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UP: Muslim man makes obscene gestures and derogatory remarks against Hindu deities during an event in Azamgarh, video goes viral

OpIndia Staff
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UP: Muslim man makes obscene gestures and derogatory remarks against Hindu deities during an event in Azamgarh, video goes viral

A video of a Muslim man making disparaging comments on Hindu deities and religious places during an orchestra program in the Mubarakpur police station area of ​​Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh has sparked outrage. The person deriding Hindu deities is said to be the owner of “Langda Group Orchestra”.

In addition to making derogatory comments about Hindu deities, the Muslim man also made obscene gestures on the stage. However, an elderly man protested against it by abusing the accused man in anger.

After the video went viral, BJP leaders filed a complaint in Mubarakpur police station calling it an insult to Hinduism. They demanded strict action by registering a case against the accused.

Meanwhile, the local BJP leaders alleged despite the complaint lodged at the police station, no case has been registered against the accused till now. They called the alleged police inaction unfortunate and insulting and demanded immediate legal action from the police station in charge.

In response to an X user demanding action against the person insulting Hindu deities and religious places, Azamgarh Police said, “Police station in-charge Mubarakpur has been directed to investigate and take necessary action.”

Manipur CM explains how the state’s crisis is because of past sins of Congress: Here are details of how the violence took place

OpIndia Staff
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Manipur CM explains how the state’s crisis is because of past sins of Congress: Here are details of how the violence took place

On Wednesday, 1st January, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh slammed Congress leader Jairam Ramesh for accusing the BJP and PM Modi of the unrest in the state of Manipur. Ramesh in a post on X alleged that PM Modi deliberately avoided going to the state during the times of unrest and that the country could not simply understand the neglect. Responding to this, Singh asked the Congress party to stop playing politics over the issue and instead focus on resolving the state’s core issues.

In an X post, the Manipur Chief Minister said that it was the past actions of the Congress party that created the current turmoil in the state. He also highlighted that the former Home Minister had signed the SoO (Suspended Operations) Agreement with Myanmar-based militants and facilitated repeated settlement of Burmese refugees in the state of Manipur.

“Everyone, including yourself, is aware that Manipur is in turmoil today because of the past sins committed by the Congress, such as the repeated settlement of Burmese refugees in Manipur and the signing of the SoO Agreement with Myanmar-based militants in the state, spearheaded by P Chidambaram during his tenure as the Home Minister of India,” the Manipur CM wrote on X.

Reminding the history and the involvement of Congress in the Naga-Kuki clashes, Singh said that the clashes began in the year 1992 and continued at varying intensities for around five years (1992–1997). “This period marked one of the bloodiest ethnic conflicts in northeast India, deeply affecting relations between the Naga and Kuki communities in Manipur. Did Shri PV Narasimha Rao, who served as the Prime Minister of India from 1991 to 1996 and was the President of the Indian National Congress during this time, come to Manipur to extend an apology? The Kuki-Paite clashes claimed 350 lives in the state. During most of the Kuki-Paite clashes (1997–1998), Shri IK Gujral was the Prime Minister of India. Did he visit Manipur and say sorry to the people?” he asked.

Jairam Ramesh on 31st December criticized PM Modi for not going to Manipur during the times of clashes in the year 2023. “Why can’t the Prime Minister go to Manipur and say the same thing there? He has deliberately avoided visiting the state since May 4th, 2023, even as he jets around the country and the world. The people of Manipur simply cannot understand this neglect,” he said.

This is after CM Biren Singh on the occasion of year-end apologized to the people of the state saying that whatever the state had been facing since May 2023 was unfortunate. “This entire year has been very unfortunate. I feel regret and I want to say sorry to the people of the state for what is happening till today, since last May 3. Many people lost their loved ones. Many people left their homes. I really feel regret. I would like to apologize,” he said.

“Now, I hope after seeing the last 3-4 months’ progress towards peace, I hope that with the New Year 2025, normalcy and peace will be restored in the state. I want to appeal to all the communities of the state that whatever happened has happened. We now have to forget past mistakes and have to start a new life,” he added stating that a peaceful Manipur and a prosperous state awaited the citizens of the state.

It is crucial to note that the conflict between the Kuki and the Naga community has been ongoing since the year 1990s as the Kukis began a movement to reclaim their Kukiland, a major part of the hill districts of Manipur that was being occupied by the Nagas. As per the reports, the conflict began after the Kukis started attacking the Nagas, burning their villages, killing and displacing hundreds of people from the Naga community.

In that year, constant warnings were issued to Kukis to stop the eviction of Nagas from the land, but to no avail. After this, the Nagas began attacking Kukis and in the next 3 years, more than 230 people belonging to the Kuki community were killed and tens of thousands of them were evicted from the claimed Naga areas.

The said clashes continued over the years until 1997 when novel clashes erupted between the Kuki and the Paitei (Zomis) community. The Kukis and the Paities belong to the same ethnic group but distinguish themselves on the basis of the language they speak. After being forcefully displaced from the Naga areas after the 1992 clashes, thousands of Thadou-speaking Kukis began settling in the Churachandpur district of Manipur, the homeland of Paities.

These new settlers backed by the Kuki militants began harassing Paites forcing them to displace from their own areas. Later Paities also formed a militant group to defend and protect their community. However, the tensions kept on rising after which the Kukis initiated the attack. The Kuki militant group attacked a Paite township called Saikul and killed 13 Paites in June 1997. Following this massive clashes broke out between the duo leaving around 15000 people dead and displaced.

The clashes reportedly came to an end after a ‘peace agreement’ was signed in October 1998 that led to the official formation of two different sects Kukis and Zomis.

It is further crucial to note that the first SoO (Suspended Operations) agreement was signed between the Kuki militants and the Indian Army in the year 2008 seeking the Kuki militants to ceasefire. Another tripartite suspension of operations (SoO) agreement was signed between the Government of India, the Government of Manipur, and 25 Kuki militant organizations. The militant groups, as per the peace agreement were asked not to make use of arms and ammunition but the harassment of the civilians, and extortion bids continued to raise concerns overall. Notably, the agreement was signed amid the Congress rule and CM Singh claimed that neither of the Congress presidents during the 1992 and 1997 clashes had visited the state.

Singh indicated that Congress must reflect on the past sins that have led to the escalated chaotic situations in Manipur at present and stop blaming PM Modi or the government he led.

Somnath to Ranjit Sagar Dam, mafia properties to illegal mazars: 2024 saw Gujarat’s relentless bulldozers in action

Editorial Desk
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Somnath to Ranjit Sagar Dam, mafia properties to illegal mazars: 2024 saw Gujarat’s relentless bulldozers in action

2024 has been an eventful year in Gujarat. Bulldozer action has garnered significant media attention across the nation. Illegal constructions valued in the thousands of crores have been dismantled, resulting in the leveling of land. The bulldozer, affectionately referred to as ‘Baba’ in Uttar Pradesh, has taken on the moniker ‘Dada’ in Gujarat.

Notably, both Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi have strictly addressed the issue of unlawful encroachments within the state. The report will explore the various locations in Gujarat where this bulldozer has operated in 2024, effectively removing illicit structures. We will also seek to determine the extent and value of the land that was vacated during this process.

Bulldozer action in Ahmedabad

A recent incident in Ahmedabad garnered significant attention, as a video surfaced depicting individuals openly confronting the police while wielding swords in the Rakhiyal area. In this alarming situation, several Islamists were observed brandishing swords in public. Notably, one individual, recognized as Fazal, issued threats to the police, prompting law enforcement to escort him away in their vehicle.

