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ED and CBI officials probing Narada sting case need not appear before WB assembly speaker on his summons, rules Calcutta HC

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ED and CBI officials probing Narada sting case need not appear before WB assembly speaker on his summons, rules Calcutta HC

A bench of Justice Rajasekhar Mantha of Calcutta High Court has directed that the officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigating the 2014 Narada sting operation case need not appear before the West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee.

This HC directive given on Thursday is a huge relief for the CBI and ED since the Assembly Speaker had summoned them several times. The hearing of this case is scheduled for Friday (October 8). The ED on October 4 had approached the Calcutta High Court for suitable direction against summons issued by West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee. The agency alleged that the Speaker was interfering with the investigation of the Narada sting case.

“The petitioner is aggrieved by the arbitrary, unlawful and without the authority of law summons issued by the respondents herein, thereby interfering in the independent and impartial working of the investigative officers of the Enforcement Directorate,” read the plea filed by ED.

ED further said that summons issued by the Assembly Speaker have far-reaching consequences on the rule of law in the country and the independent functioning of the investigative agencies and their officers in the country.

The development came in the wake of five CBI and two ED officials appeared before the Speaker after summons.

The Speaker sought had an explanation on how both central agencies could proceed against MLAs without permission of the Speaker. Summons came in the wake of CBI and ED submitting charge sheet against Bengal cabinet minister Firhad Hakim, Subrata Mukherjee and former minister and MLA Madan Mitra in the Narada sting case.

CBI had arrested them along with former Kolkata mayor Sovon Chatterjee on May 17 after filing the charge sheet. Following this, the ruling Trinamool Congress and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had created an uproar leading to a situation of lawlessness. Later all of them were granted bail. ED had submitted a charge sheet against them on September 1. The Speaker had sent summons to CBI DSP Satyendra Singh and ED assistant director Rathin Biswas since the charge sheets were filed on their order.

The speaker said that he was surprised to note that the central agencies bypassed his office. He said that Speaker’s permission is mandatory before filing a charge sheet if the accused is an MLA.

But the CBI DSP had challenged the Speaker’s authority to summon the probe agency. He stayed away from the Speaker’s office on the ground that the agency is prosecuting accused MLAs following the permission of Governor of West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar. However, the official appeared before the Speaker after the High Court asked to do so stating the official should “respectfully seek” an adjournment of the hearing.

Opposition unity dumpster fire: Congress CM from Chhattisgarh attacks Mamata Banerjee after several Congress leaders join TMC

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Opposition unity dumpster fire: Congress CM from Chhattisgarh attacks Mamata Banerjee after several Congress leaders join TMC

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has targeted Mamata Banerjee after Trinamool Congress inducted several disgruntled Congress leaders into her party. Bhupesh Baghel from the Congress party said that the TMC’s hope to form a national alternative by poaching Congress leaders will not yield results.

“Unfortunately, to become a national alternative deep-rooted and concerted efforts are needed and there are no quick- fix solutions,” Baghel said.

While Bhupesh Baghel did not name anyone, the indications are quite clear as to who his comments were meant for. The comments come after the Trinamool Congress inducted Congress leaders from multiple states into the party.

In West Bengal, five time MLA and AICC national secretary Mainul Haque joined TMC last month. Another senior Congress leader Sushmita Dev also joined Trinamool Congress in the state. In Goa, former Chief Minister from the Congress party Luizinho Faleiro also joined Mamata’s party.

Even Saket Gokhale, staunch Rahul Gandhi fanboy, joined Trinamool Congress a couple of months earlier. Despite the series of exits from the Congress party, Bhupesh Baghel does not appear too concerned with the development.

It appears that he believes Congress will remain the principle opposition party for the foreseeable future. The Congress has managed to recruit far-left rabble rousers such as Kanhaiya Kumar and Jignesh Mevani, ‘youth leaders’ the party is pinning its hopes on to resurrect its failing political fortunes.

1000s of properties occupied by Muslims being restored to Kashmiri Hindu owners could be one of the reasons for increased attacks in the valley

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1000s of properties occupied by Muslims being restored to Kashmiri Hindu owners could be one of the reasons for increased attacks in the valley

Daily violence and incidents such as attacks on the Kashmiri Hindus have been on the rise in the valley. According to a report by the Hindi daily, Dainik Bhaskar, one of the reasons behind the surge in such incidents might be the massive anti-encroachment drive launched by the government to preserve and protect immovable properties of Kashmiri Pandits from encroachers and interlopers.

