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Tractor Rahul Gandhi drove to Parliament was sneaked into the area in a container, secretly offloaded at Congress MP’s office

OpIndia Staff
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Tractor Rahul Gandhi drove to Parliament was sneaked into the area in a container, secretly offloaded at Congress MP’s office

Terming it as a major breach of security, the Delhi Police has lodged an inquiry to find out how Congress senior leader Rahul Gandhi managed to get a tractor near the parliament on July 26 (Monday). The Wayanad MP had driven a tractor to the Parliament to oppose the central government’s three farm laws and show solidarity with the ‘farmers’ protesting against the same. Gandhi, however, could not take the tractor inside the premises as only vehicles with valid passes are allowed entry.

According to a preliminary investigation, Delhi police confirmed that a container was used to bring the tractor which Rahul Gandhi was riding to New Delhi district since Congress workers knew that there was a police alert in New Delhi district and police pickets have been set in place at various locations in and around the House.

Tractor was secretly offloaded and kept at Congress RS MP KTS Tulsi’s office close to Parliament

The police also revealed how the Congress leader’s tricked the police when they stopped the container at one place. A letter from a Congress MP saying that the container contains Parliament’s material was furnished by the driver when the traffic police stopped the container to enquire. Seeing the letter the container was allowed to pass, said the police.

The Delhi police furthered that the tractor was secretly offloaded at the office of Congress Rajya Sabha MP KTS Tulsi at Moti Lal Nehru Marg, about one and a half kilometres away from the Parliament. The tractor was modified inside the building and hoardings were also put up.

It is pertinent to note here that tractors have been barred from entering central Delhi, especially Lutyens’ zone, since September last year when a tractor was set on fire at the India Gate by some Punjab Youth Congress workers to mark their protest against the three farm laws, said a police officer who asked not to be named. Despite knowing this, the Congress members sneaked the tractor into the Parliament zone, said the police.

Rahul Gandhi violated section 144 of CrPC

Police said the tractor was being brought via Motilal Nehru Marg-Sunehri Bagh roundabout. After that the police stopped the tractor on Motilal Nehru Marg, it was brought to Rafi Marg and was taken from Rail Bhawan roundabout to Parliament House via Red Cross Road.

Confirming that the rally, led by Rahul Gandhi, violated section 144 of CrPC as there is an ongoing session of the Parliament, the police said that the department and other agencies were not aware of the tractor rally. No permission was taken from the local police station either, added Delhi police.

According to reports, the tractor which the Congress leader drove to the Parliament, in a clear breach of security, was mounted with a banner demanding that the three “anti-farmer black laws” be repealed.

Many Congress leaders including Randeep Surjewala, Ravneet Singh Bittu, Deepinder Singh Hooda had accompanied Rahul Gandhi. Delhi police detained Surjewala, Youth Congress chief BV Srinivas and few other members of the party and impounded the vehicle before it could reach the Parliament. Gandhi was not detained, and he went to attend the Monsoon session of the Parliament.

PM Modi hit out at Congress party for disrupting Parliament

The Congress party has been continuously disrupting the Parliament sessions since the monsoon session has begun. Slamming the Congress for its despicable behaviour, PM Modi, Tuesday, reportedly asked BJP MPs to “expose the party before the public and the media” for not allowing the monsoon session of parliament to run smoothly.

Sources said, “The Prime Minister told the party MPs that the Congress party is deliberately disturbing the parliament. They are neither interested in debate nor are allowing the parliament to function smoothly.”

The prime minister’s comments came when he was addressing the parliamentary party meet today on the opposition’s attempts to stall work during the ongoing monsoon session.

Shilpa Shetty cries, shouts at Raj Kundra as dramatic scenes unfolded when he was brought to his bungalow: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Shilpa Shetty cries, shouts at Raj Kundra as dramatic scenes unfolded when he was brought to his bungalow: Report

On Friday (July 23), actress Shilpa Shetty lambasted her husband for his alleged role in creating and publishing pornographic films on the mobile app HotShot.

As per a report published in NDTV, Raj Kundra was brought to his plush Juhu bungalow on Friday by the Mumbai police during a search operation. It was his first ‘homecoming’ after being arrested by cops on July 19. Citing police sources, NDTV reported that his wife Shilpa Shetty was aghast at his actions. “We have everything, what was the need to do all this,” the actress asked Raj Kundra.

