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Such incidents of burning keep on happening- Patna-based Journalist Simab Akhtar tries to normalise murder of Ankita Kumari, apologises later

OpIndia Staff
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Such incidents of burning keep on happening- Patna-based Journalist Simab Akhtar tries to normalise murder of Ankita Kumari, apologises later

There has been widespread outrage across the country and calls for Shahrukh Hussain to be punished in the wake of the Ankita Singh murder case in Jharkhand. Amidst all this, Simab Akhtar, a News4Nation journalist from Patna, has attempted to defend Shahrukh Hussain’s crime. Simab stated in a Facebook post that such incidents are common and that she was burnt alive because of cheating.

The screenshot of the comment by Simab has since gone viral over the internet. In the post, Simab wrote, “Shouldn’t get too agitated. This burning and all is anyway common” (translated). After reading this comment, a user asked him, “Where have you learned such journalism from? Simab Akhtar sir. Your language is not good at all.”

Image Credit: Twitter Shubham Bhardwaj.

To that, instead of condemning what Shahrukh did, Simab responded by saying, “She cheated, therefore she was burnt. Where there is lust, there sympathy…” (translated).

Following the comments by Simab Akhtar, several social media users condemned his attitude towards the victim. Raising the matter, Shubham Bhardwaj of Bajrang Dal took to Twitter and wrote, “Journalist Simab Akhtar has made indecent remarks on sister Ankita Singh who was burnt by heretics. Is there any government machinery to take action?”

Twitter user Mihir Jha wrote, “Meet Simab Akhtar – Patna-based senior Journalist of News4Nation. This is how he’s celebrating #Shahrukh burning #AnkitaSingh He then goes on to make se¥ually suggestive comments again.”

Following the outrage on social media, Simab Akhtar took a U-turn and apologised for his remarks made on Facebook. In a tweet, he wrote, “I had made an inappropriate comment on Ankita Singh for which I am very sorry and apologize to all of you. Shahrukh, who killed sister Ankita should get the death sentence..! There is no place for criminals who commit such acts in society.”

It is to be noted that Ankita Kumari, who was set ablaze by her stalker neighbour named Shahrukh Hussain on Tuesday (August 23) morning in Dumka in Jharkhand, died on Sunday in hospital. Ankita breathed her last at 2:30 AM on Sunday morning. She was admitted to Ranchi RIMS for treatment.

Karnataka: Udupi Municipality passes a unanimous resolution for ‘Veer Savarkar Circle’ near District Court, BJP welcomes decision

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Udupi Municipality passes a unanimous resolution for ‘Veer Savarkar Circle’ near District Court, BJP welcomes decision

On Tuesday, the Udupi Municipal body announced its decision to name the circle near the District Court in the city as ‘Veer Savarkar Circle’. This is days after Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat wrote to the city municipality and demanded to rename a circle near the District Court in the name of Veer Savarkar.

According to the reports, the Council of the Udupi Municipal Body unanimously passed an order stating that there will be a circle near the District Court which will be named after Veer Savarkar. Reportedly, there were no protests registered from the opposition political parties including Congress in the given case. The decision has also been welcomed by the BJP in the city.

The Udupi Municipal Body is governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Earlier the issue of installing the statue of Savarkar at Brahmagiri Circle had become prominent as Hindu leader Yashpal Suvarna had appealed to the city municipality to install a statue of Savarkar at Brahmagiri Circle.

Also, banners of Veer Savarkar were put up by Hindu Mahasabha leaders at Brahmagiri Circle in Udupi on August 15. Suvarna also had garlanded the flex and had hoisted two saffron flags next to it. The Police however had removed the flags saying that there was no permission granted for the event.

The pressure on the city municipality had further mounted after several Hindu organizations including the Hindu Maha Sabha and Hindu Jagarana Vedike also started appealing for the establishment of a statue of Veer Savarkar. The Hindu leaders had then announced that they would install Savarkar’s statue at the spot of the banner put up at the Brahmagiri Circle in Udupi.

