On Sunday (February 19), the Haryana police exhumed the stillborn child of a man named Shrikant, an accused in the death of cow smugglers Junaid and Nasir.
The cops have sent the remains for an autopsy to ascertain the cause of death of the child. On Friday (February 17) night, the Rajasthan police raided Shrikant’s house in the Nuh district of Haryana.
Reportedly, everybody was asleep but that did not stop the cops from forcing his family members to open the gate. The Rajasthan police then allegedly barged into the premises and assaulted the family members on being told that the accused was not at home.
The cops reportedly pushed Shrikant’s mother, Dulari, and his 9-month pregnant wife, injuring all three- his mother, wife, and the to-be-born child. While raiding Shrikant’s room, the police kicked his pregnant wife, which ultimately resulted in the death of the child inside the womb.
Rajasthan Police allegedly assaulted family of gaurakshak Shrikant Pandit in Nuh, Haryana in a pre-dawn raid, injuring his 9-month pregnant wife Kamlesh & causing the unborn child’s death. This action followed the death of 2 notorious cow smugglers Junaid & Nasir from Bharatpur. pic.twitter.com/VPrJcf5YBJ
“My daughter-in-law complained of severe stomach pain. We immediately took her to the hospital where doctors operated on her to bring my dead grandchild out into this world. My grandchild was bleeding and had stopped breathing inside,” Dulari had narrated the ordeal.
Although the Rajasthan police have denied the allegation, the Haryana police initiated a probe into the matter. While speaking about the matter, SP (Nuh) Varun Singla told PTI, “We have exhumed the body of a stillborn baby today and kept it in the mortuary.”
He added, “Postmortem will be conducted by Monday (February 20) by a board of doctors.” In its defence, the Rajasthan police claimed that they had gone to Shrikant’s house but did not enter the premises.
“The accused was not present. His two brothers had come out of home and they were freed after questioning. The allegations levelled by the woman are false. Their family member is accused that is why they levelling allegations,” SP (Bharatpur) Shyam Singh claimed.
Last week, on Thursday, the Lucknow Court remanded Nikhat Bano, wife of Uttar Pradesh MLA Abbas Ansari and daughter-in-law of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari for illegally meeting her jailed husband in the deputy jailer’s room in Chitrakoot district.
The Police began the investigation in the case and interrogated Bano to reveal that she and her husband Ansari used to illegally meet for 3-4 hours in jail. The Police also said that she used to arrive at the jail premises with her driver Niyaz and used to meet her husband without making any entry in the jail logs.
The Police on February 10 conducted a surprise investigation on the jail premises and found Bano inside a room next to the jail superintendent’s office. She was there to meet Ansari without completing a visitor’s formalities. The Police then lodged an FIR against Abbas Ansari, Bano, and her driver Niyaz. The Police also booked several jail authorities including jail superintendent Ashok Kumar Sagar, deputy jailer Sushil Kumar, jail warder Jagmohan and other unidentified jail employees who were on duty that day.
The SIT investigating the case revealed that Ansari used Bano’s phone to continue his criminal activities from inside the jail. According to the reports, Nikhat Bano, during the interrogation confessed that she had been meeting her husband illegally for the past 80 days. She would arrive at the Chitrakoot jail at 11 am and would spend next 3-4 hours with her husband.
Police said that the duo used to meet in the room next to the jail superintendent’s office and the accused jail authorities would lock the room from the outside. Bano also confirmed that she would wear a burqa and would arrive in different cars to avoid suspicion.
The Police also arrested and interrogated Bano’s driver Niyaz who said that several branded cars and money were provided to the jail authorities to allow Ansari to meet his wife Nikhat Bano. “The jail authorities release all the criminals at 11 am for a casual walk around. It is then that Ansari used to meet Bano. Bano was allowed to enter the premises before 11 am so that nobody could visibly see her. Huge amounts of money and luxurious cars were provided to jail authorities to fix the meetings,” he said.
