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Founder of Hindenburg Research Nate Anderson under fire: Hindenburg and Hedge Fund ‘Anson Funds’ accused of securities fraud and manipulating markets

OpIndia Staff
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Founder of Hindenburg Research Nate Anderson under fire: Hindenburg and Hedge Fund ‘Anson Funds’ accused of securities fraud and manipulating markets

The controversial short-seller Nathan (Nate) Anderson, who is behind the infamous Hindenburg Research, is facing serious allegations of colluding with hedge funds like Canada’s Anson Funds. The information has come to light via court filings submitted in Ontario courts as part of a defamation lawsuit. These documents point to coordinated efforts that may have violated securities laws. The revelations made in the court documents cast doubt on Anderson’s earlier claims that his organisation worked independently.

Notably, a December 2024 report in BNN Bloomberg pointed out that the head of Anson hedge fund, Moez Kassam, said his firm has shared research with several sources including Hindenburg’s Anderson.

Court documents expose Hindenburg-Anson collusion

The documents, which have been brought to the fore by an investigative website named ‘Market Frauds‘, reveal that Anderson collaborated with Anson Funds to produce targeted reports. Interestingly, Anson appeared to have dictated the content and price targets. The screenshots of the email exchanges shared by the website suggest that Anderson lacked editorial control over the reports, which he had earlier claimed. In one of the emails shared, Anson referred to sending a “final draft”, while Anderson sought confirmation on whether there was “more” that needed to be done.

These emails are part of a detailed investigation and show that Anderson was acting as a distributor for Anson’s research rather than an independent analyst. Media reports suggest that these findings are in line with the accusations against Anson that it orchestrated short-selling campaigns and profited from stock price declines that were triggered by the reports published by Hindenburg Research.

The US probe against Anson Funds

BNN Bloomberg report from December last year noted that the US Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had intensified their investigations into alleged market manipulation involving Anson Funds and other bearish firms. The scrutiny follows a series of revelations from court filings submitted to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice as part of a complex defamation lawsuit. These filings suggest coordinated efforts by Anson and its affiliates to influence stock prices through undisclosed payments and collaborative reports.

In June last year, Anson Funds Management and Anson Advisors Inc, both affiliates of Anson, agreed to pay $2.25 million to settle SEC claims. The allegations involved the failure to disclose payments made to external publishers of bearish research, including Citron’s Andrew Left. While the settlement did not involve an admission of wrongdoing, it drew attention to the controversial practices of Anson and its collaborators.

The SEC’s case against Left alleged he manipulated markets through exaggerated social media posts and extreme price targets while unwinding his bets behind the scenes. Left has pleaded not guilty, arguing the SEC is enforcing rules that do not exist. However, court filings reveal Anson’s financial ties with Left, including over $1 million allegedly paid for bearish content on companies such as Namaste Technologies and India Globalization Capital. Emails disclosed in the Toronto lawsuit suggest Anson worked with other short sellers, including Hindenburg’s Nate Anderson, in orchestrating reports to drive stock prices down.

SEC scrutiny and looming charges

The website said that the documents indicate that multiple US securities laws were breached, including Sections 17(a) and 17(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. As Anson failed to disclose its role in preparing reports, it could lead to charges of fraud. Furthermore, Anson’s practice of shorting stocks while influencing their prices through negative campaigns mirrors illegal “pump-and-dump” schemes.

The website further noted that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is expected to intensify its investigation, with potential charges against both Anderson and Anson likely by 2025.

Hindenburg Research shuts down

On 15th January, Nate Anderson announced that he would disband the firm. In a personal note published by Nathan Anderson on Hindenburg Research’s website on Wednesday, he said that the toll of the “rather intense, and at times, all-encompassing” nature of the work was behind his decision to disband the firm founded in 2017. When asked for a specific reason to disband Hindenburg Research, Anderson said, “There is not one specific thing—no particular threat, no health issue, and no big personal issue.”

Breon Peace’s resignation

Interestingly, Nathan Anderson’s announcement to disband Hindenburg Research comes just days after US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace, who brought fraud and bribery charges against Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and seven other executives, announced his resignation.

OpIndia reported about Breon Peace’s links with Hungarian billionaire and regime change specialist George Soros. Breon Peace’s spouse Jacqueline Jones-Peace is the Director of Development & Senior Attorney at Equal Justice Initiative, which is based in Montgomery, Alabama. The non-profit and human rights organisation was founded by Bryan Stevenson who also serves as its Executive Director. However, the interesting part is that he is also a member of the Open Society Foundations US Programs board, which establishes an evident relationship between the Peace couple and George Soros.

The timing of Hindenburg Research’s sudden shutdown has raised many questions. Not to forget, the decision has come right after Rep Lance Gooden, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland on 14th January 2025 and demanded that all the documents and records related to the Justice Department’s decision to probe Adani Group.

