Home Blog Page 1784

Manipur government declares the entire state a ‘disturbed area’, AFSPA extended for 6 months except in 19 police stations

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Manipur government declares the entire state a ‘disturbed area’, AFSPA extended for 6 months except in 19 police stations

On Wednesday (27 September), the Manipur government announced that AFSPA will remain in force for another six months in view of the present law and order situation in the state. According to the latest government notification, the entire state has been declared a ‘disturbed area’ under AFSPA. However, areas coming in the jurisdiction of 19 police stations including the state capital Imphal have been excluded from this status. 

The government notification noted, “The State Government has decided to maintain status quo on the present disturbed area status in the State of Manipur excluding the areas falling under the 19 police stations for a period of 6 (six) months w.e.f. 01/10/2023.”

The notification added that the violent activities of various extremist/insurgent groups warrant the use of Armed Forces in aid of civil administration in the entire state.

The recognition of disturbed areas under AFSPA in Manipur has been in effect since 2004. Last year in April, the government revoked AFSPA from 15 police station areas spanning six districts. Later, this year in April, the government further revoked AFSPA from four additional police stations. Consequently, these 19 police station areas in seven districts of Manipur have been excluded from the disturbed area under AFSPA, as per the latest government notification.

The notification comes in the wake of recent protests that broke out in Manipur following the killing of two Meitei students. Two Imphal locals, Hijam Linthoingami (17) and Phijam Hemjit (20), who had gone missing since July 6, 2023, were reportedly killed as two photographs surfaced online, confirming their tragic demise.

In one of the images that went viral, the two students were depicted seated on a grassy area, with two armed men visible in the background. Another picture, circulating across social media platforms, showed the bodies of the two students lying on grass. According to media reports, they were abducted by Kuki militants. 

Soon, protests erupted in the state again and students took to the streets demanding Justice for the deceased students. 

Following the circulation of the images online, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh assured the public that prompt and resolute measures would be taken against individuals implicated in the abduction and tragic loss of the students.

Earlier in the day (27 September), a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team, led by the agency’s Special Director Ajay Bhatnagar, reached Imphal on a special flight to investigate the alleged “kidnapping and killing” of two students, media reported.

The ethnic conflict between the Meitei and Kuki communities in the northeastern state of Manipur has already resulted in more than 100 fatalities and thousands of displaced residents. 

The first clashes occurred on 3 May following a “Tribal Solidarity March” organised by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) in the hill areas to oppose the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Tensions rose in April as a result of a Manipur High Court decision ordering the state administration to make a decision regarding the Scheduled Tribe status issue.

Madhya Pradesh: Semi-nude and injured, 12-year-old rape survivor walks on streets of Ujjain seeking help; video goes viral

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Madhya Pradesh: Semi-nude and injured, 12-year-old rape survivor walks on streets of Ujjain seeking help; video goes viral

A dreadful case of rape of a minor has come to the fore from the city of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. The 12-year-old girl was found in a semi-nude condition bleeding on the street. The police confirmed the incident and said that her medical examination confirmed that she had been raped.

“The girl probably hails from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, but her identity is yet to be established as she is unable to tell her name and address to the police properly,” one of the officials was quoted as saying.

“A girl, aged around 12 years, was found bleeding on a street located under the Mahakal police station area in Ujjain on Monday. She was taken to a hospital, where her initial medical examination confirmed that she had been raped,” Superintendent of Police (SP) Sachin Sharma said.

He added that the girl neither has an identity card nor is she able to tell her name and address accurately. A case has been registered at the Mahakal police station, and an investigation into the incident is underway.

As per the media reports, the girl was discovered by the police near Dandi Ashram on the Badnagar road. Injuries on her private parts could be visibly seen. Her clothes were stained, and she was scared when found by the police.

The police immediately shifted her to the local hospital and later she was taken to a hospital in Indore. The girl also told the police officers that her mother had been raped and assaulted. However, no details of her mother or family have been recovered yet.

