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Telangana: Woman working at Christian priest’s home dies in police custody, officer suspended

OpIndia Staff
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Telangana: Woman working at Christian priest’s home dies in police custody, officer suspended

A 40-year-old woman working as a domestic help at the home of a pastor has died under a mysterious circumstances at a police station in Telangana after she was allegedly tortured in police custody.

According to the reports, Mariyamma, who used to work as a domestic help at local priest Father Balaswamy’s house in Govindapuram village, breathed her last on June 18 after cops allegedly assaulted her. The incident took place at the Addagudur police station under the Rachakonda Police Commissionerate.

Reportedly, the local police had arrested Mariyamma on a complaint filed by local priest Father Balaswamy. In his complaint, Father Balaswamy had alleged that Rs 2 lakh had been stolen from his house and had accused Mariyamma of looting the money.

Following the complaint, the police had arrested Mariyamma from her village in Khammam district on June 17. The police allegedly thrashed Mariyamma on the night of June 17. She fell unconscious on June 18 and died at the police station, alleged Nagarigari Preetham, Congress Scheduled Caste Cell state president. The Congress leader alleged that the cops attempted to hide the incident.

Preetham has demanded action against the police officials involved in the incident. Meanwhile, the cops have claimed that Mariyamma died after she suffered a cardiac arrest at the police station.

Rachakonda Commissioner of Police (CP), Mahesh Bhagwat, said action has been taken against the three cops involved. Disciplinary action has been initiated against the Sub-inspector (SI) and two constables after allegations of custodial assault came to light, he said.

Kanpur: Hindu families put “for sale” signs outside their houses after being forced to convert to Islam, SP MLA accused of shielding the goons

OpIndia Staff
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Kanpur: Hindu families put “for sale” signs outside their houses after being forced to convert to Islam, SP MLA accused of shielding the goons

Something akin to the Kairana exodus is currently underway in UP’s Kanpur, where Hindu families are forced to either convert to Islam or vacate and leave the place. The Hindu families accuse the local Muslim ruffians of threatening, intimidating and coercing them to leave their religion and embrace Islam.

The case pertains to Rail Patri colony under Colonelganj Police station area of Kanpur district, where 10 Hindu families are living under a constant threat of persecution by their Muslim neighbours. On Saturday evening last week, a daughter of a Hindu family was molested by the mobsters of the locality and when the girl’s brother confronted them, the goons barged into their house and assaulted the family members. Reportedly, an attempt was also made to sexually assault the girl.

Following the incident, the family of the victim rushed to the nearby police station and narrated their ordeal to the police. A complaint was registered against 9 known and 3 unknown people. The police have arrested 3 suspects in the case. However, the family of the victim claims 2 of them have already been released by the police.

On-sale signboards put up outside Hindu families in Kanpur locality

Meanwhile, some Hindu families in the locality have scribbled messages and put up “on-sale” signboards outside their houses, informing the prospective buyers that the property is available for sale. The victim’s family have also written a message outside their house, expressing the desire to sell their house and flee the town amidst threats of persecution at the hands of hooligans from the Muslim majority.

Victims claim they have been given only options by the hoodlums—either accept Islam or leave the locality. The victims say they don’t want to abandon their faith and therefore, they have no option but to leave the locality or risk staying here and suffer a terrible fate that awaits them. In order to escape the wrath of the Muslim hooligans in the locality, the Hindu victims have decided to sell their houses and move to a safer location, where they and their family members would not be targeted because they follow Hinduism.

Hindu victims accuse local SP MLA of shielding Muslim hooligans

One of the hooligans who has reportedly threatened the Hindu families in the locality to embrace Islam is a man named Aftab. The victims say Aftab has even threatened them with dire consequences for filing a police complaint against hooliganism by his co-religionists. They allege Aftab had intimidated them saying that once the Yogi Adityanath government is replaced by Samajwadi Party government, they will exact revenge for this case from the Hindu families.

Furthermore, the victims have also accused the local SP MLA Amitabh Bajpai for supporting the Muslim hoodlums. They claim the goons enjoy the patronage of the local MLA, who protects them from any punitive action taken against them by the police.

Kanpur police issue statement

Reacting to reports on Hindus in the area getting threats to convert, Kanpur Police Commissioner Asim Arun has issued a statement saying that they are probing the issue. He informed that an FIR has already been filed on the molestation case of the girl, and now reports of local citizens feeling unsafe have emerged today.

