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Killers were paid Rs 45 lakhs to murder businessman Mansukh Hiren, ex-cops Sachin Vaze, Pradeep Sharma involved: NIA

OpIndia Staff
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Killers were paid Rs 45 lakhs to murder businessman Mansukh Hiren, ex-cops Sachin Vaze, Pradeep Sharma involved: NIA

The National Investigation Agency made startling revelations in the murder case of businessman Mansukh Hiren. During the court proceedings of a special NIA court on Thursday, the premier probe agency said they suspect hitmen were paid Rs 45 lakh to bump off Mansukh Hiren.

The agency made this claim based on money trail that linked the assassins to Hiren’s murder. After killing Hiren, they had fled to Nepal. The agency is digging into the details of their travel to Nepal after the murder. It suspects that the four killers were instructed by arrested cops Sachin Waze and Pradeep Sharma to stay underground till the investigation is completed. 

According to sources quoted by media outlets, NIA has chanced upon CCTV footage where killers were seen with the slain businessman at Ghodbunder Road on March 4. In the video, Sharma’s close aid, Shelar, was seen standing near the red Tavera car, Mansukh being brought to the spot in another car and being handed over to Shelar, who taps on Hiren’s back and gets him to enter the Tavera. The NIA suspects the three other accused were present inside the car.

The NIA on Thursday produced accused Satish Tirupati Mutkori and Manish Basant Soni before the special NIA court and sought further five days custody for both. The NIA cited the discovery of the financial transactions worth Rs 45 lakh, suspected to have been used for or paid for Hiren’s murder to demand the further custody of the accused.

However. The agency did not say who funded the assassination. It also submitted that there might be a few more people involved in both cases. The four accused who allegedly murdered Hiran are, Santosh Shelar, Anand Jadhav, Manish Basant Soni and Satish Tirupati Mutkor. 

It is worth noting that it was Mansukh Hiren’s car that was found laden with explosives outside Mukesh Ambani’s residence, Antilia. Hiren had allegedly refused to follow Waze’s instructions after the car was discovered.

The NIA also stated that they reckon Rs 45 lakh only to be the tip of the iceberg and that there might be crores of rupees involved in both the cases, the Antilia explosives case and the Hiren’s murder case.

Reportedly, the public prosecutor also said before the court that they have recovered Rs 35,000 in cash from one of the accused who allegedly assassinated Hiren on the directives of dismissed API Sachin Waze and former encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma.

Besides, the NIA said Sharma, who is currently lodged at Taloja Jail, facilitated Hiren’s murder by providing his murderers with SIM cards that were allegedly used for coordinating during the conspiracy.

The NIA also said that Sharma, who is now in judicial custody and is lodged at Taloja jail, provided bogus SIM cards to Hiran’s killers. The SIM cards were allegedly used for coordination during the conspiracy.

Sachin Waze brains behind the cases, was present when Mansukh Hiren was killed: Reports

As per the submissions made by the NIA, Sharma and Waze were the brains behind the cases, with the involvement of more people suspected. Sharma is accused of coordinating the entire conspiracy and issuing directions to the accused. Earlier, the probe agency had stated that Sachin Waze had procured SIM cards with the help of a Gujarat-based bookie, Naresh Gor, who was arrested by the Maharashtra ATS and later handed over to the NIA.

Earlier, it was reported that Mansukh Hiren was killed in the presence of Sachin Waze. Reports claimed Mansukh Hiren was administered chloroform and then thrown in the creek from where his body was recovered. The technical mobile tower and IP evaluation suggested that Sachin Vaze was present in the vehicle when Mansukh Hiren was killed. A post mortem report had revealed that Mansukh Hiren had sustained bruises before he was killed.

Antilia bomb scare case and the murder of businessman Mansukh Hiren

On February 25, a Scorpio car with 20 gelatin sticks was found parked near Antilia, the multi-storey residence of Mukesh Ambani in Mumbai. A few days later, it was revealed that the car belonged to a person named Mansukh Hiren. The bomb-laden car was owned by Mansukh Hiren, who had alleged that his car was stolen from Mulund-Airoli link road. Hiren had also filed a police complaint about the missing car.

Days later, Hiren’s body was washed ashore in the Kalwa creek, which only deepened the mystery surrounding the explosive-laden car. Mansukh Hiren’s family had accused suspended police officer Sachin Vaze of murder. Following the family’s complaint, Maharashtra ATS had registered a murder case to investigate the death on March 7. The investigation revealed Sachin Waze’s involvement in the murder of Mansukh Hiren, following which he was arrested and sent to Taloja Jail.

