A dreadful case of ‘Love Jihad’ has come to the fore from the Faridabad district of Haryana. The state police have filed an FIR against an individual identified as Arif who posed as a Hindu to trap a minor Hindu girl into a love affair. The accused raped the girl and also forcefully converted her religion to Islam. The Police have begun the investigation into the case.
According to the report by Aaj Tak, the accused introduced himself as Veer before he trapped the girl in a love affair. He then fed the girl with drugs after which he deceptively shot some derogatory videos of her. He then used these videos to blackmail the girl for his sexual needs.
The girl reportedly failed to fulfil the demands put forth by the accused after which she was brutally raped by the accused. The girl in the complaint to the Police said that she was also raped by several male friends and relatives of the accused.
The accused eventually forcefully married the woman after she became an adult. It was after marriage that she came to know about the original identity of the accused.
He forced her to abort several pregnancies and also killed her 6-month-old daughter. According to the complaint, the accused and his brother raped the girl for around a year and then tried to throw her away from a hilltop in Manali.
The victim was also forcefully converted to Islam by the accused. The woman somehow managed to reach the police to file a police complaint against the accused. The Police have filed an FIR against 14 persons in this case. Further investigations are underway.
A shocking incident of honour killing is reported from Pakistan where an 18-year-old girl fell victim to the abhorrent practice in Kolai-Palas district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Kohistan on 26 November. The horrific act was performed by the victim’s family members following the directives from a local jirga (council of elders) in the Barsharyal village, 150 kilometres northwest of Mansehra.
The instance took place after a video that showed her and another girl dancing with some boys gained traction on social media. According to District Police Officer (DPO) Mukhtiar Tanoli, on 22 November a video and two different images of two girls and boys became popular on social media. On 24 November, he stated that the father and uncle had killed one of the two females on the orders of a local jirga.
The other one was saved by the police who then brought her in front of the court to give a statement. “The girl said she felt no threat to her life by her family and wanted to go with them instead of being shifted to Dar-ul-Aman (shelter homes for women),” the official added. Meanwhile, the boys have gone into hiding to save their lives.
According to the district police officer, images that went viral have been “clearly edited.” The girl’s body was moved to a nearby medical facility so that medical professionals could complete the necessary legal and medical procedures before it was delivered to her family.
A first information report (FIR) regarding the murder was filed by the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Palas police station in accordance with sections 302/311 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC). The policeman added that while raids were being conducted to apprehend more accused, one of them had already been arrested. He claimed that no such commands were given by a local jirga and that the family members killed her on their own.
However, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Palas, Masood Khan noted, “We have launched an investigation to trace those who killed the girl and who either advised or convened a jirga and sentenced her to death.” No one was above the law, based on the officer, and anyone found guilty of the heinous crime would face the consequences.
The Additional Home Secretary was also instructed by the Chief Minister to initiate an investigation into the incident and produce a report. Furthermore, he issued approval for the authorities to take precautions to keep the second girl safe and protected.
The occurrence happened over a decade after a horrifying episode that shocked the nation more than ten years ago. In 2011, a video of five women clapping to a man while dancing at a family function went viral leading to their murder on a jirga decree. Men and women are both declared guilty and eliminated by the jirga in such killings perpetrated out for the sake of honour.
Three other brothers of the man in the video were also murdered later. The case was brought to light in 2012 by his other brother, Afzal Kohistani, who was shot dead in Abbottabad in March 2019 following serious threats to his life. After receiving widespread media coverage the matter was brought before the Supreme Court in 2013. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry at the time of the case’s filing took suo motu notice and imposed a life term on the guilty.
On 28th November (Tuesday), Bollywood actor Salman Khan received another threat to his life through a Facebook post after which his security was reviewed, the Mumbai Police said.
Bollywood Actor Salman Khan received a threat through a Facebook post after which his security has been reviewed, say Mumbai Police
As per media reports, Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang issued the threatening post. The gang also purportedly claimed responsibility for the recent attack on Punjabi actor-singer and Khalistani sympathiser Gippy Grewal in Canada. The post claimed that Grewal’s house was targeted for his alleged closeness with Salman Khan following which a threat was also issued to the Bollywood actor.
Salman Khan currently has a Y plus security in the wake of recurrent life threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Confirming Salman Khan’s security review, a senior officer said, “Following the threat, a review was conducted of the actor’s security to ensure there are no loopholes. We have also reached out to him and told him to be alert and discussed a few things with regard to his security,” as reported by Entertainment news portal Pinkvilla.