Hindenburg Research’s attacks on Adani

In January 2023, Hindenburg published a report accusing the Adani Group of financial irregularities, leading to a significant drop in the company’s stock price. The group at the time had rubbished these claims.

The Hindenburg report alleged stock manipulation and fraud by the conglomerate. The case is related to the allegations (part of a report by Hindenburg Research) that Adani had inflated its share prices. After these allegations were published, there was a sharp fall in the shares of various Adani group companies’ stocks.

In January 2024, the Supreme Court refused to transfer the probe into the allegations of stock price manipulation by the Adani group to an SIT and had directed market regulator SEBI to complete its probe into two pending cases within three months. By June 2024, Adani group companies’ share prices recovered to their pre-Hindenburg report prices.

On 10th August 2024, Hindenburg Research posted a cryptic message on X saying, “Something big soon India”.

The same day, they released a report that claimed that SEBI chief Madhabi Puri Buch and her husband Dhaval Buch had investments in an offshore firm used in the Adani money siphoning case. The report also alleged that the SEBI chairperson’s involvement showed a lack of transparency in the market regulator when it came to investigating the Adani group.

The next day on 11th August, SEBI chief Madhabi Buch and her husband released a joint statement, calling the report baseless and saying that their financial records were an open book. In a detailed joint statement issued later in the day by Madhabi Buch and husband Dhaval Buch rejected all allegations of Hindenburg as baseless.

In September 2024, Hindenburg Research claimed that Swiss authorities had frozen more than USD 310 million in funds across several Swiss bank accounts over money laundering allegations against Adani Group. The Adani conglomerate strongly rejected the claims made by Hindenburg Research.

It is notable here that Hindenburg’s claims were used by Indian Opposition parties to target the Modi government suggesting the political motives behind the targeting the Adani Group and Indian stock markets ahead of the general elections in 2024. The speculations became confirmation soon when George Soros himself declared that the Adani issue would be raised in the Indian Parliament and Modi would have to answer, indicating that the incident was another of the larger efforts he supports to attack ‘nationalistic governments’ around the world.

Hindenburg shared report on Adani with China-linked hedge fund 2 months before publication

This is not the first time Hindenburg has been accused of sharing report with a hedge fund before publishing it. Earlier in July 2024, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) said in a notice that Hindenburg Research reportedly shared an ‘advance copy’ with one of their clients two months prior to the publication of their report on Adani.

As per reports, Hindenburg had shared its report on Adani with their client two months prior to publication, enabling them to make ‘unfair’ profits from the stock price movements in a brokered deal using the report. The SEBI notice details how Kingdon Capital, led by New York-based hedge fund manager Mark Kingdon, and a broker linked to Kotak Mahindra Bank, profited significantly from the nearly 150 billion dollar loss the 10 companies under Adani Groups faced in the stock market.

The SEBI notice highlights that Hindenburg Research used ‘non-public’ and misleading information about the Adani Group to create a panic in the Indian stock market.

As per reports, Hindenburg’s response to the SEBI notice has acknowledged the prior sharing of information with the said broker but it has claimed that SEBI is trying to ‘silent’ them for exposing Adani. Hindenburg’s response admits that the vehicle used to bet against Adani Enterprises Ltd belonged to Kotak Mahindra International Ltd, a Mauritious-based firm owned by Kotak Mahindra Ltd.

‘Hindenburg and Kingdon partnered to target Adani’

Hindenburg’s response to SEBI has disclosed that Hindenburg and  Kingdon Capital partnered to orchestrate a strategic move against Adani Group and benefitted from short-selling Adani stocks.

On Kingdon Capital’s recommendation, Kotak Mahindra Bank created an offshore fund named the Kingdon India Opportunity Fund. It served as a critical vehicle for Kingdon Capital to engage in short selling of Adani Group’s shares. The creation and utilisation of this fund was part of sophisticated strategies employed by  Kingdon Capital to leverage financial markets to their advantage.

2024 Sambhal violence: Gangster Mulla Afroz killed 2 Muslim rioters while firing shots at the police, arrested

OpIndia Staff
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2024 Sambhal violence: Gangster Mulla Afroz killed 2 Muslim rioters while firing shots at the police, arrested

In a major update to the Sambhal violence case, the Uttar Pradesh police have exposed the lies spread by Islamists about the killing of 4 men during ‘protests’.

The police on Sunday (19th January) revealed that two of the four people from the crowd had been shot by the accused Mulla Afroz. He is associated with the notorious Sharik Satha gang.

The police denied the allegations of firing and said that only tear gas shells were fired on the day of violence by the authorities to control the crowd.

