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Cheetahs reintroduced from Namibia, South Africa to India now have official names, here is what they are called

OpIndia Staff
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Cheetahs reintroduced from Namibia, South Africa to India now have official names, here is what they are called

On Thursday, the Cheetahs that were relocated from Nambia and South Africa to India’s Kuno National Park were given new names by the Center. A competition was organized to propose names for the Cheetahs by the Indian government and the new names were selected out of 11565 entries today.

The Cheetahs will now be called as Aasha, Pavan, Nabha, Jwala, Gaurav, Shaurya, Dhatri, Daksha, Nirva, Vayu, Agni, Gamini, Tejas, Veera, Suraj, Dheera, Uday, Prabhas and Pavak. In a novel initiative, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2022 had urged the citizens to come with suggestions for cheetahs reintroduced from Namibia and South Africa to India. The Centre intended to create awareness among the general public about Project Cheetah.

Reportedly, the names were selected after a competition was held on the government platform from September 26 to October 31. The said names were chosen from the 11565 entries. The video of the incident was shared by Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change who also congratulated the winners for suggesting the names.

“Cheetahs named! On 25th September 2022, PM during his Mann Ki Baat address asked people to suggest names for cheetahs reintroduced from Namibia and South Africa. A competition was thus organised. Happy to share the names of our cheetahs and the winners,” he tweeted sharing a 1 minute video of the Cheetahs.

On September 17, 2022, eight cheetahs were brought from Namibia to India and released in Kuno National Park by India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in a historic first wild-to-wild intercontinental relocation. Following the obligatory quarantine time, the cheetahs were gradually allowed into the bigger habitat.

Later on February 18, 2023, twelve more (7 males and 5 females) cheetahs were brought from South Africa to India. A delegation of cheetah experts, veterinarians and senior officials also accompanied the cheetahs during the transcontinental translocation exercise.

Cheetahs have become extinct in India. The last three cheetahs in India were shot in the Sal (Shorea robusta) woods of Koriya District, Chhattisgarh State, in 1947. The major reasons for the cheetah’s extinction in India were large-scale capture of animals from the wild for coursing, bounty, and sport hunting, substantial habitat modification, and a concomitant fall in prey base. Cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952.

Following this, efforts had started to reintroduce Cheetahs from other countries. However, the efforts didn’t yield results for decades. But after renewed efforts under the Narendra Modi government, the project saw success and 8 cheetahs were introduced last year in India.

The objective of the cheetah introduction project in India is to create a healthy cheetah metapopulation that would support the cheetah’s global conservation efforts, allow it to fulfil its functional role as a top predator, and create space for the cheetah to spread outside of its historic range.

As reported earlier, yearly 10-12 cheetahs are expected to be brought from African countries for the next 5 years at least.

Liberal ecosystem suffers heartburn as Surat Court dismisses Rahul Gandhi’s plea in Modi surname defamation case

OpIndia Staff
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Liberal ecosystem suffers heartburn as Surat Court dismisses Rahul Gandhi’s plea in Modi surname defamation case

The Surat Sessions Court on Thursday (April 20) dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s plea for suspending his 2 years sentence in the ‘Modi surname’ case. The two years punishment given upon his conviction still stands following this dismissal and he continues to be disqualified as an MP.

The case pertains to his speech during the run-up to the 2019 elections, when Rahul Gandhi said, “Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi, Narendra Modi… how come they all have Modi as a common surname? How come all thieves have Modi as a common surname?”

As expected, an array of leftists, secular ‘journalists’ and Congress sycophants descended on Twitter to complain about the judgement, some even going to the extent of casting aspersion on Judge Robin Paul Mogera, who heard Rahul Gandhi’s appeal.

Saba Naqvi suffered major heartburn as soon as the news of the Gandhi scion not getting relief from the Surat Court became public. Responding to the news posted by Live Law, she lamented, “Both ridiculous and vicious at the same time.”

Alleged journalist Swati Chaturvedi was another one who also appeared visibly disturbed by the news. She, too, lashed out, claiming that the judgement was on expected lines.

Another person who had a severe meltdown was Congress sympathiser Pooja Tripathi who shared similar sentiments calling the judgement, “Ridiculous, atrocious & Vicious!”