Reports mention that during the interrogation, Nikhat Bano initially tried to mislead the police but eventually confirmed that Ansari used Bano’s phone to run the criminal activities from inside the jail. The Police have seized Bano’s two phones but haven’t been able to unlock one of them. On asking, Bano said that she had forgotten the password. She also threatened officials with dire consequences for forcing her to reveal her password. However, the police have recovered several suspicious phone numbers from the other phone and are investigating those.
The SIT has further revealed that many jail authorities were found to have obtained expensive cars in recent weeks. However, on inspection, it has been found that the amount for these cars has been funded by Ansari. The cost of one car is said to be Rs 18 lakhs and is believed to be purchased from one of the showrooms in Mau.
Abbas Ansari was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money-laundering investigation in November of last year. His father, five-time MLA Mukhtar Ansari, is lodged at the Banda district jail. Abbas Ansari meanwhile was shifted to Kasganj jail on February 18 amid the interrogation of his wife and driver Niyaz. Abbas’s brother, Amar Ansari has demanded protection for Abbas saying that the latter’s life could be in danger in Kasganj jail.
Reportedly, a case against Nikhat and her driver Niyaz has been filed at the Karvi police station in Chitrakoot under Indian Penal Code sections including 222 (intentional omission to apprehend on the part of public servant bound to apprehend person under sentence or lawfully committed), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) and 506 (criminal intimidation). Police also have invoked the Prevention of Corruption Act, based on the complaint filed by sub-inspector Shyam Dev Singh.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday conducted fresh searches at nearly a dozen locations in Chhattishgarh in mining and alleged coal levy scam.
The places searched include residential and office premises of various Congress leaders naming Ram Gopal Agarwal, Girish Devangan, RP Singh, Vinod Tiwari ad Sunny Agrawal, said sources. Last month, the ED had also raided multiple locations in Chhattisgarh, including that of an IAS officer, and other locations in connection with its ongoing money laundering probe into the alleged coal levy scam in the state.
The federal investigation agency launched a probe in this case in October last year after it raided another IAS officer of the state, Sameer Vishnoi, and some businessmen.
Sameer Vishnoi IAS Officer of 2009 Batch and his wife were found to be in possession of Rs 47 Lacs of unaccounted cash and Gold jewellery of 4 kg.
The investigation relates to “a massive scam in which illegal levy of Rs 25 was being extorted for every tonne of coal transported in Chhattisgarh by a cartel involving senior bureaucrats, businessmen, politicians and middlemen”, the agency has alleged.
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s deputy secretary Saumya Chaurasia, Vishnoi, coal trader and alleged “main kingpin of the scam” Suryakant Tiwari, his uncle Laxmikant Tiwari and another coal businessman Sunil Agrawal have been arrested in this case till now.
The ED had earlier claimed in a statement that Chaurasia, Vishnoi and some coal traders allegedly linked to them “used” their relatives to create “benami” assets after it attached their properties worth more than Rs 150 crore in December last year.
The agency alleged that a “grand conspiracy” was hatched in the natural resources-rich state to perpetrate a coal levy ‘scam’ in which Rs 540 crore has been “extorted” over the last two years.
The money laundering case stems from an Income Tax department complaint that was registered following raids by the taxman in June 2022.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Sunday (February 19), Union Home Minister Amit Shah lashed out at Uddhav Thackeray for joining hands with the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra. He said that the Shiv Sena chief Thackeray fell at Sharad Pawar’s feet to become CM.
Amit Shah made the remarks while addressing a ‘Vijay Sankalp rally’ in Kolhapur city of Maharashtra. He accused Thackeray of abandoning his ideologies post the 2019 elections in the hopes of becoming the Maharashtra Chief Minister.
“In 2019, Uddhav Thackeray campaigned with us but when poll results came, he forgot about all the ideologies and fell at Sharad Pawar’s feet and requested to make him Chief Minister. But today Shiv Sena has become real and with ‘Dhanush Baan’, has come again with BJP,” Amit Shah emphasised.
