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Supreme Court grants interim stay on legal proceedings against YouTuber Elvish Yadav in rave party snake venom case

OpIndia Staff
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Supreme Court grants interim stay on legal proceedings against YouTuber Elvish Yadav in rave party snake venom case

The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted an interim stay on legal proceedings against YouTuber Elvish Yadav in connection with a rave party case, where snake venom and other illegal drugs were allegedly supplied and consumed.

A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the respondents, including the Uttar Pradesh government and complainant Gaurav Gupta on Yadav’s petition challenging the FIR, chargesheet, and the summoning order passed by the trial court, seeking their response to Yadav’s plea. The trial proceedings would not be allowed to proceed till the responses are received.

Yadav had approached the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the chargesheet filed against him and the summons issued in the case. Earlier in May, Allahabad High Court had dismissed his plea, observing that the allegations warranted a thorough legal examination as multiple FIRs had been registered in the matter.

The counsel appearing for Yadav informed the top court that his client has challenged the Allahabad High Court’s decision denying him relief. In his plea filed before the top court through Advocate Shahrukh Ali, Advocate Raman Yadav and Advocate Aman Jha, Elvish Yadav argued that cognisance of the offence under the Wildlife Protection Act has been taken without a complaint filed by a competent officer.

He further argued that the police have no authority to investigate offences under the WPA or to file a chargesheet in relation with it.

Yadav has also claimed that he was not present at the venue, and that no snake, narcotic or psychotropic substance has been recovered from him.

Elvish Yadav has been chargesheeted under Sections 9, 39, 48A, 49, 50 and 51 of Wildlife Protection Act and Sections 284, 289 and 120B of IPC and Sections 8, 22, 29, 30 and 32 of NDPS Act in the FIR lodged at Police Station Sector-49, Noida, District Gautam Buddh Nagar. A summons order has also been issued by the First Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Gautam Buddh Nagar.

Supreme Court permanently bars Allahabad HC’s Justice Prashant Kumar from hearing criminal matters, says his order ‘one of the worst and most erroneous’

OpIndia Staff
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Supreme Court permanently bars Allahabad HC’s Justice Prashant Kumar from hearing criminal matters, says his order ‘one of the worst and most erroneous’

Coming down heavily on Allahabad High Court judge Justice Prashant Kumar on Monday (4th August), the Supreme Court ordered the removal of criminal matters from his roster. The decision of the top court came after Justice Kumar allowed criminal proceedings in a civil matter.

Using strong language against Justice Kumar, a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan termed the judgment passed by Justice Kumar as “one of the worst and the most erroneous orders we have come across”.

“The judge concerned has not only cut a sorry figure for himself, but has made a mockery of justice. We are at our wits’ end to understand what is wrong with the Indian Judiciary at the level of the High Court,” the bench harshly remarked.

“At times, we are left wondering whether such orders are passed on some extraneous considerations or it is sheer ignorance of the law. Whatever it be, passing of such absurd and erroneous orders is something unpardonable,” the bench added in order accessed by OpIndia.

The Supreme Court questioned the competence of the High Court judge

Raising question on the competence of Justice Kumar to handle criminal matters, the Apex Court directed the judge to sit with a senior High Court judge in a division bench. “The Chief Justice of the High Court shall immediately withdraw the present criminal determination from the concerned Judge… make the concerned judge sit in a Division Bench with a seasoned senior judge of the High Court,” the Supreme Court directed.

The Supreme Court was hearing an appeal against the judgment passed by a single bench of Justice Kumar, in which he allowed summons of criminal nature in a civil dispute. In his judgment, Justice Kumar refused to quash the summons issued by a magistrate against a company, which was accused of not paying the balance sum in a business transaction. Additionally, he allowed the initiation of criminal proceedings for the recovery of the balance amount, noting that the complainant would not be in a position to pursue civil litigation, as it would take a long time, and the complainant would have to spend money.

“To be more precise, it would seem like good money chasing bad money. If this court allows the matter to be referred to civil court on account of civil dispute between the parties, it would amount to travesty of justice and O.P. no. 2 (complainant) would suffer irreparable loss and he might even not be in a position to emerge from the financial constraints to pursue the matter,” Justice Kumar said in his judgment.

The Top Court expressed shock over the High Court order

Describing the High Court judgment as “shocking”, the Supreme Court said, “Is it the understanding of the High Court that ultimately if the accused is convicted, the trial court would award him the balance amount? The observations recorded are shocking. It is an extremely sad day for one and all to read the observations in the impugned order. It was expected of the High Court to know the well-settled position of law that, in cases of civil dispute, a complainant cannot be permitted to resort to criminal proceedings as the same could amount to abuse of process of law”.

“It was expected of the HC to understand the nature of the allegations levelled in the complaint. In substance, the High Court has said in so many words that the criminal proceedings instituted by the complainant in a case of pure civil dispute is justified because it may take considerable time for the complainant to recover the balance amount by preferring a civil suit,” the Supreme Court stated, setting aside the order of the High Court.

2 Chinese nationals arrested in the United States for smuggling Nvidia AI chips worth millions of dollars to China

OpIndia Staff
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2 Chinese nationals arrested in the United States for smuggling Nvidia AI chips worth millions of dollars to China

Two nationals of China have been arrested in the United States for smuggling top-of-the-range artificial intelligence (AI) chips valued at millions of dollars to China. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) disclosed the arrests on Tuesday, 5th August (local time), stating that the suspects illegally exported controlled technology without the required government licenses.

According to a press release issued by the US Department of Justice, the accused, Chuan Geng and Shiwei Yang, were running a California-based company called ALX Solutions. Over the past three years, the company sent advance GPUs like Nvidia’s H100 and GeForce RTX 4090 from the US to China, bypassing strict export controls.

Nvidia AI chips at the centre of the case

Some of the shipments included Nvidia’s H100 graphics processing units (GPUs). These are among the most advanced GPUs used in AI development and are currently under heavy restrictions by the US government to prevent them from reaching China.