Shilpa Shetty broke down into tears after seeing her husband. According to NDTV, she said that her family reputation was ruined, and was forced to give up on brand endorsements and projects. She also lamented about the financial losses caused by her husband’s involvement in the pornography scandal. The Mumbai police officials had questioned the actress at her home during the search operation. So far, the cops have not been able to establish whether the actress was aware of Kundra’s porn films operations.

According to police, a case was registered with the Crime Branch in February 2021 about the creation of pornographic films and publishing the same through apps. A case against Kundra was registered on July 19, 2021, as he appeared to be the key conspirator. The racket came to light earlier in February this year when a woman approached Mumbai Police and accused Kundra of luring young men and women on the pretext of offering roles in web series and allegedly forcing them to make porn films instead.

‘Just erotica, not porn’: Actress Shilpa Shetty defended husband Raj Kundra 

Following his arrest on charges of producing pornographic films, actress Shilpa Shetty came out in defence of her husband, reported Mid-Day. While quoting a police official, it stated, “Shilpa Shetty said that the movies available on Hotshot are not pornography but erotica. She also said that nowadays, similar content is available on the various OTT platforms, and in fact, some are more obscene than what is available on Hotshot”. According to Mid-Day, she had denied her involvement in the production of the contentious videos.

During the remand hearing on July 23, advocate Abad Ponda representing Raj Kundra argued that the video content did not fall under the category of pornography. He said, “The videos don’t show the ‘actual act of coitus’ or ‘actual act of intercourse, hence they can’t be considered pornographic. OTT platforms like Netflix and Amazon have similar content. Shows like Sex life and Four Shots have similar content. I don’t understand why Mumbai police are going after Kundra but not after Netflix and Amazon. In India, we don’t follow the ‘Hicklin test of obscenity — the model followed by the UK. We follow the ‘Canadian concept of obscenity.”

Uyghur separatist group East Turkestan Islamic Movement now active in Afghanistan: UNSC Report

Jinit Jain
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Uyghur separatist group East Turkestan Islamic Movement now active in Afghanistan: UNSC Report

Amidst the ongoing UN troop withdrawal and the Talibani offensive to regain control of the country, several hundred members of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement(ETIM), an Uyghur separatist group that has long sought independence for the Chinese province of Xinjiang, remain active in several districts of Afghanistan, a recently released UNSC report said.

The group is primarily aligned with Al Qaeda and remains active in Badakhshan, Faryab, Kabul and Nuristan Province of Afghanistan, as per the report prepared by the UN Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team. The group is also closely associated with Jamaat Ansarullah and Katiba al-Tawhid wal-Jihad.

The leaders of the ETIM—Abdul Haq and Hajji Furqan—and the group’s headquarters were currently located in Hustak ravine, Jurm district in Badakhshan Province, the report said. It further added that Abdul Haq often shuttles between Helmand and Badakhshan provinces. The Uyghur separatist group had also recently released a propaganda video, demonstrating their combat readiness.

In their bid to establish an Uyghur state in Xinjiang, China, the group facilitates the movement of fighters from Afghanistan to China, the report said. It noted that the ETIM active in Afghanistan is more focused on actions targeting China, while the group operating in the Syrian Arab Republic had a more global outlook.

Taliban assures China after it raises concerns about Afghanistan becoming a breeding ground for ETIM

Earlier this month, China has expressed its concern regarding Afghanistan becoming a breeding ground for the fighters of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement amidst the turmoil precipitated by the US troop pullout and the offensive launched by the Taliban. Reportedly, China is also concerned that Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, may become a hub for the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM). The northwest Xinjian region, which is home to Uyghur Muslims, shares about an 8-km-long border with Afghanistan.

In order to assuage the concerns of the Chinese, the Taliban reassured them, saying that it saw China as a “friend” to Afghanistan and hoped that China invests in the reconstruction of the war-torn country.

During an interview, Taliban spokesperson Shaheen had said that the Taliban has assured China that it would not host Uyghur militants from the Xinjiang province, some of whom had previously entered Afghanistan to escape from Chinese persecution. The Taliban would also prevent al-Qaeda or any other terrorist group from operating there, he said.

“Taliban views China as a friendly country and we welcome it for reconstruction and developing Afghanistan”, said Suhail Shaheen, adding that “If (the Chinese) have investments, of course, we will ensure their safety”.

