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Chhattisgarh HC commutes death sentence of man convicted of rape and murder of 7-year-old girl, says ‘convict belongs to backward community, reformation can’t be ruled out’

OpIndia Staff
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Chhattisgarh HC commutes death sentence of man convicted of rape and murder of 7-year-old girl, says ‘convict belongs to backward community, reformation can’t be ruled out’

On Wednesday, 4th December, the Chhattisgarh High Court overturned a man’s death sentence for kidnapping, sexually assaulting, and murdering a seven-year-old child in the year 2021. The court commuted the death sentence because the convict belongs to a backward community, saying that there is a chance of him being reformed. While acknowledging the intensity of the crime, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad also claimed that the case did not meet the stringent ‘rarest of the rare’ standard required for imposing death penalty as detailed by the Supreme Court.

“These are the incriminating circumstances, but there is no evidence on record that the appellant cannot be reformed or rehabilitated as at the time of the offense he was aged about 29 years and he is a member of the Other Backward Class, thereby he belongs to the backward community and his chances of being reformed or rehabilitated cannot be ruled out,” the bench said.

On February 28th, 2021, the accused escorted the minor dead and her minor brother to a celebration after which he left the girl’s brother at the function and brought her along the railway track in Somni. The accused there had forced sexual intercourse with the minor following which he crushed her head with a huge stone. The accused then disposed of the dead body of the girl on the railway tracks to destroy evidence against him.

However, the incident later came to the fore after which an FIR was lodged against the accused identified as Dipak Baghel. The police launched an investigation into the case and based on evidence found Baghel guilty of rape and murder. The accused was then charged by the trial court under sections 302, 201, 363, and 366 of the IPC read with Section 6 of the POCSO Act, and was awarded a death sentence by the court.

The trial Court further sent the matter to the High Court under Section 366 of the CrPC for confirmation of the capital sentence. At the same time, the appellant filed an appeal under Section 374(2) of the CrPC, challenging the trial Court’s decision.

The High Court took into consideration all the evidence, DNA reports, and testimonies of the family of the victim and found the accused guilty of rape and murder. The court said, “Thus, after appreciating the entire ocular and medical evidence on record, we do not find any illegality in appreciation of oral, medical, and circumstantial evidence or arriving at a conclusion as to the guilt of the appellant by the trial Court warranting interference by this Court and we accordingly hereby confirm the conviction of the appellant recorded under Section 302 of the IPC.”

However, it further heard on the capital punishment of the accused saying that the trial court had committed an error in sentencing the appellant to the extreme penalty of death on the very same day. “The trial Court has not taken into consideration the probability of the appellant being reformed and rehabilitated and has only taken into consideration the crime and the manner in which it was committed and has not given the effective opportunity of hearing on the question of sentence to the appellant. No evidence was brought on record on behalf of the prosecution to prove to the Court that the appellant cannot be reformed or rehabilitated, by producing material about his conduct in jail, and no opportunity of hearing was given to the appellant to produce evidence in that respect,” it observed.

The Court reviewed the report provided by the jail authorities, which highlighted the appellant’s typical behavior while in custody and denied his involvement in any jail offenses. Therefore, taking such report, the appellant’s age, and his social background into account, the Bench concluded, “Though it shocks the consciousness of the society at large, yet, in the facts and circumstances of the case, considering the young age of the appellant, upon thoughtful consideration, we are of the view that extreme sentence of the death penalty is not warranted in the facts and circumstances of the case. We are of the opinion that this is not the rarest of rare cases in which a major penalty of sentence of death awarded has to be confirmed.”

‘Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq himself was driving the Scorpio that killed a man’: On victim family’s complain, Sambhal SP launches probe

OpIndia Staff
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‘Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq himself was driving the Scorpio that killed a man’: On victim family’s complain, Sambhal SP launches probe

On Wednesday (4th December), police said that an investigation has been launched into claims that a vehicle driven by Samajwadi Party MP Zia ur Rehman Barq collided with a 30-year-old man, killing him. The police said that Gaurav Pal, a native of Alipur village died after allegedly being hit by a private vehicle on 24th of June 2024.

The deceased victim’s father, Samar Pal, stated on Tuesday that the vehicle that hit his son had the “Samajwadi Party MP” symbol. Pal claimed that Zia ur Rehman Barq was driving this vehicle. He further alleged that the police did not probe Gaurav’s case properly.

