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Rampant conversions by Missionaries underway in Hindu-majority Nepal, Christian population shot up by 68% in the last decade: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Rampant conversions by Missionaries underway in Hindu-majority Nepal, Christian population shot up by 68% in the last decade: Report

On January 14, BBC published a shocking report that said the Christian population has possibly increased by 68 per cent in Nepal in less than a decade, thanks to Christian missionaries, especially from South Korea. A report titled ‘Christian missionaries target birthplace of Buddha in Nepal’ explained how South Korea, in particular, has been sending a tsunami of evangelists to Nepal.

As per the report, Nepal had 3,76,000 Christians in 2011 (census numbers), which has increased to approx 5,45,000 now, a jump of 68 per cent. Notably, Christians make up 2 per cent of the total population in Nepal, while Hindus are 80 per cent and Buddhists are 9 per cent. The number of Christians in 1951 was zero, which rose to 458 in 1961. Since then, the number has exponentially increased. In 2008, the 240-year-old Hindu monarchy ended in the country, and it became secular. The report suggests that the change in the country’s religious status helped a lot in increasing the Christian population.

South Korea’s role in conversions in Nepal

South Korea started sending evangelists to Nepal around two decades ago. Since then, around 20,000 Korean missionaries have joined the movement to convert Hindus to Christianity. The so-called caste system has been blamed for the conversions. Quoting a Korean missionary couple, BBC noted they are converting village after village to Christianity. Korean Pastor Pang Chang-in claimed that after watching a single alleged “miracle”, the whole village converted to Christianity.

Pang noted that despite the anti-conversion law in the country, the missionaries are converting Hindus at a rapid pace. The birthplace of Bhagwan Buddha is facing an attack on its culture and history which makes him delighted. In around 20 years, Pang alone has overseen the construction of over 70 churches in the country, most of them located in the district Dhading, which is 2 hours away from Nepal’s capital Kathmandu.

As per the latest data, there are around 7,758 churches in Nepal. Imagine a country where Christians had a negligible population, now facing a parasitic conversion rate. Notably, Korean missionaries are known for being aggressive. They mostly target places that are known to be “hardest to convert”. Lee Jeong-hee, wife of Pang, said, “We are always working with the anxiety and nervousness we feel from the anti-conversion law. But we can’t stop the spread of the gospel because of this fear. We will not stop saving souls.”

Both Pang and Joeng were bankers before turning evangelists. In 2003, Pang first came to Nepal. He was “shocked” to see the country’s idols being worshipped at a large scale. The funny thing is, Christians themselves worship an idol of Jesus Christ, Mother Merry and the Cross. He said, “I was shocked to see so many idols being worshipped. I felt Nepal was in desperate need of the gospel.” According to Pang, the end of the Hindu monarchy was the beginning of “the golden age for missionary work”.

There are around 300 Korean families in Nepal who indulge in missionary work. However, BBC could interview only Pang and his wife as others preferred to stay under the curtains out of fear of the anti-conversion laws.

An OpIndia report mentioned how the communist government was hand in glove with the Christian Missionaries. Notably, in 2018, former Prime Minister Oli attended the Asia Pacific Summit, organised by Universal Peace Foundation, a South Korean NGO accused of funding and promoting conversions to Christianity.

‘The culture is at stake’

BBC spoke to former Deputy Prime Minister of Nepal Kamal Thapa about the rapid conversions that have been happening in the country. Thapa said the culture of the country was at stake. He said, “It’s spreading like wildfire. Cultural identity is at stake. The fabric of the national unity is at stake.” He called out the Korean missionaries and said their work was an “organised attack on the country’s cultural identity”. He said, “Missionaries are working behind the scenes, exploiting the poor and ignorant people and encouraging them to convert to Christianity. This is not a case of religious freedom. This is a case of exploitation in the name of religion.”

Thapa is one of the leaders lobbying for Nepal to return to becoming a Hindu state. In a recent tweet, he said, “I have repeatedly been saying ‍ Sanatan Dharma culture and tradition have been in crisis due to organised religious conversion. However, our attention has not gone. We are united to control organised proselytism and protect Sanatan Dharma culture and tradition.” (Translated from Nepalese using Google Translator)

Though an anti-conversion law is in place, no convictions have taken place since it was imposed. There are currently five active cases in the country. Four cases against Koreans, including two nuns, were dropped last year. As per UCA news, the two nuns were held under the charges of converting Hindus under the guise of allurement. They were detained for six weeks before the formal arrest was made in October 2021. Later in November 2021, both of them were granted bail. In 2022, the charges against them were dropped.

The rampage conversion has reached the level that they have managed to convert Hindu priests as well. When Nepal faced a deadly earthquake in 2015, the missionaries got into action and used the calamity to convert Hindus to Christianity.