The matter of placing the banner of Veer Savarkar was also opposed by the SDPI who had said that they were against the ‘Hindu Rashtra’ and slogans related to it being written on the banner. SDPI Udupi district vice-president Shahid Ali had noted that SDPI had no issues with Veer Savarkar or any other freedom fighter, but it is opposed to the ‘oppressive and regressive captions and slogans’ that were being raised then.

However, MLA Raghupati Bhat on August 23 opined that it was better to rename a circle as Savarkar circle than to install the idol. “It is not right to install the statue. If someone vandalizes the statue, it will create controversy. I have written a letter to the city municipality to rename the circle Savarkar circle. I will propose this in the next session of the city municipality. Definitely, the Veer Savarkar circle will be formed in Udupi. In addition, we will make an Ambedkar circle also”, he had said.

Bhat then also had raised the issue of hijab and said that the CFI had deliberately escalated the issue. He had said that it was CFI who had started the hijab controversy. He also stated that CFI would be held responsible if any girl student is deprived of education due to hijab row.

Delhi: Student admitted to hospital after ceiling fan falls on her head inside school, concerns were raised earlier over poor quality construction work in Delhi schools

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi: Student admitted to hospital after ceiling fan falls on her head inside school, concerns were raised earlier over poor quality construction work in Delhi schools

According to reports, a Delhi government school student was injured in a mishap inside the school after a ceiling fan fell on her head during a class. The incident happened in a school in the Nangloi area of Delhi. The girl said that the classroom ceiling was moist and leaking water before the incident.

“The fan fell off the ceiling in the classroom on August 27 when the classes were going on. The ceiling was damp and water was dripping from it, because of which the ceiling broke off and the fan fell down,” the girl said. The Delhi government and the school administration have not yet responded to the incident.

Delhi Education Ministry had criticised PWD under Delhi government for poor quality construction work in schools

Notably, last month, a letter was written by Delhi’s education ministry, headed by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, to the public works department headed by Satyendra Jain who is presently in jail. The letter complained about the poor quality of construction work that is being carried out in the Delhi schools.

In the letter, the education ministry mentioned that a number of complaints have been received from various schools regarding noncompletion of work, use of low-quality material, and various deficiencies in the construction by PWD.

In the letter, they also talked about a threat to students and the staff due to the poor quality of construction work.

BJP targets Kejriwal government for inflated cost of construction of schools

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party has accused the Delhi government of corruption in the construction of schools. The BJP said on Tuesday that the ‘Sharab’ (liquor) and ‘Shiksha’ (education) scandals have become the “twin towers of corruption” in Delhi, with the Arvind Kejriwal government steadily adding additional floors. The Delhi government, according to the BJP, has consistently upped the price of building classrooms and has even converted certain school toilets into classrooms to justify the “bloated” costs.

“So far, AAP’s morality was falling, and now ceiling fans in their schools are also falling,” said BJP leader Manoj Tiwari targeting the Kejriwal government.

Manoj Tiwari said that there was fraud in school construction and that the government had repeatedly increased the cost of construction in various projects. He displayed a paper saying that a cost of Rs 5 lakh was inflated to Rs 33 lakh, and in many schools, toilets were “counted and projected as classrooms” to justify the cost escalation.

Gujarat: Stones pelted on Ganpati procession passing through a Muslim majority area in Vadodara, 13 detained

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Stones pelted on Ganpati procession passing through a Muslim majority area in Vadodara, 13 detained

On Monday, August 29, an incident of stone-pelting was reported from the Panigate Darwaza neighbourhood in the Mandvi locality of Vadodara in Gujarat. The incident occurred when, on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, a procession carrying an idol of Lord Ganesh was passing through the Muslim majority area.

Speaking to the media, Joint Commissioner of Police Chirag Koradia that the situation is under control, and the crime branch is looking into the matter. The officer urged people not to fall for any rumours because the situation in the area was peaceful.