After the video gained widespread attention, the relevant authorities took action, uncovering that the properties owned by the accused were erected without legal permission. As a result, a bulldozer was utilized to demolish the homes of Altaf and Fazal. An official confirmed that the municipality had earlier notified both parties, requesting the removal of the structures. This development occurred on 21st December.

The second incident involved the notably sensitive area of Juhapura. On 25th October, a building referred to as ‘Neha Flat,’ constructed by the notorious Nazir Vora near Sonal Cinema Road, was taekn down. This entire residential project was developed without the requisite permissions. Although the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) had already sealed the premises, construction activities resumed. The Municipal Corporation took immediate action once it was alerted to the situation.

It is noteworthy that this structure was dismantled by AMC in October 2020. However, Nazir disregarded legal regulations and resumed construction activities at the site. Once the Corporation became aware of the issue, the entire site was sealed, and further construction was prohibited. This action was executed under the stringent directives of the Vejalpur Police Station.

The third incident occurred in a slum adjacent to Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in the Bapunagar region. On 11th June, the AMC undertook the demolition of the unauthorized construction of Madina Masjid located at Char Rasta of Garib Nagar, Bapunagar. The estate department had received a complaint indicating that, in addition to the Madina Masjid, further buildings were constructed without the necessary permissions. In response to this complaint, action was executed with a significant police presence, resulting in the removal of the illegal constructions amid massive police presence.

In this instance, a local Muslim individual remarked that a mosque had been established along the route to the pit. Following the mosque’s construction, there was a notable surge in population, and subsequent work was undertaken on the mosque’s roof. This led to complaints from certain individuals, prompting higher authorities to intervene and dismantle the construction at the mosque. “If it is illegal, what happened,” objected some persons and claimed that such actions should not be executed, respecting the community’s sentiments.

“At the time of the mosque’s establishment, the population was significantly smaller. As the Muslim community grew, they undertook further construction,” they added and mentioned that the construction deemed illegal happened a year prior. “This system undermines religious places, as they did not get to indulge in corruption.”

Bulldozer action in Vadodara

The Vadodara Municipal Corporation ran bulldozers in a sensitive area following the murder of Tapan Parmar, the son of former BJP councilor Ramesh Parmar, who resided near Nagarwada Mehtawadi in Vadodara in the presence of law enforcement. Residents had frequently raised concerns with the Municipal Corporation regarding the congestion on Machchipith Road. In response to Tapan Parmar’s murder, both the Vadodara Municipal Corporation and the police took action. Consequently, on the evening of 19th November illegal encroachments in multiple areas were razed down.

The gang rape case in Vadodara garnered significant attention, with two individuals, Munna Banjara and Mumtaz, referred to as Aftab Banjara, being implicated. These accused were found to be living in an unlawful structure in Ekta Nagar Colony. In response, the municipal corporation took immediate measures by issuing a notice demanding evidence from them within three days. However, following the Supreme Court’s ruling against the demolition of their residence, the municipality opted to restrict its intervention to disconnecting the water and drainage services to Munna Banjara’s home.

Bulldozer action in Surat-Navsari

On the night of 23rd December, authorities undertook action to eliminate the encroachments along with the illegally established dargah located on Hanuman Road in Surat. A covert operation was carried out by the municipal team around 11 pm, during which the area surrounding Hanuman Road was sealed off to restrict entry. Demolition efforts began shortly after midnight. According to reports, the temple was situated on a site that obstructed traffic and it was intended for handover to the metro.

The faith of millions of Hindus was deeply offended when stones were thrown at the statue of Lord Ganesha, commonly referred to as ‘King of Variyavi’, in Sayedpura, Surat. This event led to significant unrest throughout the city. In response, police units were deployed, and thousands of Hindus took to the streets to express their outrage. Home Minister Sanghvi pledged that all individuals responsible for the stone-throwing would be apprehended before dawn and he fulfilled it. Following this incident, authorities initiated the demolition of illegal structures in Sayedpura on 9th September to prevent further criminal acts and maintain law and order.

On 10th July, Surat Police and local administration bulldozed the illegal construction of Surat’s Hashim Siddiqui, who was involved in many crimes. It was revealed that Hasim had encroached on government land in Limbayat and built a gym and cricket facility. After that, a team of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) and a team of Surat Police Special Operation Group (SOG) reached the spot with bulldozers and carried out the demolition work. This encroachment was done right next to the temple.

On 28th December, bulldozer action was carried out on a mazar along Vansda Chikhli Road in the Navsari district. This action led to the closure of a large segment of the road near the referral hospital, with a strong police presence and high-ranking officials overseeing the operation. The shrine had been established on government land that had been occupied for a prolonged period. Additionally, the nearby referral hospital was obstructing the road widening project.

Bulldozer action was executed in the Hatadia Bazar region of Kheralu, Mehsana. This location was previously the site of stone-pelting incidents that occurred on 21st January, during the Shobha Yatra of Lord Shri Ram. The action took place in proximity to Hatadia Bazar and Zakatnaka in Kheralu. The municipality issued notices to the owners of 30-35 illegal structures, ranging from temporary to permanent, from Panchmukhi Hanuman Temple to Belim Wada in Hatadiya. Owners were instructed to present property ownership proof or voluntarily remove the encroachments.

However, after the notice was issued, no response was provided, leading the City Survey Department to begin measurements on 5th February. After the survey was completed, bulldozers were deployed to remove the encroachments. During this operation, senior municipal officials and a large contingent of police personnel were present.

In February, a Hindu man was killed by a mob of Muslims in the Prantij area of Sabarkantha over a monetary dispute. In response, the police registered a case against seven Muslim accused and initiated action to arrest them, successfully apprehending most of the suspects. Following the police action, strict measures were taken against the offenders, and the administration carried out bulldozer action. The authorities demolished 12 illegal shops and 2 mutton shops, amidst heavy police presence.

Bulldozer action in Junagadh, Somnath and Dwarka

On the late night of 9th March, the Junagadh Municipal Corporation conducted a major operation. The administration demolished the controversial and illegal shrine located near the city’s Majevadi Gate. Additionally, several other religious and unauthorized encroachments were also removed. The structure at Majevadi Gate had been the subject of controversy, and notices for its removal had been issued earlier.

Last year, an attempt to remove it had led to unrest perpetrated by Muslim groups in the area. Around two decades ago, the structure near Majevadi Gate in Junagadh began to take shape, and over time, its size gradually expanded. There had been persistent demands for the removal of the structure, attributed to its illegal construction, along with prior notices that had been issued.

On 27th and 28th September, a massive demolition operation was carried out in Veraval’s Somnath to remove encroachments. This was the largest demolition drive in the history of Gir Somnath. The operation involved senior officials, 1,500 police personnel, 36 bulldozers, and 70 tractor-trolleys. During the drive, certain religious structures, including Eidgahs and mosques, were also removed, leading to protests by large groups of local Muslims. However, the administration handled the situation firmly, ensuring control over the area and successfully completing the demolition work without major incidents.

The administration in January also carried out a two-day operation to remove encroachments. This action was taken after numerous complaints were received about increasing encroachments near the Somnath Temple, a prominent pilgrimage site. The operation began on the morning of 27th January with a large team from the forest and police departments deployed to clear the illicit occupation. Residents came out to protest the action, but the administration remained firm and proceeded to remove all illegal structures. During the operation, around 100 shanties and 21 permanent houses were demolished using bulldozers. Additionally, 17 bighas of land were cleared of encroachments.

