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The Hindu’s journalist Mahesh Langa faces another FIR, land broker accuses him of extortion for publicity in the paper

OpIndia Staff
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The Hindu’s journalist Mahesh Langa faces another FIR, land broker accuses him of extortion for publicity in the paper

On 23rd January, another FIR was registered against Mahesh Langa, a journalist working with the English newspaper The Hindu. He is already facing multiple cases, including GST fraud, cheating, and leaking government documents. The FIR was registered at the Satellite Police Station in Ahmedabad based on the complaint of a land broker named Janak Thakor under Section 308(2) of the Bharatiya Nayay Sanhita (BNS).

In the complaint, Langa is accused of taking ₹40 lakh, promising Thakor that his name would be mentioned in a newspaper article. Janak alleged in his complaint that in January 2024, Langa demanded Rs 20 lakh to mention his name in an article published in The Hindu. Later, he again demanded another Rs 20 lakh, bringing the total to Rs 40 lakh.

Excerpt from the FIR. Source: OpIndia Gujarati

Thakor said that he met Langa about a year and a half ago at a café in Bodakdev. Over time, Langa allegedly told Thakor that he was a journalist with a prominent newspaper and also engaged in land brokerage. Langa reportedly claimed that he could resolve complex land issues, yielding significant profits. He allegedly assured Thakor that if his name appeared in the newspaper, it would bring him lucrative deals and commissions.

Langa even promised to help Thakor become a major builder and launch an IPO for his company, frequently borrowing cash while making grand claims. In January 2024, Langa told Thakor that he was writing an article on GIFT City and would mention his name. He suggested that publicity in a national newspaper would benefit Thakor’s business and enhance his reputation. Thakor alleged in his complaint that he was enticed by the prospect of gaining fame and agreed to Langa’s demand to pay him. Langa allegedly extorted Rs 20 lakh from him through such promises.

Article in The Hindu mentioning Thakor.

After the article featuring Thakor’s name was published on 26th January 2024, Langa’s behaviour reportedly changed. He began demanding more money, warning that if Thakor refused, he would use his political connections and contacts in the administration to ruin Thakor’s reputation by publishing negative articles and dragging him into false cases. Thakor alleges that these threats and Langa’s interference in certain matters caused him significant financial losses. In July 2024, fearing further damage, Thakor paid Langa an additional Rs 20 lakh in cash.

Despite this, Langa continued making demands, leaving Thakor hesitant to file a complaint due to Langa’s influential connections. However, after learning that Langa faced multiple other complaints, Thakor finally approached the police.

Arrest, lavish lifestyle and GST fraud

Langa was arrested on 8th October in this case under sections 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 471 (forged document), 474 (punishment for possessing forged document), 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Later, reports suggested that Langa led a lifestyle far beyond his salary, amassing crores of rupees over the past two years. Mahesh leveraged his position as a journalist to engage in blackmail, settlements, and illicit business activities, reportedly earning millions through these means. Additionally, his name had surfaced concerning the leak of sensitive government documents.

Despite an annual salary reportedly only in the lakhs, a recent Ahmedabad Crime Branch search at his home uncovered Rs 20 lakhs in cash. Police also recovered expensive jewelry and documents related to property holdings. It was also reported that Mahesh and his wife frequently visited luxury hotels like the Oberoi and Taj Man Singh. As per the revelations, he and his wife stayed in such establishments over 98 times in the past year without covering any of the costs themselves.

Investigations further revealed that the lavish lifestyle of the journalist was primarily funded through around 220 shell companies. He also frequently traveled by chartered flights, with fares amounting to lakhs. He even has a history of hosting an extravagant birthday party, inviting prominent businessmen and city officials. For this event, he reportedly paid a Rs 5 lakh advance for the hall and gifted gold coins to each guest.

It was also learned that Langa acquired government documents but did not use these for journalism. He rather used the documents to blackmail officials and government bodies. As Mahesh Langa was first brought for questioning by the Crime Branch, he claimed that he was being targeted by the government because of his work as a journalist, but this defense failed, and he was arrested.

During the investigation, it was determined that Langa had been in contact with specific officials, with chat logs to back this up located on his devices. A further police investigation found that Mahesh had gotten documents and other private information about the Gujarat Maritime Board, triggering a search of the GMB office in Gandhinagar.