The Police also examined the CCTV footage established in the area to learn that the girl was roaming the streets with injuries on her private parts and seeking help. The girl is said to have walked for 8 kilometres on the Sanwrakheda Marg, Tirupati Dreams, Haatkeshwar Vihar Colony, and Chintamani Bridge area of the city.

Reports mention that the police examined the CCTV footage of the last 72 hours and saw one auto driver talking to the girl. The driver has now been detained by the police and is being interrogated.

One of the old persons could also be seen talking to the girl who was in a semi-nude condition in the CCTV footage. The girl told the man that some people were following her and moved ahead.

The girl belongs to Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, and says that her mother has also been raped and assaulted. The Police have filed a case and are investigating as to why the girl and her mother had come to Ujjain and why were they being followed.

Terrorist-gangster-smuggler nexus: NIA conducts raids at 53 locations in 6 states, finds conspiracies being hatched by gangsters in jails and foreign countries

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Terrorist-gangster-smuggler nexus: NIA conducts raids at 53 locations in 6 states, finds conspiracies being hatched by gangsters in jails and foreign countries

Indian agencies have intensified the crackdown on the terrorist-gangster-smuggler nexus in the country. On Wednesday, September 27, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids at 53 locations across the country in connection with the terrorist-gangster-drug smugglers nexus case. The probe agency informed that several suspects allegedly connected with ‘listed terrorist‘ Arshdeep Dalla alias Arsh Dalla among other dreaded gangsters. The NIA raided multiple locations in Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, UP, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and the UT of Chandigarh.

During the day-long multi-state operation, the probe agency seized pistols, ammunition, a huge number of digital devices and several incriminating materials. Besides Arsh Dalla who is based in Canada, others under the NIA scanner in the raids were notorious gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi, Sukhdeep Singh, alias Sukha Duneke, Harry Maur, Narender, Kala Jatheri, Deepak Tinu etc. It is notable that several of the gangs and gangsters have links with Khalistani terror groups.

In its statement, the NIA outlined that the prime focus of the raids conducted today was on “weapon suppliers, financiers and logistics providers associated with various hardcore gangs and their operatives.” The NIA added that several gangs are working in collusion with drug smugglers and terrorists based out of other countries, including Pakistan, UAE, Canada, Portugal etc.

Separate NIA teams started raids early Wednesday morning in close coordination with state police forces. During its investigation, the NIA found that the conspiracies under investigation were hatched in different state jails and were carried out by an organised network of “operatives” based abroad. Among such plots was last year’s sensational killings in Punjab of Maharashtra builder Sanjay Biyani, mining trader Mehal Singh, and international Kabaddi player Sandeep Nangal Ambia.

According to NIA investigations, numerous criminals and gangsters who formerly commanded gangs in India have fled outside the country and are currently carrying out terror and violence-related activities from there. The NIA added that these perpetrators have been involved in the planning and execution of heinous crimes, including contract and revenge killings, in collaboration with criminals imprisoned across India.

The cases under which the raids were conducted include targeted killings, terror funding of pro-Khalistan outfits, extortion, etc. by the gangsters. Several gangsters are currently in jails, and many others are operating from various foreign countries, including Pakistan, Canada, Malaysia, Portugal and Australia.

“These groups have been carrying out targeted killings and raising funds for attacks and other nefarious activities through smuggling of drugs and weapons, hawala and extortion,” the NIA said.

The spotlight on these gangs has become sharper after reports of several Prisons becoming havens of the deadly nexus and hubs of gang wars,” the NIA continued.

As per the NIA’s statement, today’s raids took place in the Amritsar, Moga, Fazilka, Ludhiana, Mohali, Faridkot, Barnala, Bhatinda, Ferozpur, SAS Nagar, Amritsar, and Jalandhar districts of Punjab. In Haryana, several locations in Rohtak, Sirsa, Fatehabad, and Faridabad were raided. In Rajasthan, the NIA raided multiple locations in  Sri Ganga Nagar, Jhunjhunu, Hanumangarh, and Jodhpur.  Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. Dehradun and Udhamsingh Nagar districts in Uttarakhand in addition to the South-east district of Delhi/ NCR and UT of Chandigarh.

