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Assam govt sends high-level committee to Tamil Nadu to bring back the elephant Joymala after video of her brutal torture went viral

OpIndia Staff
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Assam govt sends high-level committee to Tamil Nadu to bring back the elephant Joymala after video of her brutal torture went viral

Assam govt has formed a four-member high-level committee to bring back Joymala, an elephant originally from Assam, from Tamil Nadu, after a video emerged showing horrific tortures of the elephant in a temple. The committee was formed in a meeting attended by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Environment and Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, after the video of created massive outrage in the state.

The meeting decided to send the four-member team to Tamil Nadu and inspect the condition of Joymala, discuss the matter with the Tamil Nadu government, and pave the way for the return of the elephant to Assam. The team consists of Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Hirdesh Mishra as team leader, Assam Agriculture University professor Dr. Kushal Kumar Sarma, Morigaon SP Aparna Natarajan and Tinsukia District Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Officer Dr. Rupjyoti Kakoti. The team is visiting Tamil Nadu today, 2nd September 2022.

Informing about the decision last night, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “We are against any form of cruelty to animals. Hence, reports of ill-treatment to Joymala, an elephant from Assam, in Tamil Nadu have pained us.” He informed that the decision to send the 4-member team to Tamil Nadu was taken in a meeting with Forest Department Officials in presence of Environment and Forest Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary.

The matter came to light last week after PETA India raised the issue. The video showing the horrific torture of Joymala, known as Jeymalyatha in Tamil Nadu, was published by Tamil Channel ABP Nadu on June 12 this year, but it went unnoticed at that time. It went viral in the last week of August after PETA India and several netizens started to post it on social media.

On August 26, PETA India shared the video on Twitter, saying that it shows a new mahout using pliers to twist the skin of the illegally held elephant. The video showed the mahout repeatedly beating the elephant with sticks, and stabbing her legs, while the animal screams in pain. It is also alleged that the mahout often hits her eyes with sticks, and her skin is torn with pliers.

The elephant is kept captive at the sanctum sanctorum of the Krishnan Kovil temple in Tamil Nadu, and the video shows that she is chained to the floor of the temple. The elephant is being subject to torture for a long time by different mahouts, and the latest mahouts also continued with that.

A PETA team visited the temple and found that the elephant’s feet had developed infections as she is kept on the concrete floor most of the time. They submitted a veterinary inspection report to the Forest Department Officials in Tamil Nadu and Assam. Joymala was originally kept in Srivilliputhur Nachiyar Thirukovil temple for over a decade and was shifted to nearby Krishnan Kovil temple recently.

Another video of torture of the elephant emerged in 2021 also, which showed Joymala being beaten at a rejuvenation camp. The elephant was in the custody of Andal Temple in Srivilliputhur at that time.

After that incident last year, the mahout and his assistant were suspended by Tamil Nadu’s Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department and they were arrested by the police. But even after their arrest, subsequent mahouts continued the torture of the elephant for some reason.

After the recent video of torture emerged and visiting the temple, PETA India filed a complaint, after which the Animal Welfare Board of India intervened in the matter and an FIR was filed under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Moreover, a wildlife offence report under the Wild Life (Protection) Act (WPA), 1972, along with the Tamil Nadu Captive Elephant (Management and Maintenance) Rules, 2011, was reportedly registered by the Srivilliputhur Forest Range in July.

The matter triggered massive outrage in Assam after journalist Nandan Pratim Sharma Bordoloi posted the ABP Nadu video on August 28, and then posted several tweets requesting Assam govt to rescue the elephant from Tamil Nadu.

A photo of the pachyderm showed large red-purple patches on the entire body, a clear sign of brutal torture.

The elephant was taken to Tamil Nadu from Kakopathar in Assam 13 years ago in 2008, and photos at that time show she was completely healthy and fit. She was owned by one Girin Mohan, and she was leased by a temple in Tamil Nadu for six months after completing the necessary formalities. However, Joymala was never returned to Assam as per the agreement, and she started receiving brutal torture from her handlers.

The original owners in Kakopathar in Assam broke down after seeing the videos of the elephant. A woman in the household said that she could recognise the elephant in the visuals, and demanded that she should be brought back.

