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Drone attack at Jammu airbase: Agencies suspect LeT link, say Pakistan might have used drones it brought from China for pizza delivery

OpIndia Staff
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Drone attack at Jammu airbase: Agencies suspect LeT link, say Pakistan might have used drones it brought from China for pizza delivery

It was reported on June 27th, 2021, how two 1.5 kilograms, pressure-activated explosive devices were dropped inside an Indian Air Force’s base in Jammu by a drone, just missing a hangar where helicopters are parked. Today, the Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh has revealed that preliminary investigation into the drone attack has pointed to the involvement of Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba in the attack, reports India Today.

Agencies probing whether drone used for attack was amongst those which Pakistan brought from China to deliver Pizzas

Security agencies are also probing whether the drones used for the attack was amongst those that Pakistan had brought in bulk from its all-whether ally, China. As per India Today’s report, Indian security agencies had intel that Pakistan had brought many drones from China for the delivery of pizzas and medicines in the country. The agencies have said that it is now a matter of investigation whether the drones used for the Sunday attack on the IAF airbase were the same Chinese drones.

The J and K Police chief had earlier confirmed that the twin explosions inside the Indian Air Force base’s high-security zone on Sunday were a “terror attack”.

Agencies believe drones used by Pakistani terrorists took off from close proximity of the IAF airbase

The agencies probing the incident could not find any trace of the two drones that dropped explosives at the Indian Air Force station in Jammu on Sunday. The agencies did a careful investigation of the debris and its surroundings and could not find any clue about the drones, leaving them to believe that they were most likely pulled back by the handlers later. The agencies are now trying to trace the drones through any internal or external CCTV footage, reports India Today.

The report further read that sources in the agencies probing the attack have said that it is almost certain that the drones used by terrorists to target the strategic assets of the Indian Air Force located inside the airbase, were small quadcopters and it is possible that they took off from close proximity of the Jammu airbase. They added that had bigger drones been used for the attack it would have been detected as it would come to the notice of radars in the area.

While the investigations in the incident are still going on, reports suggest that the security officials spotted drones at three different locations, including the Sunjwan military camp, in Jammu at around 2.30 am today. The drone, however, couldn’t be traced after some time, they added. With this, a total of 5 drones have been spotted in the last three days.

Drone attack was carried out at Jammu airbase to target IAF’s strategic assets

On May 27, the drone dropped the bombs at a location close to the Helicopter hangar. The IAF suspect that these attacks were intended to target the strategic assets of the Indian Air Force located inside the airbase. However, the forces managed to intercept and thwart the second attack minimizing the damage successfully.

As per CNN News18, this is the first time such a drone attack has been carried out against the country’s defence establishment. The IAF patrol team saw the ammunition being dropped.

“There is no damage to any aircraft in the blasts. Two personnel suffered minor injuries,” the Indian Air Force sources said to ANI. The India-Pakistan border is about 14 kms from the Air Force station and as per reports, previously weapons have been dropped as far as 12 kms within Indian territory with the help of drones.

Speaking about the drone activities seen in Jammu, MoS MHA, GK Reddy was quoted by ANI as saying today: “Pakistan earlier too had attacked the border; security forces had stopped the drones from entering the borders and destroyed them. Discussions have been held by high level security forces & further investigation will take place”. 

UP Police book Nadeem and Usman for forcibly converting a Sikh girl in Muzaffarnagar, 1 arrested: Here is what we know so far

OpIndia Staff
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UP Police book Nadeem and Usman for forcibly converting a Sikh girl in Muzaffarnagar, 1 arrested: Here is what we know so far

Days after two cases of alleged forced conversion were reported from Jammu & Kashmir, it has now come to light that a Sikh girl was subjected to forced conversion and sexual exploitation under the pretext of marriage. The incident took place in the Khatauli city in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh.

As per reports, the accused have been identified as one Usman and his brother Nadeem. The victim reportedly knew Usman for over 2 years. She has accused him of sexually exploiting her under the pretext of marriage. The victim informed that the two accused had prepared a fake certificate of her marriage with Usman on May 19 this year. She alleged that the certificate mentioned her name as one Jannat Qureshi, while her father’s name was written as Iqbal Qureshi.

