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‘Will resign after two days’: Arvind Kejriwal makes surprise announcement, demands election in November instead of February 2025

OpIndia Staff
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‘Will resign after two days’: Arvind Kejriwal makes surprise announcement, demands election in November instead of February 2025

After coming out jail on bail, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal announced today that he will resign from the post after two days. He said that unless the voters in Delhi rules whether Kejriwal is guilty or innocent, he will not sit on the chair of the CM.

Arvind Kejriwal said that assembly elections will be held after few months, and appealed the people to vote for him in the polls. He said that he has arrived at the court of people, and asked whether they believe he is innocent or guilty. ‘Friends, I am resigning from the post of CM after two days’, he said.

Kejriwal added, ‘I will not sit in the CM’s chair until public gives verdict. I will go to the public, visit every lane, every house, and until public pronounces their verdict that Kejriwal is innocent, I will not sit in the CM’s chair’.

He said, ‘Delhi assembly elections will be held after a few months, I want to appeal to the public of Delhi, if you think that Kejriwal is innocent, vote for me, it you think I am guilty, don’t vote for me’. He added that he will occupy CM’s post only after he is re-elected after the polls, and stay away from the post. He said, ‘you must be wondering why he is resigning just after coming out of jail’. He explained that there are lots of allegations against him, and just like Sita Mata had to go through Agni Pariksha after 14 years in exile, he will also go through Agni Pariksha.

However, he denied that he resigned for bail conditions imposed by Supreme Court, saying no condition can stop them from working for people.

He said that a member of the party will be named Chief Minister after his resignation. Kejriwal also demanded that the elections in the national capital, scheduled for February, be held in November along with the polls in Maharashtra.

Kejriwal also said that Manish Sisodia is also going through the same situation, and he will also return to the govt only after the elections.

Notably, while granting bail to Arvind Kejriwal, the Supreme Court imposed several conditions. The most important condition is that Kejriwal is prohibited from attending office or sign any official files. He also can’t comment on the Delhi excise policy case, can’t meet witnesses to the case and can’t access files related to the case.

Earlier in the day, Arvind Kejriwal said that he didn’t resign despite going to jail to ‘save democracy’. He also asked all non-BJP chief ministers to not resign if they are arrested.

2 days after US Sanctions against 16 Venezuelan officials,Venezuela announces detention of 3 Americans over plot to kill President Maduro and destabilise the country

OpIndia Staff
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2 days after US Sanctions against 16 Venezuelan officials,Venezuela announces detention of 3 Americans over plot to kill President Maduro and destabilise the country

On 14th September, Interior Minister of Venezuela, Diosdado Cabello, announced that six people, including three Americans, two Spaniards, and one Czech citizen, have been arrested over an alleged plot to destabilise the government using “violent actions” against President Nicolas Maduro. Reports suggest that these individuals were allegedly planning to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro.

Seizure of weapons and CIA involvement claims

Cabello stated that hundreds of weapons have been seized by the Venezuelan government. The Interior Minister did not provide specific details on the identities of the arrested individuals but said that “the CIA is in charge of this operation and the CNI of Spain, too.” He added that the Spanish individuals were detained by security forces in Puerto Ayacucho in the southwest.

Detention of an American Navy sailor

According to CBS News, one of the detained Americans has been identified as a U.S. Navy sailor. He was detained in early September while on a personal visit to Venezuela. The detained sailor is a petty officer first class and a former Navy SEAL assigned to a West Coast team. A State Department spokesperson confirmed the detention of the sailor and two other unconfirmed detained American citizens.

Alleged assassination plot against Venezuela President Maduro

These individuals were allegedly seeking mercenaries with the “very clear objective” of killing President Maduro. Cabello stated, “We know that the United States government has links to this operation. They contacted French mercenaries, they contacted mercenaries from Eastern Europe, and they are in an operation to try to attack our country.” He added that 400 rifles originating from the US were seized and deemed the possible assassination attempt as a “terrorist act.”

Cabello further added that the three Americans and one Czech national arrested in the matter were linked to the alleged plot to kill the President. He implicated the intelligence agencies of the US and Spain, along with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, in the plan.