On the second day of the operation, encroachments were cleared from the main road near the Somnath Temple. People had illegally occupied this government land for years. The district administration carried out the operation with a large police presence. During this demolition drive, the administration removed over 144 illegal encroachments erected along the main road leading to the Somnath Temple. Before initiating the operation, notices were issued to the encroachers, directing them to vacate the premises. The drive covered the stretch from Shankh Circle to Hamirji Circle.

A group of Muslim individuals illegally constructed a wall on government land in front of a Hindu temple, blocking the access route to the temple in Khambhalia, Dwarka. The administration took swift action by filing an FIR against the encroachers and arresting them. Bulldozers were deployed to remove the encroachment, restoring the pathway to the temple for devotees. The temple’s chief priest, Hirenpuri Goswami, filed a complaint against five individuals at the local police station. He charged that they forged documents to claim the government land situated to the north of the temple. Their intention was reportedly to obstruct devotees from visiting the temple by erecting the wall and blocking the access route.

Bulldozer action in Kutch

Kutch, the largest district in Gujarat, shares a border with Pakistan and is regarded as a region of significant security concern. This year, the Kutch administration undertook significant measures, deploying bulldozers across various locations from Kandla to more isolated villages. In February, a bulldozer action commenced in Mandvi.

Reports indicated unauthorized land encroachments along Mandvi’s coastline, particularly near the Muskani boundary, where the structures of Yusuf Shah Pir’s dargah and the Arif-e-Billah dargah in the Gundiyali border area had been unlawfully expanded. The discovery of encroachments and unauthorized constructions along the seaside prompted the administration to take action. On 28th February, the authorities proceeded to demolish the illegal structures.

On the same day, authorities in Bhuj carried out an operation along the Bhuj-Khavda road, demolishing illegal bhungas (traditional circular huts). The administration cleared approximately 2,000 square meters of encroached land during this action. A Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) informed the media that prior notices had been issued regarding these encroachments, and the demolition was executed accordingly.

Investigations were also conducted into the legality of resorts built along the Bhirandiyara to Dhordo stretch, revealing a rise in illegal encroachments in the area. Following these findings, the action was initiated.

The greatest number of demolition operations in Kutch took place in March. On the night of 12th March, authorities used bulldozers to remove encroachments in Anjar, Kutch. Three illegal shrines built on government land were demolished. The administration carried out the operation to clear the encroachments under tight police security. As part of the drive, the Haji Pir dargah, Nagesha Pir dargah, and Valli Pir dargah were removed and the government land was reclaimed.

On 11th March, authorities in Kutch carried out bulldozer action in Bhangori Vada, Abdasa, to demolish two illegal shrines. Additionally, two water tanks were also destroyed during the operation. Before taking action, notices were issued to the caretakers of the shrines, but as they failed to remove the structures, the local administration proceeded with the demolition. The operation was conducted under tight police security.

On 9th March, the administration carried out a significant operation in villages like Jamkunariya and Kuran, demolishing 26 encroachments, including illegally constructed madrasas. Bulldozers were used to dismantle three madrasas built unlawfully on government land. The local administrative and police teams targeted illegal structures, including shops, hotels, and huts, in multiple villages. Additionally, 24 encroachments at the Sentry Kala Dungar near the border and two in Dhroba were also cleared, bringing the total to 26 illegal structures removed.

On 1st March, the administration took action against illegal encroachments by the father of a Muslim teenager accused of assaulting two elderly individuals in Bhachau. The father, Haji Ahmad Traya, and his brother were accused by Hindu organizations of encroaching on government land in Shikarpur village. Acting on these complaints, the Bhachau Taluka administrative authorities initiated the process of removing the encroachments.

According to officials, the accused was implicated in two encroachments. The first one was under a court stay, which prohibited any further action, while the second encroachment was successfully rectified.

The Gujarat government persisted with its demolition efforts in the strategically significant Kandla Port region of Kutch. In response to security issues, unauthorized encroachments surrounding the Kandla Port were dismantled. These encroachments comprised both small and large temporary shelters erected by local residents and outsiders, which occupied extensive areas of port land. The police observed a rise in criminal activities in the vicinity, underscoring the necessity of eliminating these structures. Acting swiftly, the administration launched the operation to remove the illegal structures.

The administration successfully reclaimed over 250 acres of land worth Rs 400 crore through continuous operations, in Kandla. A two-day demolition drive was carried out by the Deendayal Port Authority and Kutch Police, during which over 600 illegal settlements were demolished. More than 6,000 people had occupied this land for several years, disregarding repeated eviction notices issued by the Kandla Port Authority over the past two years.

During the demolition, over 600 temporary and permanent structures were dismantled. Most of the residents in the area were from the Muslim community, with many being migrants from other states. According to Kandla Port Authority Chairman Sushil Kumar, the encroachers had constructed buildings on approximately 2.5 kilometers of port land, including areas near the cargo jetty and creek. This land was critical, as it provided the only access route to the port’s waterfront.

Kandla Port is Gujarat’s largest port and is highly sensitive due to its proximity to the Pakistan border. The illegal settlements were dangerously located among ammonia pipelines and tank farms with a capacity of 34 lakh kiloliters. Frequent reports of theft, including pipeline damage, had raised serious safety concerns. Officials highlighted the catastrophic risk posed by these encroachments. If a hazardous gas like ammonia were to leak, the resulting disaster could surpass the scale of the Bhopal gas tragedy. Additionally, the proximity to the Pakistan border made these encroachments a significant security threat.

More encroachments removed

An unauthorized shrine was constructed behind the famous Ranjit Sagar Dam. The issue came to light in May when OpIndia published a series of investigative reports, drawing the administration’s attention to the encroachment. Following the reports, on 19th May, the authorities, under heavy police deployment, reached the site and demolished the illegal structure using bulldozers.

The removal of the structure had been ordered by the Mamlatdar back in 2022, but no action was taken at the time. Hindu activists continuously raised the issue, and recently, the matter resurfaced with OpIndia’s detailed coverage of the matter. This prompted the officials to act decisively and clear the area. OpIndia’s on-ground reporting brought the issue into focus, pointing out the seriousness of the occupation. The administration, with the support of local Hindu leader Yuvraj Solanki, executed the demolition and successfully reclaimed the land of the dam from illegal occupation.

The Bariyapir dargah, an illegally erected structure located near the Lalpur Bypass in Jamnagar, was demolished. This site had been subject to encroachment for an extended period. Premsukh Delu, the Chief of Police for Jamnagar District, confirmed this action in an interview with OpIndia, indicating that the shrine was built unlawfully and its demolition was carried out in accordance with a directive from the Supreme Court. The structure was built on a public road, prompting the authorities to issue notices and request ownership documents. However, as the construction was on a public pathway and no valid documents were provided, the police initiated the demolition process.

The administration took bulldozer action against multiple illegal constructions by the notorious Razak Saicha in Jamnagar. Several unauthorized buildings constructed by him in Bedeshwar and Bedi areas were demolished. This included illegal houses and shops in Bedi, followed by two illegal bungalows. In December 2023, another illegal house belonging to Razak Saicha was also demolished.

The Saicha brothers, who are involved in multiple criminal cases, are currently serving jail time. The Mamlatdar’s office recently filed a complaint against them for constructing houses on government land, prompting a local police survey. The investigation revealed that a bungalow was built on government land located on Bedi Bandar Road in Jamnagar. Razak Saicha is also imprisoned in connection with the suicide case of a teacher in Jamnagar, in May 2023.

