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Gujarat Police refute reports that a Chinese national visited Gujarat and scammed 1,200 people of ₹1,400 crore, says ₹3.5 crore was looted through a gaming app

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat Police refute reports that a Chinese national visited Gujarat and scammed 1,200 people of ₹1,400 crore, says ₹3.5 crore was looted through a gaming app

Two days ago, certain media reports alleged that a Chinese man had defrauded 1200 individuals in Gujarat, amassing Rs 1400 crore through deceitful means. In response, the Gujarat Police issued a formal statement aimed at providing clarifications on the matter. The police authorities clarified that the actual extent of the scam doesn’t amount to Rs 1400 crore, but rather stands at Rs 3 crore, and they are actively pursuing the case.

Regarding the purported involvement of the Chinese individual, the police refuted these claims, stating that no such person has set foot in Gujarat, categorising the news as unsubstantiated and that the actual scam took place through a fantasy gaming app.

The Gujarat Police has categorically dismissed the claims about a Chinese individual arriving in Banaskantha and orchestrating a fraud amounting to Rs 1400 crore, deeming them without merit. As the investigation into the incident unfolded, law enforcement established that 1175 individuals fell victim to the scheme, resulting in a collective loss of Rs 3 crore 54 lakhs 64 thousand and 828. In response, the State Cyber Crime and CID took action by freezing a total of 620 bank accounts associated with the case.

Official statement of the Gujarat police. Image Source: OpIndia Gujarati

Chinese person did not come to Gujarat, but he came to Delhi and returned from there in 2019: Police

Contrary to reports, there is no substantiated evidence to support claims that a Chinese individual by the name of Wu Chuanbo was present in India between 2020 and 2022, including a stay in Patan during which he allegedly engaged with local residents and enticed them with monetary offers. The police have officially clarified that such an individual of Chinese origin has never visited Gujarat. The individual in question, whose name is Wu Chuanbo alias Chamber, hails from the Shenzhen province of China.

His documented whereabouts indicate a period of residence in Delhi from 2017 to 2019, after which he returned to China in 2019 and has not revisited India since. The reported scam transpired from December 2021 to June 2022, during which Wu Chuanbo was not within Indian territory. It is noteworthy that Interpol has initiated Red Corner Notice proceedings against him as per police updates.

Prove the allegations showing police involvement or be prepared for legal action

The police have cautioned individuals who, via social media, are commenting on the crime without ensuring the accuracy of their claims and insinuating police involvement. The police have emphasised that those making such statements must substantiate their allegations or be prepared to face legal consequences.

Additionally, the police clarified that a football fantasy gaming app named Dani Data enticed individuals by promising to refund their invested funds along with a 0.75 per cent profit, all based on wagering on a 3:3 football match outcome. However, the app was subsequently removed from the Google Play Store, failing to fulfil its promise of returning the invested funds. A case pertaining to this incident was formally lodged at the Palanpur cyber crime police station in June 2022. Subsequently, upon discovering that numerous others had also fallen prey to the scheme, the investigation was transferred to the CID for further inquiry.

The report claimed that the Chinese citizen created the app in collaboration with the locals.

On August 17, 2023, the Times of India published a report asserting that a Chinese national had purportedly arrived in Gujarat, orchestrating collusion with certain individuals to defraud around 1200 people and execute a fraudulent scheme amounting to Rs 1400 crore. Allegedly, he introduced an application in May 2022, engaging in investments alongside local residents. The report contended that the accused Chinese individual managed to siphon off Rs 200 crore within just two days. Consequently, after an operational span of 9 days, the application abruptly ceased functioning, subsequently revealing the deception to the victims. The report further detailed the apprehension of nine individuals in connection with the case, who are alleged to have aided the Chinese national in his actions.

Congress, left-wing journalists questioned the police

Following the emergence of this news, several other media outlets carried the story, while simultaneously, the Congress party initiated its propaganda. In a recent press conference, Congress leader Pawan Khera pointed fingers at the Gujarat Police concerning this particular case. In addition to this, he directed his criticism towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well. The Gujarat Congress shared the video clip along with the caption, “There has been ‘Chinese intrusion’ in Gujarat. A Chinese national in Gujarat squandered Rs 1400 crore in 9 days and disappeared. This is the incident of the time when PM Modi used to visit Gujarat frequently for election campaigns. After all, what was the police doing at that time?”