He added, “BJP doesn’t have greed for power and we will never forget our ideologies. Maharashtra’s interest is paramount in our mind…Politics and power can be grabbed for a moment with crooked intelligence, but only courage, and bravery are useful in the battle which Uddhav’s Shiv Sena does not have. It is with BJP workers.”
On Saturday (February 18), the Union Home Minister said, “Yesterday the Election Commission made ‘doodh ka doodh, aur paani ka paani’ (established the difference between truth and lie yesterday). The formula of ‘Satyameva Jayate’ became significant yesterday.”
“Shinde ji got the bow and arrow symbol and the party name ‘Shiv Sena’,” he underlined during a public rally in Pune city of Maharashtra.
#WATCH | “The Election Commission established the difference between truth and lie yesterday. The formula of ‘Satyameva Jayate’ became significant yesterday…” says Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Pune, Maharashtra. #ShivSenapic.twitter.com/E82Kt3ok86
Election Commission rules that Eknath Shinde heads the real Shiv Sena
On Friday (February 17), the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced that the party name “Shiv Sena” and the symbol “Bow and Arrow” would be retained by the Eknath Shinde faction.
Notably, both factions of Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray) had been fighting for the bow and arrow symbol of the party since Shinde (present Maharashtra Chief Minister) revolted against Thackeray in 2022.
The Commission observed that the current constitution of the Shiv Sena party was undemocratic. “The constitution of political parties ought to provide for free, fair and transparent elections to the posts of office bearers and a further free and fair procedure for resolving internal disputes,” the ECI said.
On February 19 (local time), Meta announced paid verification system codenamed Meta Verified. As per an official statement from Meta, the new subscription bundle would include account verification and direct access to increased visibility and support. Initially, the service would be available for users in Australia and New Zealand.
In a social media post, founder and CEO of Meta Mark Zuckerberg, said, “Good morning and new product announcement: this week we’re starting to roll out Meta Verified — a subscription service that lets you verify your account with a government ID, get a blue badge, get extra impersonation protection against accounts claiming to be you, and get direct access to customer support. This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services. Meta Verified starts at $11.99 / month on the web or $14.99 / month on iOS. We’ll be rolling out in Australia and New Zealand this week and more countries soon.”
Interestingly, the announcement was first made on the recently launched ‘broadcast’ feature on Instagram, where the admin of the broadcast list can send announcements to all subscribers in one go.
Notably, the verification of the accounts on Facebook and Instagram is subject to authentication of your identity via a government-issued ID. The paid subscription includes many features, such as a verified badge, protection from impersonators, access to a ‘real person’ for account-related issues, increased visibility and reach, and exclusive features that Meta might launch in the future.
The subscription fee for users on the Web is USD 11.99, and for iOS and Android users, it is USD 14.99. It converts to AUD 19.99 or NZD 23.99 for the Web and AUD 24.99 or NZD 29.99 for iOS and Android.
Unlike Twitter, Facebook has assured that already verified accounts on Instagram and Facebook will see no change in terms of authenticity and notability. For those who are not aware, Elon Musk recently announced that at one point, the legacy verified accounts would lose their verified badge, and they would have to subscribe to Twitter Blue. Several new features are available for Twitter Blue subscribers that legacy verified accounts do not enjoy.
To get a verified badge on Facebook or Instagram, the user must have prior posting history and be at least 18 years old. Furthermore, you cannot apply for a verified badge on Facebook or Instagram if you do not have your real name and photograph on the platforms. As per Meta’s post, the photograph and name must match the government ID to initiate the process.
That means if you are staying anonymous on Facebook or Instagram or using a pen name or alias, as of now, you will not be eligible for the service. Notably, once verified, the subscribers will not be allowed to change “profile name, username, date of birth, or photo on your profile without going through the Meta Verified subscription and verifications application process again,” Meta said.
Meta further said that the increased visibility would depend on the subscriber’s existing audience size and posts’ topics. The smaller accounts will see a more notable change in reach. The content guidelines for all users will remain the same.
