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Cash strapped Himachal Pradesh to introduce a ‘Milk Cess’ on electricity consumers to raise money

OpIndia Staff
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Cash strapped Himachal Pradesh to introduce a ‘Milk Cess’ on electricity consumers to raise money

On 9th September, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, introduced the Himachal Pradesh Electricity Duty Amendment Bill, 2024, in the Assembly. The bill proposes to impose a milk cess and an environment cess on consumers. It seeks amendments to the Himachal Pradesh Electricity (Duty) Act, 2009, with the insertion of Sections 3A for the milk cess and 3B for the environment cess.

As per reports, the Congress-led HP government has planned to impose a milk cess of Rs 0.10 per unit on power consumers. Zero-bill consumers have been exempted from the cess. Furthermore, the bill includes a provision that empowers the state government to modify the milk cess by up to 50% through notification. The government plans to use the revenue collected from the cess to strengthen and uplift milk producers in the state.

The bill also proposes an environment cess for various categories of power consumers. According to the bill, Rs 0.02 per unit will be applicable for small industrial power consumers, Rs 0.04 per unit for medium industrial power consumers, and Rs 0.10 per unit for large industrial and commercial power consumers. Additionally, a charge of Rs 2 per unit will be imposed on temporary connections and stone crushers. Electric vehicle charging stations will also have to pay a higher per unit price at Rs 6 per unit.

The government claims that the aim behind imposing the environment cess is to promote power generation using solar energy and to protect the environment. The government has the authority to modify cess rates similar to the milk cess. The bill was scheduled to be discussed in the HP State Assembly on 10th September.

Notably, in March 2023, the government of Himachal Pradesh imposed a Rs 10 milk cess on every bottle of liquor in the state. However, the COVID cess imposed on liquor bottles was removed at that time. In addition, a Rs 2.5 cow cess is also imposed on liquor bottles.

Himachal Pradesh is facing a dire economic crisis. In August 2024, HP CM Sukhu announced deferring his salary, allowances, and other benefits for the next two months, citing the financial crisis. The government also planned to legalise the limited use of cannabis for medicinal purposes to improve the state’s finances.

“The CM has taken a good initiative to overcome the financial troubles we are facing in the state. We are trying to strengthen the resources in the state – be it through water resources or our excise policy and mining policy. We are also trying to legalise cannabis for limited purposes like medical use,” said Himachal Pradesh minister and Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh.

Earlier, CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced that he and his cabinet have decided to forgo two months’ salary as a symbolic measure to address the state’s fiscal challenges.

CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury, who declined an invitation to Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha and called Hindus violent, on respiratory support, condition critical

OpIndia Staff
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CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury, who declined an invitation to Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha and called Hindus violent, on respiratory support, condition critical

Sitaram Yechury, the general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), who was admitted to AIIMS in Delhi last month, is currently on respiratory support, according to a statement from the party. The CPI(M) also mentioned that Yechury is receiving treatment in the hospital’s intensive care unit for a severe respiratory tract infection.

“He is on respiratory support, and a team of doctors from various specialities is closely monitoring his condition, which is currently critical,” the party stated in a message on X.

Yechury was admitted to AIIMS’s emergency department on August 19 after experiencing a high fever. According to a source cited by news agency PTI, he was hospitalized due to pneumonia, and his condition was not considered serious. The CPI(M) leader had also recently undergone cataract surgery.

Earlier this year, Yechury had declined an invitation to the hallowed consecration ceremony at the Ram Mandir temple in Ayodhya, dismissing the sacred ritual as a state-sponsored event.

In 2019, Sitaram Yechury sparked controversy by stating that both the Ramayana and Mahabharata are full of violent episodes, questioning the idea that Hindus are inherently non-violent.

Speaking at an event, Yechury remarked, “The Ramayana and Mahabharata contain numerous instances of violence and warfare. How can one recite these epics as a pracharak and still claim Hindus are incapable of violence? What’s the reasoning behind saying that one religion engages in violence while Hindus do not?”