Afghanistan: Taliban releases video of Kandahari comedian being slapped prior to his execution

OpIndia Staff
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Afghanistan: Taliban releases video of Kandahari comedian being slapped prior to his execution

A video of popular comedian Nazar Mohammad aka Khasha being kidnapped and slapped by the Taliban before being executed has gone viral on social media.

The video has been shared by Tajuden Soroush, a senior correspondent with Iran International. A Taliban terrorist wielding a gun can be seen slapping Khasha multiple times. “This video shows the moment, Kandahari comedian, Khasha was arrested by the Taliban, Slapping him inside the car and then killed him,” reads Soroush’s Tweet.

The entertainer who belonged to the Kandahar province was dragged from his home last week and killed by the Taliban. As per reports, the terrorists were going door-to-door searching for government workers in the province.

They nabbed Khasha on Thursday, tied him on a tree and slit his throat. The comedian who had served as local police was found lying on the ground with his throat slit.

Shocking visuals of Khasha tied to a tree before being killed. Image Source: The Sun

As usual, the Taliban refused to take responsibility for the murder, but Khasha’s family accused the terrorists. 

Taliban slaughter 100s of civilians

After a successful ambush as the US troops retreated, the Taliban have slaughtered hundreds of Afghani civilians, especially the ones who either worked for the government or the US military.

As per the locals, at least 100 people have been killed in the past two weeks with another 300 missing from the province. Officials estimate more than 150,000 civilians have been displaced in southern Kandahar which is said to be the birthplace of the Taliban in the 1990s.

Zainab, a mother of three from Kandahar said, “The fighting has affected tens of thousands of people. Some managed to flee but many are still trapped in the fighting. We lived in the city centre but fled to Kabul.”

“I cannot contact friends and relatives. I don’t know if they are alive or dead,” she added. 

Afghani translators on Taliban’s hit-list

We reported earlier how an Afghani translator, Sohail Pardis was beheaded by the Taliban just before Eid. He had been receiving death threats from the terrorists. “They were telling him you are a spy for the Americans, you are the eyes of the Americans and you are infidel, and we will kill you and your family,” informed Pardis’s friend and co-worker Abdulhaq Ayoubi to CNN.

After the US pulled itself out of the war zone, the Afghans say they have been left in a death trap. Another translator Ayazuddin Hilal in an interview with ABC News narrated how they have been receiving death threats from the Taliban. “Your brothers have left. Now we will kill you,” said Hilal quoting the threat he received from the terrorists. 

As many as 18,000 Afghani interpreters have applied for the USA’s Special Immigrant Visa but many are being denied due to a long and faulty process.

At least 300 Afghan interpreters have been killed since 2016 by the Taliban, as per reports.

Indian journalist Danish Siddiqui killed by Taliban, body mutilated

Earlier this month, Reuters photo journalist Danish Siddiqui was killed by the Taliban. However, Taliban had claimed they were not aware he was an Indian journalist. Reports suggested that Taliban killed him because he was Indian and even mutilated his body after killing him. In fact, they even refused to return his body. However, after his death, Danish’s body of work, especially the pictures of funeral pyres during the second wave of coronavirus and Rohingya crisis, was publicised and hailed by all, Taliban expressed sorrow on killing him. 

Harappan-era city Dholavira in Gujarat inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage site list

OpIndia Staff
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Harappan-era city Dholavira in Gujarat inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage site list

The World Heritage Committee has inscribed Gujarat’s Dholavira on UNESCO World Heritage Site List during its 44th session held online. Dholavira, located in Khadir island of the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, represents the ruins of an ancient city of the Harappan civilization.

Taking to its official Twitter handle, UNESCO tweeted, “BREAKING! Dholavira: A Harappan City, in #IndiaFlag of India, just inscribed on the @UNESCO #WorldHeritage List. Congratulations!”

Earlier, Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple, Telangana was also inscribed in the UNESCO list. With the inclusion of these two heritage sites, India’s number of World Heritage sites has increased to 40.

Tourism minister G Kishan Reddy has taken to Twitter to share the news. “It gives immense pride to share with my fellow Indians that #Dholavira is now the 40th treasure in India to be given @UNESCO’s World Heritage Inscription. Another feather in India’s cap as we now enter the Super-40 club for World Heritage Site inscriptions”, Tweeted Reddy, thanking PM Modi for his consistent effort to promote Indian culture and heritage.