Khalistani and Jihadi terrorists killed a Hindu man to show “capability” to handlers in Pakistan, had plans to kill influential RW leaders ahead of Jan 26

OpIndia Staff
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Khalistani and Jihadi terrorists killed a Hindu man to show “capability” to handlers in Pakistan, had plans to kill influential RW leaders ahead of Jan 26

Last week, on Thursday, January 12, Delhi Police suspected two suspected terrorists, Jagjit and Naushad, from Bhalswa Dairy area in Delhi. Now it has emerged that the duo killed a Hindu man, chopped up his body, and sent the video of the murder to their handlers in Pakistan. The aim of sharing the video was to impress their handlers across the border with their capability.

Though the deceased’s identity is yet to be ascertained, the Delhi police said that his religious identity (Hindu) could be established by the trishool (trident) tattoo on his arm. The recovered body parts of the deceased have been sent for forensic examination. Efforts are on to identify him using the missing persons’ record from mid-December, said the police.

According to an India TV report, the two suspects, Naushad and Jagjit Singh, who were arrested under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) on Thursday, confessed to their crimes in front of Delhi Police and added that they chose a Hindu man intentionally intending to spread communal violence before Republic Day. 

The Delhi police further revealed that the duo were also planning to target some Shiv Sena leaders in Punjab in the coming month.

According to police, the duo was given four to five names by their Pakistan-based handler Sohail, who is associated with the terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba and linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence, ISI. The targets included a local RSS worker, a senior Punjab-based Shiv Sena party leader, and a Sikh group member who is opposed to the Khalistan movement. Sohail allegedly informed the duo that he would transfer money to them after each murder, said the police, adding that they have discovered a list of some names.

As per a report by TOI, a probe by the intelligence agency revealed that the duo, Jagjit alias Yakub and Naushad, was being handled by the K2 (Kashmir-Khalistan) desk of the ISI.

Naushad and Jagjit alias Yakub killed the Hindu man to impress their terror “bosses” in Pakistan

Earlier on Thursday, Special cell of the Delhi police arrested the two — identified as Jagjit Singh (29) and Naushad (56) — from the Bhalswa Dairy area of Jahangirpuri in Delhi. The police recovered two hand grenades, three pistols, and 22 live cartridges from the suspects. The police also found traces of blood at their house, following which the two were questioned.

Further, Delhi Police said it has information that Jagjit Singh has links to Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Dall. He is also a member of the notorious Bambiha gang and has been receiving instructions from anti-national elements based abroad, the city police said, adding that he is also a parole jumper in a murder case in Uttarakhand.

Naushad is also associated with Harkat-ul-Ansar (HUA), a terror group that is based in Pakistan and primarily operates in Jammu and Kashmir. He has been a life convict in two counts of murder and has also served a 10-year sentence in connection with a case under the Explosive Act.

During their questioning, they confessed to their terror activities, and when the police searched their residences and nearby areas, the chopped-up body was found in a drain.

Central govt seeks representation in the panel for selecting judges to be appointed, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju writes to CJI Chandrachud

Siddhi Somani
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Central govt seeks representation in the panel for selecting judges to be appointed, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju writes to CJI Chandrachud

On Monday, the Centre wrote a letter to Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud, proposing the inclusion of government representatives in the 25-year-old Supreme Court-created two-tiered system for the selection of judges for infusing openness and public accountability into the recruitment process of constitutional court justices.

The letter from Law Minister Kiren Rijiju to the CJI is the latest in a string of criticisms from constitutional officials, including the Vice-President and Lok Sabha Speaker, who often say that the Supreme Court seems to be intruding into the jurisdiction of the legislative.

This is almost a month after the Minister publicly stated that the collegium system lacked transparency and accountability. In the letter issued on January 16, the minister has proposed including representatives from the government in the “evaluation committee” for Supreme Court and High Court judges to dispel the notion that the process for selecting constitutional court judges is opaque.

According to the reports, the letter’s thrust is consistent with government thinking, based on a decade-old comment by renowned Justice Ruma Pal. “As I have said elsewhere, the process by which a judge is appointed to a superior court is one of the best-kept secrets in this country,” the former Supreme Court justice remarked on November 10, 2011.

“The very secrecy of the process leads to an inadequate input of information as to the abilities and suitability of a possible candidate for appointment as a judge… The consensus within the collegium is sometimes resolved through a trade-off resulting in dubious appointments with disastrous consequences for the litigants and the credibility of the judicial system,” she had said.