After seizing several documents and materials, the Gandhinagar police registered another FIR against him at the Sector 7 police station. Another FIR was filed against Langa on 30th October after the authorities conducted massive raids against Langa across Gujarat. The FIR was filed by Pranav Shah, director of an advertising company named Khushi Enterprises, who claimed that Langa defrauded him of Rs 28 lakh, allegedly failing to return funds provided for specific work. 

The first FIR against Langa pertains to the GST scam, while the second was filed by Gandhinagar police, which alleges that he exploited his position as a journalist to leak government documents. The second case is related to the Gujarat Maritime Board and it is a sensitive case due to national security concerns linked with it. The third FIR addressed the Rs 28 lakh fraud accusation, adding another accusation to the complex case against him. The fourth case involved the creation of four fake e-way bills and in December, the journalist was again arrested in a separate tax fraud case by the Rajkot police.

2008 Mumbai terror attack convict Tahawwur Rana to be extradited to India: Read how he lost appeals in several courts and what the US govt said

OpIndia Staff
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2008 Mumbai terror attack convict Tahawwur Rana to be extradited to India: Read how he lost appeals in several courts and what the US govt said

After a panel of the US Court of Appeals cleared the way to extradite the Mumbai terror attack convict Tahawwur Rana to India earlier this month, the US Supreme Court has approved Rana’s extradition to India. The Court dismissed a review petition filed by Rana against his conviction clearing the way to extradite him to India. The decision finally paved the way for his extradition to India after he unsuccessfully moved several federal courts in the US including the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in San Francisco. India has been seeking the extradition of Rana who is wanted in connection with the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks.

Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin, filed a writ of certiorari with the US Supreme Court on November 13 last year. The Supreme Court rejected his petition on January 21, 2025, a day after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. He is currently lodged in the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Los Angeles.

The US government argued for Rana’s extradition to India

Last year in December, the US government had opposed Rana’s petition before the Supreme Court. The US Solicitor General Elizabeth B Prelogar submitted a filing in the Supreme Court on December 16, 2024, arguing that Rana was not entitled to relief from extradition to India. Rana contended before the Supreme Court that he had already been tried and acquitted by a federal court in Illinois for his role in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Disagreeing with his contention, Prelogar said that the forgery charges against him in India including submission of false information to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) when applying to open a branch office of the Immigration Law Centre, were not covered by the US prosecution. Preloger argued that the verdict in the US case, involving conspiracy charges, was difficult to interpret and did not automatically imply that Rana had been convicted or acquitted of all the specific conduct he was charged with in India. She further added that the jury’s verdict in the US trial, which involved conspiracy charges, was unclear in terms of addressing all the specific actions India had charged him with.

Why it took so long

Tahawwur Rana had been making all possible efforts to prevent himself from being extradited to India where he will be facing charges for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. He unsuccessfully approached several lower and federal courts seeking relief. On November 13, he filed a petition with the US Supreme Court seeking a review of the lower court’s ruling against his plea.

He was convicted in the US for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and was imprisoned for over 10 years for supporting terrorist groups and planning the attack. In August last year, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit stated that Tahawwur Rana is “extraditable to India” under the extradition treaty between India and the US.

The panel of the US Court of Appeals held that the Non-Bis in Idem (not twice in the same) exception did not apply in Rana’s case because the Indian charges contained distinct elements from the crimes for which he was acquitted in the United States. It also upheld the district court’s denial of Tahawwur Hussain Rana’s habeas corpus petition, which challenged a magistrate judge’s certification of Rana as extraditable to India for his suspected role in terrorist attacks in Mumbai. This was Rana’s last available legal opportunity to prevent his extradition to India.

Charges against Rana in India

The National Investigation Agency is investigating Rana’s involvement in the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist attacks in Mumbai in 2008. Rana received an international arrest warrant, and the NIA submitted a charge sheet. His involvement in the 26/11 terror attack is linked with his association with David Headley, the Pakistani-American LeT operative who played a key role in planning the attack including gathering intelligence and conducting reconnaissance.

Tahawwur Rana had allowed David Headley to use the cover of First World Immigration Services to establish a branch in India for reconnaissance purposes.

Apart from being implicated in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, Tahawwur Ranais also wanted for his alleged involvement in plotting attacks on the National Defence College and Chabad House, a Jewish outreach center in Mumbai. He is also accused of aiding a plan to target a Danish newspaper over cartoons of Prophet Muhammad, a plot involving David Headley.