Propaganda was also spread on social media. ‘Journalist’ Ravish Kumar tried to take a dig by posting a tweet. Referring to the ‘Godi Media’ and the IT cell – which he keeps making a hue and cry about – he said, “Now tell me Godi media and IT cell were engaged in blowing smoke, whereas the Chinese citizen went to Gujarat, it was not even known. Made an app there, didn’t even know. 1400 crores cheated and went away, didn’t even know. When China came within the border, it did not even mention its name. Did not realize. China enters the border, cheated 1400 crores by entering Gujarat? What is this happening?”

However, the Gujarat Police have now come up with a clarification on this case and denied the reports.

Nuh demolition drive: DC tells High Court that notices against illegal constructions were issued 2-6 years back, refutes allegation of ‘pick and choose’

OpIndia Staff
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Nuh demolition drive: DC tells High Court that notices against illegal constructions were issued 2-6 years back, refutes allegation of ‘pick and choose’

In an affidavit submitted before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Nuh district refuted allegations of “pick and choose policy” with regard to the recent demolition drive conducted by the state administration against illegal construction in the district.

Nuh DC Dhirendra Khadgata, in an affidavit filed before the court on August 17, informed that most of the encroachers were issued notices pertaining to their illegal constructions between two to six years back. The affidavit stated that five departments, public authorities, and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) had undertaken routine demolition drives in their respective areas in Nuh till August 7.

The Nuh DC stated in the affidavit that demolition work was carried out by the District Town and Country Planner in 38 locations in accordance with the procedure as laid down by the law.

“It is pertinent to mention here that the Department of Town & Country Planning had detected unauthorised constructions in the form of shops, masjids, and foundations of structures at DPC level,” the affidavit stated.

The affidavit stated that a show cause notice was issued on February 25, 2021, and a personal hearing was also provided on March 3, 2021. However, it was stated that the encroachers did not submit their written reply or show up for the hearing.

According to the 400-page affidavit, a total of 354 people were affected by the demolition drive in Nuh, of whom 71 were Hindus and 283 were Muslims. Furthermore, it was stated that out of the 38 shops demolished, 55 percent belonged to Hindus. It was mentioned that a total of 443 properties were demolished of which 162 were permanent while 281 were temporary. The affidavit emphasised that caste, creed, or religious considerations had no bearing on the government’s decisions.

To put the figures in perspective, it has been pointed out that Muslims make up more than 79% of the entire population in Nuh using data from the 2011 Census.

According to the affidavit, the district had a total population of 10,89,263, of which 79.20 percent were Muslims and 20.37 percent were Hindus, according to the 2011 Census. “The 2011 Census demonstrates unequivocally that Nuh is a district with a Muslim majority. Furthermore, 14,21,933 people are anticipated to live in Nuh in 2023. It is important to note that Muslims make up approximately 87% of the population in Ferozepur Jhirka and Punhana tehsil in Nuh district, respectively”,  the affidavit stated.

The affidavit filed by Gurugram District Commissioner

According to the Gurugram deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav’s affidavit, up to 25 buildings totalling 116 acres, including 57 acres of cleared land, were razed in Gurugram between July 3 and August 8. Since the violence which erupted on July 31st, only one property has been demolished in Gurugram, and all of the demolished buildings were owned by Hindus. The Gurugram DC also stressed that no “pick and choose” policy based on caste, creed, religion, etc is taken into consideration by the administration while clearing the illegal encroachments.

“It is also pertinent to mention that the government while removing encroachments/unauthorised constructions never adopted pick-and-chose policy and that too on the basis of caste, creed or religion,” the affidavit stated.

The reply was filed by the Nuh and Gurugram DCs in response to a suo motu PIL pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court with regard to the recently stayed demolition drive. It is pertinent to recall that on August 7, the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the Haryana government’s demolition drive on the illegal encroachments after several people claimed that they did not receive prior notices.

