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West Bengal: ‘Dead’ Coronavirus patient found alive days later, hospital accused of negligence

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: ‘Dead’ Coronavirus patient found alive days later, hospital accused of negligence

A hospital in Khardah city in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal has been accused of gross negligence. In a shocking incident, the hospital had declared a fully recovered Coronavirus patient, Shibdas Banerjee, as dead by confusing him with another elderly patient, Mohinimohan Mukherjee, in the hospital.

As per reports, Shibdas Banerjee and Mohinimohan Mukherjee were admitted to the Balrampur Basu Hospital on the same day of November 5. On November 7, both of them were referred to the Barasat Covid-19 hospital. However, at that time, only one vacant bed was available. After consultation with the doctors, Mohinimohan Mukherjee was transferred to the new hospital instead of Shibdas Banerjee. But as luck would have it, some of the latter’s hospital admission documents got mixed with the former’s, resulting in Mohinimohan Mukherjee getting admitted under the name of Shibdas Banerjee.

On 13 November, Mukherjee passed away and the hospital authorities instead contacted the family of Shibdas Mukherjee. It was revealed that his family was handed over the dead body of Mohinimohan Mukherjee instead, who performed the cremation, believing it was Shibdas Banerjee. Since the body was covered in protective gear as per Coronavirus protocols, the family of Shibdas Banerjee failed to ascertain the identity of the deceased.

Health Department seeks strict action against hospital staff

The incident came to light when the family of Mohinimohan Mukherjee was called by the hospital staff to inform about Shibdas Banerjee’s recovery. When the family members pointed out that they did not know the patient, the hospital staff was alarmed. The family members of Shibdas Banerjee were then informed by the hospital authorities of the mismatch, post which they visited the hospital and brought him home.

It is important to point that the family members of Shibdas Banerjee were mourning his death and conducting his funeral rituals when informed by the hospital staff about the negligence on their part. ABP News reported that the Health Department has found allegations of medical negligence to be true against 4-5 workers, employed with the Balrampur Basu Hospital. It has also sought strict action against the accused health workers.

NDTV journalist spreads fake news regarding IMA scam accused ex-Congress MLA Roshan Baig, wrongly drags BJP

OpIndia Staff
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NDTV journalist spreads fake news regarding IMA scam accused ex-Congress MLA Roshan Baig, wrongly drags BJP

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested former Congress Minister Roshan Baig in connection to the IMA ponzi scam case on Sunday. Mohammed Mansoor Khan is the main accused in the case in which he duped 30,000 investors of crores of rupees in a Ponzi scam. Baig is accused of helping Khan in fleeing the country when the scam was unearthed.

CBI searched Baig’s residence and took him to custody. Later in the evening, CBI put him under arrest. Baig was detained by Special Investigating Team (SIT) probing the case. Khan, in a video, alleged that Baig had extorted money from him. The said the video was uploaded on YouTube, after which SIT detained him. When SIT got hold of him, he was trying to board a private charter plane to leave the country.

NDTV journalist drags BJP

NDTV journalist Arvind Gunasekar posted a tweet stating Baig is a former Congress MLA who “jumped ship from Congress to BJP in 2019.”

He claimed that Baig is now associated with the BJP.

However, BJP had denied Baig’s entry into the party in 2019, stating his link to the IMA case. In November 2019, when the Supreme Court allowed the disqualified Congress MLAs to contest by-poll elections on 17 assembly seats, all but Baig were welcomed by BJP in the party.

A senior Congress leader, Baig was 7-times MLA of Shivajinagar, Bengaluru representing Congress.

After several netizens pointed out the error, Gunasekar posted another tweet with correct information that Baig was never with BJP.

The infamous IMA case

In 2015, an activist had alerted police about a scam brewing at IMA, but he was turned down by the officials. RBI asked the Karnataka government to look into the IMA’s dealing. In 2016, the Karnataka police submitted a report stating they could not find any irregularities in the dealings as all investors were partners in the company. RBI was not satisfied with the answer and asked to probe the case again. The case was reopened in 2018. Mohammed Mansoor Khan, the main accused in the IMA Ponzi scam, also known as the Halal investment scam, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in New Delhi in July last year.