A spokesperson from Nvidia responded to the case, saying that any attempt to smuggle their chips is a “nonstarter.” The company said it only sells its products to trusted partners who ensure that all sales follow export control rules. If any product is illegally exported or diverted, it loses all official service, support, and software updates, the spokesperson added.

Fake customers and suspicious payments

The DOJ says ALX Solutions had only three known employees. Chuan Geng handled the finances, Shiwei Yang was the company’s secretary, and the CEO’s name is still unknown. Mr Geng was a legal permanent resident in California, while Ms Yang had overstayed her visa and was considered an “illegal alien.”

Between October 2022 and July 2025, ALX allegedly sent several shipments to companies in Singapore and Malaysia. However, the DOJ says these locations were just transit hubs to hide the fact that the final destination was China.

Interestingly, ALX didn’t receive payments directly from the shipping companies. Instead, it was paid by businesses based in Hong Kong and China. In one case, a China-based company transferred $1 million to ALX in January 2024.

One invoice from 2023, worth $28.4 million, claimed that Nvidia chips were ordered by a Singapore-based firm. But when US officials investigated, they couldn’t verify the delivery. The company listed in the invoice didn’t even exist at the stated address.

The DOJ also found that neither ALX Solutions nor its employees applied for or obtained an export license from the US Commerce Department. In December last year, one shipment containing restricted chips, including Nvidia H100 and GeForce RTX 4090, was flagged by US customs for further inspection.

Arrest and court appearance

Ms Yang was arrested on Saturday, and Mr Geng turned himself in shortly after. Both appeared in federal court in Los Angeles on Monday, 4th August (local time) They would get up to 20 years in prison if they are found guilty.

Up till now, ALX Solutions does not seem to have an official website. But another website belonging to another company named ALX-Cloud that provides cloud computing solutions claims to be a subsidiary of ALX Solutions.

The chip maker named in the case, Super Micro Computer, stated it is committed to complying with all US export laws. The company would not comment on the current legal action but promised to assist authorities if necessary.

Why the US is restricting AI chip exports to China

This case is part of a broader effort by the US government to stop advanced technology from falling into the hands of its geopolitical rivals, especially China and Russia.

In January 2025, the US introduced strict new rules that limit the export of AI chips to most countries. The regulations are particularly targeted at high-performance chips such as those made by Nvidia and AMD. The aim is to prevent nations such as China from employing AI technology for military applications or mass surveillance.

Only close US allies that follow American security and human rights standards are allowed to buy such technology. The US Commerce Secretary, Gina Raimondo, said the new rules were necessary to protect national security, even if they came with trade-offs.

“Managing national security risks requires trade-offs,” she said in a blog post from the White House. “This rule ensures our allies can access cutting-edge technology while safeguarding our interests.”

The US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, also said that these rules are meant to make sure that the future of AI remains in the hands of the US and its trusted partners. He explained that this is to prevent what happened with chip and battery manufacturing, where the US lost dominance to other countries, from happening again with AI.

The arrest of Geng and Yang shows that the US is taking its chip export laws very seriously and is willing to crack down even on small-scale exporters who try to bypass the system.

Uttarkashi flashfloods: Rescue and relief efforts continue on a war footing as death toll rises to 5, multiple security agencies come together to aid the residents in isolated areas

OpIndia Staff
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Uttarkashi flashfloods: Rescue and relief efforts continue on a war footing as death toll rises to 5, multiple security agencies come together to aid the residents in isolated areas

Flash floods due to cloud burst struck the Dharali village in Uttarakhand on the afternoon of August 5, killing at least five people and numerous others missing (at least 60), feared to be washed away in the Uttarkashi district of the state.

The village was cut off after the stretch close to the Bhagirathi river collapsed. An Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) rescue squad had been stuck in the region as well as a result.

The area which is on the way to the Gangotri pilgrimage destination was severely damaged as homes, businesses, hotels and other infrastructure were washed away by roaring rivers. According to officials, around 20–25 hotels and guesthouses may have been washed away, and large portions of Dharali market have been “completely swept away.” 

Heavy equipment, including JCBs, has been used to remove rubble and restore connectivity in the impacted areas as many sections of the Uttarkashi-Harsil route have been blocked.

A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has also been deployed. Despite heavy rains and difficult terrain that substantially slowed the ongoing efforts, Army, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local police personnel were able to rescue 70 individuals by midnight.

The Uttarkashi-Harsil route’s Bhatwadi road has been totally washed out. All night, the route to Harsil remained closed. The site is about 50 kilometres away from Dharali.

At least 163 roads, including five national highways, seven state highways, and two border routes have been closed due to landslides, seriously impeding rescue attempts and preventing access to the secluded region which is roughly 140 kilometres from Dehradun.

The Chandigarh-Manali National Highway remains closed due to heavy rainfall and multiple landslides along the stretch between Mandi and Kullu. Authorities have advised travellers to avoid the route until clearance operations are completed.

Meanwhile Sukhi Top region of Uttarakhand also experienced another cloudburst, hours after the the catastrophe in Dharali.

CM Dhami takes stock of the situation, talks to PM Modi

As relief and evacuation efforts continue throughout the state ravaged by rain, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, on 6th August, stated that 130 people have been rescued thus far. However, rising river levels, washed-out roads and landslides have left various areas isolated. The chief minister rushed to the district to assess the situation, and is going to visit the affected villages.

With ten Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), three Superintendents of Police (SPs), and approximately 160 police officers actively participating in the operation, he informed that extensive rescue attempts are currently in progress. “Food packets have been prepared, and a team of doctors is ready to provide medical assistance,” CM Dhami conveyed. Damaged power lines are also being restored.

“All our agencies, including the Indian Army, ITBP, SDRF, NDRF and locals, are doing the rescue work. A search and rescue operation is underway. Due to damage to the roads and a bridge, it has become difficult to reach the spot. The Disaster Operations Station in Dehradun is working 24 hours to provide all possible assistance. We are putting in efforts to rescue everyone safely,” he highlighted.