Since 2014, India has added 10 new World Heritage sites – one-fourth of our total sites”, the Tourism Minister added in his subsequent Tweet.

The City of Dholavira was excavated by R.S Bisht in 1985. It demonstrates a highly organised system of town planning with perfected proportions, street-pattern and an efficient water conservation system that supported life for more than 1200 years.

The three-tier zonation found in the Dholavira city, comprising of a distinct upper (citadel, bailey) and middle (having a distinct street-pattern, large scale enclosure and a ceremonial ground) towns enclosed by a lower town (with narrower streets, smaller enclosures and industrial area), distinguishes it from other metropolises of the Indus Valley Civilisation.

Besides Dholavira, there are other three World Heritage Sites in Gujarat.

Historic city of Ahmedabad- first city in India to be inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage site list

Amongst these three, the first is the historic city of Ahmedabad which was the first city in India to be inscribed in UNESCO’s World Heritage City list of 2017. The historic city was founded in 1411 as the capital of Gujarat. It was formerly known as Ashawal of Asha Bhil; Karnavati of Karanadev, Ahamdabad of Sultan Ahmed Shah, Rajnagar, the capital of Jainism, a politico-cultural city of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel and Amdavad of ‘Amdavadis’.

The city flaunts some heritage Indo-Islamic monuments of the 15th to 17th centuries. Besides, there are potential heritage precincts in the form of the Pols, the traditional residential clusters of the medieval period, which makes Ahmedabad exceptional.

Rani ki Vaav (Queen’s Stepwell)

Rani Ki Vav, a stepwell in the little Gujarat town of Patan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014. Rani-ki-Vav is designed like a temple-cum-water storage system. This stepwell was built by the Solanki dynasty’s queen Udayamati in the 11th century as a memorial to her deceased husband Bhimdev I. Over the years, as the Saraswati river changed its course, the massive structure was flooded and lay buried until its excavation by the Archaeological Survey of India in the late 1980s. Siltation has preserved the structure intact over the centuries.

This historic site inscribed as a Worl Heritage property by UNESCO, features on the new Rs 100 note.

Champaner Pavagadh Archaeological Park included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 2014

Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in Panchmahal district in Gujarat. The Pavagadh hill is constructed of reddish-yellow coloured stone. This formation is one of the oldest rock formations in India. Pavagadh hill was a famous Hindu fortress under the Solanki kings of Gujarat followed by Khichi Chauhans. The Archaeological park had got the status of an archaeological site in 2004.

Bangladesh: Football match turns communal, Hindus attacked in Sheikh Hasina’s constituency on Eid. Here is everything you need to know

OpIndia Staff
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Bangladesh: Football match turns communal, Hindus attacked in Sheikh Hasina’s constituency on Eid. Here is everything you need to know

On Wednesday (July 21), a mob of radical Islamists in Bangladesh attacked the Hindu community without provocation at around 9 am in the morning. The incident took place at Kalabari Union Parakata Bazar in Kotalipara in the Gopalganj district of Bangladesh. It must be mentioned that Gopalganj is the election constituency of Awami League supremo and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Bangladesh Hindu Unity Council took to Twitter to inform that the attack took place on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha. DD News reported that more than 50 people were injured during the incident, including police officials. The Islamist mob ransacked shops and houses belonging to Hindus and had vowed to ‘sacrifice’ religious minorities on the occasion of Eid. The attack took place in the backdrop of a football match that was conducted in the Parakata village on July 19.During the match at the Janakalyan High school ground, a quarrel broke out between two sides about the outcome of the game.

Two days later on July 21, a heated argument ensued between 18-year-old Sajal Gain and 38-year-old Jamal Mallick. The argument soon assumed a communal turn, leading to a clash between two sides. Reportedly, the accused have been identified as Rustum Mallick, Nannu Mallick, Jasim Mollah, Faizul Mallick, and Babul Mallick (26). They vandalised shops, houses and targeted Hindu men, women, and livestock. They chanted slogans vowing to make the village free of Hindus and demanded human sacrifice on the ocassion of Eid.