The IPS officer said that police officers have been deputed to probe the matter, and proper action in this regard will be taken including registration of FIRs. He said that nobody will be allowed to create such a situation of fear, the administration will not tolerate issue such threats to their neighbours. If someone is found doing this, actions will be taken against them under NSA and Gangstar Act, Asim Arun said.

Kairana Exodus

The case has an uncanny similarity with the Kairana exodus from the 2014 to 2016 period when a large number of Hindus migrated from Kairana to safer destinations after being threatened by Muslim gangsters. According to the BJP, more than 346 Hindu families left the village. According to the reports, Hindus in Kairana lived under a constant shadow of fear as Muslims, who were in majority in the town, made provocative remarks against Hindu men and passed lewd/taunting remarks against Hindu females.

Covid-19: A third wave may come, but it is not going to especially target children. Facts Vs speculations

Anurag
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Covid-19: A third wave may come, but it is not going to especially target children. Facts Vs speculations

Recently, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) director Dr Randeep Guleria had warned that the third wave might hit India sooner than later. He said people are crowding in markets and malls without following any Covid-appropriate behaviour.

“I feel a third wave may hit earlier, possibly in 12 to 16 weeks,” he added. With the speculations of the third wave to arrive sooner than anticipated, the fear of children getting affected by it the most is housing in the parents’ minds across the country. However, experts do not agree with such speculations. Interestingly, no one knows who started the unsubstantial discourse but it needs to be addressed properly.

Dr Chandrakant Lahariya, medical epidemiologist, in an op-ed published in Times of India, said that all the scientific and epidemiological evidence from all Covid-19 waves suggest children between the ages of 0 to 18 are at relatively low risk of developing moderate to severe disease. While everyone is speculating children to get most affected by the third wave, the available data show a different approach.

According to data, only two to five percent of the Covid-19 cases that needed hospitalization in India were between the age group of 0-18. Notably, this age group comprises of 40 percent of India’s population. On the other hand, adults are at around 10-20 times higher risk of contracting a severe infection.

He said, “There is no evidence from any part of the world that a third or any subsequent wave will affect children disproportionately.” Though the mutants have shown higher transmissibility, there is no change in the virus that may lead to potentially severe infection in any age group.

The flaws in representing the numbers of cases among children

During the months of April and May 2021, there were several reports across media platforms that Maharashtra has been reporting a higher number of infection among children. By that time, the State had reported over 99,000 cases where children were affected by the virus. Going by the numbers, it was a 3.3 times increase in such cases. If the data is checked only to this point, it is more than enough to create panic, especially among parents. However, there is more to the picture.

In these months, Maharashtra reported around 29 lakh Covid-19 cases. Now, 99,000 will make only 3.5 percent of the total cases. Notably, children between the age group of 0-10 make up to 24 percent of the total population in the State. Another point that needs to be considered here is that India reported four times the cases compared to the first wave.

It was obvious that every age group would contribute to the numbers. However, the increase in cases among the 0-10 age group was still less than compared to the older age groups. Dr Lahariya noted that the majority of the children who needed hospitalization had some underlying illness which added to the problem.

‘Media is misleading the public with numbers’

Pradip Awate, State Surveillance Officer for Maharashtra and in charge of monitoring epidemic-prone diseases in the state as part of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme of the Union Health Ministry, talked to The Hindu Business Line on the matter. Asserting the speculations to be baseless, he said that there is no evidence that indicates the virus would mutate to infect children at a high rate.

Blaming media for spreading misinformation, he said that the number of children affected by the virus remained somewhere between 1 to 1.5 percent in the last six months, and it has not fluctuated to an alarming level. He agreed that the number of cases was higher in the recent months but compared to the overall cases reported by the State, the percentage remained largely the same.

“Most importantly, the death rate and complications reported in children are very less compared to adult cases. In May 2021, the death rate in the age group below 18 is 0.007 per cent in Maharashtra. If 10,000 children get affected, one death is reported, and children who have other health issues might face complications,” he added.

On June 1, Dr VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog has explained today that though children are not immune from this infection and do/can get infected, it has not taken serious shape in children. He said that the infected children would either show no symptoms or there will be minimal symptoms.

Dr Sanjay Marathe, known for his studies on pediatric vaccines, said, “There is no documentary or epidemiological evidence that kids will get affected in large numbers in the possible third wave. All is postulation based on statistics. Government has started preparations in anticipation which is a good thing. We need more pediatric beds and ICUs in the future. But, parents need not panic because of this.”

The Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) issued an advisory in which they said, “Children are as susceptible as adults and older individuals to develop infection but not severe disease. It is highly unlikely that the third wave will predominantly or exclusively affect children.”