Former Supreme Court Justice Ruma Pal had stated in a speech made a decade ago, “Besides, institutional independence has also been compromised by growing sycophancy and ‘lobbying’ within the system. The view that the collegium process of selection operates on you scratch my back, I scratch yours’ – is fast gaining ground.”  She had said this in a speech denouncing the collegium regime.

However, the law minister’s proposals for changes to the method of the process (MOP) were rejected by the CJI-led five-judge collegium, which includes Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, K M Joseph, M P Shah, and Ajay Rastogi. Since none of these four justices moved on to become CJI, the collegium now includes Cl Chandrachud’s successor, Justice Sanjiv Khanna.

The Supreme Court believes that the proposal to include government representatives in the two-tier judge-selection framework is a new attempt to incorporate backdoor shades of the National Judicial Appointment Commission Act, which was unanimously approved by Parliament but deemed unconstitutional by a five-judge SC bench in October 2015. The NJAC was to be led by the GI and comprised two of the most senior judges, the law minister, and two notable people chosen by a panel consisting of the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, and the GI.

Reportedly, Justice Pal’s more than two-decade-old opinions regarding the secrecy of the judge-selection process gained significance after they were cited in the decisions of two justices on the five-judge bench that overturned the NJAC Act. The SC took over the judge selection process from the executive and committed it to the collegium in two Constitution bench decisions in 1993 and 1998. Prior to the creation of the collegium system by the Supreme Court, Article 124 of the Constitution stated that the President (read government) shall select SC justices in consultation with the CJI and such other SC and HC judges as may be necessary.

Earlier on November 25, 2022, the Law Minister at the Times Now Summit had asked, “What is the difference between consultation and concurrence?… If you expect the government to accept names recommended by the collegium, what is the government’s role?”

Also on December 15, he had flagged concerns over the government’s limited role in appointing judges and stressed that it is at odds with the spirit of the Constitution. He also expressed concern that more than five crore cases were pending in the country. The primary cause, according to him, was a lack of judges.

“The government took many steps to reduce the pendency of cases, but the government has a very limited role in filling vacancies of judges. The collegium chooses names, and apart from that, the government has no right to appoint judges,” Rijiju was quoted as saying.

‘Fatwas are used as political weapons, issued to stop those who do good deeds’, says Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan

OpIndia Staff
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‘Fatwas are used as political weapons, issued to stop those who do good deeds’, says Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan

On Sunday, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan criticized Islamic religious edicts and said that ‘fatwas’ are being used as a political tool or weapon by the politicians. He said that all fatwas of kufr (apostacy) were political and that Islam had no place for it. Khan further stated that fear frequently leads to violence, and individuals become adversaries of those they do not know.

“Kufr fatwas are actually only given for political reasons and have been used as political weapons. Islamic history shows that fatwas were given to weaken the opponents,” he said at an event organized to mark 75 years of the weekly publication named Panchjanya in Delhi.

Hitesh Shankar, the editor of Panchjanya, who was conducting a question-and-answer session with Khan, cited a recent interview with RSS supremo Mohan Bhagwat on the Hindu-Muslim relations. According to the reports, Bhagwat had warned Muslims to stop boasting about their ‘religious supremacy,’ while assuring them that Islam and its adherents face no danger in India. Hitesh Shankar questioned Arif Mohammad Khan on the role of Maulvis and Ulema in fostering a sense of ‘superiority’ in the minds of Muslims.

Quoting Islamic ‘Kaul’ (Sayings), Khan said, “Violence is born out of fear. People become enemies even of those whom they do not know.” He also added that Fatwas of Kufr are issued to stop those who do good deeds. “Fatwas have also been issued against me several times,” he said.

According to Khan, the first fatwa for kufr in Islam was issued against a Muslim. “The first fatwa for kufr in Islam was not against a non-Muslim. It was against the man who had been brought up by Prophet Mohammed and who was also his son-in-law, Hazrat Ali. And he was murdered. There are at least 200 instances in Quran where it is said that right and wrong will be decided when people die and meet their Creator. No human being, not even the Prophet, has been given the right to decide this according to Quran,” he was quoted.

The Governor stated that he had several kufr fatwas issued against him since his time in Congress. “I was not part of the BJP. I used to make my speeches in Hindi. In those days, even for using Hindi words you could get kufr fatwa. Dara Shukoh had to also suffer kufr fatwa and was murdered. But the one who got him murdered also buried him beside Humayun. So if Shukoh was Kafir, why was he buried beside Humayun? So, kufr fatwas are actually only given for political reasons and have be used as political weapons. This happened because unfortunately, under the Muslim law that was written, the rights of Muslims and non-Muslims are not the same. So, to deprive others of their rights, these fatwas are given,” he said.