A teacher died by suicide, leaving a note naming Razak Saicha, Akhtar Anwar Chamadia, and Afroz Tayeb Chamadia as responsible. The note accused them of harassment and defamation under the guise of a love affair. This case added to Saicha’s long list of criminal allegations.

The year 2024 in Gujarat was characterized by consistent bulldozer operations aimed at reclaiming both government and private land from unlawful encroachments. A significant incident was the Somnath demolition case, in which the Muslim community petitioned the Supreme Court for a stay on the demolition activities. Upon assessing the scale of the illegal encroachments, the Supreme Court ruled that the demolition should proceed as intended. Nevertheless, the court issued specific guidelines to address certain concerns during the process. Throughout the year, numerous instances highlighted the bulldozer as a representation of stringent administrative measures against encroachments, highlighting the government’s resolute position on the issue.

Wikipedia works as a tool for propaganda: Read how ex-CEO of Wikimedia Foundation conceded that information on ‘the free encyclopedia’ is not based on truth

Dibakar Dutta
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Wikipedia works as a tool for propaganda: Read how ex-CEO of Wikimedia Foundation conceded that information on ‘the free encyclopedia’ is not based on truth

In November last year, the Modi government sent a notice to Wikipedia pointing out the biased and inaccurate information published by the ‘free  encyclopedia.’

The notice was issued by the Union Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry. It highlighted the hegemony of a small group of editors and their control over its content.

The Modi government has asked Wikipedia why it shouldn’t be treated as a publisher instead of an intermediary. It is important to mention that OpIndia highlighted the same issue in its 187-page dossier published on 9th September 2024.

In this context, let us analyse two key speeches of the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Wikimedia Foundation Katherine Maher and the functioning of Wikipedia as a tool for vicious propaganda.

Katherine Maher on how ‘truth is a distraction’

During a TED talk in August 2021, Katherine Maher inadvertently revealed that the information disseminated through Wikipedia is not based on truth.

She claimed that despite low public trust in the press and science, people reposed their Faith in Wikipedia. Maher attributed this trust to the ‘voluntary’ editing of information by ‘ordinary people.’

OpIndia’s dossier highlighted how a handful of people have the ultimate say in what content is added to Wikipedia and what isn’t.

It is also a handful of people who have the power to ban edits, ban editors, decide disputes, delete pages, lock pages, override content etc. There are merely 435 active administrators across the world who have sweeping powers.

Contrary to Katherine Maher’s misleading claims about openness and transparency in the functioning of the free encyclopedia, Wikipedia has a solid hierarchy, just like any other publishing house, with strict editorial control and editorial lines.

In her TED talk, the former CEO of Wikimedia Foundation had stated that the information on Wikipedia is based on what “most of us feel is reasonable and fair.”

She went on to claim that seeking the truth and convincing others of the truth was not the priority of Wikipedia. Maher even dubbed the truth as a ‘distraction.’

Maher emphasised, “That perhaps, for our most tricky disagreements, seeking the truth, and seeking to convince others of the truth, might not be the right place to start. In fact, our reverence for the truth might be a distraction that’s getting in the way of finding common ground and getting things done.”

She further pointed out that those who write articles on Wikipedia are not focused on the truth at all. “The people who write these articles, they’re not focused on the truth. They’re focused on something else, which is the best of what we can know right now,” Maher emphasised.

The ex-CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation suggested that there are ‘many versions of truth’ and that the raw pursuit of it could ‘divide people’.

“One of the things that we could all acknowledge is that part of the reason we have such glorious chronicles to the human experience in all forms of culture is because we acknowledge there are many different truths,” she had stated.

“Our truths come from where we come from. And then we’re focusing on what divides us instead of what we can agree upon.And that allows us to start having conversations about the truth in a way that focuses on what we believe rather than what can be known. And that is a definition that is deeply divisive and harmful,” Maher brazened out.

She said that the way forward for shared understanding was not using ‘one truth as a baseline’ but depending on ‘minimum viable truth’ instead.

Katherine Maher pointed out, “We shift from focusing on one key truth to instead finding minimum viable truth. Minimum viable truth means getting it right enough, enough of the time to be useful enough to enough people. It means setting aside our bigger belief systems and not being quite so fussy about perfection.”

All the word salad in her TED speech was meant to communicate that Wikipedia would propagate the version of the truth which they deem fit was palatable to the common public.

Besides complete disregard for truth, the ex-CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation called for ‘diversifying’ the voices on Wikipedia. Maher admitted to tweaking the system to suit a different kind of bias.

“When Wikipedia first started, the majority of its authors were Western white men, which led to some really significant biases and gaps in the types of articles that were written, and the slant of those articles.Recognizing this by being intentional about undoing some of these systems that were actively excluding people and doing the hard work of actually rebuilding them so that more people would feel welcome in the conversation,” she stated clearly.

Wikipedia isn’t exactly the truth: Katherine Maher

In November 2021, Katherine Maher appeared at the signature gathering of House of Beautiful Business ‘Concrete Love’ and gave a sneak peek into Wikipedia’s handling of truth.

She made it clear that Wikipedia is not a direct representation of the truth. The ex-CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation emphasised –

“We found ourselves in the middle of this sort of global crisis of truth. One of the questions that I often heard during this period was what is it like to be responsible for the truth? And every time I got that question, I thought, wow, you’re putting way too much on Wikipedia and on me. But also, I think you don’t necessarily have an understanding of what Wikipedia is. Because Wikipedia isn’t exactly the truth.“

The truth, the idea of a firm and final resolution to reality isn’t really congruent with the way that Wikipedia works. Or the way that we as humans come to understandings about the world. Or use that information to make decisions.In other words, the idea of the truth is complicated. It’s evolutionary. It’s unstable.“

She cited examples of Martin Luther, Copernicus and even Galileo Galilei to rationalise Wikipedia’s disdain for objective truth and lend credence to the notion that ‘truth evolves with time.’

“And perhaps we should also remember, in the spirit of Galileo and Copernicus, that the search for truth is not easy, or swift, or without consequence. And yet, for some reason, the harder truth is to discern, it seems, the more intent these days we are upon finding it. So much of our public dialogue is about the truth, who has it, who betrays it, and whether to believe it,” Katherine Maher claimed.

She however acknowledged that Wikipedia is wrought with biases and inaccuracies. “For all my love for Wikipedia, I’m not here to sell you on its perfection. I do view it as pretty flawed. It is mostly accurate, yes, but it can also be inaccurate and incomplete at times. More importantly, though, it’s as biased as we all are,” the ex-CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation pointed out.

Maher postured Wikipedia as a disseminator of ‘free knowledge’ and doing ‘things right while not pretending to be truth.’

“Our disagreements tend to erupt over what the truth of the issue actually is. Conversations about politics and religion are difficult conversations on Wikipedia, too. But one of the most significant differences, critical for moving from polarization to productivity, is that the Wikipedians who write these articles aren’t actually focused on finding the truth…They are working for something that’s a little bit more attainable, which is the best of what we can know right now,” she conceded.

Katherine Maher labelled truth as ‘a fickle mistress’, which has many ‘sublime chronicles of the human experience.’

“I know that the truth exists for each of you in this room. It also probably exists for the person sitting next to you. But the thing is, the two of you don’t necessarily have the same truth,” she claimed.

The ex-CEO of Wikimedia Foundation alleged that truth is personal and one should use them to work collectively and reach a middle ground (although it may not be completely representing the truth).

“And if we start going back and forth about whose truth is the best, suddenly, we find ourselves further apart than when we started, caught up in questions of values and identity, we start focusing on what we disagree on, rather than what connects us,” she said during her speech.

