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Malayalam Film Industry Sex Scandal: Kerala police files rape case against actor and CPI(M) MLA M Mukesh; 17 cases filed after release of Hema Committee report

OpIndia Staff
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Malayalam Film Industry Sex Scandal: Kerala police files rape case against actor and CPI(M) MLA M Mukesh; 17 cases filed after release of Hema Committee report

On Thursday, 29th August, the Kerala Police registered a case of rape against actor and Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA M Mukesh following a complaint from a fellow female actor. The incident allegedly took place in 2013. The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was established by the Kerala government to look into sexual assault charges related to Malayalam Film Industry, recorded the actress’s testimony at her Aluva flat on 28th August.

The case was registered by the Marad police. He is booked for rape and “use of criminal force against women with intent to outrage her modesty” among other non-bailable offences.

The development transpired in the wake of the Justice Hema Committee report which highlighted the sexual assault and harassment of women in the Malayalam film industry. The actor-turned-politician, who is a two-time legislator from the Kollam Assembly seat, has refrained from attending public events and responding to any comments since the scandal broke out and shook the entire film industry. However, he demanded an impartial investigation into the accusations made against him and other film personalities in a Facebook post on 27th August.

“They had tried to blackmail me by demanding money. I am not ready to yield to such blackmail tactics. Truth should come out. I would initiate strong legal action against such persons,” Mukesh claimed while reacting to the allegations against him. Sections 376(1) which addresses rape, 452 (house trespass with the intent to hurt or assault someone), 509 (intend to insult a woman’s modesty by using words, gestures, or acts) and 354 (assault or use of criminal force against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code are the charges included in the case against Mukesh.

The opposition and some of Mukesh’s own party members are putting pressure on him to resign which has further escalated the matter. Annie Raja, the general secretary of the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) and a leader of the CPI, called for the actor’s resignation, emphasising that Mukesh is no longer morally qualified to serve as an MLA. “Now with a case being registered against him, he no longer has the moral or legal standing to continue in that post. He should resign from his post as MLA. It will also affect the image of the state government. The Left Front is pro-women,” Annie Raja said.

Ministers from the CPM and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) administration, however, have insisted that no action will be taken based just on the charges, but rather on the investigation’s findings. According to a close aide of Mukesh, the party has not asked him to vacate his position. Mukesh reportedly met with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Thiruvananthapuram.

Meanwhile, on 29th August, LDF chairperson E P Jayarajan asked two Congressmen who were accused of sexual violation to step down in response to the call for Mukesh’s resignation. “Had they resigned, then the third MLA (Mukesh) too would have to resign. The law applies equally to all legislators. By asking for Mukesh’s resignation, you are protecting the other two,” he alleged.

The Hema Committee report, which exposed startling information regarding the pervasive sexual abuse against women in Malayalam cinema, was released a few days prior to the claims made against the seasoned actor. The actress, who accused Mukesh of sexually abusing her, revealed that he had attacked her in a Kochi hotel while promising to offer her acting roles. The actress added that Mukesh had raped her after forcing his way into her hotel room.

The police have also charged four more actors including Jayasurya, Maniyanpilla Raju, and Edavela Babu, in relation to the same actress’ accusations. “I am writing to report a series of incidents of physical and verbal abuse I suffered at the hands of Mukesh, Maniyanpilla Raju, Idavela Babu, Jayasurya, Advocate Chandrasekharan, production controller Noble and Vichu,” she disclosed and further narrated, “Once, as I was coming out from the toilet, Jayasurya hugged me from behind and even kissed me forcefully. After that, Idavela Babu expressed his interest in a sexual relationship with me.”

The actress said that the sexual and physical abuse had caused her to leave the Malayalam film industry and relocate to Chennai.

The cantonment police have opened a case against famous actor Jayasurya on allegations about him violating the woman’s modesty. Moreover, film production controller Noble, and leader of the pro-Congress lawyers association, V S Chandrasekharan has also been accused of sexual assault. All five of the accused were included in the seven names that the actress included in the numerous petitions that she filed with the SIT led by DIG Ajeetha Begum, to probe the cases of sexual harassment on 27th August.