“Rape convicts, Murderers are allowed to roam free but Rahul Gandhi can’t as he speaks the truth.. Gujarat setting up an example how to become rotten society within democracy..,” bemoaned Congress loyalist Milind Gavandi.

The Wire journalist Kaushik Raj went on to cast doubts at the Surat Sessions Court’s verdict and hoped that the higher courts could see through the ‘farce.’

Many other Congress sycophants went as far as to cast aspersions at the court and the judge who pronounced the verdict today. They insinuated that since the court is based in BJP-ruled Gujarat, the ruling was on expected lines.

Crying political vendetta, some hinted that Judge Robin Paul Mogera, who heard Rahul Gandhi’s appeal in a Surat court in the Modi surname defamation case, was biased as he was Union home minister Amit Shah’s lawyer in the Tulsi Prajapati encounter case of 2006.

Notably, during the hearing, the Gandhi-scion Rahul Gandhi denied making any defamatory remarks about people with “Modi” surname. According to Desh Gujarat, a lawyer has said that Rahul Gandhi responded to every question with, “I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know”.

When the court asked if he had said all people with Modi surname were thieves, Gandhi claimed he never said such words.

In March this year, a Surat court found him guilty in the criminal defamation case. A case was filed against Rahul Gandhi by Gujarat BJP leader Purnesh Modi for making derogatory comments against the Modi community.

TMC’s Mahua Moitra is blocking everyone who calls her ‘Mahua Lars Brorson’, read why

Shraddha Pandey
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TMC’s Mahua Moitra is blocking everyone who calls her ‘Mahua Lars Brorson’, read why

Trinamool Congress leader and a Member of Parliament representing the Krishnanagar constituency, Mahua Moitra is known for her unhinged rants against her political opponents. Recently, after the killing of Umesh Pal murder accused Asad Ahmed and Mohammad Ghulam in a police encounter on April 13, Mahua Moitra took a jibe a Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath by calling him by his birth name — Ajay Singh Bisht. Asad Ahmed was the son of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, who was killed in police custody by three assailants two days later.

While addressing a press conference Mahua Moitra said that she prefers to call people by their real names as she said that “Honourable chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Mr. Ajay Bisht had himself said gaadi palat jati hai (the car overturns)”, Mahua then goes on to say that “his (Yogi Adityanath) real name is Ajay Bisht although he calls himself a Yogi.”

In a tweet attacking CM Yogi and the UP Police over the killing of Atiq and Ashraf Ahmed, Mahua Moitra again addressed CM Yogi as Ajay Bisht, the name he had before he took the vows of a Sanyasi. 

“So basically Ajay Bisht & @Uppolice found 3 men who very conveniently have “no family connections” to kill Atiq & his brother. That’s how all terrorist organizations recruit their hitmen btw,” Moitra tweeted. 

Interestingly, while TMC’s Mahua Moitra prefers to call people by their ‘real name’, she was rather upset when a Twitter user called her by her ‘real name’ Mahua Moitra Lars Brorson. As a Twitter user named ‘Hims’ tweeted, “You should calm down Mahua Moitra Lars Brorsan,” the TMC leader blocked him.

Following this, the Twitter user called out Mahua Moitra for her ‘hypocrisy’ as she calls CM Yogi Adityanath by his pre-renunciation name but blocks people when they call her by her past name.

“So the hypocrisy Queen @MahuaMoitra blocked me and ran with her tail nicely tucked in when I called her with her past name MAHUA LARS BRORSON but this bigot has the audacity to call @myogiadityanath with hai pre-renunciation name and sees nothing wrong in it. Why are these TMC doormats such hypocrites @TVMohandasPai?,” Hims tweeted.

Following this, many netizens started calling Mahua Moitra by her past name ‘Mahua Moitra Lars Brorson’. It is notable here that Mahua Moitra was married to a Danish financier Lars Brorson and resided with him in Scandinavia. Though not much is known about their relationship, the duo got married in 2002, however, were later divorced. 

After Twitter users started to use her previous name, she started to block them. Many users tweeted that they were blocked by her after they used the name Mahua Moitra Lars Brorson.

