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Pakistan: Imran Khan’s Zaman Park house surrounded by Police, the PTI chief tweets dramatic ‘last message’ addressing the country

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan: Imran Khan’s Zaman Park house surrounded by Police, the PTI chief tweets dramatic ‘last message’ addressing the country

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman on Wednesday claimed that the police have surrounded his house and he may be arrested again. “Probably my last tweet before my next arrest. Police have surrounded my house,” he stated on Twitter while addressing the country in a live video message.

He was first arrested from inside the High Court in Islamabad by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the charges of corruption in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust, which he owns alongside his wife, Bushra Bibi.

The Lahore police have reached outside the former cricketer’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore to arrest him and blocked all roads leading to the area.

“I am afraid that Pakistan is on the route to destruction. And I fear that if we don’t use our brains now then we may reach to the point where we wouldn’t be able to collect all the pieces of our nation,” he warned.

He asserted that instability has been in Pakistan for about a year and that an outside force was utilised to stop him because he was the wrong candidate for the position. “Imran Khan shouldn’t be back, even if it means breaching the law, preventing an election, or even disrespecting the Supreme Court,” he alleged.

He presented the survey that demonstrates his party’s superior popularity and added that all political parties are concerned that if he returns, they will all lose the election. “If the election happened then Imran will win and they don’t care whether it is good for the people or not what they care about is that the corruption cases that have been closed during their governance would be out.”

He went on to mention his strong stance for the Pakistan Army. “I have defended my army across the world. I was a known face. Name another Pakistani who defended the army the way I did on international media. And I did it because I am a free man. I never accepted slavery.”

Additionally, he argued that the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government intentionally seeks to inflame tensions between his party and the army. “The cases that are being filed under military laws, it never happened before that without any investigation or independent inquiry. It was suddenly decided that PTI is a terrorist organisation.”

He declared that their party would approach the court to request the creation of a judicial panel to look into the riots that broke out after his incarceration. “The Punjab IG should be called on what happened at Jinnah House (in Lahore). If an inquiry is properly conducted into this, it would be revealed who was behind this conspiracy to ban a political party,” he charged.

Watch his entire address below:

A heavy contingent of Punjab Police was deployed on the roads leading to Zaman Park and barricades were put in place on several roads. Traffic was stopped on Allama Iqbal Road and Dharam Pura Chowk. Police personnel wearing bulletproof jackets were deployed along with mobile vans.

The PTI was given a 24-hour deadline by the Punjab government yesterday to turn over the terrorists who assaulted Army installations after former prime minister Imran Khan was apprehended and now were hiding in Zaman Park.

Punjab Caretaker Information Minister Aamir Mir said, “30 to 40 terrorists who attacked Army installations including Jinnah House are present in Zaman Park,” addressing a press conference.

He revealed that the agencies were able to confirm the their presence in Zaman Park through geo-fencing. “The intelligence report that has come is very alarming. Handover the terrorists within 24 hours or the law will take its course,” he demanded and added, “PTI is starting to behave like a non-state actor.”

Meanwhile, General Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of Pakistan, affirmed that the “planned and orchestrated tragic incidents” of May 9, the day when military sites were targeted following Imran Khan’s arrest, will never be tolerated again at any cost.

“No one will be allowed to disrespect our martyrs and their monuments. They are a source of inspiration and pride for the rank and file of the Armed Forces, Law Enforcement Agencies, Government officials and the people of Pakistan,” he proclaimed.

He further commented,”The martyrs have been promised the highest abode in the life hereafter and shall continue to maintain the highest levels of respect amongst the people of Pakistan.”

“The armed forces will not tolerate any further attempt of violating the sanctity and security of its installations or vandalism and resolved to bring to justice all the planners, abettors, instigators and executors of vandalism on the Black Day of 9th May,” he vowed.

The Pakistan Army has invoked the tough Army Act and the Official Secrets Act against PTI supporters. It is a serious provision in which Imran Khan and his followers could be slapped with charges that can lead to either a death sentence or life imprisonment.

Furthermore, former Pakistan minister and PTI leader Shireen Mazari has been arrested again by the police. She was arrested by women personnel of the Punjab Police under Section 4 of the Maintenance of Public Order.

Imran Khan also posted about the arrest and wrote, “More or less seven and a half thousand (7500) of our workers have been arrested and most of them were not presented in the courts according to the law.” He complained that houses are being illegally raided, ransacked and men and women are being abducted indiscriminately. “And all this is being done to prevent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf from forming the next government,” he accused.

