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Aadhaar card for Rs 500, passport, and land deal: How a Rohingya intruder lived undetected in India for over a decade

OpIndia Staff
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Aadhaar card for Rs 500, passport, and land deal: How a Rohingya intruder lived undetected in India for over a decade

A shocking tale of how an illegal immigrant managed to evade authorities and continued to live in India for 10 long years has surfaced from Maharashtra’s Pune. A Rohingya Muslim not only eluded arrest and deportation but also managed to acquire an Aadhar Card, buy land, and even obtain an Indian passport— getting all the necessary documents that an Indian citizen usually has. 

This man, a native of Myanmar, secretly crossed the border into India via Bangladesh and gradually blended in with the local population. He tried his hand at various businesses, purchased land, and even built a house. His secret might have remained undiscovered, but one of his associates eventually exposed him.

The incident came to light in July this year when four Rohingyas, including two men and their wives, were arrested in the Dehu Road Cantonment area of Pune, Maharashtra. During the investigation, it was discovered that one of them, 43-year-old Muzammil Mohammad Amin Khan, had been living in India for more than a decade.

Amin Khan not only settled in Pune but also managed to acquire Indian passports and identification documents for both himself and his wife. Further interrogation revealed a startling backstory. According to police reports, Amin Khan had undergone religious training as a Maulana through an Islamic organization in Myanmar, where he lived with his wife and two daughters.

In December 2012, Amin Khan moved to Bangladesh with his family. While residing in a refugee camp, he struggled to find work. Eventually, he learned about job opportunities in West Bengal. During this period, he separated from his first wife and married another Rohingya woman named Shafika, with whom he later had a son.

Securing an Aadhaar Card for ₹500

In 2013, with the help of agents, Amin Khan illegally crossed the international border and entered West Bengal with his second wife and son. He initially travelled to Kolkata but was unable to secure any suitable work. Eventually, he moved to Pune by train, where he found a job at a private company in Talegaon MIDC. The company even provided him with a room to stay.

To increase his income, Amin Khan started buying children’s clothes from Bhiwandi in the Thane district and selling them on Dehu Road. Realizing the need for identification documents in India, he managed to obtain an Aadhaar number from a shop in Bhiwandi for just ₹500 without providing any supporting documents. Police suspect that local agents in Bhiwandi submitted fake documents at an Aadhaar enrollment centre on his behalf.

Land deal worth ₹80,000 without registration

After acquiring his Aadhaar card, Amin Khan also arranged for his wife’s Aadhaar to be made. Around this time, he met a man named Kamalbhai at a mosque in Pune, who introduced him to the betel nut business. Amin Khan began selling betel nuts in local markets and, as his business stabilized, he started looking for his own house.

During this time, Amin Khan met a woman named Chandrabhaga Kamble on Dehu Road. Amin Khan purchased approximately 600 square feet of land next to Kamble’s house in Gandhi Nagar, Dehu Road, by paying her ₹80,000 in cash. No official documents were prepared for this transaction. Amin Khan took possession of the land and, within a short time, built his own house there.

How Amin Khan was exposed

For nearly a decade, Amin Khan lived undetected with his family, pretending to be an Indian citizen. During this period, his wife gave birth to a daughter, and he even managed to obtain an Indian passport. Amin Khan continued his betel nut business without raising any suspicion.

However, his cover was blown in July 2024. The Pune unit of Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested a 35-year-old Rohingya named Shahid, also known as Sohidul Sheikh, from Dehu Road. Shahid has been living in India with his wife since 2015. During interrogation, he revealed that “Mujammil Mamu,” who also lived on Dehu Road, was originally from Myanmar.

Following this lead, the police raided Amin Khan’s house and arrested him. On July 27, a case was registered against Amin Khan and his wife under the Foreigners Act and Passport Act. According to the FIR, the police seized mobile phones, SIM cards, Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, Bangladeshi currency notes, and passports from their possession.

The family members of Chandrabhaga Kamble, who sold the land to Amin Khan, claimed they were unaware of his foreign origins. The police revealed that Kamble had passed away a few years ago, and the land remained in her name in government records. However, Amin Khan had managed to get the electricity connection for the house registered in his name.

The curious case of Prahlad Iyengar: From Janeu-dhari boy to radical pro-Palestinian activist who got suspended from MIT

Anurag
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The curious case of Prahlad Iyengar: From Janeu-dhari boy to radical pro-Palestinian activist who got suspended from MIT

In November 2024, Indian-origin Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) PhD student Prahlad Iyengar was barred from entering the campus after he authored a pro-Palestine essay in the student magazine Written Revolution. Reportedly, he has been suspended until January 2026, terminating his 5-year NSF fellowship. MIT Coalition Against Apartheid has come out in his support, calling his suspension an attack on “free speech” on campus.

