A minority alliance in Bangladesh took to the streets of Dhaka on Friday, demanding that the government accept their eight-point demand to ensure the safety and well-being of minority communities in the country.
The alliance made this demand at a mass rally at the central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka. Thousands of people from the minority community from all over Bangladesh joined the rally.
Esteemed spiritual leaders from various temples and monasteries across the country, especially from Dhaka and Chittagong, students from various colleges and universities, leaders of minority communities, concerned citizens from various professions and representatives of the Bangladesh Combined Minority Alliance were present at the rally.
#WATCH | Bangladesh Combined Minority Alliance organised a massive protest rally today in Dhaka, ahead of Durga Puja. The Alliance put forth an 8-point demand, including, the guarantee of justice for the persecution of minorities, and urged that the same be accepted.
The Bangladesh Combined Minority Alliance, which organised the rally ahead of Durga Puja, said that the minority community across Bangladesh has been facing atrocities, including arson, vandalism, looting, forced occupation, murder, rape, threats of exile, and extrajudicial killings under the guise of mob justice since August 5.
Two months ago, a student-led movement ousted Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, after weeks of protests and clashes that killed over 600 people. Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5 and an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed.
The minority groups in Bangladesh alleged Hindus were attacked immediately after the political changes, but the interim government says those were not religious but political in nature.
Speakers at the mass rally urged for protest agaisnt the “unprecedented communal attacks” on minority communities across the country, to stop all injustice, to provide proper compensation to the victims, to ensure exemplary punishment to the culprits by bringing them under the law quickly, and the speedy implementation of the eight-point preannounced demand.
The eight-point demands by the minority include – Guaranteeing justice for the persecution of minorities, especially, the Sanatani Hindus. A “Neutral Investigation Commission” must be formed, followed by the establishment and effective functioning of a “Fact-track Trial Tribunal” to provide swift and appropriate punishment to the perpetrators, along with adequate compensation and rehabilitation for the victims.
The demands also include enacting a “Minority Protection Act” immediately; forming a “Ministry of Minority Affairs”; upgrading the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust to a “Hindu Foundation” as well as upgrading the Buddhist and Christian Religious Welfare Trusts into foundations.
The other demands are enacting a “Law for the Recovery and Preservation of Endowed Property” and properly implementing the “Vested Property Return Act”; building “Place of Worship” for minority students at all Public/Private Universities, University College, and every Higher Education institution, and allocate prayer rooms in every hostel; modernising the “Sanskrit and Pali Education Board”; and declaring a 5-day public holiday for the Sharadiya Durga Puja festival. Along with this, necessary leave must be provided for the major religious festivals of each minority community.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
In a major step towards preventing cybercrime using spoofed phone calls, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), in collaboration with Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), has introduced an advanced system designed to identify and block incoming international spoofed calls before they can reach Indian telecom subscribers.
In a statement issued on Friday, the DoT said that citizens are receiving many fraudulent calls, often disguised as originating from Indian mobile numbers. These calls are in fact manipulated by cyber-criminals operating from abroad. The statement said that these criminals exploit the Calling Line Identity (CLI) to mask the actual origin of the calls, which has led to a spate of incidents involving threats of mobile number disconnection, fake digital arrests, and even impersonation of government officials or law enforcement agencies. Recent cases have included false accusations involving drugs, narcotics, and sex rackets, further intensifying public concern.
In response to this growing threat, DoT has introduced the new system in collaboration with Telecom Service Providers. This system is being deployed in two phases: first, at the TSP level, to prevent calls spoofed with phone numbers of their own subscribers; and second, at a central level, to stop calls spoofed with the numbers of subscribers from other TSPs.
The DoT statement said that all four TSPs have successfully implemented the system, and about one third of total spoofed calls at 4.5 million spoofed calls are being stopped from entering the Indian telecom network. The next phase, involving a centralized system that will eliminate the remaining spoofed calls across all TSPs, is expected to be commissioned shortly.
As per the DoT, as a result of the proactive actions, 1.77 crore mobile connections taken on fake/forged document have been disconnected. The dept undertook targeted action of disconnection of 33.48 lakh mobile connections and blocking of 49,930 mobile handsets used by cyber criminals in cyber-crime hotspots/districts of the country.
Other than that, 77.61 lakh mobile connections exceeding the prescribed limits for an individual have been disconnected. 2.29 lakh mobile phones involved in cyber-crime or fraudulent activities have been blocked across India. Moreover, about 12.02 lakh out of 21.03 lakh reported stolen/lost mobile phones have been traced.
About 20,000 entities, 32,000 SMS headers and 2 lakh SMS templates involved in sending malicious SMSs have been disconnected. Around 11 lakhs accounts have been frozen by the banks and payments wallets which were linked to disconnected mobile connections taken on fake / forged documents.