In addition to crippling economic conditions and regular terror attacks, Pakistan has been in a political firestorm ever since Imran Khan was ousted from power, only exacerbating the mountain of troubles already plaguing the country.

DK Shivakumar’s brother expresses unhappiness on him settling for deputy CM post in Karnataka, says ‘Not fully happy… but DK had to accept’

OpIndia Staff
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DK Shivakumar’s brother expresses unhappiness on him settling for deputy CM post in Karnataka, says ‘Not fully happy… but DK had to accept’

DK Suresh, the Congress MP from Bangalore Rural and the brother of Karnataka stalwart DK Shivakumar, has said that he is not pleased with Shivakumar’s appointment as Karnataka’s deputy chief minister. This follows the conclusion of the five-day stalemate over the issue as the Congress high command picked Siddaramaiah as the Karnataka chief minister and Shivakumar as the deputy chief minister. Congress returned to power in Karnataka after winning 135 out of 224 seats in the just-concluded elections.

“I am not fully happy but in the interest of Karnataka, we wanted to fulfill our commitment…That is why DK Shivakumar had to accept. In the future we will see, there is a long way to go. I wish it (CM post for DK Shivakumar) but it didn’t happen, we will wait and see,” he said.

According to the reports, DK Shivakumar would lead the state for the second half of the 5-year rule of Congress while Siddaramaiah will serve as chief minister for the first half.

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala, the Karnataka representative for the All India Congress Committee (AICC), said that Karnataka will have a new government within the next 48 to 72 hours. “Whenever Congress makes a decision we will inform you. In the next 48-72 hours, we will have a new cabinet in Karnataka,” he said while speaking to the reporters on May 18.

“Do not resort to any speculation, whenever a decision is taken by the Congress president, we will be happy to inform you. I am only here to quash multiple rumours and hearsay that are being played on multiple news channels. Please don’t believe in it,” Surjewala said.

His remarks came as the party’s upper echelons had back-to-back meetings in the nation’s capital about the unveiling of the Karnataka chief minister candidates, Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah. Sidddaramaiah is apparently set to be named the next Karnataka CM. 

DK Shivakumar has not yet accepted the six other ministries that the Congress leadership and Rahul Gandhi had offered him along with the positions of deputy chief minister and PCC. Ahead of the announcement about the Karnataka chief minister, DK Shivakaumar visited the home of the party’s president Mallikarjun Kharge after meeting the party leader Rahul Gandhi.

Supreme Court upholds Tamil Nadu government’s law allowing Jallikattu in State

ANI
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Supreme Court upholds Tamil Nadu government’s law allowing Jallikattu in State

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the Tamil Nadu government’s law allowing the bull-taming sport ‘Jallikattu’ in the State.

Supreme Court, however, said that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017, substantially minimises pain and suffering to animals. 

A five-judge Constitution bench of Justices KM Joseph, Ajay Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose, Hrishikesh Roy and CT Ravikumar was hearing a batch of petitions challenging Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra governments’ laws allowing the bull-taming sport ‘Jallikattu’ and bullock cart races.

Supreme Court also allowed the validity of similar laws framed by the governments of Maharashtra and Karnataka allowing sports involving animals. The bench noted that Jallikattu has been going on for the last few centuries.

Strictly observing that the law, having received President’s assent can’t be interfered with, the bench dismissed all the pleas challenging the validity of states’ laws allowing bull-taming sport “Jallikattu” and bullock cart races.

Five-judge Constitution bench directed that all laws are strictly implemented and the DM and competent authorities shall be responsible for strict implementation of the amended law.

The Tamil Nadu government had defended the event of “Jallikattu” and told the apex court that sporting events can also be a cultural event and there is no cruelty on the bulls in “Jallikattu”.

Jallikattu is conducted during the Pongal festival as thanksgiving for a good harvest and subsequent festivals are conducted in temples which shows that the event has great cultural and spiritual significance, it had added.

In February 2018, the Supreme Court had referred to the Constitution bench whether the people of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra can conserve Jallikattu and bullock-cart races as their cultural right and demand their protection under Article 29 (1) of the Constitution.

The top court had earlier said that the petitions challenging the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 2017, needed to be decided by a larger bench since they involved substantial questions relating to interpretation of the Constitution.

Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra had amended the central law, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and allowed Jallikattu and bullock cart racing, respectively.

The petitions were filed in the top court challenging the State laws.

A batch of petitions, led by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), sought direction to quash the Jallikattu law passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, which brought bulls back into the fold of “performing animals”.

PETA had challenged the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Bill 2017 passed by the state assembly on several grounds, including that it circumvented the apex court verdict holding the bull-taming sport as “illegal” in the state.

The top court had earlier dismissed the Tamil Nadu government’s plea seeking a review of the 2014 judgement banning the use of bulls for Jallikattu events in the state and bullock cart races across the country. 

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

‘The Kerala Story’ breaks records, becomes second biggest hit of the year amassing Rs 165.94 crore at the Box Office, soon to enter 200 crore bracket

OpIndia Staff
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‘The Kerala Story’ breaks records, becomes second biggest hit of the year amassing Rs 165.94 crore at the Box Office, soon to enter 200 crore bracket

The Kerala Story, directed by Sudipto Sen, has become the second-biggest success of the year, exceeding the lifetime receipts of Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, in less than two weeks. Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, directed by Luv Ranjan, concluded its lifetime run with a total of Rs 149.05 cr in India.

According to the reports, the Kerala Story recorded single-digit collections for the first time since its opening day of Rs 8.03 crores, but it was still enough for it to easily surpass the Rs 150 crore threshold. According to preliminary estimates, the movie made Rs 9.80 crore on its second Tuesday, bringing its total box office collection to Rs 156.84 crore.

Further according to the early trends report of Sacnilk, ‘The Kerala Story’ has done a business of Rs 9.25 crores on the second Wednesday i.e. on the 13th day of its release, after which the total earning of the film has now gone up to Rs 165.94 crore. With this, ‘The Kerala Story’ is now rushing towards the Rs 200 crores club.

Notably, the movie directed by Director Sudipto Sen had earlier become the fourth Hind film to cross the Rs 100 crores club at the box office this year. The other Bollywood movies which have crossed the Rs 100 crores club this year are Pathaan, Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, and Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan.

Trade estimates now predict that ‘The Kerala Story’ will easily earn more than Rs 200 crore. After Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan, which shattered box office records with receipts of more than Rs 500 crore, it will become just the second Hindi movie of the year to cross the 200-crore milestone.

Salman Khan’s Eid release ‘Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan’, Ajay Devgn’s actioner ‘Bholaa’, Akshay Kumar’s comic drama ‘Selfiee’, and Kartik Aaryan’s ‘Shehzada’ were all major releases backed by star power that have been left behind by ‘The Kerala Story’.

It was earlier reported how ‘The Kerala Story’ actually surpassed even the earnings of ‘Pathaan’ when it comes to return on investment (ROI). Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan which was released in January this year earned a massive Rs 543.22 crore nett at the Indian box office and reaped profits of Rs 293.22 crores. The budget of the film was Rs 250 crores and its ROI stood at 117.28%. In comparison, Kerala Story already had an ROI of 276% within 9 days of its release.

The multilingual project, featuring Adah Sharma and written and directed by Sudipto Sen, has garnered a lot of attention since the makers released its trailer. Liberals and the opposition particularly the Left and the Congress have labeled it as a propaganda piece and demanded a ban on its screening.

The movie revolves around Shalini Unnikrishnan, played by Adah Sharma, an innocent Hindu woman from Kerala, who is brainwashed by her Muslim friend and gets converted to Islam and marries a Muslim man. The lead actress soon realizes that she has been trapped in a huge terrorist web after she is raped, separated from her only child, and then forced to serve as a sex slave.

Meet Tahawwur Rana, the 26/11 terrorist whose extradition to India is allowed by a US court

OpIndia Staff
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Meet Tahawwur Rana, the 26/11 terrorist whose extradition to India is allowed by a US court

On May 16, a US Court’s order was released approving the extradition of the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack accused Tahawwur Rana to India. US Magistrate Judge of the US District Court of California, Judge Jacqueline Chooljian, in a 48-page order, said her court reviewed and considered all documents submitted in support and opposition of the extradition required and considered the arguments presented at the hearing. India sought his extradition for his involvement in the 2009 attack. He was arrested in the US on an extradition request submitted by India.

