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Manipur: Meitei group Arambai Tenggol surrenders over 240 weapons as Governor’s deadline ends, Kukis dismiss gesture. What does it mean for the state

OpIndia Staff
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Manipur: Meitei group Arambai Tenggol surrenders over 240 weapons as Governor’s deadline ends, Kukis dismiss gesture. What does it mean for the state

On Thursday, the last day of the 1 week time given by Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla to armed groups in Manipur to surrender looted arms from state armouries, the Arambai Tenggol, a Meitei organisation, came in a procession to surrender hundreds of guns.

The surrender took place on the grounds of the 1st Manipur Rifles (MR), with cadre of Arambai Tenggol arriving in trucks, including women members and supporters.

Arambai Tenggol puts certain conditions, seeks assurance that Kukis won’t attack Meiteis again

Arambai Tenggol had met Governor Ajay Bhalla on February 25, in which they agreed to surrender arms looted from the state government stores. The Arambai Tenggol, one of the larges Meitei organisations that has often been in conflict with the rival Kukis in the state, has stated that they have surrendered arms to the state wit the conditions that the State will ensure that there are no more attacks by Kukis on Meitei groups, and the State assures the protection of the lives and properties of Kukis.

In addition to asking security for Meiteis in the region, Arambai Tenggol is seeking a general amnesty for their members, including village volunteers, complete eradication of illegal poppy cultivations by Kuki groups, the completion of border fencing, and the implementation of NRC to identify illegal immigrants.

Additionally, Arambai Tenggol has stated that if the Kukis attack Meiteis again, resulting in the loss of civilian lives, they would take retaliatory action and the State should not try to restrain them at that time. The ST status for Meiteis, a controversial but long-standing demand from the Meiteis, was stressed again.

The demands were submitted in the form of a memorandum to the governor by the Arambai Tenggol. So far, there has been no official response on the demands from the government’s side.

What are Kuki groups saying

The Kuki-Jo groups of ITLF and COTU have issued a joint statement dismissing the mass surrender of arms by Meiteis as a move to garner sympathy. “The surrender of 300 weapons today by Arambai Tenggol is a mere gesture. It accounts for only 5% of the total looted arms in the Imphal Valley. It is a strategic attempt to improve their public image after meeting the Governor. They are responsible for killing more than 230 Kuki-Jo people.”

Looted arms in Manipur

As per official records, over 6000 weapons have been looted from state armouries and police stations over the months. After the Governor’s appeal, many weapons are being surrendered. In addition to the surrender of over 230 weapons by the Arambai Tengol yesterday, an additional 87 weapons were surrendered by the public in places such as Churachandpur, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Toubal, Kangpokpi, Jiribam and Imphal West.

The state has been in turmoil since May 2023. Multiple incidents of weapons looting have been reported. Armed militants often have attacked police stations and armories storage facilities with grenade and AK-47S, setting fire to the premises and absconding with the weapons.

The armed conflict between Kuki-Jo and Meitei groups has been rampant in the state for nearly 2 years, killing hundreds of civilians and rendering thousands homeless.

Poppy plantations and illegal drug trade in Manipur

One of the main factors in the ethnic clashes between Kuki and Meitei groups has been the illegal, often violent capture of vast stretches of lands by predominantly Kuki groups and using it for illicit poppy farming. The networks of the drug trade stretches from Manipur to Myanmar and beyond. The former Biren Singh government in Manipur has been asserting that the drug trade is the centre of conflict, both driving it, funding it, and fuelling it from within.

Hundreds of acres of poppy plantations have been destroyed by the government with the help of civilian groups so far. The Arambai Tenggol says that it is against poppy cultivations and wants to see the plantations destroyed. Raids and destruction of poppy farming have been going on a serious level comparable with the recovery of arms.

Though the arms surrender and action on insurgent groups have been progressing, the situation in Manipur is still fragile, and volatile. There are plenty of arms and ammunitions in circulation, including sophisticated weapons. The border with Myanmar remains porous, and amid the drug trafficking and violence between the ethnic groups, a permanent peace still seems elusive, even with the state being under the President’s rule.

