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Retired army personnel claims his statement attributing Capt Vikram Batra’s Param Vir Chakra to Barkha Dutt’s interview was ‘not what he meant’ after severe backlash

Anurag
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Retired army personnel claims his statement attributing Capt Vikram Batra’s Param Vir Chakra to Barkha Dutt’s interview was ‘not what he meant’ after severe backlash

On October 29, Major General Yash Mor (Retd) issued a clarification on a video being circulated on social media where he seemingly attributed Capt Vikram Batra’s Param Vir Chakra award to Barkha Dutt’s interview. He claimed that his intent and statement in the context of the video were “out of context”. In his statement issued on his Instagram profile, he said he had the highest regard for Capt Batra, PVC and all those killed in Action in the line of duty.

Source: Yash Mor/Instagram

His statement read, “I wanted to clarify my intent and statement in the context of a video clip being circulated out of context.

I have the highest regards for Capt Vikram Batra, PVC and all those killed in Action in line of duty. Capt Batra is a legend who continues to inspire young generations even after so many years.

I have myself been a frontline soldier all my life, serving in most difficult areas and in very active counter terror operations. The video in circulation is from one of the classes on the sacrifices of our Bravehearts. The point that was being made was about the role media can play in highlighting the stories of deserving heroes that enables the nation to take notice of their bravery. It was not about how the Indian Army decides its honours.

I have been an ardent admirer of the Batra family. My apologies to his family in case it inadvertently hurt their feelings in this needless controversy. To end, my commitment to India and its Armed Forces remains unshaken. This is backed up by over 3 decades of service.“

In another statement, he issued an apology to Capt Vikram Batra’s brother Vishal Batra who had condemned Mor’s statement on Twitter. He said, “I have highest regards for Capt Vikram Batra, PVC and all those killed in Action in line of duty.

Source: Yash Mor/Instagram

I have been an ardent admirer of the Batra family.

My apology to Vishal for the needles controversy being created.

I have myself been a frontline soldier all my life, serving in most difficult areas and in very active counter terror operations.“

He added, “The video in circulation is from one of the classes on Op Pawan and the sacrifice of our Bravehearts.

Source: Yash Mor/Instagram

The issue taken out of context is in the role of media in bringing home stories of the sacrifice of our young men. O Capt Vikram Batra, PVC is a legend and we are lucky to have his interview to the media that has immortalized him and inspired a generation of young people of India.”

The controversial video

On October 28, a video clip was shared by Twitter user Maverick Musafir who often shares tweets about Indian Armed Forces. In his tweet, he said, “According to Maj Gen Yash Mor, Captain Vikram Batra got Param Vir Chakra all because of Barkha Dutt and her reporting in the Kargil war.”

In the video, Mor was replying to an attendee named Aditya, who had said, “Sir, give your interview to everyone but not to The Wire. They are very bad, anti-India. If you do not believe you can check their channel. Please see once (Sic).”

Mor replied, “Why do you think like that? Who tells you who is anti-India? Aditya, come out of WhatsApp University that The Wire, Print, Scroll etc., are anti-India. People want to bulldoze them. See, no one is anti-India. All of them are patriotic. But if someone questions, it is good. We need to hear all sides. There is nothing like that. People even call Barkha Dutt anti-India. She interviewed Vikram Batra in Kargil and made him famous. No one knew him. He would not have gotten Param Vir Chakra and this credit today if Barkha Dutt had not interviewed him. Do you know this? You did not know. He would not have been recommended for Param Vir Chakra. She has been made anti-national. People abuse her on her timeline. Please come out of the WhatsApp University.”

Reaction from Capt Batra’s family

Capt Vikram Batra’s brother Vishal Batra also condemned the statement. He said, “Really sad that [Maj] Gen Mor had to resort to such distasteful gimmick merely to extract mileage for his post-retirement profession while discrediting the supreme sacrifice of the valiant soldiers in extremely hostile conditions. It’s an insult to his own uniform and the rank he held.

“May I also ask him what made him invite me to his talk show if he had such unfounded doubts about Vikram’s bravery? Was that to gain popularity for his new profession? Is it also not an insult to the journalism, else why would a girl in her 20s risk her life on the battlefront?” he added.

Reaction from the armed forces fraternity

Several veterans who have served in the armed forces objected to the comments passed by Mor. Former Army Chief Ved Malik said, “This is an unbelievable statement from a Maj Gen. Quite foolish to suggest that a soldier was awarded India’s highest bravery award because of a journalist’s reporting. Such loose talk in public does no credit to him and the rank he held in service.”