As per NIA, the raids are still underway in three cases (RC 37/2022/NIA/DLI, RC 39/2022/NIA/DLI and RC 22/2023/NIA/DLI).

Following the registration of five cases since August 2022, including two new cases against Organised Criminal Gangs in July this year, this was the seventh in a series of similar crackdowns initiated by the NIA.

It is notable that previously, the agency raided over 370 places, resulting in the seizure of 38 firearms, including four fatal weapons, and 1,129 rounds of ammunition. It has frozen 87 bank accounts and attached 13 properties so far, in addition to confiscating 331 digital gadgets, 418 documents, and two vehicles. Two of the wanted accused have been identified as “designated individual terrorists” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 15 have been labelled “Proclaimed Offenders,” and nine have received Interpol Red Notices at the request of the NIA.

The NIA had registered a suo moto case (RC-37/2022/NIA/DLI) on August 20, 2022, under various sections of the IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 in connection with the terror activities of banned terrorist organisations in India. The agency has been cracking down on individual terrorist outfits and terrorists conspiring to smuggle terrorist hardware, such as arms, ammunition and explosives and raising funds for carrying out terrorist acts in India.

The NIA investigations in the case had revealed that several gangsters having nexus with individual ‘listed terrorist’ Arshdeep Singh Dala had entered into a criminal conspiracy to raise funds for Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), a banned terrorist organisation. They were also engaged in smuggling of arms, ammunition and explosives for the KTF from across the border.

Dala who has been operating from Canada for the last 3-4 years and has had many terrorist killings in Punjab over the last few years. He has been guiding and commissioning terrorist acts and also promoting terror, violence and large-scale extortion in India on behalf of the KTF.

Other two cases (RC 39/2022/NIA/DLI and RC 22/2023/NIA/DLI) are also linked to gangster-terror nexus naming gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, Goly Brar, Vikram Brar and others in which the accused are charged for assisting and facilitating different gang in targetted killings and extortions in Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab. NIA has so far arrested 16 persons in the terror gangster conspiracy case.

Cauvery water, Bengal drama, and Punjab question: Forget unity against BJP, I.N.D.I. alliance cannot even unite own parties as 2024 approaches

Anurag
-
0
Cauvery water, Bengal drama, and Punjab question: Forget unity against BJP, I.N.D.I. alliance cannot even unite own parties as 2024 approaches

I.N.D.I. alliance was formed to fight the Lok Sabha elections 2024 against the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) NDA, to combine the strength of the opposition and come to power. However, things are not on the right track as the alliance is still too far away from resolving internal conflicts and rivalries.

The main issue among the I.N.D.I. alliance is who is leading them and who is going to be the Prime Minister’s face. Congress, which is the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha, wants Rahul Gandhi to be the Prime Minister face for the general elections. However, no other alliance partners have shown any inclination toward Rahul Gandhi’s leadership that has led Congress through 2 subsequent election losses.

On the other hand, Nitish Kumar, who thought he might become the face of the opposition alliance and hosted the first-ever meeting in Bihar, has understood that no one sees him as the national leader among the allies. The same goes for other top leaders in the alliance, who, despite multiple meetings, are yet to come up with either a seat-sharing formula or decide on a leader.

Every week, there is a new issue among the alliance parties. Congress and Aam Aadmi Party are locking horns in Punjab and Delhi in the North. In the East, Congress is going nuclear in West Bengal against the Trinamool Congress (TMC). In the South, DMK and Congress are fighting over Cauvery water in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Finally, in the West, Rajasthan elections are going to divide Congress and AAP further as they both would want to contest more seats in the state.

Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and other states scheduled to hold assembly elections later this year will put the allied parties of the I.N.D.I. alliance in a dilemma over whether they want to stay friends in state politics or the friendship will remain only on the national level.

