Home Blog Page 2398

There will be no ban on beef in Meghalaya if BJP comes to power as it’s a Christian majority state: State BJP chief

ANI
-
0
There will be no ban on beef in Meghalaya if BJP comes to power as it’s a Christian majority state: State BJP chief

Meghalaya BJP chief Ernest Mawrie on Friday said that if BJP comes to power in the poll-bound state, they would not impose any restrictions on the people consuming beef.

Ernest Mawrie told ANI that Meghalaya is a Christian-majority state and if BJP comes to power, it would provide more security to the Christians. “We will not impose any restriction on consuming beef in Meghalaya. If we will form the government, then it will be better for Meghalaya. We will give full protection to the Christians of Meghalaya. Eating habit is our culture, BJP will not impose any restrictions on them. Many of us eat pork, beef, chicken, and fish. There is no problem with our party. We have not discussed anymore on this. There will be no restriction,” Ernest Mawrie said.

The Meghalaya BJP president also said that, they will not go with Congress and TMC to form the next government in Meghalaya.

“We will form the government if we get majority seats. Our first agenda is development. There is no infrastructure, good hospital, engineering college, the good airport in Meghalaya. The unemployment rate has also increased too high. We will do these things first. We have given a promise to the people of Meghalaya to do this and it has been mentioned in our vision document. We will implement all schemes for service to the people,” Ernest Mawrie said.

“We will form the next government in Meghalaya with a like-minded party against corruption after the declaration of results on March 2. We can’t go with Congress and TMC and it’s not possible,” Ernest Mawrie added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited poll-bound Meghalaya on Friday and took part in a rally and roadshow in Shillong.

Meghalaya will go to Assembly polls on February 27 along with Nagaland. The counting of votes will take place on March 2.

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

Not just KL Rahul, entire Indian top order’s Test spot should be questioned, nobody has a God-given right to be a permanent member

Amit Kelkar
-
0
Not just KL Rahul, entire Indian top order’s Test spot should be questioned, nobody has a God-given right to be a permanent member

For the past few days, two former Indian Test players, Venkatesh Prasad, and Aakash Chopra, have been heatedly debating the continued selection of Indian opener KL Rahul in the team. While the retired fast bowler is of the firm opinion that KL Rahul needs to be dropped now and others should get a chance, Aakash Chopra believes he has done enough to justify his place in the team ahead of the likes of Gill, Mayank and others.

Aakash Chopra even called Venkatesh Prasad an agenda peddler and accused him of pushing some personal agenda for questioning KL Rahul’s spot. While we can’t even begin to imagine what agenda Prasad may have in pushing for Gill or Mayank in place of KL Rahul, but let’s just analyze if KL Rahul has actually been bad as an opener.

Rahul has played 47 Tests to date, and he averages 33.4 after those 47 Tests with 7 centuries to his name. In fact, this average is now lower than what he averaged in 2019 when he was dropped from the team. He was averaging marginally higher, 34.58, when he was axed at that time.

Following a string of injuries to other contenders, Rahul found himself back as the opener during the Test series in England in 2021 where he made a very good return. In his first innings after return, Rahul scored an impressive 84, following it up with a century in the next Test. However, the rest of the series didn’t go too well for him as he scored only 76 runs in his last 5 innings of the series, but still, it was a triumphant return for the opener.

Rahul started the series in South Africa in 2022 in impressive fashion as well as he scored another century in the first Test to drive India to a famous win. Even in the second Test in Johannesburg, Rahul continued his good away form as he scored a half-century in the first innings, his last half-century. Rahul has played 10 innings since then, in South Africa, Bangladesh, and now India, and aggregated 125 runs in those 10 innings. An average of 12.5 runs per inning in those 10 innings spread across 6 Tests.

In total, Rahul has played 11 Tests since he was recalled in 2021, scoring 636 runs in 21 innings at an average of 30.28 with 2 hundreds. When you have a string of openers like Mayank (averaging 70 in India), Gill (who was in God-like form hitting hundreds across formats, double hundred in ODIs), Shaw (whose off-field activities allegedly rule him out), and we aren’t even getting into the likes of Panchal….

Aakash Chopra made the argument that KL Rahul deserves to be selected against Australia in India due to his overseas record. That argument itself is nonsensical, why would we select someone in India for his overseas record? Anyway, let us look at KL Rahul’s overseas record, he averages 30 overseas after 56 innings, and that is after scoring 6 out of his 7 centuries away from India, so he really has been terrible in most of the innings outside India.