The report suggests that in the last few months, thousands of ancestral properties of Kashmiri Hindu migrants, who had to run away from Kashmir in the wake of Islamic terrorist violence targeted against them in a planned exodus, illegally occupied by the Muslims in the region have been restored back to the rightful and original owners. This, the report suggests, might be one of the prime reasons behind the targeted attacks on the Hindus in the valley.

Thirty years on, the J&K govt has launched a massive anti-encroachment drive to free land belonging to displaced Kashmiri Hindus

In the 1990s, a planned exodus by Islamic terrorists was unleashed on the Kashmiri Hindu population of Kashmir. Hindus were raped, murdered and asked to either convert to Islam or leave Kashmir. Almost overnight, thousands of Kashmiri Hindus had fled the state to protect themselves from Islamic terrorism. In a major milestone, the government of Jammu and Kashmir had in August activated an online grievance redressal portal, where the Kashmiri Hindus could lodge their grievances related to their properties in Kashmir if any. 

Kashmiri Pandits living around the country are initiating property-related grievances on this portal. As soon as the complaint is received, the J&K administration begins the eviction proceedings in cases of encroachment.

Thousands of complaints have been so far received by the government on this portal. Out of these, action has been taken on more than 1000 complaints. The report suggests that maximum complaints of illegal encroachment, trespassing and land grabbing have been received from the Anantnag district in Kashmir.

Land belonging to Kashmiri Pandits freed by Jammu and Kashmir authorities

Recently, there was one particular case where 5 acres of illegally occupied land was recovered by the authorities. While in most cases the encroachers and interlopers are neighbours who have illegally occupied the land or houses of the Kashmiri Pandits, there are many cases where land mafias are also involved.

Officials of the Revenue Department located in Anantnag said that five kanals of land in Thajiwara belonging to a displaced Hindu named ML Dhar has been freed from Ghulam Rasool.

Similarly, 3 kanals of one Fula Raina’s land was grabbed by his neighbour Mohammad Ismail Pala. This too has been redeemed by the administration and preparations are being made to hand over the land to the original owner.

Roshan Lal Kaul’s six Kanal 10 marla land in Vesu has been freed from Mohammed Shabbir Chopan and Bholanath’s 18 marla land from Abdul Rashid.

In Akura village, the land of a Kashmiri Pandit woman named Phoolan Raina was occupied by a man named Mohammad Ismail Pala.

A Kashmiri Pandit was quoted by Bhaskar as saying: “My forefathers own 5 acres of land, which has been forcefully occupied by a family. They have converted it into an apple-pear orchard. I have contacted the police, revenue officials, several times and urged that my land be freed, but to no avail. We have been fighting the case for a decade. Now with the launch of the portal, there is hope, said the Kashmiri Hindu.

Likewise, the Srinagar DC Mohammad Ejaz Asad said that the district administration has received 660 complaints of illegal encroachment and the illegal purchase of properties belonging to Kashmiri Hindus. Of these, 390 have been resolved. In 20 cases, while demarcating the land, notices have been issued to the occupiers, said Asad.

In the Shopian district also, 113 complaints have been resolved. Similar action is going on in Kupwara, Baramulla, Ganderbal also. 

DRI seizes 25kg heroin worth Rs 125 crore concealed in a container at Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai, arrests a businessman

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DRI seizes 25kg heroin worth Rs 125 crore concealed in a container at Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai, arrests a businessman

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized more than 25 kg of heroin from a container during a raid at Navi Mumbai’s Nhava Sheva Port (Jawaharlal Nehru Port). The Mumbai Zonal Unit of DRI, which carried out the raid, also arrested a businessman named Jayesh Sanghvi in connection with the seizure of heroin which is worth Rs 125 crore in the international market.

The 62 years old businessman was arrested on Wednesday after a probe confirmed that the container that had arrived from Iran at Nhava Sheva in Navi Mumbai was carrying a consignment of narcotics also. Sanghvi has booked under various sections of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The DRI produced the accused before the court where the court sent him to DRI custody till October 11 for questioning. DRI had sought his custody as the agency doubts that Sanghvi is part of a drug cartel and he might have smuggled similar consignment in the past also.

On October 4, on the basis of intelligence inputs, the DRI had detained the container which was set to be carrying a consignment of groundnut oil. Investigation revealed that a consignment of narcotics was concealed in the container. DRI officials said they found a packet containing white powder weighing around 25.6kg. it was kept between the groundnut oil and other items in the container.

Investigation revealed that the container was imported by a businessman Sandeep Thakkar of Vaibhav Enterprises having its office at Masjid Bunder. On being questioned he told DRI that Sanghvi had offered him Rs 10,000 per consignment to import goods from Iran on his firm’s IEC. On being further questioned the businessman said that due to old relationships he professionally trusted Sanghvi.