Cauvery water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka

On 23rd September, RAF was deployed in Karnataka’s Mandya as the tensions between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka escalated over Cauvery water. In the latest development, farmers from both states have staged protests against Chief Ministers of opposite states. Tamil Nadu farmers performed the last rites of Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah.

On the other hand, farmers from Karnataka performed the last rites of Tamil Nadu CM Stalin.

Interestingly, in Tamil Nadu, DMK and Congress are in alliance. However, they are unable to solve the water dispute between the states. Such issues will create problems, especially when they plan to contest Lok Sabha elections under one banner. Another issue is DMK’s leaders’ statements against Sanatana Dharma, which created a massive outrage and saw alliance partners rushing to either defend or deflect. While the parties in the I.N.D.I. alliance have supported DMK, the issue is definitely going to bite them during campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections.

Congress accuses Mamata Banerjee of wasting public money during her Spain trip

Congress has accused TMC of violence against its local leaders in West Bengal on several occasions. The bitter relationship between TMC and Congress did not water down after the formation of the I.N.D.I. alliance. Notably, Mamata Banerjee holds a strong position as a possible PM face among the opposition parties because of her consistent win as Chief Minister in West Bengal. On the other hand, her party’s reputation linked to post-poll violence is not going to go easy during Lok Sabha election campaigns.

In a statement on 27th September, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Choudhary accused Mamata Banerjee of enjoying her trip to Spain on public money. He accused the CM of staying in a hotel room worth Rs 3 lakh per day during her trip. He said, “The Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) stayed at a hotel in Spain that costs Rs 3 lakh a day. On the pretext of inviting investments, she went on a tour and has returned after having fun.”

AAP and Congress lock horns in Punjab

In the first week of September, Anmol Gagan Mann, a leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and a minister in Punjab, stated that there would be no alliance with the Congress party in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Punjab. AAP will contest all 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state under its own symbol. Interestingly, several Congress leaders in the state also oppose the idea of partnering with the AAP.

Earlier, the state leadership of the Congress party had made it clear that they are against any alliance with the AAP in Punjab for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. They have asked the state Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and the opposition leader Partap Singh Bajwa to convey to the party high command that they are against the alliance.

The conflict of interest will also be a major issue between AAP and Congress in other states. Delhi has become AAP’s fort. There is no way that AAP would decide not to contest any of the seats where the party holds power. Several local AAP leaders and supporters will see it as “fraud” with the voters. On the other hand, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal is already roaming in Chhattisgarh, a state currently ruled by Congress, asking to bring AAP to power.

While campaigning, Kejriwal is throwing around the usual promises like free electricity. It is clear that AAP and Congress are not going to contest Chhattisgarh under any alliance. Similarly, in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, AAP is looking to contest against the ruling parties Congress, and BJP, respectively, without any hope of alliance with the Congress party.

AAP leaders habitually accuse Congress leaders of corruption whenever they get a chance. it is fair to expect that AAP will target Congress in the states where it is currently in power, like Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, despite their party alliance with Congress on a national level. It will be a point of conflict between these parties when they start campaigning for Lok Sabha as there will be questions when they cannot work together on the state level, how are they going to run the government on the national level.

Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Nitish Kumar and Arvind Kejriwal, along with other leaders of the 26 parties in the I.N.D.I. alliance, are the potential faces for the PM in Lok Sabha elections. While NDA has already declared they will contest elections to bring back PM Narendra Modi to power, the opposition alliance is expected to continue its struggle to decide who will be the PM if they win. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi was the star campaigner for NDA in the Lok Sabha election. However, if the alliance continues as they hope for, every other leader of the opposition alliance will boost the chance of NDA of coming back to power in one or the other way.

Manipur: CBI team headed by Special Director reaches Imphal to probe the alleged kidnapping and murder of two Meitei students

ANI
-
0
Manipur: CBI team headed by Special Director reaches Imphal to probe the alleged kidnapping and murder of two Meitei students

A Central Bureau of Investigation team, led by the agency’s Special Director Ajay Bhatnagar, reached Imphal in a special flight earlier today to investigate the alleged “kidnapping and killing” of two students, Sources said.

