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As Karnataka goes to polls, Congress alleges that BJP is transporting people from Goa in buses

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As Karnataka goes to polls, Congress alleges that BJP is transporting people from Goa in buses

Hours before the Karnataka assembly election, the Congress party alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party was transporting supporters from Goa to the poll-bound southern state. The party also shared a video of a bus and questioned whether illegal funds were being moved or if the goal was fraudulent voting as Karnataka undergoes polling today.

Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera posted that people from Goa were allegedly ferried to Karnataka ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally.

Congress shared the tweet from its official handle and asked, “Why is the Goa BJP govt sending people from Goa on Kadamba Transport Corporation buses to northern Karnataka tonight? Why? Is illicit money being transported? Is bogus voting the objective.”

Randeep Singh Surjewala also joined the bandwagon and tagged the Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP). “What’s happening at Whistling Woodzs Jungle Resort at Dandeli, Uttar Kannada District, Dandeli, Karnataka? Has Vishvajeet Rane booked 6 rooms here? What’s the purpose,” he questioned. Vishwajit Pratapsingh Rane is a cabinet minister in the Government of Goa.

It’s noteworthy that Congress has made similar accusations in the wake of elections before. Every time it has experienced defeat, the opposition, especially Congress, has attempted to cast doubt on the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) despite repeated assurances and evidence from the election commission that EVM hacking is not possible.

The opposition parties decided to approach the election commission about their reservations over the use of EVMs at a joint meeting held on March 23, 2023. The election commission’s proposal to let migrant voters cast ballots through Remote EVMs raised significant concerns.

Congress leader Digvijay Singh, Independent Rajya Sabha member Kapil Sibal, Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav, Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) member Anil Desai, and Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party member K Keshav Rao were among those in attendance.

Last year, before the Gujarat state assembly polls the Congress party mocked the election commission insinuating that the organisation is neither independent nor fair.

Congress has continuously cast aspersions on every national agency since the party was ousted from power in 2014, and blamed institutions including the election commission, media and even the judiciary for its electoral losses.

The BJP is hoping to create history to retain its southern bastion while Congress is aiming for a comeback. The voting for 224 assembly seats in Karnataka began at 7 am and will last till 6 pm. The results will be announced on Saturday.

Supreme Court to hear plea for a ban on the film ‘The Kerala Story’ on May 15, Kapil Sibal leads charge

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Supreme Court to hear plea for a ban on the film ‘The Kerala Story’ on May 15, Kapil Sibal leads charge

On Tuesday, May 9, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a plea challenging the Kerala High Court order refusing to stall the screening of the film The Kerala Story.

The plea moved by senior advocate Kapil Sibal was accepted by a bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha, and the hearing was scheduled on May 15. Sibal had mentioned the plea before the Supreme Court bench for an urgent hearing.

This comes after Kerala High Court on May 5 refused to put a stay on the release of Sudipto Sen’s The Kerala Story saying that a community as secular as Kerala would accept the movie for what it is. During the hearing, a division bench of Justices N Nagaresh and Sophy Thomas stated that the release of movies cannot be blocked just because it is deemed offensive by a certain section of society. “One religion says my God is the true God, that is allowed,” the court observed.

Supreme Court to hear plea filed by The Kerala Story makers on May 12

Interestingly, the makers of The Kerala Story also moved to the Supreme Court challenging the decision by the West Bengal government to ban the film in the state. The petition additionally challenged the Tamil government’s decision to impose a de facto ban on the film by issuing an ‘alert’ anticipating protests in conjunction with the film’s release, as a result of which multiplexes in the state refused to screen it.

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the petition moved by the makers of the film on May 12 after senior advocate Harish Salve mentioned the plea for an urgent listing. 

At first, the CJI stated that he would hear the matter on May 15, as the petition challenging the Kerala High Court’s disapproval to stay the film’s screening is scheduled for that date. However, Salve demanded an earlier date, arguing that the ban is costing the producers money. He also stated that another state is considering a ban on the film. As a result, the CJI agreed to list the matter for hearing on May 12.

