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Andhra Pradesh: 46-year-old pastor arrested for sexual assault on a 10-year-old, had tried to bribe the child to keep quiet

OpIndia Staff
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Andhra Pradesh: 46-year-old pastor arrested for sexual assault on a 10-year-old, had tried to bribe the child to keep quiet

46-year-old pastor Alavala Sudhakar has been arrested by the Sarpavaram police in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh over allegations of sexual assault on a minor girl. As per reports, Alavala Sudhakar is a pastor in a village in the Kakinada rural zone of East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh.

The pastor allegedly assaulted the minor girl on June 22. When the 10-year-old victim’s mother got to know of the incident, she filed a police complaint in the Sarpavaram police station. After which, the pastor was arrested and a case was filed against him under various provisions under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Pastor Sudhakar has been remanded to judicial custody by the court.

Sarpavaram circle inspector B Rajasekhar said: “The Kakinada-based pastor, identified as Alavala Sudhakar, attended a function in the city on June 22. While the function was in progress, Mr Sudhakar reportedly sexually abused the victim in a nearby thatched house.”

According to a local news report, the pastor attended a function on June 22, where the 10-year-old girl was also present. Sudhakar convinced the victim to go with him to a field away from the church, where the function was underway. Upon reaching the field, the pastor sexually assaulted the minor.

When the 10-year-old girl started screaming for help, Pastor Sudhakar stuffed a fifty rupee note in her hand and asked her to not tell anyone about the incident.

Only after the villagers and her family members exerted pressure on the minor did she divulge her ordeal, after which the victim’s mother approached the police with a complaint against the pastor.

Based on her complaint, Sudhakar was arrested and sent to judicial custody.

Crimes of sexual abuse of minors perpetrated by Christian priests has been a long-standing issue, which the Church authorities have often tried to brush under the carpet. Recently, a Catholic Church in Poland, which has been accused of covering up crimes of sexual abuse of minors by members of the clergy, acknowledged that it had received complaints of abuse from 368 boys and girls in the last three years.

Admitting the cover-ups, the Polish church’s Archbishop Wojciech Polak, pleaded for forgiveness from “those wronged and all those shocked by the evil in the church”. 

Dextrodiwas: PM Modi wishes his fan on her birthday, makes her day

OpIndia Staff
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Dextrodiwas: PM Modi wishes his fan on her birthday, makes her day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday took to Twitter to wish his fan.

Twitter user @dextrocardiac1 while interacting with her friends on Twitter expressed her desire to receive birthday wishes from Prime Minister Modi.

She asked her friends to request PM Modi to wish her, since they both are followed by the PM on Twitter. However, what she said as a joke turned out true when the Prime Minister actually did wish her.

Replying to the tweet, he said, “Happy Birthday… or as you are describing it – Dextrodiwas… 🙂 Have a great year ahead.”

Twitter user Dextrocardiac1 was elated by the unexpected surprise.

I am the luckiest human alive, she tweeted. Speaking to OpIndia, she said, “I’m on cloud 9 still pinching myself that the prime minister wished plus called it dextrodiwas, absolutely unbelievable.” Dextrocardiac1 (she chooses to stay anonymous on Internet) is a 25-year-old doctor working in a government facility. We wish her the best.

Maharashtra government tables farm bills seeking suggestions from public regarding amendments, were facing pressure to oppose it

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra government tables farm bills seeking suggestions from public regarding amendments, were facing pressure to oppose it

After weeks of ‘yes, no or maybe’, the Maharashtra government tabled the three Farm Law Amendment Bills in the Maharashtra Assembly on the second day of the monsoon session. The government has sought suggestions from the public regarding amendments if needed in the proposed bills. As per an ANI update, a time period of two months has been given to send suggestions.

This comes shortly after NCP supremo Sharad Pawar making a u-turn over the farm laws passed by the centre. Pawar had recently said that there was no need to ‘reject them.’

“Instead of rejecting the laws in their entirety, we can demand amendment in the part about which the farmers have an objection,” Sharad Pawar had said while weighing on his views about the farm laws at a private university program in Mumbai on Thursday.

However, NCP leader Nawab Malik claimed that Pawar’s reported comments on amending the farm laws were in reference to the farm laws in Maharashtra and not the Centre.

