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Indore: Afzal poses as ‘Golu’ to trap 15-year-old girl on Instagram, wooed her by saying he does not take intoxicants

OpIndia Staff
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Indore: Afzal poses as ‘Golu’ to trap 15-year-old girl on Instagram, wooed her by saying he does not take intoxicants

Yet another case of Grooming Jihad involving a minor has come to the fore in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore. Afzal (24) created a fake profile on Instagram under the name ‘Golu’ to befriend a minor. 

Afzal aka Golu introduced himself to the minor as a businessman dealing in coolers and freezers. Trapping her in his bogus story, he persuaded the 15-year-old teenager to elope with him. The girl agreed to flee just because Afzal professed that he does not consume intoxicants. 

The minor fled her home on July 13 after which a complaint was registered at the Rajendranagar police station by her family. Station in-charge Amrita Solanki confirmed the same and informed that the girl sneaked back into her home on the night of July 17 to collect her documents. That is when her parents caught her and she confessed to fleeing with Golu who she met on Instagram six months ago and was in love with.

She also revealed that she used to frequent Afzal’s home and that the two had developed a physical relationship. During the police investigation, Golu confessed that his real name was Afzal and he worked as a welder.

On Monday, Afzal was handed over to the police after which a case has been registered against him under the POCSO Act and Religious Freedom Act 2021. 

More cases of Grooming Jihad against minors

The cases of Grooming Jihad against minors especially by making use of social media platforms are on a rise. We reported yesterday how a man named Shahzad had committed grooming jihad against a minor in Uttar Pradesh. The victim’s father accused Shahzad of entrapping his minor daughter 3.5 years ago. 

Although the accused was married and had a daughter, he sexually exploited the victim under the pretext of marriage. According to the girl’s father, the victim was also raped by two others namely Sameer and Jannat. When the minor girl became pregnant, Shahzad had allegedly refused responsibility.

In a case from early this month, a man identified as Qasim Qureshi had reportedly lured a 16-year-old girl by identifying himself as Vicky Yadav. He brainwashed the minor victim, converted her and married. The victim is now pregnant.

In yet another case of Grooming Jihad, a youth named Atif posed as a Hindu by using a Hindu name to befriend a minor Hindu girl on social media in the Bhadohi district of Uttar Pradesh. Filing the complaint at the Gopiganj police station, the family of the minor girl has accused Atif of entrapping the minor girl into a love affair by posing as a Hindu, then establishing physical relations with her. 

The family said that Atif then allegedly took compromising photographs with her which he used to blackmail her to force her to convert to Islam.

Tulsi Gabbard jumps on the anti-Amazon bandwagon, has this to say about Jeff Bezos space trip

OpIndia Staff
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Tulsi Gabbard jumps on the anti-Amazon bandwagon, has this to say about Jeff Bezos space trip

Former Democrat Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard has jumped on the anti-Amazon bandwagon. On the eve of Jeff Bezos’ space trip, she has made her feelings about the founder of Amazon abundantly clear.

In one tweet, she said, “Bezos, please stay up there. Do the world a favor.”

Source: Twitter

In another tweet, Tulsi Gabbard said, “The only problem I have with Bezos’ Blue Origin space rocket ship into outer space is that it’s going to come back.”

Source: Twitter

Jeff Bezos will take a trip to the edge of space on the 20th of July in a rocket system built by his space company Blue Origin. The trip is expected to last 11 minutes. The webcast for the event is expected to begin one and a half hours before the liftoff. The 20th of July, 2021 also marks the 52nd anniversary of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s moon landing.

Soon after Bezos announced his space trip, several petitions have surfaced on Change.org demanding Jeff Bezos must not be allowed back to Earth after his trip to space. In one of the petitions titled “Do not allow Jeff Bezos to return to Earth”, the description reads, “Billionaire’s should not exist…on earth, or in space, but should they decide the latter, they should stay there.”