Notably, the authorities also filed cases against veteran actor Siddique and director Ranjith after allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour emerged against them. An actress who accused Siddique shared that he summoned her to his room at the Mascot Hotel, where he sexually assaulted her in the name of a film discussion. “He sexually abused me in that hotel. It was a trap. Whatever he is saying now is completely false,” she added.

The First Information Report was filed under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) at Thiruvananthapuram city police limits. Siddique also lodged a complaint with the Director General of Police (DGP), alleging that the accusations were a vile attempt to damage his reputation. He claimed to be innocent and asserted that he had only ever met the actress once in 2016 when her parents were present.

“The reputation of the entire Malayalam film industry is being deliberately tarnished by a group of people and it is essential that the persons behind this criminal conspiracy are brought to light. I request you to take effective action in this matter to bring out the truth and the perpetrators behind the criminal conspiracy of fabricating and publishing false and scandalous allegations,” Siddique further charged.

Ranjith had been forced to resign as chairman of the state organization Kerala Chalachitra Academy, while Siddique had been forced to resign as general secretary of the actors’ organization Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA). The Association of Malayalam Movies Artistes (AMMA) also resigned on 27th August along with its president popular actor Mohanlal, and the other 17 members of the executive committee including Siddique and Edavela Babu. Seventeen cases have been filed against Malayalam actors and directors after a number of women came forward with allegations following the publication of the Hema Committee report.

Mamata Banerjee will close the path to North East India by shutting down the Siliguri Corridor by 2026, says BJP MP Saumitra Khan

ANI
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Mamata Banerjee will close the path to North East India by shutting down the Siliguri Corridor by 2026, says BJP MP Saumitra Khan

In a big allegation, BJP MP and West Bengal BJP Vice President Saumitra Khan on Thursday claimed that Mamata Banerjee might block the ‘Siliguri’s Chicken Neck Corridor’ that connects north-eastern states to the rest of India if she comes in power again in 2026.

Claiming that she might accommodate terrorists and criminals for her politics, Khan further urged the top courts and the government of India to take cognisance in this regard.

Reacting to the West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s remarks, West Bengal BJP Vice President Saumitra Khan said, “I live in West Bengal and I fear that Mamata Banerjee will close the path to North East India by shutting down the (Chickens’) neck of India in the Siliguri portion by 2026 if the Government of India does not pay attention to it. She can do anything for politics. She will accommodate terrorists and criminals there for her politics. The Courts and the Indian government should see to this otherwise India would be in danger.”

On Himanta Biswa Sarma’s tweet against WB CM Mamata Banerjee’s remarks, Khan said, “Assam is a developing state. After Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma came to power, the people of Assam were getting work in Assam, at their homes. Employment is increasing and industries are established. On the other hand, Mamata Banerjee is destroying Bengal. I also think that she is connected to foreign powers.”

Earlier on Wednesday, while speaking at a public function in Kolkata, in response to BJP’s 12-hour long ‘Bengal Bandh’ call, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is using his party to cause a fire in Bengal over the Kolkata woman doctor rape and murder incident and warned that If you burn Bengal, other states including Assam, North-East, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and Delhi too shall burn and your chair will be toppled.

“Some people think this is Bangladesh. I love Bangladesh; they speak like us and share our culture. But remember, Bangladesh is a separate country, and India is a separate country. Modi Babu is using his party to cause fire here. If you burn Bengal, Assam, North-East, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Delhi too shall burn! We will topple your chair,” Mamata Banerjee said.

In a post on X, the Assam Chief Minister also targeted CM Mamata and said, “Didi, how dare you threaten Assam? Don’t show us red eyes. Don’t even try to burn India with your politics of failure. It does not suit you to speak divisive language.”

Speaking on a delegation visit to NHRC that includes BJP leaders, Khan said, “Senior Supreme Court lawyers are going to the NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) regarding the RG Kar issue. I will also go because those involved in the RG Kar hospital incident should be arrested immediately. We are going (to the NHRC) against the police lathi-charge on the protestors.”

Earlier in the day, citing the ‘Nabbana Abhijan’ rally and its aftermath, Saumitra Khan said that a group of concerned citizens will call upon the chairperson of the National Human Right Commission to submit a representation on the events that took place on August 27 and 28, which he said are a blatant violation of human rights.