The Judge added, “Based on such review and consideration and for the reasons discussed herein, the Court makes the findings set forth below and certifies to the Secretary of State of the United States the extractability of Rana on the charged offenses that are the subject of the Request.” India and the US have an extradition agreement in effect.

In its judgment, the US district court concluded that Rana was extraditable for the offenses for which the Indian government requested extradition. The Judge ruled that the Government of India provided enough competent evidence to establish reasonable cause that he was an accused person in India for his involvement in the terror attack.

During the court hearings, the US government attorneys argued that Rana was aware of Headley’s association with LeT. He assisted Headley in carrying out his plans and provided cover for the same. They further argued that Rana was supporting LeT and its associates.

The court said, “It is therefore ordered that Tahawwur Hussain Rana be and remain committed to the custody of the United States Marshal pending a final decision on extradition and surrender by the Secretary of State to India for the trial of the offenses as to which extradition has been granted pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, section 3186 and the Treaty.”

The judgment came when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a scheduled state visit to Washington DC. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host a dinner for PM Modi on June 22.

In a statement on the matter, a US government spokesperson for the State Department expressed that the US is committed to combating terrorism globally and its counterterrorism relationship with India. Furthermore, the query was forwarded to the Department of Justice for detailed remarks.

Who is Tahawwur Rana?

Tahawwur Rana is a Pakistan-origin Canadian businessman, who the Government of India accused in the 2008 Mumbai Terror attack. He was a close associate of Mumbai Terror accused David Coleman Headley alias Daood Gilani and others.

Rana was born in Chichawatni of Punjab province in Pakistan. He became friends with Headley when he was still known as Daood Gilani. He served at Pakistan Army Medical Corps as a physician. Later, in 1997, he immigrated to Canada. In 2001, he became a Canadian citizen. He primarily lived in Chicago and ran an immigration business. Rana’s younger brother is a political journalist working with The Hill Times.

During the investigation of the attack, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) booked Rana with conspiracy to wage war, commit murder, commit forgery for the purpose of cheating, using forged documents and electronic records, and commit a terrorist act.

In 2011, he was convicted in a Chicago court of providing material support to the Pakistani terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) that was behind the Mumbai terror attack. He also supported a plot to attack a Danish newspaper for printing cartoons of Prophet Muhammed in 2005. However, that attack never materialized.

As per reports, he allowed Headley to open a branch of his immigration law business in Mumbai based out of Chicago. The aim was to provide Headley with a cover story. He also traveled to Denmark as a representative of the company.

In 2009, Rana was arrested and charged along with Headley for plotting attacks on the office of the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten for publishing cartoons of the Prophet. During the investigation into the matter, it was found that Rana also visited Mumbai and had stayed in the Taj Mahal Palace, one of the locations attacked during the Mumbai terror attack. His brother maintained throughout that Rana was innocent, and Headley duped him.

In 2011, he was convicted by the Jury for his association with LeT and planning an attack on the Danish newspaper. However, he was acquitted of involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2013.

On June 10, 2020, India filed an initial complaint seeking his provisional arrest for extradition. Biden administration supported and approved the request.

26/11 Mumbai Terror Attack

On November 26, 2008, ten LeT terrorists entered Mumbai via sea route from Pakistan. They carried out a series of coordinated attacks across the city. 166 people reportedly died and 300 were injured in the attacks. The terrorists targeted Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station, Cama Hospital, Nariman House business and residential complex, Leopold Cafe, Taj Hotel and Tower, and the Oberoi-Trident Hotel.

Mumbai Police, Rapid Action Force, Marine Commandos (MARCOS), and National Security Guards (NSG) commandos were involved in neutralizing the terrorists. Only one terrorist, Ajmal Kasab was caught alive. There was a conspiracy to blame Hindus for the attack. The terrorists, including Kasab, were wearing Kalawa and had Hindu ID cards with them as part of the conspiracy.

Delhi-based University’s assistant professor impersonates Lieutenant General to get undue favors, arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi-based University’s assistant professor impersonates Lieutenant General to get undue favors, arrested

On Wednesday, a 30-year-old assistant professor at a Delhi-based university was detained by the Delhi Police for allegedly impersonating the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) of Delhi and calling the university’s vice chancellor on many occasions to request favors on his behalf.

Rohit Singh, an assistant professor at Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), was named by the police as the defendant. According to police, the accused began making calls on the L-G’s behalf in September of last year. He was apprehended on May 15 at the Indira Gandhi International Airport after arriving from the UK. A case against him was lodged at Dwarka North Police Station.

