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When Muslim rioters broke Buddha and Mahaveer idols in Lucknow and Samajwadi Party govt did nothing

Shraddha Pandey
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When Muslim rioters broke Buddha and Mahaveer idols in Lucknow and Samajwadi Party govt did nothing

The Samajwadi Party has a history of Muslim appeasement. Be it Mulayam Singh Yadav’s transition into “Mulla-Mulayam” and ordering firing on unarmed Karsevaks in Ayodhya in 1990, making Muslim appeasement policies, and protecting Islamist rioters as seen in the 2013 Muzaffarnagar Riots, attempting to withdraw cases against Islamic terrorists Shamim and Waliullah Khan in the 2007 serial blasts or the recent show of support to Islamists in the Sambhal violence case, the Samajwadi Party has always positioned itself as a party of the Yadav family but for the Muslim community. In Islam, there is a concept of Ummah which essentially means Muslim brotherhood implying that Muslims across the world regardless of nationalities and race are “religious brothers”.

This simply means that a Bangladeshi Muslim would support an Indian Muslim or Pakistan Muslim or so on in their fight against non-Muslims by virtue of being ‘Islamic brothers’. While a historical example of this is the Khilafat Movement of the 1920s by Indian Muslims in response to the removal of the Caliph (Khalifa) Turkey, a contemporary instance of  Islamic brotherhood can be the Muslims across the world beyond their national or racial identities extending support to Palestinian terror outfit Hamas, which claims that Israel is Waqf property, in its was against the Jewish nation. Even in India, several Muslims expressed solidarity with their Palestinian Ummatis in the forms of protest marches, social media outrage and so on.

Buddhist-Rohingya Muslim conflict in Myanmar and its aftermath in India

While the Khilafat Movement despite a deliberate downplaying of the Islamic religious motives and giving it a ‘nationalistic’ and ‘secular’ outlook, is a widely known and discussed incident wherein Indian Muslims showed their allegiance to the ‘Ummah’, OpIndia has brought to its readers an incident from the year 2012. It was in a Samajwadi Party-ruled Uttar Pradesh when Muslims in Lucknow broke the idols of Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira to avenge the retaliatory violence and arson by Rakhine Buddhists in Myanmar against Rohingya Muslims after a Buddhist girl was raped and murdered by three Rohingya Muslims. The communal violence in Myanmar had a ripple effect in India, and the Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam killed four boys belonging to the Bodo community. In no time, a full-fledged riot erupted in Kokrajhar and neighbouring districts leaving over 80 people dead and numerous injured.

Azad Maidan Riots

After this, two major incidents of Islamist violence happened in the country, one was the infamous Azad Maidan Riots wherein Islamists led by Raza Academy who gathered to protest against the alleged atrocities on Muslims in Assam and Myanmar, desecrated the Amar Jawan Jyoti memorial dedicated to the fighters of 1857 – the First Indian Freedom Struggle. The Islamists also clashed with the police leaving two dead and 63 injured. OpIndia earlier reported how the Mumbai Police in the then Congress-NCP alliance ruled Maharashtra waited till Eid to arrest the accused rioters so that they could celebrate their festival.  

When Islamists vandalised the statues of Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira to ‘protest’ against the alleged atrocities against Muslims in Myanmar and Assam

The other and lesser discussed incident was the breaking of the idols of Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira in Lucknow by Islamists. It was the ‘holy’ month of Ramzan when Muslim organisations called for a ‘protest’ saying that Muslims in Assam and Myanmar are being oppressed. The date was 17th August 2012, and on the last Friday or Jummah, the Muslim mob came out on the streets of Lucknow after offering the Alvida namaz at the disputed Teele Wali Masjid. The mob targeted Buddha Park in Lucknow, where they vandalised the statue of Lord Buddha in a meditative posture installed in the Buddha Park and of Lord Mahavira in the Bhagwan Mahavira Park (also called the Hathi Park). The mobsters also vandalised public property, including roadside shops and attacked the media persons who clicked the photos of the vandalism.  Later, the police dispersed the mob.

Images via ShrimadBhagvadGita/FB & @vjshg/X

Notably, the 9-foot-high padmasana idol of Lord Mahavira was installed on the 25th of April 2002. The Government of Uttar Pradesh had installed this idol on the occasion of the 2600th birth anniversary (Janma Kalyana – Jayanthi) of Lord Mahavira. The idol of Lord Mahavira had been brought in a procession by the members of the Jain community led by Acharya 108 Sri Viveksagarji Maharaj and other Jain ascetics.