Nuh Shobha Yatra attack

The demolition drive began on August 3, three days after an Islamist mob attacked the Jalabhishek Yatra procession organised by Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal. The violent attacks claimed six lives. Vehicles were burnt and stones pelted at the VHP’s Jalabhishek Yatra as Islamists unleashed violence against the Hindus in the Muslim-dominated region of Nuh, Mewat in Haryana.

Supreme Court seeks union government’s reply on plea to decriminalise consensual sex between minors above the age of 16 years

OpIndia Staff
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Supreme Court seeks union government’s reply on plea to decriminalise consensual sex between minors above the age of 16 years

A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has sought the centre’s response on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) which sought the decriminalisation of consensual sexual intercourse between minors aged 16 to 18.

Attorney Harsh Vibhore Singhal submitted the plea on his own behalf. It is intended to decriminalise the statutory rape statute, which is frequently invoked to prosecute boys from age 16 to 18 who engage in consensual relationships with girls from the same age group.

The PIL states that criminal sanctions are inappropriate against adolescents for consensual, non-exploitative sexual activity. Sex involving people below 18 years of age can be consensual, even if they are illegal as per law, that’s why enforcement of criminal law must reflect the rights and capacity of such persons to make informed decisions about engaging in consensual sex & their right to be heard in such matters, the PIL argues.

The Union Ministry of Law and Justice, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, and other statutory organisations that include the National Commission for Women have received notifications from the highest court’s bench comprised of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Padriwala and Justice Manoj Misra, asking them to submit their views on the matter.

The PIL placed a strong focus on bodily autonomy and says that teenagers between the ages of 16 and 18 are capable of giving approval. According to it, those who have reached the aforementioned age are able to evaluate their decisions and understand the associated consequences.

It stated that adolescents possess “physiological, biological, psychological and social capacities, competence to assimilate and evaluate information to understand and comprehend risks, freedom to make informed choices to convey affirmative decisions or otherwise, and have the agency and decisional/bodily autonomy to fearlessly, freely and voluntarily do what they wish to do with their bodies.”

In the PIL, advocate Singhal stated that despite having sex with girls under 18 with explicit consent, boys under 18 are regularly booked and arrested, they are denied bail and they suffer debilitating, humiliating, denigrating, and stigmatizing questions. The PIL cites several judgements where Hich Courts have granted bail to such accused minors, saying that the POCSO never intended to punish consensual sex.

It made an effort to broaden the concept of consent and passed a writ of mandamus to turn the crime of statutory rape with no offence. A court may issue a writ of mandamus to order a public entity to carry out specific tasks which in this case is to order the government to decriminalise.

It mentioned, “Pass a writ of mandamus under Article 32 or any other direction in the nature of writ and exercise its powers under 142 to decriminalise the law of statutory rape as applied to all cases of voluntary consensual sexual contact between any 16 to <18 adolescent with another similar age adolescent and with >18 adult.”

The petitioner had earlier moved the Delhi High Court with the same petition. But the court had declined to hear it saying that it does not have the authority to adjudicate on the matter. ‘We do not have the power of 142 to frame guidelines for consensual sex, and it is best that petitioner goes to Supreme Court,’ the Delhi HC had said.

It is notable that the apex court had already asked the centre to review the age of consent for sexual relationships and the use of POCSO in such cases. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud had urged the Indian Parliament in December 2022 to review the consent age under the 2012 Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He highlighted how judges find it challenging to examine cases of consensual sex which involve teens due to the current definition.

He pronounced that even where consent was genuinely given, it is still illegal under the law for minors under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity. He noted, “In my time as a judge, I have observed that this category of case poses difficult questions for judges across the spectrum. There is a growing concern surrounding this issue which must be considered by the legislature.”

Earlier, Madras High Court had also expressed similar views, advocating a review of the POCSO Act over the issue.

At present, the age of consent for sexual relationships is 18 years, and if an adult has sex with a minor even with the consent of the minor, it is considered rape and prosecuted accordingly. On the other hand, if both the partners are minors, the boy is prosecuted under the juvenile justice act.

