Home Blog Page 4061

Palaeolithic cave paintings found near Delhi in the Aravalli ranges in Haryana, experts say could be among the oldest

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Palaeolithic cave paintings found near Delhi in the Aravalli ranges in Haryana, experts say could be among the oldest

Amidst a maze of rocks tucked in the Aravalli mountain ranges of Haryana, a team of archaeologists discovered cave paintings they believe belong to the Upper Palaeolithic age. As per an exclusive Hindustan Times report, the paintings are potentially one of the oldest cave arts in the country.

The cave paintings have been discovered just outside the national capital and a stone’s throw away from a holy grove called Mangar Bani- the region’s only surviving patch of primary forest. 

While the residents of the villages are familiar with the paintings for ages, the Haryana government’s museum and archaeology department took note of them just recently. 

A fact-finding team was sent to the area in the last week of June. Banani Bhattacharyya, deputy director of the department of archaeology and museums informed, “So far, cave paintings in Delhi-NCR have only been found here. Most pre-historic sites have been traced in the Aravalli region. The paintings are yet to be dated but at least some of them belong to the Upper Palaeolithic period in all likelihood. We are viewing the paintings in continuation with the Soanian culture which has been found in Shivalik hills, Narmada and Aravallis.”

The findings

The recent discovery could change the history of Haryana, as per the report. 

The team came across cave paintings comprising images of human figurines, animals, foliage, and geometric drawings. While some have paled over time, others are still very visible. They also discovered rock art and open-air ceremonial sites. 

Most of the cave paintings found were in ochre colour, but some were in white. As per experts, cave paintings in white are usually from a later stage (early contemporary era), while Stone Age paintings are more often than not in ochre. “Stone age paintings generally use red and ochre colours. Stones of these colour used to be available locally and inhabitants crushed the stones for preparing the colour for paintings,” added Bhattacharyya.

About the Upper Paleolithic Age and the Manger Cave

The Upper Paleolithic Age began around 40,000 years ago and lasted till around 10,000 years ago. While yet to be established through archaeological dating, Bhattacharyya says the Mangar cave art is 20,000-40,000 years old. 

Bhattacharyya, who was an integral part of the team, claimed that the discovery is extremely significant. “Though tools from the Palaeolithic Age have been identified earlier in parts of the Aravallis, it is for the first time that cave paintings and rock art of a large magnitude have been found in Haryana,” she added.

While explorations and excavations in the Aravallis have been undertaken in the past, the late discovery of cave paintings could be because of the thick vegetation. 

“Stone age tools and technology dates to a particular time period. We explore what tool belongs to which time period. In sites such as these, we can conduct dating by studying the pigment. The pigment contains proteins (mainly organic material) which can be dated. At present, we are dependent on typo-technological dating. Tools such as hand cleaver, blade, evolve with types. Starting from the Lower Palaeolithic to Middle Palaeolithic then Upper Palaeolithic, we see the evolution here. We have found significant remains from Lower Palaeolithic till Middle and Upper Palaeolithic period too,” she explained.

The department has planned to undertake further explorations and to be sure, the findings have to be validated, dated, reviewed, and published.

The caves and the paintings resemble the Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh, which is home to the oldest known cave art in India, dating back around 10,000 years ago to the Mesolithic Age.

Need to preserve

Former joint director general of ASI SB Ota said that while the Aravallis are known for prehistoric remains starting from the Lower Palaeolithic period, no rock paintings had been found in Aravallis until now.

“That engravings formed part of Aravallis was known through earlier publications but what was not known so far was the presence of paintings in rock shelters. The paintings never got washed away due to these rock shelters. We do not know the date at the moment but this is a clear indication that there must have been many more paintings which might have been destroyed over time,” he said.

Emphasizing on the need for conservation after investigations and assessment Ota said, “The Aravallis demonstrate the earliest evidence of the stone age which we call the Lower Palaeolithic Acheulean culture. The area can be easily protected since the Aravalli hills also derive protection from various Supreme Court orders. This can be done after experts assess the cultural and archaeological value of the site.”

It is imperative to note that the Aravalli’s are not just India’s but the world’s oldest mountain range.

Government official assures conservation

Encouraging further investigation and study, Ashok Khemka, principal secretary to government, archaeology and museums department, Haryana, said that while a team from the department has conducted a preliminary study, further research will be undertaken since the site requires extensive documentation. 

