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Who is Meenakshi Jain, the newly nominated Rajya Sabha MP whose books countered the lies and anti-Hindu propaganda of leftist historians

OpIndia Staff
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Who is Meenakshi Jain, the newly nominated Rajya Sabha MP whose books countered the lies and anti-Hindu propaganda of leftist historians

Eminent historian, Dr Meenakshi Jain, has been nominated by President Droupadi Murmu to the Rajya Sabha on Saturday (12th July). Jain has served as an Associate Professor of History in Gargi College at the University of Delhi. She has authored various books relating to Indian civilisation, religion and politics.

Her nomination to the Rajya Sabha is a significant step towards recognising scholarship having indigenous perspectives. In 2020, she was conferred the Padma Shri by the Government of India for her exceptional contribution to the field of history. Some of her textbooks have been included in the school curriculum.

Dr Jain is also a former member of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library and the Governing Council of the Indian Council of Historical Research. Currently, Jain is a Senior Fellow of the Indian Council of Social Science Research. Her areas of research include cultural and religious developments in medieval and early modern India.

Dr Jain has done extensive research on various historical topics and has a vast body of work on issues relating to medieval and modern Indian history. Her historical works include, Flight of Deities and Rebirth of Temples (2019), The Battle for Rama: Case of the temple at Ayodhya (2017), Sati: Evangelicals, Baptist Missionaries and the changing Colonial Discourse (2016), Rama and Ayodhya (2013), Parallel Pathways: Essays on Hindu –Muslim Relations (1707-1857) (2010).

Jain’s works cover a wide range of topics in Indian history, including the practice of Sati, ancient temples, and India’s rich religious heritage, but her works on the Ayodhya Ram Temple stand out. Through her meticulously researched works, she presented a scholarly rebuttal to the established leftist narratives propagated by the likes of Romila Thapar and Irfan Habib, who distorted historical facts relating to the issues of national and civilizational importance like the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

How Dr Jain exposed the left-narrative on the Ram Temple in Ayodhya

Dr Meenakshi Jain presented arguments founded on historical evidence in favour of the Ram Temple in her books on the Ayodhya dispute,  Rama and Ayodhya (2013) and The Battle for Rama: Case of the Temple at Ayodhya (2017). Her books cleared the way for the Supreme Court judgment on the Ayodhya dispute in 2019, which held that a Ram Temple historically existed at the Janmabhoomi site. In her works on the Ram Temple, she also exposed how the so-called historians of the left distorted the truth and how the historical and government documents were tampered with after the British considered the site the birthplace of Lord Ram. According to Jain, all the literary evidence before 1989, when the left-historian hijacked the narrative about the Ram Temple, pointed to the fact that Babri Masjid was built on the site of a Hindu temple.

She said that a strong section of Muslims wanted the Ayodhya Ram Temple site to be handed over to the Hindus. But these left historians kept the dispute alive by convincing the Muslims that they had a strong case against the Ram Temple and promised to provide them with evidence for it.

Dr Jain’s latest book on the history of ‘Kashi’

In her latest book, “Vishwanath Rises and Rises” (2024), Jain writes about the history of one of the world’s oldest and holiest cities, Kashi. In the book, she gives an account of centuries of invasions and desecrations beginning from the early Islamic invasions till the destruction of the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir in 1669. She throws light on the unwavering commitment of Hindus, who made repeated attempts to rebuild their temples in Kashi, which were destroyed by the Muslim invaders. She cites, inter alia, the temple restoration efforts of Ahilyabai Holkar and the Marathas.

Indian Army conducts surgical strikes on ULFA-I and NSCN-K camps in Myanmar using over a hundred UAVs, ULFA-I says thee senior leaders killed

OpIndia Staff
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Indian Army conducts surgical strikes on ULFA-I and NSCN-K camps in Myanmar using over a hundred UAVs, ULFA-I says thee senior leaders killed

Indian Army conducted major surgical strikes on ULFA-I (United Liberation Front of Asom- Independent) and NSCN-K (National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang) bases inside Myanmar territory on early hours of Sunday. As per reports, India forces launched a series of drone strikes on the militant bases. ULFA-I said that it lost three senior leaders in the strike.