You have done nothing in 4 years except sit on the report: Kerala High Court slams Pinarayi Vijayan govt for inaction following Hema Committee report

OpIndia Staff
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You have done nothing in 4 years except sit on the report: Kerala High Court slams Pinarayi Vijayan govt for inaction following Hema Committee report

On Tuesday (10th September), the Kerala High Court came down heavily on the state government for failing to take prompt action against the sexual abuse unearthed by the Justice K Hema committee report on the working conditions of women in the Malayalam film industry. 

The two-judge bench slammed the Left Front government emphasising that they are concerned with the state’s inaction, including not registering FIRs after the committee first submitted its report in 2019. The Court also reprimanded the state government saying that they had done nothing in 4 years except sitting on the report. While criticising the state government, the High Court also orally remarked that “silence is not an option”.

Notably, a special bench comprising Justices AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and C S Sudha is hearing several matters including a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking criminal action against those accused of sexual offences in the report. 

The Special bench has directed the Kerala government to hand over the un-redacted version of the Justice Hema Committee Report to the Special Investigating Team (SIT). The Pinarayi Vijayan government had formed a seven-member SIT which is currently probing sexual crimes that have been reported in the wake of the publication of the report. 

Key observations of the Kerala High Court

On Tuesday, September 10, the High Court noted that the Justice Hema Committee report was submitted to the government way back in 2019 and slammed the state government for its inaction. The court said, “We are primarily concerned with inaction of the state, including not registering FIRs… You have done nothing in 4 years except sit on the report.”

The court stressed that “silence” was not an option for the government. 

The Court remarked, “When the report revealed such a malady in the system, what is the bare minimum that the State government should have done? We are taken aback by the lack of action by the State government. It is one thing to assure the confidentiality of the women who spoke to the committee and even those who have been accused may have the right to privacy. But dehors of this, when such issues are revealed in the report, shouldn’t there be some action from the government? … Why has the government done nothing till now? … It is obligatory for the State to act on this. Silence is not an option.”

The High Court also emphasised that the “bias and discrimination” against women must change.

The High Court questioned Kerala government and said, “What are you doing to address the problems faced by women in society? Not just the film industry. The situation is bad and that too in a state like ours. We have a higher population of women in our state. This is not a minority issue for us… The SIT must look into all of this.”

Furthermore, the bench has asked the SIT to submit its status report on the next date. It added that it will then decide whether to open the sealed cover containing the un-redacted version of the report or not.

The court pointed out that the Hema Committee report also mentioned instances of exploitation even before the production of a film started which doesn’t come under the ambit of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace (POSH) Act. Consequently, the court asked the Kerala government to formulate legislation to address these problems of women.

It added, “In such situations, it may not be possible to invoke the POSH Act. If issues are not being addressed with existing legislation, the government must think of new laws.” 

It also suggested arbitration and mediation proceedings for non-criminal offences. The bench remarked, “Some cases can be brought under mediation. We are not talking about criminal offences. For example, issues faced by make-up artists like if there is gender discrimination.”

The court asked the SIT not to reveal key findings of the investigation in press conferences or to the media which could lead to a “media trial”. However, the court refrained from passing a gag order on the media. But, it asked the media not to put pressure on the SIT to act in haste. 

Justice Sudha said, “No press conferences from the SIT. No media trial in this case. We are not saying the investigating officers shouldn’t talk to the press but that they shouldn’t reveal any details.”

Justice Nambiar noted, “We don’t think there is any necessity to issue any gag order to the media. The media can be responsible. No gag order for the media now … It is not just courts who have to protect fundamental rights. The State also has a duty. Even the media has a duty to respect the right to privacy of individuals.”

Justice Hema Committee report

The Kerala government established the Justice Hema Committee in February 2017 after a heinous case of sexual assault of an actress came to light. Notably, a prominent Malayalam actress was kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and filmed in a moving car. The Investigations revealed that actor Dileep had allegedly orchestrated the attack to “teach her a lesson.”

Following massive furore, the Justice Hema Committee came into being and it submitted its report to the Kerala government on 31st December 2019.

However, the findings of the report were made public on Monday (19th August 2024), five years after it was submitted to the Kerala government as it was claimed that it had a lot of sensitive information which needed to be redacted before releasing it to the public. They believed that publishing the full report would harm the industry.

The 63 pages that were redacted had portions that could infringe on the privacy of the individuals mentioned in it, as directed by the State Information Commission (SIC). However, the state government is facing widespread allegations that it is trying to protect the accused and excluded more information than what was recommended.

