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Reserve Bank of India raises UPI Lite wallet limit from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000, per transaction limit increased to ₹1,000

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Reserve Bank of India raises UPI Lite wallet limit from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000, per transaction limit increased to ₹1,000

The Reserve Bank of India on Wednesday revised the wallet limit for the UPI Lite from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000.

As per the new rules introduced today, the upper transaction limit for UPI Lite under offline framework has been increased from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per transaction.

“The offline framework has been updated and the enhanced limits for UPI Lite shall be Rs 1,000 per transaction, with Rs 5,000 being the total limit at any point in time,” the RBI circular added.

The framework earlier prescribed an upper limit of Rs 500 for digital payment transaction under offline framework and a total limit of Rs 2,000 for a payment instrument at any point in time.

The enhanced transaction and total limits for UPI Lite are set to take effect immediately, providing a significant boost to users who rely on this mode of payment for day-to-day purchases. The RBI has emphasized that this update aims to further streamline digital payment solutions while ensuring security and ease of use for consumers.

The circular has been issued under the authority of Section 18 read with Section 10(2) of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, and is expected to create a more robust and inclusive digital payment ecosystem in India.

Earlier, On October 9, the RBI announced an increase in transaction limits for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) services, particularly for users of keypad mobile phones.

The announcement was made by RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das during the last policy rates announcement.

The enhanced transaction and total limits for UPI Lite are set to take effect immediately

In October 2024, Unified Payments Interface (UPI) achieved a historic milestone by processing 16.58 billion financial transactions in a single month, underscoring its pivotal role in India’s digital transformation. Launched in 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), UPI has revolutionized the nation’s payment ecosystem by integrating multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application. This system enables seamless fund transfers, merchant payments, and peer-to-peer transactions, offering users flexibility through scheduled payment requests.

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

Afghanistan: Taliban bans women from training to become midwives and nurses in latest diktat amid deteriorating health crisis

OpIndia Staff
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Afghanistan: Taliban bans women from training to become midwives and nurses in latest diktat amid deteriorating health crisis

Afghanistan’s only avenue for women pursuing higher education was essentially cut off when they were told not to return to school in the morning to complete their midwifery and nursing courses. Videos of students sobbing at the news have been circulated online, and five different colleges throughout Afghanistan have reported that the Taliban had ordered them to close the courses for women till further notice.

The shutdown, however, is consistent with the group’s broader stance toward female education, which has prevented adolescent girls from pursuing secondary and postsecondary education since August 2021. According to a director at the well-known international organization Human Rights Watch, the policies will cause women and girls to struggle to get medical attention during childbirth, which will result in their deaths.

Two Ministry of Health insiders confirmed the restriction to BBC Afghan off the record, although no official announcement has been issued. According to sources close to the Taliban’s Ministry of Public Health, they have been instructed to bar female students from attending medical schools until further notice. In several midwifery facilities in various Afghan districts, the restriction is reportedly in effect.

“This is closing one of the very few loopholes that was still left in the Taliban’s ban on education for women and girls but it is also a particularly significant loophole because this will lead to women and girls dying,” stated Heather Barr, interim women’s rights deputy director at Human Rights Watch.

She added, “The Taliban have also banned women from being treated by male healthcare professionals and now what they are doing effectively is cutting off the pipeline of new female healthcare professionals.” She cautioned that the current actions are part of a larger trend in which the Taliban are significantly limiting the lives of women and taking “more and more from them.” The Taliban had stated time and time again that females would be allowed to return to school when many issues were addressed, including making sure the curriculum was “Islamic.” It hasn’t happened yet.

The country’s further education colleges, which offered nursing and midwifery programs, were among the few remaining professions available to women. This is crucial because male medics are not permitted to treat women unless accompanied by a male guardian. This also raises significant concerns because, per the United Nations in 2023, Afghanistan needs 18,000 more midwives to meet its needs.