KL Rahul is not the only batsman living on his reputation

While the current discussion is focused on KL Rahul, one must not forget that there are two other top order batsmen who have been underperforming for years. Number 3, the pivotal position in Test cricket, is occupied by Cheteshwar Pujara, who has averaged 29 for the past 3 years with one century, against Bangladesh.

At number 4, India has Virat Kohli, one of the greatest-ever batsmen, and he is averaging 26.13 since January 2020. He hasn’t scored a 100 for nearly 3 and a half years now even though he has returned to form in white ball cricket.

This has meant that Indian batting has become overly reliant on Rishabh Pant, Rabindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin. Axar Patel, who has only played a handful of Tests, has also rescued the Indian batting on more than one occasion.

However, the top order has to start delivering soon if India is aiming to continue their run as a top Test-playing nation, as the bowling allrounders may not be able to rescue them each and every time.

It is time to start wondering whether we entered into an era where reputation trumps performances when it comes to deciding who plays for India for the Test side? There is no other explanation for the selection of the three top order batsmen in the Test side while they continue to average in 20s or low 30s.

Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui moves Bombay HC seeking the whereabouts of his children in the custody of his estranged wife

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui moves Bombay HC seeking the whereabouts of his children in the custody of his estranged wife

Nawazuddin Siddiqui, a Bollywood actor, has filed a habeas corpus petition with the Bombay High Court in order to determine the whereabouts of his children, who are currently in the custody of his estranged wife Aaliya. The petition was heard by a division bench of Justice AS Gadkari and Justice PD Naik.

According to Advocate Pradeep Thorat representing Siddique, the actor’s estranged wife, who is a UAE citizen, has sent emails to Siddique informing him that their children are missing from school and may face expulsion.

He said that he had obtained a Khulanama divorce from his wife in 2011 and that there were no other legal proceedings apart from his wife’s request to dismiss the complaint filed by his mother.

Advocate Rizwan Siddique, representing Siddiqui’s estranged wife, informed the court that the children are currently in the custody of the wife and are present in India. He further mentioned that the daughter has expressed her desire to continue living in India and not relocate to another country. Additionally, he stated that both children wish to pursue their studies online or in India.

During the proceedings, Advocate Rizwan Siddique argued that Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s reliance on the Khulanama divorce is being contested by the wife. However, the court clarified that since this is a habeas corpus petition, it has a restricted scope.

The court noted that Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s primary concern was the location and education of his children. Accordingly, the court requested that Advocate Rizwan Siddique hold a discussion with Advocate Thorat regarding the children’s educational and future plans.

he court subsequently adjourned the matter to the following week for further hearing.

Allahabad High Court grants bail to Prayagraj violence ‘mastermind’ Javed Mohammad, had gathered mob after Namaaz, used children as human shields

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Allahabad High Court grants bail to Prayagraj violence ‘mastermind’ Javed Mohammad, had gathered mob after Namaaz, used children as human shields

On February 16, 2022, the Allahabad High Court granted bail to Javed Mohammad, the alleged mastermind of the violence on June 10, 2022, in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh in the case filed at Khuldabad Police Station.

Without commenting on the case’s merits, the single-judge bench of Justice Ajay Bhanot issued the ruling on the plea moved by Javed Mohammad.

The bench of Justice Ajay Bhanot noted that the state counsels could not refute the arguments made by the lawyers of Javed Mohammad ‘Pump’ satisfactorily.

Notably, a case was filed against Javed Mohammad at Khuldabad Police Station under Sections143, 144, 145, 147, 148, 149, 153-A, 153-B, 295-A, 201, 511, 307, 332, 333, 353, 395, 435, 436, 427, 504, 505(2), 506, 120-B IPC, Section 4/5 of the Explosive Substance Act and Section 7 of Criminal Law Amendment Act, Section 83 of the Juvenile Justice Act, Section 3/4 of the Public Property Damages Act and Section 3 of the Explosive Substance Act after a mob allegedly led by Javed carried out violent ‘protests’ against the now-suspended Bhartiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma over her alleged offensive remarks against Prophet Mohammed. 