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

Israeli forces kill 5 Palestinian terrorists, including local terror leader, hiding inside a Mosque in the West Bank

OpIndia Staff
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Israeli forces kill 5 Palestinian terrorists, including local terror leader, hiding inside a Mosque in the West Bank

On the intervening night of August 28 and 29, Israeli forces killed five Palestinian terrorists who were hiding in a mosque in the West Bank city of Tulkarem as per reports. The dead terrorists included a local terror leader, the IDF, police and Shin Bet say.

Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) had launched a large-scale operation in the city of Tulkarem on August 28. Along with that, reportedly, troops are also operating in the city of Jenin and the Far’a camp near Tubas as part of the operation. A day earlier, Palestinian media had reported that 11 Palestinians have been killed during the ongoing IDF operation, means the toll has now risen to 16 after neutralisation of these 5 terrorists.

In the West Bank city of Tulkarem, troops of Israel Border Police’s elite Yamam counter-terrorism unit battled a group of terrorists who had been holed up in a mosque, following intelligence of their whereabouts provided by the Shin Bet, the joint statement by Israel Security Forces says.

Reportedly, among the dead is Muhammad Jaber, known as Abu Shuja’a, who had been previously reported by Palestinian media to be the commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s local wing.

The Shin Bet says that Mohammed Jaber was involved in planning and directing many terror attacks, including the killing of Amnon Muchtar in a terror attack in Qalqilya in June. One of the terrorists was also arrested in the operation.

If Siddaramaiah’s power is curtailed, it won’t be long before people storm into PM Modi’s house, just like in Bangladesh: Karnataka Congress MLA GS Patil

OpIndia Staff
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If Siddaramaiah’s power is curtailed, it won’t be long before people storm into PM Modi’s house, just like in Bangladesh: Karnataka Congress MLA GS Patil

Dreams of imitating the violence in Bangladesh to undemocratically topple Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been plaguing the Congress and its allies since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed. Now, the same has been voiced by Karnataka Congress leader and Ron MLA GS Patil who declared that agitation akin to those in Bangladesh will erupt in India if Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s powers are curtailed. The controversial statements were made during a protest organized by the Taluk Ahinda Union in Gajendragad. “The day is not far when people will storm Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, similar to what happened in Bangladesh,” he threatened.

The MLA claimed that the Modi administration is attempting to undermine the Karnataka government headed by the Congress party via the governor. He charged that the interests of capitalists were given precedence over those of the general public by the central government and claimed that Siddaramaiah’s administration was pro-people. “Siddaramaiah is implementing schemes that support the development of all communities in the state.”

He further accused that the Governor had previously refused to authorize prosecution against Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) leaders despite chargesheets against them, but had now permitted Siddaramaiah’s prosecution based on one activist’s complaint. He also slammed BJP leadership and accused PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah of taking the country down a perilous path and accused them of causing political unrest in the nation.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders reacted strongly to his statement. Party’s Vijayapura Lok Sabha MP Ramesh Jigajinagi condemned his comments. He criticized the intelligence and comprehension of Congress leaders and charged them with deceiving the public. He argued that the Congress administration has failed to contribute to the state’s growth. Furthermore, he made fun of GS Patil’s assertion, noting that the Congress party’s leadership was disconnected from the practicalities of governance.

Notably, a few days prior Ivan D’Souza, a Congress MLC from the state threatened Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot of encountering a “Bangladesh-like fate” if he refused to revoke his directive for an investigation into Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. He announced, “If the President fails to send the Governor back, the Governor’s office will encounter a predicament similar to the one faced by Bangladesh’s prime minister, who was forced to vacate her position abruptly during the night. Our next fight will be with the slogan Chalo Governor’s office,” during a demonstration organised by his party.

On 17th August, Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot authorized and sanctioned an investigation against Siddaramaiah about the anomalies in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority’s (MUDA) allocation of substitute locations. Siddaramaiah responded by contesting the Governor’s decree at the Karnataka High Court. The trial court was ordered by the High Court to hold off on taking any further action against the Chief Minister until the 29th August hearing.