Afghanistan has one of the highest rates of maternal fatalities worldwide, with an estimated one woman dying every two hours. The ramifications were huge, according to Mariam Aman, assistant editor for the BBC’s Afghan language service. “This immediate ban is impacting around 17,000 female student trainees. You can imagine five years down the line, women will be giving birth at home alone and there will be districts with no midwives and no access to health.”

Currently, women in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan are not allowed to work out at the gym, visit a salon or even worship or speak in public. The Taliban’s education ministry forbade women and girls from attending schools within a month of seizing Kabul. Additionally, the Taliban authorities declared that the females would not be allowed to continue their education past the sixth grade and in December 2022, the prohibition was expanded to include colleges and universities.

Assam govt extends beef ban to hotels, restaurants and all other public places

OpIndia Staff
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Assam govt extends beef ban to hotels, restaurants and all other public places

The Assam government on Wednesday expanded the beef ban in the state and imposed a ban on serving beef in hotels, restaurants, public functions and other public places. Earlier, beef was banned in the state within a 5 km radius of religious places of religions that ban beef.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the decision at a press conference held after a cabinet meeting of the Assam cabinet held in New Delhi. He said that the decision to expand the beef ban in Assam was finalised at the cabinet meeting.

The cabinet decision states, “To further strengthen the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, Cabinet has approved banning public consumption of beef in hotels, restaurants, community gatherings, etc.”

The CM said at the press conference, “In Assam, we have decided that beef will not be served in any restaurant or hotel, nor will it be allowed in any public function or public place. Earlier, our decision was to stop eating beef near temples, but now we have expanded it to the entire state. You will not be able to eat it in any community or public space, hotel, or restaurant.”

While beef is not completely banned in Assam, given its significant Muslim and Christian population, the govt in 2021 had banned it near religious places of religions that don’t allow consumption of beef. As per the Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021, the sale or purchase of beef and beef products were banned in within a radius of 5 kms of any temple or other religious institutions belonging to Hindu, Jain, Sikh and other non-beef eating communities.

The CM said that govt has been successful in implementing the existing beef ban around religious places.

The decision to expand the ban to all public places in the state comes days after the Congress party had accused BJP of service beef to voters of Samaguri assembly constituency, after BJP won the bye-election. Responding to the allegations, CM Sarma had said that if the Congress party requests in writing, he will bring a law to ban beef completely in the state.

However, as per the today’s cabinet decision, beef has been banned public places like hotels, restaurants and public functions, while no ban has been imposed of consumption of beef in private houses.

Two Moradabad jail officials suspended for allowing Samajwadi Party leaders to meet Sambhal violence accused

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Two Moradabad jail officials suspended for allowing Samajwadi Party leaders to meet Sambhal violence accused

On Tuesday (3rd December), the Yogi Adityanath government suspended jailer Vikram Yadav and his deputy Praveen Singh, a day after a group of Samajwadi Party leaders visited the Moradabad jail in Uttar Pradesh to meet with the accused who were charged with involvement in the Sambhal riots.

The two officers suspended have been identified as jailer Vikram Singh Yadav and his subordinate Praveen Singh from Moradabad prison. Director General (Prison Administration and Reform Services) PV Ramasastry stated that a report against jail superintendent PP Singh has been forwarded to the state government for action because he is a Group A officer. He added that the action against the said officers was taken after Deputy Inspector General (prisons) Kuntal Kishore conducted an investigation and concluded that the jail manual was flouted.

On Monday, the SP delegation, which included former Parliament member ST Hasan, Nawab Jaan Khan, and Chaudhary Samarpal Singh, visited the Moradabad jail to meet with 27 accused for their role in the Sambhal riots. The Samajwadi Party leaders claimed that the accused were assaulted and that they would provide legal assistance to the accused rioters.

Subsequently, the CM Yogi Adityanath-led government demanded a report from Moradabad District Magistrate Anuj Singh on this matter. After the report was submitted, action was taken against the concerned officers. The investigation indicated that the Samajwadi Party delegation was permitted to meet with the jailed accused in violation of the Jail Manual, which requires visitors to provide slips. In his defence, PP Singh, Senior Superintendent of Moradabad Jail, stated that MPs and legislators are usually allowed to speak with inmates without slips, and “I only followed it.”