‘Will peel off Army’s skin’: Pashtun, Baloch, and Sindhi groups issue warning to Pakistani Army in protest rally against atrocities on ethnic communities

OpIndia Staff
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‘Will peel off Army’s skin’: Pashtun, Baloch, and Sindhi groups issue warning to Pakistani Army in protest rally against atrocities on ethnic communities

On Friday (18 August), leaders and common populace belonging to the Pashtun, Baloch, Sindhi, and other oppressed ethnic communities in Pakistan held a large Jalsa in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad. The large anti-Military protest rally in Islamabad was spearheaded by Pashtun civil rights outfit namely Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM). 

In a video posted by PTM on X, its chief Manzoor Pashteen had said, “Target killings, false cases, forced acquisition of lands, mass killings, trying of people in military courts…against all there will be a PTM rally outside the Islamabad Supreme Court. We invite people from Baloch, Sindhi, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the subjugated classes of Punjab to participate in the rally.”

However, the announcement of the protest rally by all major ethnic communities, except elite Punjabis, had rattled the Pakistani army and its deep state aka establishment. In a bid to crush the rally, they made arrests by hundreds and blocked all major roads leading to the protest site. Initially, the Pashtun leaders had announced to hold their rally in front of the Pakistan Supreme Court, however, it was later shifted to the capital’s outskirt, Tarnol.

The protestors dared the Pakistani army over the ongoing terrorist activities in these deliberately-kept underdeveloped regions. They asked the army to release their detained activists and end targeted killings across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. During the rally, they raised an anti-military slogan, ‘Ye jo deshsatgardi hai iske piche wardi (military) hai.’ (Translation – Pakistani Military is responsible for the vitiated atmosphere of terror in the nation.) 

The protestors raised Pashtun, Afghan, and other ethnic flags, however, the striking part was that there were no takers for the Pakistani national flag and reportedly it was completely missing from the protest rally. 

Addressing the gathering, PTM Chief Manzoor Pashteen reminded the Pakistani army of the humiliating 1971 drubbing at the hand of the Indian army and Bangladeshis seeking freedom. In a direct threat to the army, he said, “The Bangalis only took off your pants, we will peel off Army’s skin.”

In the rally, Pashteen categorically stated that DGISPR, Pakistani Army Chief, and those who are trying to control Balochistan, FATA, or other regions through Military boot, should carefully listen that if they continue to do so, they will not continue to remain under their oppressive regime or a part of Pakistan. He reminded the Pakistani army that several major powers try to use force to slave these regions, but all of them meet their fate and the Pakistani army wouldn’t be any different.

He added that if the time comes to grab Pakistani Army officers by their collar, the Pashtun and other oppressed communities will do so and everything else to end the shackles of slavery.  

PTM social media handles issued categorical warnings to the Pakistani army and announced that if the army continued to trample on the rights of the ethnic communities in Pakistan, then they will ask for “freedom”. 

The ethnic communities in Pakistan have repeatedly accused the Pakistan Military and its establishment of systematic and constitutional discrimination against Pashtuns, Sindhis, Baloch, and other ethnic groups throughout the country. They are facing genocide at the hands of the Pakistan army as a large number of civilians are killed and many are victims of enforced disappearances.

It is worth noting that Pashtuns are the second-largest ethnic group in Pakistan, first is Punjabi. They account for 15% of the population and are considered one of the five major ethnolinguistic groups of the nation. 

Formed as a civil rights movement, PTM came into being as a response to State-enforced terrorism and human rights abuses of Pakistan’s army and intelligence agencies in the Pashtun Belt of Pakistan including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killing. 

The Pashtun community lives in the Pashtunistan region which partly falls in Pakistan and partly in Afghanistan. Both Pakistan and Afghan Pashtuns have opposed and rejected the 1893 demarcation known as the Durand line. For this region, they have taken up arms against Pakistan and nearly 90% of the terrorists in the Tehreek-e-Taliban terror outfit belong to the Pashtun tribe.  

Facing the real threat of extinction at the hands of the Punjabi-biased Pakistan Military, a sizeable chunk of all these ethnic communities be it Sindhi, Baloch, Pashtun, or those in the FATA region or in Gilgit Baltistan, have taken up arms against the Pakistani army to fight for their rights and seek freedom for these regions. 