PM Modi also expressed his condolences and prayed for the well-being of all the victims. He held a phone conversation with the Chief Minister and stated that every possible effort is being made by rescue and relief teams. “No stone is being left unturned in providing assistance to the people,” the Prime Minister further assured.

CM Dhami also wrote that PM Modi was briefed about the “ongoing relief and rescue operations in Dharali.” The latter was told about how people were rescued and taken to safe locations as well as ensuring the availability of essential services and resources. The Chief Minister added, “I am in constant contact with the team engaged in the rescue operation. I am also heading to Dharali myself to inspect the incident site.”

Massive rescue efforts underway

Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) CEO Ashish Chauhan mentioned, “We have 4 to 5 helicopters on standby and are prepared to begin air operations as soon as weather conditions improve.” Helicopter landings in one of the main impacted areas are being hampered due to the submerged Harsil helipad.

Drones, earthmoving machinery, and army tracker dogs are all being used for evacuation and the distribution of necessary supplies. A red alert is in place and helpline numbers have also been released. So far, no corpse has been recovered from the debris. The Army is searching for the stranded people using its Chinook and MI-17 helicopters.

On the other hand, at least least eight soldiers went missing from a camp in lower Harsil but the Army continued to carry out relief activities. Colonel Harshvardhan, the 14 Rajputana Rifles commanding officer, led 150 military personnel during the rescue and relief efforts.

“Army and Airforce helicopters for essential supplies, medicines and evacuation of the marooned are also being coordinated. In the meanwhile, the residents have been moved to higher reaches in view of rising water levels due to incessant rains,” the Army informed.

According to a statement released by the PRO of Defence in Dehradun, Lieutenant Colonel Manish Shrivastava, the team is operating with steadfast commitment despite being cut off, an adversly affected unit base and 11 members believed to be missing.

The first-ever cadaver dog team was sent out by the NDRF to assist in finding the people who may have died in the cloudburst. Even as three force teams, each with 35 rescuers, were rushed to the scene from different parts of the state, two of these canines were scheduled to be airlifted from Delhi. At the Dehradun airport, two additional NDRF teams are also ready to be airlifted.

DIG NDRF Mohsen Shahedi outlined, “Teams of ITBP, SDRF, NDRF, BRO (Border Roads Organisation) are carrying out rescue operations at the spot. Around 150 people have been taken to safe spots. Our three teams are on the way and they will reach the spot as soon as the road reopens. Our teams in Pant Nagar, Gauchar and Joshimath are on standby. They will be sent once the weather improves.”

There are 201 members of the Army, ITBP, Police, Revenue, BRO, and ambulance services working together at the location. A second team of 211 responders wis ready to join them. Senior administrative officers continue to supervise the Emergency Operations Center’s operations.

Residents near riverbanks in Bhattwadi, Gangori and Uttarkashi have received alerts and helipad operations have been initiated at Jhala to facilitate airborne rescue. A number of institutions have been converted into camps and shelters for relief efforts.

The Ganga river’s water levels have increased to almost dangerous levels due to incessant rain. Haridwar was also placed under an orange alert by the Indian Meteorological Department, which predicted thunderstorms and 5 to 15 millimetres of rain per hour.

“This incident is even bigger than the one which took place in 2013. Help from the centre and the state is being sent. Rescue teams are also on the way, but it is taking time because the roads are blocked in some places, it is an unfortunate incident,” voiced Bharatiya Janata Party’s Tehri Garhwal MP, Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah.

SC rejects plea by deceased UAPA accused Saquib Nachan challenging Govt of India’s declaration of ISIS as a terrorist organisation, claiming ‘Caliphate’ and ‘Jihad’ can’t be associated with terrorism

Aditi
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SC rejects plea by deceased UAPA accused Saquib Nachan challenging Govt of India’s declaration of ISIS as a terrorist organisation, claiming ‘Caliphate’ and ‘Jihad’ can’t be associated with terrorism

The Supreme Court of India, on Tuesday (5th August), dismissed a petition filed by the deceased terror accused, Saquib Nachan, challenging two government notifications declaring ISIS and its related groups as terrorist organisations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. The plea, which was filed in December 2024 by Nachan, who died of a brain hemorrhage in June this year, came up for hearing before a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymala Bagchi on Tuesday.

In his plea, Nachan had alleged that he and his son, Shamil Nachan, were wrongfully arrested for their suspected ISIS links. The top court observed that the allegations could only be addressed through proceedings before a competent criminal court.

Dismissing the petition, the bench said that it was not inclined to entertain a blanket challenge to the notifications issued by the government under Section 35 of the UAPA in February 2015 and June 2018.

Senior Advocate Mukta Gupta was assisting the court as amicus curiae after the death of Nachan. She submitted before the court that the notifications breached the fundamental rights of the petitioners under Article 25 of the Constitution by ‘misterpreting’ terms like “Caliphate” and “Jihad” and equating them with terrorism. Gupta added that the petitioner contended that no procedure similar to that prescribed under Section 3 of the UAPA for “unlawful associations” was followed by the government in making the declaration.

“He says the word ‘caliphate’ is wrongly interpreted. That violates his fundamental right to religion. He has given substantial portions indicating what, according to the Quran, is the meaning of caliphate and jihad,” Gupta said.

The Apex Court disagreed with the reasoning of the petitioner and clarified that the religious terms used in the impugned notifications had to be interpreted in the context of the alleged terrorist activity, not scripture.

“When the notification used the word ‘caliphate’, it was in relation to terrorist activity. So it has to be read in that context,” said Justice Bagchi.

The amicus curiae stated that the question of whether an organisation is unlawful or not is examined by a tribunal, but Section 35 of the UAPA does not lay down any mechanism for declaring an organisation as a terrorist outfit. Besides, she claimed that the term ‘terrorist organisation’ is not defined in the UAPA and therefore the government can only declare an organisation as ‘unlawful association’ under Section 3 of the Act.

