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Aurangabad: 8 men including 2 sons of a Shiv Sena leader beat a youth to death, send video of the assault to victim’s brother

In a heinous incident that took place in Aurangabad city of Maharashtra, eight culprits beat a 27-year-old youth to death over suspicion of theft on Wednesday 20th April 2022. Two of the accused are sons of a late ex-Shiv Sena corporator. Five of the eight accused culprits were arrested by the Aurangabad police and presented in front of the court on Friday 22nd April 2022. The Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Justice S. U. Nyaharkar ordered police custody of the accused till 26th April 2022.

The incident took place at a hall managed by the culprits

According to a report by Punya Nagari, the estate department of the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation had allotted the Dhannulal Meghawale multipurpose hall in HUDCO (Housing and Urban Development Corporation) area to a relative of the former Shiv Sena corporator late Ganpat Kharat on a ten-year rental agreement at the rate of Rs 6,000 per month. The hall was given to be run in the name of Swapnali Nilesh Khare. However, after Kharat’s death, his sons Sagar and Sunny were running the hall.

At this place, Manoj Awhad (age 27, resident of Vivekanand Nagar in the HUDCO area of Aurangabad) was working as a watchman. He was living in a room in the same multipurpose hall with his wife and son. While he was at work, owner Kharat and caterer Satish Khare were repeatedly suspicious of him as some of the items in this hall were stolen. Fed up with the constant controversy, Manoj’s wife had left for her maternal home a month ago.

A function was held four days ago at the Meghawale multipurpose hall. A woman had complained to the owners Kharat and Khare that the mobile was stolen that day. Manoj Awhad was questioned about the mobile. Due to this, Manoj Awhad had left work and gone to his mother’s home in the Champa Chowk area of the city.

They called the victim to the hall

While Manoj was with his mother, Satish Khare and Sagar Kharat along with three or four youths called him on Wednesday 20th April 2022. Manoj Awhad was taken to the hall at around 3 PM where the accused beat him for one and half hours with sticks, wooden logs, kicks, and punches so brutally that he died on the spot. The culprits involved in this heinous act include Sagar Ganpat Kharat (age 28), Rohan alias Sunny Ganpat Kharat (age 26), Shivam Narendra Tupe (age 26), Ashtapal Ramesh Gavai (age 27), all of whom live near TV center in sector N-12 of the HUDCO area of Aurangabad and Anand Laxman Gaikwad (age 22) and Anand Bhausaheb Solas (age 22), both resident of Shatabdinagar in the same sector N-12 and Satish Bhaskar Khare (age 45) who lives in Siddharthnagar in the sector N-12 of the HUDCO area of Aurangabad.

Video of the incident was made viral with a purpose

While others were beating the victim Manoj Awhad to death, Shivam Tupe was making a video of the incident on a mobile phone. After the crime, he sent the video to the brother of deceased Manoj Awhad who had gone on the pilgrimage of a local saint Mangir Baba. He immediately reached the house of the accused Satish Khare as soon as he saw the video on WhatsApp but there was no one there. He found no one when he reached the multipurpose hall either. Later he visited the government hospital and medical college (GHATI) only to see the dead body of his deceased brother.

The culprits tried to pretend that it was an accidental death of an unknown person

When the accused came to know that Manoj was dead, they started planning how to dispose of his body. For this, they brought liquor to the hall. They sat in front of Manoj Awhad’s dead body and spilled the liquor all over. The accused consumed the liquor too. Then they removed the entire clothes stained with blood on his body. They cleaned the dead body with a freshwater bath and changed the clothes. Manoj Awhad’s dead body was then rushed to the GHATI in Satish Khare’s car for ‘treatment’. The culprits gave evasive answers when questioned by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO). It is a must to provide the name and number of the applicant in the GHATI. They gave the name of Ashtapal Gavai and the mobile number of Satish Khare. The accused killers told the CMO, “The young man was seen lying unconscious near the GHATI hospital, so we have brought him here for treatment, we do not know his name, village, address.” Before leaving the hospital, they registered their wrong names, address, and mobile numbers. The medical officers examined Manoj Awhad and declared him brought dead.

The arrests

Deceased Manoj Awhad’s mother Aruna Sheshrao Awhad (age 50) approached the CIDCO police station and showed the video and told the police what had happened. Deputy Commissioner of Police Deepak Ginche, Assistant Police Inspector Nishikant Bhujbal, Police Inspector Sambhaji Pawar, Assistant Police Inspector Shradha Waydande, Sub-Inspector of Police Ashok Avchar inspected the spot. A case of murder has been registered against eight persons in the case. Satish Khare, Sagar Kharat, Sunny Kharat, Anand Solas, and Shivam Tupe, who made the video, have been arrested. The accused were traced by the misfit details they provided in the hospital under the effect of the liquor they consumed.

The investigations

The police investigation has revealed that the gang had beaten up Manoj Awhad mercilessly till his death just with the intention that no one would dare to steal from their multipurpose hall anymore. Some of the accused told the police that they had already consumed alcohol at the time of the incident. Therefore, they had no idea how much time they were beating the victim Manoj Awhad. They just kept on hitting and Manoj Awhad died of it. The culprits told in the investigation that they thought ‘you have a watchman who himself is a thief, he has to be taught a lesson, so a video must be made and sent to his family, it must be made viral to show people how a stealer should be punished’. Throughout the course of the incident, the victim Manoj Awhad was saying that he is not the thief and he was pleading for his life. But the gang of the accused culprits did not listen to his request and kept on beating him.

Inside the court

All the five arrested accused out of the eight were presented before the Judicial Magistrate S. U. Nyaharkar on Friday 22nd April 2022. The magistrate ordered that all of them be sent to police custody till 26th April 2022. Two of the accused, the Kharat brothers, happen to be the sons of a former Shiv Sena corporator late Ganpat Kharat, therefore a large mob was present at the CIDCO police station when the accused were being taken to the court. The mob included many relatives of the siblings. The two brothers were crying at that time. The relatives in the crowd were supporting the murderers by saying “Don’t cry Bhaiyya. We are with you. Nothing will happen.”

