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‘Kerala Story’ type case from Uttar Pradesh: Hindu woman raped by Haider with the help of her own friend Reena Bano, later blackmailed and pressurised to convert to Islam

OpIndia Staff
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‘Kerala Story’ type case from Uttar Pradesh: Hindu woman raped by Haider with the help of her own friend Reena Bano, later blackmailed and pressurised to convert to Islam

A shocking incident has emerged from Uttar Pradesh‘s Hardoi district, where a 24-year-old Hindu woman has said that she was raped by a man made Haider with the help of her own Muslim friend Reena Bano.

The victim says they raped her, blackmailed her, and attempted to convert her to Islam. The nightmare for the victim started in December 2024 and continued for months, leaving her scared and helpless.

The Hindu victim and her ‘friend’ Reena Bano both attend the ITI college of Hardoi, and the girl met Reena at college. They soon became friends and began to hang out with each other like good friends do. But things went dark when Reena asked her to visit her home in the Lohani near the Pihani police station. Upon arrival, Reena led her to a room where Haider, Reena’s relative from Prayagraj, was already inside the room.

As soon as she entered, Reena slipped out and closed the door. Haider also had a gun, and he said that if she uttered a word, he would kill her, and then he raped her. He also recorded the entire incident on his phone. The girl cried out for help, but nobody came. When Reena returned, Reena and Haider started blackmailing her and warned that they would show the video to her family and put it on the internet if she did not obey them.

The blackmailing went on for seven months. They used to phone her every two weeks or so and ask her to meet them, and they snapped more pictures or made more videos of her so that they could hold her hostage.

Haider also instructed her to abandon Hinduism and become a Muslim, and marry him even though he was already married. She attempted to refuse, but fearing the video would be released, so she kept her silence.

Finally, after seven months, on 11th July, 2025, she visited Shahabad police station and complained, revealing everything regarding the rape, blackmail, and coercion to convert. The police also acted promptly and arrested Reena Bano on the same day. Haider, however, remains evasive, and the police are trying to trace him.

Circle Officer Anuj Mishra of Shahabad revealed that the case is registered under Uttar Pradesh’s anti-conversion law. The police are making every effort to arrest Haider and ensure the woman receives justice.

Can Rs 8.6 crores ‘blood money’ save Nimisha Priya from death penalty in Yemen? SC to hear plea to save Kerala nurse 2 days before her planned execution

Jinit Jain
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Can Rs 8.6 crores ‘blood money’ save Nimisha Priya from death penalty in Yemen? SC to hear plea to save Kerala nurse 2 days before her planned execution

With just two days left before her scheduled execution in war-torn Yemen, the fate of Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya now rests on an urgent intervention from India’s Supreme Court. On Monday, July 15, a bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta is expected to hear a plea seeking diplomatic efforts and legal recourse to save the 38-year-old nurse from execution. And yet, the variables are so complex, it cannot be certain if Priya’s execution could be averted even if the Supreme Court orders in her favour.

The petition, filed by Advocate Subhash Chandran KR, pleads for the Indian government to engage Yemen’s authorities, despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties, and facilitate the payment of “blood money” to the victim’s family, by Sharia law provisions prevalent in Yemen.

From medical mission to death row

Nimisha Priya, 38, hailing from Palakkad in Kerala, moved to Yemen in 2011 to work as a nurse in private hospitals. In 2014, her husband and minor daughter returned to India due to the escalating civil war. Left behind in a conflict-ridden foreign land, Nimisha decided to open a clinic in Sana’a to support her family.

Under Yemeni law, foreign nationals can only start clinics in partnership with local citizens. That led Nimisha to partner with Talal Abdo Mahdi. However, what began as a business arrangement soon turned into a nightmare. Mahdi allegedly forged documents to claim he was married to Nimisha, seized her passport, and subjected her to years of abuse—physical, emotional, and financial. He reportedly drained her earnings, tortured her under the influence of drugs, and even threatened her at gunpoint.

