The biography short film ‘Lachit: The Warrior’ which is about the life and accomplishments of the Great Assamese warrior Lachit Borphukan took home the Best Animation Film award at the distinguished Chambal International Film Festival which happened from 9 to 10 September, according to ANI. The movie debuted on 25 November of last year in New Delhi at the 400th Birthday Anniversary Celebration of Lachit Borphukan.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju informed shared the significant development on X, formerly known as Twitter. He posted, “This victory echoes the valour of Ahom General Lachit Borphukan, uniting our North East community in celebration. Congratulations on this magnificent achievement.”
A moment of immense pride as 'Lachit: The Warrior' is honoured with the Best Animation Film award at the Chambal International Film Festival. This victory echoes the valour of Ahom General Lachit Barphukan, uniting our North East community in celebration. Congratulations on this… pic.twitter.com/oH1XLpfUg5
This year, 184 films from 32 nations, including India, Taiwan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, Egypt, Australia, Iran, Spain, Portugal, Serbia and Turkey, received official entrance in various categories into the festival.
Partha Sarathi Mahanta, who is presently appointed as the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Special Task Force of the Assam police, directed and produced the biopic. Mina Mahanta and Indrani Baruah served as producers. Dr Amarjyoti Choudhury narrated the story.
Watch the trailer below:
Who was Lachit Borphukan
Lachit Borphukan was born on 24 November 1622. He was an Ahom Borphukan primarily known for commanding the Ahom Army and the victory in the legendary Battle of Saraighat (1671) that thwarted an invasion by the vastly superior Mughal Forces under the command of Ramsingh I.
The great battle on the Brahmaputra’s banks is regarded as one of the most significant naval fights to take place on a river. He died about a year later on 25 April 1672 and was buried at Teok in Jorhat in a maidam that are burial ground for Ahom royals and nobles.
He also participated in the famous Battle of Alaboi which was fought between the Ahom Kingdom and the Mughal Empire around 5 August 1669 in which the Assamese army lost ten thousand of their brave men owing to the superior Mughal weapons and cavalry.
Lachit Borphukan emerged as a powerful symbol of Assam’s historical autonomy. The National Defence Academy’s (NDA) finest cadet receives a gold award in recognition of his victory. The NDA’s entrance is also marked by a bust of the iconic warrior.
A massive explosion occurred inside a shipping container at the world’s largest railyard in Nebraska in the USA on Thursday afternoon (14 September). Authorities evacuated everyone within a four-mile radius of the railyard as toxic smoke began billowing when chemicals onboard caught fire.
One of the containers was carrying perchloric acid, which is used in explosives as well as food and drug products. The railyard covers 2,850 acres and stretches up to eight miles.
Emergency evacuation for the area between splinter and front North of railroad track due fire at the railroad involving heavy toxic smoke
The explosion reportedly occurred inside an intermodal container on a railcar at Union Pacific’s Bailey Yard in North Platte at around 12.10 PM on Thursday. Railroad spokeswoman Robymm Tysver said the cause of the explosion is still unknown. Nebraska State Police reportedly said the smoke was coming from a railcar fire in the Nebraska town.
Authorities evacuated everyone within a one-mile radius of the explosion at the western end of the railyard because of the smoke. More houses will likely be evacuated, the police said. “Houses between Homestead and Front, be prepared to evacuate in the next one to two hours due to wind and weather changing.”
No one was injured and no cars derailed in the explosion. The site of the explosion is 280 miles west of Omaha. US Highway 30 had to be closed between the areas of North Platte and Hershey, the former has a population of 23,000. However, interstate 80 wasn’t affected.
Pictures and videos going viral online show dark, thick plumes of smoke billowing from the railyard and further blanketing farmland. Local reports say an SMS alert was issued to civilians in the area warning of evacuation.
Reports say it is not immediately clear how many homes were included in the mostly rural area that was evacuated on the edge of the city. The railroad said the fire was extinguished by 5.30 p.m. Taking to X (Twitter), the North Platte fire department said that evacuations were done because the fire at the railyard involved “heavy toxic smoke.”