Including Mohammed Mansoor Khan, the kingpin of the scam, former Assistant Commissioner of Bengaluru North Taluk LC Nagaraj and former village accountant Manjunath N, 25 people were arrested in the case. In the supplement chargesheet filed by the police, 28 names were listed as accused, including senior IPS officers Hemant Nimbalkar, Ajay Hilori, former deputy superintendent of police (CID) EB Sridhara, inspector and station house officer of the Commercial Street Police Station M Ramesh, and sub-inspector of the station P Gowrishankar. One of the accused former Bengal Urban DC Vijay Shankar died in June 2020, allegedly by suicide.

Hathras case: All 4 accused taken to Gujarat for lie-detector and brain mapping tests, kin demand narco test on victim’s family too

OpIndia Staff
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Hathras case: All 4 accused taken to Gujarat for lie-detector and brain mapping tests, kin demand narco test on victim’s family too

The team of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials investigating the Hathras case along with Hathras police has taken all four accused from Aligarh jail where they were lodged to Gandhi Nagar in Gujarat for polygraph and brain mapping test on Saturday. The tests are likely to be held on Monday, as per reports.

According to the police, the accused- Sandeep, Ravi, Ramu and Lavkush Sikarwar, who are residents of Boolagarhi village under Chandpa police station of Hathras district, will be brought back to the Aligarh jail after the tests are done. If at all the accused need to be kept in Gandhi Nagar for a few days before returning to Aligarh jail, they would be lodged in Gandhi Nagar jail in Gujarat.

“The accused will be subjected to a polygraph test and brain mapping in Gandhi Nagar. They will return to the jail after the tests,” Alok Singh, superintendent at the Aligarh jail was quoted by the Hindustan Times.

The CBI went ahead with the decision to conduct the tests on the accused after getting consent from the CBI court.

It is pertinent to note here that last month, the Central Bureau of Investigation had taken over the probe into the case of the 19-year-old Dalit girl’s alleged rape, strangulation and subsequent death in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras. A resident of Boolgarhi village in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras, the girl died at Delhi’s Safdarjung hospital on September 29.

Hathras accused’s family demand test be conducted on victim’s kin too

Meanwhile, according to a report by the Hindi daily Amar Ujala, the accused’s family has asked for a narco test and lie detector test on the victim’s family too. The family of the accused in the case said that they had not received any prior intimation of the tests being conducted on them. Though the family said that they had no objection for the same, they demanded that similar tests be conducted on the victim’s family also.

Victim’s family had refused to undergo polygraph or narco test

We had reported earlier this month how the victim’s kin had refused to take a polygraph test, citing ignorance about the test. Earlier, they had also resolutely refused to take a narco test.

The SIT probe’s preliminary report has recommended the narco test of the victim’s family. However, the victim’s mother has rejected the recommendation, saying her family wouldn’t undergo the narco test. In fact, when the Aaj Tak reporter pressed the grieving mother that the narco test would unearth facts of the matter hitherto hidden, the mother responded, “We have no idea what narco test and therefore we don’t want to get it done.”

Nevertheless, the voice sample of the victim’s brother was taken, and it will be examined by the agency. It is notable here that though the victim’s family had alleged rape days after the hospitalisation of the girl, several videos had surfaced on social media featuring the victim’s and her family’s initial statements where there was n mention of rape or any brutality. The FSL report had denied rape or sexual assault on the victim.

Hathras incident

On 14th September, a 19-year-old woman was strangulated, and later she succumbed to injuries on 29th September. Initially, charges of murder were pressed against the accused. However, later rape charged were also included.

The Hathras case had then become a ground for political drama and media propaganda. Congress leaders Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad, TMC leader Derek O’Brien, and several others have visited Hathras to meet the family in order to mount an attack against the Yogi Adityanath government in the state.

As Delhi chokes yet again, the blame sits squarely on Delhi government’s shoulders. Read how

OpIndia Staff
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As Delhi chokes yet again, the blame sits squarely on Delhi government’s shoulders. Read how

While Delhi is witnessing the hazardous level of air quality, the Delhi government has been mostly engaged in a blame-game. But, it is important to note that the Delhi government has left a large chunk of its environmental cess unspent. In a written reply to an RTI filed by The Sunday Guardian, the Transport Department of the Delhi has reportedly revealed that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had only spent 1.6% of the total environmental cess collected to combat pollution in the recent four years.