The threatening Facebook post linked attacks with their ‘pro-Moosewala’ acts after his demise
Notably, a Facebook account using the name Lawrence Bishnoi claimed responsibility for the attack on Gippy Grewal’s home in Canada and linked his closeness with Salman Khan as the reason for the attack. The threatening message warned that the Bollywood actor shouldn’t think that Dawood Ibrahim could protect him.
The post read, “Your close ties with Salman Khan won’t protect you. It’s time for your ‘brother’ to step up and defend you. This message also extends to Salman Khan – don’t fool yourself into thinking Dawood Ibrahim can safeguard you from our reach. No one can save you. Your ostentatious response to Sidhu Moose Wala’s death didn’t go unnoticed. You were well aware of his character and his criminal connections.”
“Till the time Vicky Middhukhera was alive you would always hover around, and later, you mourned Sidhu more. You’re also now on our radar, and you will now witness what deceiving means. This was just a trailer. The whole film will be released soon. Run away to any country but remember death doesn’t require any visa, it would come where it has to,” it added.
Gippy Grewal distances himself from the Bollywood actor
Following the development, Gippy Grewal tried to distance himself from Salman Khan and claimed that he had nothing to do with this. He denied having a bond with Salman Khan as claimed in the threatening post. He argued that he only met with the Bollywood actor twice.
Speaking with News18, Grewal said, “I have no friendship with Salman Khan and the anger of it is being taken out on me. For me, it is still shocking and I am unable to process what has happened to me.”
It is important to note that Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang has time and again issued threatening messages against Salman Khan linking it with the infamous 1998 illegal poaching of blackbuck case. The incident took place in September 1998 during the shooting of Sooraj Barjatya’s ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’. Notably, on 5th April 2018, Salman Khan was convicted by a Jodhpur court in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case.
Previously in July 2016, the Rajasthan High Court acquitted him stating that there was no evidence against Khan. However, the Rajasthan government later filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against the high court’s decision and legal proceedings are still ongoing against Khan in that case.
As per reports, Bishnoi is a prime accused in the murder case of singer-turned Politician and Khalistan sympathiser Sidhu Moose Wala. Back in 2022, he told the Delhi Police that his community would not forgive Salman Khan unless he tendered an apology for killing a blackbuck. Notably, the Bishnoi community considers Blackbucks as a sacred animal.
The special commissioner of Delhi Police (special cell), HGS Dhaliwal said that during the interrogation, Lawrence Bishnoi said, “Since the Bishnois consider the blackbuck to be the reincarnation of their religious guru, Bhagwan Jambeshwar also known as Jambaji, acquittal or punishment from the court will not be the last verdict for him.”
He further added, “Lawrence Bishnoi also said actor Salman Khan and his father (Salim Khan) either tender public apology in Jambaji temple or the Bishnois will kill them.”
Gippy Grewal: From sharing the Khalistani flag to fanning anti-government hatred through anti-Farm law protest
Meanwhile, Punjabi actor-singer Gippy Grewal whose house in Canada was recently targeted had been in the headlines allegedly for showing sympathy with Khalistan. In June 2021 on the 37th anniversary of Operation Bluestar, Gippy Grewal shared posts glorifying Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The poster suggesting “Never forget 1984” also featured the Khalistani flag.
In December 2020, Grewal’s children participated in pro farmers’ protest event in Canada where abuses were hurled at PM Modi. The two children, who seem no greater than 8-10 years in age, were seen in viral videos of the protest in which they exhorted people to extend their support to farmers and join the protests in solidarity with them while slurs like “Modi Kutta Chor Hai” can be distinctly heard in the background.
Apart from his children, he also tried to coerce Bollywood celebrities to come out openly and support anti-farm law protests. In December 2020, Rupinder Singh Grewal, popular by his stage name Gippy Grewal gave a clarion call for Bollywood saying, “Dear Bollywood, every now and then your movies have been shot in Punjab and every time you have been welcomed with open heart. But today when Punjab needs you the most, you didn’t show up and speak a word. Disappointed.”
On 28th November, all 41 trapped workers were rescued from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarkashi. After the workers received medical treatment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to them and took stock of their health and well-being. MyGov shared the videos of the conversations on X (formerly Twitter).
During the conversation, PM Modi lauded one of the workers, Gabbar Singh Negi, for ensuring all trapped workers stayed calm during the 17-day ordeal. While speaking to PM Modi, Negi mentioned how Yoga and morning walks played a vital role in keeping mental health robust during difficult times. It was revealed that Negi taught and urged the workers to practice Yoga and meditation, which helped maintain a stable mind during the 17 days they spent trapped in the tunnel.