When the accused killers were boarding the police van, at that time both the brothers started crying yet more loudly. The relatives too then started shouting aloud saying “Don’t cry. Nothing will happen. We all are here with you.” The police then moved the relatives away from the vehicle.

Will the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation act?

The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) was formed in 1989 and since then Shiv Sena is ruling the sub-capital of what once used to be the Nizam state before it was merged into independent India in 1948. The hall where the incident took place is owned by the municipal corporation but it was indirectly handled and controlled by the Shiv Sena corporator first and later his sons after his death. Anand Laxman Gaikwad involved in this murder is an employee of the municipal corporation. This is a clear violation of the rules and regulations of the municipal corporation. Therefore, the AMC administration has now started a move to cancel the agreement regarding the hall and take over the hall.

IPL: Sunrisers Hyderabad win 5 in a row as Royal Challengers Bangalore collapse to 68, Kohli scores second successive golden duck

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After losing their first 2 games, and being dismissed by everyone as contenders for this year’s IPL, Sunrisers Hyderabad have fought back in some fashion winning 5 games in a row. Their latest triumph was an absolute annihilation of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as they swatted them away winning with 9 wickets with 12 overs to spare.

Having won the toss and put RCB into bat, Hyderabad were all over them like a rash. The second over of the innings delivered by Marco Jensen accounted for RCB skipper Faf du Plessis, Indian legend Virat Kohli, and Anuj Rawat, and there was no coming back for Bangalore. RCB has often relied on Virat Kohli over the years, but this year, he is turning out to be a liability recording his second successive golden duck. Glenn Maxwell tried to counter-attack but he was soon picked up by Natarajan.

Marco Jansen settled the game in 1 over picking the entire RCB top order. (Image source: Crictracker)

RCB’s regular problem solver this season, Dinesh Karthik, was also dismissed for a duck today as wicket-keeper Pooran snapped him up off the bowling of Suchith. Eventually, the mighty RCB batting lineup could only put up 68 on the board and it was never going to be enough.

The Chase

Chasing 69 for the win was always going to be easy, but Abhishek Sharma, the star opener for Hyderabad this season, made sure there were no hiccups. Along with skipper Kane Williamson, he put on 64 for the opening wicket scoring 47 off 28 balls. When eventually Harshal Patel got Abishek out with SRH needing just 5 to win, it was already too late, and Williamson and Rahul Tripathi knocked off the remaining runs easily for a huge win for Hyderabad.

Bangalore next face Jos Buttler powered Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday, while Sunrisers Hyderabad will try to continue their winning run against table-toppers Gujarat Titans on Wednesday.

From Ram Navami to Durga Visarjan to Hanuman Jayanti: List of attacks carried out by Islamists against Hindu processions from 2019 to 2022

Violent attacks during Hindu festivals have become the new norm in recent years. Despite innumerable efforts of the so-called liberals and the secular media to spin the ‘Musalman khatre mein hai’ and ‘Dara hua Musalman’ bogey, history is a testimony to the fact that it is the Hindus and their festivals that have regularly been targeted by radical Islamists.

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, we have tried to chronicle a few of the wanton attacks against Hindus below. 

Islamists run amok during Hunaman Jayanti Shobha Yatra

Jahangirpuri, Delhi: In the latest incident of ongoing attacks on Hindu religious events, a Hanuman Jayanti procession came under stone pelting at Jahangirpuri in Delhi today, April 16, 2022. After the procession was attacked by stone-pelters from rooftops in the area, some people in the procession also retaliated with stones. After that, the mob attacked police with stones and gunfire, and several cops and civilians were attacked. One sub-inspector of Delhi police was injured after he was shot by the mob. Several vehicles were damaged in the attack on the Hanuman Jayanti procession.

Several videos had emerged on social media showing the violence during the Hanuman Jayanti procession.

Roorkee, Uttarakhand: On April 16, 2022, a Muslim mob in Roorkee, Uttarakhand, pelted stones and fired at Hindus participating in the Hanuman Jayanti Shobhayatra. Over 10 people, including Police personnel, got injured in the attack. As per reports, Bajrang Dal activists and villagers were taking out a Shobha Yatra (procession) on Hanuman Jayanti in the Bhagwanpur Police station area of district Haridwar. When the procession passed through the village Dada Patti, a Muslim mob pelted stones from the nearby houses.

Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh: A similar attack was reported from the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, where stones were thrown at a Hanuman Jayanti yatra in Holagunda. The procession and ‘loud music’ are said to have ‘irritated’ people gathered inside a local mosque for an Iftar meal, resulting in stone-pelting and violence. 15 people have been injured, and 20 have been arrested.

When Islamists unleashed mayhem on the Hindu festival of Ram Navami

Recently, five states came under attack by Islamists on the occasion of Ram Navami. The birth anniversary of Lord Rama, an extremely auspicious occasion for the Hindus, witnessed stone pelting, targeted attacks, arson and vandalism when processions to celebrate the festival passed through the so-called ‘Muslim dominated areas’.

Ram Navami procession in Jharkhand: On Sunday (April 10) evening, a Ram Navami procession and fair came under attack in Bhokta Bagicha in Hirhi village in the Lohardaga district of Jharkhand. The area falls under the jurisdiction of the Sadar Police Station.

Islamists pelted stones at the Hindu procession and set several vehicles, including 10 motorcycles, on fire. More than 16 people were injured during the attack. About 3 of the victims are said to be in a critical state.

Two incidents of stone-pelting and arson in Madhya Pradesh: As per reports, a Ram Navami procession that began in the Talab Chowk area had to be abandoned midway after it came under a volley of stones. Several vehicles were set on fire.

