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Potential to tamper with evidence and enough proof that he controlled money laundering operation: 8 key observations by Delhi HC about Satyendar Jain

Dibakar Dutta
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Potential to tamper with evidence and enough proof that he controlled money laundering operation: 8 key observations by Delhi HC about Satyendar Jain

On Thursday (April 6), the Delhi High Court turned down the bail application of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Satyendar Jain, who has been arrested in connection to a money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

It must be mentioned that the Enforcement Directorate had earlier attached properties worth ₹4.81 crores, belonging to five companies – Akinchan Developers, Indo Metal Impex, Mangalayatan Projects, Paryas Infosolutions, and J.J. Ideal Estate Pvt Ltd.

The matter came up for hearing before a single Judge Bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma. In its 45-page verdict [pdf], the Delhi High Court made 8 scathing observations about the AAP leader.

  1. Justice Sharma noted that Satyendar Jain was at the helm of the operations in the above-mentioned companies.

The testimony of Mr Pankul Aggarwal shows the total control of Satyendar Kumar Jain on J.J.Ideal Estate Pvt. Ltd. Similarly, the testimony of Rajender Bansal, Jivendra Mishra, Ashish Chokhani and J.P.Mohta shows that Satyendar Kumar Jain is the conceptualizer, visualizer and executor of the entire operation and his being aided and abated by Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain.

2. The Delhi High Court stated that there was enough evidence to suggest that the AAP leader maintained indirect control in the alleged money laundering operation.

“…Broad probabilities indicate that M/s Akinchan Developer Pvt. Ltd., M/s Mangalayatan Projects Pvt. Ltd. and M/s Prayas Infosolution Pvt. Ltd. are controlled and managed by Satyendar Kumar Jain.

The constant changing pattern of the shareholding in the companies clearly indicates that Sh. Satyendar Kumar Jain was indirectly controlling the affairs of the companies. The evidence on record though speaks in volumes but has not been discussed or examined in detail so as to not cause prejudice to the petitioner.“

3. The court rejected the defence of Satyendar Jain that he did not have physical possession of the attached properties.

“The ED has emphatically stated and placed material on record to substantiate that the documents were antedated to make Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain as Directors in the companies for the purpose of making declaration of income belonging to Satyendar Kumar Jain. The fact that Satyendar Kumar Jain wrote a letter to income tax authorities to adjust his demand of tax against the tax deposited by Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain shows their close complicity.

The plea of Satyendar Kumar Jain that he was not found in physical possession of any property needs to be rejected out-rightly as for the offence of money
laundering the physical possession of proceeds of crime is not necessary.“

4. Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma pointed out that co-accused Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain had taken the responsibility for the laundered money.

As submitted, it is not disputed that Rs. 4.81 Crores was received in these four companies M/s Akinchan Developers Pvt. Ltd., M/s Prayas Infosolution Pvt. Ltd., M/s Mangalayatan Projects Pvt. Ltd. and M/s J.J.Ideal Estate Pvt. Ltd. It is also not disputed that these transactions have been carried out through Kolkata based entry operators. Accused Satyendar Kumar Jain in his statement under Section 50 of PMLA abandoned his responsibilities by saying that he has nothing to do with the same. Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain have stated that it was their money.

5. The Delhi High Court noted that the special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) took cognisance of the usage of Kolkata-based hawala operators by Satyendar Jain and his accomplice.

“The Ld. Special Judge prima facie opined that the applicant/accused Satyendar Kumar Jain was involved in concealing proceeds of crime by giving cash to Kolkata-based entry operators and thereafter, bringing the cash into the companies namely, M/s.Manglayatan Developers/Projects Pvt.Ltd., M/s. Akinchan Developers Pvt. Ltd. and M/s.Paryas Infosolutions Pvt. Ltd. against sale of shares to project that the income of these three companies was untainted.

It was held by the Ld. Special Court, PMLA that apart from that, accused Satyendar Kumar Jain has also used the same modus operandi to convert his proceeds of crime of Rs.15,00,000/- by receiving accommodation entries from Kolkata-based entry operators in his company M/s.J.J.Ideal Estate Pvt. Ltd.

