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Kerala: 15 members of banned Islamist outfit PFI convicted for the murder of OBC BJP leader Ranjith Sreenivasan

ANI
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Kerala: 15 members of banned Islamist outfit PFI convicted for the murder of OBC BJP leader Ranjith Sreenivasan

All 15 accused in the murder of BJP leader Ranjith Sreenivasan in Alappuzha in December 2021 were found guilty by the court on Saturday.

The Additional Sessions Court on Saturday convicted 15 SDPI (Social Democratic Party of India) – PFI (Popular Front of India) workers for the murder of BJP leader Ranjith Sreenivasan in Alappuzha.

The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on Monday.

The first eight accused, namely Nizam, Ajmal, Anoop, Muhammad Aslam, Salam Ponnad, Abdul Salam, Safaruddin and Manshad, were found guilty of murder.

The verdict was delivered by the Additional District Sessions Court I, Mavelikkara.

Ranjith Sreenivasan, the BJP OBC Morcha state secretary, was brutally attacked and killed in his home on December 19, 2021, in front of his family, allegedly by activists affiliated with the PFI and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI).

INS Sumitra rescues 19 Pakistan sailors kidnapped by Somali pirates, 2nd successful anti-piracy operation by the Indian Navy in the last 24 hours

OpIndia Staff
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INS Sumitra rescues 19 Pakistan sailors kidnapped by Somali pirates, 2nd successful anti-piracy operation by the Indian Navy in the last 24 hours

On Monday, January 30, the Indian Navy warship INS Sumitra successfully rescued a hijacked fishing vessel Al Naeemi and the 19 crew members onboard, all Pakistani nationals. The Pakistani vessel was hijacked by 11 Somali pirates, around 800 miles off the coast of Kochi, along the East Coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden.

This rescue operation occurred within 36 hours after INS Sumitra, which was deployed on anti-piracy operations, rescued another Iranian fishing vessel FV Iman with 17 crew members on board. In a total of 36 hours, INS Sumitra rescued two hijacked fishing vessels along with 36 crew, 17 Iranian and 19 Pakistani, in the southern Arabian Sea.

The Indian Navy took to social media to inform about both the anti-piracy operation successfully thwarted by INS Sumitra, the indigenous offshore patrol vessel of the Indian Navy, deployed for anti-piracy and maritime security operations in the east of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden. 

“#INSSumitra Carries out 2nd Successful #AntiPiracy Ops – Rescuing 19 Crew members & Vessel from Somali Pirates. Having thwarted the Piracy attempt on FV Iman, the warship has carried out another successful anti-piracy ops off the East Coast of Somalia, rescuing Fishing Vessel Al Naeemi and her Crew (19 Pakistani Nationals) from 11 Somali Pirates. #INSSumitra, post rescuing MV Iman, was again pressed into action to locate & intercept another Iranian flagged FV which had been boarded by pirates and her Crew taken hostage. Responding swiftly to the developing situation Sumitra intercepted the FV on PM 29 Jan 24 & through coercive posturing & effective deployment of her integral helo & boats compelled the safe release of the crew and the vessel. This rescue of hijacked Vessels, through swift, persistent and relentless efforts by Mission Deployed #IndianNavy warship in the Southern Arabian Sea approx 850 nm West of Kochi, also prevents misuse of Fishing Vessels as Mother Ships for further acts of Piracy on Merchant Vessels,” said the Indian Navy in a long statement and also shared pictures of the operation.

Notably, only on January 29, Sunday, INS Sumitra had responded to a distress call regarding the hijacking of FV Iman and safely rescued the crew members and arrested the hijackers.

Image source: ANI

In a post on Sunday, the Indian Navy spokesperson said, “A swift response by the Indian Navy’s mission-deployed warship ensures the safe release of the hijacked vessel and crew. INS Sumitra, on anti-piracy operations along the East coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, responded to a distress message regarding the hijacking of an Iranian-flagged Fishing Vessel (FV) Iman. The FV had been boarded by pirates, and the crew had been taken as hostages.

After that, the fishing vessel was sanitized and released for onward transit, the Navy added.