The Muslim mob’s act in Lucknow was closely aligned with the ideology and actions of  Afganistan’s Taliban. Back in March 2001, the Taliban government demolished the Bamiyan Buddhas, two enormous statues carved into the cliffs of the Bamiyan Valley in the sixth century. Mullah Mohammed Omar, the Taliban leader, ordered the destruction, declaring the monuments blasphemous and against Islamic principles since idols and statues are considered haram by the Taliban as well who are Sunni Muslims of the Deobandi (Hanafi) sect.  

“Those statues were for entertainment purposes”: The Akhilesh Yadav-led SP government’s apathy towards Jains and Buddhists to avoid ‘upsetting’ Muslim votebank

The Islamic skullcap-wearing Muslims climbed up and broke the Buddha idol with spades and other objects. All this was happening in the capital of Uttar Pradesh. The Jain and Buddhist communities were outraged over the incident and questioned what was the fault of their deities or those statues. It is notable that neither in Assam nor in Myanmar, the Jain community was involved in the conflicts with Muslims. Evidently, the Islamists saw it as an opportunity to destroy the statues of the Kafirs.

When the Jain community approached the High Court demanding that the Samajwadi Party government take action against the Islamists who broke the statue of Lord Mahavira and install a new one at the same park, the bureaucrats under the Akhilesh Yadav government said that those statues of Lord Mahavira and Lord Buddha were installed in the parks for “amusement purpose” and that there were only ‘minor’ damages’ to the statues. The court, however, rebuked the the Lucknow DM Anurag Yadav and Principal Secretary (Home), RN Srivastava for downplaying the seriousness of the incident.  While the SP government claimed to have allotted Rs 24 lakh for the replacement of the damaged statues with new ones, nothing was done leading the court to summon the DM and Principal Secretary only for them to downplay the religiosity of the statue of the most revered figures of two Indic religions and mock their faith.

In 2017, the court once again asked the statement government about what action was taken against those Islamists who damaged the statues, however, the government did not provide any clear answer.

On 12th December 2024, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain shared the High Court order directing the Akhilesh Yadav-led government to install new statues of Lord Buddha and Lord Mahavira.  It was Jain’s father and lawyer Hari Shankar Jain who represented the petitioners Ranjana Agnihotri, Sandhya Dubey and Usha Tiwari. Then in power, the Samajwadi Party government trivialised the blatant display of Islamist hatred for Buddhists and Jains, and now when HS Jain’s son is representing the Hindu side in the Sambhal Jama Masjid-Harihari Temple dispute, the Samajwadi Party is supporting the Muslim side and its MP is accused of instigating violence.

From Lucknow to Sambhal, Ayodhya, Kashi to Mathura, Hindus and other non-Muslim communities have for some or the other reason been targeted by the Islamists. In Lucknow, the Islamist mob hooliganism was a “show of solidarity” with the Ummah in Myanmar and Assam, in the cases of Sambhal Jama Masjid-Harihari Temple, Gyanvapi-Kashi Vishwanath Temple, or the Shahi Idgah-Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi,  it is the obstinacy of Islamists to let the Hindu community reclaim its cultural and religious heritage and Muslim appeasing political parties facilitate their obstinacy by shielding them and projecting them as victims for electoral gains while trivialising the attack on religious symbols of Hindus, Jains and Buddhists.

Places of Worship Act: Supreme Court stays registration of new suits and bars courts from passing orders in pending cases- What the court said

OpIndia Staff
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Places of Worship Act: Supreme Court stays registration of new suits and bars courts from passing orders in pending cases- What the court said

The Supreme Court of India on Thursday started hearing a bunch of petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. A special bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice KV Viswanathan heard six petitions listed before the court, including separate petitions filed by BJP leaders Ashwini Upadhyay and Subramanian Swamy.

The court issued a significant order during the hearing and ruled that no further petitions will be registered against the Places of Worship Act while the matter is being heard by the court. The court said that while new petitions can be filed, they will not be registered.