On the day of the incident, Javed Mohammed gathered a crowd after Jummah namaz. A crowd comprising over 200 people hurled stones, and petrol bombs, vandalized public property and set vehicles on fire. During the mob violence, three police personnel were also injured.

Mohammed’s lawyer requested bail in this matter, claiming that Mohammed is a law-abiding citizen who has never posted or would ever post any remarks that disturb social harmony.

Javed Mohammad’s counsel said that because he had challenged some strong political interests, he had been used as a scapegoat in the case.

The defense attorney further argued that there was no solid proof that Muhammad had incited the mob or committed violent crimes.

He underlined that Javed Mohammad’s conviction that Allahabad is a city of peace was highlighted by the Facebook post, which the prosecution had cited, and that Mohammad had just requested some biased media anchors to not to disrupt the city’s peace.

Furthermore, the lawyer contended that Mohammad could not be regarded as a media influencer because he did not have a sizable following that would gather at his command.

In order to obtain parity with other accused individuals in the case who had been given bail, Javed Mohammad’s lawyer requested that he be granted bail.

Subsequently, the court granted bail to Javed in exchange for a personal bond and two sureties, each in an amount equal to the bond, that satisfied the court below.

The High Court Bench also laid certain conditions in the ‘interest of justice’.

Among these conditions is that the applicant will not tamper with the evidence or sway any witnesses during the trial. Unless personal appearance is exempted, the applicant will appear before the trial court on the scheduled date. As he has already agreed, the petitioner must refrain from posting any statements or messages that disturb social harmony or national unity.

In January this year, Javed Mohammad was granted bail in the case filed at the Kareli Police Station in relation to the aforementioned violence.

Javed and others had allegedly instigated youths to throw stones at the police and the authorities. It was reported back then that he used small kids as shields for the rioters. The incident occurred in the Atala Police Station region of the Prayagraj district’s Kareli Police Station. 

Notably, on June 12, 2022, the illegal house of Javed Ahmed, the architect of the violence in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, was bulldozed. The cops discovered illicit firearms in the residence during the demolition. Two pistols were retrieved from the residence by police. The two weapons are a 12-bore pistol and a 315-bore pistol. Aside from that, the accused kept other cartridges hidden in his home. In addition to the weapons and ammo, various offensive documents and posters were discovered on the premises.

Air India to hire over 4200 cabin crew and 900 pilots in the year 2023, to hire more pilots and maintenance engineers later

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Air India to hire over 4200 cabin crew and 900 pilots in the year 2023, to hire more pilots and maintenance engineers later

Days after announcing mega deals to purchase 470 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus, Air India on Friday announced that over 4,200 cabin crew trainees and 900 pilots will be hired in the year 2023 to meet its growing manpower needs.

Earlier this month, Air India announced two mega order to purchase 220 aircraft from Boeing and 250 aircraft Airbus to support its growth plans. The airline also has already announced plans to lease 36 aircraft of which two B 777-200 LR have already joined the fleet. Therefore, the airline needs to expand its manpower significantly.

“The cabin crew, who will be recruited from around the country, will undergo a 15-week programme imparting safety and service skills, and will be coached to exemplify the best of Indian hospitality and Tata group culture. The training program will include extensive classroom and in-flight training at the airline’s training facility in Mumbai as well as familiarization flights,” the airline said in a statement.

Notably, between May 2022 and February 2023, Air India has hired over 1,900 cabin crew. Over 1,100 cabin crew have been trained in the last seven months from July 2022 to January 2023, and in the past three months, approximately 500 cabin crew have been released for flying by the airline.

Currently Air India has around 1,600 pilots to operate its 113 aircraft fleet. Its two subsidiaries Air India Express and AirAsia India have around 850 pilots for their 54 planes. On the other hand, Vistara has more than 600 pilots. In recent times, there have been instances of ultra-long haul flights getting cancelled or delayed due to shortage of crew.

It is notable that Air India is in the process of merging AirAsia India and Vistara with Air India.

Commenting on the hiring plans, Sandeep Verma, Head for Inflight Services, said, “With a sizeable aircraft order that was announced earlier in the month, more flights on international and domestic networks, and re-alignment of domestic routes with AIX connect, cabin crew will play a decisive role in shaping the present and future of the Air India group.”

He further added, “The addition of fresh talent will also accelerate the pace of cultural transformation at Air India, which is an integral part of our Vihaan.AI transformation program. We are also looking to step up hiring of more pilots and maintenance engineers.”