The cops resorted to firing tear gas shells to bring the situation under control. During the orgy of violence, a total of 24 people were injured (including 6 police personnel). Even the Superintendent of Police (Khargone) had sustained bullet injuries.

A similar stone-pelting incident was also reported during a Ram Navami procession in Sendhwa town of Barwani district where a police station in charge named Baldev Singh Mujalde and five others were injured. The situation was brought under control and the procession continued peacefully thereafter.

Ram Navami procession attacked in West Bengal: On Sunday, a Ram Navami Procession in Howrah in West Bengal was attacked, and the devotees had to abandon the procession due to the attack by local Muslims. Several participants of the procession were injured in the attack including stone-pelting.

Several videos were posted on social media, showing the Ram Navami Shobha Yatra coming under attack in Howrah, the twin city of Kolkata. According to Twitter users from the city, the Muslim mob pelted stones at the procession, while the police remained mute spectators.

Stone pelting in Ram Navami Shobha Yatra in Himmatnagar and Khambat, Gujarat: A Ram Navami Shobha Yatra or procession organized on April 10, 2022, at Chhaparia village in Himmatnagar of the Sabarkantha in Gujarat was targeted by some local Muslim goons and stones were pelted at it. Apart from stone-pelting, some vehicles were also vandalized in this incident.

A similar incident of stone-pelting on a Ram Navami procession was reported in Khambat town in the Anand district of Gujarat. Stones were hurled by Islamists and damage was caused to shops and vehicles. The police resorted to firing tear gas shells and also arrested 9 people (including 3 Maulvis) in connection to the case. Reportedly, one man was killed during the attack in Khambat.

Ram Navami procession attacked in Karnataka: Communal tensions prevailed in Mulbagal town of Kolar district in Karnataka after a Sri Ram Shobha Yatra was attacked using stones. The incident happened on Friday night when the Shobha Yatra was being taken out ahead of Ram Navmi on Sunday.

As per reports, stones were pelted at the Sri Ram idol which was carried out in the procession. Cars and motorcycles that were part of the yatra were also attacked by the miscreants and a motorcycle was set ablaze by the stone-pelting mob. 

Islamists pelt stones, and glass bottles at Ram Navami Akhada procession in Odisha: OpIndia reported on April 12, 2022, how an Akhada procession on the occasion of Ram Navami by Hindu devotees came under attack by some local Muslims in Joda town of Keonjhar district in Odisha.

On April 11, as the devotees with religious flags reached the temple of Lord Shiva in ward number 4, the protesters from the Muslim community blocked the road and began arguing with the devotees. They didn’t allow the devotees to enter the temple area and began pelting stones and glass bottles at them, triggering violent clashes that resulted in several persons getting injured.

Communal ferocity exhibited by the Islamists during Navaratri processions

Islamists unleash mayhem in Karauli, Rajasthan during Navaratri: On April 2, communal violence broke down in the Hatwara Bazaar area of Karauli when miscreants pelted stones at a Hindu bike rally while more than a dozen shops and three bikes were set on fire.

Reportedly, 43 people, including policemen, were injured in the mob attack while the rally celebrating ‘Nav Samvatsar’ (Hindu new year) was passing through a Muslim-dominated area. All were admitted to the district hospital. The condition of a person named Pushpendra is said to be serious. He has been referred to Jaipur.

Four policemen accompanying the rally were also injured in the stone-pelting on the bike rally. The reports said that there were knife marks on the body of the injured who reached the hospital.

Stone pelting, violence in Firozabad after Muslims clash with Dalit Hindus during Navratri celebrations: Like this year, last year too on October 21, people from a particular community pelted stones on Devi Pandal during evening aarti in Village Dikhtauli, Shikohabad, District Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh. As per the reports, people of the Dalit community had built a pandal with Mata Durga’s Moorti in a plot located on the side of the road.

The Dalit community have alleged that since they started the Navratri celebrations, some people from the Muslim community would come and consume alcohol on the vacant land nearby. They also used abusive language during the Aarti. Such incidents led to tension between the two groups resulting in the fight.

The police had, however, denied the communal angle in the case. They further said the reports of stone-pelting on Durga Puja Pandal are also false.

When Durga Puja celebrations were obstructed by radical Islamists

Stone pelting at Durga Puja Visarjan procession in Balrampur as music was not stopped while crossing mosque: In 2019, after the Navratri and Durga Puja had come to an end, a shocking video emerged on social media. In a viral video from Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh, that had sparked outrage, a procession for Durga Puja Visarjan was seen getting attacked by heavy stone-pelting. The police responded to the video and confirmed that 8 people had been arrested.

The Additional Superintendent of Police from Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh told OpIndia that the Durga puja Visarjan procession came under attack as it was passing in front of a mosque. Just before the mosque, there is a right turn. The procession that generally has a DJ and plays loud music passes through the mosque.

However, generally, the music is expected to be switched off while the Durga Puja procession passes through the mosque. The music, however, was not stopped and thus, an enraged Muslim community started pelting stones at the procession.

In Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, tensions escalated when meat pieces were found thrown on the procession route: Similarly, in 2019, tensions escalated after meat pieces were strategically thrown on the route of the Durga idol immersion procession. An FIR had been registered against unknown people. Reportedly, 3 different visarjan processions were en route when people spotted meat pieces on the side of the road.

Stones pelted on Durga Visarjan procession in Gaya when passing by Jama Masjid, police beat up the devotees in pandal: The same year, during Durga Visarjan on Vijaya Dashami, stones were reportedly pelted on the procession as well as on the police when it reached the Jama Masjid area. As per reports, the police, while trying to control the crowd, used force and expletives, following which the devotees got angry. In a video that has gone viral on social media, one can see the police roughing up a devotee as it indulged in beating up people indiscriminately.