The Sikh girl has also informed that Usman had borrowed ₹2 lacs from her by forcing her to close a fixed deposit account of ₹3 lacs. Two days after their alleged marriage, Usman married a Muslim girl on May 21, 2020. She alleged that on asking the accused about her money and Usman’s newly married wife, Nadeem brutally assaulted her. When the incident came to light, it generated widespread resentment within the Sikh community.

Police arrest Usman, Nadeem still absconding

The police have arrested Usman while his brother Nadeem is still on the run from the law enforcement authorities. On the basis of the complaint filed by the victim, the cops have booked them under Sections 3 and 5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020. Reportedly, the Sikh community in Muzaffarnagar is pleased with the Yogi Adityanath government for the rapid action taken by the police. OpIndia tried to reach the Khatuali police station but the call was not answered.

The government of Uttar Pradesh had passed a paw against forced religious conversions or conversions done with the lure of money or other incentives. Under this law, several arrests have been made where non-Muslim girls were made to convert. The law does not ban interfaith marriages. To ensure that the conversion has not taken place under coercion and after marriage, the law demands that two month’s advance notice is given at the district magistrate’s office.

Under the law, a person seeking to convert into another religion and the person who is performing the conversions must both notify the DM’s office with valid reasons and declarations. The application also has to be made in person to ensure that the conversion is not taking place under coercion or allurement.

Grooming Jihad: Wahab became Deshraj to lure Hindu girl, converted her to Islam after blackmailing her with objectionable videos

OpIndia Staff
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Grooming Jihad: Wahab became Deshraj to lure Hindu girl, converted her to Islam after blackmailing her with objectionable videos

A case of grooming jihad has come to light in Amarsanda village under Kursi police station of district Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. As per reports, a Muslim man identified as Abdul Wahab lured a Hindu girl by identifying himself as Deshraj Gautam. He made objectionable videos of her and used them to blackmail her to convert and marry him. Barabanki Police has arrested the accused.

According to Additional Superintendent of Police Awadhesh Singh of Barabanki Police, the girl’s father, who is a farmer, had complained about the accused. In the complaint, he said that the Muslim youth started cultivating his land as Batai two years ago. The accused kept his identity secret and told him that his name was Deshraj Gautam. He also presented his brother as Hansraj.

Media reports suggest that Wahab kept visiting the farmer’s house and lured his daughter. One day he raped her and made a video of her. He used the video to blackmail her. He pressured her to convert to Islam and marry him. When the girl refused to agree to his demands, he kidnapped her on June 20.

On June 23, based on the complaint of the girl’s relatives, the Police recovered her from Abdul Rashid’s house in Peed Village, Devan Kotwali area. The Police also arrested the accused Wahab. After Police took the accused into custody, the matter of their marriage came to light. Wahab showed a marriage committee certificate in which the victim’s name was changed to Simran. The date of the marriage on the certificate was March 15, 2020. As per reports, the accused and his family are threatening the victim’s family to take the case back.

According to the report published on News18, a Hindu organization has alleged that Wahab is already married and has a 5-year-old kid. Reportedly Wahab has lured three other girls into a similar trap. The Police said that the case is under investigation.

Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta writes to NHRC about violence in Tarakeshwar by TMC goons: Houses looted, businesses shut, women brutalised

OpIndia Staff
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Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta writes to NHRC about violence in Tarakeshwar by TMC goons: Houses looted, businesses shut, women brutalised

In a letter to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta submitted details of the post-poll violence in Tarakeshwar in the Hooghly district of West Bengal. The letter was addressed to Rajiv Jain of NHRC.

Swapan Dasgupta, who had contested the West Bengal polls from the Tarakeshwar constituency, informed the human rights body that the residents of the city have been subjected to continued atrocities by the ruling Trinamool Congress party. He emphasised that the reason for their persecution was their political affiliation to the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP).