He also informed that the department will grant protection status to Mangar forest. “We will definitely be giving the Mangar Bani forest state protection under the archaeological act because of the presence of a large number of stone age cave paintings that have been found there. The paintings date back roughly 20-30,000 years. We will be issuing orders for protecting the entire Mangar Bani forest under section 4 of Punjab Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1964,” Khemka added.

Informing that his department plans to hire scholars from the region for an extensive survey, he concluded, “We will be hiring a team of research scholars who are experts in prehistoric cave paintings. Locals and a few research scholars from the nearby universities will also be involved in the extensive survey.”

What the residents of the village said

Residents of Mangar and other villages in the area say they know of the paintings but were unknown to the historical significance. Hamid, a local resident said, “We know that these paintings must be quite old. It’s evident if you look at them. However, one can’t understand or make sense of symbols or the writing. They have gathered dust over the years.”

Shaukat Ali, an old resident of the area said that he has seen the paintings over years. “People go there regularly, particularly women for grazing goats or routine walks. The caves are a part of our lives.”

Manali: Four tourists from Punjab arrested for attacking the public with swords when asked to reverse their car

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Manali: Four tourists from Punjab arrested for attacking the public with swords when asked to reverse their car

In Himachal Pradesh, the Manali Police have arrested four men for attacking locals with swords in the hill station. The arrested men, who were tourists from Punjab, reportedly launched the attack when they were asked to reverse their car. A case has been registered against them under relevant sections of the IPC and Arms Act, said Gurdev Singh, SP Kullu.

A video of the purported incident has surfaced online, where two men are seen openly brandishing swords in public when asked to move their car backwards to resolve the traffic jam. One person, who looks visibly miffed, is also seen making a phone call to someone as he roams around with a sword on the road.

According to News18 Hindi, the arrest was made based on a complaint filed by one Harish Kumar, a resident of Bhadyar village of Kotli Tehsil in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district. In his complaint, Kumar alleged that the tourists, who were in an inebriated state, clashed with the public after they were requested to reverse their car.

Kumar said that the tourists were heading from the Manali bus stand towards Rangri in their car bearing the registration number of Patiala in Punjab. The car overtook other vehicles near the BBMB rest house, which caused traffic congestion on the road. The driver of the car was asked to reverse his car to solve the traffic jam. This irked the youth sitting in the car, who came out with a sword and attacked the public, injuring Harish Kumar amongst others.

The arrested youths were identified as Ravindra Singh(21), a resident of Bhagwanpura village in Sunam Tehsil in Punjab’s Sangrur district, Dilbar Singh (28), resident of village Sindhara in Punjab, Amandeep Singh (24), hailing from Dharamgarh village in Sunam Tehsil and Jasraj a resident of Kandial in Batala, Punjab.

They have been booked under the Arms Act and IPC sections 147, 148, 149, 323, 506 and 25. It is alleged that these tourists were under the influence of alcohol.

In another similar incident that came to the fore on July 6, a group of tourists from Punjab allegedly attacked two locals with swords in Mandi in Manali, after the latter opposed the nuisance they were creating in the Thaneda market in Mandi. In the attack, one youth’s finger was cut off, while the other escaped with some injuries. The tourists who had fled the spot were later arrested based on CCTV footage.

Azamgarh: 17-year-old girl goes missing minutes after talking to one Mohammad Lukmaan on phone, family alleges love jihad

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Azamgarh: 17-year-old girl goes missing minutes after talking to one Mohammad Lukmaan on phone, family alleges love jihad

Another suspected case of Grooming Jihad has come to light in Jahanaganj, Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh. As per the information OpIndia has been able to collect so far, a 17-year-old girl had gone missing after she received a phone call from someone named Mohammad Lukmaan. The girl went out on July 14 at around 1 PM and did not return home. When the family tried to trace her, they found that she had last talked to Lukmaan who resides in the Sakurabad Colony, Jahanaganj.

Screenshot of Tweet by Swatantra Singh, uncle of the missing girl

The girl has been missing since July 14

Swatantra Singh, the uncle of the missing girl, posted a tweet in which he added a complaint detailing out the incident. He said that the case of his missing niece is another case of Love Jihad. As per the complaint written by Ravijyoti Kumar Singh, father of the missing girl, referring to the station in-charge of Jahanaganj Police Station, Azamgarh, the girl went missing on July 14 at around 1 PM. He wrote, “My 17-year-old daughter left for Jahanaganj at around 1 PM on July 14 and did not return. When the family members tried to trace her, she was nowhere to be found.”

