A video of Nihang Sikhs went viral on social media platforms on October 15. In the video, the Sikhs were heard justifying the murder of the man in cold blood, saying he had disrespected Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The Nihang Sikh explaining the incident said, “See, he is a Punjabi man. He was wearing Sikh-like attire. We caught him at the Singhu border when he was trying to run away after disrespecting Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Our Singhs have chopped his hand and leg.”
Check how Brutally a man has been lynched today by so called Farmers.
Lakhimpur Khiri lynching was trial for them. These goons escaped punishment, so now this.
He further claimed that he was sent by the ‘agencies’. He said, “Every Sikh should watch it. He came to our place and disrespected Guru Granth Sahib Ji. We caught him. The people of Punjab should stay alert. He was sent by agencies to disrespect Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Do not trust anyone.”
Dead body found at Kundli border
On October 15, a dead body was found hanging at the Kundli border, one of the protests sites of farmers. As per reports, Nihangs had killed the man, alleging that he came to disrespect Guru Granth Sahib Ji. They also claimed that he was paid Rs. 30,000 to do so. In the video shared on social media networks, before dragging him away from the site, the Nihangs were seen questioning him who sent him after chopping off his hand.
Durga Puja outfits and devotees of East Singhbhum district of Jharkhand have expressed outrage after Deputy Commissioner Suraj Kumar allegedly forcibly stopped the distribution of Bhog among devotees at temples and puja pandals.
The East Singhbhum district headquartered in Jamshedpur town has around 200 puja pandals. Now the puja outfits have refused to perform Visarjan of idols of Goddess Durga till the district administration tenders apology for the same. However, the local Congress MLA and health minister Banna Gupta tried to pacify them but organizers have refused.
“It seems that Hindus are second class citizens in the Hemant Soren led government. All kinds of restrictions are meant for Hindu festivals only. Can he dare enter and threaten people inside a mosque? His conduct was unpardonable,” said Abhay Singh of Kashidih Durga Puja where Durga Puja is organized on the premise of a 95 years old temple.
Video of Kashidih Durga Puja Samiti
Abhay Singh who is the convener of Durga Puja Samiti at Kashidih in West Singhbhum (Jamshedpur) district of Jharkhand said that Deputy Commissioner Suraj Kumar forcibly stopped the distribution of Bhog at the temple and drove away devotees. He accused the Hemant Soren government for carrying an anti-Hindu mindset.
The controversy started on October 13 when the Deputy Commissioner along with the police force suddenly visited the temple at Kashidih. Devotees were standing in line to get the Prasad. People alleged that the Deputy Commissioner insulted devotees and Puja organizers for violating the Covid 19 guidelines. Police even drove devotees out of the temple. Local residents said that the administration similarly stopped the distribution of Bhog at Rankani temple at Kadma too.
Image of Puja organisers with Police
The action of the administration led to a heated argument and in no moment the news spread like wildfire. In Jharkhand, under the Covid 19 guidelines, Bhog distribution at the temple and pandals are prohibited and only home delivery is allowed.
The size of the idol can not be more than four feet, music and dhol baja etc are also restricted by the government. As per the Puja organisers, Deputy Commissioner was adamant that no Bhog distribution will be allowed as per the guidelines.
Abhay Singh and others were trying to convince him that devotees who have come from distant places returned after taking Bhog and they were following the guidelines in letter and spirit.
Abhay Singh, convener of Durga Puja Samiti at Kashidih in West Singhbhum (Jamshedpur) district of Jharkhand said that they feel insulted by the way Deputy Commissioner Suraj Kumar came to the temple along with cops and forcibly stopped the distribution of Bhog at the temple. Local residents also protested the way the officer and the cops behaved with devotees at the temple. Abhay Singh told OpIndia that Hindus will not tolerate their insult on the name of Covid 19 guidelines.