Dasgupta pointed out, “The houses of BJP workers and supporters have been systematically identified, looted, and demolished. Several workers were brutally attacked while others threatened with dire consequences. Hundreds of people were rendered homeless and fled from Tarakeswar to save their lives. Some of these individuals are still unable to return home.”

Screengrab of the letter by Swapan Dasgupta, image via Anindya

He added that several businesses, belonging to BJP workers, were shut down forcibly and that the ruling dispensation demanded ‘protection money’ for allowing them to earn their livelihood. He highlighted a total of 9 specific cases, where Trinamool Congress goons resorted to violence and vandalism. Two of the undisclosed BJP workers were stopped and threatened from entering their homes. The chamber of a BJP worker, who is a doctor by profession, was captured and converted into a TMC club. A Muslim BJP worker was prevented from offering Namaz during Eid.

According to Swapan Dasgupta, the house of an area General Secretary was vandalised. A BJP worker, who is a car dealer by profession, had all his cars broken and damaged by TMC thugs. The Rajya Sabha MP said, “In this regard, I’m attaching a complaint earlier lodged with the Tarakeshwar Police Station on which no action has been initiated so far. The complaint contains a list of more than 260 victims of post-poll violence. It is neither complete nor exhaustive but should provide you with an adequate starting point for action.”

Screengrab of the letter by Swapan Dasgupta, image via Anindya

He further requested, “At the earliest convenience, I urge you to schedule a full committee visit to Tarakeshwar, to assess and sanction relief to the deprived. In terms of reference, the Committee should identify persons, prima-facie, responsible for crime and the officers who maintained calculated silence on the issue. Further, those who fled in fear of retributive violence ought to be able to return to their homes and places of business opened.” Swapan Dasgupta added that he will be willing to co-operate and urged NHRC to act on the matter with utmost urgency.

Post poll violence in West Bengal

During post-poll violence, over two dozen BJP karyakartas were reportedly killed. In a report submitted by the Group of Intellectuals and Academicians (GIA), it was mentioned that those who suffered the wrath of TMC workers after winning the elections were from marginal sections of Hindu society who had voted for BJP.

According to the reports, women were raped, houses were ransacked, shops were looted, and several Hindu families migrated to neighbouring states to save themselves from the goons of TMC. Multiple women, in their testimonies to the Supreme Court, have revealed the brutal rapes, gang rapes and sexual assault as well as other atrocities unleashed upon them because of their support to the BJP.

‘Not permitted to act as a lawless no-man’s-land’: Texas SC rules that Facebook could be held liable for sex trafficking on its platform

OpIndia Staff
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‘Not permitted to act as a lawless no-man’s-land’: Texas SC rules that Facebook could be held liable for sex trafficking on its platform

The Texas Supreme Court ruled on June 25 (Friday) that the social media giant Facebook.Inc can be held liable if the sex traffickers use the platform to prey on teenagers. The court was hearing the case filed by three women victims claiming that they were pushed into prostitution as teenagers by the sexual predators who used Facebook to ensnare them.

Facebook not adapting measures to block such sexual predators for profits

The plaintiffs claimed that Facebook was negligent and has not adapted effective measures to block such sex traffickers because of the monetary benefits it gets from advertising to more than 2 billion users. In the lawsuit, the women claimed that Facebook won’t use their advertising space for public service announcements regarding the dangers of sex trafficking.

Justice James Blacklock of the Texas Supreme Court said in its ruling that the victims can sue Facebook under a state law that allows legal action against those who benefit from sex trafficking. However, he added that as per the federal law, the victims cannot claim that Facebook has failed to warn children and take action to stop sex trafficking on its website.

Meanwhile, Facebook in its defence told the SC that it is protected under Section 230, an internet law that says online platforms are not responsible for third party content posted on the service’s site.

Rejecting the argument the court ruled: “The statutory claim for knowingly or intentionally benefiting from participation in a human-trafficking venture is not barred by Section 230”.

Justice James Blacklock of the Texas Supreme Court sent the case back to the district court for further proceedings and suggested that the Section 230 provisions written in 1996, maybe outdated and needs to be reworked upon.

