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Shooter Arbaaz, accused in Umesh Pal murder case, killed in police encounter

OpIndia Staff
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Shooter Arbaaz, accused in Umesh Pal murder case, killed in police encounter

Shooter Arbaaz, one of the prime accused in Umesh Pal murder case, was killed in police encounter on Monday in Prayagraj. Arbaaz is one of the prime accused in murder of Umesh Pal, who was one of the key witnesses in Raju Pal murder case. As per police, Arbaaz was the one driving the Creta car which was used in the murder of Umesh Pal.

Over ten teams of STF and Prayagraj Police were involved in the investigation. Gangster turned politician Atiq Ahmed Khan’s wife and children are also being question in the case. His son, one of the accused involved in murder case is currently absconding. It is reported that during the run-in with the police, Arbaaz managed to escape with two other people.

Pal’s murder took place on last Friday, February 24, and within just three days on Monday, one of the accused was killed in a police encounter. As per reports, Arbaaz tried to fire at the police and in retaliatory firing, he was shot at. Police had first shot at his leg. The police is still looking for other accused.

It is reported that Arbaaz was a close aide of former MP Atiq Ahmed. Arbaaz also used to drive Atiq Ahmed’s car for him. The encounter took place in the Nehru Park jungle in Dhumanganj area. One police official was also injured in the firing.

Umesh Pal murder case

Umesh Pal, a key witness in 2005 murder case of BSP leader Raju Pal, was killed on Friday. Since then, at least ten teams of UP Police and other agencies have been carrying out raids at various places. Amid this, the Creta car used in Umesh Pal’s murder was recovered from Atiq Ahmed’s house. Atiq Ahmed is one of the accused in Raju Pal murder case as well.

Raju Pal was murdered on 26 January 2005 soon after he was elected as an MLA after defeating Atiq Ahmed’s brother Ashraf on a BSP ticket. In 2004, Atiq was elected MP from Phoolpur constituency. Pal’s wife had accused Atiq, his brother and three more of murdering her husband.

Umesh Pal was one of the witnesses in the Raju Pal murder case. 7 shooters, of which two were from Atiq gang, were allegedly involved in Pal’s murder last week. Atiq Ahmed is currently lodged in Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati jail from where he is believed to have hatched the conspiracy.

Assam: Copy of Quran and Hadiths and other Islamic articles found inside Kali Mandir, in 2021, a similar incident had taken place in Bangladesh

OpIndia Staff
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Assam: Copy of Quran and Hadiths and other Islamic articles found inside Kali Mandir, in 2021, a similar incident had taken place in Bangladesh

On Monday (February 26), a copy of the Quran and other Islamic paraphernalia was found on the premises of a temple, dedicated to Goddess Kali. The incident took place in Garajan village in Rupohihat in the Nagaon district of Assam.

When the matter came to light, the locals informed the police. On receiving information, the cops rushed to the spot and initiated a probe into the matter.

They also seized the copy of the Quran and other Islamic scriptures including Hadiths that were allegedly placed by miscreants at the sanctum sanctorum of the temple.

The incident has created an atmosphere of chaos and unrest in the Rupohihat area. Locals have raised questions about how the Islamic book ended up within the temple premises and the intention behind orchestrating such an event.

They demanded rapid action against those involved in the desecration of the temple. It must be mentioned that the deliberate placement of the Quran in Hindu temples by Islamists had led to large-scale attacks against the Hindu community in the past.

In October 2021, a 35-year-old man named Iqbal Hossain placed a copy of the Quran on the feet of the idol of Lord Hanuman at the Nanuar Dighir Par Durga Mandir in the Cumilla district of Bangladesh.

His actions triggered a series of violent attacks against the minority Hindus in the country. The Hindu community had insisted vehemently that nobody among them had kept the Islamic ‘Holy book’ at the Puja Pandal and the incident was a deliberate plan to foment trouble.

For over five days, houses and temples of the Hindu community in Bangladesh remained under attack. Videos of broken idols, demolished pandals and Moorti of Maa Durga being thrown in a pond emerged on social media platforms along with other videos of attacks on Hindus.