The court said, “As the matter is sub-judice before this court we deem it fit to direct that no fresh suits shall be registered or proceedings be ordered. In the pending suits, courts would not pass any effective order or final orders. When a matter is pending before us, is it just and fair for any other court to examine it. We are on vires as well as ambit of the act.”

The court noted that Places of Worship Act expressly prohibits such suits against the Act, therefore the suits cannot proceed until the validity of the law itself is decided. The Supreme Court had confirmed this in the Ayodhya verdict too.

While the court stopped registering new petitions, it allowed a counter-petition filed by Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind to be listed today. The Jamiat is seeking strict implementation of the Places of Worship Act.

The apex court also directed the lower courts to not pass any interim or final orders in the existing petitions regarding the act, including ordering any survey of religious places. The court stated, “As the matter is sub-judice before this Court, we deem it appropriate to direct that while suits may be filed, no suits would be registered and proceedings undertaken till further orders of this Court. We also direct that in the pending suits, the Courts would not pass any effective interim orders or final orders, including orders of survey till the next date of hearing.”

This means that in the existing suits like Gyanvapi mosque, Mathura Shahi Idgah, Sambhal Jama Masjid etc, the courts can’t issue order, and can’t order any new survey.

However, the bench clarified that while the courts can’t issue interim or final orders, the proceedings in the existing cases will continue, and rejected the Muslim sides plea to stay those proceedings too.

The Court also asked the Union Government to file its counter-affidavit and uploaded the same on internet so that all the petitioners can access it.

During the hearing, the court was told that at present there 18 petitions pending against 10 Islamic structures.

The court is hearing several petitions filed against the Act, with the petition filed by Ashwini Upadhyaya in 2020 being the lead petition. On the other hand, several petitions intervention applications have been filed by various political parties like CPI(M), Indian Union Muslim League, DMK and RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha, NCP (Sharad Pawar) MP Jitendra Awhad etc, seeking to keep the act.

The bench appointed Advocates Kanu Agarwal, Vishnu Shankar Jain and Ejaz Maqbool as nodal counsel to prepare compilations on behalf of the central govt, the petitioners and the parties supporting the Act respectively.

Jhansi: Muslim mob surrounds NIA convoy to oppose arrest of Mufti Khalid Ansari Nadvi after announcement from mosque, additional police force called to pacify situation

OpIndia Staff
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Jhansi: Muslim mob surrounds NIA convoy to oppose arrest of Mufti Khalid Ansari Nadvi after announcement from mosque, additional police force called to pacify situation

National Investigation Agency (NIA) along with the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) raided Mufti Khalid Ansari Nadvi’s house in Super Colony at 2.30 am on 12th December regarding a foreign funding and money laundering case in Jhansi district. He has also been investigated in a case involving the spread of terrorist propaganda and the radicalization of people connected to Jaish-e-Mohammed. However, when the authorities were taking him with them for further interrogation, a large number of Muslims in the area surround the NIA convoy with the intention to break Nadvi free from custody.

Jhansi Police informed later in the afternoon that though the mob tried to break Nadvi free, they weren’t successful and additional forces were called to handle the situation. They added that Nadvi was eventually taken into custody and is under probe.

It was reported earlier that the mob was successful in breaking Nadvi free. But Jhansi Police have clarified that it was not the case and the mob was dealt with. The accused was taken into custody as per law and is currently under custody.

Mufti Khalid Ansari Nadvi is the nephew of the city Qazi and as the news of his detention spread, his supporters started protesting. He was sent with an investigating team for questioning and after about eight hours when the authorities began to take him with them, a massive crowd was summoned through an announcement from the mosque. Hundreds of women and men surrounded the police and NIA vehicles and tried to forcibly remove Nadvi from there.

The crowd grew and the situation deteriorated. The NIA team tried to reason with the mob but the latter started to argue. A few of them even got enraged. The throng of at least 200 people had surrounded the NIA vehicles to rescue Nadvi. The incident took place at Saleem Bagh Ali Gol Khirki in the Kotwali police station area.

A team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Jhansi had raided super colony near Salim Bagh. The action has been taken in connection with cases related to foreign funding and dubious activities. Mufti Khalid Ansari Nadvi’s house was also searched. He delivers virtual lessons to children and people from India and abroad join his online classes. According to sources, the agency had received information about his foreign contacts and that he received financing from outside the country through these activities.