Joined Islamic State after getting angry over Quran burning: German court sentences 2 Afghan terrorists who were plotting to attack Sweden’s parliament

OpIndia Staff
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Joined Islamic State after getting angry over Quran burning: German court sentences 2 Afghan terrorists who were plotting to attack Sweden’s parliament

A German court has sentenced two Afghan terrorists linked to terror organisation Islamic State to several years in prison for planning an attack on the Swedish Parliament and plotting to kill policemen. The two terrorists were plotting this to take revenge for the burning of the Quran in Sweden.

The Jena Higher Regional Court found both of them guilty of being members of the terrorist organisation Islamic State and plotting to commit murder. The court sentenced one of the accused to 5 years and six months in prison, and the other one to 4 years and 2 months in prison. The two terrorists were 30-year-old and 24-year-old respectively.

The accused can still appeal against the sentence. One of the two accused is named Ibrahim MG and the other is Ramin N. Both of them lived in Gera in Thuringia state of eastern Germany and knew each other beforehand.

Both these terrorists were radicalized through online Islamic State propaganda. Police arrested both of them in March last year. At that time, they were returning from Czech Republic where they had tried to get weapons for the attack.

According to the court, both Afghans were kept under surveillance for some time. German officials said that both these people were associated with the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIS-K). They had received orders to carry out attacks in Europe. The plot made by them included planning to kill police and others.

Pune Bus Rape: Crime Branch detains accused in the Swargate bus depot case

ANI
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Pune Bus Rape: Crime Branch detains accused in the Swargate bus depot case

Pune Crime Branch has detained the accused in the Pune rape incident at the Swargate bus depot from a village in Shirur Tehsil of the Pune district.

The accused Dattatray Ramdas Gade was absconding since the incident happened on Tuesday, when the rape survivor, a working woman, was waiting for a bus to return home to Phaltan, which is located around 100 km away.

The accused allegedly approached her, falsely claiming that the bus to her destination was parked elsewhere. He led her to a MSRTC Shivsahi bus parked in the depot, where he allegedly raped her.

Meanwhile, State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has ordered for an immediate security audit of all bus stands and depots across the state.

As per a release issued on Thursday, the minister has also instructed that all registered buses parked at bus stations and depots and vehicles seized by transport offices be removed by April 15.

Considering the rising number of female passengers, Minister Sarnaik emphasised the need to increase the number of female security guards at bus stations.

Additionally, he directed that a specific timeframe be set for removing unregistered buses from bus stand areas, with the process to be completed by April 15. He also called for the appointment of an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer to the vacant post of Chief Security and Vigilance Officer in the State Transport Corporation.

Leaders and workers of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP-SCP on Thursday staged a protest against the rape incident at the Swargate bus depot in Pune, calling for strict action against the accused.

The protesters demanded capital punishment for the rape accused and the safety of women.

Maharashtra’s Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik also ordered a departmental inquiry against the Assistant Transport Superintendent and the Bus Depot Manager of the Swargate Bus Depot in Pune following the February 25 incident in which the 26-year-old woman was allegedly raped inside a parked bus.

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

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta to table CAG report on health infrastructure in assembly on Friday, expected to expose the reality of health services in Delhi

ANI
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Delhi CM Rekha Gupta to table CAG report on health infrastructure in assembly on Friday, expected to expose the reality of health services in Delhi

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who also oversees the finance department, will present the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on ‘Public Health Infrastructure and Management of Health Services’ in the Delhi Assembly on Friday.

According to sources, this report will be based on the status of government hospitals and health services (2024) and will ‘expose’ the reality of health services in the national capital.

As per sources, this will be the second report of CAG, which will be presented in the assembly. The report will review the status of government hospitals, mohalla clinics and other health facilities of the Delhi government.