The strikes targeted camps in the Naga Self-Administered Zone near the India-Myanmar border. As per sources, over a hundred unmanned aerial vehicles were used in the surgical strikes. The operation was reportedly carried out in close coordination with the Myanmar military.

Some of the camps targeted by strike were ULFA-I’s Eastern Command Headquarters (ECHQ) at Hoyat Basti and the 779 Camp located at Waktham Basti. Two other camps of the outfit were also attacked in the operation. It is believed that ULFA-I’s top commander Nayan Medhi, alias Nayan Asom, may have been killed in the strike. He is considered a key strategist and military trainer of the banned outfit led by Paresh Baruah.

Similarly, some several NSCN-K camps were also hit in the drone attack.

ULFA-I confirmed the drone strikes in a press statement, saying that the attacks were carried out with drones in the early hours at several mobile camps. The outfit said that while one senior leader has been killed, around 19 others were injured.

The statement said that the strikes from 2 AM to 4 AM targeted the its camps along with nearby camps of RPF and PLA near the Nagaland-Myanmar border and Arunachal-Myanmar border. As per ULFA-I, drones made in Israel and France were used in the strike.

However, defence forces have not confirmed any such operation till now.

Notably, the outfit later claimed that while the last rites of Nayan Asom was going on, the camp was hit by a missile. The statement said that Brigadier Ganesh Asom and Colonel Pradip Asom were killed in the subsequent missile attack. ULFA-I said that airstrikes on its camps are still going on. The outfit vowed to take revenge for the strike.

The drone raid is a major operation by Indian forces on separatist groups in the north east after a long time. The region in Myanmar the Indian border has been used by the separatist groups in the region to set up camps for a long time. However, no major cross-border operation was carried out by India earlier.

Similar strikes were carried out on militant camps in Bhutan by Royal Bhutan Army in collaboration with Indian Army in 2003.

Axiom Mission 4 piloted by Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to undock from International Space Station on 14th July, splashdown in Pacific the next day

ANI
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Axiom Mission 4 piloted by Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla to undock from International Space Station on 14th July, splashdown in Pacific the next day

IAF Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station (ISS), is set to return to Earth tomorrow, July 14, along with his crew from Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4).

The crew is scheduled to undock from the ISS at around 4:35 PM IST, with splashdown expected in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California at approximately 3 PM IST on Tuesday, July 15.

The return journey aboard the Dragon spacecraft will take around 22 hours, concluding their nearly 18-day mission aboard the ISS.

The Ax-4 crew includes Commander Peggy Whitson, Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut Slawosz “Suave” Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland, and HUNOR (Hungarian to Orbit) astronaut Tibor Kapu.

During their stay, the team conducted multiple scientific experiments and outreach activities aboard the orbiting laboratory.

A live farewell ceremony with NASA’s Expedition 73 crew is scheduled to take place at 08:55 AM CT (7:25 PM IST) tomorrow. In a post on X, Axiom Space said, “The Ax4 crew will soon conclude their mission aboard the ISS. Watch the farewell ceremony live tomorrow at 08:55 AM CT ahead of their scheduled undocking on Monday.”

The Dragon spacecraft will return with more than 580 pounds of cargo, including NASA hardware and data from over 60 experiments conducted during the mission.

On “flight day 18”, Kapu continued his work on the Fruit Fly DNA Repair study, investigating genetic stability under space radiation, and the VITAPRIC project, growing nutrient-rich plants for astronaut nutrition.

Group Captain Shukla, along with his team, tested Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) to assess their accuracy in microgravity, a critical step toward enabling diabetic individuals to participate in spaceflight, as part of the Suite Ride initiative.

Other studies on flight day 18 included Voyager Displays, examining eye movement and coordination, and ENPERCHAR, exploring astronaut perception in microgravity.