In another petition, which is intended as a joke, the description reads, “Jeff Bezos is actually Lex Luthor, disguised as the supposed owner of a super successful online retail store. However, he’s actually an evil overlord hellbent on global domination. We’ve known this for years. Jeff has worked with the Epsteins and the Knights Templar, as well as the Free Masons, to gain control over the whole world. He’s also in bed with the flat earth deniers; it’s the only way they’ll allow him to leave the atmosphere. Meanwhile, our government stands by and lets it happen. This may be our last chance before they enable the 5G microchips and perform a mass takeover.”

As Raj Kundra is sent to police custody for making pornographic material, here is the list of controversies he has been involved in

OpIndia Staff
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As Raj Kundra is sent to police custody for making pornographic material, here is the list of controversies he has been involved in

Businessman Raj Kundra has always been known as the husband of Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty. But little do people know that Raj Kundra is one man who has always been marred with controversies. From betting to bitcoins to pornography to connections with the underworld, Raj Kundra has often made it to the front page of various newspapers for all the wrong reasons. And today, when Raj Kundra continues to rule the headline, let us look at the controversies that have surrounded the businessman in the past.

The Porn controversy

As per reports, the racket was busted 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.

In fact, Bollywood actresses Sherlyn Chopra and Poonam Pandey have alleged that it was Raj Kundra, who was instrumental in getting them into the adult film industry. During the investigation, it was revealed that Sherlyn was paid Rs 30 lakh for each project, and so far, she had done 15-20 projects for Kundra.

Raj Kundra and the Rs 2000 crore Bitcoin scam

In January 2018, Shilpa Shetty’s husband Raj Kundra was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate for questioning over his alleged role in a Rs 2000 crore bitcoin scam. Kundra was reportedly summoned by ED for his alleged links with two businessmen- Pune-based Amit Bharadwaj and his brother Vivek Bharadwaj who were directors of a company named GainBitcoin that cheated more than 8,000 people through a crypto-currency scheme.

According to the Delhi Police, Bhardwaj had allegedly set up a multi-level marketing scam by luring investors to give him bitcoins with the promise of higher returns. He never gave the returns and instead fled the country. Bhardwaj was later located by the Pune police in Bangkok and arrested along with his brother and six others. Kundra allegedly promoted one of the platforms held by Bhardwaj.

The IPL scandal

Raj Kundra is a former co-owner of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals (RR). In the year 2013, Kundra was arrested by the Delhi police on charges of betting. Back then, the police had accused Kundra of indulging in betting, which is illegal, via team co-owner Umesh Goenka. “Kundra used to place bets for the past three years. Kundra placed bets with Goenka. Goenka was a bookie and forwarded bets to others on behalf of Kundra,” a senior police official had said.

Kundra had also admitted to placing bets in the Indian Premier League through bookie Umesh Goenka. As a result, he faced a lifetime ban from all cricket-related activities by the Supreme Court. Moreover, his team Rajasthan Royals was also banned for two years.

Spot-fixing scandal

Later, Raj Kundra’s name had also cropped up in the IPL match-fixing scandal, along with other celebrities like Arbaaz Khan, Vindu Dara Singh, cricket player Sreesanth, ICC chief N Srinivasan’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan and others. While the then cricketers S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandela and Ankit Chavan were arrested for match-fixing by the Delhi police in 2013, the latter acquitted Kundra after he confessed that he was involved in betting but not match-fixing.

Raj Kundra and actor Sachiin Joshi accuse each other of fraud

In the year 2018, Kundra’s life was marred with yet another controversy when he and actor Sachiin Joshi accused each other of fraud. Raj Kundra, who launched Indian Poker League in 2017, accused Sachiin of non-payment of dues. Kundra alleged that Sachiin bought a team in the tournament, but his cheque for Rs 40 lakh bounced. Meanwhile, Sachiin accused Raj of ‘rigging the tournament’ because of which, he backed out.

Involvement with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim

Like many other Bollywood celebrities, Raj Kundra was also believed to have a connection with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. In fact, in 2019 Kundra was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate on his involvement in a business case dealing with Ranjeet Bindra. Ranjeet Birdra is reportedly a close aide of Dawood Ibrahim’s henchman Iqbal Mirchi. 