Prahlad is a PhD student in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Notably, in 2023, he was suspended for participating in pro-Palestinian rallies. According to an email sent by MIT Dean of Student Life David Warren Randall to the editors of the magazine, the imagery and language used by Prahlad in the essay titled On Pacifism could be “interpreted as a call for more violent or destructive forms of protests at MIT.”

Notably, the email also cited the imagery used in the essay, which incorporated the logo of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a designated terrorist organisation by the US State Department. The editors of the magazine are facing disciplinary action. Speaking to WBUR, Prahlad called his suspension “a gross violation of free speech.” According to him, the purpose of the magazine was to “put out in our words what we were doing, why we were doing it, and what was happening on campus.”

In a statement, MIT Coalition Against Apartheid said the suspension is effectively expulsion as his academic career would be disrupted. They further added that his readmission would have to be allowed by the same panel that suspended him. They noted, “Prahlad is now appealing his case with the Chancellor to revoke or reduce the unjust sanctions against him. We have launched a campaign to put pressure on MIT’s administration to stop criminalising students who stand on the right side of history. We call on all organisations and institutions of conscience to sign on and stand up to MIT’s repression.”

The essay that led to Prahlad’s suspension

OpIndia examined the essay he wrote for the online magazine, which was started to support the Palestine movement following Israel’s military action against the terrorist organisation Hamas in response to the deadly terrorist attack of 7 October 2023.

In his essay, Prahlad criticised the reliance on pacifist strategies within the Palestinian liberation movement. He raised questions about the implications of protests at institutions, including his own, MIT. He framed his argument around the ineffectiveness of “strategic pacifism,” and his language and framing could be interpreted as advocating for more disruptive and potentially destructive forms of protests on university campuses.

Notably, Prahlad called for a “diversity of tactics” and criticised symbolic protests as ineffective. His essay appeared to challenge “activists” raising their voices for the Palestine movement to consider actions that are not limited to “non-violence,” particularly in institutional settings that are complicit in state power.

According to him, the traditional pacifist approach is limited and does not achieve the anticipated effect as it is “designed into the system we fight against.” He further noted that peaceful rallies and arrests are “a charade, an example of political theatre that does more to assuage the consciences of its attendees than it does to exact a cost from the entity which is enacting the very oppression they protest.”

Interestingly, he opened the floodgates against MIT itself by highlighting its role as a military contractor and contributor to technologies used in warfare. He argued that pacifist actions are not sufficient to challenge institutional complicity, leaving room for more confrontational approaches to protests.

He wrote, “Our actions are in some sense part of the state’s inherent notion of protest—we are, in a sense, culturally pacified, not wilfully pacifist.” This notion suggests that state-sanctioned forms of protest, like symbolic arrests, are not capable of disrupting “oppressive systems” and could be seen as calling for strategies that the state cannot easily accommodate.

He criticised the reliance on non-violent forms of protest, stating, “Despite my staunch opposition to the state through my actions, I was still a cog in its system, merely the rust which develops on the gears in order to beckon for more grease. I had not clogged the system—I had fed it.”

He further criticised the reluctance to engage in more aggressive forms of action, stating, “One year into a horrific genocide, it is time for the movement to begin wreaking havoc, or else, as we’ve seen, business will indeed go on as usual.”

It is evident that the essay encouraged activists at MIT to adopt more disruptive, or even destructive, tactics in their protests. Notably, he did not explicitly advocate violence in the essay, as this could have made it a clear-cut “manifesto.” Instead, he subtly positioned his argument against traditional pacifist methods as complicit in maintaining the status quo, creating space for interpretations that align with more confrontational forms of protest.

OpIndia found that Prahlad used two posters featuring the logo of the terrorist outfit Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and also used a post of calling for “Infitada everywhere”. Pertinent to note that Intifada is Palestine’s armed action (involving terrorist acts as well) against Israel. The first poster that was featured in the begining read, “We will burn the ground beneath your feet”. The poster featured a PFLP terrorist with a weapon.

Source: Written Revolution

The second poster used by Prahlad had the text “Unity of blood: a step on the path of victory. Long live the joint Lebanese-Palestinian struggle in the face of zionist terrorism” written in Arabic.

Source: Written Revolution

Both posters were featured on social media platforms that can be seen here and here. Use of such posters can be interpreted as a call for violent protests at the campuses as mentioned by the dean in his letter.

Prahlad’s social media history shows how his life drastically changed over the years

Upon a cursory glance at the social media posts on Prahlad’s Facebook and Instagram profiles, it is evident that earlier, he was a happy-go-lucky boy-next-door who loved to travel and enjoy time with his friends. His Facebook profile was full of photographs of him travelling with his friends across Europe in 2019.

However, things appear to have changed during the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd. In May 2020, he published a dark-themed post where he claimed to have “reflected on witnessing Atlanta descending into turmoil” during protests against police brutality following Floyd’s death. He expressed a shift from passive support to active engagement and acknowledged the destructive chaos near familiar places. He claimed there was a need for outlets for “collective anger” and expressed solidarity with the African American protesters, urging others to amplify their voices.