It was held that the applicant/accused Satyendar Kumar Jain had knowingly done such an activity to mask tracing of the source of the ill-gotten money and accordingly such proceeds of crime were layered through Kolkata-based entry operators. It was further held that as and when during the check period, cash was paid by applicant/accused Satyendar Kumar Jain to the Kolkata-based entry operators, the proceeds of crime stood generated.“

6. The court observed that Satyendar Jain wanted to use ₹16.50 crores from attached companies to purchase agricultural land and develop township.

“Accused Vaibhav Jain in his statement recorded on 27.02.2018 stated that cash amount of totaling to 16.50 crores approx. was paid by him, Sunil Kumar Jain, Ankush Jain and Satyendar Kumar Jain for taking accommodation entries Akinchan Developers Pvt. Ltd., Paryas lnfosolution Pvt. Ltd., Indo Metalimpex Pvt. Ltd. and M/s Mangalayatan Projects Pvt. Ltd. through Calcutta based entry operators. Vaibhav Jain has stated that this idea was mooted by Satyendar Kumar Jain to use it for purchasing of agricultural land and to develop township.“

7. Justice Sharma stated that the AAP leader could use his influence to tamper with the evidence.

The petitioner Satyendar Kumar Jain is an influential person and has a potential to tamper with the evidence as indicated by his conduct during the custody

8. The Delhi High Court took note of the special treatment provided to Satyendar Jain in Tihar Jail.

The special treatment extended by the prison authorities to Satyender Kumar Jain shows that the ED’s apprehension throughout was correct that being a former Minister of Prisons and Health he is receiving favourable treatment from the prison officials including the prison doctors.

The trial court denied bail to Satyendra Jain in November 2022

On November 17 last year, Special Judge Vikas Dhull of the Rouse Avenue Court dismissed Jain’s request for bail in the case involving money laundering. Satyendra Jain requested bail in connection with his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on May 31, 2022, for a money laundering offence.

The central agency had launched an inquiry based on an FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against Jain and others under pertinent sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The AAP leader is accused of using the Hawala network to receive up to Rs. 4.81 crores from shell companies while he was a public servant through companies he owned and controlled.

On the question of former judges being part of ‘anti-India gang’, Kiran Rijiju says that ‘Centre receives complaints against judges from time to time

OpIndia Staff
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On the question of former judges being part of ‘anti-India gang’, Kiran Rijiju says that ‘Centre receives complaints against judges from time to time

On Thursday, April 6, Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju informed the Rajya Sabha that the Department of Justice receives complaints against sitting and retired Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, however, the Department is concerned only about the appointment and services of sitting Judges of Supreme Court and High Courts. 

Minister Rijiju stated this in a written reply to a query by Samajwadi Party MP Javed Ali Khan and Janata Dal-United (JDU) MP Ram Nath Thakur on “whether as per the Union minister for Law and Justice, a few former judges of the Supreme Court are part of an anti-India gang.”

Additionally, they demanded information about the source of information and if the government had informed the CJI and the Union Home Ministry in view of national security. It further sought details about the action taken by the Chief Justice in this regard, if any.

This comes after Minister Rijiju’s assertion during a television interview that some retired judges were part of the “anti-India gang” that was attacking the Narendra Modi government.

Though not mentioned in the English version, in the Hindi translation, Minister Rijiju replied in negative as he said “ji nahin” (‘No’) to the sub-questions from A to D.

“From time to time, complaints are received in the Department of Justice (in the law ministry) against sitting as well as retired judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts. Department of Justice is concerned only with the appointment and service conditions of the sitting judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts,” the Law Minister stated. 

Furthermore, Rijiju detailed that the accountability in higher judiciary is maintained through an “in-house mechanism” adding that the complaints regarding retired judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts are not handled by the Department of Justice. 

He recalled that on May 7, 1997, the Supreme Court’s full court meeting had adopted two resolutions: one dealing with a restatement of the values of judicial life and the other with an internal procedure for taking appropriate remedial action against judges who do not uphold these values.