According to reports, the ED had found documents related to business dealings between the real estate firm RKW Developers Private Limited, of which Ranjeet Kumar Bindra was one of the directors with Essential Hospitality Limited where the actress Shilpa Shetty was one of the directors.

According to reports, RKW Developers Private Limited invested Rs 44.11 crore in Essential Hospitality and provided an interest-free loan of Rs 31.54 crore. Over Rs 30.45 crore of the loan was granted to Essential Hospitality.

Back then, Raj Kundra had also tweeted about selling a plot to Ranjeet Bindra’s firm. He also said he had business dealings with Bindra and that was the be-all and end-all of the deal.

Complaint filed against Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra for allegedly cheating investors in “Gold Card Scheme”

An NRI businessman named Sachin Joshi, had in March 2020, lodged a complaint of cheating and fraudulence against actress Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra. Joshi claimed that he was duped by both when they were directors of the Satyug Gold Pvt. Ltd., a gold-trading company.

The NRI has claimed in the police complaint that he was duped by SGPL’S ‘Satyug Gold Scheme’ that was launched in 2014. Joshi noted that under a five-year gold plan, the buyer of the gold which was sold under the ‘Satyug Gold Scheme’ was offered a ‘Satyug gold card’ at a discounted rate and promised a certain fixed quantity of gold redeemable after a five-year period.

Joshi’s spokesperson told IANS that he had purchased One kg of gold for nearly Rs 18.58 lacs in March 2014 at the then prices. It would be redeemable on or after March 25, 2019, at the promised discounts of the Satyug Gold Card.

When Joshi went to redeem his one-kg golden asset on the due date in March 2019, he found that the SGPL office in Bandra Kurla Complex in Suburban Mumbai was shut with no employees or representatives available there.

Joshi was more shocked after he searched on the website of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs when he learned that Shetty and Kundra had resigned as directors of SGPL in May 2016 and November 2017 respectively.

Joshi said, “It became clear from all these facts that SGPL was a fraudulent entity being used to run the fake ‘Satyug Gold Scheme’ using the name of celebs like Shilpa Shetty. I have suffered a loss of Rs 18.58 lakh on my gold investment.”

Raj Kundra and his controversial personal life

Raj Kundra’s personal life has also been full of scandals as has been his professional life. Raj Kundra and actor Shilpa Shetty married in 2009 after the former divorced his first wife Kavita. Kavita had accused the actress of being a homewrecker.

After an old video of Kundra’s ex-wife resurfaced on social media recently, the entrepreneur made had shocking revelations about his separation from his ex-wife Kavita, which had gone viral on the Internet. Raj alleged that she had an affair with his brother-in-law Vansh (sister Reena Kundra’s husband). Raj also claimed that Kavita was given thousands of pounds by a UK tabloid to accuse Shilpa Shetty. Apart from this, the UK-based businessman also claimed that Kavita didn’t allow him to visit his daughter.

Raj Kundra and his long list of problematic Tweets

Following his arrest, some of Kundra’s tweets from the past went viral on social media. The tweets are quite problematic on the face of it. In one tweet, he draws a comparison between pornography and prostitution. In another tweet, he made a sexual joke about scientist Isaac Newton. Raj Kundra also made a joke that was Hinduphobic and racist towards Sri Lankans at the same time.

In another tweet from May 3rd, 2012, Raj Kundra made a joke that politicians are watching pornography and that porn stars are becoming actors.

Actress says she got filthy calls after Raj Kundra’s associates got her number leaked

Actress Poonam Pandey, who accused Raj Kundra of being instrumental in getting her into the adult film industry, also alleged that upon contractual disagreement with Raj Kundra and his associates in 2019, her number along with her images were leaked and she was subjected to filthy calls.

Though in his statements, Kundra had said that he had exited the company in December 2019, he was a partner when Pandey signed a contract with them.