Source: Prahlad’s Facebook page.

This was the time when his profile suddenly changed to that of someone who is an activist and participates in protests. Then came the protests for the Palestinian cause, and since the military action by Israel against Hamas, he has been actively participating in the pro-Palestinian movement.

Source: Prahlad’s Facebook page

Prahlad used to be a simple, Janeu-dhari Indian-origin boy who appeared to love his life. However, campus activism and the gross radicalisation of students at campuses resulted in a complete shift, leading to his suspension from one of the most prestigious universities, MIT.

Who is Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old arrested in UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s murder? What we know so far

Rukma Rathore
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Who is Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old arrested in UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson’s murder? What we know so far

In USA, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot dead in Manhattan on 4 December by a masked man who pulled out his gun and fired at least three close-range shots. 50-year-old Brian Thompson soon passed away from his injuries. The incident has since captured people’s attention and has been a hot topic on social media.

Now, in another twist in the ongoing investigation, one Luigi Nicholas Mangione (26) was taken into custody by police in the US state of Pennsylvania on 9th December (Monday) following days of speculation and debate on the identity and motivation of the shooter. According to Commissioner Jessica Tisch of the New York Police Department (NYPD), Mangione was arrested at a McDonald’s restaurant in Altoona, Pennsylvania, over 400 kilometre away from New York, after a staff member recognized the suspect from police images and informed the police. Officials from the New York Police Department reported that he is anticipated to be extradited to New York.

Authorities informed that Mangione was wearing a blue surgical mask and sat at a table, looking at a silver laptop. A criminal complaint disclosed that he “became quiet and started to shake” when questioned if he had lately visited New York. Tisch added that when Mangione was apprehended, he had several false identification documents with him, including a passport from the United States and one using the name Mark Rosario, which he had used to check into a hostel in New York City prior to the shooting.

He revealed his true name after being warned that lying about it would result in his arrest. “I clearly shouldn’t have” was his response to inquiries as to why he lied. Authorities mentioned that he also possessed a gun and a silencer, “both consistent with the weapon used in the murder.” Police believe the weapon to be a “ghost gun,” which is a handgun that is put together at home without a serial number and could have been produced with a 3D printer.

A loaded magazine containing six rounds of 9mm ammo were found when his backpack was searched. He was also carrying $10,000 in cash, including $2,000 in foreign currency, per the prosecution, but Mangione denied the figure in court. He initially provided his home address as Towson, Maryland and stated that he had been employed as an engineer until a year ago. Later, he maintained that he relocated regularly while giving an address in Honolulu. He claimed to be drug and alcohol-free and to have no criminal background.

Tish indicated that he had a “handwritten document” with him that details “both his motivation and mindset” for killing Thompson. Mangione was accused by authorities late Monday with murder, unlawful firearm possession, forgery and presenting a false identity to police. Homicide charges would be brought against him later. He was earlier considered a person of interest in the case and only faced gun charges without any charges for the murder.

Mangione was earlier caught trespassing a State Parks sign located at the Nuuanu Pali Lookout on 12th November 2023, in Honolulu, revealed a criminal affidavit. According to court documents, he was convicted and fined $100.

Message and motivation

The handwritten message and its contents have not been made public by the police. The words “These parasites had it coming” and “I do apologise for any strife and trauma, but it had to be done” were included in the note, per media, which cited anonymous law enforcement sources. Investigators unveiled the words “defend,” “deny” and “depose” were inscribed on shell casings recovered at the murder scene.

Many people have speculated that Mangione might have acted out of resentment at the US health insurance business by interpreting the remarks as a reference to strategies reportedly employed by the company to avoid paying claims to patients. An empathetic critique of Industrial Society and Its Future, widely known as the ‘Unabomber Manifesto’, published from what seems to be his Goodreads account offers further insight into his potential reasoning.

According to his review, Ted Kaczynski was a “extreme political revolutionary” who carried out a decades-long bombing campaign around the United States that left three people dead and twenty-three injured. It further read, “It’s easy to quickly and thoughtlessly write this off as the manifesto of a lunatic, in order to avoid facing some of the uncomfortable problems it identifies. But it’s simply impossible to ignore how prescient many of his predictions about modern society turned out.”

The review also labelled people who disagree with the idea that “violence is necessary to survive” when all other means of communication are ineffective as “cowards and predators.” Author Kurt Vonnegut’s quote, “America is the wealthiest nation on Earth, but its people are mainly poor, and poor Americans are urged to hate themselves,” was also liked by the same Goodreads account.

New York Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny also informed that a three-page handwritten memo discovered in his possession indicated that he harbored “ill will towards corporate America.”