As per reports, a total of ₹883 crores were collected by the AAP government as environmental cess in the last 4 years. An amount of ₹503 crores was collected in 2017, ₹228 crores in 2018 and ₹110 crores in 2019 and ₹4 crores till September 2020. Most of it was collected as environmental cess from incoming trucks to Delhi and a part of diesel sale in the NCR. But, the AAP-ruled Delhi government had spent only 1.6% of the environmental cess, even though the Chief Minister had assured to contain the menace of pollution in Delhi.

It was reported that only ₹15.58 crores were spent in the last 4 years for clean air and environmental protection. The RTI reply to Sunday Guardian reportedly revealed that no amount was spent in 2017 for the cause while ₹15 lacs were spent in 2018 for maintenance of improvement of non-motor vehicle lanes. An additional 43 crores were spent for the deployment of civil defence volunteers as marshals in Delhi. Although AAP had promised to procure hydrogen-powered buses for public transport, the Delhi government has spent only ₹15 crores since 2019 for the same. The RTI reply also stated that the government had released around ₹265 crores for the development of the Delhi-Meerut RRTS (Rapid Rail Transport System) after a court order in 2018. The funds were released from the environmental cess collected.

Arvind Kejriwal blames air pollution for rising Coronavirus cases

In a press conference on November 13, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had claimed that pollution was responsible for the drastic rise of Coronavirus cases in the National Capital. As of November 13, Delhi has recorded a whopping 43,116 active cases and a total of 7,332 fatalities. Arvind Kejriwal stated, “…When we wake up from sleep, we see only smoke around us. The number of Coronavirus cases in Delhi is rising dramatically. And the major reason behind this is pollution. We had earlier controlled the number of active cases, till October 20. But, since then, cases have been on the rise. There are many reasons but pollution happens to be the major reason…”

Umar Khalid ‘remotely-controlled’ Delhi’s anti-Hindu riots, timed it to Trump’s visit for international media coverage: Read details of fresh charge sheet

OpIndia Staff
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Umar Khalid ‘remotely-controlled’ Delhi’s anti-Hindu riots, timed it to Trump’s visit for international media coverage: Read details of fresh charge sheet

The Delhi police have filed a supplementary charge sheet on Sunday against 3 individuals for conspiracy during the anti-Hindu Delhi riots in February this year. It names Umar Khalid, his ‘protege’ Sharjeel Imam and Faizan Khan.

As per reports, the charge sheet was filed before additional sessions judge Amitabh Rawat under the UAPA and other criminal activities like criminal conspiracy, unlawful assembly, murder, rioting, sedition, and other offences under the IPC.

The supplementary charge sheet was filed under the UAPA sections 13 (unlawful activities), 16 (terrorist act), 17 (raising funds for terrorist act) and 18 (conspiracy).

As per the charge sheet, Khalid wanted to fuel riots during the visit of US President Donald Trump to India. He hoped to use the international media coverage to surmount pressure on the incumbent BJP government to roll-back the Citizenship Amendment Act. The Delhi Police had arrested a total of 21 people in connection to the case. The cops had earlier filed a charge sheet in September, detailing the planning and execution of the riots. The new supplementary charge sheet comes at the backdrop of government’s approval to prosecute the duo under the UAPA. The Delhi police will soon file another supplementary charge sheet in a month’s period, detailing charges against other three accused.

The charge sheet revealed that Umar Khalid had a ‘secret office’ in the riot-torn region of Chand Bagh in Delhi. Reportedly, he would hold meetings at late night with other conspirators. It is pertinent to remember that Delhi’s Chand Bagh area witnessed unprecedented violence, including the gruesome murder of police head constable Ratan Lal during the anti-Hindu Delhi riots in February. It stated that Umar Khalid made ‘nationwide alliances’ with other ‘like-minded people’ immediately after the Citizenship Amendment Act received the assent of the Union Cabinet.

It says that Khalid ‘remotely-controlled’ the brutal riots that ended up claiming 53 lives.