Katherine Maher suggested that collaboration between Wikipedia editors holding divergent views was more important than the actual propagation of truth. She claimed, “We need a truth for a cooperative existence, consensus and action.“

“I’d argue that we need to shift from focusing on one unifying truth to just finding enough agreement to move forward. Rather than resolving everything, we focus on the incremental. At Wikipedia we strove to get it right enough to enough people to be useful enough, enough of the time,” she exposed the underlying working of the free encylopedia.

Maher then mouthed platitudes about neutrality on Wikipedia. To lend credence to her claims, she said, “”Wikipedia assumes that we’re all inherently biased. It’s one of the reasons you’re not allowed to write articles about yourself, because it would be probably pretty difficult to be neutral about how brilliant and remarkable you actually are.“

Wikipedia’s pronounced ideological bias has been carefully and structurally cultivated. There is existing research, including the analysis of Wikipedia’s co-founder Larry Sengar, which has detailed how Wikipedia is not neutral.

The research cites three prior researches to bolster its case. Research by the Manhattan Institute published in June 2024 by David Rozado concluded that Wikipedia heavily leans towards the Left.

The Critic Research focuses on two internet policies of Wikipedia – Neutral Point of View and Reliability. The research concludes that it is
the editors who decide which sources are reliable to be cited and which are not.

Those considered reliable lean Left and Right-leaning are blacklisted. Therefore, a Neutral Point of View merely means that ‘reliable sources’ are represented thoroughly. Not that all points of view would be represented.

Third is Larry Sengar who has widely criticized Wikipedia for being Left-leaning, unreliable and biased.

OpIndia exposed Wikipedia and Wikimedia Foundation

In a detailed dossier prepared in September 2024, OpIndia found that Wikipedia is not a free, editorial intervention-free encyclopaedia which relies on the voluntary work of thousands of unpaid, passionate volunteers across the globe, as claimed by the Wikimedia Foundation.

Wikimedia Foundation has intimate financial connections with the clandestine Tides Foundation, which is accused of funding the pro-Hamas protests in US Universities along with George Soros. Wikimedia and Tides Foundation also fund several organisations which specifically work against the interest of India and undermine its sovereignty on various levels. 

Connections between the Wikimedia Foundation and Tides Foundation have been found with dubious organisations like Hindus For Human Rights, Equality Labs, Art+Feminism, Access Now, the Hindenburg hitjobs against Indian industrialists and others. 

In India, the Wikimedia Foundation has no presence. The presence they had in the form of a registered society was closed in 2019.

Despite folding in India, the Wikimedia Foundation not only collects lakhs from India in the form of donations but also funds NGOs in India which furthers the business interest of the Wikimedia Foundation. All of these organisations funded by the Wikimedia Foundation and Tides Foundation are Left organisations. 

As far as the content on  Wikipedia is concerned, it is found in this research that a small group of editors and administrators skew the content in India, including one editor who has been booked in the state of Manipur for spreading disaffection and creating strife.

The editors often stonewall attempts to add inconvenient facts and a different perspective to the Wikipedia articles.

Further, there is a specific anti-Hindu and anti-India bias which is perpetrated by the editors, reflected in the content which defines the subjects due to the partnership between Google and Wikimedia Foundation. 

Maitri-2 to replace India’s research station Maitri in Antarctica, to be operational by 2029

OpIndia Staff
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Maitri-2 to replace India’s research station Maitri in Antarctica, to be operational by 2029

As India’s research station Maitri in Antarctica is ageing, India is set to establish a new research station Matri-2.  The new station, which will be built near the existing Maitri station in East Antarctica, will have a capacity of around 90 scientists.

This endeavour intends to significantly advance India’s research capacities in Antarctica, enabling sophisticated studies in areas such as climate change, glaciology, and biodiversity.

The current Maitri station was built in 1988 and has just a 10-year operational lifespan. Since the last two decades, there have been high demands to replace the ageing research station on the frozen continent.

In 2017, Madhavan Nair Rajeevan, then Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said that the station would be replaced within three to four years. On 21st December 2024, Earth Sciences Minister Kiren Rijiju reportedly stated the new station will be operational by 2029.

Maitri-2 is a critical step towards modernising India’s Antarctic research infrastructure. The upgraded facility will improve scientists’ living and working circumstances, enabling year-round research in severe settings. The new station will also strengthen India’s footprint in global polar research and contribute to a better understanding of Antarctica’s impact on the global climate system.

NIA boasts of 100% conviction rate in 2024, Left Wing Extremism and North East insurgency top list of arrests

ANI
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NIA boasts of 100% conviction rate in 2024, Left Wing Extremism and North East insurgency top list of arrests

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday announced a record-breaking achievement for 2024, boasting a 100 per cent conviction rate with the conviction of 68 accused in 25 cases, a feat that underscores the agency’s commitment to delivering justice and strengthening national security.

Officials attributed this success to rigorous investigations and meticulous legal strategies. The achievement marks a significant milestone for the NIA, further solidifying its reputation as one of the country’s most effective investigative agencies.

As per the agency, a total of 210 accused were arrested across key categories of crimes in 80 cases registered by the NIA in 2024. Of these cases, Left Wing Extremism (LWE) and North East insurgency topped the list at 28 and 18 cases respectively.

Seven Jammu and Kashmir Jihadi cases were followed by six explosive substances and five human trafficking cases.

NIA further registered four other Jihadi cases, four Khalistan and two ISIS Jihadi cases, and one case each in gangsters, cyber terrorism, Fake Indian Currency Notes and others categories.

Besides convictions of 68 accused in 25 cases, NIA said its impressive performance for 2024 was marked by charge sheeting of 408 accused.

A total of 137 properties worth Rs 19.57 crore were attached during the year as part of the agency’s sustained efforts to dismantle the various terrorist, gangster and other criminal networks.

Left Wing Extremism (LWE) remained under NIA’s scanner throughout the year, leading to a maximum of 69 arrests of the total 210 arrests reported in 2024.

Twenty-eight cases of LWE were registered, and 12 chargesheets filed against 64 accused in this category. North-east insurgency was also high on NIA’s radar with 15 arrests.

The Independence Day boycott call by ULFA(I) in Assam saw the arrest of five accused in two separate cases. The call had been given on August 14 by Paresh Baruah, commander-in-chief of the banned terrorist organisation. This was followed, the next day, by a press release issued by Ishan Asom, 2nd Lieutenant cum Assistant Publicity Secretary of ULFA(I), that 19 IEDs had been planted across various parts of Assam, leading to a situation of panic among the people of the state.

The crackdown on the growing terrorist gangster was also a key highlight of the year. NIA arrested 14 accused in connection with foreign-based Khalistani terrorist cases during the year, which saw 101 searches being conducted in these cases.

The total searches carried out across all kinds of cases in 2024 stood at 662. Thirteen arrests were made in gangster-related cases during the year.

The agency said its agile efforts in cracking terrorism cases were evident in the fact that it had charge-sheeted Pakistan-based Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) chief Wadhawa Singh alias Babbar and five other terrorists in the murder of VHP leader Vikas Prabhakar alias Vikas Bagga in Punjab within months of the fatal attack.

Similarly, 10 accused, including foreign-based terrorist Goldy Brar, were expeditiously charge-sheeted in the case pertaining to firing for extortion at the house of a businessman in Chandigarh by aides of Brar. Early in the year, NIA had also charge sheeted Khalistan Terrorist Force (KTF) members Manpreet Singh alias Peeta and Mandeep Singh, after their successful deportation from the Philippines.

