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Stone pelting on trains, ambulances and more: How Friday prayers at mosques turned into violent mobs protesting CAB in Bengal

OpIndia Staff
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Stone pelting on trains, ambulances and more: How Friday prayers at mosques turned into violent mobs protesting CAB in Bengal

Following the passing of historic Citizenship Amendment Act (CAB), many members belonging to various Muslim organisations have held protests that soon turned into violence, especially in West Bengal.

Reportedly, protests against the CAB were planned soon after Friday prayers across mosques in the State and other various parts of the country which has resulted in extreme violence in parts of West Bengal.

According to reports, a railway station complex in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district was set on fire on Friday evening by thousands of people, especially belonging to the Muslim community, as they protested against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The protesters also thrashed personnel of the Railway Police Force that was at the Beldanga railway station complex.


According to a report by Indrojit Kundu, the Associate Editor of India Today, mobs pelted stones on ambulances and vandalised the Beldanga railway station, which included flinging burning tires on the railway tracks.


The Muslim mob also torched several vehicles and pelted stones at an ambulance. A cop was injured in the violent protests.


On Friday, the protestors also went on a rampage in West Bengal’s Howrah district. They resorted to extreme violence by blocking tracks at the Uluberia railway station.

They vandalised the complex and some trains by resorting to stone pelting, injuring a driver, officials said. The violence affected train services in Sealdah division of the Eastern Railway.


The mob under the guise of anti-CAB protesters also pelted stones at running trains. Multiple long-distance and local trains in the Howrah section were stranded due to the violence.


In Kolkata, protesters also disrupted traffic for hours at Park Circus and also assembled in large numbers in the city to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Thousands of people from the Muslim community also blocked the National Highway 6 in the area.


In the East Midnapore district, BJP General Secretary Sayantan Basu’s car was attacked by protesters and the police had to rescue him.


The violent protests, especially by Muslim mobs are not just limited to West Bengal. Even the national capital Delhi was hit by anti-CAB stirs as students of Jamia Milia Islamia University resorted to violent protests against the exclusion of Muslim immigrants from the provisions of new Citizenship Act.


Stone-pelting, lathicharge, tear-gas shelling and barricade charging were reported from the scene of the agitation as the student protest turned violent. At least three Delhi policemen were injured and 50 students were detained.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was passed by Rajya Sabha on Wednesday and by Lok Sabha on Monday. On Thursday, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 became an act of law after President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the historic legislation.

The Citizenship Amendment act seeks to give Indian citizenship to the members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from three neighbouring Islamic countries – Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh after facing religious persecution.

BHU panel recommends removing the name of Rajiv Gandhi from its south campus, Congress threatens to protest

OpIndia Staff
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BHU panel recommends removing the name of Rajiv Gandhi from its south campus, Congress threatens to protest

The Banaras Hindu University just faced the ire of the “Liberals” when the students of Dharma Vigyan department protested against a Muslim professor teaching them about Dharma. It seems like BHU is all set to ruffle some feathers yet again with the BHU panel recommending that the name of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi be removed from the south campus of the university.

The BHU panel has contended that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi made no contribution to the educational institute, and this, his name should be removed.

The BHU court, which is an advisory body of the university, has sent its proposal to the the academic council, the university’s decision-making body.

Read: BHU: SVDV students finally vindicated, Dr Firoze Khan resigns, will join Arts faculty to teach Sanskrit

Chancellor Giridhar Malviya, a retired judge of the Allahabad High Court, chaired the meeting of the court held earlier this week.

He reportedly confirmed that Justice Malviya said, “The members of the court said that former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi never visited BHU. Former Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh had named the south campus of BHU after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.”

Read: BHU Dharma Vigyan students deserve an apology for being labelled as ‘bigots’

He also confirmed that the proposal has been sent to the academic council and has the assent of all the members of the court.

Congress has not taken kindly to the move. India Today reports that Congress leader Ajay Rai has asserted that his party would vehemently oppose any move to rename Banaras Hindu University (BHU)’s Rajiv Gandhi South campus in Mirzapur’s Barkachha.

Read: How the BHU students were demonised and the ones who refused to be ‘secularised’ unfairly called ‘bigots’

The Congress leader has said, “If any such effort is made, the Congress would take to streets and would not let the renaming take place”.