In a jab at people who issue fatwas, he noted that Maulana Shibli used to remark that the doors of paradise would only open for those who had received two or four fatwas. He blamed politicians rather than ulemas and clerics for the endeavour to foster a sense of superiority among Muslims.

Terming the politicians as ‘the middlemen’, he claimed that Prophet Muhammad had arrived in the world simply to destroy ‘middlemen’. He reiterated that a section of Sufi exponents were misusing the term ‘kufr’ to score over their rivals and said that the Islam religion has been taken over by politics since the death of the Prophet.

Khan meanwhile also echoed the words of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat who earlier had said that all those who live in India are Hindus. “Sir Syed (Ahmed Khan), when invited by Arya Samaj, said why don’t you call me Hindu. He said anyone born in Hindustan should be called a Hindu,” he was quoted. He also stated that Muslims were responsible for their backwardness and that no one else could be blamed for their backwardness.

At the event, the Governor also talked about the differences between him and Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He stated that the disagreement between him and the Pinarayi Vijayan government began because of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and that there is no longer any conflict.

“There is no conflict with the Kerala government. The moment I reached there, the CAA came. They could not digest that a constitutional office in Kerala could support the CAA. My job is not to support, but to defend. It is my oath to preserve the Constitution and protect the law. So if there is an attack on that, something to which the President has given his assent, on wrong grounds and by spreading misinformation, then it is my constitutional duty to defend it,” the Governor stated at the Panchjanya event.

During this time, he said he met with Chief Minister Vijayan and informed him he was merely performing his constitutional duties. “I told the CM that I know you are a Communist. But even I am not a believer in organised religion. I am rather a believer in spirituality. I told him the meaning of dharma is accountability. And I told him my accountability is Constitution. I told him you publicly criticise me and I will not feel bad. You do your duty and I will do mine. But since then there has been no tension,” he said.

Tripura CM Manik Saha interacts with OpIndia, talks about Left hounding him, how leaders may defect but he will never compromise on his principles

Dibakar Dutta
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Tripura CM Manik Saha interacts with OpIndia, talks about Left hounding him, how leaders may defect but he will never compromise on his principles

The Vidhan Sabha election in the northeastern State of Tripura is just a couple of months away. Dr Manik Saha, the incumbent Chief Minister, has been faced with the mammoth task to ensure victory for the BJP.

A dental surgeon by profession, he was called upon by the BJP high command to steer the party through its rough patch. In an overnight decision, he was brought back from the Rajya Sabha to serve as the Chief Minister of the State.

Dr Saha had always remained connected to the people. He was well aware of the growing anti-incumbency and grievance among the state government employees.

After assuming charge of the State, he began to unveil policies and schemes to win over the trust of the people. Dr Saha is an eloquent speaker, focused on the welfare of Tripura and its residents.

Ahead of the upcoming elections, Opindia caught up with Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha during his interaction with social media influencers on Sunday (January 15) night.

Question: Thank you Dr Saha for your time. You have recently announced a 12% hike in DA/DR which will directly impact 1.8 lakh employees and pensioners in the State.

The reception has been highly positive. It is a political masterstroke in a sense. Even though the BJP is on a strong footing, we have seen some party leaders defecting to the Opposition camp.

While there is no dearth of political opportunists, will such last-minute rebellion by some BJP leaders dent the political outcome of the party in the 2023 elections?

Response of Dr Manik Saha:

“This is like a ‘toad cycle’. First, they joined BJP, then defected to the Trinamool Congress, then, Congress and then CPIM. There must be some principle in politics.

You had seen the turnout of people when Amit Shah ji came to Dharmanagar (North Tripura district). Or the massive support received by JP Nadda ji in West Tripura district during the ‘Jana Biswas Ratha’ Yatra.

People felt connected to us through our outreach programme. We have touched upon all sections of society through our schemes. People may come and go but we won’t compromise on our principles.

We are confident that the defection of some leaders will not impact the electoral outcome. You have seen the bypoll results, where we have bagged 3 out of 4 seats. We have the popular support.”

Question: One of the major concerns in recent times has been the rising anti-Bengali sentiment in Tripura, raked up by the likes of Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (also called Tipra Motha).

We have seen demands for a separate homeland for the indigenous people (called Tipraland/Greater Tipraland), even though they know it will never be a reality. Tripura has witnessed deadly ethnic tensions between Bengalis and tribal communities in the past.

We have gone past those dark days and have been able to maintain ethnic harmony in the State. How do you as a Chief Minister plan to win the trust of the indigenous people, diffuse the growing tensions and maintain harmony in the State?

Response of Dr Manik Saha:

“The past ruling regimes in Tripura, be it the Congress or the Left, had exploited the tribal community and used them as a vote bank. Yes, I am aware of an increasing anti-Bengali sentiment among the indigenous communities, created by some vested interests.

