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Pulwama attack: JeM chief Masood Azhar’s brother suspected to be the mastermind behind the attack

OpIndia Staff
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Pulwama attack: JeM chief Masood Azhar’s brother suspected to be the mastermind behind the attack

As per a report published by DNA, the US-designated global terrorist JeM chief Masood Azhar’s brother, Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar is suspected to be the mastermind behind the cowardly Pulwama. It is being further contemplated that Abdul Rauf Asghar had planned the attack in league with the ISI, Pakistan’s intelligence agency.

Abdul Rauf Asghar had been charge-sheeted by the NIA in November 2018, for masterminding the 2016 Nagrota terror attack case.

Intelligence agencies are taken aback by the scale of Thursday’s attack as they believed that only remnants of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) were present in the Valley. Almost the entire leadership of JeM has been wiped out over the years.

However, inputs received by the agencies suggested the JeM had been rebuilding its network in south Kashmir over the last three months.

In the ghastly act, at least 40 CRPF men were killed after a Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden car into the 55-seater bus they were travelling in at Lethpora, Pulwama in South Kashmir.

A terrorist belonging to Pakistani Army backed Islamic terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad, identified as Adil Ahmad Dar, rammed an SUV laden with over 300 kg of explosives into the CRPF bus carrying about 40 personnel.

The CRPF convoy of 70 vehicles carrying over 2000 personnel was on the way to Srinagar from Jammu after the highway opened for one way traffic after several days of closure due to heavy rainfall and subsequent landslides.

Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility for the attack and identified the suicide bomber (fidayeen) as Adil Ahmad from Kakapora in Pulwama, who had joined the Jaish-e-Mohammed in 2018. They also released a recorded video message of the suicide bomber.

Those tracking the developments in the state said that a suicide car attack was very uncommon in the state and has not taken place in Kashmir over the past two decades.

The suicide attack was first carried out by Jaish-e-Mohammad in 2000 when Afaq Ahmed Shah, a Srinagar boy, tried to ram an explosive-laden Maruti 800 into the entrance of Army’s 15 Corps headquarters in Srinagar.

The Army soldiers, however, challenged the attacker and forced him to detonate the explosives prematurely.

The Jaish carried another suicide attack the next year at the same place which was also foiled.

The last time a car bombing of such magnitude happened was in 2001 when JeM detonated a Tata Sumo filled with explosives outside the gate of the old assembly building at Srinagar’s Jehangir Chowk in which 38 people were killed and 40 others were injured. After the explosion, three Jaish militants barged into the assembly complex and were later killed in a long gunfight.

With the death toll rising to almost 44, this cowardly and horrific attack sponsored by none other than the terrorist state of Pakistan is being considered the worst attack in the history of Jammu and Kashmir. PM Narendra Modi, condemning this dastardly act, assured that the sacrifices of “our brave security personnel shall not go in vain”.

“Attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama is despicable. I strongly condemn this dastardly attack. The sacrifices of our brave security personnel shall not go in vain. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of the brave martyrs. May the injured recover quickly,” tweeted Prime Minister Modi.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Singh is also expected to visit Srinagar today.

Pulwama terror attack is a violent expression of Hinduphobia

Abhishek Banerjee
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Pulwama terror attack is a violent expression of Hinduphobia

Question everything. Question the defence preparedness of India. Question the intelligence failure of the Government. Question our policy in Kashmir. But also question the ideology behind the dastardly terror attack in Pulwama.

In the chilling Jaesh-e-Mohammad video released after the attack, the terrorist Aadil Ahmed Dar expects to attain “jannat” by killing “people who drink cow urine”.

Now, where have we heard this language before? Who uses this language to insult Hindus and their beliefs? Who cracks beef jokes?

Let’s be clear: the terrorist attack in Pulwama yesterday was a violent expression of Hinduphobia. 

Calling Kashmir a political problem is possibly the biggest lie ever told. Along with other lies and obfuscations of the same vein: such as talking about self-determination or some plebiscite that nobody cares about.