Former Bollywood star Mamta Kulkarni anointed as Mahamandaleshwar by Kinnar Akhada: Read what is a Mahamandaleshwar and how they are anointed

OpIndia Staff
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Former Bollywood star Mamta Kulkarni anointed as Mahamandaleshwar by Kinnar Akhada: Read what is a Mahamandaleshwar and how they are anointed

On 24th January, former Bollywood actress Mamta Kulkarni was anointed as a Mahamandaleshwar by the Kinnar Akhada at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj. The announcement was made by Acharya Mahamandaleshwar of Kinnar Akhada, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi. For those who are unaware, the Kinnar Akhada is a spiritual sect established to bring dignity and inclusion to the transgender community. Tripathi, while speaking to the media, announced that Mamta will now be known as Shri Yamai Mamta Nandgiri. Mamta performed her “Pind Daan” ritual at Sangam Ghat in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, to mark her renunciation of worldly ties.

After the rituals, Mamta spoke to the media and expressed her spiritual transformation, saying, “This was the order of Mahadev and Maha Kali. My Guru chose this day; I only followed their command.”

Acharya Mahamandaleshwar Laxmi Narayan Tripathi said that Kulkarni has been in touch with Kinnar Akhada and him for the last one and a half years. “She is allowed to perform the character of any devotional figure if she wants as we do not prohibit anyone from performing their art,” he said earlier.

A popular Bollywood actress from the 1990s, Mamta Kulkarni returned to Mumbai last month after a long absence. After that, she was seen in the Maha Kumbh in the attire of a Sadhvi.

The Kinnar Akhada has set up its camp in sector 16 (Sangam Lower East Marg) in the tent city for Maha Kumbh Mela 2025.

What does it mean to become a Mahamandaleshwar?

The word Mahamandaleshwar means “superior of great and/or numerous monasteries” or “superior of a religious district or province”. Religious leaders who ran the congregations of saints and sages were called Mandaleshwar. As Mahamandaleshwar, the saints spread the teaching of Sanatana Dharma, living life the righteous way.

The process of becoming a Mahamandaleshwar involves several rituals linked to ancient tradition. It begins with an application to the Akhada, followed by initiation into monastic life. Candidates undergo a series of spiritual rites, including a sacred bath and the ‘Pind Daan,’ symbolising the renunciation of familial and material bonds. The final steps include being crowned with a ceremonial ‘Pattabhishek’ using a mixture of milk, honey, ghee, curd, and sugar, followed by a feast for saints and devotees.

As part of their vows, Mahamandaleshwars commit to severing ties with their families, dedicating their wealth to public service, and establishing institutions like Sanskrit schools to promote spiritual knowledge. As a Mahamandaleshwar, the person must

Speaking about Mamta becoming a Mahamandaleshwar, Tripathi said that she was part of Juna Akhada before contacting the Kinnar Akhada. However, after her Guru passed away, Mamta was unable to find the right spiritual path for herself. Around three months ago, she contacted Tripathi and expressed her desire to join the Akhada and sought the post of Mahamandaleshwar so that she could be useful to society. Tripathi laid down the conditions of becoming a Mahamandaleshwar, which Mamta accepted and followed all the rituals to become one.

The Kinnar Akhada – A path to inclusion

The Kinnar Akhada was founded in 2015 by Laxmi Narayan Tripathi. The aim of establishing the Akhada was to integrate the transgender community into the societal mainstream. Unlike other Akhadas, it does not impose rigorous ascetic practices, making it accessible to anyone with faith in Sanatan Dharma and the Kinnar community. The Akhada’s mission is to provide dignity and respect to those often marginalised in society.

Support for spiritual renunciation

Swami Avdheshanand Giri, Mahamandaleshwar of the Juna Akhada, welcomed Mamta Kulkarni’s decision to embrace monastic life. He said, “Renunciation is everyone’s right. If someone is ready to leave behind worldly attachments for higher purposes, they should be supported.”

A journey from stardom to spirituality

Mamta was born on 20th April 1972 in Mumbai. She started her career in the Tamil film industry and rose to fame in the 1990s with hit films including Aashiq Awara, Krantiveer, and Karan Arjun. She won the Filmfare Award for Best Debut Actress in 1993. She acted in a total of 34 films and concluded her film career in 2002. Her last film was Kabhi Tum Kabhi Hum.

