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Here are 4 Maoist violence incidents from the recent times that signal how the menace may be coming back to West Bengal

Dibakar Dutta
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Here are 4 Maoist violence incidents from the recent times that signal how the menace may be coming back to West Bengal

The menace of Maoism has threatened the State of West Bengal for years, especially the Jangalmahal region. The area comprising of West Midnapore, Purulia, Jhargram, and Bankura districts had been the bastion of the Communist Party of India (Maoist). They were successful in setting up a ‘liberated zone’ in the Jangalmahal region between 2009 and 2011.

The Re-grouping of Maoists

Following a fierce gunbattle between the Left-backed extremist group and the security forces, 350 civilians lost their lives while around 80 Maoist leaders were neutralised. However, more than 50 security personnel were also martyred in one of the toughest forest corridors of West Bengal. The domestic terror outfit lost their prominence after their leader Malloula Koteswar Rao aka Kishan ji was gunned down in 2011. The remaining Maoists had been lying lowkey since then.

While they are believed to have been camping in East Singhbhum district in Jharkhand, the Maoists had been frequenting Jhargram for several months. The fear surrounding the re-grouping of the Maoists seemed to have come alive in light of four separate incidents in the Jangalmahal region of the State. The State administration and intelligence agencies are now pondering hard on tacking the situation.

Maoists rob tourists in broad daylight

Recently, Maoists robbed a group of tourists in broad daylight at gunpoint near Tangi Kusumgram in the Simulpal area of ​​Belpahari in West Bengal. The tourists who had come from Kharagpur were forced to give away their mobile phones. Since it was a tourist spot, an atmosphere of panic and fear had gripped the area ever since the incident. Reportedly, the Maoists had come to the spot in a group of six, three of them being women. Everyone was equipped with a gun. They stopped the tourists, snatched their mobile phones, and made their way to the neighbouring Jharkhand.

Screengrab of the Sangbad Pratidin report

Maoists threaten contractor to stop road construction

According to the Superintendent of Police (Jhargram) Amit Kumar Bharat Rathod, three Maoist posters have been found in the Bhulabedha area in Belpahari in Jhargram district of West Bengal. While appearances of such posters were a common occurrence prior to 2009 in Jangalmahal, their resurgence indicated the re-grouping of the dreaded Maoist group.

Screengrab of the Times of India report

“Thikadar Saurav, road er kaaj bondho karun (Contractor Sourav, stop the road work)”, a poster read. The posters bore the name of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and threatened one contractor named Sourav Roy to stop road construction on the 40 km stretch from Dharsa to Paradi.  Roy, who has been unaware of this development, had however been continuing the construction work.

Maoists open fire at a cooking gas dealer

A month after the Maoists threatened a cooking gas dealer Bidyut Das of ‘consequences’ if he failed to pay ₹2 lac rupees, the dreaded terror outfit opened fired at him and his wife at 9:30 pm on August 28. The incident took place in Pocha Pani village in Belpahari in Jhargram district.

Screengrab of the New Indian Express report

Reportedly, the couple were at the terrace when the Maoists fired shots at them. Hearing the sound of gunshots, Das’ wife jumped off the rooftop and sustained injuries. Taking advantage of the darkness, the Maoists then managed to flee the scene before they could be traced or apprehended. “It appears, the rebels are trying to regroup in this region and the attack on Das’ house is evidence,” a police officer was quoted as saying.

Maoists tell locals to celebrate August 15 as ‘Black Day’

Prior to Independence Day celebrations, the Maoists had put up posters outside houses, directing local people, in 2-3 villages of Bhulabheda in Jhargram to celebrate August 15 as ‘Black Day. “15 August kalo Dibos palon karun (Observe August 15 as a Black Day),” a poster threatened. The pamphlet also bore the name of CPI (Maoist).

Around 10-12 such hand-written posters were recovered by the Jhargram police. A senior police officer conceded, “Maoists no longer have any armed squad active in the state. Several Maoists had surrendered after the killing of dreaded Maoist leader Mallojula Koteswar Rao alias Kishanji in 2011. Such posters were found in West Midnapore last year as well. We are investigating.” While a probe had been initiated about the mysterious reappearance of such posters, none had been arrested or detained.