Court-ordered survey at Jama Masjid in Sambhal and violence that erupted on 24th November

On 19th November, a court-mandated survey was conducted at Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. The court ordered the survey in response to a petition filed by Supreme Court Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, and seven co-plaintiffs, asserting that the mosque occupies the site of a temple dedicated to Bhagwan Kalki. The site in question is a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act of 1904. The survey was carried out under the supervision of the Advocate Commission. A heavy police force was deployed in the area to ensure the survey proceeded peacefully.

However, on 24th November, during the second round of court-mandated survey at Jama Masjid, Islamist mobsters gathered outside the mosque and engaged in violence. They pelted stones at police, opened fire at police personnel and set ablaze vehicles and shops. At least 20 police personnel were injured during violence and four mobsters were killed in the mayhem, likely from illegal guns carried by rioters.

In the aftermath of the Sambhal violence on 24th November, police have clarified that the deaths of three individuals occurred due to firing by rioters, not by the police. Post-mortem reports revealed that two victims were shot with country-made pistols, while the 315-bore bullet was found inside the body of another victim, a type not used by Uttar Pradesh Police. Sambhal SP Krishna Kumar Bishnoi stated that the police initially fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the mob but were fired upon by rioters.

During the survey, however, Muslims living in the area gathered outside the Jama Masjid and raised religious slogans. The District Magistrate of Sambhal confirmed that the survey was completed in around two hours and stated that a report would be submitted to the Civil Court, which will review it on the next date of hearing, 29th November 2024. OpIndia accessed the petition filed by the plaintiffs in the case.

As of now, the Supreme Court of India has stayed the hearing in the District Court, Sambhal, in response to plea filed by the Muslim side. Furthermore, the survey report submitted by the Advocate Commissioner has been ordered to be sealed and not to be opened till an order is passed by the High Court in the matter. Next hearing in the matter will be in January 2025. A judicial committee was formed by CM Yogi Adityanath to investigate the cause of the violence.

OpIndia’s detailed report on the petition filed at the court can be checked here.

JeM chief Masood Azhar cites ‘dream’ by Taliban’s Haqqani to rally support for jihad in Kashmir, Haqqani dismisses it saying ‘no knowledge of any such dream’

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JeM chief Masood Azhar cites ‘dream’ by Taliban’s Haqqani to rally support for jihad in Kashmir, Haqqani dismisses it saying ‘no knowledge of any such dream’

In his first public appearance in over two decades, the founder of the terror outfit Jaish-e-Muhammad, Maulana Masood Azhar, tried to position himself as a close aide of top Afghan Taliban leaders and rally support for his renewed jihadist operations against India. But he was promptly cut to size by Sirajuddin Haqqani, an Afghan Taliban leader, who rubbished his fanciful imaginations aimed at aggrandizing himself in Pakistan’s terror landscape.

Azhar, who spoke for over 66 minutes during a public event held most likely last month, has been desperately trying to raise funds for his terror group’s activities in Kashmir. In the speech that was released online, the JeM chief tried to reinforce his credibility and influence by highlighting his alleged relationship with top Afghani Taliban leaders.

In his speech, Azhar claimed that Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Afghan Taliban’s deputy leader, had shared a dream with him, which he presented as a significant endorsement. Azhar seems to be leveraging this narrative to strengthen his standing within Pakistan’s militant networks.

While Masood hoped presenting himself as a reliable ally of senior Afghan Taliban figures would raise the morale of his followers and help them with the belief of achieving something similar in Kashmir as the Taliban managed to do in Kabul in August 2021, Haqqani’s reported dismissal of the JeM chief’s claims has thrown spanner in the works for the terrorist who seems to be trying to gain a foothold in a rapidly dynamic terror landscape in Pakistan.

A journalist quoted a media associate close to Sirajuddin Haqqani, dismissing the imaginary notions peddled by Masood Azhar in his recent public appearance. Sirajuddin Haqqani has categorically denied Masood Azhar’s claim, dismissing it entirely and stating he does not know of any such dream, the journalist tweeted quoting the Talibani aide.