In 2015, Mahdi accompanied her to Kerala during a vacation, where he allegedly stole a wedding photograph to falsely claim marital rights over her and manipulate clinic ownership records. Nimisha’s repeated appeals to local Yemeni police reportedly fell on deaf ears. According to her mother’s plea, after a short arrest herself, she returned from jail to find the abuse intensifying.

The crime and conviction

In July 2017, desperate to retrieve her passport and escape Yemen, Nimisha allegedly attempted to sedate Mahdi. The dose proved fatal. With the help of fellow nurse Hannan, she dismembered the body and concealed it in a water tank. Both were arrested soon after. Hannan received a life sentence, but Nimisha was handed the death penalty in 2020 by a trial court in Sana’a. Her appeal was rejected by the Houthi-controlled Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023, and Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi authorised the execution in December 2024.

The ‘Blood Money’ offer: A last-minute lifeline?

The plea is centered around a desperate yet lawful option: an offer of $1 million (approximately ₹8.6 crore) as diyya, blood money, to the family of Talal Abdo Mahdi, the Yemeni national Nimisha is accused of murdering in 2017. Under Sharia law, the victim’s kin have the power to pardon the convicted in exchange for such compensation. The petition contends that this route remains the only viable alternative to halt her imminent execution.

Advocate Subhash Chandran KR initially moved the plea, later supported by Advocate Ragenth Basant, representing the Save Nimisha Priya International Council. During an earlier hearing before a vacation bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Joymalya Bagchi, Basant told the court, “I am an Indian citizen from Kerala. Went there for employment as a nurse. A local person started torturing me… and he was killed.”

While the bench had listed the matter for July 14, counsel requested an earlier date due to the proximity of the execution. The court obliged, setting the hearing for July 11.

‘Blood Money’: Price of a pardon

Nimisha’s family has reportedly arranged $1 million (approx. ₹8.6 crore) as blood money to offer to Mahdi’s family. However, the path to negotiation has been fraught with delays and mistrust. Yemeni lawyer Abdullah Ameer, representing Nimisha, had demanded $40,000 as a pre-negotiation fee. Though the Indian Ministry of External Affairs paid nearly $20,000, disputes over the remaining amount stalled proceedings.

Efforts to crowdfund the legal expenses through the Save Nimisha Priya Council also drew criticism due to an alleged lack of transparency in fund management. Meanwhile, Nimisha’s mother, Prema Kumari, travelled to Yemen in April 2024, the first time she had seen her daughter in 11 years, in a bid to personally appeal for forgiveness and begin the dialogue with Mahdi’s tribal leaders.

Indian govt’s limited but active role

The complexity of Nimisha’s case is compounded by Yemen’s ongoing civil war and the fact that she is incarcerated in Sana’, territory controlled by the Houthi rebels. India does not have official diplomatic relations with the Houthis, which has severely restricted its ability to intervene directly.

Despite this, Indian authorities have reportedly been making backchannel efforts to engage with tribal leaders and intermediaries to save Nimisha’s life. But with the clock ticking down to July 16, the scheduled date of her execution, every minute counts.

Desperate and diminishing options

The apex court in India on Monday will finalise whether the Indian government must intensify its efforts to secure a pardon using options available to them, even though the Ministry of External Affairs had already clarified they had done all they could to help 

The Supreme Court hearing on Monday will decide whether the Indian government must intensify its efforts to secure a pardon using the available legal tools in Yemen. For Nimisha Priya, whose case has sparked emotional appeals and international media attention, the ₹8.6 crore offer may represent her final hope.

Whether the victim’s family agrees to accept the blood money and whether the Houthis allow the process to play out remains to be seen. If the court’s push and the Indian government’s last-minute efforts achieve a diplomatic breakthrough, it may yet stop Priya’s execution. 

Aaj Tak journalist questions the Brajmandal Yatra citing 2023 Nuh violence, where Muslim mobs attacked Hindu, but fails to question Islamists, tries to put blame on Hindus

OpIndia Staff
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Aaj Tak journalist questions the Brajmandal Yatra citing 2023 Nuh violence, where Muslim mobs attacked Hindu, but fails to question Islamists, tries to put blame on Hindus

On 14th July, Hindus in Nuh district celebrated the first Monday of the Savan month with the Braj Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra. The procession is conducted by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) every year. The 80 KM long procession began at 12 PM.