Meta will soon offer exclusive stickers for the subscribers on Facebook, Instagram Stories and Facebook Reels. Furthermore, 100 free stars a month on Facebook will be provided that subscribers can use to show support to the creators.
As of now, Businesses cannot apply for the service.
Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli said on February 19, 2023, Sunday, that U.S. Ambassador Tom Nides should mind his own business and not meddle in the internal affairs of Israel. Amichai Chikli made the strong comments after the American ambassador to Israel spoke against the judicial reforms being carried out by the Benjamin Netanyahu government.
“I say to the American ambassador, slam the breaks on yourself and mind your own business,” said Chikli after Nides said that the Israel govt should go slow on the judicial reforms. “You’re not the sovereign here. We’d be happy to debate with you international or security affairs, but respect our democracy,” the Israeli Diaspora affairs minister added.
“The relationship with the United States is very important, but this intervention by Nides is very problematic,” said Amichai Chikli, strongly objecting to the American ambassador’s comments on Israel’s internal matters.
Amichai Chikli made the comments after Tom Nides said that the Joe Biden administration is demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should “pump the brakes” on the judicial reforms. “We’re telling the prime minister—as I tell my kids—‘pump the brakes, slow down, try to get a consensus, bring the parties together,’” Nides told former Obama administration official David Axelrod during an interview in the podcast The Axe Files on CNN.
“It’s very complicated, they’re trying to do things way too fast, and to pump the brakes, slow down,” Nides added.
He added that while US is not ‘dictating’ to Israel on how to conduct its internal affairs, he said that the one thing that binds their countries together is a sense of democracy. The ambassador’s comments came after last week Joe Biden said that consensus is needed for any fundamental change while answering a question on the proposed changes in Israel.
“The genius of American democracy and Israeli democracy is that they are both built on strong institutions, on checks and balances, on an independent judiciary. Building consensus for fundamental changes is really important to ensure that the people buy into them so they can be sustained,” president Biden had said.
According to op-eds published in American media, Israel govt is attempting to strip the Israeli Supreme Court of its independence and put it under Netanyahu’s control instead. Knesset (Israeli Parliament) Constitution, Law and Justice Committee is currently discussing the proposed judicial reforms, which propose to give greater weight to the legislation and the executive in the composition of Judicial selection committee.
The reforms seek to curb the influence of an overreaching judiciary, and seek to shift power from unelected bureaucratic rule of the judiciary to elected legislators and the government. The judiciary in Israel has increased its influence over law making and public policy in the last few years, and the proposed reformed spearheaded by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Yariv Levin attempts to correct this.
The proposed changes give the Knesset power to overturn supreme court judgements, reduce ability of judicial review of legislation, and prohibit courts from ruling on the constitutionality of basic laws passed by the Knesset.
The bill also seeks to change the composition of the Judicial Selection Committee, which appoints judges, so that there is greater say of the govt in the appointments. At the present system, the committee has nine members, 3 SC judges, 2 from bar association, 2 Knesset members and 2 ministers, giving the judiciary a majority. The proposed system will have 11 members, which will have 3 ministers including the law minister, 3 Knesset members, 3 SC judges including the president and 2 public representatives chosen by the minister of justice. Thus, the government will have complete control over appointment of judges.
In many ways, the ongoing government versus judiciary debate in Israel is similar in many ways to the same debate going on in India, including the collegium system, courts interfering in administrative activities, stalling development projects, making unwarranted remarks etc.
Anbu Jothi Ashram, a rehabilitation home in Kundalapuliyur, Villupuram in Tamil Nadu, which has been in operation for the last 17 years without a permit or any type of government monitoring, has been in the eye of a storm following the rescue of 142 people from there. 109 men and 33 women were among the people rescued from the cult.
On December 17, 2022, Salim Khan, a US citizen, filed a case with the Madras high court asking the authorities to take action after learning that his father-in-law Jawahirullah went missing from the Ashram. Following the complaint, the horrifying tales of rape and torture of the inmates came to light.