Rutgers University publishes report co-chaired by Audrey Truschke claiming caste discrimination a pervasive issue on campus, gives no evidence, cites unrelated examples

Anurag
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Rutgers University publishes report co-chaired by Audrey Truschke claiming caste discrimination a pervasive issue on campus, gives no evidence, cites unrelated examples

In August 2024, a task force at Rutgers University released a “Caste Report,” which they wanted to push forward to include “caste” as a new protected category under the university’s discrimination policy. The Rutgers Caste Report was co-chaired by Audrey Truschke – a leading anti-Hindu propagandist masquerading as a professor of history at this very university. Truschke has a long history of whitewashing heinous crimes committed by the Mughals against Indians, especially Aurangzeb.

Source: X

The task force said that discrimination based on caste is widespread on campus. It recommended a number of educational and policy measures that, presumably, would resolve the issue. However, the report supported these conclusions with a limited set of anecdotal testimonies. It has had no substantial evidence and has raised serious concerns over the objectivity and motivations behind the recommendations.

Its claims were based on the principle of caste-based discrimination on campus. “The Task Force Report claimed that the so-called caste discrimination is a significant problem at Rutgers and it is impacting students, faculty and staff.” The discrimination is preventing good students, faculty members, and staff from contributing to it and availing opportunities because of its hostile environment says the report by the task force.

Prevalence of Caste-Based Discrimination

It said that the report was of the view that discrimination based on caste is a pervasive issue at Rutgers. It maintained that such discrimination has devastating consequences for people coming from caste-oppressed backgrounds. Various testimonies were cited, such as a student mentioning his identity as Brahmin during a class, a housing situation in which the Dalit student faced discrimination because of caste. However, these testimonies were anecdotal and did not make up a representative sample from the campus population. The report itself acknowledged that an undue lack of systematic data on caste-based discrimination existed. It said, however, “that these personal stories do justify comprehensive policy changes.”

Recommendations for Policy Changes

With less-than-substantial evidence of caste-based discrimination at Rutgers to go on, the task force urged that caste be added to the university’s non-discrimination policy. Rutgers Caste Report further recommended that the university spread awareness on caste-related issues and conduct large-scale data collection of incidents related to caste discrimination. The report contended that these recommendations of the task force will help in maintaining inclusiveness at the campus and looking into issues that any form of caste-based discrimination does not get unnoticed on the campus of the University.

Absence of Evidence and Systematic Data

It should be stressed that even the report has admitted that there is an absence of systematic data on its claims of caste-based discrimination at Rutgers University’s campus. According to the report, the Office of Employment Equity reviewed no complaints on specific caste discrimination at the campus.

The fact that the Task Force has to confess that there is a lack of documented evidence of any type of caste-based discrimination at any level on the campus itself is indicative of the fact. However, the report still insisted that caste-based discrimination is a “problem” at the campus and recommended further data collection. It essentially called for policy changes based on unverifiable and limited anecdotes. By pushing for policy changes without substantial evidence has raised concerns if the issue of caste is being manufactured or exaggerated to serve specific ideological ends.

The report read, “At Rutgers, the Office of Employment Equity (OEE) enforces the Policy Prohibiting Discrimination and Harassment, 60.1.12, which this Task Force recommends be expanded to include caste as a protected category. A review of OEE’s records showed no complaints that pertained to caste specifically. This absence of data is inconsistent with the “Testimonies about Casteism and Caste-Based Discrimination at Rutgers.” This underscores the report’s recommendations to enhance Rutgers policies against caste-based discrimination and provide education to all members of the Rutgers community on the harms of casteism.”

Questionable Testimonies and Examples

For any study to become substantial and trustworthy, the data should be verifiable and if there are testimonies they should be clear enough with proof to support the claims. However, in this case, the anecdotes used in the report are questionable and often unrelated to the institutional discrimination

For example, one of the stories mentioned in the report involved a student discussing his family’s caste-based marriage preferences. It is unclear how it affects the students or anyone on the campus as it is just a discussion and every family or individual has his or her own preferences. Claiming that this leads to caste-based discrimination on the campus is overstretching and exaggerating the matter for vested interests.