The two boys had reportedly gone missing in Manipur on July 6.

Upon their arrival at Imphal airport, the CBI team parried questions about the incident.

Following the incident, fresh protests erupted in the state after a video showing the dead bodies of two youths in Manipur went viral.

The government responded by re-imposing the suspension of internet services for five days as a precautionary measure and announced that all schools in the state would be closed till Friday. 

An order issued by the Manipur Home Department said steps are being taken to prevent the imminent danger of loss of life, damage to public/private property, and widespread disturbances to public tranquilly.

“In view of the prevailing law and order situation In the State of Manipur, the State Government views very seriously with utmost sensitivity the reported spread of disinformation, false rumours and other types of violent activities through various social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. on electronic equipment like tablet, computers, mobile phones, etc and sending bulk SMS likely facilitating and/or mobilising mobs of agitators and demonstrators, which may cause loss of life and/or damage to public/private property or aggravate the law and order situation in the state,” an official notification said.

Earlier Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Tuesday confirmed that the CBI Special Director will be visiting Manipur on Wednesday.

In a post on X Biren Singh said “In light of the distressing news that emerged yesterday regarding the tragic demise of the missing students, I want to assure the people of the State that both the state and central government are closely working together to nab the perpetrators” he said.

“To further expedite this crucial investigation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director, along with a specialized team, will be arriving in Imphal tomorrow morning in a special flight. Their presence underscores the commitment of our authorities to swiftly resolve this matter. I have been constantly in touch with Hon’ble Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShah ji to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice” the Chief Minister added. 

Manipur has been witnessing violence since May 3, following the protests against the High Court’s order asking the state government to consider the inclusion of the Meitei community in the category of Scheduled Tribes (ST).

“Guys, I am Alive”: ‘Thapki Pyar Ki’ fame TV actress Jigyasa Singh slams YouTubers for spreading her death rumours

OpIndia Staff
-
0
“Guys, I am Alive”: ‘Thapki Pyar Ki’ fame TV actress Jigyasa Singh slams YouTubers for spreading her death rumours

On Tuesday (26 September), TV actress Jigyasa Singh shared an Instagram story to dispel rumours about her ‘death in an accident’. In her Instagram story, she shared a screenshot of some YouTube videos that were floating rumours that the TV actress Singh had passed away. 

The headlines of the YouTube videos included in the screenshot said ‘Thapki pyaar ki actress passed away | Last video’ and ‘Actress Thapki has passed away-Shocking News’. Apart from the screenshot in the story, Jigyasa also clarified her well-being and urged everyone to refrain from spreading fake news.

(Instagram story of TV actress Jigyasa Singh)

Through her story, she said, “Who are these people spreading this? (laugh emoji) Guys, I am alive! MIRACLE MIRACLE! Stop spreading this fake news on fake channels.” 

Notably, Jigyasa Sinha is a TV actress who rose to fame for her role in ‘Thapki Pyar Ki’. Her performance in the show was adored by audiences, however, the show went off-air in 2017. She briefly returned for the show’s second season but stepped away from the TV industry citing health concerns. Afterward, she was replaced by Prachi Bansal.

Back then, speaking to E-Times, she shed light on her decision to leave the show Thapki Pyaar Ki. She said,  “I decided to take a break because I have been struggling with some health issues for the past four to five months. I assumed that all the tiredness and restlessness were a result of a hectic shooting schedule. However, after a few tests, I got to know that I had developed a few problems because of continuous shooting. It took a toll on my health.”

She added that it was a tough decision for her but she had to prioritise her health. 

While speaking with a media portal – India Forums, she lambasted Youtubers who spread such fake news. She asserted that she would file a police complaint in this matter and take strict action against them. 

She said, “I’ve received some videos, and my parents have shown them to me too. No, no, I’m perfectly fine, and I don’t understand why anyone would spread such a rumour. I want to file a police complaint and take strict action against these people.”