It came to light later that the copy of the Quran was given to Iqbal Hossain by the caretakers of a nearby mosque.

What interference by George Soros means and the changing nature of imperialism that we must acknowledge to safeguard our freedoms

Sachin R
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What interference by George Soros means and the changing nature of imperialism that we must acknowledge to safeguard our freedoms

Recently, American billionaire George Soros has been in news for his outlandish views on the Indian government and especially PM Modi. Some Indian commentators say Soros means well and some others feel he is a bad actor trying to create social discord as he did before the 2020 US elections using the BLM movement which he generously funded. The fact is, it does not matter if you think George Soros is a good man or bad. The only thing that matters is he is an American. What matters is as a foreigner, he has no right to interfere in India’s democratic processes.

In fact, his own country America understands this well. American law is very strict when it comes to defining what is foreign election interference. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, it is “malign actions taken by foreign governments or actors designed to sow discord, manipulate public discourse, discredit the electoral system, bias the development of policy, or disrupt markets for the purpose of undermining the interests of the United States and its allies.” Soros is not a political novice. He is a close ally of President Biden’s party and also their biggest donor. George Soros knows very well that what he is doing in India, an Indian billionaire would not be able to do in the US.

In the United States, there are several laws and regulations in place to prevent foreign interference in U.S. elections. Some of these laws include:

Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA)

This law requires agents of foreign governments, political parties, and individuals working on their behalf to register with the U.S. Department of Justice and disclose their activities, funding sources, and other relevant information.

The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA)

This law prohibits foreign nationals, governments, and corporations from making donations or contributing money in connection with U.S. federal elections. It also prohibits foreign nationals from engaging in political activities, such as providing campaign advice and prohibits political candidates from soliciting or accepting such contributions.

The Help America Vote Act (HAVA)

This law provides funding to states to improve election administration and security, including measures to prevent hacking, tampering, and other forms of interference.

The Intelligence Authorization Act

This law requires the Director of National Intelligence to report to Congress on foreign efforts to interfere in U.S. elections and provides funding for the intelligence community to counter such efforts.

The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act (CISA)

This law encourages government agencies and private sector organizations to share information about cyber threats and vulnerabilities in order to prevent cyber-attacks and other forms of interference.

Of course, these laws will only threaten you if you as an Indian want to interfere in the US elections. On the other hand, the US is perfectly happy to let George Soros openly interfere in India’s. He funds hundreds of NGOs and media that do his bidding and control various indices, ranking, reports and academic research. They all speak in one voice to repeat whatever suits HIS agenda. Is it foreign election interference? Of course, it is.

But why is foreign election interference so bad? Because elections are a measure of our sovereignty. It is an all-Indian affair. If foreign powers interfere, it is direct erosion of our fundamental rights as Indians. It gives a direct opportunity to foreign powers to control who rules us and what policies they adopt. That is the dictionary definition of imperialism. While western imperialism depended on hard power in the past, in today’s technology-dominated small world, soft power is equally important. George Soros has invested billions in building that soft power. From presidents to college professors to fact-checkers, Soros has found a way to legally deliver his money using the cloak of charity, education, climate, social justice, preserving democracy, defeating fascism, racism, casteism, LGBTQ rights, Islamophobia, refugees, you name it. And with billions of dollars in the bank, he has found it easy to buy that influence.

As stated earlier, it does not matter if George Soros believes in all that he preaches. It is still imperialistic interference in India’s democracy. At the same time, we should look at what kind of people Soros funds. You must be aware of rabid Islamist hate-monger Khaled Beydoun. Funded by Soros. Anurima Bhargava, the “Hindu” member of USCIRF who recommended sanctions on India and one who is always seen on Islamist organisation IAMC’s forum? Funded by Soros. Harsh Mander, who authored the infamous Communal Violence Bill for Sonia Gandhi’s NAC? Funded by Soros. How can such a person, who funds such open Hindu hate, be called a philanthrope? Simple, those calling him that is also funded by him or the ecosystem he is part of.