Screenshot of the Hindustan Times report

Cautioning about the new development, West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar informed on the eve of death anniversary of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, “The dangerous head of Maoism is getting visible with support of state actors.” In a shocking turn of events, Mamata Banerjee had recently placed one Chhatradhar Mahato in the state committee of the Trinamool Congress party. Mahato had served 10 years in prison and was the convenor of the Maoist outfit named Peoples Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA).

FIR lodged against AltNews co-founder Mohammed Zubair for doxxing a minor girl, stringent POCSO Act invoked

OpIndia Staff
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FIR lodged against AltNews co-founder Mohammed Zubair for doxxing a minor girl, stringent POCSO Act invoked

Priyank Kanoongo, the chairperson of the commission has taken to Twitter, to inform that according to the action taken report (ATR) received by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, an FIR has been lodged against AltNews co-founder Mohammed Zubair under stringent POCSO Act for online harassment of girl child.

He also informed that as per the request made by Twitter India, an additional time of 10 days has been provided to them to provide relevant information.

Along with the AltNews co-founder Mohammed Zubair, Twitter user going by the handle @de_real_mak and @syedsarwar- Zubair’s supporters who had hurled a barrage of abuses at the child following Zubair’s Tweet, have also been named in the FIR.

NCPCR wrote to DCP Delhi seeking action against AltNews co-founder Mohammed Zubair

On August 8, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights had taken cognizance of a matter where a minor girl child was threatened and tortured by AltNews co-founder Mohammed Zubair on the microblogging site. Priyank Kanoongo had informed that Twitter India and the concerned law enforcement officials had been informed about the tweet, and they have been asked to take appropriate action.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights had acted on a complaint filed by Forum for Indigenous Rights- North-East India, an organisation working for the rights of people of North East India, against Md Zubair.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) wrote to the deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Delhi, Nodal Cyber Cell officer, saying that the commission has received several complaints seeking action against Zubair under POCSO or relevant acts for “stalking of a minor girl on Twitter”.

“Even his followers have started posting indecent and disgraceful comments on the minor girl pictures,” the letter said and added that harassing, threatening and stalking are offences under the Indian Penal Code and POCSO Act.

“Since, it pertains to online harassment, threatening and stalking of a minor girl, the complaint is being forwarded to you for deemed lawful action in the matter at your end,” the letter said.

NCPCR issued summon to Twitter India

NCPCR had also issued a summon to the senior manager policy of the Twitter India to personally appear it, after it found Twitter India’s reply in AltNews co-founder Mohammed Zubair’s case, unsatisfactory. 

Co-founder of AltNews shares the photo of a minor girl to intimidate the grandfather

On August 7, Zubair indulged in an online spat with a Twitter user Jagdish Singh. The AltNews co-founder targetted a minor girl in his Twitter fight with this social media user.  Instead of replying to the user directly, Zubair had brazenly referred to a minor girl seen in the profile picture of the user Jagdish Singh, presumably his granddaughter.

After Zubair had highlighted the minor girl seen in the photo, Islamists had started to issue rape threats to the girl. Zubair’s tweet came under heavy criticism from social media users who accused him of shamelessly using a child to get back at a critic.

When one Twitter user had tagged National Commission for Women to raise an alarm about the predatory behaviour by Zubair, the co-founder of AltNews brazened it out justifying his blatant doxxing that was clearly endangering the life of a minor.

Rhea Chakraborty’s brother Showik admits to using her credit card for drug purchase payments: Report

OpIndia Staff
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Rhea Chakraborty’s brother Showik admits to using her credit card for drug purchase payments: Report

As the Narcotics Control Bureau delves deeper into the drug angle in Sushant Singh Rajput’s death case, the late actor’s former girlfriend, Rhea Chakraborty has emerged to be smack right in the middle of this entire drug nexus. Along with confessing of procuring drugs on the instructions of his sister, Times Now reports that Rhea’s brother Showik, now in NCB custody, has also admitted to the NCB that he used Rhea’s credit card for the payments to Samuel Miranda for drug purchase. Digital connections of as many as 12 transactions have been traced which shows that the drugs payment were made through Rhea’s credit cards. Samuel Miranda has also reportedly confessed that he was procuring drugs for Sushant’s house.