She said that the elephant was borrowed by a temple from them in 2008, but she was never returned.

Notice of appointments of 9 corporation chairpersons in Punjab signed by Arvind Kejiwal emerges, boosts allegations of remote controlled govt

OpIndia Staff
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Notice of appointments of 9 corporation chairpersons in Punjab signed by Arvind Kejiwal emerges, boosts allegations of remote controlled govt

Ever since AAP leader Bhagwant Mann became the chief minister of Punjab, opposition parties have been alleging that the government is remote controlled by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. Now, the Congress party has alleged that appointment letters in Punjab are being signed by the AAP supremo.

Congress leader Sukhjinder Randhawa made the allegations by sharing a Facebook post by AAP worker Ankit Saxena, who had posted an appointment letter with Arvind Kejriwal’s signature. On September 2 morning, Ankit Saxena, who is a social media manager with AAP, posted a notice showing the appointment of chairmen of nine boards/corporations in Punjab, and the notice was signed by Arvind Kejriwal.

The notice announced the appointments of new heads of Punjab State Farmer Commission, Markfed, Pungrain, Punjab Agri Export Corporation Itd., Punjab Youth Development Board, Punjab Agro Food Grain Corporation Ltd., Punjab Agro Industry Corporation, Punjab Small Scale Industries Corporataion, and Forest Development Corporation.

Screenshot of Ankit Saxena’s FB post

The notice was printed on Aam Aadmi Party letterhead and signed by party chief Arvind Kejriwal, implying that the appointments have been announced by the Delhi CM, instead of the elected CM of Punjab. Sharing the notice, Ankit Saxena wrote in his Facebook post, “Many many congratulations with the hope of carrying out the new responsibilities with integrity … Best wishes..”

Sharing the Facebook post during an interaction with media, Randhawa questioned,  “What more proof is needed that the Punjab government is being run from Delhi?”. Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said that the worry of people of Punjab that the state govt was being run from Delhi has started to prove true.

“A social media manager with the AAP is sharing the letter signed by Kejriwal; unless the AAP says the signature is fake,” Warring said. Another Congress leader Partap Bajwa said that the appointment of chairpersons by Delhi CM, Punjab liquor policy copied from Delhi or other policy decisions have proven that Delhi is controlling the Punjab government.

While Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is signing notices for appointment of chairmen in Punjab, last week the Delhi Lieutenant Governor had returned 47 files because they were not signed by the CM. The LG had said that the files were signed by the staff of the chief minister’s office instead of the chief minister himself, and therefore they were returned to the CMO.

According to officials, all files sent to the L-G through the CMO have to be duly signed by the CM as these files are related to important and sensitive matters.

On August 22, LG Vinai Kumar Saxena had written to the CM to sign all files personally before sending it to him for consideration and approval. But even after that letter, the CM and CMO continued to send files to the LG without the signature of the CM, after which the LG’s office returned 47 files.

‘You’re genociding our race, you’re an invader’: Viral video shows a white man harassing and attacking an Indian man in Poland

OpIndia Staff
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‘You’re genociding our race, you’re an invader’: Viral video shows a white man harassing and attacking an Indian man in Poland

A new video of a white man racially harassing and attacking an Indian man in a European nation is going viral on the internet. The video was reportedly recorded in Warsaw, Poland’s capital. According to social media users, the undated video that is currently going popular on social media was perhaps filmed outside Warsaw’s Atrium Reduta Shopping Centre.

The white man filming the video takes an imposing attitude and rushes toward the Indian man who appears to be strolling on the sidewalk in the four-minute video. The man then begins to verbally abuse the Indian and videotape him without his consent. He then harasses him with a series of racially driven offensive questions.

The white man can be heard saying, “Why are you in Poland? In America, there are too many of you guys (there). Do you think you can invade Poland? Do you think you can invade Poland? Why don’t you return to your own country?”

“Europeans want to know why you think you have the right to invade our country. Why are your people invading our homelands? You have India! Why are you coming to the white man’s land?,” the English man keeps yelling at the Indian man. The person then claims that Indians residing abroad are profiting from the hard labour of the white man and that Indians should stay in their own homeland.

