Home Blog Page 2583

‘Former Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar and her family were involved in forgery case’: BJP leader Kirit Somaiya

ANI
-
0
‘Former Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar and her family were involved in forgery case’: BJP leader Kirit Somaiya

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya here on Friday alleged that former Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar and her family were involved in a forgery case in which a court here has issued summons against them.

“A special company court yesterday issued summons against Kishori Pednekar’s son Saiprasad Pednekar, his firm Kish Corporate and four others for forgery and submitting false documents while registering the company in 2012,” Somaiya said in a press conference here.

Kish Corporate company was “formed by Kishori Pednekar by submitting false documents,” he said, alleging that the company got Covid centre contracts worth crores of rupees.

The court has ordered the accused to appear on February 6, he said, adding that he will demand that the case be tried in a fast-track court.

“Mahalakshmi Race Court covid centre scam is of Rs 100 crore. Before admitting a single patient, the centre was closed,” he further alleged.

A case was registered against Shiv Sena (UddhavThackeray) faction leader Kishori Pednekar’s son Saiprasad Pednekar and his company on a complaint lodged by him, Somaiya said.

The company took crores of rupees from the Municipal Corporation for a year, he alleged.

Kishori Pednekar’s brother Sanjay Andhari had also got a contract worth crores of rupees on behalf of Kish company, he claimed.

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

Research explains how climate change can trigger extreme weather conditions in the Indian Ocean

ANI
-
0
Research explains how climate change can trigger extreme weather conditions in the Indian Ocean

Researchers now have a much better understanding of how climate change can impact and cause seawater temperatures on one side of the Indian Ocean to be so much warmer or cooler than the temperatures on the other, a phenomenon that can lead to sometimes deadly weather-related events like megadroughts in East Africa and severe flooding in Indonesia.

The analysis, described in a new study in Science Advances by an international team of scientists led by researchers from Brown University, compares 10,000 years of past climate conditions reconstructed from different sets of geological records to simulations from an advanced climate model.

The findings show that about 18,000 to 15,000 years ago, as a result of melted freshwater from the massive glacier that once covered much of North America pouring into the North Atlantic, ocean currents that kept the Atlantic Ocean warm weakened, setting off a chain of events in response. The weakening of the system ultimately led to the strengthening of an atmospheric loop in the Indian Ocean that keeps warmer water on one side and cooler water on the other.

This extreme weather pattern, known as a dipole, prompts one side (either east or west) to have higher-than-average rainfall and the other to have widespread drought. The researchers saw examples of this pattern in both the historical data they studied and the model’s simulation. They say the findings can help scientists not only better understand the mechanisms behind the east-west dipole in the Indian Ocean, but can one day help to produce more effective forecasts of drought and flood in the region.

“We know that in the present-day gradients in the temperature of the Indian Ocean are important to rainfall and drought patterns, especially in East Africa, but it’s been challenging to show that those gradients change on long time-scales and to link them to long-term rainfall and drought patterns on both sides of the Indian Ocean,” said James Russell, a study author and professor of Earth, environmental, and planetary sciences at Brown.

“We now have a mechanistic basis to understand why some of the longer-term changes in rainfall patterns in the two regions have changed through time.”

In the paper, the researchers explain the mechanisms behind how the Indian Ocean dipole they studied formed and the weather-related events it led to during the period they looked at, which covered the end of the last Ice Age and the start of the current geological epoch.

The researchers characterize the dipole as an east-west dipole where the water on the western side — which borders modern day East African countries like Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia — is cooler than the water on eastern side toward Indonesia. They saw that the warmer water conditions of the dipole brought greater rainfall to Indonesia, while the cooler water brought much drier weather to East Africa.

That fits into what is often seen in recent Indian Ocean dipole events. In October, for example, heavy rain led to floods and landslides in Indonesian islands of Java and Sulawesi, leaving four people dead and impacting over 30,000 people. On the opposite end, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia experienced intense droughts starting in 2020 that threatened to cause famine.

The changes the authors observed 17,000 years ago were even more extreme, including the complete drying of Lake Victoria — one of the largest lakes on Earth.