The Neuromotion VR study assessed attention and motor skills, while the Suit Fabric Study gathered data on heat transfer, impacting spacesuit design and terrestrial applications.

The crew also worked on the AstroMentalHealth and EEG Neurofeedback projects, which focused on mental health and stress reduction, respectively.

Axiom Mission 4 was launched on June 25 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The Dragon spacecraft successfully docked with the ISS on June 26 at 4:05 pm IST, ahead of schedule, connecting to the space-facing port of the station’s Harmony module.

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

Uttar Pradesh: Kasib Pathan pretends to be ‘Shiv Verma’ to entrap Hindu woman, rapes and blackmails her, forces the victim to convert to Islam

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Kasib Pathan pretends to be ‘Shiv Verma’ to entrap Hindu woman, rapes and blackmails her, forces the victim to convert to Islam

On Saturday (12th July), a shocking case of love jihad came to light in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. A Hindu girl has narrated that Mohammad Naved aka Kasib Pathan entrapped her by hiding her religion and then raped, blackmailed and pressured her to convert to Islam.

Trapped the victim with fake ID

According to the victim, she met Kasib Pathan on Facebook and Instagram two years ago. Pathan disguised himself using a fake Hindu ID of Shiv Verma. The accused called himself a Hindu and won her trust by wearing a tilak and kalawa and by taking oaths of Hindu gods and goddesses. By giving the false promise of marriage, Pathan had physical relations with the victim. He started blackmailing her by making obscene videos using a hidden camera.

Content of FIR

On Saturday, 12th July, 2025, The victim lodged an FIR against Kasib Pathan (the main accused), Kaif, Saman( Kasib’s brothers), Akhil(Kasib’s friend), Aalam Khan and Ujma Khan (Kasib’s parents). In that FIR the victim explained.

Kasib rented a room in Mohalla Sinjai, Shahjahanpur, where he made physical relations with the victim under his alias name ‘Shiv Verma’.

Only 3 months ago, she came to know that he is not a Hindu but a Muslim. When the victim got pregnant due to physical relations, Kasib and his family members, including his brothers Kaif and Saman and his parents Aalam Khan and Ujma Khan, together pressured her to abort the child.

When she opposed, Kasib kicked her in the stomach, causing her three-month-old pregnancy to be aborted. After this, she was forced to convert to Islam and live with him as a slave. When she refused, she was threatened with death. OpIndia has the copy of this FIR.

Conspiracy to trap Hindu girls in Love Jihad

On Friday, 11th July, during a mobile investigation done by the victim. It was revealed that Kasib, his brother Kaif and their friend Akhil were conspiring to trap Hindu girls in Love Jihad.

The conspiracy came to light after obscene images and videos of Laxmi, Medha and hundreds of girls were found in the accused’s phone. When she asked about the images and videos the victim was brutally beaten.

The accused told her that making sexual relations with Hindu girls is a very virtuous act for Muslims and she can’t stop her.

Negligence of Police

After the news of the case came to light, Hindu organisations protested outside Chowk Kotwali. They accused the police of negligence and demanded immediate arrest of all the accused and strict action.

For now, no police or administrative officer has given any reaction in this matter. Due to their ignorance, anger is increasing among the local people.

Who is Sadanandan Master, the newly nominated Rajya Sabha MP whose legs were chopped off by CPIM goons

OpIndia Staff
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Who is Sadanandan Master, the newly nominated Rajya Sabha MP whose legs were chopped off by CPIM goons

On Saturday (12th July), President Droupadi Murmu nominated C Sadanandan Master, a schoolteacher whose legs were chopped by CPIM goons, to the Rajya Sabha.

C. Sadanandan, who is popularly known as Maash” (Master), is a teacher at a school in the Thrissur district of Kerala. His nomination to the Rajya Sabha is special, as it is not just a recognition of his contribution to public life and education but also to his personal struggles.

