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Purported Al-Jazeera ‘columnist’, who wanted Ali’s sword to deal with Yati Narsinghanand, celebrates the first anniversary of Oct 7 attacks on Israel

OpIndia Staff
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Purported Al-Jazeera ‘columnist’, who wanted Ali’s sword to deal with Yati Narsinghanand, celebrates the first anniversary of Oct 7 attacks on Israel

Al Jazeera, a state-sponsored media house funded by Qatar is infamous for its anti-Hindu and anti-India coverage as well as its support for jihadi and Islamist elements worldwide. Now, a notorious extremist and Khamenei-Hamas admirer Wajid Khan, who claims to be working for the platform has posted a series of tweets to celebrate the first anniversary of the brutal attack on innocent Jewish citizens by the terrorist group.

Notably, OpIndia was unable to locate any traces of his work or proof of his professional credentials. He posted a picture of an armed terrorist holding an Israeli soldier on top of a tank and referred to it as an “iconic picture,” from 7th October as well as added a victory emoticon. He also asserted that the day is no less than a festival which commemorates Israel’s overwhelming loss to Palestine

Khan even termed 7th October as a “happy day” and posted an alleged video of a Hamas assailant being shown entering the Israeli state through a parachute on the fateful event.

“On 7th October, Palestinians shattered Israel’s pride of being a superpower,” Khan boasted in another tweet while gleefully referring to the event as a massacre.

Khan even quoted Hamas in a post and shared, “Today marks one year since the attack on Israel, its illusion of being powerful has been destroyed.”

True to the duplicity displayed by every radical Muslim, Khan too uploaded a post stating, “People in Delhi gathered in support of Palestine at Jantar Mantar and demanded to stop the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza.” On one hand, he is celebrating the deaths of innocent Israelis at the hands of Hamas and on the other he is protesting against Israel’s action against the latter as a consequence of the terror attack.

Interestingly, in another post which Khan later alleged had been edited, he was shown cheering the gruesome assault on Shani Louk as the terrorists paraded her half-naked body in the back of a pickup truck.

Khan hailed Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar who orchestrated the heinous operation as the “Lion of Gaza.”

“The lovers of freedom will never forget the day of 7th October 2023, because on this day Hamas gave hope of freedom of Palestine to the Muslims of the world,” Khan expressed in another tweet.

Furthermore, Khan retweeted other posts that celebrated the murder of Jews and dubbed the terrorists as “lions” by his ideological brethren while simultaneously condemning the retribution carried out by the Jewish state.

Wajid Khan, his Hindu hatred and anti-India antics

Khan is not only full of hate for Jews but also, predictably, towards the Hindu community. In addition to engaging in deviant behaviour to express his disdain for the two, he doesn’t refrain from making death threats either. He detests Hindus standing with Israel against the terrorism perpetrated by his religious brethren, akin to others from his cabal. Notably, he was one of the most vocal voices demanding action against Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati who was later arrested by the authorities over alleged blasphemy.

Khan even issued death threats to him and his followers on 4th October and declared, “Yesterday Ati (mocking his name) Narsinghanand had insulted the Prophet but no arrests were made. And now the disciples of that cursed person are also demeaning the Prophet and Hazrat Ali. There is only one cure for them and that is Hazrat Ali’s Zulfikar.” Zulfikar is the sword of Ali ibn Abi Talib (Prophet Muhammad’s son-in-law). Khan wanted the Hindu saint and his followers to suffer the same fate (death) as those who disapproved of Islam during the reign of the Muslim caliphs and rulers.

Khan posted another tweet targetting the Hindus in the name of a Jewish religious leader and claimed that the latter was quoting the Talmud and slamming idol worshippers. He wrote, “Those who worship idols do not have the right to live in this world. Those 6 billion people around the world are a burden,” citing the latter. He further claimed that the person referred to idol worship as a sham and added that such people would be destroyed by famine. He remarked, “Fools are worshipping stone calendars and this hoax persists even in the 21st century,” according to the religious leader. Khan intended to disgrace Hindus by implying that this is how the Israelis, whom they support, view them and their faith.

“People who support Jews who eat beef and pork cannot be Sanatani Hindus. These people should undergo DNA check,” Khan taunted in another post. Ironically, Muslims in India argue that, in the name of secularism, they should be allowed to consume beef without facing any opposition from Hindus.

Khan posted a tweet mocking several Indian journalists including Suresh Chavhanke, Rajat Sharma, Sudhir Chaudhary and Arnab Goswami among others. He showed them as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) members and called them “mandarin oranges” mocking the organisation’s association with saffron, a significant colour in the Hindu religion. He remarked, “Mandarin oranges going to help Israel fight Iran.”

Khan in another tweet claimed victimhood by asserting that no Muslim has ever made an offensive remark about Sanatan Dharm. He should have read his tweets or visited the remarks uttered by the likes of Mufti Salman Azhari or Maulana Tauqeer Raza. Khan added, “Hindu religious gurus or Hindu extremists repeatedly make derogatory comments on the Prophet or Islam. Muslims have tolerated it every time. No action is taken against those who make such statements. Rather, the government and administration seem to be supporting both the accused.”

However, no lamentation of victimhood is complete without a veiled threat, hence he warned, “This is a matter of concern because you are pressuring a community which is trusting the law right now. But for how long will it do so?”

Khan also made fun of the concerns of Indians who went to Israel for work but were stuck there due to war. “It seems that their Jewish brothers are not giving them a place to hide in the bunker,” he mocked.

Khan in a separate tweet claimed that Israel removed Jammu and Kashmir from the map showcasing it as a part of Pakistan. He made an obscene comment which read, “Look, bhakton (Modi supporters), you got the reward of becoming a mare in front of the Jews,” with the emoticon of a pig at the end. However, the Israeli envoy to India, Reuven Azar, took to X to inform that the incorrect map had been removed. Notably, Khan was pleased that the union territory had been removed from India’s map and saw it as an opportunity to attack his opponents.

It should come as no surprise that Khan is followed by those who share his fanatic views including All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Waris Pathan, alleged journalists Ashraf Husain, Zakir Ali Tyagi and Wasim Akram Tyagi and chief spokesperson of Peace Party Shadab Chauhan.