Gabbar Singh Negi hails from Kotadwar in the district of Pauri Garhwal in Uttarakhand. His brother was present outside the tunnel as the rescue operation went on. Negi, a tunnel foreman, was trapped with 40 other workers when the tunnel collapsed.
During the conversation, PM Modi told him that Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami informed the Prime Minister how Gabbar Singh was helping the workers stay calm inside the blocked tunnel with the help of yoga and meditation.
In the first clip, Sabah Ahmed, one of the workers, talked to PM Modi. He told PM that there was a 2.5 KM stretch of the tunnel where they were trapped. It is notable that this portion of the tunnel had been already reinforced with concrete, therefore the trapped workers were safe there. All the workers used to walk there after having food. Furthermore, he told PM that they practised Yoga in the morning. Sabah said though all of them were stressed, they did not lose hope and stayed together.
Speaking to Gabbar Singh Negi in another video, PM Modi lauded him for his leadership qualities and said he came to know how Negi ensured everyone stayed calm. Negi told PM how CM Pushkar Singh Dhami kept in touch with the trapped workers and uplifted their spirits, which helped them avoid getting distressed. Furthermore, he explained how every agency, state and central government, and the company building tunnel ensured the workers did not experience any problems during the rescue operation. PM Modi said that how he managed the workers inside should be a case study someday.
Speaking to PM Modi, another worker, Sonu from Chapra, Bihar, told him how every agency worked tirelessly to rescue them. He said when they were feeling a little distressed, the government arranged a telephone line to talk to their family members, which helped them keep their hopes high that they would be rescued. PM Modi said that the way the workers maintained calm, the people of India should learn how to act during distress.
Another worker, Akhilesh from Mirzapur, UP, spoke to PM and thanked everyone involved in the rescue mission. He told PM that it was because of the teams involved that they came out safely. PM Modi mentioned foreign leaders also inquired about the safety and progress of rescue missions during a recent G20 meeting.
After the successful evacuation from the Silkyara tunnel, PM @narendramodi interacted with the 41 workers. The workers expressed gratitude to Government agencies for the evacuation, conveying their happiness and acknowledging the comprehensive support provided by the government.… pic.twitter.com/4svby6czXt
41 workers trapped in Silkyara tunnel successfully rescued
On 28th November, all the 41 trapped workers were safely evacuated from the Silkyara tunnel. According to media reports, authorities said the workers were rescued from the tunnel. Initially, there were reports that workers had started coming out of the tunnel, but it was later revealed that during the mock drill, there had been a minor bend in some pipe, which somewhat delayed their exit. Moments before the successful evacuation, a team of health experts went inside the tunnel to check on the vital health parameters of the rescued workers. Additionally, Union Minister General VK Singh (Retd), former advisor of PMO Bhaskar Khulbe, and former Engineer-In-Chief and BRO DG Lieutenant General Harpal Singh (Retd) had also entered inside the tunnel to keep the morale of the trapped workers high and ensure that the rescue operation is in final leg. They had also brought 41 garlands to greet the rescued workers.
On Tuesday (November 28), a Hindu student at Srinagar National Institute of Technology (NIT) was booked for alleged blasphemy after he shared a video of the son of the former Hamas chief criticising Prophet Muhammad. The accused NIT student named Prathmesh had shared an already viral video of Mosab Hassan Yousef making critical comments about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad to his Instagram story.
An FIR was registered against the accused Hindu student on Tuesday after a massive protest and sloganeering erupted at the NIT campus over the said video. While the video neither featured the accused nor he created it rather shared the video edited by some YouTuber, the Muslim students at NIT Srinagar demanded his arrest accusing him of ‘blasphemy’.
According to some media reports, the student booked for allegedly hurting religious sentiments has been barred from appearing for the semester exams and rusticated from the college. News agency IANS has reported that the school authorities have sent the accused student on leave following the incident.
Sharing details about the matter IGP Kashmir VK Birdi said that after receiving the information about the incident and a written letter from the registrar of NIT campus seeking legal action, the police have taken action under relevant laws and have launched an investigation into the matter.
“Today evening at around 4.30, we received information that some students are protesting at the NIT campus (in Srinagar). After an initial investigation, it came to the fore that a student had posted some video on social media. It was not his own post but he had taken it from YouTube,” IGP Birdi said.