Meanwhile, Showik Chakraborty and Samuel Miranda, who were arrested on Friday night, will be produced in the court shortly. It is being reported that NCB would seek 4-6 days custody of both Showik Chakraborty and Samuel Miranda.

After brother, Rhea Chakraborty might be the next to be arrested by NCB

After the Narcotics Control Bureau arrested Showik Chakraborty and Sushant’s ex-manager Samuel Miranda, sources revealed that Rhea Chakraborty might be the next to be arrested.

Meanwhile, a team of the CBI officials has reached Sushant’s residence along with the late actor’s flatmate Siddharth Pithani, cook Neeraj and house help Keshav. The CBI will once again reconstruct the crime scene at Sushant’s apartment. His sister Mitu Singh has also been called to his Bandra residence.

Rhea’s house raided, Showik’s tab reportedly seized by forensics

Yesterday, a five-member team of NCB raided Rhea’s house. According to reports, the NCB team also searched Rhea’s car, phone, and laptop. During the raid, Showik’s tab was reportedly seized by forensics and they reportedly found digital footprint over the darknet. Times Now claims that he had been doing the dealings and had made payments to Samuel Miranda and other members of the drug cartel using Rhea Chakraborty’s card.

The raid was conducted a day after the Mumbai court sent alleged drug peddler Zaid Vilatra to seven-day custody of the NCB. Zaid had confessed that he used to deal with Showik regarding the buying and selling of drugs.

Sources at the NCB revealed that Showik allegedly met drug peddler Basit Parihar at a football club in Bandra to gain access to drugs. Parihar was already in contact with another drug peddler named Sohail – who allegedly supplied Showik and Rhea marijuana.

Rhea has already been issued a notice in the NCB case and is likely to be summoned. 

WhatsApp chats of Rhea Chakraborty became the core of the investigation

The Whatsapp chat of Rhea Chakraborty with her acquaintances which were recovered by the ED, where they were seen discussion about the purchase of drugs, had become the core of the investigation into the drug angle in Sushant’s death case. It was this series of Whatsapp conversation, which was allegedly sent from Rhea Chakraborty’s mobile phone, that led the Narcotics Control Bureau to break into the entire drug ‘syndicate’.

The chats which were deleted were retrieved during the investigation by ED. After recovery of the messages, ED had informed the same to the NCB, after which NCB had registered a case in the matter and started a probe.

China’s aggressive behaviour and attempt to change status quo in violation of bilateral agreement: Read Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s full statement

OpIndia Staff
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China’s aggressive behaviour and attempt to change status quo in violation of bilateral agreement: Read Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s full statement

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced on social media that he had “frank and in-depth” discussions with General Wei Fenghe, State Councillor and Defence Minister of China, about the recent developments at the Line of Actual Control on 4th September in Moscow on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting.

Rajnath Singh said that he “emphasised that the actions of the Chinese troops, including amassing of large number of troops, their aggressive behaviour and attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo were in violation of the bilateral agreements.” He also conveyed the message that “while the Indian troops had always taken a very responsible approach towards border management, but at the same time there should also be no doubt about our determination to protect India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

The official statement of the Defence Minister on social media informed that the Chinese were advised to “work with the Indian side for complete disengagement at the earliest from all friction areas including Pangong Lake as well as de-escalation in border areas in accordance with the bilateral agreements and protocols”. Rajnath Singh also said that neither side should undertake any action that could vitiate the atmosphere at the LAC.

“Raksha Mantri conveyed that the two sides should continue their discussions, including through diplomatic and military channels, to ensure complete disengagement and de-escalation and full restoration of peace and tranquillity along the LAC at the earliest,” said the official account of the Defence Minister.