Raj Kundra sent to Byculla jail until July 23

Raj Kundra was arrested on July 19 (Monday) by the Mumbai police in a case related to the creation and publishing of pornographic material over mobile apps. As per reports, he was arrested by Crime Branch. Mumbai Police Commissioner said that the police has sufficient evidence of his involvement. He has been named as the ‘key conspirator’ in the case. Raj Kundra has been sent to police custody till July 23.

Meanwhile, in a recent development, Raj Kundra was produced before the Esplanade Court on Tuesday afternoon after which he was sent to police custody to Byculla Jail till July 23. He has been booked under sections 420 (cheating), 34 (common intention), 292 and 293 (related to obscene and indecent advertisements and displays) of IPC besides relevant sections of the IT Act and the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act

Rohingyas in Bangladesh provided 200 cows to sacrifice on Eid, express gratitude to govt

OpIndia Staff
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Rohingyas in Bangladesh provided 200 cows to sacrifice on Eid, express gratitude to govt

Around seven months ago, Rohingyas were relocated to Bhasan Char from the Balukhali Rohingya camp in Cox’s Bazar. Bangladesh government on July 16 provided the refugees 200 cows to sacrifice on Bakra Eid. For those families, it became a time to “rejoice”. The cows were brought to Bhasan Char using a trawler from Bogura via Hatia. The Rohingyas carried the portraits of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina while welcoming the cows to show gratitude to her.

Prothom Alo quoted M Rashed Sattar, Director of Bhasan Char’s Ashrayan-3 Project, saying that the ministry of disaster management and relief, along with the NGO affairs bureau, arranged over 200 cows for the Rohingyas to sacrifice for Eid. NGO Islamic Relief provided 135 cows. Reportedly, the beef would be distributed among the Rohingyas living in the camp.

Zafar Alam, senior project manager of Islamic Relief Bangladesh, came with the trawler and supervised the unloading of the cows. He said, “Islamic Relief had brought 135 cows from Bogura for the Rohingyas on Bhasan Char. The beef from each cow would be distributed among 35 families so that they would get around 2kg of meat each.”

Left: Decorated cow brought for sacrifice. Right: Man holding portrait of PM Haseena (Images: prothomalo)

The organization also provided 375 cows for Eid to the Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar. Another 150 cows’ beef would be distributed among the locals who live near and around the camps.

To rejoice in the arrival of cows for sacrifice, Rohingyas took out a rally. The animals were decorated with garlands and balloons. Reportedly, the process of relocating around 100,000 Rohingyas to Bhasan Char from Cox’s Bazar to reduce the pressure on that locality. So far, 18,521 Rohingyas have been brought in eight phases. The remaining would be shifted starting from September.

Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab gear up to reopening schools as Chinese coronavirus cases come down again

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab gear up to reopening schools as Chinese coronavirus cases come down again

With multiple states reporting a steady decline in the number of new Chinese coronavirus cases and the vaccination drive picking up pace, governments have initiated safe reopening of schools, especially for the higher grades. 

Here is a list of states who have allowed the reopening of schools with appropriate Covid-19 protocols and safety measures in place.

Odisha govt says “not able to reach all students” through digital medium

The Odisha government on Saturday announced the reopening of schools for Class 10 and Class 12 from July 26 after observing a drop in Covid-19 cases. 

Satyabrata Sahu, School and Mass Education Secretary elaborated on the decision saying, “Online classes, an alternative mode of education, were initiated due to COVID-19 pandemic. However, we have not been able to reach all students in the State. Due to poor mobile connectivity issues, the government has decided to reopen schools for Class 10 and 12 from July 26.”

Meanwhile, classes for other grades will continue online. “If the situation improves further, we are considering reopening school for Class 9 from August 16, and for Class 11 after September 15,” added Sahu.

Schools in Punjab to reopen from July 26

The Punjab government on Tuesday allowed the reopening of schools from July 26 for classes 10 to 12.

However, only the staff members who have been fully vaccinated and students with their parents’ consent will be allowed to attend physical classes.