Lt Gen Satish Dua (Retd) said, “What nonsense? Gallantry medals are awarded for extreme acts of bravery, in this case also accompanied by supreme self-sacrifice. To cast aspersions on such awards is uncalled for and undignified, even for a citizen, let alone a soldier.”

Major Pawan Kumar (Retd) said, “This is unacceptable Yash Mor sir. Bravest of the brave Vikram Batra sir has sacrificed his life for the nation, and you dare to say that he was awarded the PVC because of Barkha Dutt. Very uncalled for. Disheartening actually.”

Commander Manish Tyagi (Retd) Indian Navy (a famous stand-up comedian) said, “Neither SSB nor promotions are foolproof in the AFC. Every now & then, there is that one officer who keeps climbing the ladder, just by doing what’s required. In a way, he is assisted by a RO who likes him for being quite like him. The vicious cycle continues, till we see this.”

Captain Suresh Sharma (Retd), said, “Comments by my coursemate Maj Gen Yash Mor have hurt us all without exception.”

Speaking to OpIndia, Capt Sharma, a Battle Veteran and Founder-India’s 1st Caravan Campervan Holiday Co, said,”He [Yash Mor] was my coursemate for two-three months. I met him in Leh Ladakh when he was the GOC Sub Area. I despise what he has said about Late Capt Vikram who was awarded PVC by the Indian Army and there is a proper system to award gallantry awards. You cannot demean that. Someone should ask him if was there on the ground at the time of the Kargil War. Was he there when Capt Batra was doing his Gallant act? Was he there to prove that Barkha Dutt made him a hero? With what conviction is he saying all that? Param Vir Chakra was given to him by Army and Indian Govt. Something should have happened. It is not something that could be awarded to anyone.”

He added, “He [Yash Mor] has anti-system views. He is anti-Modi, for sure, and he walks against the system. It seems there is some selfish political motive. So he has sided with Barkha, and Co who are branded as anti-national by most Indians because he is against Modi.”

Maj Gen Mor misled about the session from which the clip was taken from

In his statement, Mor claimed that the video was from “one of the classes on the sacrifices of our Bravehearts. The point that was being made was about the role media can play in highlighting the stories of deserving heroes that enables the nation to take notice of their bravery.” However, his claim was proven wrong by Maverick Musafir, the Twitter user who shared the clip at the first place.

He said, “Cover-up Ops have commenced, calling it a private session on Op Pawan, sacrifice of Bravehearts and role of media in Kargil War. Plain lies. It was a class on ‘Tour of Duty: Why the Youth are protesting?’, accessible by the public on Unacademy and was a response to the question asked.”

He further requested everyone not to drag him further into the controversy. He said, “I didn’t want to drag it further but rather than responding to me directly he decided to block and feed a new narrative. Truth stands alone and tall, keep savouring sir. Anyway, he said sorry to Capt Vikram Batra, PVC’s brother and that is fine by me. This ends here. Thank you.”

OpIndia independently checked the video link shared by Maverick Musafir of the Unacademy session. The video was nowhere about the Op Pawan, sacrifice of Bravehearts and role of media in Kargil War, as Mor claimed. Furthermore, it was a divisive video where he misled the audience about the Agnipath Scheme and “suggested” that the government should rethink it and pause the scheme for six months. He also claimed during the session that those who join Armed Forces via the Agnipath scheme would not feel much “patriotic” as they would know after four years they would be kicked out of the Armed Forces.

54 minutes onwards into the video, Mor took questions from the audience. One of the audience members asked him not to give an interview to The Wire etc, to which he said what has been mentioned above.

Maj Gen Mor tried to play the victim card

Before issuing the “clarification”, Mor tried to play the victim card. In a message screenshot shared by Maverick Musafir, Mor claimed, “Friends. This is not a public statement. It’s from a private session with a few students. It’s a very old clip where the context was the role of media in war. It’s a fact that the media highlighted certain aspects of the Kargil war, they brought the war to our homes and glory to the units involved. I have the highest respect for Capt Vikram Batra, PVC. I know the family personally and have met his brother a few times. It’s a slander campaign against me by vested interests who just wants to target me for the work I am doing across India for young people. I am traveling and did not see the enemy will attack me in this manner.”