It was further stated that the Chief Justice of India is authorized to receive complaints about the conduct of Supreme Court justices and chief justices of the high courts under the established “in-house mechanism” for the higher judiciary. In a similar vein, high court chief justices are qualified to hear complaints about the conduct of high court judges.

“The complaints/representations received by the Department of Justice are forwarded to the Chief Justice of India or to the chief justice of the concerned high courts, as the case may be, for appropriate action,” Rijiju said.

Perversion in the name of education: UK show has adults stripping naked before children to ‘educate’ them on body positivity

OpIndia Staff
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Perversion in the name of education: UK show has adults stripping naked before children to ‘educate’ them on body positivity

A Channel 4 TV show in the UK named ‘Naked Education’ has sparked controversy in the UK for showing adults posing nude in front of minors. As per reports, the show claims to promote ‘body positivity’ for teenagers by showing the bodies of various adults fully naked.

Anna Richardson, the host of the controversial TV show had earlier worked in a show named ‘Naked Attraction’, which was a dating show. She has described her show as ‘educational, emotional and joyous’, as per reports.

“I like to make shows that are controversial, that break taboos and that make a difference, and with every single show that I’ve done you can tick one of those boxes, she told media defending the show.

She added that the show is for teenagers who are curious about their body and their life’s journey.

Channel 4 has called the show a groundbreaking new series. “Being naked is not a bad thing at all. (The show is) normalising all bodies”, it shared with a video of a short trailer.

“Naked Education is a body-positive, educational series that is basically aiming to normalize all body types and champion everybody’s differences so that we can accept that with our clothes off we’re all normal”, Anna added.

Adults stripping naked before minors

The show was met with a lot of outrage and objection from concerned parents, politicians and activists. They stated that such shows are trying to ‘normalise’ child abuse and gender identity politics that manipulate children.

One Andrew Lawrence called the show Channel 4’s ‘job creating scheme for nonces’. Nonce is British slang for sex offenders. He added that such attempts by so-called ‘progressives’ is nothing but the normalisation of child abuse and paedophilia.

“In my day it was called ‘flashing’ and was frowned upon. Now exposing yourself in front of kids is put on national TV”, a Twitter user wrote.

There is a growing trend in Western nations to expose children to the idea of transgender identities, sexuality and homosexuality from a very young age. In recent times, schools in the USA are even allowing children to witness drag shows.

Earlier, Netflix’s controversial French movie ‘Cuties’ had triggered outrage for showing 11-year-old girls doing vulgar twerking. The Far-left’s propaganda to normalise the sexualisation of children even goes to the extent of some ‘progressives’ claiming that paedophilia is not a crime because paedophiles are just ‘minor-attacted people’.

Willam Whitworth, a man who claims to identify as a woman, arrested for planning a mass shooting at Colorado Middle School: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Willam Whitworth, a man who claims to identify as a woman, arrested for planning a mass shooting at Colorado Middle School: Details

A former student of Colorado Springs Timberview Middle School, a biological man who ‘identifies’ himself as a woman was arrested by the police for plotting a large-scale shooting at the school. According to reports, the accused who has been identified as William Whitworth, but who identifies himself as ‘Lily’, was arrested on March 31 by deputies from the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office.

The arrest was made on the suspicion of attempted first-degree murder including other offences. The accused has also been charged with criminal mischief, menacing, and interference with staff, faculty or students of educational institutions. Last week was the district’s one-week spring break, thus no students attended the schools in Academy School District 20. The probe got underway after the Sheriff’s office was summoned to the scene due to some disturbance on March 31.

The investigators discovered homemade bomb-making instructions and a whiteboard with a floor layout of Timberview Middle School in the bedroom of a former student who has been suspected of plotting a large-scale shooting at the Colorado Springs school.

Whitworth attended the district’s schools from 2014 to 2016. The police report revealed that Whitworth intended to target Timberview Middle School in District 20 for “no specific reason.” On March 31, during the investigation, a person at the door told deputies that the accused inside was “very upset and punched holes inside the walls.” The residence was not, however, readily accessible to deputies.

Upon entering, deputies discovered evidence that the accused had been cutting doors off their hinges and poking holes in the walls. Whitworth’s sister, according to reports, was the one who reported the disturbance. Whitworth replied that his objective was to injure individuals at a school when deputies questioned him if he had any plans to harm them.