The DRI last month had seized 2,988.21 kgs of heroin worth Rs 9,000 crore from the Mundra Port in Gujarat. As per reports, the heroin consignment had originated from Afghanistan and it was dispatched as a consignment of semi-processed talc stones. The consignment had arrived from Bandar Abbas Port, Iran. The National Investigation Agency has taken over the investigation. Since Munda port is located in BJP ruled Gujarat and is managed by the Adani group, the Congress and the liberal media launched a vilification campaign against the Adani group and the BJP.

In July this year, 293 kgs of heroin was seized from Mumbai port by DRI. One Prabhit Singh, owner of Sandhu Exports Punjab, was arrested in this connection.

‘If Indian Prime Minister wants, he can make Pakistan cricket collapse’: PCB chairman Ramiz Raja laments on Pakistan’s poverty

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‘If Indian Prime Minister wants, he can make Pakistan cricket collapse’: PCB chairman Ramiz Raja laments on Pakistan’s poverty

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ramiz Raja on Wednesday during Pakistan’s Senate Standing Committee meeting said that the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi can easily cause Pakistan Cricket Board’s collapse.

Raja revealed that PCB receives 50 per cent of its funding from the ICC while ICC itself raises 90 per cent of its money from the Indian markets. “In a way, India’s business houses are running Pakistan’s cricket board,” said Raja. 

“Tomorrow if the Indian Prime Minister decides to not fund, the PCB can collapse,” Raja remarked further. 

Referring to the recent pullout by the International Men’s cricket team of New Zealand and England, Raja said, “They packed in 2 minutes and left. It is because they are not interested in Pakistan because our economy is not at par.”

When asked how much does Pakistan contributes to ICC, Raja informed that the country does not contribute at all to the Council. 

Raja encourages Karachi’s business community

While speaking to Karachi’s business community at the Pakistan Stock Exchange early this week, Raja said that its contribution is key towards Pakistan becoming a superpower in the cricket world.

“Our cricket is relying on ICC’s funding right now and when I see the books, I get very scared because the contribution of local entrepreneurs is minimal,” said the PCB chief.

Pakistan pressures New Zealand to reschedule tour

Pakistan has been pressurizing New Zealand to reschedule its tour after the New Zealand team opted out of a cricket tour citing a ‘security threat’. 

Raja in the same briefing said that there “will be good news in a weeks’ time.” 

“I have written a strongly-worded letter to the International Cricket Council chairman where I mentioned that the ICC has become a political wing of the Western bloc and has been reduced to a mere events management company,” he said as quoted by Pakistani news outlet Dawn.

Raja re-iterated that Pakistan has ‘one of the best security systems in place.’

Street vendor Virendra Paswan from Bihar, murdered by Islamic terrorists, cremated in Srinagar: Mayor says it was the wish of the family

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Street vendor Virendra Paswan from Bihar, murdered by Islamic terrorists, cremated in Srinagar: Mayor says it was the wish of the family

Virendra Paswan, a street vendor, was shot dead by Islamic terrorists in Kashmir on Tuesday. His last rites have been performed in Srinagar. It is reported that the family chose to perform the last rites in Kashmir as they could not afford to take him to Bhagalpur in Bihar.

The administration was condemned for not making necessary arrangements to transport the deceased and his family to Bhagalpur. However, Junaid Azim Mattoo, the Mayor of Srinagar, said that authorities had procured free air tickets and made provisions for the transport of the deceased but the family wanted the cremation to happen in Srinagar.

Editor at News18 Network, Shalinder Wangu, said that the family had chosen to cremate the body in Srinagar as provisions were made for their travel to Patna but they could not afford to onward journey from Patna to Bhagalpur.

Virendra Paswan is father to seven children, five daughters and two sons. His brother and locals from the community participated in the cremation. Kashmir has been hit with a series of targeted killings of Hindus and Sikhs by Islamic terrorists. Soon after Paswan, two teachers were also killed, one of them Hindu and the other a Sikh.

‘Unhappy’ Supreme Court goes on vacation, next hearing on Lakhimpur Kheri case 12 days later: Details

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‘Unhappy’ Supreme Court goes on vacation, next hearing on Lakhimpur Kheri case 12 days later: Details

Unhappy with the investigation conducted by the police in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, the Supreme Court has decided to hear the matter immediately after 12 days of vacation. The matter will be heard next on October 20 at 10:30 AM post the Dussehra break.

The Supreme Court observed, “We are not satisfied with the investigation. The local police has not done the job properly.”

“Why has the accused not been arrested immediately? The highest police officer must protect the evidence in the case,” the Chief Justice of India questioned further. 