Emergency evacuation for the area between splinter and front North of railroad track due fire at the railroad involving heavy toxic smoke
“‘Emergency evacuation for the area between splinter and front North of railroad track due fire at the railroad involving heavy toxic smoke. Explosion at Union Pacific Railroad Bailey Yards at approximately 12:10 pm,” the department wrote.
Later the North Platte Nebraska Volunteer Fire Department tweeted that the incident was contained and NP Fire and Hazmat were on scene with UPRR. “They are monitoring the situation and the weather, adjusting their tactics and evacuations to keep responders and citizens safe. Stay alert to any changes that may come,” the dept added.
Railroad safety has reportedly been a concern in the US ever since a Norfolk Southern train derailed and caught fire in eastern Ohio.
In a late-night arrest, the Haryana police picked up Congress leader Mamman Khan from Ferozepur Jhirka in Rajasthan on Thursday, September 14. He has been arrested on charges related to his alleged involvement in planning the Nuh violence.
ADGP Mamta Singh confirmed that Haryana Congress MLA Mamman Khan was arrested by state police in connection with the Nuh violence case yesterday.
As Mamman Khan is scheduled to appear in the Nuh district court later in the day today (Friday, September 15), the Haryana police have imposed Section 144 in the district and tightened the security outside the court.
Haryana Congress MLA Mamman Khan arrested by state police, in connection with Nuh violence case: ADGP Mamta Singh
Security heightened outside Nuh District Court, where Mamman Khan will be produced today. pic.twitter.com/FEtjOLxQJt
Several images and videos have surfaced on social media showing how barricades have been installed and considerable force has been deployed outside Nuh District Court.
VIDEO | Security heightened outside district court in Nuh, Haryana where Congress MLA Mamman Khan, arrested earlier today in a case pertaining to the Nuh violence, will be produced later in the day. pic.twitter.com/3qOGV2gMHN
Another video shows how the police deployed in Nuh have set up checkpoints where they are inspecting all vehicles before allowing them to enter the district.
FLASH: Haryana Congress MLA Mamman Khan who had been arrested in connection with Nuh riots, will be produced in Nuh district Court
Media reports have quoted sources in district administration as confirming that the Jumma (Friday) namaz would not be allowed in the open in the Nuh district today.
Additionally, the Haryana police have issued an advisory which reads that the internet in the Nuh district will remain suspended from 10 a.m. on 15th September to 11:59 p.m. (midnight) on 16th September. The police said that there is a clear potential for disturbance of public law and order and disruption on account of misuse of internet services by way of the spread of inflammatory messages and rumours through various social media platforms. Therefore, the Haryana police temporarily suspended the internet services in the district under Section 5 of the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 and Rule 2 of the Temporary Suspension Of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017.
Mobile internet was temporarily suspended in Haryana's Nuh District from 1000 hours on 15th September to 2359 hours on 16th September
We have imposed Section 144 CrPcin Nuh and we have also requested people to offer Friday prayers at their homes: SP Nuh pic.twitter.com/SaJZkWOyzr
Notably, Mamman Khan, who was taken into custody late last night had earlier missed police summons for questioning into the matter twice. The legislator from Ferozepur Jhirka had been identified as one of the accused in an FIR filed in the aftermath of the Nuh violence that broke out on July 31.
The police told the court that they had enough evidence against Mamman Khan and Congress MLA Mamman Khan was made an accused after evaluating the evidence. Mamman Khan claimed he was being falsely implicated in the case, as he was not even present in Nuh on the day the violence broke out.
According to Haryana’s Additional Advocate General, Deepak Sabharwal, there existed call detail records, location tracking via a phone tower, a statement provided by the MLA’s personal security officer, and additional evidence that contradicted Mamman Khan’s assertion.
On 31st July, a mob of hundreds of Muslim rioters attacked Hindu devotees participating in the Brijmandal Jalabhishek Yatra in Nuh, Mewat of Haryana. At least six people were killed as a result of the riots.