“Essentially, the dipole intensifies dry conditions and wet conditions that could result in extreme events like multi-year or decades-long dry events in East Africa and flooding events in South Indonesia,” said Xiaojing Du, a Voss postdoctoral researcher in the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society and Brown’s Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, and the study’s lead author. “These are events that impact people’s lives and also agriculture in those regions. Understanding the dipole can help us better predict and better prepare for future climate change.”

The dipole the researchers studied formed from the interactions between the heat transport system of the Atlantic Ocean and an atmospheric loop, called a Walker Circulation, in the tropical Indian Ocean. The lower part of the atmospheric loop flows east to west across much of the region at low altitudes near the ocean surface, and the upper part flows west to east at higher altitudes. The higher air and lower air connect in one big loop.

Interruption and weakening of the Atlantic Ocean heat transport, which works like a conveyor belt made of ocean and wind currents, was brought on by massive melting of the Laurentide ice sheet that once covered most of Canada and the northern U.S. The melting cooled the Atlantic and consequent wind anomalies triggered the atmospheric loop over the tropical Indian Ocean to become more active and extreme. That then led to increased precipitation in the east side of the Indian Ocean (where Indonesia sits) and reduced precipitation in the west side, where East Africa sits.

The researchers also show that during the period they studied, this effect was amplified by a lower sea level and the exposure of nearby continental shelves.

The scientists say more research is needed to figure out exactly what effect the exposed continental shelf and lower sea level has on the Indian Ocean’s east-west dipole, but they’re already planning to expand the work to investigate the question. While this line of the work on lower sea levels won’t play into modelling future conditions, the work they’ve done investigating how the melting of ancient glaciers impacts the Indian Ocean dipole and the heat transport system of the Atlantic Ocean may provide key insights into future changes as climate change brings about more melting.

“Greenland is currently melting so fast that it’s discharging a lot of freshwater into the North Atlantic Ocean in ways that are impacting the ocean circulation,” Russell said. “The work done here has provided a new understanding of how changes in the Atlantic Ocean circulation can impact Indian Ocean climate and through that rainfall in Africa and Indonesia.”

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

‘Deeply disturbing’: US-based company Wells Fargo sacks VP Shankar Mishra for urinating on a woman on an Air India flight

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Deeply disturbing’: US-based company Wells Fargo sacks VP Shankar Mishra for urinating on a woman on an Air India flight

Shankar Mishra, accused of urinating on a woman on an Air India flight from New York to New Delhi in November 2022, has been fired from US financial services firm, Wells Fargo. Releasing a statement on Friday, January 6, 2023, Wells Fargo said the charges against Shankar Mishra were “deeply disturbing”.

Shankar Mishra worked as a vice president for the Indian chapter of Wells Fargo, which is a multinational financial services corporation headquartered in San Francisco, California.

The company said, “Wells Fargo holds employees to the highest standards of professional and personal behaviour and we find these allegations deeply disturbing. This individual has been terminated from Wells Fargo. We are cooperating with law enforcement and ask that any additional enquiries be directed to them.”

Statement issued by Wells Fargo (source: Republic TV)

Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational financial services company with businesses in over 40 countries, with approximately $1.9 trillion in assets. The company is involved in banking, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance businesses. Its main subsidiary is Wells Fargo Bank, the fourth largest bank in the USA. Along with JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Citigroup, Wells Fargo is considered one of the “Big Four Banks” of the United States.

The police meanwhile, informed on Friday that Mishra has been missing and a lookout notice and airport alerts have been put out amid a police manhunt. They also said that Police teams have been sent to Mumbai and Bengaluru.

“The office of the accused is situated in Bengaluru and it was found in the primary investigation that he was working from home, however, the investigation is underway,” an officer privy to the case said, adding that the police are trying to nab him.

On November 26, onboard Air India flight AI-102, an inebriated male passenger, now identified as Shankar Mishra, travelling by business class from New York to Delhi, exposed himself and urinated on a female co-passenger.

Today, (January 6, 2023) accused Shankar Mishra, who has been absconding since the purported incident came to light, issued a statement through his lawyers claiming that he had paid ‘compensation’ to the victim and the lady displayed no intention of lodging a complaint.