Umar Khalid replicated Shaheen Bagh model in other places

Reportedly, Umar Khalid also oversaw the formation of an Islamist group named Muslim Students of JNU (MSJ) with the help of Sharjeel Imam. The charge sheet accused him of ‘replicating’ Shaheen Bagh model in 24 other locations and controlled the events on February 23-24. The police stated, “Khalid used MSJ to foment the violence in South-East district in December 2019, which led to the Shaheen Bagh protests. He then coalesced a coalition of the current government haters that led to the formation of Delhi Protest Support Group on WhatsApp.

Other accusations against Umar Khalid

Khalid was arrested by the police on September 14 for his alleged involvement in the horrific Northeast Delhi riots. He was summoned by the police for investigation and was later arrested. In a charge sheet filed by the Delhi police and admitted by the court, it is alleged that Khalid had hatched the conspiracy of the anti-Hindu Delhi riots along with his friends during the visit of the US President Trump to India. Khalid had allegedly met the former AAP Councillor Tahir Hussain and another accused Khalid Saifi to assure logistical support during the riots through his contacts in the PFI.

While Khalid and Imam are under judicial custody, Faizan Khan was granted bail. Othe accused persons include Congress’ Ishrat Jahan, AAP leader Tahir Hussain, Safoora Zargar, Natasha Narwal, Devangala Kalita, Khalid Saifi, Meeran Haidar and others.

It is offensive to pretend that anyone is shocked by Kerala’s draconian new censorship law

Abhishek Banerjee
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It is offensive to pretend that anyone is shocked by Kerala’s draconian new censorship law

First, the Kerala model of healthcare fell even behind the Bihar model of containing Coronavirus. Then, there was the gold scam. And elections in Kerala are due in six months. Naturally, it is time for Kerala’s Communist government to bring a new law that could impose five years in jail for “offensive” posts on social media.

And with this, Pinarayi Vijayan has established himself as one of the most forward thinking and open minded among Communist leaders who have ever been. This law could be the beginning of a kinder, gentler Communist Party.

I don’t mean that in a sarcastic way. It is very factual. You cannot expect Communists to learn democratic values overnight. It has to be a gradual process. For instance, the NDA government in Bihar was recently facing three term anti-incumbency. It pleaded its case before the people and won again. The Communist government in Kerala is facing just one term anti-incumbency. But Communists don’t react like that. They can only react with oppression. It’s the only thing they know.

This law is a beginning. Five years in jail for “offensive” social media posts. I presume that the accused will get some sort of hearing in a court of law before the conviction. A judicial process. No torture. No death penalty. And no concentration camp. This is a step forward, folks. Towards a kinder, gentler brand of Communism.

In the recent past, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan has been an outspoken fan of North Korea’s Communist dictator Kim Jong Un. In the past, the CPIM had passed a resolution supporting the 1989 Tiananmenn Square massacre in China. Some people say that as a student “leader,” Sitaram Yechury had himself distributed Chinese Communist propaganda on the Tiananmenn Square incident. When the Communists ruled over Bengal, there were 28,000 political murders in the first 20 years of Communist rule. This is the official number that the Communist government admitted on the floor of West Bengal Assembly. We can only guess what the real number would be.

In view of this, a legal process and a maximum penalty of five years in jail does not seem so bad at all. If you are lucky, the penalty could be as little as a fine of Rs 10,000. Historically, dissenters against Communism never got such a good deal.

If there is one thing that is offensive, it is a handful of liberals pretending to be shocked by Kerala’s new law. First, there were not many of them. But a small handful did put out one or two word tweets feigning disagreement.

You have to understand that this is just positioning. The tiny handful who objected are also part of the plan. To create the narrative that Communists have some kind of conscience. Don’t judge the left by what they do when they are outnumbered and in the opposition. You have to judge the left by what they do when they are in power.

Further, with these one or two word tweets, they are trying to make you think that this draconian law is the worst thing that the CPIM has ever done. If there was a time to be shocked, it was when Pinarayi Vijayan paid tributes to a convicted murderer. Or when he supported Kim Jong Un. If there is something to criticize the CPIM for, it is the 28,000 political murders under their rule in Bengal.

Pretending to be shocked or surprised by Kerala government’s new law is like being shocked that Stalin would cheat while playing hide and seek as a kid.