Image source: ANI

“The pirates have been disarmed and asked to move towards Somalia. The INS Sumitra has now moved out of the area. The ALH Dhruv choppers on board the warship had encircled the hijacked vessel to issue warnings to the pirates on board it,” said defence officials.

Image source: ANI

The development came as the Iran-backed Houthis launched fresh attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, especially those that were linked to Israel. They have threatened to attack any vessel they believe is either going to or coming from Israel. While earlier they attacked vessels directly linked to Israel, now they have started to attack any ship using that route.

On Friday, January 26, the British oil tanker MV Merlin Luanda was struck by a missile launched by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. Following this, the British oil tanker made a distressed call to the Indian Navy which in turn deployed its guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam to rescue lives at the high sea.

Earlier in January, INS Visakhapatnam addressed a distress call from the Marshall Island-flagged MV Genco Picardy. It was hit by a drone attack on the night of 17th January 17. INS Visakhapatnam has been currently on an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden. It promptly acknowledged the distress call by MV Genco Picardy. Subsequently, the destroyer intercepted the vessels at midnight on 18th January 2024, to provide immediate assistance.

Previously, the Houthis had attacked an oil tanker that had Indians aboard. On 24th December 2023, an oil tanker that had 25 Indians onboard was hit by a drone attack by the Houthis in the Red Sea. 

SP leader ST Hasan goes on another rant, says Muslims will not follow UCC, but Sharia and Quran, will also protest against CAA: Details

OpIndia Staff
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SP leader ST Hasan goes on another rant, says Muslims will not follow UCC, but Sharia and Quran, will also protest against CAA: Details

On 29th January, Samajwadi Party leader Syed Tufail Hasan (ST Hasan) said he would prefer the Quran over the Uniform Civil Code (UCC). He also protested against the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) saying that implementing CAA is the first step to bringing NRC and it is not acceptable and will be protested.

Will follow the Quran, not UCC

Speaking on the Uniform Civil Code, ST Hasan said that even if UCC gets implemented in the country, they [Muslims] will follow the Quran and not the law, if the law has anything which goes against Shariat. He said, “If UCC has different laws from Quran and Hadis we will not accept it. We are followers of the Quran and Hadis. We will go to any extent if our religion is attacked.”

He said that if there was anything which was against Sharia or the Quran in the UCC, Muslims would follow the Quran and Sharia, not the Uniform Civil Code.

‘They will bring NRC next and it is not acceptable’

On 28th January, Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shantanu Thakur said CAA would be implemented in the next seven days across the country. His statement stirred a police battle as CAA was opposed heavily when it was passed by the Parliament in 2019 leading to anti-Hindu riots in Delhi in February 2020.

Replying to Thakur’s statement, ST Hasan said first the government will bring CAA then they will bring NRC. “It is not acceptable to us. We will protest against it,” he said.”

CAA was passed by the parliament in December 2019 with 125 votes in its favour and 99 against. On 12th December, then-President of India Ramnath Kovind signed the bill and it became a law. The main aim of the law is to give citizenship to religious prosecuted Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Jains in neighbouring Muslim countries that are Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Though CAA has nothing to do with Indian Muslims or Muslims seeking Indian citizenship, opposition leaders and left-liberals projected as if it was a way to strip Indian Muslims of their citizenship. As a result, protests broke across the country leading to anti-Hindu riots in Delhi in February 2020.

Furthermore, it was claimed that NRC will be linked to CAA and Indian Muslims will be treated as aliens in the country. Interestingly, the government of India has yet to table a draft for NRC.

Notably, four states that are Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan and West Bengal have introduced resolutions against CAA claiming it was anti-Muslim. At that time, Rajasthan was under Congress’s rule. As now BJP is now in power, the state government may take back the resolution against CAA.

ST Hasan has a history of making controversial statements

ST Hasan has a long history of being surrounded by controversies. In June 2023, he opposed UCC and categorically said that Muslims will only follow the Quran. In a statement, he said, “Why does anyone have a problem if we apply Sharia law to ourselves?” He added, ““India is a land of unity is diversity. Our country is a bouquet of colourful flowers. When our country gained independence, Dr Ambedkar wrote that every person is free to practice and preach their religion. This is written in our constitution. Why is anyone bothered if we want to live our life as per Sharia.”