Responding to Gupta’s submissions, Justice Kant pointed out that the Act defines the term ‘terrorist act’ and thus any organisation involved in such activities can be declared as a ‘terrorist organisation’. He added that through this petition, the petitioner intended to secure relief in individual criminal proceedings and that the petition did not pose a constitutional challenge to the notifications.

“It seems to us that instead of a challenge to the impugned notifications, the remedy for the petitioner and his son lies in approaching the appropriate forum,” the Court noted.

Justice Kant observed that the petitioner had the option of seeking bail or other relief before the appropriate criminal forum. “He can always avail his remedy before the appropriate forum,” Justice Kant said, disposing the petition.

Saquib Nachan, who converted an entire village into a hub of terrorism

Terrorist Saquib Nachan was accused of orchestrating three deadly bomb blasts in a span of four months (6th December 2002 to 13th March 2003) in the financial hub Mumbai. In the last blast, 11 people were killed while 82 were injured. He targeted busy railway stations and markets to maximise the impact of his terror plots. He was arrested by Mumbai police on April 10, 2003, and served 8 years in jail. He was thereafter released on bail on a bond of ₹1 lakh.

In March 2016, Saquib was convicted in the blast case. However, he spent less than 2 years in jail and was released in November 2017, five months earlier than expected, on account of being ‘disciplined’ in jail. In the meantime, he was arrested on 4th August 2012 in connection with the attempted murder of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activist Manoj Raicha. He was released on bail in August 2014.

Conviction and imprisonment could not deter Saquib, who continued his terrorist activities after being released. He was arrested by the NIA on 9th December 2023 for running an ISIS module in Maharashtra. Preliminary investigation revealed that Saquib had declared the village of Padgha in rural Thane as a ‘liberated zone’ and ‘Al-Sham’. This nomenclature for referring to areas is reportedly followed in Syria. NIA also revealed that he was at the helm of motivating impressionable Muslim youth to relocate to Padgha from their places of residence to strengthen the Padgha base.

On August 11, 2023, the NIA arrested his son, Shamil Nachan, in connection with Pune ISIS module case. He was sent to judicial custody. The central agency discovered incriminating evidence from his home in Thane. Shamil Nachan, along with five other accused, assembled Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at a house in Pune. He had also organised a bomb (IED) assembly and training workshop in the same location in 2022.

Donald Trump says ‘I don’t know anything about that’ when Indian journalist asks about USA importing Uranium and chemical fertilisers from Russia

OpIndia Staff
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Donald Trump says ‘I don’t know anything about that’ when Indian journalist asks about USA importing Uranium and chemical fertilisers from Russia

On 5th August (local time), US President Donald Trump said that he didn’t know the United States was still doing business with Russia, even as he criticised India for continuing to import oil from Russia. 

When ANI reporter Reena Bhardwaj asked about the billions of dollars in American imports of Russian goods like uranium and fertiliser, Trump responded, “I don’t know anything about it. We will have to check it out, and we will get back to you.”

His comment was made during a press conference at the White House, which was called to talk about the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. 

When asked about his threat that whether it was fair for the US to threaten India with 100% tariffs over Russian oil, while the US itself continued trading with Russia. Trump didn’t give a clear answer but hinted that more trade penalties could be on the way for countries buying Russian energy.

“I never said a percentage, but we’ll be doing quite a bit of that. We’ll see what happens over the next fairly short period… We have a meeting with Russia tomorrow. We’re going to see what happens,” he said.

The US still importing Russian goods

Even three years after Russia invaded Ukraine, the United States has not fully cut off its trade ties with Moscow. The US has imported more than $24.5 billion worth of Russian goods since January 2022. This year alone, it bought $1.27 billion worth of fertilisers, $624 million in uranium and plutonium, and nearly $878 million in palladium.

This ongoing trade has not gone unnoticed in India. New Delhi has pointed out this contradiction to counter Washington’s growing pressure to stop buying discounted Russian crude oil. Indian officials say it’s unfair to criticise India while the US continues business with Moscow.

Tariff threats and accusations

This week, Donald Trump again threatened to sharply increase tariffs on Indian goods. Speaking to CNBC, he said that the current 25% tariffs on imports from India could be raised “very substantially” within 24 hours. He didn’t give an exact figure but said the reason was India’s ongoing oil trade with Russia.

“They’re fueling the war machine, and if they’re going to do that, then I’m not going to be happy,” he said.

Trump also repeated his long-standing complaint that India’s tariffs on US goods are too high, calling them “among the highest in the world.”

Trade dispute between India and US

The latest developments come shortly after Trump announced on 30th July that the US would be imposing 25% tariffs on Indian goods. These tariffs are expected to take effect from 7th August. 

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the move was partly due to India’s trade with Russia, including oil and weapons purchases.

He said he considered India a friend but argued that its tariffs were too high and that such trade policies could no longer be tolerated. “But now I’m in charge, and you just can’t do that,” he said.

Source: Truth Social

India, on its part, has said it is working towards a “fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial” trade deal with the US. Last year, the US had a trade deficit of $45.8 billion with India.

Back in April, Trump had already announced plans to slap tariffs of up to 27% on Indian goods, though that was later paused. Now, with the 1st August deadline passed, pressure is again mounting on both sides to reach an agreement.

HM Amit Shah and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to lay foundation stone of Sita Prakatya Sthal Punaura Dham project in Sitamarhi: All you need to know

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HM Amit Shah and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to lay foundation stone of Sita Prakatya Sthal Punaura Dham project in Sitamarhi: All you need to know

5 August 2020: Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the grand temple at Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya

8 August 2025: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will lay the foundation stone of a grand temple at Sita Prakatya Sthal Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi.