Yes, if a BJP government had brought a law such as this, there would have been earth-shattering outrage. Liberals would have brought down the sky with invocations of some Pakistani poet who writes about liberty by smashing idols or something. They would have booked the protest venues at Jantar Mantar for months. And millions of $$$ would have flowed from Chinese government coffers to Western newspapers and from there on to Indian liberals to militate against it. And so what? The BJP, the Congress, or say the Samajwadi Party or DMK are part of some sort of consensus on Indian democracy. Despite all the differences.

Are the Communists part of this democratic consensus? Ask a Communist if they even accept the sovereignty of India. Who do you think the Communists supported during the 1962 war? The Indian Communists use the hammer and sickle. The same emblem that appears in the Soviet flag and the Chinese Communist Party flag and in flags of Communist parties worldwide. They are not trying to hide anything. If we can’t see the obvious, the joke is on us, really.

I will tell you what the hardcore Communists are thinking right now. They are thinking that sweet old Pinarayi Vijayan has gone too soft on dissenters. The Communists who once ruled Bengal with an iron hand would laugh at his new law. Kim Jong Un would be so unimpressed. Stalin sent his dissenters to build a road in the Siberian permafrost. Some 10 lakh human bodies are buried inside this road, which cuts through some of the most scenic landscapes in the world. They call it the Road of Bones.

In this backdrop, Kerala government’s new law should be seen as an attempt by Communists to engage with India’s democratic and judicial institutions. We should welcome this. Or better still, figure out what Communists are really about.

Kerala: Marriage between Christian woman and Muslim man upsets faithfuls, attending bishop says sorry

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: Marriage between Christian woman and Muslim man upsets faithfuls, attending bishop says sorry

Mar Mathew Vaniyakizhakkel, former bishop of Satna, has said he is sorry for having attended a marriage function of a Christian woman with a Muslim man. On November 9, a Catholic woman married a Muslim man at Kadavanthra St Joseph Church in Kochi. Couple’s photograph with Vaniyakizhakkel was published in a newspaper that irked the faithful section of the Catholics in Kerala.

Catholic bishop regrets attending the wedding

Vaniyakizhakkel’s photograph with the couple has raised serious concerns among the faithful. The 74-year-old Vincentian has written a letter in which he regretted attending an inter-faith marriage. He said he participated in the wedding because of the personal relationships with the family. Generally, bishops do not participate in inter-faith marriages. He wrote, “I attended the mixed marriage because of my close association with the bride’s family. However, I regret attending it.”

The Canon Law of Catholic Church and ‘disparity of cult’

The Canon Law of the Catholic Church is a set of laws and legal principles developed by the hierarchical authorities of the Catholic Church to regulate the external organization of the Church and government. It defines the set of rules and activities of the Catholics towards the mission of the Church.

‘Disparity of cult’ mentioned in the Canon Law annuls the inter-faith marriage that took place without a dispensation. An inter-faith marriage is only allowed if the non-catholic spouse promises that he or she will not interfere in the Catholic spouse’s religious practices or raising the children in religion. The Catholic spouse has to continue practicing religious practices and raise children as Catholics.

Vicar of the Kochi Church claims ‘disparity of cult’ followed

Fr Benny Maramparambil, the vicar of the Kadavanthra St Joseph Church, Kochi, wrote to Mar Antony Kariyil explaining that the Church followed the regulations of ‘disparity of cult’ marriages. He further said that he had received a letter from Fr James Athiyunthan, the priest of Kuzhikkattussery church, the bride’s parish, in which he stated there were no objections to the marriage.

Senior priests accused solemnizing priest of flouting Canon Laws

Kerala Catholic Bishops Council’s (KCBC) senior priests are, however, not delighted with the said inter-faith marriage. They have accused both the priests of flouting the Canon Laws. A senior priest said, “The Catholic Church has written rules to be followed during such situations. The bishop of the diocese concerned has to give his approval.” He further added that the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council would also look into the matter. Once they receive a report from the Ernakulam-Angamali archbishop, they will issue strict guidelines to the priests on conducting ‘disparity of cult’ marriages.