It’s just a cover story, those who are using it and those who are spreading it know exactly what they are doing. The erstwhile princely state of Jammu and Kashmir consisted of exactly that: both Jammu and Kashmir. Now, who has ever heard of somebody from Jammu speaking of Azaadi? Why does it happen only in Kashmir and not in Jammu? The reason could not be more obvious.

To those who are mocking “bhakts” for pointing fingers at JNU or AMU after yesterday’s attack: it is because violent Hinduphobia is as much a structural problem with society as racism, antisemitism, casteism or sexism.

And so, when a violent attack like this happens, it is absolutely necessary that we point fingers, shame and expose institutions that promote and perpetuate Hinduphobia in society. Like Ku Klux Klan rallies intimidating African Americans, angry Hinduphobic hate mobs chanting ‘Bharat ke tukde’ are very much a form of intimidation against Hindus.

There is absolutely no reason to forget that what we call the “Republic of India” is a truncated homeland, a leftover from Partition. It was leftover after Hindus were expelled from everywhere else in the land that was historically India. Literally, millions of people were massacred due to anti-Hindu hatred. This was no different from the Holocaust.

And modern Hinduphobia, as it exists both inside and outside India, is exactly like anti-Semitism.

Those who are calling for Bharat ke tukde are calling for another holocaust of Hindus. And just like rabid anti-Semitism, this needs to be called out, marginalized and exposed.

Beyond the violent Hinduphobia of someone like Aadil Ahmed Dar, or the hate mobs that chant Bharat ke tukde, there is also the deep seeding of anti-Hindu tropes among large sections of people. Worse, the ‘intellectual’ complex is actually pushing society, both in India and abroad, towards an even tighter embrace of these prejudices against Hindus.

Take, for instance, the rising tide of prejudice against a Hindu who wears a mere T-shirt with Hanuman on it. An Indian media website seeded the idea that anyone with this shirt should be seen as a potentially violent criminal. Global outlets picked up on the idea quickly. This has parallels with old racist prejudices against African Americans, whose men were shown as exceedingly lustful and a “threat” to white women.

Like crimes that are related to race, gender or caste, Hinduphobic hate crime does not take place in a vacuum. And the buck does not stop with punishing the person who broke the law. The wider societal prejudices must be addressed as well.

When a woman becomes a victim of a dowry-related offence, or there is female foeticide or female infanticide, of course, we throw the criminal in jail. But we don’t stop there. The crime hangs on the collective conscience of society as well. The underlying patriarchal attitudes in society need to be addressed. The same goes for caste-based atrocities. We don’t stop with punishing the person who committed the crime. We demand that society cleanse itself of its prejudices.

Hinduphobia deserves to be tackled in much the same manner. We demand that the Govt of India take revenge for the terror attack in Pulwama. We also demand that those who promote anti-Hindu hatred be intellectually and culturally marginalized.

Vajpayee govt was forced to release Masood Azhar because of hysterical media coverage, former AAP leader Ashutosh says

OpIndia Staff
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Vajpayee govt was forced to release Masood Azhar because of hysterical media coverage, former AAP leader Ashutosh says

Journalist-turned-politician-turned-journalist-again Ashutosh has revealed that Vajpayee government in 1999 had to release three terrorists, including the founder of Jaish-e-Mohammad Maulana Masood Azhar because the journalists at that time created too much pressure on the government due to their hysterical coverage of the IC 814 hijacking.

Ashutosh was responding to a tweet by fellow journalist Rohit Sardana of Aaj Tak, who had argued that if a journalist or television anchor appears angered and agitated over some incident, it is because that journalist is reflecting the anger and frustration of a common citizen. Rohit had made the original argument in wake of the Pulwama terror attack that happened on Thursday.

Arguing in favour of restrained response and behaviour by journalists, Ashutosh cited the example of hijacking of the IC 814 flight, where the then union government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee had to release three terrorists from Indian captivity to secure the safety of 176 passengers who were aboard the flight.

The veteran journalist, who is currently running his own news portal in Hindi after having left the Aam Aadmi Party earlier, revealed that the media coverage of the hijack incident back in 1999 created undue pressure on the central government and they had to accept the demands of the hijackers, which included the release of three terrorists.


