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Riots in France continue for the third day as rioters burn down the largest library in Marseilles, President Macron blames video games and social media

OpIndia Staff
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Riots in France continue for the third day as rioters burn down the largest library in Marseilles, President Macron blames video games and social media

The riots in France following the death of a teenager in a police shooting continued for the third night, with multiple fires in various locations, looted police cars and store break-ins. Rioters also burned down cars, raided banks, and erected barricades in other parts of the country. The largest library in Marseilles, Alcazar, also fell victim to the violence and was set on fire.

Around 40,000 police officers were stationed across the country. More than two hundred police personnel were injured and 875 people were arrested overnight. Police fired tear gas grenades during clashes with youths in the tourist hotspot of Le Vieux Port in Marseille.

The government asked all local authorities to halt public transport early on Friday evening in a desperate attempt to restore order after rioters torched buildings and cars in the third night of rage sparked by the killing of Algerian youth Nahel.

Violence has flared in Marseille, Lyon, Pau, Toulouse and Lille as well as parts of Paris in the country. Rioters clashed with police, torched vehicles, looted stores and burnt them down, videos of which have gone viral. In just three days of violence, cities and towns in France resemble a war-torn region, with burnt vehicles and looted stores.

Texts that read ‘Vengeance for Nahel’ were pasted across buildings in Nanterre, a town on the western outskirts of Paris where the minor was killed. Paris vowed to examine “all options” to restore order on Friday after the massive chaos.

President Emmanuel Macrons informed that more police will be deployed across France. He urged parents to keep young rioters off the streets. “It’s the responsibility of parents to keep them at home. It’s not the state’s job to act in their place,” he notified.

The president also criticized social media and video games after a crisis meeting with his ministers. The French president said social media was playing a considerable role in fomenting the unrest, adding that he wants platforms such as Snapchat and TikTok to delete sensitive content.

The policeman who shot Nahel has expressed his regret to his family. He is accused of voluntary homicide and his attorney claimed he is “devastated.” He requested his family to forgive him. He reported the cop had shot at the latter’s chest after bumping into him while aiming for his leg.

A library burnt down in Alcazar

In a significant development, the largest library in Marseilles city in Alcazar was vandalised and torched by the rioters. According to local officials, a scuffle broke out nearby when police used tear gas to disperse a group of 100 to 150 people who allegedly tried to set up barricades. After that, the rioters targeted a number of public buildings, including the library located in the city centre.

Twitter owner Elon Musk equated the action to sacrilege.

In another location in the city,  rioters used a truck to break into a shopping centre, which was then looted and burned.

Netizens Compare it with Nalanda

Following the attack on the library, Indians compared it to the burning of the Nalanda University library almost a thousand years ago.

Nalanda was a Buddhist monastic institution established during the Gupta Empire era in ancient Magdha, present-day Bihar in eastern India. It was considered by historians to be the world’s first residential university and among the greatest centres of learning in the ancient world.

However, in the fall of 1202 CE, the first troops of the Ghurid dynasty General Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji destroyed and began the demise of Nalanda and other monasteries near it, such as the Odantapura Vihar, now called Bihar Sharif, about 6 miles away from Nalanda. According to records, Nalanda library had 9 million books and manuscripts when it was burnt down by the Islamic invaders. It is said that the fire in the library burtn for 3 months.

Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji captured and looted the sacred institution. The majority of the locals there were Brahmans and every single one of them had their heads shaved and had been killed. Alcazar and Nalanda became prey to the barbarity of the same ideology during two entirely distinct historical periods.

Social media users couldn’t help but compare the devastation of Alcazar with that of Nalanda. Dr Anand Rangnathan stated, “Knowledge is everything. The villain understands this more than the victim,” while drawing a comparison between the two learning facilities.

A netizen commented, “Even the Library of Alexandria, was burned down on the orders of Umar ibn al-Khattab.” He added that those who read one ‘revealed book’ like to burn all others.

Another remarked that “history is repeating itself.” He further wrote that these people were given refugee by France to protect them.

A Twitter user compared libraries to “sacred sanctuaries of knowledge & heritage” and referred to their destruction as “cultural atrocity.”

One posted a meme to convey how the grave situation caused due to the major influx of refugees in Europe is a self-inflicted wound.

Background of the violence

Protests and unrest ensued in Paris suburbs after a teenager was killed by a police officer on 27 June. The 17-year-old named Nahel M. was a delivery agent. He was stopped by the police and was asked to show documents while he was driving when he tried to flee the scene during which shots were fired. One of the bullets hit him in the chest and he died on the spot.

The instruction to stop was issued under a routine traffic check. The victim was previously convicted of failing to stop at a signal as well as driving without a license. The accused official was detained on suspicion of manslaughter.