Haryana announced reopening of schools for classes 9-12

Haryana school education directorate announced the reopening of the government and private schools for students of classes 9 to 12 from July 16. The announcement also said that the wards will have to furnish written permission from parents allowing them to physically attend classes. 

The decision for reopening other grades will be taken only later, said the report. 

Puducherry CM announced reopening of schools from July 16

Joining the aforementioned states in an attempt to normalize daily lives, Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangaswamy also announced the reopening of schools for higher grades considering a drop in cases. Schools for classes 9-12 and colleges reopened from July 16 in Puducherry. 

Chandigarh schools receive lukewarm response

As schools for standard 9-12 reopened in Chandigarh, the attendance of students remained on the lower side. However, this could also be because of the rains and ongoing exams, suggested a report.

School education director Rubinderjit Singh Brar said around 4,000 of the 40,000 students studying in Classes 9 to 12 attended physical school on Monday. Attending schools has not been made compulsory and students can choose to attend online sessions.

According to the staff of several schools, attendance was higher at schools in the periphery of the city than those within the city.

Happy after interacting with students, “It was a refreshing experience to interact with students in person, but students who are not vaccinated yet remain at risk,” said a teacher.

Low turnout in Gurugram schools

Like Chandigarh, schools in Gurugram which opened last Friday recorded a low turnout. While 15-20% of students belonging to state-run schools reported to school on Friday, the private schools saw an attendance of over 25%. 

The students were queued up for sanitization and were given designated benches adhering to the Covid-19 norms.  

Schools partially open in Gujarat

Gujarat reopened schools for class 12 with 50% capacity starting July 15. The government is yet to take a decision on starting school for students of lower grades. 

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani informed, “Gujarat to reopen schools for class 12 students and colleges for undergraduate and postgraduate students from July 15. 50 per cent of students will be allowed to attend campuses. Students can attend physical classes on a voluntary basis. Attendance will not be mandatory,” said Rupani.

The UNICEF, WHO Chief and AIIMS director have also urged the governments to consider resuming regular schools. Shutting schools for an indiscriminate period could lead to generational catastrophe, said UNICEF in a statement. 

Delhi: First verdict in a case from anti-Hindu riots, court acquits Suresh booked in a complaint registered by one Asif

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi: First verdict in a case from anti-Hindu riots, court acquits Suresh booked in a complaint registered by one Asif

A Delhi court has given the first verdict in a case related to the anti-Hindu Delhi riots in northeast Delhi in February last year and acquitted a man named Suresh alias Bhatura, who was accused of being part of a mob that reportedly attacked and looted a shop.

The Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat passed the acquittal order saying that the testimony of witnesses are completely contradictory to each other, including the police witnesses.

“Statements of the witnesses are completely contradictory to each other, including police witnesses”, the court said, according to Live Law. “Accused is acquitted of all charges. It is a clear-cut acquittal,” said Judge Rawat.

According to reports, Suresh was tried under IPC Sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting) and 395 (dacoity), after one Asif filed a complaint against him. The FIR had stated that on February 25, 2020, at around 4 pm, a huge crowd of people carrying iron rods and lathis broke open the shutter and entered Asif’s shop located at Main Babarpur Road looted it.

The complainant Asif was reportedly a tenant in the shop that originally belonged to one Bhagat Singh. Singh had said in his statement to the police that the members of the mob looted the shop as they thought that it was owned by a Muslim man. He added that he had initially tried to reason with the mob, but since they were not willing to relinquish, he approached a head constable, who reached the spot, and the crowd dispersed after seeing the policeman.

During the hearing in the case, Bhagat Singh had testified against Suresh on April 7, 2020, as being part of the mob that attacked his shop.

The court had on March 9 framed charges in this case under sections 143 (Punishment for being a member of an unlawful assembly),147 (Punishment for rioting), 427 (Mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees),454 (Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking in order to commit an offence punishable with imprisonment), 149 (Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence commit­ted in the prosecution of common object) and 395 (Punishment for dacoity) of the IPC.