After parting ways with her husband Lars Brorson, Mahua chose to go by her maiden name. While Mahua Moitra chooses to go by her maiden name, Yogi Adityanath, having renounced material life by becoming a Sanyasi, and also being a revered Saint of the Nath Sampradaya as well as the Mahant of Gorakhnath Muth, one of the most important Temples of the sect, ceased to go by the name given to him at his birth and is known as Yogi Adityanath. 

Mahua Moitra, who ‘prefers’ to call people by their real name needs to understand that in the sacred traditions of Hindu Dharma, it is mandated that once a person takes the vows of a Sanyasi, he ceases to be the individual he was until that moment. A Sanyasi is a Dwij which means twice-born, once is the biological birth and the spiritual rebirth. A Sanyasi takes a new name, shreds all ties with his family, and dedicates the remainder of his life to the Gods above and Dharma. So in this context, Yogi Adityanath is the one true ‘real name’ of the Sanyasi she chooses to call by his birth name merely due to political and ideological differences. The repeated use of the name Ajay Bisht to address Yogi Adityanath is symptomatic to Hinduphobia and blatant disrespect of the Sanyas tradition in the Hindu Dharma. 

Several political leaders and their supporters often argue that if Yogi Adityanath is a Sanyasi, what is he doing in politics, etc? To such questions CM Yogi had in an interview with AajTak in 2021, had said that he is a ‘Karmayogi’.

According to Lord Shri Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, a “Karmayogi” is someone who practices karma yoga and works relentlessly to accomplish their obligations externally while remaining detached from them on the inside. A Karmayogi performs his duties without being attached to the rewards of his karma, as described in this Shloka from the Bhagavad Gita, chapter 3, verse 7—

yas tvindriyāṇi manasā niyamyārabhate ’rjuna

karmendriyaiḥ karma-yogam asaktaḥ sa viśhiṣhyate||

The TMC MP should also be mindful that respect is a two-way street; even though she may continue to hold political opposition to the policies of the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, who is a democratically elected public representative, if she wants to be addressed by her real name, she should also respect Yogi Adityanath’s name and identity as a saint of the Nath Sampradaya and a Sanyasi.

Yo Yo Honey Singh lands in legal trouble, accused of kidnapping and assaulting Festivina Music Festival owner in Mumbai

OpIndia Staff
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Yo Yo Honey Singh lands in legal trouble, accused of kidnapping and assaulting Festivina Music Festival owner in Mumbai

Popular singer Yo Yo Honey Singh is once again in the news, but this time for the wrong reason. He has been charged with abducting and assaulting an event manager. The owner of an event company, Vivek Raman, has lodged an FIR against Honey Singh and others at the BKC (Bandra Kurla Complex) police station in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Vivek Raman has complained that he was abducted, kept captive and assaulted by the musician-singer and his associates. Mumbai Police confirmed that Vivek Raman has filed a complaint against Honey Singh and others.

Vivek Raman is the owner of the Festivina Music Festival, and he had planned a programme by Honey Singh at BKC in Mumbai. The music festival titled Yo Yo Honey Singh 3.0 by Festivina was to be held at MMRDA Grounds in BKC, which was scheduled to take place on April 15th. But later the event was postponed due to some financial issues.

Raman said that on 15 April, when he reached the venue, he had arguments with some vendors over non-payment. Raman added that he was expecting payment from the event’s ticket-selling partner, but didn’t receive it on time. As a result, he cancelled the event and informed everyone abut the same.

He claimed that Honey Singh and his crew got very upset and angry over the cancellation of the show. Outraged by this, the musician and his associates abducted and thrashed him while keeping him hostage at the JW Marriott hotel in Sahar, Mumbai, as per the complaint. He demanded the arrest of Yo Yo Honey Singh and his aides in his complaint. 

“I was physically assaulted, kidnapped, and intimidated by Yo Yo Honey Singh and his crew members: Rohit Chhabra, Akshat Jaiswal, Rahul Jaiswal, Inderjit Sunil, Nikhil, Arvinder Kler, Arun Kumar, and Akshay Mehra. I was kidnapped and taken by a white Fortuner car from MMRDA, BKC to JW Marriott, Sahar, Mumbai by the said persons and physically assaulted by fists, blows, and kicking, and badly hurt at JW Marriott, Sahar, and Mumbai. I was wrongfully and illegally restrained by JW Marriott, Sahar, Mumbai, for payment of bills for a period of 2 days,” Raman stated in his complaint to the police.