‘Take immediate steps’: Supreme Court on Lakhimpur Kheri investigation

Arguing for the state, senior Advocate Harish Salve informed the Court that the state had filed a status report in the matter. He further informed that the UP minister Ajay Mishra’s son Ashish Mishra appears to be a ‘serious problem’ and that a notice had been issued to him. 

However, expressing displeasure over the non-arrest of the accused, the CJI remarked, “We expect you to act as a responsible government & responsible police. Will an accused in every part of the country be treated in the same way? Giving them an invitation? You please come. We want to question you.”

The CJI further directed the state to take necessary actions. “We hope the state will take the necessary steps. Because of the sensitivity of the issue, the state should understand we aren’t saying anything more,” said the CJI. 

Union minister Ajay Misra’s son Ashish Misra did not appear before the UP Police crime branch, which had summoned him for questioning at 10 am today giving rise to speculations and controversies. 

As of now, the Uttar Pradesh Police has arrested two people in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.

‘Was there to add glamour to the cruise’, Aryan Khan tells court, sent to judicial custody in Arthur Road jail for 14 days

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‘Was there to add glamour to the cruise’, Aryan Khan tells court, sent to judicial custody in Arthur Road jail for 14 days

During the hearing in the cruise ship drugs case on Thursday, Aryan Khan’s lawyer, advocate Satish Maneshinde, described Khan’s version of events that happened on October 3 night of the raid conducted on the luxury cruise liner. According to a report by the legal portal Bar & Bench, Maneshinde, representing Shah Rukh Khan’s son said that Aryan was invited to the rave party as “VVIP”. He went to the party only with an intention to “add glamour”, argued Satish Maneshinde in court.

Aryan Khan was on the cruise as a “VVIP guest” and “a person connected with Bollywood wanted to add glamour to the cruise and hence invited him,” the lawyer claimed.

“I [Aryan] am nowhere connected with any other person in cruise, or other arrested accused. I have no connection with the organizers or the other arrested accused,” Maneshinde submitted in court.

He further added that the NCB officials had confronted Aryan Khan when he reached the international terminal of Mumbai port. Khan, according to his lawyer, was again questioned when they started for the ship. NCB searched Aryan Khan’s bag and his person and found nothing, claimed Maneshinde.

The lawyer further argued that Khan’s mobile was the confiscated and he was taken to the NCB office where he was interrogated and then placed under arrest.

Maneshinde accepted that Aryan Khan knew Arbaz Seth Merchant, who is also in NCB custody along with Aryan. 

Aryan Khan’s lawyer submitted in court that the former’s WhatsApp chat with one of his friends named Prateek would bring out these facts. Prateek was the one who had introduced Khan to someone who was in touch with the organizers, submitted the lawyer.

The NCB rebutted Khan’s lawyer’s claims by submitting to the court that “recovery is not what is important but it is the knowledge that counts”. The central agency said it was necessary to interrogate Aryan Khan because of the knowledge he had as regards other people who may be involved in the drug racket.

The Mumbai court Thursday, sent Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan to judicial custody for 14 days. Aryan Khan was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on October 2, in connection with the luxury cruise drug bust case.

Today Aryan Khan and others accused in the case including were sent to Arthur Road jail after they tested negative for Covid-19. They were supposed to be sent to jail yesterday, but they were kept in the NCB office in Mumbai as the jail does not accept inmates after 6 pm.

Whatsapp conversation between Aryan Khan and 2 other accused revealed intriguing details

Interestingly, on Monday (October 4), a day after the raid, the NCB had told the Court that WhatsApp chats between the son of actor Shah Rukh Khan and 2 other accused have revealed ‘shocking and incriminating’ material about international drug trafficking. The Central agency informed that Khan discussed payment modes for purchasing drugs while using several code names.

The Court had held that a prima facie case is made out against Khan and other co-accused and sent Aryan Khan, Arbaz Seth Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha and five others to NCB custody till the 7th of October.

Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan and other accused have been declared medically fit as they have tested negative for Covid-19. They will now be shifted to Arthur road jail, from where they will be taken to court for a bail hearing. A magistrate court is likely to hear the plea today afternoon.

Days after his death, Bollywood actor Sidharth Shukla awarded a popular male actor award for his performance in web series

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Days after his death, Bollywood actor Sidharth Shukla awarded a popular male actor award for his performance in web series

On Thursday (October 7), deceased Bollywood actor Sidharth Shukla was posthumously awarded for his performance in the web series ‘Broken but Beautiful Season 3.’ Dubbed as the Adgully’s Editor’s Choice, Shukla was honoured with the ‘Popular Actor (Male) in Web Originals – Hindi/Regional’ award.