Rising tensions between the US and Venezuela

The Venezuelan authorities made the arrests amid heightened tensions between the United States and Venezuela following the July Presidential election. The opposition party in Venezuela accused Maduro of stealing the election after he failed to release detailed vote tallies to support his victory claims.

US response to the allegations

The United States has denied any involvement in the alleged assassination plot against President Maduro. A State Department spokesperson told CBS, “Any claims of U.S. involvement in a plot to overthrow Maduro are categorically false. The United States continues to support a democratic solution to the political crisis in Venezuela.”

Diplomatic tensions with Spain and the US

There have been consistent tensions between Venezuela, the US, and Spain. Earlier in September, Caracas called back its ambassador to Madrid for consultations. Spain’s envoy to Venezuela was also summoned for talks after a Spanish minister accused President Maduro of running a dictatorship. Spanish Minister Pedro Sanchez further angered Venezuela by meeting Gonzalez Urrutia, the defeated Presidential candidate of Venezuela.

Caracas also had a war of words with the US as it recognised Urrutia as the winner of the July election. Notably, the US recently announced new sanctions against 16 Venezuelan officials, some of whom were from the electoral authority. These sanctions were imposed over claims of obstructing a transparent electoral process and failing to publish accurate results.

Rajasthan: Hindu procession attacked with stones from inside Jama Masjid, BJP MLA warns stone pelters of ‘bulldozer action’

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: Hindu procession attacked with stones from inside Jama Masjid, BJP MLA warns stone pelters of ‘bulldozer action’

On Saturday (14th September) evening, a Hindu religious procession was attacked by Muslims in Jahazpur town in the Bhilwara district of Rajasthan.

According to reports, the Hindu community in the village had taken out the procession on the occasion of Jaljhulani Ekadashi. On reaching the Jama Masjid, the Hindus were pelted with stones from inside the mosque for about 20-25 minutes.

Many devotees were injured during the targeted attack. The incident sparked a stampede and the market had to be closed down.

Later, Hindus gathered at the spot and launched a protest demanding strict action against the stone pelters.

On learning about the matter, BJP MLA (Jahazpur constituency) Gopichand Meena joined the Hindu community and sat on the dharna. He had assured to demolish the ‘illegal mosque’ with a bulldozer.

In the meantime, the municipality (Nagar Palika) issued a notice to the Head of the Jama Masjid asking him to furnish documents related to the land ownership, construction and lease within 24 hours.

As per reports, the local police have detained 10 people in connection to the stone pelting case so far. The suspects are now being questioned. A large contingent of police have been deployed in the Jahazpur to prevent any untoward situation

On Saturday (14th September) night, the municipal corporation removed illegal encroachment belonging to the Muslim community from near the Jahazpur bus stand.

The development was confirmed by District Collector Rajendra Singh Shekhawat.

Following the arrest of 10 accused in connection to the stone pelting, BJP MLA (Jahazpur constituency) Gopichand Meena appealed to the Hindus to end the protests.

Yet another incident of stone pelting during Ganesh Visarjan, in Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh, stones pelted on the Hindu procession

OpIndia Staff
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Yet another incident of stone pelting during Ganesh Visarjan, in Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh, stones pelted on the Hindu procession

On 14th September, stones were pelted at a Ganesh Visarjan procession in Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh. The incident led to communal clashes between two groups, and they assaulted each other, resulting in a law and order situation. Following the incident, Hindu organisations raised slogans outside the police station, demanding action against the attackers. Additional police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order.

As per reports, two Ganesh idols were taken out for the Visarjan procession in Mahoba. When the procession reached Kasauratori area of Kotwali police station in Mahoba, a firecracker allegedly fell on a kutcha house. There was a piece of polythene on top of the house, which caught fire. The owner of the house put out the fire using water and then threw water on Hindus participating in the procession. When Hindus objected, it turned into a clash between the two sides.

During the argument, Hindus were attacked in the Muslim-majority area with a bucket and faced stone pelting. The police rushed to the spot to control the situation. Following the incident, members of Hindu organisations reached the police station and started sloganeering, demanding strict action against those who attacked them.

Speaking on the matter, Vishwa Hindu Parishad District Head Manoj Shivhare told media that the incident created deep anger among Hindu organisations. He demanded strict and immediate action against those who attacked Hindu devotees and pelted stones on them during the Ganesh Visarjan procession.