President of France Emmanuel Macron issued a statement over the incident. “We share the emotion and pain of the family and loved ones of the young man. I want to tell them our solidarity and the nation’s affection is with them.” He proclaimed that the gendarmes (paramilitary forces) and police are committed to serving the country and its people.

He voiced, “I thank them every day for that. They do so within an ethical framework that must be respected. It is up to justice to establish the truth and assign responsibility. I hope that this work can be completed quickly.”

PM Modi talks to Russian President Putin over the phone, reiterates call for dialogue and diplomacy on Ukraine situation

ANI
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PM Modi talks to Russian President Putin over the phone, reiterates call for dialogue and diplomacy on Ukraine situation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated his call for dialogue and diplomacy on the situation in Ukraine over a telephonic conversation today with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“They reviewed progress in bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. President Putin informed PM about the recent developments in Russia,” the PMO release said. While discussing the situation in Ukraine, PM Modi reiterated his call for dialogue and diplomacy.

According to Kremlin, “The situation around Ukraine was touched upon. The President of Russia assessed the current state of affairs in the special military operation zone, emphasizing Kyiv’s categorical refusal to take political and diplomatic steps to resolve the conflict.”

In connection with the events of June 24 (Wagner’s march to Moscow), Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed understanding and support for the decisive actions of the Russian leadership to protect law and order and ensure stability in the country and the security of its citizens, Kremlin stated.

The conversation was informative and constructive, and the leaders decided to keep in touch and reiterated their shared desire to enhance the unique strategic alliance between Russia and India.

Earlier in September 2022, during the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement ‘Not an era of war’ to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin made headlines.

“I know that today’s era is not an era of war, and I have spoken to you on the phone about this,” Modi told Putin on the sidelines of a regional security bloc summit in Uzbekistan, adding that it is democracy, diplomacy and dialogue that keeps the world together.

In response, Putin said, “I know about your position on the conflict in Ukraine, and I know about your concerns. We want all of this to end as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the opposing side, the leadership of Ukraine, announced its abandonment of the negotiation process and declared that it wants to achieve its goals by military means, as they say, ‘on the battlefield. Nevertheless, we will always keep you informed of what is happening there,” Putin said in response to Modi, asserting that he understood the Prime Minister’s concerns, according to a statement issued by the Kremlin. 

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

Manipur: Imphal court finds ground for case against two Kuki leaders for contentious remarks in interviews with Karan Thapar on The Wire

OpIndia Staff
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Manipur: Imphal court finds ground for case against two Kuki leaders for contentious remarks in interviews with Karan Thapar on The Wire

On 30th June 2023, a court in Imphal found that prima facie grounds exist for defamation cases against two Kuki leaders for the comments they made against the Meitei community. They had made the comments amid the ongoing conflict and violence in Manipur in two seperate interviews with Karan Thapar for The Wire.

The court also issued summons to the Convenor of the Kuki Women’s Forum Mary Grace Zou and Kuki People’s Alliance co-founder Wilson L Hangshing and ordered them to appear on 24th July 2023. This summons is issued to both the Kuki community leaders for their contentious remarks against the Meitei community and the chief minister of the state and the state police departments. These leaders have made controversial remarks in an interview with Karan Thapar on the propagandist YouTube channel ‘The Wire’ on 26 May and 14 June.

After the interviews were posted on the YouTube channel of The Wire and the portal published reports based on the same, Manipuri activist Lourembam Cha Somorendro filed a complaint against Mary Grace Zou and Wilson L Hangshing under section 200 of CrPC. Accordingly, a case was filed against the two based on this complaint under sections 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups), 200 (false statement), 505(1) (Statements conducing to public mischief), and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC.

The court order says that the court has found that prima facie materials exist for the commission of offences under the above-mentioned sections. However, the court said that there is no material for offence under the IT Act, as the allegations are mainly related to comments made in the interview at Wire.

Both the accused are ordered to appear before the chief judicial magistrate of Imphal East on 24th June 2023.

Regarding the prayer of the complainant to seize the phones of accused Mary Grace Zou and Wilson L Hangshing, the court said that it will be considered as and when necessary for the investigation and trial.

What is said in the complaint against the Kuki leaders?

In his complaint, Lourembam Cha Somorendro said, “I have come across the interview of both the accused taken by the “Wire” news Channel on 18-19 June 2023 which were downloaded in my phone. Accused Mary Grace Zou stated in the above interview that the Meitei community has pre-planned to kill Kukis and ethnic cleansing of Kukis in the valley area of Manipur and the ethnic violence started in the valley area on 3rd May 2023. The very statement of Mary Grace Zou is totally false and fabricated which shall amount to communal enmity and hatred between the Meitel and Kuki communities. Mary Grace Zou also gave a defaming statement in the above interview that some Meitei cultural organisations of Manipur are responsible organisations instigating the present violence which also amounts to the commission of deliberate and malicious acts intending to outrage the Meltei community.”