The campus is located in Mirzapur district is called ‘Rajiv Gandhi South Campus Barkachha’. It was established in 2006.

Creates caste divide, harasses upper caste students: Protest against The Print columnist Dilip Mandal erupt in Makhanlal University

OpIndia Staff
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Creates caste divide, harasses upper caste students: Protest against The Print columnist Dilip Mandal erupt in Makhanlal University

The students of Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh have initiated a protest against two journalists teaching in the University as guest faculty, namely, Dilip Mandal and Mukesh Kr, alleging that they create caste divide among students.

The students alleged that the two journalists inquire about the castes of students studying in the university on social media and during class hours and then misbehave and harass those students belonging to the upper castes.

The students have submitted a memorandum to Vice-Chancellor, demanding their suspension. Confirming that a committee has been formed by the VC to look into the matter the students also alleged that false statements were being made about their protests. They have demanded an apology from the VC regarding the same.


The students had also submitted a written complaint to the University, however, till the time this report was written, no action was initiated against the casteist journalists.

Written complaint by students

One of the ex-student of the university, Rakesh Tripathi, who is also a BJP leader, while speaking to OpIndia said that it is a shame that teachers like Dilip Mandal are trying to fan caste divide amongst the students studying in a reputed organisation like this one. Extending his support to the protesting students, Tripathi said that they have maligned the reputation of the university.

He requests all the students to stand together by the cause and make sure that journalists like Dilip Mandal are dismissed from their position. Tripathi urges all the students to raise their voices against such casteist faculty members and boycott them as they who are poisoning the society with their vicious mindset.

Read: Accusing Twitter of being an agent of ‘Brahmanvad’ shows the hollowness of leftist Dalit activism

Tripathi said that students at the Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication have always welcomed and accepted professors and students from various castes and religion, In fact, caste and religion have never mattered for us, said the BJP leader, asserting that we have always valued the professor for his knowledge, wisdom and accomplishments. He said that it is very unfortunate that professors like Dilip Mandal, are contaminating the university’s environment by spreading their prejudice.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BzfBteSiVU]

Interestingly, Dilip Mandal in the same journalist and a columnist associated with Shekhar Gupta’s The Print, who had last month, accused Twitter of being Brahmanvadi for not awarding him with a Blue Tick. Dilip Mandal had then urged people to trend ‘Brahmanvadi Twitter’ on the social media platform giving a sneak peek into his casteist mentality.

Read: After ‘Dalit’ journalist of ThePrint gets a blue tick, Muslim editor Shahid Siddiqui too complains to Twitter about religious bias

Dilip Mandal today took to Twitter to allege that students belonging to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad have been creating a ruckus and resorted to vandalism in the university campus while protesting against him and his Phule-Ambedkar ideologies.


In the latest, Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication Registrar, Deependra Baghel has come up with a statement which said: “I’ve accepted their demand that they’ll also be a part of the committee. Dilip Mandal and Mukesh Kumar won’t enter the University until the probe is completed. But they’re demanding that the VC seek apology over his statement, a statement which they twisted”.

Congress emulates Pakistan, to ‘gherao’ Indian embassies across the globe ‘to show solidarity with AICC on national issues’

OpIndia Staff
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Congress emulates Pakistan, to ‘gherao’ Indian embassies across the globe ‘to show solidarity with AICC on national issues’

Taking a cue from Pakistani protestors gheraoing the Indian embassy in London, the Indian Overseas Congress, which was until now largely dormant, has announced that it will stage demonstrations outside the Indian embassies across the globe to protest against the Modi government’s handling of the Indian economy and “India’s deteriorating condition”.


The official Twitter handle of the Indian Overseas Congress posted a tweet announcing their support to the Congress party’s call for Bharat Bachao by claiming that it will swarm around the Indian embassies in Europe on December 14 to protest against the massive failures of the BJP in the country.

Even as the Congress party is accused of taking the same line as Pakistan, the Indian Overseas Congress appears to have drawn inspiration from Pakistan as they plan to organise a demonstration by surrounding the Indian embassies across Europe.