Even though the Taliban has snubbed the JeM chief, the episode nevertheless highlights how Pakistan has been a sanctuary to terrorists operating against India, especially for their mythical goal of “liberating” Kashmir—a north Indian state that has been amongst the worst hit by the menace of terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

Google to set up its fifth Safety Engineering Centre in Hyderabad, signs agreement with Telangana government

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Google to set up its fifth Safety Engineering Centre in Hyderabad, signs agreement with Telangana government

The GSEC in Hyderabad will be the first of its kind in the APAC region after Tokyo and only the fifth globally, with similar facilities in Dublin, Munich, and Malaga, according to a statement.

This GSEC is a specialised international cybersecurity hub designed to play a crucial role in developing advanced security and online safety products tailored for the Indian context.

The centre will focus on cutting-edge research, AI-driven security solutions, and creating a collaborative platform for leading experts and researchers in cybersecurity. It also aims to foster skill development, boost employment, and enhance cybersecurity capabilities in India, the Telangana CMO stated.

The release further highlighted that Google, which already has its largest employee base in Hyderabad, is currently constructing its biggest office globally outside its headquarters in the city.

The GSEC was first announced on October 3, 2024, during the Google for India 2024 Conclave, sparking intense competition among states to secure this investment.

“We are very proud that Google has chosen Hyderabad for setting up the GSEC. This partnership is a testament to Hyderabad’s position as a leading IT and innovation hub in the country and the world,” said Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy after the partnership was formalised.

Welcoming Royal Hansen, CIO of Google, Revanth Reddy remarked, “Telangana has always been at the forefront of digital skill development. Hyderabad has been the epicentre of IT/ITES development globally. Our city is already home to five of the most valuable tech companies in the world–Alphabet (Google), Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and Meta (Facebook). With this partnership, I hope we can address global cybersecurity challenges effectively from Hyderabad.”

During discussions with the Google team, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy emphasised Hyderabad’s leadership in cybersecurity initiatives in India. This leadership, he noted, is underscored by the state’s proactive approach in forging strategic partnerships with global technology leaders.

The establishment of GSEC in Hyderabad is expected to be transformative for the city and the state, attracting top-tier safety engineers, local policy experts, and fostering collaborations with academic institutions and government partners to address India’s unique cybersecurity challenges, the release added.

The initiative will enhance the digital safety of businesses, government institutions, and citizens while creating thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities.

Telangana’s collaboration with Google aligns with its broader vision of nurturing a thriving technological ecosystem that supports research, training, and innovation in ICT.

As part of its ongoing digital transformation, the Telangana Fiber (T-Fiber) initiative aims to connect over 47 lakh rural households. This partnership with Google will ensure the digital safety of these homes through secure Android TV/Smart TV systems. GSEC’s collaboration is set to strengthen these efforts, ensuring a secure and connected future for Telangana’s citizens.

The release described the partnership as a significant step towards boosting Telangana’s cybersecurity capabilities, fostering innovation, and setting global benchmarks in digital safety.

The GSEC will not only enhance Telangana’s digital infrastructure but also promote academic training and research, aligning with the Chief Minister’s vision of creating a pool of world-class cybersecurity experts in Hyderabad.

Royal Hansen, CIO of Google, said, “We are excited about establishing the GSEC in Hyderabad, a city uniquely positioned to become the global hub for safety engineering, including cyber and digital security. With this partnership, Hyderabad can emerge as a global leader in this critical domain and address worldwide security needs. The shared vision of excellence between Google and CM Revanth Reddy holds great promise for further collaborations.”

CM Revanth Reddy expressed gratitude to Royal Hansen for his support and participation in this landmark event. He also extended thanks to Arijit Sarkar (VP Global Google Tech, Hyderabad), Sreenivasa Reddy (Managing Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google India, Delhi), Mangla Seshadri (Senior Director and Head – Global Cybersecurity, Hyderabad), and Apurva Chamaria (Head of Startups for Google) for their contributions to making this partnership a reality.