Chinese spy Charlie Peng transferred 500 million dollars to a UK Bank, was running a Rs 1,000 crore hawala racket in India

OpIndia Staff
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Chinese spy Charlie Peng transferred 500 million dollars to a UK Bank, was running a Rs 1,000 crore hawala racket in India

The forensic reports of the mobile phone of Charlie Peng had revealed that the Chinese spy had transferred a staggering amount of $500 million to a person named Fai Yun Jon. A total of 5 documents have been recovered by CNN News 18 which claim that the Chinese agent had made the illicit transaction on November 9 last year.

Amongst these documents, the most important ones retrieved by the news channel is the bank guarantee letter and the copy of the bank draft. The Income Tax Department had also questioned the local branch of the International Bank in this regard.

Peng has not been forthcoming in the investigation. The Income Tax Department has learned that a single transaction was made to transfer an amount of $500 million. Peng had been alleged of removing the incriminating documents from his mobile phone. But the Income Tax Department was able to recover the documents after it was sent to the forensic investigation. Charlie Peng had sent $ 500 million (about 3500 crores) to the UK branch of HSBC Bank.

Charlie Peng has not given satisfactory answers in this regard during questioning. Accordingly, the amount of $ 500 million was transferred in a single transaction. It is being told in the news that Charlie Peng had removed all the documents related to this transaction from his mobile phone. But as soon as the Income Tax Department sent the phone for forensic investigation, the whole thing came to light.

The UK branch of the HSBC Bank has refused to provide any information to the Income Tax Department in this matter. The local branch of the bank claimed that they cannot share any information about the transaction with the Income Tax Department. A few of the pertinent questions arising from the transaction are: whose money it was, where did it come from and for what purpose was it transferred to the UK. In addition to this, not much has been known about the beneficiary Fai Yun Jon who had received the amount.

Enforcement Directorate booked Charlie Peng in connection with involvement in a Rs 1000 crore hawala scam

Charlie Peng was recently in the news for his involvement in a Rs 1000 crore hawala scam. Charlie Peng is from China and his real name is Luo Sang. The Enforcement Directorate had booked a case against Peng and others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act for his links with the Rs 1000 crore hawala scam. Investigation agencies found that Charlie Peng was in contact with some Buddhist monks in Delhi. The agencies investigating Peng’s case suspect that he was collecting information about the Dalai Lama, the foremost spiritual leader of the Gelug or “Yellow Hat” school of Tibetan Buddhism, who had sought asylum in India.

Preliminary investigation reveals that Charlie Peng had given money to some Lamas and other persons at Majnu Ka Tila in Delhi. To avoid surveillance, Peng used the Chinese encrypted application ‘We Chat’ to communicate. Charlie Peng, who was running a hawala racket in India, was also part of a espionage network. He, along with other Chinese citizens, opened bank accounts in the name of Chinese shell companies and laundered money to the tunes of 1000s of crore.

A black man invented the light bulb, claims Joe Biden, ‘not a white guy named Edison’

OpIndia Staff
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A black man invented the light bulb, claims Joe Biden, ‘not a white guy named Edison’

Democrat nominee for the US Presidential Elections in 2020, Joe Biden, declared on Friday that the light bulb was invented by a Black man and not Thomas Alva Edison, who was white. ‘Sleepy Joe’ is prone to goof-ups and there have been occasions in the past where he could not remember where he was.

‘Why in God’s name don’t we teach history in history classes,’ Joe Biden said. ‘A black man invented the light bulb, not a white guy named Edison.’ While the comment was made to pander to the African-American community ahead of the elections in November, he was probably referring to Lewis Howard Latimer who made significant improvements to Edison’s invention.

Edison did invent the light bulb but the filament he used for it could only last for 15 hours before it burnt out. Lewis Latimer consequently invented a more durable carbon filament which made electric bulbs more affordable and practical. In 1881, he sold the patent for it to US Electric Co. and consequently, patented a process for efficient manufacturing of the carbon filament.

Thus, while the contributions of Lewis Latimer to the development of the light bulb is indeed significant, his contributions can be recognised and appreciated without engaging in historical revisionism for the sake of garnering more votes in elections.

