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Pakistan: 37 cases filed against Imran Khan across the country, charges include sedition, blasphemy and terrorism

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Pakistan: 37 cases filed against Imran Khan across the country, charges include sedition, blasphemy and terrorism

Former Prime Minister of Pakistan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan is facing a total of 37 cases filed against him in different parts of the country, reported The News International.

These include litigation, police and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) cases and also proceedings launched by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) against the PTI chief. According to the litigation status report of Imran Khan provided by Fawad Chaudhry, Khan himself is a petitioner in 19 cases, which have been filed against government departments and individuals.

However, there are a total of 37 cases against Khan in which he is directly involved. According to the report, a total of 21 FIRs are registered against the former prime minister out of which 11 were registered in a single day on May 25, 2022 while eight were registered on May 26. The remaining three FIRs were registered on August 8, reported The News International.

It is important to mention here that the provided list does not include recent cases filed against Imran Khan. Out of the total litigation cases, five are ongoing in the Supreme Court of Pakistan after being filed by Khan against the Federation of Pakistan.

In the Islamabad High Court, Khan has filed two cases against the Election Commission of Pakistan while two cases are registered against him in the same court.

In the Lahore High Court, a total of six cases are filed by Khan, four against the Federation of Pakistan while two against the election commission. However, only two cases are ongoing against Imran in the LHC. A total of three cases are ongoing in the Peshawar High Court, involving Khan, in which he is a petitioner in only one case, reported The News International.

In the Islamabad District Court, there are three cases against the former premier. The Election Commission of Pakistan is pursuing five cases against Khan, which include foreign funding case, KP helicopter case, removal of chairmanship case and contempt case for using inappropriate language against the commission and chairman commission.

The Federal Investigation Agency has registered two cases against Khan and both are related to the cipher. Further, in anti-terrorism courts, Imran is facing three cases. Only one case has been filed against Khan by the FIA Banking Crime Court Islamabad.

Earlier this week, the PTI chief had claimed on Twitter that 76 cases have been registered against him.
“My 76 cases and increasing rapidly include terrorism, blasphemy and sedition. In sedition case, neither the officer is named nor institution identified,” Khan had claimed.

The PTI chief had alleged the cases resulted from the imposition of a “bunch of criminals” [on the nation] who lack “intelligence, morality and ethics”.

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

Jammu: Johar Mehmood Ganai stabs Dr Sumedha Sharma to death with a butcher’s knife on Holi, then posts on Facebook about committing suicide

OpIndia Staff
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Jammu: Johar Mehmood Ganai stabs Dr Sumedha Sharma to death with a butcher’s knife on Holi, then posts on Facebook about committing suicide

In a horrific incident, a 26-year-old dentist was brutally murdered by her male friend on the outskirts of Janipur city of Jammu and Kashmir. The deceased has been identified as Dr Sumedha Sharma who was killed by Johar Ganai, son of Mehmood Ganai, a resident of Bhaderwah.

According to the reports, the incident is said to have happened on the occasion of Holi. Dr Sumedha was murdered by Ganai after she reached Johar’s house in Pamposh Colony. The duo engaged in an argument, in the rage of which Ganai grabbed a butcher knife from his kitchen and stabbed the woman. Later, he also stabbed himself and attempted to commit suicide.

However, the accused posted on Facebook before stabbing himself, saying that he was committing suicide as he was fed up with his life. One of his relatives happened to see the post and informed the Janipur Police about the matter. The police immediately reached the spot but found the main gate of the house locked from the inside.

On breaking into the house, the police team saw the accused in critical condition with stab injuries in his abdomen. They also saw Dr Sumedha’s body lying nearby. Reports mention that the woman was lying in a pool of blood on the floor and also had stab injuries in the abdomen.

The accused was then shifted to the Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu, where he’s still undergoing treatment. His condition is said to be critical. The body of the deceased doctor was however handed to her family after the completion of all the medical and legal procedures.

The Police registered an FIR in the case under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and began the investigation. According to the initial investigation conducted by the Police, Dr Sumedha and Ganai were dating. Both had completed their BDS education at Dental College Seohra in Jammu, while Dr Sumedha was pursuing her MDS in Delhi.

