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Jammu and Kashmir: Pir Panjal region moving towards ‘tourism from terrorism’

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Jammu and Kashmir: Pir Panjal region moving towards ‘tourism from terrorism’

The border districts of Poonch and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir which used to be in the news earlier because of incidents of firing on the LoC, infiltration attempts or anti-military activities are now moving towards “tourism from terrorism”.

Since ‘peace’ has been established on the borders here for the past few years, sports competitions, and cultural competitions are being organized continuously within this district.

Department of Tourism in collaboration with the ‘National Rural Livelihood Mission’, Indian Army and District Administration organized a colourful cultural programme at Dak Bangla, Poonch titled Frozen Fiesta featuring artists from all over the country.

The construction and development process is going on at a fast pace.

On this occasion, the artists said that our mission is ‘No to terrorism, Yes to Tourism’.

“We want to convey the message that now there is no place for militancy, terrorism, now tourism flourishes, tourists from all over the world come here, see the beauty here. Look at the brotherhood, religious tolerance, communal harmony and hospitality here,” one of the artists said.

On Friday, a huge cultural program was organized in Rajouri, in which artists from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal and other states performed their art and also saw the performance of local artists.

Various programmes are being organised and local youth are actively participating.

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

Andhra Pradesh: Church accused of converting minors to Christianity using intoxicants, locals allege police of inaction

OpIndia Staff
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Andhra Pradesh: Church accused of converting minors to Christianity using intoxicants, locals allege police of inaction

A church in the Maravapalli village of Penukonda Mandal’s Ramapuram Panchayat in Andhra Pradesh is accused of attempting the conversion of minor children into Christianity by intoxicating them. Locals have alleged that the police did not take any action even after they filed a complaint against the church and refused to file a case in this regard.

When the people learnt that the church pastor was secretly exploiting Hindu children, they questioned him together with Hindu organizations in the area including the Shiva Shakti Karyakartas and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

The matter has been brought up by the Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF), a group that defends the rights of indigenous people. In a letter to NCPCR (the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights), LRPF brought attention to the matter and the police’s inactivity. In accordance with the pertinent provisions of the IPC (Indian Penal Code), Juvenile Justice Act, and Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, it has requested that the NCPCR instruct the Andhra Pradesh DGP (Director General of Police) to file an FIR (First Information Report) against the accused.

According to a report by Hindu Post, the Church targeted young children in order to exploit them in its conversion strategy. After the pastor enticed children to the church with his captivating discourse and enticements like chocolates, he forced them to drink intoxicants.

The bottle and the little glasses that the alcohol was poured into were confiscated and given to the police. It should be noted that despite the fact that the event occurred at the beginning of December, local police have not yet filed a complaint against the church.

Hours after posting a video on social media from sets, 20-year-old TV actress Tunisha Sharma commits suicide

OpIndia Staff
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Hours after posting a video on social media from sets, 20-year-old TV actress Tunisha Sharma commits suicide

TV actress Tunisha Sharma committed suicide on the set of the shooting of ‘Ali Baba: Dastaan-e-Kabul’ at Vasai on Saturday, 24th December 2022. Tunisha ended her life by hanging herself on the sets of the series. The reason for her suicide has not been revealed yet. Tunisha Sharma was 20 years old and had worked in many TV shows. She started her career as a child actress in the industry. Tunisha was playing the lead role in the Sony SAB TV series ‘Ali Baba: Dastaan-e-Kabul’ where she ended her life.

On Saturday afternoon, Tunisha Sharma committed suicide by hanging herself. She hanged herself in a toilet in a studio in Kaman, Vasai East. A case has been registered at the Valiv Police Station. After Tunisha was found, people on the set took her to the hospital, but she died on the way.

Senior police inspector Kailas Barve of the Valiv police station said, “We are investigating why she committed suicide and whether she wrote a note before committing suicide.” She was currently playing the role of Princess Mariam in the Sony SAB TV series ‘Ali Baba: Dastaan-e-Kabul’. Tunisha Sharma was also seen in films like ‘Fitoor’, ‘Baar Baar Dekho’, ‘Kahaani 2’ and ‘Dabangg 3’. Tunisha played the role of young Katrina Kaif in ‘Fitoor’ and ‘Baar Baar Dekho’.

Six hours before she committed suicide, Tunisha Sharma shared a video from the sets in her Instagram story. In this video, she was seen doing makeup for the shoot on the set. She had given the caption ‘Stay Tune’ to this behind-the-scenes video on the set.