The advisory also urged the parents to take care of the mental health of their children. It added, “Apart from the infection, parents should watch out for mental health issues in children and keep a watch to prevent child abuse and violence. Also, it is worth limiting screen time and prepare children for safe school reopening as per the IAP guidelines.”

In a discussion paper published by India Task Force established by Lancet titled “Preparing for covid-19 part iii: planning, protocols, and policy guidelines for paediatrics”, it was said, “current statistics indicate a larger number of children with COVID-19 during the second wave in India than the first wave, owing to an overall increase in cases during the second wave, while the proportion of children affected nearly remained unchanged.”

It further added, ” Preliminary review of cases within representative facilities further corroborates the low case severity and low overall mortality rates in children.” During the discussions of the task force, the experts clarified that “there is no reason to suspect or predict that there would be a more severe disease in children in the third wave and it is less likely that the children will be affected more. Third-wave may come following the nature of the virus however managers should get ready.”

Head of Paediatric Pulmonology Dr SK Kabra, AIIMS, said, “The speculation of third-wave hitting children is based on three observations. Firstly there is speculation that below 18 will remain susceptible after immunisation drive began for beneficiaries above 18 years. Secondly, people who already got infected may have resistance against the third wave and thirdly due to immunization of the adult group, there will be a mutation in the virus. All these reasons may not be true though there is a possibility that the third wave of Covid-19 may be there but no reason to believe that this will be more severe in children.”

States preparing for the third wave keeping the speculations in mind

The misleading media reports did affect the policymaking process, and states have started to prepare for the third wave keeping possibilities of children being affected by the virus at a higher rate in the third wave. As per reports, the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights recommended setting up paediatric Covid taskforces in every district. On June 22, it was reported that the state has set up an expert committee to protect children from a possible third wave.

In a report submitted by the committee, they estimated that around 3.4 lakh children in Karnataka are likely to be affected during the third wave of Covid-19. It also explained the challenges that the healthcare system in the state may face while managing Covid-19 infection in children and suggested measures to control the spread.

On June 22, C Vijayabaskar, Former Health Minister of Tamil Nadu, urged the state government to be prepared with at least one lakh Covid pediatric beds. DT Next quoted him saying, “AIIMS has warned that the country will soon face a third wave of COVID-19 and more shocking news is that children below the age of 18 years would be affected more. With a population of 1.71 crores below 18 years, experts warn that at least 10 percent of children will be affected, which will take the count to close to 20 lakh. Among them, at least 10 percent would be hospitalised, which would take the count to 2 lakh. If not for 2 lakh, the state government should be ready for at least 1 lakh Covid pediatric beds.”

In May itself, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath had announced that 100 additional pediatric beds would be installed in each district to combat the third wave of Covid-19 infection. Reports suggested that he directed the state health officials to make special arrangements in the hospitals to ensure the best treatment for severely infected children.

UNICEF’s detailed FAQ on Covid-19 in Children

In a detailed FAQ sheet, UNICEF said, “As the number of people across India testing positive for the COVID-19 has increased, the number of children contracting the virus has also increased. However, we have not seen a sudden spike in the overall percentage of children affected by COVID-19 in India.” The organization clearly mentioned that though the number of children affected by Covid-19 in the second wave was higher, there was no sudden spike in the overall percentage.

The experts from UNICEF, World Health Organization (WHO), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), and the National Neonatology Forum (NNF), worked on the FAQs. They urged the parents not to panic if their child contracts Covid-19 infection.

The experts urged everyone to follow Covid-19 protocols and maintain social distance. It was advised to stay at home as much as possible. If anyone contracts the virus in the family, the first step is to isolate the patient in the family so that the virus does not spread among other members. No one should enter the room where the family member is isolating. The proper treatment advised by the doctor must be followed. In case all family members are hospitalized but children, the authorities must be notified about the situation on 1098 so that they can take care of the children while the family members are recovering. More details can be read here.

Prepare for the worst anyway

Though the evidence does not point towards the possibility of children getting most affected by Covid-19 during the third wave, there is no harm in preparing for it. Increasing the number of pediatric Covid beds will only help in avoiding the possibility. However, as the experts said, there is no need for the parents to panic. Instead, follow the Covid-19 protocols and ensure you take all the precautions to avoid infection in the family.