C. Sadanandan entered the national scene after surviving one of the most horrific political attacks in the tumultuous history of Kerala.

On the night of 25th January, 1994, at the age of 30, Sadanandan was ambushed by CPI(M) goons near his home village of Perinchery. In a shocking act of political violence, they chopped off both his legs and left him bleeding on the roadside as a warning to those switching political sides.

Recalling that night, he once shared how no one dared to help him because of fear. It was only when the police arrived on the scene, maybe fifteen minutes later, that I was whisked off to the hospital. By then, I had lost consciousness.

But that terrible night didn’t stop him from moving forward. He returned to teaching in 1999 and still works as a social science teacher at Sree Durga Vilasam Higher Secondary School in Peramangalam.

Over time, he also became an active part of the BJP and contested elections from the Koothuparambu constituency in 2016 and 2021.

In his youth, Sadanandan leaned towards communist ideas, just like many young people in Kerala. But things changed for him when he started reading more about the RSS and its views on cultural nationalism. 

He was especially moved by poet Akkitham’s article ‘Bharata Darshanangal’ and joined the RSS in 1984, even though his family had strong Left roots. His father was a retired teacher and a CPI(M) supporter, and his brother was also an active party worker at the time.

Today, apart from teaching, Sadanandan is the state vice-president of the National Teachers Union in Kerala. He also edits its magazine Deshiya Adhyapaka Vartha and is part of the Bharatiya Vichara Kendram, an RSS-affiliated intellectual group. 

He is married to his college love, Vanitha Rani, who is also a teacher, and their daughter Yamuna Bharati is studying BTech and is active in the ABVP student organisation.

From surviving a brutal attack to being nominated to the Rajya Sabha, Sadanandan Master’s life is a story of strength, hope, and transformation.

‘Advisory, not mandatory’: Air India responds to FAA bulletin on fuel switch, says all directives complied with

OpIndia Staff
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‘Advisory, not mandatory’: Air India responds to FAA bulletin on fuel switch, says all directives complied with

In a revelation that has sent shockwaves through aviation circles, India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has released its preliminary findings on the crash of Air India Flight AI171, which tragically claimed 260 lives last month. Among the most startling disclosures in the 15-page report is that the fuel control switches, critical components that regulate engine power—were found to have moved from the “RUN” to the “CUTOFF” position moments before the aircraft went down.

The incident occurred shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, with the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner en route to London. The aircraft had reached its top recorded speed when, according to flight data, Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel switches transitioned to CUTOFF sequentially, within one second of each other. This effectively cut off fuel supply to the engines in mid-air. The switches then reverted to RUN, and the engines appeared to respond, gathering thrust. But the recovery was short-lived.

A chilling distress call, “MAYDAY MAYDAY MAYDAY” was transmitted. Then, silence.

The FAA bulletin that raised early flags

The AAIB report references a 2018 Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) issued by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which flagged the “potential disengagement of the fuel control switch locking feature” on certain Boeing aircraft. While the SAIB was not designated as an Airworthiness Directive, which would have made compliance mandatory, it nonetheless highlighted the possibility of inadvertent switch movement during flight, a scenario that now appears eerily prescient.

The FAA had based its SAIB on operator reports from Boeing 737 models, where some fuel switches were installed with disengaged locking mechanisms. However, since the issue did not meet the FAA’s threshold for a mandatory safety directive, airlines were left to act—or not—at their discretion.

Advisory, Not Mandatory: The grey zone

Air India informed investigators that while it was in full compliance with all mandatory airworthiness directives and service bulletins for the aircraft, it had not conducted inspections suggested in the 2018 SAIB. It said the bulletin was “advisory and not mandatory.”

Maintenance records further revealed that the aircraft’s throttle control module had been replaced in both 2019 and 2023, yet no known procedural lapses or regulatory violations occurred during those changes. In short, no corners were cut, no rules were broken, just a safety recommendation, sitting in the grey zone of aviation protocol, unheeded by the industry at large.