They called me Chinese: 30-year-old man from Sikkim attacked by 3 people in Bengaluru’s Neeladri Nagar

OpIndia Staff
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They called me Chinese: 30-year-old man from Sikkim attacked by 3 people in Bengaluru’s Neeladri Nagar

A 30-year-old man named K Dinesh Subba was reportedly harassed and beaten by three bike-riding individuals in Neeladri Nagar of Bengaluru, Karnataka. The incident happened near a supermarket near Electronic City on the intervening night of August 15 and 16.

The victim is a native of Rinchenpong, West Sikkim and a resident of Electronics City, Phase I. He lives in Doddathoguru with his homemaker wife and three-month-old baby and is working as a waiter at a hotel in Neeladri Nagar for the past seven months. He was discharged from a hospital with nine stitches on his head and face. He has been prescribed bed rest.

Subba was attacked between 3 and 4 in the morning as he was on his way home from a party. TAs per Subba, the attackers called him, “Chinese, Chinese” when they saw him on PCR Garden Road in Doddathoguru. They assaulted him without any provocation after he responded that he was an Indian from Sikkim.

Subba’s wedding anniversary was on 14 August and a coworker as well as a friend from Sikkim urged him to host a celebration. He brought the pair to a pub where they partied until 2 AM. The three of them talked for an hour outside the bar. Two males then travelling on the pillion of a bike hit Subba on the head with their fists at around 3 AM as he was walking close to PCR Garden.

Subba said, “They called me Chinese, Chinese. I asked them to stop calling me Chinese as I am Indian. I told them that I’m from West Sikkim. But they continued to call me Chinese and as I shouted at them, they left.”

He further said, “After two minutes, while I was walking, someone hit me from behind. I fell on the road. There were three men on a bike. They assaulted me on the head and nose with a metal object and kicked me.” He added that he believed the men who hit him were the same ones who had earlier referred to him as Chinese.

Subba strolled up to a supermarket before passing out. He was revived by a few security personnel stationed in the vicinity, who informed him that his shirt and bag were missing.

Police were informed by security personnel at a nearby building. The Electronics City police have received a complaint from Subba. Deepak Dorji, Subba’s brother-in-law and an Arunachal Pradesh native who has been in the city since 2009, stated that the attack was racially motivated.

He mentioned, “Three miscreants attacked my brother-in-law with a blunt weapon. His wedding anniversary was on 14 August and he threw a party for his brother and friends on the night of 15 August. After the party, everybody went home and Subba was just 100 metres away from his house when he was attacked. The miscreants, who were riding a two-wheeler, hit Subba with a blunt weapon after calling him Chinese.”

He expressed, “Subba said he didn’t know where he was but someone had assaulted him after calling him Chinese. I took the address from the security guard with him. By the time I reached there, the police had arrived. Cops scanned CCTV footage of the supermarket, but the trio wasn’t captured on it.” 

A police officer informed, “The accused are yet to be arrested. We are investigating the case.” The culprits have been charged with unlawful restraint, using dangerous weapons to cause harm and other sections of the Indian Penal Code.

‘Udyam registration’ by Modi government helped in formalisation of MSMEs on large scale, reveals SBI Research

OpIndia Staff
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‘Udyam registration’ by Modi government helped in formalisation of MSMEs on large scale, reveals SBI Research

The Modi government has helped in the formalisation of the country’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), revealed a research report published by the State Bank of India (SBI) on Tuesday (August 15).

The government launched the ‘Udyam Registration Portal’ on July 1, 2020, to facilitate the formalisation of India’s informal economy. The registration process is paperless, free and does not require the submission of any document. Only an Aadhar number is mandatory for registration.

Additionally, the government launched the Udyam Assist Platform(UAP) this year to bring Informal Micro Enterprises (IMEs) under the formal ambit. According to SBI Research, Udyam is now propelling the filing of Income Tax Returns (ITRs) by the MSMEs.

Udyam registration across States and change in ITR filings across States, chart via SBI Research/ RBI

“…Around 22 million micro small and medium enterprises have registered on the Udyam portal (including Udyam Assist Platform)…We mapped these state-wise Udyam registration with ITR filed in respective states,” the report said.