“Around 2:30-3 in the night, people from NIA Delhi knocked on my door. I did not open out of fear because I was alone and it was late in the night. They checked the entire house thoroughly and they did not find anything. They took whichever books they found suspicious. They took documents like Passport, an old VISA to Saudi Arabia. They checked my phone and enquired about my WhatsApp contacts and groups. They asked about Muhammad Ilyas Ghuman. I run an online Islamic coaching centre where I teach Indian and NRI students. They checked my bank statements as well,” Nadvi informed while talking to media.

He added, “I have been doing online for 11 years. My fee ranges from 50 rupees to 1500 rupees. The team asked me about foreign funding. They inquired ‘Did you transfer money abroad’ to which I responsed with not at all. They were saying that they would take me to the police line and interrogate me.”

City Qazi Mufti Sabir Ansari stated that Nadvi was his nephew. He added, “He religiously teaches Urdu and Quran to children all over the world. NIA’s team arrived at 3 am. They interrogated him but recovered nothing. Afterwards, they informed that he will be taken to police line for further questioning. The people then demanded that he should be questioned here when he did not do anything. They asked why did they need to take him? He has been an online teacher for 10-12 years. We want justice and things to be improved. NIA people have not told anything, except he teaches in an institution and then took computer and other study materials from home.”

The locals alleged harassment of Nadvi for no reason and clashed with the authorities for a long time during the incident. On the other hand, the NIA team confiscated several important documents and electronic devices from his house, which will be sent to Delhi for investigation. The local administration and the police are also cooperating in this case.

Note: An earlier version of this report mentioned that Nadvi was rescued from NIA custody by the mob. However, Jhansi Police have clarified that it was not the case and the accused was taken into custody and the mob was handled peacefully with the help of additional police personnel.

Mass suicide in Jodhpur: Mother and her two sons end their lives by consuming poison; accuse daughter-in-law of torture in suicide note

OpIndia Staff
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Mass suicide in Jodhpur: Mother and her two sons end their lives by consuming poison; accuse daughter-in-law of torture in suicide note

A 55-year-old widow and her two sons reportedly committed suicide on 10th December (Tuesday) in Jodhpur. The incident took place in Birami village near Osian in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan. According to the police, the unfortunate tragedy was caused by family strife. Four people were named in a suicide letter that her elder son posted on social media, accusing them of harassing and defaming them. Bhanwari Devi and her two sons, 27-year-old Navratan and 24-year-old Pradeep, have been identified as the deceased.

Navratan got married only four months ago. The suicide note mentioned about torture perpetrated by the daughter-in-law along with names of three others. Navratan’s wife was at home at the time of the incident. On Tuesday afternoon, Navratan’s cousin visited them and found the three bodies. He rushed them to local hospital, where they were pronounced brought dead.

Image via NDTV Rajasthan

Authorities arrived at the scene after receiving word from the locals and took the bodies to the mortuary. Station House Officer (SHO) Osian, Rajesh Kumar informed that police learned of the joint suicide at approximately 11 am on Tuesday. The victims had froth around their mouths when they were found in their home. He disclosed, “They purchased packets of some poison from the market and consumed it by dissolving it in water. The substance they consumed will be recognised only after the post-mortem, which will be conducted by a medical board on Wednesday (11th December).”

Navratan had sent a message to his family members blaming four people for mental harassment and torture. Screenshots of the same have been making the rounds on social media following the deaths. “They harassed us and made false accusations. Lal Singh, Hukam Singh, Shravan Singh and their daughter Neetu Singh from Mandla should be punished for our deaths. They mentally tortured us. Sir, ensure that this entire family is brought to justice,” it read.

Image via NDTV Rajasthan

The trouble apparently started soon after the son’s marriage. Superintendent of Police Rural Jodhpur Rammurthy Joshi conveyed, “The bodies of the mother and two sons have been discovered along with a suicide note. The cause of death is being investigated. It appears to be a suicide. Postmortem has not been carried out yet. The reason behind the suicide will be clear after probe. The police is investigating the case in depth. The cause of the death will be known through the post-mortem report and further inquiry.”

The police mentioned, “The reason for this alleged persecution of the family and their connections with the deceased is yet to be verified and ascertained.” Sub-Inspector Sultan Singh stated that the matter seems to be of family dispute and mental harassment. He added that further action would be taken as per the investigation.