Additionally, about 11 lakhs WhatsApp profiles/accounts have been disengaged by WhatsApp which were linked to disconnected mobile connections taken on fake / forged documents. 71,000 Point of Sale (SIM Agents) also have been blacklisted. 365 FIRs have been registered in multiple States/UTs.
DoT said that as fraudsters continue to adapt and devise new methods to deceive the public, it is taking timely measures to protect telecom users as these new ways are reported. “ In the age of rapidly evolving technology, the DoT has taken multiple measures to make the telecom eco-systems safer and secure. However, even with these robust safeguards, there may still be instances where fraudsters succeed through other means,” the statement said.
The Department of Telecommunications has asked the citizens to proactively report suspected fraud communications to help DoT in identification and prevention of misuse of telecom resources for cyber-crime, financial frauds. It will also help in safeguarding citizens from impersonation, exploitation, and enabling proactive action against potential threats.
Citizens can report such scam calls at Chakshu facility available on the Sanchar Saathi platform by providing details about suspected fraud calls, SMS, and WhatsApp messages including screenshot, medium of receipt, category of intended fraud, date and time of receiving such communication.
The statement said that the Chakshu facility is a significant step towards safeguarding citizens from cyber fraud. By providing a streamlined process for reporting suspicious activities, it helps in the early detection and prevention of potential frauds, thereby protecting users from financial and personal losses.
Amid the ongoing Islamist onslaught on religious minorities in neighbouring Bangladesh, Hindus in West Bengal are leading an organic, grassroots-level campaign to boycott products manufactured in the Islamic Republic.
The ‘Bangladesh Out’ movement was borne out of the necessity to stop funding a rogue State, which has fallen into the hands of Islamists since the 5th of August this year.
After having learnt of targeted attacks on the Hindu community, their temples and businesses in Bangladesh, Hindu residents in West Bengal took it upon themselves to lead an economic boycott of goods and services produced in the neighbouring country.
Hindus in West Bengal pledge to boycott Bangladeshi products
OpIndia spoke to Mayukh Pal, an organiser of the #BoycottBangladesh campaign. He informed us that the movement was unorganised at the start.
People joined in voluntarily, contributed funds and spread it to 12 districts of West Bengal just through word-of-mouth within a month.
Motivated to bring about a change on the ground, Pal along with his foot soldiers printed posters and pasted them on walls in busiest parts of towns and cities across West Bengal.
Hindus in West Bengal protest for Hindus in Bangladesh, demand their safety
Bus stands, railway stations, and bustling markets were the prime targets of the ‘Bangladesh Out’ campaigners.
The volunteers approached strangers, made them aware of the alarming situation in Bangladesh and encouraged them to take a pledge to boycott products from that country.
Many empathised with the cause so much so that they took an oath on camera to refrain from using Bangladeshi goods and services.
Demands of the Hindu Bengalis of West Bengal
Mayukh Pal told OpIndia that they distributed over 2500 posters and influenced more than 1 lakh Hindus so far.
We also spoke to Hindu activist R Bangopadhyay, who has been closely associated with the #BoycottBangladesh campaign. He outlined four simple demands of the Bengali Hindus spearheading the movement on the ground.
Immediately stop issuing visas (including tourist and medical) to Bangladeshi nationals.
Identify and deport Bangladeshi nationals, living in India and running anti-India propaganda on social media.
Blacklist radical Islamic outfits such as Hefazat-e-Islam, Jamaat-e-Islami and others involved in hate speech against Hindus
Completely stop importing and using products manufactured in Bangladesh
‘Bangladesh Out’ posters on random walls, trees and railway stations in West Bengal
R Bangopadhyay clarified that the first 3 demands were addressed to the Indian government while the fourth demand was for the broader Hindu community to fulfill.
The progression of the #BoycottBangladesh Movement
OpIndia reviewed the posters that are at the forefront of the ‘Bangladesh Out’ campaign. The English version highlighted key issues of an imminent Hindu genocide, the need to save the community and break the deafening silence around the ongoing atrocities.
A large section of the poster was dedicated to highlighting the murders, abductions, rapes, and destruction of temples and homes belonging to the Hindu community. It also included a QR Code where additional information could be accessed by the readers.
English poster of the #BoycottBangladesh campaign
The Bengali/ Bangla version of the poster read, “Hindu der rokte rangano Bangladeshi jama kapad borjon karun (Boycott Bangladeshi garments that are stained with the blood of Hindus).”
Unlike the English poster, the Bangla one instructed the Hindu community to boycott specific brands such as Zara, H&M, GAP and others.
When OpIndia pointed out that the said brands were headquartered either in Europe or the US, we were informed that the garments of these companies were produced en masse in Bangladesh and exported to India.
Bengali poster of the #BoycottBangladesh campaign
The Bangla poster also listed items that are imported from Bangladesh
Saree, Churidars
T-shirts, Shirts
Denims, Jeans
Sweater, Jackets
Kurti, Tunic
Lungi, Towels
The campaign kickstarted with volunteers targeting busy junctions of towns and cities across West Bengal and sticking posters calling for the economic boycott of Bangladesh.