Days after his death, Bollywood actor Sidharth Shukla awarded a popular male actor award for his performance in web series
Sidharth Shukla wins popular award after his death

Following the announcement by Screenxx, the late actor began trending on the No.2 position on the micro-blogging site. Sidharth Shukla appeared in several shows such as ‘Balika Vadhu’, ‘Khatron Ke Khiladi’ and ‘Big Boss Season 13’.

Screengrab of Twitter trends

While Balika Vadhu made him a household name, Shukla also emerged as the winners of Big Boss and Khatron Ke Khiladi. Shukla also acted in Dil Se Dil Tak and hosted the crime drama series Savdhaan India and the reality show India’s Got Talent. He made his Bollywood debut in 2014 in the film Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania. He also participated as a ‘senior’ member in Big Boss 14. He breathed his last on September 2 at the Cooper Hospital, after suffering a massive heart attack.

Pakistani terror outfits using ‘hybrid terrorists’ to carry out targeted attacks against non-Muslims in Kashmir: Govt sources

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Pakistani terror outfits using ‘hybrid terrorists’ to carry out targeted attacks against non-Muslims in Kashmir: Govt sources

Top government sources on Thursday informed that the Pakistani terror outfits are now using ‘hybrid terrorists’ to disrupt the atmosphere of peace and prosperity in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. These are not full-time terrorists, but people with normal civilian lives who are engaged in specific terror acts.

In a statement to ANI, the government source revealed, “The hybrid terrorists used by these terror groups for these targeted killings are mostly engaged in normal jobs and are used for such killings using small weapons.” The source further informed, “They return to their normal routine after carrying out such acts.” 

Additionally, Vijay Kumar, IGP Kashmir, in a statement to The Times of India said, “These acts are committed by newly recruited terrorists or those about to join terrorist ranks. In some cases, overground workers were directly involved. J&K Police are working hard to identify such part-time or ‘hybrid’ errorists and will take the strictest action against them.”

The statement was given on a day when two non-Muslim teachers were gunned down by the Islamic terrorists in Srinagar after separating them from Muslim teachers in a school.

The source also informed that the number of such youth is quite significant in the valley. The security forces had received inputs of many such youths and their identification is being done rapidly. 

As per the Times of India report, in a revised strategy, ISI-backed terrorist groups are pushing local terror recruits to go after non-local who make for easy targets. 

Union HM chairs high-level meeting

Reportedly, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting with NSA Ajit Doval, heads of CRPF, BSF and intelligence agencies on Thursday to review the security situation in J&K.

Some of the topics believed to have been discussed in the meeting were fine-tuning of current strategies, the need to keep a closer watch on youths prone to radicalization and on the ones who are in touch with terrorists. 

‘Resisting change’

It is said that the terrorist groups have adopted this new strategy to resist any kind of change brought about with the abrogation of Article 270. This includes full integration of J&K with the rest of India, the revival of tourism and emphasis on the development of the region. 

In fact, Pakistan’s new terror outfit ‘The Resistance Front’ (TRF) that took the responsibility for killing a school principal and teacher in a statement claimed that the teachers were targeted because they had urged students to attend the August 15th Independence Day function held in the school.

Calling it a “filthy function”, the Pakistani terror outfit said that despite their warning and threat, these teachers had “harassed and warned the parents with dire consequences if any student didn’t attend the occupier regime’s 15th August filthy function at their school”.

These terrorist groups aim to create an atmosphere of fear and insecurity, especially amongst non-Muslims. Reports suggest that Pakistan-based terror sponsors have been encouraging groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed to step up infiltration into J&K since July. 

Intelligence inputs say that local youths are being readied to carry out attacks on ‘soft’ targets, which may include locals suspected to be working as ‘informers’.

As many as five civilians have been killed by Islamic terrorists in the past three days in Jammu and Kashmir. 

Blogs and posts promote targeted attacks on civilians and non-locals

The aim, objectives and language of the terror groups are in sync with some pro-Pakistan social media users and digital platforms floating online.

A pro-Pakistani blog named ‘Kashmirfight’ in an inflammatory post dated September 24 had recommended strategies to ‘resist the occupier.’ These included:

  1. Targeting every non-local official
  2. Stoning and hurling petrol bombs at informers locations
  3. Non-locals to be targeted irrespective of nature of work 
  4. Not to welcome Kashmiri Pandits
  5. Target head of educational institutions who are hand in glove with occupiers and more
Kashmirfight blog dated September 24, 2021

It is imperative to note that the website has been blocked by the Government of India.

As many as 28 civilians have been gunned down by Islamic terrorists so far this year.

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