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Maharashtra: Zero FIR filed against Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi for his remarks on Aurangzeb

ANI
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Maharashtra: Zero FIR filed against Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi for his remarks on Aurangzeb

 A zero FIR has been registered against Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi in the Naupada Police Station of Thane and was transferred to Marine Drive police station in Mumbai in connection with his remarks on Aurangzeb.

According to the police, following this, FIR has been registered in Marine Drive Police Station under sections 299, 302, 356(1), and 356(2) of the Bharat Nyaya Sanhita today.

Earlier today, the police registered a case against Azmi at Wagle Estate Police Station under BNS sections 299, 302, 356(1), and 356(2), following the complaint from Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske.

In an interaction with the media in the Marine Drive area, SP MLA Abu Azmi had stated that Aurangzeb was a good administrator.
Mhaske arrived at the Wagle Estate Police Station on Monday to file a complaint against SP MP.

Speaking to the media, Mhaske asserted that Abu Azmi has “no right to stay in India.”

“A sedition case should be filed against Abu Azmi. He has no right to stay in India. Aurangzeb who destroyed thousands of Hindu temples, tortured women, brutally tortured Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, was against the country, he looted our country…our leader Eknath Shinde has demanded this morning itself that a sedition case should be filed against him. Today we have come here to file a sedition case against him,” Mhaske told reporters.

After the uproar over his remarks, Abu Azmi defended his remarks regarding Aurangzeb, saying that the Mughal emperor also destroyed Mosques along with temples.

Refuting the claims that Aurangzeb was ‘anti-Hindu’, Azmi stated that the emperor had 34 per cent of Hindus in his administration and many of his advisors were Hindus. He further added that there was no need to give a communal angle to the issue.

“If Aurangzeb had destroyed temples, he also destroyed mosques. Had he been against Hindus, 34 per cent of Hindus would not have been with him (in his administration), and his advisors would not have been Hindus. It is true that India was a golden sparrow during his rule. There is no need to give Hindu-Muslim angles to it,” Azmi told ANI.

The SP MLA further said that the struggle for power and property carried out by kings in the past “was not religious”. Azmi maintained that he hasn’t made any remarks against “Hindu brothers”.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

‘Ordered mechanically without delving into details’: Bombay HC stays FIR order against ex-SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and others

OpIndia Staff
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‘Ordered mechanically without delving into details’: Bombay HC stays FIR order against ex-SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and others

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday stayed a special court’s order directing the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against former SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch and other officials from SEBI and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in connection with a listing fraud case.

The Court observed that the special court had issued the order without thoroughly examining the details or assigning specific roles to Buch and the other accused.

Justice SG Dige, a single judge, granted relief after Buch and two others challenged the order in the High Court.

“The complainant seeks time to file a reply. After hearing all parties, it appears the judge issued the order mechanically, without delving into details or attributing any role to the applicants. Hence, the order is stayed,” the High Court ruled.

The case pertained to a special court’s directive to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to register an FIR against Buch and five others over alleged irregularities in a company’s 1994 listing on the BSE. Sapan Shrivastava, a journalist from Dombivli, had filed a complaint under Section 156(3) of the CrPC, alleging that SEBI officials conspired to approve the listing of a company in 1994 without ensuring adherence to regulatory standards. He claimed that despite filing multiple complaints with SEBI and law enforcement agencies, no action was taken, prompting him to seek judicial intervention.

As per the complaint, the accused SEBI officials and BSE executives failed to implement crucial provisions of the SEBI Act, 1992, along with the SEBI (Issue of Capital and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2018, and the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.

In addition to Buch, the special court had ordered an FIR against SEBI whole-time members Ashwani Bhatia, Ananth Narayan G, and Kamlesh Chandra Varshney, as well as BSE officials Pramod Agarwal and Sundararaman Ramamurthy.

Buch, Bhatia, and Agarwal subsequently approached the High Court to challenge the order.

Supreme Court rules that calling someone ‘Pakistani’ or ‘Miyan-Tiyan’ does not hurt religious sentiments: Here is what you need to know

Dibakar Dutta
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Supreme Court rules that calling someone ‘Pakistani’ or ‘Miyan-Tiyan’ does not hurt religious sentiments: Here is what you need to know

On 15th February this year, the Supreme Court of India ruled [pdf] that calling someone ‘Pakistani’ or ‘Miyan-Tiyan’ does not amount to hurting religious sentiments.

The matter was heard by a 2-judge Bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma.

The case dates back to November 2020, when a government official (name undisclosed) was called ‘Pakistani’ or ‘Miyan-Tiyan’ during a heated argument with an elderly man named Hari Nandan Singh (the petitioner in the case).

The Background of the Case

At that time, the said official was working in the capacity of an Urdu Translator and Acting Clerk (RTI Division) in the Chas sub-divisional office in the Bokaro district of Jharkhand.

The petitioner, Hari Nandan Singh, had sought information through RTI but was not satisfied with the documents provided to him. He had alleged manipulation in the documents and filed an appeal.

The above-mentioned government official was, therefore, directed to hand over the information in person to Hari Nandan Singh. The official alleged that when he reached the residence of ethe lderly man, the latter refused to accept the documents.