Volunteers spearheading the #BoycottBangladesh campaign
The posters, available both in English and Bangla, captivated the interests of the onlookers. Some of them were inquisitive while others were hesitant to ask.
Nonetheless, the volunteers used the opportunity to educate, advocate and make the public aware of the perilous situation of Bangladeshi Hindus.
They also took the time to warn people to not fall for dubious social media narratives, attempting to whitewash the atrocities committed against the Hindu community.
Day 3 The hearts of Hindu Bengalis in West Bengal are crying after seeing the plight of persecuted minorities in Bangladesh. Eight to Eighty all souls are angry.
The response of the common public was overwhelming. Bengali Hindus concerned over the plight of the community members in the neighbouring Islamic Republic also vowed to not have Hilsa of the Padma river.
OpIndia had previously reported how the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus reversed the annual ritual of sending consignments of Hilsa fish (originating from the Padma River) to India before Durga Puja, which was followed by his predecessor Sheikh Hasina.
It later backtracked and began Hilsa exports to India. Nonetheless, Bengali Hindus in India have their priorities sorted. No exotic fish is more important than the life of a Hindu in Bangladesh.
"We don't want Hilsa, we want the protection of the Hindus of Bangladesh" @Tithiroy1160992 of West Bengal erupted over the torture of minorities in Bangladesh. She also said "Bangladeshis get all kinds of benefits from jobs to medical treatment in india…"#SaveBangladeshiHinduspic.twitter.com/dcWBfpLaFJ
Some junior Doctors and students, studying at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, have also joined hands to call for the economic boycott of Bangladesh over the treatment meted out to the minority Hindu community.
“The condition of Hindus in Bangladesh is alarming. Women are being subjected to atrocities including rape. Hindu temples are being destroyed. So, we are giving a call to boycott Bangladesh,” a doctor was heard saying in Bangla.
Doctors are also calling for Bangladesh boycott. Indian doctors have protested the killing of Bangladeshi Hindu victims of torture and ®ape. "Boycott those who are demolishing Hindu temples" – said the doctor.#BoycottBangladesh#SaveBangladeshiHinduspic.twitter.com/NjRGBAShD3
— Stories Of Bangladeshi Hindus (@LandOfHindusBD) October 3, 2024
Hindu saint, who went viral on social media for braving water cannons of the Kolkata police, also spoke in support of the campaign and demanded a boycott of Bangladeshi products over the ongoing genocide of Hindus and other religious minorities.
In protest against the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, today Prabir Bose campaigned with us. He said, "Please embark against persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh, Don't fall for cheap hilsa, We have to boycott them completely…"#SaveBangladeshiHinduspic.twitter.com/FbovX3FTH8
The ‘Bangladesh Out’ initiative has received much-needed support on social media including from prominent Bengali YouTubers and activists like Rudra Prasad Banerjee and Sourish Mukherjee.
Organiser Mayukh Pal is happy that the boycott campaign has resonated with the Hindu community.
“Our movement started in North 24 Parganas, then spread to other parts of the State. The civil society has taken it forward. Just yesterday, we sent softcopy of our posters to other parts of India for printing and creating awareness,” he told OpIndia.
Attack on Hindus in Bangladesh
There have been at least 205 attacks on Hindu temples, shops and businesses since the ouster of Sheikha Hasina as Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
OpIndia had reported how a Hindu boy named Utsab Mandal was almost lynched by a Muslim mob on accusations of ‘blasphemy’ in the Sonadanga residential area of Khulna city.
We previously exposed how Muslim students have forced as many as 60 Hindu teachers, professors and government officials to resign from their positions.
Human rights activist and exiled Bangladeshi blogger, Asad Noor, has recently revealed that the minority community is now being coerced into joining ‘Jamaat-e-Islami’.
On 6th September, a procession of Hindu devotees carrying the idol of Lord Ganesha came under attack in the Kadam Mubarak area in Chittagong city of Bangladesh.
Ahead of the Durga Puja celebrations, a radical Muslim man vandalised the idols of Goddess Durga and other Hindu deities in Gouripur town in the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh on 25th September.
While the foreign advisor kept telling world about safeguarding hinuds, the reality stands just the opposite.
In yet another systematic attack on hindus, idols meant for celebration of #DurgaPuja are vandalized at a temple at Gouripur Upazila in #Mymansing.
The accused was identified as 22-year-old Yasin Mia. The police arrested him on 26th September for his involvement in the desecration of Hindu idols.
Mia entered the premises of Gobindajew temple in the wee hours of Wednesday and began destroying the idols, which had been sculpted for the past 20 days. While attempting to take the idols away, he was spotted by a Hindu woman named Dolly Rani.