A team from the Kotalipara police station and Bahngarhat Naval Investigation Centre rushed to the spot to pacify the situation. More than 50 men, women, and children, including police, were injured in the hour-long clash. Among the seriously injured were Jagdish Folia, Mridul Gain, Shivnath, Gabinda Gain, Ashudev Gain, Tanmoy Gain, Sushant Gain, and Ujjal Gain, Nikhil Gain, Rasmoy Gain, Bidhan Gain, Nimchand, Kaushik Gain, Pradeep Gain, Joy Gain, Animesh Folia, Samrat Gain, Sujit Gain, Vishnu Gain, and others. ASI Masud, Constables Mahasin Gazi, and Mahabubur were also injured due to stabbing. The victims were rushed to medical treatment facilities including the Upazila Health Centre.

Police, administration took the side of attackers: Victims

In a video shared by Bangladeshi Hindu activist Raju Das, an injured Hindu man could be heard as saying, “This is our school and they don’t let us play. Today, a Hindu was thrashed. They (Muslims) came here with sticks and rods. They are ever ready to kill Hindus. They have declared that they would do Qurbani (sacrifice) with Hindus. We all got thrashed and the administration also took their side…. The attack was pre-meditated.”

In another video that has surfaced on social media, a Twitter user alleged that the police personnel were also involved in the stone pelting against Hindus. He claimed that the police took the side of the attackers and thrashed the victims (Hindu community).

Protests and aftermath of the attack

Following the incident, the Hindu Coalition group in the US staged a protest. The demonstration was led by Dinesh Mazumdar, Sitangshu Guha, Govinda Baniya, Sukanta Das, Tutul, and others. They said that it was a matter of shame that the Hindus were targeted in the Prime Minister’s constituency on the ocassion of Eid. The protestors said that rumours were spread by local mosques, which in turn fuelled the attack. They informed that such strategies were used by the Islamists frequently to target the Hindu community.

An arbitration meeting was held between the Hindu and Muslim communities on Saturday (July 24). Public representatives, the district administration have appealed to maintain calm in the area. According to OC (Kotalipara police) Aminul Islam, a contingent of police have been deployed in the area. He informed that no party has registered a formal complaint with the police.

MHA seeks six more months till January 2022 to form rules for CAA

OpIndia Staff
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MHA seeks six more months till January 2022 to form rules for CAA

On July 26, the Ministry of Home Affairs sought six months to frame the rules for Citizen (Amendment) Act, 2019 or CAA. While replying to a question by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, Nityanand Rai, Minister of State, Home Affairs, said that MHA had asked committees on subordinate legislation in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for time till January 9, 2022, to form the rules.

Notably, CAA was notified on December 12, 2019, after President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the legislation. It came into force on January 10, 2020. Under CAA, persecuted minorities comprising Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who arrived will be able to avail citizenship in India.

CAA is applicable for the people who arrived in India till December 31, 2014, because of the religious persecution in the mentioned countries. They would be treated as illegal immigrants, and the government would grant them Indian citizenship according to the regulations mentioned in the law. As per the act, if a person from the mentioned faiths from the three countries in the list does not have proof of parents’ birth, they could apply for citizenship after six years of residency in India.

CAA and Delhi Riots

Opposition parties and several groups criticized the amendments in the Citizenship Act. They tried to propagate that CAA, combined with the National Register of Citizens (NRC), aims to target minorities living in India, especially the Muslim community. Since its enactment in December 2019, there were large scale protests across the country. Sit-in protests at Shaheen Bagh attracted a lot of attention, especially because of the anti-India speeches given by the speakers at the site.

In the background of these protests, there was an alleged larger conspiracy to cause unrest in the Indian state that resulted in riots in February 2020. As a result, several arrests were made by investigation agencies, including that of Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Tahir Hussain and several others. As per reports, Police registered over 700 cases connected to the riots and detained or arrested 3,400 people by the end of March 2020. A detailed report on the anti-Hindu Delhi Riots by OpIndia can be read here.

Assam-Mizoram dispute: How India’s colonial past rages violent interstate border conflicts

OpIndia Staff
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Assam-Mizoram dispute: How India’s colonial past rages violent interstate border conflicts

On Monday (July 26) evening, a violent clash took place between the locals of Lailapur village (Cachar district) in Assam and Vairengte village (Kolasib district) in Mizoram. The conflict at the inter-state border comes amidst an ongoing dispute over alleged illegal encroachment in each other’s land.