The CAG report will see how much difference there is between the claims made by the previous government and the ground reality. The availability of machines in government hospitals, supply of medicines, number of doctors and nurses and facilities provided to patients will be assessed.

The report may also reveal whether the budget allocated by the Delhi government in the health sector was spent properly or not. During 2022-23 and 2023-24, the government had made big claims for the health sector, but did the patients really get the benefit of it? Information on this will also be given in the report.

BJP had already started cornering the previous Delhi government and alleged that there is a huge lack of facilities in government hospitals, patients have to wander around for treatment and even medicines are not available.

Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh said, “The previous government was making big claims about health services, but the reality is something else. Everything will be revealed in the CAG report.”

Many questions have been raised earlier on the Mohalla Clinic scheme of the previous government. In many reports, it was claimed that there is a shortage of doctors in the clinics, essential medicines are not available and patients are not getting better treatment.

Earlier, on Tuesday, CM Rekha Gupta had tabled the CAG report on the Delhi Excise Policy.

The ‘Performance Audit on Regulation and Supply of Liquor in Delhi’ covers a period of four years from 2017-18 to 2020-21 and examines the regulation and supply of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and Foreign Liquor in Delhi.

Notably, Delhi Assembly session has been extended by two days till March 1.

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

Donald Trump announces additional tariff against Canada, Mexico and China will be enforced from 4 March over Fentanyl supply, reciprocal tariff starts from April 2

OpIndia Staff
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Donald Trump announces additional tariff against Canada, Mexico and China will be enforced from 4 March over Fentanyl supply, reciprocal tariff starts from April 2

United States President Donald Trump announced today that the proposed additional 25% tariff against Mexico and Canada will be implemented as announced if drug supply from these countries do not stop. He further announced an additional tariff of 10% against China, accusing it of making and supplying the drugs. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that drugs are still pouring into the Country from Mexico and Canada at very high and unacceptable levels, mostly Fentanyl.

In his statement, Trump said that “Drugs are still pouring into our Country from Mexico and Canada at very high and unacceptable levels,” adding that “a large percentage of these Drugs, much of them in the form of Fentanyl, are made in, and supplied by, China.”

The US president said, “more than 100,000 people died last year due to the distribution of these dangerous and highly addictive POISONS,” further adding that millions of people have died over the last two decades. He added, “The families of the victims are devastated and, in many instances, virtually destroyed.”

Donald Trump announced, “We cannot allow this scourge to continue to harm the USA, and therefore, until it stops, or is seriously limited, the proposed TARIFFS scheduled to go into effect on MARCH FOURTH will, indeed, go into effect, as scheduled.”

As per the proposal, an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods and additional tariffs of 25% tariff on Mexican and Canadian imports will be imposed from 4th March. He further added that the proposed reciprocal tariff will be enforced from April 2.

The statement cleared up some confusion over deadlines for the tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods earlier threatened by Trump over the fentanyl crisis and U.S. border security.

This announcement follows a Justice Department indictment earlier this year targeting China-based chemical companies accused of supplying fentanyl ingredients, underscoring the administration’s narrative that Beijing plays a central role in the crisis.

Punjab: Amritsar grenade attack kingpin injured during encounter with Batala police

ANI
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Punjab: Amritsar grenade attack kingpin injured during encounter with Batala police

The key accused in the Amritsar grenade attack Mohit was injured in a regulatory fire during weapon recovery, a policeman also sustained a bullet injury during the operation.

The accused Mohit opened fire on the police while he was been taken for weapon recovery. During the retaliatory fire, he sustained injuries and was shifted to Civil Hospital, Batala, for treatment, Punjab police said.

According to Batala police they have arrested Mohit and Vishal after solving the grenade blast cases in Jaintipur and Raimal. This marked a hundred percent resolution of all grenade blast incidents in Punjab.

On January 15, a grenade attack was reported at the residence of Pappu Jaintipuria in Amritsar. Following the attack on Pappu Jaintipuria’s residence, another granade was lobbed at the residence of a Punjab police constable in Raimal. Both the attacks were claimed by a US-based terrorist, Happy Pachhi, through social media posts.