Prosecution evidence on this case began on March 18 and ended on March 23. On March 25, the accused Suresh recorded his statement before the court and told the court that he did not wish to lead any evidence in the case. The final arguments in the case were heard on March 30.

The court was supposed to give its verdict in the case on April 12 which was deferred due to various reasons. Finally, today the court pronounced its verdict and decided to acquit Suresh due to the lack of substantial evidence against him.

Delhi HC clears the deck for the trial of several accused in the north-east anti-Hindu Delhi riot case

It is pertinent to note here that on March 24, 2021, Delhi HC had vacated its earlier stay order and cleared the deck for the trial of several accused in the north-east anti-Hindu Delhi riot case, including notorious radical Islamist Umar Khalid, Pinjra Tod members and far-left ‘activists’ Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal, JNU student Sharjeel Imam and former Aam Aadmi Party councilor Tahir Hussain, self-proclaimed activist Khalid Saifi, Jamia Coordination Committee members Safoora Zargar and Meeran Haider, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

Earlier, the Delhi Police had filed over 750 FIRs in connection with the Delhi riots cases against offences such as giving communally insinuating speeches, creating religious hatred, looting, arson, destroying public and private property, causing injury and murder among others. It had named 15 prime accused in the Anti-Hindu Delhi riots case.

It had also arrested 20 accused persons including former Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students and Jamia Millia Islamia students in this particular case on the charges of instigating Muslim mobs to unleash terror on the streets of the national capital.

‘Call me now, I will strip for you’: Poonam Pandey says she got filthy calls after Raj Kundra’s associates got her number leaked

OpIndia Staff
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‘Call me now, I will strip for you’: Poonam Pandey says she got filthy calls after Raj Kundra’s associates got her number leaked

Bollywood actress Poonam Pandey has alleged that upon contractual disagreement with Raj Kundra and his associates in 2019, her number along with her images were leaked and she was subjected to filthy calls. Pandey was reacting to arrest of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty’s businessman husband Raj Kundra’s arrest last night in connection to creating and distributing porn.

While commenting on the recent case, Pandey said, “At this moment, my heart goes out to Shilpa Shetty & her kids. I can’t imagine what she must be going through. So, I refuse to use this opportunity to highlight my trauma.” She added that she filed a police complaint against him in 2019 in Bombay High Court for fraud and theft. As the matter is sub judicial, she refused to comment further. She said, “I have full faith in our police & the judicial process.”

The case of Poonam Pandey’s app

Though in his statements, Kundra had said that he had exited the company in December 2019, he was a partner when Pandey signed a contract with them. Kundra had said, “I had invested in a company called Armsprime Media last year, which makes apps for celebrities. I am not aware of the petition as I exited the venture in December 2019 with a sale to the current shareholders.”

In her complaint, Poonam said, “I collaborated with the company for an app named after me in March 2019. We had agreed upon a certain percentage of the revenue generated by the app to be given to me. However, I realised certain discrepancies in revenue sharing and hence, decided to terminate the contract. I also informed them about the same via an email.”

Things did not go as planned. She said that soon she realised that not only her photos and videos were being used by the company without any authorisation, her phone number was also allegedly leaked. Poonam said, “All hell has broken loose since. They continue to post my pictures and videos on the app. To my horror, they also leaked my personal mobile number along with messages like ‘Call me now as I am free to talk’ and ‘Call me now. Let us talk, and I will strip for you on the app. After that, I started receiving calls from all over, not in dozens but thousands, at odd hours, asking me for explicit services. People started sending me pornographic images and videos. I even left the country for three months hoping that the situation will become normal on its own. However, as soon as I landed back, I started receiving calls and obscene messages all over again.”

Some of the callers claimed that they knew her address too. She had to change her number to get rid of the continuous harassment. She added, “Sometimes, I would get calls where I could only hear heavy breathing from the other side. These callers claim to know my address, too. I changed my number, but after I messaged Saurabh Kushwah (one of the associates of the app company, who is one of the accused) from my new number, asking him to refrain from uploading my pictures and videos on the app, I started receiving calls and messages on that number, too.”