The deceased woman’s husband once owned a snacks factory in Bathinda, Punjab, but it was destroyed in a fire, according to the preliminary police inquiry. Her husband passed away in a fire accident in 2012, per other reports. The family then went back to their village. The two brothers worked in finance. The family has not filed a First Information Report (FIR) yet.

Maharashtra: Violence in Parbhani after Constitution’s replica vandalized, 50 including ‘lunatic’ accused arrested; Prakash Ambedkar makes castiest comments

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: Violence in Parbhani after Constitution’s replica vandalized, 50 including ‘lunatic’ accused arrested; Prakash Ambedkar makes castiest comments

Massive tensions erupted in the Parbhani district of Maharashtra on Wednesday, 11th December after a cement replica of the Indian Constitution created near the BR Ambedkar statue in the region was vandalized by one Sopan Pawar, a resident of Murtizapur village in the Parbhani tehsil. The accused who has now been arrested is a claimed lunatic, as informed by the police. After the event of vandalization, the supporters of BR Ambedkar organized protests and demanded a lockdown claiming that the Constitution had been insulted by a Maratha.

Immediately after this, people during the protests began pelting stones at each other giving the gathering a violent turn. Several shops and vehicles in the said region are also believed to have been damaged and vandalized in due course.

As per the police, more than 40 individuals have been arrested for creating and escalating violence in the district. SIG Nanded, Shahaji Umap confirmed the incident and said that several shops, CCTV cameras, and hoardings of the shops were destroyed by the miscreants. He said that some of the police officers were also attacked by the miscreants who pelted stones at the police vehicle. Following this, he said that the police had to resort to a lathi charge to control the situation.

“We have detained about fifty people. The process of registering cases against them has started. The accused of this incident has also been arrested, and a case has been registered against him. He is currently undergoing treatment as the mob has beaten him–he is a lunatic and undergoing treatment; his mental condition is not good. We have also found the documents during the investigation. So I appeal to everyone to maintain peace without giving much importance to this incident, he added.

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi Chief Prakash Ambedkar took cognizance of the event and condemned the violence. He meanwhile attempted to give the castiest angle to the incident. “The vandalization of the Constitution of India at Babasaheb’s statue by casteist Maratha miscreants in Parbhani is absolutely very shameful, to say the least. It is not the first time such a vandalism of Babasaheb’s statue or symbol of Dalit identity has happened. VBA Parbhani District karyakartas were the first to be on the scene and their protests led to the police filing an FIR and arresting one of the miscreants. I request everyone to maintain law and order. If all the miscreants are not arrested within the next 24 hours, consequences will follow,” he said.

Meanwhile, the BJP has blamed the Opposition for orchestrating the violence by giving the incident a communal touch. BJP leader Amar Sable said, “This country will run on the Constitution. PM Modi, Amit Shah, and CM Devendra Fadnavis have that goal too. But the opposition, MVA, has set up a narrative against the Constitution, which is why there is unrest in Parbhani now. There has been a mockery of the Constitution, the narrative set by the opposition is one of the reasons for this unrest.”

“The second reason is that whenever Devendra Fadnavis takes oath as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, unrest between communities is promoted [by the Opposition]. We have seen this before too. There is going to be a big event in Bhima Koregaon; this is why unrest is being fuelled by the Opposition. But the people of Maharashtra will reply befittingly,” he said.

It is important to note that initially only one person who had vandalized the replica of the Indian constitution was arrested on Wednesday. However, massive violence broke out hours after the incident resulting in 40-50 arrests. The miscreants pelted stones even at the police vehicles and damaged several public properties. Following this, prohibitory orders were issued in the region and the internet was also shut down.

The supporters of BR Ambedkar, on the other hand, are accusing the police of allegedly covering up the matter by declaring the accused a mental patient. “It’s the job of doctors to check these things and certify them. Why are the police giving this certificate? People were angry with this approach to cover up the matter. Some of them used this unrest to spread violence. We have appealed to people to restore peace in the city,” said Vijay Wakode, vice president of Republican Sena led by Anandraj Ambedkar.

“As our activists caught him and took him to the police station, we think he is not mentally unstable. Someone has sent him to spread the unrest. The police should find out who it is through a narco-analysis test. We also demanded to take him in police custody for interrogation as he has been sent to a civil hospital,” he added.