Indian Airlines Flight 814, commonly known as IC 814 was en route from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal to Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on Friday, 24 December 1999, when it was hijacked and flown to several locations before landing in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Harkat-ul-Mujahideen was accused of the hijacking with the support and active assistance from Pakistan’s ISI.

The hijacking lasted seven days and ended after India released three militants – Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and Maulana Masood Azhar in exchange for the release of 177 passengers. The terrorists killed one passenger. Masood Azhar then went on to found Jaish-e-Mohammed, which has claimed the Pulwama terror attack.

Interestingly, Ajit Doval, who was the chief negotiator during the hijack crisis, while delivering a speech had also spoken regarding the negative role played by the Indian media during the IC-814 hijacking incident. Media coverage resulted in mounting tremendous pressure on the government to arrive at a solution, he had said.

“The electronic media hyped the hijack by continuously showing the suffering of the hostages. With the world watching, the pressure to end the crisis at the earliest mounted from every quarter,” Doval had said.

It’s not for the first time that someone has pointed out irresponsible media coverage related to an incident involving terror. The behaviour of the mainstream media was widely criticised, including by the Supreme Court, during the Mumbai terror attacks of 2008. Even during the Pathankot attack of 2016, NDTV was found violating guidelines and was awarded a one-day token ban, which however was never imposed.

In the aftermath of current attack in Pulwama too, some sections of media have attracted criticism. Times of India received severe criticism as they reduced Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists to just ‘local youth’. Many other journalists were seen issuing ridiculous statements on social media, which aimed to take potshots at Narendra Modi government than exposing those who support and enable Islamic terrorism.

Black Cat Commandos of NSG, NIA to investigate Pulwama terrorist attack which claimed lives of 44 CRPF Jawans

OpIndia Staff
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Black Cat Commandos of NSG, NIA to investigate Pulwama terrorist attack which claimed lives of 44 CRPF Jawans

Top experts belonging to National Security Grid and National Investigative Agency have left for Jammu and Kashmir, where on Thursday a terrorist attack in Pulwama claimed lives of 44 CRPF jawans. In addition to this, explosives expert Black Cat Commando team of the NSG will also join the investigation.

A terrorist belonging to Pakistani-supported Islamist terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad, identified as Adil Ahmad Dar, rammed an SUV laden with over 3000 kg of explosives into the CRPF bus carrying about 40 personnel. The collision exploded the bus and the vehicle, causing the deaths of more than 40 CRPF soldiers. JeM had also released a video of the Fidayeen terrorist who is believed to have carried out the suicide attack.

According to reports, the decision to call NSG, its black cat commandos and NIA has been taken in the wake of the high casualty received in what could be the most deadly terrorist attack in India after Uri attack. Home Minister Rajnath Singh is also expected to land in J&K today, to take toll of the attack sponsored by Pakistan based terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed.

A statement of Ministry of External Affairs has also incriminated Pakistan for aiding terrorist attack and added that the JeM founder Maulana Masood Azhar had been “given the freedom to target India.” Masood Azhar is the same terrorist who had to be released by  India during the IC814 plane hijack of the year 1999. He has since been found involved in various terrorist conspiracies worldwide, including the 2008 Mumbai attack.

An NIA team with forensic experts have also been sent on the scene to assist police in the forensic evaluation.

Meanwhile, a Cabinet Committee on Security (CSS), the highest decision-making body of the government, has also concluded which was going on since 9:15 am. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was chairing the meeting.

No, Times of India, Islamist terrorists harboured and nurtured by Pakistan, not ‘local youth’ killed over 40 soldiers

Nirwa Mehta
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No, Times of India, Islamist terrorists harboured and nurtured by Pakistan, not ‘local youth’ killed over 40 soldiers

In one of the biggest terror attacks in recent times, a CRPF convoy was attacked by Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists in Pulwama, Kashmir, where over 40 soldiers were martyred. One of the suicide bombers, Adil Ahmed Dar, in a video which later surfaced referring to Indians as ‘Gae ka peshaab peene wale’ (people who drink cow urine) boasts about the terror attacks carried out by Jaish-e-Mohammad in the past.