The Islamists earlier alleged that the police had deliberately targeted the Islamists who were ‘protesting’ to save the contested Shahi Jama Masjid site on 24th November last year.

They stated that 4 of their men had been shot by the authorities in an attempt to flee the crowd from the spot. However, the police have several times in the past denied the allegations of firing and claimed that the authorities had only fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.

Further investigations into the case revealed that two of the four men had been shot by an Islamist only and not by the police. The accused identified as Mulla Afroz has been arrested by the police and is being interrogated.

Mulla Afroz arrested by the Police (Amar Ujala)

Additional Superintendent of Police Shrishchandra commented on the matter and said, “During the violence, Mullah Afroz along with his associates had targeted the police and opened fire.

Meanwhile, in the chaos, some bullets hit his associates and people in the crowd. Bilal and Ayaan died due to Mulla Afroz’s bullet. He is a member of the international auto lifter Shariq Satha gang who smuggles stolen vehicles and weapons.”

He further added that the police amid the investigations have recovered the 32-bore pistol and cartridges used in firing from the accused. 15 blank cartridges and 3 charger clips looted from the police during the chaos have also been recovered from him.

The authorities meanwhile reiterated that the accused had fired the bullets at the police and during the attack, the bullets mistakingly hit Bilal and Ayaan who later died of severe injuries.

2024 Sambhal violence

It is crucial to note that on 24th November last year, massive violence erupted in the Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh after Islamists rioted and pelted stones against the police injuring more than 20 officers.

The First Information Reports (FIRs) of this incident revealed how the mob targeted the police.

While on one hand, the people associated with the perpetrators played victim, the FIR stated that a group of 700-800 Muslims gathered about 100 meters away from the structure at around 8:45 that morning.

The crowd then began raising slogans before turning violent. The boys also hurled stones at the cops making the police target.

The official complaint filed by a sub-inspector posted in Kotwali Nagar, Sambhal added that the mob was determined to drive out the police team that had arrived to survey the contested mosque.

According to the sub-inspector, it was illegal in the district for more than five persons to congregate given the survey of the disputed site was underway.

As a result, the police repeatedly advised the people to return home. However, the raging crowd remained unaffected by the appeals and kept pushing the policemen as they moved forward.

The culprits continued to abuse the police personnel and threw stones at them during this period. According to the sub-inspector’s accusation, the Muslim radicals were targeting the police as part of a conspiracy that took a violent turn after November 24th.

Islamist agrees that he pelted stones at the police

It was earlier reported that an Islamist from Sambhal in an exclusive conversation with Pakistan cleric Engineer Muhammad Ali Mirza on YouTube live agreed to have pelted stones at the authorities and non-Muslims.

The Islamist identified as Muhammad Akil said that it was Friday and the Islamist mob was furious over the claims of a temple beneath the 300-year-old Masjid and pelted stones at the administration and the non-Muslims to protect the interest of the site.

In the video, Akil could be heard saying that the Islamist stone pelting forced the police to initiate firing at the mob which allegedly resulted in the death of 3-4 Muslims.

He also said that the non-Muslims were illegally claiming ownership of the Masjid and stating that it was a temple. Akil justified the stone pelting and said that the acts of Hindus and the local administration irked the Islamists who pelted stones on the former on Friday.

Court-ordered survey at Jama Masjid in Sambhal

On 19th November, a court-mandated survey was conducted at Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. The court ordered the survey in response to a petition filed by Supreme Court Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, and seven co-plaintiffs, asserting that the mosque occupies the site of a temple dedicated to Bhagwan Kalki. The site in question is a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act of 1904. A heavy police force was deployed in the area to ensure the survey proceeded peacefully.

However, on 24th November, during the second round of court-mandated survey at Jama Masjid, Islamist mobsters gathered outside the mosque and engaged in violence. They pelted stones at police, opened fire at police personnel, and set ablaze vehicles and shops. More than 20 policemen were injured.

Following this, the Supreme Court of India stayed the hearing in the District Court, Sambhal, in response to a plea filed by the Muslim side. Furthermore, the survey report submitted by the Advocate Commissioner has been ordered to be sealed and not to be opened till an order is passed by the High Court in the matter. A judicial committee was formed by CM Yogi Adityanath to investigate the cause of the violence.

Detailed coverage of the Sambhal violence and the Jama Masjid legal case can be read here.

So far 60-70 arrested, police looking for 89 more accused

The state police so far have arrested around 60-70 Islamists, including 4 women for their involvement in the stone pelting against the administration on 24th November. The police are further looking for 89 more accused who are still absconding. It has also been learned that the suspected mastermind of the violence in the given case Sharik Satha, is a member of Dawood Ibrahim’s gang.