Allegations of human rights violations against the ashram include sexual assault, rape, violence, human trafficking, and torture. With the promise of three meals per day and a secure place to stay, the facility attracted homeless people. Many were allegedly sedated and tonsured later to give the impression that they had mental health issues.
Jawahirullah was reportedly admitted to Anbu Jothi Ashram on December 4, 2021, however, he later disappeared from there. Salim asked the ashram employees about his father-in-law, and they informed him that he had been sent to another facility in Bengaluru that was also purportedly associated with Anbu Jothi.
When a Tamil Nadu police team went there for investigation, the director of the Bengaluru residence, Raju alias Auto Raja, said that the elderly man and a few others escaped from the property by smashing open a bathroom window. Afterward, Salim petitioned the Madras High Court (HC) for a writ of habeas corpus in an effort to locate Jawahirullah.
As soon as the HC gave cops the go-ahead to search for and find the missing person, they discovered hundreds of victims in the ashram. Police officers and volunteers were able to rescue up to 142 persons, including 109 men, 33 women, and a boy.
Images of children tied up in the Anbu Jothi Ashram (Source: Newsminute)
It was revealed that some prisoners had been sexually molested by staff members, while others had been tortured, shackled, and even attacked by caged monkeys. Out of the 142 people that were rescued, 130 have been accepted into a home for the needy and 12 have been returned to their families. The ashram is now blacklisted.
Two days after learning about the awful crimes, the authorities on February 13, discovered more persons had been kept imprisoned in a different location in Kottakuppam, 50 kilometers from Anbu Ashram.
After rescuing them, police learned accounts of terror similar to those from the ashram in Villupuram. They were then admitted as patients to the Government Villupuram Medical College Hospital.
N Shreenatha, the superintendent of police in Villupuram, disclosed that eight people had been arrested for violating applicable statutes, including Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Harassment of Women Act, 1998, and Section 376 of the Indian Criminal Code (penalty for rape). The SP stated that the police teams are also looking into the Bengaluru home where 15 people were allegedly transported from Villupuram. “Four of them have been arrested, two are absconding, and the owner and his wife are in the hospital,” the SP added.
Shreenatha added that an investigation was being carried out into the claims that the home was burying or cremating unidentifiable and unclaimed dead in remote sections of the village. He further informed that a search is being conducted for the missing residents of the Bengaluru house.
Owners attempt to escape
The officers arrested eight individuals at the ashram, including its founders, Jubin (45) and Maria (43), Christians from Kerala, as well as the warden Muthumaari, the computer operator Gopinath, the attendant Iyyappan, and the chauffeur Biju. They were apprehended on suspicion of rape, assault, and wrongful incarceration.
Jubin and Maria let two wild monkeys loose on the officials while trying to flee. The animals were kept in cages by the pair and were used to intimidate and assault the prisoners.
In the Villupuram case, police arrested J Mariya today who ran the illegal Anbu Jothi Ashram along with her husband Jubin who is accused of rape by a lady resident. He will be arrested after he’s discharged following treatment for being bitten by a monkey. pic.twitter.com/ZizRBkE7Vw
A native of Kerala’s Ernakulam, Jubin is also known as Anbu Jubin or Baby Jubin. In 2005, he came upon Villupuram while volunteering at a private dwelling. There are rumours that Jubin and his wife Maria established a home in a small rented space in the Periyar colony with 12 people. Later, this expanded into a space with 200 individuals.
The investigators have so far found two properties that are allegedly owned by the couple in Tamil Nadu and one in Bengaluru.
Tales of terror
Victims have narrated horrifying tales of their time inside the ashram. A woman from Odisha was brought to the institution after being ‘rescued’ from the streets by a group. “In the next five years, she was repeatedly raped, beaten up, and threatened into silence. When she tried to resist, the employees set two ferocious monkeys that the owner kept in a cage on her,” R Lalitha, a volunteer with Social Awareness Society for Youth said.