According to the official, Singh verbally abused him and it hurt his religious sentiments.

“In order of receiving information material, Sh. Harinandan Singh hurt my religious sentiments from inside the gate itself. Even he called me Miyan-Tiyan along with Pakistani. He fully tried to create dispute with me. This act done by me has also been recorded by the peon gone along with me,” the government official said in his initial complaint to the police.

Hari Nandan Singh was thereafter booked under the following Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections –

  • 298 – insulting someone’s religious feelings through words, sounds, gestures, or objects
  • 323 – punishment for voluntarily causing hurt to a person
  • 353 – assault or criminal force used to prevent a public servant from performing their duties
  • 504 – intentional insult that provokes a breach of public peace
  • 506 – punishment for criminal intimidation

The petitioner, who is now 80 years old, sought the quashing of the criminal proceedings filed against him after failing to receive any relief from the trial court and the High Court of Jharkhand.

Verdict by the Supreme Court

In a 15-page judgment, the Supreme Court noted that the offences alleged against Hari Nandan Singh are not made out.

“A bare perusal of Case No. 140 of 2020 reveals that the essential ingredients of the offences alleged against the appellant under Sections 353, 298, and 504 IPC are not made out. Evidently, there was no assault or use of force by the appellant to attract Section 353 IPC. Therefore, the High Court ought to have discharged the appellant under Section 353 IPC,” the order stated.

Justices BV Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma further observed that calling the ‘aggrieved’ government official ‘Pakistani’ or ‘Miyan-Tiyan’ did not amount to hurting his religious sentiments, despite being made in ‘poor taste’.

“Further, the appellant is accused of hurting the religious feelings of the informant by calling him “Miyan-Tiyan” and “Pakistani.” Undoubtedly, the statements made are poor taste. However, it does not amount to hurting the religious sentiments of the informant,” the verdict read.

The Supreme Court additionally did not find any merit in the charges levelled against the petitioner Hari Nandan Singh, under Indian Penal Code Sections 298 and 504.

The apex court concluded, “In the circumstances, we set aside the order of the High Court which has sustained the order of the Trial Court and consequently, allow the application filed by the appellant herein and discharge the appellant from all the three offences alleged against him.“

Beawar sexual exploitation case: All you need to know about the 1992 Ajmer case redux that has shocked a small town in Rajasthan

Shraddha Pandey
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Beawar sexual exploitation case: All you need to know about the 1992 Ajmer case redux that has shocked a small town in Rajasthan

In Rajasthan’s Beawar, a redux of the 1992 Ajmer sex scandal wherein minor Hindu girls were systematically groomed, blackmailed, raped and coerced into conversion to Islam, has sparked outrage. The horrific case of sexual exploitation by the Muslim grooming gang in Beawar was exposed by the police in February this year.

On 17th of February 2025, the Beawar police busted a gang of barely educated Muslim youths Rehan Mohammad (20), Sohail Mansuri (19), Lukman (20), Arman Pathan (19), Sahil Qureshi (19), and two minors who were trapping Hindu girls, raping them, and forcing them to convert to Islam. These rape jihadis were teaching Hindu girls about namaz, roza, and reciting the Kalma (Islamic declaration of faith). Furthermore, they were pressuring the girls to wear burqas, perform namaz, observe Roza (fast) and brainwash them for conversion to Islam. The accused rape jihadis have been booked under the POCSO Act alongside other relevant provisions. Last month, while being taken to the court for a remand hearing, six of the accused were thrashed by the lawyers present there.

As per a victim’s testimony, these rape jihadis used to follow Hindu girls studying class 10th at a school in Beawar’s Bijainagar. After coming in contact with the girls over mobile phone they would sexually assault the girls, take explicit pictures and videos of the crime and then use it to abuse them further. The accused would give small mobile phones to the victims.

One of the accused Sohail Mansuri, gave a victim a small mobile phone to communicate with him. He constantly threatened her. Following his insistence, she introduced her friends to Sohail’s friends, namely Riyan, Javed, and Arman. Sohail tormented the Hindu girl into wearing a burqa and taught her about Ramadan and fasting. He reportedly brainwashed her into observing fasts. He cut her hand with a blade and pressured her to recite the Kalma.

The victims said that the men would come in new vehicles, including Bullet motorcycles and other cars, to take them away. One of the victims said, “They once told me that a Brahmin girl would fetch ₹20 lakh if sold, and you (a Dalit) would get ₹10 lakh.” The girls said in their statements that they were continuously blackmailed with obscene photos and videos and forced to bring in other girls.

The case unravelled after a mobile phone was found with one of the girls. When the family called one of the Muslim men, he responded with abuses and threats. The victim’s family rushed to the police station and filed a complaint about the matter, after which the case unfolded layer by layer. The police found that it was not just one victim but multiple girls who had fallen prey. Several Muslim men were involved. They also extorted money from the girls and forced them to steal cash from their homes.

One of the victims from Beawar disclosed that the ‘Muslim gang’ used to pressurise her to go to the local maulvis and mosques. The police arrested former councillor Hakim Qureshi in Bijaynagar on 23rd February in the case, demonstrating the involvement of several Muslim groups in this gang. He was produced at the residence of the judge of the POCSO court in Kotda on the same day and sent on a 5-day police remand. Later, he was sent to judicial custody till 11th March. Qureshi was allegedly assisting other accused rape jihadis.