“There is no light, no colour and no celebration because the government doesn’t want this. But they (administration) have now dared to enter on temple premise and abuse devotees. How many mosques this officer has visited to implement the Covid guidelines? These things can’t be tolerated now. It happened for the first time when the administration came to temple with police force to disrupt a Puja and insult devotees,” said Abhay Singh.
Imges from the Puja pandal
An official of the district administration said that the administration was just ensuring Covid guidelines issued by the Disaster Management and Health department were followed. The official said that the administration said that there is a high risk of the spread of Covid-19 virus in the crowd.
But people were quick to point out that Chief Minister Hemant Soren should first follow the Covid-19 guidelines himself.
The Chief Minister on his Twitter account has shared pictures of the celebration with the crowd.
“He is the chief minister and he needs a crowd to cheer him on. There is no fear of Covid when the chief minister is here. The virus attacks people during festivals of Hindus only, otherwise, political rallies are safe. Also, there is no threat of the spread of the virus in the crowd outside of wine shops,” said Abhay Singh.
On October 15, a dead body was found hanging at the Kundli border. Nihang Sikhs have admitted that they killed him. The victim’s hand and foot were chopped off, and the body had several injury marks. There were reports that Nihang Sikhs who are lodged at the Kundli border did not let Police take the body at first. Now the whole incident is unfolding and videos have emerged in which Nihang Sikhs were seen admitting to killing the person in cold blood. The reason that Nihangs are giving is that the person was allegedly hired to disrespect (beadbi) Guru Granth Sahib Ji’s Swaroop at the farmer protest site on Singhu Border.
In a video published on Facebook by Jathedar Baba Nrain Singh, Nihang Sikhs were seen manhandling the half-dead body of the person. They tied him up and dragged him away from the site. The other Nihang Sikhs standing around them were heard cheering and raising slogans “Jo Bole Sau Nihal Sat Shri Akaal” and other Sikh slogans. An old Nihang was seen cleaning the blood off his sword. In the background, someone was heard saying, “Go and hang him outside. People should know what will happen [to those who disrespect Guru Granth Sahib Ji].
The post reads, “Today morning at around 3:30 AM at Singhu Border, a man was caught by Nihangs who was running away after disrespecting Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Jathedar Baba Amandip Singh chopped his hand. Jathedar baba Narain Singh chopped his leg.”
Update Singhu Border : निहंगों का बयान- मृतक युवक को 30 हजार रुपए देकर सिंघु बॉर्डर भेजा गया। उसने पवित्र गुरु ग्रंथ साहिब की बेअदबी की। हम उसे घसीटते हुए मंच के पास ले आए। एक हाथ काट दिया। लाश को बेरिकेड्स से लटका दिया।
देखिए, तालिबान की तरह कैसे कुबूल रहे हैं ये निहंग…
According to Sachin Gupta, correspondent Dainik Bhaskar, Nihang Sikhs have alleged that the person was sent to disrespect Guru Granth Sahib Ji, and he was paid Rs. 30,000 for the act.
A man was found brutally murdered with his right hand chopped and hung to a barricade at the Kundli border farmers’ protest site just outside of New Delhi on Friday morning.
The incident caused a huge outrage in the area and the farmers blocked the police from reaching the site.
As per The New Indian, an unidentified man was hacked to death by Nihang Sikhs on Thursday night for allegedly desecrating the holy book Guru Granth Sahib. His right hand was chopped and tied near his body at Kundli border, between Haryana and Delhi which has been occupied by so-called protesting farmers.
FLASH: An unnamed person has been killed last night after his hand was cut off allegedly by a group of Nihang Sikhs at Kundli border, between Haryana & Delhi. The victim was accused of having desecrated the holy book Guru Granth Sahib. His dead body was tied for public view. pic.twitter.com/NTtCS4Mp2U
The victim’s body was then tied to a barricade using ropes just behind the main protesting stage for public viewing.