Vivek Raman added that after this, he called the vendors and others and proceeded to organise the music concert.

The BKC police have not yet registered an FIR in the case and are investigating the matter. “We have just received the complaint and are verifying the allegations made in it. No FIR has been registered against anyone yet,” an officer at the BKC police station said.

Yo Yo Honey Singh has not responded to the allegations yet.

The news came a day after it was reported that the Bollywood star and his actor-model girlfriend Tina Thadani had broken up. They reportedly split up just a few days ago and are currently residing apart. The duo has also unfollowed each other on social media and deleted pictures with each other. However, the reason behind their break up is not known as of now.

In December of last year, Honey Singh revealed their relationship during an event in Delhi. He disclosed how Tina came up with the title when he shared that he had just released a new album called 3.0. He stated, “Meri girlfriend baithi hai Tina. Isne mujhe ye naam dia hai. Isne bola ki you are Honey 3.0,” (My girlfriend Tina is sitting here. She has given me this name, Honey 3.0) pointing out at her in the audience.

Honey Singh is currently in the spotlight with his album 3.0 and is yet to give any response to the accusation against him.

Delhi High Court hears Aaradhya Bachchan’s plea, slams YouTube for circulating video of a child’s death when she is alive and kicking

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi High Court hears Aaradhya Bachchan’s plea, slams YouTube for circulating video of a child’s death when she is alive and kicking

On Thursday, the Delhi High Court heard the lawsuit filed by Aaradhya Bachchan, 11, the daughter of actors Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan against a YouTube channel for willfully spreading false information regarding her health. The Delhi High Court ruled that the dissemination of misleading information to a child especially regarding physical and mental health is completely intolerable in law.

The court also refrained the YouTube channels from publishing, or sharing, any videos identical or similar in content to the videos falling under the subject matter of the said case. Aaradhaya Bachchan, the granddaughter of Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, sued the YouTube tabloid for publishing a false video news article regarding her condition and daily life. Due to the fact that she is a minor, she has asked for an injunction to prevent such reporting.

In addition, the petition requested that ten organisations de-list and deactivate all videos regarding her. Other parties to the case include Google and the grievance cell of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. “This court has seen the images and clips. Though it’s not the first time such misleading information is circulated for celebrities, when circulated for the Child, it reflects a morbid perversity on part of those circulating in complete apathy to the interests of child,” the bench said.

“The defendants’ sole motivation is to unlawfully profit from the reputation of the Bachchan family, irrespective of the damage-causing to the plaintiffs and their family members,” read the petition filed by law firm Anand and Naik. The court noted that the images and videos of Aaradhaya, posted by the YouTube channel, were only to gain popularity and that this is intolerable. The Court also stated that YouTube doesn’t run for charity and that it’s a profit-making platform.

Aaradhya Bachchan’s plea in the Delhi High Court stated that the defendant entities’ videos used the images of the plaintiffs (Aaradhya and Abhishek Bachchan), and other members of the Bachchan family to proclaim that Aaradhya is severely unwell or has been admitted to the hospital or has passed away.

According to the argument, Aaradhya was actively participating in public activities with her mother and was in excellent health at the time when the videos were made or uploaded. She has also never been hospitalised. “The plea has been filed on account of the violation of the right to privacy of Aaradhya who is a minor child of only 11 years of age, and whose mental and physical well-being stands to suffer grave harm, if such videos and content continue to be accessible to the public.” the plea read. 

Earlier, during Bob Biswas’s 2021 promotional event, Abhishek Bachchan had slammed individuals who consistently criticise his daughter on social media. He also earlier had raised concerns about photos and videos of Aaradhaya going viral over social media.

“You’ll shoot her whenever she steps out of the house. It is what it is. There is no point analysing it. She is the daughter of two actors, the granddaughter of actors as well. Her mother teaches her to be very thankful and humble about the fact that people will want to see her, appreciate that and don’t take it as a privilege. And know that in time to come, as and when and if you become a professional in this sphere, you have to work very hard. My wife had told me about it when she (Aaradhya) was much younger that it is going to happen any which way, so we got to accept it,” he had said while talking to the Indian Express.

After getting married in 2007, Aishwarya and Abhishek welcomed their daughter Aaradhya into the world in 2011.