Bills were not scheduled to be tabled for the session

Earlier this month, speculations were rife that the  Maharashtra government may not table its proposed farm bill in the monsoon session of the state legislature for approval. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar had last week hinted that the state’s proposed bill may not come up during the upcoming monsoon session as ‘it should be brought up after deliberations with all stakeholders.’ 

“I am not sure if the farm bill can be brought in the two-day session. It is unlikely to come. It would be better if it is brought with desired changes after holding deliberations with all stakeholders,” Pawar had told reporters.

Pressure on state government to oppose the Bills

Reportedly, there has been increasing pressure from various farmers’ groups and activists on the state government to pass a resolution opposing the three farm laws in the ongoing session. 

A few days ago, Raju Shetti founder of the Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana and activist Medha Patkar had allegedly met Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray and demanded that the MVA government should pass a resolution against the three laws to express solidarity with the agitating farmers.

“The Centre introduced the farm laws in a hurry in Parliament. We want the state government to introduce amendments after due discussions in the state legislature,” remarked Shetti.

To this Thackeray reassuring the farmers said, “Let the Centre do whatever they want to, but the state government will not do anything which is against the interest of the farmers,” while addressing an event in the backdrop of Maharashtra Agriculture Day on July 1.

In the hindsight, a cabinet subcommittee chaired by Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat has been constituted by the state government to enact its own law to ensure the payment of minimum support price to the farmers and act against traders for its non-payment.

Replicating the intent of provisions from the Centre’s Law, this new law envisages imprisonment up to three years for those for cheating farmers, said a senior minister. 

Farmer protestors cause loss of ₹2000 crores to toll plazas: Reports

OpIndia Staff
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Farmer protestors cause loss of ₹2000 crores to toll plazas: Reports

The anti-farm law agitation has caused a toll revenue loss of ₹2000 crores in the States of Punjab and Haryana, reported News18.

For the past 8 months, toll plazas on National Highway 44 have been converted into protest sites by farmers. About 50 toll plazas in Punjab and Haryana have been rendered non-functional by the farmer protestors, resulting in an estimated daily loss of ₹5 crores. This has been the longest period during which toll plazas have remained closed on the National Highway. The Union government has asked the States to resume collection of fees at toll plazas.

However, the Punjab and Haryana governments have so far not intervened, fearing a law and order crisis by frenzied farmer protestors. A Central government official said, “It seems a complete surrender by both these states to this unprecedented unlawful act of farmers.” Meanwhile, farmer protestors have set up temporary tea stalls, tents, chairs, fans, coolers, and cooking equipment at toll plazas. A few lanes have been kept empty to allow vehicular movement. The demonstrators have also parked their SUVs, bearing the flags of Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU), at the toll plazas.

Posters of farmer leaders have also been set up. Besides, the protestors are now building concrete structures to protect them from heat. An official said that States are not bothered about the losses incurred by toll plazas as they are built on National Highways. While speaking to News 18, one farmer named Satnam Singh said, “We are not hurting the people; they have a free pass and are thankful to us for saving us the cost of paying the toll when fuel prices have hit over Rs 100. No one from the public is complaining at all. We are hurting the government which hasn’t accepted our demands since eight months.”

NHAI has suffered toll-revenue loss of Rs 814 crore till March 16

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Roads, Transport, Highways, and MSMEs informed that the National Highways Authority of India suffered a toll revenue loss of Rs 814.4 crore till March 16 as a result of farmers’ agitation in three states. Taking into account the heavy revenue loss, state administrations have been requested to reinitiate user fee collection at the tolls. On March 22, the Minister, “Loss of revenue due to farmers’ protest has primarily occurred in the States of Punjab and Haryana and at a few plazas in Rajasthan.”

Punjab witnessed the highest loss of Rs 487 crore, followed by Rs 326 crore in Haryana and Rs 1.40 crore in Rajasthan. Nitin Gadkari further informed, “no loss of revenue is reported on account of farmers’ protest in other States”. Drawing the Punjab government’s attention to the matter, he added, “Request has been made to Government of Punjab for urgent intervention for the smooth functioning of toll plazas in Punjab”.

Indian Army firing range named after Bollywood actress Vidya Balan, people express disappointment

OpIndia Staff
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Indian Army firing range named after Bollywood actress Vidya Balan, people express disappointment

The Indian Army has named one of its firing ranges in Kashmir after Bollywood actress Vidya Balan. The Vidya Balan firing range is situated at Gulmarg in the Baramulla district of Jammu & Kashmir.