Australian cricketer Stuart MacGill has been charged by the New South Wales (NSW) police in an alleged $330,000 cocaine deal case. The spinner is accused of playing a role in facilitating the deal. MacGill was arrested on 12 September but was later released on bail.
MacGill reportedly facilitated a deal between two people for 1kg of cocaine to be sold in 2019. The cricketer was allegedly beaten up in April 2021 before being dumped out of a car. The incident is reportedly related to the alleged cocaine deal.
Six men were arrested in the incident. “It was not something you’d even like to happen to your worst enemy,” MacGill reportedly said. “I didn’t know where we were, I didn’t know where we were going and I was scared.”
The New South Wales police has released a statement saying that an investigation is underway. “In April 2021, detectives attached to State Crime Command’s Robbery & Serious Crime Squad commenced an investigation into drug supply arising out of the alleged kidnapping of a man on Sydney’s Lower North Shore in April 2021,” the police said.
They further added, “Following extensive inquiries, about 6pm on Tuesday 12 September 2023, strike force detectives arrested a 52-year-old man at Chatswood Police Station, where he was charged with knowingly take part supply prohibited drug of large commercial quantity.”
MacGill reportedly owed $1000 cocaine debt to one of the men who assaulted him, threatened him with a gun and demanded money. The cricketer was allegedly held for an hour before being driven to Belmore where he was released.
The charges against MacGill carry a potential maximum penalty of life in jail.
Bangladesh government on Thursday expressed “utter disappointment” at the adoption of a European Parliament’s resolution on “Human Rights situation in Bangladesh, notably the case of Odhikar”.
According to the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the timing and language of the joint motion put by the European Parliament on two ‘Odhikar’ officials delivered today in Dhaka reflected their intention to interfere into the independent judiciary of the state. Odhikar is one of the leading human rights organizations in Bangladesh, operating since 1994. It is a member of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).
“The timing and language of the joint motion, tabled by some political groups in the European Parliament, for making judgemental comments over sub-judice matters and a court verdict on two ‘Odhikar’ officials delivered today in Dhaka is reflective of their intention of interfering into the independent judiciary of a sovereign state, the statement said.”
However, Bangladesh ensures open and fair judicial proceedings and that the rights of the parties are respected.
“The independent judiciary of Bangladesh continues to ensure that judicial proceedings are conducted openly and fairly, and that the rights of the parties are fully respected.”
“Bangladesh judiciary decides matters before them based on evidence and in accordance with the law, without any restrictions, influences, inducements, pressures, threats or interferences, direct or indirect, from any quarter or for any reason,” the statement added.
Underscoring ‘Odhikar’ as a non-compliant and politically biased entity, the statement said that the Bangladesh government is appaled by the favouritism in the European Parliament’s resolution to Odhikar’.
“The Government of Bangladesh is appalled by the favoritism, reflected in the European Parliament’s resolution, to ‘Odhikar’ – a non-compliant and politically biased entity with a proven record of circulating misinformation, and an accomplice of vested quarters that promote terrorism and violent extremism,” the statement said.
It further stated that Odhikar is not an independent organization that it tries to claim and is unfortunately believed by some in the international community.
“It’s a fact known to all that Adilur Rahman Khan, Secretary of ‘Odhikar’, was appointed Deputy Attorney General by BNP-Jamaat Government and worked in that capacity for five years from 2001 to 2006. Therefore, ‘Odhikar’ is not at all a neutral or independent organization that it tries to claim and is unfortunately believed by some in the international community,” the statement added.
According to the statement by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, “To support and promote an organization like ‘Odhikar’ in the name of upholding civic and democratic space is tantamount to the adoption of a totally subjective, selective, and partisan approach and is a clear manifestation of double standard by those who speak of defending human rights of the victims on one hand and make exposed and imposing attempts to protect the alleged violator on the other.”
However, the Bangladesh government disagreed to the text of their resolution.
Moreover, Bangladesh deeply values its 50-year-long growing partnership with the European Union and all its institutions including the European Parliament.
