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Aligarh Muslim University suspends staffer for ‘hurting students’ by felicitating ‘Hindu leader’

OpIndia Staff
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Aligarh Muslim University suspends staffer for ‘hurting students’ by felicitating ‘Hindu leader’

A staffer by the name of Mazharul Qamar was suspended by the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on Sunday, for felicitating a Hindu Jagran Manch leader, Indian Express has reported.

The report claimed that Qamar – a weightlifting instructor part of the university’s games committee, felicitated the leader named Amit Goswami, in an event held at Aligarh’s D S College on Friday. The felicitation included Qamar handing over a bouquet to Goswami, while the duo shared a stage.

It has been reported that Goswami is currently out on bail after being booked in connection with the violence at AMU, over a Jinnah portrait hanging inside the campus, which till date has not been removed. A Times of India report the attack in which Goswami is accused, took place on 2 May.

Following the felicitation, the university issued a show cause notice to Qamar. The notice admonished Qamar by commenting that he met the Hindu Jagran Manch leader despite knowing that he (Goswami) was part of the group which hurled “slurs” against the university and its staff, students.

The notice further claimed that this act by Qamar had “hurt the sentiments of the AMU fraternity, particularly students, who are on a dharna to demand a probe into the matter”.

After receiving the notice, Qamar sent a response claiming that he was unaware of Goswami being present at the function. The university though found the answer unsatisfactory, which result in his suspension.

As per AMU’s public relations in-charge, the university won’t be tolerating such acts. The next course of action would be conducting an inquiry, where Qamar would be given a chance to explain himself, following which further action would be taken in the matter.

This controversy comes in the light of former Vice President Hamid Ansari praising the university students who protested for Jinnah’s portrait, and a Muslim personal law board member outright supporting the portrait inside the campus.

482 gelatin sticks,882 detonators recovered by security forces in Jharkhand

OpIndia Staff
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482 gelatin sticks,882 detonators recovered by security forces in Jharkhand

Massive cache of explosives has been recovered in East Singhbhum’s Digri in a joint operation carried out by troops of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF)’s 193 Battalion and Jharkhand Police. Second in Command, 193 BN CRPF, Sanjeev Kr Dwivedi carried out the raid, acting on a tip off. He said that while the person who carried the heavy explosives fled the place, they recovered explosives from his residence.

The searches were reportedly conducted in the intervening night of May 13th and 14th. The forces recovered as many as 482 gelatin sticks, 882 detonators, 250 meters of cortex wire, two coils of safety fuse was recovered from the search operation.

East Singhbhum is a hotbed of Maoist activities. This report comes on the back of another big victory for the forces which took place in February 2017 when seven Maoists surrendered from the same district. Kanhu, a zonal secretary of Jharkhand-Bengal-Odisha zone of CPI (Maoists) along with his confidant Fogra, who were wanted for the murder of inspector Sushil Nag surrendered along with five others.

Recently, Home Minister Rajnath Singh had praised Jharkhand government for using technology for its success against Maoists. Singh had said that the government has made tremendous progress against Naxals and insurgency in last four years claiming that the incidents have come down by around 75% in last four years.

Industrial corridor : Yogi government rolls out sops for defence manufacturing in Uttar Pradesh

Rajat
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Industrial corridor : Yogi government rolls out sops for defence manufacturing in Uttar Pradesh

As part of its ambitious plan to set up defence production in the state, Uttar Pradesh government is offering discounts for defence production players to set up units in Uttar Pradesh, reported Economic Times.

A Rs. 20000 crore ‘Defence Industrial Corridor’ was announced in the state by the Modi government at the two-day Defence Investors Summit organized by UP government in February this year. Earlier, in his budget speech, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said that two industrial corridors will be set up in the country. One between Chennai and Bengaluru passing through Coimbatore and the second one in Bundelkhand region of UP which is nearly 3000 hectares in area passing through Aligarh, Agra, Jhansi, Chitrakoot, Kanpur and Lucknow. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had also laid emphasis on putting a curb on foreign defence purchases and to encourage domestic production.

According to the ET report, which is based on a draft policy, among a host of other benefits, the government is offering reimbursement up to 25% of the cost of land to units which invest over Rs 300 crore or which create at least 1,000 direct job opportunities in the notified area of the corridor. This 25% reimbursement will also be applicable to ‘anchor units’. The units, Indian or global, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) companies which design and manufacture defence and aerospace platforms with investments of over Rs 200 crore and bring at least 10 vendor units are defined as ‘anchor units’.

