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Operations of Aryan Aviation for Char Dham Yatra suspended after Uttarakhand helicopter crash, licences of 2 pilots of another company suspended for flying in bad weather

ANI
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Operations of Aryan Aviation for Char Dham Yatra suspended after Uttarakhand helicopter crash, licences of 2 pilots of another company suspended for flying in bad weather

Five adults, one infant and one crew member were on board the Aryan Aviation’s Bell 407 helicopter operating in the “Shri Kedarnath Ji – Aryan Helipad, Guptkashi” sector that crashed on Sunday, the Civil Aviation Ministry said in a statement.

The helicopter took off from Guptkashi at 05:10 am and landed at Shri Kedarnath Ji Helipad at 05:18 am before departing again at 05:19 am for Guptkashi and is reported to have crashed near Gaurikund between 05:30 am to 05:45 am, the statement said.

The ministry said that preliminary indications suggest that the probable cause of the crash may be Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), with the helicopter reportedly airborne despite poor visibility and extensive clouding at the valley entry area. The exact cause will be determined through a detailed investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

Rescue operations by NDRF and SDRF teams are currently underway at the crash site.

Following the incident, a high-level meeting was convened by Chief Minister of Uttarakhand Pushkar Singh Dhami at 11 am attended by senior officials of the Government of Uttarakhand, Secretary (Civil Aviation), DGCA, and associated teams.

In the meeting immediate actions have been taken, which include suspending all operations of Aryan Aviation for the Char Dham Yatra with immediate effect.

Two helicopters belonging to TransBharat Aviation –VT-TBC (PIC: Capt. Yogesh Grewal, CPL(H)-1453) and VT-TBF (PIC: Capt. Jitender Harjai, CPL(H)-1046)–were found to have been airborne under similar unsuitable weather conditions. Accordingly, the licenses of both pilots have been suspended for six months.

All charter and shuttle helicopter operations in the region have also been suspended on June 15-16, 2025 as a safety precaution.

The Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority has been directed to hold a comprehensive review with all operators and pilots before any resumption of services, to ensure full alignment with safety protocols.

UCADA will also establish a dedicated Command-and-Control Room to monitor real-time operations and ensure immediate escalation of any risk indicators.

Directorate General of Civil Aviation has been directed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, to immediately post officers from Airworthiness, Safety, and Operations to actively oversee all helicopter activity in the Kedarnath valley and rigorously review the functioning of the UCADA Command-and-Control Room.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has reiterated aviation safety is non-negotiable and that no operator should undertake flights in violation of weather-related and other protocols.

The Ministry has issued strict instructions to DGCA to enforce all extant provisions with full authority and to ensure that discipline in flying operations is maintained at all costs, given the sanctity of human life.

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

Assam: Hazarat Ali and 4 others arrested for dumping severed head of cow near Kali Mandir in Lakhipur, 3rd incident of temple desecration in one week

OpIndia Staff
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Assam: Hazarat Ali and 4 others arrested for dumping severed head of cow near Kali Mandir in Lakhipur, 3rd incident of temple desecration in one week

On Saturday (14th June), communal tension broke out in Lakhipur town in the Goalpara district of Assam after extremists dumped the severed head of a cow near a Hindu temple.

The matter came to light amid two separate incidents of temple desecration in a similar fashion in Assam’s Muslim-dominated Dhubri.

On learning about the matter, the Lakhipur police reached the crime scene and took away the severed head of the cow. The area was cordoned off to prevent further act of sacrilege.

Hindus living in the area are riled up over the deliberate attempt to hurt the religious sentiments of the community. They informed that the incident, which occurred on Friday (14th June), is not an isolated one.

According to local Hindus, extremists have previously dumped cow legs and dead remains of sacred bovine animals outside temple premises and homes in Ward No.10 of Lakhipur.

Forced by circumstances, the Hindus staged a protest, demanding the immediate arrest of the culprits. The police, which had already taken cognisance of the matter, have initiated a probe into the case.

Assam Power Distribution Company Limited Director, Dr. Kashyap Prakash, visited the site of temple desecration and assured swift justice in the matter.