Now the court has come down heavily on the state government highlighting the five-year delay and the LDF government’s inaction in taking prompt action in the last five years. 

Congress has been plotting to end reservations in the country for years: BSP supremo Mayawati says, warns people to be wary of Congress theatrics

ANI
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Congress has been plotting to end reservations in the country for years: BSP supremo Mayawati says, warns people to be wary of Congress theatrics

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati lashed out at the Congress on Tuesday, alleging that the party is just creating drama over the implementation of caste-based census and accusing the party is trying to regain power under the guise of these issues.

“Despite being in power for a long time at the Centre, the Congress party did not implement OBC reservations nor did it conduct a caste-based census. Now this party is dreaming of regaining power under the guise of these issues. Beware of their theatrics, as they will never conduct a caste-based census,” she said in a social media post in X.

Mayawati further cautioned the people over the theatrics of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and said that the Congress has been plotting to end reservations in the country for years following his statement to scrap reservations in India when it becomes a “fair place” during his interactions with students and faculty at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, on Monday (local time).

“Be cautious of Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi’s theatrics, in which he claimed abroad that if India were to improve, we would end reservations for SC, ST, and OBCs. This clearly indicates that the Congress has been plotting to end these reservations for years,” she said.

“Members of these communities should be wary of Rahul Gandhi’s dangerous statement, as the Congress party, if it comes to power at the Centre, might use this statement as a pretext to end their reservations. Stay alert to this party that pretends to protect the Constitution and reservations,” she added.

Mayawati further stated that the Congress had always “harboured an anti-reservation mindset” and stated that there should be a “proper constitutional provision for reservation” until “caste discrimination is completely abolished.”

“The truth is that Congress has always harboured an anti-reservation mindset. When they were in power at the Centre, they failed to fulfil the reservation quotas, leading to Dr B.R. Ambedkar resigning from his position as Law Minister. People should be cautious. In summary, until caste discrimination is eradicated, the social, economic, and educational conditions of these communities will not improve, despite India’s overall progress. Therefore, a proper constitutional provision for reservations must remain in place until caste discrimination is completely abolished,” she 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)

Rameshwaram blast accused had planned to detonate IED at BJP HQ in Bengaluru on Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha day: NIA

OpIndia Staff
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Rameshwaram blast accused had planned to detonate IED at BJP HQ in Bengaluru on Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha day: NIA

On Monday, September 9, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) revealed that the accused persons behind the Rameshwaram Blast in Bengaluru, Karnataka, had also planned to blow away the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in Malleshwaram, Bengaluru. As per the NIA, the accused had planned to execute an improvised explosive device (IED) blast at the BJP office on the day of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024. However, the attempt failed after which the accused persons carried out the Rameshwaram Cafe blast on March 1st injuring 9 persons.

The NIA revealed this information in a chargesheet filed in the Rameshwaram blast case on Monday, September 9. The chargesheet has been against four individuals identified as Mussavir Hussain Shazib, Abdul Mateen Ahmed Taaha, Maaz Muneer Ahmed, and Muzammil Shareef. These four were arrested by the authorities and now have been charged under relevant sections of IPC, UA(P) Act, Explosive Substances Act, and PDLP Act.

The agency has also named Mohammad Shaheed Faisal as an absconder in a previous Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Bengaluru conspiracy case from 2012. As per the NIA Faisal provided the accused with instructions and funds. Meanwhile, Shazib and Taaha got money through cryptocurrencies to execute the operation.

“The funds were used by the accused to perpetrate various acts of violence in Bengaluru, investigations further revealed. These included a failed IED attack at the State BJP Office, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru, on the day of Pran Pratishtha ceremony at Ayodhya on January 22, after which the two key accused had planned the Rameshwaram café blast,” NIA said.

While Faisal has been accused of providing funds for the operation, Taha is believed to be the mastermind behind the planning and execution of the blast, the chargesheet filed by the NIA mentions. “Moving swiftly in its probe, the NIA on Monday charge-sheeted four accused in the high-profile Bengaluru Rameshwaram Café blast case,” NIA spokesperson was quoted as saying in a statement.