The movie ‘The Kerala Story‘ revolves around the tragic reality of ISIS brides, with Adah Sharma playing the role of one Shalini Unnikrishnan, who is brainwashed by her Muslim friends and gets converted to Islam. She later travels to IS (Islamic State) controlled area with her spouse. The film is fairing unexpectedly well as the film’s box office collection crossed the Rs 56 crore mark.

‘Mentally prepared to go to jail’: Here is everything that Imran Khan had said hours before he was arrested

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‘Mentally prepared to go to jail’: Here is everything that Imran Khan had said hours before he was arrested

On Tuesday, hours before the arrest of the Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, he released a video responding to a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) and stating that he was chief of the country’s ‘largest’ political party and that he had no reasons to lie. The leader also said that he was mentally prepared to go behind bars.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday condemned Khan’s ‘highly irresponsible and baseless allegations against a serving senior military officer. In the 6-minute-long video, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader said that the officer in question had tried to kill him twice and he was so powerful that he (Khan) was unable to register a case despite being in power in Punjab.

“Firstly, the ISPR has issued a statement that the army has been disrespected by me naming an intelligence officer that has tried to kill me twice. ISPR sahib, listen to me carefully. Respect is not confined to a single institution; respect should be for every single citizen,” Khan said reiterating that he was chief of the country’s ‘largest’ political party and that he did not need to lie.

“This man tried to kill me twice and whenever an investigation is carried out, I will prove that it was this man and there is a whole gang with him. My question is: despite being a country’s ex-PM — because this man’s name has come forward — why was I unable to register a first information report? If he was innocent, it would have been revealed,” Khan said.

Imran said that two top police officers had declined to join the joint investigative team (JIT) established by the Punjab government to look into the Wazirabad attack on his life. “Who was behind it? Who was this powerful?”

He said that the team itself was sabotaged and that four Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) employees changed their testimony after the JIT concluded that three shooters were engaged in the attack. Imran also asserted that he would show how the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had seized control of the Islamabad Judicial Complex the evening before he arrived for a hearing in the Toshakhana case in March.

“I will prove that ISI [officials] were present in CTD uniforms and lawyers’ garb. I will prove that a brigadier, who I will not name, was there to monitor everything. What was the ISI doing there? It is my army, my Pakistan, not just yours. It is our army,” he was quoted as saying.

Was mentally prepared to go to jail: Imran Khan

The PTI leader said that the military establishment was really being harmed by the crackdown on individuals who publicly criticised it. He continued to assert that it wasn’t necessary to send a large number of police officers and other government representatives for his appearance before the courts in Islamabad. 

“If someone has a warrant, come to me directly, I am prepared to go to jail. Spending so much money as if a major criminal is coming to Islamabad. Do us a favor and don’t stage such a drama and directly provide a warrant,” he said adding that he was mentally prepared to go to jail.

In the tweet, Imran can be heard saying that the coalition government is making attempts to arrest him to prevent him from campaigning for elections and also to stop him from “mobilising the masses for street movement in support of Constitution if PDM govt & their handlers refuse to obey the SC (Supreme Court) and violate Constitution on holding of elections.”

The PTI has called for quick elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, whose assemblies have been dissolved, making the electoral debate a controversial one. Elections were scheduled to take place in the two provinces on May 14 by decision of the Supreme Court, but the matter is still in dispute.

ISPR condemned Imran Khan’s actions

The ISPR had criticised Imran on Monday for making extremely irresponsible and baseless allegations against a serving senior military commander and urged him to seek redress in court rather than making false allegations. The military’s public affairs branch said in a statement that the PTI chairman had made “fabricated and malicious allegations” against a senior military commander without providing any supporting documentation.

“This has been a consistent pattern for last one year wherein military and intelligence agencies officials are targeted with insinuations and sensational propaganda for the furtherance of political objectives. We ask the political leader concerned to make recourse to legal avenues and stop making false allegations,” the ISPR said.