Lourembam Cha Somorendro further said, “Mary Grace Zou also accuses in the above interview that the Chief Minister of Manipur is the main person for causing violence against the Kuki or genocide of Kuki which is totally false. The present situation has been created by the armed Kuki militants against the state Government policy namely 1) Cracking down against illegal immigrants from Myanmar by way of implementing NRC, 2) War on illegal drugs declared by the state government and 3) eviction process against illegal encroachers inside the Reserved Forest Area. One of the reasons assigned by Mary Grace Zou that the present situation is only for demanding Schedule Tribe status by the Meitel community is completely false and irrelevant. Such is the reason the very statement of Mary Grace Zou is destined to encourage the communal tension and disharmony between the Meiteis and Kuki. The very violence in the state of Manipur which started on 3rd May 2023 has been particularly done by the Kuki militants by using heavy and sophisticated weapons in their hands.”

Lourembam Cha Somorendro also mentioned in detail the statements given by another accused Wilson L Hangshing. He said in his complaint, “Wilson L Hangshing as stated in the interview with “Wire” News Channel that the Government of Manipur used the Reserved Forest and Protected Forest to prosecute the Kuki community which are totally false, fabricated and allegation has been made to promote enmity between the different community. He further stated in the said interview that the state government led by Shri N. Biren Singh who is a Meitei wants to prosecute and forcibly evict Kuki Community from Reserved and Protected Forest. The propaganda of Wilson L Hangshing in the said interview has inflicted doubt on the professional integrity of the Manipur Police Personnel.”

He added, “Not only this the accused Wilson L Hangshing and many people doubted Indian Army by saying many Officers are Meitei and Indian Army cannot be trusted or otherwise transfer. Wilson L Hangshing further stated that thousands of distressed Meitei who have been chased out due to the present violence from Churachandpur, Tengnoupal, Kangpokpl and Moreh town are living in the said hilly area with the permission of the District Council which he corruptly uses or attempt to use knowing the same to be false. In fact, the Meitei community have been staying in those areas since time immemorial with proper Jamabandi issued under MLR & LR Act, 1970. Both the accused have committed serious offences with their statements.”

Not resigning at this crucial juncture: CM Biren Singh

In a new turn of events in the violence-hit Manipur, chief minister Biren Singh clarified that he is not going to resign at this crucial juncture. He announced that he will not resign from the post when the state is facing massive violence for almost two months. Amid reports that he will resign today and protest against the decision to resign by his supporters, Biren Singh tweeted that he is not resigning.

Amid opposition demands for his resignation, it was widely reported today that he is likely to tender his resignation today. The reports claimed that Biren Singh will reach the governor at 1 PM today and tender his resignation.

Following the reports, thousands of his supporters, mostly women, gathered in support of him and urged him to not resign. They even blocked the road preventing him from going to the Raj Bhawan. They were carrying banners and placards in support of the CM, asking to remain in the post.

Manipur has been burning amid conflict between the two ethnic groups, Meiteis and Kukis. Tensions flared up on May 3 following a ‘Tribal solidarity march’ which was organised against the Meitei community seeking ST status.

Meiteis account for the majority of the Manipur population whereas Nagas and Kukis account for about 40% of the population. About 130 people have been killed in the clash and several have been displaced after their houses were torched and razed.

Fact Check: Viral video claiming ‘Bangalore Muslims boycotting Hindus’ is from 2019 in Rajasthan’s Barmer

OpIndia Staff
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Fact Check: Viral video claiming ‘Bangalore Muslims boycotting Hindus’ is from 2019 in Rajasthan’s Barmer

A video is making rounds on social media in which it is being claimed that the Muslim community in the Bangalore city of Karnataka is boycotting Hindus and is pledging that no Muslim would buy anything from Hindus. The video posted by one of the users with the Twitter id @Ashtalakshmi8 also indicates that the Muslims are issuing fatwas against Hindus especially after the Congress government took over the reigns in the state of Karnataka.

Though the content of the video is as per the claims, the details associated with it are not. The video going viral since June 29 this year is actually old, from the year 2019.

The Twitter id @Ashtalakshmi8 while sharing the video on June 29 said, “Bangalore Muslims decide not to buy anything from Hindus. They want to break Hindus. Think 20% Jihadists threatening 80%. What if Hindus turn the tables? Jaago Sanatana.”

screenshot from Twitter

The Twitter user further claimed that it was a recent video made after the elections and that it was from a Muslim Public Meet in Banglore, right after the Congress government came to power.