It further expects the same to continue through meaningful engagement based on the principles of mutual respect and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, according to the statement.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Rajasthan Assembly elections are around the corner. And with that, developments in the Nasir-Junaid murder case have picked pace. Clouds of doubt are looming over the Rajasthan police ever since the arrest of Gau Rakshak Monu Manesar who is an accused in the murder case.
The Gehlot government’s own MLAs like Safia Zuber have been questioning their government, asking why family members of Nasir and Junaid never got compensation like the family of Kanhaiya Lal. Residents of the Ghatmika village in Rajasthan where Nasir and Junaid lived, have accused the Congress government of pressurizing them to ‘remain silent’ and not taking action against Monu Manesar.
This shows how Congress’ vote bank is unhappy with the party with just months to go for the state polls. The Congress now finds itself in a devil and the deep sea situation. In view of this, the arrest of Monu Manesar in Haryana and then his transit remand comes as a relief for the Rajasthan government.
However, the kind of news being reported by the media quoting ‘sources’ about Monu Manesar’s alleged involvement in the murder of the duo has raised more suspicion. There is a possibility that, in order to appease the vote bank for electoral gains, such news is being ‘planted’ in the media which the Rajasthan police can hardly prove in court.
On 14 August, the Rajasthan DGP Umesh Mishra categorically stated that there was no direct involvement of Gaurakshak Mohit Yadav, known as Monu Manesar, in the alleged double murder case. It was a significant statement by the top cop, given at a time when a certain section of media and political leaders were trying to blame Monu Manesar for the Nuh violence.
Media claims Monu Manesar ‘confessed’ to planning the murder of Nasir and Junaid
Reports claim that during the interrogation by the Rajasthan Police, Monu Manesar confessed that the plan to murder Nasir-Junaid was hatched eight days before their abduction. Notably, the case of Nasir and Junaid’s kidnapping was registered on 15 February 2023. The next day, their bodies and a burnt car were found in Bhiwani, Haryana.
Dainik Bhaskar report
According to reports, Monu Manesar has ‘confessed’ that when Nasir-Junaid were picked up, they did not have a cow with them. Reportedly, the kidnappers called Monu Manesar. After this, the duo was beaten and taken to Firozpur Jhirka police station in an injured condition.
When the police reportedly refused to take both of them, the kidnappers took them to the forest and burnt them along with the car. Monu Manesar has reportedly been described as the ‘conspirator’ in this murder.
It has been claimed that a person involved in the murder had given Manesar the details of Nasir and Junaid. After this, Monu Manesar along with the other accused conspired to kidnap both of them.
Manesar being made a scapegoat to appease the vote bank?
Interestingly, all these claims are being made in the media quoting police sources. On 14 August, the Rajasthan DGP also said that the police are trying to find out whether Manesar played a role behind the scenes or not.
Sources have told OpIndia that the Rajasthan Police is under pressure to reveal the involvement of Monu Manesar in this incident. This raises the question of whether pressure is being built keeping in mind the upcoming assembly elections.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad, too, has raised suspicion on the timing of the arrest. VHP working President Alok Kumar had said, “Innocent cow devotee Monu Manesar has been arrested by the Rajasthan Police, whereas some time ago the Rajasthan Police had considered him innocent. Monu, a cow devotee, has been arrested for the Muslim vote bank in the elections, which will cost him dearly.”
Islamic fundamentalists consider Monu Manesar an enemy owing to his work to prevent cattle smuggling in the area. It is notable here that the Mewat region is the hotbed of cattle smuggling. Hindu farmers, who consider the cow sacred and even depend on it for their livelihoods, suffer dearly from the rampant cattle smuggling that takes place in the region. Even after the attack by fundamentalist Muslims on the peaceful religious Jalabhishek Yatra of Hindus in Nuh, a campaign was run to put the blame on Monu Manesar.