I recently took part in a programme in Khumulung which falls under ADC (Autonomous District Council). A woman walked up to me and told me that it was the first time that she felt a sense of inclusivity.

Yes, a lot needs to be done to bridge the gap. We need better forms of communication and something concrete will be done in this regard in a few days’ time. This has been our top priority so that the indigenous people do not feel left out.”

During the interactive session, Dr Manik Saha also spoke about how he had served only 3 days in Rajya Sabha before being called upon by the BJP to serve as the Chief Minister of the State.

“I had no idea that I was going to be the Chief Minister even 30 minutes before the decision. I had served the party in various capacities and did whatever task was assigned to me with utmost sincerity,” he reflected on his political journey.

The Tripura Chief Minister also informed us how he was hounded by the Left regime and was forced to fight them in a court of law. “I despise vindictive politics. If anyone from the Opposition makes any request or raises any problem, I take it up in all earnest,” he added.

On being told that the rival political parties may not respond in the same manner if they were to come to power, Dr Manik Saha calmly responded, “That’s fine. As long as I am there, I am teaching them how to behave in a civil manner despite political differences.”

He also touched upon the HIRA (Highways, Internet, Railways and Airport) model that PM Modi had promised to the residents of Tripura during the Vidhan Sabha elections of 2018.

New airport terminal, image via Dibakar Dutta/ Opindia

Today, Tripura has better connectivity, high-speed internet, an extensive broad-gauge railway network with direct trains to the National Capital and a state-of-the-art airport terminal.

Opindia had also reported how the 12% hike in DA/ DR has turned out to be a game changer for the Tripura BJP at a time when the Left, TMC or Congress has failed to promise a better alternative.

While concluding his address, Dr Manik Saha spoke about how his government almost doubled the wages of contractual and part-time workers, laid out initiatives to encourage the participation of youth in sports and make the State safer for women.

He also elaborated how his long-standing dream of starting a dental college in the State was made possible by the double-engine government of the BJP.

Germany: Protesters clash with police over demolition drive for coal mine expansion, Greta Thunberg removed from the protest site

OpIndia Staff
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Germany: Protesters clash with police over demolition drive for coal mine expansion, Greta Thunberg removed from the protest site

On January 15 (local time), environment ‘activist’ Greta Thunberg was removed from a protest site in Germany’s Lützertah by the police. Greta was protesting against the expansion of a coal mine that required the demolition of a village. As per reports, the protesters and police clashed at the protest site, and the police personnel were allegedly attacked. Reportedly, Greta recently said earlier that Germany was “embarrassing itself” by removing the protesters from the site.

Protesters, including local environment ‘activists’ and Greta Thunberg along with Luisa Neubauer, were seen allegedly being pushed by the German police off the protest site. In a tweet shared by political activist Timon Dzienus, Greta and others were allegedly pushed by the police. Timon wrote, “The police violence today in #Lützertah was unbelievable. Here Greta Thunberg, Luisam Neubauer and others are pushed by the police – and they just stand there peacefully. What is that, Aachen Police?!”

As per Politico report, the police had asked Greta to leave the area but she did not follow the instructions after which she was escorted away. Around nine protesters were taken to the hospital and over 70 police officers were reportedly injured during the clash.

Notably, other visuals shared on social media platforms showed how the protesters had attacked the journalists at the scene. In a video shared by journalist and author Oliver Maksan, protesters with the Antifa flag were seen attacking Dutch journalists on the site. As per a report in Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ), a Swiss-German newspaper, the protesters called them Nazis before attacking the journalist and accused them of painting the protest in a bad light.

Fireworks were blown aimed at the emergency services repeatedly. The police had to warn them repeatedly not to attack the emergency services. They also warned if the protesters did not step back, the police would use water cannons and other means to clear the site. Later, the police used batons to push back the protesters as they managed to pass through the first police line.

Furthermore, a day before the violent clash between the police and protesters, Greta alleged that police used force against the protesters at the site. However, when the police retaliated and asked for evidence, she failed to provide any. The report suggested that the protesters threw mud at the police cars and tried to overturn police vehicles. Some protesters hit the tyre valves with stones and flattened them.

Violent clashes between the police and the protesters happened earlier as well. As per a January 11 report of The Bureau Investigates, the riot police tried to drag the protesters from the site during a clash between them.

The mine expansion at Lützerath

The mine being expanded is owned by Europe’s largest energy company RWE. Several villages are being demolished to make way for the 35 square KM Garzweriler mine, and Lützerath is among the last to go.