The video is from the year 2019 from a village in Barmer, not Bangalore

However, the fact is that this video is not from Bangalore in Karnataka but is from the Barmer region of Rajasthan. OpIndia discovered that the same video had gone viral over the internet on March 15 of this year to which the Barmer Police had responded saying that the video is from the year 2019 and the required action against it has been already taken.

“The above video is of 2019 of village Bhojaria police station Bijrad. On 28.6.2019, one person had died and three persons were injured due to an accident in a private bus in front of the petrol pump in Gagaria village of police station Ramsar. In protest against this incident, several such demands were made by the relatives of the deceased during the funeral at their house. At the same time, this speech was also given by the relatives of the deceased. The action was taken then as per the rules,” the Barmer Police was quoted as saying.

screenshot from Twitter

‘We’ll attain Jannat only if we stop buying items from non-Muslims,’ the man in the video says

The man dressed in the viral video can be seen delivering an inciting speech saying that no Muslim shall buy petrol, medicines, etc from the non-Muslims in Ramsar. “If you are a true Muslim, no one will buy petrol from this petrol pump, no one will buy medicines from him. We’ll attain Jannat only if we stop buying items from non-Muslims,” the Muslim man could be heard saying to which all the Muslim addressees seemed to agree.

Similar video was also posted by one another Twitter user named Rakesh Krishnan Simha who also claimed that the video was from Bangalore, Karnataka. “Muslims planning complete boycott of Hindus. ‘We must swear by prophet Muhammad and his children that we Momins will not get petrol at Hindu pumps, buy medicine from Hindu shops, or ride in their vehicles. If you boycott Hindus, then Allah will allow us into jannat’,” he captioned the video.

As stated by the Barmer Police, the matter hails from Ramsar region of Barmer, Rajasthan. The family of the individual deceased in the road accident in the year 2019 had also filed an FIR at Ramsar police station on June 28, a copy of which was procured by Boom. The Police had also taken required action against the Muslim person delivering the hateful speech.

To note diligently, in the given case, the man in the viral video can be heard saying that “we’ll attain Jannat only if we stop buying items from non-Muslims.” The said video is from June 2019, almost a year after Congress’ Ashok Gehlot had just taken over the state reigns in Rajasthan. Also, the video is from Rajasthan and not from Bangalore, Karnataka as wrongly claimed by a Twitter users on June 29 this year.

“Would have hanged Kanhaiyalal’s murderers by now”: Home Minister Amit Shah targets Ashok Gehlot govt over law & order collapse in Rajasthan

OpIndia Staff
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“Would have hanged Kanhaiyalal’s murderers by now”: Home Minister Amit Shah targets Ashok Gehlot govt over law & order collapse in Rajasthan

Union Home Minister Amit Shah today launched an unsparing attack on the Ashok Gehlot govt over the law and order situation in Rajasthan. Addressing a public rally in Udaipur in Rajasthan, he brought up the case of Kanhaiyalal’s murder and targeted the Congress govt in the state for failing to take action against the murderers.

“The Rajasthan govt has not yet taken the High Court in confidence to form a special court otherwise Kanhaiyalal’s murderers would have been hanged by now,” the Home Minister said.

He further accused the Gehlot govt of denying security to Kanhaiyalal before he was killed, saying that the state didn’t even want to catch his murderers, who were nabbed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

“And don’t lie Gehlot ji that no chargesheet has been filed. I guarantee that the chargesheet has been filed on 22 December 2022. It is your job to formulate a special court in order to expedite the punishment process.” Amit Shah accused the Rajasthan govt of playing vote bank politics by using delaying tactics in the case.

The Home Minister also hit out at the Gehlot govt over the acquittal of all accused in the 2000 Jaipur blasts. “Law and order has completely collapsed in this state. In 2000, a bomb blast occurred in Jaipur, I was the Home Minister of Gujarat then, Vasundhara Raje was here. Everyone was nabbed but their Advocate General had no time to pursue. All (criminals) got released. Today, those terrorists who killed 50 people are roaming around freely and these people (Cong govt) have no shame. And they ask me what has been done in the Kanhaiyalal case.”

Amit Shah further said that if Rahul Gandhi becomes the prime minister of India, scams will become the ‘destiny’ of the country, while fraudsters will go to jails if Narendra Modi returns to power again after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

“If Rahul Gandhi becomes prime minister, scams and corruption will become the destiny of India and if Narendra Modi becomes the PM again, fraudsters will go behind bars,” Amit Shah said at a rally organised to highlight the achievements of the Narendra Modi government in the past nine years in Udaipur.

Kanhaiyalal murder case

On the dreadful day of June 28 last year, two Islamists identified as Riyaz and Ghous Mohammad brutally beheaded a poor Hindu tailor Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, Rajasthan. He was murdered for posting a social media message in support of former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. The murderers had also made a video boasting about their heinous act, basking in false bravado over killing the hapless poor man inside his shop.