Another story involved a Dalit student being advised by her family not to reveal her caste to anyone on the campus. This is an unnecessary fear being rooted by elders of the family into the children. The student in question here was going to study at a university in the US where caste-based discrimination is mostly not heard of until recently when the CISCO Caste Case made the headlines and it became the baseline to import the caste system to the US from India and create a non-existence fear of it. 

These examples in no way demonstrated systematic discrimination at the campus or provided a basis for altering the policies at the university. The testimonies reflect individual social tensions rather than institutional biases.

Potential Ideological Bias

The Rutgers Caste Report was co-chaired by Audrey Truschke who has a history of anti-Hindu sentiments. It raised questions about the objectivity of the findings. Truschke has a history of portraying Hindu culture and texts negatively and aligning herself with groups that have been accused of propagating Hinduphobia. Her involvement in the task force suggests that there is a potential bias in framing the issue of caste discrimination at the campus.

Notably, Truschke has frequently distorted facts to fit her ideological narratives. She often positions Hinduism in a negative light. Her role in the task force and the continued push for caste to be a protected category despite the lack of data raises questions about the motivation behind the report. It appears that she will use this report as a vehicle to promote a specific narrative that aligns with her previously documented biases against the Hindu community.

SB403: A failed precursor to the Rutgers Report

For the unaware, the Rutgers Caste Report by the task force closely follows the narrative of California’s SB403 legislation that sought to add caste as a protected category under state civil rights laws. SB403 was introduced in early 2023 and gained support from several activist groups. However, it faced severe criticism due to a weak evidentiary basis, which was the Cisco Caste case.

The Cisco Caste case was a lawsuit where two engineers were accused of caste discrimination against a Dalit colleague. However, this case was later withdrawn because of lack of evidence. In effect, serious criticism walloped the Californian Department of Fair Employment and Housing for filing a case without concrete evidence. The outcome of the case exposed the lack of credible evidence supporting the claim that caste-based discrimination is widespread in the US companies where Indians are employed.

Notably, California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed SB403. He stated that the existing laws were enough to cover all forms of discrimination including caste under broader categories like race, religion and national origin. The failure of SB403, however, did not deter the activists and it appears that they continued to find ways to set the narrative that caste discrimination is widespread in the US. This time, they used the Rutgers campus to propagate the agenda and to set a base for the policy change at university campuses.

Ola Electric unveils made-in-India 4680 ‘Bharat Cell’: CEO Bhavish Aggarwal says he hopes to lower EV costs and increase India’s battery production capacity

OpIndia Staff
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Ola Electric unveils made-in-India 4680 ‘Bharat Cell’: CEO Bhavish Aggarwal says he hopes to lower EV costs and increase India’s battery production capacity

“The smallest unit of a big leap. The Bharat Cell, now made in India,” OLA Electric posted on its official X (earlier Twitter) handle on 27th August giving a sneak peek into the indigenous Bharat Cell created by the company. Reportedly, it is a state-of-the-art 4680 lithium-ion cell that was fully developed and designed in India.

The move aligns with the country’s larger goals of leading the world in electric mobility and furthering the campaign for battery production to become more self-sufficient. The 4680 Bharat Battery Cell was launched on 15th August during Ola’s Sankalp annual flagship event to expedite the country’s electric vehicle (EV).

The “Bharat” cell seeks to develop Ola Electric’s and the Indian EV industry’s technological capabilities. “We didn’t import the tech, we built it ourselves,” stated Bhavish Aggarwal, the founder of Ola Electric, underscoring the company’s dedication to innovation. The Bharat cell, which has received over 70 patents as per OLA, aims to provide five times the energy density of the 2170 cells currently utilized in Ola’s electric scooters.

Furthermore, Ola Electric is gearing up to launch its electric motorcycle line into the Indian motorbike market. Aggarwal noted that motorcycles make up over two-thirds of all automobile sales in India, highlighting the strategic value of the move.

Ola Electric wants to establish itself as a leader in the sector by capturing a significant portion of the growing EV market with its entry into this category. Aggarwal’s statement is in tune with the Indian government’s desire for indigenous manufacturing and technological independence, especially in the expanding EV market. Agarwal stated that the Bharat Cell will work to reduce the dependency on imported battery technology while promoting indigenous innovation. Ola Electric’s popular S1 and S1 Pro models have helped the company establish a solid presence in the electric scooter market.