Deputies noticed that Whitworth seemed inebriated and made suicide remarks. The accused further manifested to target the churches and preparation for this had been going on for a month. Whitworth admitted to police that he had found instructions for building a detonation device on YouTube.

A list of school people and shooters was included in Whitworth’s manifesto, along with the following notes: 

Eric and Dylan: Losers
Adam Lanza: To smart
Isreal Keyes: Degenerate
Lauren Southern: Pathetic
Vaush: Terrorist
Donald J. Trump: Con-mam
Bad cops: Useless garbage
Stockholm, Name: Liam K.

The manifesto crafted by the accused also mentioned a list of weapons and information about 3D printing them, detailed listings of many identified people who were slain, together with their indented injury versus casualty rates, a description of how to make improvised explosive devices, and the selection of Timberview Middle School, Prairie Hills Elementary School, and Pine Creek High School as the final target locations.

The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office confirmed to the Gazette that the accused was a biological men and is in the process of transitoning into a woman. The accused named William Whitworth identifies himself as Lily.

‘The Other Media’ NGO that organised protests against Vedanta Sterlite plant under scanner: Home Ministry tells Rajya Sabha

OpIndia Staff
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‘The Other Media’ NGO that organised protests against Vedanta Sterlite plant under scanner: Home Ministry tells Rajya Sabha

On Wednesday, April 5, the Ministry of Home Affairs informed the Rajya Sabha that it was examining complaints against an NGO named The Other Media for misusing foreign funds to organize protests around the Vedanta Sterlite copper plant in Thoohtukudi district of Tamil Nadu. 

Congress MP Naranbhai J Rathwa had inquired “whether the Home Ministry has received any complaints against The Other Media for misusing foreign funds for organizing protests and demonstrations around Vedanta’s Sterlite Copper plant in Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu.” In addition to this, the details and status of the case against the NGO were also sought. The Congress MP also inquired about the details of the funds received and utilized by The Other Media and violations of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). 

Moreover, it was also inquired if the government is considering imposing a ban on this NGO and if not, then what reasons it would give.

Responding to the Congress MP’s query, Minister of State for Home, Nityanand Rai in a written reply to Rathwa informed that the ministry has received “representations/complaints alleging violation of the FCRA, 2010 by the association of ‘The Other Media, New Delhi’.”

Minister Rai also stated that the ministry has also received inputs of the field agency and that a standard questionnaire was issued to the NGO in question and a reply has also been received. 

“Accordingly, Standard questionnaire was issued to the association and a reply has been received,” the reply stated. 

The Minister further stated that in case the provisions of the FCRA, 2010, are found to have been violated by The Other Media, its certificate may be cancelled.

In case violations of provisions of the FCRA, 2010 are found, the certificate of FCRA registration of the association may be cancelled under Section 14 of the Act,” the reply stated.

The association utilized 2.79 crores of the 3.54 crore in foreign contributions it received over the last three fiscal years—2019–20, 2020–21, and 2021–22.

Notably, The Other Media (TOM) is an FCRA-NGO with the registration number DL 231660085, and its chairperson or chief functionary is Nityanand Jayaraman, a self-identified environmental activist.

Reportedly, TOM has received funding from dubious organizations like the Catholic Organization for Relief and Development Aid (CORDAID) of the Netherlands, the World Association for Christian Communication in Canada, the Christian Conference of Asia, and Trócaire, the official international aid organization of the Irish Catholic Church.

Bread for the World (BfW), a “globally active development and relief agency of the Protestant Churches in Germany,” has also donated money to TOM.

All of TOM’s donations have been listed under “Activities other than those mentioned,” despite the fact that their account statements (Form FC-6) state that their association is “educational and social in nature.”

Notably, in 2021, Vedanta Group got permission to reopen the plant to provide medical oxygen during the Covid pandemic. TN government had appealed to the apex court that the plant should provide oxygen only to the state but the court rejected it. It operated for three months and then the premises were again shut once the second wave was subsidized. In December 2021, there were reports that the locals had claimed they were cheated in the name of the protests and wanted it to reopen.