The NIA stated that after taking over the case on March 3rd, it conducted many technical and field investigations in collaboration with several state police units and other agencies. It stated that Shazib and Taha had been absconding since 2020 when the Al-Hind module was busted. They were caught in West Bengal following a 42-day pursuit.

The Al-Hind 20-member ISIS module, led by Bengaluru-based Mehboob Pasha and Cuddalore-based Khaja Moideen and operating from Pasha’s Al-Hind Trust office in Guruppanpalya, Bengaluru, intended to establish ISIS Daishwilayah (province) in the jungles of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala. They also purchased books by famed sandalwood smuggler Veerappan to learn how to survive in the deep forest. Their objective was to target/murder Hindu religious and political leaders, police officers, government officials, and certain high-profile individuals across India before retreating to the forest without being spotted, according to the NIA’s charge sheet against 17 members of the Al-Hind module.

On Monday, the NIA further said that Taha and Shazib were ISIS radicals and had earlier planned to do Hijrah to ISIS territories in Syria. “They were actively involved in radicalizing other gullible Muslim youth to the ISIS ideology, and Maaz Muneer Ahmed and Muzammil Shareef were among such youth. They had fraudulently obtained Indian SIM cards and Indian bank accounts and also used various Indian and Bangladeshi Identity documents downloaded from the Dark Web. Investigations further revealed that Taha had been introduced by an ex-convict, Shoaib Ahmed Mirza, to Mohammed Shaheed Faisal, an absconder in the LeT Bengaluru conspiracy case. Taaha then introduced Faisal, his handler, to Mehaboob Pasha, an accused in the Al-Hind ISIS module case, and to Khaja Mohideen, Amir of ISIS South India, and later also to Maaz Muneer Ahmed,” the spokesperson added.

So far, five have been held in the case: Taha (the main planner), Mussavir Hussain Shazib (the bomber), Muzammil Shareef (who provided logistics such as SIM cards and smartphones), Maaz Muneer Ahmed, and Shoaib Ahmed Mirza. Further probe into the case is underway. 

Ayodhya: UP Govt announces ‘Vashishth Kunj township’ 20 kms from Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, says scheme to benefit 10,000 people

OpIndia Staff
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Ayodhya: UP Govt announces ‘Vashishth Kunj township’ 20 kms from Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, says scheme to benefit 10,000 people

People who wish to have a home in the Ramnagari Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh are about to get a gift. The Ayodhya Development Authority has decided to build a ‘Vashishth Kunj township’ at a distance of 20 kilometers from the Ram Mandir. On Tuesday, 10th September, the Government of Uttar Pradesh confirmed the development saying that the township will be set up under the ‘Vashishtha Kunj Residential Scheme’ about 20 kilometers from Shri Ram Temple.

“There is good news for people planning to settle in the city of Lord Shri Ram. A township will be set up under the ‘Vashishth Kunj Residential Scheme’ at a distance of about 20 kilometers from Shri Ram Temple. This housing scheme is being built on 75 acres of land. In this, residential plots will be allotted to about 10 thousand people,” the government said in an X post.

As per the reports, people will soon be able to acquire portions of land in the Ayodhya Development Authority’s residential project. The administration is believed to have announced the decision in response to increased tourism and business opportunities in Ayodhya. Since the city’s population is expected to grow over the next few days, this project may prove advantageous for the inhabitants of the area.

According to reports, ‘Vashishth Kunj township’ is being developed near Firozpur Uparhara village in Sohawal tehsil on National Highway 27 Lucknow-Gorakhpur. Its construction is slated to cost around Rs 300 crore and the same has recently obtained government approval. Further, the settlement will be built on around 30 hectares (120 bighas) of land that is being purchased from the farmers.

Satyendra Singh, Secretary of the Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA), stated last week that 30 hectares of land will be acquired for this project. He said that so far 24 hectares of land have been acquired. The other portion would be purchased shortly. He stated that in this scheme, commercial plots will be provided alongside residential plots which will benefit almost 10,000 people. The authority will assign this scheme to the public only after developing it completely. 