In June 2021, he claimed that deaths due to COVID-19 were the result of BJP messing with Sharia laws. While people were dying of the consequences of the disease, the SP leader found it to be the best time to make it about politics. He claimed the BJP passed the CAA which was against Muslims and it resulted in havoc as if God was punishing the people of India for “BJP’s wrongdoings”.

In May 2023, he made a bizarre statement claiming the government was spying on him because an “objectionable movie” started playing on his CCTV monitor. He said, “Suddenly an ‘objectionable film’ which cannot be watched with the family started playing on the CCTV monitor here, I tried to stop it, don’t know where the technology is heading. This TV you are seeing is also being monitored from somewhere else.”

In 2019, when the central government passed a law against triple talaq, ST Hasan went on a rant and said it was better to give “triple talaq” to the wife rather than setting them on fire. Earlier, he had once compared actresses to prostitutes.

Lord Ram was murderer, used to live with 1000 women and drink: Old video of DMK leader’s vitriolic Hinduphobic tirade goes viral

OpIndia Staff
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Lord Ram was murderer, used to live with 1000 women and drink: Old video of DMK leader’s vitriolic Hinduphobic tirade goes viral

A two-week-old video of Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (DMK) leader Uma Ilakkiya abusing Lord Ram has gone viral on social media.

Uma Ilakkiya is an anchor with DMK mouthpiece, Kalaignar Seithigal. She is also the Deputy General Secretary of the Dravidar Kazhagam Thamizhar Peravai.

While speaking at an event on 13th January this year, she was heard saying, “As per Valmiki Ramayanam, Rama was said to have lived with several thousands of women in the palace, making merry with drinks.”

“He had no courage to live so he committed suicide by drowning in the Sarayu river with his people…He was a murderer – he killed Vaali by hiding himself, and he beheaded Sambhukan when he was meditating without even enquiring the reason,” she brazened out.

Uma Ilakkiya further claimed, “He doubted his own wife and sent her to the forest, what will you show as an example of this Ram?” The DMK leader shamed the women who wanted to give birth on the day of Ram Mandir Pran Prathistha.

She continued, “When we say we want to name our children after a leader, we do it because we want the child to be like the leader. Some women want to give birth on that particular day, it is so startling. Why do they want to be associated with Rama? What kind of an example is he?”

Uma Ilakkiya compares Akshadai to Vaaikiarisi, makes anti-Brahmin remarks

Ahead of Ram Mandir Pran Prathistha, Hindu devotees went door to door distributing Akshadai (rice mixed with turmeric powder). Uma Ilakkiya claimed that the gesture was reminiscent of ‘Vaaikiarisi’ wherein rice grains are offered to the dead during the funeral.

“Along with the invitation they have given a few grains of rice mixed with turmeric powder. I immediately thought of something – were they planning to give “vaaikiarisi” to the entire country? For a temple being inaugurated there (in Ayodhya), why are they giving this yellow rice here? In the end that is all there is for you – this is what Modi and Amit Shah are trying to say symbolically,” she ranted.

The DMK leader also went on a tirade against Brahmins besides making derogatory remarks about Lord Ram. “Whether they are planning to bring in a Ram Rajya or a Hindurashtra, it is going to be a Brahmin Rajy,” she was heard saying.

Uma Ilakkiya cited anti-Hindu activist Periyar and claimed, “Schools will not be ours, courts are already like how Periyar said even if we bring in the laws, the ones sitting in courts will be Brahmins. Even temples will leave our hands.”

Udhayanidhi Stalin and his objectionable remarks against Sanatan Dharma

This is not the first time that a DMK leader has made objectionable remarks about Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma).

In September 2023, Udhyanidhi Stalin compared Sanatan Dharma with malaria and Covid-19 and called for the eradication of the 5000-year-old religion.

“Mosquitoes, dengue, flu, malaria, corona – we should not oppose these things. They’ve to be eradicated completely. The same is the case with Santanam (Hinduism). Our first work should be to abolish/eradicate Sanatanam instead of opposing it. So, my appreciation to you all for giving an apt title to the meeting,” he was heard saying.