On Sunday (15th June), Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed that Bodir Ali, Hazarat Ali, Tara Mia, Shajamal Mia and Jahangir Alom were arrested in connected to the case.

In a tweet, he stated, “A case has been registered and strict action is being taken to ensure all such elements face the full force of the law.”

Recent incidents of temple desecration in Muslim-dominated Dhubri

Earlier on Friday (13th June), the Assam Chief Minister informed that the severed head of a cow was found at a local Hanuman Mandir in Muslim-dominated Dhubri on the following day of Bakri Eid.

“Hindus and Muslims met, and a Peace Committee was formed to resolve the matter. But again on the next day, another cow head was dumped in the Hindu temple,” the Assam CM added.

Himanta Biswa Sarma informed that the extremists resorted to stone pelting and put up 3 posters of ‘Nabin Bangla’ in Dhubri, an organisation which wants to annex the entire district to Bangladesh.

“There is a communal group active in Dhubri. We have given shoot-at-sight orders to the police,” he emphasised.

The Assam Chief Minister made it clear that desecration of Hindu places of worship would not be tolerated in the BJP-ruled State.

On Saturday (14th June), Himanta Biswa Sarma informed that 38 accused were arrested in a massive crackdown overnight in connection with the desecration of a Hanuman Mandir in Muslim-dominated Dhubri.

Naga delegation arrives in UK seeking return of over 200 human remains of their ancestors, stolen during British raj, from Oxford University’s museum

OpIndia Staff
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Naga delegation arrives in UK seeking return of over 200 human remains of their ancestors, stolen during British raj, from Oxford University’s museum

A delegation comprising Naga tribals and senior leaders is currently in the United Kingdom seeking the repatriation of the human remains of their Naga ancestors, which were taken away to the UK by colonial period. The delegation includes members of different Naga tribal bodies, members of the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR), and the Recover, Restore and Decolonise (RRaD) team.

More than 200 remains of Naga tribes are said to had been taken away by the British raj during the colonial period. Many of them were on display at Pitt Rivers Museum (PRM) of the University of Oxford until 2020.

A declaration was made by the Naga delegation on Friday (14th June) at the Lecture Theatre of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, which said that the repatriation process of the remains is a step towards the healing and wholeness of the Naga people.

“We are grateful to our ancestors for being a testament and silently proclaiming the stories of our people. We are sorry that it has taken us several decades, but we are here now to reclaim and return you to the homelands from where you were taken. We are committed to the process of your return from museums,” said the declaration, which arrived in the UK on 8th June.

Image via Nagaland Tribune

“As Nagas, we do so in a united voice, with mutual respect and consensus and to offer you a dignified rest, establishing a Naga monument of healing and peace for all generations, symbolising the oneness of the Nagas,” it added.

The Naga leaders expressed regret that the journey to reclaim the remains of their forefathers have taken decades, but underscored their united commitment to returning the ancestral human remains from foreign museums and ensuring a dignified resting place for them. The declaration said, “We are sorry that it has taken us several decades, but we are here now to reclaim and return you to the homelands from where you were taken. We are committed to the process of your return from museums.”

The delegation expressed solidarity with other indigenous peoples across the world, who also seek repatriation of things forming part of their history. It has been holding dialogues with the administration of Pitt Rivers Museum to initiate the process of repatriation of the Naga remains.

Director of the PRM, Professor Dr Laura van Broekhoven welcomed the Naga delegation and described the repatriation process as step towards reconciliation and healing. “…over a century ago, the first Naga ancestral human remain was donated by (John Henry) Hutton to the Pitt Rivers Museum. Many others followed later. These ancestral remains have been in our care since then. We know that this week will be one where we will both feel grief and sadness when looking back on that past, and also where hope is possible as we work towards reconciliation and healing in the future. I hope we can support and hold each other throughout this process,” said the professor.

Accepting the welcome, Reverend Dr Ellen Kanyak Jamir, coordinator of RRaD and member of FNR, said that the presence of the Naga delegation represented a sacred journey of repatriation which started 5 years ago. “We recognise and express our sincere appreciation for the PRM’s commitment to change, and ethical stewardship. We come with hope in the process, may this journey appease our ancestors and our communities,” Jamir said.