The Batala police made relentless efforts and after a detailed investigation, they apprehended and arrested the key accused Mohit, who personally carried out the grenade attack at the Punjab police constable’s house followed by Vishal Bhatti. Other accused, Ravinder Singh and Rajbir, are yet to be arrested. Further investigation into the matter is going on.

The Punjab police have intensified their hunt for criminals in the state following the orders of DGP and CM Bhagwant Mann. On Tuesday, two miscreants were shot in the leg during an encounter with the Punjab police in Khem Karan of Tarn Taran. According to the police official Aditya Raj, the names of the two miscreants are Prakash Singh and Prabhjeet Singh, who were involved in two recent firing incidents. He stated that further investigation into the matter is going on.

“Two miscreants named Prakash Singh and Prabhjeet Singh have been injured… They were involved in two recent firing incidents… Further investigation is underway”, SP Aditya Raj, Investigation Tarn Taran police said after the incident.

Furthermore, SP Raj stated that CM Bhagwant Mann and DGP have given orders to take strict action against the criminals. He added that the police had signalled the miscreants to stop after they opened fire on the police.

The Taran Taran SP further added that the accused have been linked with gangster Prabh Dasuwal and one 32-bore weapon, three used cartridges and two live rounds have been recovered from the miscreants.

“Punjab DGP and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann have given instructions to take action against criminals…When our team signalled a motorcycle to stop, they (miscreants) opened fire on the police teams. In the retaliatory fire, they were shot in their legs. Two people named Prakash Singh and Prabhjeet Singh have been injured… They are involved in two recent firing incidents… Further investigation is on… They are in touch with gangster Prabh Dasuwal… One 32-bore weapon, three used cartridges, and two live rounds have been recovered…”, SP Ajay Raj said.

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

ED seizes cryptocurrency amounting to Rs 17.20 crore across multiple wallets during raids in Haryana

ANI
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ED seizes cryptocurrency amounting to Rs 17.20 crore across multiple wallets during raids in Haryana

 The Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized cryptocurrency amounting to Rs 17.20 crore across multiple wallets during searches conducted at six locations in Haryana on Thursday, the agency said.

ED’s Chandigarh zonal office seized the amount during these raids conducted on February 24 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in the Cryptocurrency scam case registered recently.

The cryptocurrency, amounting to Rs 17.20 crore across multiple wallets, was owned and managed by one Mahesh Kumar and his associates, said the ED.

“The search operations also resulted in the seizure of several mobile phones, which were found to have been used to access cryptocurrency wallets through multiple Apps installed on such mobile devices,” said the federal agency. “The same have been sent for forensic examination and expected to yield more incriminating material.”

As per ED, this cryptocurrency racket was being operated from a mundane and remote location in Haryana to dodge Law Enforcement Agencies.

ED initiated the investigation based on a First Information Report registered by the Haryana Police clubbed with a complaint received from a victim of the said illegal cryptocurrency investment scam. Mahesh Kumar from Hissar, along with three accomplices, all from Bhiwani, Haryana, are involved in the racket.

“All these in connivance with one another have lured several investors for investment into cryptocurrency promising exorbitant returns and duped them crores of rupees,” it stated.

ED’s investigation revealed that multiple cryptocurrency wallets were operated by mastermind Mahesh Kumar in active association with other co-accomplices.

Mahesh Kumar and his associates have orchestrated the scam with ill motive of generating the funds by cheating individuals by promising them high returns for cryptocurrency investment and thus, have generated Proceeds of Crime (POC), it said, adding “by adopting the said modus-operandi, Mahesh and his team not only generated POC but also layered it by investing into cryptocurrency wallets through decentralised exchanges.”

The agency said this discovery highlights the fast-expanding reach of cryptocurrency activities, posing new challenges for regulators and law enforcement agencies.

