulted and dragged the country’s leading news network’s editor-in-chief from his home, shoved him into a police van and took him to Alibaug police station. He was shifted to a quarantine centre in Alibaug where he was kept in judicial custody for 4 nights.
Thereafter, Arnab was shifted to Taloja jail, which is notoriously known as a ‘hub’ for the underworld mafia and accused terrorists. The windows of the police van in which he was taken were covered with black screens to prevent him from being seen by Vaze’s squad. Hardcore criminals are generally subjected to this treatment.
It may be recalled that the state home department then led by NCP’s Anil Deshmukh had drafted the 40-member police team to carry out ‘Operation Arnab’. Kokan range inspector general Sanjay Mohite, who drafted the plan, entrusted the responsibility to execute the plan on encounter specialist Sachin Vaze.
The Congress government in Karnataka on Thursday decided to make it mandatory for schools and colleges, both government-run and private, to read the Preamble to the Constitution every day.
On International Democracy Day, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah attended a reading of the Preamble near the Vidhana Soudha, the state Assembly, on Friday.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and fellow cabinet members Dr G Parameshwara, Ramalinga Reddy, Eshwar Khandre, KJ George, and Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad also attended the Preamble reading event.
State minister for Social Welfare, HC Mahadevappa, said, “The citizens need to discharge their basic duties as are enshrined in our Constitution. Hence, across schools and colleges, the reading of the Preamble to the Constitution is being arranged to make children aware of the ideals and principles that went into making it while also informing them of the constitutional responsibilities.”
According to sources, the government has made it mandatory for students and teachers at all educational institutions of the state to read the Preamble during the morning prayers and take an oath to adopt and incorporate the constitutional principles in their everyday lives.
“The Constitution was a gift to all the citizens from BR Ambedkar. It is a sacrosanct statute book stressing fairness and equality. Hence, there is an important purpose behind reading the Preamble. It will help our children understand the basic principles and ideas on which our country was founded,” Mahadevappa said.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Thursday, September 14, a journalist from Kashmir identified as Yasmeen Khan shared a video of the former Chief Minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir Farooq Abdullah in which he could be seen asking objectionable questions to a young female reporter. He made personal and inappropriate remarks against the woman and her family as she attempted to ask important questions during an ongoing interview.
“Making personal and inappropriate remarks during an interview is not just disrespectful but also unbecoming of a seasoned politician. Professionalism and respect should always be upheld in any interaction. Visibly uncomfortable situation for a budding journalist,” Yasmeen wrote on Twitter (X).
Making personal & inappropriate remarks during an interview is not just disrespectful but also unbecoming of a seasoned politician. Professionalism & respect should always be upheld in any interaction. Visibly uncomfortable situation for a budding journalist. @JKNC_#Kashmirpic.twitter.com/ESF8U6M4MJ
Abdullah who was accompanied by several associates, mocked the female reporter by asking questions like “When will you get married? Did you choose your husband? Will your parents choose your husband or you?”
He meanwhile saw Mehendi on her hands after which he asked why had she applied Mehendi on her hands. On learning that it was for her elder brother’s marriage, Abdullah asked Yasmeen whether her sister-in-law would stay with him for a few days or leave him.
Amid an evil laughter, he also advised the girl to beware of whom she would marry. “Who knows he would be roaming around with women and you would have no idea!” Abdullah said to the woman.
The video of the incident is massively going viral over social media with netizens criticizing Abdullah for his personal comments about Yasmeen. Journalist, Editor Aditya Raj Kaul posted the video and called Farooq Abdullah a misogynist. “Does Farooq Abdullah ask similar questions about his son or daughter’s marriage to them publicly in front of cameras?” he questioned.
Introducing Misogynist Farooq Abdullah!
Farooq Abdullah mocks Female reporter with these questions:
When will you get married? Did you choose your husband? Will your parents choose your husband or you?
Netizens also called the incident disgusting and indicated that this was a case of molestation. Abdullah while talking to the journalist could continuously be seen touching her and making her feel uncomfortable.