Notably, the Pitt Rivers Museum is one of the most important ethnological museums in the world, and it displays the archaeological and anthropological collections of the University of Oxford. Majority of the items on display in the museum were collected by colonial officials, apart from travellers, scholars, and missionaries. In recent times, the museum have started removing human remains from its collection, mostly to address the museum’s problematic colonial past.

In 2020, they removed the famous shrunken human heads, along with Egyptian mummies and other human remains, collected during the colonial era.

PM Narendra Modi starts three-nation tour of Cyprus, Canada and Croatia on Sunday, to attend G7 summit in Canada’s Kananaskis

OpIndia Staff
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PM Narendra Modi starts three-nation tour of Cyprus, Canada and Croatia on Sunday, to attend G7 summit in Canada’s Kananaskis

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is embarking on a three-nation tour to the Republic of Cyprus, Canada and Croatia on Sunday. The PM gave details of the tour on his website.

PM Modi will reach Republic of Cyprus on 15 June on the invitation of President Nikos Christodoulides. He wrote, “Cyprus is a close friend and an important partner in the Mediterranean region and the EU. The visit provides an opportunity to build upon the historical bonds and expand our ties in the areas of trade, investment, security, technology and promote people-to-people exchanges.”

From Cyprus, PM Modi will travel to Kananaskis, Canada to attend the G7 Summit. Notably, Canadian PM Mark Carney recently called him to invite to the summit. PM Modi wrote, “The Summit will provide space for exchange of views on pressing global issues and the priorities of the Global South. I also look forward to engaging withleaders from partner countries.”

On 18th June, he will travel to Croatia where he will have meetings with President Zoran Milanovic and Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. Talking about the Croatia visit, he wrote, “Both our countries enjoy centuries-old close cultural links. As the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Croatia, it will open new avenues for bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest.”

PM Narendra Modi wrote that “This three-nation tour is also an opportunity to thank partner countries for their steadfast support to India in our fight against cross-border terrorism, and to galvanize global understanding on tackling terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.”

UP: Police arrests Ahmed Nawaz and Aman for duping people of lakhs through an online fruit and vegetable trading scam

OpIndia Staff
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UP: Police arrests Ahmed Nawaz and Aman for duping people of lakhs through an online fruit and vegetable trading scam

Uttar Pradesh’s Cyber Crime Police on Friday (13th June) arrested two people named Ahmed Nawaz and Aman in connection with an online fruit and vegetable trading scam. The culprits are accused of committing a financial fraud of over Rs 50 lakh with a number of people from different states through an online fruit and vegetable scam.

The police arrested them near Balajipuram area of Khatauli, in the Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. 4 passbooks, 3 cheque books, 9 SIM cards, 3 mobile phones and 1 laptop were seized by the police from the possession of the accused. The SIM cards were obtained using fake IDs.

Accused created fake Facebook pages

The police swung into action after receiving complaint on Pratibimb portal filed by a Tripura-based businessman. The complaint said that an online fraud was being committed through fake Facebook pages. On investigation, the police found that the mobile numbers associated with these fake Facebook pages were operating in Muzaffarnagar. The accused used to upload pictures of fruits and vegetables on these Facebook pages and used to offer them at cheaper prices.

Addressing the media on Saturday (14th June), Muzaffarnagar SP Crime, Indu Siddharth said that the accused had created the Facebook pages in the names of five companies, namely, Syed Trading Company Wholesale Maharashtra, Aman Fruit Company, Fruit and Vegetable, Rice Portal and AFC Fruit Banana Wholesale. The SP said that since 2020, the accused have fraudulently made around 50 lakhs through these companies. The addresses of the companies were shown in Maharashtra, Tripura, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu.

Accused bought autmobiles, house using the money

People interested in buying fruits and vegetables used to call on the numbers provided by the accused. They used to ask these people to deposit certain amount of money in advance in their bank accounts. As soon as the money was deposited in their accounts, they used to block the mobile numbers of customers so that they could not contact them.

The accused, who are said to have studied till 8 standard, have so far duped peope from states including Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Tripura. West Bengal and Maharashtra Police have also been looking for them. Around 16 complaints alleging fraud of money worth ₹23,081,429 have been lodged against them.