Members of the Muslim community accused Hindus of playing “objectionable” songs on the DJ. It is unclear what songs were found objectionable by the Islamists. The owner of the kutcha house on which the firecracker fell, Akila, told Dainik Bhaskar that she saw a firecracker falling on her house and she immediately poured water on it. She claimed that the clash broke out after she threw water to extinguish the fire.

Speaking to the media, Superintendent of Police Pailash Bansal said that the incident took place after a firecracker fell on a house of the Muslim community. Police intervened, and the matter was under control. The Visarjan was peaceful after that. Additional police force has been deployed in the area.

CBI arrests former RG Kar Hospital Principal Sandip Ghosh and Kolkata Police SHO for destruction of evidence in rape-murder case

ANI
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CBI arrests former RG Kar Hospital Principal Sandip Ghosh and Kolkata Police SHO for destruction of evidence in rape-murder case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday arrested Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, along with Abhijit Mondal, the officer-in-charge of Tala police station, in connection with the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in the state capital.

“The CBI special crime branch arrested Tala police station officer incharge Abhijit Mondal in connection with the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder case. The official was nabbed on accusations for delay in registering the FIR,” said sources.

As per the sources, the CBI special crime branch also arrested RG Kar Medical College and Hospital former principal Sandip Ghosh in connection with the rape and murder case. He was arrested for misleading the investigation and for his alleged role in the destruction of evidence by not declaring the death of the victim immediately and the considerable delay in registration of the FIR.”

Meanwhile, junior doctors protesting at the Swasthya Bhavan celebrated the step and could be seen singing at the protest site.

Speaking about the arrests, a junior doctor told ANI, “We have been demanding the arrest of the former principal of the college, Sandip Ghosh and Abhijit Mondal, officer-in-charge of Tala police station, for their involvement in tampering with the evidence. We are very happy as the CBI has arrested them. The CBI should arrest others who have tampered with the evidence.”

Earlier in the day, the delegation of junior doctors met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee left from her residence in Kolkata after the meeting between them and the CM failed for the second time.

Junior doctors demanded live streaming of the meeting, to which the Chief Minister said live streaming cannot be allowed as the matter is sub-judice.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that the request for ‘live streaming’ of her meeting with the protesting doctors could not be met due to the ongoing legal proceedings of the RG Kar Medical College Hospital rape and murder case in the Supreme Court.

The West Bengal Chief Minister further requested the doctors to cooperate and assured them of providing them with a recording of the meeting.

“I assure you that whatever recording will be done, it will be given to you. Accept my request and join the meeting. If you people do not want to come to the meeting, then please come inside the residence, have tea and then proceed to leave,” said Banerjee.

According to the Information and Cultural Affairs Department, WB government, Mamata Banerjee spoke to the junior doctors who were standing at the door of her residence and stated the reason for declining the live streaming.

“You all have been standing in the rain for 2 hours. I am waiting for you all. There is a case going on in the Supreme Court, so we cannot do live streaming. I assure you that whatever recording will be done, it will be given to you. Accept my request and join the meeting. If you people do not want to come to the meeting, then please come inside the residence, have tea and then proceed to leave,” said CM Banerjee.

“We will prepare the minutes of the meeting and give them to you. The recording will be given later. If you people did not want to attend the meeting, then why did you come? Why are you insulting like this? This is not the first time. I have said earlier also that the recording cannot be given today. It is not possible to accept all your demands,” CM Mamata Banerjee said.

This comes after the key meeting scheduled between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and protesting doctors at her residence hit a roadblock over livestreaming issues.

The junior doctors were firm on their demand that they would not participate in the meeting until live streaming was allowed.At the time of filing this report, the meeting had not started yet as 12 junior doctors from the 30-doctor delegation had stepped out to demand live streaming.

The West Bengal CM had earlier visited the agitating doctors at the Swasthya Bhawan in Salt Lake and appealed to them to resume work.West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee was scheduled to hold a meeting with junior doctors at 6 pm today (Saturday) at her residence, with a delegation of 15 representatives, informed West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant earlier in the day.

This comes after Mamata Banerjee visited the junior doctors’ protest site in front of Swasthya Bhaban, where she assured the doctors that she would address their demands and make efforts to fulfil them.