Word war between PM Shehbaz Sharif and Imran Khan

Earlier, PM Shehbaz Sharif also criticised Imran Khan for routinely maligning and threatening the Pakistan Army and Intelligence Agency for the sake of petty political gains. This is after an assassination attempt on the PTI chief in Wazirabad last year, Imran named three people and demanded their immediate removal from official posts.

However, in a series of tweets today, Imran Khan took a jibe at PM Shehbaz, asking if he did not have the right to nominate those he felt were behind the assassination plot. “Does Shahbaz Sharif’s tweet mean that army officers are above the law or they cannot commit any crime? If we believe that one of them has committed a crime, how does it bring the institution into disrepute?” he questioned.

The now-detained leader also sought answer to “who was powerful enough to sabotage Wazirabad JIT despite PTI government in Punjab?”

“Can Shahbaz Sharif explain why the ISI completely occupied the judicial complex in Islamabad on the evening before my appearance on March 18? Why did the ISI people disguise themselves as CTDs and lawyers?” he pondered.

Massive protests emerged after Khan was detained

Following Imran Khan’s detention in Islamabad on Tuesday, there were several large-scale and violent demonstrations all around Pakistan. The leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was detained as he entered the grounds of the Islamabad High Court to attend the hearing of the Al-Qadir Trust case.  

Pakistan Rangers, a government paramilitary law enforcement organisation, took him into custody. Videos indicated that the Rangers smashed off the glass windows to enter the room after PTI employees refused to unlock the door.

Khan has been detained in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust case, in which he and his wife Bushra Bibi are charged with forcibly buying land from a business tycoon. According to a report, they are under investigation by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for allegedly collecting Rs 5 billion and hundreds of kanals (of land) from Bahria Town [a real estate corporation located in Islamabad] in return for the company’s defence in a money laundering case.

Leaders of the PTI have claimed that the ex-PM has been transferred to a “secret location” and raised concern that he would be tortured. According to local media, Khan will be introduced on May 10 at the New Police Guest House, Police Lines Headquarters in Islamabad.

In many cities around the nation, protesters flocked to the streets and got into fights with police and other security officials. In Quetta, there has already been one death and five injuries. Unrest was also reported from Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Rawalpindi.

In light of the events, mobile and internet services have been halted throughout the nation. In Pakistan, access to Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube has also been blocked.

Uttar Pradesh: Muslim doctor murders Hindu wife for not converting to Islam after marrying her pretending to be Hindu, gets life in jail after 9-year-old testifies

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Muslim doctor murders Hindu wife for not converting to Islam after marrying her pretending to be Hindu, gets life in jail after 9-year-old testifies

In a case of love jihad from Uttar Pradesh, a court in Bareilly sentenced a doctor, Iqbal Ahmad to life imprisonment for killing his second wife, Nisha Devi, a resident of Saharanpur with the assistance of his two aides, Muhammad Yaseen and Misaryar Khan in 2021 on the basis of the testimony of his nine-year-old daughter. The minor witnessed the incident. The accused runs his clinic in Bareilly.

On October 26, 2021, the victim was discovered dead at their residence and her husband had disappeared. The dead body was taken to a nearby hospital by police. Later, the young girl revealed to the deceased’s mother and her maternal grandmother, Kaushal Devi, that her mother had been murdered by her father. Her assertion was substantiated by the autopsy report, which disclosed that Nisha had been strangled to death.

Kaushal Devi had earlier said that her daughter was being harassed at the hands of the culprit.

The perpetrator had married Nisha Devi about a decade prior by feigning to be a Hindu. “As per the files, Nisha and Iqbal had a love marriage after the latter introduced himself as ‘Dr Raju Sharma’. The wedding was solemnised in Saharanpur as per Hindu rituals. The couple then started staying in Saharanpur,” informed Sachin Jaiswal, additional district government counsel (ADGC).

He was already married but kept it a secret from her. “Nisha came to know about her husband’s identity when they moved to Meerganj in Bareilly. ‘Raju’ was actually Iqbal and he was already married. The accused then started putting pressure on her to embrace Islam, which she refused. Later she was found murdered,” he stated. His first wife and kids live in Jafarpur.