Around ₹30 lakhs is currently deposited in their bank accounts. The accused bought vehicles and houses including a Venue, a TUV car, and an Apache bike using the fraudulently earned money. They also paid off their loans.

The accused were sent to jail after producing before a court.

Congress condemns Israel for targeting military sites in Iran with precision strikes, silent on Iranian missiles killing civilians in Israel

OpIndia Staff
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Congress condemns Israel for targeting military sites in Iran with precision strikes, silent on Iranian missiles killing civilians in Israel

On 15th June, Indian National Congress condemned Israel’s recent military action against Iran, aiming to destroy its nuclear facilities and eliminate personnel related to Iran’s Nuclear Program. In a post on social media platform X, General Secretary in-charge of Communication, Jairam Ramesh, called it a dangerous escalation with “grave regional and global consequences”.

Interestingly, while Congress condemned the Israeli attack on Iran, it completely ignored the fact that Iran has been relentlessly shooting ballistic missiles at Israel, leading to destruction of property and death of civilians.

In his post, Ramesh said that Indian National Congress “unequivocally condemns Israel’s recent bombings and targeted assassinations on Iranian soil, which represent a dangerous escalation with grave regional and global consequences”. He claimed that the Israeli attack on Iran would deepen instability and sow seeds of further conflict.

He further added that the Congress party believes in diplomacy, dialogue, and international cooperation, and not violence. He said, “Continued military brinkmanship risks plunging an already fragile region into wider war, with catastrophic human and economic fallout.”

He further claimed that India has the moral responsibility and diplomatic leverage to act as a bridge for de-escalation and peace between Iran and Israel because it has ties with both the countries. He said, “With lakhs of Indian citizens living and working across West Asia, peace in the region is a vital national interest apart from being a geopolitical concern. India must speak clearly, act responsibly, and use every diplomatic channel available to defuse tensions and promote a return to dialogue.”

Amidst all the dialogues he wrote, Ramesh completely ignored the fact that Israel’s attack was a strategic response to the increased threat of Iran becoming an Islamic country with nuclear bombs in its arsenal. He further ignored that Iran has attacked Israel as well, in which several people were killed, and public and private properties were damaged. In fact, Iranian missiles had hit civilian residences in Rishon LeZion where two people, one man and a woman, were killed.

On the other hand, Israel is specifically targeting military installations and leadership in Iran, and using precision strikes to avoid collateral damage. Israel also issued warning to civilians living near the military bases to leave before hitting them, while Iran fired missiles at residential zones without any warning.

Congress claims to be in favour of diplomacy and dialogue. However, its selective outrage raises serious questions. By condemning Israel’s strategic strikes but turning a blind eye to Iran’s direct missile attacks on civilians, it not only undermines its credibility but also weakens India’s stance as a balanced voice in global affairs. If peace and stability in West Asia is what Congress wants, then it should be honest and acknowledge attacks on Israel by Iran and its proxies. It is not about political convenience but being honest in its stance.

Helicopter services suspended in Uttarakhand after Rudraprayag crash, CM Dhami warns strict action against culprits behind the accident

ANI
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Helicopter services suspended in Uttarakhand after Rudraprayag crash, CM Dhami warns strict action against culprits behind the accident

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday warned of strict action against the culprits after seven people were killed in a chopper crash in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district and said that aviation companies have been directed to follow the rules of Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

Following the incident, the Chief Minister informed that the Helicopter services will not run for the next two days.

Speaking to ANI, CM Dhami said,” This morning, a helicopter crashed due to bad weather. I pray to God for those who lost their lives.”

Calling for strict compliance with safety norms, the Chief Minister said, “An emergency meeting has been called immediately, in which instructions have been given that the rules of our DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) should not be violated, and the pilots flying in the upper Himalayan areas should have experience of the region. Aviation companies should also ensure this.”

“A control and command centre should be set up. Strict action will be taken against the culprits in this accident… Helicopter services will not run today or tomorrow. These services will remain closed until the safety of the passengers is ensured,” he told ANI.