CNG and PNG rates likely to fall as Modi government approves Kirit Parikh Committee’s recommendations on domestic natural gas prices

OpIndia Staff
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CNG and PNG rates likely to fall as Modi government approves Kirit Parikh Committee’s recommendations on domestic natural gas prices

The central government has approved the recommendations of the Kirit Parikh Committee on domestic natural gas prices. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the new formula for fixing the price of domestic natural gas.

With this government decision, the pricing of fuels like PNG (piped natural gas) and CNG (compressed natural gas) is likely to decrease. The two domestic natural gas prices are reviewed by the government each year. However, there was no modification in gas prices on April 1, 2023, since the government was still to make a decision about the Parikh Committee’s recommendations.

The Kirit Parikh Committee has recommended that the government should reduce excise duty on CNG until a decision is taken to bring natural gas under GST.

The Kirit Parikh Committee has also advised the government to impose GST on natural gas. The company proposes that it should be with the states’ permission. In this case, the states must pay the Center for any losses incurred over a period of five years in order to execute it.

Abolishing the three-year petrol price ceiling is another recommendation made by the Kirit Parikh Committee. The Committee has also suggested that the pricing range for natural gas generated from the country’s old gas reserves be set at $ 4 to $ 6.5 per unit.

Umesh Pal Murder: Crucial details of the murder plan found in register seized from Atiq Ahmed’s home, old video of gunfire celebration emerges

OpIndia Staff
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Umesh Pal Murder: Crucial details of the murder plan found in register seized from Atiq Ahmed’s home, old video of gunfire celebration emerges

On Tuesday, Prayagraj Police made a crucial breakthrough in Umesh Pal’s murder investigation, seizing an iPhone, a register, and two Aadhaar cards from the Kasari Masari residence of convicted gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed. According to reports, the police recovered the items based on the testimony of Atiq’s accountant, Rakesh Lala, who was arrested with Atiq.

The old register confiscated from Atiq’s house contained the names of some former Atiq Ahmed associates. As many as 12 iPhones were used by Atiq and his aides to plan the murder of Umesh Pal, the IDs and the passwords of which were also mentioned in the register seized by the police. The phones were provided to Atiq’a aides by his wife Shaista Parveen.

According to reports, Atiq Ahmed and his shooters had made their iPhone IDs under various code names and communicated with each other under these aliases to execute Umesh Pal’s murder.

According to the details available in the register, Atiq Ahmed was given the code name ‘Bade Miyan’ and his brother Ashraf was named ‘Chotte Miyan.’ Atiq Ahmed’s key shooter Guddu Muslim, a co-accused in the murder case of Umesh Pal, was given the code name ‘Murgi,’ since he owned a chicken shop. Similarly, Atiq Ahmed Shooter Mohammad Ghulamand, who had fired from the shop, was named ‘Ullu’. Ghulam is among the five accused on whom the Uttar Pradesh Police has announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh. 

Reportedly, since Atiq’s son Asad is a big fan of Bollywood actor Salman Khan, he chose the code-name ‘Radhe’, inspired by the actor’s 2021 movie, where Salman Khan essayed the role of an undercover officer named Radhe.

According to the authorities, gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed, his brother Ashraf, and his aides communicated over the iPhone’s FaceTime application and only used the code names provided to them.

The register also included critical information concerning property sales involving multiple property sellers and Atiq and his accomplices.

As per reports, during the interrogation, Rakesh Lala told the police about the iPhone and the register where all the transactions were done.

The police suspect that the seized iPhone was used in Umesha Pal’s murder case and it will be sent to the forensic lab for examination.

Rakesh Lala and Cash Ahmed told the police that the money and weapons found in Atiq’s office were provided to them by the gangster’s wife, Shaista Parveen.

Atiq Ahmed’s son and family members open fire at a marriage ceremony, old video goes viral

Meanwhile, an old video of Atiq Ahmed’s family members opening fire in the air at a marriage ceremony has been going viral on social media. The video is said to be seven years old from Atiq Ahmed’s brother-in-law’s wedding in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

In the video, Atiq’s family members including his sons Ali, who is currently in Prayagraj’s Naini jail on charges of extortion, threatening and assaulting and the gangster’s younger son, Asad, who is accused in the Umesh Pal case son, are seen holding a pistol in his hand and happily firing several rounds. It is being reported that at least 150 rounds were fired in two and a half minutes.