Meanwhile, Sambhal Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar Bishnoi said that in the complaint, it was mentioned it was a black Scorpio car. After the ‘accident’, the victim was admitted to the District Joint Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

“In the complaint, it has been mentioned that the vehicle was a black Mahindra Scorpio with registration number UP 38V 0880. The investigation has been handed over to the assistant superintendent of police, who has been asked to submit a report within three days. Further action will be taken following the investigation,” SP Bishnoi said.

Zia Ur Rahmen Barq’s alleged role in Sambhal violence

Notably, Barq is among those charged in connection with the violence unleashed by Islamist mobs on 24th November in response to a court-ordered survey of the disputed Jama Masjid.

According to the FIR filed against him, Barq visited the mosque days before the violence without permission and incited unrest. Barq, however, has denied the allegations. In a statement, he claimed that when the violence broke out, he was not in the state, let alone in Sambhal. He accused the UP Police of conspiring against him.

The FIR read, “On November 22, Zia ur Rehman Barq visited the Jama Masjid. After offering namaaz, he gathered a crowd without administrative permission and made provocative statements. For political gain, he incited the crowd to disturb communal harmony.”

Furthermore, the FIR mentioned Suhail Iqbal, son of MLA Iqbal Mahmood, as being present in the crowd on the day the violence broke out. The FIR read, “Suhail Iqbal incited the crowd by saying, ‘Ziaur Rahman Barq is with us, we are also with you. We will not let anything happen to you; fulfil your intentions.’ As a result, the crowd became more violent.”

Barq has been named “Accused No. 1” while Iqbal has been named “Accused No. 2” in the FIR. Seven hundred to eight hundred unidentified individuals have also been booked in the same FIR. According to the FIR, a mob comprising 700–800 armed individuals gathered to disrupt the court-ordered survey at Jama Masjid. The FIR further stated that the mob snatched official weapons from police personnel and targeted the police with intent to kill. It read, “One person from the crowd fired at Circle Officer Anuj Chaudhary to kill him. Anuj was shot in the leg and sustained injuries.”

A detailed OpIndia profile of Zia-ur-Rehman Barq can be read here.

Brian Thompson, CEO of USA’s biggest health insurance company UnitedHealth assasinated outside New York hotel

OpIndia Staff
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Brian Thompson, CEO of USA’s biggest health insurance company UnitedHealth assasinated outside New York hotel

On Wednesday, 4th December, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group’s insurance unit, Brian Thompson, was shot outside the Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan resulting in his death. The New York Police Department confirmed the incident and described it as ‘brazen and targeted.’

“I want to be clear at this time, every indication is that this was a premeditated, preplanned, targeted attack. This does not appear to be a random act of violence,” Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said during a news conference on Wednesday after the attack.

According to reports, Thompson, 50, looked after UnitedHealthcare, the largest private health insurer in the United States. He was on his way to UnitedHealth Group’s investor day, which was scheduled for Wednesday at 8 am at the Hilton when the incident happened. The company eventually canceled the event following the shooting.

“At 6:46 am, patrol officers responded to a 911 call regarding a person shot in front of the Hilton hotel at 1335 Avenue of the Americas. Officers arrived at 6:48 am and found Thompson on the sidewalk with gunshot wounds to his back and leg,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny stated during the news conference.

After the incident, Thompson was taken to the Roosevelt Hospital where he was declared dead by 7:12 am. The deceased had been staying at The Luxury Collection Hotel Manhattan Midtown, a Marriott facility on 54th Street. The police stated that the gunman arrived at the scene around five minutes before Thompson arrived outside the Hilton. “As Thompson walked alone toward the Hilton, the gunman stepped onto the sidewalk from behind a car and approached him from behind, firing several rounds that hit him at least once in the back and once in the right calf,” Kenny noted.

The video footage of the incident has been recovered by the police and it is being investigated to identify and nab the accused. So far, no arrests in the case have been reported. As per the authorities, the accused wore a black face mask, black and white sneakers, and a gray backpack. The authorities are looking for the accused since he managed to flee from the spot after shooting Thompson dead.

“The NYPD has recovered three live 9 mm rounds and three discharged 9 mm shell casings at the scene. A cellphone has also been recovered from the spot,” Kenny added.