Earlier this morning, seven people, including the pilot on board a helicopter were killed after the chopper crashed near the forested area of Gaurikund in Uttarakhand’s Rudraprayag district, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) said.

The Aryan Aviation Helicopter was flying to Guptkashi from the Kedarnath Dham when it crashed at 5:30 am today.

The deceased have been identified as Captain Rajbir Singh Chauhan (39), resident of Jaipur, Vikram Rawat (47) a Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee representative and resident of Rasi, Vinod Devi (66), resident of Uttar Pradesh, Trishti Singh (19), resident of Uttar Pradesh, Rajkumar Suresh Jaiswal (41), resident of Gujarat, Shraddha Rajkumar Jaiswal and Kashi (2), resident of Maharashtra.

Rescue teams were immediately dispatched under the direction of SDRF Commander Arpan Yadav. The incident spot was located in a very inaccessible and dense forest area, where a fast-paced and coordinated rescue operation was carried out by the joint teams of SDRF, NDRF, and local police.

Rescue teams worked in inclement weather to retrieve the bodies of the deceased.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a virtual high-level meeting with senior officials from the CM residence after the helicopter crash.

State Chief Secretary, Disaster Management Secretary, UCADA CEO, Garhwal Commissioner and other senior officials were present in the high-level meeting.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will investigate the crash, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) stated.

The DGCA further said that, in light of the crash, the frequencies of helicopter operations to Char Dham would be reduced as a precautionary measure.

Sonika further stated that the District Magistrate and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) will reach the site soon.

“Since the rescue operation is underway and seeing the weather conditions in the valley, our shuttle services have been closed. Almost all the helicopters are involved in the rescue operation. DM and SSP will also reach the site soon,” Sonika told ANI.

“At around 5:30 AM, we got the information that a helicopter, which was going from Shri Kedarnath Dham to Guptkashi, could not be located. After some time, it was learnt that it had crashed near Gaurikund. Rescue operation is underway, SDRF teams have reached the spot. A total of 6 passengers and one pilot were on board the helicopter…” she further said.

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

When Khalistani terrorists gunned down 110 passengers, mostly Hindus inside a train: Read all about the 1991 Ludhiana massacre

Anurag
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When Khalistani terrorists gunned down 110 passengers, mostly Hindus inside a train: Read all about the 1991 Ludhiana massacre

34 years ago, hundreds of families were destroyed in Punjab by Khalistani terrorists as they attacked two trains. It was 9:35 PM on 15th June 1991.

A Ludhiana-bound train originating from Ferozpur slowed down near Baddowal in Ludhiana district when Khalistani terrorists, armed with automatic weapons, opened fire, killing 62 passengers, mostly Hindus, and injuring 40 others. The terrorists hot-wired the signal box to stop the train.

Source: Hindupost

In another incident, 48 passengers were killed and 30 were injured in the Dhuri-Hisar passenger train near Qila Rajan in Ludhiana district. In this attack, they specifically seperated Hindus from Sikhs on the train and forced them to deboard. The victims were then lined up across the railway track and killed. The terrorists were reportedly belonged to Khalistan Commando Force.

Indian Express had reported that the terrorists kidnapped the guard and driver of the train and escaped. It was the largest mass killing in two incidents on a single day. Punjab, just a day before the attacks, was declared a disturbed area and the Army was deployed to maintain law and order.

Assassination of Jatinder Singh

The massacre on trains was not the only attack by Khalistani terrorists on that day. 11 people, including an Assembly candidate of the All-India Sikh Students Federation, Jatinder Singh, were killed by Khalistani terrorists.

Jatinder Singh was contesting from Chamkaur Sahib Assembly constituency in Ropar district. Two terrorists killed him at a gurdwara in Ratlangarhi village. His private gunman was also injured in the incident.

Reportedly, Singh went to meet the people without informing his security guards, leading to the attack. He was the second AISSF candidate to be killed, and the 21st in total candidates killed by Khalistani terrorists.

Furthermore, two police personnel were killed in a separate attack. In village Dhotian of Tarn Taran district, five members of a family and a woman were also killed.

Five terrorists were neutralised on that day, including the area commander of the Khalistan Commando Force, Sukhdev Singh alias Lali, in an encounter near village Kotla Majha Singh.