“Perhaps advances in technology now allow online platforms to more easily police their users’ posts,” Blacklock said. “On the other hand, perhaps subjecting online platforms to greater liability for their users’ injurious activity would reduce freedom of speech on the internet by encouraging platforms to censor ‘dangerous’ content to avoid lawsuits.”

Social media giant Twitter sued by a sex trafficking victim

It is pertinent to note here that in January this year, another social media giant, Twitter was marred by a similar controversy, after it allegedly refused to take down widely shared pornographic images and videos of a child sex trafficking victim. Twitter has claimed that the images and videos of the child sex trafficking victim do not violate its company policies.

The federal lawsuit, filed on January 20th, 2021, by the victim and his mother in the Northern District of California, alleged that Twitter made money by circulating porn clips, which showed a 13-year-old engaged in sex acts, basically child pornography.

These sort of disturbing lawsuits exposes how these social media giants knowingly hosts sexual predators on their platforms and allows illegal child porn networks to flourish, using the platforms to exchange child porn material and profits. 

Some Covid models predicted 1.6 million deaths by August, other ‘experts’ predicted 5 million: Read how the forecasts are faring by June end

Jinit Jain
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Some Covid models predicted 1.6 million deaths by August, other ‘experts’ predicted 5 million: Read how the forecasts are faring by June end

Months after forecasting that India will suffer 1.4 to 1.6 million fatalities due to COVID-19 by August 2021, the Institute for Health Medical and Evaluation (IMHE) seems to have tweaked its methodology to arrive at updated projections for COVID-related deaths for the said time period. 

In its new estimates, IMHE pegs 1.14 million deaths by COVID-19 in India by August 1, 2021, as per current projection. In the worst case scenario, the model predicts 1.15 million deaths. It is worth noting that the updated figures comes on the heels of a report published in the international medical journal The Lancet, which cited the IHME predictions but tamped down the forecast of 1.6 million deaths to 1 million deaths by August.

Source: https://covid19.healthdata.org/india

Nevertheless, the death projection made by the IHME is still wildly off the mark. For instance, according to current projections, the estimated deaths in India by COVID-19 as of today, i.e June 29, stands at 1.11 million deaths. That’s over 2.8 times the current number of fatalities, which is 3.97 lakhs. 

The glaring incongruence in the number of reported deaths vis-a-vis the projected number of fatalities raises questions on the dubious methods employed and intentions of the IHME in arriving at such exaggerated conclusions. Perhaps, the motive of the organisation is not really about projecting the realistic number of COVID-19 related deaths but to show the Modi government in poor light by overstating the projected fatalities. 

The COVID-19 situation in India is currently on the mend. The data from across the country indicates that the second wave of the coronavirus outbreak is firmly suppressed and there are fewer daily cases each day. India is also not facing oxygen crisis as it did when the contagion took the country by surprise and spread rapidly in April 2021. The medical capacity, in terms of hospital beds, isolation ward centres, ventilators and other necessary equipment are steadily expanded to stave off the subsequent wave of coronavirus, if and when it arrives.

In addition to this, India is rapidly augmenting its vaccination programme. Since June 21, the day when the central government took charge of the country’s vaccination drive, the daily vaccination numbers have soared dramatically, consistently crossing the 50-lakh mark except on Sunday when most vaccination centres had their weekly off. On Monday this week, India achieved yet another milestone as it surpassed the United States in terms of total COVID-19 vaccine administered. India has so far vaccinated more than 32.5 crores people with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccines.

However, it appears that the death projections from IHME do not account the ground reality. The exaggerated death figures reveal that the IHME may not have factored in all the determinants and instead allowed its prejudice against the Modi government to arrive at the incredulous projections of 1.14 million deaths by August 2021.

IMHE reduces its prediction of COVID-related fatalities in India by August after The Lancet cites its forecast

While this is not the first time that IHME has made estimations that is bereft of logic and rationality. Earlier in May, the dubious model used by the IHME suggested that India would suffer a casualty of 1.4 to 1.6 million deaths by August 2021. Celebrated international medical journal the Lancet then cited the IHME report to peddle its propaganda against the Modi government. 