Complaint by missing girl’s father. Source: Twitter/Swatantra Singh

He further added that a call was received at mobile at their home at 12:14 PM, before the girl went out of the home. When they checked the number, they found that it belonged to one Mohammad Lukmaan, resident of Sakurabad Colony, Jahanaganj. “I request you to file an FIR and take immediate action,” he said.

OpIndia’s conversation with family members

We reached out to Swatantra Singh to learn more about the incident. He said that his niece went out on July 14 around noon but did not come back. They have approached the police to find the missing girl. “The Police has started the investigation, and we are waiting for an update,” he said.

When we talked to Ravijyoti Singh, he was on his way to the Police Station as he was called by the station in-charge. He said at the moment, he had no information about her daughter and trying to get FIR registered at the earliest.

Azamgarh Police’s reply to the complaint

Azamgarh Police replied to Swatantra Singh’s tweet and said that the station in-charge of Jahanaganj Police Station had been directed to take action as per the laws applicable.

OpIndia tried to reach out to the Jahanaganj Police station but could not connect to them at the moment. As this is an ongoing case, we will update the report as more information comes in.

Jackie Chan expresses desire to join China’s Communist Party, gets ‘rejected’ by Chinese people on social media

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Jackie Chan expresses desire to join China’s Communist Party, gets ‘rejected’ by Chinese people on social media

Martial arts legend and Hong Kong-based Hollywood actor Jackie Chan has expressed his admiration for and desire to join the Chinese Communist Party. 

As per a report in SCMP, Chan praised the ruling Communist Party and expressed his interest to join the party at a symposium organized by the China Film Association in Beijing last Thursday.

In a video published by M Video News, an outlet under state broadcaster Central China Television, Chan while addressing the audience was heard saying that when he’s abroad, he often says that he’s “proud of being Chinese”.

“I also envy that you are Communist Party members, I think the Communist Party is just great, what the Communist Party says, what they promised, will always be delivered within a few decades,” he said further.

Concluding his speech, Chan said with a smile “I want to be a Communist Party member, thank you.”

Chan’s pro-communist statements have stirred multiple controversies. The 67-year-old actor is also a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a legislative advisory body in Beijing that is largely made up of members of the Communist Party. 

CCP not welcoming Chan

Chan’s Beijing loyalist views have had no effect on the Chinese people. His comment expressing his desire to join the CCP was mocked on Weibo, with users saying he’s unworthy of a CCP membership.

“I have no doubt over his patriotism and professionalism, but his lifestyle … our party members need to set a positive example,” a user wrote.

Another opined, “He’s probably not serious, he’s just acting on different occasions.”

The criticism is mostly due to Chan’s controversial personal life hinting at his previous extramarital affair, and his son Jaycee Chan’s drug offense and six months of jail time on the mainland.

Chan’s fan unhappy with his support to the CCP

On the other hand, Chan’s fans have shown utter disappointment in him for supporting the communist party, as per the report in SCMP. Some have asked for a boycott of Chan’s movie, while some other have expressed that they are disappointed about the behavior of their favorite star.

Anti-democracy statements

In 2019 calling the condition of Hong Kong ‘sad and depressing’, Chan said he hoped Hong Kong “can return to peace soon”.

Expressing his concerns over ‘too much freedom’, Chan in 2009 had said, “I’m not sure if it’s good to have freedom or not. I’m really confused now. If you’re too free, you’re like the way Hong Kong is now. It’s very chaotic. Taiwan is also very chaotic.”

Congress mouthpiece Editorial Consultant is upset at ‘friendly’ fact-checkers. Here is why

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Congress mouthpiece Editorial Consultant is upset at ‘friendly’ fact-checkers. Here is why

Editorial Consultant of Congress mouthpiece National Herald, Sanjukta Basu, on Wednesday criticised so-called independent fact-checkers who regularly fact-check memes after a meme with her picture on it was fact-checked.

Sanjukta Basu’s tweet

In a tweet, she expressed disappointment that ‘independent’ fact-checkers, like Boom and Congress-friendly fact-checkers like Alt News did not bother to fact-check her tweet on Mayawati which had gone viral where in she appeared to be mocking Mayawati.