In the video, Ashraf Ahmed can be seen sitting on a chair where the firing is taking place. Then, in the midst of the firing, Atiq Ahmed’s son Ali Ahmed approaches his uncle Ashraf and requests him to give his a pistol (Ali was reportedly a minor when the incident took place). Ashraf then loads his personal pistol and hands over it to Ali.

Ali then attempts to shoot in the air for the first time but fails. Then Ashraf reloads the pistol and passes it to Ali, who executes a furious faring in gangster style this time. When Ali succeeds in firing in the second instance, the guests and family members sitting around applaud and pat him on the back.

It may be recalled that earlier it was revealed that Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were in touch with each other through iPhone’s FaceTime application. The Police also revealed that the gangster planned the murder from within the jail and also made all the preparations to save his son Asad Ahmed from the case and showcase his presence in Lucknow.

Last month, an MP-MLA court in Prayagraj sentenced mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed to rigorous life imprisonment in the Umesh Pal abduction case. Ahmed is also the main accused in the Umesh Pal murder case. Umesh Pal, the prime witness in the 2005 murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal, and his two security personnel were shot dead in Prayagraj on February 24 this year.

Atiq Ahmed, who has over 100 cases registered against him, was brought by Uttar Pradesh police from Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Jail to Prayagraj’s Naini jail on March 27 after an over 24-hour long drive from Gujarat.

US: More than 150 Catholic priests in Maryland targeted over 600 children in the last 80 years, a 463-page report reveals

OpIndia Staff
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US: More than 150 Catholic priests in Maryland targeted over 600 children in the last 80 years, a 463-page report reveals

A report published by Maryland Attorney General’s Office on Wednesday, April 5, revealed that more than 150 Catholic priests and clergymen associated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore in Maryland, USA, sexually abused over 600 children, and church officials spent decades covering up the crime. The report revealed that these incidents of sexual exploitation had been carried out over the last 80 years.

Notably, the archdiocese is the oldest Roman Catholic diocese in the United States and spans much of Maryland.

According to reports, this 463-page report was prepared in November last year following a four-year investigation but was made public on Wednesday, April 5, after getting the permission of the court.

The report identified Catholic priests who had been involved in sexual abuse since the 1940s. The investigation into the matter was launched in 2019 when Brian Frosh was Attorney General. The damning report was prepared after talking to hundreds of victims and witnesses and included a review of over 100,000 pages of documents dating back to the 1940s. One deacon in the report even admitted to having molested over 100 children.

The Maryland Attorney General’s Office said it had identified 156 abusers, including priests, deacons, instructors, and seminarians, who “engaged in horrific and repeated abuse,” emphasising that the perpetrators frequently preyed on the trust of parents or communities.

“The staggering pervasiveness of the abuse itself underscores the culpability of the Church hierarchy,” the report said. “The sheer number of abusers and victims, the depravity of the abusers’ conduct, and the frequency with which known abusers were given the opportunity to continue preying upon children is astonishing. Over 600 children are known to have been abused by the 156 people included in this Report, but the number is likely far higher,” the Attorney General’s report said.

The report stated that the majority of the sexually assaulted children belonged to low-income families and were members of the church. They were threatened with dire consequences if they opened up about their ordeal with anyone.

It also stated that the archdiocese attempted to cover up the 80-year-long sexual abuse for decades and failed to safeguard victims when claims of abuse appeared. For example, after learning in 1987 that a clergyman had sexually abused a 14-year-old girl and admitting to being “aroused by some young girls,” the diocese informed the victim that he would be given therapy and reassigned away from children. The bishop took no further action until new victims came forward in 1994.

According to the study, nine other girls had been assaulted by that point, and there was evidence of further victims who opted not to report their cases.

It further added that the number of victims was “likely far higher” than the reported figure of over 600 children while condemning the Church’s refusal to acknowledge allegations of child sexual abuse and shuffling known offenders to other locations.