It published an article that was replete with a series of gross inaccuracies in terms of data that can be interpreted by laymen as well. The article said, “India must reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission as much as possible while the vaccine is rolled out. As cases continue to mount, the government must publish accurate data in a timely manner, and forthrightly explain to the public what is happening and what is needed to bend the epidemic curve, including the possibility of a new federal lockdown.”

Even though the IHME suggested that India would witness deaths to the tunes of 1.4 to 1.6 million by August 2021, The Lancet article ratcheted it down to around 1 million deaths. But the fact that The Lancet chose to omit 300,000 deaths to 600,000 deaths from its article shows that even they did not believe the vast exaggerations of the IHME. With The Lancet predicting 1 million deaths in India, the IHME revised its model that curiously changed the expected number of COVID-19 related fatalities to 1.14 million from its previous projection of 1.4 to 1.6 million deaths. 

Needless to say, even 1 million figure is a wild hyperbole. There is no valid justification for such a number either given the manner in which they have projected such figures. The IHME projected over 1000 Covid-19 deaths regularly in November 2020 when cases were definitively on the downturn. It did not even bother to reconcile the current data with respect to the reported number of death as of June 29. Clearly, the need to radically rework their model to reflect a more realistic estimations was not a priority for the IHME, which touts itself as the foremost predictor of COVID-19 related trends.

Pandemic profiteer Eric Feigl-Ding, who predicted 5 million deaths by August, is not even an infectious disease expert

Besides The Lancet and the IMHE, others also partook in scare mongering about the forecasted deaths in India due to COVID-19. Amidst the raging bout of resurgent coronavirus outbreak, NDTV invited ‘epidemiologist’ Eric Feigl-Ding to weigh in on the crisis unfolding in India. Eric made a staggering claim that India’s COVID death tally will surpass the 5 million-mark by August 2021.

During the interview with journalist Vishnu Som, Eric Feigl-Ding claimed, “The data in India is very poor. The number of deaths is not being reported properly. India is well on its way to million deaths by August 1.”

But as it turned out, NDTV got a charlatan, who is not even an infectious disease expert to express his opinion about the coronavirus outbreak in the country. According to the Harvard TC Chan School of Public Health, Eric Feigl-Ding is a public health epidemiologist, nutritionist, and health economist. But there is more to him than what meets the common eye. He is also not an infectious disease expert, but a chronic disease epidemiologist.

The 5 million figure is even more preposterous because roughly 2,430,000 would die between Arpil (when Feigl-Ding made the comment) and August and here he was predicting 5 million deaths. Such an enormous number of death would have far reaching social and political implications and there would be anarchy in large parts of the country. But such phenomena were nowhere to be seen.

Eric’s prolific rise as a ‘star expert’ on Coronavirus was uncharacteristic of any health researcher/epidemiologist or scientist. He chanced upon to read a research paper on Coronavirus and predicted the outbreak of a pandemic in January last year. After his meteoric rise to fame, several epidemiologists came forward to question his credentials. Under the condition of anonymity, one epidemiologist told the Chronicle of Higher Education that Eric Feigl-Ding has zero background in infectious disease research.

It appears like a concerted attempt is being made to tarnish India’s international standing by predicting doom and exaggerating the projected COVID-19 related deaths. Be it The Lancet, the IHME, or NDTV back home, the accuracy of the estimation of COVID deaths hardly seems to be an area of concern. All they care about is promoting propaganda against the Modi government.

Currently, the second wave is irrefutably on the decline and vaccinations are ramping up. Therefore, it is certain that the wild exaggerations of Covid-19 death tally will be proven false.

After Uttar Pradesh, MP set to take action against Twitter for displaying distorted map of India on its platform

OpIndia Staff
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After Uttar Pradesh, MP set to take action against Twitter for displaying distorted map of India on its platform

Amidst the tussle between Twitter and India, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister has informed that action will be taken against the platform for posting a distorted map of the country. 

Posting a video on social media, state Home Minister Narottam Mishra said that an FIR will be filed against Twitter by the Madhya Pradesh government for displaying the wrong map of India where Indian lands are shown as Pakistani and Chinese territories.