The BJP has also suggested that Manesar could be used for appeasement politics by the Gehlot government. Rajasthan BJP spokesperson Laxmikant Bhardwaj, while talking to OpIndia, said, “The DGP has already said that Monu Manesar is not directly involved in this case. Despite this, the emergence of such claims shows that this is definitely a political matter. But the police should investigate this matter impartially. Anyway, there is going to be a change of power in Rajasthan after one and a half months. It is useless to expect justice for anyone from this government. If the BJP government comes, it will do justice.”
Will the claims about Manesar’s confession stand in court?
Supreme Court lawyer Satya Ranjan Swain told OpIndia that confessional statements under police custody are not considered evidence in court. He said, “The statement given by the accused in police remand or before the investigating officer is not valid in court. The statement can be used for investigation under Section 161 of CrPC 1973.”
It is noteworthy that under Section 161, the police investigate and examine all the witnesses and evidence in the case. During the investigation, the police also take statements of witnesses. However, the statement given to the police under Section 161 is not considered binding.
Advocate Swain said that the confessional statement given in front of the police officer cannot be used against the accused. Even if the police get the confession videographed, it will not be considered as evidence.
In such a situation, it appears that the claims made in the media have no legal justification and don’t hold water.
Notably, Monu Manesar was arrested by Haryana Police on 12 September 2023 for posting inflammatory posts on Facebook. He was presented in the court. The court had given instructions to send him to jail for 14 days judicial custody. Later he was handed over to Rajasthan Police on transit remand.
Whatever the Haryana police has done, it has done as per due legal process. And yet, a section of the public is unhappy with the Haryana Police this action, which is natural in view of the trend to obstruct agencies from doing their duty in the non-BJP ruled states.
But this does not mean that the BJP-ruled states, which believe in following the rule of law, should be judged on the basis of the attitude of the opposition-ruled states.
That Monu Manesar, in the Nasir-Junaid murder case, has escaped the law till now reflects the failure of the Rajasthan Police. The onus of answerability to charges of working under political pressure falls on the Rajasthan police in this case.
The Rajasthan Police must also know that Monu Manesar cannot be proven guilty in court on the basis of a confessional statement. And the police have not yet found direct evidence to hold him guilty, as stated by the DGP recently.
For now, the case seems to be less of an effort to get to the bottom of the alleged murder of Nasir-Junaid and more like an attempt to fuel the appeasement politics of the Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government in the state.
On Thursday, 14th September 2023, late at night, Haryana Police arrested Congress MLA Mamman Khan in Ferozepur Jhirka, Rajasthan. He has been arrested on charges related to his alleged involvement in planning the Nuh violence. DSP Satish Kumar has officially confirmed this arrest. Mamman Khan is scheduled to appear in court on Friday, according to Satish Kumar.
On Tuesday, 12th September 2023, Mamman Khan submitted a petition to the high court in an attempt to prevent his arrest. The case was brought before the court for a hearing on Thursday. In his petition, Mamman Khan had requested the court to instruct the state government to establish a high-level Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Nuh Violence Probe
Congress MLA #MammanKhan arrested, to be produced before the court today.
The Haryana government on Thursday told the High Court that Congress MLA Khan has also been named as an accused in one of the FIRs lodged in connection with the communal violence that broke out in Nuh on July 31. The police told the court that they had enough evidence against Mamman Khan and Congress MLA Mamman Khan was made an accused after evaluating the evidence. Mamman Khan claimed he was being falsely implicated in the case, as he was not even present in Nuh on the day the violence broke out.
According to Haryana’s Additional Advocate General, Deepak Sabharwal, there existed call detail records, location tracking via a phone tower, a statement provided by the MLA’s personal security officer, and additional evidence that contradicted Mamman Khan’s assertion.
He said, “The court was told that the investigation is going on in a fair manner. Out of the 52 accused in the FIR, 42 have been arrested and one accused is on regular bail. The court was apprised of all evidence gathered against him by the investigating agency.”
Mamman Khan has been booked in an FIR lodged at the Nagina police station in Nuh, concerning the Nuh communal violence. Police inquiries have uncovered alleged communication between Khan and a suspect identified as Mohammad Taufiq through phone records. Taufiq has already been apprehended for his purported role in the violence. The state counsel informed the court that Mamman Khan was also named by the co-accused, Taufiq, who was taken into custody on September 9.