In 2013, Kulkarni released her book Autobiography of a Yogini, detailing her spiritual journey and decision to leave the film industry. She remarked, “Some people are born to serve the world, and some are born for God. I belong to the latter.”

Her life was also marred by controversies, including dating a gangster. There were speculations that she got married to drug lord Vicky Goswami, but she denied them, stating those were just rumours. She was named as one of the accused in a drugs case by Thane Police in 2016, but she was acquitted last year by the Bombay High Court.

Delhi High Court issues notices in plea to transplant trees affected by expansion of Supreme Court premises

ANI
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Delhi High Court issues notices in plea to transplant trees affected by expansion of Supreme Court premises

The Delhi High Court has issued a notice in response to an Intervention Application (IA) seeking permission for the transplantation of 26 trees within the Supreme Court premises.

The trees are part of the ongoing project aimed at expanding the Supreme Court building to create additional courtrooms, including a constitutional court, as well as new chambers for judges and enhanced facilities for lawyers and litigants.

The bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh sought responses in the fresh intervention application of respondents in the case Bhavreen Kandhari vs. C.D. Singh & Ors., pending before the Delhi High Court. The next hearing in the matter is January 31, 2025.

The Intervention Application (IA), filed and argued by Advocate Sudhir Mishra, explained that during the marking of the layout plan, it was found that approximately 61 trees fell within the building and excavation lines of the proposed expansion area, which covers about 2.03 acres. To minimize the environmental impact, efforts were made to reduce the number of trees requiring transplantation. Initially, the number was reduced from 61 to 47, and with further adjustments, the final count was brought down to 26, while 35 trees were successfully preserved.

Advocate, Sudhir Mishra, highlighted that special efforts were made to save a significant old Banyan tree with a girth of 675 cm, which was originally in the basement plan of the building. To retain this tree, the basement layout, ramp placement, and internal road design were all altered.

The application emphasized that preserving and minimizing the number of transplanted trees was of utmost importance, and the applicant fully supported efforts to protect the environment. In light of this, the applicant has requested the court’s permission to transplant the remaining 26 trees to proceed with the Supreme Court’s expansion project, which includes additional courtrooms, a constitutional court, chambers for judges, and facilities for lawyers and litigants.

Additionally, the applicant has submitted a detailed methodology statement to the Forest Officer, outlining the process to ensure the successful transplantation and proper care of the trees.

In October 2024, the Supreme Court officially began the construction of its new expansion building, which will feature a dedicated Constitutional Courtroom for 17 judges, along with state-of-the-art courtrooms. The ground-breaking ceremony was marked by a unique ritual involving 11 priests from various religions.

The expansion will be carried out in two phases, with the first phase expected to start soon and take approximately 29 months to complete. The new building, located within the existing Supreme Court complex, will cover 86,500 square meters and span five floors. The first and second floors will house courtrooms, while the fifth floor will be dedicated to the Constitutional Courtroom. The other floors will include various facilities to support litigants, lawyers, and court officials.

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

ISI delegation from Pakistan visits Dhaka raising concerns for India as Pakistan and Bangladsh revive military relations with Muhammad Yunus running things now

OpIndia Staff
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ISI delegation from Pakistan visits Dhaka raising concerns for India as Pakistan and Bangladsh revive military relations with Muhammad Yunus running things now

Amidst increasing military engagement between Bangladesh and Pakistan, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released a statement on Friday stating that Delhi has been closely monitoring the developments in its neighbourhood. The MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the government has been keeping an eye on activities that affect national security.

“We keep an eye on all the activities around the country and in the region, as well as activities affecting national security, and the government will take appropriate steps”, Jaiswal said.

Speaking during a media briefing, Jaiswal asserted that India wants to maintain friendly relations with Bangladesh. “We support a democratic, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. We want to strengthen our ties so that the people of India and Bangladesh can prosper”, he said.

An ISI delegation is on a four-day visit to Dhaka

The MEA statement came after a four-member delegation of Pakistan’s intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) went on a four-day visit to Bangladesh on January 21. The delegation included the ISI’s Director General of Analysis, Major General Shahid Amir Afsar. Afsar previously served as Pakistan’s defense attache in Beijing.

The visit was preceded by the visit of a six-member Bangladeshi delegation to Pakistan. The delegation headed by Lt Gen Kamrul Hasan, the Principal Staff Officer of the Armed Forces Division, met the top military leadership of Pakistan including Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir in Rawalpindi during January 13-18. In December last year, Chief Advisor of Bangladesh Government Muhammad Yunus and Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif met in Cairo during the D-8 Summit.