Guidelines to be issued by Church

The Syro Malabar Church has decided to issue guidelines for the bishops to ensure that the priests performing the ceremony between people of different faiths strictly follow the Canon Laws. Cardinal Mar George Alencherry has ordered an inquiry and asked the archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamali diocese Mar Antony Kariyil to submit a report.

Church’s objections over inter-faith marriages in the past

This is not the first time Church has raised concerns over inter-faith marriages. In January 2020, a senior Catholic Church priest in Kerala, Fr Varghese Vallikkatt, said young women from South India are being used as sex slaves in war-torn nations of Syria and Afghanistan. He also slammed the state and Union governments for not conducting a proper probe into missing women and children.

The Syro-Malabar Church has alleged that Christian girls are targeted and killed in the name of ‘Love Jihad’ in the state. The debate on Love Jihad started in Kerala after Hindu and Christian girls, specifically targeted and converted, married to Muslims, were found to be among the group of 21 people who had gone to join ISIS.

Police Medal awardee Delhi Police ASI turned out to be an ‘informant’ of gangster who extorted rich businessmen

OpIndia Staff
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Police Medal awardee Delhi Police ASI turned out to be an ‘informant’ of gangster who extorted rich businessmen

Earlier this year, a complaint was lodged in Delhi’s Hauz Khas police station by a businessman. The complainant had stated that a gangster named Kala had threatened his father and demanded Rs 2 crore extortion money. He added that Kala had also threatened to kill him and his family if they did not comply with the demands.

Following the complaint, Delhi Police team started investigation. Technical surveillance revealed that the SIM/mobile used for making such extortion calls were snatched a month prior in June in Rohtak, Haryana. Another mobile handset used by gangsters was recovered from two gang members in Delhi.

As per reports, Pramod alias Kala made these calls from Bhiwandi in Rajasthan. Upon analysis it was found that Kala was in touch with ASI Rajbir Singh, currently posted in South West Zone of PCR. Mukesh, Sawan and Sunny, three accused were arrested based on evidence.

Reportedly, ASI Rajbir had an acquaintance with the complainant and provided his information to the gangsters. Investigation also revealed he regularly met the gangsters. ASI Rajbir was tracking the case and had even called the complainant on 14th July to speak about the extortion call. Complainant got a bit suspicious after ASI Rajbir asked very specific questions.

Eventually, Pramod alias Kala was arrested and upon interrogation spilled the beans on ASI Rajbir. He said that it was ASI Rajbir who passed him details of the businessman and asked him to make extortion calls. Apparently ASI Rajbir had also asked Kala to fire upon the complainant’s son if extortion money is not paid. As per Deputy Commissioner of Police (south) Atul Kumar Thakur, ASI Singh was the mastermind behind of the entire case. He was arrested on Friday and sent to judicial custody.

ASI Rajbir was awarded the Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 2019.

Following the investigation, ASI Rajbir has been suspended from his services and Delhi Police is contemplating proceedings for his dismissal.

Bihar: Tension in Katihar district after Islamist mob desecrate, vandalise Chhath Puja ghat

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar: Tension in Katihar district after Islamist mob desecrate, vandalise Chhath Puja ghat

Amidst the Chhath Puja festivities on Friday, the Hindu community in the Katihar district of Seemanchal division in Bihar was subjected to consistent harassment by Islamists.

As per locals, a Muslim mob disrupted the Chhath Puja celebrations, and vandalised the ghats, leading to a communally-surcharged atmosphere in the area. Although the Hindus were able to observe Chhath Puja in the evening, there were terrified by the events of the morning when a group of Islamists had stopped them from conducting the rituals. The Muslim mob had initially objected to the use of firecrackers but later resorted to vandalising the Chhath ghat, destroying the paraphernalia, urinating and defecating on the site.

In a video that has now gone viral on social media, the locals have demanded the intervention of Kahtiyar MLA Tarkishore Prasad and police protection to all Hindu devotees in the area. All the men and women, standing in the background, were seen making a desperate appeal to the district administration. A young boy in the said video had called upon other Hindus to make the video viral so that they can get justice.