Background and origin

Luigi Mangione was born into an affluent family in Maryland, United States where he was named valedictorian of his high school class in 2016 after graduating from the Gilman School, a prestigious private school exclusively for males. He comes from the famous Baltimore family. His grandmother, Mary C. Mangione, is a philanthropist and his grandfather, Nicholas Mangione, is a well-known real estate developer in Baltimore.

He also had ties to San Francisco, California. Afterwards, he went to the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in computer science with a minor in mathematics from the Ivy League university in 2020. Mangione used to play assassins with a gang of Ivy League gamers. Some of the players in the game “Among Us” are secretly assigned to be killers in space, performing various tasks while attempting to keep other players from suspecting them. He reproduced the same in his life after the killing and took measures to try to avoid being noticed by authorities.

Nino Mangione, his cousin, is a Republican congressman in Maryland. He took to X (previously Twitter) share a post by the latter’s family who are “shocked and devastated over his arrest,” adding they cannot comment on the reports. “We offer our prayers to the family of Brian Thompson and we ask people to pray for all involved,” they further voiced.

Stanford University revealed that an individual with the same name worked as a head counselor for the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies program from May to September 2019. According to his LinkedIn profile, Mangione, who created a game app as a youngster, began working as a “data engineer” at TrueCar, a car-buying company, in November 2020 and left it in 2023, based on a spokesperson of the firm. Mangione’s X account stated that he lived in Hawaii and frequently shared posts on fitness, artificial intelligence and healthy living. His last known address was in Honolulu, Hawaii.

He recently reposted about American neuroscientist Andrew Huberman’s podcast episode about anxiety and depression as well as author Jonathan Haidt’s latest book, “The Anxious Generation.” Another repost complained about the void created by religion’s decrease in the West and the rise of progressive ideas like diversity, equity and inclusion in its stead. An X-ray of a person’s lower back with what looked like screws and plates implanted into it was included in the banner on his profile. Furthermore, additional reviews about health and back pain relief might be found on Mangione’s Goodreads account, such as Crooked: Outwitting the Back Pain Industry and Getting on the Road to Recovery.

Interestingly, he enjoys a large following on social media. One person wrote in October that “nobody has heard from you in months” in a series of posts to his account on X which implied that friends had been repeatedly attempting to get in touch with him.

Judge laughed, wife asked why aren’t you dead yet? Techie Atul Subhash’s suicide note goes viral, wife and her family accused of false case & judicial harassment

OpIndia Staff
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Judge laughed, wife asked why aren’t you dead yet? Techie Atul Subhash’s suicide note goes viral, wife and her family accused of false case & judicial harassment

In an unsettling turn of events, a 34-year-old software engineer Atul Subhash committed suicide at his home in Marathahalli, Bengaluru, leaving a 24-page suicide note behind. He had pasted a sheet of paper with the words ‘Justice is Due’ while killing himself. In a roughly one-and-a-half-hour video posted on Rumble on 9th December, the man stated that he was taking extreme measures owing to harassment by his wife and her family. In the video, Atul Subhash said that his estranged wife who works in a reputed software company had filed nine bogus cases against him and was seeking an unreasonable maintenance amount (Rs 3 crores).

According to the police, Subhash had dropped a message on the WhatsApp group of an NGO dealing with domestic harassment-related issues. In his message, the techie informed about his decision to end his life. Reports say that the victim was suffering from depression. On Tuesday, a member of the group saw Subash’s message and alerted the police. Subsequently, the police reached Subash’s location and found his dead body hanging with a note pasted on his chest reading “Justice is Due”. The police recovered several A4 sheets containing information about Atul Subhash’s routine as well as information related to the legal battle he was involved in.

“He had pasted a detailed to-do list before ending his life, and titled it ‘Final task before Mukti’ and pasted it on a cupboard in the room. It also had instructions on where his death note and keys were kept, along with a list of completed and pending tasks over two days,” the police said.

In the video, Atul Subhash said that shortly after the marriage, his wife returned to Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh from Bengaluru and filed dowry harassment and domestic violence cases against Subhash and his parents. Mentioning the names of his wife and her family, Subhash said that these five people are responsible for his death. The victim said that his wife and in-laws hatched a big conspiracy to extort money and his family members were implicated in false cases.

Further in the video, Atul said that till now 120 court dates have been fixed and Atul himself had gone from Bangalore to Jaunpur 40 times. Apart from this, his parents and brother also have to visit the court. It is surprising that nothing happens in the court on most of the dates and sometimes the judge is not there and there is a strike. During the hearing, the lawyer of any party can demand the next date.

Atul also said that he used to get only 23 holidays in a year and he was tired of this system. He added that his wife has filed 6 cases in the lower court and three at the High Court. Atul Subhash alleged that his wife made false allegations against his parents and brother like murder, attempt to murder, unnatural sex, domestic violence, and taking dowry. He emphasised that these allegations have such sections in which it is difficult to get bail. The wife alleged in one case that in 2019, Atul’s family demanded a dowry of Rs 10 lakh, due to this shock her father died. It was proved in the cross-examination that Nikita’s father had heart disease which led to his death and it was due to his illness that their wedding was hastened. Later in the video, Atul alleged that his wife demanded alimony of Rs 2 lakh every month in exchange for divorce. She also kept their child away and was Atul never allowed to meet him.