The last publicly acknowledged visit by a senior ISI official to Bangladesh was in 2009 when the ISI sent an officer to help Dhaka quell a revolt in the Bangladeshi paramilitary force.

ISI met ULFA commander Paresh Barua

As per a report of News18, the ISI officials also met Paresh Barua, the commander of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) who is imprisoned in Bangladesh. ULFA is an armed separatist military organisation operating in the Northeast state of Assam, India. It seeks to establish an independent state of Assam through armed struggle. Notably, the training camps of the ULFA have also cropped up recently around the Kashalong Reserve Forest area along the Maslong River in Bangladesh which is close to the Indian border. Camps have also been set up in the Baghaichari sub-district and Dighinallah areas. These camps were shut down under the Sheikh Hasina government.

Bangladesh-ISI relations came to a halt during the Hasina government

The recent military engagements between the two Islamic countries have particularly alarmed Delhi since under the ousted Sheikh Hasina government, Bangladesh’s military engagements with Pakistan had come to a halt. The Hasina government dealt with the ISI’s interference in Bangladesh with an iron hand. The Hasina government prosecuted several people on the charges of colluding with Pakistan during the 1971 War of Liberation.

This resulted in ISI’s covert operations, political interference, and support for extremist groups coming to an end. However, after the overthrow of the Hasina government, the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has been showing an inclination towards Pakistan. The sudden revival of military contacts between the countries has naturally caused concern in India.

India-Bangladesh relations spiraling downwards since the ouster of the Hasina government

The relations between India and Bangladesh have been facing a downturn ever since the Sheikh Hasina government was overthrown on August 5, 2024. Protests that started as a ‘student protest’ turned into a violent revolution in which Hindu minorities in the country were persecuted. Sheikh Hasina had to flee Bangladesh. She sought refuge in India and has been staying here since her request for asylum was declined by the UK.

The new regime led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus that took over after the Hasina government has been unsuccessful in curbing violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh as well as in restoring normalcy. The interim government has also been showing a hostile attitude towards India while fostering military relations with Pakistan.

Recently, Bangladesh vehemently opposed the fencing work being carried out by the Border Security Force (BSF) of India along the Indo-Bangladesh border to curb the growing problem of infiltration. On the other hand, Bangladesh constructed a permanent river embankment at zero point along the border in Tripura without informing India which was in clear violation of the Indira-Mujib Treaty.

What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) – the rare neurological disorder which is gripping Pune

OpIndia Staff
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What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) – the rare neurological disorder which is gripping Pune

Pune in Maharashtra has recorded a total of 73 cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare and alarming neurological disorder. Reports suggest that there has been a spike in the number of cases, including six newly suspected cases. The surge in the number of cases has prompted authorities to intensify investigations into the unusual rise.

According to the Maharashtra State Health Department, there are 47 men and 26 women suffering from the disease. Out of these, 14 are currently on ventilator support. So far, no GBS-induced death has been reported. Generally, 1-2 cases of GBS are reported every month in large hospitals of the city.

What is GBS – The Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a rare condition in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks part of the peripheral nervous system. It is triggered by pathogenic bacteria Campylobacter jejuni. Other known triggers are infections from other viruses including dengue, chikungunya, or bacteria can trigger the disease. The disease leads to muscle weakness, loss of sensation in the limbs, and, in some cases, severe difficulties in breathing or swallowing. The disease affects the nerves responsible for muscle movement and those that carry sensations like pain, temperature, and touch. Though the condition is more common in adults, especially men, it can affect individuals of all ages.

The disease spreads through contaminated food or water. Despite its severity, health officials have assured the public that GBS does not pose a risk of becoming an epidemic or pandemic. Recently, authorities have detected the pathogen in stool samples from multiple hospitals which added to evidence linking the bacteria to the outbreak. Boiling water before drinking and cooking food properly, especially meat like pork etc can save general public from getting infected.

Authorities investigate sudden surge in cases

Responding to the spike in the number of GBS cases, the state health department has formed a Rapid Response Team (RRT) to investigate the cause. The RRT has been working closely with local health authorities and the Pune Municipal Corporation to monitor and control the situation. Many patients reported diarrhea or respiratory symptoms in the initial stages of the onset.