The Islamists, who had entered the shop pretending to be customers, slit Kanhaiya Lal’s throat and stabbed him around 26 times on his body, especially on the neck. They also recorded the murder on a video and released it on social media platforms. After the incident, the killers released a video claiming responsibility for the act. The duo had also later threatened PM Modi with murder.

It has been a year since Kanhaiyalal’s gruesome murder but his family still awaits justice even as Hindus continue to be victims of Islamic radicalisation.

UP: Gulfaam kills Dalit shopkeeper after a dispute over Rs 10 in Mainpuri, arrested

OpIndia Staff
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UP: Gulfaam kills Dalit shopkeeper after a dispute over Rs 10 in Mainpuri, arrested

In the Mainpuri district of Uttar Pradesh, a Dalit shopkeeper was killed by a person over a dispute of a mere Rs 10 on 12th June. The victim has been identified as Maheshchand Jatav, a resident of Faizpur village in the Ghiror police station area. 

The deceased victim was sleeping outside his makeshift shop when accused Gulfaam alias Gulla Banjara shot a bullet in his head. Following the incident, multiple police teams were deployed to nab the absconding accused. On Tuesday, June 27, the accused was arrested by the police.

According to Additional Police Superintendent Rajesh Kumar, Gulfaam said during questioning that the deceased Dalit victim used to sell petrol along with other items at his shop. Gulfaam had bought petrol from Maheshchand Jatav just a few days prior to the incident. Accused Gulfaam noticed a Rs 10 discrepancy in the transaction after leaving the shop, according to the police.

Gulfaam then asked Maheshchand to adjust the balance amount, which he declined, resulting in an argument between them. After questioning the accused, police said Maheshchand made threats to Gulfaam.

Following this, accused Gulfaam decided to exact revenge over this minor dispute and shot the victim dead on the night of June 12 while he slept on a cot outside his makeshift shop. According to the police, the accused has been arrested and further necessary action is being taken in the matter.

Hyderabad connection of the ISKP module unearthed, Gujarat ATS detains woman named Khadija and interrogates other suspects

OpIndia Staff
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Hyderabad connection of the ISKP module unearthed, Gujarat ATS detains woman named Khadija and interrogates other suspects

Gujarat ATS disrupted a module of ISKP (Islamic State of Khorasan Province), a division of the notorious terror organisation ISIS, on 9th June 2023 by picking up three terrorists from Porbandar. Led by these three, a Muslim woman from Surat and a terrorist from Srinagar were also arrested. Now three more people have been arrested in connection with this ISKP module, one of whom is a woman from Hyderabad.

A team of Gujarat ATS probing the ISKP module reached other cities for investigation. A Muslim woman named Khadija was detained by the Gujarat ATS from Hyderabad. According to reports, the woman from Hyderabad had become a hardliner Islamist and was in constant touch with ISKP terrorists. During the investigation of her call details, several other names were revealed, one of which is Faziullah of Hyderabad who is being interrogated by detaining.

ATS has detained a person named Tariq from Gorakhpur, who was in touch with Sumerabanu. Sumerbanu is the same woman who was nabbed from Surat after the terrorists were nabbed from Porbandar. All of them are currently in the custody of Gujarat ATS and the case is under investigation.

ISKP terrorists were arrested from Porbandar

On 9th June 2023, Gujarat ATS nabbed three men from the Porbandar railway station based on of intelligence inputs. Interrogation revealed that the three were residents of Srinagar and were planning to flee to Iran via Porbandar and from there to Afghanistan. The trio confessed during interrogation that they wanted to escape by hijacking the boat. Not only this, a woman named Sumerabanu from Surat was to come with two children and a man named Zubair Ahmad of Srinagar was also going to join them.

All of them were planning to carry out fidayeen terrorist attacks in Iran and from there to Afghanistan by going to Khorasan. But before they could succeed, Gujarat ATS had picked up the pace. Sumerabanu was arrested by the Surat ATS team on the same day after the interrogation of the three terrorists, and two days later Zubair Ahmad Munshi was also arrested from Srinagar. Gujarat ATS reached Hyderabad with more names revealed in their interrogation, from where more accused have been detained.

Uttar Pradesh: Parvez beaten to death at his girlfriend’s house by her family and neighbour on Eid al-Adha in Ghaziabad, three arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Parvez beaten to death at his girlfriend’s house by her family and neighbour on Eid al-Adha in Ghaziabad, three arrested

A recent case of murder has come to light from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh where a Muslim guy named Parvez entered a girl’s house in Vandana Vihar of the Khoda police station and was beaten to death there. The girl is a class 10 student and was allegedly his girlfriend. He was attacked by her family and neighbours after being caught which led to his demise. The incident reportedly occurred on 29th June, on the evening of Eid al-Adha.