Conclusion

Wajid Khan who is reportedly from India has no love or loyalty for the country and is purely guided by his Islamist beliefs which is the reason behind his blind support of Hamas and more lately, Iran’s mullah regime under Khamenei. He has expressed hatred towards India and Hindus and praised Hamas, Hezbollah and its ex-supremo late Hassan Nasrullah who he dubbed as a martyr and other Islamic elements in many similar posts.

He resents India’s majority community, particularly those connected to the BJP or RSS, not only because they are infidels but also for their backing of Israel in its struggle against Muslim fanaticism and terrorism. The fightback is especially infuriating to those like him, who in their ignorance cannot envision any opposition or protests against Islamic radicals.

Many others, including Rana Ayyub, Mohammed Zubair and Meer Faisal, view the violence committed by jihadis as justified and moral, but any form of reprisal as cruel and genocide. They exalt the terrorist acts of Hamas as “resistance,” yet they denounce Israel’s policies as discriminatory and portray it as an apartheid state because it stood up against the bloodshed and violence perpetrated by terrorists.

Their overwhelming hatred towards everyone who opposes terrorism in India, particularly Hindus, stems from the same cause. They don’t seem to care when India suffers from numerous terrorist attacks and incidences of Muslim mob violence that affect Hindus and their festivals but cry victimhood and human rights violations as soon as the other side responds. These individuals either ignore, justify, or whitewash the crimes committed by the jihadis on the ground, shamelessly as it seems to be the only playbook adopted by their ilk throughout the world.

Israel’s agency Mossad had bombs inside Hezbollah walkie-talkies for several years, they waited: The story behind exploding pagers and walkie-talkies

OpIndia Staff
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Israel’s agency Mossad had bombs inside Hezbollah walkie-talkies for several years, they waited: The story behind exploding pagers and walkie-talkies

On the 17th of September 2024, the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad carried out one of its most effective anti-terrorist operations against the Islamic terrorist outfit Hezbollah in Lebanon. The sophisticated attack left thousands of Hezbollah terrorists injured and over 30 dead.

It was reported how Mossad carried out a long-term operation which included setting up a legitimate company in Hungary to supply communication devices to Hezbollah. A Washington Post report says that Israel carefully planted booby-traps in the devices for almost ten years, using them to eavesdrop, while retaining the capacity to remotely detonate these walkie-talkies.

Mossad launched the first step of the plot against Hezbollah in 2015 when the devices were secretly brought into Lebanon.

Citing officials, The Post reported: “For nine years, the Israelis contented themselves with eavesdropping on Hezbollah, while reserving the option to turn the walkie-talkies into bombs in a future crisis. But then came a new opportunity and a glitzy new product: a small pager equipped with a powerful explosive.”

An exploded Hezbollah walkie-talkie (Source: IndiaTV)

The plan for the pager explosive operation originated in 2022, over a year before Hamas’s brutal onslaught against Israeli civilians on 7th October 2023. The first sales pitches for Apollo AR924 pagers to Hezbollah were also received two years ago.

Interestingly, the moderately bulky pagers and huge batteries, which could provide long operative days, made it easier for Israeli experts to set the explosives. One of the most deadly features of these pagers was a two-step decryption process that required its user’s hands.

This ensured most users [Hezbollah terrorists] would be holding the pager with both hands when Mossad triggered the devices remotely on the 17th of September. The WaPo report says that the user had to press two buttons to read the message. An official said that since both the hands of terrorists would be wounded in the page explosion, they would be rendered “incapable to fight”. Probably, Mossad wanted Hezbollah terrorists dead or almost dead [read “useless”].

Mossad used a Taiwanese company to penetrate Hezbollah’s communication system and cause the ultimate ‘explosion’

Notably, Mossad has long been attempting to break into Hezbollah using electronic monitoring and human informants and it found that one of the Iran-backed terror group’s top priorities was establishing a surveillance-free communication system among terrorists that Israel could not trace or hack. The Mossad investigated this, and Apollo pagers were offered to the terrorist organisation as a gadget with no risk of surveillance.

The WaPo report suggests that the choice of a Taiwanese manufacturer Gold Apollo was also pertinent, as Hezbollah leaders were cautious about gadgets from countries with ties to Israel. Hezbollah leadership did not suspect a foul play, as Taiwanese Apollo pagers, a well-known trademark and product line with global distribution, had no evident links to Israeli or Jewish interests.

Last year, the sales pitch was made by a female marketing executive trusted by Hezbollah and linked to Apollo,  she was a former Middle East sales agent for the Taiwanese firm, as well as an Apollo pager licensee through her company.

“She was the one in touch with Hezbollah, and explained to them why the bigger pager with the larger battery was better than the original model,” said an Israeli official briefed on details of the operation. One of the main selling points about the AR924 was that it was “possible to charge with a cable. And the batteries were longer lasting,” an official told WaPo.

Notably, the marketing official was unaware of Israel’s designs and was clueless that the pagers were physically built in Israel under Mossad’s supervision.

It is pertinent to note that Taiwanese company Gold Apollo has denied making the pagers, saying that they were made by Hungarian company BAC Consulting under licence from them.

As reported earlier, BAC Consulting headquartered in Budapest is nothing but a front established by Mossad and two more such shell companies were created by the Israeli intelligence agency. An NYT report said that BAC Consulting is only an intermediary and has no operative site in Hungary. BAC CEO Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono also said that the company did not make the pagers and that she was just a link in the supply chain. While BAC may have been unaware of Mossad’s involvement, it somehow received the rigged pagers from Mossad and supplied them to Lebanon as per order.

Japanese walkie-talkies made over 10 years ago were also used in explosion

While Hezbollah was still to fathom what happened as the pager explosion created chaos, a day after the pager explosion, walkie-talkies used by Hezbollah exploded, killing 25 people and injuring over 1000. In addition, the two-way radios were rigged with explosives and were remotely detonated. Among these walkie-talkies, some were made by Japanese radio equipment maker Icom.

The interesting part here is that Icom confirmed that they discontinued the manufacturing of the model used in the attack a decade ago. The company exported the IC-V82 two-way radio to the Middle East and other regions till October 2014. This adds substance to the information emerging that Icom may have sold the devices in 2014 and the same were acquired by Mossad, altered later on, only to be eventually bought by Hezbollah.