It further added, “We believe (based on our findings) that these 21.8 million MSMEs have also helped in increasing tax filing base in India, which has increased by ~10 million to 78 million in last 4 years. The top 5 states that accounted for 60% of total incremental increase in ITR filling, also accounted for 45% total Udyam registration, supporting our contention.”

SBI Research concluded, “This indicates formalisation of MSME units on a larger scale driven by innovative measures and contribution by all stakeholders“

Tripling in net profit of banks, 2x increase in credit and deposit growth: SBI Research

The Indian banking sector has witnessed tremendous transformation between Financial Year 2013-2014 and Financial Year 2022-2023, revealed the same SBI’s research report.

“Indian Banks, resurgent, strong, capital-healthy, tech-oriented and adopting best global practices look confident and ready to front-lead the aspirations of this new India and the aspiring Middle Indian class…” the report read.

Between FY14 and FY23, the banking credit has increased from ₹60 trillion to ₹138 trillion, thereby registering a credit growth of over 2.3 times. Around the same period, bank deposits surged 2.4 times from ₹77 trillion to ₹187 trillion.

Screengrab of the key banking indicators from FY14-FY23, chart via SBI Research/ RBI

Moreover, the net profit of banks tripled from ₹809 trillion to 2,480 trillion between Financial Year 2013-2014 and Financial Year 2022-2023. According to the SBI research report, it was made possible through the process of ‘consolidation’.

There are 9588 banks/ FIs in India in 2023 as opposed to 12,175 in 2014. The number of Public Sector Banks (PSBs) has also been reduced to 12 from 27 in the past 9 years.

“Consolidation leads to bigger and stronger Banks/FIs…consolidation leads to more profitable non-Bank players in synergy with Banks,” the report added. The Modi government has realised the ambition of financial inclusion through the opening of 49 crores Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts.

SBI Research reveals ascent of Indian middle class

The analysis of the Income Tax returns filed in the Financial Year 2022-2023 revealed the ascent of the Indian middle class, reported SBI Research.

The State Bank of India estimated that there will be 48.2 crore ITR filers in FY 2047 as compared to 7 crores in FY 2022-2023. By then, 85.3% of ITR filers will also be eligible to pay taxes.

About 25% of them are also expected to leave the lower-income strata by the Financial year 2046-2047. The per capita income is also expected to rise from ₹2 lakhs in this Financial year to ₹14.9 lakhs by FY 2047.

Projected weighted mean income as per ITR records, graph via SBI Research

This can largely be attributed to the Modi government’s efforts in formalising 7 crore Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and empowering the middle class.

Moreover, the weighted mean income of ₹4.4 lakhs in the Assessment Year 2013-2014 has increased to ₹13 lakhs in Assessment Year 2023-2024 and is projected to increase to ₹49.7 lakhs (~ 50 lakhs) in Assessment Year 2046-2047.

The stark increase in weighted mean income, as evident from the ITR filed between Assessment Years 2011-2012 and 2022-2023, explains the transition of filers from the lower-income group to the upper-income group.

30,000 illegal Bangladeshi migrants were brought and settled in Moradabad prior to the 1980 riots, Congress govt remained indifferent: Eyewitness reveals

Jhankar Mohta
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30,000 illegal Bangladeshi migrants were brought and settled in Moradabad prior to the 1980 riots, Congress govt remained indifferent: Eyewitness reveals

On August 8, the Uttar Pradesh government-led by Yogi Adityanath tabled an inquiry report into the 1980 Moradabad riots that killed at least 83 people and left 112 others injured. The Allahabad High Court Judge MP Saxena headed a one-member panel that produced a 496-page report on the riots in May 1983. The report delved into the riots’ underlying causes and the cascading effects that led to them.

Numerous Muslims, Hindus, and police officials who were there during the disturbances are also quoted in the report. The written testimonies of up to six Hindus who were present during the riots are mentioned in detail in the study, and interestingly, each statement clearly indicates that the massacre was planned in advance.

In his written testimony, Santosh Saran, one of the eyewitnesses to the 1980 Moradabad Riots, asserted that the violence was an obvious consequence of the vote bank and Muslim appeasement politics the then Congress government, both in the state and the centre, had been practising.