Islamic invaders demolished the Shri Ram Mandir and erected the Babri structure there, Bharat Mata remained enslaved, and in independent India, the matter reached courts. Hindus, thus, had to wait for five centuries to see Shri Ram Lalla in his rightful abode. While this wait of 500 long years became a constant battle for Hindus, Sita Ma’s home Mithila remained neglected for decades. Now, a grand temple is being planned in Punaura Dham in Sitamarhi, where it is believed that Sita Ma appeared from the Earth. CM Nitish Kumar and Home Minister Amit Shah will lay the foundation stone of the temple on August 8.

People are being invited with Akshat-Tulsi

At Punaura Dham reparations are going on in full swing to make the foundation stone laying ceremony of Janaki temple and corridor grand. Several big leaders including Amit Shah and Nitish Kumar, saints and common people will participate in this program. It is estimated that lakhs of people will attend this event.

A door-to-door invitation campaign is also being run for this foundation stone laying ceremony, and devotees are being invited with yellow sacred rice grains and Tulsi leaves. Along with this, passersby passing through the city are also being invited to the program.

Notably, this foundation stone laying program will be celebrated as a three-day grand festival and holy water from 11 rivers will be brought for the foundation of the divine temple of Mata Janaki. These include Ganga, Yamuna, Bhagirathi, Alaknanda, Mandakini, Pindar, Dhauliganga, Lakshmana Ganga, Saraswati, Kamla and Saryu rivers.

The temple management has also decided to organize Deepotsav at the temple on the evening of the foundation stone laying ceremony. For this, people are being appealed to come with a lamp on the day of foundation stone laying. On that day, there is a plan to decorate the temple as well as the Sitakund complex with 51,000 lamps.

Development plan of Punaura Dham

On 1st July 2025, the Bihar Cabinet approved a budget of Rs 882.87 crore for the construction of the temple at Punaura Dham. Out of this amount, Rs 137 crore will be used for the construction of the Janaki temple, Rs 728 crore will be used for the development of tourism-related infrastructure. A provision has been made to spend Rs 16.62 crore on its maintenance for 10 years.

For the development of this shrine, 50 acres of land will be acquired. The development project includes the construction of a huge temple in accordance with traditional architecture, its conservation and beautification. In addition, entrance gate, rest house, Yagyashala, Bhojanalaya, meditation center and discourse hall will also be constructed around the temple complex.

Under the development of tourism facilities, hotels, rest houses, museums, Smriti Dwar and memorial buildings will be constructed in the complex. To maintain greenery in the area around the temple, beautiful reservoirs and fountains will be installed and gardens will also be constructed. Along with this, ‘Sita-Vatika’ and ‘Lav-Kush Vatika’ will also be developed.

For the convenience of the devotees, a bus terminal will be constructed and infrastructure will also be developed for reaching the temple and for staying there. Also, modern parking spaces, wide roads and footpaths with street lights will be built. Apart from this, digital information centers and cameras will be installed in the area for security.

Janaki Janmasthan was neglected for decades, Nitish Kumar discontinues this neglect of the holy place

Much like the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi in Uttar Pradesh’s Ayodhya, the birthplace of Maa Sita has also been a victim of neglect and ignorance for years. In Ayodhya, the construction of the temple was postponed for decades on the pretext of controversy and politics. However, there was no controversy or dispute on this sacred place of Mithila, yet this holy place remained immersed in the darkness of neglect. Neither a grand temple was built nor any large-scale development work was done.

For years, not only the local people but also devotees from far-off places have been waiting for a grand temple here, but now Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has taken the responsibility of changing these circumstances. After his efforts, the grand temple of Mata Janaki is going to take shape of reality. This grand temple will not only become the centre of faith of the devotees, but will also be a symbol of religious-cultural pride of Bihar.

After the construction of Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya, the birthplace of Maa Sita has also got a new lease of life. CM Nitish Kumar says that the construction of a grand temple here will boost tourism and a large number of devotees will come here to worship Mother Janaki. Also, he says that the arrival of tourists will also create employment.

Nitish Kumar is continuously visiting Punaura Dham and reviewing the preparations. On 26th July, CM Nitish and Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary reached Punaura Dham and apart from performing puja there, they also reviewed the preparations. Recently, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai also visited this holy place.

CM Nitish Kumar inspecting the preparations at Punaura Dham

How will the temple of Mata Janaki be?

The company which was appointed for the master planning and architectural services of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, has been appointed as the design consultant for the development of this pilgrimage site in Punaura Dham. On 22nd June, CM Nitish Kumar shared the design of the temple and other structures.

Ashish Sompura, who was the architect of Ram Mandir, is also the architect of this temple. He says that every effort will be made to ensure that the architecture of Maa Janaki’s temple is as grand as that of Ram Mandir. Special preparations have been made to ensure that this temple of Maa Janaki remains strong for centuries.

This temple will be constructed using red sandstone from Bansi Paharpur in Rajasthan due to which the entire temple will have a unique appearance. This stone strengthens the structure for centuries without breaking or getting damaged. The height of this temple will be 151 feet.

Historical significance of Sitamarhi

As per the Hindu scriptures and beliefs, King Janak found Sita in a golden pot while plowing the land. Because she appeared from the Earth, Mother Sita is also called Bhumiputri or Bhusuta. According to mythology, after a severe famine in Maharaja Janak’s kingdom Janakpur, a sage advised him to perform a yagya and plow the barren land.

According to the official website of the district, King Janak was ploughing somewhere near Sitamarhi to persuade Lord Indra to bring rain. It is said that King Janak dug a tank at the spot where Sita appeared and installed stone idols of Rama, Sita and Lakshmana to mark the spot after the Ram-Sita wedding.

This pond is now known as Janaki Kund and is located south of the Janaki temple. According to the website, over time the place turned into a forest and about 500 years ago a Hindu ascetic named Birbal Das was divinely inspired to discover the place.

When he came from Ayodhya, he cleared the forest and found the idols installed by King Janak and built a temple there and started worshiping Mata Janaki. The existing temple at this place is believed to be about 100 years old.