The white man shouts, “You’re genociding our race. You’re an invader. Go home, invader. We don’t want you in Europe. Poland for Polish. You’re not Polish, why are you here?”

In one instance, the person begins shouting profanities at the Indian, who did not resist or even reply to the racial comments hurled at him. He also states that he does not want “tech support.” People from all around the world have called for the man’s arrest since the racist video went viral.

Notably, many videos have gone viral on social media in recent days depicting how Indians residing in English and European nations endure racism and hate crimes. A Mexican-American lady recently racially attacked and assaulted a group of four Indian ladies in a Texas parking lot. Esmi Armendarez Upton was identified as the accused. The footage of the vicious altercation went viral on social media, prompting her arrest on August 25.

“I hate you f*cking Indians…You come to our country and want everything free. I am Mexican-American. I was born here. Were you born here? Everywhere I go, you fucking Indians are there,” Esmi was heard as saying.

She also tried to pull out a gun from her purse and threatened to shoot the Indian group. In a longer version of the video, the woman was heard referring to the Indians as ‘curry ass bitches.’

After realising that the victims were calling the cops, Esmi turned ‘apologetic’ and claimed that she overstepped her boundaries. According to her Linkedin profile (which now stands deleted), the Mexican American woman is a realtor for California Federal Bank and parishioner at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Plano.

One Abdul rapes an Indian medical student in Bangladesh and threatens to make her video public. Here is what she told Opindia

OpIndia Staff
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One Abdul rapes an Indian medical student in Bangladesh and threatens to make her video public. Here is what she told Opindia

On August 18 this year, an Indian medical student studying at the Dhaka National Medical College in Bangladesh took to Facebook to narrate how she was raped by one Abdul Wakil in a hotel room for 3 days.

A resident of Sherpur, Abdul studies nursing at the Dr Halima Khatun Nursing Institute. The girl informed that the accused tortured and raped her, besides stealing her mobile phone and cash. Abdul also threatened to kill her.

“Name Abdul Wakil raped and tortured me from August 8 to August 11, 2022, in hotel galaxy room 501 of Cox Bazar. He stole my cash and mobile and also threatened my parents to kill me. Please give me justice. He is a student of Dr Halima Khatun Nursing Institute, Mymensingh,” her Facebook post read.

Screengrab of the Facebook post

“As a foreign student, it’s a huge threat to our safety. Please raise your voice,” she added. The Indian student informed that Abdul Wakil had threatened to make their intimate videos viral.

While sharing screenshots of the disturbing conversations, she wrote, “Abdul Wakil is now making my videos viral. His friends along with some journalists are now trying to extort money from me. Please, do something about it.”

Screengrab of the Facebook post

The victim has also accused a Muslim woman named Jakiya of being an accomplice to Abdul. “He took advantage of me because I was all alone in that country,” she remarked.

In another Facebook post, the Indian student lamented her decision of pursuing medical science in the Islamic Republic of Bangladesh. “Do not inhabit a country, where you are not respected, cannot earn your livelihood, have no friends or cannot acquire knowledge,” she wrote.

Victim speaks exclusively to Opindia

While speaking to Opindia over messaging app, she said, “He (Abdul) pretended to love me for the previous 5-6 months. Took advantage of the fact that I was all alone in Bangladesh.”

“I reached the hotel by bus. He said that he would not behave wrongly. We were going on a trip. He had different plans and one thing led to another. I never consented to the (sexual) acts. He threatened to kill me if I didn’t comply. He seized my belongings including money so I couldn’t run away,” she recounted.

On being asked about the images, the victim informed, “He was sleeping and that was the only chance I had to keep some evidence. He didn’t let me click any other photos. That’s why he stole my phone and hacked my Google accounts to delete his past pictures with me…He has a previous record of such rape incidents in his village.”

“My parents have disowned me. I can’t enter my house. I am currently staying at relatives’ place,” the Indian student lamented.

Hindu woman gang raped, disrobed and killed in Bangladesh

On July 29 this year, the dead body of a Hindu woman was discovered in a paddy field in the Kumar para area in the Bhervedi Union in the Dinajpur district of Bangladesh.