According to Additional Advocate General Deepak Sabharwal, an analysis of call records from the mobile phones and tower locations associated with accused Taufiq and Mamman Khan revealed that there were phone conversations between them on July 29 and 30, preceding the violence that occurred on July 31.
Mamman Khan was initially summoned for questioning on August 31 but failed to appear, citing health issues. Subsequently, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) issued a second notice for him to appear on September 10, but once again, he did not show up and did not provide any prior notification to the authorities.
On Wednesday, 13th September 2023, Haryana’s Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar made it clear that the government would take stringent actions against Mamman Khan, should he be accused, regardless of his whereabouts. This statement followed the Chief Minister’s visit to the residence of VHP worker Abhishek, who tragically lost his life in the Nuh violence. During the visit, he reassured the grieving family that those responsible for the Nuh violence would face the consequences. Prior to this, Anil Vij had also commented that incidents of violence occurred in places where Mamman Khan had visited on July 28, 29, and 30.
On 31st July, a mob of hundreds of Muslim rioters attacked Hindu devotees participating in the Brijmandal Jalabhishek Yatra in Nuh, Mewat of Haryana. At least six people were killed as a result of the riots.
The Odisha Government has asked district health authorities to increase the surveillance for seasonal upsurge of Scrub Typhus and Leptospirosis in the state. This came in the wake of five deaths reported recently from Bargarh District, according to an official statement from Odisha’s Health and Family Welfare Department on Thursday.
Health and Family Welfare Department has given the directions to all the Chief District Medical and Public Health Officers, Director, Capital Hospital Bhubaneswar and the Director, RGH, Rourkela.
“Scrub typhus and Leptospirosis cases are being reported from most of the districts across the state. So intensive surveillance system for early diagnosis need to be strengthened to ensure timely treatment for prevention and management of Scrub Typhus and Leptospirosis,” read the statement.
Health Department has asked the district health authorities to ensure the availability of tests in DPHL by procurement and supply of required test kits, sensitize doctors to advise the tests in case of PUO, increase public awareness and early diagnosis along with Increased surveillance,” added the statement.
The department also has asked the authorities to use appropriate antibiotics and an adequate stock of drugs.
“All deaths due to these diseases should be investigated and necessary containment measures to be taken, Data pertaining to such diseases should be shared with SSU in the prescribed format regularly,” said the health department in the directions to the health authorities of different districts of the state.
Scrub typhus, also known as bush typhus, is a disease caused by a bacteria called Orientia tsutsugamushi. Scrub typhus is spread to people through bites of infected chiggers (larval mites) .
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday nabbed a key absconding Islamic State (IS) terror conspirator on arrival at New Delhi Airport from Nairobi, Kenya.
Arafath Ali was taken into custody the moment he landed at the airport, marking a major breakthrough for the NIA in its efforts to uncover and foil the conspiracy of foreign-based modules of IS or ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) to carry out acts of terror and violence in India.
Ali had been absconding since 2020, when he was accused of indulging in ISIS propaganda activities and planning for terrorist acts. He had since then been operating from abroad to promote the anti-India terror agenda of the IS.
NIA investigations have revealed that Ali, a resident of Shivamogga district of Karnataka, was actively involved in the identification, radicalisation and recruitment of gullible Muslim youth into the ISIS fold while working from abroad.
“As part of the Shivamogga terror conspiracy case, one accused, named Mohamed Shariq, had been on his way to plant a pressure cooker IED at Kadri Manjunatha Temple, Mangaluru, when the IED exploded accidentally in the auto rickshaw,” said the NIA.
“Ali had been in active touch with the other accused persons in the case, and was actively involved in the planning and execution of the conspiracy.”
According to the NIA investigations, Ali was also responsible for the two Mangaluru graffiti cases of 2020, when, on his directions, two other accused, identified as Mohamed Shariq and Maaz Muneer Ahmed, had written “DON’T FORCE US TO INVITE LASHKAR-E-TAIBA AND TALIBAN TO DEAL WITH SANGHIS AND MANVEDIS #LASHKAR ZINDABAD” on the walls.