Quoting the message, Maverick Musafir said, “Respected Sir, we may have difference of opinion but I don’t consider you my enemy for the work you do. I just highlighted something that you said and wanted people to know. I don’t agree with it anywhere. I also didn’t twist anything or put a question on your service. I’ve no score to settle and didn’t attack anyone. The statement made and the clarification that is provided should be left for the people to judge. I will request people to not abuse him, please try reasoning with logic because that alone makes sense & sets us apart from the rest.”

Vladimir Putin mocks Germany’s energy crisis after its sanctions backfire. Here is what he said

OpIndia Staff
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Vladimir Putin mocks Germany’s energy crisis after its sanctions backfire. Here is what he said

On Thursday (October 27), Russian President Vladimir Putin mocked the German government after the latter’s sanctions against Russia backfired on itself. He made the remarks during an interview at the Valdai Discussion Club, a Moscow-based think tank. It is notable that European nations are facing a severe energy crisis as they are dependent on Russian oil and gas, and their sanctions against Russia has hampered the supply of vital energy sources.

The Russian president took potshots at the decision of the European Union (EU) member to sanction Russia, without realising the consequences it would have on its own citizens. Germany is currently reeling under an energy crisis and needs billions to solve it- a situation further aggravated by the lack of sale of government bonds.

“Now a joke came to my mind that I was recently telling to my colleagues…A German friend told it to me the other day,” Putin remarked. “A son asks his father: Daddy, why is our house so cold? Father says: Because Russia attacked Ukraine,” he said.

“The child asks, “What does it have to do with us?” Father: We imposed sanctions against Russians. Child: Why? Father: To make the Russians feel bad. Child: Are we Russians?” Vladimir Putin concluded.

In just a few lines, the Russian President held the mirror to the German government for agonising its own citizens in the hopes of ‘crippling’ Russia economically.

The situation in Germany is so grim that the country is forced to shut down its street lights to save energy. Despite this, an adamant German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made it clear that sanctions would continue – even at the expense of its own citizens. Germans are fearing a brutal winter this hear, as most homes in the country are heated using natural gas sourced from Russia. But now Russian gas supply has gone down considerably due to the damage to the Nord Stream pipelines, and also due to Russia restricting gas exports.

Future belongs to India’: Vladimir Putin lauds PM Modi’s independent foreign policy 

During his address on October 27, Vladimir Putin praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s independent foreign policy. He implied that a lot has been done under Modi’s leadership in India and hailed him a patriot of the country.

“A lot has been done under the leadership of PM Modi. He is a patriot of his country. His idea of ‘Make in India‘ matters both economic wise and in ethics. Future belongs to India, it can also be proud of the fact that it’s the largest democracy in the world,” Putin said at Valdai Discussion Club.

The Russian president called India’s transformation from a British colony to a modern state “tremendous,” adding that the country’s 1.5 billion people and visible development results deserve everyone’s respect and admiration.

Uttar Pradesh: Violence breaks out over rasgulla at a nikah ceremony, one killed, 35 injured

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Violence breaks out over rasgulla at a nikah ceremony, one killed, 35 injured

Violence between the hosts and the invitees over rasgulla has been reported during a nikah ceremony in Agra, Uttar Pradesh. One person has been killed and close to 35 others have been injured in the violence. The deceased’s name is Sunny. The police have registered an FIR and arrested one of the accused and are on the lookout for the rest. The bridegroom’s family has returned without taking the bride along. The incident took place on the night of October 26-27, 2022.

The case is of Mohalla Sheikhan which falls under the Etmadpur police station area. One Usman Qureshi arranged the marriage of his two daughters Zainab and Shazia together in a wedding house named Vinayak Bhawan. The bridegroom’s families and invitees came to the place from the Khandauli area of Agra. The grooms’ names were Javed and Rashid. Before the nikah ceremony began, there was a round of breakfast in which an invitee asked one of the hosts for a rasgulla. During this time, the rasgulla fell on the ground instead of getting served on the plate. Later, the person giving rasgulla asked the invitees to come in line one by one. On this matter, the invitee named Shahrukh clashed with the host.

After a brief verbal clash, people from both sides gathered. Later, when the situation turned violent, both sides attacked each other. Sticks were used in the attack. Chairs and tables were thrown at each other. Spoons and ladles used in cooking were also used as weapons. Soon, Sunny, Sanu, Nazim, Shahid, and Lala, including Shahrukh, who demanded rasgulla from the groom’s side, were injured. Sunny was the worst hit. He was sent to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The deceased Sunny was the nephew of the grooms. As soon as the incident was reported, the police reached the spot and pacified the nuisance. A complaint was taken from the family of the deceased. A case was registered against several unidentified people naming 9 attackers from the host’s side.