She raised alarm and Mia was quickly apprehended by two locals, Akhil Chandra Bishwasharma and Bipul Ghosh. The accused was then handed over to the police
Idol vandalism at the Manikadi Palpara Barwari Pujamandap in Pabna
In the latest series of attacks, idols of Goddess Durga and other Hindu deities were vandalised at the Rishipara Barwari Puja Mandap and the Manikadi Palpara Barwari Pujamandap on 28th September and 1st October respectively.
The attacks were carried out in Sujanagar upazila in Pabna district in Rajshahi Division of Bangladesh. While a total of 4 idols were defaced at the Rishipara Barwari Puja Mandap, another 5 Hindu idols were destroyed at the Manikadi Palpara Barwari Pujamandap.
The attacks have raised concerns among the local Hindus, who have sought immediate intervention from the law enforcement authorities and district administration.
On Thursday (3rd October), 7 idols of Hindu deities were destroyed at the Gopinath Jiur Akhara Durga Puja mandap. The incident occurred in Kishoreganj in the Dhaka Division of Bangladesh.
Idols of Hindu deities vandalised at the Gopinath Jiur Akhara Durga Puja mandap
The vandalism was carried out in the wee hours of the night when the guards, responsible for ensuring the security of the temple, were asleep. The accused scaled the walls and broke off the heads of the idols. The Hindus staged a protest on Thursday evening.
They took to the streets and assembled outside the office of the district commissioner, seeking justice. Despite assurances by Deputy Commissioner Fouzia Khan and SP Mohammad Hasan Chowdhury, no arrests have been made so far.
In total, 16 idols of Hindu deities and three temples were attacked in the past 6 days in Bangladesh. So far, there have been many attempts to downplay violence against Hindus as ‘fake‘, ‘exaggerated‘ or ‘politically motivated‘.
Earlier yesterday, Islamists of several hues had a meltdown over Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati’s remarks in a public event held on September 29 at Hindi Bhavan in Lohia Nagar, Ghaziabad. X, formerly known as Twitter, was replete with posts of a viral video of Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati, with Islamists accusing him of committing blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad, an accusation levelled against him in the past as well.
Mohammed Zubair, the co-founder of Alt News, a far-left propaganda portal that often shields Islamists, appeared all worked-up when he 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. In his recent speech, he says "If you have to burn effigies on every Dussehra, then burn the effigies of Mohammad". There are several FIRs against him for hate speeches… pic.twitter.com/saBw6PTDnF
“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 whip up a communal frenzy 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).
Samiullah Khan, an Islamist crackpot who almost always remains on the boil, has been constantly posting provocative tweets calling for action against Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati.
#BREAKING Another incident of insulting Prophet Muhammad PBUH by hate-monger Hindu priest Yeti Narsinghanand, in a public speech he appealed to Hindus to burn the effigy of Prophet Muhammad: he said, "Instead of burning effigies of Ravana and Meghnad, burn the effigy of… pic.twitter.com/RO1ev1YHP4
Others too, pulled in to target Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati and call for action against him.
ग़ुस्ताखे रसूल नरसिंघानंद ने सारी हदे पार करदी। उसने हमारे प्रोफेट मोहम्मद(PBUH) की शान में ऐसी गुस्ताखी की जिसका भारतीय मुसलमान या विश्व का कोई भी मुसलमान किसी भी क़ीमत पर बर्दाश्त नहीं करेगा। ये सांप्रदायिक तनाव फैलाने वाला भड़काऊ भाषण है ! सैकड़ों FIR होने के बावजूद इसे आज… pic.twitter.com/EjxclNRKjV
An X user, seemingly an Indian, tagged official foreign ministry handles of the Gulf countries, including Turkey, UAE, Qatar, Maldives, and even Iranian despot Khamenei, exhorting to stop trading with India over allegations of blasphemy against Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati.
Hours after Islamists targeted Yati Narsinghanand over his viral video, an FIR was filed against him under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code on the complaint of a police officer at Sihani Gate police station named Trivendra Singh, for hurting religious sentiments.
What Yati Narsinghanand Saraswati said
While speaking at the event, Saraswati said,”…Even thousands of years since Ravan committed a small mistake, we burn his effigy. But until now, such criminals have taken birth that Ravan’s existence would fail in front of them. I want to exhort all Hindus from this stage if you want to burn an effigy, burn the effigy of Mohammad.”
Yati Narsinghanand’s controversial past and an assassination attempt against him
It is worth noting that this is not the first time that Islamists have targeted Narsinghanand for his remarks. In 2022, Narsinghanand was arrested after a woman filed a complaint against him for making derogatory remarks against women. Islamists had then alleged that he had called for the genocide of Muslims during an event called ‘Dharma Sansad’ where he had called upon Hindus to keep sharper weapons in self-defence against the looming threats posed by Islamists.