Meanwhile, Parbhani District Magistrate Raghunath Khandu Gawade has also urged people to maintain peace. “Prima facie, the accused was drunk and also appeared mentally unstable, but doctors in the civil hospital are conducting medical tests. Today, we have issued prohibitory orders and also held a meeting with all organizations to restore peace. Some organizations have demanded conducting a Narco analysis test. Whether it was a conspiracy or not is a part of the investigation,” he said.

Actress Sai Pallavi refutes reports that she has adopted vegetarian diet for her role as Sita in movie ‘Ramayana’, calls them baseless rumours, fabricated lies

ANI
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Actress Sai Pallavi refutes reports that she has adopted vegetarian diet for her role as Sita in movie ‘Ramayana’, calls them baseless rumours, fabricated lies

Bollywood actress Sai Pallavi has firmly dismissed recent rumours claiming she adopted a vegetarian diet for her role as Sita in the much-anticipated film ‘Ramayana’, directed by Nitesh Tiwari.

The reports, which surfaced on various media outlets, suggested that Pallavi had committed to a strict vegetarian lifestyle until the completion of the film’s shooting, even bringing along her personal chef while traveling abroad to ensure her meals were exclusively vegetarian.

Pallavi took to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday to address these fabricated claims, issuing a strong statement against the false reports.

“Most of the time, almost every time, I choose to stay silent when I see baseless rumors, fabricated lies, and incorrect statements being spread–whether with or without motives (God knows). But it’s high time I react as it keeps happening consistently and doesn’t seem to cease, especially around the time of my films’ releases, announcements, or cherishable moments of my career!” she wrote in the post.

The actress went on to express her frustration with the media reports, stating that any further circulation of such misleading stories would not go unchallenged. “Next time I see any ‘reputed’ page or media/individual carrying a cooked-up story in the name of news or gossip, you will hear from me legally! Period!” she added.

The film ‘Ramayana’, an ambitious two-part adaptation of the ancient Indian epic, has already garnered significant attention due to its star-studded cast and high-profile production team.

Ranbir Kapoor has been confirmed to play the role of Lord Ram, while Pallavi is reportedly set to star as Sita. Yash is also reportedly cast as Ravana, promising a thrilling portrayal of one of the most famous mythological figures.

The film is being produced by Namit Malhotra, who has previously worked on Hollywood blockbusters such as ‘Dune’ and ‘Inception’.

Malhotra shared his excitement about the project on X, reflecting on his long-standing dream of bringing the epic to life on the big screen.

“More than a decade ago, I embarked on a noble quest to bring this epic that has ruled billions of hearts for over 5000 years to the big screen. And today, I am thrilled to see it taking shape beautifully as our teams work tirelessly with only one purpose: to present the most authentic, sacred, and visually stunning adaptation of our history, our truth, and our culture,” he wrote.

The film will be released in two parts, with the first installment slated for Diwali 2026, and the second set for Diwali 2027.

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

Bangladeshi students in AMU found posting anti-India remarks, vulgar comments against women on social media, probe launched

OpIndia Staff
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Bangladeshi students in AMU found posting anti-India remarks, vulgar comments against women on social media, probe launched

Three Bangladeshi students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) are facing allegations of sharing anti-India remarks on social media and making obscene comments against India, temples and women in Bengali. Afterwards, other students of the university have complained about the matter to the AMU administration and proctor and asked to suspend the accused, cancel their visa and send them back to Bangladesh. They made anti-Hindu and anti-India remarks against the country and its people. They have been identified as Shamyul, Rifat Rehman and Mahmood Hasan Arafat.

The screenshots have also been shared with the university administration. AMU has started an investigation into the matter and notices have been given to the accused students. Akhil Kaushal, a post-graduation student of AMU and some other students have written an official complaint letter to the proctor. He stated that 3 Bangladeshi students studying at AMU made anti-India and anti-Hindu posts on social media while two students have also made vulgar comments on Indian women.

The above-mentioned students reportedly demanded a ban on ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) temples and referred to the group as a militant organization. After receiving the complaint, the proctor team immediately started a comprehensive probe. On the other hand, Hindu students are demanding strict action against the accused.

AMU Deputy Proctor Nawaz Ali Zaidi stated that an inquiry had been initiated against the students. Shamyul has returned to his country after his BA degree. Mahmood Hasan Arafat got accepted to BA LLB program, but he did not take admission. According to current information, he is in Bangladesh while the third student Rifat Rahman is at present studying in BA third year at AMU. A notice has been issued to him and a reply has been sought.