What the son of the Hamas leader said in the viral video?
In the viral video, Mosab Hassan Yousef, the disowned son of a senior Hamas terrorist group leader Sheik Hassan Yousef speaking at a conference said, ” Let’s look at Prophet Muhammad’s life. Did he kill people? Yes. Did he marry a 9-year-old child? Yes, he did. Did he kill the Jewish community of Khyber because they did not give him the treasures? And did he have physical relations with Sophia the wife of Kinana the leader of that community the same night he killed her husband? Yes, he did. So where is the tolerance in that? I understand the Muslims are tolerant, But the real nature of Islam is Evil.”
While the video reappeared on social media recently, it is an 11-year-old video taken from a debate event held on March 15, 2012, at the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles in the United States. Yousef was part of a panel comprising Imam Jihad Turk, Reverend Canon Brian Cox, and Rabbi Mark Diamond.
Responding to a question regarding what the Sharia law states about the treatment of non-Muslims, Mosab said, “Speaking the truth, I think what the Middle Eastern people need to know the real nature of Islam. Rather than creating model images of what Islam could be or my personal opinion of Islam as a tolerant religion. Islam is not a tolerant religion, there are a lot of tolerant Muslims brother Jihad here which I admire and I love unconditionally but in Islam, there is no tolerance. The tolerant verses in Islam were for political reasons.”
“Let’s put the Quran on the side that we don’t understand its language most of us let’s put the Islamic ideology on the side as well let’s look at the life of Muhammad the behaviour of the Prophet of Islam that jihad and the rest of the Muslim world follow. Did he kill ? Yes. Did he marry a nine-year-old child? Yes, he did. Did he kill the Jewish community of Khyber because they did not give him the treasures to fund his military campaigns and did he sleep with Sofia, the wife of kin Anna, the leader of that community the same night he killed her husband? Yes, he did so,” Mosab added.
“Where is the tolerance if you regard it as a virtue? Muslims are tolerant people because I know my father and all my family and I know my people, but the real nature of Islam is evil and this is based on my perfect knowledge of what Islam is,” he says in the video.
“I was born to speak Arabic understand the language of the Quran. I know about the life of Muhammad from the most trusted resources and I can guarantee you that Muhammad did not tolerate but he took revenge from anybody who opposed him these are the facts that we need to tell our people,” he further adds.
“I want to see what so-called the Arab Spring in the Middle East. I see people protesting against political regimes I want to see Middle East runs protesting against the absolute control of religion against Islam itself against Allah himself in the streets. When we see that happening in the Middle East, then we can say that this is a spring, the European Spring was against the control of religion and religious authorities over people’s lives.”
“It was not against political systems and this is what I want to see in the Middle East and the only way to see this happening is by telling people the truth. I want to tell my people the truth of what Islam is,” Mosab said.
Islamists rake up Bhagwa love trap conspiracy theory
Notably, several social media users have claimed that the accused student is in a relationship with a local Muslim girl. A section of Islamists on social media have accused the Hindu youth of luring the girl into his Bhagwa love trap. It is worth noting that the Bhagwa love trap is a conspiracy theory peddled by several Muslim organisations and Islamists. Islamists claim that Hindu men are trapping Muslim women. There have been several cases where a group of Islamists chased Hindu men travelling with their Muslim female friends and assaulted them.
A hindu student from NIT Srinagar is accused of allegedly disrespecting Muhammad which has angered muslims.
But the real reason seems to be incel seethe, as the guy's girlfriend is a Kashmiri Muslim.
Several Islamist X users revealed the personal details including pictures of the accused Hindu youth and the girl he is said to be dating on X. Such X users also information about her name and other details.
Moreover, the Islamists are abusing the Hindu youth for being a Bihari and ‘outsider’ as well as his alleged girlfriend. One such X post read, “Nobody should defend that girl who was in a relationship with that Bihari as she also is responsible disrespect of our Prophet Muhammad SAW.”
Another Islamist went a step ahead saying that if the girl was his sister, he would have “chopped her in thousand pieces and thrown to dogs,” adding that she should be “exposed” and “humiliated.”
Exhibiting the hatred for a non-Muslim, an Islamist called Prathamesh a “Pajeet” (a racial slur used against Indians) adding that a Kashmiri girl falling for a “Pajeet” is the “most disgusting” thing she can do.
While Islamists who perpetually claim victimhood saying that they are allegedly targeted, harassed, hated and even killed for their religious beliefs, in reality, they themselves harbour hatred beyond measure for non-Muslims, particularly the Hindus. The Hindu youth has been accused of blasphemy for merely sharing a years-old video of some other person making critical comments about Islam.