Her disappointment came after Jagran Publication’s fact-checking portal Vishvas news fact-checked a meme which contained her image.

Vishvas News had ‘fact-checked’ a meme which showed Basu with a glass of wine and food in front of her with a caption that read ‘Meet the JNU’s poor student who has taken subsidy’.

As part of its investigation, Vishvas News said that they reverse-image searched Basu and found her Twitter account which is verified by Twitter. They then shared another image of Basu juxtaposed with the viral image to show that the two images are indeed of same person, i.e. Sanjukta Basu.

Vishvas News’ investigation on Basu

Vishvas News then said that they confirmed with Basu that she is not a student studying in JNU. They said that while Basu has claimed she is pursuing PhD on ‘Women’s political space’, she has not mentioned which university she is studying it from.

Soon after a meme containing her picture was fact-checked, many people from the Congress-left ecosystem came out in support of Sanjukta and found fault with propaganda outlets like Alt News, which otherwise have helped Congress party through their ‘fact-checks’.

Users supporting Basu

Although a quick check of ‘Proudcommunist’s Twitter profile suggested that it could be a meme account itself and not really a ‘proud communist’ as the name proclaims, in today’s day and age of wokeness, one can never be too sure what is parody and what is real.

However, even though Sanjukta thought that the fact-check by the website run by Jagran group would cause an end to her featuring in memes, looks like it has given rise to another meme, which might require another fact-check.

Netizens are now wondering where Basu is now doing her ‘Women’s Political Space’ PhD from.

However, Basu, after this meme containing her image and incorrect claim of her being poor student on subsidy studying at JNU was fact-checked, she addressed her grievances with other ‘friendly’ fact-checkers which did not pay heed to her previous request to ‘fact-check’ claims on her.

Basu’s tweets on Mayawati drew ire

In May this year, Basu’s earlier tweets from over a decade ago had gone viral where she appeared to be making fun of Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati.

Sanjukta’s tweet on Mayawati from 2009

In a June 2009 tweet, Basu had tweeted that Mayawati may be single as no ‘elephant is ready to screw her’. In May, many Twitter activists who tweet on ‘Pro-Dalit’ causes, had discovered old tweets of various celebrities mocking Mayawati and threatened them with legal action. Basu was one such celebrities whose tweet made rounds. However, she claimed her tweet was sarcastic on the trending hashtag.

Basu’s grievances with Congress-friendly ‘fact-checkers’

Basu alleged that Boom and Alt News did not fact-check tweets against her on Mayawati tweets because the ones attacking her were ‘left liberal Dalit activists’ whom these ‘friendly fact-checkers’ could not call out. She showed that while Boom at least responded, Alt News ignored her plea.

This is not the first time she has reached out to ‘fact-checkers’ who have not helped her out with fact-checking inconvenient fact-checks.

In May 2020, Basu was flummoxed when she found out that the entire process of Halal slaughter must ensure that only a person belonging to Islam faith can carry it out. That for meat to be ‘halal’, entire process from slaughter to packing must include only a Muslim person.

For example, the guidelines for preparing Halal certified meat make it abundantly clear that only Muslim employees are allowed to participate in the entire process at every stage from slaughtering to packaging, and if any non-Muslim is involved in the process, the product becomes Haram, or not allowed as per Islam.

But of course, ‘fact-checkers’ did not ‘fact-check’ it even back then.

However, ‘friendly’ fact-checkers have recently jumped in quite often to lowkey help Congress and Aam Aadmi Party to defend themselves.

Rajasthan: Gehlot govt to demolish heritage hotel Laxmi Vilas to build a Rs 100 crore Gandhi museum

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Rajasthan: Gehlot govt to demolish heritage hotel Laxmi Vilas to build a Rs 100 crore Gandhi museum

The Rajasthan government is set to demolish the historic Laxmi Vilas Hotel for constructing the Rs 100-crore Mahatma Gandhi museum project despite facing protests. As per a Times of India report, the government has called for tenders to demolish the structure surrounded by the ecological zone, built during the tenure of Sawai Man Singh II, the last ruler of Jaipur. 

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had announced the construction of the Gandhi Darshan Museum and the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Governance and Social Sciences project in the 2021-2022 Budget on land situated inside Central Park.

However, the decision to raze the heritage hotel that houses 40 palatial rooms has not gone well with environmentalists and the opposition. 