‘It is Indo-Pacific now, not Asia Pacific’, says President Marcos of Philippines. Read how culture, BrahMos, and maritime cooperation are bringing India, Philippines together

Shriti Sagar
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‘It is Indo-Pacific now, not Asia Pacific’, says President Marcos of Philippines. Read how culture, BrahMos, and maritime cooperation are bringing India, Philippines together

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday, 5th August. President of Philippines is on the five-day state visit to India. The visit, which aligns with the 75th year of diplomatic relations between the two countries, is being viewed as a step in strengthening their strategic and economic cooperation.

In his address to the media following the welcome ceremony, President Marcos initially discussed the changing character of the Indo-Pacific region. He said, This is a reaffirmation of the alliance and the partnership that we are strengthening. What used to be referred to as the Asia Pacific Region, we now refer to it as the Indo-Pacific Region, which is, I think, the correct evolution of that understanding because of the global nature of all of politics, all of trade and all of economy. To build upon what we already have and to certainly explore the many opportunities that have arisen in the past few years because of the new technologies and the changing state of the global economy and the geopolitics around us now.

He added that there are numerous new things for both nations to discover, particularly with the emergence of new technologies and the changing state of global economy and geopolitics. “This visit is about consolidating what we already have,” Marcos emphasized.

Marcos highlights India’s growth and his family connection

While talking about about India, Marcos expressed his delight to be in India and he also praised India’s development in recent years. He remembered his father, and said late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr, was the first Philippine President to travel to India in 1976.

It is a big honor to be in India as I am following the footsteps of four of my predecessors.  “I extend my compliments on India’s remarkable achievements under your guiding hand. Landing in Delhi, the evidence of rapid transformation and the energy of the world’s fourth-largest economy are readily palpable”, he said. 

President Marcos also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the hospitality and support, such as the recent granting of the Philippines’ exemption from India’s export ban on non-basmati rice. “Cooperation between us has greatly expanded in recent years,” he averred. “I am thrilled that we are now taking this friendship to a full-fledged strategic partnership.”

Philippines is visa free country for Indians: President Marcos

President Marcos also delivered a speech on actions to enhance people-to-people relations. He introduced a visa-free entry privileges and extended the invitation for more Indian tourists to visit the Philippines. 

He also his gratitude to PM Modi for the introduction of a scheme to grant visa-free of charge to Philippines tourists travelling to India. 

He further said, “We welcome the resumption of direct flights from October this year and renewed our commitment to sustaining and expanding such direct air connectivity”.  

Defence and maritime cooperation in focus

A major aspect of the two leaders’ conversation was defence and sea cooperation. President Marcos thanked the Prime Minister for cooperation in the area of defence industry, the export of defence platforms to India, including the BrahMos. He also called for greater cooperation in the area of the defence industry.

As part of our broader defence cooperation, we were talking about capacity building, joint exercises,  joint cooperative maritime activities, exchange of training programs between our officials and all standard elements that we talk about when it comes to defence cooperation.

We talk about more opportunities for  India to export our defence platforms. I think we have indeed exported a number of defence hardware platforms to many, many countries. 

The Philippines certainly showed interest in working with us to explore opportunities for more defence platforms. We’re also talking about ship visits, cooperation as part of multilateral formats.

So basically aimed at sharing best practices, enhancing maritime domain awareness on both sides,  talking about enhancing interoperability, working together to enhance our disaster response readiness in the coming years and so on. 

“We highlighted our capabilities in space and the cost-effectiveness of our space program.  President Marcos said he had indeed studied how cost-effective our space program is and they wanted to try and use some of our space technology, space capabilities to effect social transformation in terms of helping predict weather events, helping with agriculture, helping with disaster relief”, he said. 

India-Philippines defence relations: The BrahMos agreement

India and the Philippines have already made significant moves in the defence industry. In April 2024, India delivered the BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to the Philippines as part of the USD 375 million deal between the two sides signed in 2022.

The missiles were transported by the Indian Air Force on its C-17 Globemaster aircraft, which was India’s first significant defense export to the Southeast Asian nation.

As Assam CM Sarma carries out land reclamation against illegal encroachments, Gaurav Gogoi claims ‘illegally owned’ land will be redistributed if Congress comes to power

Rukma Rathore
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As Assam CM Sarma carries out land reclamation against illegal encroachments, Gaurav Gogoi claims ‘illegally owned’ land will be redistributed if Congress comes to power

Bharatiya Janta Party-led Assam government and the opposition headed by the Congress are consistently at loggerheads concerning the eviction campaign by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, which seeks to recover encroached land from unlawful occupants, especially those who have intruded from Bangladesh.

Gaurav Gogoi, the President of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee initiated a new attack on the chief minister on 3rd August and announced that land “illegally” held by the latter as well as his cabinet will be allocated to the underprivileged people if the opposition party secures power in the state in the next year assembly elections.

He asserted that the people have grown tired of the present government, in a press conference following the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee’s Extended Executive Meeting.

“Land illegally held by the chief minister and his ministers acquired under the pretense of safeguarding land rights, will be redistributed to the poor through a decision in the very first cabinet meeting of the new Congress government,” the Jorhat Lok Sabha MP stated. He also outlined that his party would introduce significant changes to both land and economic policy in order to help the populace.

Gogoi charged that under the pretence of development, the administration was discriminating against Bodos, Tiwas, Karbis, Rabhas, Misings and other communities as well as accused it of treating linguistic and religious minorities in an unfair manner. Additionally, he alleged that these evictions were conducted against court orders.

The Congressman added, “Unlike the loot and injustice under the Himanta Biswa Sarma regime, Congress is preparing to bring a new government based on progressive land policies and economic development.” He even emphasised that it is his responsibility to carry out Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi’s promise that Assamese would witness Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in prison.

The Gandhi scion, currently on bail in the National Herald corruption case alongside his mother Sonia Gandhi, was met with a strong retort from Sarma who asked, “What is the guarantee that Rahul Gandhi will not be jailed before I am.” He also ridiculed the statement with a dismisssive “thenga” gesture and added that it was inappropriate for a national leader to make such outrageous claims.