Islamists on X have also launched a trend “#HangblasphmerPrathmeshNIT” demanding that the Hindu youth be hanged to death for an Instagram story.
To no surprise, the Islamists have also invoked their favourite slogan “Sar Tan Se Juda” calling for the slaughter of anyone they assume has ‘insulted’ Prophet Muhammad, as evident in this X post.
لبيك يا رسول اللهﷺ
Gustakh-e Nabi (saw) ki ek saza sar tan se juda sar tan se juda
Amidst abuses, online harassment and threats several people have raised concerns over Prathamesh and his family’s safety. Moreover, the prevailing tensions also raise concerns over the safety of non-locals in Kashmir.
I request to the @AmitShah ,@PMOIndia look at the matter of NIT srinagar. It is a matter of security of 5000 non local students who are residing in the campus. They are facing anti nationalist slogan and death threats from outsider. #NITSrinagar@PIBHomeAffairs@narendramodi
This episode recalls the violent riots in the country and outrage in Islamic countries in response to former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s remarks about Prophet Muhammad. Sharma was accused of making alleged offensive comments based on Hadith. Back then “Sar tan se juda” slogans were raised, and several people, including a Hindu tailor in Rajasthan, were brutally slain for supporting Nupur Sharma, who continues to live a restricted life in hiding to this day. With Islamists disclosing personal information about Prathamesh and his Kashmiri girlfriend, as well as threats to hang him and do ‘Sar tan se juda,’ the duo’s safety remains a concern.
Everyone in the country exhaled a sigh of relief on the night of 28 November which marked the safe extraction of all forty-one workers trapped inside the Uttarkashi’s under-construction Silkyara tunnel since 12 November. The workers were rescued after a huge multi-pronged operation run by multiple agencies after days of technical issues, anxiety, uncertainty, despair and hope.
The unprecedented 17-day-long rescue operation involved multiple agencies and professionals from both domestic and international locations and eventually proved to be a great success. The entire apparatus was employed by the union and state governments to guarantee the safe and secure return of the labourers. The colossal effort was exceptional both in its scope and ambition.
Meanwhile, many individuals graciously joined the large-scale operation and saw it through to the very conclusion. Delhi-based Nizamuddin resident Surendra Rajput was one of them, according to a report in Jagran. Notably, he already participated in a previous rescue operation in 2006 in Haryana, albeit one that was far less in scale. He built a tunnel to rescue a young boy named Prince who fell into a borewell there.
This time, Surendra Rajput prepared a pulley trolley in order to remove debris from the rescue pipe in the collapsed tunnel which turned out to be crucial in the last phase of the operation when it was time to evacuate the workers. He arrived at the scene on 18 November and pleaded with the rescue agencies to join the mission and assist in the rescue operation. He also informed the administrative officers of his work experience in an attempt to convince them.
When the officials looked into the details he shared, they discovered that the man had worked tirelessly to save a child known as Prince who fell into a borewell in a village between Kurukshetra and Ambala in Haryana in the year 2006. He dug a 10-foot tunnel in order to link two wells that were 57 meters deep which led to the removal of the boy from the hole and saved his life.
Surendra Rajput was awarded by the Haryana government for his dedication and effort at that time. Hence, the officials decided to include him and receive his help in the operation because of his credentials and background. According to him, he created a 1.25 m long and 600 mm broad pulley trolley for a group of rat miners who were drilling with their hands. This had four bearings installed. The rubble from the tunnel was removed via the pipe following manual drilling through this trolley. Around one quintal of debris was taken out from the trolley at a time.
It is notable that the 2006 incident where six-year-old Prince fell into an open borewell in Kurukshetra was one of the most prominent such incidents which was widely covered in media. After the kid fell into a 60-feet deep open borewell of 16 inches in diameter, a massive rescue operation was launched which was covered live by news channels. After the attempts to pull out the child failed, the rescue teams comprising Army personnel found another borewell nearby with a similar depth. The two borewells were connected using steel pipes, and Prince was rescued after 50 hours of struggle.
Workers rescued after 17 days
The 41 workers were eventually rescued on 28 November from the under-construction tunnel. A group of medical professionals entered the tunnel just before the workers were successfully evacuated to assess their vital signs.