Man found hanging at Kundli border. Image Source: Live Adalat
As per an Amar Ujala report, the man was thrashed brutally and dragged before being killed. The identity of the man is yet to be ascertained.
Images of the gruesome scene are going viral on social media. In a Facebook post by one Jathedar Baba Nrain Singh, it is mentioned that the deceased person had allegedly ‘disrespected’ the Guru Granth Sahib and hence Jathedar Baba Aman Singh had cut his limbs as punishment.
Caution: Gory visuals, viewer discretion advised.
Image from Facebook
As per media reports, the incident occurred around 3.30 in the morning. There is another video viral on social media where the badly beaten, brutally injured victim is seen lying helpless on the ground while some angry Nihangs surround him. The man’s chopped hand is seen lying next to him.
Check how Brutally a man has been lynched today by so called Farmers.
Lakhimpur Khiri lynching was trial for them. These goons escaped punishment, so now this.
In the above video, a Nihang Sikh leader is seen saying “This man was punished for disrespecting Guru Granth Sahib. We have cut his limbs. He is a Punjabi, yet he did this. Punjabis have to be careful. It is a conspiracy by the government to promote disrespect against Guru Granth Sahib.”
In one of the screengrabs of the video, a poster of Khalistani terrorist Bhindranwale can also be seen in the background where the man was hanged after being murdered.
Screengrab of the video where poster of Bhindranwale is visible
As per reports, the Nihags are seen admitting to the brutal murder, saying the man was sent to the protest site with a cash bribe of Rs 30 thousand to disrespect the Sikh holy book and hence he has been punished.
The police have now managed to send the body for post-mortem to a nearby civil hospital. It was also reported that initially the police were barred from entering the site by Nihang Sikhs and alleged ‘farmers’.
In April last year, a group of Nihangs had injured two police officers and the chopped-off hand of another police officer at Sabzi Mandi, Patiala. The Nihangs were reportedly triggered after they were stopped at a vegetable market by Mandi board officials and asked to produce ‘curfew license’ amidst the lockdown.
This is a developing story. More details are awaited.
Sources have confirmed to OpIndia that Indian student Vishal Jood who was lodged in a jail in Australia after being falsely accused by Khalistanis, has been released from custody today.
As per NRI Herald, Jood’s release has been confirmed by his lawyers, however, information pertaining to his location will be kept concealed considering potential security threats.
“Vishal Jood’s lawyers @OpalLegal have confirmed that Vishal was this morning released from custody. Given the threats that have been made against him, his current location will not be disclosed,” it Tweeted.
NRI Herald Australia reports: Vishal Jood’s lawyers @OpalLegal have confirmed that Vishal was this morning released from custody. Given the threats that have been made against him, his current location will not be disclosed. pic.twitter.com/21e6Z2A8QH
On September 2, Magistrate K Thomson’s Parramatta LC Court 13 had ordered the release of Vishal Jood on October 15, 2021. As per reports, in a plea bargain, NSW’s Department of Public Prosecutors dropped eight charges that included the racial hate crime charges against Jood.
Arrested on false charges
24-year-old Vishal Jood who hails from Haryana and currently pursuing higher studies in Australia was arrested for his alleged involvement in three crimes in Sydney on April 16.
He was arrested by the Australian Police after a group of Indians clashed with Khalistani elements in Australia during the peak of the farmers’ protest in India.
While the Khalistanis, despite attacking the local Hindus, insulting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and allegedly burning an Indian flag were named as victims, Jood was charged with damage to property, affray, and assault after a group of Indian students retaliated.
Hindu community leader who had helped Jood attacked
We reported on Thursday how a business establishment owned by Yogesh Khattar, the President of Hindu organization Arya Pritinidhi Sabha, was attacked by Khalistani elements in Sydney’s North Mead.
It is imperative to note that Khattar who came under an attack just a day prior to Jood’s release, had helped and supported him fight his legal case.