10 arrested so far, including a former councillor

So far 10 accused have been arrested, while three minors have been taken into custody. While the police are investigating the matter, tensions prevail in Beawar as the local Hindu community is outraged over the incident. On 24th February, a shutdown was called on Monday (24th February) in Ajmer, Beawar and Bhilwara districts by people outraged by the crime. People have been demanding the death penalty for all the culprits involved in the crime.

On Saturday (1st March), a total shutdown was observed in Ajmer in protest against the Beawar rape and blackmail case. Hindu organisations joined by locals took out an “Aakrosh” rally to the district collector’s office and demanded a CBI inquiry into the matter. The protesting Hindu rights activists also handed a memorandum to the collector.

Speaking about the grooming gang case and the demands of the protesting locals, Ajmer’s Deputy Mayor Neeraj Jain said, “We want the case to be handed over to the CBI. This is not just a case of blackmail or rape — Hindu minor girls were allegedly manipulated into converting to Islam. It is a clear case of Love Jihad. Justice must not be delayed, as was seen in the Ajmer blackmail case, where culprits were punished after 33 years. This case should be fast-tracked to ensure timely justice.”

Other than Hindu rights organisations, around 124 market associations also extended their support to the “bandh” across Ajmer and traders were instructed to close their establishments.

Earlier, Rajasthan’s Governor Haribhau Bagde reportedly said Muslim rape jihadis targeted the girls because they had links to a Hindu organisation. Meanwhile, encroachment notices have been issued to the families of the accused and to the local Jama Masjid.

On 24th February, the municipal corporation demolished the allegedly illegally constructed veranda of the house of one of the accused. Following this, a group of local Muslims submitted an application to the Beawar collector regarding these notices and cited the Supreme Court guidelines issued last year regarding demolition.

Meanwhile, the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Congress party of involvement in both the 1992 Ajmer rape and blackmail case as well as the Beawar case. BJP leader Satish Poonia said, “Congress is in the background from the Ajmer blackmail scandal to the Bijaynagar blackmail scandal.”

Notably, the Beawar case inevitably recalls the 1992 Ajmer sex scandal, one of India’s most infamous grooming gang cases. Over several years, a group led by Farooq Chishti and Nafees Chishti who were members of the Khadim families of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, preyed on 100s of school and college-going Hindu girls aged 11-20. The Khadims claim to be the descendants of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. The rape jihadis, some of whom were Youth Congress leaders took the victims to remote farmhouses under false pretences, raped them and photographed them to further blackmail and exploit them. The Muslim groomers used the explicit images of their victims to blackmail the girls into bringing in more girls, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of abuse. Such cases have also been reported in Uttar Pradesh and Kerala.

Chhattisgarh: Hindu groups protest against Churches in Mohla, say tribals are being converted with false promises

OpIndia Staff
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Chhattisgarh: Hindu groups protest against Churches in Mohla, say tribals are being converted with false promises

On 2nd March, Hindu organisations staged protests outside two churches in Mohla in Mohla Manpur district of Chhattisgarh, alleging that forced conversions were happening under the guise of prayer meetings. Reportedly, Mennonite Church and Indian Christian Ministry Church were observing Kalisia Sthapna Sabha (church establishment gathering) on Sunday. Tribal men and women from forest regions had come to attend the event. Hindu organisations, which have been actively protesting against Christian conversion events in the state, gathered and protested outside the church, after which the administration intervened and shut down the events.

Hindu groups allege forced conversions

The first event, where Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal protested, was taking place at Mennonite Church, located in Ward No. 7. Hindu organisations accused Christian missionaries of attempting to convert poor and naïve tribal people under the guise of prayer meetings. The protest quickly escalated, and Hindu organisations chanted slogans demanding the event be shut down.

Mohla’s Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Dinesh Sahu visited the site along with the police force to mediate. However, Hindu organisations remained firm in their demand against the forced conversion event and insisted that it be shut down.

Christian leaders escorted out amid protests

After two hours of protests by Hindu organisations, the event was shut down, and Christian missionaries and attendees were escorted out of the premises by the police. From there, the Hindu organisations moved to another church, Indian Christian Ministry Church, located in Ward No. 16. They staged a protest, alleging that a forced conversion event was happening under the guise of a prayer meeting to lure tribal families.

Demand for bulldozing ‘illegal’ church structures

Speaking to the media, SDM Sahu said that VHP and Bajrang Dal had lodged formal complaints against the churches for holding religious conversion events. Bajrang Dal accused one of the churches of encroaching on land and demanded an investigation into the matter.

VHP district president Tekram Bhandari said in a statement, “The tribal communities have long been rooted in their traditions and culture. We will not tolerate any illegal conversions in the district. The administration must take strict action against those engaged in such activities.”

Bajrang Dal has demanded the demolition of the illegal church.

Authorities send Christian missionaries back to their respective cities

Notably, Christian missionaries had arrived from Dhamtari, Durg, and Bhilai to participate in the events. Police asked them to leave Mohla and ensured they vacated the churches.