“For a long time, Twitter has been going against the country. Sometimes speaking unrestrained about India and sometimes by displaying the wrong map of the country. These are all serious issues and cannot be taken lightly. The central and state government have also taken it seriously,” Tweeted Mishra.

Mishra added that Twitter has been a repeat offender and that the matter has been taken seriously by the Government of India as well as the Madhya Pradesh government.

Additionally, Mishra informed that DGP Vivek Jauhri has been asked to investigate the matter further and register a case in the matter.

Case filed against Twitter in Uttar Pradesh

We reported earlier that Twitter India Managing Director Manish Maheshwari has been booked by Uttar Pradesh police under Section 505 (2) of IPC and Section 74 of IT (Amendment) Act 2008 for the same wrongdoing. 

Copy of the FIR filed at Bulandshahr

Filing an FIR, Praveen Bhati, a Bajrang Dal leader from Bulandshahr complained that the distorted map is a deliberate attempt by Twitter to mislead the world.

Distorted map of India

A massive controversy broke out after the social media giant posted a distorted map of India on the career section on its website. The map that appears on the ‘Tweep Life’ section shows Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh detached from India. While Jammu and Kashmir is shown as a part of Pakistan, the entire Ladakh was shown as Chinese territory.

Distorted Map posted by Twitter on its website. Image Source: Twitter

Subsequently, Twitter pulled down the map quietly after the furor, however, it will be interesting to see if it is able to save itself from legal troubles. 

Twitter had been warned before

This is not the first time that the social media platform has shown the courage to display the wrong map of India. In October 2020, national security analyst Nitin A Gokhale found that Twitter had labelled the Indian territory of Leh in Ladakh as part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). 

The government of India had issued a warning to CEO Jack Dorsey over the misrepresentation of the Indian map, however, it seems to have no effect on the platform who repeatedly chooses to make the same ‘mistake.’

‘Widespread and well-planned violence happened in Bengal after May 2’: NHRC’s fact-finding committee on post-poll atrocities

OpIndia Staff
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‘Widespread and well-planned violence happened in Bengal after May 2’: NHRC’s fact-finding committee on post-poll atrocities

The fact-finding committee constituted to inquire about the post-poll violence in West Bengal following a Calcutta High Court order made startling revelations while addressing the media on Tuesday. The committee revealed that the violence in Bengal post Mamata Banerjee’s landslide victory was not sporadic or spontaneous but well-planned and premeditated.

The committee added that the violence broke out only after May 2, after the results came out and TMC became victorious, ensuring another 5-year rule of Mamata Banerjee.

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.

The members further revealed that the perpetrators also disrupted the water connection and destroyed the bridge that led to a village as the villagers supported one political party. 

Additionally, the victims were denied work and made to apologize for their support to the opponent party. “Mafia, dons, criminals and goons in police records led and triggered the violence against the supporters of a particular political party,” disclosed the committee. 

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 sectarian and political violence had ravaged the area was threatened by the TMC goons. 

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

In the videos, it can be seen that an angry mob of women and men was threatening Rasheed. Atif Rasheed, as seen in the video, kept telling the mob that they could not behave in that manner and had to take a step back. CISF personnel can be seen trying to control the irate mob.

In another video, Atif Rasheed was seen walking away from the mob. Talking to the camera, Rasheed says that he and his team were being attacked by a TMC mob.

In another stunning revelation, Rasheed says that the local police were there when he visited the area, however, when the TMC mob started attacking him, the police simply disappeared. 

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.

Former Wikimedia Foundation staff with autism calls out ‘bullies who run it’, accusations of ‘toxic work culture’ surface

OpIndia Staff
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Former Wikimedia Foundation staff with autism calls out ‘bullies who run it’, accusations of ‘toxic work culture’ surface

James Hare, a former Wikimedia Foundation staffer with autism, recently came out to call out bullies at his workplace. In his statement published on May 22, he accused two high-level managers of Wikimedia Foundation, which owns Wikipedia, bullying him because of his autism. Other foundation’s former staffers have also raised similar concerns.