Congress leader Kavitha Reddy who attacked actress Samyuktha Hegde had heckled journalist Mahesh Hegde too: Here is what had happened

OpIndia Staff
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Congress leader Kavitha Reddy who attacked actress Samyuktha Hegde had heckled journalist Mahesh Hegde too: Here is what had happened

Congress leader Kavitha Reddy, who claims to be a ‘lake activist’, is now at the centre of a controversy after she was openly caught indulging in acts of moral policing and attacking Kannada actress Samyuktha Hegde for her alleged ‘indecent behaviour’ at public place on Friday.

A mob led by Congress party leader Kavitha Reddy had physically attacked a budding Kannada actress Samyuktha Hegde and her friends on Friday at Agara lake premises over allegations of ‘indecent behaviour’ at the public place.

The actress and her friends were working out at the park near the lake when the Congress leader Reddy and her mob approached them and began to abuse and attack them. The contention of the mob was that the actress was dancing at the park by wearing an indecent dress.

The visuals of the incident has now gone viral on the internet evoking strong response from the public. Several social media users have slammed the Congress leader and also questioned her authority to indulge in such acts of moral policing.

However, this is not the first time that the Congress leader Kavitha Reddy has indulged in such an act of moral policing and public heckling of individuals.

Kavitha Reddy heckles journalist Mahesh Hegde

In January this year, Kavitha Reddy had joined hands with far-left activist Amulya Leona to publicly heckle journalist Mahesh Vikram Hegde at Mangaluru airport. Reddy, along with anti-CAA ‘protestors’ Najma Nazeer and Amulya Leona, had confronted Mahesh Hegde and coerced him to sing “Vande Mataram” to prove his patriotism for the country. 

Kavitha Reddy, who had apparently led the heckling mob, had asked the journalist in an absurd manner whether he knew the time when Nathuram Godse assassinated Mahatma Gandhi.

Image Source: Kavitha Reddy

In a video that had surfaced on Twitter at the time, three women belonging to the Anti-CAA lobby could be seen heckling journalist Mahesh Vikram Hegde at an airport. The women have been identified as Kavitha Reddy, Najma Nazeer and Amulya Leona.

They coerced Hegde to sing “Vande Mataram” and prove his patriotism “for the country”. One of the women called him the member of “nationalist gang”. The one with the camera, Kavitha Reddy, asked the journalist in an absurd manner whether he knew the time when Nathuram Godse assassinated Mahatma Gandhi.

In another video, the supposed “women activists” told the journalist that he was getting an opportunity to become “hero” from “zero” by singing Vande Mataram and “Sara Jaha se Aacha.” The hecklers were unmoved in their pursuit but Hegde maintained his composure and often smiled at their immaturity.

Kavitha Reddy’s links with Amulya Leona

Congress leader Kavitha Reddy is also known to have links with far-left activist Amulya Leona, who is booked under sedition charges after raising slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ in an anti-CAA rally. Reddy had joined Leona in several anti-CAA rallies instigating people to protest against the central government for enacting the law that promised citizenship to persecuted minorities from the neighbouring countries.

It is pertinent to note that Amulya Leona in February had burst onto the stage to shout pro-Pakistan slogans in the presence of AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi. The video clips of Amulya Leona chanting “Pakistan Zindabad” had gone viral across social media platforms.

During the investigation, the far left-wing protestor Amulya Leona had confessed that she was a paid protestor and had said how the anti-CAA protest organisers had been carrying her expenses ever since the agitation against the Citizenship Amendment Act started in December last year.

She was later arrested and was sent to 14-day judicial custody after a case was registered under the Section 124A (offence of sedition) of the Indian Penal Code.

Trouble for senior advocate Prashant Bhushan as Bar Council of India directs examination of his tweets and explores disciplinary action

OpIndia Staff
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Trouble for senior advocate Prashant Bhushan as Bar Council of India directs examination of his tweets and explores disciplinary action

Days after the Supreme Court of India found senior advocate Prashant Bhushan guilty of contempt, the Bar Council of India (BCI) has directed the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) to scrutinise his tweets and take appropriate action in accordance with the law.