As per reports, the conflict culminated in stone pelting, vandalism, arson, and gunfire. During the clash, around 6 Assam police personnel lost their lives while about 65 people, including civilians, were injured. Around 40 of those injured were admitted to the Silchar Medical College and Hospital for further medical treatment. According to an India Today report, about 2 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed in the area to pacify the situation. Multiple videos have now surfaced on social media which shows the extent of the conflict between the two sides.

Following the violent clashes, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared his condolences for the fallen jawans. “I am deeply pained to inform that six brave jawans of @assampolice have sacrificed their lives while defending the constitutional boundary of our state at the Assam-Mizoram border.My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” he tweeted.

In another tweet, Sarma informed, “I have just spoken to Hon’ble Chief Minister Zoramthanga. I have reiterated that Assam will maintain status quo and peace between the borders of our State. I have expressed my willingness to visit Aizawal and discuss these issues if need be.”

While responding to the said tweet, Mizoram Chief Minister confirmed the meeting with Himanta Biswa Sarma and urged the withdrawal of Assam police from Vairengte village for the safety of civilians. In a statement, he emphasised, “The Government of Mizoram deeply regrets the needless injuries on both sides which could have been avoided. The Government of Mizoram desires that the inter-state border issue with Assam be resolved in an atmosphere of peace and understanding. Accordingly, we call upon the state of Assam to create a congenial environment for peaceful resolution of the dispute,”

The background of the Assam-Mizoram conflict

The long-standing territorial dispute began when Mizoram used to be a district of Assam. In the colonial era, Mizoram was known as Lushai Hills and was demarcated from the Cachar plains in accordance with an 1875 notification. Subsequently, another notification was released by the British government in 1933 that drew a boundary between the Lushai Hills and Manipur. Mizoram wants the boundary demarcation to be followed as per the 1875 notification. In their defence, they claim that the Mizo society was not consulted prior to the 1933 notification. However, the Assam government follows the 1993 demarcation, which has become a bone of contention between the two States.

The situation at the interstate border became tense in June after Assam police accused Mizoram of encroaching its property and laid control on ‘Aitlanf hnar’, which is located about 5 km from Vairengte village. The Assamese officials have alleged that the neighbouring State has built structures and planted betel nut and banana saplings inside the Hailakandi district of Assam. In turn, Mizoram accused Assam of encroaching upon the State’s land in Kolasib district. On July 10, the Assam police conducted reportedly an eviction drive that allegedly led to the destruction of crops of a Mizo farmer.

Map courtesy: IndianExpress.com

According to SP (Kolasib district) Valalfaka Ralte, Assam police led by Hailakandi deputy Commissioner and SP entered Mizoram’s territory and began camping there on June 29. Disputing the claims, the Assam government clarified that a team of Divisional Forest Officer Montaj Ali, Border DSP Nirmal Ghosh was stopped by Mizo encroachers which forced them to return. Currently, both the States share a 165 km border and negotiation attempts made since 1995 have yielded no results so far.

Earlier, similar clashes took place between the two sides on October 9 last year when Lailapur (Assam) locals allegedly built temporary huts in no-man’s land in the border area. The Mizos then set the huts on fire in retaliation. Mizoram officials had then claimed that the Assamese side broke the status quo and that the land was by Mizo cultivators since time immemorial.

Cachar Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli had then clarified that the land belonged to the Assam government as per records. Similarly, Karimganj DC Anbamuthan MP conceded that the disputed land fell within the Singla Forest Reserve that comes under Krimganj’s jurisdiction. He however conceded that the land was used by Mizo cultivators for a long time. Reportedly, Mizo civil groups often blame illegal Bangladeshi settlers in Assam for the repeated escalations.

COVID-19 vaccine for children to be made available by August: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya

OpIndia Staff
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COVID-19 vaccine for children to be made available by August: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday said the Covid-19 vaccine for children is likely to be launched in the country by August. Mandaviya shared the information at the BJP Parliamentary party meeting, also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He also said that India is soon going to be the largest vaccine-producing country as more companies will get production licenses.

Experts believe vaccinating children and teens will play a big role in developing the herd immunity that a society needs to ward off a contagion like the COVID-19 outbreak. The third wave of COVID-19 is expected to hit the nation in September-October. However, children may not have a severe infection, AIIMS director Randeep Guleria had said.