The Central Surveillance Unit (CSU) of the Union Health Ministry has also taken congnisance of the rising number of cases. The ministry will soon send a team of doctors to assist local authorities. Joint Director of epidemiology department, Dr Babita Kamalapurkar, has briefed the CSU about the patient’s profiles.

Ongoing surveillance and public outreach

Health authorities are reportedly proactively surveying the affected areas. Several surveys have been conducted across various wards, including the Pune Municipal Corporation, Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, and surrounding rural regions. So far, 7,200 homes have been surveyed, with over 1,900 houses surveyed within the PMC limits and more than 3,500 homes in rural areas.

Bangladesh: Extremists murder Hindu student, shoot him in the head and flee the crime scene

OpIndia Staff
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Bangladesh: Extremists murder Hindu student, shoot him in the head and flee the crime scene

On Friday (24th January) night, a Hindu youth named Arnab Kumar Sarkar was shot dead by extremists at the Tentultala intersection in Khulna city of Bangladesh.

The victim was 26 years old and a master’s student at Khulna University. The incident occurred when Arnab was drinking tea on his motorcycle near a tea stall.

At that time, a group of bike-born extremists opened fire at the Hindu student and fled the crime scene. Arnab suffered a bullet injury to his head.

The chief of Sonadanga Police Station Shafiqul Islam stated, “Locals quickly rushed to his aid and transported him to City Medical College Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by doctors.”

The Deputy Commissioner of Khulna City Police (southern division) Md Moniruzzaman has referred to the attackers as ‘terrorists’, adding that an investigation was initiated to determine the motive behind the murder of the Hindu student.

Arnab Kumar Sarkar is now survived by his parents.

Attack on Hindus in Bangladesh since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina

OpIndia has been vetting and reporting cases of atrocities on Hindus since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina on 5th August 2024.

There have been at least 205 attacks on Hindu temples, shops and businesses within 3 days of the fall of Dhaka.

We previously exposed how Muslim students have forced as many as 60 Hindu teachers, professors and government officials to resign from their positions.

Human rights activist and exiled Bangladeshi blogger, Asad Noor, has recently revealed that the minority community is now being coerced into joining ‘Jamaat-e-Islami’.

On 6th September, a procession of Hindu devotees carrying the idol of Lord Ganesha came under attack in the Kadam Mubarak area in Chittagong city of Bangladesh.

Ahead of the Durga Puja celebrations, a radical Muslim man named Yasin Mia vandalised the idols of Goddess Durga and other Hindu deities in Gouripur town in the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh on 25th September.

In the latest series of attacks, idols of Goddess Durga and other Hindu deities were vandalised at the Rishipara Barwari Puja Mandap and the Manikadi Palpara Barwari Pujamandap on 28th September and 1st October respectively.

The attacks were carried out in Sujanagar upazila in Pabna district in Rajshahi Division of Bangladesh. While a total of 4 idols were defaced at the Rishipara Barwari Puja Mandap, another 5 Hindu idols were destroyed at the Manikadi Palpara Barwari Pujamandap.

On 3rd October, 7 idols of Hindu deities were destroyed at the Gopinath Jiur Akhara Durga Puja mandap in Kishoreganj, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh.

On 5th November, the Hindu community came under attack from police and law enforcement authorities in Hazari Goli in Chittagong city of Bangladesh.

On 29th November, a violent Muslim mob attacked Hindu minorities and vandalised 3 temples in Patharghata in Chittagong district of Bangladesh.

The Hindu religious sites that the Muslims targeted included the Shantaneshwari Matri Temple, the Shoni Temple, and Shantaneshwari Kalibari Temple. The attack took place immediately after the conclusion of Jumma Namaz. 

On 30th November, a prominent Hindu journalist named Munni Saha was arrested by the police from Karwan Bazar in Dhaka city of Bangladesh.

A group of extremists attacked the Mahashmashan Kali Mata Mandir, vandalised 7 idols of deities and stole gold ornaments on 13th December 2024.

On 19th December, a Muslim man identified as Alal Uddin vandalised an idol at the Polashkanda Kali Temple and then attempted to create a fake alibi. The incident occurred in Haluaghat upazila in the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh.

Another 37-year-old Muslim man identified as Azharul vandalised several idols of deities in Haluaghat Upazila in the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh.

The recent arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Prabhu and his aides, attempts at banning Hindu organisation ISKCON and stiffling Hindu protests with cases of ‘sedition’ highlight systematic persecution under the interim government of Muhammad Yunus.