Vendor units should be located in the same cluster as ‘anchor units’ and should supply at least 75% of its end product to any ‘anchor units’. Small units with lesser investment will get 10-15% discount on the land cost. The policy aims to attract private investment in the state in the area of defence production.

Interested Public Sector Units might be offered land on subsidized lease rates. The state will provide incentives and subsidies to private sector companies with respect to land, Research & Development, testing unit, capital expenditure, infrastructure etc, full stamp duty exemption and 70%-90% state G.S.T reimbursement under the existing UP Industrial Investment and Employment Promotion Policy of 2017. There will be a 50% reimbursement of the cost of transporting imported equipment or machinery from ports or harbours to the production site in UP and for finished goods vice-versa during initial years.

The Modi government will also make an investment of Rs 30 billion for creating the necessary infrastructure to help private sector set up their units in quick time and develop a partnership with Indian companies for joint production with the terms of technology transfer. Indian Institute of Technology – Kanpur (IIT-K) and Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has been engaged as knowledge partners.

The Defence corridor is an ambitious part of Modi government’s Make In India project. It is also expected to create about 2.5 lakh jobs.

Shashi Tharoor charged with ‘abetment to suicide’ in the Sunanda Pushkar death case

Sanghamitra
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Shashi Tharoor charged with ‘abetment to suicide’ in the Sunanda Pushkar death case

The Delhi Police has filed their charge sheet in the Sunanda Pushkar Murder case today. According to reports, Congress leader and former minister of state Shashi Tharoor has been charged with the section 498A and Section 306 in the case.


The Charge sheet was reportedly filed before Metropolitan Magistrate Dharmender Singh. Section 498A involves charges for the husband or his family members subjecting a wife to cruelty and Section 306 of the IPC covers abetment to suicide. The next date for the hearing of this case has been reportedly set for 24th May.

Rajya Sabha MP and legal activist Subramanian Swamy, while speaking to Times Now has stated that this charge sheet means full-fledged criminal trials will now be initiated against Shashi Tharoor. He added that witnesses will be produced in court and those who have tampered with evidence or interfered with proper proceedings will be called. Swamy also added that The Leela hotel has been complicit in covering up the case. He further added that under the Indian Penal Code, abetment to suicide is tantamount to murder and even 498A is a very serious charge. Subramanian Swamy added that Shashi Tharoor might soon get arrested.

The fact that Shashi Tharoor might be charged with section 306 was reported earlier. However, the addition of section 498A is the charge sheet might mean more troubles for Shashi Tharoor. Shashi Tharoor’s wife, Sunanda Pushkar was found dead in her hotel room on January 17, 2014. Subramanian Swamy had asked for a court-monitored probe in the case by a multidisciplinary special investigations team. The Delhi Police was criticised by the Delhi High Court for delays in the investigations. AIIMS had earlier confirmed that Sunanda’s death has been due to poisoning. The PIL submitted by Swamy with regard to the case was dismissed by the Delhi HC initially but Swamy had moved to Supreme Court against the decision.

The day I lost all faith in one of my childhood heroes: Derek O’Brien

Nirwa Mehta
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The day I lost all faith in one of my childhood heroes: Derek O’Brien

Growing up in the 90s meant waking up and watching Bournvita Quiz Contest hosted by Derek O’Brien on TV followed by B. R. Chopra’s Mahabharat. I remember getting exciting when a school from Ahmedabad made it to the contest, albeit rarely.

Hence, Derek O’Brien, Member of Parliament of Trinamool Congress, here is a quick question for you.

How many deaths are ‘normal’?

The answer is zero, not, this piece of insensitivity:


West Bengal, which is voting for Panchayat polls today is more like a warm up to the 2019 general elections where Mamata is eyeing the highest post. 40 of the West Bengal’s 42 Lok Sabha seats are located in the districts that going to the polls today. Amidst all this, the voting is witnessing a lot of violence. Ballot boxes are being looted at gunpoint by gunmen!

However, TMC leaders took this opportune time to say how 40 (instances of violence) out of 58,000 booths are just ‘few incidents’. Yes, while the political murders and deaths seem to have come down from the time CPIM ruled West Bengal, even then this is no way of defending violence.

O’Brien then went ahead and accused the news agency ANI, which was reporting on the violence in West Bengal, as ‘agenda driven’.