Earlier, while addressing the protesting doctors in front of Swasthya Bhaban, the West Bengal Chief Minister said that she was spending sleepless nights as the doctors were agitating on the road amid rains.

She had further urged the protesting doctors to return to work and said, “I request you to return to work. All the work related to the development, infrastructure, and security of the hospital has been started and will be done further.”

Meanwhile, in an effort to monitor the situation and ensure security, the Kolkata Police installed CCTV cameras at the protest site and surrounding areas.

The move comes as the junior doctors continued their protest, demanding justice and calling for enhanced safety measures at medical institutions, even after the Supreme Court set a deadline for doctors to resume work on Tuesday.

Earlier on September 13, junior doctors in Kolkata criticised the West Bengal Chief Minister for rejecting their request to live telecast a meeting and for not meeting with them.

They argued that their request was reasonable, given that parliamentary discussions and many administrative meetings are broadcast live.

The doctors expressed frustration over being asked to leave electronic gadgets outside the meeting hall, which prevented them from recording the proceedings.

The second-year postgraduate medical student was raped and murdered inside the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College on August 9.

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

‘I won’t let you marry anyone, will do Nikah and keep you with me’: Dalit girl in UP accuses Mufti Imran of molesting her in the name of black magic

OpIndia Staff
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‘I won’t let you marry anyone, will do Nikah and keep you with me’: Dalit girl in UP accuses Mufti Imran of molesting her in the name of black magic

A shocking case has come to light from the Hardoi district of Uttar Pradesh where a Dalit girl has accused a Mufti of molesting her in the name of black magic. According to the Dalit victim, she often fell sick. Her family believed that she may be possessed by an evil spirit, so they approached Mufti Imran hoping that he would cure her through exorcism. However, the accused had evil intentions and molested her in the name of black magic. Based on the complaint of the Dalit girl, the Police have arrested Mufti Imran and booked him under charges of assault, indecency, and threatening the victim. 

The case pertains to the Beniganj Police Station area in the Hardoi district. A 22-year-old Dalit girl stated that she often got sick. In November 2023, her parents took her to a Mufti named Imran hoping that she would be cured through exorcism. It is said that her health improved.  

Further, the girl stated that whenever her health deteriorated, Mufti Imran did exorcism. However, Mufti Imran had evil intentions for her. According to the Dalit victim, the Mufti used to molest her in the name of black magic. Mufti Imran also used to threaten her saying that he would not let her marry anyone rather he would do Nikah and keep her with him. The accused Mufti Imran lives in Hardoi’s Mohalla Krishnanagar. 

According to reports, the victim said that whenever her health improved and she returned home, Mufti Imran made her fall sick by doing black magic and sending a Jinn (evil/dark spirit) so that she would have to approach him again and again.   

At home, the girl used to go into a panic attack in which she repeated Imran’s name but when the family took her to Mufti Imran, she would recover.

As per reports, the victim’s father works as a labourer. He has five sons and two daughters. His elder daughter is married. The family members say that there was a fear of ‘Jinn’s shadow’ on his little daughter, so they approached a villager to do exorcism but to no avail. Finally, he went to Mufti Imran, a resident of Bhusori Purwa, to do exorcism. 

In this case, the girl went to the police station and lodged a complaint. Based on the girl’s complaint, the police have registered a case under various sections. The police say that the girl used to go to Imran when she was sick and Imran used to do tantric activities with her. He used to harass her and when she complained about this, Imran molested her.

Kolkata: Protesting doctors’ delegation return from CM’s residence without meeting after govt refused live streaming, video recording by their videographer

OpIndia Staff
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Kolkata: Protesting doctors’ delegation return from CM’s residence without meeting after govt refused live streaming, video recording by their videographer

A delegation of several doctors arrived at CM Mamata Banerjee’s residence for talks after the CM visited the junior doctors’ protest site in front of Swasthya Bhaban earlier in the day. However, even after the delegation arrived at the CM’s residence on a bus, talks didn’t start, as they were still demanding live streaming the meeting. After waiting outside the CM’s residence in the rain, the representatives returned without meeting, after the govt rejected their demands of live streaming or video recording by their videographer.

On 12 September 12, the protesting doctors didn’t attend a meeting with the CM after the state govt rejected their demand of live streaming the meeting. After that, Mamata Banerjee accused the protesting medics of launching the protest to grab power, not for justice. She said that if they wanted justice, she would resign from her post.