We need tailor-made solutions – If we use the same yardstick the west uses to identify foreign election interference, it will not work. There is a vast power imbalance between former imperialists and their former colonies. One must understand the west benefits from their centuries-long imperialism and the cultural capital they have accumulated by force. For example, an article in an Indian newspaper has no resonance in the USA, but an article in the NYT shapes global views on India. The two are not the same. This means we must come up with our own definition of foreign election interference and not blindly follow the west’s self-serving framework. Of course, the west will resist. After all, they gave us this democracy, the least we can do is not exercise it without their permission, no?

Are Indian laws sufficient? In the fast-paced technology-driven public space, the answer to this question is always no. We probably have more understanding and preparedness for technological challenges to our elections. But the much more subjective challenge of foreign narratives affecting our elections and economy is far more complex. It will require strong political will and swift legal manoeuvring to push back against George Soros and his army of narrative builders. Taking common Indians into confidence is key. Let the people ask, why is a 92-year-old controversial American billionaire interested in who rules India? Why is a foreigner’s voice more important than the voice of a common Indian? These questions will lead Indians to the much-neglected task of decolonisation. It will open our eyes to the risks of foreign powers controlling our fate. No common Indian, no matter what their political affiliation would find that palatable. Let all those foreign-funded opinion makers in India face public scrutiny. If that happens, George Soros will have done us a big favour.

When imperialists took control of India in the past, they claimed they were only civilising us. They only wanted to fix the ills of Indian society. That is what they said. But their designs were purely rooted in superiority, exploitation, and imperialism. Mr Soros is no different. The west is no different. Protecting our freedoms will require that we acknowledge the changed nature of imperialism. And yet, that will only be the first step. Let us all collectively take it.

59 Hindus were burnt alive in the S6 coach of the Sabarmati Express 21 years ago, know about two families who lost everything in the Godhra carnage

લિંકન સોખડિયા
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59 Hindus were burnt alive in the S6 coach of the Sabarmati Express 21 years ago, know about two families who lost everything in the Godhra carnage

No Hindu will ever forget the dreadful incident that took place on 27th February 2002, in which 59 innocent Hindus were killed as the Islamic jihadis set on fire the S6 coach of the Sabarmati Express near the Godhra railway station in Gujarat. This incident is known as the Godhra carnage.

The Hindu families, who were victims of the Islamic jihadi attack at that time, have not yet recovered from that shock. Many families lost their family heads and prime earning member, there are many who do not have any money now, and some families have ceased to exist. Today, here we will talk about two such families from Ahmedabad who lost everything in the Godhra carnage.

The Soni family of Vastral vanished

On February 27, two prominent members of the Soni family living near the Surelia Estate in Vastral were killed in the Sabarmati Express. Mansukhbhai Kanjibhai Soni and his 22-year-old son Jesalkumar Mansukhbhai Soni lost their lives in the massacre.

Father Late Mansukhbhai Soni (Left), Son Late Jesal Soni (Right) Image Source: OpIndia Gujarati

It is worth mentioning that at the time of this Godhra carnage, Jesal Soni’s daughter was only 6 months old. On that fateful day, the daughter-in-law and mother-in-law in this family became widows.

As the daughter-in-law was still young, she was remarried within the community and after some time, Jesal Soni’s mother and Mansukhbhai’s wife – the only member of the family – died of illness. Thus, Godhra carnage erased the name of this Soni family of Ahmedabad.

Ramol’s Panchal family left with 4 daughters under 15 years of age

Just like the Soni family, there is also a sad story of the Panchal family of Ramol. On the day of the Godhra carnage, there were five members of the Panchal family in that compartment of the train. Husband Harshadbhai Hargovindbhai Panchal, wife Nitaben Harshadbhai Panchal, and their three daughters Pratiksha, Chhaya, and Gayatri. Their other three daughters stayed at home as they were very young.

The husband and wife and their two daughters Pratiksha and Chhaya were killed in the attack by Islamic fundamentalists, and Gayatri somehow managed to save her life.