Locals recount how a fanatic Muslim mob intimidated them

When OpIndia spoke to the people in the area, one local person informed that the son-in-law of a local Islamic cleric was involved in the disruption of Hindu festivities. As such, the district administration has asked the aggrieved Hindus to settle the matter outside the police station. An eyewitness and victim, Devnarayan Uraon, narrated, “As soon as we got there, a group of Muslims started harassing us. They warned us to not celebrate Chhatt else they would throw us off the ghats. When we returned home, they destroyed the decoration and vandalised the site….” He added that following the incident, he and other locals went to Ratora police station to register a case.

Devnarayan informed that the police accompanied the locals to the ghat at 10 pm in the night and found that the ghat was vandalised. While the police provided a sum of ₹500 as monetary help, the Hindus had to spend hours in re-decorating the ghats. Several videos of Hindu activists have now come to light wherein they complained about ill-treatment at the hands of the dominant Muslim community in the area.

Chhath ghat vandalised by fanatic Muslim mob

Quoting the Muslims in the area, a Hindu woman stated, “They say that they will create more Muslim dominated areas, drive Hindus away and grab their lands.” In a shocking claim, a local Vikas Uranv said that he had witnessed the desecration of the Chhath ghat himself and claimed that miscreants belonging to the Muslim community made videos of Hindu women changing their clothes. He had also lamented about how the same miscreants harass and eve-tease their women on a daily basis.

Police claims situation under control, VHP spokesperson flags concerns about growing fundamentalism

While speaking about the incident, SDPO (Katihar) Amarkant Jha conceded that the desecration was the handiwork of some anti-social elements during the Chhath Puja at Rautara. He stated that the police took immediate action on learning about the incident and ensured that the Chhath Puja rituals went unhindered. Jha further stated that no case was registered as it wasn’t such a big incident and that law and order situation was under control. He added that no arrest has been as the matter has been resolved. He further emphasised that the Station House Officer (SHO) took cognisance of the incident at the earliest and that he was monitoring the situation on the ground.

VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal told OpIndia that the Bihar government should pay attention to the concerns of Hindus in sensitive areas such as Seemanchal. While condemning the incident, he urged upon local MLA Tarkishore Prasad to meet the people and listen to their demands. He expressed concerns about the rising Islamic fundamentalism in the area and the threats it posed to the Hindu community.

Jal Jeevan Mission provided tapped water to over 2.6 crore families so far: PM Modi

OpIndia Staff
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Jal Jeevan Mission provided tapped water to over 2.6 crore families so far: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of rural drinking water supply projects in two districts of Uttar Pradesh on November 22. The Jal Jeevan Mission project will provide tapped water connection to houses of 2,995 villages covering 42 lakh population in Mirzapur and Sonbhadra districts of Vindhyachal region. The project’s estimated cost is Rs.5,555.38 crore, and it is expected to be completed in 24 months.

2.6 crore families benefited from Jal Jeevan Mission since its launch

Jal Jeevan Mission was launched around one and a half years ago. Since then, the government has provided piped drinking water collections to over 2.6 crore families across country including Uttar Pradesh.

The health of the region will improve with tapped water

During his address to the people of these regions, PM Modi said that clean tapped water would improve the mental and physical health of the children living in thousands of villages in Vindhyanchal. A significant benefit of this project will be that it will reduce many diseases caused by dirty water, such as cholera, typhoid, encephalitis, and others. He added that it would make it easier for the women of the families as they have to travel long distances to get water.

Irrigation and water scarcity problems will be sorted out

Despite the region being rich in resources, Vindhyachal and Bundelkhand are often considered to be regions of deficiencies. There are several rivers in the region, but the people face water scarcity and droughts. A lot of families have migrated from the region due to the non-availability of water. The upcoming projects will help in dealing with water scarcity and irrigation issues in the region. PM Modi further added that completion of irrigation projects and solar projects on uncultivable land to provide steady extra income to the farmers.

Goa is the only state with a 100% tapped water supply

The government has so far provided 58 million tapped water connections. Around 30 percent of these connections were provided in rural areas. Goa is the only state in India that has achieved its target of 100% tapped water supply in the household. Telangana, Bihar, and Puducherry are expected to have full coverage by 2021. The total estimated cost of Jal Jeewan Mission is around Rs. 3.6 trillion out of which the central government will spend 2.08 trillion on the project.

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