The near-constant barrage of online attacks by Islamists against Yati Narsinghanand came to a head in 2021 when Delhi Police foiled an assassination bid to kill him. Mohd. Dar, a JeM terrorist was arrested by the police and one .30 bore pistol along with two magazines and 15 live rounds were recovered from him. His belonging also included a Bhagwa kurta, a Kalava, a Mala and a Chandan-tika. The recovery of overtly Hindu symbols highlighted the modus operandi employed by Mumbai 26/11 terrorists who carried Hindu paraphernalia on their suicide mission to pin the blame of the attack on Hindus and in the process, promote the “Hindu terror” bogey, a fabrication that was conjured up by the UPA government to shield Islamic extremism.
Adnaan Shaikh, who made headlines after his wedding to fiancée Riddhi Jadhav, who converted to Islam and is now known as Ayesha, is facing a number of serious claims from his own sister Iffat. Iffat accused the Bigg Boss OTT 3 contestant of abusing and assaulting her and her father-in-law. She revealed some surprising details about the social media celebrity and his wife Riddhi aka Ayesha.
Adnaan’s sister Iffat filed an FIR at Bangur Nagar Police Station in Goregaon, Mumbai against him saying that he hit her on her private parts and abused her. She also stated that Adnaan who recently came into the limelight due to his wedding after Big Boss OTT 3 assaulted her father-in-law resulting in an elbow fracture.
The video of Iffat exposing Adnaan is making rounds on social media. “I came to Bangur Nagar police station to register a complaint against my brother. He thrashed me. After a few struggles, my FIR was finally lodged by the police,” she said.
मेरे भाई ने मेरे गुप्तांगों पर लात मारी! मेरा सगा भाई मुझ पर बुरी नजर रखता है
: बिग बॉस ओटीटी-3 फेम अदनान शेख की बहन इफ्फत ने अपने भाई के खिलाफ मारपीट और यौन हमले का मामला दर्ज कराया है।
इफ़्फ़त ने यह भी दावा किया कि अदनान की पत्नी आयशा का असली नाम रिद्धि जाधव है और उसने… pic.twitter.com/UNYo4BZk1g
As per the initial reports, Adnaan is believed to have hit Iffat for leaking the pictures of his wife Riddhi Jadhav who converted to Islam to marry him and is now known by the name Ayesha. After conversion, ‘Ayesha’ who was a Hindu earlier seems to be following ‘purdah’. As per the FIR, Adnaan didn’t want to reveal the face of his newlywed wife.
However, Iffat posted a picture with her after the wedding on Instagram revealing that Ayesha was Riddhi first.
Adnan meanwhile commented on the said incident and called the FIR bogus. Adnan has also responded to all of the charges against him on his Instagram account. He further stated that he filed a non-cognizable complaint (meaning that the police cannot arrest or interrogate the accused without a court order) against his sister’s FIR.
“I have seen that for the last three days, some rumors have been spread about me and I don’t think it is appropriate to answer all these, but then the PR people are putting that thing because Adnan’s wedding was very hyped and it bothered many people, especially some of my old friends. They are making false allegations and putting fake FIR copies. So it doesn’t matter, you are also here, and we are also here. I have also done many NC (non-cognizable) FIRs, at the right time the wrongdoer will be behind bars. I have full faith in Mumbai Police and the Indian Constitution.” Along with this, he told his fans not to worry and said, “All of you who are my fans, please don’t panic. The truth is going to come out very soon,” he said.
However, in an exclusive conversation with the Free Press Journal, Adnaan’s sister Iffat blamed Riddhi for her and her brother’s now ruined relationship. She said that she and her brother shared a really close bond but things began to change when his now-wife, Riddhi, joined the picture. Iffat blamed Riddhi for their split. As per the reports, when they first met, Adnaan talked to her about Riddhi and asked her to care for her and teach her how to wear the ‘Hijab’. He had stated to her: “She will leave her home, live with you, and you should teach her these things.” She did as he asked and even had a photo, which Riddhi had previously shared on her Instagram account. In the photo, Riddhi thanked Iffat for educating her about hijab, stating, “Whatever hijab I wear today is because of her.”
Adnaan’s sister went on to say that when Riddhi first joined the family, they formed a close bond. Riddhi was pleasant with everyone because she was going to be his wife. They exchanged some intimate secrets with each other, but when Riddhi and Adnaan started arguing, Riddhi disclosed all of her secrets to Adnaan. In response, she also revealed what she knew about Riddhi. This, she claims, was the source of her and Adnaan’s problem.
She further stated that Adnaan had issued harsh warnings to their family, banning them from having any contact with Riddhi and saying that he was the one leading the household. She accused Adnaan of beating her and her father-in-law during an altercation on the road while she pleaded for someone to record it. She also said that he kicked her in the private areas. She said that Adnaan was jailed after her complaint but was eventually released on bail.
Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday vacated the 6, Flagstaff Road residence to move to his new address in the Lutyens’ Zone.