Why Hezbollah was using old-fashioned tech?

Notably, the demand for pagers and walkie-talkies arose after the killings of Wissam al-Tawil, Taleb Abdallah, and Mohammed Nasser, commanders in charge of Hezbollah’s operations in the south, as well as Saleh al-Arouri, Hamas’ deputy leader in Beirut. Hezbollah suspected that Israel is tracking their cell phones. The terror group used its affiliated Al-Nour radio to caution its terrorists not to heed cold calls from callers claiming to be local officials as they could be Israeli agents. Since then, the cell phone ban is strictly implemented and any Hezbollah terrorist found in possession of a cell phone is kicked out of the terror group. Besides, Hezbollah is using small, homemade, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to gather information about Israeli targets and attack its surveillance systems.

Netanyahu approved the pager and walkie-talkie explosion after calculating the potential risks

The Israeli security officials and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted that carrying out such a massive attack on Hezbollah might escalate tensions with Iran and result in a full-fledged war with Hezbollah, particularly at a time when the Israeli forces are fighting against Hamas. “But others, chiefly Mossad, saw an opportunity to disrupt the status quo with “something more intense”,” the WaPo report says adding that the US, which has been a major ally of Israel was not informed about the planned pager and walkie-talkie explosion attack.

“Ultimately, Netanyahu approved triggering the devices while they could inflict maximum damage. Over the following week, Mossad began preparations for detonating both the pagers and walkie-talkies already in circulation,” WaPo reported.

Mohammad Sartaj shoots at a Muslim cleric in Meerut mosque, Islamists communalise the incident to insinuate religious hate crime

OpIndia Staff
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Mohammad Sartaj shoots at a Muslim cleric in Meerut mosque, Islamists communalise the incident to insinuate religious hate crime

A 30-year-old Muslim cleric, who taught Arabic and Urdu, was shot at Meerut’s Lisari Gate area around 6:30 am on Sunday. Mohammed Naeem, the Muslim cleric, narrowly avoided serious injury as the bullet grazed the back of his ear.

The accused who shot Naeem inside the mosque turned out to be his co-religionist, Mohammad Sartaj, reports quoting police officials said.

However, Islamists who are always on the prowl to needlessly communalise incidents and keep the bogey of “hate crime against Muslims” alive spared no time to leverage the incident to power their venom factories. 

Several Islamists tweeted about the incident, giving it a glaring communal colour while also withholding a crucial detail about the case. 

Zakir Ali Tyagi, an Islamist who refers to himself as a ‘journalist’ while being a closet Islamic fundamentalist, tweeted details of the case but failed to mention the name of the accused. 

Another Islamist circulated the news and gave it a spin to blame Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati. He claimed that people linked the attack against the Muslim cleric to Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati, who was recently targeted by Islamists online for his remarks on Prophet Muhammad. 

An Islamist who often furthers talking points of the Congress ecosystem tried to whip up a communal frenzy by alleging that the Muslim cleric was attacked inside the mosque when he was teaching the Quran to the students, insinuating that it was a case of hate crime.

As social media was rife with posts insinuating that the maulvi was part of a hate crime against Muslims, the Meerut Police issued a statement clarifying that both the victim and the assailant were Muslims.

SSP Meerut Vipin Tada told TOI that Naeem and the shooter, Mohammed Sartaj, who is believed to have mental health issues, were acquainted and had a disagreement after a verbal altercation a few days earlier. Naeem, who also practices as a hakeem (a traditional physician), had treated Sartaj for memory problems. On Sunday, Sartaj arrived at the mosque, shot at Naeem, and fled, leaving behind his weapon.

Israel hasn’t hit Iran back for the missile attack yet, because US is trying to negotiate a ‘compensation deal’ to scale down conflict: Report

Rukma Rathore
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Israel hasn’t hit Iran back for the missile attack yet, because US is trying to negotiate a ‘compensation deal’ to scale down conflict: Report

The barbaric attack by Hamas on innocent civilians in the Jewish country on 7th October of last year was the catalyst for the escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict, which has embroiled the entire Middle East in fierce warfare for many decades. Notably, other Islamic nations including Iran, which is known to have close ties with the Hamas leadership and Lebanon among others also jumped in which only intensified the violence and raised concerns that the dispute would spill over into other parts of the world.

A recent tipping point in the struggle transpired when Iran launched its largest-ever assault on its regional adversary, on the night of 1st October, with a barrage of almost 200 ballistic missiles. Iran claimed that the strikes were intended for military bases, but Israel’s aerial defences, supported by the United States and the United Kingdom thwarted the attack and prevented any major loss of property and life except for one Palestinian worker named Sameh Al-Asali who was killed in Jericho and four other Palestinians were wounded by shrapnel from the same rocket.

The alarm system and Israel’s robust network of bomb shelters all over residential areas prevented major loss of life.

Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson, providing details about the assault stated, “Iran launched a large-scale attack of over 180 ballistic missiles directly from Iranian soil at the State of Israel. There were a small number of hits in the centre of Israel and some other hits in southern Israel. The majority of the incoming missiles were intercepted by Israel and a defensive coalition led by the United States.”

Expectedly, an incensed Israel pledged that the Islamic Republic would pay heavily for its misadventure. “Iran made a big mistake tonight, and it will pay for it,” vowed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on X (formerly Twitter). Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari also called the incident a “severe and dangerous escalation.” He declared, “Iran’s attack is a severe and dangerous escalation. There will be consequences. Our defensive and offensive capabilities are at the highest levels of readiness. Our operational plans are ready. We will respond wherever, whenever, and however we choose, in accordance with the directive of the government of Israel.”

The world has been awaiting Israel’s response in trepidation ever since, however, the latter has not acted upon its promise as of yet and there might be an interesting reason for the delay.

The US offers “compensation” to forgo attacking specific targets in Iran to a reluctant Israel

President Joe Biden’s administration has offered Israel a “compensation package” if it refrains from hitting specific Iranian targets, in retribution for Tehran’s attack, as per a report in Jerusalem Post. According to the report, US officials offered their Israeli counterparts “extensive diplomatic backing and additional military aid” in exchange for the sparing of some targets within Iranian territory. This package was put forth during discussions regarding the ‘optimal way’ to respond to the strikes, between officials from the two nations.