Security arrangements for 2025 Yatra

Amidst all the chaos, Aaj Tak’s anchor Neha Batham made a controversial statement during reporting on the preparations for the Braj Mandal Jalabhishek Yatra.

Media coverage and controversial remarks

While talking to the on-ground reporter, Neha questioned why the procession was allowed when there were chances of communal tension. She said, “When such incident happened in 2023, what was the need of the procession? After all, peace is the top priority.” Interestingly, during the reporting, on-ground reporter Anmol Vali and Neha avoided mentioning that the 2023 riots were caused by an Muslim mob.

Narrative distortion and omission of facts

Anmol mentioned that Bittu Bajrangi has been stopped from attending the procession and claimed he was accused of causing the riots. He also mentioned that weapons like “Trishul”, “baseball bat”, have been banned from the procession. However, he completely ignored the fact that it was the Muslim mob that attacked Hindus, police personnel and home guards in 2023. He completely ignored the fact that Muslims had pelted stones, attacked Hindus with sticks and batons and opened fire at them.

Aaj Tak’s reporters conveniently ignored mentioning Abhishek, who was brutally murdered. He was first shot at, then his throat was slit and his face crushed with stones. They did not mention how shops belonging to Hindus were selectively looted and torched in Nuh and nearby regions.

Nuh violence of 2023

On 31st July 2023, during the procession, large mobs of Muslims had attacked Hindus, leading to massive chaos. Seven people had lost their lives and several were injured. Public and police vehicles were torched. Shops were looted and burnt down.

A Hindu youth named Abhishek was brutally murdered by the Muslim mob at the Shiv temple premises. He was shot and his head was crushed, leaving no chance of survival. A female judicial officer who was going back home with her 3-year-old daughter was attacked by the Muslims. Her vehicle was torched. She somehow managed to escape.

Police action in 2023 and preventive measures in following years

Following the attack on Hindus, Haryana police filed over 60 FIRs and over 400 Muslims were arrested, most of whom are now out on bail. All the cases filed in the matter are under trial. The following year, the Haryana government was prepared. Internet was shut down. Heavy police force was deployed to avoid any unwanted incidents.

For the 2025 Yatra, similar arrangements were made. Over 2,500 police personnel were deployed. Internet services were shut down for the day. Notably, Nuh district is Muslim-dominant, making it a hotbed for communal tension. Sniffer dogs and drones have been deployed for surveillance.

Media bias and its consequences

The selective amnesia displayed by mainstream media outlets is not just irresponsible, it is dangerous. They conveniently glossed over the real perpetrators of the 2023 violence and cast doubt on a peaceful religious procession. They feed into a narrative that vilifies Hindu devotees while downplaying Muslim aggression. When justice is diluted by silence and reportage is tinted by bias, truth suffers.

Congress supporting troll accuses Air Kanishka bombing survivor Sanjay Lazar, who had lost his parents and sister in the Khalistani terror attack, of making money off the attack

OpIndia Staff
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Congress supporting troll accuses Air Kanishka bombing survivor Sanjay Lazar, who had lost his parents and sister in the Khalistani terror attack, of making money off the attack

On 13th July 2025, Congress sympathiser-cum-troll Suryanarayan Ganesh resorted to mocking Sanjay Lazar, author and survivor of the 1985 Air Kanishka bombing. Lazar, who lost his family members including parents and sister in the Khalistani terror attack decades ago, wrote an X post sharing his article regarding the June 2025 Ahmedabad Air India 171 Boeing Dreamliner tragedy that claimed around 240 lives.

What started as a usual social media exchange over Lazar tagging several activists and journalists in his post, Congress supporter Suryanarayan Ganesh claimed that Lazar made money off Kanishka ‘disaster’. The pro-Congress troll accused Sanjay Lazar of exploiting the Ahmedabad Air crash as a career opportunity by peddling conspiracy theories.