Khattar claimed that the Khalistanis were trying to trap him just as they had trapped Jood. “These Khalistani elements are vicious, they plan, plot and execute to propagate their hate-filled agendas,” he said further.
In a well-planned conspiracy, a false ‘victory rally event for Jood’ and fake video was being promoted on social media using Khattar’s name and number. The Hindu leader had even received a call from NSW Police Multicultural liaison officer on October 13 about the same. However, Khattar clarified that no such event was being organized by him.
An IT team has been deputed by the police to urgently look into the digital footprints of the fake video.
Taking the first step towards stopping illegal religious conversions, the Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department has asked officers to survey both official and non-official Christian missionaries operating within its borders.
The decision by the Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Committee was taken during a meeting at Vikasa Soudha on Wednesday. Some of the legislators who participated in the meeting were Puttaranga Setty, BM Farooq, Goolihatti Shekar, Ashok Naik, Virupakshappa Bellary amongst others.
Survey to analyze if any govt facilities are being given to missionaries
The government in the meeting also discussed a need to conduct a survey to analyze if the Christian missionaries are misusing government facilities. Next, it also pondered on initiating registrations of Christian missionaries.
The committee also opined withdrawal of government facilities from those who convert. The Central government in August this year had clarified that no person who professes a religion different from the Hindu, the Sikh or the Buddhist religion shall be deemed to be a member of a Scheduled Caste.
As such, the benefits of Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) meant for the welfare and development of Scheduled Castes can not be extended to Converted Christians from Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
‘40% church operating in state are not recognized’
Former minister and current BJP MLA Gulihatti Shekhar who was in news recently for raising the issue of rampant conversions in the assembly said that 40 per cent of the churches operating in the state are not officially recognised.
“Statistics are being gathered in this regard. The committee discussed unofficial missionaries operating in the state,” he said.
Sharing an anecdote, Shekhar had revealed how his own mother had been influenced and converted to Christianity by the missionaries. The extent of brainwashing by missionaries was such that his mother started to detest anything and everything Hindu. She had stopped applying kumkum and used to not even look at the idols of Hindu Gods and Goddesses at their house, the MLA had informed.
Shekhar had claimed that as many as 15,000 to 20,000 people were converted to Christianity in his constituency.
He had also shared how Christian missionaries have been fooling people and luring them into the Christian fold by various methods, including fear, bribery and superstitions like healing prayers.
‘Karnataka studying anti-conversion law of various states’
Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday had said that the state government has undertaken the task of studying the anti-conversion law of several states.
“We are deeply considering the implementation of a law to curb forceful religious conversion. We are studying the laws implemented in various states. We would like to bring the law as soon as possible,” the CM said while speaking to the media in Mangaluru.
On October 9, a group of Sikhs barged into Ramleela ground and disrupted Ramleela that was being organized by Shri Sanatan Dharma Ramleela Committee. OpIndia reached out to organizers, activists and Police to get more information about the case.
OpIndia reached out to Raju Jain, Senior Vice President, Shri Sanatan Dharma Ramleela Committee. He said, on Saturday, Ramleela was scheduled to start at 9 PM. Sant Baba Sukhbir Singh Ji Kandhola Wale, who is a saint and lives in a nearby village, was the chief guest. After he arrived at the venue, a group of Sikhs barged into the premises and started abusing Singh and other attendees.
‘Everything happened on the pretext of farmer protests’
According to Jain, though they called themselves farmers and alleged that they came to mark their protest, the intentions were different. He said, “They called themselves farmers. It all happened on the pretext of farmer protests. But in reality, things were different. They called out Sant Sukhbir and asked him how being a Sikh, he could attend a Hindu festival. They asked him to leave immediately.”
Jain said when Sant Sukhbir Singh tried to counter their argument, things got violent. “Sant Sukhbir tried to calm them down. He said that we should not divide Hindus and Sikhs. He tried to convince them of the fact that there is no difference between Bhagwan Ram, Waheguru and Guru Nanak. They all are ours. However, after listening to Sant Sukhbir, they got aggressive and started abusing him. When we tried to intervene, they abused and threatened us too. While threatening, abusing and attacking the attendees, they claimed they would stop Ramleela proceedings.”