The truth of the eviction drive

The Congress is evidently displeased with the actions taken regarding encroachment drives in Assam, labeling it a breach of court orders. Nevertheless, the fact remains that the Gauhati High Court instructed Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram to establish a high-level committee aimed at addressing encroachments in forest regions along the inter-state borders of these four northeastern states.

A report by Union environment ministry to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) highlighted that the state’s total forest area under encroachment as of March 2024 was 3,620.9 square kilometres (3,62,090 hectares) second only to Madhya Pradesh in the country.

After the petitions brought attention to the detrimental effects of encroachment on wildlife and forest conservation, the Gauhati high court specifically ordered the Assam government to remove encroachments from protected forest areas. Notably, the state’s decades-long unchecked forest land encroachment has had the greatest effect on wildlife habitats, triggering a high rate of human-animal conflict specifically involving elephants.

Elephant pathways and habitats are disrupted by encroachment into forest regions, resulting in frequent and occasionally fatal encounters between humans and wildlife. Assam in particular districts like Goalpara has some of the highest incidences of human-elephant conflict in India. Furthermore, the high court has regularly issued orders over the past few years to clear the forest land of encroachers.

However, it appears that the Congress party and its leaders are more concerned with a lawfully orchestrated operation than with the illegal occupants who have been abusing the state’s resources and land. They are negatively impacting its biodiversity and infringing on the rights of the state’s legitimate citizens and even its animals.

The Congress exhibits such a profound desire to appease a particular community, irrespective of their nationality, that they are currently aligning with encroachment for the sake of minor political benefits. More importantly, Sarma already accused the grand old party of provoking the intruders in Sonapur’s Kosutoli locality, last year.

“Congress and other fundamentalist forces instigated the encroachers. They attacked the police. The slogan that was being used in Bangladesh, they are using the same slogan here now. After the action of Assam Police, the area has become peaceful again and the eviction work is going on,” he mentioned.

Similarly, violence transpired during the government’s action in the Goalpara district after which Sarma accused that the Rae Bareli MP urged “encroachers” and “land jehadis” to unlawfully occupy government land during a state-level Congress meeting with party workers in Chaygaon.

“He said they would be rehabilitated on the same forest land and given houses, but he doesn’t realise you cannot settle people on forest land,” the chief minsiter added after the protestors hurled stones and used weapons which injured 21 cops.

Sarma’s grave allegations against Gogoi

While a scorned Gaurav Gogoi spares no opportunity to attack Sarma, the latter has already levelled serious allegations against him, including links to Pakistan’s intelligence agency. His British wife, Elizabeth Coulburn had been found to have links with a Pakistani person.

She works at the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in Delhi as a project manager and Ali Tauqeer Sheikh, a Pakistani, is its Regional Director for Asia. He has a track record of disseminating false information about India, particularly through his X account. He even voiced his support for Gogoi regarding the discussion of the Delhi riots in Parliament.

The chief minsiter in February had accused, “Serious questions need to be answered regarding allegations of ISI links, leading young individuals to the Pakistan Embassy for brainwashing and radicalization. and the refusal to take Indian citizenship for the past 12 years. Additionally, participation in a conversion cartel and receiving funds from external sources, including George Soros, to destabilize national security are grave concerns that cannot be ignored.”

The same was recently brought up by Home Minister Amit Shah when he pointed out, “You have been to Pakistan many times but have you ever gone via the border Gogoi, do you understand the conditions our soldiers face,” while addressing Gogoi, the deputy leader of Congress in the lower house, amid discussion on “Operation Sindoor.”

Moreover, the Assam government took action and demolished multiple madrasas as it discovered that radical religious training was taking place in the name of religious education. It was even uncovered that many madrasa administrators were connected to terrorist groups in Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Predictably, these demolitions were vehemently opposed by radical religious leaders who aimed to incite societal unrest. Interestingly, when Gogoi was elected chief of Assam Congress, he had a planned itinerary in the Barak Valley to meet extremist Maulana Ahmed Sayeed Govindpuri and went to madrasas. He followed the program during the night, away from the public eye and under the pretext of visiting flood-affected regions.

Assam’s relentless anti-encroachment action

Notwithstanding all the objections from the opposition or fundamentalists, the Sarma government is unwavering in its pursuit of action against individuals who have unlawfully occupied the land that justly belongs to the state of Assam.

The administration cleared approximately 8,900 bighas of land and demolished more than 4,000 unlawful structures from the Renga Reserve forest in the Golaghat district in the last five days.

An official statement read, “Over the course of five days, vast stretches of encroached forest land have been reclaimed, with illegal structures dismantled across key high-density zones including Bidyapur, Pithaghat, Sonaribeel, Doyalpur, Dolonipathar, Kherbari, Anandapur and Madhupur.” 

Another 205 homes in the Negheribil neighbourhood under Merapani of the Doyang Reserve Forest in the Golaghat district have also received notices to vacate before the action commences on 8th August.

The chief minister reported that “Bangladeshi infiltrators and doubtful citizens” are reportedly occupying about 29 lakh bighas or roughly 10 lakh acres of land in Assam. He delivered the startling revelations on 21st July at a celebration of the Multipurpose Agricultural Project’s fourth anniversary in the Darang district’s Garukhuti. 77,420 bighas of land (25,500 acres) have been cleansed of encroachments since the project’s inception in 2021.

“After the successful execution of the (eviction) campaign in the Darang district, the initiative was also extended to Borsola, Lumding, Burhapahar, Pabha, Batadrava, Chapar and Paikan. In the last four years, we have reclaimed 1.29 lakh bigha (around 43,000 acres) of occupied land. A considerable portion of it is now being allocated for forest development and the citizens of the state,” he informed.