“The duration and scope of the abuse perpetrated by Catholic clergy was only possible because of the complicity of those charged with leading the Church and protecting its faithful,” the study said.

Responding to the report, Baltimore Archbishop William Lori apologised, stating that the study “details a reprehensible time in the history of this Archdiocese, a time that will not be covered up, ignored or forgotten.”

Around 3 dozen rockets fired from Lebanon on Israel following clashes at Al-Aqsa mosque, 25 intercepted by Iron Dome

OpIndia Staff
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Around 3 dozen rockets fired from Lebanon on Israel following clashes at Al-Aqsa mosque, 25 intercepted by Iron Dome

On Thursday, 6th April 2023, militants in Lebanon fired multiple rockets on the targets in the northern part of Israel, forcing people into bomb shelters and injuring at least one person. Israel has reportedly intercepted many of the rockets in the attack by its Iron Dome air defence system. According to Israeli military, 34 rockets were fired into the border, 25 of which were shot down by the Iron Dome, while five of them landed within Israel.

Warning sirens were sounded in the town of Shlomi and in Moshav Betzet in northern Israel due to the rocket attacks, the Israeli army said. Israel’s ambulance service said one man had sustained minor shrapnel injuries. Reportedly Katyusha time rockets were fired.

David Saranga – the director of the digital diplomacy bureau in Israel‘s Ministry of foreign affairs – tweeted, “Over the last couple of hours, 34 rockets were fired from Lebanon at Northern Israel, putting innocent lives in danger. The Israeli government will take all necessary measures to defend its citizens against acts of violence!”

It is notable that this attack came after clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians inside Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque. Threats of revenge had been sent from all around the region as a result of the violence within the third-holiest place in Islam. Israel also refuted accusations from Lebanon that it had responded to the incident with retaliation strikes.

According to reports, Lebanon had fired a “salvo” of rockets. Right now, no one has claimed responsibility for the assault. In the northern Israeli towns of Shlomi, Moshav Betzet, and Galilee, warning sirens were heard. According to the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he “received continuous updates regarding the security situation and will perform an assessment with the chiefs of the security services.”

Yoav Gallant, the defence minister, was also informed of the specifics of the rocket attack. A ministry spokesperson said, “The minister will soon conduct a situation assessment with senior officials in the defense establishment.”

Lebanon claimed that Israeli artillery fired several shells across the border after the rocket attack. But Israel has said that it had not retaliated.

Though no one claimed responsibility for the rocket attack, it is suspected that Hezbollah could be behind it. However, three security sources said Palestinian factions in Lebanon are behind the attack, not the heavily armed Lebanese Hezbollah group, according to a Reuters report.

Mohammad Al-Braim, the spokesman for the Palestinian Popular Resistance Committees, praised the rocket strikes from Lebanon but did not claim responsibility for the same. He said that it was retaliation for Al-Aqsa incident.

After days of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, riots at Al-Aqsa, and an alleged Iranian drone launched from Syria earlier in the week, tensions were unprecedentedly high when the rocket attack occurred. After such instances, Hezbollah seemed to imply that it may possibly join the conflict.

Hezbollah had said in a statement, “Hezbollah forcefully denounces the assault carried out by the Israeli occupation forces against the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and its attacks on the faithful. Hezbollah proclaims its full solidarity with the Palestinian people and the resistance groups, and pledges that it will stand with them in all measures they take to protect worshipers and the Al-Aqsa Mosque and to deter the enemy from continuing its attacks.”

Hezbollah controls most of the area in Southern Lebanon, across the border with Israel, and regularly clashes with Israeily border forces. This incident has raised fears of escalation in hostilities.

West Bengal: Police stop BJP MP Locket Chatterjee from attending Hanuman Jayanti puja in her constituency calling her an ‘outsider’

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: Police stop BJP MP Locket Chatterjee from attending Hanuman Jayanti puja in her constituency calling her an ‘outsider’

Locket Chatterjee, the West Bengal BJP MP from Hooghly, took to Twitter on Thursday to reveal how she was stopped by the State police officials from joining the Hanuman Jayanti procession in Hooghly. The BJP MP said that she was on her way to a temple at Banshberiea to perform puja on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti when the police stopped her vehicle and denied her to go further by calling her an ‘outsider.’