Rampant conversion events in the region

Earlier, Hindu organisations had submitted a memorandum to the Collector and Superintendent of Police (SP), urging them to stop religious conversions rampant in the area. The Hindu community accused Christians in Bharitola village of organising religious conversion events under the guise of prayer meetings. They accused Christian missionaries of converting naïve tribals to Christianity during the prayer meetings. The memorandum was submitted in light of a three-day-long prayer event scheduled to start on 25th February.

Pakistan intruder shot dead along Punjab border by BSF

ANI
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Pakistan intruder shot dead along Punjab border by BSF

A Pakistani intruder was shot dead by BSF troops for surreptitiously crossing the international border in Punjab’s Amritsar, Public Relations Officer (PRO), BSF said in an official statement on Monday.

The legal formalities of handing over the dead body of the Pak intruder to Ramdas police station are being carried out, the PRO added.

According to the statement, “On 03rd Mar’ 2025, during the morning hours, alert BSF troops on duty observed suspicious movement of a Pakistani intruder, who surreptitiously crossed the IB (International Boundary) and started approaching the border security fence, taking advantage of undulating ground and wheat crops, in the border area near Village–Kotrazda of district Amritsar.

“Attentive BSF troops immediately challenged the intruder, but he did not stop his advance and started running towards the border security fence. Noticing his aggressive gesture, the troops on duty fired upon the advancing intruder in self-defence and neutralized him on the spot. On searching the area carefully, one Mobile phone was recovered from his possession,” the PRO added.

Vigilant and dutiful BSF troops once again successfully foiled the nefarious intentions of the cross-border terror syndicate to carry out this infiltration bid in the Indian territory from across the border, the PRO said.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

World Wildlife Day: How PM Modi-led India has been a success story in conservation efforts, setting an example for the world

Rukma Rathore
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World Wildlife Day: How PM Modi-led India has been a success story in conservation efforts, setting an example for the world

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed his commitment to conserve the planet’s amazing biodiversity on 3rd March, “World Wildlife Day,” announced by the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 20th December 2013, by celebrating and raising awareness about the world’s wild fauna and flora.

PM Modi reviewed “Project Lion,” an ambitious endeavor of Rs 2,927 crore, that intends to preserve and increase the number of Asiatic lions as he embarked on a lion safari at Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat to mark World Wildlife Day. He was spotted making the most of his trip, from taking pictures of the lion cubs to savouring the sunrise. He also chaired the National Board for Wildlife’s seventh meeting at Sasan in the Junagadh district, which was also attended by Bhupender Yadav, the Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, and other members. PM Modi also interacted with field-level personnel at Gir, such as eco guides, trackers and other front-line staff.

PM Modi also announced the 16th Asiatic lion population estimation, which would take place in May of this year and laid the cornerstone for the National Referral Center-Wildlife in Junagadh on the occasion. Asiatic lion populations are determined once every five years.

The Prime Minister of India declared that prey augmentation and other habitat enhancement initiatives will be used to help lion conservation at Barda Wildlife Sanctuary as the Asiatic Lions have now established themselves there through natural distribution.

Furthermore, he revealed a book about river dolphins and declared the establishment of SACON (Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History), a Centre of Excellence for Human-Wildlife Conflict Management, in Coimbatore of Tamil Nadu.

The National Board for Wildlife examined the government’s wildlife conservation efforts, noting species-specific flagship programs. The creation of the International Big Cat Alliance and conservation initiatives for Asiatic lions and dolphins were also discussed by the board. PM Modi also stressed the significance of raising awareness about dolphin conservation through the participation of local residents and villagers. Additionally, he suggested planning schoolchildren’s excursions to dolphin habitats.

Meanwhile, the government suggested India as a filming destination for Bear Grylls’ popular show, Man vs Wild, citing the country’s vibrant wildlife as a key attraction, in an effort to attract international attention. It was highlighted that the population of Asiatic Lions is prospering in the country as evidenced by the presence of 674 lions in the Gir forest. The government further pointed out that the number of leopards has undergone a massive 75% increase and 75% of all tigers worldwide reside in India now.

On the other hand, poaching of rhinos has almost completely stopped in India. “India isn’t just protecting wildlife – it’s bringing it back,” the post declared with pride.

India is one of the world’s most biodiverse nations, renowned for its rich history and culture. Its topography includes the snow-capped Himalayas, the thick rainforests of the Western Ghats, the dry deserts of Rajasthan and the verdant mangroves of the Sundarbans. Despite having only 2.4% of the global landmass, India is one of the seventeen mega-diverse countries in the world, has 7-8% of all known species owing to its ecosystem, which support an amazing variety of flora and fauna.

It is home to an astounding 7.6% of all animal species, 12.6% of birds, 6.2% of reptiles and 6.0% of flowering plants, which makes it one of the world’s 17 mega-diverse nations. The country includes the Western Ghats, the Eastern Himalayas, Indo-Burma, and the Nicobar Islands, four of the 35 biodiversity hotspots recognized by the world. These areas are vital repositories of earth’s biodiversity.

India has created a network of conservation areas, including more than 106 national parks, 515 animal sanctuaries, 75 wetland sites, and 18 bio-reserves to protect this vast natural diversity. It is noteworthy that ten of these establishments are included in the esteemed World Network of biosphere reserves.