According to reports, members of two communities pelted each other with stones after an argument broke out between them over some issue when the Ganesh procession was passing through Panigate Darwaza in the communally sensitive Mandvi locality.

The police have detained as many as 13 people in connection with the incident which broke out late Monday night, they said, adding that no one was injured in the stone pelting. An FIR was registered under various Indian Penal Code Sections including 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 336 (rash act endangering human life or personal safety) and 295 (defiling place of worship), the official said.

Meanwhile, a video of the incident has also emerged on social media, wherein people can be seen pelting stones as the tempo carrying the Lord Ganesh idol passes the area. the police are seen using mild lathi charge to disperse the mob.

Vadodara’s Deputy Commissioner Panna Momaya told the media, “A Ganesh procession was passing through Panigate area on Monday night when an internal fight broke out resulting in stone pelting. Unfortunately, one of the stones hit a window of a religious place breaking it, sparking speculation about members of the minority being attacked. This was retaliated, leading to a clash between the two groups.”

According to Yuvrajsinh Jadeja, Deputy Commissioner (Crime Branch), as soon as the city control room received a call about the incident, police forces from all nearby police stations rushed to the scene and brought the situation under control.

Following the incident, security has been stepped up in the region.

Violent attacks during Hindu festivals have become the new norm in recent years. Many incidents of stone-pelting, arson, and vandalism during the celebration of Hindu festivals have been reported in recent years, and each year the intensity has only increased.

This year, like other previous years, has been no exception. Whether it’s a Hindu religious procession for Hanuman Jayanti, Ram Navami, or Saraswati Puja, Islamists haven’t missed an opportunity to wreak havoc. Though the list is endless, OpIndia in April this year tried to chronicle a few of the wanton attacks against Hindu religious festivals.

Another step towards decolonisation- Indian Navy to drop St George’s Cross from its ensign, PM Modi to unveil new ensign on September 2

OpIndia Staff
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Another step towards decolonisation- Indian Navy to drop St George’s Cross from its ensign, PM Modi to unveil new ensign on September 2

Indian Navy is all set to get a new ensign this Friday with the commissioning of indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will unveil the new ensign while commissioning India’s first indigenous Aircraft Carrier. A statement released by Prime Minister’s Office said that the new ensign will do away with the colonial past and would be befitting India’s rich maritime heritage.

The details of the new ensign have not been shared yet but as per reports, the St George’s Cross present on the current ensign will not be present now. Following its unveiling on-board INS Vikrant, it will be subsequently used on all Indian Navy ships.

The Indian Navy ensign has been changed 4 times previously

This is not the first time that Indian Naval ensign is being changed. It has been done 4 times in the past as well. However, St George’s Cross has remained in the ensign since Indian gained independence from the British, except during a brief period from 2001 to 2004.

St George’s Cross was removed from the naval ensign in 2001 but it was brought back in 2004.

Image Source: @ShivAroor on Twitter

Another step towards decolonising India

During the Independence Day speech from the Red Fort, PM Modi stressed the need of decolonising India. He called for decolonisation and urged everyone to look for the traces of slavery within and around them so that India could completely eliminate the traces of servitude.

PM Modi also pointed out that because of the colonised mindset, talent in India often gets stuck in the shackles of language. He urged the people of India to be proud of the Indian languages, whether they know them or not. As our ancestors gave those languages to the world, we should be proud of them.

Earlier, Modi government had dropped Christian hymn ‘Abide by me’ by Scottish Anglican poet Henry Francis Lyte from the Beating Retreat ceremony during Republic Day celebrations in order to add more Indian tunes to the ceremony.

The new Naval ensign is another step towards detaching India from its colonial past.

Prashant Bhushan’s apology for his utterings finally saves his a$$, Supreme Court closes the 2009 contempt case

OpIndia Staff
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Prashant Bhushan’s apology for his utterings finally saves his a$$, Supreme Court closes the 2009 contempt case

On August 30, the Supreme Court of India closed the 2009 contempt of court case against advocate Prashant Bhushan and Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal as the duo had tendered an apology/explanation to the court. Notably, in 2020, the court refused to accept the explanation and apology tendered by advocate Prashant Bhushan.