The attacks happened within 5 hours after polling closed for the Lok Sabha elections. Voting did not take place in Punjab due to the law-and-order situation and was scheduled for 22nd June under Army protection. At that time, Punjab was under Central Government rule since 1987. Notably, elections for the State Assembly in Punjab were announced in April. By 15th June, over 700 people were reportedly killed in separate attacks.

Assassination attempt on Home Minister

That was the time when travel during the night was normally restricted due to the possibility of terrorist attacks. Because of the repeated attacks, there were demands for the cancellation of Punjab polls by several political parties, including the Congress Party. The situation was so critical that the Home Minister of India at that time, Subodh Kant Sahay, had escaped an assassination attempt near Ludhiana. An explosion had gone off in a pile of gravel as his car passed. He escaped unhurt.

The elections were eventually cancelled a day before the voting was scheduled.

Khalistani terrorists killed 49 Hindus in train attack in December 1991

On 26th December 1991, Khalistani terrorists hijacked a passenger train and systematically shot Hindu passengers. 49 were killed and 20 were injured in the attack. The attack on Hindu passengers happened just two months before the state elections.

Reportedly, in November 1991, the Central Government deployed 1,40,000 army personnel in Punjab to maintain law and order in view of the elections. At that time, it was becoming increasingly common for Khalistani terrorists to attack trains and kill Hindu passengers, particularly before elections.

Reportedly, the terrorists were on board the train when it left from Ludhiana. They pulled the emergency cord at around 7:30 PM near village Sohain. As the train stopped, four terrorists pulled out their AK-47s and began searching the train. They shot anyone who appeared to be a Hindu. Six other terrorists climbed the train at the Sohain crossing and joined the massacre. After killing 49 and injuring 20, the terrorists left the train and disappeared into the night.

Since June 1991, several bomb attacks on civilians in Punjab and northern Uttar Pradesh were reported. In northern UP, there were pockets where pro-Khalistani Sikhs lived and gave shelter to Khalistani terrorists. Such pockets still exist in some areas. Most recently, Khalistani terrorists were killed in an encounter in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh. They were linked to the Khalistan Zindabad Force and were trained by ISI Pakistan.

The 1991 train massacres by Khalistani terrorists remain among the darkest chapters of independent India’s history. The deliberate targeting of Hindu passengers, political candidates, and civilians was not just an act of terror, but a calculated attempt to destabilise Punjab and derail democratic processes.

US President Donald Trump announces that he has nothing to do with Israel-Iran conflict, issues warning and then proposes to be the ‘mediator’

OpIndia Staff
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US President Donald Trump announces that he has nothing to do with Israel-Iran conflict, issues warning and then proposes to be the ‘mediator’

Amid the missile attacks between Israel and Iran, which have been going on for over three days now, US President Donald Trump gave a clear warning to Iran that if the country attacks the US in any way, the US would respond with full force.

Distancing the US from the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, Trump said that the US had nothing to do with the attack on Iran. However, at the same time, he offered to mediate between the two countries.

“The U.S. had nothing to do with the attack on Iran, tonight. If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before. However, we can easily get a deal done between Iran and Israel, and end this bloody conflict!!!”  Trump posted on Truth Social on Friday (14th June).

Trump offered to “get a deal done between Iran and Israel” in case the countries want to end the conflict. On Wednesday (11th June), a day before Israel attacked Iran, the US State Department advised US citizens and officials to leave Iraq amid rising regional tensions, in anticipation that Iran could retaliate to Israel’s action by targeting the American sites in Iraq.

During India’s operation Sindoor, Trump made a similar offer to mediate between India and Pakistan. After a ceasefire was agreed between the two countries following Pakistan’s call, Trump claimed to have brokered the ceasfire, even as India maintained that the ceasefire was reeached without the involvement of a third party.

Israel continues its attacks on Iran

Israel launched an aggressive aerial attack on Iran on 12th June after the US-Iran talks regarding Iran’s nuclear program reached a dead end. The US has held several rounds of discussions with Iran since last year, in order to get Iran to sign a deal agreeing not to develop nuclear weapons. Even though Iran has been denying its attempts to develop a nuclear weapon but it has been asserting its right to enrich nuclear grade uranium.