The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, a comprehensive law that prohibits the trade in rare and endangered species, is one of the notable attempts. This law is essential in preventing unlawful practices that jeopardize the existence of endangered species. India led multiple programs and initiatives to preserve its abundant wildlife, with the Wildlife Protection Act functioning as a statutory aspect of the country’s dedication to conservation.

It launched a number of animal conservation initiatives over the years, working with an array of foreign organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Project Tiger, Project Lion, Project Rhinoceros, Project Elephant, and Project Dolphin are among the major wildlife conservation schemes introduced in the nation.

Steps taken to ensure wildlife conservation

In India, protecting wildlife is taken into account for both the creatures and the larger goals of development. For example, preserving healthy ecosystems with high levels of diversification is essential to preserving natural balance because it ensures crop pollination, clean air and water supplies and climate change resilience. One of these is maintaining general bio-resiliency against the consequences of global warming. Moreover, millions of people depend in part on wildlife conservation efforts to maintain a sustainable standard of living, primarily those who reside in rural areas close to forests.

Project Tiger: India’s standing in the world for species conservation has improved markedly since the implementation of this program in 1973. Initially, the program was designed to safeguard the dwindling tiger population. It has gradually protected more tiger habitats, raised awareness of them among local community organizations, and placed stringent measures to combat poaching and the illegal trafficking in tiger parks. The number of tigers in India fell to 1,411 in 2006. However, by 2022, India had 3,167 tigers or more than 70% of the world’s wild tiger population, demonstrating the effectiveness of conservation efforts over the years in protecting the species.

Project Lion: The 1,412 square kilometer protected area of Gujarat’s Gir National Park offers a benchmark for the preservation of Asiatic lions in India. In 1913, there were just 20 lions left in the country due to encroachment and poaching. Gir became a wildlife sanctuary in 1965 after the Indian Forest Department intervened with a wildlife protection campaign. Today, this species has been protected primarily as a result of the involvement of people and an intricate forest department rescue operation. With 674 large cats roaming openly in this park as of 2022, it is undoubtedly a huge success.

Project Rhinoceros for protection of the One-Horned Rhinoceros: One of the best examples of effective conservation efforts in Asia, according to the World Wildlife Fund, is the comeback of larger one-horned rhinoceros. Kaziranga National Park has played a major role in this significant development. Poaching, habitat destruction, and yearly floods have historically caused the rhino population in this region to decline. The Special Rhino Protection Force was created in 2019 to stop rhino poaching in the park.

Numerous initiatives have been put in place to assist in the rehabilitation of the rhinos. The outcomes of the different measures have been encouraging. The 2022 census showed that there were 26 more rhinos in the park than there were in 2021 and no poaching instances were reported throughout the region during this time.

Project Elephant: Project Elephant was started in 1992 by the Indian government with the goal of preserving elephants, their habitats, and migratory routes, as well as reducing human-elephant conflict and treating injured animals as needed. As a species that is endangered, this is carried out to guarantee its long-term survival. According to a 2018 census, there were about 26,786 elephants in India. However, there were 29,964 wild Asian elephants in India by 2022, accounting for more than 60% of the world’s total population.

Project Dolphin: The program was announced by PM Modi in 2020. He released the report of the nation’s first-ever riverine dolphin estimation, which calculated a total of 6,327 dolphins. The initial effort involved surveying 28 rivers across eight states, with 3150 man-days dedicated to covering over 8,500 kilometers. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number, followed by Bihar, West Bengal and Assam.

Efforts to reach wildlife conservation milestones

While wildlife conservation has been an objective for all Indian governments, the Modi administration has paid particular attention to this effort and turned it into a staggering success.

Budget Allocation 2024-25: The budget for fiscal year 2024-25 allotted Rs 3,330.37 crore to the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, in comparison to Rs 3,231.02 crore the year before. The budget for the National Tiger Conservation Authority grew by more than twofold, from Rs 15.8 crore in 2022-2023 to Rs 35 crore in 2023-2024. Furthermore, the National Biodiversity Authority’s budget rose from Rs 14 crore to Rs 16 crore, while the Central Zoo Authority’s budget jumped from Rs 9.9 crore to Rs 12 crore.

Role of Local Communities: In India, the preservation of endangered species and their ecosystems has been shaped by the presence of local communities. These groups are crucial in preventing hunting of endangered species and preserving the habitats in which the animals dwell. They are a crucial component of India’s conservation accomplishments because their involvement goes beyond protection alone and includes reporting illegal cases and wildlife monitoring activities.

Eco-tourism: India has come to understand that eco-tourism can contribute to the conservation of wildlife while also providing genuine advantages to its people by using natural resources sustainably. The eco-tourism market in India was estimated by Allied Market Research to be worth US$ 2.24 billion in 2019 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.7% to reach US$ 4.55 billion by 2027.

Industry analysts predict that following the Covid-19 epidemic, India would be one of the top markets for eco-friendly lodging. Increased travel and tourism to far-flung locations, a predilection for wildlife safaris, coral reef diving and other pristine, undisturbed natural regions with the focus on sustainability constitute some of factors driving the Indian eco-tourism industry’s steady growth trajectory.