A member of the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur and currently Rajsamand MP, Diya Kumari remarked, “It has come to my knowledge that the state government was planning to demolish the hotel located in Central Park. The building has historic and heritage value. To my mind, such a structure should not be demolished. If a museum or an institute has to be made, it should be done within the same building.”

Additionally, activists who have been fighting a case for the past 20 years to preserve the ecological park have also taken strong objection. Yogesh Yadav, the president of the Central Park Bachao Sangharsh Samiti revealed, “The land was acquired for public utility and not for a multi-crore rupee project. It’s an ecological and no-construction zone and a violation of Supreme Court orders. For the past 20 years, we are fighting to maintain the sanctity of this green zone. The government, however, is coming up with fancy projects to benefit the influential. We will approach the court again.”

As per the report, the Jaipur Development Authority had taken possession of the hotel, Kanak Bhawan and a horse stable at Central Park spread across nearly 35,000 sqm following a Supreme Court order on May 5, 2017.

The environmental activists, however, allege that the JDA has been making use of the land as per their whims and fancies with complete disregard to orders. 

Speaking about the change in power, a senior official said, “When the BJP government was in power, a proposal was received to dedicate the building for public use and a yoga or wellbeing centre be developed for morning walkers.”

Commenting on the demolition of the heritage hotel, a JDA official said, “The last date for submission of expression of interest is July 15. The firm winning the contract can take away the materials after dismantling the structure. Soon, the authority will appoint an architectural and engineering consultant based on quality and cost-based selection system (QCBS).”

Surrounded by greenery and jogging tracks, a golf course, a polo ground, Lakshmi Vilas hotel has been a popular tourist destination from the time it was converted to a heritage hotel in the early 1970s.

UP: Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind comes to the rescue of Al-Qaeda terror suspects nabbed by ATS, decides to provide legal aid

OpIndia Staff
-
0
UP: Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind comes to the rescue of Al-Qaeda terror suspects nabbed by ATS, decides to provide legal aid

Deoband-based Islamic organization Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind has decided to come to the rescue of recently arrested alleged Al-Qaeda terrorists in Uttar Pradesh. The organization has declared that it would provide legal assistance to the two terror suspects.

According to the reports, Maulana Arshad Madani, the chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, announced legal aid for suspected Al-Qaeda terrorists who were recently arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police.

“The process of using terrorism as a weapon to destroy the lives of Muslim youth continues. Our legal struggle will continue till the honorable release of innocent Muslims,” said Maulana Arshad Madani, who is also the chief of Darul Uloom Deoband. Maulana Madani also claimed that the police and investigative agencies carry out operations against Muslims based on their religion and claimed that they would take the legal battle to a logical end.

The cleric also demanded that the case should be heard by a fast-track court, so that the trial could be completed soon. “If they (terror suspects) are really guilty, they should be punished, or they should be released if proven innocent,” said Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind chief.

As per reports, the father of one of the arrested terror suspects had written a letter to Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind seeking legal aid. As a result, Gulzar Azmi, the president of the Legal aid Committee of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, decided to provide legal assistance to the two terror suspects arrested by the Uttar Pradesh ATS.

According to a report by Amar Ujala, Jamiat’s advocate Furkan Khan will represent the two Al-Qaeda terror suspects in the court. Gulzar Azmi also added that senior advocate Muhammad Shoaib had also requested Jamiat Ulema to provide legal assistance to the terror accused. 

Uttar Pradesh ATS arrests five terror suspects linked to Al-Qaeda

Earlier this week, the Uttar Pradesh ATS arrested two terror suspects – Minhaz Ahmed and Maseerurddin hiding in a house in Kakori’s Dubagga area and seized a detonator, six-seven kgs of explosives and two pressure-cooker bombs.

According to the police, the two suspects were in touch with their handlers in Pakistan. They reportedly planned to execute explosions, including using “human bombs”, at several places in Uttar Pradesh. A primary investigation revealed that the two were planning to target a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and several other senior party members in Lucknow.

A few days later, the Uttar Pradesh ATS nabbed three more terror suspects linked to Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, a Kashmiri wing of Al-Qaeda. The arrests were made after the previous two arrested terror suspects revealed the names of their accomplices during the interrogation. 

The Uttar Pradesh ATS had arrested – Shakeel (35), Mohammed Mustakim (44) and Mohammed Mueed (29), who confessed to their crimes.