As per reports, the deceased woman was identified as Apo Rani Roy. She was returning to her husband’s home from her paternal house. Later, her disrobed body was found in a paddy field. A 10-year-old girl named Bipasha Rani Roy was also found in an unconscious state near the victim’s body.

On finding Apo Rani Rani in a lifeless state, the passersby called for help and informed the police. The cops reached the spot and recovered her body. The minor girl was then admitted to the Sub-Divisional Health complex.

According to the victim’s family, Alo Rani Roy has been gang-raped by unidentified criminals. They claimed that the victim was murdered to prevent her from identifying the accused men.

In a video shared by ISKCON spokesperson Radharamn Das, the 10-year-old could be heard saying, “My mother held my hand tightly. She begged the perpetrators to let me go. She kept on asking them: What have we done to you? They grabbed me by my neck and hit me on the head. I fainted but they believed that I was dead.”

“I don’t know what happened to my mother after that.” Later in the video, the minor girl was seen bursting into tears and asking, “What have we done to deserve this?” Apo Rani Roy is now survived by her husband and daughter.

Aamir Khan Productions accused of plagiarism over the ‘Micchami Dukkadam’ video, had earlier drawn criticism for typos and errors

OpIndia Staff
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Aamir Khan Productions accused of plagiarism over the ‘Micchami Dukkadam’ video, had earlier drawn criticism for typos and errors

Hours after Aamir Khan Productions tweeted a video on seeking forgiveness on Samvatsari, the last day of the Jain holy event Paryushan, for having hurt anyone intentionally or unintentionally, allegations have emerged that the video may have been plagiarised and copied from elsewhere. 

A Twitter user shared a YouTube link of the same video posted by one Heena Jain in September 2021, alleging that one of the top Bollywood production houses had resorted to plagiarism by sharing a copied video.

However, the same video could be found on a YouTube channel hosted by a user named Heena Jain, who had posted the video on 12 September 2021, close to 12 months before the Laal Singh Chaddha actor’s production house shared it on Twitter. Moreover, it’s also likely that the video could be much older and copyrighted to someone else.

Even so, the video had already drawn backlash online on the virtue of its poor quality and spelling errors by a production house that touted itself to be one of the leading film-makers in the country and owned by a man regarded as a “perfectionist” by his sycophantic industry peers.

At around four seconds when the voiceover says ‘hum sab insaan hai’ (we are all humans), the text reads ‘hum sab insane hai’ meaning, we all are insane (crazy). There are awkward emojis which make the apology, which is supposed to be heartfelt appear way too trivial. Even towards the end where the voiceover is supposed to seek ‘kshama’ (forgiveness), it asks for ‘shama’ (??). 

Aamir Khan Productions posted the video earlier yesterday but deleted it later. After some time, they posted the video again. However, the video still had some errors like “Kshama” which means ‘forgiveness’ is still referred to as “Shama”. 

Aamir Khan Productions shares a video seeking forgiveness, actor had recently faced box office failure for ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’

Though the video seeking apology came on the occasion of Samsavtsari, the day when Jains around the world forgive and seek forgiveness from all the living beings for hurting them unknowingly or knowingly through their words, actions or deeds. A yearly, elaborate penitential retreat called “samvatsari pratikramana” is performed on this day by Jains to expiate the sins committed in the past year. 

However, the apology video also coincided with the disastrous failure of Laal Singh Chaddha at the Indian Box office as the audience chose to give a pass to the Aamir Khan flick over the latter’s controversial statements and stances. Ahead of its release, Laal Singh Chaddha faced a massive boycott campaign on social media, with users vowing that they would not watch the movie because Aamir Khan had insulted Hindu Gods in his movie PK, his other controversial stands, among other things. Consequently, Laal Singh Chaddha became Aamir Khan’s lowest opener in 13 years, with theatre owners cancelling shows because of low occupancy.