Moreover, Atul Subhash alleged that bribing the bench clerk (Peshkar) was required to get a date in the court of the Jaunpur Principal Family Court. Atul alleged that the judge in the court pressured him to pay maintenance of three crore rupees. Also, the judge allegedly asked for five lakh rupees to settle the case this month. When he said that his wife was instigating him to commit suicide, the judge laughed. In 2022, the same judge had earlier also allegedly demanded three lakh rupees bribe through the Peshkar. When Atul did not give the bribe, alimony and maintenance orders were issued, in which he had to pay 80 thousand rupees every month.

In a page from the alleged ‘suicide note’, Atul has written that the judge in UP’s family court where his wife has filed a case against him, was seeking Rs 5 lakhs in bribe to ‘settle’ the case. He added that the judge also laughed when the wife asked him why he has not committed suicide yet.

In his suicide note, Atul Subhash listed several of his last wishes with one being that all his case hearings should happen live and “people of this country should know about my case and learn the terrible state of the legal system and misuse of law these women are doing.” Another is that his suicide video and not be admitted as his statement and evidence.

Expressing his apprehension that the said judge might “tamper” the documents, pressurise witnesses causing an adverse effect on other cases. “Based on my experience, the Bengaluru courts are relatively more law-abiding than UP courts too. I request to run the cases in Karnataka in the interest of Justice and keep her in Judicial and Police Custody in Bengaluru till the trial goes on. Below is the judgment on why Justice is also seen to be done. I hope that it also applies to men,” Subash’s suicide note reads.

Atul Subhash’s suicide has sparked a debate on social media around India’s judicial system and the legal hustle one has to go through to find justice. His last two X posts have gone viral.

In one of these posts, Subhash said that a “legal genocide of men” is ongoing in the country.

In the other, he appealed to Elon Musk and US President-elect Donald Trump to “save” people from woke ideologies, and “restore freedom of speech” in India. “A dead man is requesting @elonmusk @realDonaldTrump to save millions of life from Woke Ideologies, Abortion, DEI and restore freedom of speech in India,” Subhash said.

Meanwhile, appalled by the incident, netizens are demanding justice for Subhash under #JusticeforAtulSubhash. Many social media handles are also circulating pictures of a woman, allegedly Atul’s estranged wife, and calling her names.

Karan Adani, MD of Adani Ports, announces Rs 7.5 lakh cr investment plan for Rajasthan at Rising Rajasthan Global Summit

ANI
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Karan Adani, MD of Adani Ports, announces Rs 7.5 lakh cr investment plan for Rajasthan at Rising Rajasthan Global Summit

Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd, unveiled an ambitious Rs7.5 lakh crore investment plan for Rajasthan at the Rising Rajasthan Global Summit held on Monday at the Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre (JECC) in Sitapura.

He stated, “The Adani Group plans to invest over Rs 7.5 lakh cr across various sectors of the state (Rajasthan) economy. With over 50 per cent of this investment being made over the next 5 years.”

Outlining the group’s vision, Karan Adani highlighted plans to build the world’s largest integrated green energy ecosystem in Rajasthan.
He said, “We plan to build the world’s biggest integrated green energy ecosystem involving 100 GW of renewable energy, 2 Million tons of Hydrogen, and 1.8 GW of pump hydrostorage. These investments will turn Rajasthan into an oasis of green jobs.”

Apart from green energy, the Adani Group’s plans extend to the cement industry, underscoring Rajasthan’s importance in the group’s ambition to become India’s largest cement producer.

Karan Adani said, “Beyond energy, Rajasthan is critical to our ambition to become India’s largest cement company. We will set up 4 new cement plants to build additional capacity of 6mn tonnes per annum in the state.”

The group also aims to enhance Rajasthan’s infrastructure with initiatives such as the development of a world-class facility at Jaipur Airport to improve connectivity and boost tourism. The creation of multi-modal logistics parks will support the state’s ambitious infrastructure and economic transformation plans.

Adani emphasised, “In addition, there are other investment plans such as developing world-class facility at Jaipur airport, multi-model logistic parks that will support your transformative plan for Rajasthan.”

During the opening remarks, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, stated, “So far Rs 33 lakh crore of MoU are signed under Rising Rajasthan.”

The Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024, which is happening from December 9 to 11 in Jaipur, is expected to attract global investors, industry leaders, policymakers, and government officials.

The occasion, graced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries, promises to highlight Rajasthan’s strides in development, innovation, and industrial growth.