The unanswered question in the cockpit

Perhaps the most haunting line in the AAIB’s report is not found in the technical data, but in the cockpit conversation captured before impact. One pilot is heard asking the other: “Why did you cut off fuel?” The reply: “I didn’t.”

The preliminary report does not speculate on whether the fuel cutoff was intentional, accidental, or triggered by a system malfunction. It offers no conclusion or blame, but paints a sobering picture: two pilots fighting to regain control as their engines lost power, not to mechanical failure or external attack, but to something as deceptively simple as a switch flip.

Boeing and Air India respond

Boeing, in a statement, said it is fully supporting the investigation and remains in close contact with its customer. “Our thoughts remain with the families and loved ones affected by this tragedy,” the company stated.

Air India, for its part, reiterated that it is cooperating fully with the AAIB and all other relevant authorities, adding that it is working with regulators to enhance procedural safety where necessary.

A tragedy in the gaps

The crash of AI171 stands as a grim reminder that in aviation, safety often lies not just in what is required but in what is recommended. When lives hang in the balance at 30,000 feet, even an advisory can mean the difference between flight and free fall.

For now, the investigation continues. But one truth is already clear: a switch meant to power engines may have instead powered tragedy.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurates India’s first water technology park near Guwahati, to empower fish farmers with cutting edge technologies

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Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurates India’s first water technology park near Guwahati, to empower fish farmers with cutting edge technologies

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday inaugurated India’s first water technology park named ‘Aqua Tech Park’ established through collaborative efforts at Bagibari Sonapur.

The ‘Aqua Tech Park’ set up by Kolong-Kapili in association with NABARD, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Fishery Department and Selco Foundation, the Aqua Tech Park the first of its kind in Assam.

The park showcases advanced technologies in aquaponics, biofloc system, modern fish production, ornamental fish breeding and other innovative areas.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister of Assam said that, the Aqua Tech park will aim at empowering fish farmers with knowledge of cutting edge technologies that will enhance fish production and boost the income of the fish farmers.

He also said that the park is a way forward to resurgent Assam and Atmanirbhar Assam.

“Assam is a state rich in rivers. However, in spite of this, the state is dependent on state like Andhra Pradesh for meeting its fish demands. In this context, the initiative taken by Kolong-Kopili deserves accolades. For the last one and a half decade Kolong-Kopili has been a source of inspiration to the youth across the state. For the last 17 years, Kolong-Kopili by rendering training to different stakeholders on modern techniques of fish production impacted the lives of the entrepreneurs and fish farmers of the state positively. By introducing innovation, Kolong-Kopili has added a new dimension to fish farming and the economy dependent on fish,” the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister said that in the year 2021 Kolong-Kopili with assistance from ICAR and CIFR started its Aqua Culture School and made an important contribution to fish farming, natural farming, fish fry production, and integrated agriculture system which led to empowerment of thousands of youths.

The Chief Minister expressed hope that the Aqua Tech Park would prove to be a boon to the farmers and other stakeholders.

He also said that the Aqua Tech Park, will also greatly boost fish production and provide ample earning opportunities to the fish farmers of Assam. “This park will be a model of fisheries development in the state,” the Chief Minister exhorted.

Stating that Assam holds tremendous possibility in the field of fishery, the Chief Minister said that between 2019 and 2024, Assam doubled its fish production to 4.99 lakh MT and became the fourth largest fish producing state in India.

“Government along with other stakeholders is working dedicatedly to make Assam among the top five states in the country, in every field. Rs. 800 crore ADB assisted project has been initiated in the state to support Sustainable Wetland and Integrated Fisheries Transformation Project. Moreover, the JICA aided Rs. 250 crore project also helped in taking many others schemes for the development of fishery sector in the state,” he said.

Additionally, Sarma added that with the synergy of the conventional agriculture system and modern technology, State government in the current financial year created 10 fishery cluster development project involving a financial outlay of Rs. 8 crore. Moreover, he said that the double engine government has taken various steps to develop the fisheries sector in the State through schemes like PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, SWIFT, among others. With all these initiatives, the government is not just rejuvenating the fisheries sector in Assam but making it competitive nationally, Dr. Sarma added.