The three-judge bench comprising Justice Indira Banerjee, Justice Surya Kant and Justice MM Sundresh took the apology and explanation on record while closing the case. In its order, the court said, “In view of the apologies made by the contemnors, we don’t deem it necessary to continue the matter.”

The court order came after Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for Bhushan, said, “My only submission is in light of the apology made, is pursuing this necessary? (It will be) entering muddied the waters.”

The case against Prashant Bhushan

In 2009, Bhushan gave an interview to Tehelka magazine in which he alleged that out of sixteen Chief Justices of India, by that time, eight were corrupt. Following his statements, a suo-moto contempt case was initiated against Bhushan following the complaint filed by Senior Advocate Harish Salve. In his complaint, Salve had said that Bhushan did not have any proof for the statement he made. Notably, Prashant Bhushan’s father, Senior Counsel Shanti Bhushan then submitted an alleged list of corrupt CJIs in a sealed cover to the Supreme Court.

In 2012, the case went dormant. However, it was revived in 2020 when the bench led by Justice Arun Mishra decided to hear the matter along with the case filed against Bhushan over some allegedly derogatory tweets.

During the hearing, Prashant Bhushan said, “In my interview with Tehelka in 2009, I have used the word corruption in a wide sense, meaning lack of propriety. I did not mean only financial corruption or deriving any pecuniary advantage. If what I have said caused hurt to any of them or to their families in any way, I regret the same. I unreservedly state that I support the institution of the judiciary and especially the Supreme Court, of which I am a part, and I had no intention to lower the prestige of the judiciary in which I have complete faith. I regret if my interview was misunderstood as doing so, that is, lower the reputation of the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court, which could never have been my intention at all.”

The case could not be heard following Justice Mishra’s retirement, and it was finally listed for August 30.

Jharkhand High Court summons DGP and Home Secretary taking cognizance of Ankita murder case, CWC asks for POCSO changes in FIR

OpIndia Staff
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Jharkhand High Court summons DGP and Home Secretary taking cognizance of Ankita murder case, CWC asks for POCSO changes in FIR

On Tuesday, the Jharkhand High Court took cognizance of Ankita Singh’s murder case and summoned the Director General of Police and the Home Secretary in the case. The bench of Chief Justice Dr Ravi Ranjan asked for the status report on the case and ordered to provide adequate security to the deceased girl’s family.

According to the reports, Ankita was burnt alive on August 23 after the accused allegedly poured petrol on her while she was asleep in her bedroom. Shahrukh allegedly poured the inflammable fuel on her from the window of her room. She was taken to the hospital shortly after the incident and on August 28, she succumbed to her burn injuries.

Meanwhile, the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) also took cognizance of the event and said that Ankita was a minor aged 16. It rubbished the claims put up by the Jharkhand Police who said that Ankita was 19 years old. The Committee demanded strict action against the accused and said that the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 would be applied to the case.

The CWC said that according to the 10th class mark sheet of the deceased girl, her age was around 16 and that she was a minor when the incident happened. Dumka CWC Chairman Amarendra Kumar said, “We recommend that sections of the POCSO Act be added to the FIR as per our investigation the girl was a minor”.

According to Ankita’s 10th class mark sheet which has been made public by the lagatar24 media channel, Ankita was born on November 26, 2006. Amarendra Kumar referred to the mark sheet and reiterated that Ankita was minor when she died. “Police claimed that the girl was 19 and so they did not add POCSO in the FIR. However her mark sheet says that she was born in the year 2006 and so the Police should add POSCO to the FIR lodged against Shahrukh Hussain”, the Dumka CWC Chairman stated.