Rajasthan: Rape victim blackmailed, sexually assaulted for 2 years by same criminals after police ignored 2019 complaint

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: Rape victim blackmailed, sexually assaulted for 2 years by same criminals after police ignored 2019 complaint

A 20-year-old girl from Alwar was gang-raped for two years after the police failed to act on her complaint filed in 2019. As per reports, the first incident took place in 2019, however, the police failed to take any action against the perpetrators leading to a series of assaults on the victim.

The girl in April 2019 was on her way to appear for an exam when she was kidnapped by a group of men. The victim was then taken to a secluded spot where she was made to consume a drink laced with sedatives. The girl fell unconscious after which she was gang-raped, as per a Dainik Bhaskar report.

The victim had approached the Malakhera police station in Alwar in May 2019 itself to register a case against the perpetrators, however, the police failed to file an FIR or take any action.

One of the perpetrators then sent her a video of the incident and blackmailed her for leaking the video. Over the next two years, the accused persons kept sexually exploiting her repeatedly by blackmail, threatenig to reelase the video of the incident.

One of the accused, named Gautam Saini on June 25 again blackmailed the victim to meet him if she did not want the video to be sent to her family members. Reports suggest that the victim changed her sim-card after which the perpetrator released her video on social media.

The woman was then forced to approach the Superintendent of Police Tejaswini Gautam and file a complaint at the Mahila police station in Alwar district. Following this, a complaint was filed at the Malakhera police station on June 28.

The police recorded statements on Thursday after the victim’s medical check-up. The police have also initiated an inspection of the site where the incident took place. 

Gautam Saini, Bhairu Jat, and another accused named Vikas alias Vikki have been arrested by the police. The police have stated that they are also tracing the persons who have shared the blackmail video on social media and will initiate action under relevant sections. Another accused named Deepak is on the run.

Additionally, Alwar (rural) circle officer Amit Singh has also ordered a separate inquiry on the negligence of the police and assured that action will be taken against police personnel if they are found to be guilty.

Calcutta HC asks police to file FIRs based on NHRC interim report in post-poll violence cases, issues contempt of court notice to DCP

OpIndia Staff
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Calcutta HC asks police to file FIRs based on NHRC interim report in post-poll violence cases, issues contempt of court notice to DCP

Coming as a major jolt to Mamata Banerjee’s government, which had tried its level best to stop the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) from investigating post-poll violence in the state of West Bengal, the Calcutta High Court on Friday came down heavily on the state administration for its incompetence and negligence in handling the post-poll violence in the state.

The Court ordered the Kolkata police to file an FIR against those TMC goons who were involved in sectarian and political violence in the state post the electoral victory of TMC. It said that the FIR should be filed based on National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recommendations.

Calcutta HC orders second autopsy of BJP worker Avijit Sarkar

The court also ordered a second post mortem to be conducted with respect to BJP worker Avijit Sarkar, who was allegedly killed by a mob in the wake of the post-poll violence in the State.

It becomes important to recollect here how Avijit Sarkar was brutally murdered by TMC goons in Ward no. 30 at Beleghata in Kolkata. Just hours before he was lynched to death by the miscreants, Sarkar had taken to Facebook to narrate the harrowing tale of violence that he was subjected to by the TMC goons.

Show cause notice issued to Deputy Commissioner of Police of South Kolkata for his incompetence to protect the NHRC team on its visit to Jadavpur

The Calcutta High Court further issued a show-cause notice for contempt of court proceedings against Deputy Commissioner of Police of South Kolkata, Rashid Munir Khan for failing to protect the team of NHRC which was visiting Jadavpur to examine allegations of post-poll violence. It also issued notice to District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police in certain districts which were hit by the violence. 

Necessary medical treatment to the victims of Bengal post-poll violence: Calcutta HC

In the order passed today the Calcutta High Court also observed that necessary medical treatment should be provided to those who were injured in the violence that was unleashed by the TMC goons at the behest of CM Mamata Banerjee.

The 5-Judge Bench of ACJ Rajesh Bindal and Justices IP Mukerji, Harish Tandon, Soumen Sen and Subrata Talukdar, passed the order in a batch of petitions alleging that many people from BJP were subject to violence after the ruling TMC swept to power in the 2021 assembly elections. The order was passed after examining an interim report submitted by the NHRC.

The fact-finding committee constituted to inquire about the post-poll atrocities on BJP workers by TMC hoodlums in West Bengal had submitted the interim report on June 30. However, NHRC counsel Subir Sanyal had informed Calcutta HC that it is only a partial report and requested more time so that the Committee can visit all affected areas before submitting a comprehensive report.