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

Sambhal violence: 33 accused have been sent to jail, 400 identified, says DM Rajendra Pensiya

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Sambhal violence: 33 accused have been sent to jail, 400 identified, says DM Rajendra Pensiya

Following violence in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal during a mosque survey, District Magistrate Rajendra Pensiya announced on Wednesday that 33 people have been sent to jail, and over 400 individuals have been identified.

Speaking to ANI, DM Pensiya urged people to avoid visiting the area until December 10.

“So far, 33 people have been sent to jail. Security remains in place in Sambhal, and full vigilance is being maintained. More than 400 individuals have been identified. We have requested everyone to refrain from visiting until December 10 due to the sensitivity of the situation,” he said.

Sambhal Superintendent of Police (SP) KK Bishnoi reassured that the situation in the area is currently peaceful.

“The administration and police have worked diligently to maintain peace since the incident occurred. Presently, 10 companies of PAC and RAF are deployed for daily patrolling and to ensure peace at key locations. In view of the District Magistrate’s order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), we appeal to public representatives to cooperate in maintaining peace until December 10. The situation will be reviewed after that date to determine whether normalcy has been restored, and further decisions will be taken accordingly,” SP Bishnoi said.

Earlier today, Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and other Congress leaders were stopped by police at the Ghazipur border while attempting to visit violence-hit Sambhal. The delegation subsequently returned to Delhi.

Commuters at the Ghazipur border raised slogans against Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday as traffic slowed due to barricades related to his attempted visit to Sambhal. A scuffle also broke out between Congress workers and commuters on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, causing massive traffic congestion.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi expressed his willingness to forgo his convoy and travel to Sambhal alone under police supervision. However, authorities advised him to return after a few days, a move he criticised as unconstitutional and a violation of the rights of the Leader of Opposition.

“We are trying to go to Sambhal, but the police are not allowing it. As Leader of the Opposition, I have the right to visit, but they are stopping me. I am willing to go alone or under police escort, but they refused. They asked us to return after a few days. This is a violation of the rights of the Leader of Opposition and the Constitution. We just want to visit Sambhal, meet the people, and see what happened. My constitutional right is being denied. This is the new India–a country undermining the Constitution and eroding Ambedkar’s legacy. We will continue to fight,” Rahul Gandhi said.


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

Delhi HC dismisses PIL against Navjot Sidhu for saying that Ayurvedic diet helped his wife in recovering from stage-4 cancer, says nobody forced to follow the views

OpIndia Staff
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Delhi HC dismisses PIL against Navjot Sidhu for saying that Ayurvedic diet helped his wife in recovering from stage-4 cancer, says nobody forced to follow the views

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the claims of Navjot Singh Sidhu that his wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu recovered from stage 4 cancer with the help of an Ayurvedic diet plan. The PIL had also sought removal of social media posts by the cricketer-turned-politician about the same.

The petition had alleged that such claims might promote misinformation about cancer treatment, potentially deterring patients from modern medical care. However, a Bench of Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela said that Sidhu was expressing his personal opinion and his freedom of speech cannot be curtailed.

“He is just voicing his opinion. He has later on said he was advised by the doctors. It is his freedom of speech. You counter his claims by your free speech. We believe in freedom of speech in this country. This is not our domain,” Chief Justice Manmohan said.

Navjot Singh Sidhu had earlier credited his wife’s recovery to a strict Ayurvedic-inspired diet, which included herbal drinks, use of herbs like neem and turmeric, and fasting. He has said that the diet chart facilitated the treatment of his wife, that that is why he is releasing the diet plan for the benefit of the people.

Doctors had said that Navjot Kaur Sidhu had only 3% chance of recovery from her stage 4 cancer, but medical treatment along with lifestyle and diet changes treated her condition completely. Sidhu had said after extensive research and consultations, they had zeroed on an Ayurveda-based diet plan for his wife, which accelerated her recovery.