However, the lucrative offer doesn’t appear to sway the Israelis who reaffirmed their commitment to protecting their nation and its people. “We consider the United States to be our ally and are always ready to listen. At the same time, we will do all that’s necessary to protect the citizens of Israel and the security of Israel,” expressed an Israeli official.

Jerusalem is reportedly preparing a major attack on the Iranian regime that could aim at nuclear facilities and oil fields. Interestingly, President Biden has voiced his opposition to both. Israel pointed out that it will respond in a way that “will cause Iran to reconsider its desire to enter into a drawn-out conflict” because it is not interested in a protracted war of attrition with the Islamic Republic.

President Joe Biden was also questioned whether the US would support an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites. “The answer is no,” he replied after which Donald Trump mocked him and stated, “They asked him, what do you think about Iran, would you hit Iran? And he goes, ‘As long as they don’t hit the nuclear stuff.’ That’s the thing you want to hit, right?” He then asked, “Isn’t that what you’re supposed to hit? I mean, it’s the biggest risk we have, nuclear weapons. When they asked him that question, the answer should have been, hit the nuclear first and worry about the rest later.”

On 9th October, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is expected to embark on an “urgent, 24-hour visit” to the United States, where he will hold meetings with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin among other prominent officials. “It’s important for us to hold discussions on strategic cooperation between our countries and defence cooperation in light of the threats posed by Iran and its proxies,” he mentioned and added, “We are powerful when we are aligned, and I want to make sure of it.”

However, Yoav Gallant asserted, “Israel will respond to the unprecedented Iranian attack in the manner of our choosing, and at the time and place of our choosing.” He further highlighted that all options are open in terms of potential targets.

On the other hand, the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization grounded all airlines operating within and outside of the Islamic Republic for almost nine hours on the night of 6th October over “operational restrictions,” according to state-run media. The flights were halted soon after Yoav Gallant warned, “Israel is powerful in defence and offence, and this will be reflected in the manner of our choosing, at the time and place of our choosing.” “Whoever thinks that by trying to harm Israel they will deter us from taking action, should take a look at (our operational achievements) in Gaza and in Beirut,” he further declared.

Pertinently, the US and the IDF have been corresponding about further action following the attack and United States Central Command (CENTCO) Chief General Michael Kurilla is at present in Israel for the same. The most remarkable part of the ongoing discussions is the package which includes a total guarantee of comprehensive diplomatic protection as well as a weapons package and Israel’s resistance to accept the offer.

Although the US appears to be keen to prevent any escalation that would arise from an Israeli attack on Iran’s vital assets, the Jewish state appears to prioritize security and safety in this difficult situation. Israel hasn’t, however, fulfilled its vow of vengeance, yet.

Israel killed Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah

It is important to remember that the current crisis emerged after the death of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the supremo of the Lebanon-based terrorist group Hezbollah which also has a political presence, in an underground bunker in Beirut on 27th September. Many senior leaders of the outfit, which is backed by Iran were eliminated in the attacks. Israeli Defense Forces launched multiple bunker-buster bombs at Hezbollah’s underground bunkers in the southern Beirut suburb of Dahiyeh, in the operation called “New Order.”

Hezbollah’s top leadership met in the organization’s headquarters, which are hidden beneath residential buildings, to discuss potential assaults on Israel in view of increasing hostility along the Israel-Lebanon border. Approximately 85 “bunker-buster” bombs, often referred to as “ground penetration munition,” were reported to have been utilised in the operation. Furthermore, just days earlier, thousands of pagers used by the terrorist outfit Hezbollah detonated all throughout Lebanon on 17th September which led to the deaths of at least eight members and 2,750 reported injuries out of which 200 were critical. The events led to major anger in the Islamic world, especially in Iran after which it attacked Israel.

‘Constantly posted provocative tweets inciting Muslims to attack Dasna Devi Temple’: FIR filed in Ghaziabad against Alt News’ Mohammed Zubair

OpIndia Staff
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‘Constantly posted provocative tweets inciting Muslims to attack Dasna Devi Temple’: FIR filed in Ghaziabad against Alt News’ Mohammed Zubair

An FIR has been filed against Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair following the attack on Dasna Devi Temple in Ghaziabad last week, alleging that Zubair and two other Muslim leaders, including Arshad Madani and Asaduddin Owaisi, tried to incite Muslims around the country and got local Muslims to get outsiders to destroy the ShivShakti Dham in Dasna.

The FIR was filed based on a complaint lodged by BJP leader Dr Udita Tyagi on October 7 at the Web City police station in Ghaziabad after the temple attack on October 5 by a mob of Islamists that had tried to lay siege to the Shiv Shakti Dham after a video shared by Zubair had gone viral on the internet.

Zubair complaint Ghaziabad
A complaint was filed against Mohammed Zubair alleging incitement of Muslim mobs to attack Dasna Temple

In her complaint, Ms Tyagi alleged that the October 5 attack was a preplanned conspiracy by Islamists against the Shiv Shakti Dham in Dasna.

She also alleged that Owaisi, Zubair, Madani, and other Muslim leaders have been constantly instigating the public to kill Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati. She had asked the police to mark the individuals trying to whip up a communal frenzy and take appropriate action against them. Dr Tyagi has also demanded that Yati Narsinghanand should be released and granted adequate security.

Zubair has been booked under Sections 196, 228, 299, 356(3), and 351(2) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The FIR mentions that he has been booked on the complaint by Dr Tyagi which states that his continuously provocative tweets instigated Muslims to attack the Dasna Devi Temple, where a large of Islamists had gathered two days back, chanting threatening slogans and pelting stones.

On 4th October, thousands of Islamists took to the streets to protest against Mahant Narsinghanand Saraswati’s remarks on Prophet Muhammad in the village of Sultanpur, Laskar, Haridwar district, Uttarakhand. The protesting Islamists raised slogans such as “Nara-e-Takbir Allah Hu Akbar”, “Fansi Do”, and “Sar Tan Se Juda”.