Union Minister General VK Singh (Retd), Bhaskar Khulbe, OSD to Uttarakhand administration and a former advisor to PMO, and a former Engineer-in-Chief and BRO DG Lieutenant General Harpal Singh (Retd) also went into the tunnel in order to maintain the spirits of the trapped workers and guarantee that the rescue operation is in its last stages. They had also brought 41 garlands to greet the latter. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also met the rescued workers as they emerged out of the tunnel.
The rescue operation had been ongoing since 12th November when the debris fell in the 60-metre stretch on the Silkyara side of the tunnel trapping 41 labourers inside the under-construction structure. The officials had installed pipes to give food, water, medicine, and enough oxygen to the trapped personnel in order to ensure the success of the rescue mission.
They also sent communication devices and maintained regular communications with the trapped workers to keep their morale high. Their relatives were permitted to speak with their stranded relative and provide information about the rescue operations on a regular basis.
Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami were regularly updated on the operation’s status and information.CM Dhami would frequently visit the scene and even converse with the trapped workers over the phone to inquire about their well-being. PM Modi also spoke with them over call only a few hours after they were safely evacuated.
After the successful evacuation of all 41 workers who were trapped inside Uttarakhand’s Silkyara tunnel for 17 days, International tunnelling expert Arnold Dix, said on Wednesday that though there were multiple challenges in the rescue operation, the combined sense of purpose to save the 41 people weighed out all the challenges.
On being asked about the kinds of challenges faced during the rescue operation, Arnold Dix said, “I think it would be better to say, what kind of challenges didn’t we face? And what we didn’t face was a combined sense of purpose to save the 41 people. That’s the challenge we didn’t face. We don’t have that in many places. Everyone knew we were bringing those men home.”
Speaking about the mantra of success for the operation, the International tunnelling expert said that they stayed calm and knew exactly what they wanted.
“We worked as a wonderful team. And when I say a wonderful team, the best engineers here in India, the army, their engineers, the best I’ve ever worked with, all the agencies, the federal authority, the state, all the people, it was just a joy. A joy to be a part of this successful mission,” he said.
Further speaking about his temple visit after the success of the rescue mission, Dix said that he made a promise to God to say thank you for the safe rescue and evacuation of all trapped workers.
“If you haven’t noticed, I think we have just witnessed a miracle,” he said.
The International tunnelling expert further reacted to the Australian Prime Minister congratulating him and the Indian authorities for the successful rescue operations and said, “Thank you, Mr Prime Minister. But as an Australian, sir, if you’re watching, it’s been my privilege and my pleasure to show that we’re fantastic at not just cricket, I love cricket, but we do other things as well, including tunnel rescue.”
Dix, while speaking to ANI, further said that this rescue was different as compared to other rescue operations he has done, as no one got hurt during this operation, which is usually not the case in rescue operations.
“It’s pretty different. This was just fantastic,” he said.
The international tunnelling expert, while speaking of his liking for India, said that he really enjoyed the Indian vegetarian food.
“The Northern Indian vegetarian food is so yummy, I reckon I could go to Northern India. Your food is fantastic. I can’t cook like that in Australia. The best vegetarian food ever,” Dix said.
All 41 workers who were trapped inside Uttarakhand’s Silkyari tunnel since November 12 were evacuated safely on Tuesday evening.
On November 12, a section of the tunnel between 205 and 260 metres from the Silkyara side collapsed. Workers who were beyond the 260-metre mark were trapped, with their exit blocked.
The rescued workers were draped in orange marigold flower garlands and were greeted by Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union Minister VK Singh.
CM Dhami announced that the Uttarakhand government will provide financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to each of the workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
In a dreadful incident that has been reported from the Sambhal city of Uttar Pradesh, a Hindu temple was vandalized by some miscreants on Sunday (26th November). Some unknown anti-social elements destroyed the Hindu idol of the Lord Shiva temple.
The incident is said to have happened on the 26th of November night. However, it came to the fore only after some devotees discovered the broken idols after they arrived at the temple post-Ganga snan. The devotees and the locals immediately informed the Police who reached the spot and began the investigation.
The police have also filed an FIR against unknown miscreants for vandalizing a Hindu temple. The FIR has been filed based on the complaint filed by a local Hindu identified as Pramod Kumar. Meanwhile, the authorities replaced the temple idol with a new one. The enraged devotees have demanded strict action against the accused for hurting the religious sentiments of Hindus.
According to a report by Live Hindustan, several BJP leaders have also taken cognizance of the event and have demanded strict action against the accused. BJP leaders Yogesh Tyagi, Amit Kumar, Sanjay Kumar, and several other leaders visited the temple on Monday (27th November) and demanded strict investigation and arrest of the accused.