“An FIR was registered under IPC sections 302 (murder) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) along with Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act against Iqbal and unidentified persons on the complaint of Nisha’s mother on October 28, 2021,” he mentioned.

The official added, “He was arrested three months later. During the investigation, police found that he killed Nisha with the help of his brother-in-law Mohd Yaseen and aide Misaryar Khan alias Mishra.”

Since the marriage was solemnised before the anti-conversion Act came into effect, portions of the Act were dropped when the police filed a chargesheet against the three accused in April 2022. “The statement of the nine-year-old daughter, who studies in class III, played a pivotal role in nailing the accused. She told the court that her mother was watching TV when her father and two men killed her,” he unveiled.

He proclaimed, “Seeing the heinous nature of the crime, we argued for the death penalty. The case was heard before the court of additional district and sessions judge Tabrez Ahmed, who found all three guilty under IPC sections 302 and 34.”

The pair first ran into each other during a relative’s wedding, where they fell in love and got married. They stayed in a rented house for a few days. Subsequently, it turned out that the offender is a Muslim and has 4 children from his first marriage. The shocking disclosure led to problems in their relationship. However, the two agreed to adhere to their own respective religions after reconciliation.

Notably, notorious instances of love jihad are on the rise at an alarming rate despite denials from some sections of society, including Islamists, liberals, and leftists.

Geological Survey of India terms claims of Lithium reserve found in Rajasthan as ‘baseless’ even as Rajasthan minister credits CM Ashok Gehlot

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Geological Survey of India terms claims of Lithium reserve found in Rajasthan as ‘baseless’ even as Rajasthan minister credits CM Ashok Gehlot

On Tuesday, May 9, the Geological Survey of India (GSI) refuted reports which claimed that lithium reserves have been identified in Rajasthan as “baseless”.

“Media reports published in various newspapers regarding the finding of large lithium reserves by the Geological Survey of India (GSI), in Degana area, Nagaur district, Rajasthan are completely baseless and misleading,” GSI said.

The GSI added that no such information was provided by either the regional or central headquarters.

This comes after it was reported in the media that lithium reserves have now been found in the Degana municipality of Rajasthan’s Nagaur district. It was said that the amount of lithium in these reserves is enough to meet 80% of India’s overall needs. 

While the GSI has dismissed the reports of the discovery of Lithium reserves in Nagaur district, Rajasthan’s mining minister Pramod Bhaya earlier claimed ‘credit’ as he said that CM Ashok Gehlot’s prime focus was on conducting as many surveys as possible. Minister Bhaya also asserted that the reserve found here is way bigger than those in Jammu and Kashmir.

“This is our luck that we have found Lithium in our state. CM’s prime focus this time was to have as many surveys as possible…Lithium reserve that has been found in Nagaur is much bigger than what was found in Jammu and Kashmir,” Bhaya said.

The GSI discovered 5.9 million tonnes of lithium deposits in Jammu and Kashmir earlier this year. Lithium is a soft, silvery-white metal that has earned the moniker “white gold” due to its great demand in the global energy markets. Lithium is most commonly found in rechargeable batteries for mobile phones, laptops, and electric vehicles.

‘We still don’t have jurisdiction in Pakistan’: How Delhi Police shut down a Pakistani troll for wanting to complain against PM Modi and RAW

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‘We still don’t have jurisdiction in Pakistan’: How Delhi Police shut down a Pakistani troll for wanting to complain against PM Modi and RAW

On Tuesday, the Delhi Police took a dig at the Pakistani troll identified as Sehar Shinwari after she said that she wanted to file a complaint against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Research and Analysis Wing or R&AW chief. The actress said that she wanted to file a complaint against Modi for allegedly spreading chaos and terrorism in Pakistan.