BCI directs BCD to examine tweets of Prashant Bhushan

In a press release on Friday, BCI stated, “The Council is of the view that the tweets and statements made by Shri Prashant Bhushan, Advocate and the Judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India needs thorough study and examination by the Bar Council in the light of the statutory duties, powers and functions conferred on it under the Advocates’ Act, 1961 and the rules framed thereunder, particularly, Section-24A and Section-35 of the Advocates Act, 1961 and Chapter-II, Part-VI of Bar Council of India Rules.”

The Bar Council of India further reiterated that Bar Council of Delhi must examine the tweets and proceed as ‘expeditiously’ as possible. The meeting was presided over by the Vice-Chairman Satish A. Deshmukh.

Press release by the Bar Council of India

The provisions of the Advocates law

According to Section 24A of the Advocates Act, a person cannot practice as an advocate or remain on the roll of the Bar Council of a State if he is convicted for an offence that includes ‘moral turpitude’. Section 24 of the Advocates Act states that a lawyer found guilty of professional misconduct can be suspended from practising in courts or have their licenses cancelled altogether.

Supreme Court judgement made provisions for cancellation of licence by BCI

The precedent for suspension of Bhushan’s bar licence was laid in paragraph 89 of the judgment. It read, “Pursuant to the conviction in a criminal case, the Bar Council of India can suspend the enrolment if it so desires. It is also open to this Court to debar from practicing in a Court, as held in Supreme Court Bar Association (supra).”

The Contempt case against Prashant Bhushan

On August 31, the Supreme Court let off convicted senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan, held guilty in contempt of court, with a nominal fine of Re 1. However, the court added that if Bhushan fails to pay a fine of Re 1, he will be sentenced to 3 months in jail and suspension of his lawyering for 3 months. The case pertained to two tweets where Prashant Bhushan had cast aspersions against the Supreme Court and specifically, CJI Bobde.

The court had then granted additional time for Mr Bhushan to consider providing an unconditional apology for his scurrilous remarks. However, in his vanity of portraying himself as Mahatma Gandhi, Mr Bhushan refused to apologise, claiming tendering an apology would tantamount to “contempt of his conscience.” Responding to the Supreme Court verdict asking Prashant Bhushan to pay a token fine of Re 1 for his tweets against the judiciary, the senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan issued a protracted statement, admitting to paying the fine but indicated that he would file a review petition against the order.

18 out of 20 members of Facebook’s new ‘oversight board’ meant to ‘regulate content’ linked to George Soros: Read details

OpIndia Staff
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18 out of 20 members of Facebook’s new ‘oversight board’ meant to ‘regulate content’ linked to George Soros: Read details

An investigation by Sharyl Atkinson of RealClearInvestigations has revealed that 18 of the 20 members of the oversight board proposed by Facebook has ties to liberal Jewish billionaire George Soros. Earlier this year, George Soros had declared a war against nationalists and nationalism, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Facebook had recently announced the formation of an ‘independent’ oversight board to regulate content on its platform and determine whether posts violate the platform’s norms on nudity, hate speech and insensitivity. The investigation has now revealed that 90 per cent of the board’s members “collaborated with or are tied to groups that have received funding from George Soros’ Open Society Foundations.”

Helle Thorning-Schmidt, former Prime Minister of Denmark, Catalina Botero-Marino, Afia Asantewaa Asare-Kyei and Sudhir Krishnaswamy are some of the members on the oversight board with ties to George Soros. Other members with links to the liberal billionaire include Ronaldo Lemos, Michael McConnell, Alan Rusbridger and Andas Sajo.

An OpEd on the New York Times by the oversight board claimed, “The board members come from different professional, cultural and religious backgrounds and have various political viewpoints.” It added, “Some of us have been publicly critical of Facebook; some of us haven’t.”

“Facebook committed to creating an independent oversight body that will review Facebook’s decisions about what content to take down or leave up. Over the past 18 months, more than 2,000 experts and other relevant parties from 88 countries have contributed feedback that has shaped the development of this oversight board, which will have 20 members (ultimately growing to 40) and is scheduled to become operational this year,” it stated.