“The Assam government has reclaimed 182 square kilometers of land from encroachers. Now these same infiltrators are demanding a separate ‘Miya Land’ state. Their dream will surely come true, not in India but in Bangladesh or Afghanistan. I will definitely assist them in reaching there,” the chief minister conveyed on 31st July after encroached land was cleared.

Even revered Hindu locations are vulnerable to encorachers as 15,288.52 bighas of Satra (Vaishnavite monasteries) territory is also illegally encroached upon. However, the government began a vigorous campaign to free the lands from unlawful invasion after Sarma vowed to rectify the problem.

According to the chief minister, all Deputy Commissioners have been instructed to seek out and remove encroachers from forest regions. They are told to ensure that the Forest Rights Act’s protections for indigenous and tribal communities, who are acknowledged as the original inhabitants, are upheld.

Additionally, he emphasized the massive scale of encroachment and noted that it will require a minimum of ten years to complete the drive. It is due to the significant number of illegal immigrants who have occupied forest property in various districts.

Conclusion

The Congress party is preoccupied with attacking Sarma and his ministers while the Assam government is working to recover the land from illegal encroachments for the benefit of the state and its residents.

It is unexpected for the Congress to not cater to its Muslim supporters, however, it has blurred the boundaries between Indian and Bangladeshi Muslims in its persistent quest of vote-bank politics.

Clearly, the eviction drive is being performed in a lawful manner and in accordance with the order of the Gauhati High Court. However, the opposition appears to be unconcerned with the facts and is focused solely on turning this critical issue into a political tool for short-term electoral gain.

Targeting Hindu girls, rave parties, and rape: Yasin Machli and family’s 55-year criminal empire exposed; Congress leader’s son also held in Bhopal drugs case

OpIndia Staff
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Targeting Hindu girls, rave parties, and rape: Yasin Machli and family’s 55-year criminal empire exposed; Congress leader’s son also held in Bhopal drugs case

A multitude of revelations has surfaced concerning Yasin Machli who was recently arrested in the drug smuggling case in Bhopal. He reportedly targeted Hindu girls specifically and used them for the purpose of drug delivery. He trapped his victims in relationships, assaulted them and then blackmailed them. The police also discovered numerous videos associated with rave parties.

He was responsible for organizing these parties on the city’s outskirts. The entry fee for these events was between Rs 10,000 and 25,000 alongside a separate charge was imposed for drugs at the party. Yasin Machli and his family were implicated in this entire illicit enterprise.

According to a report by Dainik Bhaskar, Yasin Machli and his uncle Shahwar Machhli, who were nabbed in the drug trafficking case made several disclosures during the interrogation. Additional DCP Shailendra Singh Chauhan of the crime branch stated that prior to attending the rave party, all individuals would gather at a pub at Yasin’s behest and would depart for the designated location of the party from there.

During these parties, the youth were encouraged to indulge in dancing, loud music and drug consumption. Despite the continuous loud music throughout the night, no complaints were filed as the farmhouses selected for these events were situated far from the bustling areas of the city.

The crime branch has sent notices to every pub, club and lounge in the city that were visited by Yasin and his associates. Authorities believe that the proprietors or employees of these establishments might also be implicated in the gang’s activities.

Yasin is accused of raping a girl

A case of rape has been filed against Yasin Machli at the MP Nagar police station in Bhopal. He is reported to have raped a 29-year-old young woman. According to Sub-inspector Archana Tiwari, the victim who is employed at a private firm, lodged a complaint regarding the incident. She mentioned that the two met at a pub approximately one year ago, in her statement.

Yasin developed a friendship with her and their conversations became more frequent. He subsequently invited her to a five-star hotel under the guise of marriage where he violated her.

Yasin’s family built an “empire” through illegal activities for 55 years

Yasin saw his family build a empire via illegal business in a span of 55 years. His family resided in Budhwara and engaged in fish brokerage. They moved to Hathaikheda and secured a contract for fish farming in that location. They had gained control of the area with assistance from political factions by 1980. With this political backing, a Muslim colony was formed and illegal mining commenced in stone quarries.

They began to earn the trust of Hindus by gathering donations for Durga Pandal and hosting Devi Jagran, in 2000. Afterward, several engineering and pharmacy colleges were constructed around Hathaikheda, between 2005 and 2010. The family hosted freshers parties, formed cricket teams and organised tournaments for the students of these institutions.

After 2015, they started drug trafficking at these parties and made the studnets dependent on drugs. The Machli family was heavily involved in the illegal arms trade and the drug business. During this time, the occurrences of rape and blackmailing of girls also commenced.

Yasin’s henchman Anshul Singh turned out to be the son of a Congress leader

Yasin’s aid, Anshul Singh also known as Bhuri was apprehended by the authorities on 31 July. On 4th August the latter’s remand was prolonged until 7th August, following his court appearance. During the interrogation, Anshul revealed that he is the son of a Congress leader.

He has over 20 criminal cases against him, including attempts to murder, assault, violations of the Arms Act, liquor offenses and smuggling which are recorded at various police stations throughout the city. He has been classified as a history-sheeter at the TT Nagar police station.

The police caught 32-year-old Taufiq Nizami, based on his testimony. A pistol and cartridges were confiscated from him as he had provided the illegal firearm to Anshul.

Cops capture Shahwar Machli

On 18th July, Saifuddin and Ashu alias Shahrukh were apprehended in Govindpura, Bhopal. A sum of Rs 3 lakh and a significant quantity of drugs were seized from them. The crime branch detained drug trafficking kingpin Shahwar Machli along with his nephew Yasin Machli on their information. 3 grams of MD drug and a locally manufactured pistol were seized from the pair.

The probe uncovered that Yasin and Shahwar were involved in the drug smuggling trade. They imported hashish and other narcotics from Mumbai, Rajasthan and Punjab. They distributed these substances at parties held in pubs, lounges and clubs throughout the city.

Hindu girls were exploited for drug delivery purposes. They would lure them into addiction by hosting rave parties for the youth. Both were known to physically abuse Hindu girls and exert pressure on them for religious conversion.

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