Many women were allegedly raped, shackled, and drugged with sleeping drugs.
No inspection in the unregistered home
The officials discovered that since the ashram’s establishment in 2005, there had been no inspections there. The district administration has now started action to permanently seal the ashram and all of its affiliated branches, according to Villupuram district collector C Palani.
In September of last year, the Tamil Nadu State Mental Health Authority denied Anbu Jothi Ashram’s request for a license, citing the absence of psychiatrists, doctors, sufficient staff, a sanitation certificate, lift facilities, and identification documents for inmates and social workers.
Furthermore, it was determined by the Villupuram District Differently Abled Welfare Office that the ashram did not adhere to the 2016 Rights of People with Disabilities Act’s regulations. According to the complaint, District Disability Officer C Thangavel also notified the ashram that the home would be closed if the problems were not resolved, but the ashram did not respond.
Media and networks
Anbu Jothi Ashram’s involvement with the Greater Chennai Police’s Karunai Payanam effort, which sought to locate, treat, and reunite people stranded north Indians with their families, was also exposed by a thorough investigation of the institution’s operations.
The couple built networks with pharmacists and social workers, according to the cops investigating the matter.
NCW reports at least two sexual assault instances
Kanchan Kattar, senior coordinator for the National Commission for Women (NCW), has acknowledged that there have been at least two cases of sexual assault at the ashram.
NCW member addressing the media.
“We have constituted a committee and the inquiry is ongoing. Once the committee sends its report, we will give a more concise statement. We have constituted a committee and the inquiry is ongoing. Once the committee sends its report, we will give a more concise statement.” NCW also met women victims of the ashram at the hospital.
Meanwhile, K. Balakrishnan, the state secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), has urged the Tamil Nadu administration to appoint a special committee to investigate all of the ashrams and residences in the state.
The Crime Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) has taken up the case’s investigation, in the interim.
#Chennai: With possibility of human trafficking not ruled out at Anbu Jothi Ashram in Villupuram, TN DGP, C. Sylendra Babu transferred case to Crime Branch-CID.
CB-CID will now probe the matter of alleged torture & rape of inmates at ‘ashram’ being run by a couple from Kerala. pic.twitter.com/UjZgNVIpxO
Two people were killed and several others were injured when a group of people opened fire on others in a village on the outskirts of Patna on Sunday. After the shooting, several buildings were set on fire by an angry mob in the area. At least 50 rounds were fired during the incident, in which two died and 4 were injured.
The incident occurred in Jethuli village in Patna district on Sunday, which started as a minor parking dispute. According to reports, the dispute was over taking out a car from a parking place, but the matter escalated into a big fight. After that, one of the groups pulled out guns and started firing at the others, hitting at least 6 people.
Two people were killed in the shooting, Gautam Kumar (30) and Roshan Rai (15), while the other four sustained gunshot injuries. Narrating the incident, Gautam Kumar’s uncle Sanjit Kumar said that Gautam was taking out his car from the private parking of a building. At that time, the accused were unloading gravel on the road from a vehicle. As the vehicle and the unloaded material were blocking the exit, he requested them to move the vehicle and unload the building material on the other side of the road.
But instead of removing the vehicle, they started arguing. The dispute escalated, and then the group pulled out guns and started firing. Hearing the gunshots, Gautam Kumar’s relatives arrived at the spot, and they were also shot by the gang. According to Sanjit Kumar, the gang led by one Umesh Rai fired more than 50 rounds. He named Umesh Rai, Ramesh Rai, Satish Rai and Bachha Rai of Jethuli village as the accused persons. Gautam Kumar was hit by several bullets, killing him instantly.
After the incident, an angry mob gathered at a building owned by the accused and set it on fire. Two vehicles parked at the building, where a marriage hall is also located, were gutted in the fire. The mob also tried to set fire to the house of another accused, but the police prevented them. The angry people also prevented fire service vehicles from reaching the burnt building on time by deflating tyres.
Police and fire service personnel entered the burning house and rescued people trapped inside, including women and children.