Reports suggest that he has over 50 cases registered against him in various states. A few years ago, he reportedly fled to Dubai. Police believe that he not only provided funding for the Sambhal violence that took place on 24th November but also supplied weapons used by his operatives to carry out the attack. The intelligence unit in Sambhal has identified five more suspected terrorists with links to the area. Two key names that have surfaced during the investigation are Shahid Akhtar and Usman Hussain, who are suspected of facilitating the delivery of weapons and funding for the violence.

Kerala: Police arrest 57 of 59 accused in mass sexual assault case involving a Dalit girl, lookout issued for 2 currently abroad

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: Police arrest 57 of 59 accused in mass sexual assault case involving a Dalit girl, lookout issued for 2 currently abroad

In a crucial update to the case of gang-rape of a Dalit athlete that had come to the fore recently from Kerala, the police have arrested 13 more accused, now taking the total of arrested accused individuals to 57. The police stated that all the accused persons involved in the case, except two who have gone abroad, have been arrested in the case.

A Dalit athlete who is currently 18 years old, was reportedly abused by 62 individuals over the last five years in Kerala. The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) filed a complaint after she disclosed the horrible events in a counseling session, prompting the Pathanamthitta police to start these proceedings. The matter came to light when a non-governmental organization (NGO) called Mahila Samakya paid a visit to her household as part of their routine work.

The NGO brought the issue to the attention of the Pathanamthitta district’s Child Welfare Committee after the girl described the ordeal she endured since 13 years of age. Earlier, on 16th January, 44 of 59 total mentioned accused had been arrested. However, in the past few days, the police have arrested 13 more accused persons.

The individuals named in the FIR are Amal (18), Adarsh (20), Shivakumar (21), Umesh (19), Sreeju (18), Aji (19), Ashwin (21), Sajin (23) Subin (24), CK Vineeth (30), K Ananthu (21), S Sandeep (30), S Sudhi also known as Sreeni (24), and Prajith Kumar (24) in Elavumthitta. P Deepu (22), Anandu Pradeep (24), Aravind (23), Vishnu (24), Binu Joseph (39), Abhilash Kumar (19), Abhijith (19), Joji Mathew (25), Ambadi (24), Aravind (20), Kannan (21), Akku Anand (20), a minor, Nandu (25), Shamnad (20), Afsal (21), Ashiq (20), Nidhin Prasad (21), Abhinav (18), Karthik (18), Sudheesh (Kannappan) (27), Nishad (Appu) (31), Achu Anand (21), Lijo (26), and Shinu George (23) in Pathanamthitta along with Akash (19) and Akash (22) in Pandalam.

As per the police, the last accused arrested was a 25-year-old individual arrested from his home on Sunday, 19th January. DIG S. Ajeetha Begum, who is in charge of the inquiry commented on the matter and stated earlier that around 30 FIRs had been filed in the case. She revealed that the cases had been filed at four police stations under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act.

“Two of the accused are absconding. They are abroad at present. We are considering issuing Look out Circulars for them. We are also planning to issue a Red Corner notice for them through Interpol,” the authority confirmed.

Notably, the case in the gruesome assault was filed on January 10th. The girl during Mahila Samakya’s visit revealed that she had been abused threatened and blackmailed by 62 accused. She said that she was 13 when her ‘friend’ Subin began sexually abusing her. He, who was 6-7 years older than the victim, sexually assaulted her, took pictures and videos, and then used them to pressure her into doing a sexual favor to a friend.

Law enforcement stated that this acquaintance brought in two more men who also exploited the teenager. Her photos and contact details were shared with different groups of men and young boys throughout the following years, and many of them contacted her through social media including Instagram and WhatsApp.

The individuals who have been detained consist of truck drivers, fishermen, and daily wage laborers. Some of them are also married. Among the perpetrators are at least five former classmates from her educational institutions. Two of the accused were underage at the time of the offence and four of the accused are minors. Furthermore, the victim reported that several incidents involved multiple perpetrators, leading to the filing of FIRs for gang rape.

The investigation disclosed that the girl met a number of the accused at a private bus station in Pathanamthitta after which she was driven to several locations where she endured the heinous violations. According to the investigation, a young man she met on Instagram took her to a rubber farm in Ranni last year when she was in the twelfth grade, where he and three other individuals assaulted her. Authorities pointed out that the probe found she was gang-raped at least five times, including in January 2024 at the Pathanamthitta General Hospital and inside a four-wheeler.

Other offenders include peers, rival athletes, and sports coaches. More than 30 policemen, including women, make up the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is supervised by District Police Chief VG Vinod Kumar and headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police PS Nandakumar. The SIT is conducting further investigations into the case and planning to Look out Circulars for the 2 accused currently residing abroad.