“Singh called the Vice Chancellor of the university twice over the landline phone impersonating the L-G. In the first instance, he got his leave sanctioned. In the second instance, on September 30 last year, he called the VC by impersonating the L-G to get his sister selected as faculty in the English Department of GGSIPU,” one of the police officers confirmed.

Singh has been taken into custody at the IGI Airport, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Dwarka, Harsh Vardhan. The matter was reported to the police after the second call to the VC.

“Singh works as an Assistant Professor in the Economics Department of the university and made the call for the appointment of his sister Manvi Singh in the English Department of the university. From the call detail record (CDR) of the Vice Chancellor’s landline number, it was revealed that the call was made from a United Kingdom-based number, and upon investigation, it was further established that the said UK number also had call interactions with mobile numbers belonging to the said candidate, Manvi Singh and her father Rajpal Singh,” said an officer.

According to the police, the duo was questioned and they admitted that the UK-based number belonged to the Singh, who had left on September 27 of last year for further study overseas. “A Look Out Circular against Rohit Singh was also initiated,” a police official remarked.

“Breaking Bad” style Meth lab busted in Greater Noida, methamphetamine worth Rs 200 crore seized

OpIndia Staff
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“Breaking Bad” style Meth lab busted in Greater Noida, methamphetamine worth Rs 200 crore seized

On Wednesday, May 17, Gautam Buddh Nagar Police busted a “Breaking Bad” style meth lab run by nine foreign nationals at a rented house in Greater Noida. Police have seized 46 kg methamphetamine (MDMA) worth Rs 200 crore and arrested the nine foreign nationals who came to India on a student visa and were allegedly operating a drug manufacturing lab here.

The nine foreigners, eight from Nigeria and one from Senegal rented a three-storey house in Greater Noida’s quiet neighborhood of Theta II and transformed it into a highly sophisticated meth-cooking lab, equipped with flasks, beakers, burettes, funnels, and other equipment, for making high-quality meth. Their activities went unnoticed for around a year until the police busted the lab on Wednesday, May 17.

The lab operated from the second storey of the house, mostly producing MDMA, sometimes known as ecstasy, a party drug that is chemically similar to stimulants and hallucinogens that generate feelings of enhanced energy.

Reportedly, when the police arrived at the building, one of the arrested suspects attempted to set fire to the entire unit. The cops, on the other hand, put out the fire even as another suspect jumped from the third floor. However, the police officers on the ground floor apprehended him.

Laxmi Singh, the police commissioner for Gautam Buddh Nagar, stated that after months of intelligence gathering, a tip-off was received on Wednesday, leading to the raids. Singh also called the raids the biggest-ever drug bust in Uttar Pradesh.

“Following the tip, a police officer posed as a drug buyer, and we caught two gang members from the Dhadha roundabout with approximately 5.5kg of meth. They took us to a three-storey house in Jaitpur-Vaispur (in Theta II) where a lab had been set up to manufacture the drug in its purest, white form. From there, seven more people were arrested,” stated Commissioner Singh.

Furthermore, the police revealed that they seized a considerable amount of raw materials capable of producing methamphetamine worth an additional 100 crore. 

According to the police, the chemicals recovered include methyl alcohol, hypophosphoric acid, hydrosulfuric acid, iodine crystals, ammonia, ephedrine, acetone, sulphur, and copper salts among others, highlighting the scope of the unlawful activity.

Among the arrested suspects, eight are Nigerians and one is from Senegal. The suspects have been identified as Anudum Emmanuel, Ajoku Ubaka, Daniel Azuh, Levi Uzochukw, Jacob Emefiele, Kofie, Chidi Ijiagwa, Ajoku Klechi (all residents of Nigeria), and Dramemond from Senegal. Police are also probing if the suspects have been residing in India illegally. 

Karnataka: Siddaramaiah to take oath as CM on May 20, DK Shivakumar to be compensated with deputy CM post

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Siddaramaiah to take oath as CM on May 20, DK Shivakumar to be compensated with deputy CM post

After their poster wars and following lots of speculations, the Congress party, on Wednesday, May 17, finalized Siddaramaiah as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka with DK Shivakumar as his deputy. The decision was arrived at during a series of late-night discussions on Wednesday that lasted into the early hours of Thursday. The meetings were attended by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress General Secretaries KC Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala, and the two CM contenders.