NHRC’s interim report was submitted in court in a sealed envelope. The State counsel sought permission to receive a copy of the interim report and make submissions on the same. However, the court, refusing to share the interim report said that the State would get the opportunity to make submissions, but only after NHRC submits its full report. The court has kept the next hearing for July 13, when the NHRC is expected to submit its final report.

Violence in Bengal not sporadic or spontaneous but well-planned and premeditated: NHRC

The High Court had, on June 18, ordered the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to constitute a committee to examine complaints by persons displaced by post poll violence in West Bengal.

The NHRC had in its report revealed that the violence in Bengal, post, Mamata Banerjee’s landslide victory was not sporadic or spontaneous but well-planned and premeditated.

Sharing further details, the committee informed that many supporters of a political party were forced to flee their homes due to a targeted attack. Houses were burnt and ransacked with the victims made to give in writing that they will not support a particular political party.

After observing the impact of the post-poll violence in Bengal unleased by the ruling party, the committee has submitted 15 recommendations and observations emphasizing the release of compensation for the victims. “Immediate actions should be taken to restore the confidence of common man,” demanded the committee.

Vice-Chairman of Minority Commission threatened by TMC goons

In an OpIndia Exclusive, we reported how Atif Rasheed, the vice-chairman of the minority commission who was on a visit as part of the panel to Jadavpur where the TMC hoodlums went berserk and targetted the BJP workers, was threatened by the TMC goons. 

Just as he was investigating the ground situation, locals of the area were seen threatening him.

Around 40 houses found burnt

While speaking with OpIndia, Rasheed, who was part of the HC-directed NHRC fact-finding committee, revealed that he found about 40 houses that belonged to BJP workers that had been burnt to the ground. He further said that for the past 2 months, nobody knows the whereabouts of the BJP activists.

Rasheed said that the police had filed no FIRs or complaints in the matter even after rampant post-poll violence in Jadavpur, Bengal.

Bengaluru sonic boom? HAL refuses to comment on the sound but issues statements over loud sound heard in the city

OpIndia Staff
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Bengaluru sonic boom? HAL refuses to comment on the sound but issues statements over loud sound heard in the city

On Friday noon, residents of Bengaluru city, especially in South Bengaluru, heard a loud explosion-like sound at around 12:30 PM, creating a wave of panic. The southern metropolis of Bengaluru was sent into a tizzy after some parts of the city were rocked with the sound of “boom”. 

Several Bengaluru residents took to Twitter to share that they heard a loud sound on Friday noon. The loud sound was heard in residential localities, mainly in Bengaluru South – Sarjapur area, JP Nagar, Benson Town, Ulsoor, ISRO Layout, HSR Layout.

Netizens said they were terrified to hear such an unexpected burst. Reportedly, some residents said that the loud sound rattled their window panes and doors.

Meanwhile, the Bengaluru City Police suspect that the sound was a sonic boom produced during the fighter jet sorties in the city, which is home to training command and an IAF airbase. “We are checking with the Air Force,” a senior official said to the Hindu.

HAL too issues a statement. Spokesperson of HAL said that “Regular sorties of fighters and trainee aircraft take place from HAL airport. Today was no different. HAL can’t comment on the loud sound reportedly heard today in Bengaluru”.

A sonic boom is a sound created when an object moves faster than the speed of the sound. For example, when a supersonic jet accelerates and crosses the speed of the sound, it creates shock waves, which creates a thunderous boom noise. The shock waves also cause windows and other objects in the vicinity of the shack, which can be a frightening experience, and due to which people may mistake it for an earthquake.

A similar loud explosion-like sound was heard last year in May in Bengaluru as well, sending residents into a frenzy. Later, the Indian Air Force had issued a muted clarification, confirming that it was an IAF fighter jet going supersonic that caused the boom over Bengaluru. The IAF had said that while jets fly at supersonic speeds beyond city limits, the noise was heard in the city due to reduced noise levels caused by the lockdown and the weather condition.

(This is a developing story. The report will be updated with latest updates)

Munawwar Rana’s son had staged a fake attack on himself, UP police give updates as they hunt for him: Read full details

OpIndia Staff
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Munawwar Rana’s son had staged a fake attack on himself, UP police give updates as they hunt for him: Read full details

A day after the Uttar Pradesh police raided the house of Urdu poet Munawwar Rana in Lucknow, the cops have informed that his son Tabrez had staged an attack on himself to frame his uncles in a land dispute case.