He had said, “We learnt that cancer inflammation comes from milk, carbohydrates like wheat, refined maida, refined sugar, refined oil, milk products and aerated drinks. It was totally cut off from her diet. She was put on ancient ‘desi’ remedies like warm water with lemon, neem, raw turmeric, garlic, etc.”

Sidhu said a positron emission tomography (PET) scan was conducted on his wife, which testified that she was clinically cancer-free now.

Sidhu’s comments on the Ayurvedic diet plan sparked criticism from some people who alleged that claims made in the video as unscientific and lacked in medical credibility. Several doctors criticised him for the comments, asserting that his wife recovered due to modern medical treatments and the traditional diets had no role in it. Dr. C S Pramesh, director of Tata Memorial Hospital, criticized Sidhu’s claims as unscientific on social media. He said that medical treatments like surgery and chemotherapy cured Mrs Sidhu, not the Ayurvedic dietary regimen.

Responding to this, Sidhu later clarified that his wife underwent comprehensive medical treatment alongside the Ayurvedic diet plan, which complemented her overall recovery process.

In a video shared on 25 November, while Sidhu said that doctors provided the primary treatment, the Ayurvedic diet was adopted and implemented on the advice of doctors and experts. Sidhu’s wife also asserted that the Ayurvedic diet plan helped her reduce weight, which helped in her treatment of cancer.

He also shared the diet plan on social media for the benefit of others.

Following this, a petition was filed at the Delhi High Court seeking directions for a scientific study on the claims made by Sidhu and his wife, and the removal of the social media posts by Sidhu on the claims on Meta and X. The petitioner also sought directions to Sidhu to provide his wife’s medical records regarding the cancer diagnosis and the alleged recovery through the diet plan.

The other demands made in the plea were directions to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to frame guidelines for regulating the dissemination of unverified medical or health-related claims on digital platforms and social media, and directions to the Indian Council of Medical Research and the All India Institute of Ayurveda to initiate an investigation into Sidhu’s claims.

However, the high court has rejected the PIL, asserting that regulating personal medical narratives was beyond its scope. The court added that if the petitioner does not agree with Sidhu’s views, he need not subscribe to them. The court said, “He is not asking you to follow it. He is just saying this is what he did.”

Defending the freedom of speech of Sidhu, Chief Justice Manmohan said, “We have a proper mechanism to deal with such cases. We cannot put fear of contempt on freedom of speech.” The court stated that disagreements should be addressed through discourse, not legal suppression. “Counter free speech by free speech and not by curtailing his free speech under the fear of legal action or contempt. We still have freedom of speech in this country,” the bench stated and advised the petitioner to engage in open dialogue if he disagreed with Sidhu’s views instead.

The court also advised the petitioner to file a petition against the manufacturing of cigarettes and alcohol instead, saying that he would agree that these are not healthy at all.

Following the court’s verdict, the petitioner chose to withdraw the petition.

2002 Mumbai Serial Blasts convict Saquib Nachan approaches Supreme Court against government declaring ISIS as terrorist organization

OpIndia Staff
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2002 Mumbai Serial Blasts convict Saquib Nachan approaches Supreme Court against government declaring ISIS as terrorist organization

Saquib Nachan, the mastermind of the Mumbai serial explosions in 2002 and 2003, has petitioned the Indian Supreme Court in relation to ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), reported Live Law. He has submitted an appeal to overturn official announcements designating the terror outfit and related groups as terrorist organizations. Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan heard the case on 4th December after he made a virtual appearance in front of the bench from his prison. Justice Kant told Nachan to employ an amicus.

The bench stated, “You can appear online from jail. If you want to add something, we will allow you.” It added, “We will ask jail authorities to allow you to meet the amicus,” when Nachan gave his consent. He was named by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2023 as the primary suspect and leader of the ISIS module. He is attributed with administering the “bayath,” or “oath of allegiance to the Khalifa of ISIS,” to young people who were joining the terrorist group.

He was found guilty of the Mumbai Blasts in March 2016 and was released in November 2017 after less than two years because he had been “disciplined” while inside. As a terrorist since 1991, he has also been charged with fighting alongside other Mujahideen (terrorists) during the Afghan Jihad and transferring Indian Muslims to Pakistan for terrorist training.