The victim, on the other hand, alleged in her complaint that the crew members on board compelled her to confront the accused and negotiate with him, and accept his ‘apology’.

Meanwhile, in wake of Air India’s mid-air urination incidents, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday issued an advisory to the head of operations of all scheduled airlines with regard to handling unruly passengers on board and respective responsibilities as per the regulations.

The guidelines come in the wake of back-to-back two urination incidents on Air India flights last year.

DGCA recommends ‘handcuff-like devices’ to control unruly passengers on board

ANI
-
0

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) advisory recommends keeping restraining devices inside Aircraft to control unruly passengers.

A senior DGCA official said that they recommend devices kept in aircraft cabins used to restrain unruly passengers of level 3 type i.e abusive physically violent category. The device looks like a handcuff. Equipment for the help of cabin crew. Some airlines in India like Air Asia are keeping it in the aircraft cabin.

He further said that Applying restraining devices should be used when all conciliatory approaches have been exhausted. Civil Aviation Rule (CAR) makes cabin crew responsible for informing the passenger of the repercussion and consequences of such unruly behaviour.

The advisory comes in wake of a passenger urinating on a woman on an Air India flight.

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

‘Non-Muslims are our enemies, our children should understand this’, says radical Canadian cleric Sheikh Younus Kathrada in a viral video

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Non-Muslims are our enemies, our children should understand this’, says radical Canadian cleric Sheikh Younus Kathrada in a viral video

A video of an Islamist cleric named Sheikh Younus Kathrada is making rounds on social media. The video is from Canada. It was first published on 30th December 2022, on YouTube Channel Muslim Youth Victoria. In this video, Sheikh Younus Kathrada said in his provocative speech that non-Muslims make false allegations against Islam because they are enemies of Allah. In the video that has gone viral, the cleric is seen saying that non-Muslims are their enemies, and their children should understand, ‘May Allah annihilate atheists’.

Sheikh Younus Kathrada said, “They accuse Islam of these false accusations because they are the enemies of Allah. How is it that they are not the enemies of Allah when they insult Allah? What does Allah say in Quran about himself? He begets not, nor is He begotten. He doesn’t have children, and He is not the child of anyone. But what do (the Christians) say? They say that Allah has a son. Is this not enmity towards Allah? How are they not the enemies of Allah when they accuse Allah of being tight-fisted, of being stingy, of not being generous?”

Sheikh Younus Kathrada added, “You know when (the Jews) said that Allah responded to them by saying “May their hands be shackled. May they be tight-fisted. May their hands be tied.” And Allah tells us that they are cursed because of what they say. So what, they are the friends of Allah and that’s why Allah curses them? No! He only curses them because they are the enemies of Allah. Understand this well.”

Sheikh Younus Kathrada further said, “Make sure this is clear in your mind. Do you think that they are your friends? No. They are the enemies of Allah. So if they are the enemies of Allah, how are they your close friends? I want our children to understand this well. The non-Muslims are the enemies of Allah therefore they are your enemies. Some of them don’t even believe that Allah exists. Do you want somebody like that to be a close friend of yours? Oh Allah, give strength to Islam and Muslims, humiliate the infidels and the polytheists, destroy the enemies of our religion, and annihilate the heretics and the atheists!”

This is not the first time the cleric has given such a speech. Earlier also, the cleric has given such controversial speeches. In 2018, Sheikh Younus Kathrada, delivered a speech in British Columbia where he said, “There are those who will say to them “Merry Christmas” – what are you congratulating them on? Are these congratulations on the birth of your Lord? Is that acceptable to a Muslim? Are you now approving of their beliefs? By saying that you are approving of it.”

“If a person were to commit every major sin – committing adultery, dealing with interest, lying, murder… If a person were to do all of those major sins, they are nothing compared to the sin of congratulating and greeting the non-Muslims on their false festivals,” he added.

Earlier  Sheik Younus Kathrada was probed by Royal Canadian Mounted Police for hate speech for his controversial statements against non-Muslims.