“Anyone knows the online link of Delhi Police? I have to file a complaint against Indian PM & Indian Intelligence Agency RAW who are spreading chaos and terrorism in my country Pakistan. If the Indian courts are free (As they claim) then I am sure Indian Supreme Court will provide me justice,” Shinwari tweeted on May 9.

In response to this, the Delhi Police gave a befitting reply saying they still didn’t have any jurisdiction in Pakistan. The Police also quipped asking how Shinwari was using the internet when it has been shut down in Pakistan.

“We are afraid we still do not have jurisdiction in Pakistan. But, would like to know how come you are tweeting when the internet has been shut down in your country!” the Police tweeted on Tuesday.

Pakistani troll Shinwari, who hilariously wants to file a complaint against PM Modi and RAW chief with Delhi Police also supported Rahul Gandhi recently. She tweeted that BJP would face ‘worst ever defeat’ and that Rahul Gandhi would win. Interestingly, On May 4 this year, the Pakistani entertainer wrote, “As long as BJP is in power, I don’t see any peace between India and Pakistan. Now its duty of India janta to use their power of vote and vote out this anti-peace party. “Vote for Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji in Karnataka elections and see the magic. He will bring back the glory of Mysore again,” she batted for the Congress scion.

Interestingly, the Pakistani entertainer also supports ‘Khalistan’ Pakistan’s ISI-supported propaganda that seeks a separate ‘country’ Khalistan for Sikhs. She has also tried to create a Hindu vs Sikh divide.

Although she calls herself an actress, there are no media articles, no videos on YouTube which acknowledge her as an actress. Pakistan is known to deploy PsyOps to drive an international narrative against India. 

At this point, one cannot say for sure whether ‘Sehar Shirwani’ is a real account of an actual female actress who did a one-off role in an obscure serial back in 2017.is just some honeytrap/propaganda account run by Pakistani intelligence agencies for some ulterior motives?

Notably, Indian netizens mocked the actress as she intended to file a police complaint against PM Modi and the RA&W chief. While many of them shared emojis expressing laughter, one of the users said that the actress should have contacted the Uttar Pradesh Police for an appropriate solution under the rule of CM Yogi Adityanath. Another user meanwhile said that the tweet made by the actress made no sense.

Netizens mocking the Pakistani actress

However, after the Delhi Police gave a scathing reply to the actress, the netizens indicated that Delhi Police would soon have jurisdiction over Pakistan as well. One of the users also said that the actress tagged the wrong police and that she should have tagged the Uttar Pradesh Police for instant results.

“Delhi Police may not be but UP Police has jurisdiction all over the world. UP Police is requested to register charges under relevant sections in the relevant case. Initiate critical proceedings and send a notice to the said woman to come to Lucknow Police Station under Section 157 of the Penal Code for investigation,” the tweet in Hindi read.

Comments followed by Delhi Police’s tweet

Other users also suggested that Delhi Police would soon have jurisdiction in Pakistan and Afghanistan as well. “Delhi Police, don’t forget Afghanistan tak apna hai,” one of the users wrote.

Comments followed by Delhi Police’s tweet

The troll is said to have posted the tweet after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan got detained yesterday. Notably, mobile broadband connections have been suspended nationwide since yesterday in Pakistan following the widespread sharing of recordings of violent protests on social media sites as unrest increased following the detention of Imran Khan.

Following Imran Khan’s detention, PTI activists protested in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Karachi, Quetta, Mardan, Bannu, and Chilas, among other Pakistani cities. According to several accounts in Pakistani media, protesters broke into the Lahore and Rawalpindi homes of army generals.

Several videos that have surfaced on social media sites show groups of men approaching the gated GHQ property with sticks, which they subsequently are shown using to batter the walls. Some of the individuals have their faces covered.

Amnesty International, a human rights organisation, has meanwhile urged the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to reinstate internet connection for Pakistanis as well as access to Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Military persons detained Imran Khan on Tuesday while he was leaving the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises in relation to a warrant issued by the National Accountability Bureau in the Al-Qadir Trust case. Following his detention, the PTI encouraged its followers to demonstrate in Pakistan by closing all businesses and blocking all roadways. Imran Khan’s detention was deemed legitimate on Tuesday by the Islamabad High Court.