Earlier last week, Dr Randeep Guleria, the director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), also said that the trials of Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin on children were underway and the results were expected by September. As of now, Covaxin trials are underway on children aged between 2 to 6 in Delhi AIIMS.

In June this year, the AIIMS started screening children aged 2 to 17 for trials of the COVID-19 vaccine. The move came a month after the DGCI granted permission to Bharat Biotech to carry out phase 2, phase 3 trials of Covaxin on children as young as two.

Along with Covaxin, clinical trials of the vaccine developed by Zydus Cadila is also underway. Dr NK Arora, who heads the National Expert Group on Vaccines, had earlier this month said that vaccination for children will start by September with the Zydus vaccine for 12 to 18-year-olds.

India has so far authorised the emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines on citizens above the age of 18.

Pakistan: Muslim man forces Hindu boy to chant ‘Allahu Akbar’, abuse Hindu Gods

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan: Muslim man forces Hindu boy to chant ‘Allahu Akbar’, abuse Hindu Gods

In a disturbing video that has now surfaced on social media, a Pakistani Muslim man was seen threatening and forcing a Hindu boy to chant ‘Allahu Akbar’. The victim was also coerced into abusing Hindu Gods and Goddesses.

The video was uploaded on social media by a popular Facebook user named Prakash Heerani. The accused, Abdul Salam Abu Dawood, was seen grabbing the victim by the collar and ordering him to chant Allahu Akbar. When the boy complied, the accused asked him to utter expletives directed at Hindu Gods. “Abuse your deities in the name of mother and sister…Say your God is a sister f*cker. You guys have polluted the entire Pakistan,” Dawood was heard as saying.

Abdul Salam Abu Dawood, a native of Rahim Yar Khan in Pakistan, had uploaded the video on his Youtube channel with the caption, “Hindu torture by Muslim in Pakistan.” Following public outrage, he was quick to delete the video.

Dawood was also seen threatening Hindus with genocide and complete annihilation. In a video posted in April this year, he warned, “If we start killing Hindus in Pakistan it would only take 30 minutes…We will kill Hindu men and take Hindu women. We will procreate from these women and make them ‘mujahid’ (fighters/Islamic terrorists ). Don’t mess with us we have a lot of people (Muslims) in India that would not take time to kill you (Hindus).”

The particular video has now been deleted from YouTube.

In his Youtube comment section, Dawood was seen using despicable language for Lord Ram and Goddess Sita. He had compared the Hindu deities to homosexuals, pimps, and rape victims.

Screengrab of the Youtube comments by Abdul Salam Abu Dawood

In a video posted in February 2019, he was seen intimidating a Hindu kid named Raju Krishnan. While addressing his subscribers, he said, “This kid is a Hindu. If I want, I can do many things to this kid. If I beat or thrash him, what will be the use?” Dawood then went on to boast about his decision to not assault the child and how it proved that he is a virtuous man.

(Video Courtesy: Youtube/ Abdul Salam Abu Dawood)

As per his Facebook profile, Dawood currently lives in Hyderabad in the Sindh province of Pakistan. He is employed with the Thar-Coal projects. His Twitter profile has been suspended for violating the terms and conditions of the microblogging platform. At the time of writing, his Instagram profile was found to be active.

Screengrab of the suspended Twitter account of Abdul Salam Abu Dawood

60 Hindus mass converted to Islam in Sindh

On July 7, as many as 60 Hindus were mass converted to Islam in the Sindh province of Pakistan. A man, identified as one Abdul Rauf Nizamani, had been the facilitator of the mass conversion process. In a Facebook post, the accused rejoiced, “Alhamdullilah aj meri nigrani me 60 log musalman hui hain inke liye dua karen (Today, 60 people accepted Islam under my watch. Please pray for them.” According to the Facebook profile of Abdul Rauf Nizamani, he is the Chairman of the Municipal Committee in Matli in Sindh of Pakistan. The accused boasts of 4,275 followers on his personal profile.

In a video posted by him, an Islamic cleric could be seen making the 60-odd Hindus chant Kalma (Islamic oath of allegiance) and ensuring their full-fledged conversion. In a subsequent video, the said Islamic cleric could be seen claiming that it was their recitation of the first-ever Namaz. “The only objective in the life of a Muslim is to make Allah happy. Only then, the purpose of your life will be fulfilled. Only the lives of those, approved by Allah, move forward,” the cleric could be seen speaking to the new converts.

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