Citing the examples of Debojit Barman of Nalbari, Hemanta Deka and Fatik Ahmed of Barpeta, Biswajit Bora of Sonitpur, Sudipa Dey of Cachar, Harendranath Rabha of Tamulpur, Krishna Gogoi of Jorhat, Lalit Dutta of Golaghat, Chief Minister called upon the youth of the state to come forward and tap the potential of fishery sector.

He said that under Mukhyamantri Atmanirbhar Asom Abhiyan, State government is giving Rs. 5 lakh to each of the graduates passed out from Raha Fishery College and Rs. 2 lakh to fishery farmers. He also said that from September onwards one lakh youth of state would be given financial benefits under the scheme (CMAAA).

Director Kolong-Kopili Jyotish Talukdar gave the welcome speech in the programme, which was also addressed among others by Fishery Minister Krishnendu Paul, MLA Dispur Atul Bora, Chief General Manager NABARD Regional Office Assam Loken Das. Vice Chairman Assam Fisheries Development Corporation Nabarun Medhi, Director Fishery Gauri Shankar Das, and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

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

Shimla: Boutique owner Mohammad Shahdab enters Hindu female employee’s house and tries to molest her, case filed, Hindu groups launch protest

OpIndia Staff
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Shimla: Boutique owner Mohammad Shahdab enters Hindu female employee’s house and tries to molest her, case filed, Hindu groups launch protest

Tension has erupted in the Kusumpti area of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, following a reported case of sexual assault by a migrant boutique owner. Mohammad Shahdab, who owns the “Sania Fashion Boutique” with his brother Bilal, allegedly molested a woman in her home. On 6th July, Shahdab allegedly entered the home of a Hindu woman employee at his boutique and attempted to sexually assault and attack her.

The woman further accused Shahdab of threatening to kill her and blackmailing her by telling her that he would post her photos and videos online if she reported him.

Witnesses say the woman, a Hindu, was employed in the boutique and would take clothes home to complete stitching. Individuals around her describe that Shahdab was attempting to emotionally blackmail her and trap her in a fake relationship. Locals have reported that it is a case of “Love Jihad“.

A viral video of the protest on social media showing the outraged citizens of Kusumpti Market calling for the arrest of the accused within 24 hours. Protesters also chanted slogans and added that such individuals should not be permitted to open shops in their area.

The woman reportedly visited the boutique two days after the incident to pick up some of her belongings. There, Bilal threatened her and asked her not to file a complaint with the police. On Friday,11th July, the woman finally went to the police station with members of the Devbhoomi Sangharsh Samiti and filed a formal complaint. The group threatened to hold a large-scale protest if the accused were not arrested immediately. They are also calling for the shutdown of the boutique and action against “migrant elements” involved in similar crimes.

BJP District President Shri Keshav Chauhan also raised the concern about the matter and shared a post on his social media account.

He says, “It is concerning that no action has been taken so far. The BJP demands the immediate arrest of the accused and strict action against him. Such incidents are increasing in Shimla, and some outsiders are trying to disturb the atmosphere. There is a need for strict action in such cases.”

Cuttoff at takeoff: Did a Boeing system malfunction doom Air India flight AI171? Read the critical role of engine fuel switches and what the AAIB crash report uncovered

OpIndia Staff
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Cuttoff at takeoff: Did a Boeing system malfunction doom Air India flight AI171? Read the critical role of engine fuel switches and what the AAIB crash report uncovered

Weeks after the tragic crash of Air India flight AI171 on June 12, which left 260 dead and scores injured, a key detail from the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB0 had triggered serious debate about the possible causes for the mishap. The report revealed that both engine fuel control switches transitioned from “RUN” to “CUTOFF” within seconds of takeoff, leaving the pilots helpless as both engines lost power almost simultaneously. 

