On Monday (2nd September) morning, the Border Security Force (BSF) officials found the dead body of a minor Bangladeshi Hindu girl at the zero point of the India-Bangladesh international border near Kalerkhandi village in Kailashahar.
She had a bullet injury on her body. The minor victim has been identified as Swarna Das, a Bangladeshi Hindu who is said to be in the age range of 14-16 years.
As per reports, the minor girl was allegedly hit by a bullet fired by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Sunday night. The incident took place when she was attempting to flee Bangladesh along with her parents.
A 16 year old Bangladeshi Hindu girl Swarna Das was shot dead by Border Guard Bangladesh when she was trying to cross over to India along with her parents. pic.twitter.com/jcEp5bjqbG
They were trying to illegally cross the India-Bangladesh border to escape the ongoing religious persecution of Hindus in the Islamic nation.
The incident came to light on Monday morning when the BSF personnel spotted a body at the zero point. As per reports, the Bangladeshi authorities were unable to retrieve her body as the girl died within Indian territory.
Afterwards, BSF and Bangladeshi officials reached the spot and retrieved the body. Her body was then sent for post-mortem to Unakoti District Hospital in Kailashahar.
Body of Swarna Das found at zero point
According to sources, Swarna and her parents – Rebati Das (Parendra Das as per Bangladeshi media reports) and Rani Das had hired an agent to cross the border and enter Indian territory.
However, on Sunday night, when they were attempting to cross the border near pillar no-57, the BGB opened fire in which the minor was hit by a bullet.
Despite the bullet injury, Swarna ran a short distance before she died at the zero point. Her parents and others took shelter in a house in Lalarchak village to avoid getting hurt in the indiscriminate firing. They were later apprehended by the BGB.
In the pandemonium, they fell ill and are currently undergoing treatment at Moulvibazar District Hospital.
Bangladeshi media blames BSF
However, the Bangladeshi side has blamed BSF for her death alleging that the girl was killed by gunfire from the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) at the Kulaura border in Moulvibazar.
The victim was the daughter of Parendra Das, a resident of Kalnigiri village in the West Juri Union of Juri Upazila. The minor was studying in the eighth grade at the local Nirod Bihar High School.
Her parents stated that they have four children and one of their sons has been living in Tripura, India, for a long time.
Religious persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh
It is pertinent to note that the cases of Bangladeshis illegally crossing Indian territory have surged after the violent protesters ousted the country’s elected Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
It is said that they are predominantly Hindus who are trying to flee Bangladesh to escape ongoing religious persecution of Hindus by mobs of BNP-Jamaat supporters.
Ground reports from Bangladesh have revealed the extent of atrocities being committed against the Hindus in the Islamic nation and how the persecuted Bangladeshi Hindus have been pleading with India to grant them visas.
They have lamented that they don’t want to live in fear, and if India doesn’t heed their request, they will cross the country’s border without visas.
On 2nd September, propagandist and co-founder of Alt News, Mohammed Zubair, painted a target on Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nitesh Rane after he reacted to ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ slogans across the state by Jihandis against Ramgiri Maharaj. Apart from Zubair, several other left-liberals joined the caravan against Rane.
In a post on X, Zubair wrote, “In poll-bound Maharashtra, BJP MLA Nitesh Rane says ‘Tumhare Masjidon Ke Andar Aake Chun Chun Kar Marenge’ (We will come inside your mosques and kill them one by one). This is not the first time but there have been several such Anti-Muslim hate speeches by him in the past. There have been multiple FIRs against him in the past but he continues to give hate speeches and genocidal threats to Muslims because he knows Prime Minister@narendramodi and Senior BJP members are by his side. PM Narendra Modis Sabka sath sabka vikas sabka vishwas is nothing but lip service.”
Source: X
Tagging Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar, he wrote, “An MLA of your alliance partners is continuing to threaten the Minority Muslim community. For how long will you keep turning a blind eye and ignoring such speeches.” He also tagged several leaders from the opposition parties and urged them to take note of what Rane said.
Left-liberals gathered against Nitesh Rane
Other left-liberals on social media who pose as journalists, activists and more, also came running to attack Nitesh Rane. Rajdeep Sardesai, whose former journalist wife was sent to Rajya Sabha by TMC, said, “Story that caught the eye: Most brazen hate and incitement to violence speech imaginable by BJP MLA Nitesh Rane in Ahmednagar. Two FIRs filed. His place is not in assembly but in jail. Where does this impunity to say whatever you will come from?” He ended the post with an “angry” emoji.