The Uttar Pradesh police had said the members of this terror racket belong to several other cities besides Lucknow, including Kanpur. Raids were conducted at different places to apprehend associates of Al-Qaeda suspects Ahmed and Naseeruddin, the ADGP had said.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav cast asphersions on anti-terror operations of UP ATS

Earlier, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had courted a controversy after he had raised aspersions and fuelled doubts about the Yogi government’s anti-terror crackdown. 

Reacting to the arrests of two youths from Kakori, the SP supremo had said, “I can’t trust the actions of the Uttar Pradesh police and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government in the state.

Tamil Nadu: Church in Kanyakumari raided for running a sex racket, pastor and 6 others arrested

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Tamil Nadu: Church in Kanyakumari raided for running a sex racket, pastor and 6 others arrested

The Tamil Nadu police have arrested seven people, including a pastor named Lal NS Shine Singh and four women, for running a sex racket under cover of a church, reports Communemag.

According to the reports, the Federal Church of India, affiliated with the Diocese of Christ Anglican Church of India, located at Jyothi Nagar in ST Mangadu in Kanyakumari district, was raided by Tamil Nadu police on Wednesday. The police had received information that several men and women frequently visited the Church premises in luxury cars.

Reportedly, the Federal Church of India is one of the largest Churches in the Kanyakumari area. Bishop Lal N S Shine Singh is the founder and president of this Church. The initial investigation had revealed that the Church authorities had used the premises to run a brothel. Following the inputs, the police raided the church premises and caught several women and men red-handed.

One of the arrested ladies was a 19-year-old girl who was forced into sex work by her own mother, as per reports.

The police have arrested seven people, including four women, and pastor Lal N S Shine Singh has also been taken to custody. During the interrogation, Pastor Lal Shine Singh and another person named Shibin admitted that they were involved in running a sex racket.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu police have registered a case against the pastor and six others with the Nithiravilai police.

South Africa continues to burn, over 8000 crore rupees worth of properties looted or damaged in Durban alone

OpIndia Staff
-
0
South Africa continues to burn, over 8000 crore rupees worth of properties looted or damaged in Durban alone

As violent protests, riots, and arson engulf South Africa, the city of Durban has been witnessing an unprecedented amount of damages caused due to continuous looting and rioting.

According to eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda, around 45,000 businesses have been deemed out of commission, and it is estimated that properties worth R16 billion (around 8225 crores) have been looted or destroyed during the riots that include damage to infrastructure and equipment.

Kaunda said, “Preliminary estimate of the economic impact revealed that the unrest had cost R1 billion in terms of loss of stock and around R15 billion in terms of damage to property and equipment.” He further added that around 45,000 businesses that include 5,000 informal traders have been severely affected by the riots. “Small businesses may never recover from this upheaval,” he said. 

According to some estimates, over 1,29,000 jobs are at risk in Durban as malls, factories, and certain industries have been burnt down to ashes. A large portion of workers were dependent on these establishments, and it will now add to the already skyrocketing unemployment figures in the country.

Schools burnt down

The rioters have not spared the schools as well. Radha Roopsingh School outside Stanger, KZN, has been burnt down. A video emerged on social media networks where firefighters could be seen dozing off the fire.

Warehouses looted

In another video, a warehouse of Bidvest Logistics was under attack by the rioters and looters. Notably, Bidvest Logistics is one of the largest logistics companies and provides logistical and supply chain solutions to the hospitality and restaurant sector in the UK.

‘It could be very well a scene from a movie

In another video, a large mob of rioters was seen moving towards the police guarding the road. The Twitter user who posted the video said, “This could’ve been a deleted scene from Dawn of the Dead.”

‘Famine is imminent’

Many believe that such destruction will lead to famine in the country. In another visual, gallons of milk was emptied from the container trucks onto the road as the depots that were supposed to take them in were destroyed by the rioters. The damage to the infrastructure is going to overwhelm the government of South Africa in the coming days.

Business owners indulge in all possible tactics to save their establishments

In another set of visuals, the shop and mall owners were seen spreading oil on the floor to restrict rioters and looters from damaging and looting the premises. However, other than a few falling on the floor, it did not stop the rioters from causing the damage.

Indians came out to provide food

Despite the continuous attack on the Indian community, the Indians came out to hand over bread to anyone who needs it.