‘Virat Hindu’ Subramanian Swamy reveals he met Mamata Banerjee, who had declared ‘jihad’ against BJP, to discuss 2024 LS elections, says she should be PM

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‘Virat Hindu’ Subramanian Swamy reveals he met Mamata Banerjee, who had declared ‘jihad’ against BJP, to discuss 2024 LS elections, says she should be PM

On Tuesday, May 9, former Rajya Sabha MP and BJP ‘leader’ Subramaniam Swamy showered praises on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and said that she should be the Prime Minister of India. Swamy also asserted that the country needs a genuine political opposition that is not afraid of the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).

“Mamata Banerjee should be the Prime Minister of India. She is a gutsy woman, just look at how she fought the communists. I met her ten days ago but nobody knows about that,” Swamy said during an interactive session at an event organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in Kolkata. 

When asked about details of his meeting with the West Bengal CM, Swamy said that it was about the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and what shape the Indian economy would be in 2024.

Swamy further asserted that “Mamata Banerjee is the only woman leader who has the guts to stand up,” in response to a question regarding who he thinks is the most powerful woman leader in India. Swamy also said that there was a time Jayalalitha could have been, then at a time thought of Mayawati but in the present scenario Swamy opined that Mamata Banerjee is the most powerful woman in the country as “she is not complicit” and that it is “impossible to blackmail her”.

Concerning the opposition, Subramanian Swamy stated that the country requires a genuine opposition that is neither ‘afraid’ nor a ‘friend’ of the ruling party, claiming that opposition parties do not go beyond a point against the BJP because they are afraid of being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) or another probe agency.

“I know a lot of people today. They will not go beyond a point against the present government. Because they are afraid that ED will turn up or something else will turn up. That’s not good for Indian democracy,” Swamy said.

Interestingly, this is not the first time that Subramaniam Swamy has heaped praises on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo.

In 2021, Swamy lauded Mamata Banerjee and compared her to JP (Jayaprakash Narayan), Rajiv Gandhi, Morarji Desai and PV Narasimha Rao. 

“Of all the politicians I have met or worked with, Mamata Banerjee ranks with JP, Morarji Desai, Rajiv Gandhi, Chandrashekhar, and P V Narasimha Rao who meant what they said and said what they meant. In Indian politics that is a rare quality,” Swamy tweeted back in 2021.

Moreover, last year, Swamy who often likes to call himself a ‘Virat Hindu’ met the West Bengal CM in Kolkata even after several Hindus were killed in the state in post-poll violence in 2021. Swamy once again heaped praises on  Banerjee as he tweeted, “Today I was in Kolkata and met the charismatic Mamata Banerjee. She is a courageous person. I admired her fight against the CPM in which she decimated the Communists.”

Forced to use the toilet with its door opened: Times Now journalist Bhavana Kishore narrates her ordeal after Punjab police arrested her, breaks down

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Forced to use the toilet with its door opened: Times Now journalist Bhavana Kishore narrates her ordeal after Punjab police arrested her, breaks down

On May 9, Times Now Navbharat reporter Bhawana Kishore, who was arrested by Punjab Police for allegedly being involved in an accident and using casteist slurs after an accident, talked about her ordeal during the time she was in custody. She told Group Editor Navika Kumar and anchor Sushant B Sinha that she was forced by the police to use the toilet with its door open.

On the day of the arrest, the police told her that her medical was scheduled for 1 AM, and after that, she would be presented in front of the magistrate. She said, “I was not feeling well, so I ate the food [they gave]. The driver and cameraperson also ate a little. I was having a lot of water as I was feeling nervous. When I went to the washroom, 2-3 female constables accompanied me. There was no electricity or water at the police station [I was kept in].”

Bhawana broke down on camera while describing her humiliation during the custody. “I still used the washroom while the door was open. I was under so much mental pressure that I felt no shame,” she said.