Bhopal: Faizan Abbas poses as Shaan Pandit to trap a Dalit minor, rapes and converts her to Islam; arrested along with a doctor who aborted her thrice

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Bhopal: Faizan Abbas poses as Shaan Pandit to trap a Dalit minor, rapes and converts her to Islam; arrested along with a doctor who aborted her thrice

In another case of love jihad that had come to the fore from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, a youth named Faizal Syed Abbas lured a minor Dalit girl into his ‘love’ trap by posing as Shaan Pandit, a Brahmin. Once the girl fell into the trap, he sexually assaulted her multiple times and also extorted money several times from the victim.

The accused forced the minor to convert to Islam by threatening her with her private videos and photos. The minor, who got impregnated, not once but thrice, was also coerced to terminate the pregnancy each time by the accused.

The Bhopal police Thursday arrested the doctor who had performed the abortion of a minor girl in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal. Prior to the doctor’s arrest, the police also arrested Faizal Syed Abbas based on a complaint filed against him at Ajak police station in the city.

Additional Commissioner of Police (ACP) Nidhi Saxena said, “An FIR was registered on December 13 in which during investigation it came to fore that the 16-year-old girl was aborted. On further investigation, it has been found that a clinic was running in the name of BSC MD.”

“The police sealed the clinic and arrested the accused. A case has been registered for legal traits and illegal practices under section 313 (Causing miscarriage without a woman’s consent) of the IPC MTP Act. He will be produced before the court today,” she added.

“Earlier, a case against the rape accused was registered under section 376 (rape), 377 (Unnatural offences) of the IPC and under religious freedom act,” ACP Saxena added.

According to the victim, the accused befriended her by concealing his identity. The victim revealed that Faizal Abbas had also got a fake Aadhaar made in the name of Shaan.

Accused Faizal Abbas got a fake Aadhar card made in the name of Shaan (source: Dainik Bhaskar)

The victim stated that three years ago, Faizal Abbas took her to a hotel saying that it was his birthday, where he raped her for the first time. The victim said that the accused was 16 years old then. The accused also made videos of the act and thereafter, he kept sexually exploiting the victim for three years by threatening to upload videos on social media. He also got her aborted 3 times during this time.

According to the victim, the accused also pressurized her to change her religion. He used to take her for a walk wearing a burqa.

When the victim became pregnant for the first time, the accused accompanied her to Dr M Srivastava, who performed the abortion on her. Following that, on two separate occasions, the accused himself gave medicines to the victim that resulted in miscarriages.

The victim stated that Faizal Syed Abbas’s parents and brother were also aware of the abortion. Faizal’s father threatened the victim’s mother to forget what occurred since bringing it up would bring disrepute to the family.

DGCA issues guidelines to handle ‘unruly passengers’ over mid-air urination incidents

ANI
-
0
DGCA issues guidelines to handle ‘unruly passengers’ over mid-air urination incidents

In wake of Air India mid-air urination incidents, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday issued an advisory to the head of operations of all scheduled airlines with regard to handling unruly passenger on board and respective responsibilities as per the regulations.

The guidelines come in the wake of back-to-back two urination incidents on Air India flights last year.

The DGCA said that it is observed that post holders, pilots and cabin crew members have failed to take appropriate actions regarding the incidents of unruly behaviour and inappropriate conduct by the passenger on board.

In a statement, DGCA said, “In the recent past, DGCA has noticed a few incidents of unruly behaviour and inappropriate conduct by the passenger on board the aircraft during flight, wherein it is observed that post holders, pilots and cabin crew members have failed to take appropriate actions.”

The aviation regulatory body further said that non-action or inappropriate action or omission by the airlines towards such untoward incidents had tarnished the image of air travel in different segments of society.

It said that the individual’s responsibility for the handling of the unruly passenger has been specified under various provisions of Aircraft Rules, 1937, DGCA regulations, circulars and manuals of airlines approved or accepted by DGCA.

DGCA also highlight some points that come under the Aircraft Rules.

Highlighting the responsibilities of Pilots, the DGCA said the Pilot in command is responsible for the safety of the passenger and cargo carried and for the maintenance of flight discipline

“Responsibilities of Pilots: Sub Rule (2) of Rule 141 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 states that the Pilot in command is responsible for the safety of the passenger and cargo carried and for the maintenance of flight discipline and safety of the members of the crew in addition to being responsible for the operation and safety of the aircraft during flight,” it said.