Stones pelted from the mosque during Durga idol immersion in Jehanabad, 14 people injured: A Muslim mob attacked a Durga idol procession in Jehanabad district in Bihar on October 10, 2019. The horrific attack on Hindus led to a curfew-like situation leading to the imposition of section 144 in the area. According to the reports, around 6 am on Thursday, a group of Hindus carrying an idol of Goddess Durga for immersion were attacked by a mob, which pelted stones from the terrace and rooftops of the mosque with stones near Bihar Studio at Arval Modh. The sudden attack led to a stampede in which around a dozen people, including four policemen, were injured.

Incidents when Islamists displayed Hinduphobia during a celebratory procession on Holi

Muslims arrive to offer Namaz, and attack Hindus in Gujarat: On March 19, 2022, people from the Muslim community arrived on the spot to offer Namaz had brutally attacked the Hindus playing Holi with bricks. Laldhang’s BJP chief Alok Dwivedi lodged an official complaint against the Muslims and said that Hindus were attacked with stones and bricks while peacefully playing with the colours on the occasion of Holi.

Celebration of Holi interrupted, DJ ceased for Namaz in Noida: On Sunday (March 20), the people of the Hindu community were forcefully asked to stop the celebration of Holi by the Muslims who wanted to offer Namaz at the due hours. The Muslims accused the Hindu people of deliberately playing with colours during the Namaz hours and asked them to call off the Holi celebrations. As reported, the Hindu people refused to conclude the celebration following which the Muslims registered an official complaint to the Police.

Hindus attacked for playing Holi in the areas surrounding a mosque in Bareilly: The people from the Muslim community attacked two persons who were playing with the colours in the areas surrounding a mosque. The people from the community in Behari claimed that the two had allegedly thrown colours at the mosque in the city. The youths were allegedly dragged by the mob and were kicked, and beaten with sticks while they were on their bike, heading home after playing Holi. The youths somehow saved their lives.

Namazis pelt stones because Hindus were playing music: In the Amroha, Uttar Pradesh on March 18, the celebration of Holi was disrupted as the members of the Muslim community took offence to the DJ music being played by Hindus as a part of the Holi festival. They pelted stones at the Hindus dancing to the song made by CM Yogi Adityanath while celebrating Holi, in Mohalla Chhanga Darwaza of Amroha UP. Two Hindus- Adesh and Bunty were reportedly injured in the stone-pelting incident.

300 Muslims united to attack Hindus with swords in Begusarai, Bihar: The Muslim community in Begusarai’s Rajour attacked the Hindu community with sharp swords and knives, severely injuring more than 20 Hindus. According to the reports, a petty fight between small children of the two communities led more than 300 Muslims to unite and attack the Hindus on the occasion of Holi. The Hindu organisation in Rajour revealed that the area is considered to be sensitive and now Hindus are feeling unsafe. “The Police also didn’t take action against them”, the organisation had said. The injured are reported serious and are being treated in the hospital.

Islamists halt Holi celebratory procession, pelt stones at Hindus in Jharkhand: On March 18, 2022, the people of the Muslim community pelted stones at the Hindus during the celebration of Holi in Topchanchi, Dhanbad district of Jharkhand. According to the reports, the Islamists first disallowed Hindus celebrating Holi to pass through ‘their’ area and then resorted to stone-pelting when the latter resented. Police vehicles were also damaged by the stone-pelters. The police resorted to lathi-charge to bring the situation under control.

Hindu’s auspicious Kanwar Yatra comes under attack from Islamists

Like all other Hindu festivals, the annual Kanwar Yatra, when Hindu devotees begin their annual pilgrimage on foot to holy places of Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand and Sultanganj in Bihar to fetch sacred waters of River Ganga and bring them to their local Shiva temples, have also come under attack from radical Islamists.

Muslim mob attacks Kanwar Yatris in Jaipur, sets buses on fire: In 2019, a Muslim mob in Jaipur had hurled stones and attacked a bus carrying Kanwariyas which was on its way to Haridwar. More than a dozen buses had been lit on fire injuring more than 30 Kanwars during the incident.

According to the reports, the incident occurred on the day of the Eid festival, when a Muslim mob got into an argument with Kanwars. At the night, as Kanwars began their journey towards Haridwar to continue their annual Kanwar Yatra, a large angry Muslim mob gathered near Idgah at Delhi Road and allegedly resorted to stone pelting on the bus and later torched the bus damaging more than 10 buses.

During this incident, hundreds of devotees were trapped in a nearby Hanuman temple. Police started evacuating the devotees to protect them from the terror inflicted by the Muslim mob on the Hindus. Somehow, the people extracted the Hindu devotees from the temple and moved them into a safe place. Reportedly, due to the stone pelting of the Muslim mob, their vehicles were damaged.

Vehicle carrying Kanwaris in Uttar Pradesh pelted with stones in front of Idgah during Eid Namaz: Same year, another incident of attack on Kanwariyas had emerged from Budaun in Uttar Pradesh. The incident of stone-pelting on Kanwaris took place in the Islamnagar area in Budaun when they were near an Idgah while returning with holy water.

According to reports, when a tractor-trailer carrying Kanwariyas was passing near an Idgah during the Bakrid Namaj, some miscreants attacked the vehicle with stones. It is reported that Kanwaris were attacked for driving the tractor and playing music on the vehicle during Namaz.

Seeing the imminent danger, the tractor driver sped away from the place to protect the passengers. But the miscreants followed the vehicle for around 2 kilometres on the Budaun Bisauli road and surrounded it near Nai Basti forcing it to stop. There the attackers started pelting stones at the Kanwariyas, which caused injuries to several persons.

A similar incident of attack on Kawariyas was reported in Bihar: In Siwan, Bihar a 62-year-old Kanwariya was dragged from a vehicle and was beaten to death by a local mob. According to reports, a vehicle carrying Kanwariyas from Babadham had brushed a bike about 5 km from Lohgajar village. The young man in the bike reportedly called almost a dozen of his associates and the mob started assaulting the Kanwariyas in the vehicle.