Zaidi added that information about the three students has also been sent to the admission center of AMU in Bangladesh. More details are being collected from there. Further departmental action will be taken after completion of this investigation and on the basis of the facts that come to light. He warned that action will be taken against any attempt to spoil the atmosphere in the university in any way.

He mentioned that social media should be a responsible platform and such activities will not be tolerated. The varsity administration clarified that strict action will be taken against activities that tarnish the image of the university and the country. Meanwhile, the protesting student leader declared that the offenders would be thrown out of the institution if they were not penalized. Additionally, a demand for keeping an eye on foreign students was raised along with monitoring their social media and ensuring that anti-India posts are not made by them.

The complainants unveiled that the Bangladeshi students made a controversial comment about eating cow dung in Uttar Pradesh. They highlighted that such people can be detrimental to India-Bangladesh relations too.

The university administration has assured that the issue will be investigated seriously and strict action will be taken against any student who is found guilty. Currently, 36 students from Bangladesh are studying in AMU.

Odisha: Man out on bail in minor’s rape case murders the victim to try and avoid conviction, cuts her dead body into pieces, arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Odisha: Man out on bail in minor’s rape case murders the victim to try and avoid conviction, cuts her dead body into pieces, arrested

On Wednesday, 11th December, the Odisha Police in Sundargarh district arrested an individual identified as Kunu Kishan for murdering a girl on 7th December. The accused was already on bail in the minor victim’s rape case. He is believed to have killed the girl to try and avoid getting convicted in the case. Following which, he cut her murdered body into various pieces and threw them around various parts of the district.

As per the initial reports, the accused had been jailed in August 2023 for raping the same victim girl (now deceased) when she was a minor. As per the police, during his months in jail, he planned to take revenge against the girl and execute the crime after being released on bail on 7th December.

The incident came to the fore after the girl went missing from her home on 7th December. The girl’s family then filed a police complaint prompting the Dharuadihi police station to launch an investigation.

As per Jharsuguda Superintendent of Police Parmar Smit Parshottamdas, the police used Artificial intelligence to track the accused person and one of his associates who helped him murder the girl. The police checked the CCTV footage as a part of the investigation and saw the girl last being taken on a motorcycle by two men. The police then traced the accused and his associate who took the girl to National Highway 143, where they murdered her before chopping her body into several pieces.

The accused persons, when riding the motorcycle, were wearing helmets making it difficult for the police to identify them. However, the police used AI-backed CCTV footage to trace the accused and the victim. The police, as per the Indian Express report, fed their Smart City CCTV system with the victim’s image which narrowed down her image search to specific locations. The system also then helped peruse police records to narrow down a list of suspects, helping the police zero in on Kishan.

Later the police found the last location of the victim girl and traced her remains on the highway. The accused was recently released on bail on 4th December. He is believed to have murdered the victim out of fear of conviction in the earlier rape case in which the victim was a minor. As per the police, the next hearing of the minor rape case in which the accused was arrested in August 2023 was due on 15th December.

It is said that the accused, after being released on bail, had asked the girl and her family to issue a statement in his favor so that he could be saved from conviction. However, the girl refused. Following this, he decided to take revenge against the girl. He notably was already enraged by the girl and her family for sending him to jail. He also had planned revenge against the girl when he was inside the jail.

“The deceased filed a rape case against the accused person in Dharuadihi police station in Sundargarh district under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO). He was arrested on August 27, 2023, and was released on bail on December 4, 2023. The accused believed that he would be convicted if the deceased gave a statement in court and hatched the plan to kill her,” Jharsuguda Superintendent of Police Parmar Smit Parshottamdas confirmed.

Lawyer Vrinda Grover to stop representing RG Kar Medical College rape and murder victim’s family, withdraws from all courts

OpIndia Staff
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Lawyer Vrinda Grover to stop representing RG Kar Medical College rape and murder victim’s family, withdraws from all courts

“Certain intervening factors and circumstances” have led advocate Vrinda Grover who was representing the family of the RG Kar rape and murder victim, to withdraw from the case in the Supreme Court, the Calcutta High Court, and the Sealdah trial court. Reports say that Advocate Grover decided to withdraw from this case due to ‘differences of opinion between the victim’s family and the legal team’.