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

1984 anti-Sikh riots case against Jagdish Tytler: Delhi court records evidence of Forensic Lab official who examined CD containing videos

ANI
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1984 anti-Sikh riots case against Jagdish Tytler: Delhi court records evidence of Forensic Lab official who examined CD containing videos

Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court on Thursday recorded the evidence of Deputy Director (Photo Division) of Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in connection with the Pul Bangash Sikh Killings linked to 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

Former Congress MP Jagdish Tytler is facing trial in this case.

Special judge (CBI) Jitendra Singh recorded the evidence of S Ingarsal (Deputy Director, photo and Scientific Aid division) CFSL as a prosecution witness. He was cross-examined by defence counsel Advocate Anil Kumar Sharma and Anuj Sharma.

The witness deposed that he examined a CD containing five videos. On examination no editing was found in the videos contained in the CD. The video clips were found genuine and there was no discrepancy.

He further deposed that the five video clips were not in continuity, however, all the visuals in the clips were found in the subsequent order.

The said five video clips were observed to be relatively similar and found to be a part of a continuous video footage in respect of the subjects (persons), location, background, set properties, relative position and pattern of on screen date and time stamp and also the lighting conditions, the witness deposed. Thereafter he reported on September 27, 2022.

With the permission of the court, the CD was opened and played in court for identification of audio and video footages by the witness.

The cross-examination has been deferred for the next date of hearing by the court.

The Rouse Avenue court is recording the prosecution evidence in a case related to the killing of three Sikhs in Pul Bangash area on November 1, 2024.

Rajasthan: Tension grips Beawar after the news of Muslim gang targeting school-going Hindu girls for sexual exploitation, conversion and extortion

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: Tension grips Beawar after the news of Muslim gang targeting school-going Hindu girls for sexual exploitation, conversion and extortion

Tensions have gripped several areas of Rajasthan after the exposure of a gang of Muslim men involved in sexual exploitation and forced conversion of minor Hindu girls. A shutdown was called on Monday (24th February)in Ajmer, Beawar and Bhilwara districts by people outraged by the crime. People have been demanding the death penalty for all the culprits involved in the crime.

11 accused and a former councillor arrested by the police

Since the victims were all minors, the police have registered a case under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. So far, 8 accused have been arrested by the police and three minors have been taken into custody. On 23rd February, the police arrested former independent councillor Hakim Qureshi. He was produced at the residence of the judge of the POCSO court in Kotda on the same day and sent on a 5-day police remand. Qureshi is accused of assisting other accused.

The accused have been identified as Rihan Mohammad (20), son of Jaan Mohammad, resident of Rajnagar Police Station area, Bijainagar, Sohail Manshuri (19), son of Anwar Hussain from Taro ka Kheda Bijainagar, Luqman alias Soheb (20), son of Mohammad Usman of Hurda Road Gulabpura, Arman Pathan (19) son of Kalu Khan, native of Rajnagar Police Station area, Bijainagar, Sahil Qureshi (19) son of Mohammad Sabir from Sajanabad Police Station area, Gulabpura. Other accused arrested by the police include Shravan (cafe operator), Karim and Aashiq, who are on a 7-day remand. The three minors have been sent to a juvenile correction home. 

The gang targeted minor Hindu girls

The shocking case of sexual exploitation and blackmail of school-going girls in the Bijainagar police station area came to light on 15th February after a victim’s family approached the police. A gang of Muslim men was reportedly acting in an organised manner to target minor Hindu girls for sexual exploitation and extortion. The gang members used to follow their victims in a planned manner. Once their victims responded, they lured them by entering into relationships with them. They sexually exploited their victims and captured their obscene photos and videos to blackmail and extort money from them. Moreover, the culprits used their victims’ social media accounts to contact more girls. The victims’ families said that the girls were forcibly subjected to religious practices and pressured to convert. Notably, all of them work as labourers and none of them go to school and still, they managed to target these school-going minor girls.