The police immediately registered an FIR and arrested Arif alias Tillu, the main accused in the incident. He was caught near Satoli culvert when he was trying to escape. Arif confessed to his crime and said that his son was beaten with a pipe, for which he avenged Sunny by stabbing him with a fork. Sunny’s heart was pierced by the fork blows which led to his death.

The video of the incident is also going viral on social media. In the viral video, people can be seen confronting each other in the ground even in front of the bride and groom’s stage.

After this dispute, the marriage was stopped. The groom’s family returned without taking the bride along. The father of both the brides has started looking for other boys for the nikah of the daughters. Both the grooms of the brides have also been accused of asking for a car in dowry. The police have confirmed an arrest in the case and have identified the other accused on the basis of video footage and taken action accordingly.

2003 Nadimarg Massacre: Jammu and Kashmir HC orders resumption of trial closed in 2011, says trial court decision was wrong

OpIndia Staff
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2003 Nadimarg Massacre: Jammu and Kashmir HC orders resumption of trial closed in 2011, says trial court decision was wrong

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Saturday ordered the resumption of trial in the horrific Nadimarg massacre case. 24 Kashmiri Pandits were brutally murdered by Lashkar-e-Taiba Jihadis on March 23, 2003, in Pulwama, south Kashmir in this massacre.

A bench of Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul ordered the resumption of the trial, saying that the trial court’s rejection of the prosecution’s plea to record statements of witnesses was incorrect.

“The revision petition is permitted.” The trial court order dated February 9, 2011, has been set aside by the High Court. The state government had filed a revision plea in February 2011 challenging the trial court, and the HC has now accepted the plea. “The prosecution-State/application petitioner’s for the issuance of a commission for the examination of witnesses is granted,” Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul directed.

The High Court had upheld the trial court order in February 2011, and in August this year, that verdict has recalled.

The High Court has directed the trial court to video-conference witnesses and to “ensure expeditious proceedings so that the matter can be concluded at the earliest.” The court also indicted the trial court, noting that it had not attempted to examine all of the witnesses on commission in order to uncover the truth in “a case of heinous nature like the one at hand.”

“Given the well-settled legal position laid down by the Supreme Court, I am of the view that the court below has dismissed the application of the prosecution – State for examining the witness on commission on the irrelevant consideration while overlooking the material and relevant aspects of the case,” the court said, adding that the court should have allowed the prosecution to record the statement of witnesses on commission.

The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court reopened the Nadimarg Massacre case on August 26, 2022.

This came after the state government filed an application to have an order that dismissed a criminal revision petition in December 2011 that challenged a lower court order. The lower court’s order had barred the prosecution from questioning witnesses and materials related to the Nadimarg massacre.

The Nadimarg Massacre (2003)

In 2003, the village of Nadimarg was home to only 52 Kashmiri Pandits comprised of four extended families, with others having fled the valley during their community’s exodus in 1990.

On March 23, 2003, Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists attacked the Nadimarg village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama District and killed 24 Hindu Kashmiri Pandits. Armed militants dressed in fake military uniforms dragged Kashmiri Hindus from their homes, lined them up, and shot them with automatic weapons.

The victims, 11 men, 11 women, and two children, ranged in age from 65 to two years. The Islamist terrorists disfigured the victims’ bodies, looted their homes, and stole the ornaments from the dead women’s bodies.

In April 2003, police arrested Zia Mustafa, saying that he and other Lashkar-e-Taiba militants carried out the massacre on the orders of the LeT leaders in Pakistan.

Following the massacre, an FIR was filed in Zainapore, and seven perpetrators were brought before the Court of Principal Sessions Judge, Pulwama, after an investigation. Later, the case was transferred to the Shopian Court of Principal Sessions Judge.

Notably, the prime suspect, Pakistani terrorist Zia Mustafa, died in custody in October 2021. Mustafa was taken to identify a militant hideout in Poonch, according to police. During the searches, terrorists opened fire, stoking a gunfight in which Mustafa was killed, as per the police.

The LeT terrorists who carried out the massacre of Hindus in 2003 allegedly wanted to commemorate Pakistan Resolution Day, which also falls on March 23rd, or to exact vengeance for the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat.