He revealed that prior to August 13, 1980, when the riots broke out in Moradabad, as many as 30,000 illegal Bangladeshi migrants, especially those who had infiltrated Bihar, were brought and settled in various Muslim-dominated villages in Moradabad. He said that the prime objective behind this was an attempt to alter the demography of Uttar Pradesh. Due to the subsequent dominance of the Muslim population, communal violence became very common in Moradabad.

Excerpt from Justice Saxena’s judicial commission report on the 1980 Moradabad Riots

Saran added that at the time India got Independence in 1947, Moradabad comprised 52 per cent Muslim population and 48 per cent were Hindus. However, after partition, several Muslims migrated to Pakistan and the demography of Moradabad changed. It had now become a Hindu-dominated region with almost 52 per cent populace being Hindus.

The eyewitness further said that gradually, under the Congress regime, there was a constant influx of these illegal Bangladeshi migrants in Moradabad, which once again changed the demography of the region. These illegal migrants were tasked with instigating the local Muslims against Hindus so that the rift between both communities continues to broaden and they did exactly that, yet the Congress government at the state level as well as the centre took no action against these illegal migrants.

Due to the subsequent dominance of illegal Muslim migrants, communal violence became very common in Moradabad.

Notably, in our previous report we wrote about how Dayanand Gupta, one of the eyewitnesses, testified that during the violence that began on August 13, 1980, at the Eidgah in Moradabad, the Muslim mob launched an unprovoked attack on the police officials and the members of the Valmiki Dalit community.

Prior to this, our article on Justice Saxena’s Moradabad Riots judicial commission report detailed how it had absolved the RSS, BJP, and Hindus of any wrongdoing and entirely blamed the violence on the communal politics pursued by some Muslim political figures, particularly those associated with the Muslim League and Congress party, which was in power at both the state and national levels at the time of the riots.

The report established that the communal frenzy was a result of a conspiracy hatched by Muslim League and Congress leaders. Refuting the entire ‘pig entering the Eidgah in Moradabad during the Eid namaz’ angle, the report stated that a group of criminals supported by Muslim League leaders were responsible for the massacre.

Notably, Justice Saxena’s 496-page report on the 1980 Moradabad was submitted in May 1983, however, for so many years the report kept getting repositioned from one government department to the other. In the last 4 decades, the file has reportedly been suppressed at least 14 times on one pretext or the other. No subsequent governments released its content.

After Yogi Adityanath came to power in the state, his government decided to open the 43-year-old case. In May this year, the state cabinet decided to table the Justice M P Saxena Commission’s report in the assembly. On Tuesday, August 8, the Uttar Pradesh government tabled the inquiry report into the 1980 Moradabad riots in the UP Assembly.

Afghan ambassador to India Farid Mamundzay dismisses reports that he is missing, says he is away for personal reasons

ANI
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Afghan ambassador to India Farid Mamundzay dismisses reports that he is missing, says he is away for personal reasons

Afghanistan’s ambassador to India Farid Mamundzay said that he is not missing and is away from the country for “personal and family reasons.”

Over reports of him ‘missing’ from his office, Mamundzay told ANI, “I continue my job as the Afghan Ambassador to India. I am presently away from India for personal and family reasons and will be returning to the Embassy in New Delhi in the near future.”

“India holds a significant place in our diplomatic relations, and we recognise its importance on regional and global stages. During my absence, the acting ambassador has effectively managed and overseen all mission-related activities,” he said. 

He further stated that the embassy continues to function its routine work normally and has diligently addressed various matters, ensuring that the mission’s objectives continue to be met efficiently.

It is pertinent to note here that a couple of months back it was said that the Taliban in April had appointed Qadir Shah, who had been working as a trade councillor at the Afghan embassy since 2020, to head the mission. But this was later refuted by the officials and was stalled by other diplomats at the mission.

The Afghanistan Embassy in New Delhi said that an individual who claims to have been named “charge d’affaires” by the Taliban has been responsible for spreading and running a “baseless and unsubstantiated campaign against the officials of the mission including totally fabricated allegations of corruption based on an unsigned letter”.