Communist goons butcher 25 pet-pigeons of 11-year-old boy in Kerala because his family had cooperated with Sewa Bharati

OpIndia Staff
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Communist goons butcher 25 pet-pigeons of 11-year-old boy in Kerala because his family had cooperated with Sewa Bharati

In a shocking incident in Kerala, 25 pet pigeons were butchered by Communist goons just because the family of the owner co-operated with Sewa Bharati. As per a report published by the Organizer, the incident took place in the Alappuzha district of Kerala. The pigeons belonged to an 11-year-old child named Christy Devasya.

The child’s family helped Sewa Bharati to provide food to Covid patients in the Maruthorvattam region in Cherthala. When the communist goons learn about the support that family provided to the organization, they killed the birds to teach the family a ‘lesson’.

Reportedly, Benny, the father of the child, was earlier associated with the communist party. However, he changed his path due to some differences with the party members, and since then, he had been staying away from the party activities. The family has decided not to file a complaint as they fear future attacks by CPM goons.

Senior BJP and RSS leaders recently visited Benny’s home and assured full support after learning about the incident. Notably, Sewa Bharati is an RSS affiliated organization. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the organization has helped thousands of affected people with oxygen, food, and medicine. From distributing food packets to manufacturing masks at war footing, Sewa Bharti volunteers have worked extensively during the pandemic time. In Delhi alone, the organization was running 45 kitchens to provide food to the needy during the pandemic.

Fact Check: Drunk driver thrashed by locals after causing damage, AAP’s Amanatullah Khan claims it is because he is Muslim

OpIndia Staff
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Fact Check: Drunk driver thrashed by locals after causing damage, AAP’s Amanatullah Khan claims it is because he is Muslim

AAP leader Amanatullah Khan recently shared a video on his Twitter page that is now going viral. In the video, a young man is seen being thrashed and kicked around by an angry mob of people, who push him on the road and rain kicks at him. One of them even tries to crush the man with a bike.

However, in his tweet, Khan gave the incident a communal spin, alluding that Muslims are being increasingly brutalised and subjected to violence under the BJP rule in the country.

“In the new India, new milestones are being set in this way. If your humanity is alive, you will be sad to see this. Like every other occasion, a man wearing a ” skull cap-kurta-beard” will be the victim of savagery. Though the BJP government has been incapable of providing development, they are foremost in spreading hatred. Sad!” Khan tweeted along with the video of a man being assaulted by a mob.

Source: Twitter

What is the truth about the incident?

Contrary to what Amanatullah Khan would have us believe, the assault against young man has no religious angle. In the video, the mob of people, who is seen attacking the man could be heard speaking in Marathi. There is no reference to the religion of the youth anywhere in the video. Clearly, the youth’s faith is not a reason for the assault mounted against him.

According to Divya Marathi, a Marathi vernacular daily under the umbrella of Bhaskar Group, the incident pertains to the Amravati district in Maharashtra. On June 15, 2021, a bike parked outside the residence of a person named Mahendra Basavanathe was rammed by a speeding four-wheeler and dragged along for about 2 km.

The youth was beaten after he rammed a vehicle into a bike and dragged it along for 2 kms

The onlookers took note of the incident and quickly pursued the driver. When they intercepted his car and accosted the driver, Mohammad Faizan, they found him driving under the influence of alcohol. Enraged that he was in an inebriated state and causing damages to people’s property, the angry mob of people pulled him out of the car, made him lie on the road, and thrashed him. He was handed over to the police later.

As per reports, there was no religious motivation for the crowd to attack the intoxicated driver. They had simply attacked him because he was driving under the influence of alcohol and had caused damages to the bike.

Yet, AAP leader Amanatullah Khan falsely gave a communal flair to the incident, alleging that the man was beaten by the mob because he was an observant Muslim who dutifully wore skull cap, a kurta and grew a beard.

The Ghaziabad fake hate crime: Incident where the usual suspects falsely communalised an assault incident to defame ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans

The incident of falsely communalising an incident reminds one of the recent Ghaziabad fake hate crime. On June 5, 2021, Abdul Samad from Ghaziabad was thrashed by Parvez Gujjar, Aarif, Adil, Mushahid, Kallu and a few others for selling an amulet to the prime accused which allegedly had ‘adverse effects’ on his family.

Days later, Alt News co-founder Muhammed Zubair uploaded a muted video (which now stands deleted) of the incident where the victim was being assaulted and Tweeted that the man was threatened at gunpoint, beaten, assaulted and the perpetrators forcefully chopped off his beard, adding claims that the accused forced the man to chant Jai Shri Ram.