Israel and Iran has been involved in several rounds of reciprocal attacks since 12th June. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that Israel would continue with its strikes in Iran. The Jewish state has been justifying its action against Iran as move to eliminate threat to its existence which will grow manifold, if Iran is able to develop a nuclear weapon. This is the reason that Israel targeted Iran’s nuclear sites in the recent attacks.

Israeli military aims to continue hitting targets from fighter jets over Iranian airspace. As per Israeli sources, 70 Israeli Air Force fighter jets participated in the overnight operation, during which the military “established aerial superiority from western Iran to Tehran.” Around 40 sites were targeted, including air defense systems and related assets. Apart from hitting several military sites, Israeli strikes also took out several top military leaders and nuclear experts.

UK: Muslim men attack 3 Hindus after asking about their ethnicity, British MP calls out religious hatred but police claim ‘no racial motivation’

OpIndia Staff
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UK: Muslim men attack 3 Hindus after asking about their ethnicity, British MP calls out religious hatred but police claim ‘no racial motivation’

A case of religious hatred has come to light from London, United Kingdom, where three young Hindu men in their early 20s were brutally thrashed by some Muslim men in a public park on 30th May this year.

Among the victims, one was a British Indian Gujarati while the remaining two were Sri Lankan. The incident was raised by Tory MP Bob Blackman in the House of Commons on Thursday (12th June) calling it a case of religious hatred.

“Earlier this week, three young Indian boys were playing cricket in Headstone Park. They were approached by three men, slightly older. An altercation took place and the three young boys were hospitalised, one with a fractured eye socket. We understand that the police are dealing with it as an aggravated racial assault. This took place between young Hindu boys and older Muslim men,” Blackman said.

“If this type of religious hatred is going to come to this country, we desperately need the Home Secretary to make a clear statement about what the government is going to do to prevent this from happening,” the British MP added.

When Muslims attacked 3 Hindu men

The three young Hindu men, including a first-year radiography student, went to the Harrow Recreation Ground to play cricket on the day of the incident.

After some time, all three of them went to a nearby shop to buy some snacks and drinks. On their way to the shop, they passed by a café where a Muslim family of 7 to 8 members, including women wearing hijab, was sitting.

Somehow, the Muslim family had the wrong impression that the Hindu men looked at them. A male member of the Muslim family approached the Hindu men with aggression and questioned them why they were looking at the family. “What’s your problem? What are you looking at?” the Muslim man aggressively asked as reported by Insight UK.

To this the Hindu men calmly responded and said that they were looking back at their friends playing cricket in the park. “I’m sorry if you think we were looking at you, but we weren’t,” one of the Hindu men replied.

The situation was pacified and the Hindu men went back to the park and sat on a bench.

About half an hour later, three Muslim men from the same family approached the Hindu men in the park and asked them about their ethnicity.

“What are you? Where are you from, are you locals? Are you Indian? Are you Sri Lankan?” one of the Muslim men asked. One of the Hindu men responded with a yes. After this, the Muslim men began physically attacking them.

They launched blows after blows on the victims as they remained seated and unable to defend themselves. The attackers did not let the victims move away or get up and kept pushing them back down.

Two of the Hindu men received blows to the head which left them unconscious. Their friends who were playing cricket came running to help them. The injured were taken to the Northwick Park Hospital.

The sister of one of the victims told Times of India that the incident has seriously affected her brother who has never been involved in a fight before. The victim received a facial fracture and bruises.

She said that at the time of the incident, her brother was wearing a sacred thread from a temple on his wrist. She added that one of the attackers was wearing a Moroccan football T-shirt with number 2 and the word ‘Hakimi’ printed on it.

She expressed dissatisfaction with way the police are investigating the case. She said that the police did not examine the CCTV footage even two weeks after the incident.

Police deny ‘racial motivation’

In the meantime, the police have downplayed the religious hatred, racial motivation involved in the targeted attack

“There is no evidence at this time that this attack was racially motivated. Our enquiries into the circumstances continue. No arrests have been made,” a police spokesperson told TOI.

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