On Thursday at around 7 o’clock, he reached the girl’s residence to meet her. However, her parents arrived there in the meantime and saw them together. They started assaulting him afterwards. Her cousin and another local resident also came to the scene.

He was severely hurt both on his head and in other places. He was reportedly hit with an iron rod over the head. The police also rushed to the spot after learning about the occurrence. Parvez was taken to hospital for treatment where the medical staff pronounced him dead.

A senior police official said, “On 29 June, the PRV of the Thana Khoda region got a report that Parvez, a 23-year-old resident of Mustafabad, Loni Dehat in Uttar Pradesh had been beaten up by some individuals in the Vandana Vihar Thana Khoda neighbourhood on the suspicion of committing theft.”

Deputy Commissioner of Police Trans Hindon Zone further stated, “When the police verified all the details, we found that the accused is a 42-year-old man named Sanjay who lives in Vandana Vihar and his daughter was already acquainted with the deceased. He along with his family members thrashed the youth.”

“Doctor pronounced the young man brought dead after he was transported to the hospital for treatment. Three perpetrators have been arrested following the filing of charges after we received a complaint from his family. In addition, legal action is being pursued,” he added.

The girl’s family admitted to striking Parvez during the initial interrogation on the grounds of stealing. However, it was discovered through the police inquiry that the issue is a love affair. Their daughter and Parvez knew each other for a year. They beat him up after seeing the two of them together. The locals unveiled that Parvez used to visit the girl’s home to meet her. The police, in this case, have apprehended her father, cousin, and neighbour while launching a case based on the complaint of his family.

Media gives casteist spin to an argument over cutting off a tree, tries to pit Dalits vs upper castes: Here’s the truth

राहुल पाण्डेय
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Media gives casteist spin to an argument over cutting off a tree, tries to pit Dalits vs upper castes: Here’s the truth

On June 14, 2023, in the Hasanpur village in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah district, a dispute broke out between two neighbouring families over the felling of a tree. A 32-year-old man named Satyendra Kumar Jatav had gotten injured in the incident. Several leftist media outlets and politicians used the incident to spread caste hatred by spreading fake news pitting Dalits against upper castes.

Projecting it as a caste-based Dalit versus Thakur brawl, various mainstream media houses reported that the Dalit victim, Satyendra Kumar Jatav, was thrashed and his private part was ‘slashed’ by members of ‘upper caste’ after he objected to the felling of a Babool tree on his farm. It was also reported how the victim’s family was ‘forced’ to vacate their home and leave the village after the incident.

How media reported the news (Source: OpIndia Hindi)

Notably, Satyendra Kumar’s injury was deemed “ordinary” (superficial wounds) in his medical reports. Moreover, while speaking to OpIndia, Satyendra Kumar’s family blamed politicians and the media for misrepresenting the matter.

What did the FIR state

On June 16, 2023, the Etah police registered an FIR against two accused- Vikram Singh and Satyendra alias Bhuray Thakur based on the complaint filed by Satyendra Jatav.

According to the complainant, on June 14, the two accused were cutting a Babool tree on his land. When he objected to the same, Vikram Singh and Satyendra alias Bhuray Thakur thrashed him. The complainant also alleged that one of the accused, Vikram, who had a knife with him, attacked him. He claimed that in the attack, “more than half of the diameter of his private part was cut”.

The victim, Satyendra Kumar, also claimed that his four-month-pregnant wife was also “hit with an axe and badly beaten up”. 

Based on the complaint, the police registered a case against Satyendra Singh and Vikram Singh under sections 452, 323, 504 and 506 of the IPC under the SC/ST Act and started investigating the matter. FIR copy is available with OpIndia.

What did the Etah police say

The Etah police called it a matter of dispute over the felling of a tree. The police also said that the allegation that his private part was ‘slashed’ with a knife was wrong and misleading. The police also negated reports that claimed that the victim family was ‘forced’ to flee the village after the incident.

DSP Vikrant Dwivedi said, “The allegation that his private part was slashed with a knife is wrong. There was a rupture in the foreskin caused during the scuffle. Medical examination has established that there was no detachment of the penis. The entire matter is being investigated.”

Notably, OpIndia also has a copy of the victim’s medical report. In this report, the injury on the private part has been described as ordinary or superficial.

Leftist media and casteist leaders spread confusion

The Bhim Army and several media outlets tried to paint this issue in a casteist light. To play out the Dalits were under attack narrative, various angles, raging from the ‘slashing’ of the private part of the victim to the exodus of the ‘oppressed’ Dalit family were peddled by the media.