A similar incident took place in Bulandshahr, where Islamists protested and indulged in stone pelting over remarks made by Dasna Temple Mahant Narsinghanand Saraswati. The incident occurred in the Sikandrabad area. A large number of Islamists gathered outside Hazrat Ali Mosque to protest against Narsinghanand’s statements about Prophet Muhammad.

On October 3, Zubair shared a video of Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati with a sensational claim that the Dasna Temple chief abbot had targeted Prophet Muhammad. 

“One more derogatory and hateful speech by UP Priest Yati Narasinghanand targeting Islam and Prophet Mohammad,” Zubair tweeted, claiming that Narsinghanand was calling for burning the effigies of the Islamic Prophet. Ironically, Zubair, who champions himself as a ‘fact-checker’ committed to exposing “hate mongers”, has so far maintained a deafening silence on disparaging remarks made against Sanatana Dharma by Congress and DMK leaders. 

Before long, other IT cell warriors who routinely share provocative posts, including tweets mocking Hinduism, were also outraged over what they claimed was an ‘unpardonable sin’ committed by Yati Narsighanand Saraswati. Posting inflammatory posts designed to incite violence against Narsinghanand, they claimed that he had spoken against the honour of their beloved prophet and that the police should jail him for committing the “gustakhi” (audacity).

How Zubair’s dog-whistling in the past had led to violence and death of innocent Hindus

It is worth noting that this is not the first time that Zubair has been accused of flaring up communal tensions by inciting Muslim mobs. Earlier in 2022, Zubair dog-whistled Islamists against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma with an incomplete video from her debate on Times Now, where she stood up against an Islamist who mocked the Shivling discovered at the Gyanvapi controversial structure as a ‘fountain’. Sharma responded with remarks on Prophet Muhammad’s marriage with Ayesha, which was later picked up by Zubair, touching off massive ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ protests across the country.

While Islamists went on a rampage on the streets in many cities across the country, it was essentially Mohammed Zubair who was responsible for kindling a fire that had gone on to assume uncontrollable proportions. 

It was Zubair’s dog whistle that made a mountain out of a molehill and painted a target behind the back of Nupur Sharma and anyone and everyone who came out in her support.

The ominous hounding of Nupur Sharma prompted many to extend their support to her. Kanhaiya Lal from Udaipur, Umesh Kolhe in Amravati, and many others extended their solidarity with the beleaguered leader, voicing their support for her amid the death threats from Islamists. 

Lal was a marked man the moment he came out in support of Nupur Sharma. Islamists, provoked by Mohammed Zubair, dished out death threats to him for what they considered an unpardonable sin committed against the Prophet. And days later, the Hindu man was killed for something as trivial as just sharing a social media post in support of Nupur Sharma. 

A similar fate befell Umesh Kolhe, a chemist living in Maharashtra’s Amravati, who was murdered by four Muslim assailants while he was returning from his pharmacy on the night of June 22, 2022. Kolhe, too, was murdered for his social media post supporting Nupur Sharma.

Cow slaughtered for ‘Niyaz’: Major breakthrough in Borasad cow slaughter case, police arrest absconding Sadiq, Hasim, and Aslam

OpIndia Staff
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Cow slaughtered for ‘Niyaz’: Major breakthrough in Borasad cow slaughter case, police arrest absconding Sadiq, Hasim, and Aslam

The Borasad police have made a significant breakthrough in the cow slaughter case that occurred on 21st August, coinciding with the day of Rakshabandhan. It has been revealed that the cow was slaughtered for ‘Niyaz’. For those unfamiliar, Niyaz refers to a ritual offering or sacrifice typically performed by the Muslim community. It is part of their religious or communal practices, involving the offering of food, usually meat, which is then distributed among community members.

This is done during special occasions and gatherings. In this instance, a cow was slaughtered on the Hindu festival of Rakshabandhan for some Islamic occasion. The prime suspects in the case, identified as Aslam, Hasim, and Sadiq, had been absconding but have now been arrested by the police.

As per reports, on 21st August, a cow’s head was discovered in a canal near Vanatalav leading to Tekriyapura, which sparked public outrage in the area. According to the police, the absconding accused were apprehended following relentless efforts and technical surveillance. During interrogation, the suspects revealed that they had purchased a cow and slaughtered it near a stable owned by a man named Gosmohammad. The cow’s meat was then taken to Almadina Nagar and used for the Niyaz offering. Subsequently, the accused disposed of the cow’s head and other remains by dumping them in the canal leading to Tekriyapura.

The police employed a combination of human and technical surveillance to track down the main accused in the case. They received a tip-off which led to the arrest of Mohammad Sadiq, alias Lalo Bhathiyaro, Rehmat Khan Pathan from Ashrafi Society, Hasim Mohammad Hanif from Almadina Nagar, and Mohammad Aslam, alias Poori, from the same locality. The suspects will be presented before the court following processing.

Background of the Borasad cow slaughter case

The incident occurred on the sacred day of Rakshabandhan, when a cow’s head was found in a canal near Tekriyapura. The canal supplies drinking and irrigation water to several villages around Borasad. After the discovery, members of the Hindu community protested, as the incident deeply hurt their religious sentiments.

Thousands of Hindus took to the streets in response, presenting a memorandum to the Borasad Mamlatdar (local revenue officer) demanding justice. A large rally of Hindus, chanting slogans like ‘Jai Shri Ram’, urged the authorities to halt cow slaughter in the region. Prominent local Hindu leaders participated in the rally, calling for immediate action to prevent future incidents of cow slaughter.

A complaint was lodged, leading to the police filing an FIR in Borasad cow slaughter case under sections BNS 299 and 325, along with the Animal Protection Act 8(2), against unidentified individuals.

Bangladesh: After Islamists threaten Hindus over Durga Puja celebrations, indigenous Buddhists cancel ‘Kathin Chibar Dan’ festival citing security concerns

OpIndia Staff
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Bangladesh: After Islamists threaten Hindus over Durga Puja celebrations, indigenous Buddhists cancel ‘Kathin Chibar Dan’ festival citing security concerns

The minority population in Bangladesh is subjected to relentless persecution that appears to have no end in sight. After the extremists threatened Hindus over “Durga Puja” celebrations and demanded jizyah (tax paid by non-Muslim populations to their Muslim rulers) from them, the native Buddhist monks in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) declared that they would not observe “Kathin Chibar Dan” (Kathina Robe Offering) this year due to the current situation and security concerns. The festival is one of the biggest religious celebrations held by the Buddhist community in CHT every year.