Times of India, the largest selling English language newspaper in India, however, decided to downplay the terror attack, and how!

Times of India’s front page news on Pulwama terror attack where Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists are referred to as ‘local youth’

The headline screams ‘Government blames Pak after local youth rams convoy with IED-packed SUV in worst-ever J&K terror strike’. While Times of India got the second part of the headline, where it refers to the terror attack as ‘worst-ever terror strike’, the first part of it is shocking to say the least.

The fact that Times of India journalist Saleem Pandit chose to refer to the Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists, even after they have claimed responsibility of the attack, as ‘local youth’ is appalling. The article further reads how the Indian government ‘held Pakistan directly responsible for the attack’. Umm, India didn’t even have to ‘hold’ Pakistan responsible for the attack. Jaish-e-Mohammad, a terror group nurtured and nourished on Pakistan soil, had already claimed responsibility for it within hours of the terror attack.


The above tweet was from 5 pm, following which the number of soldiers martyred has risen up. However, for Times of India’s Saleem Pandit, the terrorists are ‘local youth’. Were these ‘local youths’ on a joyride with 300 kg of explosive and accidentally bumped into CRPF convoy? Is it really that difficult to call terrorists as terrorists?

The subheading of the article is “Accuses it (Pakistan) of supporting Azhar-led JeM”. So, neither the headline, nor the subheading focus on the attack, but on how India is blaming the innocent Pakistan which is highly misunderstood nation.

The article further mentions how while Adil, the local youth turned terrorist went on a joyride with an SUV full of explosives, was alone in the car, he had support of other JeM terrorists who opened fire at the other buses to stop the other soldiers from helping the fellow soldiers. But then, “India pinned the responsibility for the carnage on Pakistan”. Oh, poor Pakistan.

How dare Indian government ask Pakistan, which provides support and infrastructure to let terror camps flourish on its soil, to tackle the issue of homegrown terrorism?

No, Times of India, India has not tried to ‘pin the blame’ on Pakistan. A terror outfit which thrives in that country, with the support of people in power in that country, has claimed responsibility for a terror attack where over 40 Indian soldiers were martyred. These are not ‘local youths’ who are misguided. These are hateful men who have turned terrorists and are trained to kill.

Adil, who rammed the car, joined Jaish-e-Mohammad a year ago. He has released a video where he asks people from Kashmir to come together ‘in the fight against India’. He mocks India by saying how we are ‘misunderstood’ if by killing few of their militant commanders, we have weakened them. He did it for the ‘hoors’ he will get in ‘jannat’ because of his actions.

So, no, he is not a ‘local youth’, he is a terrorist. Have the courage to say it in as many words.

Pulwama attack: 44 CRPF soldier martyred; Home Minister Rajnath Singh to visit Kashmir to take stock of the situation

OpIndia Staff
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Pulwama attack: 44 CRPF soldier martyred; Home Minister Rajnath Singh to visit Kashmir to take stock of the situation

The death toll in the horrific terrorist attack sponsored by the terrorist state of Pakistan has reached 44, making it one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in the history of Jammu and Kashmir.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the sacrifices of “our brave security personnel shall not go in vain”, people across the country have demanded the strongest possible action against the dastardly terrorist attack.

“Attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama is despicable. I strongly condemn this dastardly attack. The sacrifices of our brave security personnel shall not go in vain. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of the brave martyrs. May the injured recover quickly,” tweeted Prime Minister Modi.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Singh is also expected to visit Srinagar today. Rajnath Singh will also hold review meetings with senior security and police officials to make the ground-level assessment and review further operational actions.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in an official statement held Pakistan responsible for aiding terrorist attack and added that the JeM founder Maulana Masood Azhar had been “given the freedom to target India.”

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CSS), the highest decision-making body of the government, is scheduled to meet at 9:15 am today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the meeting, which is expected to be attended by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and EAM Sushma Swaraj among others.