SC dismisses PIL seeking the preventive arrest of seer Yati Narsinghanand and Jitendra Tyagi, ban on book ‘Muhammad’: Details

OpIndia Staff
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SC dismisses PIL seeking the preventive arrest of seer Yati Narsinghanand and Jitendra Tyagi, ban on book ‘Muhammad’: Details

On Friday, the Supreme Court rejected a petition filed against Hindu seer Yati Narsinghanand and Jitendra Tyagi (formerly known as Wasim Rizwi) seeking their immediate arrest on the ground that they have been making calls of violence against Muslims. The petition also sought a ban on Jitendra Tyagi’s book named ‘Muhammad’.

According to the reports, Indian Muslim Shia Isna Ashari Jamaat had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) demanding the two be restrained from making alleged derogatory remarks against Islam and Prophet Mohammed. However, the SC bench led by Chief Justice of India Uday Umesh Lalit and Justice S Ravindra Bhat rejected the petition and said that the matter cannot be entertained under Article 32 of the Constitution.

“These petitions cannot be entertained under Article 32. Petitioner at liberty to pursue an appropriate remedy. Plea dismissed”, the Court maintained on September 2. The plea which was filed through advocate Sachin Sanmukhan Pujari alleged that Hindu seer Yati Narsinghanand and Jitendra Tyagi were a threat to the security and the law-and-order situation. The plea also demanded the duo’s arrest as a preventive measure.

To bolster their case, the petitioner cited multiple occasions in which the two made alleged anti-Islam comments and attempted to incite communal emotions and controversy. “Both have had proceedings for violations under the Indian Penal Code initiated against them, and despite their criminal history, they continue to be anti-Islamic”, the petition claimed.

It further argued that the duo’s ‘hate mongering’ conduct had harmed the Muslim community’s right to live in dignity. Tyagi has recently been involved in a flurry of legal proceedings. A court in Srinagar recently heard a case against him for insulting Islam and the Prophet. In January, the Supreme Court sent a notice to the Central and Uttarakhand governments on a PIL requesting an investigation into the Haridwar Dharam Sansad.

Last year, the top court dismissed Tyagi’s petition challenging certain verses of the holy Quran by imposing a cost of Rs 50,000 on the petitioner who claimed that 26 verses of the Islamic Holy book attacked civilians. Also, in December 2021, the Delhi High Court dismissed a petition seeking to ban Tyagi’s book named ‘Muhammad’. The Allahabad High Court had sought his response to a petition calling that he refrains from expressing remarks against Islam on social media.

Recently a video surfaced in which Tyagi was seen stating that his life is in danger. He feared that he would be assassinated in an assault by Muslim fanatics.  According to the reports, Tyagi stated that minorities in India have greater freedom than the majority, thus they may speak out against Hindu gods and goddesses while claiming Article 19 of the Constitution as a cover.

Yesterday, Tyagi happened to publish another video in which he stated that he was depressed and had suicidal thoughts. This comes amid the SC’s order directing Jitendra Tyagi to surrender on or before September 2, 2022, in light of the end of the 3 months of medical bail which was granted to him in a matter of an investigation into the alleged hate speech at Haridwar Dharam Sansad.

Meanwhile, Hindu seer Narsinghanand has also attracted controversy over calls for genocide during the Haridwar Dharam Sansad. A first information report (FIR) was filed against him at the Haridwar Dharam Sansad for hate speech, and he was granted bail by the Haridwar Sessions Court on February 7.

‘INS Vikrant is massive, it’s a giant, it is distinct and special’, PM Modi while commissioning first Made in India aircraft carrier

OpIndia Staff
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‘INS Vikrant is massive, it’s a giant, it is distinct and special’, PM Modi while commissioning first Made in India aircraft carrier

The first Indian-made aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, was commissioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday at the Cochin Shipyard. INS Vikrant will now serve as the Navy’s second aircraft carrier alongside INS Vikramaditya. The event was attended by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan and several armed forces officials.

PM Modi said that INS Vikrant is a testament to India’s hard work and dedication. “This event being held on INS Vikrant is a shout-out to India’s rising spirits on the world horizon,” said PM Modi. “Vikrant is massive, it’s a giant. Vikrant is distinct, Vikrant is special. It is not just a warship but a testament to the hard work, talent, influence and commitment of 21st century India,” he added.