IAS officer Rinku Dugga, who got the Thyagraj stadium vacated to walk her dog, faces compulsory retirement over track record

OpIndia Staff
-
0
IAS officer Rinku Dugga, who got the Thyagraj stadium vacated to walk her dog, faces compulsory retirement over track record

Rinku Dugga, a 54-year-old official from the 1994 AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory) cadre has been made to retire compulsorily by the Central government, as per a report by the Indian Express. She, along with her IAS husband, was in news last year for ordering a stadium to be empty so they could walk their dog.

She and her husband, Sanjeev Khirwar, also an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer from the 1994 batch, were transferred out of Delhi last year after they made headlines for evacuating a stadium of athletes to take their dog for a walk.

Dugga was posted as the principal secretary in Arunachal Pradesh before the retirement order came. As per the Indian Express report, the decision has been taken based on her track record. The report added that Dugga did not make any comment when contacted.

A government official informed on 26 September, “Yes, orders have been issued compulsorily retiring Dugga based on her track record.” The person stated that she was retired in compliance with FR 56(j), Rule 48 of the Central Civil Services (CCS) Pension Rules, 1972. The government has the authority to retire any employee “if it is of the opinion that it is in the public interest to do so”.

Background of the controversy

Athletes and coaches at the Delhi government-run Thyagraj Stadium were asked by the officials to put an end to their practice early and leave the place so that the senior IAS officers could walk their dog there in May of this year. The athletes and coaches complained that they were forced to wrap up their training before 7 p.m. to let Delhi’s Principal Secretary (Revenue) Sanjeev Khirwar and his IAS wife Rinku Dugga walk their pet at the facility in the evening.

A photo of the IAS couple walking their dog in the empty stadium went viral after it was featured in a newspaper.

Newspaper clipping showing the IAS couple walking their dog in an empty stadium

They charged that their training had been interfered with and conveyed how they had to train in the heat because they were ejected from the venue. The parents of a trainee athlete also called the incident “unacceptable.” As a result, several athletes moved their training to the Sports Authority of India’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium where floodlights were on after 7.30 pm.

The blatant abuse of authority created outrage among the public. Sanjeev Khirwar was transferred to Ladakh from Delhi while his wife Rinku Dugga was posted to Arunachal Pradesh from the national capital by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The occurrence had brought attention to the impropriety and arrogance of the IAS couple and the action was reportedly initiated because of their abuse of authority and position in Delhi.

Unfounded arguments against the action

Maneka Gandhi, Bharatiya Janata Party Lok Sabha MP and animal rights activist came to the defence of the pair and claimed, “I know Sanjeev Khirwar very well. The allegations against him are false. One can’t transfer just anyone anywhere. Delhi will suffer a loss due to the order and the Centre’s move is a conspiracy.”

She alleged, “When Khirwar was secretary of the environment department, Delhi benefited from his work. The action against him is completely wrong.”

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra insinuated that Rinku Dugga’s transfer to Arunachal Pradesh was a form of punishment and asked why she wasn’t sent to another state. She also implied that it was a “punishment posting” and that the MHA was humiliating the region and disproving assertions of development in the northeastern part of the country.

However, in reality, the IAS duo were sent to Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, respectively, because they were AGMUT cadre members and were only permitted to be deployed in specific states and union territories under the AGMUT cadre. They were assigned to work together in Delhi as part of the central government’s spouse posting order which was discontinued and they transferred to the locations as per state cadre rules.

In accordance with a 2016 decision, the Ministry of Home Affairs asserted that certain cadre officers desire to remain in Delhi or serve in ‘soft’ districts. The Ministry’s directive was to make sure that no cadre unit lacked cadre officials and that the responsibility of serving outside of Delhi, in both the ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ regions were distributed equally among the officers.