Kanwariyas lynched for saying ‘Bol-Bam’:

In just one week in 2019, at least three separate incidents had been reported where there had been attempts to either attack or incite violence against the Kanwar yatris for carrying out their annual yatras. On the first Monday of Saawan on July 22, 2019, two Kanwariyas were beaten up by men of the Muslim community for chanting ‘Bol-Bam’ in the Jaunpur district of Uttar Pradesh.

Jihadis attack Hindus during Saraswati puja celebrations

Over the years, there have been umpteen incidents of attacks on Hindus by Muslim mobs during the Saraswati Puja celebrations as well.

Rupesh Pandey, a minor, was killed during an attack on the Saraswati Puja idol immersion procession: Rupesh Pandey was murdered by a mob of Muslims in a fight that emerged at the time of Saraswati Puja’s Idol Visarjan on 6th February 2022. The 17-year old son of Sikandar Pandey was part of the religious procession which faced unexpected opposition from the mass of Muslims while passing from an area called Lakhna Dulmaha Imambada of the Nai Taand village in Hazaribagh. The spot comes under the Barhi police station. The mob engaged in a ruckus with the Hindu devotees. In this, Rupesh Pandey was badly beaten. He was declared dead when taken to the hospital.

Four incidents of Saraswati Puja processions attacked in Jharkhand: Four separate incidents of attack on Hindus during the Saraswati Puja celebrations by Muslim mobs have been reported in various places of Jharkhand in the year 2020.

The first occurred in Jharkhand’s Vidyasagar, wherein Muslim mobs attacked Hindus who were carrying out a procession of Goddess Saraswati ahead of idol immersion. As they crossed a locality dominated by Muslims, the local residents objected to Hindus playing religious songs near the Karmatar area.

In another incident in Kathbari village, the idol was immersed under the supervision of the police administration after a clash erupted over the issue of playing loud musing near the mosque. As the procession passed in front of the mosque, a clash erupted between the two groups.

Another incident of stone-pelting was reported in the Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand during a Saraswati Puja idol immersion procession. An argument broke out between Muslims and Hindus resulting in a scuffle between two communities during the idol immersion of Saraswati at Lakhe Sundi Basti near Hazaribagh. A Muslim mob reportedly attacked the procession and even indulged in stone-pelting leading to the damage of the vehicle that was carrying the idol for immersion. Four youths were injured in the incident 

A fourth such incident was also reported in Beldiha village. The Muslim mobs resorted to stone-pelting against the Hindu community, resulting in serious head injuries to two youths. Five others have also sustained small injuries. Since the attack on Hindus, a tense situation is prevailing in the village.

Reportedly, the Hindu community were carrying out a procession of the Saraswati idol, which was being taken to Yogini Chowk in the village for the idol immersion. However, the Muslims in the village objected to Hindus taking out a procession in their locality. A clash broke out between two groups in which a Muslim mob attacked the Hindu procession.

The Muslim mobs began to pelt stones at the procession causing serious head injuries to Uttam Kumar Paswan and Suprabath Paswan.

Attack on Saraswati puja idol immersion procession in Patna leads to fighting between students and locals with bullets, bombs and stones: Tension had gripped Ashok Rajpath in Patna, Bihar after violent clashes broke out between two groups during the Saraswati idol immersion procession.

The students of Patna College and the people of Lalbagh pelted stones, fired at each other and hurled bombs which led to chaos in the surrounding areas. The brawl, which lasted for over two hours left several injured.

According to reports, the miscreants also attacked the police with bombs and bullets. Several people, including police personnel, were reported to be injured in the attack. According to a report by Jagran, inspector Manoj Kumar and a constable of Pirbahore police station have been injured in the ensuing.

According to sources, two cars have been completely burnt in the incident, while dozens of vehicles parked on the road were damaged. Bricks and stones are scattered on the Ashok Rajpath near Lalbagh. Many passers-by have also been hurt due to the stone-pelting, firing and hurling of bombs.

Vishwakarma idol procession attacked by Islamists

In September 2020, an irate Muslim mob attacked a group of 10-15 Hindu devotees when a Vishwakarma idol immersion procession was passing through a Muslim dominated locality in Motihari, Bihar. In an incident that took place on September 18, in the Tarnia village, Motihari block, Bihar, Muslim goons attacked the Hindu group with lathis and bamboos. Several people were injured and the Lord Vishwakarma idol was also reportedly damaged in the ensuing.

In 2019 also, a violent confrontation broke out between two communities when an idol immersion procession was passing in front of the Dalalji ki Masjid in Alamganj in Patna, leaving over a dozen policemen injured.

Communal tension during Janmashtami

In 2019, communal tensions prevailed in Bareilly district’s Baheri tehsil on the occasion of Janmashtami. In Makri Nacada village, people from the Muslim community started pelting stones at devotees during a procession to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna.

The above instances are, by no way, an exhaustive list of attacks carried out by Islamists in recent years. There have been many more attacks across the length and breadth of the country that the Hindus have endured at the hands of the Islamists. The aforementioned list, thus, provides a window into the murderous Islamist ideology that fuels pathological hatred against non-Muslims and drives fanatics to attack processions carried out by Hindus to celebrate their festivals.

Besides the heinous attacks on Hindu festival processions, there have been myriad instances of Hindu Temples and places of religious worship coming under attack by Islamists. Hindu shrines and Hindus, in general, have been at the receiving end of the Islamist attack since time immemorial because for the fanatics, Hindus represent the quintessential idol-worshipping ‘Kaafirs’ that their religious dogma ordains to attack and exterminate.

West Bengal: TMC backed electricity board employees’ union asks private IT company to cancel appointment of a man ‘because he belongs to RSS’

In a letter that has now gone viral on social media, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) backed West Bengal State Electricity Board Employees’ Union (WBSEBEU) was seen demanding the cancellation of the job appointment of a man because of his association with the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS).