The South Africa Riots

Last week, former President Jacob Zuma got arrested that irked his followers. They started protesting on the streets that soon turned violent. Protests got converted into arson, looting, and other criminal activities. Despite the government’s announcement of the deployment of SA National Defence Forces, the arson and looting continued on July 13 and July 14.

The country is also facing racing tension as residents have armed themselves to save their community and business establishments from the looters and vandals. In his statement, Kaunda said, “This morning we have committed to further engage with committees, and this will be a month-long programme that the city will be rolling out in an attempt to defuse the simmering racial tension in these communities, which have been living together for many years.”

So far, 75 have reportedly died, but the actual figures might be much higher.

Pakistani minister opposes restrictions on the religious conversion of minors, says ‘it’s their choice’

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Pakistani minister opposes restrictions on the religious conversion of minors, says ‘it’s their choice’

The Imran Khan-led Pakistan government has opposed the idea of imposing strict restrictions against converting people less than 18 years of age, claiming that if someone aged 14 years intends to convert to some other religion, they could “not be stopped”, reports Dawn.

According to the reports, Pakistan’s Minister for Religious Affairs – Noorul Haq Qadri, has rejected the proposition to impose strict rules against converting religion before the age of 18 years.

During a meeting of the Senate parliamentary committee on minorities’ rights on Wednesday, Noorul Haq Qadri said the government does not support a restriction on religious conversion before 18 years of age. Qadri, who is also a member of the committee, said that there were several incidents when someone expressed their wish to convert their religion out of their own choice before the age of 18.

“There are several examples in Islam of religious conversion before 18. If someone wished to change their religion before reaching the age of 18, it was their choice, Qadri said, adding that the matter of child marriages was “another issue”.

The Minister for Religious Affairs said that the matter related to setting the minimum age limit for marriage has been forwarded to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII). Qadri said that they would carry out investigations if someone was “forcefully converting others in Sindh”.

In the meeting, Minister Qadri also said Mian Abdul Haq, commonly known as Mian Mithoo, who is notoriously known for the forceful abductions and conversions of Hindu girls in rural Sindh, should be summoned to appear before the committee and said that what he was doing was “damaging Islam and Pakistan”.

Mian Abdul Haq, the chief of the Bharchundi mosque who is commonly known as Mian Mithoo, is accused of systematically carrying out the kidnapping and forced conversions of underage Hindu girls in the area. Mian Mithoo belongs to an influential family in the Sindh province and is an influential political and religious figure in Ghotki, Sindh.

The minority Hindus of the area claim that Mithoo protects those who kidnap underage Hindu girls and forcibly converts them to Islam before marrying them off to their kidnappers. Further, he also wields his political power to influence legal processes in case the families of kidnapped girls decide to go to court.

Mian Mithoo and the rampant kidnapping, forced conversion and marriage of underage Hindu girls

Mian Mithoo is accused of kidnapping and forcing religious conversions of several Hindu teenage girls in Pakistan. In May 2020, a young Hindu girl named Kavita Kumari was abducted and forcibly converted to Islam. Mian Mithoo, the extremist Muslim cleric and an influential politician that Hindu families dread in Sindh, was believed to be behind the incident.

This is, however, not the first incident where the ‘Mithoo mafia’, as the Mian Mithoo’s goons are commonly referred to, has been instrumental in carrying out abductions and forced conversions of several Hindu underage girls in the area. Prior to this, he was accused of abductions, and forceful conversions of one Hindu named Mahek Keswani and two other underage Hindu girls Raveena (13) and Reena (15) – who were abducted from the Ghotki in Pakistan’s Sindh on the eve of Holi. The girls were later forcefully converted and married off to older Muslim men.

Similarly, Rinkle Kumari was abducted and forced to convert to Islam and marry a Muslim man named Naveed Shah under his supervision. Rinkle Kumari, the daughter of a local school teacher Nand Laal, was a mere teenager at the time of her abduction. Nand Laal had allegedly fled to Lahore soon after accusing Mian Mithoo of the abduction and forced conversion.

The government and police of the region is often accused of turning mute spectators, even enablers of such crimes.

Pakistan is notoriously known for its persecution of not only religious minorities but also ethnic minorities within their own country. The forceful conversion programmes have often been unleashed against the minorities, especially Christians, Sikhs and Hindus living in Pakistan, with utmost brutality.

1...4,0604,0614,062...7,597Page 4,061 of 7,597