“If the goals are quick, the journeys are long, the ocean and the challenges are endless – then India’s answer is Vikrant. The incomparable elixir of the elixir of freedom is Vikrant. Vikrant is a unique reflection of India becoming self-reliant,” PM Modi further said.

PM Modi further added, “Earlier, security concerns in the Indo-Pacific region and the Indian Ocean have long been ignored. But, today this area is a major defence priority of the country. That’s why we are working in every direction, from increasing the budget for the Navy to increasing its capability.”

The Prime Minister also unfurled the new flag of the India Navy onboard INS Vikrant. The Navy introduced a brand new ensign replacing the St George’s Cross, shedding the remains of coloniality.

The new naval design is meant to shed our colonial past and begin anew. (Image: via News18)
The new Indian Navy ensign.

INS Vikrant: India’s first Indigenous aircraft carrier

With the launching of the ‘Vikrant,’ India has joined a limited club of nations that have the unique capacity of designing and building an aircraft carrier in-house, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, and France. The carrier is given its name in honour of her historic predecessor, India’s first aircraft carrier, which was instrumental in the fight against Pakistan in 1971. It is designed by the Warship Design Bureau (WDB), an internal organisation of the Indian Navy, and is constructed by Cochin Shipyard Limited, a public sector company.

Image
INS Vikrant.

The battleship is built with indigenous equipment and machinery supplied by major industrial firms in India as well as over 100 MSMEs. Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) indigenised the warship-grade steel necessary for the building of the IAC in conjunction with the Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) and the Indian Navy. 

ins vikrant, ins vikrant 2022, ins vikrant commissioning, ins vikrant details, ins vikrant length, ins vikrant narendra modi, Indian Express
Courtesy: Indian Express

When fully laden, the 262 m long and 62 m broad Vikrant displaces roughly 43000 tonnes and has a maximum permitted speed of 28 knots with a range of 7500 nautical miles. It includes over 2,200 compartments built for a crew of approximately 1,600 people, including specialised quarters for female officers and sailors.

It would be able to operate an air wing of 30 aircraft, including MiG-29K fighter planes, Kamov-31 and MH-60R multi-role helicopters, as well as indigenously developed Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) and Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).

INS Vikrant is powered by four General Electric LM2500+ gas turbines installed on two shafts, and they generate 80 megawatts of power.

The carrier features a STOBAR configuration along with a ski-jump. STOBAR or Short Take-off But Arrested Recovery mean the aircraft take off from the flight deck of the carrier on its own power, but during landing, they are watched by an arresting cable. The ski ramp at the end of the runway helps the planes to take off. More advanced Aircraft Carriers operated by the US and other nations feature a CATOBAR configuration, Catapult Assisted Take-Off Barrier Arrested Recovery, where the fighter jets are pushed using a steam-powered catapult installed on the flight deck, which helps in launching larger aircraft as the length of the deck on a carrier is not enough for them to take off on their own power.

India’s next indigenous carrier INS Vishal will likely feature CATOBAR.

The name Vikrant

The Sanskrit term Vikrant, which means brave, may be found in several texts, including the Bhagwad Gita. The term ‘Vikrant’ is used in the sixth shloka of the first chapter of the Gita to describe the bravery of several Generals from the Pandava army.

In terms of its roots, the ‘Vi’ prefix in the Sanskrit word implies something unique or exceptional, and the ‘Krant’ suffix means to move or progress in a certain direction. In a subsequent verse in the same chapter of the Gita, the term Viraat, which means magnanimous, appears.

The newly commissioned INS Vikrant also displays the Rigvedic slogan “Jayema Sam Yudhi Sprudhah,” which translates to “I conquer those who battle against me,” along with the pennant number R11.

File:INS Vikrant crest.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
The motto. (Wikimedia Commons)

However, the preceding portion of this Rigveda line, which is addressed to the Hindu deity Indra, provides context for this saying. It reads, “Strengthened by the thunderous weapon given by you, we conquer.”