The announcement was made on the 6th of October afternoon at Maitri Bouddha Vihar in Rangamati hill, during a press conference. The President of “Parbatya Bhikshu Sangha,” Shraddhalankar Mahathero, stated that the festival will not be celebrated in any temple within the area owing to the prevailing insecurity and uncertainty. The festival was scheduled to be held in the first week of November.

According to the monks, the development transpired due to the growing violence against the minority community. They charged that law enforcement officials had both active and indirect involvement in the violent occurrences that took place in CHT. The monks added that although investigation committees were established, they were never allowed to look into any of the communal attacks.

Shraddhalankar Mahathero recounted recent violent incidents that happened in the Khagrachari and Rangamati hill areas between the 18th to 20th of September and 1st of October, during which settlers plundered, damaged and set fire to hundreds of shops owned by indigenous populations. These attacks resulted in the gruesome deaths of four indigenous people, one of them a student. Furthermore, donation boxes in Buddhist temples were plundered and Buddha statues were desecrated.

The word “Kathin” or difficult is related to the annual religious event known as Kathin Chibar Dan, where Buddhist followers present monks with “Dan” robes, or “Chibar.” These robes are made of cotton and are woven by the devotees over the course of an overnight period. The celebration was first held approximately 2,500 years ago by Bishakha, a nurse to Gautama Buddha. It comes before Probarona Purnima, a celebration marked by the releasing of skylights and signifies the end of a three-month seclusion for monks who meditate inside their monasteries for self-edification and atonement for mankind.

Attacks on Durga puja pandals

Notably, idols of Goddess Durga and other Hindu deities were vandalized at the Rishipara Barwari Puja Mandap and the Manikadi Palpara Barwari Puja Mandap, on 28th September and 1st October respectively, further adding to the continuous wave of attacks against the minority community, particularly Hindus in Bangladesh. The attacks took place in Rajshahi Division’s Sujanagar upazila in the Pabna district.

Five Hindu idols were demolished in the Manikadi Palpara Barwari Puja Mandap, while four idols total were disfigured at the Rishipara Barwari Puja Mandap. Seven idols of Hindu deities were destroyed at the Gopinath Jiur Akhara Durga Puja mandap on 3rd October. Three temples and sixteen idols of Hindu deities in Bangladesh have been targeted in only six days, ahead of the “Durga Puja” celebrations.

At least 205 attacks on Hindu temples, stores and businesses have occurred since the collapse of former prime minister Sheikha Hasina’s government on 5th August, after the months-long anti-quota protest that turned into a regime change operation.

“Jo khila pila de wo dost”: Rajdeep Sardesai’s colleague Rahul Kanwal calls out veteran ‘journalist’ for calling separatist and terror funding accused Er. Rashid his ‘friend’

Shraddha Pandey
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“Jo khila pila de wo dost”: Rajdeep Sardesai’s colleague Rahul Kanwal calls out veteran ‘journalist’ for calling separatist and terror funding accused Er. Rashid his ‘friend’

In a rather embarrassing moment on national television, IndiaToday ‘journalist’ Rajdeep Sardesai was called out by his colleague Rahul Kanwal for calling separatist Engineer Rashid his ‘friend’. On the 6th of October, during the live coverage of the Jammu and Kashmir elections, the IndiaToday anchors and the guests were discussing the possible political outcomes of the J&K assembly elections and subsequent scenarios when Rajdeep Sardesai called Engineer Rashid as his friend.

“Out of 6 to 11, my friend Engineer Rashid has got 8. He is also…” Rajdeep Sardesai said before being interrupted by Rahul Kanwal who asked him why someone who spews venom against India is Sardesai’s friend.

“Why is he your friend? He spews venom against India. Why should he be your friend,” Kanwal asked.

Living up to his character of shamelessly biased ‘journalist’, Rajdeep Sardesai justified his statement about Engineer Rashid and said: “When I use the word political friend I didn’t invite him home for dinner but he has been very warm to me in terms of explaining….”

Meanwhile, Rahul Kanwal said: “Jo khila pilade wo dost [whoever feeds you is your friend].”

Desperate to defend his “friend” remark, Rajdeep Sardesai resorted to lauding Engineer Rashid’s ‘humility’ and how he was impressed with the way Rashid won elections in the past managing to connect with the people.

“I’ve known him [Engineer Rashid] for 20-25 years going back to the late 90s when he actually knocked at my door at 9 pm in Kashmir…he was to me someone who never hid who he was…you could call him soft separatist or separatist is up to you. He was going to contest elections within the constitution of this country. He won 2 elections as an independent and we know that’s not easy in this country. He won an election against a former Chief Minister and Sajjad Lone, again, not easy. I was impressed by his connect with people and that’s what politicians are about. And, when I say friends, I find friends in politicians who connect with people because, through them, I learn about the people…and Engineer Rashid has shown, he has lasted the course…” Sardesai said.

If all politicians who have great connect with people were actually Rajdeep’s friends, he would not have been historically anti-Modi since even in the present political landscape, Narendra Modi remains the most successful and popular political leader.

Another point to consider here is that Rajdeep Sardesai is impressed with Engineer Rashid’s connect with people over the years, but he finds nothing problematic with Kashmiri people, particularly Baramulla voters, connecting with someone who despises India and advocates for Kashmir’s separation from India.

If a separatist, who challenges the sovereignty of India, has succeeded in making a place in the hearts of Kashmiris, it could either be because he is capitalising on prevalent anti-India sentiments or instilling such venomous sentiments in the hearts and minds of local Kashmiris. However, Rajdeep Sardesai feels Engineer Rashid’s political wins are ‘impressive’ and do not necessitate a look into how an anti-India element accused of terror funding, gained ground in Kashmir.