Indore: Girl commits suicide by consuming poison after ‘friend’ Asad pressurises her to marry him, threatens her family

OpIndia Staff
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Indore: Girl commits suicide by consuming poison after ‘friend’ Asad pressurises her to marry him, threatens her family

A case of alleged love jihad/grooming jihad has come to the fore from the Khudel village in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. A Hindu girl identified as Jaya Sharma, unable to withstand the pressure of marriage exerted on her by her boyfriend Asad, committed suicide on Wednesday, April 19. According to media reports, the girl died by consuming poison. The deceased victim’s family has alleged it to be a case of love jihad.

After the news of the girl’s death spread, several Bajrang Dal members accompanied by the victim’s kin reached the Khudel police station and launched a protest. They demanded strict and prompt action against the accused.

The family alleged that the girl was pushed to take the extreme step after being harassed for several months by her boyfriend Asad, a resident of Kazi Palasia, who kept pressurising her to get married to him.

According to reports, the deceased girl and Asad studied in the same school and became good friends over time. Asad started pressuring Sharma to marry him. The girl kept turning down the proposal since they came from two different religious backgrounds. When the victim began keeping a distance from Asad, he started calling her up frequently and pressuring her over the phone.

The girl started staying visibly upset. Concerned over this, Sharma’s family members took away her phone. Asad, however, did not give up. He began calling up the girl’s family members and threatening them.

On Tuesday, Asad messaged the girl’s uncle that if they did not accede to his demands, he would commit suicide and leave a suicide note where he would accuse the girl and her family members of his death. The girl read the text message Asad sent to her uncle.

Unable to withstand this pressure, the girl decided to end her life and on Wednesday, she committed suicide by consuming poison.

When the news of the death spread, members of the Hindu outfit reached the police station and demanded the immediate arrest of the accused. The police, in turn, registered a case and arrested Asad. The police also confiscated Asad’s mobile phone from which he had sent the threat message to the deceased’s uncle. Now, reportedly, the police will use the phone as evidence against Asad.

Amritpal Singh’s wife being questioned by Punjab Police

OpIndia Staff
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Amritpal Singh’s wife being questioned by Punjab Police

Pro-Khalistan fugitive Amritpal Singh’s wife Kirandeep Kaur is currently being questioned by Punjab Police at Shri Guru Ram Dass International Airport in Amritsar. Earlier media reports suggested she has been detained by Punjab Police.

News agency ANI citing sources has said that she is being questioned at the Immigration department. She was trying to board a flight to London. As pre initial media reports, there are no cases on her and she has been staying at the ancestral village since the hunt on Amritpal Singh began. Kaur is a UK citizen.

This is a breaking story, more details awaited.

Note: Story and headline updated with latest updates.

Tamil Nadu assembly passes resolution demanding constitutional amendment to provide SC benefits to Dalit Christians, BJP stages walkout

OpIndia Staff
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Tamil Nadu assembly passes resolution demanding constitutional amendment to provide SC benefits to Dalit Christians, BJP stages walkout

The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday passed a resolution urging the centre to extend all benefits to scheduled caste people who converted to Christianity.

The resolution called on the ‘Government of India to amend the Constitution to extend statutory protection, rights, and concessions, including reservation, to Scheduled Castes who have converted to Christianity,’ so that they can avail the benefits of social justice in all aspects.

All other parties, including the main opposition, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), supported the resolution, however, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Vanathi Srinivasan protested it by staging a walkout with other members of her party. Her comments on the subject expressed in the assembly were also expunged by Speaker M. Appavu.

Chief Minister MK Stalin, who introduced the resolution, stated that it was wrong to deny Dalit Christians the same privileges as other Adi Dravidar (Dalit) community members on the grounds of conversion to another religion.

“People have the right to practice the religion of their liking, but their caste doesn’t change. Adi Dravidar people continue to suffer caste atrocities such as untouchability even after converting to other religions. We have to look into this aspect with compassion. Just because they got converted to another religion, denying them the rights enjoyed by the people of their own community is not right. It is our stand,” the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader noted.

He requested the K.G. Balakrishnan Commission, which had been constituted by the Union government in October 2022 to investigate whether Dalit Christians and Muslims should be granted reservations, to deliver its findings only after hearing from state governments.