There have been multiple instances of attacks on Hindus under the pretext of ‘blasphemy.’ The recent cases of Hridoy Pal, Utsab Mandal, Partha Biswas Pintu, Akash Das, Pranta Talukder and Utsab Kumar Gian are shining examples of targeted persecution.

So far, there have been many attempts to downplay violence against Hindus as ‘fake‘, ‘exaggerated‘ or ‘politically motivated‘.

NHAI orders action in the toll plaza scam, three accused arrested by the UP STF

OpIndia Staff
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NHAI orders action in the toll plaza scam, three accused arrested by the UP STF

After the Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh uncovered a massive toll tax scam involving 42 toll plazas across 14 states across the country, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) ordered action in connection with the scam on Friday. In its order dated January 24, 2025, the NHAI asked all the Regional Offices of all the toll plazas to take necessary action to check fraudulent practices and submit an ‘Action Taken Report’ to the CO Division.

The UP STF unearthed a huge scam on Tuesday in which crores of Rupees were siphoned off by diverting the money paid in toll tax. The full extent of the losses incurred by the government in countrywide scam is not yet known. An estimate of the total loss can be gauged from the fact that the NHAI suffered losses of Rs 45,000 daily at the Atraula toll plaza of Mirzapur. The STF raided the Atraula toll plaza on Tuesday and later arrested three persons named Alok Kumar Singh (Varanasi), Manish Mishra (Madhya Pradesh) and Rajiv Kumar Mishra (Prayagraj) in connection with the fraud. The STF arrested Alok Kumar Singh on Wednesday near Babatpur airport in Varanasi. From the information received after interrogating Singh, the STF arrested the other two culprits from Shivgulam toll plaza on Mirzapur highway.

Scammers developed an illegal software system to divert toll

Alok Kumar, a 35-year-old MCA graduate, allegedly masterminded the entire scam. He created an illegal software system to divert the toll collections to private bank accounts belonging to his gang members. This software targeted vehicles without FASTag or with insufficient FASTag balance which are typically charged double the toll. Singh reportedly created an unauthorised program that ran parallel to the NHAI official software and generated receipts resembling the authentic NHAI receipts which made it difficult to detect the fraud. He was assisted by toll plaza managers and IT professionals in installing the software on toll booth systems.

The other two arrested persons Manish Mishra and Rajiv Kumar Mishra worked as a toll booth employee and a toll manager respectively. The toll diverted by the illegal software system was shared among Singh and his accomplices including toll managers. Singh reportedly admitted to installing the software system at 42 toll plazas. Out of these 42 toll plazas, 9 are in Uttar Pradesh, 6 are in Madhya Pradesh, 4 each are in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh, 3 each are in Maharashtra and Jharkhand, 2 each are in Punjab, Assam and West Bengal, and 1 each in Jammu, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana.

Laptops, printers and other electronics recovered from the accused

The UP STF seized two laptops, a printer, five mobile phones, cash worth Rs 19, 580 and an MUV. The STF is interrogating the culprits and examining the seized gadgets. According to Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), STF, Vinod Kumar Singh, Alok Kumar Singh monitored transactions and details of non-FASTag vehicles through his laptop which had direct access to the illegal software. He added that legally 50 per cent of the tolls collected from non-FASTag vehicles should go to the NHAI but the culprits diverted this amount to their private bank accounts. Alok Kumar Singh had been operating the scam for the past two years with the help of his other two accomplices Sawant and Sukhantu who managed the system in the 42 toll plazas. To avoid suspicion, Singh made sure that only 5 per cent of tolls from non-FASTag vehicles were registered in the NHAI’s software and the rest was marked as exempted or unregistered.

Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria says Gautam Adani is dedicating his wealth for Sanatan Dharma, not pandering to any ‘ecosystem’

OpIndia Staff
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Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria says Gautam Adani is dedicating his wealth for Sanatan Dharma, not pandering to any ‘ecosystem’

Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria on Friday praised Adani group chairman Gautam Adani for his service at Maha Kumbh Mela at Prayagraj. Kaneria said that Adani is dedicating his wealth and resources to serving Sanatan Dharma, not pandering to any ‘ecosystem.’

He said that this is the reason why forces around the world are working relentlessly to bring this man down, in an apparent reference to the attack on the Adani group by leftist media houses and the ‘reports’ by now-defunct Hindenburg Research.