Raj Kundra’s arrest

On Monday, Mumbai Police arrested Raj Kundra for his alleged involvement in a pornography case that has been under investigation since February 2021. His name appeared after the property cell came across the involvement of a company named Kenrin based out of the UK. Umesh Kamat, executive, Kenrin, was arrested by the Police. Kamat was a former employee of Kundra and accused of uploading at least eight obscene and pornographic videos shot by actress Gehna Vasisth on an app.

Houses burnt down, cows killed and caste based insults: Another horror story of political violence emerges from West Bengal

OpIndia Staff
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Houses burnt down, cows killed and caste based insults: Another horror story of political violence emerges from West Bengal

Political violence escalated to devastating proportions in West Bengal in the aftermath of Trinamool’s victory in the assembly elections. Horror stories began to emerge with rape and murder of workers associated with opposition parties in the state.

Even after the passage of more than two months since the election results were declared, horrific stories are still emerging from West Bengal. OpIndia recently spoke to Sunil Baksi, a booth worker of the BJP, to learn about the atrocities he suffered.

Sunil Baksi had filed a complaint with the National Commission of Scheduled Tribes (NCST) as well. In his complaint to the NCST, Baksi had said that a mob comprising of members from the Muslim community had attacked his village in the aftermath of the results.

Baksi said in the complaint that the mob entered their houses, destroyed furniture and other items, molested the women and even threatened to rape his wife. Around 15 houses were set on fire as per the complaint. Following the incident, they fled the village.

According to the complaint, when Baksi approached the Police, they were threatened that the consequences would be much worse if he chose to file it. The Police also tried to have them write that the houses were burnt due to lightning, the complaint says.

The NCST took cognizance of the matter and directed the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police in West Bengal to investigate the matter and present the facts before them. The letter to them mentions caste based atrocities as well.

OpIndia speaks to Sunil Baksi

Sunil Baksi said that on the 3rd of May, he was attacked by goons associated with the Trinamool Congress. He said that he was hit on the head but was eventually saved by his brother. He said that he filed a complaint at the local police station but they declined to register his complaint. Moreover, he was himself slapped with cases under sections 323, 326 and others.

Baksi also said that his house has been destroyed and he is not sure how he will fight the cases. He said the Police is not taking the complaint seriously and has not taken any action in the matter. He accused Anarul Sheikh, Aamir Hossein, Haider Ali, Hasibul Mollah and others for the attack. His complaint to the NCST mentiones Sheikh Faizul and Sheikh Bhirali as well.

He said that he was threatened before the polls as well. Baksi said that cases have been filed against his brothers as well. According to Baksi, the accused live 2 kilometers from his home. He also said that there were two cows at his home who were burnt to death due to the fire.

Baksi said that he spoke to the NCST commissioner on the 15th of June who assured him that he is looking into the matter. Baksi said that case based insults and abuses were hurled at him as well. He informed the NCST Commission about the matter as well.

Baksi is a father of two, a son and a daughter. They are aged 5 and 7 respectively. He is yet to return to his village and is living elsewhere. His children are with him.

‘Govts, please open schools or we will have a generational catastrophe’: UNICEF, WHO chief scientist ask for reopening of schools on priority

OpIndia Staff
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‘Govts, please open schools or we will have a generational catastrophe’: UNICEF, WHO chief scientist ask for reopening of schools on priority

The UNICEF on Monday urged the decision-makers and governments to prioritize and plan for the safe reopening of schools. It also stated that keeping the schools shut due to the fear of the pandemic could lead to “generational catastrophe”.

“It’s been 18 months since the COVID-19 outbreak started and over 156 million children are still out of school. Getting students back into classrooms cannot wait,” said UNICEF in a Tweet.

In a statement released on July 12, UNICEF expressed concerns over governments keeping the schools shut while allowing bars and restaurants to function. 