It further said, “Para 4.11 of the CAR Section 3, Series M, Part VI makes the Pilot in command responsible for assessing the situation quickly if the cabin crew can control the situation and accordingly relay this information to the airline’s central control on the ground for further action. In addition, para 4.13 of the said CAR mandates that upon the landing of the aircraft, the airline representative shall lodge FIR with the concerned security agency at an aerodrome, to whom, the unruly passenger shall be handed over.”

It said, further, detailed procedures for handling unruly passenger are enumerated under the relevant chapter of the approved Operations Manual (Part-A) of respective airlines.

Pointing out the responsibilities of Cabin Crews, the DGCA said that it is their responsibility of handling unruly passenger and to defuse a critical situation until it becomes clear.

“Responsibilities of Cabin Crews: Para 4 7 of CAR Section 3. Series M. Part VI describes the responsibility of the cabin crew for handling unruly passenger and to defuse a critical situation until it becomes clear that there is no way to resolve it through verbal communication and written notice to passenger Applying restraining devices should be used when all conciliatory approaches have been exhausted Further para 4.9 of the said CAR makes cabin crew responsible for informing the passenger of the repercussion and consequences of such unruly behaviour

“Further, detailed procedures for the handling of the unruly passenger are described under respective airline Safety and Emergency Procedure Manual and Quick Reference Handbook which is prepared based upon the guidelines given under Cabin Safety Circular 01/2016 and accepted by DGCA,” it added.

Further underlining the responsibility of Director-in-flight Services, the DGCA said that they are responsible for reporting any such incident.

“Responsibility of Director-in-flight Services (Cabin Safety): Para 4 13 & para 6 6 of the CAR Section 3. Series M. Part VI makes the nodal officer i.e. Director-in-flight Services responsible for reporting any such incident in the prescribed proforma given under Cabin safety circular 02/2010 to DGCA. Further detailed procedures are described under the Safety and Emergency Procedure Manual of respective airlines,” the regulatory body said.

It further advised all the heads of airlines to sensitize pilots, cabin crew and Director-in-flight Services of their respective airlines on the topic of handling unruly passenger through appropriate means under intimation to DGCA Any non-compliance towards applicable regulations shall be dealt with strictly and invite enforcement action.

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

Pakistan: Hindu youth killed for resisting his sister’s abduction, Sindh-based activist says police protecting the accused

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Pakistan: Hindu youth killed for resisting his sister’s abduction, Sindh-based activist says police protecting the accused

A Hindu man named Laloo Kachhi was brutally thrashed by a Muslim mob led by one Abdullah Khoso on December 25, while the former was trying to resist his sister’s abduction. The incident happened in Kunti, a small town in the district Umerkot of Sindh (Umerkot was formally Amarkot) in Pakistan. The Hindu youth succumbed to his injuries on January 1, 2023.

A video of an injured Laloo was shared by several Sindhi activists and journalists on Twitter. Now, another Human rights activist from Pakistan, Faqir Shiva Kachhi, has revealed how the Sindh police are delaying action in the case and trying to protect the perpetrator.

The activist posted a video on Twitter today (January 6) showing Sindh police escorting the accused Abdullah Khoso away. The accused is seen wearing handcuffs. The activist claimed that even though the police had apprehended the accused, SHO Nabi Sarrod maintained that the accused had not yet been arrested. He suggested that the cops were attempting to protect the accused by lying about his arrest.

Activist alleges Sindh police set the perpetrator free after getting a call from some influential person

In his subsequent tweet, Faqir Shiva Kachhi alleged that the police had set the perpetrator free after they received a phone call from some influential person. “The arrested killer of Lalu Kachhi Ubaidullah Khoso, was released yesterday from Kunri @uPolice station on the phone of a political figure. They are trying to end the FIR by freeing him from the murder case of a political person by taking a heavy bribe on the phone @VeengasJ,” tweeted the activist.

Notably, on January 2, the activist turned to Twitter to express his displeasure with the Sindh police’s lack of action on the issue. He explained how the police had declined to file an FIR in the case. He also chastised the authorities and the administration for their deafening silence on the matter.