Read: Anti-India protesters fight amongst themselves: Violent protesters who damaged Indian Embassy hurl shoes and eggs at Pakistan-sent politicians

The Congress poster terms this act in the footsteps of Pakistan as Congress’ call to ‘Bharat Bachao’. According to Congress, by protesting in front of the Indian Embassy on foreign soil, they are protesting against “Economic crisis, High Unemployment, Divisive Politics and Farmer Distress”.

Poster by Congress Overseas

In the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370, Pakistani hooligans swarmed the Indian High Commission in London and vandalised the property. Hundreds of British Pakistani demonstrators and sympathisers who gathered outside the Indian High Commission to protest against the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir blatantly indulged in acts of vandalism damaging the Indian High Commission’s property.

It is noteworthy to mention that the Congress party has deferred its Bharat Bachao protest march on multiple occasions. In September, Congress had announced a country-wide agitation from 15th to 25th October on these issues. That, too, was announced a month in advance. Then, in October, before the last date of planned protests, i.e. 25th October, expired, Congress announced fresh dates of protests against ‘economic slowdown’.

Read” Days after Turkey supported Pakistan in the UN, Congress opens its overseas office in Turkey: Turkish media report

On 22nd October, Congress said they’d protest across the country in the first week of November. Congress had announced that starting from 5th to 15th November, the party will hold protests across the country and a rally in Delhi. These protests were also for ‘rising unemployment’, ‘sinking economy’ and ‘farmer distress’.

As 5th November flew by, Congress woke up and realised they missed yet another deadline. So on 6th November, they announced new dates of protests, this time, a combined protest with other parties. This time around, Congress announced that they will organise a rally at the Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on December 1.

In solidarity with Congress’s Bharat Bachao rally scheduled on December 1, the Indian Overseas Congress, that comprises ‘eminent’ Congress leaders such as Sam Pitroda, infamous for his callous remark- “Hua to Hua” condoning the Congress’ complicity in the 1984 Sikh genocide, will stage a protest on December 14 by gheraoing various Indian embassies in Europe.

Former Sikh minister from Imran Khan’s PTI hails Modi and Shah for CAB, says India the only country which is home

OpIndia Staff
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Former Sikh minister from Imran Khan’s PTI hails Modi and Shah for CAB, says India the only country which is home

A day after the historic Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) became an act of law after getting the Indian President’s assent, a former Imran Khan party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MLA from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province Baldev Singh, has welcomed the passing of the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019 and hailed PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, for making it possible.

Fearing death, Pakistan’s Sikh ex-lawmaker had in September sought asylum in India over atrocities on minorities in Pakistan. Not only minorities but even Muslims aren’t safe in Pakistan, he said. “We are surviving in Pakistan with a lot of difficulties. I want Modi Sahab to do something for them. They are tortured there,” he had said on religious persecution of minorities in Pakistan.

According to an India Today report, the former PTI MLA, who has been living with his family in Indian Punjab’s Khanna Town from the past five months, said that this historic decision came as a ray of hope for the Hindu minorities in Islamic countries, as they were seeking asylum in India and were eagerly waiting for an action from the Indian government.

Read: 5 instances in the latest Twitter rant by Imran Khan where he picked the ideas from the Congress party

“We were expecting this as when we will be getting the Indian citizenship and it is now possible because of the efforts put in by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. They have given us the gift of citizenship,” Baldev Singh said.

Baldev Singh said that Pakistan, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia are all Islamic countries and the Hindus and Sikhs living in these countries cannot go anywhere. He said, “India is the only country where they can come and consider it as their home.”

Baldev Singh particularly lauded Home Minister Amit Shah whom he gave the credit for passing of the Citizenship Amendment Bill in the Parliament.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which seeks to give Indian citizenship to the members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from three neighbouring Islamic countries – Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh after facing religious persecution, became an act of law after President Ram Nath Kovind gave his assent to the historic legislation on Thursday. The Bill had got a clear passage in both the Lower and Upper house of the Indian Parliament on Monday and Wednesday respectively.