DMK and Congress attack IIT Madras Director, call him names and demand his transfer, Annamalai comes out in support: What happened

OpIndia Staff
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DMK and Congress attack IIT Madras Director, call him names and demand his transfer, Annamalai comes out in support: What happened

In Tamil Nadu, several Dravidian student unions and the ruling DMK have launched a tirade against IIT Madras director Veezhinathan Kamakoti over singing bhajans in his ancestral village and hailing the medicinal properties of gaumutra (cow urine).

Earlier this month, visuals of Professor V Kamakoti singing Margazhi bhajans on the streets of his native village Vishnupuram near Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu.

In the video, Kamakoti was seen dressed in traditional attire accompanied by a harmonium-wielding man, and some women and children singing bhajans.

Condemning the alleged politicisation of Professor Kamakoti’s way of practising his faith, Tamil Nadu BJP state president K Annamalai said that Professor Kamakoti is an expert in Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing, etc., and he chose to pray to God in his own way. However, a student union is politicising this. The BJP leader urged the student unions to call off their protest and respect IIT Madras’s sanctity.

“It’s unfortunate that our Chennai IIT Director, who is a very decorated person, who is an expert in AI, and quantum computing, he chose to follow his dharma. He chose to pray to god in his own way. That is being politicised by a group of students union. Everybody has the right to practise his religion. I urge them to stop the protest and respect the sanctity of the institution. IIT Chennai is not only the pride of Chennai but the entire country,” Annamalai said.

Meanwhile, a video of Professor Veezhinathan Kamakoti reportedly praising the medicinal benefits of Gaumutra (cow urine) has gone viral on social media.

While addressing an event at a Go Samrakshana Sala on the day of Maatu Pongal (15th January), Professor Kamakoti said, “An ascetic had high fever and was thinking of calling a doctor. I forgot the sanyasi’s name, but he said ‘Gomuthran pinami’.

He then immediately drank cow urine and in 15 minutes, his fever subsided,” Kamkoti said adding that cow urine is effective in treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Mocking the IIT Madras director, Congress state co-ordinator Subathra Devi said, “Look at the IIT director in the brain-strong gang regime. Cow urine is a fever medicine.”

Similarly, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said, “Peddling pseudoscience by @iitmadras Director is most unbecoming.”

Meanwhile, DMK leader TKS Elangovan slammed Professor Kamakoti and demanded his transfer from IIT Madras. “He must be transferred from IIT and posted at one of the GOI medical colleges. What will he do in IIT? It deals with engineering and related disciplines,” Elangovan said adding a sarcastic remark that Kamakoti should be made director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) instead.

The DMK leader did not leave the opportunity to express his disdain for North India and said, “Not here. In Uttar Pradesh or anywhere else where they can take the people into their fold, where they can cheat people and tell lies about Gaumutra. What nonsense is this? It is real nonsense.”

“Fortunately Directors are not taking classes to students I guess. There are other lecturers and professors to take classes. If he is taking any class, it’s unfortunate for the students. People like Kamakoti should be thrown out of the education system. He should be made to perform pujas in temples. He is a misfit. And that he has proved,” he continued.

The ‘Rationalist’ outfit Dravidar Kazhagam deemed Professor V Kamakoti’s remarks “shameful” and “regressive.” The outfit’s leader, Kali Poongundran, urged people not to believe such opinions.

Similarly, Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam leader Ramakrishna said that Kamakoti should either provide proof for his gaumutra remarks or apologise. He further threatened to stage a protest against Kamakoti if the latter did not apologise.

Meanwhile, the BJP defended Professor Kamakoti and said that the DMK and Congress were wrong to target the Director of IIT Madras.

BJP leader Narayan Tirupati said, “It is a kind of substance used in medicines. Everyone knows that. Our former PM Morarji Desai also used to have Gaumutra. It is there in Indian tradition…It is one’s belief. If you don’t believe it, leave it. You can’t comment on a person like the IIT Director who’s an intellectual, a man of integrity, a man of high education. He is very clear. These people who don’t have any other work except for criticizing the Brahmin community will talk. Let’s ignore them.”

British Labour MP meets Jamaat-e-Islami instead of persecuted Hindus in Bangladesh, had targeted Parliamentary group for criticising Yunus regime

OpIndia Staff
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British Labour MP meets Jamaat-e-Islami instead of persecuted Hindus in Bangladesh, had targeted Parliamentary group for criticising Yunus regime

British Labour MP Rupa Huq, who visited Bangladesh in January, is facing criticism for not meeting the persecuted Hindu minorities in the country who faced brutal violence in the aftermath of the violent revolution last year that ousted the Awami League government.

The local Hindu organisations in Bangladesh condemned Huq for not visiting the areas where Hindu minorities faced violence.