Meanwhile, the international community, including the US, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Russia, and Bangladesh have condemned the dastardly attack on Indian security personnel.

A terrorist belonging to Pakistani Army backed Islamic terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad, identified as Adil Ahmad Dar, rammed an SUV laden with over 300 kg of explosives into the CRPF bus carrying about 40 personnel. The collision exploded the bus and the vehicle, causing the deaths of more than 40 CRPF soldiers.

More than 2,500 Central Reserve Police Force personnel, many of them returning from leave to rejoin duty in the Kashmir Valley, were travelling in the convoy of 70 vehicles when they were ambushed on the Srinagar-Jammu highway at Latoomode in Awantipora in south Kashmir around 3.15 pm on Thursday.

“By the time this video reaches you, I will be in heaven”, declared JeM terrorist in video before Pulwama suicide attack

OpIndia Staff
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“By the time this video reaches you, I will be in heaven”, declared JeM terrorist in video before Pulwama suicide attack

Soon after the dastardly attack on the CRPF personnel in the Pulwama district, the Pakistan backed terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad which claimed the responsibility of the ghastly terrorist attack, released a video of the Fidayeen terrorist who is believed to have carried out the suicide attack.

The terrorist identified as Adil Ahmed Dar alias Waqas is seen admitting that he had joined the Jaish-e-Mohammad a year ago. In the video, he refers to Indians as “Gae ka Peshab Peene Wale” (People who drink cow urine). Waqas urges the people of North Kashmir, Central Kashmir, Jammu and South Kashmir to come together in the fight against India. The terrorist boasts about the terrorist attacks carried out by Jaish-e-Mohammad in the past and says, “Let this misunderstanding of yours be cleared that by killing few of our militant commanders, you can weaken us”.

Waqas makes a reference to the demolished Babri Masjid and expresses hope for its revival. He also makes a reference to the Hoors in Jannat and says, “Apne kirdar ko bedaag rakho taki jannat ki hoorein tumhari muntazir rahe“. Brandishing various assault weapons in the video he says, “By the time this video reaches you, I will be in heaven.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr0DpTn6YTs

The terrorist had rammed his explosive-laden car into a bus which was part of the convoy of the CRPF personnel. He was reportedly carrying around 350 kg of explosives in his car. According to some reports, the terrorist was a school dropout and used to work as a mason. He also used to lead prayers in the local mosque.

According to the latest reports, the death toll in the attack has reached 44 and may cross 50, as many injured remain critical.

West Bengal: Police vandalises Hindu temple on the pretext of implementing loudspeaker ban

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: Police vandalises Hindu temple on the pretext of implementing loudspeaker ban

In a shocking incident, the West Bengal police reportedly vandalised a Hindu temple situated in a village called Patharghata, after which Bengal’s New Town area turned into a war zone, according to reports.

According to the locals, the police initially objected to the use of loudspeakers, which was being played at a religious function which was being celebrated in the village. The situation suddenly turned ugly and in rage, the police started vandalising the temple. Angered by this response, the villagers also started attacking the cops.

According to reports, the people assembled there had switched off the loudspeakers after the police objected to playing it at night, especially when several examinations are around the corner. However, even after that the police started vandalising the temple and asked the revellers to pack up.

Meanwhile, villagers have come out in protest against such a ruthless act. They blocked the roads and started burning tires. The entry points of the village were barricaded and the shops were shut down. The riled villagers also destroyed police vehicles. Slogans were raised against TMC MLA Sabyasachi Dutta.

The police have also claimed that the villagers attacked them and injured an officer.

After learning that the situation is getting out of the hand, DC of zone one Rabindranath Banerjee and ACP Animesh Ray reached the spot. They ordered a probe into the matter and promised that the culprits will be punished.

In 2017, in a yet another shameful incident, Mamta’s WB Police attacked innocent unarmed Hindu students with guns who were protesting to celebrate Saraswati Puja in their school.