UP: Md Afzaal injured in a police encounter after a minor Hindu girl attempted to commit suicide after being harassed by him during Ganesh Visarjan

OpIndia Staff
-
0
UP: Md Afzaal injured in a police encounter after a minor Hindu girl attempted to commit suicide after being harassed by him during Ganesh Visarjan

In the Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh, accused Mohammad Afzaal who harassed a Hindu girl returning from Ganpati Visarjan was injured in an encounter with the police. The victim who had attempted to kill herself by hanging currently undergoing treatment at a district hospital.

Reportedly, the matter pertains to the Pihani police statin precinct in Hardoi wherein accused Mohammad Afzaal harassed the minor girl while she was heading to her home from a Ganesh Visarjan event on September 25, 2023. Later, the police arrested accused Afzaal who during the court hearing tried to flee. He was, however, the police shot at his leg, leaving the accused injured. The accused is a resident of Bhatan Tola locality in Pihani.

The harassment incident left the victim in trauma. Following the incident, the 14-year-old victim attempted suicide by hanging herself, however, was rescued by her family members in a serious state and rushed to the hospital. The victim was then referred to Lucknow for better medical care. As of now, the victim is reported to be in stable condition. Meanwhile, the victim’s family has demanded that stringent action be taken against accused Mohammad Afzaal.

On Monday, when the accused harassed the minor Hindu girl, the locals gathered and thrashed Mohammad Afzaal. The accused was later handed over to the police. Subsequently, the police were taking the accused to produce him before the Magistrate in Shahabad Tehsil on Tuesday (September 26). As several animals blocked the way of the police vehicle in Ahemihaat village, accused Afzaal tried to take advantage of the slow speed of the vehicle and tried to escape. Meanwhile, he also snatched the service pistol of a police constable. During his escape attempt, the police shot at his leg who then fell to the ground. The injured accused was taken to a hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, the police are conducting further investigation into the matter.

‘Reports biased, ideological agenda’: EAM Jaishankar’s befitting response to The Caravan contributor on India’s position on democracy indices

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Reports biased, ideological agenda’: EAM Jaishankar’s befitting response to The Caravan contributor on India’s position on democracy indices

On Tuesday, September 26, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar gave a befitting response to Daniel Block, senior editor at Foreign Affairs, a US-based magazine after the latter tried to trap the former on his statement regarding India’s democracy index.

During a conversation at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), an America-based think-tank, moderated by former US Ambassador to India, Kenneth Juster, Block quoted a journalist in India who had asked Jaishankar about India’s downgrading in Freedom House, V-Dem and other democracy scores.

“I want to follow up with something you said at that time. You were asked about India’s downgrading in Freedom House, V-Dem, and other democracy scores, and the journalist asked you ‘How do you see it played out in terms of how India is being perceived by the world’. To this you said it is hypocrisy,” Block said.

EAM Jaishankar then interjected and asked the journalist to come to the point. “I thought you had a question,” he could be heard saying.

To this Block, who is a contributor to the Indian rag The Caravan, continued saying, “Yes, I am coming to that. You said ‘It is hypocrisy, we have self-appointed custodians of the world who find it difficult to stomach that someone in India is not looking for their approval, is not willing to play the game they want to play’. That does not actually answer the journalist’s question. So I am asking you again. Are you concerned that perceived democratic backsliding in India is going to undermine its efforts to become a rising power in the world?”

EAM Jaishankar then slammed the journalist and said that it was nothing difficult to understand. “I think it answers the question if you would be objective enough to understand it. I think it says very clearly that the people who are writing these reports have a strong bias, often they distort facts. Many of these reports are riddled,” Jaishankar said.

In the year 2021, according to the ‘renowned’ think tank Freedom House in Washington, India’s freedom score had been downgraded from “free” to “partly free,” with the organization citing attacks on Muslims, the use of the sedition law, and the government’s response to the coronavirus, which included the lockdown, as reasons why rights and civil liberties “have been eroding since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014”.

Days after the international organization criticized India over freedom and democracy Jaishankar slammed them for their “hypocrisy” and called them “self-appointed custodians of the world who find it very difficult to stomach that somebody in India is not looking for their approval”.