Story that caught the eye: Most brazen hate and incitement to violence speech imaginable by BJP MLA Nitesh Rane in Ahmednagar. Two FIRs filed. His place is not in assembly but in jail. Where does this impunity to say whatever you will come from? ? pic.twitter.com/V8lK1LodnH
Fake news peddler Zakir Ali Tyagi wrote in Hindi, “Complaints were being made against Nitesh Rane, who had threatened to kill Muslims, to his former Chief Minister and current MP father Narayan Rane to make his son understand, but a video of the father also surfaced this week in which he is talking about driving out and killing Muslims!”
मुस्लिमों को मारने की धमकी देने वाले नितेश राणे की शिकायत उसके पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री व वर्तमान सांसद बाप नारायण राणे से की जा रही थी कि अपने बेटे को समझाए, लेकिन बाप की भी इसी हफ़्ते की वीडियो सामने आ गई जिसमें वो मुस्लिमों को निकालकर मारने की बात कर रहा है!pic.twitter.com/loTfX956c3
A social media handle Inspiretrail wrote, “BJP MLA Nitesh Rane. He is seen openly talking about entering mosques and selectively killing Muslims… Is there no provision for any legal action against them? If so, why is no action taken? Is BJP giving full support to people like these?” in a post in Hindi on X.
Must Retweet ⚠️ BJP विधायक नितेश राणे
मुसलमानों को मस्जिदों में घुसकर चुन चुन कर मारने कि खुलेआम बातें करता दिख रहा है…
क्या इनपर किसी तरह कि क़ानूनी कार्रवाई का प्रावधान नहीं? अगर है तो कार्रवाई क्यों नहीं होती?
Al Jazeera journalist Wajid Khan wrote, “This BJP MLA Nitish Rane has threatened Muslims that he will enter mosques and massacre them. Keep writing with me until this culprit is arrested.”
भाजपा के इस बोने विधायक नीतीश राणा ने मुसलमानों को धमकी दी है की वह मस्जिदों में घुस कर मुसलमानो को क़त्लेआम करेंगे .
Nitish Rane warned Islamists of reciprocating action if Ramgiri Maharaj is harmed
Zubair post on social media came after Nitesh Rane said in a public meeting, “We will enter your mosques and hit you one by one. Keep this in mind.” BJP has distanced itself from the statement.
महाराष्ट्र के दबंग भाजपा विधायक तथा हमारे भाई @NiteshNRane की Gहादीयो को खुली चुनौती। अगर हमारे राम गिरी महाराज को कुछ किया तो घुस कर मारेंगे।
Islamists ignore the action, but outrage against the response
Interestingly, those who attacked Nitesh Rane were silent when “Sar Tan Se Juda” slogans were being raised against Ramgiri Maharaj across country. X user jxh45 made a thread of such slogans being raised against Ramgiri Maharaj. In a post, the user wrote, “Mohammed Zubair, Rajdeep Sardesai and many others, are misleading without giving context to BJP MLA Nitish Rane speech in Ahmednagar. Islamists & Maulvis have been openly making hate speeches & behe@dings, since last one month – most of which is ignored by media.”
Mohammed Zubair, Rajdeep Sardesai and many others, are misleading without giving context to BJP MLA Nitish Rane speech in Ahmednagar.
Islamists & Maulvis have been openly making hate speeches & behe@dings, since last one month – most of which is ignored by media.
In the third week of August, a speaker at Islamist protest called for the murdering Ramgiri Maharaj in Khanapur town of Karnataka’s Belagavi outside local police station/collector’s office.
Speech from last week's rally in Khanapur town, in Karnataka's Belagavi.
The speech was outside local Police station/collector's office.
The organizers said – "Is mulk ke Musalman maaf nahi karenge, hum sab ki zimmedari hai, ki humkumat ki zariya se isse maut ke ghat utarenge". pic.twitter.com/y9aHgou4a2
Maulana allegedly said – "A Mujahid had said in a Parliament – they're 80,000, or 80 lakhs, or 80 crores; if it comes to Prophet, we will keep them at our feet".@SpBagalkote, @DgpKarnatakapic.twitter.com/EC8nj2M8Yr
In Kalaburagi, Karnataka, Islamists raised STSJ slogans.
Open rallies to impose Sharia held in Karnataka's Kalaburagi (Gulbarga).