As the stalemate continued, Mamata Banerjee visited them at Swasthya Bhaban on Saturday where they are protesting with several demands over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. She invited a delegation to her residence, and accordingly, the representatives of the protesting doctors arrived in the evening. But as they learnt that the meeting won’t be live streamed, they refused to enter the premises, waiting outside amid rains.

After around two hours, Mamata Banerjee came out and requested them to join the meeting. She claimed that live streaming the meeting is not possible as the matter is sub judice. She also rejected the demand of the doctors for video recording the meeting by their videographer, saying that CM’s office would record it.

She assured that the recording of the meeting will be given to them later, but the doctors didn’t relent. She said that first the minutes of the meeting will be given, and later the video will be given. She also asked why they came if they didn’t want to attend the meeting, as it was already said that live streaming will not be possible.

She said, “You all have been standing in the rain for 2 hours, I am waiting for you all. There is a case going on in the Supreme Court, so we cannot do live streaming. I assure you that whatever recording will be done, it will be given to you. Accept my request and join the meeting. If you people do not want to come to the meeting, then go inside and have tea… We will prepare the minutes of the meeting and give it to you. The recording will be given later. If you people did not want to attend the meeting, then why did you come? Why are you insulting like this? This is not the first time. I have said earlier also that the recording cannot be given today… It is not possible to accept all your demands…”

She told the doctors standing in the rain, ‘Why are you getting wet in the rain? I am also getting wet standing for you. My Chief Secretary, my DG, Police we are all waiting. I gave you umbrellas so that you don’t get wet. And separate arrangements are made for you to sit.’

She then asked them to come inside and have tea at least, even if they didn’t want to talk.

The CM also said that while 15 delegates were to visit her residence, there were over 40 delegates. She said, “15 of you were supposed to come. 40 of you have come. Can one person’s house seat 40 people?”

Notably, doctors had demanded a 30-member delegation, but the state govt only allowed 15.

On the other hand, the junior doctors asserted that they have not withdrawn their five-point demand, which includes live streaming the meeting to maintain transparency. Talking to reporters under rain, they said that for the sake of transparency, they wanted live streaming of the meeting. But when the security told them that live streaming is not possible as it is the residence of CM, they demanded that the meeting be recorded by their own videographer.

The officials rejected that demand also, saying the meeting will be recorded by official videographers and the video would be given to them later. To this, the protestors demanded that one of their representatives should be present during entire recording and production of the video, so that any doubt of manipulation can be avoided. But the officials denied that request also.

As a result, they refused to go inside the CM residence for the meeting, and at last after waiting for over three hours, they left the CM’s residence. The delegation arrived at around 6 PM, and left at around 9.30 PM. As a result, the proposed talk with them failed for the second time.

Over 11 lakh candidates to appear for Assam Direct Recruitment Examination on Sunday, several measures including temporary suspension of mobile internet announced

OpIndia Staff
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Over 11 lakh candidates to appear for Assam Direct Recruitment Examination on Sunday, several measures including temporary suspension of mobile internet announced

In one of the largest ever recruitment examination conducted in Assam, over 11 lakh candidates are appearing for Assam Direct Recruitment Examination (ADRE) to be held on Sunday, 15th September. The written examination for HSSLC level Class-III posts is being held by the State Level Recruitment Commission. To ensure a fair examination, the state government has announced several measures, including shutting down mobile internet during the exam hours.

A whopping 11,23,204 number of candidates are appearing for the examination in as many as 2305 examination centres spread across the state of Assam. With a view to hold the examination in a free, fair and transparent manner and to select the best candidates purely on merit, the Government of Assam has made elaborate arrangements for the examination.

A notification issued by the commission said that Mobile internet/Mobile data/Mobile Wi-Fi connectivity will be disabled in the entire state on 15th September 2024 from 10.00 AM to 1.30 PM. “All are requested to bear with the inconvenience in the interest of holding a free, fair and transparent recruitment examination and thereby securing the future of the youths of the State,” the notification said.

It added that the mobile internet will be disabled to ensure that there remains no loopholes in the examination process which might have the potential to create doubt in the public mind on the fairness of the recruitment process.