This moment of confusion was record by cockpit voice recorder, with one pilot asking another if he had flipped the fuel switch, to which the other emphatically responds, “I didn’t.” The revelation has raised alarm bells about the aircraft’s systems, particularly the functioning of the fuel switches, and whether a technical malfunction, rather than human error, was responsible for the gruesome tragedy. 

Engine fuel control levers or fuel switches, as they are popularly referred to, are crucial part of a modern airliner’s engine management system. In connection with the AI171 crash, which included a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, each engine has a dedicated fuel switch located in the cockpit, typically on the center console. 

What are fuel switches in an aircraft?

These switches regulate the flow of fuel from the aircraft’s tanks to its engines, which provides the sheer thrust needed to defy gravity and lift hundreds of tonnes of metal into the sky. In essence, the “RUN” mode allows for uninterrupted fuel flow, keeping the engine alive.

The “CUTOFF” mode, on the other hand, shuts off that supply completely, killing the engine midstream. It is a switch that’s only meant to be used during shutdown or under rare emergency conditions. The importance of this system and the risks associated with its sudden malfunction, cannot be overstated.

During key periods of flight, these switches play an important role. When the pilot start the aircraft on ground, they first bring engine rotation speed up to required levels and then flip the fuel switches to “RUN” to ignite the engines. During normal flight, including takeoff, the switches are kept in the “RUN” position at all times. Moving them to “CUTOFF” is only done during engine shutdowns, such as at the end of a flight or in case of emergencies like an engine fire.

According to the AAIB report, Flight AI171 had accelerated to around 180 knots and had just lifted off when both engine fuel control switches inexplicably moved to “CUTOFF.” This happened within a second of each other, causing both engines to lose power almost instantly. The cockpit voice recorder captured one pilot asking the other, “Why did you cut off?”, to which the other replied, “I didn’t.” One of the pilots then attempted to restart the engines by moving the switches back to “RUN.” While one engine showed brief signs of recovery, the other did not respond. The aircraft rapidly lost altitude and crashed into a densely populated area near the airport.

This exchange, along with the near-simultaneous shutdown of both engines, has raised significant questions. Could one or both of the pilots have made a mistake during takeoff? Or was there a technical malfunction in the aircraft systems that caused the switches to move automatically?

Though pilot error is always a likelihood, as it with any other instance involving humans, it is noteworthy to mention that the AAIB is yet to reach such a conclusion just yet. The report has instead avoided attributing blame, highlighting only what is currently known and stating that the probe is ongoing.

What has gone largely underreported by several international media outlets is the fact that Boeing aircraft, including the 787 series, have previously been the subject of technical advisories related to fuel control systems. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued warnings in the past about certain Boeing models being vulnerable to what is known as “fuel lock” or inadvertent fuel cut-off issues—caused not by human error, but by faults in wiring, electronic engine control modules, or cross-system glitches that could send a false signal to the fuel switches.

In this context, the AI171 incident bears a worrying resemblance. Two highly trained pilots, both having hundreds of hours of flying time, and experienced with the 787, expressed confusion when the fuel supply was cut off. The fact that both switches moved nearly simultaneously could point to a technical failure rather than a human one, especially since modern aircraft systems are supposed to have safeguards to prevent such dual-engine shutdowns during critical phases of flight.

Moreover, the aircraft’s Ram Air Turbine (RAT), a backup emergency power system, was deployed automatically, indicating a complete loss of electrical and engine power. This further suggests that the problem may have been systemic, rather than isolated to one part of the cockpit.

Fuel control switches, by design, are not meant to be easily or accidentally moved during takeoff. Their positions are deliberate and guarded to prevent unintended action. For both switches to be flipped to “CUTOFF” seconds after takeoff, while the aircraft was at full thrust, is an extraordinary and dangerous occurrence—one that deserves rigorous investigation, not media speculation.