As per reports, the Bengali Hindu Adarsha Sangh (BHAS), UK, an organisation representing Bengali Hindus, collated letters from several organisations including the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, its associate the Bangladesh Youth Unity Council, Bangladesh United Sanatani Awakening Alliance and Sammilita Sanatan Parishad (an alliance of 40 Hindu groups in Bangladesh), criticising Huq for not visiting the people and places impacted by violence.

Huq visited Dhaka as a guest of honour of a trade delegation organised by the UK Bangladesh Catalysts of Commerce and Industry (UKBCCI).

The BHAS statement read, ” She admitted that she visited Bangladesh in 2024. She further stated that Hindus are in trouble but the troubles are for political reasons and purposefully ignored that minorities are being attacked due to religious extremism.”

The Unity Council statement said that the true narrative was not portrayed to Huq”…deeply concerned the visit did not include meeting with members of our community or visiting impacted people or sites. Instead, we learned that MP Rupa Huq met Muhammad Yunus and Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. We are concerned that the true narrative was not portrayed to the MP.”

Huq criticised the APPG report that slammed Yunus regime

Following her Dhaka visit, Rupa Huq claimed that the report of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Commonwealth was a ‘one-sided account’ of the interim government of Bangladesh.

Speaking in the House of Commons, she rejected the report as having ‘zero official relevance’.

A report entitled ‘The Ongoing Situation in Bangladesh’ was released by the APPG in November last year, three months after the ousting of the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh. The report criticised the Muhammad Yunus regime in Bangladesh for using ‘the law as a political weapon’ and empowering ‘hardline Islamists’.

“We have received evidence that murder charges are being slapped on former ministers, Awami League leaders, MPs, former judges, scholars, lawyers and journalists in such numbers to raise questions around their credibility”, the report read.

Huq said that the report peddled falsehoods. “This Autumn, a one-sided account of the Bangladeshi Yunus government surfaced in the name of the APPG for Commonwealth, pedalling falsehoods that was widely press-released, leading to confusion on UK government policy”, Huq posted on X.

The report was later withdrawn after widespread criticism.

Kashmiri Hindu Exodus: Actor Anupam Kher shares emotional post on social media about the plight of the displaced Hindus

OpIndia Staff
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Kashmiri Hindu Exodus: Actor Anupam Kher shares emotional post on social media about the plight of the displaced Hindus

On the anniversary of 35 years of the Kashmiri Hindu Exodus, actor Anupam Kher shared an emotional message on his X (formerly Twitter) account. He recited a poem describing the plight of those who lost their homes.

Anupam Kher wrote, “19th January 1990 #KashmirHindus Exodus Day! It has been 35 years since more than 500000 Hindus were thrown out of their homes. Those homes are still there. But haunted and forgotten! #SunayanaKachrooBhide has written a heartbreaking poem about memories of those homes. The lines will resonate with all the #KashmiriPandits who were the victims of this mammoth tragedy. It’s both- SAD & TRUE!”.

Here is the text of the poem:

via x.com/AnupamPKher

The Kashmiri Hindu community observes January 19 as the Kashmiri Hindus Exodus Day to mark their exit from the Kashmir Valley due to Pakistan-sponsored Islamic terrorism.

Mahakumbh: Fire at Mela tent city engulfs 18 tents, quickly brought under control, no casualties reported

OpIndia Staff
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Mahakumbh: Fire at Mela tent city engulfs 18 tents, quickly brought under control, no casualties reported

A massive fire broke out on Sunday, January 19, under a railway bridge near sector 19 of the Mahakumbh Tent City in Prayagraj. The fire was reportedly caused by an explosion in cooking gas cylinders and it engulfed around 18 tents. No casualties have been reported following the incident.

People in the surrounding tents were evacuated safely. Around 15 fire tenders were put into service to contain the flames as per Kumbh Mela Chief Fire Officer, Pramod Sharma.

Speaking to the media, Prayagraj District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar said that the fire broke out around 4:30 pm in the tent of Gita Press. He said that no casualties occurred and the situation was controlled. The fire was brought under control within 20 minutes, as informed by UP Minister AK Sharma.

“There has been no loss of lives in the incident and for that, I thank Ma Ganga, Triveni and Hanuman Ji. Our police team and the NDRF are at the spot”, said Sharma.

ADG Bhanu Bhaskar said that an investigation will conducted into the fire incident. “Two-three cylinders exploded in Sector 19 of the Maha Kumbh Mela, causing a massive fire in the camps. The fire has been controlled. All people are safe, and no one has been injured. An investigation will be conducted,” he said.

According to DIG Vaibhav Krishna, a survey of the fire site is being conducted to assess the damage. “The fire broke out in some tents of Gita Press. There are no reports of any casualties. A survey is being conducted to ascertain the damage caused by the fire. The fire has been brought under control. It is a matter of investigation (the cause behind the fire incident). Only tents and some things have been burnt,” he said. He urged people not to panic as the fire has been brought under control.