Even though the Ghaziabad Police issued a clarification, dismissing the claims that the assault was a hate crime, the left-liberal ‘intellectuals’ and media portals continued to amplify that Samad was beaten for being a Muslim. It was later revealed that a nefarious attempt was made to defame ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans. The police arrested Samajwadi Party leader Ummed Pahalwan, who confessed to having used the Ghaziabad crime by giving it a false communal angle to gain political mileage ahead of the UP state assembly elections. 

UP Police’s investigation has found that there was no religious angle in the crime as the victim and accused were known to each other and the case was that of personal animosity. While Zubair, Rana Ayyub, The Wire, Salman Nizami, Maksoor Usmani, Sama Mohammad and Saba Naqvi have been booked for spreading misleading and fake news, Twitter has been booked by the Ghaziabad police for the lack of action against these seven and allowing usage of its platform to spread fake news.

‘Is your father a mali or chowkidar? I will cancel your license, H*r*m*zade’: Maneka Gandhi threatens vets in viral audios

OpIndia Staff
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‘Is your father a mali or chowkidar? I will cancel your license, H*r*m*zade’: Maneka Gandhi threatens vets in viral audios

BJP Minister Maneka Gandhi has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons. After her alleged audio abusing a businessman went viral on social media in January, yet another call recording of her using expletives against a veterinarian is doing the rounds on social media.

It is notable here that Maneka Gandhi is a BJP MP from the Sultanpur Constituency. She was minister of women and child welfare in the former Modi government from 2014 to 2019.

In the audio file that is going viral on social media, the voice of a lady, allegedly that of Maneka Gandhi, can be heard using foul language with extremely rude mannerisms while speaking with a veterinarian doctor who had treated a dog. The dog allegedly could not recover well. Threatening to cancel his veterinary license, Gandhi called the doctor ‘Haramzaade’, “Harami’, ‘Haramkhor’ and ‘Chutiya.’

Gandhi was allegedly upset over the dog’s amputation surgery going wrong. Without giving the doctor a chance to speak, she called him illiterate. However, the doctor on call did inform that the owner insisted on taking the dog back after amputation surgery. He said that they had advised the owner to be cautious as the dog might try to tear open the stitches. 

The doctor alleged that the owner agreed to be careful, but got the dog back the next day with torn stitches. Gandhi who seemed not to be in the mood to hear the doctor’s side of the story, belittled his family and even attacked his caste.

“What is your full name?” asked Gandhi. “Vikas Sharma,” the doctor replied. “You do not use your full name because you are a blot on your family,” exclaimed Gandhi. 

Calling him a ‘jholachaap’, Gandhi was heard even dragging the vet’s family into her abusive rant. “Tumhara baap kya karta hai? Koi maali hai chowkidar hai kya hai? (What does your father do? Is he a gardener or a watchman?),” asked Gandhi. 

She also threatened the doctor of snatching his license if the dog dies and asked him to treat the dog again at his own expense. 

Veterinary association protest against Gandhi

Calling June 23 as a ‘Black Day’, the Indian Veterinary Association in a letter have condemned the unruly behavior and unparliamentary language used by Maneka Gandhi against doctors. 

In the letter, the association also emphasized on Gandhi’s demand for compensation.

Letter by Indian Veterinary Association. Image Source: Twitter

Condemning such vile and abusive behaviour coming from a parliamentarian, the association has asserted that the PM and the speaker of Lok Sabha have been apprised of Maneka’s Gandhi’s behaviour and threats. 

Students of Banaras Hindu University have also staged a protest in the college demanding an apology from the minister. 

Gandhi confronts senior doctor

In another call recording, Gandhi can be heard accusing a senior doctor of ‘killing’ a dog. The doctor who seems to be known to Gandhi explains that the said dog was severely sick, and it was euthanized as per the owner’s request.

However, Gandhi continues to accuse him of killing and hounds him for an answer. When the doctor refused to reply to her derogatory questions citing he is not answerable to her in any way, Gandhi once again threatens to cancel his license. 

The doctor who has been in practice for 25 years suggested she can do what she deems right since she is a minister in power. Irked by the comment, Gandhi calls his profession a ‘dhanda.’

Maneka Gandhi heard abusing a businessman

An alleged conversation between BJP leader Maneka Gandhi and a businessman called Ramalingam had gone viral in January on the internet where the former can be heard saying that she will get the latter booked in a sexual harassment case. The conversation is reported to have occurred after Ramalingam allegedly hit a dog with a bat.

During the conversation, Maneka Gandhi can be allegedly heard calling the man ‘Goonda’, ‘scoundrel’ and accused him of harassing one Malati Shah and Nitin. The BJP leader tells Ramalingam, “You will not harass…I will put sexual harassment case against you. You are harassing Malati Shah, You are harassing Nitin. You are going place to place talking nonsense. You are known as local goonda. You are jobless. Trying to get into politics, harass people through that. Do you understand?”