Overcoming the obstacles

The difficulties associated with wildlife conservatism have also been addressed by India.

Habitat Fragmentation: Wildlife habitats are getting smaller and more isolated as a result of growing urbanization and human population growth. India has been working hard to link disparate areas by developing wildlife corridors. These corridors lessen the consequences of habitat fragmentation by enabling safe animal migration between various places. For example, tigers and elephants use the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu-Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve as a vital corridor.

Human-wildlife Conflict: When elephants, leopards and tigers cross regions or agricultural areas, they frequently run into people. This can result in crop destruction, cattle losses and even human fatalities. Local communities thus grow to have unfavorable opinions of wildlife, which makes conservation efforts in the region even more difficult. The government has put in place compensation plans for farmers and communities impacted by wildlife operations to remedy this issue. The government of Madhya Pradesh, for instance, provides compensation for crop damage inflicted by elephants.

Illegal Poaching and Wildlife Trade: This underground market has been fueled by the desire for animal parts including tiger skins, rhino horns, and elephant tusks, which has hampered conservation efforts and put greater strain on threatened and endangered species. India has improved surveillance in protected areas and expanded the number of anti-poaching units, strengthening its enforcement measures. One instance of such a mission is the deployment of Special Rhino Protection Forces at Kaziranga National Park.

The government of Narendra Modi has been working hard and making significant contributions to the nation’s wildlife conservation and protection. The percentage of the nation’s land covered by protected areas under this administration has increased from 4.90 to 5.03 per cent. According to reports in 2022, which cited government sources, the number of protected areas in the nation has shot up from 740, which had an area of 1,61,081.62 square kilometre in 2014, to 981, an extent of 1,71,921 square kilometre.

Over the years, the area covered by forests and trees grew by 16,000 square kilometers. India is one of the few nations with steadily growing forest cover worldwide. Additionally, the number of community reserves also increased. According to an official source, their numbers are up from 43 in 2014 to over 100 in 2019 and 219 in 2024. With 106 National Parks, 573 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 115 Conservation Reserves and 220 Community Reserves, India boasts a network of 1014 protected areas that span 1,75,169.42 square kilometer or around 5.32% of the country’s total land area, per 2023 official data. 

Future measures to boost wildlife conservation

The Prime Minister made many announcements on 3rd March that aimed to advance India’s wildlife conservation efforts. States and union territories would receive, through SACON, cutting-edge technology and devices for tracking and warning to Rapid Response Teams, recommending surveillance and Intrusion Detection Systems in areas of high human-wildlife conflict, and enhancing the ability of field practitioners and the community to implement conflict mitigation measures.

The Prime Minister outlined the use of modern technology and involvement of the Wildlife Institute of India with the Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N). He suggested that the Forest Survey of India, Dehradun and BISAG-N work together using space technology to improve forest fire monitoring and management, particularly in extremely sensitive protected areas, with a focus on prediction, detection, prevention and control.

The entry of cheetahs would be extended to other regions, including Gujarat’s Banni Grasslands and Madhya Pradesh’s Gandhisagar Sanctuary. The prime minister unveiled a plan to save tigers outside of tiger reserves. The effort seeks to ensure coexistence with local residents in order to address co-predator problems, including human-tiger conflicts, in places outside of these reserves. PM Modi also announced the start of a new project on gharials to ensure their conservation, acknowledging their declining numbers and the need to ensure their survival.

The Great Indian Bustard conservation efforts were also praised by PM Modi. He unveiled a National Great Indian Bustard Conservation Action Plan in recognition of the requirement for continued conservation efforts. He asked that the Board and Environment Ministry collect traditional knowledge and manuscripts from different parts of India regarding the management and conservation of forests and wildlife for research and development during the review meeting.

He ordered for the creation of many task teams to work on the conservation and development of the Indian Sloth Bear, Ghariyal, and Great Indian Bustard. He also outlined a plan for the Ministry’s future actions and wildlife conservation strategy. He cited the example of Gir and added that AI should be used to document the traditional knowledge so that it can be applied to other national parks and sanctuaries. He also proposed strengthening coordination within the United Nations Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) coordination unit.

The prime minister also offered advice on the study and documentation of medicinal plants found in forested areas, which can be very important for managing animal health. He even discussed the potential for global promotion of plant-based medicinal products for the management of animal health. Motorcycles were also flagged off by the prime minister during the meeting to improve front-line forest staff mobility.

Given the ongoing success of wildlife conservation in India under PM Modi’s direction, the recommendations are expected to help India overcome a number of obstacles and proceed in the right direction.

566 under-trials, 225 cases reported in just 8 months in 2024: HRCP report exposes blasphemy laws as a tool to persecute religious minorities in Pakistan

Anurag
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566 under-trials, 225 cases reported in just 8 months in 2024: HRCP report exposes blasphemy laws as a tool to persecute religious minorities in Pakistan

According to the latest report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), released on 26th February 2025, a 17-year-old Christian student has been sentenced to life imprisonment over a WhatsApp message. His 22-year-old co-accused is facing the death penalty. This is not an isolated case but just one among many. These young “accused” are being punished under Pakistan’s draconian blasphemy laws, which continue to be used against religious minorities and dissenters.