Notably, Sindh-based journalist-activist Veengas had on January 3, also posted a video of Laloo’s aggrieved parents saying that no police case was registered for two days despite their complaints.

Another activist had later informed how, following the social media outrage, the Sindh police finally registered an FIR invoking murder and abduction charges on 3 January.

While cases of abduction of Hindu girls, killing of Hindu men, mass conversion of Hindu families by unethical means and harassment of Hindu residents by slapping false blasphemy-related cases are routine in the Sindh province of Pakistan, this was the latest to be reported.

What led to the death of Laloo Kachhi in Sindh, Pakistan

In the aforementioned case, a 35-year-old Hindu man named Laloo Kachhi died after being beaten up by a Muslim mob that was trying to abduct his sister. The mob, led by Abdullah Khoso barged into Laloo’s house on December 25, 2022, and tried to forcefully take his sister Lali away.

This was not Abdullah’s first effort at abducting Lali. Abdullah had taken Lali to his home in November and imprisoned her. The local people privy to the incident confirmed that Abdullah had then tried to forcibly convert Lali to Islam. He had also forcibly tried to marry Lali, an already married woman, as per Islamic rituals. She was rescued at the time after the Hindu community outraged, prompting the Sindh police to file a police report against Abdullah.

Lalu testified against Abdullah in court, and the court returned Lali to his brother. At the time, Abdullah, regarded as a local goon, had threatened Lalu with dire consequences.

On December 25, when Abdullah stormed into Laloo’s house, intending to again abduct Lali, Laloo attempted to fight him off. However, Abdullah, who had arrived prepared with his accomplices, ruthlessly beat up Laloo, leading to his death on January 1, 2023.

According to reports, Lali’s whereabouts are still unknown as she is suspected to have been kidnapped by Abdullah Khoso.

‘Population is less in countries where markets shuts down at 8 pm’: Pak Minister’s bizarre justification of ‘energy conservation plan’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
‘Population is less in countries where markets shuts down at 8 pm’: Pak Minister’s bizarre justification of ‘energy conservation plan’

On Tuesday (January 3), Pakistani Minister Khawaja Asif courted controversy for claiming that early closure of markets helps in controlling the population.

In a video that has now gone viral on social media, Asif was heard as saying, “In places where markets close by 8 pm, only fewer children are born. Think about the efficiency of the Pakistani people. Markets are closing at 1 am but they are still producing more kids.”

He made the remarks while trying to rationalise the new ‘National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Plan’ of the Pakistani government. Khawaja Asif is a seasoned politician, associated with Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz). 

The Pakistan government on Tuesday announced plans to reduce energy consumption nationwide whereby it proposes to close markets by 8:30 pm and wedding halls by 10 pm, in view of the rising circular debt in the energy sector.

“The plan will change the overall lifestyle and habit pattern of the nation and save us Pkr 60 billion,” Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif was quoted as saying by Dawn newspaper during a press conference. Addressing the presser alongside other key ministers, Asif said that the production of fans run on electricity will be halted in Pakistan by July.

“Inefficient fans use around 120-130 watts of electricity. Across the globe, fans are available that use 60-80 watts,” he said. This development comes as a Pakistan media report said this policy is aimed at saving energy as the government resolves to reduce circular debt in the energy sector.

The power division in Pakistan has said that the circular debt which stood at Pkr2.253 trillion by end of September last year had now reached Pkr2.437 trillion, the Dawn report said citing media reports. The Pakistan Defence Minister said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed to decrease the usage of electricity used by all federal government departments by 30 percent.

So my number is 25: Prince Harry reveals the number of Talibs he took out during his military deployment in Afghanistan

OpIndia Staff
-
0
So my number is 25: Prince Harry reveals the number of Talibs he took out during his military deployment in Afghanistan

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has courted controversy after he revealed in his upcoming memoir ‘Spare’ that he killed 25 people in Afghanistan while serving the British army.

As per reports, he had been on two missions to the war-torn country of Afghanistan and confessed to taking 25 lives of Taliban terrorists during his military service. According to his memoir, Prince Harry thought of the 25 targets as ‘chess pieces’ and not ‘people.’