Following the incident, a heavy police force has been deployed at the Jethuli village under the Nadi police station. Police said that the situation is tense, but now under control. The injured were referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) and Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH).
While family of the victim said that two persons have died, police have so far confirmed only one death. Akhilesh Kumar, in-charge of the Nadi police station, confirmed the death of Gautam Kumar in the accident. When asked about Roshan’s death, he said that he has no information about the same. Akhilesh Kumar further said that the police are investigating the matter after reaching the spot. As soon as the information about the incident was received, the police of Nadi police station area reached the spot and started camping, he added.
“One person was dead and three were injured in the incident. The main accused was arrested. The situation is under control. Search underway for other accused,” Senior Superintendent of Police, Patna Manavjeet Singh Dhillon told ANI over the phone.
A new video is going viral on social media narrating the details of the case of mother-daughter being burnt to death in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur Dehat district. In this video, the SHO leading the police force can be seen bowing down to the Shivling. Another person, who claimed to be SDM, is seen in the same video instructing the SHO to demolish the Shivling along with the platform. The SIT probing the matter has taken cognizance of the video.
In this video of less than 1 minute, the police force can be seen standing with the SDM. After some time, the SHO climbed on the platform with the Shivling and bowed down to Lord Shiva. After this, the station in-charge Inspector Dinesh Gautam is asked to come down. A person standing in a white shirt, who is allegedly the SDM, can be seen instructing the bulldozer to demolish the Shivling. After this, the JCB machine destroyed the platform with the Shivling.
The media reports, quoting the villagers, have said that the station in-charge was not in favor of demolishing the Shivling. However, due to the stubbornness of his senior, the SDM, the platform along with the Shivling was finally demolished. It is being told that after the platform was broken, the SHO wrapped the Shivling in his towel. However, the destruction of Shivling was followed by a stampede and arson at the place so that couldn’t be verified.
According to the available information, the SIT probing the entire matter has taken cognizance of this video. This has also been included in the investigation. However, OpIndia could not verify the viral video. Significantly, on Monday (February 13, 2023), a mother-daughter duo was burnt to death during an anti-encroachment campaign in Madauli village of Kanpur Dehat district.
Following the tragedy, an FIR was registered in the names of SDM, SHO, Lekhpal, other policemen, and 4 members of the village.
On Sunday, in an unusual incident, bundles of currency notes were thrown from the terrace of a building during a wedding event in Mehsana district of Gujarat. Hundreds of people gathered under the house of a former sarpanch of Gujarat’s Agol village in the Kekri tehsil as he showered several notes of various denominations including Rs 500 notes from his terrace.
The video of the incident went viral on social media in which the former Sarpanch could be seen throwing notes while the wedding band was playing the famous Bollywood song ‘Azeem-o-shaan shahenshah’ from the movie Jodha Akhbar. The former Sarpanch showered currency notes during his nephew’s wedding.
The former Sarpanch has been identified as Karim Yadav who showered cash notes during the wedding procession of his nephew Razak. During the procession, he and his family members went to the top of their residence and showered money on people gathered to witness the celebrations.
The people meanwhile on the streets could be seen collecting the cash notes showered from the terrace. Reports mention that cash notes ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 500 were thrown from the terrace. People on the streets also engaged in brawls to collect money.
One similar incident was reported from Banglore in January, where Arun V, a YouTuber, a host and an employee of an event management company threw Rs 10 currency notes from the KR Market flyover to attain publicity. Reportedly, around 2000 notes in the denomination of Rs 10 were showered onto the road by the man. The traffic and law and order situation below the flyover could be seen disrupted as people engaged in a fight to collect the amount thrown.
The Banglore Police were informed about the incident who then detained the man for some unusual reason. The Police also filed an FIR against him under sections 283 (danger or obstruction in a public way or line of navigation) and 290 (punishment for public nuisance in cases not otherwise provided for) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 92 (D) (punishment of certain street offenses and nuisance) of the Karnataka Police Act.