Police dispersed the attackers
When the organizers noticed that things were going out of their hands, they immediately contacted SSP. SHO reached Ramleela ground with the Police force and dispersed the crowd. The organizers filed a complaint to SSP and DC.
The complaint filed by organizers
In the complaint, the organizers requested DC to take action against the miscreants who wanted to divide Hindus and Sikhs so that such incidents do not happen in the future. They further added if no action was taken against the attackers, the Hindu groups, temples and organizations would shut down their gates and submit the keys to the city administration. They said Ramleela proceedings would also seize if no action was taken.
Complaint files by the organizers
‘Police registered FIR after pressure’
OpIndia reached out to Harminder Pal Singh, Shri Shiv Shakti Parbhat Feri Sewa Samiti. Singh is actively perusing the case along with Shri Sanatan Dharma Ramleela Committee. While talking about the incident, Singh said that when the attackers abused Sant Sukhbir, he told them not to divide Hindus and Sikhs. Sant Sukhbir also informed them he himself had donated over 50 lakh for the farmer protests, and they should not mix religious and political functions. However, the attackers did not listen to him and kept saying that he should not have come to attend a Hindu festival.
Singh said that though they had filed a complaint against the attackers the next day, no action was taken against them. Thus, they decided to mark their protest against the inaction of the Police. On Tuesday, all Durga Pandals, Ramleela proceedings and other religious places shut down the lights in the evening as a mark of protest.
Harminder added that their way of protest worked, and DC and SHO reached out to them and requested not to continue with the protest. The Police promised to file a case against the attackers, after which they switched on the lights and continued with the festivities. However, till 5 PM on Wednesday, no action was taken.
Several Hindu groups got united against the delay from the Police side and sat in protest at Ramleela ground. “They called us to meet, but we refused as we were sure the Police would try to avoid filing FIR and get the attackers to apologize for what they had done. We sternly told them that we would come only after you send us the copy of FIR.”
FIR registered against the attackers
Based on the complaint filed by the organizers, Police has registered FIR under Section 296 (disturbing religious assembly), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 341 (wrongful restrain). OpIndia reached out to SSP Vivek Sheel Soni to find out more details of the case. SSP Soni said that those who had attacked attendees at Ramleela ground were members of farmer unions. They went there to mark their protest as they thought BJP leaders were scheduled to visit. They alleged BJP was trying to convert a religious event into a political event.
However, as the organizers of the event sought action against the attackers, the Police have filed an FIR. The investigation would reveal the real intentions of the attackers. SSP Soni said as there was no communal
What does the FIR say?
The FIR has been registered against Daljit Singh Gill, Jagjit Singh and some unknown. Statement of Ashwani Kumar, General Secretary, Shri Sanatan Dharma Ramleela Committee, was recorded by the Police.
Copy of FIR
Based on the statement given by Ashwani Kumar, when Ramleela was about to begin, Daljit Singh Gill and his brother Jagjit Singh Gill arrived with some of their associates on the ground. They were holding batons in their hands. They stopped Sant Sukhbir from entering the premises, and when he tried to argue with them, they started raising slogans. They used abusive language against Sant Sukhbir and other attendees. After that, Sant Sukhbir left the ground without attending Ramleela. The organizers informed the Police about the incident. When the attackers saw Police, they hid their weapons and picked up flags of farmer protests.
OpIndia also reached out to Ashwani Kumar. While talking about the incident, he said, “We respect all religions. We do not want any divide between Hindus and Sikhs. However, that does not mean we would tolerate any such attacks on our religion. This is why we want to take this case ahead and seek strict punishment against the culprits.” Kumar added that the culprits tried to disrupt Ramleela under the pretext of farmer protests, and such incidents should not happen in the future. “This is why they should be punished as per the law so that everyone gets the message that we will not tolerate any such attack in the future,” he said.