FAA’s warning about “fuel lock” in Boeing aircraft

In light of all this, the rush by several Western media outlets to cast doubt on the pilots’ actions appears premature and potentially irresponsible, perhaps deliberately done to protect Boeing from suffering material and reputational loss over its aircraft’s technical malfunctioning to cause the crash. By focusing on the cockpit conversation and omitting the technical context, especially the FAA’s previous warnings about similar issues with Boeing jets, these reports risk distorting public perception and potentially shielding the aircraft manufacturer from scrutiny.

Until the AAIB concludes its full investigation, any narrative that places blame on the flight crew without definitive evidence is not just speculative, but deeply unfair to the deceased pilots and their families. In fact, it could be safely assumed that any attempt to fix the blame before full investigation is a bid to pass the buck on to the slain pilots to shield the American aviation giant, Boeing. But as in aviation, truth must come from data, not from propaganda exercise.

Balrampur Islamic conversion racket: Jalaluddin ‘Chhangur Baba’ had links with the ISI, used Christian missionary network for his conversion activities

OpIndia Staff
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Balrampur Islamic conversion racket: Jalaluddin ‘Chhangur Baba’ had links with the ISI, used Christian missionary network for his conversion activities

The Balrampur Islamic conversion racket has turned out to be a huge Islamisation project being funded by several Islamic countries. The mastermind of the vicious Islamic conversion racket, Jalaludin alias Chhangur Baba, reportedly had links with Pakistan’s ISI. He also used a Christian missionary network for carrying out forced religious conversions.

Jalaluddin used Christian missionary networks

As per reports, Jalaluddin had connections with Christian missionary networks active in seven districts of Uttar Pradesh along the India-Nepal border. He used to pay members of these missionary networks in exchange for information about poor and vulnerable families that he could target for conversion. After getting the details of his targets, Jalaluddin used to approach them with lucrative offers and promises of a better life after conversion. His associate Neetu, who became Nasreen after converting to Islam, used to keep the account of the money spent on conversions.

A strong network of Christian missionaries reportedly exists in the Devipatan area of Uttar Pradesh. A large number of Christian missionaries of different ranks were appointed to target all the vulnerable sections, including the poor, marginalised people, sick people, and Dalits. These Christian missionaries had gathered information about all the vulnerable sections of people in this area. They shared this information with Jamaluddin for money.

Jalaluddin also had links with several Islamic organisations like the Saudi Arabia Islamic Development Bank, Muslim World League, Dawat-e-Islam and the Islamic Union of Nepal.

Jamaluddin’s ISI connection

Intelligence agencies have reportedly found Jalaluddin’s connection with the ISI. He was working towards changing the demography of Uttar Pradesh by converting people and spreading Islam. A former officer of the Intelligence Bureau, Santosh Singh, who worked along the India-Nepal border, said that Jalaluddin was an important part of ‘Mission Aabaad’. He used to get money for converting Hindu families to Islam. Singh said that a report about this was sent to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

The impunity with which Jalaluddin was able to operate his Islamic conversion network across various districts raises questions on the alertness or rather indicates complicity of the local administration. He also had links with gangsters and mafia, like Mukhtar Ansari.

Jalaluddin was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on 5th July for running an Islamic conversion racket that particularly targeted vulnerable Hindu women, whom he referred to as “project” in his code language. He used to give money to Muslim men to lure or coerce Hindu women to Islam. The prices were fixed based on the caste of the Hindu women.

ED joins investigation

Investigation into the activities of his conversion racket revealed that he received foreign funding over ₹100 crores from the Gulf countries. He set up fake trusts and businesses to whitewash this foreign funding. After the discrovery of massive amounts of foreign funding, the Enforcement Directorate has joined the investigation. During the intial investigation into the racket, the Uttar Pradesh Police had sought a multi-agency probe involving the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Around 40 bank accounts were marked by the agencies in which foreign money was funelled. Based on the FIR lodged by the UP ATS in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow in connection with the conversion racket, a case was registered by the ED’s Lucknow Zonal office on Wednesday (9th July) under the  Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

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