This was immediately rebutted by ANI Editor, Smita Prakash, who called it a ‘scurrilous attack’


But it seems like trivializing violence is a line of thought TMC subscribes to, going by the tweets by TMC’s official Twitter account which calls the violence during panchayat polls as ‘conspiracy’. They even accused the Border Security Force of being employed by the BJP.


When others tried to hold TMC responsible for violence perpetrated by their goons, O’Brien again got defensive and resorted to whataboutery.


Instead of saying what steps they’re undertaking to curb violence since by their own admission law and order is state subject, O’Brien chose to defend violence.

TMC came to power on the ‘Maa Maati Maanush’ plank. Today, Maanush are being murdered for exercising their franchise. Mamata Banerjee once represented hope for the people of Bengal and it is time she shuns this violence, and the justification of it.

Here’s the thing, sir. When someone points out that there is disruption of law and order in your state, especially when your party is in power, you don’t justify it. You don’t compare how the deaths are ‘lesser’ now than previous governments. You accept that the violence is taking place and let those whose votes you are expected to know what steps you are taking to keep them safe.

From defaming private citizens in Parliament while being protected by Parliamentary privilege, to defending violence for political gains, O’Brien has come a long way on the road of disappointment.

Today, I lost faith in one of my childhood heroes.

18 SIMI terrorists convicted by Kochi NIA court in the training camp case

OpIndia Staff
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18 SIMI terrorists convicted by Kochi NIA court in the training camp case

A special NIA (National Investigation Agency) court has convicted 18, including four residents of Kerela, in the 2007 Wagamon SIMI (Students’ Islamic Movement of India) arms training camp case. Of the 38 accused charged, 35 were put on trial. Of them, 17 have been acquitted for lack of evidence and 18 others have been convicted.

Two were produced in the court while for other accused, the trial was conducted via video conferencing with the Bhopal, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad jails where most of them were locked up. NIA had charged the accused with involvement in terror-related activities and being in connivance with terror groups. Special Judge Kauser Edappagath held the convicts guilty under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Explosives Substances Act and others sections of IPC (Indian Penal Code).

A secret training camp was organized by SIMI at Thangalpara in Wagamon, district Idukki, from December 10, 2007, to December 12, 2007. As per NIA chargesheet, SIMI activists had conspired to organize a training camp at Wagamon for its cadres and had conducted camps in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh among many other places during 2007. It also states that SIMI had conducted training in combat, arms, firing, making explosives etc. One of the accused, Wasiq Billa, is absconding. Another accused, Mehaboob Malik, was shot dead while trying to escape from Bhopal Central Jail along with others. The terrorist’s funeral was attended by thousands.

SIMI had also allegedly conducted ‘jihadi’ training in the camp to train the cadres in inciting and abetting terrorist acts, disrupt communal harmony and cause threat to the sovereignty and integrity of the country, thereby involving in an act of war against Government of India.

Countries in the Middle East and Africa want India’s help in achieving rural electrification

Sanghamitra
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Countries in the Middle East and Africa want India’s help in achieving rural electrification

Several countries in Africa and the Middle East have sought India’s help in rural electrification drives. According to a report in Swarajya, these countries want India’s Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) to help them electrify their villages.

This has come in the wake of India recently achieving 100% rural electrification. On 28th April, the Leisang village in Manipur was brought in the National Power Grid Under the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojna. With electricity reaching Leisang, the target of 100% rural electrification was achieved by India. The REC is the nodal agency appointed for the execution of the scheme. The feat was achieved 12 days ahead of the set deadline.


 

Middle Eastern and African countries have esought help from India
28 April electrification

According to the report, Middle Eastern countries Jordan and Syria have sought REC’s assistance. Syria, which has suffered extensive damage to its power infrastructure due to the long ongoing civil war, reportedly needs immediate help.

Countries of sub-Saharan Africa are reportedly seeking a complete electrification package, including financing and technology transfer.

Chairman and Managing Director of REC, PV Ramesh has reportedly stated that given their experience and expertise in the field, they are prepared to offer a range of services and financing for the developing power sector in other emerging economies. The Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) reportedly has operations in countries like Bhutan, Nepal, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic and Afganistan. Power secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla has reportedly stated that India is willing to provide consultancy to those who seek assistance through the consulting arms of PGCIL and REC.