“I request the commission to submit its final report only after eliciting the views of all states and after visiting the states. I move this resolution urging the Centre to amend the Constitution appropriately to extend the concessions given to SCs to those converted to Christianity too,” he appealed.

The CM mentioned how constitutional modifications allowed for the inclusion of Sikhs in 1956 and Buddhists in 1990, and he claimed that the Adi Dravidars (Dalits) who converted to Christianity were hoping for a similar amendment. He proclaimed, “In Tamil Nadu, Dalit Christian students and research scholars avail several scholarships, and it is only fair that they also receive the benefits of reservation.”

Meanwhile, Vanathi Srinivasan charged that the DMK moved the resolution only for political benefits. “The central government is already looking into this issue through the Balakrishnan commission and the matter was also being heard in the Supreme Court. Even last week, this came up in the Supreme Court, and the case has been adjourned to July. So, when it is in court, and the central government is looking into it, why does this resolution need to be brought in now,” she asked while talking to reporters outside the assembly.

The BJP lawmaker criticised the state government for remaining silent on the Vengaivasal issue, special legislation for recovering Panchami lands, and unimpeded honour killings in the state, and challenged whether the resolution was suggestive of the perpetual atrocities against SCs even after they converted to Christianity and Islam.

According to the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, only adherents of the Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist faiths are currently granted the constitutional right to reservations in employment and education as SC.

Indian Mountaineer Anurag Maloo rescued 3 days after falling off Mount Annapurna camp in Nepal, taken to hospital in critical condition

OpIndia Staff
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Indian Mountaineer Anurag Maloo rescued 3 days after falling off Mount Annapurna camp in Nepal, taken to hospital in critical condition

On Thursday, Rajasthan-based mountaineer named Anurag Maloo who had gone missing on April 17 after falling deep into the crevasses on Mount Annapurna, the 10th highest mountain in the world was recovered alive in a critical condition. The news was confirmed by one of his family members named Sudhir who posted a video online saying that his bother Anurag was recovered alive but was in a critical condition. Anurag has been admitted to the Manipal Hospital in Pokhara.

Sudhir in the video which went viral over the social media, could further be heard saying that Anurag has been admitted to the hospital and all are praying for his speedy recovery. One of the users named Akshaye Rathi also posted a tweet confirming the news and said, “with God’s grace and the efforts of search teams, Anurag Maloo has been found! He is being rushed for treatment. Please pray for his wellbeing.”

The search and rescue operation was underway for past three days after 34-year-old Maloo went missing while he was camping at the 10th highest mountain in the world. While local sherpas searched for Maloo on ground, a helicopter equipped with a carbon dioxide detector was deployed for the hunt.

Maloo’s family meanwhile had started a signature drive to get support for his search and rescue while rescue efforts were already underway. The goal of the signature drive was to urge the authorities in India and Nepal to send out special rescue teams to help with the search.

Maloo, a resident of Kishangarh in Rajasthan, vanished while attempting to reach the peak to spread awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals. The would-be mountaineer had climbed Mount Ama Dablam the previous year and intended to conquer Mounts Annapurna, Lhotse, and Everest this coming climbing season.

Aashish Maloo, brother of Anurag said that the aspiring mountaineer was on a mission to climb all 14 peaks above 8000 m and 7 Summits to create awareness and drive action towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. “My brother Anurag is the most passionate climber that I know. Since I can remember, climbing mountains has been a dream of his. Each time he set out to climb, he would make sure he had the Indian flag by his side, ready to be hoisted across the world’s highest peaks,” he was quoted as saying.

He also had sought help from the both Indian and Nepalese government to rescue his brother. Reportedly, he was recovered alive on Thursday as claimed by one of his relatives named Sudhir.

Anurag Maloo, a climber and businessman, was awarded the REX KaramVeer Chakra and was chosen to represent India as the 2041 Antarctic Youth Ambassador. At the moment, he oversees relationships across Asia for the investment company Seedstars. The CEO at Seedstars is well renowned for his efforts in developing markets. Notably, the Switzerland-based company Seedstars was established in 2013.