Tunisha Sharma shared a video from the sets a few hours before committing suicide. Image Source: Instagram handle of Tunisha Sharma

A few hours ago, she also shared a photo of herself on Instagram. In the caption of the photo, she wrote, “Those who are driven by their Passion Don’t stop.”

From this video and photo shared by Tunisha Sharma, it seemed that everything was fine. Her suicide within hours of sharing the post has left her fans shocked.

Kerala: Mohammad Faizal lures young women through matrimonial sites, sexually assaults and loots them for money, arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: Mohammad Faizal lures young women through matrimonial sites, sexually assaults and loots them for money, arrested

The Kerala Police Cyber Cell on Friday, December 23, arrested a person named Mohammad Faizal for luring several girls through matrimonial sites and then looting them for lakhs of rupees. The accused is also said to have sexually exploited some of the girls whom he met through the matrimonial websites.

According to the local reports, the accused trapped the girls by introducing himself as a Hindu person named Amal Krishna. He also managed to attain fake identity cards including an Aadhaar card, Passport, Electoral card, and Pan card to prove that he was a Hindu.

Faizal used the internet to create his profile on several matrimonial sites and get in contact with girls looking for a probable match. He came in contact with many girls and their families through the website to loot them for money. He also developed sexual relations with the girls by luring them and taking them to various hotels.

It is said that the accused used to make the girls believe that he would marry them and then attain their bank details. He then swiftly used to withdraw money from their bank accounts. Reports mention that the accused is a resident of the Malappuram district in Kerala and has embezzled Rs 50 lakhs from a girl from Kondotty.

The accused was arrested by the Kollam Police from Ernakulam while he tried to use the bank account details of one of the girls he had cheated earlier. Reportedly, Mathrubhumi news mentions that the accused was arrested by the Police in a rape case and was put in Tihar jail for over 2 years.

Further investigations in the current case are underway.

Perform or perish: Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw approves forced retirement of 10 senior DoT officials over doubtful integrity

OpIndia Staff
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Perform or perish: Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw approves forced retirement of 10 senior DoT officials over doubtful integrity

In line with his perform or perish policy as well as zero tolerance for corruption, Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday approved the forced retirement of 10 officials of the Department of Telecom (DoT) including a joint secretary.

It is notable that this is the first time that DoT officials have been pushed into retirement under section 56 (J) under Pension Rule 48 of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.

Reportedly, the Telecom Minister has approved forced retirement for 10 senior DoT personnel for doubtful integrity keeping with his zero-tolerance policy towards corruption. Among the DoT officers given forced retirement, nine were working at the Director level while one was working at the joint secretary rank.

Notably, this is not the first time that Ashwini Vaishnaw has approved the forced retirement of inefficient or corrupt officials. 

In September this year, a Senior Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) official was caught napping in a meeting chaired by the Telecom Minister and was made to take voluntary retirement.  

Vaishnaw had asked BSNL employees to work hard and turn things around following the announcement of the Rs 1.64 lakh crore relief package. To compete with private telcos, the minister instructed employees to abandon their “Sarkari attitude” and focus on customer satisfaction.

In August this year, Minister Vaishnaw was heard saying in an audio clip from his first meeting with the BSNL employees, that those who cannot perform can take voluntary retirement and go home.

“In this competitive industry, only your performance can save you. I want to see the results in the next 24 months, so you either perform or perish,” the Minister said. 

Ashwini Vaishnaw, who also holds the Railway portfolio, has approved the forced retirement of approximately 40 railway officials for non-performance and questionable integrity, including a secretary-level officer and two special secretary-level officers.

In November it was reported that around 139 railway officers were to take voluntary retirement while 38 officers were terminated from service. 

Reportedly, on November 23, two senior officials of the railways were sacked after they were caught taking bribe in two incidents. In one case an official was caught by the CBI taking bribe of Rs 5 lakh in Hyderabad. In another case, an official in Ranchi was caught taking bribe of Rs 3 lakh. 

Notably, under the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) employees are paid a salary equivalent to two months’ pay for each year of service remaining.

Kerala: Two Christian groups again clash over which direction to face during prayers, altar of Cathedral in Kochi vandalised ahead of Christmas

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: Two Christian groups again clash over which direction to face during prayers, altar of Cathedral in Kochi vandalised ahead of Christmas

A day before the Christmas festival, violent clashes erupted at Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica in Kerala’s Kochi between two groups of devotees over the procedure of offering the unified mass. The advocates of the unified holy Mass approached the church as the other group was offering Mass in front of the congregation. The altar was destroyed in the ensuing conflict between the two factions. Two groups are fighting over which direction to face while offering prayers, one group says the priests should face the people, while the other group that supports the unified mass says the priests should face the altar during the mass.