While briefing the media on Friday (July 2), an Uttar Pradesh police spokesperson informed, “On June 28, Tabrez had alleged that he was attacked by two bike-borne assailants. Accordingly, an FIR (First Information Report) was registered in the case. On the basis of CCTV footage and eyewitness testimonies, we found that Tabrez had sold land that belonged to his uncles. They had opposed his decision and he therefore wanted to implicate them in the case by staging a pre-planned attack.”

During the probe, the police found that Tabrez Rana had masterminded the plan along with his two accomplices, Haleem and Sultan. “Tabrez hoped that if he stages an attack on himself, then, he can accuse his uncles of trying to assassinate him. In this way, he believed that his uncles will avoid pursuing the land dispute case further. Tabrez had plans to contest polls from Tiloi (Amethi) and thought that he would get security and media coverage by pulling off such a stunt,” the police spokesperson emphasised.

According to the UP police, Haleem had arranged for two shooters, namely, Shubham and Satyendra, to execute the mission. On Friday (July 2), the police arrested the trio along with Tabrez’s aide Sultan. All the four accused are sent to judicial custody. The cops have also recovered the pistol and the bike that was used to stage the firing incident. The police informed that Tabrez is on the run from the law enforcement authorities. Several police teams have been deployed to nab him as soon as possible.

Complaint filed by Tabrez Rana with the Raebareli police

In his complaint, Munawwar Rana’s son Tabrez Rana had alleged that he was attacked by unidentified, bike-borne assailants in Lucknow-Prayagraj highway at around 6 pm on June 28. He had claimed that the accused fired several rounds of bullets and damaged his car. He had then filed a complaint with the police against five members of his own family. The cops then registered a case against the five accused, namely, Ismail Rana, Rafe Rana, Jameel Rana, Shakeel Rana, and Yasar Rana (cousin), who is a close aide of politician Azam Khan.

Complaint by Tabrez Rana to the police, image via Twitter/Rohan Dua

The Background of the land dispute case

Munawwar Rana, who hails from Qila Bazar locality of Kotwali city of Rae Bareli, lives in Lucknow with the family. The police have informed about an ongoing land-related dispute with his family members in Rae Bareli for a long time. Tabrez Rana had come to the city a few days ago to resolve the land dispute and had been staying here.

Rafe Rana, one of Tabrez’s uncles, said that the Munawwar Rana had inherited the land of 8.5 bighas belonging to him. He said that 4 bighas belonged to him and his other brother Ismail. However, after his father’s death, the entire property got divided between the 6 brothers. Rafe Rana alleged that Tabrez had sold his share of land (equalling 18 Biswa, one Bigha equals 20 Biswa) of land. When the matter came to light, Rafe had approached the court and raised an objection with the Registrar’s office. It was only then that the land sale was stopped.

Cops raided Munawwar Rana’s house to arrest son Tabrez

On Thursday night, a team of police officials raided the house of Munawar Rana in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh in search of his son Tabrez. The cops were searching for Tabrez to arrest him after finding out that the firing incident was false and Tabrez had staged the attack to falsely accuse his relatives. The FIR regarding the firing incident was lodged on June 28. However, now Tabrez himself is accused of the alleged fake firing incident.

The Raebareli police had arrived late in the night of July 1 at the poet’s house to arrest Tabrez. But Tabrez was not found at the house.

Congress’ Nana Patole demands probe alleging irregularities after Uddhav govt granted coal tender to a blacklisted company ‘linked to Nitin Raut’: Details

OpIndia Staff
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Congress’ Nana Patole demands probe alleging irregularities after Uddhav govt granted coal tender to a blacklisted company ‘linked to Nitin Raut’: Details

Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole has sparked a raging controversy after he wrote a letter to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray alleging irregularities in the process of selecting a private firm by the Maharashtra State Mining Corporation (MSMC) for the work of supplying coal. Patole has asked for a probe, stating that the private firm is unfit for the tender.

Patole claimed that Rukhmai Infrastructures Private Limited has been selected for the work of washing coal and supplying it to Mahagenco (Maharashtra State Power Generation Company) although the company does not fulfil the criteria. Rukhmai Infrastructures Private Ltd allegedly has ‘links with the State Energy Minister Nitin Raut’, according to Times of India.

In his letter addressed to CM Uddhav Thackeray and state mining minister Subhash Desai, Patole said that the MSMC has allotted a tender to a private company for washing of coal extracted from mines in Vidarbha. He alleged that the company has no past experience, net worth or clearance required for such work. He further added that the firm with the company has a joint venture has been blacklisted by the National Company Law Tribunal.

“Rukhmai Infrastructures was selected by the Maharashtra State Mining Corporation Ltd on May 21 this year. But as per the complaints received, the company has no network, turnover, security clearance and experience in coal washing. Similarly, the company with which Rukhmai infrastructure has a joint venture has been blacklisted by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). Rukhmai infrastructure was given the tender even though it doesn’t fulfil any criteria.” he said.