The decision was taken in recognition of her contribution to Indian cinema, reports say. Earlier in the year, the actress and her husband Siddharth Roy Kapoor had attended the Gulmarg Winter Festival organised by the Indian Army.

People on social media, however, are not happy over the matter and believe that the firing range could be named after someone more appropriate.

Major Manik M Jolly, however, has denied that the firing range has been named after the actress. According to him, a temporary welcome board was put up when she visited the site and somehow, the matter was twisted to peddle the narrative that it was named after her.

The actress, who has featured in superhits such as Kahaani and Bhool Bhulaiyaa, is yet to comment on the matter.

Germany: Shouting Allahu Akbar, Afghan refugee kills Azerbaijan refugee in knife attack, injures another person

OpIndia Staff
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Germany: Shouting Allahu Akbar, Afghan refugee kills Azerbaijan refugee in knife attack, injures another person

On Sunday (July 4), a 25-year-old Afghan refugee killed a man and injured another in a knife attack in Greven in North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany.

As per reports, the Afghan refugee had been living in a refugee centre with a German man and a 35-year-old Azerbaijani. On Sunday, he attacked both of them with a knife. While the Azerbaijani died on the spot, the German man sustained critical injuries and was rushed to the hospital. Following the murder, the accused ran into a nearby field but was tracked down during helicopter surveillance. He was eventually caught and was produced before the court on Monday (July 5).

According to the public prosecutor, the accused had been living in the same accommodation since January 2018. “The alleged perpetrator entered Germany in 2015 and has lived in this facility since January 2018. Possibly he was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time of the crime,” the prosecutor added. The motive behind the crime couldn’t be ascertained but witnesses heard the accused shout ‘Allahu Akbar’ before attacking the victims. The accused had come to Germany in 2015 and had been living in the country since then.

Somali immigrant goes on a stabbing spree in Germany

This is the second such incident in Germany in a matter of weeks. On June 25, a Somali immigrant went on a stabbing spree, killing 3 people and injuring 5 others, in the Wurzburg city of Germany. The deadly attack took place at around 5 pm in Barbarossa Square, which lies at the centre of the city.

As per reports, the unnamed accused has been identified as a 24-year-old immigrant from Somalia. He had been staying in Wurzburg city since 2015. According to eyewitnesses, the accused had a big knife, which he used to stab the passersby. During the attack, three people including a child and one of his parents was killed. An eyewitness informed that the accused shouted ‘Allah hu Akbar’ prior to attacking the victims. Germany had opened its borders for refugees from poverty-stricken and war-torn countries in the year 2015. Coincidentally, the accused began living in Wurzburg city from the same year itself.

While speaking about the matter, Bavaria’s security official Joachim Herrmann informed that the police were aware of the accused. “His condition had been noticed in recent months, including violent tendencies, and a few days ago he was put into compulsory psychiatric treatment,” Herrman added. He further informed that the ‘Islamic extremist motive’ behind the attack could not be ruled out as eyewitnesses heard him yelling ‘Allah hu Akbar.’

Harsha Bhogle branded ‘Sanghi’ for calling SARS-COV-2 the ‘Chinese virus’, commentator defends himself: Here’s what he said

OpIndia Staff
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Harsha Bhogle branded ‘Sanghi’ for calling SARS-COV-2 the ‘Chinese virus’, commentator defends himself: Here’s what he said

Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle earned brickbats on social media after he called SARS-COV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, the ‘Chinese Coronavirus’. The Covid-19 virus originated in China, however, the Chinese Communist Party has taken strong objection to the association of virus with it.

Unfortunately, some have decided to call Harsha Bhogle a ‘Sanghi’ for calling it the Chinese virus, a name first popularized by former US President Donald Trump.

Harsha Bhogle calls Covid-19 'Chinese virus'
Source: Twitter

One user called him a ‘Sanghi Bhakt’ and expressed his disappointment with Bhogle.

Harsha Bhogle calls Covid-19 'Chinese virus'
Source: Twitter

Others were more polite in asking him not to use the term ‘Chinese virus’.

Source: Twitter

However, quite a few people were upset at Bhogle’s usage of the term.

Some said that Harsha Bhogle sounded like Donald Trump.

He was also accused of being ‘xenophobic’ among other things.

Nonetheless, by and large, people appreciated him for using the ‘correct’ name of the virus. However, they feared that he will soon delete the tweet.