Earlier in April this year, a similar incident was reported when an unidentified individual broke Lord Hanuman’s idol in Sambhal. The Police had arrested the accused after which the latter confessed that he broke the temple as God did not listen to his prayers.
Also, in January this year, a Shiv temple was vandalized in Sambhal after the enraged devotees had launched a massive protest in the city. The Police had filed an FIR in the case and had assured that strict action would be taken against the accused.
On 27th November, TIME magazine published a lengthy interview of Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. This was the second time in less than a week that Khalistani separatist movement got space in a leading international publication. Earlier on 22nd November, the Financial Times published a report claiming that US authorities thwarted a plan to assassinate Pannun.
Furthermore, the report claimed that the US warned India as its agents were allegedly involved in the plan to assassinate Pannun. The report claimed that President Joe Biden had raised the issue with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi during his visit to India for the G20 Summit. Interestingly, the claims were in sync with the accusations against India for its alleged involvement in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
The space that terrorists and wanted criminals are getting in international media raises the question if the West is attempting to create another Osama Bin Laden. The question arose because just a few weeks ago, Pannun openly threatened to blow up Air India flights and warned Sikhs not to travel in the same.
In the TIME article, the author attempted to highlight the complex and contentious situation involving Pannun. However, those who are aware of the Khalistani movement, Sikh separatism and insurgency in Punjab from the 1980s to the end of the 1990s would see a clear bias in the report and blatant attempts to whitewash crimes.
Report’s reliance on Pannun’s selective viewpoint is problematic
Pannun, who is an American and Canadian citizen, founded Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) in 2007 to promote and propagate the Khalistani movement. The TIME’s article presented Pannun’s perspective over the allegedly foiled assassination plot, baseless allegations of India’s involvement in the plot and border issues surrounding the Khalistani movement. At first glance, if someone is unaware of the actuality behind Sikhs For Justice and Pannun’s anti-India actions, the reader would feel as if India is standing on the wrong side.
The selective presentation of the information in the TIME report needs to be called out. The report heavily relied on Pannun’s viewpoint and portrayed him as a “champion of human rights and self-determination for Sikhs”. Contrary to what was presented, it severely lacked a balanced presentation, as there were no counterarguments or perspectives from the Indian government’s point of view.
The Khalistani movement is a direct challenge to the sovereignty of the Indian state. The Khalistani elements like Pannun not only issued repeated threats to damage public and government properties but also instigated Sikhs worldwide to protest against the Indian government and desecrate the Indian flag. The increase in attacks on Hindu temples is the result of provocation by the likes of Pannun. Not to forget, it was only because of the pro-Khalistani elements that posters calling for the assassination of Indian diplomats and “Wanted” posters of PM Modi were raised in Canada.
TIME failed to address legal actions against Pannun
While portraying Pannun as a human rights advocate, the TIME report completely ignored the seriousness of the charges brought against him by the Government of India. Pannun has been actively calling for protests and instigating young Sikhs to desecrate government buildings and trigger violence in India on important events. From Republic Day Independence Day to even the final match of the ICC Cricket World Cup, Pannun has called for creating law and order problems in India.
Furthermore, he has announced cash rewards for anyone who follows his instructions. In the past few years, incidents of vandalising government buildings have increased exponentially in Punjab, Delhi, and elsewhere because of his provocations. Furthermore, when the so-called tractor rally during farmer protests turned violent on 26th January 2021, the “protesters” raised alien flags on Red Fort, where the Indian flag was hoisted on Independence Day. It was in sync with the demands raised by Pannun in exchange for cash rewards. He also announced that he would send the reward to the “protesters” involved in raising the alien flag at the Red Fort.
Apart from his consistent threats against India, he has also sought support from Pakistan. It is a well-known fact that Pakistan has been actively funding the Khalistani movement since the insurgency of the 1980s. Several wanted Khalistani terrorists have found haven in Pakistan and indulge in anti-India activities. Khalistani elements are often found indulged in Pakistan-backed narco-terrorism. While Pannun claimed he would not “take the path of violence”, it is essential to mention that he openly threatened terror attacks on Air India flights.
Insufficient Context on the Khalistan Movement
The TIME report touched on the historical context of the Khalistan movement but only in a way that would suit Pannun’s narrative. It talked about the anti-Sikh riots and Operation Blue Star but completely ignored the fact that Khalistani terrorists killed thousands of innocent Hindus in Punjab. The Khalistani attacks happened outside India as well when the terrorists blew up Air India’s Kanishka flight killing 329 people in 1989, most of them Canadian citizens.