Reports mention that this would be Ayodhya’s first graded hi-tech township, which will be equipped with all the facilities. The township will also have schools and community halls. In addition, CCTV cameras will be installed around it to offer security. As per the ADA authorities, around 10,000 people would benefit from the scheme that will soon be at the service of all those who wish to settle in the city of Ayodhya.

iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max for Indian market at lower price tag, India-made models to hit global markets soon

OpIndia Staff
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iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max for Indian market at lower price tag, India-made models to hit global markets soon

On 9th September, Apple launched its new iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models. In a delightful surprise for Indian customers, the price tag for the latest models is considerably lower in India, while the usual pricing strategy in the international market has remained unchanged. The iPhone 16 Pro (128 GB) will be available for Indian customers at Rs 1,19,900, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max (256 GB) will be available at Rs 1,44,900. This is a substantial drop compared to last year’s iPhone 15 Pro prices. As the price drop is exclusive to India, it seems that Apple is looking at expanding its market share in the Android-dominated country.

Enhanced features and India’s role in global launch

There are several features that have excited iPhone fans. The phone comes with a 6.3-inch display for iPhone 16 Pro and 6.9 inches for the Pro Max, and the bezels have been thinned for a more immersive experience. Camera advancements have always been a stronghold of Apple. The new models come with a 48MP fusion camera, a 5x telephoto lens, and a 48MP ultra-wide camera, which will be a plus for macro photography lovers. Additionally, the phone comes with a dedicated camera button, which will allow users to have better control over their photography skills.

The phone is powered by the A18 Bionic Pro chip with a 3nm architecture. Apple has assured that the new models come with faster performance and enhanced AI capabilities, which include smarter Siri responses and deeper integration with AI tools like ChatGPT.

Made-in-India models to reach global shelves

With the launch of Apple’s new iPhone models, India has made a significant achievement as the iPhone 16 series, including the Pro and Pro Max models, will be made in India. Foxconn has already commenced the production of the iPhone 16 series in India, and the devices will be exported to multiple cities worldwide. The information was shared by former BJP MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar on X. In his post, he wrote, “Indias electronics Industry has travelled a long distance in last 10 years – thanks to PM Narendra Modi ji’s focus on policies for #MakeInIndia. Investments into Mega factories, Lakhs of jobs and now serving global customers and markets. Made in India iPhone 16 to be revealed later tonight. Will be available worldwide soon after launch.”

This is the first time Apple will ship its high-end Pro models from India to global markets. It has highlighted the growing importance of India’s manufacturing sector in the technology sector. Furthermore, it also highlights the importance of diversification for Apple, which is trying to move a major chunk of its manufacturing base out of China in the coming years. As per reports, Apple has aimed to shift 25% of its iPhone production to India by 2025, which will reduce its dependency on China.

India currently contributes to 14% of Apple’s global production via its contract manufacturers, including Foxconn, Pegatron, and Wistron, which is now owned by Tata Group. In FY 23-24, iPhone production in India hit Rs 1.20 lakh crores, and the export value was Rs 85,000 crores.

Train sabotage continues: Major train accident averted in Ajmer, Rajasthan, huge concrete block kept on tracks to cause derailment

OpIndia Staff
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Train sabotage continues: Major train accident averted in Ajmer, Rajasthan, huge concrete block kept on tracks to cause derailment

A day after a foiled derailment attempt in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, another case of conspiracy to cause a train accident has come to light from the state of Rajasthan. As per initial reports, cement blocks worth about one quintal were found at different places on the railway track in the Ajmer district. It is believed that this was too a deliberate attempt to derail the goods train.

In Ajmer, cement blocks weighing one quintal were placed on the railway track for about 1 kilometer. The blocks were placed between two places, Saradhna and Bangad Gram station. However, the potential train accident was averted as the blocks broke and fell apart from the track.

Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation (DFCC) employees, Ravi Bundela and Vishwajit Das have lodged an FIR in the case. According to the FIR, information was received at 10:36 pm on September 8th that a cement block was placed on the track. When the rail authorities reached the spot, they found that both the blocks had fallen apart.

Later, DFCC, and Railway Protection Force (RPF) together patrolled the area from Saradhna to Bangar Gram station to find the circumstances normal. Police probe has been lodged in the case.

Rail Ministry says this ‘wave’ is a major cause of concern

Notably, the Rail Ministry has taken cognizance of the event and said that three attempts of train derailment and two incidents of stone pelting at trains have come to the fore in the past week, causing an alarm. These point to the criminal intent of miscreants, the rail ministry officials said while talking to Times of India.