Prayagraj: Hassan and Faizan consume Hookah and non-veg food on boat in Ganga near Nagvasuki temple, police on the lookout after video goes viral

OpIndia Staff
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Prayagraj: Hassan and Faizan consume Hookah and non-veg food on boat in Ganga near Nagvasuki temple, police on the lookout after video goes viral

The Prayagraj police have sprung into action after a video went viral on social media wherein a group of men could be seen consuming hookah and non-vegetarian food on a boat on the river Ganga. The video which went viral on August 31, was reportedly recorded near the Nagvasukhi Temple situated on the banks of the Ganges at the northern end of the Daraganj locality in Prayagraj. This temple is one of the most ancient and revered Hindu temples in Prayagraj.

Soon after the video surfaced on social media, several netizens and members of various Hindu organisations called for stringent action against the offenders. Prayagraj police soon registered an FIR against a total of 8 people including Hassan and Faizan.

On Wednesday, the Prayagraj Police, in a Twitter post, updated about the incident and revealed that they have booked two identified and six unidentified individuals in the case and will soon arrest all of them. 

Shailesh Pandey, SSP Prayagraj, had said that the video is being examined and the man seen consuming hookah and non-veg food in the video is being identified. After that action will be taken against him under relevant sections, the SSP said.

According to reports, the accused have gone missing ever since the video went viral. The police, however, have launched a manhunt to nab the miscreants.

It is suspected that the accused shot the video and shared it on social media.

Since Prayagraj is regarded as a holy destination by Hindus, there was outrage on social media from devotees who demanded the immediate arrest of the men in the video.

Ankita murder case: NCPCR to investigate gross negligence by Jharkhand police, says the victim was deprived of proper treatment and hearing

OpIndia Staff
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Ankita murder case: NCPCR to investigate gross negligence by Jharkhand police, says the victim was deprived of proper treatment and hearing

Priyank Kanoongo, the chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has voiced serious concerns about the Jharkhand police investigation into the brutal murder of the 15-year-old Hindu girl Ankita Kumari was set ablaze by her stalker named Shahrukh Hussain. According to reports, the chief of the apex child rights body will be travelling to Dumka to investigate the negligence in handling the incident.

The team is scheduled to visit Dumka on September 4, according to ANI.

“We’ll go there, meet doctors & family members of the child. We’ll investigate the whole matter & convey it in our report…According to service rules, stern action will be taken against people who deprived the child of her rights,” Kanoongo said.

“I spoke to the child’s father over call. Police did not do proper hearing, proper treatment was not given to her. If a child dies due to lack of treatment, it is gross negligence of the administration and government. We’ll collect facts on it and ensure action is taken,” the NCPCR chief added.

Kanoongo went on to say that the Jharkhand Police concealed several things and misquoted the victim’s age, causing the girl child to be denied Juvenile Justice Act provisions. It amounts to criminal negligence. Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) sections was not utilized in the case. It was invoked only yesterday in response to a request from the Child Welfare Committee, he said.

Here it becomes imperative to recall that a week after the crime occurred, DSP Noor Mustafa of Dumka had been suspended following allegations of negligence and helping the accused Shahrukh Hussain in weakening the case. In fact, the former Jharkhand CM Babulal Marandi shared some documents stating that DSP Mustafa has not only been anti-tribal but also had a communal trait to him.

Notably, on Thursday, almost 10 days after the heinous incident, the Jharkhand Police added the sections of the POCSO Act to the Ankita Singh murder case of Dumka. The girl was set on fire alive while she was asleep at 4 am in her home on August 23. The accused were identified as Shahrukh Hussain and Naeem alias Chotu and were booked under the relevant sections of the IPC. Now, POCSO charges have been added to the case.

This is after the Jharkhand Child Welfare Committee took cognizance of the incident and revealed that Ankita who was studying in class 12 was a minor as per her birth documents and certificates. Earlier the Police had claimed that she was 19 years old when she died. However, the CWC brought out the deceased’s class 10 mark sheet which mentioned her date of birth as November 26, 2006.

Ankita Singh, a 15-year-old Dumka resident, was burned alive by two accused named Shahrukh and Naeem. The accused allegedly poured the flammable fuel on her from her bedroom window while she was fast asleep. She was taken to the hospital shortly after the incident and died from her burn injuries on August 28.