Harsha Bhogle, however, defended himself saying, “I noticed the use of the South African variant, the Brazil variant and the Indian variant. I guess it is the norm to refer to something by the country of origin.”

There has been great debate about the origins of the novel Coronavirus that causes Covid-19. It is suspected, and believed by many, that the virus leaked out of a lab in Wuhan and was created by scientists there. China, obviously, denies such claims and accuses of racism those who point towards its links to the virus.

Uttar Pradesh: Fearing encounter, five dreaded criminals booked under Gangster Act surrender before police in Shamli district

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Fearing encounter, five dreaded criminals booked under Gangster Act surrender before police in Shamli district

Five notorious criminals in Uttar Pradesh who were accused in several criminal cases and were on the run for the last several days surrendered before the police in the state’s Shamli district on July 5 (Monday).

According to a report by Hindi daily Dainik Jagran, the SHO of Kairana Kotwali, Premveer Rana said the accused came to the police station with their hands up. Before turning themselves in before the police, the criminals said they wanted to give up all criminal activities and have decided to surrender. As per police records, all five criminals, identified as Afsaroon, Qayyum, Rashid alias Bhura, Salim and Haroon residents of village Ramda, were accused in various extortion and murder cases. They were recently booked under the stringent Gangstar Act and were on the run.

While on Sunday, another criminal identified as Mahboob reached Muzaffarnagar’s Shahpur police station and pledged to quit crime, reports TOI. SHO Shapur said that owing to his history sheet, Mahboob has been asked to appear at the PS every month.

Yogi Adityanath asks the public whether they are approving of the state govt’s all-out offensive against criminals

It is pertinent to note here, that only yesterday while addressing people during the inauguration ceremony of the Regulator and Forest Constructed Pumping Station near Tarkulani Regulator located on Malouni Dam of Rapti River, CM Yogi Adityanath sought public opinion on his government’s zero-tolerance policy towards crime and criminals in the state. He asked whether the people of Uttar Pradesh were approving of the all-out offensive against criminals launched by the state government, to which he got an extremely happy and positive response.

“Whether the government should continue to run bulldozers to trample the criminals or not? “Yes”, cried out the public, amidst cheers of Jai Shri Ram. He further informed that the state government has been, under its ‘mission clean-up’, seizing or demolishing illegal properties of mafias and hardcore criminals and utilising them for the public. He again asked whether the people of the state were approving of this action taken by the Uttar Pradesh govt or not. The crowd retaliated with a big “yes”.

Uttar Pradesh Govt’s ‘zero-tolerance policy’ showing positive results in the last 4 years

According to reports, Yogi Adityanath’s zero-tolerance policy towards crime and criminals has given positive results in the past four years. In March 2021, while hitting back at opposition parties over charges of a “deteriorating” law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath had revealed: “The result of the zero-tolerance policy has been that when compared to the figures of 2016-2017, there has been a fall of 65.72 % in cases of dacoity; 66.15 % in loot; 19.80 % in murder and 45.43 % in rape in UP,” he said at a press conference on the completion of four years of his government.

“While earlier no one wanted to come to the state because of a sense of insecurity, there is no fear now. Our government has also taken strict action against professional criminals, mafia elements and others harming peace, and this has also set a norm in the country,” he said, adding: “To the government, a criminal is a criminal and it is also said that he does not belong to any caste or community.”

Delhi: 4 Afghan nationals arrested for running heroin manufacturing unit at Sainik Farms

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi: 4 Afghan nationals arrested for running heroin manufacturing unit at Sainik Farms

A heroin manufacturing unit was busted on Sunday in a joint raid conducted by a team of Punjab police and Delhi police personnel at Delhi’s posh Sainik Farms area. As per reports, the dwelling where the unit was operational, was rented out by four Afghan nationals, who were living there for the past fifteen days.

Though the four peddlers had reportedly rented the farmhouse to manufacture the contraband, they had claimed that they were in Delhi for ‘treatment’. The police detained them after recovering 17 kg of heroin, assorted chemicals, acids and lab equipment from their possession.

The four accused have been identified as Mujahed Shinwari of Nangarhar in Afghanistan, Mohammad Lal Kaker, Jannat Gul Kakar and Samiullah Afghan from Kunduz province of Afghanistan.