Sources allege Patole’s demand for the probe is an attempt to target State energy minister Nitin Raut

While Patole clarified that he was not targeting energy minister Nitin Raut, speculations are rife that the demand for a probe was made because the Maharashtra Congress chief was eyeing the cabinet berth currently held by the senior Congress leader.

As per Congress insiders quoted by the Hindustan Times, Patole is interested on having a ministerial berth and has informed the party of his ambitions. He had reportedly asked Congress to appoint Raut as Assembly Speaker, believing that he would get the energy portfolio if Raut is made the Speaker.

Reacting to the demand made by Nana Patole, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis said, “It is quite evident that Patole is eying the portfolio that Raut currently heads. We also are of the opinion that there should be a probe into corruption and we will support it if the issue is raised by Patole at appropriate forums.”

On the other hand, Patole has distanced himself from the claims that the objection raised by him are rooted in his political ambitions. “It has got nothing to do with the energy department or Raut. There are no differences between us and there’s no question of me eyeing the portfolio. The letter is for the probe of irregularities in the mining department,” he said.

Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust issues statement, slams the lies and baseless claims about land purchase deals

OpIndia Staff
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Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust issues statement, slams the lies and baseless claims about land purchase deals

Amid allegations of corruption in the Ayodhya land deal, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri has released a press statement in which he has strongly refuted the accusations levelled against the trust. He says that by spreading such rumours, some people, who identify themselves as political or religious figures, are maliciously trying to create hurdles as they do not want the Ram temple to come up in Ayodhya.

The Trust treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri says that for the past 15-20 days, some people through various media houses have been levelling allegations of irregularities in the land deals in Ayodhya.

The land surrounding the temple land has been acquired for several reasons, including Vaastu considerations and building facilities for pilgrims keeping in mind the large turnout once the construction of the grand temple is completed and set open for darshan, says Giri.

He adds that for the last three days he along with various lawyers and chartered accountants have scrutinised all the papers of the land purchase deal and found no lapses in the land purchase deals.

Screengrab of the Press statement issued by Swami Giri
Screengrab of the press statement issued by Swami Giri

Giri assured that all the land was purchased at a price less than the market rate and the money transactions were clean and were carried out legally through banks. “If those people who have levelled allegations can help us in getting cheaper land at the same location, the Trust would be obliged to them,” he said.

The trust treasurer, in his press note, takes strong objection to the rumours that are being spread to malign the trust. He says some vindictive members of the opposition are trying to mislead the devotees and merely trying to create roadblocks in the construction of the Ram Mandir by spreading such unfounded rumours.

“I want to assure everyone that the work on Shri Ram temple will continue with full honesty and transparency,” he added.

The Land deal struck by Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra

It is pertinent to note here that while the Supreme Court had given the ‘disputed land’ to the trust, land surrounding the Ram Janmabhoomi is owned by various individuals and entities and thus, has to be acquired privately by Temple trust to build facilities that would help the devotees which are expected to visit the temple once it opens. 

For this reason, in March 2021, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra through its General Secretary Champat Rai executed an Agreement to buy an additional piece of land for the purposes of additional construction to facilitate pilgrims who would be travelling to the Ram Temple. 1.208 Ha land was decided to be purchased by the Trust at Rs 18.5 Cr. from one Sultan Ansari and one Ravi Mohan Tiwari. Ansari and the others had in turn bought the same land at just Rs 2 crore from one Kusum Pathak. 

The controversy created by AAP, further peddled by SP and Congress

A controversy erupted after Aam Aadmi Party had used the sale deed of the earlier transaction between Ansari and Kusum and the Agreement to Sell between Ansari and the Trust to allege a “scam” in the procurement of this land by the temple trust. Aam Aadmi Party’s leader Sanjay Singh alleged that Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra through its General Secretary Champat Rai bought a piece of land at an exponentially higher price.

Samajwadi Party’s Pawan Pandey had also made similar allegations. 

On expected lines, the Congress scion Rahul Gandhi also jumped on to the bandwagon, perpetuating the same litany of lies peddled by the AAP. He took to Twitter to trend the hashtag “Ram Mandir Ghotala” and write that Lord Ram personifies justice and to perpetuate a scam in his name is ‘Adharma’.

Even Congress tweeted alleging “scam”.

OpIndia busts the lie peddled by AAP, SP and Congress regarding the alleged ‘scam’

On June 14, OpIndia had, based on facts of the case and documents acquired by us, published a detailed report, bringing to the fore the truth about the land deal by Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra.

Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust issues clarification on the land deal

On June 15, the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust also issued a detailed clarification on the entire land deal. Detailing all the land deals made by the trust, they brushed off all the baseless allegations levelled against them by the opposition parties, thus evincing how petty hate can make one

Rajasthan govt bought substandard oxygen concentrators worth Rs 35,000 for over Rs 1 lakh a month after the COVID-19 peak had passed: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan govt bought substandard oxygen concentrators worth Rs 35,000 for over Rs 1 lakh a month after the COVID-19 peak had passed: Report

When the country was grappling with the second wave of coronavirus outbreak, most notably with the oxygen crisis, the Congress government in Rajasthan presided over gross irregularities in the purchase of oxygen concentrators in Rajasthan, an investigative report published in Dainik Bhaskar has said. According to the report, the Rajasthan government paid several times more than the normal price for the purchase of oxygen concentrators. They are also purchased after the oxygen crisis had ended in the country.

Firstly, the Congress government did not procure the oxygen concentrators directly from the manufacturers. Instead, they sourced it from private companies with the help of middlemen, who probably had their cut in the purchase and sell of the oxygen concentrators.

Secondly, concentrators worth Rs 35,000-40,000 were bought paying up to Rs 1 lakh, a staggering 2.5 times their original cost.

And thirdly, most of the concentrators were bought on May 2, almost a month after the coronavirus peak had passed in the state and oxygen supply had stabilised after the crisis in April. As a consequence, most of the concentrators are lying as junk in hospitals across the state. Bhaskar team reached 65 health centres in 11 districts of the state to know about the truth of overpriced concentrators. It also spoke to the companies that supplied the oxygen concentrators to the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan.

The report says companies were ready to provide the Bhaskar team with concentrators at Rs 35,000 to 40,000 as against the government procurement, which reportedly gave up to Rs 1 lakh per oxygen concentrator. On the condition of anonymity, one of the private companies confided in the Bhaskar team that even at the time when the state was pummelled by the ferocious second wave of coronavirus outbreak, a concentrator with a capacity of 5 litres was costing Rs 35,000-40,000 and not Rs 1 lakh.

On investigating MLA funds earmarked for the procurement of oxygen concentrators, the Bhaskar team found out that on an average Rs 1.06 lakhs per machine were spent on procuring a total of 948 concentrators. According to the website maintained by Rajasthan’s Department of Rural Development, in many areas of Bhilwara, Rajsamand, Kota, Nagaur, Jhunjhunu, Alwar, Baran and Chittor, concentrators cost were bought as much as Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.25 lakhs.

Oxygen concentrators bought by the Rajasthan government at exorbitant rates(Source: Dainik Bhaskar)

Besides, while handing out contracts for the concentrators, the Rajasthan government did not take into account companies and individuals with a shady past and were involved in earlier scams. As a result, concentrators were bought from the company of a man who was accused of taking commission in the NHM scam that took place 5 years ago.

Furthermore, the investigation team discovered that not only were the oxygen concentrators procured at premium charges, but they were also markedly inefficient. At one of the COVID centres in Bandukia, the team found the purity of oxygen from the concentrators to be only 30 per cent at 5 liters per minute. Similarly, at other places too, the team found the concentrators to be highly inefficient.

Despite paying 2 to 3 times the actual cost, the concentrators procured by the Rajasthan government were woefully inefficient. Even the hospitals in Rajasthan raised their objection over the faulty concentrators purchased by the state government. The Bharatpur Medical College shot off a letter to the state government officials in Jaipur, lodging a protest against the substandard concentrators fobbed off to them. They alleged in the letter that the concentrators did not meet the conditions mentioned by them.

Several doctors and MLAs from various districts had written to the state government, informing them that the substandard oxygen concentrators they had procured were inefficient and not fit to use for COVID-19 patients.

Rajasthan leases out unused ventilators sourced through PM Cares Fund to private hospitals

The explosive revelation made by Dainik Bhaskar once again brings forth the Rajasthan government’s disastrous and potentially criminal handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Earlier in May, it was also reported that thousands of ventilators procured through PM Cares Fund were lying unused in hospitals across the state or were leased out to private hospitals at hefty charges, citing non-usage.

Bharatpur’s Rai Bahadur Hospital had leased out 20 of its ventilators provided by the PM Cares Fund to Jindal private hospital, citing ‘non-usage of the machine. The report comes at a time when the coronavirus outbreak is galloping across the country, leading to rising demand for life-support machines. The development exposes Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government that allowed renting out ventilators that were procured from PM Cares Fund to the private hospitals.