According to the reports, the Christians who support the Mass facing the people also offered the Mass on Friday night. On Saturday morning, however, individuals who favour the Synod-approved manner of Mass facing the altar gathered at the Cathedral to express their displeasure.

On Friday, the diocesan administrator selected by the Church’s official authority and the archdiocese’s dissident pastors stood face to face on each side of the altar table. Dissident priests, according to administrator Fr Antony Poothavelil, celebrated back-to-back Holy mass in an attempt to prevent him from accessing the altar and performing mass in the manner approved by the synod. Other priests, however, stated that Fr Poothavelil purposefully caused the issues by entering the altar and disturbing the ongoing mass.

Having to seize control of the church before 10 am, demonstrators vandalized all artifacts placed on the altar and wrecked mayhem. Despite the fact that extra officers were dispatched to disperse the demonstrators, the attempts proved worthless.

Even amid the violence, a group of Christians attempted to celebrate the holy Mass in front of the altar. The cops were restricted to take strict action as the confrontation took place within the basilica. The supporters of the unified holy Mass said that the rebel group had been carrying out the “Mass of evil” for the last three days by threatening the administrator.

For several decades, the Syro-Malabar Church’s jurisdictions have used various modalities of offering mass. While one portion of the priests faces the congregation, another faces the altar. In several other dioceses, the Church practices a hybrid of the two. According to the universal style of offering Mass, priests and bishops from all dioceses must conduct the ritual while facing the altar throughout the ceremony.

The archdiocese’s priests continued to conduct Mass until late at night on Friday, resulting in a clash between the two groups of people at one point which even continued on Saturday. A congregation that supported the priests said that ladies from the opposing side entered the altar during the Mass and interrupted it by removing sacred items and literature. Given the circumstances, police officers were stationed in large numbers in the area.

Earlier on November 27, a similar confrontation between two groups of devotees over the procedure of offering the unified Mass on Sundays was reported from St Mary’s Cathedral Basilica in Kerala’s Kochi. Archbishop Andrews Tazhath, the Apostolic Administrator, was even stopped from entering the Basilica by devotees who opposed the implementation of the unified mass service. Another group of devotees attempted to break the lock, which further fanned tension. Reportedly, the violent protestors also damaged church property.

Notably, in August 2021, the Synod of the Syro Malabar Catholic Church decided to enforce a uniform method of conducting Holy Mass across its churches. It is important to mention here that offering mass is believed to be the best procedure of worship among Christians.

The synod decided that all churches must use the same mass format, with priests facing the gathering of devotees during the introduction and conclusion of the masses and facing the altar during the main part of the mass. However, the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese opposed the implementation of a new format without discussions.

Uttar Pradesh: A Muslim ‘Pir’ pressurises Dalit family for conversion, complaint filed against three for beating up victims for resisting

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: A Muslim ‘Pir’ pressurises Dalit family for conversion, complaint filed against three for beating up victims for resisting

A Dalit family in Uttar Pradesh’s Balrampur district has accused a Pir of beating them up and forcing them to convert to Islam. The victim’s family has now filed a complaint in the court demanding action against the accused Pir. Apart from the Pir named Chhangur, a woman who converted from Neetu to Nasreen and another person who converted from Naveen to Jamaluddin, have also been charged in the complaint.

A Vishwa Hindu Parishad spokesperson has also called upon the police to intervene in the matter. At the same time, the police are waiting for the court’s direction. The victim’s family filed an application in court on December 12, stating that the incident took place on December 4, 2022.

This case is from the Kotwali Utraula area. The victim has filed a complaint in the court stating that he used to work as a labourer at the rate of Rs 12,000 per month in a hospital being built in Madhupur in the Utraula area. The hospital is being built by Nasreen, who lives with Pir Chhangur, and her husband Naveen.

The victim said in the complaint that on December 4, 2022, when he went to ask for his wages, the Pir started avoiding him. Meanwhile, Pir Chhangur asked the victim’s wife to convert to Islam in exchange for wages. When they did not convert, they were beaten up.

The complaint further states that the victims refused to obey Pir Chhangur’s words. Nasreen, Jamaluddin, and Chhangur Pir hurled abuses at the victims in anger when they were asked to pay the victims. The three accused also threatened to kill the victim couple. It is alleged that during this time Chhangur, Jamaluddin and Nasreen brutally beat up the victims, husband and wife, and also snatched Rs 2,000 from them.

The victim Dalit family has also accused the local police of not acting on their complaint. They approached the court on December 12, 2022. Vishwa Hindu Parishad national spokesperson Vinod Bansal tweeted, “Urging the Uttar Pradesh Police to take cognizance of the matter and take strict action.”