Four members of the Panchal family were killed in the fire. Image Source: OpIndia Gujarati

Thus, after the Godhra carnage, there was no supporting man left in the Panchal family. Only 4 daughters below 15 years of their age were left, for whom life was no longer like the others.

Here we have only talked about two families who were victims during this Godhra massacre. The families of each of those 59 massacred Hindus suffered an irreparable loss, due to which, even after 21 years, these families haven’t recovered from the shock of the Godhra carnage.

Chandra Shekhar Azad death anniversary: When his nephew Sujit said that it was Nehru who got the revolutionary killed by the British: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Chandra Shekhar Azad death anniversary: When his nephew Sujit said that it was Nehru who got the revolutionary killed by the British: Details

On this day (February 27), ninety-two years ago, the iconic Indian revolutionary freedom fighter Chandra Shekhar Azad died, preferring to shoot himself than get arrested by the British.

It is well known that the CID head of British police was tipped by someone that Azad is conducting a meeting at Alfred Park (currently Chandra Shekhar Azad park). With 80 sepoys, the police surrounded the park and soon a gunfight broke out. Azad didn’t give up till his final breath and eventually shot himself to avoid being captured by the Britishers.

Another known fact is that Sujit Azad, the nephew of revolutionary freedom fighter Chandra Shekhar Azad, has been asserting for several years now, that India’s former Prime Minister and Congress leader Jawaharlal Nehru provided specific information about Azad’s whereabouts to the British.

Sujit Azad alleged that Nehru informed the British about the presence of Chandra Shekhar Azad at Alfred Park because other than Nehru and his fellow HRA members, nobody else knew Azad was coming there. He has also urged previously that the ‘Bharat Ratna’ award given to Nehru should be revoked. Similarly, he demanded that a panel similar to the ‘Kapur Commission’ (formed after Gandhi’s death) should be appointed to investigate the aforementioned allegations and the truth should be made public.

Jawaharlal Nehru was a prominent figure in Congress at the time of Chandra Shekhar Azad’s death. Motilal Nehru, his father, was a well-known barrister, Congress politician, and financial supporter of the revolutionaries. But, Jawaharlal Nehru was not as enthusiastic about the revolutionaries.

On February 27, 1931, Chandra Shekhar Azad visited Anand Bhavan (Nehru residence in Lucknow) to meet him secretly to seek clemency for Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, and other freedom fighters who were sentenced to death by the British government. At that time, Azad also handed over the treasury belonging to the ‘Hindustan Socialist Republican Association’ to Nehru to secure Bhagat Singh’s release. Nehru started giving evasive answers, due to which Chandra Shekhar Azad came out of the meeting in anger.

Azad went to Albert Park in Allahabad with his aide after returning from ‘Anand Bhavan’ to discuss his next course of action. Nehru, who was the only person who knew where Azad was, allegedly informed the British about his location as per Sujit Azad. Based on the particular information, the police surrounded Azad with 80 sepoys, and a gunfight ensued. Azad, facing the entire police force, refused to surrender. He battled till the bitter end and kept firing at the British cops until he was down to one bullet. He pointed the pistol at his head and pulled the trigger. Azad, a renowned revolutionary and a courageous son of India, chose to die over submission to the British.

According to Sujit Azad, Nehru not only grabbed the treasury but also betrayed Chandra Shekhar Azad, leading to his death.

‘As long as my head is satisfactorily attached to my torso’ – Prof Ranganathan slams Taslim Ahmed Rehmani at ARTH Cultural Fest; video viral

OpIndia Staff
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‘As long as my head is satisfactorily attached to my torso’ – Prof Ranganathan slams Taslim Ahmed Rehmani at ARTH Cultural Fest; video viral

On February 26, JNU Professor and Author Anand Ranganathan slammed Dr Taslim Ahmed Rehmani at ‘ARTH – A Culture Fest’ during Uniform Civil Code (UCC) discussion. Prof Ranganathan and Rehmani were among the panelists to discuss different perspectives of UCC.