Notably, Abdul Rashid Sheikh, widely known as Engineer Rashid is the founder of the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Ittehad Party. Earlier, he contested Assembly Elections in 2008 and 2014 and stood victorious. He also contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections but could not win. Before joining politics, he was a construction engineer, hence the name Engineer Rashid. In 2019, he was arrested by the National Investigation Agency on the charges of terror funding activities becoming the first recognised leader to be arrested under UAPA. It is alarming that Rajdeep Sardesai chooses to call a terror funding accused his ‘friend’ and gets exhilarated over the chances of Rashid’s party winning 6 to 11 seats, merely because he has been warm to him or perhaps fed him free food.

Further, why would a separatist, a terror funding accused like Engineer Rashid not be warm to someone like Rajdeep Sardesai who is often seen pandering to them and toeing their narrative? Remember, even Hafiz Saeed lauded Barkha Dutt as “acche log”, maybe the 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind offers a platter of Nihari or Haleem to devour and Sardesai will humanise him too.

When Rajdeep Sardesai called mafias Atiq Ahmed and Mukhtar Ansari ‘gentlemen’ for offering him tandoori chicken

This, however, is not the first time that Rajdeep Sardesai has defended or expressed admiration for someone who offered him free food, and heart-warming hospitality or has ‘impressed’ him. In March 2023, Rajdeep Sardesai commended now-dead mafias Mukhtar Ansari and Atiq Ahmed during his debate show calling them “gentlemen”.

As OpIndia reported earlier, Rajdeep Sardesai said, “Mukhtar Ansari’s moustache makes him appear to have a distinctive character in the pictures shown on the television. But they both fed me a delicious dinner.”

Rajdeep also talked about the tandoori chicken he had at Mukhtar Ansari’s dinner. “Very good tandoori chicken. I said to Mukhtar Ansari that he makes delicious food,” he said back then.

Imagine, a mafia like Mukhtar Ansari with more than 50 cases against him including those of murder and riots, and Atiq Ahmed with over 160 criminal cases against him are ‘gentlemen’ for Rajdeep Sardesai just because they offered him warm hospitality and tandoori chicken to eat.

When Rajdeep Sardesai chose to eat Rasgulla rather than question the West Bengal CM over post-poll violence

Back in 2021, Rajdeep Sardesai shamelessly admitted that he did not ask questions about post-poll violence in West Bengal to CM Mamata Banerjee otherwise she would have denied him Rasgulla. During a program on TheLallantop, Radjeep Sardesai was asked whether he questioned Banerjee over the post-poll violence in West Bengal. He chuckled and said, “I was not there to take her interview. I went there casually on ‘chai pe charcha’. Had I asked her about the post-poll violence I would not have gotten to eat Rasgullas”.

People were killed, women raped, and houses ransacked during the 2021 post-poll violence in West Bengal, but Rajdeep Sardesai preferred to satiate his desire to eat Rasgulla than question CM Banerjee over the anarchy rampant under her watch in the state.  

Rajdeep Sardesai and embarrassment go hand in hand

While Rahul Kanwal saying “Jo khila pila de wo dost” has left Rajdeep Sardesai embarrassed and netizens in splits, this is not the first time that Sardesai has encountered public embarrassment.

In March 2017, India Today Conclave shared a 6-minute interview of Rajdeep Sardesai with business tycoon Mukesh Ambani. Sardesai introduced him as the most powerful person in the country. When he asked Ambani how he felt when he introduced him the way he did, Ambani said, “I don’t believe that. I do not take you seriously.” Sardesai, humiliated by the ‘most powerful person in India’, could only say, “Are yeh kya baat hui (What are you saying).”

Rajdeep Sardesai once had to face massive embarrassment after protestors confronted him and referred to him as a ‘Dalal’ or a broker and accused him of being a part of the ‘Godi media’. 

From being rebuked by former President Pranab Mukherjee, being schooled by now-Prime Minister Narendra Modi, being dismissed by business leader Mukesh Ambani as frivolous, to numerous incidents of his TV show guests schooling him, Rajdeep Sardesai has been quite used to facing public embarrassment. And who can forget when AIMIM supremo Asaduddin Owaisi refused to let Rajdeep thank his wife for cooking a delicious meal for Sardesai and his wife Sagarika Ghose since he believed Muslim women should not meet other men? Probably, this was the only time Sardesai was displeased despite being fed free and delicious food by a political figure.  

It is pertinent to note that there is nothing wrong with eating with politicians or receiving their hospitality; nonetheless, as a journalist, one must not forget or ignore their journalistic ethics. Further, in public life, there should be a limit on who may be called a friend and who cannot be called one. You have no moral right to call yourself a journalist and embarrassment is your only constant companion if anti-Indian elements become your friends, if you comfortably choose stuffing your face with food and singing melodies for a political leader instead of questioning them about their actions and policies.

UN Chief Antonio Guterres, declared persona non grata by Israel for his Hamas bias, finally condemns terror attack by Hamas on Israel

ANI
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UN Chief Antonio Guterres, declared persona non grata by Israel for his Hamas bias, finally condemns terror attack by Hamas on Israel

As October 7 marks the completion of one year of the horrific day when Hamas launched an offensive on Israel, the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres said that it is a day for the global community to condemn the “abhorrent acts of Hamas.”

In his message on Monday, Guterres also expressed solidarity with all the victims and their loved ones.

“Today marks one year since the horrific events of October 7th when Hamas launched a large-scale terror attack in Israel killing over 1,250 Israelis and foreign nationals, including children and women. More than 250 people were abducted and taken to Gaza, including many women and children. The October 7th attack scarred souls – and on this day we remember all those who were brutally killed and suffered unspeakable violence – including sexual violence – as they were simply living their lives,” Guterres said in his message.

Guterres reiterated the demand for an immediate and unconditional release of all the hostages who are held captive in Gaza.

“This is a day for the global community to repeat in the loudest voice our utter condemnation of the abhorrent acts of Hamas, including the taking of hostages. Over the course of the past year, I have met with the families of hostages…learned more about the lives, hopes and dreams of their loved ones … and shared in their anguish and pain. I cannot imagine the torture they are forced to endure every day. I demand once again the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages,” the UN Secretary-General said.