The Police also revealed that the girl had arrived on vacation for Holi and went right to the accused’s home, where they got into an argument about something, and in a fit of rage, the accused stabbed Dr Sumedha to death with a butcher knife and then attempted suicide by stabbing himself there too.

Dr Sumedha is the daughter of one Kamal Kishore Sharma, a resident of Talab Tillo (Jammu) while the accused, Johar Ganai son of Mehmood Ganai is a resident of Bhaderwah. At present, he lives in Pamposh Colony, Janipur, Jammu. The Police have filed an FIR against Ganai under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code. Investigations are underway.

Pakistani journalist begs USA to make India start a dialogue with Pakistan, gets snubbed

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistani journalist begs USA to make India start a dialogue with Pakistan, gets snubbed

On Thursday (March 9), the spokesperson for the US State Department, Ned Price, was repeatedly asked by a Pakistani journalist why the USA is not making India ‘talk’ to Pakistan.

The journalist, identified as Jahanzaib Ali from the now-suspended ARY News, claimed, “Pakistan offered to have peace talks with India many times, but Indian Government tried to avoid that. So when you engage with Indian authorities, what reason do they say? Why they don’t want to talk to Pakistan about the pending issues?

Ned Price remarked, “…We support diplomacy between India and Pakistan to resolve, again, another set of longstanding disputes. We are a partner. We are willing to support that process in any way that they deem appropriate, but ultimately these are decisions that India and Pakistan themselves are going to have to make.”

Despite being made clear that the United States can only intervene if both India and Pakistan ask for it and both parties agree to it, Ali pestered Ned Price to make a statement. He asked, “Many analysts believe that the US has the power and authority to mediate between the two partners (Pakistan and India)…So why don’t you just mediate?

The spokesperson for the US State Department pointed out, “Because these are decisions for the countries themselves. If they agree on a particular role for the United States, the United States is prepared to, as a partner to both countries, support that process in any way that we responsibly can.”

“But ultimately, it is not for the United States to determine the modalities or the way in which India and Pakistan engage one another. What we support is constructive dialogue, meaningful diplomacy between India and Pakistan in the first instance to resolve longstanding conflicts,” Ned Price snubbed Ali.

US State Department spokesperson rebuffs Pakistani journalist on BBC documentary

Earlier in January this year, a Pakistani journalist named Jalil Afridi was slammed by Ned Price after the former tried to rake up the BBC documentary on Indian PM Narendra Modi to sour the bilateral relations between the two countries.

At about 1 hour and 2 minutes into the press briefing, he claimed that the United States has compromised on its value by refusing to condemn Narendra Modi for his supposed involvement in the 2002 Gujarat riots (an insinuation made by the BBC’s propaganda documentary).

Ned Price responded, “I am not aware of this documentary that you point to, but I will say broadly is that there are a number of elements that undergird the global strategic partnership that we have with our Indian partners.”

“There are close political ties, there are economic ties, there are exceptionally deep people-to-people ties between the United States and India. But one of those additional elements are the values that we share, the values that are common to American democracy and to Indian democracy,” he emphasised.

“India, of course, is the world’s largest democracy. It’s a vibrant democracy. And again, we look to everything that ties us together, and we look to reinforce all of those elements that tie us together,” the US State Department spokesperson schooled the Pakistani journalist.

Germany: shooting inside a church of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Hamburg, several dead

OpIndia Staff
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Germany: shooting inside a church of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Hamburg, several dead

On Thursday, March 10, In the northern German city of Hamburg, shots were fired inside Jehovah’s Witnesses church. 

The police said that the motive of the attack is not clear yet adding that the attacker may be among the dead. Police declined to reveal how many people died but did state that several were seriously injured.

According to the Bild newspaper, the shooting at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in a northern Hamburg district of Germany resulted in seven fatalities and left eight injured.

Several local media reports have also stated that around six people lost their lives in the attack. 

According to a reporter on the scene and reported by Germany’s DPA news agency, local residents in Hamburg’s northern Alsterdorf district had received mobile phone alerts of a “life-threatening situation” and that streets had been closed.