Coimbatore blast: Jamesha Mubin was radicalised by reading books on Jihad, married hearing and speech-disabled woman in ‘spirit of sacrifice’

OpIndia Staff
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Coimbatore blast: Jamesha Mubin was radicalised by reading books on Jihad, married hearing and speech-disabled woman in ‘spirit of sacrifice’

Jamesha Mubin, the 29-year-old engineering graduate who died in the car blast in Coimbatore on October 23, was motivated by the Islamic State and was engaged in preparing for jihad and constructing explosives, as per a report by The Indian Express. Mubin was on a suicide mission to destroy a large area including a Hindu temple using his car bomb, but it didn’t work as planned and only the car exploded, killing him. Initially thought as a regular accident, now it has emerged that it was a jihadi terror attack gone wrong.

Among the handwritten entries in Tamil that Tamil Nadu police found at Jamesha Mubin’s home in the Kottaimedu neighbourhood of Ukkadam were references to Muslims as “second-class citizens,” the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the hijab dispute in Karnataka, and a flow diagram with the names of Gods from various religions.

The diaries were supposedly among the literature, including books and reading materials, confiscated from Mubin’s residence, according to a source cited by The Indian Express who is aware of the evidence found during the inquiry.

Jamesha perceived Muslims as ‘second-class citizens’

“Mubin’s diary entries largely reveal his take on other religions, particularly Hinduism and Christianity. He had cited the names of the Gods of those religions and depicted them on a handwritten flowchart with arrows connecting one to another. Incidents such as CAA, the hijab row, restrictions on food, and killings over beef were mentioned as problems faced by Indian Muslims, who, he wrote, were becoming second-class citizens. He also wondered how these problems could be overcome,” the source stated.

Senior officials from the Tamil Nadu police informed The Sunday Express that their analysis has uncovered several crucial elements of the case and that they are currently in the process of officially handing the investigation over to the NIA.

Literature based on Jihad and bomb-making

According to Coimbatore City Police Commissioner V Balakrishnan, who spoke to Express, Mubin’s supposed associates Azharudheen and Afsar, who are among the six people arrested in the case, admitted during interrogation that he frequently expressed his views about the alleged “oppression” faced by Muslims.

“Majority of the books and notes found in his Ukkadam home were about bomb-making, jihad, and his apparent lack of objectivity regarding other religions. According to two of the accused whom we questioned, Mubeen used to express his opinion about Indian Muslims and how they are oppressed,” Police Commissioner V Balakrishnan said. The inquiry has thus far shown, according to Coimbatore City Police Commissioner, that Mubin was self-radicalized, and that his apparently radical viewpoint came mainly from writings and the Internet, and that he lacked technical bomb-making expertise.

“On Saturday night (October 22), around 11.25 pm, after loading the gas cylinders and other materials into his car, Mubeen drove to a nearby road and parked there for few hours before he started the final journey before the blast. We believe he was on his way to a target, which is not known yet, and detonated himself outside the temple when he saw a police checkpost nearby. Azharuddin and Afsar have not revealed any details about Mubeen’s target,” the Police Commissioner further said on the blast.

Influenced by ISIS

An important piece of evidence discovered from Mubin’s home was a slate with a green frame and an ISIS insignia written on it. “So far, there is no evidence of him getting help from outside. But our questioning of others has revealed that Mubeen had high regard for Zahran Hashim (the main suicide bomber behind the Easter Sunday blasts in Sri Lanka), a self-radicalised attacker who killed over 200 people,” stated an officer involved in the investigation.

Married hearing and speech-disabled lady

According to the officer, Mubin married a hearing and speech-disabled lady “as part of the spirit of sacrifice instilled by his faith,” and he sent his wife and two children to her house only four days before the blast. He carried the explosives into his new Maruti 800 vehicle, which he parked outside Afsar’s house, hours before the explosion. He then went back to his house at 1 AM to change.

As the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also registered its first FIR in the case, the investigation is proceeding with diligence. The NIA said in its FIR, “A search of the premises of deceased Jamiza Mubeen led to the seizure of 109 items, including potassium nitrate, black powder, nitroglycerin, PETN powder, aluminium powder, sulphur powder, sterile surgical, notebooks with details about jihad, etc.”

So far, six individuals have been arrested in the case. They are identified as, Mohammad Thalka (age 25), Mohammad Azarudheen (age 25), Mohammad Riaz (age 27), Firoz Ismail (age 27), Mohammad Nawaz Ismail (age 27) and Afsar Khan.