Maloo focuses on new business development and sales at Seedstars, manages large key accounts, builds partnerships for impact to launch innovation programmes within the SDG framework promoting gender equity, climate action, sustainability, etc., and closely collaborates with numerous UN organisations including UNEP, UN Women, UNIDO, UNFCCC, UNDP, etc., ODAS, DFIs, national & regional governments, and other bilateral & multilateral institutions.

According to Anurag Maloo’s LinkedIn profile, prior to this, he spent six years as the Regional Manager for Asia-Pacific for Techstars, a worldwide platform for investment and innovation, helping to expand, develop, and stimulate local entrepreneurial ecosystems. He also seems to have played a key role in the establishment of Techstars India and the Bangalore Accelerator.

As an aspiring mountaineer, so far, his travels have taken him from the far south to the freezing and polar deserts of Antarctica to the far north hiking to the base of the highest mountain in the world, Mt. Everest Basecamp, and travelling across high-altitude Himalayan Passes along the ancient trade cities on Silk Road to the vast, untamed grasslands and virgin landscapes of nomadic Mongolia to the various conflict regions around Asia.

Indian citizen in London suspected of arranging funding for Lebanese terror group Hizbollah, arrested

ANI
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Indian citizen in London suspected of arranging funding for Lebanese terror group Hizbollah, arrested

A 66-year-old Indian citizen Sundar Nagarajan has been arrested in London on suspicion of funding the proscribed terrorist organisation Hizbollah, British police said. 

“Sundar Nagarajan, (27.08.57) of Hayes UB3, was taken into police custody before appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this afternoon for commencement of extradition proceedings,” read the Metropolitan Police press release. Officers from the National Extradition Unit – acting on an international arrest warrant – detained Nagarajan from west London following a request by US authorities. 

Madurai-born Sundar Nagarajan also known as Kasiviswanathan Naga and Nagarajan Sundar Poongulam, now faces extradition to the US where he faces charges of helping to launder money to evade US sanctions and fund Hizbollah. 

Nagarajan was taken into police custody before appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this afternoon for the commencement of extradition proceedings. He was remanded to next appear at the same court on April 25, added the release. 
Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command also arrested one Nazem Ahmad on suspicion of funding terrorism, as part of a wider UK and US coordinated action targeting terrorism financing. 

According to the US, the Lebanese terrorist outfit Hizbollah uses Nazem Ahmad, and his companies, to launder substantial amounts of money bound for the terrorist group and Nagarajan is the international accountant for Nazem. 

Ahmad is believed to be connected to a wealthy art collector and diamond dealer and is suspected of being a funding source for Hizballah, said Metropolitan Police. 

Sanctions against Ahmad were announced earlier today by the UK Government. The US government also announced sanctions against Ahmad and a number of his associates, added the release. 

“Today’s arrests are the result of ongoing work and cooperation with our American colleagues, and are a key milestone in what is a complex investigation into terrorist financing,” said Detective Chief Superintendent Gareth Rees, of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command. 

Hezbollah is a Lebanese militant group, backed by Iran, which the UK government classified as a terrorist organisation in 2019. 
“Terrorist groups rely on financial support and funding for their activities and the NTFIU works closely with agencies in the UK and around the world to identify and take action against those people who provide and facilitate this funding. With our international partners, we will never give up on our mission to disrupt terrorist activity, both in the UK and abroad, in order to keep the public safe,” added Rees. 

The US Treasury Department had on April 18 this week unveiled sanctions on what it said was a vast international money laundering and sanctions evasion network, targeting 52 people and entities over the payment and shipment of cash, diamonds, precious gems, art and luxury goods for the benefit of Nazem Ahmad. 

The network operating in Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Angola, Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong facilitated the payment, shipment, and delivery of cash, diamonds, precious gems, art, and luxury goods for the benefit of Hizballah financier and Specially Designated Global Terrorist Nazem Said Ahmad, who was designated on December 13, 2019, for providing material support to Hizballah, the US Treasury Department said. 

According to a US Treasury Department release, Sundar Nagarajan acted as Nazem Said Ahmad’s primary international accountant, providing material support through his management of, and accounting for, businesses in Nazem Said Ahmad’s network. 

Nagarajan is the central manager of financial ledgers detailing the network’s operations in Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, and South Africa. Sundar Nagarajan also facilitated payment for and shipment of art that Nazem Said Ahmad purchased from major auction houses and galleries, it said.

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

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