Gandhi who claims to be a dog lover has often been heard making obnoxious remarks and accusing people of wrong-doings without listening to their side of the story.

The cradle of Islamic terrorism: New German documentary shows Pakistan’s ISI sponsoring terror attacks in Europe

OpIndia Staff
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The cradle of Islamic terrorism: New German documentary shows Pakistan’s ISI sponsoring terror attacks in Europe

A new German documentary probing the roots of Islamic extremism reveals how the mastermind of the Paris 2015 attacks, Muhammad Ghani Usman, was involved in the operational planning of the Mumbai 26/11 attacks. Usman is a Pakistani national and a Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist.

The documentary titled ‘The Business with Terror’ sought to answer questions about who was financing, planning and commissioning terror attacks in Europe. The makers of the documentary follow the trail which led them to the conclusion that almost all Islamic terror attacks that have happened in Europe, the United States, and other western countries had some or other link to Pakistan and its intelligence service Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Shortly after the Paris attacks in 2015, when several groups of Islamic terrorists worked in tandem to carry out multiple terror attacks, the mastermind of the attacks, Muhammad Ghani Usman, was arrested. His interrogation revealed that not only were the Paris attacks modelled on the Mumbai 26/11 attacks but Usman, a Pakistani national, played a pivotal role in planning the gruesome attack that shook India’s finance capital on the dreadful night of November 26, 2008.

“This man was a key member of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. It is believed that he was a part of the operations planning for the attacks in Mumbai in 2008. Yet, nothing was done,” the documentary broadcasted by DW quotes London-based security analyst Sajjan Gohel as saying.

Source: YouTube

French investigators suspect that Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks and the suicide bombings in Brussels, sent Usman and Haddadi to Europe to carry out attacks. Usman, the 34-year-old bomb-maker, was arrested in October 2015 along with his Algerian aide and suspected Islamic State fighter Adel Haddadi soon after they arrived on the Greek island of Leros along with 200 other refugees for carrying a forged passport.

According to the investigators, there were two other men in the boat who later blew themselves up outside Stade de France stadium, one of the audacious attacks of its kind on European soil. Haddadi and Usman were arrested by Greek authorities for 25 days because they had fake Syrian passports. Because they were detained, they could not make it to Paris for the attacks. Once they were allowed to go, they followed the main migrant trail and made it to Salzburg in western Austria at the end of November – after the Paris attacks. They applied for asylum at a refugee shelter in Salzburg.

However, the two were arrested again in December 2015 when a fingerprint search connected them to the passports stolen by the Islamic State. An Austrian court later ordered their transfer to France for trial.

Sajid Mir: Terrorist who is known to be a co-ordinator of terror attacks

In 2019, the National Investigation Agency interrogated Usman in connection with the Mumbai terror attacks. The premier agency later said that Usman was in touch with David Coleman Headley, the Pakistan-origin US terrorist who plotted the 2008 Mumbai attack and carried out a recce of potential targets.

The documentary then traces the origins of the number of terror attacks that have rocked Europe in the last few years. The intelligence officials quoted in the film say Sajjad Mir to be one of the nodal contacts that used to coordinate highly sophisticated terror attacks in the Western countries.

“Suspects in the US confirm the existence of Sajid Mir and his role in recruiting and indoctrinating westerners with an aim of sending them back to Europe or the US to carry out attacks in the name of LeT,” the documentary quoted Jean-Louis Bruguiere, a former French investigative judge, anti-terrorism.

Mumbai Police officer Deven Bharti, who was among the first to reach one of the sites attacked by Pakistani terrorists in November 2008 said he got hold of a mobile phone used by the terrorists after they were neutralised. He posed as a waiter of the hotel to know the identity of the handlers instructing the terrorists to continue their rampage in Mumbai. It was Sajid Mir, Bharti recalls, who was issuing instructions to the terrorists to inflict maximum damage and occupy a vantage position to prolong the attacks.

David Coleman Headley: Man who plotted Mumbai 26/11 was working at the behest of Lashkar-e-Toiba and Pakistan’s ISI

The focus of the documentary then shifts to David Coleman Headley, the American terrorist who is serving 35 years in jail for his role in the Mumbai terror attacks. Early in his career, Headley worked as a DEA agent but was caught for smuggling heroin from Pakistan. He was let off the hook after he vowed to become an informant for the DEA and help them stop the smuggling of contraband in the United States.