Reportedly, a Congress legislative party meeting has also been scheduled for May 20, paving the way for Siddaramaiah to become CM for the second time.

As per media reports, Congress has decided on a rotational tenure of two-and-a-half years for both leaders, with Siddaramaiah taking the chair for the first half and then DK Shivakumar becoming the CM for the latter half.

Siddaramaiah apparently had the support of the majority of the Congress MLAs making party high command come down in his favor as the CM of the state.

Earlier, OpIndia had reported that after the Congress party’s victory in Karnataka assembly elections, the supporters of former CM Siddaramaiah put up a poster outside his residence in Bengaluru on May 14, calling him “the next CM of Karnataka.” Soon after, supporters of DK Shivakumar placed a poster outside his Bengaluru residence, demanding that he be declared “CM of the state.”

Unlike Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar has always been a member of Congress and has never lost an election since he won his first one in 1989. Siddaramaiah has been part of All India Progressive Janata Dal, Janata Dal, and Janata Dal (Secular) before joining Congress.

In the recently held Karnataka assembly elections, Congress won 135 seats pushing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) out of power in the only southern state it ruled. BJP managed to win 66 seats. Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) bagged 19 seats. Independents have won two seats while Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha and Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha won one seat each.

Moral policing, physical assaults and molestation in the name of imaginary ‘Bhagwa love trap’: Multiple cases where Islamists attack Hindu-Muslim couples

Dibakar Dutta
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Moral policing, physical assaults and molestation in the name of imaginary ‘Bhagwa love trap’: Multiple cases where Islamists attack Hindu-Muslim couples

With the increasing radicalization among Islamists in India, Hindu men are repeatedly being attacked if they even walk with a female Muslim colleague. At these times, Hindu men always end up at the mercy of law enforcement authorities.

A couple of months ago, Islamists began peddling a baseless theory dubbed ‘Bhagwa Love Trap’ to counter 100s of documented cases of impersonation, identity fraud, and forced conversions to Islam (popularly known as Love Jihad).

While it started out as a social media hashtag, Islamists soon began sharing videos of random hijab-wearing Muslim women and their male Hindu friends/ acquaintances and partners without their consent.

Results from Google trends on the search term ‘Bhagwa Love Trap’

The posts are often accompanied by emotional messages and sought public help in identifying the couples. Soon after, social media was rife with videos of Islamist mobs ambushing random Hindu-Muslim couples.

This would then be followed by heated arguments, physical assault on the Hindu men, and even molestation of the Muslim women. The attacks were carried out under the pretext that a sinister plot was underway to convert Muslim women to Hinduism by luring them into a love trap (the basis of the Bhagwa Love trap).

It is not a new phenomenon for Islamists to come up with conspiracy theories that absolve them of any wrongdoing or project them as perpetual victims. This time they seem to use the conspiracy theory of the ‘Bhagwa Love trap’ to rationalise their act of moral policing and violence against the Hindu community.

Social media conspiracy theory translates into real-life acts of violence

Multiple videos have now come to light where rabid Islamist mobs are seen openly harassing, abusing, and manhandling inter-faith couples. These videos have been reported from different cities/States of India.

The victims have been targeted on roads, restaurants, eateries, and even hotels. Based on local reports and social media videos, OpIndia has compiled a total of 30 cases where Hindu men and Muslim women were attacked by extremists under the pretext of ‘Bhagwa love trap.’

On May 15 this year, a violent Muslim mob abused and assaulted a Hindu man for being friends with a Muslim girl in Patna city of Bihar.  The duo was stopped by the mob while they were on a bike and abused for roaming together.

The Muslim girl was also schooled by the mob and asked to leave the spot and go home.“Madarch*d. Bhagwa Love Trap karega. Muslim ladki ko phasayega,” the mob could be heard abusing and accusing the Hindu man.

A similar incident came to light on May 13, 2023, in the Muzaffarnagar city of Uttar Pradesh. The Islamists asked the Hindu man about his identity and threatened him for roaming with a Muslim girl.

The Muzaffarnagar Police took cognizance of the event and filed an FIR in the case based on the complaint of the Hindu man identified as Shivansh.

While speaking to Opindia, he narrated his ordeal, “They abused me. Threatened me. They even tried harassing the woman. They removed her burqa and harassed her. It was so shameful. We are just friends, not even friends, just classmates.” 