“Investigations against Ali and other suspects in the case are continuing,” added the agency.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
In a first-of-its-kind initiative and part of a new strategy adopted by NIA under UAPA to squeeze the finances of terrorist organisations, a special NIA court in Haryana has ordered to forfeit the seized property of four aides of Pakistan-based listed Khalistani terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda.
NIA SPECIAL COURT FORFEITS LISTED KHALISTANI TERRORIST RINDA’S AIDES’ PROPERTIES TO THE STATE pic.twitter.com/9DfdjZYBoq
The press note released by the federal agency on September 14, Thursday read, “This is the first time the NIA has aggressively sought the forfeiture of terrorists’ properties to the state under Section 26 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) after they have been attached as proceeds of terrorism.
In the instant case, the special court has approved the NIA’s application seeking the forfeiture of the property, including Rs 7.80 lakh in cash and an SUV car, which was allegedly used by the accused for transporting arms, ammunition, explosives and narcotics across the country, the spokesperson said.
The Haryana Police on May 5 last year had seized three improvised explosive devices, one pistol with two magazines, 31 rounds of ammunition and Rs 1.30 lakh in cash from the four accused — Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi; Amandeep Singh, alias Deepa; Parminder Singh, alias Pinder; and Bhupinder Singh.
They were going to deliver the consignment to Adilabad in Telangana, in their car. A specially designed cavity was created in the SUV to hide the arms and cash, the spokesperson said.
A case was registered at Madhubhan Police Station in Haryana under various sections of the UAPA, Explosive Substance Act (1908), and the Arms Act. On May 24, 2022, the NIA took over the investigations into the case.”
Meanwhile, the NIA official spokesperson was quoted by the media as saying, “Forfeiture of properties is a major new tool in the NIA’s strategy to dismantle the terrorist ecosystem in the country. The NIA has adopted this strategy to squeeze the financial resources of the terrorist outfits as well as their operatives and associates. The agency has already attached several terrorist-linked properties and the process of their forfeiture is underway in different courts,” an official spokesperson said.
Who is Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda from Babbar Khalsa International listed amongst UAPA
It may be noted that on March 21 this year, MoS Home Nityanand Rai informed the Lok Sabha that in the year 2022, and in 2023 so far, 23 individuals have been listed as ‘terrorists’ under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 1967. The minister further added that the names of the 23 individuals have been added to the 4th schedule of the Act.
As per the list provided by MoS Nityanand Rai, there are several Islamic terrorists and 2 Khalistani terrorists namely Arshdeep Singh Gill from the KTF and Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda from Babbar Khalsa International.
On November 19 2022, senior state police and intelligence officials reportedly said that Gangster-turned-terrorist Harvinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda died in a hospital in Lahore, Pakistan. He was named in at least ten terror cases in Punjab. Reports suggest he was undergoing treatment for a kidney ailment allegedly triggered by a drug overdose.
Other reports have suggested that the Davinder Bhambiha mafia group has claimed responsibility for his death as he allegedly turned against its members. Pakistan hospitals had, however, denied any such deaths.
Rinda was wanted by Punjab Police in at least 24 crimes related to homicide, contract killing, robbery, extortion and more. He was recently named in the Faridkot murder case where Dera Sacha Sauda disciple Pardeep Singh Kataria was shot dead by six assailants in broad daylight. His role was also suspected in the murder of Hindu leader Sudhir Suri who was killed last month.
There was a cash reward of Rs 10 lakhs announced by the National Investigation Agency for any information on Rinda. Interpol had also issued a Red notice against him.
Rinda was associated with the terrorist organization Babbar Khalsa International. He provided crucial support to Pakistan’s intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), to smuggle weapons and drugs into Punjab from Pakistan. A senior Punjab Police official said Rinda was also named as the mastermind behind the RPG attack on intelligence headquarters in Mohali, Punjab, in May last year.