The protests have been going on at the site for over two years to stop the expansion of the coal mine. A petition was filed in the court to stop RWE from expanding the mine, but the court passed the judgment in RWE’s favour. Following the court orders, hundreds of riot gear-equipped police personnel moved to the protest site and cleared the barricades placed by the protesters. The police said it might take several weeks to clear the protest site.

‘Germany is embarrassing itself’

On January 13, Greta said, “Germany is really embarrassing itself right now. The science is clear, we need to keep the carbon in the ground.”

Greta Thunberg had expressed her desire to join the protesters, which she did the next day.

Hockey World Cup: India and England share points after a riveting contest ends goalless

ANI
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Hockey World Cup: India and England share points after a riveting contest ends goalless

India played a goalless draw against England to take home one point each in a crucial Pool D, Hockey World Cup match at the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium in Rourkela on Sunday.

In an exhilarating contest, both teams failed to convert their respective penalty corners as India failed to make use of four in the match. The English team managed to create eight penalty corners but the hosts stood tall to deny them a goal. 

The Indian team looked to take an early lead against England in the crucial game and hit the blocks running from the word go as they penetrated the English circle in the opening minutes.

India captain Harmanpreet Singh who had an off day in the previous game looked in spectacular touch. He was impressive on the field with his interceptions and tackles in the opening minutes, putting pressure on the opposition.

The Indian defence line had lapses on the field and moments where the English team were able to make runs into the hosts’ circle, conceding a total of five penalty corners (PCs) in a span of a few minutes. However, PR Sreejesh stood tall and made sure that India maintained a clean sheet.

The hosts were also able to get a PC in the 13th minute of the first quarter, thanks to a brilliant run by Mandeep Singh into the opponent’s circle. Hardik Singh injected the ball into the circle while taking the PC, but Harmanpreet could not gather the ball cleanly as India missed the opportunity to take the lead.

England were close to scoring in the dying minutes of the first quarter but defender Amit Rohidas averted the English team from scoring as the first quarter ended goalless.

The second quarter started with the English team on the attack. They secured yet another PC only to be denied a goal as the Indian defence stood tall and showed great grit. India were dominated by England for the most part of the second quarter as they made 17 circle penetrations till the end of the first half. They also managed to get seven PCs compared to India’s four. However, the hosts did find their rhythm in the latter part of the second quarter as they came close to scoring twice in the final minutes.

Another goalless quarter ensued after defenders from both sides showed great resilience, denying the goal. The first half ended with the teams battling it out neck to neck and ending with a scoreline of 0-0.

The Indian team started the third quarter with a press into the English circle, but the defenders again came into play to deny the hosts a goal. In the 38th minute, Hardik had a dazzling run down the middle as he drove past English players before entering the circle and taking a shot at the goal but Payne made a save once again. Hardik’s stick struck Rushmere in the face during the process leaving him bleeding profusely as the medical personnel rushed onto the pitch.

Sam Ward had the best chance of the game as he was left unmarked inside the circle, but Sreejesh stormed forward to put pressure on him and closed him down, prompting Ward to attempt the chip.

India did score a goal in the 45th minute as Abhishek managed to find the back of the net but in the process committed a foul, ruling out the goal for the hosts. The team had lost all its reviews and hence could not challenge the decision. The third quarter too ended in a deadlock as neither team could find the goal.

The fourth quarter saw the Indian team making numerous penetrations into the English circle but the England goalkeeper Oliver Payne’s resilience denied the hosts a goal each time.

England had the upper hand in the final quarter with India down to 10 men after the last match’s hero Amit Rohidas was issued a green card. Jarmanpreet Singh again got a green card in the 57th minute to raise eyebrows from head coach Graham Reid.

India survived the final nervy minutes of the fourth quarter with England managing to get a PC with 19 seconds left on the clock. However, the English team failed to convert it, bringing the game to an end with both teams sharing the honours in a closely fought contest.

England goalkeeper Oliver Payne was chosen as the Player of the Match. England maintains its lead in Group D with four points.

India, which has four points as well, is second due to a lower goal difference. To top the group and confirm direct qualification for the quarterfinals, India may need to beat Wales by a large margin in its final group match in Bhubaneswar on January 19.

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

Bhalswa Dairy murder: Naushad and Jagjit Singh killed a man and chopped up his body to impress their terror “bosses” in Pakistan

OpIndia Staff
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Bhalswa Dairy murder: Naushad and Jagjit Singh killed a man and chopped up his body to impress their terror “bosses” in Pakistan

On Sunday, January 15, Delhi Police revealed that the two terror suspects arrested from the Bhalswa Dairy area killed a man and chopped up his body to impress their bosses in Pakistan. The accused, Naushad and Jagjit, recorded their act on video and sent it to their bosses in Pakistan to show their capabilities.