FIR filed against Sanjay Raut for defamatory allegations against Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde’s son Shrikant Shinde

ANI
-
0
FIR filed against Sanjay Raut for defamatory allegations against Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde’s son Shrikant Shinde

An FIR has been filed against Uddhav Thackeray faction leader Sanjay Raut in Beed for allegedly making false allegations against Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s son Shrikant Shinde.

The case was registered at Beed City police station in Beed district on Thursday night. According to police, the complainant filed a complaint against Sanjay Raut for defaming Shrikant Shinde.

The complaint stated that Raut committed a deliberate act with the intention of creating enmity towards the nation for political purposes by filing a false complaint. Sanjay Raut has deliberately tried to defame Eknath Shinde by making false allegations.

Based on the complaint, the police registered a case against Raut and started an investigation.

An FIR has been registered in Beed district against MP Sanjay Raut for defaming Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s son and MP Shrikant Shinde, making false allegations and making false threats.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said the state government will investigate the allegations against Shrikant Shinde of giving a contract for killing him.

Shinde stressed that it would be also probed whether is a political stunt by Raut.

The Chief Minister said, “We will investigate this matter completely and it will also be investigated whether it is done purposely for a stunt. It is the government’s responsibility to provide security to the people. The committee is to decide on the security. This committee is formed by the court and it will decide whether the security is to be increased or not irrespective of parties.”

Citing a threat to his life, Sanjay Raut on Tuesday, alleged that Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde’s son Shrikant Shinde had given a contract to a goon for killing him.

Raut alleged a threat to his life in the letter addressed to Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, Mumbai Police Commissioner and Thane Police Commissioner.

In his letter, Sanjay Raut said, “I have received information that a notorious goon Raja Thakur of Thane has been given a contract by Shrikant Shinde to kill me.”

He alleged that his security was withdrawn after the change in government in the state.

“After the change of government in Maharashtra, my security was withdrawn. I don’t have any complaints about it. Such political decisions keep happening. Looking at the current situation in Maharashtra, this issue needs to be brought to your attention,” Sanjay Raut further said in the letter.

Talking to the media, after citing a threat to his life, Sanjay Raut said that he doesn’t need any security from the government.

“I have written a letter to Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, I have also told Mumbai CP Vivek Phansalkar and Thane CP. I also called Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding it,” he said.

Further attacking the Maharashtra government, Sanjay Raut said, “What is happening in your state, your MP and MLAs are giving contracts for killing people. The contract is being given to a gangster who has currently got bail.”

“I don’t want any security, because I’m alone a lion,” he added.

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

Supreme Court refuses to entertain a plea seeking menstrual leave, tells petitioner to approach the Women and Child Ministry

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Supreme Court refuses to entertain a plea seeking menstrual leave, tells petitioner to approach the Women and Child Ministry

Today, the Supreme Court declined to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) that asked the court to order all states to establish policies governing menstrual discomfort leave for working women and female students at their individual places of employment.

A bench consisting of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justices PS Narasimha, JB Pardiwala, and PS Narasimha heard the plea brought by Attorney Shailendra Mani Tripathi.

The bench led by the chief justice of India noted that the matter falls under the purview of government policy and suggested that a suggestion be made to the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development for consideration.

“Having regard to the policy dimension in the case, the petitioner may approach the Women and Child Ministry to file a representation,” DY Chandrachud said.

An intervenor stated, during the hearing, that giving women the option of menstruation leave might make employers less likely to hire women.

To this submission, CJI added, that it was true that forcing companies to provide menstrual leave might discourage them from employing any women at all.

The petition argued that women don’t have equal rights in India.

“It is accordingly a violation of article 14 in as much as this act differentiates women in the name of federalism and state policies. Despite that women suffer from similar physiological and health issues during their menstrual cycles, they are being treated differently in different states of India. However, women, having one citizenship, i.e., of India, must be treated equally and shall be conferred with equal rights,” it said.

The petition also noted that Dr Shashi Tharoor had introduced a bill in 2018 called the Women’s Sexual, Reproductive, and Menstrual Rights Bill that called for public institutions to provide free sanitary pads to female citizens on their property.

Menstruation Benefits Bill, 2017, another related bill, was introduced in 2022 on the first day of the budget session, but the Legislative Assembly dismissed it since it was a ‘unclean’ subject.