In its report, HRCP has warned that these laws have created a hostile environment where mere allegations can result in imprisonment, mob violence, and even extrajudicial killings. Cases have been found to stem from personal vendettas or social media entrapment schemes, and such cases have surged notably in 2024. HRCP noted that the authorities have failed to curb the misuse of these laws or hold false accusers accountable.

A legal system stacked against the accused

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws prescribe severe punishments, including life sentences and the death penalty. Accusations, especially against minorities, are often fuelled by disinformation or sectarian motives. According to the Commission, at least 225 blasphemy cases were registered between January and August 2024. In comparison, 329 cases were reported in all of 2023.

Punjab province reported the highest number of blasphemy cases. There are around 566 under-trial prisoners accused under blasphemy provisions, with 47 convicted. The courts have continued to hand out harsh sentences. For example, in one of the cases, four men were sentenced to death over alleged blasphemous content on social media platforms.

In some cases, although bail was granted by the courts, HRCP noted that acquittal does not mean the “accused” would be safe in the future. Once someone is accused of blasphemy, they face lifelong persecution. Many are forced into hiding or exile, while their families too live in fear.

Mob justice on the rise

Another issue is extrajudicial killings and mob violence stemming from blasphemy allegations. HRCP noted that mob violence is a growing threat in Pakistan. Social media platforms, electronic and digital messaging apps, and mosque loudspeakers are often used to incite violent mobs, leading to devastating attacks. Cable platforms, online portals, and citizen journalists often amplify these false cases.

One of the most horrifying examples was the Jaranwala incident in Punjab, which happened on 16th August 2023. Reportedly, a mob of 1,200 men attacked a Christian community over false blasphemy allegations. At least 80 homes, 24 churches, and numerous chapels were vandalised, looted, and torched. The violence was organised and live-streamed, with mosque loudspeakers and WhatsApp messages urging rioters to “not forgive the Christians”.

The Christian brothers, Rocky Masih and Raja Salim Masih, who were accused of blasphemy, were later acquitted. It was confirmed during the course of the investigation that the attack was based on fabricated claims. However, the entire family was displaced. Around 300 rioters were arrested but later released.

Another reported case was the lynching of a Christian factory owner, 62-year-old Lazar Masih, in Sargodha. In May 2024, he was dragged from his workplace and beaten to death by an angry mob after he was falsely accused of desecrating the Quran. Women and teenagers joined the attack, raising slogans of “Sar Tan Se Juda” (beheading). Police failed to intervene. Masih succumbed to his injuries a few days after the attack.

Another case mentioned in the report was that of a Hindu school principal, Nautan Lal, who was jailed for life on blasphemy charges. He was eventually acquitted and released in March 2024. It is one of the rare cases where an accused person was released after being convicted under a false case.

Even Muslims have been accused of blasphemy. A young woman named Aneeqa Attiq was accused of sending blasphemous messages via WhatsApp. In another case, Junaid Hafeez was convicted of blasphemy on Facebook. While Attiq has been on death row since 2022, Junaid has been facing death row since 2019. In August 2023, eight Ahmadi men were arrested in Lahore on charges of preaching their faith.

State complicity and legal entrapment

HRCP’s report has raised serious concerns about the complicity of the state in blasphemy-related violence. Law enforcement agencies and extremist groups often collude to trap individuals in false cases.

According to an internal investigation conducted in 2024 by the Special Branch of Punjab, it was revealed that a “blasphemy business” racket was operating in the province.

The group running the racket would trap individuals in false cases to extort money. Reportedly, it was responsible for 90% of the blasphemy cases registered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Some FIA Cyber Crime Wing officers were found to be complicit, helping fabricate cases against innocent people. Despite the exposure of this criminal network, no action has been taken against those responsible.

Urgent reforms needed

HRCP has issued a warning that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are being exploited for political, financial, and sectarian motives, leading to irreversible human rights violations. The commission has called for urgent reforms including accountability for false accusers, protection for the accused, a crackdown on mob violence and oversight of blasphemy cases.

Conclusion

The HRCP’s findings confirm what rights activists have long feared: blasphemy accusations in Pakistan have become a weapon of oppression. False claims, religious fanaticism, and state inaction have led to innocent people being jailed, lynched, or forced into hiding.

Without immediate intervention, these cases will continue to rise, leaving hundreds more trapped in a cycle of fear and persecution. If Pakistan is serious about justice and human rights, it must act decisively to reform its blasphemy laws before more lives are destroyed.

After antagonising US President Trump and VP JD Vance, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy clashes with US Senator Lindsey Graham, his long-time supporter

OpIndia Staff
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After antagonising US President Trump and VP JD Vance, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy clashes with US Senator Lindsey Graham, his long-time supporter

Days after getting publicly reprimanded by US President Donald Trump and US Vice President JD Vance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has indulged in a war of words with US Senator Lindsey Graham, a long time supporter of Zelenskyy. In response to Graham’s comments calling Zelenskyy “disrespectful” and that he should resign, Zelenskyy, on 3rd March, said Lindsey Graham should move to Ukraine, obtain citizenship and then his voice might hold “weight”.