Ankita’s 10th class marksheet published by Lagatar24 media channel

Earlier, the National Commission for Women (NCW) chief had written to the Director General of Police asking for a fair probe and time-bound investigation into the case. Also, days after Ankita’s death, videos of her last words are going viral over social media where she can 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.

As reported earlier, the Police and district administration are currently less focused on punishing accused Shahrukh Hussain. CM Hemant Soren meanwhile has condemned the incident and has declared financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh, a day after Ankita breathed her last.

‘We will rip your tongue out’: Mamata Banerjee threatens BJP over arrest of party leaders in corruption cases

OpIndia Staff
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‘We will rip your tongue out’: Mamata Banerjee threatens BJP over arrest of party leaders in corruption cases

On Monday (August 29), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee threatened the BJP with physical harm for allegedly implicating Trinamool Congress (TMC) in ‘false cases’ of corruption.

While speaking to her supporters, Banerjee remarked, “Aajke Trinamool ke bolche chor. Ami jodi aaj rajneeti na kortam aar ai chair e na thaktam, ami amar bon der boltam jara ei mitha kotha rotona kore tader jib gulo ke tena khule fela dita.”

The loose translation goes as, “Today, they are calling us thieves…If I weren’t active in politics or held this esteemed chair of the Chief Minister, then, I would have called upon my sisters to rip the tongue off those who spread lies and rumours.”

“Our party is being defamed. Till now, the verdict has not been delivered. No evidence has been proven so far. A media trial is underway. The 4th pillar of the democracy does what the BJP says,” she alleged. Mamata Banerjee claimed that political parties are being intimidated by the ruling BJP through the use of central investigative agencies and the Judiciary.

Her remarks came after heavyweight party leaders such as Partha Chatterjee and Anubrata Mondol were arrested in SSC scam case and cattle smuggling case respectively.

Threats by Mamata Banerjee and TMC leaders against BJP

Earlier, Mamata Banerjee had also launched her “Khela Hobe Diwas’ on exactly the same day when Pakistan’s founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah of the Muslim League had launched the horrific “Direct Action Day” against Hindus in 1946.

Initially, the slogan appeared as a harmless jibe against the opposition but soon started to showcase its true colours. TMC members made a wall painting in Bengal wherein Mamata Banerjee was seen hitting PM Modi’s head instead of a football.

During her election rallies, the West Bengal Chief Minister continued to provoke her party workers to retaliate against the central armed forces and BJP workers. Several instances of violence were reported during the various stages of polling. Following the declaration of the 2021 assembly poll results, Bengal was in the throes of horrifying violence as TMC goons murdered, plundered and raped BJP supporters across the state.

In March this year, TMC MLA Narendranath Chakraborty was seen intimidating BJP supporters in the State. “Hardcore BJP supporters, who cannot be influenced, need to be threatened. Tell them that if they cast their vote, we will assume that they voted for BJP,” Narendranaath Chakraborty was heard as saying.

He further warned, “After the election is over, they will be living at their own risk in the State. However, if they don’t cast their vote at all, we will assume that they are supporting us.” “It is only then that they can live peacefully in the State. They can do business or jobs and we will stand by their side. Clear?” the TMC lawmaker unveiled his nefarious plans.

Last month, Mamata Banerjee called for a ‘jihad’ against the BJP, a radical Islamist term that calls for the annihilation of the disbelievers of Allah. Mamata Banerjee later defended her remark by claiming that it meant ‘strong protest’ in Bangla.

Can Shashi Tharoor become the President of Congress? Here is what media reports are speculating about his plans to run for the post

OpIndia Staff
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Can Shashi Tharoor become the President of Congress? Here is what media reports are speculating about his plans to run for the post

With several high-level exits, the festering crisis of leadership within the Congress party has surfaced yet again. And many senior leaders who have stuck with the flock, perhaps with the hope of an inevitable promotion, are fancying their chances of landing the post of party president. Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, according to reports, is one such Congress leader eyeing the top post.