The official recalled the Kapur incident and stated that a major mishap was avoided in Kapur, Uttar Pradesh where a gas cylinder was kept on the track to derail a train deliberately. It is crucial to note that yesterday, a similar potential major train accident was averted in Kanpur after the loco pilot applied emergency brakes while listening to the sound of a gas cylinder hitting the train. The gas-filled cylinder was placed on the track deliberately to derail or damage the Kalindi Express (14117) which was traveling on the Anwarganj-Kasganj route.

The Rail authorities and the police investigated the matter and found a petrol-filled glass bottle, a matchbox, and a suspicious bag from the route. During the investigation, marks of rubbing of an iron-like object were also found on the track. 

Past train derailment incidents reported recently

Several such deliberate attempts have been made to derail trains in the past in several states. A few days ago, on 31st August, a loco pilot averted a major train derailment and loss of life by promptly applying emergency brakes after the goods train he was operating collided with motorcycle scrap placed on the railway track in Rajasthan’s Baran district. Initial reports indicated that an unidentified person had placed bike scrap on the railway track near Chachauda village in the Chhabra area.

On the night of 17th August, the engine of the Sabarmati Express train derailed near Govindpuri station in Kanpur. Soon after, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed that the derailment took place because of an object placed on the railway track. It was later revealed by the investigative authorities that a broken piece of track metal was kept on the train line to cause an accident.

Then on Thursday, 22nd August, the Aligarh Railway Police charged one Afsan for deliberately placing an alloy wheel on the railway track to derail a moving train. The incident happened on Tuesday, 20th August when the accused made a deliberate attempt to recreate the Kanpur rail accident that happened on August 17th.

On the 23rd of August night, the Farrukhabad Express running between Kasganj and Farrukhabad narrowly averted a major accident after coming in contact with a wooden log placed on the railway track. As per reports, the train experienced a sudden jolt, forcing the loco pilot to apply emergency brakes and bring the train to a halt. It was later discovered that the wooden log had stuck to the train’s engine.

Similarly, a major accident was averted in October last year as stones and rods were kept on railway tracks in a potential attempt to derail the Udaipur-Jaipur Vande Bharat Express. Earlier in August, a YouTuber named Gulzar Sheikh was arrested for putting different items on railway tracks including cycles, soaps, stones, and more in the name of content creation.

The Indian Railways and probing agencies are investigating multiple sabotage attempts to derail trains. Terrorist involvement in the matter is also being looked into. Detailed reports in this case can be read here.

Rampur: Minor girl kidnapped and raped for 5 days in different locations, accused Congress supporter Sajid Pasha’s hospital sealed

OpIndia Staff
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Rampur: Minor girl kidnapped and raped for 5 days in different locations, accused Congress supporter Sajid Pasha’s hospital sealed

A shocking case of kidnapping and rape of a minor girl has come to light from the Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh. The accused in this case have been identified as Sajid Pasha and Mudassir. Pasha is the director of a well-known hospital named Green City Hospital in Rampur district. On Friday (31st August 2024), the accused kidnapped the minor victim on the pretext of taking her to coaching. According to reports, the accused kept changing locations in UP and Uttarakhand and raped the captive minor for 5 days before she was rescued by the Police.   

According to reports, when the minor girl did not return home, her family filed a kidnapping complaint after which the Police swung into action. When the pressure started mounting, the accused continuously kept changing their hideouts from Uttarakhand to Uttar Pradesh. However, after five days, the police recovered the minor girl from a Thar vehicle. They arrested Mudassir on the spot. But the main accused, Sajid Pasha, is still absconding. The police have sealed the accused Sajid’s hospital and announced a cash reward of Rs 25,000 for information that could lead to his arrest. 

The case pertains to the Swar Kotwali area of Rampur. According to reports, Sajid Pasha runs a hospital named Green City Hospital. On 31st August, he called a minor girl, who is currently studying in 11th Class, on the pretext of coaching. He took the victim into confidence stating that there were other girls at a short distance and made her sit in his Thar. But there were no female students ahead and the accused went on to kidnap the minor girl. 