Amidst several claims that were circulated by the media, OpIndia visited the Hasanpur hamlet in Uttar Pradesh’s Etah district in order to meet the families involved in the brawl and people in their neighbourhood to uncover the truth.

Etah town is located about 6 miles from Hasanpur. We came across a canal on the way to the settlement. This canal borders Prithvipur, a town and a Nagar parishad in Niwari district in Madhya Pradesh. The Hasanpur village has a mixed population of Thakurs and Dalits (Katheria).

OpIndia met some Dalit youths and teenagers outside the village plucking mangoes and grazing cows. They told us that the villagers here live together in harmony and there is no such thing as casteism.

No discrimination on the basis of caste: Village priest spoke to OpIndia

We reached Hasanpur, the village of the Dalit victim Satyendra Jatav, after driving through Prithvipur. On the side of the road, close to where the village boundary began, an idol of Lord Shiva was erected. When we first arrived in the village, we came across a government school. A temple was located in front of this school. OpIndia spoke to Ram Shankar, the temple’s priest, who told us how there has never been any sort of discrimination, especially based on caste, amongst the villagers. Everyone visits the temple and worships together, he said.

Lord Mahadev idol, Ram Shankar the temple’s priest (Source: OpIndia Hindi)

Victim’s family found to be at their home

Several media houses had reported how the victim’s Dalit family was ‘forced’ to leave the village after the incident. Times of India went a step ahead and reported how out of fear, three Dalit families had left the village after placing a ‘house on sale’ board on their doors. When the OpIndia team went to the victim’s home, we discovered that his entire family was pretty much living there. Satyendra Jatav, the victim, his wife, and their children were, in fact, all at home, when he reached. When we questioned him about media rumours that he was forced to leave the village after the incident, he stated that he had only travelled for medical treatment.

A brawl between two families was given a castiest angle by leftist media and politicians

Satyendra Jatav, the victim, stated in his conversation with OpIndia that the rumours being circulated about him trouble him. He voiced his displeasure at how the media and politicians have twisted a dispute between two families by giving it a casteist angle. “I have good relationships with many Thakurs, Brahmins, and Yadavs, among other villagers,” he said, adding how many Thakurs refer to him as their son, and he calls them uncle.

Satyendra Jatav (Source: OpIndia Hindi)

Notably, Satyendra in his police complaint had called the accused Vikram Singh and Satyendra alias Bhuray Thakur as anti-social elements. Speaking to OpIndia, he reiterated how many Yadavs, Thakurs, and Pandits in the village are also fed up with the harassment meted out at them by Vikram Singh and Satyendra alias Bhuray Thakur.

Pooja Jatav, the wife of Satyendra Jatav, told OpIndia that certain politicians and the media have overblown the matter. She too asserted that it was a caste-based dispute but a petty brawl. “I am afraid of politicians,” Pooja lamented.

The husband and wife then showed us the tree that sparked the altercation and demanded harsh punishment for the perpetrators.

Pooja Jatav, victim’s wife (Source: OpIndia Hindi)

Have faith in police: Victim’s family

Satyendra and his wife expressed satisfaction over the police action in the matter. Sayendra also told that his uncle’s son is also a constable in UP Police. During our visit to the village, we also saw policemen patrolling the area.

Accused are absconding

Vikram Singh and Satendra Singh are absconding. The duo are members of the same family. The police claimed that they are conducting raids and a manhunt has been launched to nab the culprits, at the earliest. When the OpIndia team arrived at the accused’s home, we saw one elderly guy and a few women present there. A lock was hanging from the door.

The house of the accused (Source: OpIndia Hindi)

VHP seeks action against rumour mongers

Taking cognizance of OpIndia’s video, Vishwa Hindu Parishad has demanded action against those spreading rumours in the Etah case. VHP’s national spokesperson Vinod Bansal has termed the propaganda done in Etah as a conspiracy to break the unity of Hindu society. He urged the UP Police to look into the situation and punish those responsible strictly.

Vinod Bansal tweeted, “The UP police will now have to crush those snakes of the so-called media who are sowing discord in the organised Hindu society of safe UP and who are planning to defame the government and the society by fabricating stories.”

Somnath and Ambaji Temple Trusts deposit 200 kg of gold under GMS, raise crores for charitable work: What is the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS)

OpIndia Staff
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Somnath and Ambaji Temple Trusts deposit 200 kg of gold under GMS, raise crores for charitable work: What is the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS)

The Government of India announced the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) in 2015 under which the trusts of 2 major Hindu temples of Gujarat have invested the gold they get in donations from devotees and received a large amount of money for service and temple work. Somnath Jyotirlinga Temple Trust and Shaktipeeth Ambaji Temple Trust have invested 200 kg of gold under this GMS scheme.