Disgruntled by the state government’s move to lease out ventilators when the cases have been on the rise, one of the aggrieved kin while speaking to Republic TV said: “About 40 ventilators were given to the state by the PM-CARES fund. I have been asking the hospital administration for the last 2 months as to where have they installed the ventilators, but they have no answers to my questions. Jindal Hospital, which has always been in controversy, was given 10 ventilators by the hospital administration. The collector justified the decision by saying that the ventilators were faulty, but they were not. Jindal hospital has been charging Rs 35,000-40,000 for these ventilators.”

As Islamism grows, Turkey pulls out of treaty that aimed to prevent violence against women because it ‘promotes divorce’, women protest

OpIndia Staff
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As Islamism grows, Turkey pulls out of treaty that aimed to prevent violence against women because it ‘promotes divorce’, women protest

On Thursday, Turkey officially withdrew from an international treaty to prevent violence against women, prompting massive protests in Turkey.

According to the reports, Turkey formally pulled out from participation in the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention three months after Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan had announced the decision to pull from the treaty through a surprise overnight decree. A court appeal to stop the withdrawal was rejected earlier this week, making Turkey formally withdraw from the Istanbul Convention.

On Thursday, Turkey President Erdogan announced his own “Action Plan for Combating Violence against Women” that includes goals such as reviewing judicial processes, improving protection services and gathering data on violence.

“Some groups are trying to present our official withdrawal from the Istanbul convention on July 1st as going backwards,” the Turkish President said, adding, “Just like our fight against violence towards women did not start with the Istanbul Convention, it will not end with our withdrawal.”

Announcing the formal withdrawal, Erdogan emphasised the traditional family and gender values, saying combating violence against women was also a fight to “protect the rights and the honour of our mothers, wives, daughters.”

The 2011 Istanbul Convention, widely regarded as the gold standard in international efforts to protect women and girls from violence, was signed by 45 countries and the European Union. Turkey had signed it in 2011, but violence has surged in the country in recent years.

The treaty requires governments to adopt legislation criminalising domestic violence as well as marital rape and female genital mutilation.

Earlier in March, the Turkish President had said that they would be pulling out from the internationally binding treaty that pledged to prevent, prosecute and eliminate domestic violence and promote equality.

Protests erupt in Turkey

Meanwhile, thousands have hit the streets in Turkey to protest against the decision, demanding President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to reverse his decision to withdraw from the world’s first binding treaty to prevent and combat violence against women.

The withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention is a blow to women’s rights advocates, said women protestors who had assembled on the streets of Istanbul in similar protests last March.

“We will not be silenced, we will not fear, we will not bow down,” chanted women among a crowd of several hundred who gathered in the capital Ankara. “We are not giving up on the Istanbul Convention,” read a large purple banner.

Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnes Callamard called Turkey’s withdrawal “shameful”. Turkey has turned its back on the gold standard for the safety of women and girls, she said in a statement.

“The withdrawal sends a reckless and dangerous message to perpetrators who abuse, maim and kill: that they can carry on doing so with impunity,” Agnes added.

According to the “We Will Stop Femicide” group, 189 women were killed in 2021 in Turkey and 409 last year, including dozens who were found dead under suspicious circumstances.

Why did Turkey withdraw?

Reportedly, the Turkish government’s decision to withdraw from the treaty comes at the backdrop of growing fundamentalism in the Islamic country. Thus, the move is depicted as the latest victory for conservatives in Erdogan’s party and their allies in Turkey.

The Turkish government claims that the convention undermines family structures, encourages violence and divorce. Besides, the LGBT community uses the references in the treaty for demanding equal rights and broader acceptance in the society, which has caused a major worry for the Turkish conservative government.

The Istanbul Convention states that men and women have equal rights and obliges state authorities to take steps to prevent gender-based violence against women, protect victims and prosecute perpetrators.

Canada: As hundreds of unmarked graves of residential school victims are found, churches are being burned, unrest grows over painful past

Dibakar Dutta
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Canada: As hundreds of unmarked graves of residential school victims are found, churches are being burned, unrest grows over painful past

In recent weeks, several sites of mass burials and unmarked graves have been found in places where Canada’s infamous Christian residential schools for indigenous children once functioned. The unmarked graves are a testimony of a painful past where the government and Christian churches inflicted atrocities against the native population.

As anger and pain spreads among the First Nation people, five churches built on Indigenous land have so far been burnt down.

As per reports, the Churches include St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Chopaka Catholic Church, Sacred Heart Church, and St. Gregory’s Church.