Hare alias Harej worked as an associate product manager for around 18 months between 2018 and 2019. He chalked out his experience working at the non-profit. Notably, Hare suffers from autism and during his tenure at the foundation, it became a subject of ridicule by the seniors.

James Hare statement

James Hare said that he had been avoiding sharing his experience at the foundation for two years as he could not figure out how he could express it. Hare started contributing to Wikipedia in 2004, and because of his contributions, he was finally hired by the foundation in 2018. However, at the end of his time at the foundation, he was not proud of working there. He said, “What I got for my lifetime of work was the experience of working with bullies.”

Claiming that the foundation is run by bullies, he said that two executive management members repeatedly ridiculed him during the period he worked as a volunteer and during his job at the foundation. One of the members who had interacted with him only a few times used to make fun of the verbal gaffe he had made or mocked him for something he said or did. The other member often made jokes about him and did it often on his face. He said, “I had an experience of interviewing with this executive, only for them to make fun of me to my face in subsequent encounters.” Notably, both of them still work at Wikimedia Foundation.

James said he did not take the names as he has no intentions of using them. However, he added, “I don’t want my post to be oversighted, but they still hold positions of power, and they are still responsible for managing staff.” James said that there is a lack of leadership at the highest level in the foundation. What he suffered was not limited to him, but several others, especially women and women of colour, in particular, face hostile work environment. He said, “Women, and women of colour, in particular, are chewed up and spit out by the management.”

In James words, “I am an adult with autism. Over the years, especially when I was younger, it is inevitable that I would say and do things that are kind of funny. And I have been made fun of my entire life for it. I can forgive myself for saying awkward things, and I can forgive people for what they did as children. What I cannot forgive is a fully grown adult, in a position of significant authority, bullying another adult in their workplace. It is unforgivable.

After a chaotic 18 or so months of working at Wikimedia, I turned in my badge. The experience left me with posttraumatic stress disorder, seriously adrift on a moral and emotional level, and occasionally prone to psychotic episodes. Over time I have been able to forgive the dysfunction that defined my work experience, but I could not let go of the fact that there are bullies who work for the Wikimedia Foundation and still work there.

As Wikipedians, we are a neurodiverse community and come from many different backgrounds. We need management that is not just charismatic, not just good at giving speeches, but empathetic and compassionate, who genuinely understands our experiences.

I feel terrible and exposed writing this. I may be opening myself up to retaliation. But I have been sitting on this for so long, and it has tortured me so much. And I can’t live with myself, not knowing that this perspective is invisible. You are not going to hear it from the slick Communications team, and you’re not going to hear it from people who think speaking up will make them unemployable. But at this point, I don’t think I have anything to lose. And if others speak up because of me, I hope it will be worth it.”

Several staffers called out the hostile environment at Wikimedia

Soon after Hare made his experience public, other former staffer came forward to share their experiences at the foundation. Dan Garry, former lead product manager, Wikipedia alias Deskana, said he felt unwelcomed at the foundation and resigned out of concern for his mental health. Garry said the foundation behaves similar to “short term profit-focused companies”.

Brad Jorsch, former senior software engineer, Wikipedia alias Anomie, said he tried to push back against increasing attempts at marginalisation and workplace bullying. He submitted a complaint at HR but faced massive retaliation instead of getting support from the Foundation’s leadership. He added, “Management was fostering a culture where their own image and career progression is a major goal in a way [that] associate more with cut-throat for-profit companies than with a non-profit.”

Another staffer Adam Wight also claimed he experiences bullying at the foundation. He said he was called in by several executives after he filed a complaint. They told him that the email he sent complaining of perceived excesses of management was too “forceful” in its tone. An HR manager further told him that the messages they had exchanged about potential reform at the foundation might get included in a complaint against Wight. He further alleged after he cited legal protection for labour- organising and whistleblowers, the foundation docked his salary.