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

UP: Bulldozer action against Noori Jama Masjid in Fatehpur over encroachment, mosque committee cries foul

OpIndia Staff
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UP: Bulldozer action against Noori Jama Masjid in Fatehpur over encroachment, mosque committee cries foul

On the morning of 10th December, the rear portion of Noori Jama Masjid, which is situated in Sadar Bazar of Lalauli town in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, was taken down because of encroachment related to a drain construction project. ADM Avinash Tripathi and ASP Vijay Shankar Mishra were in attendance throughout the process along with a sizable police presence, including the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) to ensure law and order in the region.

On 24th September (17th August per other reports), the Masjid Committee received a notice from the PWD department while surveying for the construction of a drain. According to the reports, 133 homes and businesses, as well as the back side of the mosque, were illegal. The Masjid Committee had asked for a month to clear the construction, but they didn’t complete it in the time frame.

A bulldozer was employed to remove the unlawful portion of the mosque. The RAF, PAC and revenue team were stationed on-site for security and regular movement was restricted there. According to ASP Vijay Shankar Mishra, the demolition was executed in a peaceful manner and solely targeted the area at the back of the building that was found to be unauthorized. However, Syed Noori, the secretary of the Noori Jama Masjid Committee, claimed that the demolition went against a writ that had been filed against the notice in the Allahabad High Court and was set for hearing on 13th December. According to him, the action was equivalent to contempt of court.

The management committee of the Noori Jama Masjid had approached the Allahabad High Court against the state government’s road widening project and appealed that PWD’s plan to demolish a part of the mosque for the road widening project will harm a vital section of the mosque and it must be stopped. The mosque is around 180 years old. The petition also sought to acknowledge it as a heritage site and alleged that the demolition would cause ‘irreparable harm’ to the nation’s cultural heritage and local communities.

Syria: 250 Israeli strikes hit military targets as ‘rebels’ seize control of country, US and Turkey also target “strategic weapons”; Details

OpIndia Staff
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Syria: 250 Israeli strikes hit military targets as ‘rebels’ seize control of country, US and Turkey also target “strategic weapons”; Details

The collapse of Bashar al-Assad in Syria looked improbable a short while back, however, Syrian rebels, who were with Al-Qaeda and ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and the Syria) terrorists not too long ago, executed a swift march to power, ushering in an unpredictable new era for the nation after 13 years of civil war. Bashar al-Assad and his family are reportedly in Moscow after the country gave them asylum on humanitarian grounds and an agreement was reached to protect Russian military bases.

The rebels may claim to have liberated Damascus, but the recent turmoil in yet another Middle Eastern country, the area which is prone to similar uprisings and disorder, has also sparked a lot of concerns about potentially dismal future amid further violence. More significantly, there are grave concerns regarding the weapons that Bashar al-Assad accumulated, and the possibility that they would fall into the wrong hands following the overthrow of his regime.

Notably, on 8th December Israeli Air Force (IAF) began a series of intense raids on strategic and military targets throughout Syria, which continued the next day in light of the latest developments. The strikes targeted weapons that Jerusalem believed could fall into the hands of hostile elements. Numerous locations have been pounded by dozens of IAF planes, with an emphasis on eliminating “strategic weapons.”

Israeli planes struck at least three key Syrian army air facilities that held dozens of helicopters and warplanes, according to two Syrian security officials on 9th December. This was the largest round of air base assaults since Assad was overthrown. According to the sources, the strikes targeted Aqrba airport southwest of the capital Damascus, Shinshar base in the Homs region and Qamishli air base in northeast Syria. A day earlier, IAF strikes destroyed tanks, helicopters and aircraft belonging to the Assad’s military in addition to hitting advanced missile storage centers, air defense systems, weapons manufacturing facilities and chemical weapons locations.

It is estimated that Israel has launched about 250 strikes on Syrian military installations since al-Assad’s exit. According to the Ynet news site, Western intelligence sources estimated that about 300 strikes have been launched against Syrian military targets. Officials asserted that if the strikes maintain their present pace, the Syrian Air Force will be virtually destroyed in a few days, making it impossible for the rebel groups and any future government to threaten the Jewish state.

Israel carried out several strikes on military targets in Syria on 9th December, including a research center in Damascus that is suspected of having ties to in the creation of chemical weapons, a British war monitor told AFP. Syria also claimed that the IAF attacked the port of Latakia, to destroy the ex-regime’s naval assets.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also seized control of the Golan Heights buffer zone between the two countries. Israeli forces occupied positions inside the buffer zone between Israel and Syria for the first time since the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement was signed after the Yom Kippur War. Israel annexed the Golan in 1981 after capturing it from Syria in the final stages of the 1967 Six-Day War. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that IDF was only making “a very limited and temporary step” taken for “security reasons.”

Meanwhile, the United States also launched dozens of strikes on Islamic State targets in central Syria. Over the weekend, reports surfaced of hundreds of airstrikes on strategic targets in Syria. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), it has hit over 75 targets, including ISIS commanders, operatives and camps to prevent the group from exploiting the chaos that has followed the ouster of Assad. Turkey is also involved in the airstrikes in Syria.