Days after Ankita’s death, videos of her last words went viral over social media where she could be heard demanding painful death for the accused who set her on fire. “He should die the way I am dying today,” the Dumka girl had said who breathed her last at 2.30 am on Sunday.

PM Modi brings the seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to Indian Navy’s new ensign, previous govts had kept the St George’s cross, a colonial burden

OpIndia Staff
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PM Modi brings the seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to Indian Navy’s new ensign, previous govts had kept the St George’s cross, a colonial burden

The Indian Navy’s new ensign was inaugurated today by PM Modi. The Navy dropped the earlier ensign with the St George’s cross and the newly introduced design features a distinct shape, the shape of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s royal seal.

The meaning and significance of the new ensign were explained in a short video. The video also honoured the heritage of the Maratha emperor and depicted how the design has undergone changes over the years. Here is the video.

“From a small harbour police outfit at the beginning of the 17th century to one of the world’s finest naval forces in the 21st century, the Indian Navy has come a long way. It is the proud custodian of a rich maritime legacy. For years, the rank and file of the Indian Navy have dreamt of a change in its ensign that would honour its civilisational heritage. Over the years, the Indian navy’s ensign has undergone several changes and has transformed on many occasions. Shedding the last remnants of the colonial past, on September 2, the Indian Navy adopts its new ensign,” the video says.

Indian Navy’s new ensign

It goes further to narrate, “With the national flag on the upper canton and a blue octagonal shape encompassing the national emblem, sitting atop an anchor depicting steadfastness, and superimposed on a shield with the Navy’s motto, ‘Sha Nau Varunah’ in Devnagari script.”

“The octagonal shape represents the 8 directions symbolizing the Indian Navy’s multidirectional reach and multidimensional capabilities. The octagonal shape with twin golden borders draws inspiration from the seal of the great Indian emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, whose visionary maritime outlook established a credible naval fleet, with 60 fighting ships and approximately 5000 men. The rising Maratha naval power, during Shivaji Maharaj’s period, was the first to secure the coastline against external aggression.”

The video then plays a clip from PM Modi’s speech at Red Fort on the occasion of India’s Independence Day celebrations this year. The part where PM Modi emphasised the need to discard the remnants of a colonial mindset, thought process and outlook.

“As India marks the 75 years of its independence, the new Naval ensign is a step towards liberating the mind, and further empowering the sentinels of our seas, the Indian Navy”, the video ends.

Shivaji Maharaj’s seal

The new Navy ensign features the distinctive octagonal design of the royal seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, as a mark of respect towards the Maratha emperor, who is regarded as the father of the Indian Navy.

The octagonal seal in the Indian Navy’s new ensign and the royal seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

The St George’s cross was brought back in 2004

The is notable here that the St George’s cross, a remnant of India’s colonial past, has been a part of the Indian Navy’s ensign all these years, apart from a brief period between 2001-2004, under the Vajpayee govt, when it was dropped. Curiously, the cross was brought back in 2004, with the minor change of including the National Emblem in the middle.

Indian Navy ensign over the years, image via Shiv Aroor on Twitter

St George’s cross: From crusades to England’s flag

If we look at the images carefully, the St George’s cross, which is a part of the flag of England, has been a part of our navy’s ensign all these years, a sad reminder of our colonial mindset. St George is regarded as the ‘military saint’ and the red cross on a white background was a widely used symbol for the Christian crusaders. Even the Knights Templar used it. The flag with the red cross on a white field has been used by ships from England from 1190 onwards. The St George’s cross has been adopted by many Western countries due to their shared Christian past.

Inaugurating the new ensign today in Kochi, PM Modi said in his address, “Today on September 2, 2022, we have finally discarded a colonial burden.”

However, the fact that the flag with a Crusade-related symbol, representing the rulers of England remained for so long in the Indian Navy’s ensign is another proof of the levels to which our governance, our thought process and the mindset of the people in power are influenced and controlled by a colonial hangover. The Navy of New India discarding the St George’s cross and embracing the octagonal seal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a welcome step, a significant step towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

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