Aligarh: 55-year-old stepfather raped 10-year-old girl for 2 years, case registered under POCSO Act after getting caught red-handed

OpIndia Staff
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Aligarh: 55-year-old stepfather raped 10-year-old girl for 2 years, case registered under POCSO Act after getting caught red-handed

A shocking incident from Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh district has been reported where a 10-year-old girl has been raped by her stepfather. A few days back, the accused’s daughter-in-law witnessed him raping the minor. She then filed a complaint to the police. However, no action was taken at that time. Later, after a BJP leader’s intervention, the police registered a case under the POCSO Act.

According to media reports, Pappu, a resident of the Quarsi police station area of Aligarh, picked up the victim from a kiln about seven years ago and brought her home. According to the victim, her real parents used to work in the same kiln. Since the accused picked her up and brought her to his house, the victim girl has referred to him as her father.

Since the accused picked her up and brought her to his house, the victim girl has referred to him as her father. Accused Pappu began sexually abusing the victim after she turned 8 years old. As per the victim’s statement, Pappu used to rape her and threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the crime.

Dharamvir Singh Lodhi, district president of the BJP Yuva Morcha (BJYM), and vice-president Saurabh Chaudhary have stated that the Nagla Patwari outpost in-charge was aware of the crime. Despite this, he did not take any action. He claimed that the officer summoned the girl for questioning without the presence of a female constable. Dharamvir Singh Lodhi stated that following this, he met with CO III Shwetabh Pandey on Friday (October 28) and demanded that the accused be arrested. Following that, a case was registered. According to Inspector Pankaj Kumar Mishra, a case has been filed against the accused Pappu under the POCSO Act.

Police informed that the victim the medical examination has been conducted, and her statement will now be recorded under Section 164. Following that, necessary action will be taken. Meanwhile, a team has been deployed to arrest the accused. 

Coimbatore blast was a terror attack intended to destroy a large area including temple, failed because Jamesha Mubin learnt bomb-making from Internet

OpIndia Staff
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Coimbatore blast was a terror attack intended to destroy a large area including temple, failed because Jamesha Mubin learnt bomb-making from Internet

Numerous astonishing and disturbing details about the deceased Jamesha Mubin and his arrested accomplices have been revealed as the investigation into the Coimbatore car blast in Tamil Nadu proceeds. It is highly suspected that the Jihadi terrorists were planning to terrorise the country and instil fear in common people. According to a report, the car blast was not an accident but it was a suicide mission by Mubin who died in the blast.

The Times Of India cited a witness who asserted that around 4 AM on Diwali, the vehicle stopped in front of the Sangameswara temple in Kottaimedu, and Jamesha Mubin got out, engulfed in flames, before collapsing on the ground a brief distance away. Before anyone in the area, including police officers at a nearby police checkpoint, could respond, the body was scorched.

Mubin expected his suicide bombing operation would obliterate a radius of 50 to 100 metres, including the temple and numerous apartment complexes nearby, according to the interrogation of the six alleged IS jihadists detained thus far in the probe.

Mubin and two accused accomplices, Mohammed Azarudheen and K Afsar Khan loaded three steel drums carrying potassium nitrate, aluminium powder, sulphur, charcoal, nails, and ball bearings into the car late Saturday (October 22), a day before the anticipated explosion. CCTV cameras, according to an official, captured the incident. According to the official, all three including Jamesha also did a recce of the Koniamman temple on Big Bazaar Street as well as the Puliyakulam Mundhi Vinayagar shrine.

Jamesha Mubin and the arrested two also went to an LPG booking station in Gandhi Park, where they obtained the two cylinders recovered in the wrecked vehicle. This was confirmed by an invoice sent to them for their purchase by the booking centre. The trio then went to Lorrypet’s old market area and bought three steel drums.

Sivakumar, a former NIA officer who is now with the Coimbatore municipal police, was crucial in putting together the fragments of intelligence that gave investigators a smell of the terror plan. According to an insider quoted by TOI, “the ex-NIA officer questioned Mubin in 2019 about his suspected links with radical elements.” Sivakumar was the one who ordered the search of Mubin’s home, which resulted in the confiscation of 75kg of mixed material necessary to make bombs.