According to reports, two major temples in Gujarat – Ambaji Temple and Somnath Temple – have deposited as much as 200 kg of gold in public sector banks under GMS in a short span of time. According to the current prices, this amounts to a gold deposit worth Rs 120.6 crore.

At this time, the price of gold in the Ahmedabad market is Rs 60,300 per 10 grams. Looking at the current trends, a senior executive of the public sector bank said that the government is encouraging temples to deposit the gold collected as donations under the Gold Monetisation Scheme in banks. This gives an interest rate of 2.25% per annum for medium-term deposits and 2.50% per annum for long-term deposits.

This is very beneficial for temples as they can redeem gold at the current market price. In addition, their deposits get matured and they get interest on these deposits. The largest chunk of the deposits made under GMS from Gujarat came from the Ambaji Temple Trust.

Ambaji Temple Trust deposited 168 kg of gold and Somnath Temple Trust deposited 6 kg of gold

The largest chunk of the gold deposits made under GMS from Gujarat came from the Ambaji Temple Trust. Banaskantha district collector and trustee Varun Kumar Barnwal said, “Ambaji temple has deposited 168 kg of gold in three phases. This includes 96 kg and 23 kg in two phases.”

Somnath temple has also deposited six kg of gold under GMS. P K Laheri, a trustee of Shri Somnath Trust, said, “About 150 kg of gold has been melted and used for plating and decorating the Shikhar of Somnath temple. The temple trust has recently deposited around 6 kg of gold under GMS.”

Whatever amount the two temple trusts have earned by investing gold is used by them for maintenance of the temple premises, social work, and service work.

Services done by The Somnath Temple Trust

The Somnath Trust has been doing environmental services, gau seva, food donation, and help charities associated with education and healthcare. Apart from this, modern living arrangements, rest houses, and free meal services are also run for the devotees. This amount will be used for all these service works.

Apart from this, whenever there has been a disaster, calamity or any hour of need comes to Gujarat, the Somnath Temple Trust comes forward and extends a helping hand.

Services done by Ambaji Temple Trust

Like the Somnath Temple Trust, the Ambaji Temple Trust has also been working in many areas of social service where this amount will be used. Since 1991, a college is being run by The Shri Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devasthan Trust. This institute is called Shri Ambaji Arts College. Along with this, a modern library has also been built there.

A 200-bed modern hospital is also run by the Shri Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devasthan Trust. Apart from treatment, there is also a pathology lab, X-ray clinic, maternity home, female and male patient wards, and operation theatre.

Apart from this, many other services are also done by Ambaji Trust. For example, rest houses are run for pilgrims, free meals are provided, and frequently open-handed assistance is provided whenever there is any natural calamity in the state.

What is Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS)?

The gold monetization scheme was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 15, 2015. This scheme has been designed to help people receive interest on their unused gold lying idle in the bank locker. The Gold Monetisation Scheme is basically a new deposit tool to ensure the aggregation of gold held by various households and institutions in India. It is expected that the scheme will turn gold into a productive asset in India. This new Gold Scheme is a replacement of the old Gold Deposit Scheme (GDS) and Gold Metal Loan Scheme (GML) and has replaced the previous Gold Deposit Scheme, 1999.

Investors can deposit gold for the short, medium and long term under the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS). The scheme allows the investor to deposit gold in short-term bank deposits (SRBDs) and medium and long-term government deposits (MLTGDs).

Short Term Bank Deposit (STBD)

Allows tenure from one to three years
Allows interim tenure such as one year three months, two years four months, etc.
The lock-in period and penalty will be decided by the designated banks
Banks are free to decide the interest rate on these deposits

Medium and Long Term Government Deposits (MLTGD)

  • The bank appointed on behalf of the central government will accept deposits under this scheme
  • The maturity period is five to seven years for the medium term and 12 to 15 years for the long term
  • Interest rates 2.25% p.a. for the medium term and 2.50% p.a. for the long term
  • The interest on the deposit will be paid on March 31 every year
  • The lock-in periods on these deposit schemes are three years and five years respectively

Who can invest under GMS?

Individuals
Hindu Undivided Family (HUF)
Companies
Charitable Organizations
Ownership and Partnership Firms
Any trust including mutual funds or exchange-traded funds
Central Government
State Government
Other central or state government-owned institutions

More benefits under GMS than putting gold in the locker

If an individual or organization puts the gold in the bank locker, then it does not get any interest. At the same time, no dividend is paid on it. Apart from this, the investor also has to pay a charge for that locker.

On the contrary, if the same person or organization invests the same gold under this Gold Monetization Scheme (GMS), then he is eligible for the interest fixed on that gold and does not have to pay locker charges too.

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