Kejriwal moved to a bungalow at 5 Ferozshah Road, which is currently allotted to AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Mittal.
Calling Kejriwal “an example of sacrifice,” the Aam Aadmi Party said that now the public will show their trust in Kejriwal’s honesty and make him the CM again.
“An example of sacrifice: Kejriwal. Today former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal vacated the Chief Minister’s residence along with his family. Now the public will show their trust in Kejriwal’s honesty and make him the CM again,” the AAP posted on X.
“Arvind Kejriwal, the hero of ‘politics of work’, left the CM residence and went to the public’s court. Arvind Kejriwal, who started a new chapter in politics by lighting up millions of homes in Delhi, left the Chief Minister’s residence today with his family,” it added.
Earlier, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) confirmed, “Arvind Kejriwal will shift to the bungalow allocated to party MP Ashok Mittal at 5, Ferozshah Road.” Notably, as per sources, Mittal had himself extended the offer for Arvind Kejriwal to shift to his residence.
AAP RS MP Ashok Mittal who offered his official residence to Kejriwal said he was happy that the AAP National Convenor was going to stay with him.
“When Arvind Kejriwal resigned as the CM a few days back, I came to know sometime later that he doesn’t have a house to live in. I invited him to reside in my Delhi house as my guest. Perhaps other workers and leaders of the party also invited him…I am delighted to know that he has chosen my home and decided to stay with me until he gets a house. So, this is delightful for me as an AAP worker and MP. I would get the opportunity to learn from him. I hope that in the upcoming Delhi elections, the public will support him like always and he will be the CM of Delhi once again with an absolute majority,” Ashok Mittal.
On September 17, Kejriwal tendered his resignation as Chief Minister to Delhi LG VK Saxena, following which Atishi staked claimed to form the new government days after the AAP chief was released on bail from Tihar jail in the excise policy case.
Kejriwal said that he would return to the post only if he gets a renewed mandate and a “certificate of honesty” from the people of Delhi in the assembly polls likely to be held in February 2025.
Atishi took oath as the Chief Minister of Delhi on September 22 after she was named successor to the post by AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Thursday (4th October), the Israeli authorities informed that a Yazidi woman named Fawzi Amin Sido who was abducted from Iraq by ISIS in 2014 at the age of 11 and trafficked to the Gaza Strip has been rescued. The officials said that the woman has been reunited with her family. While Sido could regain freedom after a decade of sexual abuse, torture and other unspeakable atrocities, US media outlet CBS News blatantly attempted to downplay ISIS sex crimes.
The CBS Newsarticle and relevant X post suggested that the Yazidi woman was ‘stranded’ in Gaza, even though she was trafficked from Iraq into Gaza by ISIS terrorists and held in captivity by Hamas terrorists there, forcefully married and turned into a sex slave of the Islamic terrorist.
According to Israel’s foreign ministry, Sido was separated from her family in 2014 during ISIS attacks on Yazidi villages in Iraq, as the terror organisation infamous for its brutality grabbed control of huge sections of the nation. She was eventually sold to a Gazan man who was visiting Iraq at the time. Sido was recently retrieved and returned to her house by Israeli security officers.
I made a promise to Fawzia the yazidi who was hostage of Hamas in Gaza that I would bring her back home to her mother in Sinjar. To her it seemed surreal and impossible but not to me, my only enemy was time. Our team reunited her moments ago with her mother and family in Sinjar pic.twitter.com/KuN9JPuGOb
The Israel Defence Forces stated that Sido was rescued in a sophisticated operation organised by the IDF’s COGAT, the US Embassy in Jerusalem, and “other members of the international community.”
The IDF stated that the “terrorist who had been holding her” was recently killed in an Israeli attack during the fighting in Gaza, allowing her to flee to a hiding spot in Gaza.
“A???? ???? ???? ? ?????? ?? ????????? ?? ????, ? ??-????-??? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ? ????? ????????? ?????????? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ???????? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ????. In an operation coordinated by the IDF and led by @cogatonline @USEmbassyJLM and other international actors, Fawzia Amin Sido was freed from captivity and returned home to Iraq. At 11 years old, Fawzia was trafficked by ISIS to a Hamas terrorist in Gaza, who was presumably killed during IDF strikes. She fled to a hideout in which she was rescued in a secret mission through the Kerem Shalom Crossing,” the IDF said.
The Israeli Defence Forces further stressed that the case of the Yazidi woman rescued from Gaza proves that the Palestinian Islamic terror group Hamas and ISIS are inter-connected and committing crimes against humanity. The IDF also reiterated its resolve to “dismantle” Hamas and ISIS as well as free hostages from Hamas captivity.
“This is further proof of the connection between Hamas and ISIS, as well as the crimes against humanity committed by the terrorist organization in Gaza. We will continue to act to dismantle the Hamas-ISIS terrorist organization and free all hostages in Hamas captivity,” the IDF said.