Screenshot from Twitter
Screenshot from Twitter
The female reporter seen in the video is a young journalist from Kashmir who works for the Real Kashmir News. While other journalists are raising voices against Abdullah over the incident, her response to the event remains awaited.
On September 13, an incident was reported from the old city of Jerusalem, Israel where a group of children from the Jewish community were seen confronting two Christian women who had allegedly come as tourists to the city. While several reports mentioned that the women were attacked and spat on by the boys, they failed to mention the reason behind the attack.
A video by Middle East Monitor reported that two Christian tourists in Jerusalem came under ‘attack’ from a group of Israeli children and adults. It also mentioned that the two women tried to calm the situation down as children kicked, punched, and threw objects at them.
Also, a report by Russia Today stated that two Christian women were ‘beaten’ on the street in Jerusalem by Jewish children just for mentioning Jesus. Apart from media houses, several individuals on Twitter (X) also condemned the ‘attack’ as they claimed that the women were attacked just because they belonged to the Christian faith.
Two Christian women were beaten on the street in Jerusalem by Jewish children, allegedly for mentioning Jesus
The attack was condemned by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who called it, and a recent spate of attacks on Christians, 'a disgrace.' pic.twitter.com/v72w1COCvO
However, while the claims of the children attacking the two women are mostly true, a larger picture behind the chronology and the context of the entire incident is being ignored. David Lange, a Jew activist, also an analyst and commentator often cited by the mainstream media houses revealed that the video of the Christian women being 'attacked' being made viral on social media is edited and does not show the full story.
You are full of it @TheLaurenChen. We merely provided context for the abuse - which we condemned - by showing the entire video and not the edited version you shared. Meanwhile, you did not seem to think the Muslims abusing the missionaries was noteworthy. Why the focus on Jews?… https://t.co/AD1ua9c48Zpic.twitter.com/IPPbueNFam
In his blog, Israelly Cool, he exposed the women and said that they were 'attacked' by the kids after they attempted to actively proselytize the kids and forced them to 'believe in Jesus'. He said that the women were Christian missionaries and that they tried to convert several other Jews and Muslims living in the city to Christianity.
Sarah and her followers unfortunately take it upon themselves to attempt to convert Jews & Muslims to Christianity. Mainly on our Sabbath when such a reaction can be expected although not condoned.
This is no attempt to justify the acts of the Jewish kids but to shed light on what exactly motivated them to behave in the way they did. The children reacted aggressively towards the women, verbally abusing them and even throwing objects, as per some reports.
It is believed that the women abused the faith followed by the children and said to them, "Your faith is false," before asking them to convert.
As per a blog post by David Collier, the missionaries were a part of 'Sarah's ministries for Jesus Christ' by controversial preacher Sarah Walis who has been accused of deliberately placing themselves in religious places and trying to proselytize non-Christians, especially Jews and Muslims in Israel. In her social media posts, Sarah openly calls all other religions false and all other Gods 'false gods'.
Incident given the color of 'anti-Christian hatred of Jewish children'
The attack was meanwhile given a color of Jewish hatred towards Christianity by some people on Twitter who justified the act of proselytizing children adopted by the two women. "This is a hate crime," said YouTuber Lauren Chen from Nashville as she defended the two women for proselytizing the kids.
Screenshot from Twitter (X)
"You believe Christians shouldn't be proselytizing at all in Israel? The hope of any Christian is that all will come to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, including those in Israel and this is a hope born out of love," she said. In the series of tweets, she also accepted that the women were evangelists and alleged that Israelis were "minimizing or excusing the physical abuse that Christian evangelizers faced and that was caught on camera."
In other words, she asserted that all non-Christians should just accept Christianity and the expectation that all non-Christians should abandon their respective faiths and welcome 'Jesus', is 'borne out of love'.
screenshot from Twitter (X)
In the next tweet, she also said that Christians are compelled to share the Gospel. "Places where people don't believe in Jesus are the best places to talk about Jesus," she said. She also called the Jewish faith 'false' and suggested they should convert to Christianity.
screenshot from Twitter (X)
Screenshot from Twitter (X)
The comments by Lauren on the said issue were criticized by many who said that the YouTuber was failing or refusing to understand that aggressive proselytization is not neutral or good behavior.