Following the multiple cases of fire outbreaks, the Candian authorities have launched a probe into this matter. On June 26, St. Ann’s Catholic Church, which is built on Upper Similkameen Indian Band land, mysteriously caught fire. Within an hour, another fire outbreak was reported from Chopaka Catholic Church on Lower Similkameen Indian Band land.

Sacred Heart Church and St. Gregory’s Church, located in Canada’s Okanagan area, caught fire on June 21 last month. Both of them were burnt to the ground. While speaking about the matter, Father Sylvester Obi Ibekwe said, “The (Sacred Heart) Church is gone. All I could see were ashes, ruins, rubbles. How could that be? What happened? What can I do now? I felt helpless and powerless.” The police have so far not made any arrests in the case.

First Nation Indians accused of burning Churches, Alberta Premier calls it ‘hate crime’

In a tweet on Wednesday (June 30), journalist Jon Miller blamed First Nation Indians (indigenous tribes) for burning down Churches. He alleged, “Another Catholic Church (St. Jean Baptiste) burst into flames and was razed to the ground in (Morinville) Edmonton as First Nation Indians continue to attack churches across Western Canada.”

After the razing of St. Jean Baptiste church, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney slammed the incident as ‘unacceptable and ‘hate crime.’ He tweeted, “I condemn what appears to be another violent hate crime targeting the Catholic community. The century-old église de Saint-Jean-Baptiste was the heart of Morinville, and a key part of the history and spiritual life of Alberta’s francophone community.”

Meanwhile, two Catholic groups called Oblates, which were involved in running residential schools in Canada, stated, “We remain deeply sorry for our involvement in residential schools and the harms they brought to Indigenous peoples and communities.” They have promised to reveal all historical documents that are available at their disposal. It is believed that the residential school system in Canada had claimed the lives of thousands of children belonging to the indigenous community.

Apart from the children who died in the residential schools, countless others suffered psychological, physical and emotional abuse. The residential schools were government-funded and were operated by the Catholic church to “educate” and assimilate indigenous children in a ‘white, Christian society. Children were separated from their families and were punished for speaking their native language and anything related to native culture and traditions were systematically wiped out.

In 2008, the government of Canada had formally apologised to First Nation people for running the residential schools.

First Nation Indians furious after the discovery of hundreds of human remains

In a statement, the Lower Similkameen India Band’s Chief and Council conceded that the attacks were the result of the ‘grief and rage’ felt by indigenous First Nation Indians, following the discovery of mass burials. “This is a symptom of the intergenerational trauma our survivors and intergenerational descendants are experiencing, there are supports to help deal with these emotions in a more healing way,” the statement read.

Many of the Churches that were burnt during the past two weeks were Catholic Churches. And the mass graves were found in the vicinity of residential schools, run by the said Churches until the 1960s. It was only later that the Canadian federal government took over the reins of the school administration. Reportedly, between the late 19th century and 1996, atleast 130 such residential schools were in operational in the country.

According to Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta grand chief Arthur Noskey, the Churches need to be protected as they are potential evidence sites. He said, “We’ll be talking to our members directly and our elders as well. I know everybody’s hurting and the whole nation is in an uproar, but you know, for us, the truth is coming out.”

Slamming the Vatican Pope, he said, “Don’t even set foot in Canada. (An) apology is going to do nothing,” he said. If I went and took your kids out of school, or anywhere, and abused them in school and in the process, come tell you … ‘I’m sorry,’ what does that do for you?”

Discovery of mass unmarked graves of the indigenous people in Canada

Notably, two mass graves were found earlier, one with 215 graves in Kamloops was found on May 27, 2021, and 751 graves in Saskatchewan were found just a week ago, on June 24. On June 30, another mass grave was reported near a former residential school in Canada. The Lower Kootenay Band, a member band of the Ktunaxa Nation, said that remains of 182 people were found in mass graves close to former St. Eugene’s Mission School in Cranbrook. The graves were spotted with the help of ground-penetrating radar.

According to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), a large number of indigenous children that attended residential schools never made it back to their home communities. Some children ran away while others died at the schools. These students are now called the “Missing Children”. The Missing Children Project documents and deaths and burial sites of such children who died while attending the residential schools. So far, the project has identified over 4,100 children who died while attending a residential school.

In a report published in 2015 after a six-year investigation into the now-defunct system, it was termed as “cultural genocide”. The report documented horrific details of abuse, rape, malnutrition and other atrocities suffered by the students who attended the school. As many as 150,000 were known to have attended the school system between the 1840s and 1990s. The recently discovered remains of 215 are believed to be new burial sites and not included in the list of over 4,100 students who died at the schools.

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