CM Yogi assessed the situation on the ground and spoke to PM

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited the site of the incident to assess the situation. PM Modi also reportedly spoke to CM Yogi to inquire about the fire incident.

The fire was contained well within time due to the presence of fire tenders parked at the venue as part of the safety arrangement. The fire tenders immediately rushed to the spot after receiving information about the fire and started rescue work. Local authorities acted swiftly in coordination with police and fire departments.

Day after Manish Sisodia said slums will remain in Delhi till Arvind Kejriwal is there, AAP supremo promises to build homes for sanitation workers

OpIndia Staff
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Day after Manish Sisodia said slums will remain in Delhi till Arvind Kejriwal is there, AAP supremo promises to build homes for sanitation workers

Days after Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Jangpura, and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia assured that jhuggi clusters in the national capital cannot be removed calling it ‘Kejriwal’s promise’, AAP national convenor, Arvind Kejriwal claimed on Friday that he will build homes for the slumdwellers.

Sisodia had attacked the BJP by declaring the party as the biggest danger to slum dwellers in Delhi. During a roadshow in his assembly constituency, Sisodia said, “I am getting a lot of love and support from the people of Jangpura. It is a big day for me today. Poor law and order, rapes, chain-snatching, gang wars- BJP is behind all this. BJP has not been able to handle law and order here, so why should we give education and hospitals to them? Today, the BJP is the biggest danger to jhuggis in Delhi. If they come to power, all jhuggis will be razed. We are the only ones…who lie down in front of bulldozers to prevent such actions”.

Manish Sisodia also promised that jhuggis (slums) are there till Arvind Kejriwal is there.

Kejriwal now says he wants houses for all

Just a couple of days after Sisodia said slums will remain till Arvind Kejriwal is there, the AAP supremo claimed that he wrote a letter addressed to PM Modi requesting him to provide land to the Delhi government for building houses for sanitation workers employed in the NDMC and MCD areas.

“I want to draw your attention to a very important issue concerning the sanitation workers employed in the NDMC and MCD areas. These workers are the backbone of our city’s cleanliness system. During the service, they reside in government-provided accommodation. However, after retirement, they are required to vacate these houses. They are unable to purchase their own homes or afford the high rents in Delhi, leaving them and their families I’m a precarious situation”, said Kejriwal during a press conference.

He added, “Since land-related matters in Delhi fall under the purview of the central government, I request that the central government provide land to sanitation workers at concessional rates. The Delhi government can construct houses on this land for them, and the workers can repay the cost of these houses to the government in easy instalments”.

Kejriwal, who is out on bail in a multi-crore Delhi Liquor Excise Policy scam, had earlier written to the Prime Minister requesting a subsidy in the fare for students in the Delhi metro. Apparently, ahead of Delhi elections, Kejriwal’s campaign is just to ask more and more things from the Centre government.

Maha Kumbh 2025: ‘IITian Baba’ expelled from Juna Akhara over allegations of misconduct

OpIndia Staff
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Maha Kumbh 2025: ‘IITian Baba’ expelled from Juna Akhara over allegations of misconduct

On 18th January, Shri Panchdashnam Juna Akhara expelled engineer-turned-saint Abhey Singh, famously known as “IITian Baba.” The decision followed allegations of abusive language by Abhey Singh directed at his Guru, Mahant Someshwar Puri. Singh has also been barred from entering the Akhara’s camp and its surroundings, noted a report in The Times of India.

Disciplinary violation cited as reason for expulsion

Speaking to The Times of India, Mahant Hari Giri, the Chief Patron of Juna Akhara, said that the Akhara emphasises discipline and devotion to one’s Guru as core principles of Sanyas. He stated, “Disrespecting one’s Guru is a betrayal of Sanatan Dharma and the Akhara’s values. Discipline is paramount here, and no one, including Singh, is exempt.”

The disciplinary committee of the Akhara highlighted that Singh used offensive language not only against his Guru but also fellow seers, which is a breach of their strict code. Mahant Hari Giri clarified that Singh would remain expelled until he learns to uphold these principles.

A journey from IIT to sainthood

Abhey Singh was working as an aerospace engineer before he was drawn to sainthood. He is an alumnus of IIT-Bombay and had a lucrative salary in Canada. However, he left his corporate career to pursue spirituality. Singh was born in the Jhajjar district of Haryana. His journey reflects a blend of academic brilliance, professional success, and personal struggles.

Singh gained fame during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, specifically after a viral interview that turned him into a social media sensation. He has over a lakh followers on Instagram but faced criticism over a controversial reel where he referred to his father as “Hiranyakashyap” and his Guru as “Pagal” (mad). His remarks sparked outrage within the Akhara, leading to his expulsion.