The state govt said that it has been observed on many such earlier occasions in Assam as well as in other States that some unscrupulous elements resort to unfair means using different Mobile Applications such as Facebook, WhatsApp, X(Twitter), Telegram and YouTube etc, which are based on internet/Wi-Fi connectivity.

However, voice calls and broadband internet connectivity based on fixed lines will remain functional.

The notification said, “There exists a substantial apprehension that the anti-social elements or the organized groups shall try to take the advantage of the situation by resorting to rumour-mongering through social media and may try to destabilize the process of examination. Some even may try to sell fake question papers using different social media platforms. We fervently request the general public not to believe in such anti-social news and also not to fall prey to such fake news.”

The Home Ministry of the state have issued an order effecting the temporary shut down of mobile internet services. It said that there exists a substantial apprehension that the anti-social elements or the organised groups shall try to take the advantage of the situation by resorting to rumour-mongering through social media and may try to destabilise the process of examination.

The order stated, “Whereas, the Government of Assam has carefully examined the matter and have come to a conclusion that in the interest of holding free, fair and transparent public examination, it is prudent and expedient to plug all possible loopholes including by temporary disabling of Mobile Internet/ Mobile data/ Mobile Wi-fi Connectivity during examination hours on the day fixed for holding such written examination.”

It further added, “Therefore, in the interest of holding free, fair and transparent public examination and also to prevent arising of any law and order issues having bearing on public safety, I, Shri Ajay Tewari, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam, Home & Political Department, hereby promulgate this Notification under the provision of Section 5 (2) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 read with the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rule, 2017 to prohibit the Mobile Internet/ Mobile Data/ Mobile Wi-fi Service of All Mobile Service Providers in the entire state of Assam”.

The order added that the violation of restrictions will be punishable under Section 223 Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023 and also under the relevant provision of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1985.

The Assam Direct Recruitment Examination (ADRE) 2024 will be held on multiple dates for different grades. The exams for Grade 3 positions are scheduled for September 15th, 22nd, and 29th, while the exams for Grade 4 posts will take place on October 20th and 27th. The single-shift examination will be held from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm at exam centres across the state.

The Assam Administrative Staff College has announced a total of 12,600 vacancies for these positions, with 7,600 vacancies allocated for Grade 3 posts and 5,000 for Grade 4 posts.

Admit cards for the exam has been made available online. The Commission has announced several restrictions and important points to be followed by the candidates and the general public. Phones, calculators, smartwatches, health bands, Bluetooth devices, and any other kind of electronic devices will not be allowed. All candidates must undergo frisking before entering the exam centre.

People other than candidates can’t enter within 100 metres of the exam centres. Restrictions under section 163 of BNS will be imposed within 100 metres of the centres. Out of 2305 centres, 439 have been sensitive, and additional police forces have been deployed at those places.

Earlier, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma reminded that the candidates as per a new law on exams passed by the Assam assembly, there will be severe repercussions for using unfair means in the exam, which includes fines, jail, and even seizure of property.  

There will be negative marking for wrong answers as well as for selecting more than one option. Therefore, candidates have been advised to be careful while marking on the OMR answer sheets.

Indian Railways have announced several special trains to facilitate the movement of candidates appearing in the exam.

Tamil Nadu: Over 100 people, including children, fall sick after eating chicken biryani at a DMK event months after hooch tragedy claimed 65 lives

OpIndia Staff
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Tamil Nadu: Over 100 people, including children, fall sick after eating chicken biryani at a DMK event months after hooch tragedy claimed 65 lives

More than 100 people, including 40 children, fell sick after eating chicken biryani served at an event organised by Tamil Nadu’s ruling party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Friday (13th September). Later, it came to light that the DMK party workers had lured people to the party event by giving them food tokens. However, when the attendees and their children consumed the chicken biryani served at the event, they started vomiting, and nauseating. Subsequently, they were rushed to the Villur Primary Healthcare Centre, where they are currently undergoing treatment. 

As per reports, on Friday, the members of the DMK party held a general membership meeting and a welfare distribution ceremony at Villur in Kallikkudi taluk in Madurai district. The meeting was presided over by Madurai South District Secretary Manimaran. 

To lure people to the party event, the DMK workers distributed more than a thousand food tokens a day before the event. They also made arrangements to provide chicken biryani to all the participants in the meeting. 