“You are the one who wrote and sold books to make money off Kanishka disaster, now you see this one as another career opportunity by spewing conspiracy bullshit that flies against evidence seen so far,” Ganesh wrote.

However, the Congress supporter’s vile comment did not go unanswered as Sanjay Lazar not only called out Suryanarayan Ganesh for mocking him without knowing much about his career, but also pointed out how the previous Congress government refused to do anything ensure justice to the victims of Air Kanishka bombing.

“Are you dumb ? I lost my entire family in Kanishka, orphaned as a teenager, you moron. I gave up my job 5 years early to take up this activism. “Made money publishing books!” FYI I self-published the books at my cost and literally gave them below print cost,” Sanjay Lazar retorted.

“I have fought for justice for my family, for 40 years in various Canadian courts on my own, because moronic congress governments refused to intervene, from Rajiv Gandhi to Zail singh to Narasimha Rao and Manmohan singh ! I met them all plus many UPA ministers who are around even today.  Even today, I travel the world at my cost to speak about terrorism & dangers of Khalistani terror.  I’ve spent 38 years in aviation and this is my life. It would do you well to google before vomitting your bile,” he added.

Air Kanishka bombing

On 23rd June 1985, Air India Flight 182, named Kanishka, disintegrated mid-air off the coast of Ireland after a bomb exploded in its cargo hold. There were 329 people on board, including the passengers and crew members, who were killed. Out of these, 268 were Canadians. Khalistani terrorists were behind the attack that still remains the worst terrorist attack in Canadian history.

Around one hour before the Kanishka bombing, a related suitcase bomb destined for another Air India flight blew up at Japan’s Narita Airport, killing two baggage handlers. Khalistani terrorists were behind both the blasts.

Following the Kanishka bombing, Canadian authorities completely mishandled the investigation and let everyone except one accused go free.

Uttar Pradesh: Matloob Ahmed uses fake identity of ‘Rajeev’ to entrap young Hindu woman, wanted to marry victim to convert her to Islam, temple priest foils nefarious plan

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Matloob Ahmed uses fake identity of ‘Rajeev’ to entrap young Hindu woman, wanted to marry victim to convert her to Islam, temple priest foils nefarious plan

A shocking case has come to light from the Belha Devi temple in Pratapgarh district of Uttar Pradesh, where a Muslim man was caught trying to marry a young woman by hiding his real identity. The accused, 45-year-old Matloob Ahmed, was arrested on the spot after the temple priest grew suspicious.

The incident happened on Saturday (12th July), around 11:30 am, when the temple’s head priest, Mangal Prasad, was doing his routine inspection. He noticed a middle-aged man and a young woman, around 20 years old, exchanging garlands at the temple ghat. The clear age gap between them made him suspicious, so he asked them some questions.

Matloob Ahmed had applied sandalwood paste on his forehead

The woman said she was from the Malaka area of Prayagraj, and the man claimed to be her neighbour. However, when the priest checked his Aadhaar card, he found out the man’s real name was Matloob Ahmed, not Rajiv as he had told the girl. He had even applied sandalwood paste on his forehead to appear Hindu. The priest immediately informed the police.

FIR has been registered

The Bhuliyapur police outpost team, including women constables, rushed to the spot and brought both of them to the Kotwali police station. Based on the priest’s complaint, an FIR was registered against Matloob under Sections 299 (fraud) and 287 (negligent conduct) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The accused had already been married twice

During interrogation, it came to light that Matloob had already been married twice and works as a roadside puncture repairman in Prayagraj. He had been in touch with the woman for about a year and chose this remote temple for the marriage to avoid being caught.

The woman told the police that Matloob had introduced himself as Rajiv and promised to marry her according to Hindu customs. She also claimed he intended to force her to convert after marriage. Police handed her over to her family and said further investigation is underway.