Family speaks out on his choices

In another report, the Times of India quoted Karan Grewal, Singh’s father, who is a lawyer in Jhajjar Court. He expressed pride in his son’s academic achievements and hoped he would return to family life. Grewal revealed that Singh’s childhood was marred by trauma from familial conflicts that significantly influenced his spiritual decisions. He said, “He was extraordinary in academics but always inclined towards spirituality.” He added that Singh’s decision to forgo marriage was shaped by witnessing parental discord.

Singh’s mother has urged him to return home, but ‘IITian Baba’ has reportedly declined, citing his commitment to the path of Sanyas. Grewal admitted that while he wishes for his son’s homecoming, he respects his choice to pursue a simpler, more peaceful life.

Singh’s presence at the Maha Kumbh Mela made him a topic of intrigue and debate. His story of renouncing wealth and success resonated with many, but his recent actions have raised questions about the integrity required in monastic life.

Mewat: Locals forced to dress girls in boys’ clothes to hide their identity as crimes against women rise in the Islamists dominated area

OpIndia Staff
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Mewat: Locals forced to dress girls in boys’ clothes to hide their identity as crimes against women rise in the Islamists dominated area

People living in the Mewat region of Nuh, a Muslim-majority district in Haryana, are being forced to hide women and even girls. A ground report of Dainik Bhaskar exposes the ground situation in Mewat where rising cases of sexual crimes against women and girls are forcing people to hide women in their families.

As per the report, it is common for people in Mewat to cross-dress girls as boys to protect them from becoming ‘targets’. In the report, two women journalists from Dainik Bhaskar narrated their experience of travelling through villages in Mewat. “It is 7 PM. We are in Alwar of Mewat region where rape cases are on the rise. We explored dozens of villages in the Ramgarh police station area. There is a strange sense of fear and discomfort in this area”, the journalists write.

Girls under 4 years dressed as boys in Mewat

On the way from Viratnagar to Sariska, the journalists saw a home where the clothes of children were hung outside for drying. Upon asking, the old woman in the house told them that she has four granddaughters between the ages of 1 to 4 years, but she dresses them in boys’ clothes so that no one can find out that they are girls. The journalists found a similar situation in the Tijara region.

Moving through the market on their way to Thanagazi, the journalists noticed that there were hardly any shops for women’s wear. The people in the market were mostly men. “Among the shops for men’s clothes and shoes, we could find a saree shop but the customers at that shop were all men”, the journalists observed.

They also came across a group of women. All of them were covered head to toe with only their eyes visible. They were waiting for an auto with passengers as they feared sitting in an auto by themselves.

Windows of houses were covered to block any view from outside

Next, the journalists went to Mandari village where they witnessed a similar environment. Several cases of the POCSO Act (Prevention of Children against Sexual Offences Act) were reported in the village. Women had covered their faces, even those sitting right at the gates of their houses. The windows in the houses were covered to block the view from outside. In the houses there, the clothes of men were hanging outside for drying but the women’s clothes were hung inside to avoid being noticed. The women in the area have reportedly modified their lifestyle to keep themselves safe amid the crumbling law and order situation. An advocate Ashok Sharma told the journalists that even girls as young as 5 are not safe in the region as they are easy targets.

Dr. Ravi Mathur, a retired senior medical officer, informed the journalists that he used to handle hundreds of cases of rape in a year. Even animals were apparently subjected to bestiality. “I have seen over 70 cases registered under the POCSO Act in the last few months. The situation will change only when we sensitize boys”, said Deputy SP Dr. Poonam Chauhan, in charge of the Special Investigation Unit for Crimes against Women.

Men guard the gates of houses at night

Locals in Maliwas village in Tulera told the journalists that several girls in the village were married off as young as 14 due to fear for their safety. The gravity of the situation can be inferred from the fact that fathers and brothers in the families guard the gates of houses at night. According to village Sarpanch Babbal Yadav, the teachers in the schools have been directed to inform the family immediately if a child is not present in the class.

Locals warned journalists not to walk alone

When the journalists headed into the interiors of Ramgarh, Naugawan, Bagar Tiraha and M.I.A. (Matsya Industrial Area) in Alwar after finding out about the high number of rape cases there, the locals warned them against going there after dark. The region has a scarcity of water due to which women have to walk for 2 km to fetch water risking their safety.

Nuh district in Mewat has always been a communally sensitive region. In July 2023, a mob of hundreds of Islamist rioters attacked Hindu devotees participating in the Brijmandal Jalabhishek Yatra in Nuh, Mewat, of Haryana. At least six people were killed as a result of the riots. In the wake of the attack on the violence, Home Minister Amit Shah had assured about the establishment of a special and permanent camp for the Rapid Action Force (RAF) in the communally sensitive Muslim-majority district of Mewat in Haryana.

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