The Yazidi genocide and enslavement of women by ISIS
Back in 2014, the Islamic terror outfit ISIS began mass killings of Yazidi people in Sinjar, an area in northern Iraq. ISIS jihadis targeted Yazidis for their religious identity and killed thousands of people and abducted Yazidi women and children.
On the 3rd of August 2014, ISIS launched a deadly attack on Sinjar wherein thousands of Yazidi men who refused to convert to Islam were killed, while women and children were kidnapped. According to reports, around 5,000 Yazidi men were murdered during the initial days of the ethnic cleansing of Yazidis. As per a UNHCR report from 2016, “at least 3,200 Yazidi women and girls remain captives of ISIS, the majority of them held inside ISIS-controlled areas of Syria.”
On how the Yazidi captives were transferred to ISIS-controlled locations, the UNHCR report said: “Regardless of where the Yazidi families were captured, ISIS fighters swiftly ordered the separation of males and females, except boys who had not reached puberty,12 who were allowed to remain with their mothers. Within an hour, those who survived capture were forcibly transferred to temporary holding sites. ISIS operational commanders communicated these primary transfer locations, located within the Sinjar area and in the Hasakah governorate in Syria, to their fighters and checkpoints by walkie-talkies and mobile phones. Secondary transfers were later conducted in an organized manner, with buses and large vehicles moving captured Yazidis to designated holding sites in Mosul, Tel Afar and Baaj, deeper inside ISIS-controlled territory.”
Notably, among the most harrowing part of the ISIS onslaught against Yazidis was that the ISIS jihadis enslaved Yazidi women and girls. ISIS blatantly justified the enslavement and sexual torture of Yazidi women citing Islamic beliefs. ISIS says that Yazidis are Mushriks or polytheists and Islam does not tolerate polytheists, thus their enslavement and abuse is permitted. It is pertinent to mention that Islam has a concept of “Maal-e-Ghanimat”, in this, the Ghanima implies “spoils of war” which may include land, wealth, cattle, women and children. ISIS captured almost 6,000 Yazidi women and girls whom they called Sabaya [slaves] and subjected them to brutal sexual assault, with many being sold in slave markets or “Souk Sabaya” as “war booty” or offered as ‘rewards’ to ISIS terrorists. The Yazidi women were sold multiple times.
Excerpt from UNHCR report titled: “They came to destroy”: ISIS Crimes Against the Yazidis”
There have been reports that some Yazidi women were trafficked to various places, including Gaza, and used as sex slaves by ISIS sympathisers. While the exact numbers of those transferred to Gaza are uncertain, it is widely reported that ISIS trafficked Yazidi women across borders, including into Syria and territories outside Iraq.
A woman in Agra, Uttar Pradesh tragically passed away from a heart attack after an extortion call with false claims. On 30th September, Malti Verma (58) received a WhatsApp call from a man acting as a police official. He claimed that her daughter had been taken into custody in connection with a sex trafficking case. He threatened to release an explicit video of her daughter if Rs 1 lakh was not paid to him. The woman told her son about the incident and asked him to send the money right away for the sake of her daughter.
The man claimed that he called her to make sure the family would not have to endure the anguish of having their daughter involved in a case involving a sex racket and forwarded a number to which the amount was to be transferred. Her son, Divyanshu, grew sceptical after hearing about the incident and discovered that the caller was a Pakistani who was impersonating a police officer to demand money from their family.
He revealed, “My mother taught in a government girls junior high school in Agra’s Achnera. After she got the call from the man, she panicked and called me. I asked her for the number from which she had received the call. When I checked the number, I found that it had a +92 (country code for Pakistan) prefix and told her it was a scam. She was still very anxious and started feeling unwell.”
Furthermore, he informed her that he had spoken to his sister, who was attending college and doing well. However, the woman’s health was severely impacted by the occurrence. It was around 4:00 pm when she got home from school and began to feel unwell. She was taken to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead. Divyanshu stated, “I reassured her and also told her that I had spoken to my sister, who was in college and was fine. My mother’s health kept deteriorating, however, and when she came back from school, she said she was feeling some pain. We gave her something to drink but things got worse and she died.”
Malti Verma’s daughter said, “I got a call from my brother who asked me where I was. He told me to give him a video call after I informed him that I was in college.”
In a video that went viral online, people were seen racing to the woman’s house to assist after she had a heart attack. They carried her out to a car so that she could be taken to the hospital.
उत्तर प्रदेश के जिला आगरा में साइबर अपराधियों ने एक महिला टीचर की जान ले ली। उन्होंने कॉल करके कहा कि आपकी बेटी सेक्स रैकेट में पकड़ी गई है। मालती वर्मा ये बात बर्दाश्त नहीं कर पाईं और हार्टअटैक से मौत हो गई। @madanjournalistpic.twitter.com/J9dpYFoAqC
Malti Verma received a call on her WhatsApp account at approximately 12 pm while she was at her school, according to the Agra police. The man with the khaki outfit and peak cap informed her that he was a police officer and her daughter was caught in a sex racket. He then hung up. “Fifteen minutes later, Verma received another call and the man told her that if she wanted to save her daughter and the family, she would have to deposit Rs 1 lakh in a specific account,” according to Additional Commissioner of Police Mayank Tiwari.