In one such video from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, a group of extremists gheraoed two burqa-clad women and reprimanded them for befriending a Hindu man.

Initially, they stopped the two women and interrogated them for walking with a Hindu man. The Islamists then went on to forcefully remove the veils of the women. The police have registered a case against the two unidentified youths and are actively searching for them.

In another video of the same incident, the perpetrators were seen intimidating the Hindu youth accompanying the Muslim women. They were seen gripping the young man by his collar and forcefully dragging him around the market.

A disturbing video has surfaced from the Muslim-dominated Juhapura area of Ahmedabad wherein an Islamist was seen harassing a hijab-clad Muslim woman for talking to a Hindu man. The video went viral on social media last month.

“You cannot keep such friends. How can you hug these people?”, the extremist warned. He even threatened to rip apart the Hindu man accompanying the girl.

A Twitter user (@warriorbeast73) shared a video and claimed that an Islamist mob abducted a Muslim girl and a Hindu boy and forced the girl to dial her parents.

He claimed that the incident took place in the Income Tax Office area of Ahmedabad. He also sought the immediate intervention of the law enforcement authorities.

Several cases of harassment of Hindu men and their female Muslim friends/acquaintances and colleagues have come to light from the State of Madhya Pradesh.

In almost all cases, the hijab-clad girls were coerced into calling their parents while the Hindu men were verbally abused, manhandled, and even thrashed brutally.

Most of the videos were shared on Twitter by @warriorbeast73. The modus operandi in almost all cases appeared similar. An unsuspecting mob of Islamists ambushes a couple, wherein the girl is seen wearing a hijab. They coerce the man into revealing his name.

Once it is established that the man is Hindu, then, the extremists rough him up for daring to befriend a Muslim woman. They also try to harass the woman and justify their actions by blaming her for deviating from the path of Deen.

The Twitter user (@warriorbeast 73) wrote, “Muslim youths have waged a war across India against Muslim woman, who has Hindu (male) friend under the fake allegation of #bhagwalovetrap.”

Some cases of attacks by Islamists on Hindu-Muslim couples were also allegedly reported from Rajasthan.

In April this year, the police apprehended three males for harassing a hijab-wearing Muslim college girl. The incident took place in the vicinity of Makai Gate in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar in Maharashtra.

The girl’s mobile phone was also snatched and she can be seen asking the boys harassing her to give back her phone. The intimidation started due to the youngsters’ suspicion that she was hanging out with a Hindu man. At the time of the attack, the girl had come to visit the famous Bibi Ka Maqbara in the city.

The trio made an effort to stop the pair and even questioned the girl, “Why are you walking with some other boy”. Afterward, they started harassing her. One of them grabbed the girl’s hand as she quickly moved forward to escape them.

She begged them to release her hand. This lasted for a long time and no one stepped forward to assist the girl despite the fact that there were a lot of people around them.

In one case, Islamists were seen stalking and abusing a burqa-clad woman traveling on a bike. The incident is said to be from Kalyan in Maharashtra.

In one incident, Islamists force a Muslim girl to dial her father after they realize that she is traveling with a Hindu man.

According to a Twitter user (@wariiorbeast73), a Muslim mob forced a Hindu boy and a Muslim girl to deboard a train and thrashed them later.

According to Twitter user @warriorbeast73, several incidents have also surfaced in the State of Telangana.

In one case, Islamists reportedly barged into a cafe in Ranchi and harassed a Muslim woman and a Hindu man over their new-found conspiracy theory of ‘Bhagwa Love Trap.’

The location of some of the disturbing videos could not be ascertained. Assault and public humiliation remained the key strategies, which were employed by the Islamists to shame the victims.

There were also instances of rampant verbal abuse and molestation of Muslim women by their co-religionists. In one case, the victim asked the perpetrator to not touch her inappropriately.

An Islamist responded by saying, “Hath Laga Sakate hai, kyoki Aap kaum ka Nam Badnam kar rahi ho! (We can touch you how we want. This is because you are bringing shame to our community).”

In another case, an Islamist asked a burqa-clad Muslim woman to not wear a burqa and roam naked instead. “Women like you bring a bad name to the Muslim community,” he was heard as saying.

In one video, an Islamist was seen inquiring whether a man accompanying a burqa-clad woman was a Hindu or Muslim. “Wait! Listen to me. Don’t you feel ashamed to roam with infidel Hindu in a burqa?”, the extremist threatened.