Investigators have noted that, had the explosion from one of the two LPG cylinders in the car taken place as planned, rows of homes along the road leading to the shrine may have been impacted devastatingly. According to police theory, the car bomb didn’t work as planned because Mubin had no proper training in bomb-making. It is suspected that he was radicalised after reading ISIS propaganda material, and leaned about explosives from the Internet only. Had he obtained training in terrorist tactics, this could have been a deadly terror attack.

As the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has also registered its first FIR in the case, the investigation is proceeding with diligence. So far, six individuals have been arrested in the case. They are identified as, Mohammad Thalka (age 25), Mohammad Azarudheen (age 25), Mohammad Riaz (age 27), Firoz Ismail (age 27), Mohammad Nawaz Ismail (age 27) and Afsar Khan.

OpIndia has reported how Jamesha Mubin and his accomplices planned the Easter blast in Sri Lanka-style bombings and how they are allegedly linked to the Islamic State and the mastermind of 1998 serial blasts in the city.

Meme fest erupts as Rahul Gandhi’s ‘morning run’ video during his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ goes viral

OpIndia Staff
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Meme fest erupts as Rahul Gandhi’s ‘morning run’ video during his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ goes viral

On Sunday (October 30), Congress scion Rahul Gandhi was seen running alongside his supporters during the Telanaga leg of his ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra.’ The video of the incident has now gone viral on social media.

In a tweet, NDTV wrote, “Watch! Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s early morning run during #BharatJodoYatra in Telangana.” Amidst loud cheers from his party workers, the 52-year-old was seen sprinting on the road while his security personnel tried to catch up with him.

The Congress scion has been on his luxurious ‘Padyatra’ in Telangana for the past 5 days. He is likely to address a meeting at Solipur junction at Shadnagar today. Rahul Gandhi’s theatrics to stay under the spotlight did not miss the common eye, who took to Twitter to troll him mercilessly.

After NDTV published the said video on social media, netizens were quick to call out his early morning political posturing. “Ye kaunsa maal phoonk raha hai savere severe (What are you smoking early morning)?” asked one Aditya Narayan Naik.

“Incidentally, one reporter asked him about his strategy for upcoming Gujarat & HP elections just before this video,” wrote Paras Jain.

“Same speed he ran from Amethi to Wayanad,” another user reminded the Congress scion of his 2019 loss to Smriti Irani.

“Kidhar bagh raheho Rahul Baba piche Modiji hy kya! (Where are you running? Is PM Modi after you?)” asked another Twitter user.

“And he thinks by this he will become the next pm,” one Twitter user chose to rub salt on the wounds of the Congress party.

To troll Rahul Gandhi, one user shared an image of PM Narendra Modi with the caption ‘Oh my God.’

Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in 2024, the Congress party is fighting for its survival. Having steadily lost relevance among the electorates under the leadership of the Gandhi family, the grand old party is making a last-ditch effort to turn its political fortunes. So much that after 20 years, the party had elections for post of party president where a Gandhi family loyalist, Mallikarjun Kharge, was ‘elected’ with overwhelming majority after the Gandhis backed him.

Dubbed as ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, Congress kickstarted its 3,570-km march from Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu on September 7 this year. The march will last over 5 months and will cover 12 States before terminating at Srinagar.

Rahul Gandhi and 118 other Congress leaders are walkingwalk 22-23 km daily in two batches, one from 7 am – 10:30 am and again from 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm. The party is hoping to mobilise the masses during its evening sessions.

Survey reveals over 7,500 madarsas are unrecognised in Uttar Pradesh

OpIndia Staff
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Survey reveals over 7,500 madarsas are unrecognised in Uttar Pradesh

A recent survey conducted by the Uttar Pradesh State Government identified over 7,500 unrecognized madarsas in the state, said State Minority Welfare Minister Dharam Pal Singh. The survey is being conducted in order to grant recognition to unrecognized madarsas that meet the government’s specified prerequisites.

“A high-powered committee will now decide on them,” Dharm Pal Singh told the media.

Only after all the district magistrates submit their reports by November 15 will the final list of unrecognized madrasas be released.

Iftikhar Ahmed Javed, Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education, stated that while the process of determining the exact numbers will take time, they have estimated that there are around 7,500 such madarsas that were surveyed by teams in 75 districts by Thursday.

“There are 16,513 recognized madrassas in Uttar Pradesh, of which 560 were provided government grants in form of salary to teaching and non-teaching employees. The pay scale of the teaching staff of 560 madarsas is similar to those in central government schools,” Chairman Javed said.

The madarsa modernization scheme provides grants for Shiksha Mitra to 744 madarsas, as well as a scholarship to meritorious students from all authorized madarsas.