David Cohen says Hindus also are forcefully converted by Christian missionaries
Also, director and producer David Cohen responded to Lauren's tweet indicating that Christians were proselytizing even the Hindus residing in India. "If telling Jews, Hindus, etc. that their faith is false and they should convert is your way of showing LOVE, then shove your LOVE and learn to treat us with respect instead. What we need to be saved from is proselytizers like you," he said.
If telling Jews, Hindus, etc that their faith is false and they should convert is your way of showing LOVE, then shove your LOVE and learn to treat us with respect instead. What we need to be saved from is proselytizers like you. pic.twitter.com/8ROw1Fr4Nd
Christian missionary on a mission to spread Christianity was killed by the tribals in Amdaman's North Sentinel island
The overt and assertive zeal of Christian missionaries to 'make everyone accept Jesus' was also seen in a rather tragic display in Andaman and Nicobar's North Sentinel Islands in 2018. John Allen Chau, a fanatic Christian preacher from the USA, broke Indian law, ignored legal, and ethical concerns, and tried to sneak into the North Sentinel Island.
Ignoring the scientific fact that exposure to an 'outsider' may spread diseases and may even wipe out the entire population of the Sentinelese tribals residing on that Island, Chau and his supporters considered it their 'divine right' to enter and convert the tribals.
The tribals of the North Sentinel Islands refuse contact with the outside world and their rights of isolation are protected under Indian law. Chau was killed by the tribals when he tried to approach the Island.
A detailed article on how Christian missionaries across the world justified Chau's actions and dismissed the illegality and unethicality of his behavior can be read here.
Previous cases of forceful conversion to Christianity reported by OpIndia
The issue of forceful conversion by Christians is creating a menace in society, especially in India as the evangelists target the poor people belonging to the Hindu community and lure them with money, food and jobs. They, at times, also abuse Hindu Gods and Goddesses and make the Hindus believe that Jesus is the only solution to all their problems.
OpIndia has reported several such cases recently. In June this year, a Canadian citizen identified as Eapen Mohan Kidangalil was caught luring poor tribal children in Odisha under the pretext of ‘Prarthana Sabha’ and attempting to convert them to Christianity. The accused was on a Tourist visa and was trying to influence the tribals to follow Christianity. An FIR was filed in the case after the locals were noted saying that they had stopped believing in Lord Jagannath and that they had changed their religion to Christianity.
Also, in the Alandi region of Pune on January 1 this year, three Christian persons were caught red-handed while attempting to forcefully convert people from the Matang community to Christianity. The accused forced them to convert their religion to Christianity after offering them red grape juice as the 'blood of Jesus'.
Recently in the month of August, American evangelist Daniel Courney who was deported and blacklisted earlier could be seen reaching Manipur on a tourist visa and delivering a hate speech against Hindus and the BJP-led Indian government amid the violence. He also distributed Bibles to the people in Manipur and said that Christians were being persecuted in Manipur and that the community was being deliberately targeted.
As many as four people died and five more were critically injured after a lift of an under-construction building came crashing down to the ground in Greater Noida on Friday morning.
The lift collapsed at around 8.30 am at a construction site of Greater Noida-based Amrapali Builders in Gaur City. Reportedly it was a service lift for the under-construction Amrapali Dream Valley Phase 2, which had a free fall from the 14th floor.
“The service lift, which is used at construction sites, had a fall from the 14th floor height,” Additional DCP (Central Noida) Rajeev Dixit said. A total of 12 people were in the lift.
“Four people have died and five more are said to be in critical condition at a city hospital,” Manish Verma, the district magistrate of Greater Noida, told ANI. The DM informed further that an investigation was underway into the incident.
“A police team is at the hospital where the injured are receiving treatment. Another team is at the scene of the accident and nobody else is stuck or stranded. We are ensuring proper treatment for the injured,” the DM added.