Later, he went on a tirade against the Hindu civilisational religious philosophy on social media. While taking to X (formerly Twitter), Udhayanidhi Stalin wrote, “Sanatan Dharma is a principle that divides people in the name of caste and religion.”

“Uprooting Sanatan Dharma is upholding humanity and human equality…I spoke on behalf of the oppressed & marginalized, who suffer due to the Sanatan Dharma. I spoke on behalf of the oppressed & marginalized, who suffer due to the Sanatan Dharma,” he reiterated his sinister plan.

Pakistan: Security forces face three attacks in Balochistan’s Mach, BLA claims responsibility, says dozens of military personnel killed

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan: Security forces face three attacks in Balochistan’s Mach, BLA claims responsibility, says dozens of military personnel killed

On 29th January (local time), security forces in Balochistan’s Mach area neutralised three coordinated attacks by rebels. Provincial Interim Information Minister Jan Achakzai said in a social media post that the rebels retreated and security forces were actively pursuing them.

Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack. They targeted several installations but could not cause serious damage, as per Pakistan government’s claims. Dawn has reported that at least one railway police official lost life in the attacks.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Achakzai said, ” We remain hopeful that all threats will be eliminated before dawn.” There were reports that a few rockets were fired from the hilly areas of Mach. However, Achakzai confirmed there was no damage or casualties. The jail facility in the area remained unharmed which was confirmed by Mach Central Jail Superintendent Saleem Tareen. He said, ” The forces around the jail are fully alert.”

BOL Network’s journalist Ghulam Abbas Shah shared videos of the attack on X. In a post he said, “BLA terrorists attacked on three fronts، Two terrorists neutralized In Mach, terrorist have scattered but are unable to enter in FC Building and Mach Jail at Boland area, no casualties of Pakistani forces have occurred in the attack of BLA terrorists in Mach.”

In an official press release, BLA said they have killed at least 45 Pakistani military personnel. However, Pakistan has denied the claims.

Source: sadaezehri/Facebook

In another post, it was claimed that 55 Pakistani military personnel were killed and BLA was in possession of the bodies. Baloch Liberation Army’s Fadai Unit Majeed Brigade, Special Tactical Operations Squad, Fateh Squad were said to be involved in the attack.

Source: Facebook

Two individuals were injured in the attacks and were transferred to a trauma centre in Quetta. An emergency was declared in the hospitals in Quetta and Mach following the attack.

Initially, the militants were identified as members of the Aslam Acho, a banned group. However, the Majeed Brigade of BLA later claimed responsibility for the attack. Notably, the general elections in Pakistan are scheduled for 8th February and a terrorist attack just ten days before the elections have raised concerns in the hostile neighbour country. In the past few years, Pakistan has seen an increase in terror attacks specifically in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan regions. Not to forget, BLA demands the complete independence of Balochistan.

In a recent report by the Centre for Research and Security Studies, it was mentioned that 1,524 lives were lost and 1,463 individuals were injured in 789 terror attacks and counter-terror operations in 2023 alone. 90% of the fatalities and 84% of the attacks took place in KP and Balochistan.

Land for job scam: ED says Lalu-Rabri used their Gaushala to receive property as bribe, then transferred to daughter’s name

OpIndia Staff
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Land for job scam: ED says Lalu-Rabri used their Gaushala to receive property as bribe, then transferred to daughter’s name

A Special PMLA court in New Delhi has issued notices to Rabri Devi, Amit Katyal, Misha Bharti, Hema Yadav, Hridyanand Chaudhary and two companies to be present on 9th February for further trial in the land for jobs scam.

The notice was issued after the court took cognizance of the prosecution complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate on 8th January.

ED press release (source: ANI/X)

ED’s investigation was based on the FIR filed by the CBI in the same case. It was alleged that Lalu Prasad Yadav during his tenure as Railways Minister, indulged in corruption for appointments of Group D substitutes in the Indian Railways between 2004-2009.

According to the ED, Rabri Devi, Misha Bharti and Hema Yadav, who are also made accused, had received land parcels from family of candidates who were selected as Group D substitutes in Indian Railways, for nominal amounts.

It has now come to light that accused Hridyanand Chaudhary is a former employee in Rabri Devi’s gaushala. He had acquired property from one of the candidates and later transferred it to Hema Yadav.