Further investigations into the case are underway.

Sambhal temple-mosque dispute: Advocate Commission to submit survey report in sealed envelope by 8th December

OpIndia Staff
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Sambhal temple-mosque dispute: Advocate Commission to submit survey report in sealed envelope by 8th December

The Advocate Commission which conducted the court-ordered survey of the disputed Jama Masjid in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal will submit the survey report before the court by Monday (8th December). The report will be submitted in a sealed envelope. The report was supposed to be submitted on 29th November, however, the Commission sought more time from the court saying that the report was not ready for submission. Consequently, the court granted 10 days of additional time to the Advocate Commission.

Advocate Commissioner Ramesh Singh Raghav said that the report is being prepared, it will be submitted in a sealed envelope in the court before time. Deepak Chaudhary, the Deputy Collector designated to conduct the magisterial inquiry into the Sambhal violence, has set December 9 as the deadline for presenting the case report. All concerned authorities, including CO Sambhal, SDM, Kotwal, and Halka Sub Inspector, were notified and asked to present their cases in Bahjoi on November 30.

However, due to the arrival of the judicial commission team and other security-related procedures, the officers were unable to present their case. Following that, the Deputy Collector attended a meeting of the Divisional Commissioner in Moradabad. Due to Friday’s Jumma Namaz, the Deputy Collector has set December 9 as the new date for presenting the case.

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.

Delhi police arrest AAP MLA Naresh Balyan in MCOCA case after he was granted bail in extortion case

ANI
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Delhi police arrest AAP MLA Naresh Balyan in MCOCA case after he was granted bail in extortion case

Delhi police on Wednesday arrested Delhi police in MCOCA case after he was granted bail in extortion case by the Rouse Avenue court.

Crime Branch team arrested Naresh Balyan from the court after he was granted bail in extortion case. He was taken to Crime Branch (AGS) office in Dwarka.

Additional Chief judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Paras Dalal granted bail to Naresh Balyan. He was granted bail on a bail bond of Rs 50000 and a surety bond in the like amount.

The Court rejected the application of judicial custody moved by Delhi Police in extortion case.

The Court declined the application of Crime Branch (AGS) in MCOCA case.

It said that the application of Delhi police seeking arrest of Accused Naresh Balyan is not maintainable in this court. As it is not a competent court.

However, the court said that accused is free now, any agency may arrest him by following the process of law. Thereafter he was arrested in MCOCA court.

During the hearing, Delhi police crime branch had moved an application seeking fresh arrest and custody of Naresh Balyan in a MCOCA case.

This case was registered earlier in August 2024. Delhi police said that with the permission of court the accused was interrogated. He did not cooperated. Delhi police sought permission to arrest him.

The court said it is not entertaining the application

On the other hand, Delhi police sought judicial custody of Naresh Balyan in extortion case. The court declined to remand him in the judicial custody and granted bail.

Senior advocate Manish Vashisht, NC Sharma, Advocate Nitin Ahlawat, Advocate Rohit Dalal, Advocate Sujan Singh appeared for Naresh Balyan.

During the arguments on bail, Senior advocate Manish Vashisht submitted that there is no chance of fleeing. His name is not in the FIR, senior advocate argued. This is an old case, he argued. He added.

Prosecution is making an attempt to convince that I anticipated the incident and I filed complaint, the counsel argued.

It was further submitted that accused is a respectable citizen. This case is gimmick to harras the accused. There is nothing. He is a public servant.

The case for judicial custody is not made out, counsel argued. He should be released on bail, he added.

You were sleeping for one and half years, it is itself a ground for bail, the counsel argued.

Advocate Sujan Singh submitted that they have to comply the direction, country is looking at us. What message they are giving.

They are investigating for last one and half years but they unable to file the charge sheet, advocate Nitin Ahlawat submitted.

Advocate NC Sharma said that the source of clip is a news of a channel. They didn’t investigate there.

He is a two time MLA and popular face. An extortionist can’t be a popular face, senior advocate Vasisth argued .

On the other Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Akhand Pratap Singh appeared for Delhi police in MCOCA Case.

He sought permission to arrest the accused in MCOCA case. There is an FIR under MCOCA.

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

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

ANI
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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

OpIndia Staff
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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’

Jinit Jain
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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.

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