Madhya Pradesh: ‘Manager’ Safdar forces female Hindu employee to convert to Islam, solicits sexual favours, Bajrang Dal takes matter into their hands

OpIndia Staff
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Madhya Pradesh: ‘Manager’ Safdar forces female Hindu employee to convert to Islam, solicits sexual favours, Bajrang Dal takes matter into their hands

A young Hindu woman employed was lured, harassed and repeatedly forced to convert to Islam by her manager in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, reported News18. The man, identified as Safdar, was turned over to the authorities by members of the Bajrang Dal. A case has now been filed against him.

A young man in a black shirt can be seen being detained by a policeman during an altercation in an office, in the footage. Several angry individuals grabbed his shirt as the cop and others tried to placate the heated situation. The incident led to chaos and arguments following the charges. The perpetrator works at Realme’s office, Sunshine Tower, Teen Batti Square in Ujjain.

The victim disclosed, “He stated that he would provide me with an offer and when I inquired, he claimed that he would raise my salary to Rs 10,000 if I maintained a relationship with him. He then claimed that he would even offer me additional funds from his own pocket if I desired more. I informed him that I was not concerned if it took longer to increase my salary. I wanted to focus on my job and did not wish to follow his recommendations.”

She had reportedly been working at the place for the last month and a half. The Muslim youth would often make lewd comments about her and sought to trap her by promising a salary increase. He had even hacked into her mobile phone, allowing him to access her private information, chat logs and call records, among other things.

He even pressured her to accompany him to hotel to form physical relationship. The woman had recently stopped going to work because she was extremely distressed due to the ongoing harassment.

Delhi: Body of DU student Sneha Debnath found in Geeta Colony days after she went missing, note discovered in her room indicates suicide

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi: Body of DU student Sneha Debnath found in Geeta Colony days after she went missing, note discovered in her room indicates suicide

Days after 19-year-old Sneha Debnath, a student at Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College in Delhi University, went missing, her body has been recovered from a river under the Geeta Colony flyover on Sunday. The body was discovered following an extensive search operation by the Delhi Police and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

Sneha had been reported missing since July 7, sparking a widespread search and intense concern from her family and authorities. Sneha, originally from Sabroom, Tripura, was last in contact with her family early on July 7. In her final call to her mother, she mentioned she was heading to Sarai Rohilla Railway Station with a friend named Pitunia to drop her.

However, Pitunia later confirmed she never met Sneha that morning, deepening the mystery surrounding her disappearance. The family traced the driver of cab booked by Sneha that morning, who revealed that he had dropped Sneha near Delhi’s Signature Bridge, a location notorious for safety concerns and lack of CCTV cameras, severely hampering the investigation.

The search intensified with the involvement of NDRF, conducting operations over a seven-kilometer radius, but initially yielded no results for days.

Sneha’s family noted she had not withdrawn any money in the past four months and left without any belongings, except her phone, which was later found switched off. She had a small balance in her bank account, which remained unchanged. This raised alarming questions about her state of mind and circumstances leading to her disappearance.

A distressing development came to light when a note, written in Sneha’s handwriting, was discovered in her Delhi residence. The note read, “I just feel like a failure and burden and it was getting unbearable to live like this. I had decided to end my life by jumping from Signature Bridge. There is no foul play involved; it was my decision.”

The Delhi Police have stated that the investigation is ongoing, with no foul play suspected at this stage, but they are exploring all angles to understand the full circumstances of her death.

Dhaka: Students shut down Mitford Hospital after trader Lal Chand lynched near the gate, family say BNP-linked gang killed him for not paying monthly amount, some reports wrongly identify him as Hindu

OpIndia Staff
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Dhaka: Students shut down Mitford Hospital after trader Lal Chand lynched near the gate, family say BNP-linked gang killed him for not paying monthly amount, some reports wrongly identify him as Hindu

Students of Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital in Dhaka, popularly known as Mitford Hospital, declared an indefinite shutdown on Sunday, protesting the lack of security on campus following the lynching of scrap trader Lal Chand (also known as Sohag) near the hospital premises on Wednesday. They made the announcement during a protest rally on the medical college ground.

“Patients should not feel unsafe while seeking treatment, and we should not attend classes in fear,” a student said, warning that the shutdown would persist unless demands—including banning outsiders, clearing makeshift shops, enhanced Ansar presence, and improved security—were met.