However, such statements are unlikely to assuage the concerns of conservatives who feel that social media platforms are increasingly curbing their freedom of expression selectively. Of late, it has become increasingly apparent that social media platforms are biased against conservative political opinion. The conduct of Twitter with regards to US President Donald Trump has left very little room for doubt.

Even Indians ought to be extremely concerned by the recent development as George Soros has demonstrated that he is looking to interfere with the domestic politics of our country. Apart from Indian NGOs linked to the billionaire which regularly attempt to influence our laws, individuals linked to him such as Harsh Mander have been involved in contentious matters and acted in a manner so as to create conflict within our territories.

ITBP takes control of key points along LAC, earlier unoccupied, Chief says the focus will now be on road construction: Reports

OpIndia Staff
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ITBP takes control of key points along LAC, earlier unoccupied, Chief says the focus will now be on road construction: Reports

More troops have been deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to protect the country’s borders amidst mounting tensions between India and China in eastern Ladakh.

Addition to Indian Army troops, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has also been deployed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to take control of the strategic heights overlooking Chinese position on the other side of the LAC.

Reportedly, there are nearly 5,000 ITBP soldiers posted in Ladakh and other major areas near the border from Sub-Sector North to the Sub-sector South in eastern Ladakh.

The ITBP troops were also involved in the recent operations along LAC to foil China’s attempts to alter the status quo. As Indian Army troops moved to dominate heights near the south of Pangong Tso, at least 30 personnel of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) occupied new positions near the key Black Top area that oversees China in the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

According to the reports, ITBP jawans, passing through Phurchuk La Pass has now occupied strategic heights that were earlier unoccupied. ITBP, till now, was deployed in the areas only north of Pangong at Dhan Singh Post near Finger 2 and Finger 3 area. The Indian troops have fortified the Indian border by occupying heights that can be used to keep vigil China’s People Liberation Army’s posts.

Recently, the ITBP troops reportedly took on the Chinese troops head-on during the violent face-offs in the Pangong Tso lake and friction points along the eastern Ladakh sector.

ITBP chief visits LAC

Meanwhile, ITBP chief SS Deswal has spent six days near the LAC to review the readiness of the troops. Deswal also visited several forward ITBP positions from Daulat Beg Oldie to mountainous southern parts of Ladakh.

In his address to ITBP jawans last week, Deswal had said that extra vehicles will be provided for troop movement between border outposts. The thrust will now be on road construction by the government to limit travel on ponies.

The Indian Army, the ITBP, and Special Frontier Force (SFF) jointly hold dominating heights in the hills near Helmet Top, Black Top, Yellow Bump that oversee People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Post 42830 on its south and Digging Area and Chuti Chamla on its west.

Currently, ITBP has more than 39 permanent defense positions along the LAC and good numbers of ITBP personnel are present near Chushul and Tara border outposts. If need, extra companies are airlifted from Chandigarh, said a senior ITBP official.

The ITBP, which is a specialized mountain force, is deployed on border guarding duties from Karakoram Pass in Ladakh to Jachep La in Arunachal Pradesh covering 3488 km of the Indo-China Border.

India takes control of strategic heights along LAC at Eastern Ladakh

The Indian armed forces have successfully taken control of crucial strategic heights in both the northern bank and southern banks of the Pangong Tso Lake around the Chushul sector in Eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Reportedly, the Indian troops took control of those heights in order to thwart attempts by the Chinese to take control of Indian territories.

On August 30, the Indian Army, aided by a Special Frontier Force unit, had captured the heights lying between the southern bank of the Pangong Lake and the smaller Spanggur Lake further south.

Indian troops had taken control of the dominating heights, connecting through a ridgeline along the LAC from the southern bank of Pangong Tso to Spanggur Tso till Chushul-Rezang La. Their positions extend up to Requin La, which overlooks the crucial PLA camp in Moldo, as per reports.

These locations, which are strategically important for India, overlook the Spanggur Gap, China’s Moldo Garrison, and also of Spanggur lake. From these tops, the Indian troops can keep a vigil on PLA troops that are deployed in the Chushul sector.

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