‘A new era for EV revolution and indigenous technology’, claims OLA

The “Bharat Cell” is reportedly a significant advancement in technology over earlier battery designs. Compared to the 2170 cells now in use, the battery has five times higher energy density because of its 4680 shape. Longer EV ranges are a result of this higher energy density, which is essential for the widespread adoption of electric mobility in a nation the size of India. Additionally, the cell offers reduced charging times, which solves a major issue for EV users, the convenience of charging. Ola claims that the cell lowers production costs by utilizing less cobalt.

The Bharat Cell is produced at Ola’s gigafactory in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu. Aggarwal hopes to enhance this factory’s capability to 20 gigawatt hours (GWh) capacity by 2026, and 100 GWh by 2030.

‘EVs 25-30% cheaper with Bharat Cell’, says Bhavish Aggarwal

Aggarwal stated that the company wants to cut the cost of its electric vehicles by 25–30% by producing its own 4680 Bharat battery lithium-ion cell. “The cell is the costliest component of an eV. It’s the heart of an EV. In the ice era, the position that an engine had an engine one is automotive company engine guardian. Similarly, in the EV era, that’s the cell. Because the cell defines the weight, it defines the range, it defines the charging speed. The charging speed is not a function of the charger. It’s the function of the cell. So all these things of your vehicle depend on the cell and if we make our own, we will be able to make it about 25-30% cheaper,” he conveyed during Business Today’s summit on 20th August.

Aggarwal estimates that 90% of the world’s production capacity, or 2,000 GWh, is located in China. “India has one and a half gigawatt, that is mine. I hope to set up about 100 gigawatt hour through the course of this decade,” he added. “When we set up our cell effort four years back, when we started Ola electric, that’s when we set up our cell effort, we decided that we would build the frontier technology in cell not just the current. We will not license technology from China or elsewhere. We will not just use some old generation of technology, but we will build what, four years ago we felt was the frontier tech, and that was the 4680 format. It’s much bigger, more energy-dense and much less to charge. And then from here on, we can go into solid state cells which are the holy grail of energy storage in the modern world,” he shared during the event.

Karnataka: Order to remove electric poles with Dhanush, Gada designs on SDPI’s demand revoked after outrage by Hindus. Read what happened

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: Order to remove electric poles with Dhanush, Gada designs on SDPI’s demand revoked after outrage by Hindus. Read what happened

On 28th August, Wednesday, the Koppal district Tehsildar ordered the removal of decorative electric lamps on the streets of Gangavathi taluka, which is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. The electric lamps on the streets of the city portrayed ‘Gada’ and ‘Dhanush’ like ornamental structures, to symbolise the weapons carried by Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman.

Tehsildar U. Nagaraj also ordered to register a police case against Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Corporation (KRIDL) for allegedly hurting religious sentiments by portraying “Hindu religious symbols” on public lamps.

The action was taken after the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), which is the political wing of the banned Islamist terrorist organization Popular Front of India (PFI) raised objections over the lamps and stated that these were allegedly hurting their religious sentiments. However, later the order was revoked on the verbal order of the District Collector.

These poles are notably installed on the road between the Rana Pratap Circle and Julia Nagar in the Gangavathi region for beautification. The official notification by the tehsildar stated that these poles could disturb the religious harmony in the city. “Since there are possibilities of disturbing public peace in the city, the poles should be immediately cleared. File a case against the KIRDL engineers for carrying out this work and take appropriate action,” the official notification read in Kannada.

It is important to note that Anjanadri Hills in Gangavathi (Koppal district) is celebrated as the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. Earlier, BJP’s Janardan Reddy had demanded the development of Anjanadri hills on similar lines to Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama in Uttar Pradesh. He had also demanded the release of Rs 120 crores from the state funds for the development of the area, which is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman.

Local reports say that the electric poles portraying symbols of arrows and ‘gada’ have been installed to instil religious motivation in the minds of devotees who travel on the path while on their way to the Anjanadri Hills. During the installation, it was also made clear that the act was being executed with no other communal intention. Attempts are made to beautify the birthplace of Lord Hanuman on the models of Ayodhya and Tirupati, and the decorative electric poles were part of that effort.