According to police, the two suspects who were arrested under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) on Thursday, confessed to their crimes.

During a press conference, Delhi Police Special Cell’s Additional Commissioner Pramod Kushwaha revealed that Arsh Wallah, who is currently based in Pakistan, directed both the accused. As per reports, ACP Kushwaha also revealed that the main intention of Naushad and Jagjit was to target a right-wing leader.

The two suspects were arrested from Bhalswa Dairy area

Earlier on Thursday, Special cell of the Delhi police arrested the two — identified as Jagjit Singh (29) and Naushad (56) — from the Bhalswa Dairy area of Jahangirpuri in Delhi. The police recovered two hand grenades, three pistols, and 22 live cartridges from the suspects. The police also found traces of blood at their house, following which the two were questioned.

Further, Delhi Police said it has information that Jagjit Singh has links to Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Dall. He is also a member of the notorious Bambiha gang and has been receiving instructions from anti-national elements based abroad, the city police said, adding that he is also a parole jumper in a murder case in Uttarakhand.

Naushad is also associated with Harkat-ul-Ansar (HUA), a terror group that is based in Pakistan and primarily operates in Jammu and Kashmir. He has been a life convict in two counts of murder and has also served a 10-year sentence in connection with a case under the Explosive Act.

During their questioning, they confessed to their terror activities, and when the police searched their residences and nearby areas, the chopped-up body was found in a drain. The deceased is yet to be identified.

When the police questioned the neighbours about the two men, they said that they had bought a new refrigerator but returned it a week later. Police suspect that the accused had chopped the man after killing him and kept the remains in the refrigerator, and later they dumped the body in the drain.

Hari’s Loot: The Kirtan dedicated to Lord Krishna which passes through the streets singing his praises to mark the Sankranti

Dibakar Dutta
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Hari’s Loot: The Kirtan dedicated to Lord Krishna which passes through the streets singing his praises to mark the Sankranti

As the clock struck 8 in the morning, the familiar sound of a soulful melody hit my ears and brought along with it nothing but nostalgia. It had been 11 years since I last witnessed Hari’s loot (Bengali: হরির লুট) – a morning ritual that is observed on the last day of ‘Poush’ month of the Bengali calendar.

Hari’s loot coincides with the annual harvest festival of the Bengali community, the Poush Parbon (also known as Sankranti). On that day each year, the Hindus take an early shower, offer batasha, fruits, gur (jaggery), and nokul dana to Lord Krishna (an avatar of Lord Vishnu) and wait in anticipation of the Jan Kirtan.

Neighbours, equipped with kartal, sankh, and mridanga, flock to each other’s houses and sing songs in praise of the Almighty. Kids wear new clothes and carry bags to collect the prasad.

After a couple of devotional songs are sung, one of the men from the crowd takes the bowl of prasad (offered to Lord Krishna) and distributes it among the devotees. However, instead of handing it over individually, the prasad (comprising of fruits, nokul dana, and batasha) is tossed in the air.

A fierce competition ensues between young adults to collect the most prized possession i.e. a whole coconut. Children also compete among themselves for the largest share of the prasad.

When the devotees move on to another house, a few family members from the previous household join the group. As a result, the size of the crowd increases with time. Usually, one jan kirtan covers 10-15 houses in a neighbourhood. After Hari’s loot is over, everyone retires to their homes.

I remember this event being the key highlight of the Poush Parbon while growing up in a remote town in Tripura. Children usually have their offs and offices remain shut on that day, thereby providing everyone with the opportunity to participate in the ritual.

Unfortunately, Hari’s loot is now limited to rural areas of Tripura and West Bengal. For someone raised in the metropolis of Kolkata, the ritual may sound alien altogether.

Events leading up to Hari’s loot

Hari’s loot is not an isolated ritual. It is preceded by the burning down of a temporary, thatched hut (also called Mera Merir ghor or Burir ghor), which is built a day before Poush Parbon.

On the eve of Sankranti, Bengali families employ local craftsmen to build a temporary hut with bamboo and straw. Sometimes, people prefer to do it themselves. Once the hut is built, light and sound systems are set up and bedsheets are put inside the hut.

The temporary shelter can accommodate up to 5-6 people at one time. Children and young adults play cards, ludo, sing songs, and have a feast there at night. Interestingly, some prefer to spend the night at the thatched hut while others choose to retire to their homes around midnight.

Representative Image via ENEWS Time

In the meantime, senior family members prepare dinner and traditional Bengali sweets (also called pitha) made of rice flour, coconut, milk, and jaggery.

As explained earlier, on the day of the Poush Sankranti, everyone takes an early morning bath and sets the thatched hut ablaze. They surround the burning hut and bask in the heat, amidst loud chants of ‘Mera Meri ghor jole re hoi.’