“Turkey has no eye on the territory of any other country. The only aim for our cross-border operations is to save our homeland from the terrorist attacks,” declared Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The civil war in Syria, which began in 2011 as a revolt against Assad’s government, attracted significant foreign powers, gave Islamic extremists a platform to plan attacks globally and forced millions of people to flee to neighboring countries. Iran, Russia and Hezbollah, a terrorist organization from Lebanon, have all provided crucial assistance to Assad.

Syria’s new rulers

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the strongest faction of the rebel coalition, is regarded as a terrorist organization by the US and other Western nations. It was affliated with Al-Qaeda and many Syrians are fearful that the outfit would impose brutal Islamist rule on them. Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the commander of HTS, has tried to reassure the world community that he opposes jihadi attacks abroad and claimed he will not interfere with the minorities.

Jolani was sent to Syria by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, ISIS supremo, to create the Al-Nusra Front, a division of Al Qaeda, when the country’s bloody civil war broke out in 2011. Two years later, their disagreement intensified. Baghdadi’s demands to disband the Nusra Front and merge it with ISI to create ISIS were turned down by Jolani. He instead vowed to support Al Qaeda, which subsequently distanced itself from ISIS.

Afterward, the Nusra Front joined Al Qaeda as an affiliate in Syria and fought ISIS for supremacy in the struggle against Assad. Eventually, in 2017, Jolani severed the connection with Al Qaeda and changed the name of his group to the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, or HTS. The outfit has its origins in radical Islamist terror outfits and is classified as a terrorist organization worldwide. The United States put a $10 million reward on Jolani’s head in 2018.

Jolani is putting a lot of effort into presenting himself as an upgraded version of his past self, yet his fundamentalist heritage and previous statements are seriously undermining his tall claims. Sunni extremism has caused catastrophic casualties in Syria, and minorities including Christians, Alawites, Druze and Yazidis have good reason to be concerned about the rise of extremist rule.

Jolani’s position seems to have changed, but it’s unclear if this is for real or just a calculated re-branding, similar to what the Taliban did after again seizing power in Afghanistan in August 2021.

Andhra Pradesh: Trainee Christian nun at St.Joseph Convent Hostel delivers child, kills by throwing newborn out of window

OpIndia Staff
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Andhra Pradesh: Trainee Christian nun at St.Joseph Convent Hostel delivers child, kills by throwing newborn out of window

In a shocking incident, a newborn baby was thrown out of a window by a young teenage mother at St.Joseph Convent Hostel, run by the Diocese of Eluru in Andhra Pradesh. The incident has sent shock waves in the nearby area raising serious concerns about the oversight and accountability of church-run institutions.

As per the initial reports, the teenage mother from Nandyal is a second-year intermediate student who has been residing at the hostel in the church-run institution. On 8th December, the girl gave birth to a child and threw it immediately out of the window resulting in its death. The Police were immediately informed after the body of the infant wrapped in its umbilical cord was found on the campus.

Following this, the police team led by 2-Town Circle Inspector Ramana reached the spot and began an investigation into the case. The officials from the Women and Child Welfare Department were also informed later.

DSP Shravan Kumar who is looking into the case interrogated the hostel administrators. They said that the girl was under training to become a nun at the convent institution. However, she got involved with a trainee Christian padre. The girl after giving birth to the child faced deteriorating health after which she was taken to the Sarvajana Hospital for medical care.

Further, the dead body of the child was also sent to the hospital for further examination. The suspect in the case, a trainee Christian Father has been taken into custody and is being questioned. The girl’s roommates and friends are also being interrogated.

It is crucial to note that the incident has raised concerns over the operations of the Convent Hostel. It reflects the failure of the institution and the administration to monitor the lifestyle of the students. It is believed that the fellow residents of the girl and others at the Hostel helped the girl and concealed the pregnancy, despite health issues. The residents did not report the incident to the authorities, further making the entire incident look worse.

DSP in the given case confirmed meanwhile that a police case has been filed and suspects have been detained.

As per the report, St. Joseph Convent in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh is run under and looked after by the Diocese of Eluru. It is a part of a broader network of Christian missionary institutions in India. The institution operates to provide education and religious training to young students. It further trains them to become nuns and Fathers in accordance with Christian values. However, the death of a newborn baby at the convent has raised serious concerns about administrative oversight, particularly given the institution’s mission to uphold moral and ethical standards rooted in Christian principles. The incident has also raised severe questions about sthe afety of women in such institutes.