The two shell companies named AK Infosystems Private Limited and AB Exports Pvt Ltd received proceeds of crime for Lalu Yadav’s family.

Immovable properties were acquired in the said companies by front men and thereafter shares were transferred to family members of Lalu Prasad Yadav for nominal amounts. Amit Katyal used to manage these companies for Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family.

ED had conducted search operations in 2023 which resulted in the seizure of cash of Rs 1 Crore approximately and valuables equivalent to about Rs. 1.25 Crore.

ED has also provisionally attached immovable properties worth Rs. 6.02 Crore. The agency arrested Amit Katyal in November 2023
for knowingly assisting Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family in money laundering. Amit Katyal is in judicial custody as on date.

Lalu Prasad Yadav was quizzed by the agency on Monday (29th January) at its Patna office for about 10 hours. Former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav has also been called for interrogation on Tuesday, 30th January.

Is Hemant Soren missing? BJP MP Nishikant Dubey says JMM preparing to make Kalpana Soren next CM as ED waits to interrogate

OpIndia Staff
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Is Hemant Soren missing? BJP MP Nishikant Dubey says JMM preparing to make Kalpana Soren next CM as ED waits to interrogate

On Monday, January 29, there was a media buzz that Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren is ‘missing’, and cannot be reached as ED wants to interrogate him. As per reports, an ED team had reached the Jharkhand CM’s residence but could not find him. He was reportedly unreachable.

The fact that a sitting CM was ‘unreachable’ and nobody knew where he was, was enough to create a buzz in media and social media. The office of the CM reportedly told that they are not aware of the CM’s whereabouts.

Later in the day, reports emerged that the Jharkhand CM was probably in the National Capital Region, and his last location was traced to Gurgaon. However, the ED was still unable to reach or contact him.

Hemant Soren has skipped ED summons 9 times already.

The BJP has termed Hemant Soren a ‘fugitive’ and party workers are protesting in the state capital Ranchi.

Nishikant Dubey says JMM is preparing to appoint Hemant’s wife Kalpana Soren as CM

Amid all the media speculations over Hemant Soren’s whereabouts and his alleged looming ‘arrest’ by ED, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey posted that the JMM is preparing to make Kalpana Soren the next CM. In a post on X, Dubey wrote, “A big advice to those who are doing wrong on the instructions of Chief Minister Hemant Soren ji, the CM is proving himself to be a fugitive, running away from facing the investigating agency, the man is facing insults in the country and abroad all day long. How will that man protect the officers or the people of the state?”

Dubey added, “Hemant Soren ji has called his own, JMM, Congress, and allied MLAs to reach Ranchi with their luggage and bags. According to the information, there is a proposal to make Kalpana Soren ji (Hemant Soren’s wife) the Chief Minister. The CM has said that fearing an ED interrogation, they will reach Ranchi by road and announce their arrival.”

What does the JMM say

While the ED team waited to contact the Jharkhand CM, his party, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha tried to clarify that the CM was away at Delhi for some personal work.

JMM General Secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya said that CM Soren was ready to appear before the Enforcement Directorate on January 31 in connection with a money-laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.

“CM has gone to Delhi for personal work, and he will return as well. He has been called on January 31. We are ready for January 31. You asked us to tell you the place and time, and we told you the place would be CM’s residence on Kanke Road and the time would be 1 pm. Who is creating all the confusion, then? The way the political situation is being presented is against democratic values,” Bhattacharya said.

Why was ED searching for Hemant Soren on Monday, January 29?

The Jharkhand CM is wanted for interrogation by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a major land scam case. Soren has already skipped 9 ED summons. The current summon to him is the 10th summon by the probe agency. As reported by ANI, the ED had written to Jharkhand CM asking him to provide a date for questioning on January 29 or 31, or else the agency itself will go to him for questioning, in connection with a money-laundering case linked to an alleged land scam.

Before that, Soren had ignored the January 22 summons by ED.

Earlier on January 22, ED issued a summons to Soren for the ninth time, asking him to be available for questioning between January 27 and 31 in the case.