However, the Tehsildar asked removal of the lamps citing communal disharmony after protests by SDPI. Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), which is the political wing of the banned Islamist terrorist organization Popular Front of India (PFI), raised objections over the lamps and stated that these were allegedly hurting their religious sentiments. “The electric poles contain religious symbols that might disturb communal harmony in Gangavati,” the SDPI had stated in the official notification on 21st August appealing to the Gangavati Municipal Assembly Commissioner for clarification.

The SDPI also claimed that these Hindu religious symbols on the electric poles threatened the society’s peace.

However, after the outrage over the Tehsildar’s order to remove the poles and police action against authorities, the District Collector issued a verbal order to revoke the order.

On 28 August, Tehsildar U. Nagaraj issued another notification, saying that no electric poles will be removed and no case will be filed against the police. The Tehsildar added that the earlier order is being withdrawn. The new notification said, “As this matter falls under the purview of the municipal council, a proposal was made in the general meeting, the matter was presented and approved, and the background order was made without my notice. The order has been withdrawn.” 

The Tehsildar asked the police to dispose of the case at this stage. The police have been directed not to register any FIR against the officials concerned and not to take any action to remove the electric poles.

It is crucial to note that the poles have been installed on the streets of Gangavathi leading to Anjanadri Hills. The route lasts 12km. Local reports suggest that these religious symbols have been installed just to encourage the devotees walking on their way to Anjanadri Hills to worship Lord Hanuman.

Note: This report has been updated with latest developments in the matter

Paris: Telegram boss Pavel Durov released on bail bond of $5.5 million, asked not to leave France and report to a police station twice a week

ANI
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Paris: Telegram boss Pavel Durov released on bail bond of $5.5 million, asked not to leave France and report to a police station twice a week

Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, is under formal investigation related to illicit activities on the messaging app. French authorities have also prohibited him from leaving the country, CNN reported.

Notably, Pavel Durov, who had an arrest warrant issued against him, was detained by the French authorities at an airport outside Paris, CNN had earlier reported.

Officers from France’s anti-fraud office, attached to French customs, took the French-Russian billionaire into custody on Saturday evening after he arrived at Bourget Airport on a flight from Azerbaijan, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV.

Durov was wanted under a French arrest warrant due to the lack of moderation on Telegram, which allegedly led to the platform being used for money laundering, drug trafficking and sharing pedophilic content.

Earlier in the day, Durov was released from police custody in France and was transferred to court for questioning, CNN reported.

Laure Beccuau, the Paris prosecutor, said in a statement that Durov had been ordered to pay bail of USD 5.5 million, and was released but must check in at a police station twice a week, according to The New York Times.

Beccuau also asserted that Telegram has featured in several criminal cases in France in connection with child sexual abuse, drug trafficking and online hate crimes, but has shown a “near-total absence” of replies to requests for cooperation from prosecutors.

Prosecutors around France, along with legal authorities in Belgium and other European countries, “have shared the same observation,” Beccuau said, leading organised crime prosecutors to open a probe in February on the “potential criminal liability of executives at this messaging platform,” The New York Times reported.

Beccuau further said that if Durov is convicted, he could face up to 10 years in jail.

Durov is being probed for several suspected offences related to criminal activity on the messaging app, including complicity in illegal gang transactions, laundering of crimes in an organised gang, and refusal to communicate information to authorities, as per the French prosecutor’s statement, CNN reported.

Notably, France issued an arrest warrant for Durov on charges of complicity in drug trafficking, crimes against children and fraud due to the lack of moderation on Telegram and his failure to cooperate with law enforcement, the Moscow Times reported, citing French local media.

The Russian-born founder of Telegram, which he says boasts over 900 million users, is currently based in Dubai. He became a naturalised French citizen in August 2021.

Durov, who is also the founder of the VKontakte social network, left Russia in 2014 after he refused to share VKontakte users’ data with Russian security services. Later, Russia unsuccessfully attempted to block Telegram over its refusal to provide users’ online communications to security services. 