’Over 70-year-long history of organizing Ramleela’
While talking to OpIndia, Jain said that Shri Sanatan Dharma Ramleela Committee has been organizing Ramleela every year for over 70 years. In all these years, only during the Covid-19 pandemic, Ramleela did not take place last year. He added that they never faced any problems earlier.
The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Wednesday, October 13, quashed a defamation complaint filed by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Naeem Akhtar against Republic TV’s Arnab Goswami and journalist Aditya Raj Kaul, among others. Quashing the defamation proceedings pending before the court, the single-bench of Justice Sanjay Dhar observed that “reporting allegations about the official duties of a public figure cannot be considered defamatory.”
The court was hearing a 2018 defamation complaint filed by the senior leader of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Naeem Akhter, against the Editor-in-Chief of Republic TV, Arnab Goswami, journalist Aditya Raj Kaul, Sakal Bhatt and others.
“…when a journalist publishes an accurate and true report in respect of a public figure relating to his public functions, which is already in the public domain, it cannot be stated that there was any intention to harm the reputation of such person,” the single judge bench of Jammu and Kashmir HC observed.
“Having carefully watched the news programme contained in the compact disk attached to the complaint, I do not find any imputation or any allegation having emanated from the presenters of the news programme. The anchors and the presenters only repeatedly referred to the letter of Shri Khalid Jahangir and read out contents,” the judgment read.
Following the HC judgement, Republic TV Tweeted: “The battle is long and hard but it is fought and won. J&K High Court quashes criminal proceedings against Arnab Goswami and @republic! Republic’s historic victory in the case is a win for independent Indian media.”
The battle is long and hard but it is fought and won. J&K High Court quashes criminal proceedings against Arnab Goswami and @republic! Republic’s historic victory in the case is a win for independent Indian media. pic.twitter.com/AHs3CzJD1c
Uploading a copy of the order, journalist Aditya Raj Kaul also thanked the J&K High Court for upholding the freedom of expression and rights of journalists and quashing defamation complaints filed against him and his colleague and others in the 2018 case.
Thank you to J&K High Court for upholding freedom of expression & rights of journalists and quashing defamation complaint filed against me, my colleague @BhatSakal and others in 2018 by PDP leader Naeem Akhter. Noteworthy strong observations by Honourable Judge. Truth prevails!? pic.twitter.com/7rjmbeVBHl
The 2018 defamation case against Arnab Goswami and Aditya Raj Kaul
The complaint against Goswami and Kaul, who was then an anchor for Republic TV, was filed in July 2018 under sections 499 (defamation) and 500 (punishment for defamation) of the Ranbir Penal Code before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Srinagar by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Naeem Akhtar.
Akhtar said that on July 4, 2018, Republic TV had broadcast a “defamatory and malicious news segment”. At the time, Akhtar was an MLA and had held the portfolio of works minister in the PDP-BJP coalition government before its collapse in June 2018.
In the programme, Adityaraj Kaul and others had discussed the allegations made by Khalid Jahangir, a member of the BJP, in a letter dated June 21, 2018, to the governor.
Jahangir had accused a “close associate” of the former chief minister of the state (Mehbooba Mufti) of “corruption and favouritism.”
Despite the fact that the letter did not mention anyone by name, the complainant claimed that Arnab Goswami “deliberately and knowingly” invoked his name in conjunction with the allegations levelled in the letter.
He further claimed that the show’s hosts, including Kaul, “repeatedly and intentionally, kept on mentioning Akhtar’s name in connection with the allegations made in the letter”.
The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has taken cognisance of promotional videos put out by the Aam Aadmi Party, featuring Delhi Chief Minister and AAP Supremo Arvind Kejriwal and said that they violating the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015.