“The Embassy appreciates the consistent position of the Indian government for supporting the interests of the Afghan people, while at the same time not recognizing the Taliban regime in Kabul, as it has been the case with democratic governments around the world,” the statement said.

“The mission is committed to protecting the genuine interests of the Afghan nationals, especially in these trying times and has worked closely with the Indian authorities on humanitarian efforts, including the supply of covid-19 vaccines, medicines and food supplies,” it added.

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

Bareilly: Muslim mob pelts stones on Hindu boy’s house & abuses police after he reacted to Muslim classmate’s offensive post against Hinduism, both students arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Bareilly: Muslim mob pelts stones on Hindu boy’s house & abuses police after he reacted to Muslim classmate’s offensive post against Hinduism, both students arrested

Communal tensions flared up in the Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh on Friday, August 18, after a Hindu student commented in response to his Muslim classmate’s offensive post against Hindu Dharma. The matter pertains to the Sheeshgarh police station precinct where a Muslim mob comprising thousands gheraoed the police station on Friday at around 9 pm after a Class 9th Hindu student wrote allegedly offensive comments in response to his Muslim classmate’s insulting remarks about Hinduism.

The agitated mob that first laid siege outside the police station seeking the Hindu youth’s arrest later gathered outside the Hindu youth’s house and pelted stones. Subsequently, the police intervened.

The mob staged a sit-in at the Ramlila grounds and refused to leave until the arrest was made after the police chased the crowd away from the Hindu boy’s residence. Senior police officers and district administrators made attempts to persuade the Muslim mob to put an end to the uproar, however, they failed to do so.

While there is little information about what exactly was written by the accused Muslim and Hindu student, the Hindu student’s father alleged that the Muslim student first made the offensive comment on Instagram, and his son only reacted to it. The Hindu student’s father said that if his son has made a mistake, the police should look into it adding that the Muslim mob is trying to terrify his family.

Taking note of the seriousness of the matter, Inspector General of Police (IG) Rakesh Singh, Commissioner Saumya Agarwal, Bareilly SSP Ghule Sushil Chandrabhan arrived at the scene. After a high-voltage drama, the Hindu student was arrested at midnight while the Muslim student was arrested an hour later.

Meanwhile, IG Rakesh Singh informed that both the minor students have been arrested and PAC and additional force have been deployed in the area to maintain peace.

“We have arrested both minors in this connection. Adequate police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) have been deployed in the area to ensure peace,” IG Singh said.

Informing about the action taken by the police so far, Bareilly SSP Chandrabhan said that those involved in the violent ‘protests’ are being identified saying that the entire area has been videographed and CCTV footage is also being examined. SSP Chandrabhan further assured that action will be taken against those involved in disturbing the communal peace in the area.

Taking to X, Bareilly police informed that over a dozen people who were involved in violence have been taken into custody, and following the identification they will be sent to jail. Meanwhile, a case has also been registered against both the accused students.

Gujarat: Shafi Sheikh forces a minor Hindu girl to abort after luring her into a relationship and impregnating her; arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Shafi Sheikh forces a minor Hindu girl to abort after luring her into a relationship and impregnating her; arrested

A mutton seller Shafi Sheikh was arrested in Gujarat’s Surat for impregnating a minor Hindu girl by luring her into a love trap. The police arrested him after the victim’s family lodged a complaint against Sheikh.

The love jihad case has come to light in Surat city of Gujarat. The accused youth was arrested for allegedly raping a minor girl after luring her into a love trap. The action against him was taken following a complaint by the victim’s family. The accused had forced the minor into an abortion. After this, when the girl’s health deteriorated, the family came to know.

This case is from the Khatodara police station area of Surat. According to reports, the accused Shafi Sheikh is a resident of Bhatar Road. There he used to work at a mutton shop. He came in contact with a 15-year-old girl living in the area through Instagram. A round of conversation started between the two.

The accused then raped the minor girl several times and also made her pregnant once. After this, an abortion was also done. A few days ago, after the girl’s health deteriorated, her family members became suspicious. When the family members questioned her, the truth was revealed.

The family of the victim complained to the police. After this, the accused Shafi Sheikh has been arrested by the police. The victim has been sent for medical examination.

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