NIA further secured the conviction of four terrorists, including chief conspirator Kulwinderjeet Singh alias Khanpuria, in a terror conspiracy case related to the banned Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) outfit. Khanpuria was involved in many terrorist cases, including a bomb blast at Connaught Place and a grenade attack at Red Fort, Delhi, in the nineties. He was also wanted in many terrorist cases, including a conspiracy to carry out targeted killings in Punjab.

Another notable development in the Khalistani terror-related cases was the successful extradition of Tarsem Singh Sandhu of Tarn Taran district of Punjab from UAE, in a case of conspiracy of KLF, BKI & ISYF to wage war against the country.

As far as extraditions secured by NIA are concerned, another accused, Salman Khan, was brought in from Rwanda in an arms seizure case in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

Arms seizure emerged as a key milestone in NIA’s against attempts by anti-national forces to unleash violence in the country.

Cases of weapons recovery and seizure were reported from across the country, including Jammu, Jaipur, Ranchi, Patna, and Chandigarh. Notable among these was the seizure, in Jammu, of arms/ammunition and other incriminating materials from a car driver working as an overground worker (OGW) of the banned Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorist outfit.

As many as 2 hand grenades, 34 9mm pistol rounds, 1 Chinese pistol, 1 Turkish pistol, 20 Chinese pistol rounds and 1 pistol silencer were recovered in this case.

A massive haul of five rifles, six pistols, one revolver, 215 rounds ammunition, 5 detonators, two packets of gunpowder, 75 fired empty cartridges and 75 kgs of suspected explosive substance were also seized in a case of illegal supply of arms, ammunition and explosives to operatives in NE states and insurgent groups based across the international border

The arrest of 11 ISIS Jihadis, five Jammu and Kashmir Jihadis and 24 other Jihadis marked another major step forward for the agency.

The anti-terror agency scaled up its operations multifold in 2024, cracking the Rameshwaram cafe blast case in Karnataka, which rocked the nation early in the year, within a matter of months. With five accused already arrested and four charge-sheeted in this high-profile case, NIA once again proved its ability to solve tough cases with speed and agility, backed by technical and field investigations in coordination with various state police forces and other agencies.

A total of 27 absconding criminals were nabbed by NIA during the year. Notable among them was Savad, who was nabbed after being on the run for 13 years in the Kerala Professor hand-chopping case.

Other key absconders arrested during the year included Mohammed Sahjalal Haldar and Idris in a Bengaluru case relating to human trafficking from Myanmar into India, Shokat Ali alias Shaukat Ali in the Jaipur customs gold seizure case, and Mohammed Mustafa and Kodaje Mohammed Sherif in BJP leader Praveen Nattaru murder case.

The arrest of absconder Kamran Haider in the Laos human trafficking and cyber slavery case signified NIA’s concerted focus on destroying the chain behind this criminal activity, which has led to several innocent youth being trapped on foreign land by unscrupulous elements.

A key aspect of the speedy action and breakthroughs in the Rameshwaram cafe blast and other major cases was the stellar role played by the intelligence agencies and the concerned state police forces.

NIA coordinated closely with them throughout the year, working in a spirit of teamwork and sharing information on a continuous basis to crack various important cases with speed and alacrity.

As part of its efforts to enhance the capacity of the state police forces, NIA also engaged in their capacity building, providing training to 1,678 state police officials through 11 training programmes and courses in 2024.

At the same time, given the growing scale and magnitude of major terror-related and other serious crimes with the potential to disrupt India’s peace and harmony, NIA made significant efforts during the year to strengthen its own capacities.

The establishment of two new exclusive NIA courts, one each in Jammu and Ranchi, was an important step in this direction. NIA also released a handbook on UA(P)A investigations to bring standardisation into the probing of terror cases. 


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

Uttar Pradesh: Conversions to Christianity in Awadh using Madhesi conversion model from Nepal, Ayodhya and nearby districts affected

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: Conversions to Christianity in Awadh using Madhesi conversion model from Nepal, Ayodhya and nearby districts affected

In a matter of concern in the state of Uttar Pradesh, the Christian missionaries in the Awadh region are making efforts to promote religious conversions and influence voting patterns by adopting the Madhesi conversion model from Nepal.

The said strategy, which has unfortunately proved effective in Madhesh, Nepal, in the past, is being implemented in the state of UP. As per the exclusive report by Amar Ujala, districts like Sitapur, Barabanki, Bahraich, Shravasti, Sultanpur, and Ambedkar Nagar are witnessing escalated missionary activity, with Balrampur, Shravasti, and Bahraich experiencing significant impacts due to forceful conversion.

As per the reports, the Union Home Ministry was sent a report by security agencies highlighting concerns over evolving missionary methods in which suspicious activities of a prominent Lucknow-based publishing house were also flagged.

Notably, the responsibility for religious conversions is believed to have been assigned to Korean pastors, who are linked to networks in Bangalore, Punjab’s Jalandhar, and Kerala. The security agencies suspect that these efforts of the missionaries are funded by donations from Brazil, the United States, and South Korea.

“The primary targets for conversion include economically disadvantaged and marginalized groups such as Dalits, the Tharu tribe along the border, and the Rai Sikh community, who have featured prominently in recent conversion cases in the region,” the security agencies said in the report.

The concerns are further being raised as the agencies highlight that the appeal of alleged miraculous healing are playing a significant role in conversions. A resident of Sitapur converted to Christianity two years ago. He credited the Bible and claimed that the book transformed his life, improving his financial situation, and enhancing his health. In another similar instance, Suresh from the Ayodhya area attributed his conversion to these perceived blessings from miraculous healing.

Missionaries ask people to change religion, not names

It is crucial to note that one of the pastors identified as Pastor Danville, who was arrested in Sitapur on charges of religious conversion, revealed the strategy behind conversions. He claimed that their focus remains on ‘changing hearts’ rather than formal religious conversions. He explained that their followers continue to identify as Hindus on official documents and do not change their names after conversion.

“This approach allows them to remain integrated within their communities while gradually becoming devotees of Jesus Christ. By avoiding formal declarations of conversion, they evade potential legal consequences,” he said.

While men in converted families typically retain their usual clothing style, noticeable changes are observed among women. They abandon usage of vermilion, bangles, and bindis which Hindu women usually use.

Exposing the reality behind miracles

The security agencies stated that during the miraculous healing gatherings, the missionaries make use of powerful antibiotics and steroids to treat patients, leading to rapid recovery. “This is often celebrated as a miraculous intervention attributed to Christianity,” the report says. However, while these medicines provide immediate relief, they have significant side effects, including cataracts, glaucoma, weakened immunity, muscle deterioration, and bone diseases.

The Madhesh model of missionary conversion

In 1951, Nepal had no Christian population. However, by 1961, the number rose to 458, reaching 3.76 lakh in 2011 and, according to recent estimates, the Christian population today there is 6.45 lakhs. The National Christian Community Survey indicates there are 7,859 churches in the Hindu-majority nation, with most located in the Madhesh region bordering India.

It is believed that the Korean pastors have played a key role there, focusing on economically and spiritually disadvantaged Dalit communities and tribes. The Korean World Mission Association reports that 565 Korean missionary families are currently active in Nepal, particularly in the southern regions outside Kathmandu.

Dr. Uday, an expert in foreign affairs, suggests that the growth of Christian missionary activity has enabled the United States to establish a stronger presence in Nepal, a situation that also raises concerns for China.