Gujarat: Health workers Shehzad Ajmeri and Zahir Solanki sterilized unmarried Hindu man after forcing him to drink alcohol to achieve their ‘target’

OpIndia Staff
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Gujarat: Health workers Shehzad Ajmeri and Zahir Solanki sterilized unmarried Hindu man after forcing him to drink alcohol to achieve their ‘target’

In Gujarat’s Mehsana district, a shocking sterilisation scandal has been uncovered, wherein, health workers Zaheer Solanki and Shehzad Ajmeri sterilized two youths without their consent to meet their ‘target’. One of the victims, a 30-year-old man named Govind Dhantari, who was about to get married in a month, was sterilized by the accused under pretense. Consequently, the bride’s family called the marriage off.

Reports say that health worker Shehzad Ajmeri lured Govind Dhantari, a resident of Navi Shedhavi village in Mehsana, with the promise of a job and told Govind that he would be taken to work in the fields. However, instead, he was taken to Adalaj Hospital. After reaching the hospital, Govind was made to drink alcohol and his thumb impression was taken on a consent form for sterilization. He was shown as married on the papers so that the violation of rules could be concealed.

Narrating his ordeal, victim Govind said, “The ordeal began when I was lured with the promise of picking guava and jujube trees. The next day, I was taken to a village in a government vehicle and forced to drink alcohol. Later, under the pretext of visiting a guava site in Joranag village, I was given alcohol worth Rs. 100, which left me unconscious. In that state, I was taken to Adalaj hospital. When I returned home the following day, I felt severe pain while urinating and noticed signs of an operation or a vein cut done without my knowledge or consent.”

Shehzad was one operation short of his ‘target’ for sterilization operations, to achieve that, he and Zaheer sterilized Govind. Both the health workers are now suspended. Shehzad claimed that he was innocent and it was Zaheer who brought the Hindu man and got the operation done.

This incident has exposed the target-based sterilization campaign in the department, and Health Officer GB Gadhvi admitted that 375 operations were carried out on a target basis in Sabarkantha. However, Health Minister Rishikesh Patel refuted these allegations and said that sterilization is completely voluntary.

The department, however, took action against the accused Shehzad Ajmeri, and has suspended him. Further, he has been transferred from Dhanali Health Center in Mehsana to Kheralu Health Center. Meanwhile, the Health Department has issued notices to 8 other employees and ordered a detailed investigation of the matter. After this scandal, the department started investigating all 28 sterilization operations that took place on 22nd November 2024 at Adalaj Hospital.

Meanwhile, Mehsana District Health Officer Dr Mahesh Kapadia said, “The NSV sterilization camps are running statewide in Gujarat, adhering to government guidelines. In the Mehsana district alone, 28 beneficiaries underwent the procedure since November 22, with necessary family consent typically required. However, in this case, our employee failed to secure consent from the beneficiary’s wife or his family member, as mandated, and proceeded despite the beneficiary being unmarried…”

UP: Cow smuggler Umar dressed as Hindu sadhu, wearing saffron and holding Trishul, UP police arrest gang of 7

OpIndia Staff
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UP: Cow smuggler Umar dressed as Hindu sadhu, wearing saffron and holding Trishul, UP police arrest gang of 7

On Monday, 9th December, the Uttar Pradesh Police in the Barabanki area of the state arrested 7 individuals for smuggling cows. As per the initial reports, a shootout broke out in the region as the accused persons were trying to flee from the spot. Two of the accused were shot in the legs by the police in due course. The arrested persons are Sarwar, Gufran, Umar, Ankul Gupta, Irfan, Navijan, and Aziz. The police also meanwhile revealed that one of the accused persons, Umar used to dress up like Hindu sadhu to avoid suspicion.

Umar wore a tilak on the forehead, a saffron scarf around the neck, and held a trident in his hand to pose like a Hindu Sadhu to avoid suspicion. The image of the accused is making rounds on social media.

According to local reports, the Sathrikh Police in Barabanki were informed about a suspicious vehicle moving towards the jungle from the Guriya Ghat road area. The Police immediately reached the spot to investigate the matter and discovered that the suspicious pick-up van had harmful weapons, such as a knife, belt, and cutter, stored in it.

In the meantime, the accused cow smugglers saw the police moving towards the vehicle so they hid in the nearby jungle. Later when they saw the police investigating the vehicle, they began firing at the officers from the jungle, following which a shootout broke out. The police teams also then launched retaliatory firing injuring two of the smugglers identified as Sarvar and Gufran.

The other accused cow smugglers were arrested by the police while they made efforts to flee from the spot and the two injured were sent to the hospital for treatment. The smugglers have notably been shot in their legs.

Barabanki Additional Superintendent of Police South, Dr Akhilesh Narayan Singh commented on the matter and said that two illegal pistols, two used cartridges and three live cartridges were recovered from the possession of injured smugglers Sarwar and Gufran.

“The accused are vicious criminals and are involved in heinous crimes like cow smuggling. Some of these also have a long criminal history in different police stations. An iron chapad, a knife, a wooden stick, two sticks, 9 bread packets, a pickup vehicle, an eco van, and a motorcycle have been recovered from the possession of the arrested smugglers,” he added.

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