During his introduction, Prof Ranganathan said, “I am proud to be an Indian. Really proud to be one amongst you because sitting next to me (pointing at Rehmani) is a gentleman who is so safe and sound. He is roaming around. He is saying whatever he likes. One year ago, the woman he was in a debate with is sitting at home. Those who protest against this country, saying there is no democracy, should remember this. Rehmani Sahab is safe and sound, and he is here with me. Remember that, always. Don’t forget that. All those who think that this is not a democracy remember that. There is a woman, poor woman, all she did was quoted some scriptures, and her life has been ruined.”

Rehmani interrupted the professor at this point and said, “He is tarnishing my image on a false basis. That is why I am objecting. Let’s not divert from the topic, please.”

Abhinav Prakash, who was moderating the discussion, requested Prof Ranganathan not to pass a personal remark, to which he said, “I am not passing any personal remarks. I am proud to be an Indian. How is that personal? I am proud that you are safe. How is that personal?”

He further added, “And image can only get tarnished if [there is an image to tarnish].”

Rehmani got furious at this and said, “If this is the way of this debate at the outset. Targeting a personality then, I have many things to say for many people but I do not want to continue. I can leave this debate if you have to insult me over here.”

Prof Anand Ranganathan said, “I am not insulting anyone,” and asked the public if he did, to which everyone cheered. Rehmani continued to say, “You are insulting me. You are spreading falsehood about me. You are spreading rumours against me and trying to demonize my personality. I object to it.”

“I take your objection wholeheartedly as long as my head is satisfactorily attached to my torso”, the professor replied.

Prof Ranganathan’s statement at the fest went viral on social media, and netizens praised him for calling out Rehmani.

Nupur Sharma and the controversy around her

In a debate on the disputed structure at Gyanvapi in Kashi in May 2022, the former Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma slammed Taslim Ahmed Rehmani for his repeated offensive language. She questioned Rehmani about how he would feel if she quoted Islamic scriptures. Alt News’ co-founder Mohammed Zubair took her statement out of context, removed Rehmani’s comments and shared her statement on social media.

It was alleged that Sharma insulted Prophet Mohammed, which led to riots in several places in the country, and Islamic countries issued statements against Sharma and Indian Government. BJP removed Nupur Sharma from the party, and she is still living at an unknown location with threats to her life. Multiple FIRs were also registered against her. In the aftermath, Hindus were killed for supporting Sharma, including Kanhaiya Lal in Rajasthan and Umesh Kohle in Maharashtra.

Jairam Ramesh apologises to Muslims after outrage over omission of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad from Congress ad

OpIndia Staff
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Jairam Ramesh apologises to Muslims after outrage over omission of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad from Congress ad

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh apologised after Muslims outraged over the exclusion of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad from party advertisements.

On Sunday, 26th February 2023, the Congress party left out Maulana Abul Kalam Azad from one of its advertisements published during its 85th plenary meeting in Raipur of Chhattisgarh. The advertisement was about well-known leaders of party.

After Muslims lambasted Congress for missing out one of their co-religionists, Jairam Ramesh apologized for excluding Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. It is notable that independent India’s first education minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad is known for distorting history to cover up the crimes of the Mughals.

Jairam Ramesh tweeted, “Today an ad released by INC did not carry a photograph of Maulana Azad. It was an inexcusable slip-up. Responsibility for it is being fixed & action will be taken. Meanwhile, this is a most sincere apology from us. He will always remain an iconic & inspiring figure for us & India.”

The advertisement published by the Congress party included pictures of its past party presidents and former Prime Ministers. It also had images of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and current party president Mallikarjun Kharge.

The advertisement was published by the Congress party during its plenary session. Image Source: Times of India

Several Muslim leaders from Congress showcased their displeasure over the advertisement. Mumbai Congress general secretary Asif Farooqui said, “This is an unpardonable mistake on the part of those who approved the ad for an important occasion in the 137-year history of the Congress. I hope this is not true. but people are seeing it as part of the party’s strategy to stay away from Muslims. including Muslim freedom fighters.”