According to a statement from the Chambers of Vrinda Grover, the legal team has provided pro bono representation to the victim’s family since September 2024. Grover’s legal team includes advocates Soutik Banerjee and Arjun Gooptu, who defended the family in several courts, including daily appearances in Sealdah Sessions Court from 4th November.

“At this stage, on account of certain intervening factors and circumstances, the chamber of Advocate Vrinda Grover is constrained to withdraw from the case proceedings in this matter and will no longer be representing the victim family. The concerned trial court has also been informed accordingly and the counsels stand discharged from the trial. During this period, the evidence of 43 prosecution witnesses has been recorded, and bail for other accused persons consistently and successfully opposed. The remaining prosecution evidence is due to be completed in the next 2-3 days,” the statement read.  

“As lawyers and officers of the court, Advocate Vrinda Grover and her legal associates render legal services only in accordance with law, evidence and professional ethics. At this stage, on account of certain intervening factors and circumstances, the chamber of Advocate Vrinda Grover is constrained to withdraw from the case proceedings in this matter and will no longer be representing the victim’s family,” it continues.

BJP questions celebrity lawyer’s proximity to Mamata Banerjee

Calling it a “not surprising development”, BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya said, “Senior advocate Vrinda Grover has withdrawn from representing the family of the victim in the RG Kar rape and murder case, ending her pro bono legal assistance across multiple courts after significant progress in the trial. She shouldn’t have involved herself in the matter, given her proximity to Mamata Banerjee and the TMC leadership, one of the main protagonists in the matter. It is not a surprising development…”

Notably, Vrinda Grover’s withdrawal from the case comes at a time when on Tuesday, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informed the Supreme Court that their trial in the case will conclude within a month.

Earlier on October 22, junior doctors protesting over the case ended their hunger strike after a two-hour meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the state secretariat, Nabanna. The tragedy unfolded on August 9, when a PG medical student was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The incident ignited protests across West Bengal, with doctors nationwide expressing solidarity with the junior doctors in Kolkata.

Bangladesh: Muslim group declares all restaurants must serve beef or shut down because beef eating is ‘Islamic duty’ and non-beef eateries are agents of Hindutva

OpIndia Staff
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Bangladesh: Muslim group declares all restaurants must serve beef or shut down because beef eating is ‘Islamic duty’ and non-beef eateries are agents of Hindutva

In Dhaka, Bangladesh, an organisation named Muslim Consumer Rights Council held a rally in Bangshal area seeking a boycott of restaurants that do not serve beef. The protestors said that beef dishes should be mandatory in the menu of all restaurants and the restaurants that fail to comply should be shut down.

They indicated that the restaurants that do not serve beef are against Islamic ideologies.

Dhaka Tribune quoted Muhammad Arif Al Khabir, the convener of the council, saying that beef is a symbol of Islamic identity and Western nations that do not have halal food in their restaurants are displaying a double standard.

Dhaka Tribune reported that the protestors had gathered in front of Hotel Al Razzaque in Old Dhaka’s Bangshal area, chanting slogans such as, “No-beef restaurants are agents of India and Hindutva. Boycott such establishments” and “Cow dung or beef? Beef! Beef!”

Muhammad Arif Al Khabir argued that eating camel meat is not obligatory, but it became a duty for Muslims to eat camel because they had to establish their allegiance to Islam over Jewish dietary rules. In a similar way, eating beef is not mandatory but it is necessary for Muslims to show their allegiance to Islam over Hindu beliefs.

He quoted verse 208 from Surah Al-Baqarah of the Quran, explaining, “Although eating camel meat is not obligatory, it became essential for a Muslim due to its connection to Jewish dietary laws. Similarly, in the context of Hindu beliefs, consuming beef becomes a declaration of faith for Muslims.”

Arif Al Khabir also stated that Western nations should also include Halal foods in their restaurants because they want to alienate Muslims. Jews and Christians in Western nations do not have Halal food in their restaurants, because they do not want to accomodate Muslims. Muslims have no other options but to open their separate Halal eateries.

Arif Al Khabir added that all restaurants should declare their support for Muslims by adding at least one beef dish in their menu. If they are not doing so, they must be agents of India and Hindutva. They should face a nationwide boycott, he added.

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