We heard gunfire, a witness informed reporters. He claimed that there was 12 continuous gunfire. “Then we saw how people were taken away in black bags,” the witness reportedly said.

As for the shooting in the Gross Borstel district of Hamburg, police spokesperson Holger Vehren stated, “We just know that several people died here; other people are wounded, they were rushed to hospitals.” Vehren has also not confirmed the local media reports which claimed that six to seven people have been killed in the attack. He reportedly said that the police were informed about the incident at 9:15 p.m. following which the police rushed to the spot.

“Then there were shots on the upper floor and a dead person was found there. We assume that it is the perpetrator.”, Holger Vehren told the media. 

Early on Friday morning, Hamburg police stated on Twitter that they believed that there was only one shooter and that they were gradually withdrawing security forces from the area.

“We found a dead person in a community center in #GroßBorstel who we believe could be a perpetrator. In order to rule out the involvement of other perpetrators, we carry out checks and search extensively,” Hamburg Police tweeted.

Earlier Hamburg police stated that the motive behind the shooting remains unclear.

Peter Tschentscher, the mayor of Hamburg, tweeted that the news of the attack was “shocking” and offered his sympathy to the relatives of the victims.

“The reports from Alsterdorf/Groß Borstel are shocking. My deepest condolences to the families of the victims. The emergency services are working flat out to track down the perpetrator(s) and to clarify the background,” Tschentscher tweeted.

Madhya Pradesh: illegal house built on govt land by accused in Damoh gang rape case bulldozed by women police officers

ANI
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Madhya Pradesh: illegal house built on govt land by accused in Damoh gang rape case bulldozed by women police officers

Four accused have been arrested in connection with an alleged gangrape of a minor girl in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh area, officials said on Friday.

“Three accused were arrested earlier. One more accused, identified as Kaushal Kishore Choubey was arrested on Friday,” P Kurmi, Raneh Police Station in-charge, Damoh said. “A minor girl was raped by four people,” the official informed.

Police said they removed an illegal structure of the rape accused, Kaushal K Choubey, with a bulldozer which he had allegedly encroached on government land.

In September 2022, the Houses of the three accused in the Rewa gang rape case were demolished by authorities in Madhya Pradesh.

A girl was allegedly gang-raped by six men in the Rewa district of Madhya Pradesh on September 16 near the famous Ashtbhuji temple.

The police had said that the victim had gone to the temple with her friend where the accused committed the heinous act and also beat the victim and her friend and snatched their mobile phones.

In March 2022, the house of the main accused of the gang rape of a 28-year-old was demolished following the order of the district administration in the Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh.

“In the view of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan’s zero tolerance for heinous crimes like rape and murder, the investigation led by police and district administration revealed that Shadab Usmani (alias Abdul) had constructed a house illegally over his farmland and it has been demolished,” Vandana Vaidya, District Collector, Shahdol had told ANI.

The 28-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped in the Sohagpur police station area in Shahdol.

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

‘Misadventure-orchestration by an MP outside the country which is ill-premised, unwholesome and motivated’: VP Jagdeep Dhankhar hits out at Rahul Gandhi

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‘Misadventure-orchestration by an MP outside the country which is ill-premised, unwholesome and motivated’: VP Jagdeep Dhankhar hits out at Rahul Gandhi

 In a veiled attack on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi who recently delivered a lecture at Cambridge University in the UK, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday said while India is having its moments of glory G20 presidency, some parliamentarians are engaged in the thoughtless unfair denigration of our well-nurtured democratic values

Vice President Dhankhar released a book on Mundaka Upanishad written by Dr Karan Singh. Addressing the gathering at the event, Dhankhar said India is the most functional democracy that has evoked global recognition. India is setting global discourse on many issues.

“How ironic how painful! While the world is applauding our historic accomplishments as a functional vibrant democracy, some amongst us including parliamentarians are engaged in the thoughtless unfair denigration of our well-nurtured democratic values. How can we justify such wanton orchestration of a factually untenable narrative,” he said.