Meanwhile, on January 20, the Enforcement Directorate arrived in Ranchi to question the Jharkhand Chief Minister in the land scam case. The eighth summons was issued to Soren on January 13, asking him to be available for questioning between January 16 to 20, in the case. ED had previously issued a summons to Jharkhand CM Soren’s press advisor, Abhishek Prasad, to join its investigation on January 16 into an alleged money laundering probe linked to an illegal mining case.

What is the Land Scam case

According to the Enforcement Directorate, the investigation pertains to a “huge racket of illegal change of ownership of land by the mafia” in Jharkhand. The ED officials are investigating the illegal purchase and sale of 4.55 acres of land under military control in Ranchi. 

the ED had opened a probe into three cases of land fraud based on numerous First Information Reports filed by the Jharkhand Police and the West Bengal Police against Pradip Bagchi, Bishnu Kumar Agarwal, Bhanu Pratap Prasad as well as others under various Indian Penal Code sections.

It is alleged that a massive mafia racket transferred land ownership illegally in Jharkhand. The government notification stated that “these criminal elements used to forge the legacy records in Ranchi and Kolkata.” Additionally, it was discovered that dishonest government employees had fabricated land ownership records to curry favor with the aforementioned land mafia.

Around 14 individuals have been arrested in this case so far including Bhanu Pratap Prasad, the Revenue Deputy Inspector of Badgai region in Ranchi. 

the Chief Minister’s name was mentioned in the statements of businessman Vishnu Agarwal and Revenue Sub-Inspector of Bargain Circle Bhanu Pratap Prasad. Currently, businessman Vishnu Agarwal is in ED custody in connection with the land scam case under the charges of money laundering. 

During the interrogation, Vishnu Aggarwal, the director of Nucleus Mall, reportedly revealed the name of Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

(With inputs from ANI)

UK: Indian-origin couple convicted for smuggling 514 kg of cocaine, UK had earlier refused to extradite them for murder of 12-year-old orphan. Read details

OpIndia Staff
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UK: Indian-origin couple convicted for smuggling 514 kg of cocaine, UK had earlier refused to extradite them for murder of 12-year-old orphan. Read details

On Monday (29th January), a United Kingdom court found an Indian-origin married couple guilty of smuggling 514 kg of cocaine worth ₹600 crore (£57 million) to Australia via commercial flights.

As per reports, the accused were identified as 59-year-old Arti Dhir and her 35-year-old husband Kavaljitsinh Raijada. The duo set up a front company named ‘Viefly Freight Services’ to smuggle drugs to Sydney from London.

They had packed the drugs under a shipment of metal toolboxes. In May 2021, the Australian Border Force intercepted the drug consignment and notified the UK authorities.

Drugs sent via courier to Australia, Image via NCA

The National Crime Agency (NCA) traced the drugs to Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Raijada. The latter’s fingerprints were discovered on the plastic wrapping of the consignment. The investigation agency also found receipts for the toolboxes at the home of the Indian-origin couple.

NCA also recovered gold-plated silver bars and millions of pounds of cash from their residence. It later emerged that the couple previously worked at a flight services company at Heathrow Airport and used the knowledge of airport freight procedures for drug smuggling.

Arti Dhir and Kavaljitsinh Raijada were convicted of 18 counts of money laundering and 12 counts of exportation by a jury at the Southwark Crown Court. Proceedings have been initiated to seize their illegally gained assets.

Cash recovered from the Indian-origin couple, images via NCA

Interestingly, the Indian government had sought the extradition of the duo in 2019 in connection to the murder of a 12-year-old orphan named Gopal Sejani and his brother-in-law Harsukhbhai Chaganbhal Kardani in Junagadh city of Gujarat on 8th February 2017.

The double murder was plotted by Arti Dhir to obtain proceeds from a ₹1.3 crore insurance policy that she took out in the name of the victim Gopal. She and her husband Raijada paid ₹5 lakh to one Nitish Mund to hire killers for the murder.

The extradition request by the Indian government was turned down by Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 2nd July 2019 on the basis that the duo had no prospect of early release if they were imprisoned in Gujarat.

This was despite assurances from the Indian government that the Indian-origin couple would be eligible to apply for early release.

Arti Dhir is a British Indian, who was born in Nairobi. Her family hails from Gurdaspur in Punjab. On the other hand, Kavaljitsinh Raijada is an Indian national who hails from Keshod in Gujarat.