The MP tweeted in Hindi, “Like every year, I was going to the temple to perform Puja on the occasion of Shri Hanuman Janmotsav following a formal invitation, but the police stopped me, citing an order from the High Court that stated that no outsiders could attend the programme. Are Regional MPs outsiders for Mamta Banerjee’s government? she asked.

Locket Chatterjee was going to attend a Hanuman Jayanti program at the fruit market of Banshberia. A procession was also organised on the occasion. But she was stopped at Banshberia Boropara intersection in the district around half a kilometre away from the venue.

In a video that the BJP MP shared on Facebook, she is seen arguing with some police officials, who reportedly stopped her from proceeding to a temple in Hooghly to offer prayers. ‘Mamata Banerjee’s police blocked me while going to Baansberia Hanuman puja at my Hooghly Loksabha constituency. Because I am an outsider. How Mamata’s police can tell this to a local public representative?’ she wrote along with the video.

The official cites the High Court order which states that outsiders are not permitted to enter Hooghly. The MP pulls out the order and reads it out to the officials. She reads the order which says outsiders will not be allowed and then shows her identity card and several other documents which show that she represents the Hooghly Lok Sabha constituency, and therefore she can’t be called an outsider.

She stated that she is sad to hear that she is called an outsider while she is doing lots of work in the constituency using her MPLAD fund, but the cops insist that she can’t go ahead as per the order.

She insists that nowhere does the order read that any leader or parliamentarian cannot join a Shobha Yatra, but the police keep persuading her to leave. Even after a lot of arguments, she was not allowed to visit the temple in her own constituency calling her an outsider.

As a result, Locket Chatterhee sat on a Dharna on the protest in protest against the Mamata Banerjee government. She shared a video of the same on Twitter where she said, “Is the Bengal Police allowed to call a regional MP an outsider and stop her religious rituals? Now in Mamata Raj calling regional MPs as outsiders and preventing them from going to the area and participating in programs is going to hurt the sentiments of the people,” she tweeted. 

“It is the responsibility of the state government to maintain law and order. Mamata government has clearly failed at this front”, Chatterjee added.

“I told them to allow me to offer prayers but they (police) said that I am an outsider. I am not an outsider, I am an MP from here. I represent Hooghly. How can I be an outsider? I called the Superintendent of Police and District Magistrate but they did not pick up the call. I spoke to the Governor,” Chatterjee told reporters present at the site. “They have no answer why they have stopped me, all they are saying is I am an outsider,” she added.

West Bengal burns during Ram Navami celebrations while the administration looks away

West Bengal has been marred with violence ever since March 30, when Islamists unleashed mayhem in various areas of the state on the occasion of Ram Navami.

At first, on March 30, violence broke out in the Howrah district when a Ram Navami procession was allegedly targeted with stones. The violence then escalated and spread to the North Dinajpur and Hooghly districts over the course of the next three days.

Again, three days after Islamists unleashed mayhem during the Ram Navami procession in the Shibpur area of Howrah in West Bengal, a fresh bout of violence erupted in Rishra in West Bengal’s Hooghly district on April 2.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was taking out a ‘Shobha Yatra’ in the area. Miscreants pelted stones at the procession, leaving several people, including one of BJP’s local legislators gravely injured. Following the incident, prohibitory orders were imposed, and the internet was suspended.

On April 3, fresh stone pelting incidents were reported in the district Hooghly of West Bengal near Rishra Railway Station. The local and mail express train services were suspended after the incident.

While West Bengal continued to burn, the ruling dispensation led by CM Mamata Banerjee was busy whitewashing Islamist atrocities in the state by first invoking their faith and second, blaming the violence on ‘outsiders.’ She insisted that Hindus should not venture into “Muslim areas” to carry out processions.

RAF and Police personnel attacked

The RAF and Police personnel present to control the situation were also attacked by the rioters. They had to use tear gas to disperse the mob. One police vehicle parked near the railway crossing was also damaged.

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