In response to this demand, on December 22, 2022, Balrampur police informed that the court’s order is awaited.

Nasreen converted to Islam with her husband and daughter in 2015

According to the information collected by OpIndia, the woman accused in this case, Neetu, converted to Islam in 2015. Along with Neetu, her husband Naveen also converted to Islam and became Jamaluddin. One of their minor daughters also converted to Islam with them. Neetu and Naveen lived in Mumbai with their daughter. All of them have settled in Utraula in Balrampur along with Pir Chhangur.

‘Is it Kunal Kamra or Swara Bhasker?’: Netizens wonder after Rahul Gandhi says ‘dogs, cows, buffaloes, and pigs attended Bharat Jodo Yatra’

OpIndia Staff
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‘Is it Kunal Kamra or Swara Bhasker?’: Netizens wonder after Rahul Gandhi says ‘dogs, cows, buffaloes, and pigs attended Bharat Jodo Yatra’

Rahul Gandhi’s speech made on Saturday during Bharat Jodo Yatra had the internet into a tizzy after he said ‘dogs, cows, buffaloes, and pigs attended the Bharat Jodo Yatra’.

Speaking at a public rally in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi said, “I don’t know if you have noticed it or not, but in this campaign(BJY), dogs participated, but no one killed them. Cows, buffaloes, and pigs also joined in, I saw them. All animals came. This Yatra is like our India. There is no hatred or violence here.”

The speech instantly went viral on social media, leaving many netizens in splits over the claims made by the former Congress leader. Several others conjectured that the Gandhi scion was using cryptic language to insinuate the participation of some people in the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Social media users have a field time as Rahul Gandhi says dogs, cows, buffaloes, and pigs attended Bharat Jodo Yatra

Keh Ke Peheno, a popular Twitter user, responded, “Lagta hai aah Rahul ji chidiyaghar se bhaashan de rahein hai (It looks like Rahul Gandhi is making his speech from a zoo)”

Another Twitter user innocently asked if Rahul Gandhi was referring to Kunal Kamra and Swara Bhasker.

Yet another Twitter user remarked that there is no dearth of entertainment in the country.

“Please stop calling @_YogendraYadav and @kunalkamra88 Pig, They are Jackals,” tweeted yet another Twitter user.

An AAP supporter wondered what was wrong with Rahul Gandhi and asserted that Congress does not need AAP to hurt its chances as long as it has Rahul Gandhi. 

“Is this a Yatra for animals,” a Twitter enquiringly asked.

And there were many other social media users who could not stop guessing whom Rahul Gandhi was referring to.

Congress party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra

Earlier this year, Congress announced a 150-day long ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, a political campaign crisscrossing different parts of the country in a bid to re-energise its waning ground support amid successive electoral defeats.

Several personalities, mostly opposition leaders and closet Congress supporters, joined the campaign even as party leaders struggled to enunciate the aims and objectives of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, which to many had been a boondoggle—a wasteful project with little to no returns.

Earlier today, actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra. In the last few weeks, actor Swara Bhasker, ‘comedian’ Kunal Kamra, Icchadhari protester Yogendra Yadav, and many others had joined the Congress party’s campaign.

Jammu and Kashmir: Agencies seize 20 properties of Jamaat-e-Islami worth ₹123 crore, including Srinagar house owned by Syed Ali Shah Geelani

OpIndia Staff
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Jammu and Kashmir: Agencies seize 20 properties of Jamaat-e-Islami worth ₹123 crore, including Srinagar house owned by Syed Ali Shah Geelani

On Saturday, December 24, 2022, the State Investigation Agency (SIA) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police seized a house registered in the name of separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani located in the Barzulla area on the orders of the District Magistrate of Srinagar.

SIA officials have said that the property of Syed Ali Shah Geelani was purchased by the banned organization Jamaat-e-Islami in the year 1990. However, it was registered in Geelani’s name. Syed Ali Shah Geelani lived here till the early 2000s. But after this, he went from here to live in the Hyderpora area.

Officials have also said that it was being used as the home of the ‘Ameer’ or the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami after Syed Ali Shah Geelani left the house. The current chief of the group is Syed Sadatullah Husaini. It is notable that Syed Ali Shah Geelani died in September last year at his residence in Hyderpora in Srinagar at the age of 92 years.