When the woman’s daughter did not answer her phone, she called her son instead. “At around 2.30 pm, she returned home and saw her daughter. By 2:45, her condition worsened and died 15 minutes after she reached home. This was the first such case in Agra,” the official conveyed.
He mentioned that the family submitted a complaint on 3rd October and added, “The family has complained that Ms Verma died of a heart attack. The cause for this, her husband has said, was that she had received a call stating that her daughter had been caught in a sex racket and the caller had demanded Rs 1 lakh from her. She was cremated on Tuesday (1st October) and we received the complaint today. We are investigating the number from which the call came and will take action.”
Three men posing as ‘activists’ of a human rights organisation gang-raped a 21-year-old woman in Pune on Thursday. The incident occurred in Bopdev Ghat in Pune on Thursday night when she was on a late-night walk with her friend. A case has been filed at the Kondhwa police station and a suspect named Pathan has been arrested in connection with the case.
According to reports, one of the accused approached the duo in a car posing as an ‘activist’. He told them that the area was off-limits and clicked pictures of the couple. Another accused then threatened the duo and forced them into their car. They took them to a different location where the woman was gang-raped and her friend assaulted. Reports quoted a senior police officer saying that the three men had restrained the man with a rope, took the woman to a secluded area, and gang-raped her.
The three accused then left them and fled from the scene. Traumatised by her predicament, the woman was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital by her friend, where the assault was confirmed by medical examination.
Commenting on the incident, Joint Commissioner of Police Ranjan Kumar Sharma noted that the location where the crime took place is secluded and lacks proper lighting. He also confirmed that the police were notified in the early hours of Friday, and 10 crime branch teams have been deployed to track down the accused.
A suspect named RK Pathan has been arrested in connection with the case. The police said he posed as an ‘activist’ of a human rights organisation and forced the 21-year-old woman into the car claiming couples were not allowed to loiter in the neighbourhood. The police have intensified the manhunt to arrest other accused in the case.
The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Gujarat Government to file the reply on plea seeking contempt proceedings against the official concern in relation to alleged demolition of the Dargah and other places in Gir Somnath by Gujarat authorities.
The Supreme Court, however, refused to stay the demolition but clarified that if they find there is contempt of its order in this matter, then it will not only send the alleged erring officials to jail but also order to restore the structure.
A bench of justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan made these observations when it was hearing a plea.
The top court listed the matter for October 16 for further hearing. Eventually the top court was inclined to issue notice but Solicitor General Tushar Mehta intervened and said that the eviction proceedings were initiated in 2023 and the land belongs to the government.
SG Mehta also said that the structures were next to a water body and after following the procedure, this action was taken. After hearing the SG, the top court said that it won’t issue notice but seek a reply from the state.
Senior Advocate Sanjay Hegde and Advocate Anas Tanwir, appearing for the petitioners, urged the top court to maintain the status quo. However, the court was not convinced. In the meantime, it made it clear that it will pass the order, which will apply equally to all.
Summast Patni Musslim Jamat has filed a petition through advocate Anas Tanwir and sought to initiate contempt proceedings against Gujarat authorities for wilful and deliberate contravention of the order dated September 17.
On September 17, the top court directed that till the next date of hearing, there shall be no demolition anywhere across the country without seeking leave of this court. However, on September 17, the court clarified that its order would not be applicable if there is an unauthorised structure in any public place, such as a road, street, footpath, abutting railway line or any river body or water bodies, and also to cases where there is an order for demolition made by a court of law.
The organisation said that Gujarat authorities have carried out an early morning illegal demolition of centuries old Muslim religious places of worship, including mosques, eidgahs, dargahs, mausoleums and residential places of Mutawallis of the said dargahs, on September 28, 2024, without issuing any notices for such demolition and without granting any opportunity of hearing.
“The respondents herein, by carrying out the said demolitions, have blatantly defied the aforementioned order, thereby lowering the majesty of the court in the eyes of the general public relaying utter disrespect to the orders of the court,” the petitioner said.
The petitioner, which is a trust representing the Patni Muslim community of Prabhas Patan, sought to protect religious sites that have significant historical and spiritual importance.
“These include Haji Mangroli Shah Baba’s tomb, dargahs, mosques, and graveyards that have been used and revered by the local Muslim community for over a century. The tomb and surrounding graveyards have existed since the time of the State of Junagadh, with the matter of their ownership and usage being resolved as early as 1903 by a legal resolution passed under the supervision,” the petitioner said.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