There were countless terrorist attacks during the insurgency in Punjab. For example, on 7th March 1990, Khalistani terrorists killed 22 Hindus in a small town of Punjab, Abohar. The Khalistani terrorists opened fire in the busiest market leading to several deaths and injuries. While people tried to understand what happened and rushed the injured to hospital for medical care, multiple bombs went off in the market, leading to more deaths. Temples, busy markets, buses and trains were attacked during insurgency by Khalistani terrorists. Sadly, the coverage of such incidents is minimal and clouded with selective narratives.
The assassinations of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, then-Chief Minister of Punjab Beant Singh, former General of Indian Army Arun Vaidya, ex-minister and founder of Hind Samachar Group Lala Jagat Narain and others are black spots in the history of Punjab. By not providing the crucial historical facts about the Khalistani movement, the report deliberately indulged in propaganda, and highlighted a terrorist’s perspective.
Limited discussion on Sikh Diaspora motivations
The TIME report categorically said that the Sikh Diaspora shifted abroad due to so-called “persecution”. However, it ultimately failed to explore the multifaceted reasons for Sikhs to settle overseas. The economic opportunities, cultural integration, and the desire to settle abroad, which were widespread among Sikhs in Punjab, were ignored entirely. Not to forget, many pro-Khalistani elements and Khalistani terrorists fled India and took shelter in countries like Canada and Pakistan.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was also a point of discussion in the report, was also a wanted Khalistani terrorist who fled India on a fake passport. While Canada accuses India of killing Nijjar, the Justin Trudeau-led government of Canada has failed to explain how someone who entered Canada with a false name and dubious background managed to get Canadian citizenship—that, too, after knowing the fact that he was a wanted criminal in India. Najjar was linked to Khalistani terrorist organisations like SFJ and Khalistan Tiger Force. He organised armed training camps and indulged in anti-India activities. Interestingly, he has now been portrayed as a “Sikh hero” and “Canadian citizen” while pointing fingers at India!
OpIndia’s detailed reports on Hardeep Singh Nijjar can be checked here.
India is heading towards Lok Sabha elections scheduled in the first half of 2024. The upcoming General Elections campaign will start unofficially very soon, and all political parties will begin propagating their agendas at the beginning of 2024.
At such a crucial political point, the individuals and organisations with vested interests who want to see a regime change in India are trying to portray the current government badly. While attempting to do so, they are knowingly or unknowingly feeding anti-India forces, including pro-Khalistani elements sitting in Western countries. Pannun is one such individual who wants to break India into several pieces, and India has the full right to defend its sovereignty against such elements.
In the Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh, a Muslim girl named Afreen embraced Hindu Dharma after marrying her Hindu lover Prince Gupta. After tying the knot with Prince as per Hindu traditions and amidst the chanting of Vedic mantras on Monday, November 27, Afreen changed her name to “Nisha”.
According to the media reports, the matter pertains to the Tambaur police station precinct in Sitapur. Originally from Tambaur’s Pachrukhu, Prince Gupta does works at a factory in Haridwar. Prince met Afreen, a resident of Shahjahanpur’s Katra some time back. The duo soon became friends and used to meet and interact often. Afreen and Prince grew closer and their friendship blossomed into love. Subsequently, the couple decided to get married.
While Prince Gupta managed to convince his family, Afreen’s family were opposed to this union. After learning about Afreen’s relationship with Prince, her father Sabir Hussain imposed numerous restrictions on Afreen. She was not allowed to step out of her home as well. However, Afreen managed to call Prince to Sitapur. After Afreen’s phone call, Prince arrived in Sitapur and sought help from Hindu rights groups to help the couple get married.
Subsequently, the Hindu activists made arrangements for Afreen’s ‘ghar wapsi’ and her marriage to Prince Gupta at a temple dedicated to Goddess Sonasar in the Seuta area. Before the wedding, Afreen performed the required rituals to become a Hindu.
Prince and Afreen (now Nisha) got married in the presence of the respected people of the village who blessed the newlyweds. The couple also received the blessings of Prince Gupta parents and relatives. Several Hindu leaders including Rashtriya Bajrang Dal District President Sandeep Awasthi Bajrangi, Dinesh Pandey, Raju Awasthi, and Vineet Raj were present. Following their wedding, Afreen alias Nisha is residing with her husband Prince.