Seizure of the house was part of 20 properties seized by the state investigation agency of Jammu and Kashmir Police on 24 December, including another house in the Barzulla area. The SIA seized a dozen properties in Pulwama, KUlgam, Budgam and Srinagar worth around Rs 122.89 crore. SIA said that the properties have been seized to choke the availability of funds for secessionist activities and to dismantle the ecosystem of anti-national elements & terror networks hostile to India’s sovereignty. The seized properties included a dargah, a mosque, and several commercial properties from where shops are running.

Entry to the seized properties and their usage has been banned, and “Red entry” to this effect has been made in the relevant revenue records. SIA said that around a dozen business establishments including a shopping complex were running on JeI properties on rent, which means the group was earning revenue from those properties. However, the businesses running from those properties will be allowed to continue as the shopkeepers are private persons with no links to JeI other than paying them rent.

The properties were notified by concerned District Magistrates in exercise of the powers conferred by section 8 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 & Notification No. 14017/7/2019, dated 28- February- 2019 of Union Ministry of Home Affairs, SIA informed.

Regarding the confiscation of assets, the officials also said that the SIA’s action is part of the confiscation of several properties belonging to the banned organization Jamaat-e-Islami. The SIA has identified a total of 188 properties of Jamaat-e-Islami in Jammu and Kashmir. All these properties have either been notified or further legal action is being taken on such properties.

It is being said that this action against Jamaat-e-Islami-Islami will largely eliminate the threat of terror funding in Jammu and Kashmir. At the same time, it is a big step towards ending the fear spread about the law and order situation in society.

Apart from the SIA, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also raided some places in Kathua, Jammu, and Kashmir, in connection with two cases related to terrorist activities. According to the report, NIA has raided some suspicious locations in Jammu and Kashmir. In the raids conducted in some of these places, much strong evidence has been recovered by the NIA.

Earlier on Saturday, December 17, 2022, assets worth Rs 100 crore belonging to Jamaat-e-Islami were seized. The SIA had issued a statement saying that the use of and entry into properties worth about Rs 100 crore have been prohibited in Baramulla, Bandipora, Ganderbal, and Kupwara in the Union Territory after being notified by the district magistrates of Baramulla, Bandipora, Ganderbal and Kupwara on the recommendation of the SIA. These properties were in more than a dozen different places.

Make sure no illegal religious conversions take place on Christmas: CM Yogi Adityanath tells state officials

OpIndia Staff
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Make sure no illegal religious conversions take place on Christmas: CM Yogi Adityanath tells state officials

On Friday, December 23, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath instructed state officials to ensure that Christmas is celebrated peacefully and that no illegal religious conversion takes place in any district of the state.

CM Yogi Adityanath gave these instructions to the state officials during a video conference meeting while reviewing the law and order situation in the state. Along with CM Yogi Adityanath, officers posted in divisions, zones, ranges, and district headquarters joined the meeting.

During the meeting, the CMi told the officials that “the faith of the people in the government is reflected in the attitude of the officials towards them. And thus, all the possible efforts should be made to resolve their problems.”

Notably, CM Adityanath also expressed concern over the reinstallation of loudspeakers at religious places months after their removal. He said that it was unacceptable. 

“We have finished an unprecedented process to remove loudspeakers from religious places peacefully through dialogue with the concerned parties. Loudspeakers were voluntarily taken down as a result of people prioritizing the wider public interest. It was well received across the country. I’ve noticed that several districts are having these loudspeakers installed again, this is not acceptable. With direct dialogue and communication with the local people, ideal situations should be created,” the Chief Minister stated.

Other than this, CM Yogi Adityanath also said that in every district of the state, the operation of unauthorised bus stands, rickshaw stands, and taxi stands should be stopped.  The CM also said that such stands were being used to make money illegally for unlawful purposes. He did, however, add that during the past five and a half years, there has been a significant decrease in cases of crimes against women and children in the state as a result of the joint efforts of various departments of the state government.

Yogi Adityanath also stated that those who assault women and girls should face harsh punishment. He suggested that the police should recognize these components.

Additionally, he stated that raids must be conducted in order to stop the production of illicit liquor. He continued by saying that drug-addicted police officers should be recognized and terminated with immediate effect.

Furthermore, CM Yogi Adityanath emphasised the importance of raising public awareness about the government’s welfare measures, as the 25th of December, the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, will be observed as Good Governance Day (Sushasan Diwas).

CM Yogi Adityanath also told the officials to ensure that the preparations for the upcoming Magh Mela should be completed on time. He further said that this event is like a rehearsal for the 2025 Prayagraj Kumbh.

In wake of the rising Covid cases in other countries, CM Yogi Adityanath told officials to be on high alert and directed district health officials to conduct ‘mock drills‘ under government supervision to avoid the spread of Corona.

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