In some videos, Islamist mobs were seen barging into hotels and engaging in moral policing.

It must be mentioned that the police have not taken cognizance of all videos, which have surfaced on social media. Only a few incidents have so far made it to local reports and mainstream media.

In the absence of appropriate action by law enforcement authorities, the extremists are only likely to be emboldened. This becomes more alarming when analyzed with the fact that the viral videos were shot by the perpetrators and not the victims.

It goes on to show that the Islamists have no fear of law and order despite being well aware that the videos could be used as evidence against them.

Disclaimer: Opindia could not independently verify the authenticity of all the videos due to technical limitations.

‘I apologize, won’t offer the fumes of frankincense to Trimbakeshwar again’, says Salim Sayyad who barged into the temple with a group of Muslims

OpIndia Staff
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‘I apologize, won’t offer the fumes of frankincense to Trimbakeshwar again’, says Salim Sayyad who barged into the temple with a group of Muslims

On 13th May 2023, at around 9:15 pm, a mob of Muslims barged into the Trimbakeshwar temple at Nashik in Maharashtra. The Muslims who tried to enter the courtyard of the temple attempted this as they allegedly intended to forcefully put a Chadar on the Shivling inside the sanctum sanctorum. However, those who entered the temple and other local Muslims later claimed that they did so according to their annual custom of offering the fumes of frankincense to Trimbakeshwar from the first stair of the temple during the post-Sandal processions of a local dargah of one Hazrat Sayyad Ghulam Shah Wali Baba. Now, the servant of this dargah has apologised for this act and has said that he will discontinue this custom that is allegedly going on for the last one hundred years.

Salim Sayyad is one of the accused booked under sections 295 and 511 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in this case based on a complaint by the temple authorities. On 16th May 2023, while speaking to ABP Majha, he shared information about the alleged custom of offering the fumes of frankincense to Trimbakeshwar – that is the Hindu deity, Lord Shiva.

Salim Sayyad said, “When there is the annual Sandal of this dargah, we hold a procession in the town after the Sandal every year. We take proper permissions for this procession. When the procession passes from the temple, I go there and stand on the first stair of the temple and offer the fumes of frankincense to Trimbakeshwar. We call him Trimbak Raja. he is the king of this place. He rules this place. It is my belief that we are safe and prosperous here because of him. I chant Om Namah Shivay and Har Har Mahadev at the moment when I stand on the stair. I am accompanied by two-three companions who hold various things like a basket of flowers, etc. I hold the basket of Chadar on my head.”

He added, “My age is 66. My father passed away in 1994. Since then I lead to perform this ritual. Before that, my father used to do this all. I remember things very well since when I was ten years old. It is done in this way only. I don’t know why temple authorities filed a complaint against us this year. If they feel that we have erred by doing this, I apologise. I will never offer the fumes of frankincense to Trimbakeshwar Raja again. We never enter the sanctum. But we stand on the first stair. We don’t offer Chadar to Raja Trimbak. We offer the fumes as a mark of the respect we hold for him and as a mark of completion of our dargah’s Sandal. My grandfather also used to do this in the same manner. This custom is there for approximately the last 100 years.”

Trimbakeshwar Temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Only Hindus are supposed to enter and pray with Hindu customs here. The temple management committee lodged a complaint with the police after security guards stopped the four men from reaching the sanctorum. Videos of the incident went viral on various social media platforms. The four persons arrested by the police for forcibly entering the Trimbakeshwar temple are Aqeel Yusuf Sayyed, Salman Aqeel Sayyed, Matin Raju Sayyed and Salim Bakshu Sayyed. It is alleged that they tried to enter the temple premises by joining the Sandal procession and intended to offer chadar on the Shivling.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday ordered an FIR in this case. He also ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to thoroughly investigate the events and their aftermath. Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, stated that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) would not only investigate the recent incident but also look into a similar occurrence last year. 

On Wednesday morning, members of various Hindu organisations including Hindu Mahasabha, Brahmin Mahasangh, Nashik Purohit Sangh, and Trimbakeshwar Purohit Sangh reached Trimbakeshwar temple. They performed purification rituals on the temple premises amid the chants of Har Har Mahadev. The Maha Aarti was performed after the temple purification rituals were completed. Meanwhile, police personnel were deployed to prevent any untoward incident.

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