Read: Focus on protecting your own minorities rather than compulsively issue statements: MEA schools Imran Khan on CAB

Interestingly, while on one hand a minister, who was once a part of Imran Khan’s coterie, lauded the Indian government’s decision on the Citizenship Amendment Bill, Pakistan’s PM Imran Khan had gone on a deranged rant after the Bill cleared the Lok Sabha.

After losing his mind and dignity over the invalidation of the special status of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan PM Imran Khan went on to a bizarre rant to condemn the Citizenship Amendment Bill in one of his tweet posted on December 10.

He has asserted that the enactment “violates all norms of international human rights law and bilateral agreements with Pakistan”. He further insinuated that the bill was a part of the “RSS Hindu Rashtra design of expansionism propagated by the fascist Modi government”.

However, despite Imran Khan’s skewed rhetorics, Modi government’s step has been welcomed by Hindu refugees from Pakistan across the country who have been seen dancing to dhols and celebrating with sweets after the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill.

Read: Pakistan PM Imran Khan goes on a deranged rant to oppose the passage of CAB in Lok Sabha, invokes ‘bilateral agreements’

The migrants lauded the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the bill which they said would put an end to their lives in exile. Hindu refugees at Majnu Ka Tilla were seen celebrating with sweets and gulal, Modi cutouts and Tricolour flags.

“We were forced to convert to Islam. My woman and daughters weren’t safe there. Those were bad times. I don’t want to recall them,” said one Talib Kumar, a man who had moved to India in 2011 said he didn’t see a future in Pakistan.

Similar celebratory scenes were seen at places like Bhati Mines in Sanjay Nagar and Rohini, both predominantly housing Hindu migrants from Pakistan. Here too, Hindu refugees took to the streets to dance and sing and celebrate the ‘historic’ moment.

UP CM Yogi Adityanath asks families to donate Rs 11 and a stone for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya

OpIndia Staff
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UP CM Yogi Adityanath asks families to donate Rs 11 and a stone for the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya

Addressing an election rally in Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath asked the people to donate Rs 11 and a stone towards the construction of a Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Amidst thundering chants of “Jai Shri Ram”, Yogi Adityanath, while addressing a rally in Bagodar said, “Every family should contribute Rs 11 and a stone for the Ram Temple.”

The appeal was made by Yogi Adityanath while seeking votes for the BJP candidate. He asserted that the long-standing dispute of the Ram Temple-Babri Masjid was finally solved by the efforts made by PM Modi. He also claimed that other political parties such as Congress, RJD, CPI-ML and others placed impediments for delaying the resolution of the protracted dispute.

Read: Three Generations, One Dream: Here’s why Yogi Adityanath considered the Ram Mandir his life’s mission

Asking people to come out and exercise their right to vote, the UP chief minister said, “I come from the state which has Lord Rama and his system of governance known as Ramrajya, an ideal state where rules and regulations were instituted with attention to the village, poor, youth, women and every section of the society. The same work is being done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

Yogi also launched a searing attack against the opposition for echoing Pakistan on the issue of Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019. Lauding PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for legislating the historic CAB bill that provided persecuted minorities such as Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians and Parsis, who were tormented in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, an opportunity to lead a dignified life in India, Yogi slammed the opposition parties such as Congress, RJD, CPI-ML for opposing the bill.

Read: Ram Mandir at Ayodhya: VHP wants HM Amit Shah, CM Yogi on trust, temple as per Nyas model

Attacking on the alliance, a group of three parties – Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) – Adityanath said they want power anyhow for not serving poor, youth, women and other people of the society but to serve their families.

Accusing the alliance of Congress, RJD, JMM and CPI-ML for misusing the power to instigate terrorism and aiding Maoists, Yogi said, “The policies of the Congress, RJD, JMM and CPI-ML has encouraged the extremism and enabled them to cause extensive damages.”

Earlier, the Vishva Hindu Parishad(VHP) had declared crowd-funding method to encourage Ram devotees to come forward and help in the construction of a grand Ram Temple in Ayodha after the Supreme Court passed its verdict in favour of building a Ram temple at the Ram Janmabhoomi site.