Earlier in 2015, under the rule of the Muslim’s advocate, Mamata Banerjee, it was reported that the Nalhati Police in Birbhum district, West Bengal jointly with the local administrators had prevented the Sharodiya (Navaratrik) Durga Puja for consecutive three years, only to favour the objections of Muslims of the village.

Similarly, in 2017, it was reported how the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal had stalled the idol immersion during the Durga Puja celebrations in the state. The government had disallowed idol immersions as Muharram had fallen on that day.

More trouble for Vijay Mallya as ED to allow banks to sell his attached shares in the United Breweries after court clearance

OpIndia Staff
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More trouble for Vijay Mallya as ED to allow banks to sell his attached shares in the United Breweries after court clearance

According to information provided by two people having direct knowledge of the Vijay Mallya case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), through a consortium of banks led by the SBI, has informally conveyed to Heineken NV, the part-owner of United Breweries (UB), that it intends to allow banks to auction Vijay Mallya’s shares in the company that the banks had attached once the court grants its approval to the agency for the same.

According to reports, one of the two people who passed on the information confirmed that if the shares are sold at the earliest it will yield good returns. The investors and lenders are keen to get going with the process of selling the shares at the earliest.

“Heineken has shown interest in buying the shares at a premium and we will let them claim it once the court approvals are in,” the person said.

The investigating agency has attached 41.3 million UB equity shares held by eight promoter firms, equivalent to a 15.63 per cent stake. Heineken owns about 44 per cent of UB, which was once headed by Vijay Mallya who holds about 8 per cent. Almost 23% of the shares held by the UB promoter and promoter group are pledged.

The Enforcement Directorate confirmed that they would give their approval to sell both pledged and unpledged shares once it gets approval from the special court in Mumbai hearing cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The next hearing is scheduled on March 13.

While Heineken refused to comment, an official familiar with the case said, “All Mallya’s assets are the property of the government and post-ED approvals, banks will be able to sell the shares and recover their money.”

“It is just a matter of time. With the additional shares, Heineken will have all the heft it needs on the United Breweries board. The next move is a Heineken-nominated chairman,” said an official close to the board.”

“In the past, banks had expressed reservation towards United Breweries Holding Ltd. and Mallya’s proposals for settlement, but now there is a view of selling the shares even before the extradition process begins,” furthered the same official.

“Heineken has already kept its war chest ready to purchase the maximum shares available with both lenders and the ED,” another person close to the Dutch brewing company said.

The ED expects the sale of shares to surpass Rs 9,500 crore, the amount Mallya owes the local lenders.

“The sale of shares alone would help us recover both the principal and interest and even make a considerable profit. We are hoping to make around Rs 13,500 crore from the sale of all the assets, including shares and immovable property,” the first person said.

Upon approval from the PMLA court, the banks will start the share sale in accordance with the method prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India and may hire SBI Capital to conduct the auction.

Shares of UB closed at ₹1403.70 at the NSE today, giving it a market capitalisation of ₹37,121.16 crores.

Vijay Mallya is wanted by investigating agencies in India on the charges of Money Laundering, Fraud and violation of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). His Kingfisher airlines owe around ₹9000 crore of debt to creditors, and Debts Recovery Tribunal (DRT) has attached a significant amount of properties belonging to Mallya.

Mallya left India for London in March 2016 soon after lenders to his defunct Kingfisher Airlines declared him a wilful defaulter.

UK home secretary Sajid Javid approved Mallya’s extradition to India on February 3. Mallya has 14 days to appeal.

Uber driver Imrom turns Amit, then Irshad: Activist raises concerns about safety of customers

OpIndia Staff
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Uber driver Imrom turns Amit, then Irshad: Activist raises concerns about safety of customers

Delhi based social activist Neha Joshi has recently shared her own experience over a deeply concerning issue that seems to be a norm in many App based cab services in the country. Joshi has shared her experience of a late night cab ride by Uber on 12 February, where she found out that the driver who had arrived to pick her up from the airport, had faked his identity.

She also stated that this is the second time she has faced such an incident with Uber India.