Mera Meri ghor on fire, image via News18

And then everyone waits in sheer anticipation for Hari’s loot. I am in Tripura in time to cover the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections in the State, and this presented an opportunity after a good old decade to watch the event in action today.

It brought back fond childhood memories, spent with siblings and cousins. Today, all of them are settled in different parts of the country, far removed from the traditions and rituals that held a special part in our formative years.

As I was recording the footage of Hari’s loot, I caught a glimpse of my younger self among the children in the crowd. The same exuberance for the ritual, the same excitement to get as much of the prasad as one could, the same joy across the faces. It may only be in rural areas now, but good to see that Hari’s loot is still alive and well in some parts.

CBI seized my computer without providing ‘hash value’ to plant files to maliciously frame me: Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia

ANI
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CBI seized my computer without providing ‘hash value’ to plant files to maliciously frame me: Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Sunday issued an official statement on the CBI raid on his office, terming the whole exercise to be an act of malice.

In his statement, the Deputy CM has termed the whole exercise to be an act of malice detailing how the CBI raided his office on a Second Saturday (an official holiday) and gave a handwritten notice to the Secretary to seize a computer from the conference room. He said, “CBI is trying to maliciously frame me, seized a computer without providing Hash Value.”

The official statement reads, “Yesterday was a Second Saturday, so my office was closed when some CBI Official telephonically informed my PS to come to the office and open the same. When my PS reached the office at around 3:00 pm, he saw that a team of CBI officials was already present at my office. The CBI Officials asked him to open the Office and to take them to the conference room.”

“As they reached the conference room, they saw a computer installed therein, asked my PS to switch it on, assessed the same, and, forthwith, handed over a Notice under Section 91 CrPc to the Secretary, Dy. CM (GNCTD) with reference to the investigation of RC0032022A0053” the statement reads.

The statement further reads that as per the Notice, the Secretary was requested to produce the CPU of the system installed in my conference room.

“Thereafter, the CPU from the conference room of my office was seized without following the due procedure laid down. From the perusal of the said notice, it was perceived that the notice was hand-written to the Secretary, and immediately the property (CPU) was seized which shows the mala-fide of the Officer,” it read.

“The said conduct/ act of the CBI Officials also shows their malice whereby the Notice was given and immediately the said property was seized that too without following the guidelines as laid down in Chapter XVI: Cyber Crimes, CBI (Crime) Manual 2020. As it is explicitly mentioned in the said CBI Manual in Chapter XVI, 16.19:”

Sisodia said that CBI seized the computer without providing ‘Hash Value’.

The official statement reads, “Hash value is essentially an electronic fingerprint. The data within a file is represented through the cryptographic algorithm as a value known as hash-value. It is a string of data variables. Hash Value is the key to determining and validating the integrity of the data in question. As the integrity of the seized electronic device/digital device is quintessential to establishing the case, it is important to ensure the hash value of the data record is taken by the Investigating Officer at the time of seizure. The use of Hashing to authenticate electronic records is detailed in section 3(2) of the IT Act, 2000.”

“CBI Manual also mandates that at the time of the seizure of electronic document itself- an image of the same shall also be created and the said image shall also be hashed and tally with the hashing of the seized data to ensure data integrity. It is, therefore, a matter of record, as per the Seizure Memo provided to us by the CBI after the seizure that no ‘HASH VALUE was taken and mentioned by the Officer in the seizure memo who had seized the CPU’, nor CBI made an image of the seized document and hashed it” the statement reads further.

He said that in the absence of recording “HASH VALUE” during the seizure, the CBI can change the record in the seized CPU at its convenience.

According to the statement, “It appears that there is a scope for implanting, deleting and editing the record in the seized CPU by the team of CBI for making a frivolous case against me. In the absence of recording “HASH VALUE” during the seizure, the CBI can change the record in the seized CPU as per its convenience to maliciously frame me.”

Sisodia said in a statement, “I have clear apprehension that CBI has seized the CPU to destroy the confidential files/documents stored therein and will implant/edit files in the CPU and use the same to falsely implicate me as my name is not in the CBI chargesheet as an accused with respect to the afore-mention case.”

“Though the CBI/ED investigation in the Excise matter has been going on since last August 2022, it has not led to the discovery of any material against me. However, CBI is still continuing with its fishing and roving inquiry into the matter even after the chargesheet has been filed. This act clearly demonstrates that no procedural safeguards complied which would have ensured the integrity of electronic documents as mandated under the CBI Manual & IT Act. Therefore, the seizure of the electronic evidence yesterday has lost its authenticity and integrity in the eyes of law” Sisodia added in his statement.

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

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