The trade union as objecting to the appointment of a man by Cosyn Ltd, a private company, at the Customer Care Centre of WBSEB in Sarenga in Bankura district in West Bengal. It may be noted that Cosyn is a Hyderabad IT services company. The company provides IT solutions to the power sector clients in distribution and transmission sector, including providing meter reading services to several power distribution companies in the country. The company employs the meter readers who collect the power consumption data of consumers by reading the meters.

The letter, dated April 8 this year, is addressed to the Project Manager of M/S Cosyn Limited in Kolkata. “It has been reported that one Aniket Banerjee is going to be recruited as reader at Sarenga CCC. We strongly object about his appointment as he directly belongs to RSS,” the letter warned.

The contentious letter further recommended the name of Amit Roy, the son of Apurba Roy, as a replacement for the RSS worker Aniket Banerjee. In its defence, WBSEBEU cited ‘political controversy’ to demand the cancellation of Banerjee’s appointment.

Screengrab of the contentious letter by WBSEBEU, image via Twitter/@rajivtuli69

“We always are co-operating with your company for the smooth running of the reading job by our followers,” the letter issued by the Bankura District Committee of WBSEBEU issued veiled threats to M/S Cosyn Ltd. It also bore the name and phone number of Secretary AN Mallik.

It must be mentioned that the West Bengal State Electricity Board Employees’ Union is affiliated with the Indian National Trinamool Trade Union Congress (INTTUC).

Screengrab of the Permanent Affiliation Certificate

Opindia reached out to AN Mallik to learn more about the matter. During our brief telephonic conversation, he conceded that the letter in question is genuine.

A reluctant Mallik initially demanded a face-to-face in-person conversation. “Apni samne samne kotha bolun (Let’s talk face to face about it),” he had suggested. The Secretary of the TMC-backed employee’s union wanted to know about the source of the letter, and wanted to know how OpIndia obtained his phone number, which is printed on the letter.

“Aisob kotha ke boleche apnake (Who informed you about this letter)”, he had pressed. On informing AN Mallik that his contentious letter was all over the internet, he agreed to speak about it.

“Oke na neuwar jonno bola hoyeche, o RSS kore. Ami jehatu INTTUC kori tai ami boltai pari (I directed to not recruit him. He works for the RSS. Since I am affiliated with the Trinamool Congress’ trade union, I have the right to say it/ issue such diktats),” he said.

During our conversation, AN Mallik had also claimed that the individual recommended in place of the RSS worker is not affiliated with any party.

A year on, 303 BJP workers who fled during post-poll violence in Bengal still fear returning home: Report

As West Bengal marks the first anniversary of the 2021 assembly elections, at least 303 workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party who left their homes during the horrifying post-poll violence have not yet returned home, a report published in India Today said. It is reported that they still fear for their lives and they have sought assurances from the state and the police so that they can go home.

It was on 2nd May 2021 that Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress Party returned to power in West Bengal with a majority. Soon after the poll victory, TMC goons reportedly went on a rampage against dissenters and political opponents, precipitating a humanitarian crisis. Consequently, many BJP workers were injured and killed during the attacks. Fearing for their life, a large number left their homes and fled to neighbouring Assam.

According to the report, Priyanka Tibrewal filed a petition in Calcutta High Court last year which said that there were at least 303 BJP workers and supporters who had fled their houses fearing violence in the wake of the TMC victory in the assembly elections.

Out of these 303 people, 47 victims were unable to return to their workplace, 92 were victims whose houses had been demolished, and 164 were victims who had been forcibly evicted from their homes and were thus unable to return to their places of residence.

Priyanka Tibrewal, the counsel representing the displaced people, said, “The affidavit that I had filed has 303 signatures of people who are not being able to get back to their homes due to fear. The high court has set up a committee to look into the allegations. I also know 150 more such people who are not able to enter their homes post results. As far as my knowledge, there will be around 1500-2000 people who have not been able to get back to their houses in West Bengal since election results of 2021.”

Shantanu Sarkar, a former army clerical officer and a BJP leader from North 24 Pargana’s Kankinara, is one among the 303 BJP members who were forced to leave their houses in the aftermath of the assembly poll results. After the election results were declared, miscreants vandalized CCTV cameras in his house. He fled his house anticipating the attack. Sarkar currently lives with his wife Reena in a two-room rented flat away from his hometown.

Shantanu Sarkar said, “I was always a target because I was a powerful BJP leader in Panpura in North 24 Parganas. The moment my CCTVs were vandalized on May 2, I realized that it is unsafe for me to stay in my own house. I left. It cost me around Rs 30 lakhs to build that house, I have filed for remuneration to the local police and SDPO. However, I haven’t received anything yet.”

He further said, “After the high court order, I went to my house with local police on October 16, 2021. The house was badly vandalized. Court had asked for police deployment outside the house, but what happens when we go out? We don’t have police protection. Who knows if I or my wife are attacked in the market? Or the station? Court and administration need to assure us of safety.”

Subol is another BJP member who lives in a village in Rajendrapur at Nahihati which is at a distance of 16 kilometres from the rented house of Shantanu Sarkar. He was an active member of the BJP in Panpura and fled with his wife and son from their house on the night of the elections to the Jagaddal assembly seat on 22nd April 2022.

Telling more about this, he said, “In total, six people from my house in Kankinara never returned to our home. Me, my wife, my son, my brother, and his wife, and my sister. We left that house due to fear. My mother and brother’s family are still there. They were harassed badly by local TMC workers because I am still in BJP. My brother received threat calls. When they got out of their houses, they were abused. Beer bottles were hurled at my house. How do I stay there?”

Subol’s wife, Tumpa, said, “My son Aneesh used to study in Kankinara, as long as online classes were happening, it was okay. Now we have enrolled him in a local school in Rajendrapur. Who will go to drop him off? My husband can’t enter the area, I am also scared to go there.”