Religious conversions have also intensified a crisis of cultural identity in Nepal, posing a significant threat to national unity. According to former Deputy Prime Minister Upendra Yadav, missionaries are exploiting backward communities by encouraging them to adopt Christianity under the guise of religious freedom. “This is not about faith but about manipulation and exploitation,” Yadav says.

Although Christians remain a minority in Nepal, missionaries are pursuing long-term strategies aimed at Dalit, minority, and backward communities.

Notably, it is speculated that the same model is being adopted by the missionaries in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Vikram Singh, former DGP of Uttar Pradesh, warns that this gradual approach calls for vigilance to protect societal and cultural cohesion.

UP: Illegal mosque structure in Bareilly demolished by members of the Muslim community after authorities confirm violation

OpIndia Staff
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UP: Illegal mosque structure in Bareilly demolished by members of the Muslim community after authorities confirm violation

Members of the Muslim community in Tilmas village, Mirganj, took the initiative on Monday to begin dismantling part of a mosque built on public pond land. This step followed an investigation by authorities, which confirmed the construction violated local regulations.

An inspection led by SDM Tripti Gupta and her team revealed that pillars and a lintel had been erected on pond land adjacent to the mosque, breaching construction rules. The revenue team’s findings further validated these violations.

On Monday, members of the Muslim community approached the Sub-Divisional Magistrate to propose voluntarily removing the illegal structure. Demolition work began that evening under police supervision but was suspended due to darkness, with plans to continue today.

The local Muslims explained that the mosque was originally built by village landlords, with the pond serving as a source of water for worshippers’ ablutions. They admitted the recent construction, which included pillars and a lintel, was an attempt to repair deteriorating walls affected by water exposure.

Exposing Salman Azhari to highlighting illegal dargah at Ranjitsagar: OpIndia’s ground reports from Gujarat in 2024 that made an impact

Editorial Desk
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Exposing Salman Azhari to highlighting illegal dargah at Ranjitsagar: OpIndia’s ground reports from Gujarat in 2024 that made an impact

Year 2024 has come to an end and we enter year 2025. While the year may change, commitment of OpIndia to bring forward the truth and highlight important issues won’t change. To shine a light on the important issues in Indian society, truth that is hidden, covered and ignored at the ground level, that is what OpIndia does, and will continue to do.

Like every year, in the year 2024 OpIndia published several reports and brought the reality to its viewers through its ground reports. The impact of our team’s ground reports has also been tremendous and people have also loved them abundantly.

Today in this special report, we will take a look at some of the ground reports from the year 2024 that were ignored by the mainstream media. OpIndia did many ground reports during the year, but here we will discuss some of the reports that had a positive impact.

OpIndia Impact: Action against Mufti Salman Azhari for calling Hindus ‘dogs’

On 31st January 2024, a program of the Muslim community was organized in the grounds of Narsingh Vidya Mandir near Junagadh Court, in which Mufti Salman Azhari gave an inflammatory and provocative speech. The video of which went viral on social media. Even after the video of the speech went viral, the media did not even raise a single question on Azhari’s inflammatory speech. However, on 1st February, OpIndia published an exclusive report and also spoke to the police about the follow up action. Following OpIndia’s exclusive report, on 2nd February, Junagadh Police registered an FIR against Azhari and the two organizers of the program.

After the FIR, Gujarat ATS reached Mumbai and brought Azhari to Gujarat. After this, several cases were registered against him in Gujarat regarding the speeches he gave at various places. However, the Supreme Court finally granted him bail. This entire process happened only after an exclusive report by OpIndia.

It should be noted that in the viral video, Salman Azhari was heard saying, “Abhi toh Karbala ka aakhiri maidan baki hai… kuch der ki khamoshi hai, phir shoor aayega… aaj kutton ka wakt hai, kal hamara daur aayega.”

OpIndia Impact: Bulldozer action against illegal shrine near Ranjitsagar Dam in Jamnagar

On May 12, 2024, OpIndia reported in a detailed exclusive report that an illegal Dargah has been constructed near the famous Ranjitsagar Dam in Jamnagar. Written orders were also given in 2022 to remove this illegal encroachment, but despite this, the illegal structure stayed there. Local Hindu activists, in a conversation with OpIndia, said that the action was being delayed due to the system not paying attention.

However, OpIndia contacted the District Collector, Mamlatdar and others, who assured that the matter would be taken up afresh and whatever was required would be done. After OpIndia’s report, action was finally taken in this matter on June 19, 2024 and the dargah near Ranjitsagar Dam was razed to the ground. This information was given by the Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghvi himself.

OpIndia Impact: Resolution passed to declare Girnar a ‘veg zone’

Before Shivratri, a video of non-veg at Datta Chowk in Bhavnath Taleti, Girnar, went viral. The major Hindu festival was approaching and after such a video surfaced, there was anger among the saints. At that time, OpIndia followed the issue on the ground and became the voice of the saints of Bhavnath. Mahadev Bharati Bhapu, the mahant of Bharati Ashram, which holds an important place among many ashrams in Taleti, expressed the feelings of all the saints through OpIndia and demanded that Bhavnath Taleti be declared a ‘Veg Zone’.

After the ground report of OpIndia, action was taken to pass a resolution to declare Bhavnath Taleti as a veg zone. After which the resolution was passed in the Standing Committee of the Municipal Corporation. However, such a resolution was tabled once before, but for some reason it could not be passed. In such a situation, after the incident, due to the impact of the report given by OpIndia, the resolution was once again passed in the Standing Committee and action was also taken. It is worth noting that this entire incident is of March 2024.

Private institution suspends teacher but Islamist portal calls him ‘government employee’

The portal ‘Jamawat’, which has often been in controversy for spreading fake news, published a report on April 1, 2024, claiming that a teacher who questioned Bharuch MP Mansukh Vasava about the water problem has been suspended from his job. The report described the person as a ‘government official’ and attempted to blame the government.

A young man from Mathasar village of Dediapada, Bharji Vasava, made a video saying that there was no drinking water in the village and posted it on social media. After this video went viral, local MP and BJP candidate in the Lok Sabha elections, Mansukh Vasava, reached the village. Meanwhile, another video of a conversation between him and this young man also surfaced. This video also went viral.

After investigating the matter in depth, OpIndia reached out to Dr. K.R. Shroff Foundation. The organization’s zonal head Govindbhai discussed the matter with us and provided detailed information and clarified the situation. He clearly stated that they are a private organization and action has been taken against any person who goes against their rules, and that neither the government nor the education department has any say in the matter.

OpIndia’s series of on-the-ground reports during the action against left-wing ‘journalist’ Mahesh Langa

In October 2024, Mahesh Langa, a leftist ‘journalist’ of ‘The Hindu’ organisation, was arrested in the GST scam. OpIndia kept a close eye on all the proceedings from the arrest onward and informed the readers about Langa’s activities. The first FIR was registered against him in the GST scam case. After which, a second FIR was also registered against Langa on charges of passing sensitive information to opposition parties and industry groups. OpIndia also published several reports with all the information in this matter.

After which, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch also registered a third FIR against Mahesh Langa on October 29, 2024. He was accused of extorting ₹28 lakh from a businessman and threatening him by claiming that he had political influence. This crime was registered after a complaint from a businessman running an advertising company in Ahmedabad. OpIndia obtained a copy of the FIR and contacted the Ahmedabad Crime Branch and the complainant and also published a ground report. In which detailed information was given about the allegations made against Mahesh Langa.