The Afghan drug peddlers were manufacturing heroin in the rented farmhouse in Delhi’s Sainik Farms

The owner of the farmhouse in Delhi’s Sainik Farms was detained

The owner of the farmhouse- Pravesh Kumar alias Bobby was also booked by the Delhi police on Monday. The police said that Pravesh Kumar was booked for letting out his property to foreigners without informing and getting their credentials verified by the local police. A case under IPC Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) was registered against Pravesh at the Neb Sarai police station.

The DGP Punjab police, Dinkar Gupta took to Twitter on July 4 (Sunday) to inform about the raid conducted by a team of Punjab police. “Punjab Police unearth & bust a major heroin manufacturing unit in South Delhi. Around 17 kg heroin, assorted chemicals, acids & lab equipment recovered. 4 Afghan nationals arrested,” tweeted DGP Gupta.

According to reports, the arrests and seizures came on the basis of leads from the Hoshiarpur police’s investigation into a drugs case.

How the Punjab police busted the racket and arrested the Afghan nationals

Divulging details on how the Punjab police busted the drug module, DGP Dinkar Gupta said that the Hoshiarpur police, on May 18, 2021, had recovered 70 grams of heroin after arresting one Pushpinder Singh alias Tinku and Amit Choudhary. During interrogation, the duo revealed that they had procured the drug from Jasvir Singh Gajju of Jandiala in Amritsar and Sarabjeet Singh Sethi of Hoshiarpur.

Based on this lead, raids were conducted at Jasvir Singh’s residence, where his accomplice Jagrup Kaur was arrested with 100gm heroin in his possession. When a thorough search of the house was conducted by the team of Punjab police, they recovered 1.48 kg heroin, 500 grams gold and Rs 49.48 lakh rupees from there.

The police later arrested Sarabjeet Sethi from Garhshankar on July 1, with 500 gm heroin in his possession. Sethi further revealed that he had procured the heroin from a group of Afghan nationals, who were running a heroin manufacturing factory in Delhi and from one Imteyaz, who operates from Uttar Pradesh.

The Punjab police team acted swiftly on the leads and raided the farmhouse in Delhi’s Sainik Farms, busting the heroin manufacturing unit. Meanwhile, a team was rushed to Uttar Pradesh to bust Imteyaz’s module, said Gupta.

The DGP in a Tweet, Monday, congratulated the Hoshiarpur police team led by SSP Hoshiarpur Navjot Mahal for busting a major international drug racket worth 100 crores in the national capital.

Departmental inquiry initiated against five Delhi police officers

Meanwhile, a departmental inquiry has been initiated against the station house officer (SHO) of Neb Sarai, Delhi along with four other officers after the Punjab police busted the drug module in Delhi. The five officers have reportedly been transferred to district lines and the inquiry against them is underway.

West Bengal: Mob attack police station, set vehicles on fire alleging ‘custody death’ of one Arman Ansari, policemen suspended

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: Mob attack police station, set vehicles on fire alleging ‘custody death’ of one Arman Ansari, policemen suspended

A mob in West Bengal’s Asansol turned violent after a young man named Arman Ansari (some reports suggest his name is Aman Ansari or Arman Khan) reportedly died in police custody. As per reports, Ansari was picked up by the police on the suspicion of theft on Monday night. However, as the news of his death in custody broke out, a riot-like situation erupted in Barakar, Asansol on Tuesday morning.

The locals got out on the streets to protest Ansari’s custodial death. Apart from setting the police vans ablaze, the mob also allegedly hurled bombs at the police station.

Asansol violence
Police vans set on fire. Image Source: bangla.asianetnews.com

Stones and bricks were also hurled at the police station by young boys and other locals as seen in the images.

Asansol violence
A local was seen pelting stones at the police station. Image Source: bangla.asianetnews.com

The police had to resort to tear guns and lathi-charge to bring the situation under control. Reports suggest that a curfew might be imposed in the area to diffuse the tension prevailing in the area.

Asansol violence
Clash between police and mob in Barakar. Image Source: bangla.asianetnews.com

A local has sought Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s intervention. “A young boy was beaten to death. We urge the Chief Minister to take cognizance of the matter. We want justice,” said the local.

Mohammad Mukhtar Ansari, uncle of the deceased said that when they found out about Ansari they rushed to the hospital. “I went to the hospital and found out that our son has already died. Is this the law of the land?” he questioned. 

Following the incident, two police officials have been suspended.

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