Subol further added, “Two months back I had visited my mother wearing a helmet at night so that no one could recognize me. Stayed for a short while and returned. My mother wants me to return back, but unless I get assurance from the court and administration about the safety of my family outside the house, how can I? Where will I get police support if I am attacked when I am buying things in the market?”

Political violence in West Bengal by the TMC goons is not a new thing. Not only after the results of the assembly election of 2021 but also before that and during the run-up to the general elections held in 2019, attacks on BJP workers and leaders by TMC goons were an everyday affair. Hurling petrol bombs, thrashing people, and even murders have become a hallmark of West Bengal under the TMC rule. The BJP has claimed that several of its party workers have been killed and over 4,000 houses were ransacked in incidents of post-poll violence. A year after the post-poll violence, the BJP workers are still waiting for a safe environment so that they can go back to their homes.

CBI summons TMC leader Anubrata Mondal again in cattle smuggling case, had got himself admitted at hospital after the last summon

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday summoned Trinamool Congress ‘strongman’ from Birbhum in West Bengal and national executive committee member Anubrata Mondal for questioning in case of the cattle smuggling. The CBI has ordered him to appear at around 5:30 pm on April 23.

This is after the Mondal got discharged from the state-run SSKM Hospital. The CBI has also summoned him in connection with the post-poll violence case and has asked him to appear at 2:30 pm on April 24.

According to the reports, the leader has been summoned five times in the past by the CBI in the case of cattle smuggling but he has failed to appear before the agency every single time. The last time, he was scheduled to appear before the probing agency on April 6. However, he complained of numbness in the chest and shortness of breath.

He wrote to the CBI and asked them to dispense with his presence at their office for the next 4 weeks. He informed them that he was hospitalized at SSKM hospital in Kolkata. On March 11, a division bench of Justice Rakshekhar Mantha at the Kolkata High Court had turned down Mondol’s plea for a legal shield against arrest by CBI during or after interrogation.

Thereafter, he was scheduled to visit the Nizam Palace office of the central agency on April 6 for interrogation. The CBI however considered his health issues and patiently waited at the office with a set of questionnaires related to the case. Kolkata police personnel had also been deployed both at the Nizam Palace office as well as SSKM Hospital.

Kolkata cattle smuggling case-

Last year, the CBI had filed a charge sheet against seven people in a transborder cattle smuggling case, including suspected kingpin Enamul Haque and BSF commandant Satish Kumar. The others named in the charge sheet were Anarul Seikh, Mohammad Golam Mustafa, Taniya Sanyal, Badal Krishna Sanyal, and Rashida Bibi. The agency had evidence against the illegal cross-border selling of cattle, delivery, and use of ill-gotten money.

On September 21, 2021, the CBI registered a case against the accused and arrested Satish Kumar and Haque as prime accused. According to the agency, 20000 cows were seized by the BSF before being transported across the border between December 19, 2015, and April 22, 2017. The cattle were auctioned within 24 hours of seizure and moved across the border to Bangladesh. TMC’s Anubrata Mondal has been under the CBI scanner after his name cropped up along with TMC’s Vikas Mishra and Vinay Mishra’s names during the case investigation.

IPL: Gujarat Titans continue their dream run, edge out Kolkata Knight Riders in a nail-biter to return to the top of the table

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Gujarat Titans continue to love life in their debut season of the IPL chalking up their 6th win in 7 games as they saw off an Andre Russell led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) charge to win by 8 runs. Andre Russell, who was caught out at 4 but got a reprieve because youngster Yash Dayal overstepped, nearly got KKR across the line before getting dismissed thanks to Kiwi Lockie Ferguson’s brilliance in the field.

Chasing a modest target of 157 set by Gujarat Titans, KKR looked to be out of it having lost 4 wickets for 34 in the face of some excellent bowling by Mohammed Shami, Yash Dayal and Lockie Ferguson. However, Rinku Singh, getting a rare game today, and Venkatesh Iyer put together a 45 runs partnership to keep them in the game before Andre Russell arrived. An explosive 48 off 25 balls from Russell punctuated with 6 sixes looked to be pushing KKR towards an unlikely win before Lockie Ferguson took an excellent catch at fine leg to end KKR’s hopes.

Andre Russell tried hard but couldn’t drag KKR to win on his own (Image source: @IPL)

Earlier in the day, Gujarat chose to bat after winning the toss but lost their star opener Shubman Gill early. Veteran Wriddhiman Saha and Captain Hardik Pandya got them back on track though with a 75 runs 2nd wicket partnership, which was followed by another 50 runs partnership between Pandya and South African David Miller. However, Miller’s wicket derailed the Gujarat innings though as they mustered only 30 runs from their last 5 overs for the loss of 7 wickets. Hardik Pandya ended up top-scoring for them with a 49-balls 67.

Tim Southee, replacing Australian captain Pat Cummins, was the standout bowler for KKR as he ended up with 3 for 24 from his 4 overs, while Andre Russell made merry at the death picking up 4 wickets in the 20th over to end up with figures of 4 for 5.

However, the excellent fightback by KKR bowlers at the death wasn’t enough as Gujarat once again found a way to somehow win a game, as they have often done in this IPL. They sit pretty on top of the IPL table now having won 6 out of their 7 games, while KKR is now in the 7th spot, having lost 4 in a row.

Russia bars entry to US VP Harris, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, other US and Canadian officials

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Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Russia has barred 29 Americans and 61 Canadians including US Vice President Kamala Harris, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg, and dozen others from entering the country. The action taken by Russia is in retaliation to sanctions imposed by the United States over Ukraine.

The Foreign Ministry of Russia on April 23 issued a statement notifying that ‘people responsible for the Russophobic policies’ were not allowed to travel to Russia. The list issued by the Ministry includes delegates from the defence sector, business leaders, and journalists.