Muslim organisations opposing CAB called for post-Friday prayer protests in various parts of the country

OpIndia Staff
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Muslim organisations opposing CAB called for post-Friday prayer protests in various parts of the country

While several Pakistani Hindu migrants across the country have been celebrating and lauding the passing of the historic Citizenship Amendment bill, which has brought their lost hope back, many members belonging to various Muslim organisations, who have been protesting against the Bill, have taken to the streets across India in a post-Friday namaz protest today.

Organisations like the Jamaat-e-Islami Telangana and Odisha units and the Jamiat-e-Ulama Telangana and Andhra Pradesh units criticised the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019, which became law post Presidential assent after getting a clear passage in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha on Wednesday and Monday respectively, as discriminatory and unconstitutional.

Protests against the CAB were planned soon after Friday prayers across mosques in the State and other various parts of the country.

Hamed Mohammed Khan, president, Jamaat-e-Islami Telangana and Odisha units, on Thursday, said Friday khutbas (sermons) on CAB were prepared and would be delivered in mosques under its control. Soon after Friday prayers, members of the organisation, its supporters and those against the CAB would take to the streets and demonstrate peacefully.

“Protesters will wear black bands, carry black flags and signs, will stand outside, and protest silently and peacefully. On Sunday, we propose to organise a dharna and public meeting at Dharna Chowk, where we will inform the people of the CAB and its nature,” Khan said.

Following the direction, protests were launched in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district, where various people from the Muslim community opposing the bill took to the streets after the Friday prayers. Internet services were shut down in Aligarh and Saharanpur following the large-scale protests.

Students of the Aligarh Muslim University and members of the Jamait-e-Ulama Hind had also staged protests against the new law.

West Bengal’s Kolkata was also not left behind. Many protestors gheraoed Kolkata’s Park Circus area, which is predominantly a Muslim area, after their Friday Namaz to stage protest against the contentious bill.

A tweeter user shared a video taken from Kolkata’s Maa Flyover overlooking Park Circus, where people collected in large numbers protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB).


A similar protest in West Bengal’s Murshidabad area turned violent after protestors pelted stones on an ambulance and vandalised the Beldanga station, situated beside National Highway 34 at Beldanga in Murshidabad district in West Bengal.


Though this time these post-Friday prayer protests have been tucked away behind the pretext of CAB, violence after Friday Muslim prayers are not uncommon. History has it, how the Friday namaz has been, often seen turning into mass violence.

On April 25, last year, we had reported how a large mob speculated to be numbering into a thousand, went on a rampage following the Friday Namaz Prayers in Madhya Pradesh’s Burhanpur town. In order to restore peace, the police proceeded to lathi charge the violent youths.

Similarly, in August last year, the police had to fire at a mob in Aligarh which was resorting to incessant stone-pelting after Friday prayers. Post-Eid prayers too had seen intense violence in July 2017 when a large mob decided to attack a police station in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.

In 2012, Lucknow had witnessed one of the biggest mayhem when a mob, numbering about 500, went berserk and indulged in large-scale violence, targeting media persons in particular and even beating up several bystanders who were caught unawares after the Alvida namaz (on the last Friday of Ramzan). The mob also had vandalised a statue of Lord Mahavira.

A lot more such incidents have been rampant in the valley of Jammu and Kashmir too.

Supreme Court upholds the report of JK Juvenile Justice Committee, nails the lies spread by leftist media over ‘detention of children in Kashmir’

OpIndia Staff
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Supreme Court upholds the report of JK Juvenile Justice Committee, nails the lies spread by leftist media over ‘detention of children in Kashmir’

The Supreme Court which went through the fresh report submitted by the Juvenile Justice Committee (JJC) from the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, over the alleged detention of children in Jammu and Kashmir post the abrogation of Article 370 in the Valley, has today reiterated that there seems to be misinformation being spread on this issue and concluded that no minor has been detained.


The SC’s observation came after the JJC, comprising of HC judges Ali Mohammad Magrey, Dhiraj Singh Thakur, Sanjeev Kumar and Rashid Ali Dar, in its fresh report submitted, stuck to its earlier findings which had found no basis on the claims made by many Leftist media portals claiming that 144 minor boys were ‘arrested’ in Jammu and Kashmir since August 5.