Nachan was one of 15 terrorists nabbed by the NIA last year in relation to operations on over 44 sites in Karnataka and Maharashtra that were part of an ISIS terror plot. The village of Padgha in rural Thane was self-declared as “Al-Sham” by the ISIS terrorists who were caught, a reference to the ISIS “liberated zones” in Syria. He was deemed culpable of participating in a bombing in 2002 that killed hundreds of people at the Mulund, Mumbai Central, and Ville Parle stations in Mumbai.

Nachan, a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom or B Com) graduate who operated a land development company before entering the world of Islamic terrorism, was the former secretary of the outlawed terrorist organization “Students Islamic Movement of India,” which was later renamed the “Indian Mujahideen” to avoid arrests and punitive measures by intelligence agencies. Nachan, the son of a social worker and Zill Parishad chief, possessed enormous swaths of ancestral land in and around Borivali village, Padgah, Thane district.

School bullies sneak into ICU to mock 12-year-old victim they pushed to hang herself, share photos

OpIndia Staff
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School bullies sneak into ICU to mock 12-year-old victim they pushed to hang herself, share photos

In a shocking incident in South Carolina, USA, some middle school bullies first allegedly pushed a 12-year-old girl to end her life by hanging and later went to the ICU and clicked pictures to mock her online. While the girl attempted to end her life on 17th March 2023, the case has made headlines now as the disturbing details of the lawsuit filed by the victim’s mother have emerged.

The victim identified as Kelaia Turner, was subjected to physical and verbal abuse by five of her peers at Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School in Greenville, South Carolina, for more than a year. Kelaia attempted suicide in 2023. As per an NY Post report, she was pronounced dead eight minutes before the doctors revived her.

“She was cool to the touch, blood was coming out of her nose. She had fully committed to what it was that she was attempting to do, and she was gone for 8 whole minutes,” the victim’s mother said.

Consequently, the girl sustained severe brain injury and was in a coma for several weeks. Meanwhile, one of the bullies went to the ICU and photographed the comatose girl, then published them on social media to circulate rumours about her injuries and mock her.

The victim’s mother, Ty Turner, has filed a case against Greenville County Schools, alleging negligence in addressing her bullying and harassment accusations.

The 24-page lawsuit says that the school let bullying continue for a year and a half and that staff and teachers played a role in their daughter’s suicide attempt. It further claims that the bullying began in 2021, when Kelaia began wearing her natural hair to school, prompting students to call her a “roach” and that she resembled “a man.”

Kelaia’s teacher allegedly joined in on the harassment and mockery, acknowledging when her bullies questioned, “Where’s the roach?” when referring to Kelaia Turner. The victim’s mother claimed to have complained to the school authorities seven to nine times, however, no concrete action was taken.

Kelaia’s parents alleged in 2022 that students played an inflammatory YouTube video titled ‘The Black People Song’ loudly in class and that their teacher did not stop them.

Later in the year, bullies allegedly splashed water on the girl’s clothes before throwing them away. After a series of verbal and physical attacks, things worsened when Kelaia got into an altercation with one of her bullies, prompting school administrators to suspend her rather than the bully.

On March 17th, 2023, the victim’s mother found her daughter in her room after she tried suicide. In response to Ty Turner’s allegations against the school staff, the Greenville Country Schools authorities rejected the allegations, claiming that they responded appropriately when harassment complaints were brought up.

The disturbing incident has enraged the netizens who demand stern action against the bullies and the school administration. In this vein, one X user wrote, “Name and show the bullies and their trash parents from Dr. Phinnize J. Fisher Middle School in Greenville. Sue the hospital as well. Kelaia Turner needs all the justice.”

“I hope these demonic children and their shitty ass parents and teachers and school officials get exactly what they gave out and what they allowed to happen,” another one wrote.

Similarly, another one said, “This is truly sick and heartbreaking. These bullies need to go to prison. Justice for Kelaia Turner.”

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