In the promotional ad, the NCPCR says that Arvind Kejriwal had violence the Juvenile Justice Act 2015 and the COVID-19 protocols issued by the Central Government of India.
The NCPCR had received a complaint from the Kalinga Rights Forum of Odisha regarding the videos put out by Aam Aadmi Party.
The complaint had said:
“Videos in which Delhi Chief Minister Shri Arvind Kejriwal is seen in a promotional video. The said promotional video involves a large gathering of school children shooting for the advertisement without wearing of masks and maintain social distancing amidst breakout of COVID-19 pandemic which is violation of COVID protocols issued by the Govt. of India and also endangering the lives of minor school children of Delhi”.
The NCPCR, taking cognisance of the matter shot a letter to the Chief Secretary of Delhi+NCR to file a ‘Action Taken Report’ with NCPCR within 7 days.
The letter said:
“The Commission would like to inform you that these videos are in violation of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 and COVID-19 pandemic protocol guidelines issued by the Govt. of India. Therefore, the Commission has accordingly taken cognizance in this matter under Section 13(1)(i) of CPCR Act, 2005. In view of the sensitivity of the matter, it is requested that the matter may kindly be looked into for necessary remedial measures and an Action Taken Report be shared with the Commission within 07 days“.
The AAP government has often used children for their ad campaigns. Only recently, AAP government launched a ‘Desh Ke Mentor” program. The promotional videos of the event were tweeted and were also posted on YouTube by AAP.
In the video, Kejriwal is seen attempting to give a motivational speech with several kids seen being a part of the event.
AAP Goa on Twitter had also tweeted a picture montage of the event where several children were seen in the event.
With the letter from NCPCR to the Chief Secretary, the Chief Secretary to the LG is to revert to the Commission with an action taken report within 7 days.
Khalistani elements active in Australia have reportedly attacked the business premises of Yogesh Khattar located in North Mead of Sydney. Yogesh Khattar, president of New South Wales Arya Pritinidhi Sabha became an eyesore for Khalistani elements after he helped and supported Indian student Vishal Jood to fight his legal battle.
Terming Khalistani elements as vicious he said that they are trying to harm him physically adding that this time they tried to trap him the way they did to Vishal Jood.
24 years old Vishal Jood from Haryana was arrested by Australian authorities over charges of attacking Khalistani extremists at Haris Park in Sydney. He was arrested by Australian police on April 16 and was later denied bail. Khalistani elements got him arrested on a false and fabricated charge as he was trying to save the Tricolour.
In the Indian diaspora in Australia, several netizens from India joined the movement to demand the release of Jood. Yogesh Khattar played a key role to ensure legal help to Vishal Jood.
Notably, Khalistani agents carried out this attack against Khattar hours before Vishal Jood is set to be released on October 15. Yogesh Khattar helped Vishal Jood to get a successful plea bargain and he is set to be released from NSW Prison. This apparently made Khalistani elements angry. Yogesh Khattar who spoke to Australia Today confirmed the attack: “I generally work till late at my business but left a little early yesterday. Looks like the attackers didn’t find me so angrily destroyed our vehicles.”
He further told The Australia Today that on the afternoon of October 13th he received a call from NSW Police Multicultural liaison officer about a video floating on a social media platform. “I told her on the phone that I had no idea about any video and have not seen it. This video apparently had an appeal for a ‘Victory rally’ on Vishal Jood’s release. And surprisingly it had my picture and phone number,” he told the newspaper.
Yogesh Khatar said that conspiracies are being hatched to malign the image of Hindu community. He said that he mostly remains aware of the activities of the community. “But if other community leaders and I didn’t know about this video that means someone has purposely made it to malign the Hindu community,” he said. He has categorically told NSW Police’s multicultural community liaison officer that he has no plan to organise a rally to celebrate the release of Vishal Jood. But he requested the officer to look into who else uploaded and circulated the video and the motive behind it. He has filed a Police complaint as his phone number and photo were maliciously used.