Danish Kaneria added, “As someone from a Gujarati Hindu family, I take immense pride in having you as part of our community.” The leg-spinner posted the comments on X quoting a tweet by Gautam Adani talking about the Adani group’s Mahaprasad and Aarti Sangrah distribution services at the Kumbh Mela.

The Adani group chief said, “We are blessed to have the holy opportunity to serve millions of devotees on the divine occasion of Maha Kumbh. Service is sadhana, service is prayer and service is God. May the blessings of Maa Ganga remain on all of us.” He used the hashtag #SevaHiSaadhnaHai in the tweet.

Gautam Adani also posted a video with information regarding the Maha Kumbh and his company’s services offering at the event. It said that Adani Group and Gital Press are distributing 1 crore Aarti Sangrah at the Mela.

Moreover, the company has collaborated with ISCKON to serve Mahaprasad to 1 lakh visitors to the mela daily. The two organisations is offering Mahaprasad Seva to the devotees during the entire duration of the Maha Kumbh Mela, from January 13 to February 26.

Gautam Adani attended the Maha Kumbh Mela on Tuesday and offered prayers at Triveni Sangam. He also visited the camp of the ISKCON temple at the fair and helped cook Mahaprasad.

The growing menace of Christian evangelism: How a UP man was taken to a church in Jalandhar and forcibly converted on the pretext of being treated for an illness

Aditi
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The growing menace of Christian evangelism: How a UP man was taken to a church in Jalandhar and forcibly converted on the pretext of being treated for an illness

A man from Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh became a victim of religious conversion while seeking treatment for a problem of cervical spondylitis. He was taken to Jalandhar where he was forced to convert. The victim Virendra Kumar Divakar is a resident of Jafarpur Mahawa in Kaushami. He has been suffering from cervical spondylitis for a long time. His condition did not improve despite years of treatment.

The victim was taken to church on the pretext of treating his disease

As per reports, one day Divakar came across a person named Shankarlal Chaurasia from the Manjhanpur police station area. Chaurasia allegedly trapped Divakar by promising to get his illness cured. He took Divakar to Jalandhar, Punjab, in May 2024 on the pretext of taking him to a hospital. Instead, Chaurasia took Divakar to a church on the Khambra Nakodar Road in Jalandhar. Divakar’s wife also accompanied him. Divakar alleged that on reaching the church, he was forced to convert to Christianity. He alleged the involvement of several other people in forcing him to convert.

The victim was offered money to convert

According to Divakar, in exchange for conversion, he was promised payment of one thousand rupees every month and a sum of Rs 5 lakh after returning to his home. When he did not receive any money even after six months, Divakar realised that he had been conned into converting. On January 18, Divakar went to confront Chaurasia at his house. But Chaurasia did not listen to him and abused and beat him up.

Police filed a case and arrested the accused

A case was registered by the police on the victim’s complaint. The police arrested the accused near Tannapur village. Around 76 pamphlets and posters containing inflammatory remarks and Christian religious texts were recovered from the accused, as informed by Inspector Sanjay Tiwari. Additional SP Rajesh Singh said that an investigation has been going on in the matter.

The alarming rise of evangelism in India

The case underscores the alarming rise of Christian evangelism in India, especially in rural India, where unsuspecting and uninformed locals are often hoodwinked into embracing Christianity by employing a slew of ingenious and age-old measures, including threats, psychological manipulation, false promises of social emancipation, financial inducements and many more.

A recent report published in Dainik Jagran revealed that in just the last 2 years in Punjab, more than 3 lakh 50 thousand people have converted their religion and become Christians. According to the reports, in Punjab, only in the year 2023-24, 1.5 lakh people converted, while during 2024-25, two lakh people changed their religion.

In November 2024, a report shone light on the shocking conversion activities underway at the Calvary Church in Andhra Pradesh, which reportedly converted over 3,000 Hindus every month. The report sparked outrage among locals, following which the Andhra Pradesh government ordered its demolition.

Similarly, in December 2024, it came to the fore that Christian missionaries in Uttar Pradesh were using the “Madhesi conversion model” from Nepal, targeting economically disadvantaged groups with promises of miraculous healing and financial gain. This strategy, which has been successful in Nepal, involves Korean pastors and funding from foreign countries, raising concerns about cultural identity and national unity. It caused alarm in Uttar Pradesh and spurred the authorities into taking action against conversion ‘crusaders’.

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