After the meeting concluded, the DMK workers gave the attendees a silver plate and a parcel of chicken biryani in a plastic container. Some of the attendees also took it home and shared it with their family members. 

After consuming the chicken biryani, more than a hundred people reported symptoms of vomiting and nausea at around eight o’clock in the evening. These included children in the age range of 3 to 14 years. 

When the number of patients started increasing, around 10 ambulances were called in to transport them to the healthcare centres in Virudhunagar and Kallikudi. 

According to hospital sources, the patients consumed stale food which led to food poisoning. 

Following the incident, Thirumangalam Police initiated an investigation into this matter. Further probe is underway in this case. 

The tragic development comes months after 65 people died in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi Hooch tragedy. Incidentally, on 18th June 2024, a hooch tragedy occurred in Karunapuram hamlet in Tamil Nadu’s Kallakurichi district, resulting in at least 65 deaths and 118 hospitalisations.

Thailand: Pakistani national sexually assaults niece of exiled activist Faraz Pervaiz, victim fears that accused may have been motivated by bounty of $20000

Dibakar Dutta
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Thailand: Pakistani national sexually assaults niece of exiled activist Faraz Pervaiz, victim fears that accused may have been motivated by bounty of $20000

Pakistani Christian activist Faraz Pervaiz, who has been living in exile in Thailand since 2014, reached out to OpIndia after his differently-abled niece was sexually assaulted by a fellow Pakistani on 18th August this year.

According to Faraz, a Pakistani national named Samuel Sohan broke into the Bangkok apartment of his sister-in-law Noreen and began inquiring about his whereabouts and that of his father Pervaiz Roshan.

Samuel threatened to kill her if she did not divulge details about the father-son duo. As per the police report, he was then connected to Faraz Pervaiz over the phone which ultimately led to a heated argument.

Accused Samuel Sohan, images provided by Faraz Pervaiz

Although the accused left the scene, he threatened to return and kill the family. Samuel indeed returned to Noreen’s house when she was not at her residence.

While taking advantage of the situation, he sexually assaulted her 14-year-old daughter (and niece of Faraz Pervaiz) who suffers from cerebral palsy. OpIndia was been able to obtain a copy of the police report, which was filed on 23rd August 2024.

“There was kissing and holding genitals, attempted to rape Mary (name changed), called for help and Mr. Samuel Sohon ran from the room where the crime occurred and fled,” a loose English translation of the Thai report stated.

Car used by Samuel Sohan to reach the house of the victim, image provided by Faraz Pervaiz

While speaking to OpIndia, Faraz Pervaiz confirmed that the accused Samuel Sohan is still at large. The local police have advised him and his family to relocate.

“Given the severity of the threats and the ongoing danger, I believe that my life and that of my family is at imminent risk. I am unable to return to my country of origin due to persecution by state and non-state actors over blasphemy accusations,” he said during a telephonic conversation.

Coincidentally, a Debonadi organisation named ‘Allama Muhammad Rashid Madni Hamadi Jamia Darul Uloom Hamadiya’ announced a $20,000 reward to behead the Christian activist in July this year.

The radical Islamic outfit had accused Faraz Pervaiz of committing blasphemy by supposedly producing pictures and sketches of Prophet Muhammad. 

Jamia Darul Uloom had even appealed to Muslims to travel to Thailand and avenge the alleged insult to Prophet Mohammed by Faraz Pervaiz.

It remains unclear whether Samuel Sohan was inspired to attack Faraz Pervaiz and his family in the hopes of securing the $20000 reward.

Life as a refugee in Thailand

In May this year, OpIndia reported in detail about Faraz Pervaiz and how he had to flee Pakistan in 2014.

Despite staying away in far-flung Thailand, death threats from radical Islamists continued to haunt him.

In 2017, an attempt was made to implicate the Christian activist in a false blasphemy case. A year later, a reward of 10 million PKR (~USD 36090) was announced by Jama’at-ud-Da’wah (JuD) “for a Muslim who will kill Mr. Pervaiz”.

Doxxing and threats to murder Pervaiz family in Thailand followed in the years 2019, 2020 and 2021.

“Revenge has no age, time or boundaries. It provocates immediately and its consequences are entirely dangerous,” Faraz said, adding that his family continue to live in fear.

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