Another Congress leader MLA Amin Patel said, “After I received many messages flagging the mistake, I shared them with some senior leaders, including Jairam Ramesh. He apologized on behalf of the party. I am glad he has said action will be taken and hopefully this slipup is not repeated in the future.”

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad exalted Mughals and attempted to whitewash their sins while obfuscating Hindu history

From 1947 till his death in 1958, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was India’s Education Minister. Today (November 11), the entire nation observes National Education Day in his honor and discusses how he was instrumental in the development of independent India’s education system, but no one seems to discuss how he began the process of negationism of history to cover up misdeeds of Islamic tyrants.

He served as Education Minister for over 11 years. During that period, he recruited individuals who were either member of the same community or adhered to the Leftist ideology. Humayun Kabir, MC Chagla, and Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed were among them. All of them combined to present the Mughals as “messiahs of the oppressed Hindu masses” and in the worst case as ‘benevolent dictators.’

A report by Freedomfirst.in published in 2014 read, “As Union Education Minister for eight years, Azad saw to it that the history of India presented in the textbooks was negationist; that is, cover up deeds perpetrated by the Muslim invaders and settlers and converts – loot, slaughter, destruction of temples, Jazia tax, forced conversions, forcing widows of dead soldiers into harems, sale of captured children in the slave bazaars of Baghdad, burning of libraries and appropriation of defeated peoples’ properties to constitute Wakfs for the welfare of  Muslims, etc.”

Azad’s ideas demonstrated unequivocally that his allegiances were always with Islam and the true ramifications of his ideology—agreed to and supported by Nehru—reflected in our history textbooks where crimes of Islamic invaders were downplayed while Hinduism vilified

‘CBI officers were against Manish’s arrest’: Arvind Kejriwal claims they had ‘huge respect’ for him and had ‘no evidence’

ANI
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‘CBI officers were against Manish’s arrest’: Arvind Kejriwal claims they had ‘huge respect’ for him and had ‘no evidence’

In a stunning claim in connection with the arrest of Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday claimed that most CBI officers were “against” the former’s arrest due to lack of evidence, but were compelled to do so owing to the “pressure” borne on them by their “political masters”. 

His remark comes a day after Sisodia was arrested by the premier central probe agency in connection with the Delhi liquor policy scam case. Sisodia, who also handles the Finance portfolio, was arrested after eight hours of questioning. 

“I am told that most CBI officers were against Manish’s arrest. All of them have huge respect for him and there is no evidence against him. But the political pressure to arrest him was so high that they had to obey their political masters,” Kejriwal tweeted. 

Meanwhile, the CBI on Sunday released a statement on Sisodia’s arrests, claiming he was giving evasive replies and wasn’t cooperating in the ongoing investigation in the liquor scam case. 

The agency further said Sisodia had been summoned earlier on February 19 in connection with the ongoing probe, but had sought a week’s time citing the Delhi Budget. 

“The Deputy CM was issued a notice under section 41A of CrPC for attending the investigation on February 19, 2023. However, he sought time of one week citing his preoccupation,” the CBI stated. 

Accepting his request, he was issued a notice — u/s 41A CrPC — to report to the agency on February 26 and answer questions he ‘evaded’ during his examination on October 17, 2022, and further questions relating to his ‘incriminating role’ based on evidence collected during investigation of the case. 

“However, he gave evasive replies and did not co-operate the investigation despite being confronted with evidence to the contrary. Therefore, he has been arrested,” the statement read. 

“The arrested accused will be produced before the designated court in Delhi,” it added further. 

Shortly before arriving at the CBI office for questioning, the deputy chief minister had said false cases were being lodged against leaders of the party, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was “afraid” of CM Kejriwal.

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

After Imtiaz Alam from Hizbul, former commander of terrorist group Al Badr shot dead in Pakistan: Read about the terror group and their jihad against India

OpIndia Staff
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After Imtiaz Alam from Hizbul, former commander of terrorist group Al Badr shot dead in Pakistan: Read about the terror group and their jihad against India

On Sunday, February 26, unidentified men killed Syed Khalid Raza, a former commander of the Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Al Badr. The dreaded terrorist was shot outside his residence in Gulistan-e-Johar Block 7 area of Karachi, Pakistan.