“I can give him the citizenship of Ukraine. He will become a citizen of our country, and then his voice will gain weight. And I will hear him as a citizen of Ukraine on the topic of who must be the president,” Zelenskyy said.

Notably, the South Carolina Republican is a long-time Ukraine supporter but has now become a strong critic of Volodymyr Zelenskyy after his latest shenanigans.

Taking to X, Lindsey Graham responded to the Ukrainian President’s citizenship comment and said, “Unfortunately, until there is an election, no one has a voice in Ukraine.”

It is pertinent to note that in 2015, the Ukrainian parliament passed a law which barred elections in the country during wartime. Since the war with Russia started in 2022, Ukraine has been under martial law, which bars elections during wartime. Zelenskyy has been accused of occupying office despite his tenure ending in May 2024, though since the war has not ended, he continues to lead Ukraine. The Ukrainian President has claimed that once the war ends, he will hold elections in the country.

As reported earlier, Donald Trump, who returned as the US President in January, met Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday (local time). During the meeting, Trump told Zelenskyy that Ukraine didn’t have a chance against Russia if the USA hadn’t supported them.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy tried to blame the United States administration for the current issues facing Ukraine, and the US Vice President JD Vance stepped up and told Zelenskyy off.

US Vice President accused Zelenskyy of “litigating” in front of the world’s press, criticized him for taking part in photo-ops with Democrats during the 2024 campaign, and said his remarks were “disrespectful” to the administration.

Raising his voice, Trump called the Ukrainian president “disrespectful” and told him he should be thanking the US, saying, “You don’t have the cards. You are either going to make a deal or we are out and if we are out, you will fight it out. I don’t think it’s going to be pretty,” he added.

Trump and Zelenskyy were set to sign a deal that would have created a joint US-Ukraine fund investing in extracting the country’s rare-earth mineral supply. Last Friday’s meeting was supposed to ink a deal on rare earth minerals which are used to make a variety of tech products.

Just hours after the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting which turned into a global embarrassment for the latter, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told the media outside the White House, “He either needs to resign and send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change.”

Calling the Oval House meeting a “complete and utter disaster”, Graham asserted that Zelenskyy’s leadership has become an obstacle in effective US-Ukraine ties.

Even before the Oval House meeting, Graham had warned Zelenskyy not to indulge in heated arguments with President Trump over security agreements. “Don’t take the bait,” Graham warned, however, Zelenskyy did not heed the Republican senator’s advice and went to embarrass himself in front of Trump and Vance.

Interestingly, Lindsey Graham has been a supporter of Zelenskyy and on many occasions expressed his admiration for the Ukrainian President, however, now Graham has not only criticised Zelensky but also said he can only give advice to the Ukrainian leader and taking it or not is up to him.

“I have tried very hard to maintain support for the efforts of the Ukrainian people to repel the Russian invasion and have expressed admiration for President Zelensky’s leadership during the most difficult times. I, like so many others, can only give advice. It’s up to President Zelensky to determine whether or not to take it”, Lindsey Graham said.

From being trafficked to execution for the alleged murder of an infant: How UP’s Shahzadi Khan ended up in front of a firing squad in Abu Dhabi

OpIndia Staff
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From being trafficked to execution for the alleged murder of an infant: How UP’s Shahzadi Khan ended up in front of a firing squad in Abu Dhabi

An Indian woman sentenced to death in Abu Dhabi for allegedly murdering a four-month-old child was executed on February 15, the Delhi High Court informed during a hearing on Monday regarding her father’s plea about her well-being.

Shabbir Khan, a resident of Banda in Uttar Pradesh, had filed a plea expressing deep uncertainty regarding his daughter Shahzadi’s fate, stating that his repeated requests to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) for updates had gone unanswered.

Shahzadi Khan was taken into custody by Abu Dhabi police on February 10, 2023, and sentenced to death on July 31, 2023. She had been held at Al Wathba prison.

In his plea, Khan revealed that on February 14, Shahzadi had called her family from prison, informing them that she would be executed within a day or two and that it would be her final call. Since then, the family has received no updates on her status.

The United Arab Emirates legally enforces capital punishment, with several crimes punishable by death under Emirati law. The only method of execution used is the firing squad.

Deceived by Uzair and sold into human trafficking

Even so, Shahzadi’s journey to the gallows was fraught with deceit and betrayal, much like her life before that, which was full of hardships. As a child, she suffered burn injuries while working in a kitchen. In 2020, Shahzadi, a resident of Goyra Mugli village in Banda, connected with Uzair from Agra through social media. He promised her a better future and treatment for her facial injuries, prompting her to travel to Agra with him in 2021

Uzair reportedly “sold” her to a couple from Agra, who later took her to Abu Dhabi. A case of human trafficking was registered at the Banda Judicial Magistrate Court against Uzair and the couple, who are now residing in Dubai.

In Abu Dhabi, Shahzadi was tasked with caring for the couple’s infant son. However, tragedy struck when the child unexpectedly passed away. The couple accused her of being responsible for their son’s death, leading to an investigation that resulted in her arrest and a subsequent death sentence. Following the verdict, her father, Shabbir Khan, sought help from both the district administration and the government to save her.

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