Later that night, senior police officials came to meet her. She said, “I folded my hands before them and told them I did not do anything wrong. Please let me go. You can check the CCTV footage. My cameraperson and driver are also innocent. They told me they knew I did nothing wrong and asked me to cooperate.”

Bhawana further told Navika that the washroom she was allowed to use at the hospital where she went for the medical had blood-soaked clothes. “I felt like I would vomit. I saw dead bodies in the hospital late at night. If I think about it, I again feel the same.”

She said there were female constables around her. They allowed her to use the washroom to take a bath, but she could not lock the doors on one condition. She said, “I felt awkward that the door was open and they [female constables] might be looking. I feared that a CCTV was recording me while I was using the washroom.”

Bhawana Kishore arrest

The Punjab police May 5 arrested Times Now Navbharat journalist Bhawana Kishore in a rash driving case. The police arrested her and two other crew members Mrityunjay Kumar and Parminder Singh. The police invoked provisions of the stringent SC/ST Act along with various sections of the IPC against the scribes.

According to the police, the arrest was made after a woman was injured on her right hand when the car they were travelling in collided with her. According to the authorities, the trio was also charged with abusing the victim with casteist slurs. The police registered a case against the scribes under Sections 279, 337 and 427 of the IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the SC and ST Act.

Following the arrest, Times Now alleged that their reporter has been falsely implicated in an SC-ST case by the Ludhiana police. The channel also said that she was not driving the vehicle and is not responsible for the accident. Bhawana was arrested while she was on her way to report the inauguration of Mohalla Clinics by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal.

The channel, hinting at an alleged witchhunt launched against them by the Aam Aadmi Party after their recent “Operation Sheesh Mahal” expose against their supremo Arvind Kejriwal, said that Bhawana was taken away in a car by a male cop before a flimsy FIR was filed against her in Ludhiana’s Section 3 Division Police Station. It was also noted that the said cop was not wearing a nameplate displaying his name while taking Bhavana.

She was granted bail. On May 9, during the hearing of the case, Judge Deepak Sibbal rescued himself from the case and sent it to the CJI. A new bench will be appointed to hear the matter.

Chants of ‘Allahu Akbar’ and ‘Nara-e-Takbeer’ grip Pakistan: Protests erupt in different cities after Imran Khan’s arrest; Pakistan Army HQ stormed

OpIndia Staff
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Chants of ‘Allahu Akbar’ and ‘Nara-e-Takbeer’ grip Pakistan: Protests erupt in different cities after Imran Khan’s arrest; Pakistan Army HQ stormed

Pakistan is on fire following the arrest of Imran Khan by Pakistani Rangers outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) earlier in the day. The former Prime Minister and PTI chief’s supporters have taken to the streets to protest against his arrest. According to reports, the large-scale protests emerged after the party appealed to the people to hit the streets. 

The protests have reportedly spread to various cities including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Peshawar and Mardan. Angry crowds of protesters, presumably PTI supporters, chanting Allahu Akbar and Nara-e-Takbeer have lined up on the streets of Pakistan, going on a rampage against Army establishments to protest against Khan’s arrest.

Videos have emerged showing Imran Khan supporters, including women, throwing stones and beating up police personnel and vandalising several important government buildings and residences of Army officials.

Journalist Aditya Raj Kaul shared a video showing hundreds of angry PTI supporters breaking into the Pakistan Army headquarters in Rawalpindi. The protestors can be seen breaking barricades and iron gates to forcefully enter the high-security area.

In the same video shared by Defence analyst Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, the mob can be seen raising “Naara-e-Takbeer, Allah-hu-Akbar” slogans as they are into the Army headquarters.

Kaul shared another video where PTI supporters attacked the Pakistan Spy Agency ISI headquarters after Imran Khan’s arrest.

In another video shared by Defence analyst Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, several irate protestors can be seen vandalising the residence of an army officer in the Lahore Cantt area. 

Iyer shared another video showing protestors attacking Pakistani police personnel with sticks and rods.

The PTI supporters have reportedly set the Lahore Corps commander’s house on fire.