Via Twitter

Joshi has shared that she had booked an Uber cab from the IGI airport and had got confirmation that a driver named ‘Imrom’ is arriving in a white Dzire car. However, when the driver arrived, Neha, being alert for her safety, noticed that his face and age did not match what was being shown in the App. When Neha asked the driver what his name was, the man allegedly replied that it was Amit. On being asked whose vehicle he is driving, he replied that it was his uncle’s.

When Neha asked his uncle’s name, the driver could not even reply and the vague name he gave after Neha insisted was not Imrom, as claimed by the App.

Concerned over the issue, when Neha asked the driver to show his driving license, she was shocked to discover that as per the license, the driver’s name was Mohammad Irshad, not Amit.


Neha had shared the image of the driver’s license and the screenshot of the confirmation she had received in the mobile app. Many Twitter users soon had pointed out that not just a fake identity, the driver even had a fake driving license too.

Neha had pointed out that the matter is of serious concern because thousands of women depend on app-based cab services and if a company has no system in place to ensure whether the driver picking up a customer is either Amit, Imrom or Irshad, how are they going to enforce the passenger safety guidelines.

App-based cab services send messages to inform a customer about the details of the driver. But, as Neha has pointed out, if the driver is faking his identity or using a fake license, as the driver of Neha’s cab was clearly doing, Uber simply did not have any mechanism in place that prevents it.

Neha had tagged Uber India and Delhi police in her tweet thread. Her tweet thread has since gone viral and after several hours, she reportedly received a call from a Uber India representative. However, she was shocked to find out that the representative had not taken the issue seriously at all. Instead, she was given a casual explanation over what should she do in case of a perceived emergency inside a cab.

Speaking to OpIndia, Neha stated that the casualness and indifference Uber has shown on the issue is of serious concern, because despite insisting that they have a system for strong background checks, they are refusing to admit that they simply have no means to ensure whether the driver whose background they had checked is driving the car or he had allowed another person to use his vehicle.

This, as per many users who had shared and replied to Neha’s thread, is a common occurrence and many claimed to have faced a similar situation. Neha also pointed out that this means the entire onus of ensuring the safety and taking precautionary measures (like calling emergency and asking for help from the customer service) is on the passenger alone. She pointed out that often, people book cabs for their old parents or there are instances where women are in a hurry so they do not verify the driver’s identity and simply trust the cab company.

The email Neha later received from Uber reportedly listed out the emergency steps, which Neha again points out, does not offer a solution because it just means the onus of establishing the driver’s identity is on the passenger and not the cab company.

The email also reportedly mentioned that if Neha wanted to pursue the issue legally, they have a legal team in place to respond accordingly. A very ‘official’ way of saying “Sue us, we dare you”.

Via Twitter

Neha has clarified that she is pursuing the issue not to get compensation or apology. But she wants Uber to come up with an effective system to ensure the identity and authenticity of their drivers.

She has asked people on social media to list out how should the cab company be persuaded to take necessary steps in the direction. She had also tagged Delhi police but they have so far neither responded to Neha nor taken up the issue with Uber India.

Many Twitter users have pointed out that in the age of digital connectivity and high-speed data, ensuring the identity of a cab driver should not be that difficult for a company. Some doorstep service firms, like Urban Clap reportedly have an identity verification step when a beautician arrives at the house of a customer. The beautician has to click a selfie and upload in the app to confirm her identity.

Some people have also suggested an additional verification step, like the driver showing his driving license to the passenger and the passenger confirming the same in the app, before embarking on the ride, can be introduced to ensure the safety of passengers and affirm the identity of the person driving.

There have been many incidents of violence, loot, even rape and murder in cabs in recent years. Though not all incidents can be related to fake identities and fake documents being used, it cannot be denied that the lack of a mechanism to ensure the identity of the driver in a cab is a major safety loophole.

In case of a mishap, the confusion over the actual identity of the driver would simply result in delayed and misleading investigations. While the company might claim innocense citing its rules and guidelines, it will be the victims who would ultimately suffer. It is really concerning that instead of addressing the genuinely concerning the issue, the cab company simply seems to convey that it is the job of the passenger to ensure who is driving their cab.

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