However, David Headley is caught again for his growing closeness with Lashkar-e-Toiba. Around the same time, the 9/11 attacks occur and the US agencies shift their focus to stopping terror attacks from Al Qaeda and other western-focused terror organisations. The CIA strikes a deal with Headley for not pursuing a case against him. They send him as a US agent to Pakistan, where he is asked to foster ties with Lashkar-e-Toiba and help the United States in its fight against terrorism.

Headley establishes contact with Lashkar-e-Toiba and grows thick with its leadership. Meanwhile, he is also contacted by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence(ISI) and its chief Major Iqbal, who uses Headley’s American identity to hatch a terror attack against India. Headley is sent to Mumbai under the guise of a consultant and asked to do a recce of potential targets for attacks. At this point in time, Headley is working as a double agent, for the CIA as well as for Pakistan’s ISI.

David Headley, a double agent who worked for the CIA as well as for Pakistan’s ISI

Headley provides invaluable information about locations in Mumbai which are later used by Pakistani terrorists to carry out the ghastly attacks on November 26, 2008. Even as Headley was in Mumbai reconnoitring the possible targets of attack, he was continuously monitored by the British secret services MI6. However, they failed to intimate the Indian agencies of a possible terror plot hatched by him and his Pakistani handlers.

In the aftermath of the attacks, David Coleman Headley shifted back to the United States. The documentary shows Coleman later homes in on Denmark’s capital Copenhagen to emulate the attacks that took place in Mumbai. He carries out a recce of locations in Copenhagen, such a synagogue, a Danish newspaper that published the cartoons on Prophet Muhammad and other places for attack.

A CIA officer interviewed by the makers of the documentary says Coleman was planning to be one of the attackers who would storm the selected places in Copenhagen and open indiscriminate fire on the bystanders, just as the Pakistani terrorists did at several places in Mumbai. However, the MI6, which is closely monitoring Headley’s activity, gets wind of his plan. This time around, they inform their US counterpart and help avert an imminent attack on Denmark’s capital.

Headley is arrested from Chicago. The documentary says that despite repeated backstabbing by Headley, the US agencies strike a deal with him, possibly to hide their association with the terrorist responsible for plotting the Mumbai 26/11 attacks. According to the deal, Headley would escape extradition to India and a possible death penalty and serve 35 years in prison in a US jail. In return, Headley is supposed to purse his lips. It is worth noting that American intelligence has still not shared the financial transactions of Headley with India.

Sanjay Gandhi death anniversary: How three attempts were made to kill him before he died in a plane crash

OpIndia Staff
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Sanjay Gandhi death anniversary: How three attempts were made to kill him before he died in a plane crash

On June 23, 1980, Indira Gandhi’s younger son, Sanjay Gandhi, died in a plane crash. The controversial former Member of Parliament from Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, faced three assassination attempts throughout his life. He was a key figure during an emergency, but according to Wikileaks Cables, Indira Gandhi did not see him as a leader but only as a ‘small fry‘ or a Karyakarta for Congress Party.

Congress paid tribute to Sanjay Gandhi on his death anniversary. Source: Twitter

In September 1976 dispatch, the US Embassy reported that the younger son of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was targeted by an unknown assailant. Though the attack was a “well-planned assassination attempt”, Gandhi escaped and was not seriously injured. According to the Cable, he was shot three times on August 30 or 31 during an emergency.

As the cable mentioned, he was not seriously injured, it can be assumed that he sustained some form of injuries, but their nature was not specified. Interestingly, the cable-based information of the assassination attempt of the information supplied by sources in Indian intelligence. The cable stated, “According to Indian intelligence, this is the third attempt on the younger Gandhi’s life.” It further blamed the revolutionary elements sponsored by ‘outside forces’ for the attack.

The telegraphic communication provided by US intelligence to the State Department on September 6, 1976, read, “Indira Gandhi’s son Sanjay was shot three times on August 30 or 31 by an unknown assailant, according to a confidential source, but was not critically injured. The shots were apparently fired by a high-powered rifle in a well-planned assassination attempt while Sanjay was visiting the state of Uttar Pradesh. According to Indian intelligence, this is the third attempt on the younger Gandhi’s life. Information concerning the incident is under tight control at present, but the attack will eventually be blamed on “revolutionary elements sponsored by outside powers”.”

Sanjay Gandhi’s crashed plane. Source Jagran

Before the Wikileaks cable made the document public, there was no information about any such attempt on Sanjay’s life. Other US cables described the role of Sanjay Gandhi in Indian politics as an authoritarian figure behind the Emergency who worked extensively to ensure his mother’s power remained unchallenged.