In a veiled attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in the UK, the Vice President said, “Mark the timing of this unwholesome misadventure – While India is having its moments of glory– as President of G20 and there are people outside of the country working in overdrive to denigrate us. Such misplaced campaign mode to taint and tarnish our parliament and constitutional entities is too serious and exceptional to be ignored or countenanced. No political strategy or partisan stance can justify compromising of our nationalism and democratic values.”

“If I observe silence on this misadventure-orchestration by a Member of Parliament outside the country which is ill-premised, unwholesome and motivated, I would be on the wrong side of the Constitution. It will be constitutional culpability and outrage of my oath of office,” Dhankhar said.

“How can I sanctify a statement that mikes in Indian Parliament mikes are put off? How can people say so? Has there been any illustration?” he stated.

In reference to the Emergency, Dhankhar said the country has a dark chapter of political history. Proclamation of Emergency was the darkest period any democracy can suffer.

He said Indian democratic polity is now mature and there can be no repeat of that.

Dhankhar said, “Anyone who says so, inside or outside the country, that in Indian Parliament Mikes are put off… Imagine this being done after having held the floor for nearly 50 minutes. Such kind of wanton and misadventure to run down our democratic values cannot be countenanced.”

Vice President said if he observes silence, the mass majority of people who believe in the nation will be silent forever. He said the country cannot allow such type of narrative to gain momentum by those elements who wish to antidote India’s rising growth.

“You run down our judiciary on foreign soil. Where on the planet is a judiciary that acts with lightning speed?” he said adding India’s judiciary is made with the most brilliant minds in the world.

He said the contemporaneous scenario in the temples of democracy is worrisome.”Disruption and not decorum is the order of the day,” Dhankhar said.

“Undoubtedly our people are concerned and anguished with projection as disruptors of proceedings, shouters of slogans and practitioners of indecorous conduct -throwing papers and whipping out mikes and walking into the well of the house? Our Parliamentarians need to exemplify conduct worth emulating,” he added.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said it is the duty of every Indian living around the world to protect democracy” India’s democracy.

The Congress MP, who was on a visit to the UK, criticised the Centre alleging that an attack has been unleashed on the basic structure of Indian democracy.

The Congress MP, who is visiting the UK, criticised the Centre alleging that an attack has been unleashed on the basic structure of Indian democracy.

Rahul Gandhi in an interaction at the Chatham House in London termed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) a “fundamentalist” and “fascist” organisation alleging that it has captured pretty much all of India’s institutions.

He said, “The nature of democratic contest in India has completely changed and the reason is that one organisation called RSS – a fundamentalist, fascist organisation has basically captured pretty much all of India’s institutions.”

Rahul Gandhi further said Europe and the US are not doing enough to restore democracy in India as they are getting trade and money from the country. “Why Europe and the US – the defenders of democracies were oblivious of how a huge chunk of democracy in India has come undone?” he questioned.

The Congress leader also mentioned how the various institutions in the country were under threat.

“It shocked me how successful they have been at capturing the different institutions of our country. Press, Judiciary, Parliament, and Election Commission are all under threat and are controlled in one way or the other,” Rahul Gandhi said.

“You can ask any Opposition leader as to how agencies are used. My phone had Pegasus on it, which was not happening when we were in power,” he added.

The Congress MP highlighted the condition of the Dalits and minorities in India.

He said, “In India, you can see what is being done to Dalits, tribals, and minorities. It is not that Congress is saying it. There are articles in the foreign press all the time that there is a serious problem with Indian democracy.”

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

Kerala gold smuggling case: Swapna Suresh alleges she was issued death threats, offered Rs 30 crore, to keep CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s name out of the case

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala gold smuggling case: Swapna Suresh alleges she was issued death threats, offered Rs 30 crore, to keep CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s name out of the case

On Thursday, Swapna Suresh, one of the prime accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case, alleged that she was offered Rs 30 crores in exchange for keeping Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s name out of the case. During a Facebook live, Swapna Suresh also asserted she was threatened by the CM to leave the country. She also alleged receiving death threats from CPM secretary Govindan Master.

“I got an anonymous phone call from a person called Vijay Pillai. He came for a settlement talk. He asked me to leave Bengaluru. CPM party secretary Govindan Master had told him to threaten me and leave the place. They asked me to stop speaking about Pinarayi Vijayan, his daughter and businessman Yussaf Ali. They offered me Rs 30 crores,” said Swapna.