Air Force dummy aircraft set on fire outside Mianwali air base.

Radio Pakistan building set on fire.

Videos showing the irate mob setting fire to vehicles and government properties including the Rangers post in Karachi also emerged on social media.

In another video, Imran Khan’s supporters can be seen pelting stones and clashing with the police in Karachi’s Shahrah-e-Faisal area.

The protests against the arrest of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan turned gruesome after PTI supporters set fire to a police vehicle in Karachi. The police van was reportedly carrying prisoners. 

The Army and police in Pakistan have been resorting to water canons and tear gas to disperse Imran Khan’s angry supporters who have been creating a ruckus in several parts of the country. In the midst of all the chaos, reports are emerging that four boys were hit with bullets in the ensuing mayhem.

Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has been imposed in Islamabad.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister and PTI chief Imran Khan arrested from outside the Islamabad High Court

The protest erupted after former Pakistan Prime Minister and PTI chief Imran Khan was arrested from outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) by Pakistani Rangers. Imran Khan had reportedly gone to the Islamabad HC to seek bail in multiple FIRs registered against him.

According to local media, the PTI chairman was taken in a black Vigo by the law enforcement agency.

The PTI chief reportedly has been arrested in the Al-Qadir Trust case of the National Accountability Bureau as well as the Toshakhana case.

‘HM within his right to say religion-based reservation is unconstitutional’: Read arguments that led SC to reject Muslim body’s prayer to censor media

OpIndia Staff
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‘HM within his right to say religion-based reservation is unconstitutional’: Read arguments that led SC to reject Muslim body’s prayer to censor media

On Tuesday, May 9, the Supreme Court refused to entertain the plea made by the Central Muslim Association to restrain the press from publishing speeches made by public functionaries on subjects that are sub-judice or before Court.

The bench of Justice KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna was hearing a plea challenging the Karnataka Government’s decision to scrap the 4% reservation for Muslims in government jobs and educational institutions and distribute it equally to Vokkaligas and Lingayats in the state.

The Central Muslim Association’s appeal was made in response to statements made by Home Minister Amit Shah that the incumbent BJP government in Karnataka, as promised, has revoked the reservation for Muslims in the state.

In multiple interviews with local television channels in Karnataka and during poll campaigns, HM Amit Shah had said there was no provision for reservation on the basis of religion in the Constitution, and the 4% quota for Muslims was completely unconstitutional. The BJP Government in the State scrapped the reservation to uphold constitutional provisions, Shah argued.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also opposed the said prayer made by Central Muslim Association contending that media can never be censured in this manner.

The remark from the Bench came after senior counsel Dushyant Dave, who was representing petitioner Ghulam Rasool, challenging the decision to scrap quota, highlighted HM Amit Shah’s remarks and stated it amounted to contempt of court.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta took strong objection to the submission, saying the Court had not been “told about the context, content or anything”.

SG Tushar Mehta said that it was fully justified that HM Amit Shah is principally against religion-based reservations. He declared unequivocally that everyone has the right to express themselves on significant issues.

Mehta further stated before the court that any religious reservation is unconstitutional.

He stressed that if any Executive authority had interfered with citizens’ rights to speak what the Home Minister allegedly said, this Court would undoubtedly act and preserve his free speech rights.

When another lawyer present in the court informed the bench that the Bharatiya Janata Party had stated in its Election Manifesto that if elected, the party will repeal the 4% Muslim reservation, the Solicitor General retorted sharply saying that there is nothing wrong with such manifestos, and that every political party should state in their manifestos that they will eradicate religion-based reservations.

The SC bench, however, observed that sub judice cases should not be ‘politicised.’

“Why should such statements be made by anyone when the matter is sub judice?” a Bench of Justices K. M. Joseph, B. V. Nagarathna and Ahsanuddin Amanullah asked taking objection to HM Amit Shah’s remarks.

The SC bench observed that public functionaries should exercise restraint in their speeches, and not politicise issues that are under consideration by the Court.

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