For almost 8 years in the 1990s, Syed Khalid Raza was the commander of the Al-Badr terror group in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to Jamaat e Islami President Karachi, the deceased was also associated with JeI Talba Wing.

Wanted Hizbul terrorist Bashir Ahmad Peer alias Imtiaz Alam shot dead by unknown assailants in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

The dreaded terrorist’s death came a week after Imtiaz Alam alias Bashir Ahmed Peer, one of India’s most wanted terrorists, was killed in similar circumstances in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Imtiaz was a founding member of the outlawed terror organization Hizbul Mujahideen, serving as its third commander. On Monday (February 20, 2023), he was killed in front of a shop by two unidentified assailants.

Pakistan-based terrorist organization Al Badr

Pakistan-based Al-Badr terrorist outfit, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States, was formed in June 1998 to strengthen the ‘Kashmiri freedom struggle’ and ‘liberate’ the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir and merge it with Pakistan.

It is one of several terrorist offshoots of the Jamaat-e-Islami and has often worked in tandem with the notorious Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM).

Al Badr’s origins may be traced back to 1971 when Pakistan-sponsored Islamic terrorists carried out a pogrom against the Bengali-speaking populace in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). Subsequently, Al Badr became a part of the Hizb-i-Islami, an Islamic terrorist organization based in Afghanistan, led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. It first appeared in Kashmir in 1990, when it launched a jihad against India under the banner of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen. Under the aegis of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the HM was formed in 1990 as an armed branch of the Jamaat-e-Islami. Nevertheless, in 1998, Al Badr developed differences with the HM and broke away to form an independent separatist organization.

In places where it operated, Al Badr also began imposing its fanatical interpretations of Islamic law. This had a terrible social impact, particularly on women. For example, in a major terrorist incident in 2002, three ladies were killed in the Jammu region. In 2003, the organization warned women in rural regions under its control, of the risks of not following Islamic precepts (wearing veils, giving up education at age 14, and so on). It also criticized the India-Pakistan truce in 2003, stating that Pakistan should concentrate on the jihad against India rather than “spending time pursuing a diplomatic settlement.”

Modus Operandi

To further its agenda, the terror organization resorted to violence and attacked government officials, security forces, and even civilians. It wreaked havoc and disrupted peace using weapons supplied by Pakistan and other terrorist organizations. Other than the LeT and the JeM, the Al Badr is the only group that has incorporated suicide (Fidayeen) attacks into its strategy. It disseminateed propaganda through its Urdu journal ‘Al Badr,’ which was founded in Pakistan in 1999.

Source of funding for Al Badr

The ISI, along with the Jamaat-e-Islami, have long been significant supporters of the organization, though relations with the Jamaat have been strained. It openly solicited funds in Pakistan for its operations, with almost no resistance from the authorities.

In 2012, for example, it held a two-day public rally in Rawalpindi to collect funds. Yet, it is claimed that the organization has been suffering from a lack of funding in recent years, forcing it to close multiple training camps.

Upon its formation, the group separated itself from both the HM and the Jamaat, operating as an autonomous entity. It continues to get funding from Pakistan’s ISI for its terrorist operations in the Kashmir Valley while marginalizing local separatist organizations. As part of this agenda, it carried out strikes on the Indian military, government facilities, and personnel.

Notably, Al Badr fought on Pakistan’s side against Indian forces during the 1999 Kargil War. According to reports, the group’s ‘Chief Commander,’ Bakht Zameen, was directing militant operations from his headquarters in Skardu near the Ladakh border, where its terrorists crossed the Line of Control (LoC) to target Indian troops.

In 2000, the terrorist organization increased its terrorist activities in the Kashmir Valley and started using suicide attack tactics to wage jihad in the valley. Notably, Al Badr is the only terrorist organization in the Valley that employs such techniques, aside from the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Jaish-e-Mohammed.