According to the petition, this illustrates a lack of legislative motivation to advance the idea of menstrual pain leave.

Earlier this month, the plea, which was mentioned for urgent listing by petitioner’s advocate Vishal Tiwari, contended that a number of nations, including the United Kingdom, China, Wales, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, South Korea, Spain, and Zambia, already provide menstrual discomfort leave in some capacity.

“The United Kingdom, Wales, China, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, South Korea, Spain, and Zambia are already providing menstrual pain leave in one form or another. Delhi High Court directed the centre and Delhi Government to consider PIL seeking menstrual leave as representation. Union Minister Smt. Smriti Irani in a written reply in Lok Sabha said that the Central Civil Service (Leave) Rules 1972 do not have any provisions for menstrual leave and presently there,” the petition submitted.

It was stated that only women had the exceptional potential to procreate and that during each stage of motherhood, whether menstruation, pregnancy, miscarriage, or any other medical issues, they endure a lot of physical and mental suffering.

A directive for the Center and all states to comply with Section 14 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, was requested in the petition.

The argument was that the 1961 Act, which has several provisions that have mandated that employers give female employees paid leave for a set period of time during pregnancy, in the event of a miscarriage, for a tubectomy operation, as well as in the event of medical complications related to these stages of maternity, addresses nearly all the issues that women face.

‘Whole nation is saying Modi Tera Kamal Khilega’: PM Modi mocks Congress over ‘Kabar Khudegi’ slogan

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Whole nation is saying Modi Tera Kamal Khilega’: PM Modi mocks Congress over ‘Kabar Khudegi’ slogan

On Thursday, 23 February, Congress leaders had sat on a Dharna on the Tarmac of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi after Pawan Khera was deplaned from an Indigo flight to be arrested by the Assam Police. The Congress leaders had taken inspiration from their Jamia and JNU andolanjeevis and raised slogans saying, ‘Modi Teri Kabr Khudegi’.

Today, speaking in Meghalaya, PM Modi jibed at the Congress for raising ineffective slogans against him while the nation keeps making him and his party win their trust election after election.

PM Modi said, “Some people who have been rejected by the country are immersed in sadness and are now saying ‘Modi Teri Kabar Khudegi’ but the people of the country are saying Modi Tera Kamal Khilega”.

“I can see BJP all around in Meghalaya. Be it hills or plains, village or town, I can see the lotus bloom. Those who have been rejected by the country, who the country is no more ready to accept, are now chanting ‘Modi Teri Kabar Khudegi’. But the country is saying ‘Modi Tera Kamal Khilega’,” PM Modi said while addressing an election rally here on Friday, as reported by ANI. 

PM Modi went on to say, “The people of the country will give a befitting reply to the people having such offensive thinking and language. The people of Meghalaya and Nagaland will also give a reply.” 

Sitting on the tarmac, dozens of Congress leaders, including Pawan Khera, Randeep Surjewala and others were seen raising the hateful slogan ‘Modi Teri Kabar Khudegi’, at the Delhi airport.

Video of a man’s fingers chopped with a sword goes viral amid deteriorating law and order in Punjab: Here’s what we know

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Video of a man’s fingers chopped with a sword goes viral amid deteriorating law and order in Punjab: Here’s what we know

Manjinder Singh Sirsa, a BJP leader from Delhi, shared an undated graphic video (reader discretion advised), allegedly from Punjab, showing some individuals slicing a person’s fingers off with a sword. He is seen pleading for mercy but to no avail. The video has since gone viral on the internet even as Punjab remains on the tenterhook in the wake of unrest caused by supporters of Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh.

“Couldn’t watch this Horrible video from Punjab Horrible situation of Law & order in the state since @AapPunjab formed Govt,” Sirsa tweeted along with the video.

The incident reportedly took place on 9 February, in Sahibzada Ajit Singh (SAS) Nagar in Punjab. The police have already registered an FIR No.21 dated 09.02.2023 u/s 326, 365, 379 B, 34 IPC & 25 Arms Act in PS PH-1, District SAS Nagar. According to the authorities, the victim was immediately sent to the hospital for medical care.

“There was a personal grudge involved,” a police official claimed. The search for the perpetrators has begun after their identification, he added.