Speculations are rife in political and media circles that Tharoor is exploring the possibility of running for the post of Congress president, though he is yet to take a final call on it, sources reported by media claim. Media reports claim that Shashi Tharoor is all set to throw his hat in the ring in the forthcoming elections to elect a new president for the Congress party.

Tharoor has reportedly declined to comment on whether he is interested in taking the reins of the Congress party but had recently authored an article in the Malayalam daily ‘Mathrubhumi’ arguing in favour of a “free and fair” election.

On asked about his plans to run for the Congress president post, Shashi Tharoor said, “I have no comment to make. I accept what I’ve written in my article, which is that an election would be a good thing for the Congress party,” the former Union Minister said, referring to his article in the Malayalam daily “Mathrubhumi”.

In his article, Mr Tharoor said the party should have ideally announced elections for the dozen seats on the Congress Working Committee (CWC) that are supposed to be elected as well.

“Members elected from the AICC and PCC delegates ascertaining who will lead the party from these key positions would help authorise the incoming set of leaders and grant them the legitimacy to lead the party,” Tharoor wrote in his article.

“Nevertheless, electing a new president would serve to re-energise the party,” Tharoor contended.

The senior Congress leader further added that having elections will have other beneficial effects, too, adding, “We have witnessed the global interest in the British Conservative Party during their recent leadership race, a phenomenon similar to the one that took place in 2019, when a dozen candidates contested to replace Theresa May, and Boris Johnson emerged on top.”

Tharoor said a similar scenario for the Congress party might attract national attention toward the party and get more voters within the fold of the Congress party once again.

“For these reasons, I hope several candidates come forward and nominate themselves for consideration. Presenting their visions for the party and the nation is surely going to inspire confidence and public interest,” he added.

Tharoor also emphasised the need for the Congress to stage a comeback at the national level, given that the void is being filled by strong regional parties that are now aspiring to play a larger role in national politics.

The Thiruvananthapuram MP had also cut out the two important tasks the candidate elected to lead the party will have to undertake. First, the candidate must energise the Congress party workers and second, he or she should also inspire voters.

“The candidate must have a definite plan to fix what ails the party and have a robust vision for India. After all, a political party is an instrument to serve the country, not an end in itself,” he said.

While media reports have relied on Shashi Tharoor’s latest article in Mathrubhumi to speculate his run for the party presidentship, it would, nevertheless, be an arduous task for him to ascent to the highest position in a party replete with sycophants who would rather have a Gandhi family member run the party than hand over the reins of the party to anyone other than the Gandhis, which could rob them of the privileges that they have come to enjoy under the aegis of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.

Uttar Pradesh: Hindu temple vandalised in Aligarh, accused Md Azad arrested by police on the spot

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Hindu temple vandalised in Aligarh, accused Md Azad arrested by police on the spot

On August 29, Aligarh Police arrested a 25-year-old youth identified as Mohammad Azad for vandalising idols in a Hindu temple in the Aligarh district. The incident took place on the intervening night of August 28 and August 29. As per reports, Azad entered an ancient Shiva temple located close to the Rasalganj outpost of Thana Bannadevi at late night. He was equipped with a hammer and damaged over half a dozen idols.

The Police were informed about the incident. Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former mayor Shakuntala Bharti reached the spot with the Police. Azad was arrested and booked under Sections 452,427, 307, and 295 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

SSP Kalanidhi Naithani said, “We got the information that a man was trying to enter the temple. The Police rushed to the sport and arrested the accused. The accused was a resident of the police station area of Civil Lines in Aligarh. He was taken to the police station, where he was interrogated and assured that legal action would be taken against the accused. He was booked under relevant sections based on the damage he has caused to the idols.”

BJP leader Shakuntala Bharti said, “The activities of vandalism in the temple are an attempt to spoil the atmosphere of the city. She said that this is the third incident, and the idols of the temple are being vandalised as part of the conspiracy.”

As per reports, an idol is missing from the temple, which indicates that more people might have been involved in the incident.

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