Kanhaiyalal-like case in Bhavnagar, attack on Hindu tailor by Sahil-Shaukat

An attack on a Hindu man was reported in Kumbharwada, Bhavnagar. The victim was associated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other Hindu organizations, while the accused were identified as Sahil, Shaukat and Munna. The victim said that he was attacked over a fight over playing Hanuman Chalisa. Rajendrabhai Chauhan, a tailor living in Kumbharwada, had also filed an FIR regarding the incident at the Bortala police station.

The entire incident took place on February 1, 2024. In the complaint, he said that on February 1, around 7 pm, while he was working at his shop, Sahil Padarshi and Shaukat Mankad, who lived next door, arrived there and Sahil had an iron pipe in his hand. Upon arriving at the shop, Sahil asked, “Why have you filed a complaint against my grandfather Bilalbhai?” He then threw an iron pipe at Chauhan, hitting him in the head above his right ear, causing him to bleed.

OpIndia contacted the victim, Rajendrabhai, to get more information about the matter. He said that the attack was carried out on the pretext of a fight over playing Hanuman Chalisa. He told us, “I keep playing Hanuman Chalisa in my shop, over which we had a fight with the accused 6-7 months ago. Once, when Hanuman Chalisa was playing, he came and turned off the tape himself.”

Public murder of a Hindu man in Prantij and OpIndia’s ground report

On February 14, 2024, a Muslim mob attacked a Hindu family in Prantij, Sabarkantha district and killed a person. In this fight over a money transaction, the mob entered the Hindu area and created a ruckus. The person who intervened was dragged away by the mob and killed. The police registered an FIR against a total of 17 people in this case. After this incident, OpIndia reached out to the victim’s family and tried to get detailed information about the entire incident.

Subhashbhai, the younger brother of the deceased Rajubhai Bhoi, spoke to OpIndia. While talking about the incident, he said, “Our brother had nothing to do with the incident. The man who lives next door to us had a fight with some people from the local Muslim community over financial transactions. They had a fight a week ago too. After that, on February 14 too, they had a fight in the market and the accused beat up our neighbor. After that, they also came home and created a ruckus.

Regarding the murder of his brother, Subhash further said, “When those people were beating up the neighbor, my elder brother only said, “What are you doing beating him?” As soon as my brother said this, the mob got agitated and rushed to kill my brother with swords, pipes and hockey sticks. There were 100-200 of them and they dragged my brother away. After taking him about 100 feet away from the house, they beat him indiscriminately. They strangled my brother and hit him with a pipe to death.” In addition, the family said that stones were also pelted on the family while they were going to collect the body.

Rafiq Memon attacks Hindu journalist, also uses casteist slurs

Rafiq Memon beating a Hindu youth with a stick after using caste-based words came to light from Naswadi, Chhota Udepur. The victim youth belonged to a Hindu tribal community and worked in a private news company and supported his family by doing farm labor as well. The youth said that Rafiq Memon, the head of Naswadi, had beaten him with a stick in public after using casteist slurs. The victim filed a case in this matter at the Naswadi police station, and the police registered a case in the matter.

According to the primary information of the incident, an acquaintance of the victim youth Alkesh Tadvi had a dispute with the accused Rafiq Memon over something. After the scuffle, the matter reached a settlement. During this, it was decided to settle the matter in writing between the two parties, and the victim youth Alkesh also signed the settlement agreement. After both parties reached a settlement, Alkesh and his acquaintance left with the settlement agreement. However, after leaving the place, Alkesh was reading the settlement agreement when accused Rafiq Memon beat him up.

Alkesh told OpIndia, “After snatching the settlement agreement, Rafiq used casteist slurs against me. He said, ‘Have you become a big journalist? You don’t know how to read or write and you drive around with a press ID card.’ He started beating me up. During this, some of my acquaintances came running and saved me from Rafiq.”

Alkesh told OpIndia that the accused Rafiq has several previous cases of atrocities registered against him.

In the Gujarat University hostel controversy, only OpIndia presented the truth with evidence

On March 17, 2024, several videos of Gujarat University went viral on social media and in mainstream media. All the videos were saying the same thing that local students attacked foreign Muslim students because the foreign students were offering Namaaz. However, no media outlet had reached the root cause behind this incident. Media outlets across the country had started blaming local students. The alleged fact checker Mohammad Zubair had also targeted local students regarding this incident. Only local students were being blamed from all sides. However, only OpIndia tried to get to the root of the incident and recorded the video.

In that video, it could be seen that some foreign students were offering prayers in public in a block in the Gujarat University Boys Hostel. Meanwhile, some other youths go there to find out the reason why prayers are being offered in public like this. The youths ask the security guard there why prayers are being offered in public like this. So the guard says that these people always pray here. The youths say that there are madrasas, mosques, etc for prayers. After that, a foreign Muslim student who was offering prayers gets up and slaps the Hindu youth several times and abuses him. And thus begins the brawl between two groups in the hostel. The Islamists had shared many videos. But not a single person shared the video of how this brawl started. Which was done only by OpIndia.

Thus, during the year 2024, OpIndia had done several ground reports. Out of which, we have discussed the main and important reports as above. The mainstream media did not shed light on a single such incident. Only OpIndia reached the ground level and found the truth and presented it to the society. Our reports were also helpful in further legal action in many places. Now, as 2025 begins, OpIndia will remain steadfast and unwavering on its commitment and in the same way, it will make efforts to bring the truth that has been buried in the corner firmly to the society.

Suchir Balaji death: Mother suspects murder, says documents he had would have shaken OpenAI, Microsoft

OpIndia Staff
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Suchir Balaji death: Mother suspects murder, says documents he had would have shaken OpenAI, Microsoft

On Tuesday, 31st December, the family of the deceased AI expert of Indian origin, Suchir Balaji expressed dissatisfaction over police investigation in the latter’s death case indicating that her son was killed and that he did not commit suicide. Balaji’s mother said that the police hurried the investigation by concluding that the deceased had committed suicide, however, the evidence, she said, proved otherwise.

In an exclusive interview with India Today, Balaji’s mother, Poornima said, “A lot of investment has gone into the AI industry. He was named as a witness by the NYT. Within a week, he was found dead. He had documents and some information that would have been very critical. It would have shaken the AI industry, especially OpenAI and Microsoft. If he had given his testimony, it would have had a very big impact.”

Suchir Balaji, a 26-year-old Indian-origin AI expert was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on November 26th. The police ruled the event as a suicide but reports suggest that before his death, Balaji had sounded an alarm on OpenAI’s allegedly illegal copyright practices in the development of ChatGPT. He had left OpenAI in August.

Poornima said that her son was not a whistleblower but just wanted to reveal the harmful effects of AI LLM (large language model) which could turn the AI industry upside down.

“He was not a whistleblower against OpenAI, all he was saying was that the AI LLM model is harmful. It doesn’t actually render the data as it is. This is not only about copyright violations but also about the harm to humanity because the data output is not as expected. A whistleblower is only when he is inside the company, but he had left OpenAI. Until he was there, he never raised his voice against the management,” she said.

Meanwhile, Poornima said that she had hired a private investigator to search for the cause of the death. She said that it does not match with the one stated by the police. Notably,

Elon Musk also took cognizance of the event and said that the case did not look like a suicide case.

Earlier, Poornima had stated that the police reached conclusions too quickly and that she had seen blood stains in the bathroom, signs of a fight. “How can there be no suicide note or further investigation?” she questioned.

The parents of Balaji have expressed disbelief that their son could take his own life. They have called for an FBI investigation into the death of Suchir Balaji to uncover the truth.

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