The British royal claimed to feel no pride or shame for his actions. He also wrote that he watched every video of his ‘kill’ when he returned to his military base. Prince Harry reminisced that a video camera, which was mounted on his Apache helicopter, recorded his missions in full.

In his memoir, the Prince of Sussex pointed out that it is not possible to kill anybody if you think of them as a ‘person’ and thanked the British army for teaching him how to ‘otherise’ the Taliban radicals.

He wrote, “I made it my purpose, from day one, to never go to bed with any doubt whether I had done the right thing… whether I had shot at Taliban and only Taliban, without civilians in the vicinity.”

“I wanted to return to Great Britain with all my limbs, but more than that I wanted to get home with my conscience intact. So my number is 25. It’s not a number that fills me with satisfaction, but nor does it embarrass me,” Prince Harry emphasised.

He said that he felt no guilt for taking out 25 Talibs because he did not forget the horrors of the 9/11 attack and his personal meetings with family members of the victims. The British royal described the Taliban and its sympathisers as ‘enemies of humanity.’

Prince Harry was first deployed as a Forward Air Controller to Helmand Province in Afghanistan in 2007, but he was recalled after his presence in the war-torn country was disclosed by media. Returning to the UK, he became a pilot by learning to Apache helicopters, and during 2011-12, was part of the Joint Aviation Group which provided helicopter support to the International Security Assistance Force and Afghan forces. He was known as Captain Wales in the military, and worked as a co-pilot and gunner during his four-month combat tour.

As his second stint in Afghanistan was not kept secret, the Taliban had made several attempts at his life. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid had told Reuters in September 2011 that they were using all their strength to get rid of him, either by killing or kidnapping.

Camp Bastion, where Prince Harry was based, was attacked by the Taliban in September 2011, in which two US marines were killed. Harry was moved to a safer location after the attack.

After returning from Afghanistan, he had revealed that he had killed several terrorists in six missions that he flew, but at that time the number of kills was not revealed. Prince Harry had compared his missions to playing video games, saying it came naturally to him as he was accustomed to playing combat games on PlayStation and Xbox. “It’s a joy for me because I’m one of those people who loves playing PlayStation and Xbox, so with my thumbs I like to think I’m probably quite useful,” he had said.

Prince Harry was responsible for firing the Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, rockets and 30mm gun on the Apache helicopter.

His combat tour to Afghanistan in 2012 started just weeks after he and an unknown woman were photographed naked in a Las Vegas hotel.

Taliban reacts to the revelations made in the memoir of Prince Harry

While reacting strongly to the development, Taliban leader Anas Haqqani tweeted, “Mr. Harry! The ones you killed were not chess pieces, they were humans; they had families who were waiting for their return.”

He added, “Among the killers of Afghans, not many have your decency to reveal their conscience and confess to their war crimes.”

“The truth is what you’ve said; Our innocent people were chess pieces to your soldiers, military and political leaders. Still, you were defeated in that “game” of white & black “square,” he further claimed.

“I don’t expect that the ICC will summon you or the human rights activists will condemn you, because they are deaf and blind for you. But hopefully these atrocities will be remembered in the history of humanity,” Anas Haqqani concluded.

Experts say Prince Harry risked his life with his explosive revelations

Several political commentators had lashed out at Prince Harry for jeopardising his life by revealing the number of Talibs that he killed in Afghanistan.

“Harry’s claim that he killed 25 Taliban is a nightmare – an absolute nightmare – for his security teams. How stupid can you be?”, tweeted journalist Andrew Neil.

“Love you #PrinceHarry but you need to shut up! Makes you wonder the people he’s hanging around with. If it was good people somebody by now would have told him to stop,” remarked Royal marines veteran, Ben Mcbean.

It is notable that due to possible threats to soldiers and their families, USA, UK and other countries deploying their forces in the middle east to fight Islamist terrorists do not identify their soldiers. For example, the US Navy Seals that took out Osama bin Laden in Pakistan were never officially identified by the US govt.

1...2,5822,5832,584...7,630Page 2,583 of 7,630