On 9 July 2025, around 6:00 pm, the 39-year-old scrap trader Lal Chand (alias Sohag) was brutally attacked outside Gate No. 3 of Mitford Hospital. CCTV footage and witness accounts show that assailants used bricks, concrete blocks, iron rods, sticks, and stones to beat him. His head and body were crushed, he was stripped naked, and some attackers were seen stomping on his body even after he fell unconscious and died. The attackers reportedly celebrated afterwards by dancing around the body.

The murder is believed to have been fuelled by a business dispute and attempts to extort Tk 2 lakh per month from him, which he had refused, according to the victim’s family.

Victim mistakenly identified as Hindu

Notably, several Indian media reports claimed that Lal Chand was Hindu. Headlines in reports of NDTV, India Today and several other media houses said that he was a Hindu. But actually, he was Muslim, and his mortal remains were buried his mother’s grave in a family graveyard in Islampur village. Moreover, the names of his family members reported by Bangladeshi media reveal that he was a Muslim.

His father was Ayub Ali, who died in a lightning strike when Sohag was seven months old. His mother is Aleya Begum, who moved to Dhaka with her children to earn a livelihood, after her husband’s death.

Lal Chand’s sister is Sajeda Begum, and his wife is Lucky Begum, while the name of his one uncle is Md Montu Mia. His two children are named Sohan and Sohana, and he had named his shop Sohana Metal.

It is now known why Lal Chand was identified as Hindu by several media reports. Perhaps, it was assumed that Lal Chand is a Hindu name.

Gang killed Lal Chand for not paying monthly amount

Both the sister and the wife said that a criminal gang had been extorting Tk 2 lakh monthly from the shop for years. But Sohag had refused to make the payment. On Wednesday, the gang members lured him out of his home, detained him, and then lynched him near the hospital gate.

Sohag’s sister Sajeda Begum said, “My brother ran his business for 10-15 years. The gang demanded Tk 2 lakh every month and even tried to seize his business. When he refused, they called him out, beat him, and stoned him to death.” Similarly, his wife Lucky Begum said, “They couldn’t tolerate my husband’s success. They demanded Tk 2 lakh monthly, and when he refused, they killed him.” She demanded capital punishment for the culprits.

Similarly, Bithi Akter, Lal Chand’s niece, stated, “The accused had asked my uncle to give them Tk 2 lakh and a portion of his income every month. My uncle did not agree, and for this, they killed him so brutally”. She also alleged that some of the accused are members of Jubo Dal, the youth wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

Some suspects belong to various wings of BNP

A total of five suspects have been arrested in the case so far, Mahmudul Hasan Mohin (41), named the prime suspect, Tarek Rahman Robin (22), Alamgir (28) Monir alias Lomba Monir (32), and Titon Gazi (32). A pistol was recovered from Robin.

A murder case, listing 19 named accused and 15-20 unidentified individuals, was filed at Kotwali Police Station by Lal Chand’s sister Monjuara Begum.

Some of the accused are members of various wings of Bangladesh Nationalist Party. BNP has expelled five people involved in the crime from Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, and Chhatra Dal.

Initial investigations suggest the motive of the brutal murder was fierce competition and territorial conflict over the scrap trade syndicate operating around Rajani Bose Lane in Old Dhaka.

Union govt relaxes requirement for Flue-Gas Desulphurisation systems at coal-fired power plants, expected to cut electricity cost by 25-30 paise per unit

OpIndia Staff
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Union govt relaxes requirement for Flue-Gas Desulphurisation systems at coal-fired power plants, expected to cut electricity cost by 25-30 paise per unit

The union government has announced a significant policy shift by easing Sulphur emission norms for coal-fired power plants. In a move described by officials as a “delicate balance between costs, climate and compliance,” the decision is expected to lower electricity tariffs by 25–30 paise per unit for consumers.

The union govt has issued a gazette notification restricting the previous universal mandate from 2015 that required all coal plants to install flue-gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems. These systems remove Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) from exhaust gases emitted by coal-fired thermal power plants.