The conflict in Gaza escalated after the October 7 attack by Hamas, where about 2,500 terrorists breached the border into Israel from the Gaza Strip, leading to casualties and the seizure of hostages.

Israel has characterised its Gaza offensive as targeting Hamas’ infrastructure to eliminate the entire terror group while making efforts to minimize civilian casualties.

Meanwhile, the UN Secretary General urged that “Hamas must allow the International Committee of the Red Cross” to visit the hostages, to ensure their well-being.

Guterres said, “The 7th of October is naturally a day to focus on the events of that awful day. I express my solidarity with all the victims and their loved ones. Since October 7th, a wave of shocking violence and bloodshed has erupted. The war that has followed the terrible attacks of one year ago continues to shatter lives and inflict profound human suffering for Palestinians in Gaza, and now the people of Lebanon. I have spoken out about this often and clearly.”

He said it was “time to silence the guns”, urging the release of hostages. “Time to stop the suffering that has engulfed the region. Time for peace, international law and justice,” he added.

The Secretary-General further added that the United Nations is fully committed to achieving those goals. “In the midst of so much bloodshed and division, we must hold on to hope. Let us honour the memory of the victims, reunite families and end the suffering and violence in the whole Middle East,” he urged.

Rockets from southern Lebanon struck the Israeli port city of Haifa on Monday (local time) in response to Israel’s intensified campaign in Lebanon with targeted airstrikes on Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut, hitting key weapons depots and terror infrastructure overnight.
According to the Israeli army, five rockets launched from Lebanon hit the port city of Haifa.

At least five people were wounded after a restaurant, a house and a main road were hit, as per Israeli media. Sirens also sounded in the northern city of Tiberias, as per Al Jazeera.

The army also said alerts were activated in the Upper Galilee area after detecting 15 rockets. “Some” of them were intercepted.
Israeli media reported that at least 10 people were injured in the rocket attack on Haifa.

This comes after Israel launched a series of powerful airstrikes that shook the southern suburbs of Beirut, causing massive fireballs and plumes of smoke. The intense bombardment, targeting Hezbollah strongholds, left a trail of destruction and chaos.

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

Chennai air show tragedy: How mismanagement, lack of planning led to deaths and chaos

OpIndia Staff
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Chennai air show tragedy: How mismanagement, lack of planning led to deaths and chaos

On Sunday, 6th October, the much-anticipated Indian Air Force air show was held at Marina Beach in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The show, which was supposed to inspire pride in the nation, ended in chaos and tragedy. At least five people died at the Chennai air show tragedy and 100 others were hospitalised as the local authorities failed to plan properly for the show, leaving the spectators helpless in the scorching heat.

Reportedly, around 10 lakh people reached the venue, much more than anticipated. People started gathering as early as 7 AM while the show was scheduled for 11:30 AM.

The official reports suggest that dehydration and exhaustion were the main causes. However, the ground reality is much grimmer. Attendees blamed the DMK government for poor crowd management. They also accused the authorities of a lack of traffic planning and inadequate public transport. The overall failure resulted in a stampede-like situation as thousands attempted to leave the venue simultaneously.

Speaking to the media, a senior police official confirmed that one person died on the beach and four others in nearby areas. All of these deaths occurred due to the overwhelming crowd that gathered to witness the air show. State Health Minister Ma Subramanian had assured the public that there were two health teams and forty ambulances stationed to avert any tragedy during the show. However, the arrangements were inadequate compared to the crowd that showed up.

The DMK government’s “preparedness” crumbled when faced with the massive crowd that Marina Beach could not handle. The dead have been identified as Srinivasan (48), Karthikeyan (34), John Babu (56), and Dinesh.

Journalist Srikkanth pointed out that VIP/VVIP crowd had special treatment during the show which added to the chaos.

Many journalists have also pointed out how VVIP vehicles and escorts contributed to the jam and traffic nightmare, resulting in choking and preventing smooth movement of the people.

Many people, even some police personnel were seen climbing high walls to escape.

Opposition hits out at DMK government

Opposition parties have strongly criticised the DMK government over Chennai air show tragedy, with Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai leading the charge. “I was shocked to hear that five people died due to crowding and more than 200 people were injured and admitted to hospital for treatment during the IAF air show at Chennai Marina Beach. The only reason for this is that the DMK government failed to provide basic facilities and adequate transport arrangements,” Annamalai said in a post on X. He added that the government cannot brush it off as an accident. He held the DMK government and Chief Minister MK Stalin directly responsible for the disaster.

AIADMK leader and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami echoed similar concerns. “The loss of lives is tragic and speaks volumes about the DMK’s inability to manage such events. The government earlier claimed that all necessary arrangements had been made, but the police force was insufficient, and people were left to suffer,” Palaniswami said in a statement.

BJP’s national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said, “This is not just a tragedy, but a state-sponsored disaster. MK Stalin and the DMK government must take responsibility and resign for failing the public.” His sentiment is shared by many across Tamil Nadu, who are now questioning whether the DMK is prioritising public welfare or its own political ambitions.

DMK downplayed the Chennai air show tragedy

DMK, on the other hand, tried to downplay the incident. Party leader TKS Elangovan said in a statement that such incidents have “also happened at temple festivals”. However, comparing a disaster of this magnitude to a temple festival highlighted the DMK’s insensitivity and lack of accountability.

DMK leader Kanimozhi blamed the crowd for the Chennai air show tragedy and said, “The news of the death of five people is very sad and painful when the public, who witnessed the military flight adventure programme held at Marina Beach in Chennai, suffered from the crowd and the temperature. Unmanageable gatherings should also be avoided,” she wrote in a post on X in Tamil.

Lakhs of people reached the beach to enjoy the air show. Despite the high turnout, the state response was reactive rather than proactive. Chennai Metro Rail increased the frequency only after the event started. By that time, the damage was already done. Thousands were stranded at congested exit points. There were no shades or proper hydration available at the venue. The scorching sun and overcrowded beach pushed many to the brink of collapse. Later, medical teams stationed at the venue confirmed that most of the victims suffered from heatstroke and dehydration. These were preventable issues if the government had ensured proper facilities beforehand.

The Chennai air show was meant to mark the 92nd anniversary of the Indian Air Force. The show was aimed to display the might of the Indian Air Force.

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