Unrest sweeps Punjab as supporters of Amritpal Singh protest with swords, attack police in Amritsar

On Thursday, there was unrest in Ajnala, a town near Amritsar in Punjab, as followers of Amritpal Singh, the leader of the Khalistani group Waris Punjab De, engaged in a clash with law enforcement officers. The protesters caused damage by breaking through police barricades and forcefully entering the Ajnala Police station, resulting in injuries to three policemen.

The unrest erupted after a complaint was filed against six named individuals and 20 unidentified persons at Ajnala Police station on February 17 by Varinder Singh from Salempur village in Ropar district. The complaint was directed towards Amritpal Singh, a self-proclaimed preacher, who was subsequently booked by the authorities.

Amritpal Singh, Pampalpreet Singh, Bikramjit Singh, Kulwant Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Fauji Rounde Pind Wala were the six individuals named in the FIR. The charges against them included kidnapping, theft, and voluntarily causing harm, and the case was registered under sections 365, 379B, 323, 506, 148, and 149 of the Indian Penal Code.

Following a complaint lodged by Ajnala Police Station, the town was engulfed in tension. Thousands of Amritpal Singh’s supporters besieged the police station and held it under their control for about six hours. Amritpal Singh claimed that his trusted associate, Lovepreet Singh alias Toofan Singh, had been wrongly accused in the case. He further stated that he had provided substantial evidence to the police, which resulted in Toofan’s release on Friday.

Rajasthan: Dalit community’s wedding procession attacked by a Muslim mob in Bharatpur, Dr Ambedkar’s portrait trampled

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Rajasthan: Dalit community’s wedding procession attacked by a Muslim mob in Bharatpur, Dr Ambedkar’s portrait trampled

On Tuesday, February 21, an agitated Muslim mob reportedly assaulted the wedding procession (Baraat) of a Dalit youth in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur. The baraatis were reportedly beaten by the village head (sarpanch) as the procession passed. An attempt to stop the DJ from playing during the procession was what ignited the dispute.

Three persons have been hurt in the fight and are receiving medical treatment at a nearby hospital. One of the injured is in critical condition.

Moreover, the assailants are accused of trampling on Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar’s picture. A case has been registered by the police, and an investigation has been initiated.

According to media reports, the matter pertains to Sablana village under Kaman police station limits. On the day of the incident, there was a wedding of Aarti, the sister of Mukesh Jatav. The family belongs to the Scheduled Caste community. The procession had left the nearby Jurhara police station area and travelled from the village of Naunera. Mukesh alleged that the baraatis were coming towards his house while playing DJ when some Muslim youths namely Nadeem, Sohil, Mausam, Jamshed, Afroz, Dhoni, Mustakeem, Salman, Sabba, Faizan, Mulla, and Munfed from the same Sablana village asked the baraatis to stop the DJ. This led to an argument between the two parties. When the accused saw the photograph of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar in the procession, they threw it down and crushed it with their feet.

Mukesh claims that during this argument, the accused assaulted the baraatis. Together with the sticks and rods in their hands, the assailants also used sharp objects like axes during the attack. Two of the attackers also stole the currency notes pasted on the garland that was around the groom’s neck. It is said that the garland included notes totalling 11,000 rupees. The perpetrators also snatched 32 thousand rupees kept in the pocket of Mukesh Jatav, the bride’s brother.

Mukesh, the victim, said that a sizable crowd gathered at the scene as a result of the uproar. The attackers then fled the spot. While leaving, the accused youths also threatened to kill the victim if he dared to take legal action against them.  The victims said that the accused also stole gold jewellery during the attack. It is also said that the Muslims in the village were harassing the Dalits long before this. Also, the attackers have threatened to face the same consequences if a wedding procession again passes from the village.

Three members of the Dalit community, including the complainant Mukesh Jatav, were injured in the incident. It has been said that the condition of Naresh, one of the victims is critical. The police have filed a case against the accused under the SC/ST Act and sections 143, 341, 323, 336, 379, 506, and 504 of the IPC in accordance with the victim’s complaint. Police have launched a search to nab the absconding accused.

It is pertinent to note that a similar case in Kaman village was reported last year wherein several Muslims attacked a Dalit groom, his family, and other family members in April 2022 because the DJ was performing at a wedding. The accused forbade members of the Dalit community from playing DJ, stopped them from doing the wedding ritual known as Binawra, and thrashed them with sticks.

1...2,3972,3982,399...7,600Page 2,398 of 7,600