Elon Musk announces Neuralink’s successful brain implant procedure in first human recipient

ANI
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Elon Musk announces Neuralink’s successful brain implant procedure in first human recipient

Elon Musk, the billionaire founder of Neuralink, announced on Monday that the first human recipient of an implant from the brain-chip startup underwent the procedure on Sunday and is recovering well.

Taking to social media, X, Musk posted, “The first human received an implant from @Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well.”

Neuralink was given clearance by the US Food and Drug Administration last year to conduct its first trial to test its implant on humans.

“Initial results show promising neuron spike detection,” Musk’s post added.

According to Neuralink’s website, it has received approval from the independent institutional review board.

The PRIME Study (short for Precise Robotically Implanted Brain-Computer Interface) – an investigational medical device trial for fully-implantable, wireless brain-computer interface (BCI) – aims to evaluate the safety of our implant (N1) and surgical robot (R1) and assess the initial functionality of our BCI for enabling people with paralysis to control external devices with their thoughts, according to the company’s website.

During the study, the R1 Robot will be used to surgically place the N1 Implant’s ultra-fine and flexible threads in a region of the brain that controls movement intention. Once in place, the N1 Implant is cosmetically invisible and is intended to record and transmit brain signals wirelessly to an app that decodes movement intention. The initial goal of our BCI is to grant people the ability to control a computer cursor or keyboard using their thoughts alone, it also said.

The PRIME Study is being conducted under the investigational device exemption (IDE) awarded by the FDA in May 2023 and represents an important step in our mission to create a generalised brain interface to restore autonomy to those with unmet medical needs, it added.

Musk and his company have already faced massive criticism for the trial of “brain chips” on lab animals. In February 2022, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine submitted a complaint alleging that Neuralink did “invasive and deadly brain experiments.”

By December of that year, the company was being investigated by federal authorities for potential violations of animal welfare standards, with documents indicating that the company had murdered around 1,500 animals, including rats, monkeys, pigs, and mice, since 2018.

Neuralink fought back against these very serious allegations claiming that the rhesus macaque monkeys under its care were “respected and honoured” by the team. (ANI)

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

West Bengal: Clashes erupt between police and BJP supporters in Barrackpore, BJP says CM Mamata Banerjee ordered the use of water cannons

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: Clashes erupt between police and BJP supporters in Barrackpore, BJP says CM Mamata Banerjee ordered the use of water cannons

On January 29, clashes ensued between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters and local police in Barrackpore, West Bengal, during the law violation program led by State BJP President Sukanta Majumdar.

BJP activists clashed fiercely when their march towards the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate was halted, protesting against a deterioration in the law and order situation in the region.

A large group of BJP supporters participated in a march, attempting to breach barricades until police intervention. The situation escalated, leading BJP protestors to throw stones, and prompting police to use tear gas to restore order, resulting in widespread chaos. Some BJP supporters sustained injuries during the clash, and the confrontation also disrupted vehicular traffic.

State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar criticised the West Bengal Police for their failure to apprehend a fugitive Trinamool Congress leader, Sheikh Shahjahan, who attacked ED officials during a raid and managed to evade arrest. Despite this, the police demonstrated audacity by intervening in a peaceful BJP protest, injuring women members in the process.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BJP secured victory in Barrackpore after Arjun Singh switched allegiance from Trinamool and contested on the saffron party’s ticket. Nevertheless, Mr Singh has now rejoined Trinamool, setting the stage for an intriguing contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha election for the seat.

Suvendu Adhikari, BJP leader and LoP in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly alleges that the use of water cannons against BJP workers in Barrackpore was directed by CM Mamata Banerjee. According to Adhikari, the incident involved unprovoked BJP workers, and despite the second barricade remaining intact, water cannons were deployed, resulting in injuries to 25 BJP workers.

On Police using water cannon against BJP workers in Barrackpore, West Bengal Legislative Assembly LoP and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari says, “The incident happened on the directions of CM Mamata Banerjee. They were unprovoked BJP workers. The second barricade was not broken, yet water cannons were used…25 BJP workers have been injured…”

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