When Janata Party came to power, several investigations were commenced. However, none of them mentioned any attempts on the life of Sanjay Gandhi. The 33-year-old young MP was killed in the plane crash on June 23, 1980, soon after Congress came back to power.

Sanjay Gandhi preparing to fly a small plane. Source: Newstrend

According to some claims, Sanjay ignored his elder brother’s advice to wear proper shoes in the cockpit while flying the plane. When he was flying the advanced Pitts S-2A aircraft, he was reportedly wearing Kolhapuri Chappals while dressed in Kurta-Payjama. When the plane crashed, he was flying it low and indulged in some rackless manoeuvres, possibly resulting in the crash.

The Sydney Morning Herald Report on Sanjay Gandhi’s Death. Source: Google News Archives

Sanjay, and the accompanying pilot and instructor of Delhi Flying Club, Captain Subhash Saxena, died on the spot. The Sydney Morning Herald reported on June 24, 1980, that he died of head injuries.

Pakistan: Blast near terrorist leader Hafiz Saeed’s house in Lahore leaves 2 dead, 12 injured

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan: Blast near terrorist leader Hafiz Saeed’s house in Lahore leaves 2 dead, 12 injured

A blast near Islamist terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba cofounder Hafiz Saeed’s house left two people dead and 12 injured. As per Pakistani media, his house has also sustained damage. The blast has left a huge crater and damaged nearby windows.

Investigations are on whether the blast was due to pipeline burst or cylinder or it was just an inadvertent bomb blast near terrorist leader’s home.

An eyewitness told Geo News that an unidentified individual parked a motorcycle near the house which later exploded. The area has been cordoned off and further investigation is on.

As of now, four people are shifted to hospital.

Kerala govt gives govt jobs to wives of CPI(M) members accused of killing Congress workers, after going to Supreme Court to protect them

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala govt gives govt jobs to wives of CPI(M) members accused of killing Congress workers, after going to Supreme Court to protect them

In Kasaragod district in Kerala, kins of CPI(M) members who have been in judicial custody for killing two Youth Congress workers in 2019 have been granted government jobs. Wives of CPI(M) members M Peethambaran, C J Saji and Suresh have been appointed at a district government hospital by the panchayat. 

Youth Congress workers Kripesh and Sarath Lal were allegedly killed in February 2019 by the aforementioned CPI(M) members and the trio has been in judicial custody since then. As per reports, there were four vacancies for last-grade servants at the hospital. Out of the 100 people shortlisted, three vacancies were given to the families of the arrested accused.

The Kerala govt has been trying to protect the party workers accused in the murder. The charge sheet filed by the state police had named them prosecution witnesses instead of accused, and when the High Court had transferred the case to CBI, the state govt had gone to Supreme Court to prevent it. However, the apex court had rejected the plea by the Kerala govt.

District panchayat refutes allegations

Shanavas Podhur, Kasaragod district panchayat vice-president, said the appointment was not deliberate. 

“The posting of wives of party workers involved in the twin political murders was not deliberate. It happened so. The hospital is managed by the district panchayat, but this time we were not involved in the interview of the applicants. However, such political recommendations are common. This is only a temporary appointment,” he added.

Sarath Lal’s father Sathynarayanan condemned the appointments. Calling the appointment a ‘heinous act’, he said, “It showed the CPI(M) is with the killers.”

The previous LDF government had opposed when the families of the two Youth Congress workers had moved the court seeking a CBI probe. The government had spent Rs 90 lakh for hiring senior advocates from the Supreme Court who had argued against the CBI probe. However, the court last year handed over the case to the central agency last year.

Twin political murder

Kripesh, 24 and Sarath Lal, 29, were attacked in February 2019 by CPI(M) workers who had approached in a car. The victims were on a bike when they were attacked.

While Kripesh died on the spot, Sarath succumbed to his injuries on the way to the hospital in Mangalore. The Crime Branch of the Kerala Police had investigated the case and charged 14 CPM workers and leaders for the double murder. But the police had named the prime suspects as prosecution witnesses.

Due to this anomaly, a Kerala High Court single bench had quashed the chargesheet and transferred the case to the CBI in 2019. However, the government refused to hand over the case diary to the CBI, and had appealed against the order before the division bench. After the division bench refused to stay the single bench order, the state govt had moved the Supreme Court. But the apex court also had refused to stay the HC order, and the case was finally handed over to CBI.

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