In its fresh report, the JJC rehashed that the allegations raised then by many such media outlets in India and abroad were wrong. The SC has disposed of a petition by activists Eenakshi Ganguly and Shanta Sinha that had claimed that children are being detained illegally in the valley by law enforcement agencies.

The apex court bench of Justices N.V. Ramana, R. Subhash Reddy and Bhushan Gavai had on November 6 directed the juvenile justice committee of Jammu and Kashmir High Court to again verify allegations of illegal detentions of hundreds of children as the earlier report of the panel giving a clean chit to the government had merely relied on police information.

The JJC had, in the October report, submitted that they had visited juvenile homes and examined all available records to ascertain such claims of ‘minors being detained illegally’ featuring frequently in media portals.

Read: Read details: Juvenile Justice Committee report on ‘minor boys arrested in Kashmir’ calls out lies of Quint, Scroll, and Washington Post

The SC had earlier asked the JJC to investigate the matter, following petitions submitted by Child rights activists’ Eenakshi Ganguly and Shanta Sinha.

Interestingly, the ‘activists’ had then based their petition, not on actual complains but on reports by news portals such as The Quint, The Scroll, Caravan and Washington Post.

Shockingly, even after being called out for their malicious reportage in the month of October, news portals like ‘The Wire’, continued to further these false claims. In one of its article headlined ‘Beaten, Heckled, Made Examples of’: Detained Kashmiri Minors Speak Out’, published on December 3, 2019, The Wire continued to create a false narrative to mislead the public and create an environment of fear-based on nothing, sticking to the lies perpetrated by Pakistan over the Kashmir issue.

The Wire article published on December 3, 2019

Pakistan’s fake news machinery which has always been pushing their anti-India agenda by spreading ‘fake news’, using such articles published by these leftist media outlets, this time too was quick to pick up this malicious report by The Wire to malign India’s reputation. Pakistan’s oldest, leading and most widely read English-language newspaper, ‘The Dawn’ picked up the fabricated report and published it in its newspaper on December 5, 2019.

The Wire article was carried by the Pakistani news portal ‘The Dawn’ on December 5

However, the fact remains that the Juvenile Justice Committee had, before submitting its October report, individually examined each of the detention cases and had concluded that except two, all boys were released on the same day.

The report had specified that they “have not received a single complaint or representation or anything like that from any individual, lawyer, human rights activists, group persons, organisations, civil society members or any other person complaining about the arrest of any juvenile.”

The detailed report has included data not only from police stations but also from juvenile homes in the state.

While investigating the allegation in October, the JJC had demolished the claims made by portals like The Quint, The Scroll, Caravan and Washington Post. The JJC has also cited individuals claims by these media houses to demonstrate how they had created a false narrative to mislead the public.

While calling one such report published by ‘The Quint’ as ‘fictional imagination’, JJC report cited The Scroll’s report and stated that it defies ‘common sense’ and it only aims to paint the security forces as ‘predators on the prowl’.

Also, the August 30 report by Washington Post on Kashmir was called ‘wrong reporting’ by the JJC as no specifics of the alleged incidents were provided. The report was widely shared by Indian opposition politicians and ‘left-liberals’ to allege human rights violations in Kashmir and detention of children by security forces.

The J and K police’s report to the JJC had also asked how foreign publications and digital media portals have ‘reported’ incidents that were nowhere to be found on local media and have no evidentiary value.

It is notable here that since the government abrogated Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, leftist media and their patrons have been on a misinformation overdrive. Several false claims and lies are being peddled. From medicine shortage to imaginary stories of torture and extreme violence, some media portals seem to be peddling the lines perpetrated by Pakistan over the Kashmir issue.

Andhra Pradesh government passes ‘Disha Bill’: Trials of rapists and acid attackers to conclude within 21 days, death penalty included

OpIndia Staff
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Andhra Pradesh government passes ‘Disha Bill’: Trials of rapists and acid attackers to conclude within 21 days, death penalty included

In a move that could act as a deterrent against committing sexual crimes against children and women, the Andhra Pradesh assembly passed Andhra Pradesh Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2019 that awards death sentences to convicts in rape cases within 21 days.

According to the reports, the bill which is also known as ‘The Disha Bill’ provides for awarding death sentence to criminals found guilty of rape and gang rape by expediting trials in such cases within 21 days. The legislation also includes violent crimes against women, like acid attacks.