“They want me to go to Haryana or Jaipur. They said all assistance would be given, including a flat. They will arrange for her to leave the country once the fake passports are ready,” Swapna Suresh further said.

“Vijay Pillai threatened me and asked me to leave the country. I have no personal agenda with CM Pinarayi Vijayan or his family nor want to destruct his political career. I was clearly told that CPM secretary Govindan Master will finish my life. This person told me that he will give me 2 days to take a decision. I have sent details of his phone number and email address to my advocate. He (Vijay Pillai) clearly told me that Govindan Master will finish my life. I will give the full details such as photographs of the person to the media. I am not going to run away from Bengaluru. Please pray for my life,” Suresh added.

Further threatening to expose the ‘entire business empire’ of CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Suresh stated, “I want to tell the CM on his face I am going to fight till the end. I have people who trust me. If I am alive I will expose your entire business empire and don’t ever think or dare to threaten me. I’ll expose to the world your real face.”

Swapna Suresh names CM Pinarayi Vijayan and three other ministers in the Gold smuggling case

Earlier in several occasions, Swapna Suresh has made serious allegations against CM Pinaryi Vijayan, his family and three ministers of his cabinet pertaining to the Gold smuggling case.

Last year, while speaking to reporters after her deposition before the court, Swapna alleged that a bag containing money was sent to CM Vijayan when he was in Dubai in 2016. Swapna Suresh added that the money was detected after the luggage was scanned as part of the consulate’s protocol. She, however, refrained from disclosing which country’s currency was there in the bag.

She further said that on M Sivsankar’s orders, biryani vessels containing heavy metals were transported from the consulate general’s house to the Cliff House, the CM’s official residence. “These vessels had heavy objects other than biryani. I can’t reveal everything right now. I will make further revelations when the time is right,” she added.

Last year, ahead of the crucial assembly elections in Kerala, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had been pushed into a tight spot after Swapna Suresh had revealed to the Customs Department that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was very much involved in the gold and dollar smuggling cases.

In 2021, ahead of the crucial assembly elections in Kerala, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had been pushed into a tight spot after Swapna Suresh had revealed to the Customs Department that Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was very much involved in the gold and dollar smuggling cases.

Maharashtra: Two cops booked, sent to police HQ, for assaulting a Bajrang Dal member without any reason, trying to file false cases

Siddhi Somani
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Maharashtra: Two cops booked, sent to police HQ, for assaulting a Bajrang Dal member without any reason, trying to file false cases

On Wednesday, the Maharashtra government police booked two of its officers named Udayraj Shukla and Sandesh Pawar and sent them to police headquarters for allegedly unnecessarily assaulting a person belonging to a local Hindu group while he was going to the farm. The incident is said to have happened in the Shembalpimpri region of Pusad in the Yavatmal district. The victim, who claims to be a part of Bajrang Dal is also believed to have been named in a false case by the duo.

The government action in the case was confirmed by Amol Baburao Patankar who is under secretary to the state Dy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis. “Prompt Action Taken! Report of Yavatmal Police regarding the Shembalpimpri issue! Injustice will not be tolerated to any extent,” he tweeted.

Superintendent of Police Yavatmal, Dr. Pavan Basode mentioned in the letter dated March 8 that a Hindu person named Mahesh was unnecessarily beaten by police while he was on his way to the farm and directed the two police officers to submit a detailed report in the case within three days. The sections imposed against the Police officers named in the case are sections 143, 147, 149, 323, 504, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code.

The action was reportedly taken after victim Mahesh filed a complaint against the police officers and stated that the Police deliberately fractured his hand and broke his both legs on March 7. “I was on my way to the farm. At around 4 pm, the police officers arrived from nowhere and trapped me. They abused me and began assaulting me,” Mahesh said in the complaint, the copies of which he sent to Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission, Sub-divisional office, Pusad, and MLA Sanjay Rathod.