One of the victims said in her statement that her hand was cut with a blade when she refused to keep Roza during Ramzaan. They were subjected to continuous sexual exploitation. The initial interrogation of the accused and statements of the victims have revealed horrifying details. The victims said that the men would come in new vehicles, including Bullet motorcycles and other cars, to take them away. One of the victims said, “They once told me that a Brahmin girl would fetch ₹20 lakh if sold, and you (a Dalit) would get ₹10 lakh.” The girls said in their statements that they were continuously blackmailed with obscene photos and videos and forced to bring in other girls.

Saffron flag, louspeaker on Maha Shivratri: Read what triggered Hazaribagh voilence as tensions were already brewing over minaret on govt school

OpIndia Staff
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Saffron flag, louspeaker on Maha Shivratri: Read what triggered Hazaribagh voilence as tensions were already brewing over minaret on govt school

On 26th February, a clash transpired between two communities on Maha Shivratri over tying a loudspeaker to an iron pillar in Pipratola located in Dumraon village of Ichak police station area in the Hazaribagh district of Jharkhand. Half a dozen people were injured in stone pelting. The miscreants set fire to 8 vehicles including a car, six bikes, a scooter and a bicycle. Police are conducting a search operation to nab the perpetrators. The situation is currently under control.

The loudspeaker might have triggered the violence but tension had been prevailing in the region for a long time. A loudspeaker was being tied to the iron post at New Sanatani Hindustan Chowk at about 8 am after which members of the Muslim community began to protest. Meanwhile, authorities were notified. Local police station in-charge Santosh Kumar reached the spot and talked to people from both the sides. It was agreed that the loudspeaker would be removed after Maha Shivratri.

People from the Muslim community began throwing stones from the roofs of their houses and the school grounds while the discussion was still in progress. People from the other side also did the same in retaliation which prompted the unrest. An automobile parked on the road was also toppled by the rioters who even pushed a bike into a well. At least six people were wounded due to the incident.

A few days ago, a saffron flag was hoisted after some people installed an iron pillar at the same site which resulted in a ruckus. They also protested and the matter reached the police station, however, it was not resolved. The conflict intensified on the sacred day of Maha Shivratri when Muslims objected to the loudspeakers. According to the police, prohibitory orders have been issued in accordance with section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which forbids carrying firearms, organizing processions and assembly of five or more individuals.

“In Ichak, there is a panchayat called Dumraon. There was a scuffle between two communities regarding the installation of loudspeakers and flags with respect to Maha Shivratri. There was an hour of scuffle and stone-pelting incident, but there was no major injury; nobody was hurt. Some vehicles and bikes were burnt. We are assessing that damage. We have CCTV footage of some areas over there. The police are investigating that,” informed Deputy Commissioner Hazaribagh Nancy Sahay.

“Security forces have been deployed since yesterday. Today, at 2 pm, there is a peace committee meeting. After that, we will assess the situation and decide how long we will depute the force and magistrates. As of now, we have not enforced any prohibitory order,” she added. Security personnel were stationed in the vicinity to uphold law and order after the incident.

The area had been experiencing tense atmosphere for approximately a year and a half. People from one community had constructed a minaret on the government school’s gate at the time. Cops were notified. Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) and the Circle Officer (CO) along with the entire police and local administration settled the matter over a mutual agreement. Disputes between the two sides have since occurred on new year, Ramnavami and Holi there.

Ranchi MP and Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth responded to the occurrence and blamed Bangladeshi infiltrators. He called on Chief Minister Hemant Soren to take decisive action to expel them. He asked that why do these incidents only take place in Jharkhand during Hindu festivals like Holi, Saraswati Puja, Ramnavami, and Maha Shivratri? This is due to intruders from Bangladesh who are determined to disrupt law and order, communal harmony and the state’s demographics, he added.

He asserted that such incidents are very rare in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ruled states, be it Delhi, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra or Uttar Pradesh because such elements are identified and thrown out from there.

(With inputs from ANI)

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