TMC worker shot dead, BJP workers killed, journalists injured in WB Panchayat elections marred by violence

Shashank Bharadwaj
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TMC worker shot dead, BJP workers killed, journalists injured in WB Panchayat elections marred by violence

The West Bengal Panchayat polls are marked by incidents of extreme violence, in which some people have been killed and several others have been injured

According to an ANI report, a Trinamool Congress worker (TMC) named Arif Gazi has been shot dead in Kultali area of South 24 Parganas district in poll-related violence. Some journalists have been attacked allegedly by TMC workers during a violence after booth capturing in West Bengal’s Birpara town.


In Murshidabad town, ballot papers were thrown in a pond after a clash between TMC and opposition parties. In some booths in Murshidabad, ballot boxes were looted at gunpoint by unidentified people.


Earlier, State Minister Rabindranath Ghosh was caught on camera slapping a BJP supporter. BJP supporter Sujit Kumar Das was slapped by Ghosh at Cooch Behar’s booth 8/12 in the presence of police. According to ABP Ananda, the person who was subjected to vandalism was arrested by the police rather than the minister.

 

Similarly, a BJP candidate was attacked allegedly by TMC workers earlier today in Bilkanda. According to ANI, More than 20 people have injured and 5 people have lost life due to the ongoing clashes in Bengal.


Interestingly, the elections to Panchayats in Bengal are being held after a long battle in the Kolkatta High Court and Supreme Court involving the State Election Commission, Trinamool Congress and the opposition parties.

Journalist slammed on Social Media for calling massive political violence merely a ‘mess’

OpIndia Staff
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Journalist slammed on Social Media for calling massive political violence merely a ‘mess’

Faye DSouza, Editor of Mirror Now, took to Twitter to describe the series of violence which has ensued in West Bengal as a ‘mess’.


The journalist, who has found herself mired in controversy in the past as well for peddling fake news in the Ryan school murder case, was slammed by people on the social media for offering soft words in condemnation of the vicious political violence that is being perpetuated in Bengal.


People also observed the stark contrast in the words of the journalists to condemn acts of violence based on the political inclination and affiliation of those involved.


Some also observed that journalists appeared to be more concerned with less than smart statements made by Tripura Chief Minister than the wholesale violence that is allegedly being perpetrated by TMC goons during the Panchayat elections being held in West Bengal.


West Bengal is witnessing a very bloody Panchayat election this time around as reports of a potential ‘Saffron Surge’ has gripped the state. TMC cadres are alleged to have been repeatedly attacking BJP workers and candidates. However, the mainstream media has conspicuously given Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee a free pass thus far.

Kerala : Moideen Kutty molests a 10 year old child with her mother’s consent, both arrested

Shashank Bharadwaj
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Kerala : Moideen Kutty molests a 10 year old child with her mother’s consent, both arrested

In a shocking incident in Kerala, a businessman has been arrested for molesting a minor girl inside a cinema hall in Malappuram district of Kerala. The child’s mother has also been arrested and charged under the POCSO act for allowing the 10-year-old’s molestation by Moideen Kutty.

CCTV Image shows that man was caught molestation a minor child

Kerala Police arrested a businessman named Moideen Kutty, after a Malayalam channel aired CCTV visuals of the accused sexually abusing the child inside the theatre at nearby Edapal on April 18. The girl’s mother was sitting next to the accused when the molestation took place. The mother of the 10-year-old has reportedly confessed that she was only aware of the assault, but the sexual molestation of the child took place with her consent. Reports have also indicated that the mother of the child was in a relationship with Moideen Kutty.

The police have now arrested the woman and Moideen Kutty and the duo has been charged under Section 354 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act as well as the Juvenile Justice Act. The police informed that the child may have been subjected to molestation in the past as well. The police also confirmed that the mother was aware of this incident and she claimed that this was the first that the child has been subjected to any sexual abuse. Though the police suspect otherwise.

The child has given a detailed statement to the magistrate and has narrated the horror of being molested several times in the past. She then underwent a medical test and has now been shifted to a Nirbhaya home, where she will also undergo counselling.

There was a widespread condemnation against the authorities for delaying the investigation. DGP Loknath Behara said stringent action would be taken against the accused in the case. Speaker of Kerala Legislative Assembly P Sreeramakrishnan said it was a serious lapse on the part of police for failing to act immediately. Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala had demanded action against the ‘erring’ police personnel.

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