On Tuesday, September 26, Jaishankar reiterated that “people who are writing these reports have a strong bias, often they distort facts. Many of these reports are riddled”. According to the Twitter profile of Daniel Block, he works as a senior editor at Foreign Affairs, a US-based magazine. He has formerly worked with many publications like the Washington Monthly, the Caravan India, and the Philadelphia Inquirer.

‘I am not the son of a fodder thief, I will not bow down’: Another case registered against Manish Kashyap, Bihar govt suspends 5 policemen

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘I am not the son of a fodder thief, I will not bow down’: Another case registered against Manish Kashyap, Bihar govt suspends 5 policemen

Manish Kashyap, the founder of the YouTube channel ‘Sach Tak News’ was brought to a court in Patna by the Bihar Police on 22 September during which he talked to some reporters. Now, Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajeev Mishra has confirmed that the administration has suspended 5 policemen and sought clarification from the team that escorted the YouTuber from Beur jail to the court. He added that the matter is under investigation.

Furthermore, a fresh case has been registered against him. The senior official informed, “A case has also been registered against Manish Kashyap in this regard at Pirbahore police station in Patna. A letter has been written to the Beur Jail Superintendent to make arrangements to present him in the court through video conference during the hearing,” the media on 26 September.

The police headquarters has taken cognizance of the matter. Meanwhile, Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Nayyar Hasnain Khan of ‘Economic Offenses Wing’ stated that the Patna SSP Rajeev Mishra had been tasked with looking into what Manish Kashyap had uttered while in judicial custody.

What did Manish Kashyap Voiced

Manish Kashyap slammed Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and his son Tejashwi Yadav who is the incumbent deputy chief minister of the state. He addressed the media outside Patna Court and asserted, “I am the son of a soldier, not a fodder thief. I will die, but I will not bow down before these people.”

He lambasted Tejashwi Yadav and noted that although the RJD leader publicly disparages other communities and supports the Yadav caste, he always keeps his mouth shut when members of the same community are victims of caste-based violence in Bihar. He announced that after being released from prison, he would manage the government and demonstrate how it is run.

He showed his handcuffs and remarked that this time they were in the hands of an honest man. He conveyed that he had not said anything for six months and came to the court quietly and left. He declared that he would not be afraid. He mentioned that his grandfather had fought against China and his father went to war against Pakistan. He questioned whether the Bihar Police would have the guts to bring a case against those responsible for beating up Bihari labourers in Tamil Nadu.

Manish Kashyap expressed that his mother was crying when they met and promised to wipe the tears of other mothers when he comes out of incarceration. He charged, “I have been silent for so many days. I will speak today. I am not afraid of the NSA (National Security Act). I campaign against drug addiction, but police officers deliver smack, ganja, cigarettes etc., to the jail.”

He disclosed that 60-65 prisoners are put inside a single vehicle. They smoke ganja and exhale the smoke on his face and he is kept with those individuals. He had also predicted that a case was going to be brought against him for unveiling this. However, he vowed, “I will always keep my voice loud and try to ensure that the public hears us. I am the son of a solider. I am not scared.”

“Not constables, but those with stars. There, cigarettes and marijuana are consumed and smoke is blasted in my face. I get headaches. The court does not have any security measures in place. Nitish Kumar who talks about the freedom of journalists should arrange an inspection of the prison. Two grams of smack can land you in jail for years, however, a lot of it ends up in jail and nothing happens,” he further accused.

The majority of constables, he claimed, were upright and conveniently suspended in contrast to the majority of officers who were dishonest and frequently got away with crimes. Manish Kashyap was arrested in March of this year and handed over to Tamil Nadu Police for making videos of alleged attacks on Bihari labourers in the southern state where he spent months behind bars before he was lodged in judicial custody in Beur jail of Patna. The YouTuber was also slapped with the stringent NSA. His mother recently met the affected workers and also provided them with financial assistance.

1...1,7831,7841,785...7,649Page 1,784 of 7,649