Madarsas meeting government-mandated criteria such as basic facilities like proper classrooms, furniture for madarsa students, drinking water, fans, lights, toilet, and others were given grants.

They can also apply for payment for both teaching and non-teaching employees. According to a government spokesman, Gorakhpur has 150 unauthorised madarsas, Lucknow, Azamgarh, Varanasi, and Mau have 100, Aligarh has 90, Kanpur has 85, Prayagraj has 70, and Agra has 35 such madarsas.

The Uttar Pradesh government had on September 1 announced that it would survey unrecognized madarsas of the state to ascertain information such as details of teachers and students, curriculum, and its affiliation with any non-government organization.

Danish Azad Ansari, Minister of State for Minority Affairs, had stated that the survey would be carried out in accordance with the requirements of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which wants to check on the basic facilities provided to students in madrasas. The minister went on to say that the survey would help gather additional information such as the name of the madarsa and the institution that runs it, whether it is run in a private or rented building, and information about basic facilities such as drinking water, furniture, electricity, and toilets, among other things.

Conducting a survey amidst a heated political war of words and calls from several Islamist leaders to ‘welcome’ survey teams with shoes and slippers was certainly not a cakewalk. Maulana Sajid Rashidi, the President of the All India Imam Association cornered the UP government for surveying the unrecognized madarsas. On September 14, he appealed to the madarsa authorities to welcome the state surveying authorities with slippers, and shoes and bash them with the 2009 law related to madarsas.

Alt News’ Mohd Zubair shares misinformation about railway platform ticket during Diwali festive rush, here is the truth

OpIndia Staff
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Alt News’ Mohd Zubair shares misinformation about railway platform ticket during Diwali festive rush, here is the truth

On October 29, Alt News’ co-founder Mohammed Zubair quoted a Congress supporter Gautam Trivedi who had shared a platform ticket of Lucknow Railway Station. Trivedi had paid Rs 100 for 2 hours on the platform. Zubair wrote, “Smile, you are in Lucknow.” The idea behind the Tweet and what Zubair wrote was to point out the increased price of the platform ticket, which was previously Rs 30. However, it was a misleading tweet, and the alleged fact-checker did not care to explain the reality.

Alt News’ Mohammed Zubair shared a misleading tweet about the platform ticket price. Source: Twitter

Twitter user The Hawk Eye pointed out the ticket price was temporarily increased from Rs 30 to Rs 50 to tackle the Diwali festive rush. Furthermore, the ticket shown in the image was for two persons that neither Zubair nor Trivedi bothered to mention.

Upon investigation into the matter, OpIndia found that on October 26, it was reported that the Northern Railway increased the price of the platform ticket rate to Rs 50, which was previously Rs 30. On October 25, Divisional Railway Manager Suresh Kumar Sapra informed on social media that the platform ticket price at selected railway stations was increased from Rs 30 to Rs 50. The increased price would be applicable between October 26 to November 5. The decision was taken to ensure the smooth movement of passengers.

When a netizen questioned him about the intention behind the increased price, he categorically mentioned that it was done to discourage non-passengers from visiting the platform and reduce overcrowding. Those with valid tickets do not need to pay for the platform ticket. Only those who visit the railway station to see off the passengers are required to pay for the platform ticket.

The stations charging additional fees in Northern Railway are Lucknow Junction (Jn), Varanasi Jn, Barabanki Jn, Ayodhya Cantt, Ayodhya, Akbarpur, Shahganj, Jaunpur Jn, Sultanpur Jn, Raebareli, Janghai, Bhadohi, Pratapgarh, and Unnao. The price was hiked from Rs 20 to Rs 30 for a month on October 2. Sapra was quoted by Hindustan Times saying, “Efforts are also being made to provide passenger facilities systematically in the wake of festivals like Bhai Dooj and Chhath.”

Furthermore, Northern Railway is not the only division that increased the price. Western Railway also announced a hike on October 22, where the platform ticket price was increased from Rs 10 to Rs 50. Several divisions of Indian Railways announced the hike on selected Railway Stations depending on the footfall. For example, Southern Railway increased the price from Rs 10 to Rs 20, which will remain applicable till January 1, 2023. Central Railway increased the price from Rs 10 to Rs 50 until October end.

In conclusion, the price hike on selected railway stations was announced only for a limited period to avoid overcrowding. The tweet by Alt News’ Mohammed Zubair was misleading.

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