“The losses that children and young people will incur from not being in school may never be recouped. From learning loss, mental distress, exposure to violence and abuse, to missed school-based meals and vaccinations or reduced development of social skills, the consequences for children will be felt in their academic achievement and societal engagement as well as physical and mental health. The most affected are often children in low-resource settings who do not have access to remote learning tools, and the youngest children who are at key developmental stages,” remarked UNICEF in its statement. 

School reopening cannot wait till cases go to zero, said the release. “Closing schools mortgages our future for unclear benefits to our present. We must prioritize better. We can reopen schools safely, and we must,” UNICEF concluded. 

WHO Chief Scientist also urged for reopening of schools

Soumya Swaminathan, the Chief Scientist at the World Health Organization furthered UNICEF’s appeal of reopening the schools. Quoting UNICEF’s Tweet, Swaminathan wrote, “With teachers & adults working in schools prioritized for vaccination & preventive measures to reduce spread of #COVID19, schools can be safely opened. 150 million children out of school with limited access to online education & midday meals will take a much bigger toll on them.”

AIIMS director suggests opening school in a staggered manner

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) director Dr Randeep Guleria too in an interview earlier had stated that schools in areas with fewer Covid-19 cases must reopen. “Districts should open schools in a staggered manner and bring back children on alternate days, said Dr Guleria.

He also recommended a surveillance mechanism so the schools can be shut immediately in case a rise in cases is observed. “I am a proponent of opening up schools in a staggered way for districts that are seeing less virus circulation. It (reopening of schools) can be planned for places having positivity rates below 5 per cent,” he said. 

Talking about digital inaccessibility, Guleria stated, “Covid-19 has reaffirmed the need to bridge the gaps in internet access. The digital divide exists across borders, fields, and generations, impacting virtually every aspect of life.”

Meanwhile, some states/ districts in India have begun reopening schools for the new academic year for class 10 and 12 students.

JK Rowling receives death threats from LGBTQ activists for flagging the dangers women face in public toilets by men identifying themselves as women

OpIndia Staff
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JK Rowling receives death threats from LGBTQ activists for flagging the dangers women face in public toilets by men identifying themselves as women

The author of the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling, on Tuesday posted a tweet saying that she has been relentlessly subjected to threats of death, rape and assassination after she highlighted the dangers women could face in toilets and changing rooms by men who characterised themselves as self-identified women.

Rowling shared a screenshot of a tweet posted by one of the nasty internet trolls, who apparently wished her “a very nice pipebomb in mailbox”.

Responding to the threat, Rowling tweeted: “To be fair, when you can’t get a woman sacked, arrested or dropped by her publisher, and cancelling her only made her book sales go up, there’s really only one place to go.”

Following her tweet, one of her followers asked if the hate message she had received was in connection with the comment she had made about women facing dangers in toilets/changing rooms from men who claim to identify themselves as women.

The Harry Potter author responded in the affirmative, adding that hundreds of “trans activists” had threatened to beat, kill, bomb and rape her because of her stance.

JK Rowling’s essay and comments on sex categorisation irks transgender activists

Rowling had drawn the ire of LGBTQ community last year after she linked her experience of sexual assault with her concern over transgender access to women only spaces in a 3,600 words long essay.

In her article, Rowling, a domestic violence survivor, said she was perturbed that “the new trans activism” was undermining women and girls’ rights to single-sex spaces by “offering cover to predators”.

“When you throw open the doors of bathrooms and changing rooms to any man who believes or feels he’s a woman … then you open the door to any and all men who wish to come inside,” she wrote.

The article did not sit well with the trans activists online, who immediately called for the “cancellation” of the author.

Even before her article raised the hackles of the transgender community, she had rattled them with her derisive comment on the Devex article about difficulties faced by “people who menstruate” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“People who menstruate.’ I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?” she sarcastically noted on Twitter to immediately get slammed for “transphobia” for ignoring the fact that many transgender men can still menstruate,” Rowling had said.

The Harry Potter author was accused of transphobia for mocking “people who menstruate” headline. She later defended her remarks saying it was important to not conflate gender categorisation so as not to downplay the problems women face in a world ruled by ‘patriarchy’.

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