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

Bengaluru: Retired teacher dies after 10-12 stray dogs attack her during morning walk

OpIndia Staff
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Bengaluru: Retired teacher dies after 10-12 stray dogs attack her during morning walk

On Wednesday, August 28, a 76-year-old woman was mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs during a morning walk at the Jalahalli Air Force Campus in Bengaluru. The deceased was identified as Rajdulari Sinha, a retired teacher from Bihar.

According to reports, Sinha, mother-in-law of an airman had come to Bengaluru. She was out for a morning walk when 10-12 stray dogs suddenly attacked her in the playground at Air Force East 7th Residential Camp in Jalahalli around 6.30 am. She sustained multiple injuries and died on the way to the hospital.

A case of unnatural death has been registered at the Gangamma Gudi police station, according to a senior police officer.

Meanwhile, a social media user, who claimed to have witnessed the incident, took to X to narrate what transpired. “It’s a tragic scene in the morning itself. Dozens of stray dogs attack a lady. I shouted, and my family joined me until a gentleman comes the dogs attacked. Jalahalli Airforce playground, Vidyaranyapura. I am guilty that I couldn’t help her because of this wall.”

“I was the helpless eyewitness. Due to their big wall, I couldn’t save her. I shouted and called some people and they took her to hospital, but no use,” he said in another post.

Jalahalli police inspector Sidde Gowda was quoted by HT as saying, “Raj Dulhari Sinha, a retired teacher from Maharajganj in Sivan district, Bihar, was staying at her son-in-law, Airman Amit Kumar’s house. The attack happened about 200 metres from the house when a pack of 10-12 dogs attacked her, inflicting grievous injuries. She was immediately shifted to MS Ramaiah Hospital but she died during treatment. The autopsy has been conducted. We have registered a case of unnatural death, and the investigation is ongoing.”

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Zonal Commissioner Karee Gowda stated that this is the first incident of its kind in the Yelahanka zone. “Last year, there were 35 reported cases of dog bites in our zone; this year, so far, seven cases were reported. We regularly conduct anti-birth control measures for street dogs and will take extra precautions to protect the lives of people, including relocating stray dogs if necessary,” he said.

Stray dog attacks have become increasingly common. In fact, only on 27th August, Nayeeb Shaikh, a four-year-old girl from Bhiwandi who was bitten by a dog in July this year, died while receiving treatment at Sion Hospital. The reason for her death is believed to be a severe dog bite. She was admitted to three separate government hospitals for proper treatment but could not be saved.

Fake currency racket busted in Madarsa, Prayagraj police arrest Maulvi Mohammad Tafseerul, mastermind Zahir Khan and 2 others

OpIndia Staff
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Fake currency racket busted in Madarsa, Prayagraj police arrest Maulvi Mohammad Tafseerul, mastermind Zahir Khan and 2 others

On Wednesday, August 28, Prayagraj police uncovered a fake currency racket operating within a madrasa in the city, leading to the arrest of the madrasa principal, Mohammad Tafseerul, the mastermind, Zahir Khan alias Abdul Zahir, and two other students, Mohammad Afzal and Mohammad Shahid. The madrasa, identified as Jamia Habibiya, was being used to print counterfeit currency.

Authorities recovered 1,300 fake 100-rupee notes, 234 sheets of printed fake currency, three bundles of paper, a printer, a cutter, a laptop and other related items from the scene.

Giving information about the operation, DCP City Deepak Bhukar stated that the Civil Lines Police received a tip-off about individuals coming to the Civil Lines bus stand to deal in counterfeit currency. Acting on this information, the police conducted a raid, apprehending three suspects. Following their interrogation, a raid was carried out on Wednesday at a madarsa near Kalyani Devi Petrol Pump in the Atarsuya area, where fake currency was being printed in a room. During the raid, police discovered 234 counterfeit notes that were yet to be cut.

The acting principal of the madarsa, Maulvi Mohammad Tafseerul Arifin, was also arrested. According to the DCP, the acting principal was actively involved in the operation, providing a separate room for the gang to print the fake notes. The leader of the gang, Zahir Khan, a madarsa student from Orissa, was identified as the mastermind behind the operation.

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