The terror organization seems to be undergoing a massive revival on the terror map of Jammu and Kashmir. Though a significant number of terror attacks have been reported, the number of counter-attacks is also on the rise. The Indian Army is working painstakingly along with the intelligence agencies, trying to stifle cross-border terrorism.

‘Atiq Ahmed a product of Samajwadi Party’: Mayawati says his wife will be expelled from the BSP if found guilty in Umesh Pal murder case

OpIndia Staff
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‘Atiq Ahmed a product of Samajwadi Party’: Mayawati says his wife will be expelled from the BSP if found guilty in Umesh Pal murder case

Reacting to the killing of Umesh Pal in the 2005 BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case, BSP party supremo Mayawati said the wife of Mafia Atiq Ahmed would be expelled from the party if she is found guilty of the murder. The former UP CM also called Atiq Ahmed a product of the Samajwadi Party.

The Prayagraj Police have emphasized Atiq Ahmed’s association with the homicide of Umesh Pal, given that his two sons were apprehended in connection with the case. This occurred subsequent to the shooting of Umesh Pal on Friday evening by unidentified attackers at his home in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

In a string of tweets, Mayawati said her party has taken note of the reports of the FIR filed against the former MP and five-times, Shaista Parveen, the wife of the mafia-turned-politician, and their two sons in the murder of Umesh Pal and his attacker.

“Information has also been published about the registration of an FIR against Atiq Ahmed’s son and his wife in connection with the murder of advocate Umesh Pal and his gunner, an important witness in Raju Pal’s murder case that took place years ago in Prayagraj,” Mayawati tweeted.

Promising the expulsion of Parveen on proven guilty, Mayawati tweeted, “Taking serious cognizance of this, BSP has decided that Mrs Shaista Parveen, wife of Atiq Ahmed, will be expelled from the party as soon as they are proven guilty in the ongoing investigation of this matter.

“It is a well-known fact that Atiq Ahmed is a Samajwadi Party product and he was MP and MLA from that party. Also, Raju Pal’s wife too has switched over from the BSP to the SP, the party she had been calling the main culprit,” she further tweeted.

The BSP chief further claimed that BSP neither inflicts punishment for crimes on innocent people nor encourages criminal elements based on caste and religion.

Umesh Pal murder case, police identify Atiq Ahmed’s son as one of the accused

Earlier yesterday, Uttar Pradesh police gained major success in the investigation of the Umesh Pal murder case, as they identified four attackers who killed Umesh Pal, the key witness in the 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal on Friday, after analyzing the CCTV footage of the incident.

Among the four assailants were mafia and former MP Atiq Ahmed’s son Asad Ahmed, Atiq Ahmed’s close aide Guddu Muslim, Arman, and Mohammed Ghulam. ADG Law and Order Prashant Kumar and ADG STF Amrit Abhijat have camped in Prayagraj. It is being said that seven people were involved in the attack on Umesh Pal, out of which four have been identified so far. Out of the four identified attackers, three have been arrested.

This comes after  Umesh Pal, the key witness in the 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal, was fatally shot on Friday evening at his home in Prayagraj. Raju Pal had been elected to the Allahabad (West) assembly seat in his first electoral campaign, defeating Khalid Azim, the younger brother of former MP Atiq Ahmed. Months later, Raju Pal was murdered. The prime suspects in the Raju Pal murder case are Atiq Ahmed, his brother, and former MLA Ashraf. All three accused individuals are currently lodged in jail.

After analyzing the CCTV footage, the police have reported that the attackers arrived at the scene in both a car and a motorcycle. The police have also stated that the assailants were pursuing Umesh Pal’s vehicle and had crude explosive devices in their possession. In one of the video clips obtained, an individual can be seen removing a bomb from their bag and throwing it at Umesh Pal. The police said additional men used improvised explosive devices during the attack, resulting in a cloud of smoke and inciting panic and disorder. Umesh Pal was quickly transported to Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital for treatment, but unfortunately, he passed away from his injuries.

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