According to reports, Sajid Pasha abducted the victim and took her to a resort in Ramnagar, Uttarakhand where he held the victim hostage and raped for 3 days. 

He then kept changing his hideouts and took the victim to Haldwani and Rudrapur but the ordeal of the minor victim continued as the accused kept sexually abusing her. 

According to the victim, she was threatened at gunpoint and asked to remain silent. The accused booked hotel and resort rooms using fake identity cards. It is also being reported that Sajid also had a fake Police ID. 

After 5 days, Sajid brought the victim to Rampur and amid mounting pressure from the Police, he handed her over to his partner Mudassir and fled. 

The Police apprehended Mudassir and rescued the minor from Thar. At the time of Mudassir’s arrest, he was taking the victim to Bareilly but the minor somehow managed to send her location to her father. 

After the rescue, the minor victim narrated her ordeal to the Police. Her father has urged UP CM Yogi Adityanath to seek strict action against the absconding accused Sajid Pasha. According to the victim’s family, Sajid is a mining mafia who moves with his private security guards. Apart from the Green City hospital, he also has a property dealing business. He is married to two wives. One of his wives contested the last assembly elections.

On social media, Sajid Pasha had declared himself a supporter of the Congress party. Meanwhile, his hospital has been sealed. 

Rampur Superintendent of Police Vidyasagar Mishra stated that one accused has been arrested so far in this case. The Police have launched a search operation for the other absconding accused.

Facebook bans OpIndia dossier on Wikipedia, which showed how it has become tool of propaganda by leftists with helpful support from big tech

OpIndia Staff
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Facebook bans OpIndia dossier on Wikipedia, which showed how it has become tool of propaganda by leftists with helpful support from big tech

On 9th September, OpIndia released a dossier on how Wikipedia has become a leftist propaganda tool against India. The 187-page document provided in-depth information about different aspects of the so-called open-source encyclopedia and explained how it is under the control of a few left-leaning editors.

Interestingly, when our readers tried to share the link on their Facebook accounts, the social media platform promptly removed the link and warned users against sharing it. Facebook has effectively banned OpIndia’s dossier on Wikipedia.

X user MB Jhansi informed under OpIndia’s link on X that FB was not allowing to share the link.

One of our readers wrote on FB, “I posted the link to OpIndia’s investigation of Wikipedia, and immediately I got a notification from Facebook saying my post has been removed because it broke Facebook guidelines! Big Brother is both sick and dangerous…”

Source: FB

In fact, when we tried sharing the link on our Facebook Page, the link got removed and we recieved a warning. Facebook’s warning claimed that we were trying to get likes, follows, shares or video views in a “misleading way” which goes against their community standards.

Source: Facebook

Their community standards read, “Community Standards: Spam – We don’t allow people to use misleading links or content to trick people to visit, or stay on, a website. Examples of things that we don’t allow Telling people that they must like a Page to access content on another site. Using irrelevant pop-ups on websites to prevent people from leaving easily Disguising a link as something on our platform, such as a poll or video, to get clicks Read in full Spam Your freedom of expression We want you to share freely with others. We only remove things or restrict people to keep the community respectful and safe.”

The reality is, OpIndia’s investigation did not break any of these “community standards”.

What is OpIndia’s dossier about?

The OpIndia’s dossier on Wikipedia has been prepared with the purpose of detailing how Wikipedia is not a free, editorial intervention-free encyclopaedia which relies on the voluntary work of thousands of unpaid, passionate volunteers across the globe, as claimed by the Wikimedia Foundation

This dossier is made with a special focus on India, Indian laws and India-related content for the purpose of formulating recommendations about treating Wikipedia as a publisher, which is directly liable for the content published on its platform. 

The dossier delves briefly into various aspects of Wikipedia and its parent company – the Wikimedia Foundation in order to understand the various claims made by the Wikimedia Foundation about Wikipedia being a free-for-all-to-edit encyclopaedia, using reliable sources, maintaining a neutral point of view, surviving on donations etc.

It also delves into the grants that Wikimedia Foundation gets, the entities it gets the grants from and the entities and NGOs it gives grants to. Further, it aims to understand how the Wikimedia Foundation, without maintaining its presence in India, is functioning in India and funding various entities for its business goals. 

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