Mahesh also said that the police failed to provide a reason for the assault and kept on beating him with a rod and cane. They also happened to threaten Mahesh. As per the complaint submitted by the victim, the Police said, “You have become arrogant. If you even think of complaining about this assault, we’ll not spare you. Nobody can take action against us. Better you keep your mouth shut otherwise you’ll have to face dire consequences.” The officers left the spot.

Complaint copy obtained by OpIndia

The victim was then immediately taken to the hospital by a passerby. He, however, was again manhandled by the same officers after he went to the Khandala Police Station to complain about the assault.

OpIndia talked to the brother of the victim, Sharad, who confirmed the development and said that the Police also tried to pressure Mahesh by falsely accusing him in a fake case. “Few days ago Mahesh had an argument with a Muslim rickshaw driver named Rasool in the main city circle. The duo fought over a minor traffic issue which was resolved then and there. The Police after beating Mahesh on March 7 contacted Rasool and persuaded him to file an FIR against Mahesh. He (Rasool) himself has confirmed that the police officers had gone to his place and requested him to file an FIR. This was all to impose pressure upon Mahesh, to prevent him from registering a complaint against the police officers who beat him,” Sharad said.

He also added that Mahesh was beaten in front of a small hotel, which falls on his way to the farm. According to the brother of the victim, the Police also approached the hotel owner and asked him to book Mahesh in a false case accusing him of forcefully barging into the hotel premises and creating a fuss thereafter.

Images obtained by OpIndia

Sharad further informed OpIndia that Mahesh was accompanied by some of his friends on his way to the farm. However, the other ran away from the spot after the Police began brutally beating Mahesh.

Another brother of victim, Kailas, told OpIndia that the police officer named Sandesh Pawar possesses friendly relations with the Muslims in the district. “He also had requested the Muslim rickshaw driver to file case against Mahesh,” he claimed. “Mahesh is a Bajrang Dal member and is active in Hindu activities happening in the city and around areas. We still are unaware of the reason why Mahesh was so brutally beaten,” he added. He also shared a few images of the injuries donned by the victim after the attack.

After the matter escalated, the police officer named in the case, Sandesh Pawar has apologized for the incident, a video of which was shared by Kailas on his Twitter handle.

Sharad meanwhile claimed that two unnecessary FIRs have been filed against Mahesh at present. The victim has been booked under section 160 (Punishment for committing affray) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The state headquarters reportedly has taken cognizance of the incident and has directed the officers to submit a detailed report by March 11.

(OpIndia contacted the Yavatmal LCB and also SI Dr Pavan Bansode for their comments in the case. But the calls remained unanswered. The story will be updated once the details are availed)

India’s digital payments market will grow to USD 10 trillion by 2026: Report by Boston Consulting Group and PhonePe

ANI
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India’s digital payments market will grow to USD 10 trillion by 2026: Report by Boston Consulting Group and PhonePe

In a country witnessing rapid growth, it comes as no surprise that India also has one of the fastest-growing fintech landscapes in the world, driven primarily by the advancement in digital payments segment. A recent report by PhonePe and Boston Consulting Group concluded that India’s digital payments market will more than triple from USD 3 trillion to USD 10 trillion by 2026.

In 2015, the Indian Union government launched its Digital India programme, with one of the objectives to achieve a “faceless, paperless and cashless” status for financial transactions at grass-root level. In line with this, the use of digital payments continues to be promoted so that each citizen of the country can access digital payment facilities that are affordable, convenient and secure. The introduction of innovative reforms and technological advancements are further accelerating growth at an unprecedented pace.

When one thinks digital payments, UPI – India’s payment gateway – instantly comes to mind. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has been the flag-bearer of India’s fintech revolution – launched in 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).

The UPI is an instant real-time payments system that enables inter-bank peer-to-peer and person-to-merchant transactions through mobile devices instantly.

In a span of just six years, India, primarily a cash-based economy, now leads the world in real-time digital payments, accounting for almost 40 per cent of all such transactions.

The mass adoption of UPI during the COVID-19 pandemic has extended far beyond the urban to even rural India, an effect that left the experts in amazement.

As the success of the UPI grows, so does its attractiveness and acceptance by other countries; for instance, on February 21, 2023, India and Singapore launched cross-border connectivity between UPI and its equivalent in Singapore called PayNow, enabling low-cost and faster cross-border transactions.