According to the reports, some of them specifically mentioned in the list are Pentagon spokesman John Kirby and Deputy Secretary of Defence Kathleen Hicks, ABC News television presenter George Stephanopoulos, Washington Post columnist David Ignatius, and the Russia-focused Meduza news site’s editor Kevin Rothrock.

However, the list of 61 Canadians includes Cameron Ahmad, the director of communications to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Canadian Special Operations Forces Commander Steve Boivin. The United States’ recent sanctions imposed over Ukraine consist of economic measures to ban new investment in Russia, severe sanctions on two Russian financial institutions – Alfa-Bank and Sberbank, sanctions on critical major state-owned enterprises, and sanctions on Russian government officials and their family members, including President Putin’s adult children and relatives of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Earlier, the Russian government had barred British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and several top UK Cabinet ministers and politicians for their ‘unprecedented hostile actions’ of imposing sanctions over the Ukraine conflict. “In connection with the unprecedented hostile actions of the British government, expressed, in particular, in the imposition of sanctions against top officials of the Russian Federation, a decision was made to include key members of the British government and several political figures in the Russian ‘stop list’,” the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation had read.

The full list of 13 British politicians on the stop list issued from Moscow included Indian-origin ministers – UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Home Secretary Priti Patel, and Attorney General Suella Braverman, as well as Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, and defence secretary, Ben Wallace.

Hubballi Police suspects the role of Raza Academy in instigating Muslim mob to attack police station, temple: Reports

The investigation by the Hubballi police into the recent mob violence by the Islamist mob has revealed a suspected link to Raza Academy, a radical Islamist outfit responsible for the 2012 Azad Maidan riots in Mumbai.

According to the reports, the Hubballi police investigation suspects the role of Raza Academy in the recent violence against police personnel in the city. More than 200 Muslim youths had attacked and pelted stones at the old Hubballi police station, a nearby temple, and a hospital over an alleged offensive tweet put by an individual.

The Hubbali police had arrested more than 120 people in connection with the violence and had suspected the role of an Islamic cleric for inciting violence against the police personnel. A provocative speech by a controversial Muslim cleric named Maulana Wasim outside the Old Hubballi police station had enraged the Muslim mob culminating in attacks against the police station in Hubballi on Saturday.

Maulana Wasim Mobalik, also an AIMIM leader, was seen standing atop the Hubballi police commissioner’s car outside Old Hubballi police station, making provocative speeches. After his inflammatory speech, large-scale violence happened in Hubballi. On Thursday, the police arrested Maulana Wasim Mobalik, who was on the run after the riots.  

During his interrogation, the radical Islamist Maulana Wasim confessed that another accused in the case, Taufiq Mullah is a member of Raza Academy. Maulana Wasim also disclosed that he had formed a WhatsApp group and had incited the mob to attack the police. He also claimed that he was not expecting the attacks to intensify against the policemen.

Raza Academy was responsible for the Azad Maidan riots that took place in Mumbai in 2012, in which more than 40,000 Muslims had unleashed violence on the streets of Mumbai. The most shocking incident of the Azad Maidan Riots was the desecration of the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial by the Muslim mobs. 

Maulana Wasim also claimed that he did not know how such a large quantity of stones had arrived outside the Old Hubballi police station.

Police officials say the mob wanted to lynch them during the Hubballi riots

The Karnataka police, meanwhile, revealed on Thursday that the bloodthirsty mob had attempted to kill the policemen. In their complaint, police constables Anil Kandekar and Manjunath from Kasaba police station described how they narrowly escaped being lynched by the irate fanatics.

Earlier, the Hubballi police registered two cases against the Muslim mob in connection with the attacks on the police station in Hubballi based on a complaint filed by police inspector Jagdish.

In the complaint, the police inspector Jagdish also said that they were attacked and had to escape from the mob to save their lives. He also said that the enraged mob threatened to kill him and pelted stones at him and other police officials. Jagdish and his team were deployed to rescue the police personnel at the Old Hubballi police station, who were attacked by the mob.

Mumbai: Independent MP Navneet Rana and her MLA husband Ravi Rana arrested over their plans to recite Hanuman Chalisa outside Matoshree

Independent MP Navneet Rana and her MLS husband have been arrested by Mumbai police after Shiv Sena workers foiled their attempts to recite Hanuman Chalisa in front of CM Uddhav Thackeray’s house Matoshree. Navneet Rana and her husband Ravi Rana were taken to the Khar Police station after their arrest. The action was taken after some Shiv Sena leaders had filed an FIR against them.

Reportedly, a case has been filed against the Amaravati MP under section 153A of the IPC (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony). The couple is accused of giving derogatory, offensive and inciting statements against the Maharashtra govt and CM Uddhav Thackeray over the Hanuman Chalisa vs Azaan issue.

After the arrest, Navneet Rana said that Mumbai police forcefully took her away from her home. She has also sought the help of former CM and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis in the matter.

After Naveen Rana was arrested by the police, Shiv Sena workers were seen celebrating in front of her house. It may noted that after the MP had announced her plan to recite Hanuman Chalisa in front of Matoshri, Shiv Sena workers had staged a counter-protest in front of her house. They had been protesting there since today morning, preventing the Ranas to leave the house, and they celebrated by bursting firecrackers after police had taken away the MP and her husband.

Police arrested Navneet Rana despite the fact that she had called of her planned recitation. Amid the protests of Shiv Sena workers, she had said that she will not go to the CM’s residence to chant the Hindu prayer. Rana had said that Shiv Sena has become a party of goons and also said that Uddhav Thackeray only knows how to file cases against people and put them behind bars. “He’s creating a Bengal-like situation in Maharashtra,” she had added.

While announcing the decision to cancel the plan to recite Hanuman Chalisa in front of CM’s house, they had said that the decision was taken as PM Modi is visiting Mumbai tomorrow and they don’t want any law and order situation because of them.

Yesterday, Mumbai police had issued them a notice, asking them not to disturb the law and order situation. Police had also increased security near the CM’s residence.