Jimmy Wales refused to act

After several Wikipedia editors reportedly pushed co-founder Jimmy Wales for action, he refused to act and asked the staffers to pursue the matter through internal channels. Interestingly, his statement came after the staffers claimed that such channels were already tried and failed. Wales stated he could not comment on specific personal matters and assured that the foundation was looking into it.

Support poured in for Hare

James’s post was shared on a discussion forum titled ‘wikipediocracy‘, where several came in support. A user named TheHandThatFeedsYou said, “Wikipedia is a toxic environment, lots of hostility, like a war zone/ battleground in some places.” Another user, Moral Hazard, wrote, “I am sorry that he was mistreated, and I hope that all of us would welcome James if he arrives.”

The Garbage Scow called it unacceptable workplace behaviour and said, “Completely unacceptable. I don’t know if someone with autism is considered part of a protected class, but he could have a nice lawsuit if they are, and people in positions of power above him created an environment of harassment that drove him to quit. What he’s describing is absolutely forbidden by the written policy of every US employer I can think of.”

Source: Wikipediocracy

The support also came as comments to his original post. A Wikipedia editor Yngvadottir said, “I’m so sorry that happened to you, and thank you for standing up and saying it.” Legoktm thanked him for writing about his experience and said, “Thank you for stepping up.”

Source: Wikipedia

Belov, a Wikipedia editor, said, “Thank you for being honest about your experiences, Harej. It’s really disappointing to hear this. As you’ll well know, autistic people are a major part of our community, well in excess of their proportion in the general population. Any company which truly appreciated that it is built on and run by our volunteer labour would bend over backwards to be accommodating towards autistic and neurodivergent people. No doubt these management figures have also mocked neurotypicals and made them feel like shit too. And a disorganised workplace is a hotbed for mental health problems. Not a proud moment for the WMF.”

Wikipedia has a history of getting into controversies

This is not the first time Wikipedia has fallen into a ditch full of controversies. Recently, it was revealed that a page on a fictitious train ran for years on Wikipedia without anyone noticing. It was used as a reference for many academic reports. Countless reports of Wikipedia pages being vandalized to push agendas have come to light on several occasions. Wikipedia specifically failed to acknowledge Delhi Riots 2020 being anti-Hindu and painted Hindus as the culprits. Editors vandalised Late Rohit Sardana’s Wikipedia page and posted derogatory remarks.

Mumbai police file FIR against Facebook user for ‘objectionable post’ against NCP supremo Sharad Pawar

OpIndia Staff
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Mumbai police file FIR against Facebook user for ‘objectionable post’ against NCP supremo Sharad Pawar

On Monday (June 28), the Mumbai police lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against a Facebook user for allegedly posting a morphed picture of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar.

As per reports, the complaint was filed with the local police station in Chembur by one NCP worker named DS Sawant. In his complaint, he claimed that a source at the Antop Hill locality had informed about the Facebook user who had posted an objectionable photo of Sharad Pawar.

The Police said that the accused has been identified and that they have initiated the probe to trace him. The cops have booked the Facebook user under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 153 (provocation to cause riots), 500 (defamation), and relevant provisions of the Information Technology (IT) Act.

FIR filed against social media users for ‘objectionable’ posts against Sharad Pawar

This is not the first time that an FIR has been registered for alleged ‘objectionable’ posts against the NCP supremo. On May 22, the Bandra Cyber Cell police arrested BJP Yuva Morcha Secretary Pradip Gavade for criticising Sharad Pawar and his grandnephew Rohit Pawar on Twitter. A case was registered against him under sections 295A, 500, and 505/2 of the IPC as well as IT Act 67. BJP had called the arrest politically motivated and had accused the police of acting at the behest of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. 

Earlier in March, the Pune Rural Police had filed an FIR against unidentified persons in connection with an alleged objectionable tweet against the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief. The FIR was filed at Baramati Taluka Police station based on the complaint registered by one Abhijit Bhanudas Jadhav, an NCP functionary. A police officer privy to the details of the case informed, “The content in both the tweet and reply is of objectionable nature. We have launched a probe into these accounts.” According to BJP leader Suresh Nakhua, social media user Vedashree was one of the persons against whom the FIR was lodged.

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