This initiative is also closely aligned with the India’s G20 financial inclusion priorities of driving faster, cheaper, and more transparent cross-border payments. It also generated interest from Latin American countries to use the system or one similar to it in their countries.

Along with this, the coming together of the Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity is further fuelling financial inclusion in India like never before. The Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana aims to provide bank accounts to the unbanked and Aadhaar — the flagship product of the Unique Identification Authority of India–is a simple and effective method to verify individuals and beneficiaries based on their biometric information.

These two programmes are closely linked with the mobile. The success of these programmes is evident by the numbers they reflect — the Jan-Dhan Yojana initiative has seen the opening of more than 460 million bank accounts and nearly 99 per cent of the Indian population now has an Aadhaar number.

Now, a global leader in the fintech space, India does not seem to be slowing down its pace in terms of disrupting traditional financial services. Reflecting this is India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcement of the systematic introduction of the digital rupee by the central bank at the Union Budget 2022-2023.

The Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) latest concept note highlights the digital rupee’s potential design choices and implications. In December 2022, RBI announced the launch of the first pilot for the retail digital rupee; this pilot will test the robustness of the entire process of digital rupee creation, distribution, and retail use in real time. Different features and applications of the eRs-R token and architecture will be tested in future phases of the pilot, based on the insights gained from this one.

In addition, the National Electronic Toll Collection (NETC) system has also witnessed substantial growth. With the FASTag now mandatory for all four-wheeler vehicles across the country at highways for toll collection, digital payments have received and are likely to record a further boost. The NETC is live across at least 429 toll plazas across the country, and more than 36 million FASTags have been issued to date.

The utility service provider, Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS), offers online and on-ground bill payment services to customers. These include the payment of utility bills such as those for electricity, gas, and water.

Government initiatives aimed at building better infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, will lead to an increasing number of households with electricity and water supply, adding more demand for telecom and gas connections, and subsequently increasing the customer base of BBPS users.

As per a PwC report, by 2025-2026, new biller categories are expected to reach an estimated value of USD 14.5 billion with existing categories still accounting for a majority of the transaction value at an estimate of USD 27 billion.

While the vast majority of these payment solutions work in online mode, geographical barriers and lack of access to internet connectivity can hamper their growth.

Realising this, fintech companies are exploring the concept of offline payments. For instance, India’s largest private-sector lender HDFC Bank is attempting to execute digital payments in offline mode under the RBI’s Regulatory Sandbox programme.

If successful, this could drastically alter the digital payment landscape by leaps and bounds and accelerate financial inclusion in remote areas untouched by internet connectivity.

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

Youth scales the wall to sneak into girls hostel, tried to molest a girl by holding her at knifepoint, video goes viral

OpIndia Staff
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Youth scales the wall to sneak into girls hostel, tried to molest a girl by holding her at knifepoint, video goes viral

On Thursday, March 9, a video went viral wherein a youth was seen scaling a wall and breaking into a girls’ hostel. As per reports, the youth entered the girls’ hostel of Baba Jaswant Singh Dental College in Ludhiana in the wee hours of Thursday, held a female student at knifepoint, and attempted to molest her.

The accused was reportedly amongst a group of boys who scaled the walls of the building to enter a girl’s hostel at night. The hostel inmates, alarmed by the invaders, began yelling for help. The men fled the scene when they saw hostel security guards approaching them.

Speaking about the incident, the police said that as per the recordings from the CCTV surveillance cameras, the man who scaled the wall spent nearly 7 to 8 minutes in the hostel building. The police said that they have recorded the girls’ statement based on which they started investigating the matter.

Significantly, following the incident, the females residing at the hostel sat in a protest seeking improved security measures. When queried about this, the police stated that the students stated that this was not the first incident and that similar incidents had occurred earlier. The police stated that they had never received a complaint about such instances earlier, but they are investigating the matter.

The Ludhiana police also verified that the girl, who was held at knifepoint by the accused, was not seriously hurt and escaped with minor scratches. The police added that they are using the CCTV footage to identify the accused.

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