It is notable here that the veterinarian who was recently raped and murdered in Hyderabad was named as ‘Disha’ in police reports since Indian law forbids disclosing the victim’s real identity.

On Wednesday, the Andhra Pradesh cabinet had approved two bills for the strengthening of the provisions relating to crimes against women and children.

The AP Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2019 seeks to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure for ‘heinous offences of rape’. According to new provisions, the investigation should be concluded within seven working days if there is ‘adequate conclusive evidence’. The new law also states trial must be completed within 14 working days, thus reducing the total judgment time to 21 working days.

The passing of the bill comes in the wake of the gruesome rape and murder of a woman veterinarian in Telangana’s Cyberabad late last month.

The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet also gave a go-ahead to the Andhra Pradesh Special Court for Specified Offences against Women and Children Act 2019, under which special courts would be established in each district of the state to put a curb on crimes against women and children.

Last month, a 27-year-old doctor was brutally raped, killed and her body was set ablaze by four accused near a toll in Hyderabad. A few days later, the four accused arrested in the case were killed in an encounter with the police. The accused had tried to flee and attacked the police who were then recreating the crime scene in the early hours.

Reportedly, these special courts will take up cases of rape, gang rape, acid attacks, stalking, voyeurism, sexual harassment, and cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The cabinet has also approved the introduction of section 354E and 354F in the Indian Penal Code to deal with cases of online abuse and child sexual abuse, respectively. Those convicted in such cases would face punishment between 10 and 14 years, while in cases with severe crimes, the punishment would go up to life imprisonment.

Further, there are provisions in the bill to deal with harassment of women over email, social media or any other digital mode. The bill proposes a punishment of jail sentence up to 2 years for the first conviction and the subsequent convictions can lead to imprisonment up to 4 years.

DSSF, a students’ forum in TISS extends support to the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019, NRC

OpIndia Staff
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DSSF, a students’ forum in TISS extends support to the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019, NRC

Democratic Secular Students Forum (DSSF), a prominent students’ forum of the institution, had organised a meeting to extend their support to the recently legislated Citizenship Amendment Bill 2019 and National Register For Citizens.

Holding posters of support for the CAB, the student leaders of the DSSF held a gathering. While speaking to OpIndia about their stance on the matter, the President of DSSF Sudhakar Uppadhayay said, “This is the best thing that could happen in the country. Now, people who are persecuted, raped, and exploited because of their religion in neighbouring Islamic countries can now become the citizens of India.”

“We have organised this gathering to convey to the people that students of TISS resolutely support the government’s decision and share the same sentiment as the rest of the nation,” he said.

Read: Harish Salve defends CAB, says bill not anti-Muslim, does not violate articles 14, 15 or 21 of the Indian constitution

Sudhakar also claimed that leftist organisations active in the TISS campus will soon launch a protest too, but it will be a failure as always.

According to Sharvari, a student of psychology doing her masters at TISS, there are more people in support of the government’s decision of legislating CAB but fearing punitive action from the left faculties on campus, they have refrained themselves from coming out and openly expressing their support for CAB. However, Sharvari feels that it is imperative for students to make themselves heard.

One of the students who participated in the silent gathering said, “I want to join the Indian armed forces and having read or and understood what Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019 I fully support the Bill.”

Prakhar said ” When the two countries became independent, Pakistan had a good amount of Minorities and now what is the percentage.? Don’t people think where did they disappear! Aren’t we worried about the same.? Can someone tell me how is Bangladesh’s treatment for its minorities any different? Do they not have human rights? Are these guys any lesser humans? The stats are horrifying and what government has done I totally support it.”

The Bill became an Act on December 12 after the President’s assent. The Act states the refugees of the six communities will be given Indian citizenship after residing in India for five years, instead of earlier requirement of 11 years. The Act also proposes to give immunity to such refugees facing legal cases after being found as illegal migrants. The cut-off date for granting citizenship will be December 31, 2014.

The law will not be applicable to the tribal areas of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura as included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Further, the law will not cover the areas covered under the Inner Line Permit (ILP), notified under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873. The ILP regime is applicable in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram.

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