As per modified rules, only plants within a 10-kilometre radius of cities with populations exceeding one million are required to install FGDs. This means nearly 79% of India’s coal power capacity—those in less sensitive zones—will be exempt from this requirement. Plants located in critically polluted or non-attainment cities will be assessed individually.

The notification cited findings from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which noted that the existing control measures contributs to higher carbon dioxide emissions. “This is not a rollback. It is a recalibration based on evidence,” a senior government official explained. “Our approach is now targeted, efficient and climate-conscious.”

The policy has been revised based on detailed studies conducted by institutions such as IIT Delhi, CSIR-NEERI, and the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS). These studies showed that ambient Sulphur Dioxide concentrations across most Indian cities fall well below the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) limit of 80 micrograms per cubic meter, and it typically ranged between 3 and 20 micrograms.

Indian coal, which has a relatively low Sulphur content of under 0.5%, along with the presence of tall stacks and favourable atmospheric conditions, aids in the effective dispersion of SO₂. As per experts, these factors reduce the need for widespread FGD installations.

One key concern addressed by the studies is the unintended environmental impact of retrofitting FGDs nationwide. The NIAS projected that such an effort would add 69 million tonnes of CO₂ between 2025 and 2030 due to increased mining of limestone, its transport, and additional energy consumption.

Industry leaders have praised the new framework. “This is a rational, science-based move that avoids unnecessary costs and focuses regulation where it is most needed,” said a senior executive at a major public-sector utility. “More importantly, it will help keep electricity affordable.”

The financial implications of mandatory retrofitting had raised alarms within the power sector. Earlier estimates placed the cost of FGD installations at over ₹2.5 lakh crore, or ₹1.2 crore per megawatt, with each unit requiring up to 45 days of downtime. Power producers warned that this could disrupt grid stability, especially during peak demand seasons.

Officials emphasised that environmental protection remains a priority, but must be approached with practicality. “This is a smarter lens, not a weakening of standards,” one official reiterated.

The government plans to submit an affidavit to the Supreme Court in the ongoing MC Mehta vs Union of India case, outlining the scientific basis and expected benefits of the revised FGD norms, which have been under judicial review.

Prayagraj: Ejaz posed as Azad Singh to marry Hindu woman, years later reveals he is Muslim and forces her and daughter to convert, case filed

OpIndia Staff
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Prayagraj: Ejaz posed as Azad Singh to marry Hindu woman, years later reveals he is Muslim and forces her and daughter to convert, case filed

A woman from Mauaima area of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh has accused her husband of hiding his religious identity to marry her and later forcing her and their four-year-old daughter to convert to Islam. The matter came to light after she approached the local police with her family, leading to protests by members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).

Both met through social media 

According to the woman, she met the man on social media in 2021. He introduced himself as Azad Singh, a Hindu from Kiranw village, and even showed her an Aadhaar card with that name. The two developed a relationship, and eventually, she eloped with him. They got married, and though her father filed a kidnapping complaint at the time, police didn’t take action since both were adults.

Later, the woman said that the man took her to Chandigarh. It was only after moving there that she found out his real name is Ejaz and that he is a Muslim. Soon after, Ejaz left for Saudi Arabia to work as a driver, and she returned to her parents’ home. During this time, she gave birth to their daughter, who is now four years old.

I was never Hindu: Ejaz

About 20 days ago, Ejaz returned from Saudi and met her. That’s when things turned ugly. The woman said Ejaz confessed that he was never Hindu and said that if she wanted to stay with him, she would have to convert to Islam. He told her to perform namaz daily and renamed her ‘Ania Bano’. When she refused, he also beat her and threatened to kill her if she or their daughter didn’t convert.

Scared and confused, she told everything to her family, who then took her to the police station. VHP workers also reached the station and demanded strict action. A case has now been registered against Ejaz.

Her father said, “He lied to my daughter to marry her with a fake identity, and now he’s threatening her life to force a religious conversion.”

The case has sparked protests in the area, with  Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), demanding that strict legal action be taken. 

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