Muslim mobs chanted: "Gustakh nabi ki ek hi saaza, phasi ki saaza"…
Kalaburagi is known to be stronghold of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge; his son-in-law and son, are MP and MLAs from that place. pic.twitter.com/QLI2afv8An
In Thakurganj, Bihar, a Maulana threatened Hindus and instigated violence against “blasphemers”. Hundreds of children were also part of this protest rally.
Maulana onstage threatens and instigates violence against blasphemers, in Bihar's Thakurganj – even as hundreds of children were seen in the rally.
After two FIRs were filed against him for his “provocative” remarks in Ahmednagar, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Nitesh Rane has questioned the action, saying, “Why Hindu community being threatened?”
According to police, two cases were registered against Rane for provocative speeches on two different occasions in Srirampur and Topkhana police jurisdiction of Ahmednagar district on Sunday. Nitesh Rane made the remarks during the Sakal Hindu Samaj agitation in Ahmednagar. “The Constitution and police should do their job. Why is the Hindu community being threatened? If they (Muslims) can talk in threatening language, then we can also do the same. I can show you 10 to 15 YouTube channels that have openly threatened Ramgiri Maharaj and openly propagated hate against the Hindus. Yesterday my statement about being a Hindu Gabbar Singh, is to tell the Hindu community not to be scared of anyone,” he told ANI on Monday.
Rane said that he came out in support of Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj. “Yesterday (Sunday), I was in Ahilyanagar and Srirampur. We came out there in support of Mahant Ramgiri Maharaj. There was nothing new in the statement given by him. Ten Muslim scholars have already mentioned the fact that Ramgiri Maharaj said,” he said on Monday. Further, he added that all those who have been supporting Ramgiri Maharaj have been getting death threats.
“Whoever is supporting Ramgiri Maharaj and putting in on their social media status are getting death threats. In Pune, last week, during a rally against Ramgiri Maharaj, slogans of ‘Sar Tan se juda’ were given. They can say this, but if we come out in support of the Hindu community in the same language, why are we questioned?” he added.
What did Ramgiri Maharaj say?
The outrage of the Muslim groups has been against the alleged derogatory remarks made by the Hindu spiritual leader Ramgiri Maharaj who explained various significant verses from ancient holy Hindu scriptures and urged his followers to lead a righteous life. Saint Ramgiri Maharaj during a sermon in Panchale village of Nashik’s Sinnar region on Friday, 16th August, allegedly passed derogatory comments on Prophet Mohammed, enraging the entire Muslim community who since then been demanding ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ (death) punishment against the Hindu leader.
The video of what Ramgiri Maharaj said is making rounds on social media. The Hindu saint during the sermon indicated that several Islamists have disrespected women in the past because of the religious doctrine they follow. The remarks sparked wide outrage in several districts of Maharashtra including Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Nashik, Mumbai, and Pune with several Islamist leaders and organizations filing FIRs against Ramgiri Maharaj for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of Muslims.
Muhammed Zubair doing same to Rane what he did to Nupur Sharma
Not to forget, former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma was also made a scapegoat for Islamist propaganda against Hindus similarly by Mohammed Zubair as he has done this time with Nitesh Rane. In May 2022, Zubair intentionally trimmed a clip of Nupur Sharma from a debate she had participated in on Times Now. He presented it as if Nupur was targeting Islam. Notably, he did not show any hateful comments that the co-panellist Tasleem Rehmani made during the debate insulting Bhagwan Shiv that irked Nupur.
As a result, she was declared a ‘blasphemer’ and several Islamist outfits, including Taliban and Al Qaeda, issued inflammatory statements against her calling for her death. Several Maulvis also issued statements against Nupur making it life life-threatening situation for her. Zubair did not stop there. He spread disinformation about what she said during the debate on an international level leading to statements being issued by Qatar and several Islamic organisations.
Sadly, the BJP distanced itself from Nupur Sharma and suspended her. During that period and later protests broke out across the country. The Islamist mobs chose violence to express their anger leading to the destruction of public and private properties. The hate towards Hindus and Nupur Sharma was to the extent that Hindu tailor Kanhaiya Lal and Hindu businessman Umesh Kolhe were brutally murdered by Islamists merely for supporting Nupur on social media posts. Even after two years, Nupur Sharma has hardly made any public appearances. She has to move with extreme caution under tight security to ensure her life is safe. On the other hand, Taslim Rehmani, who provoked Sharma by insulting Bhagwan Shiv, is roaming free and appearing in debates freely and happily without facing any consequences.
The case of Mahashay Rajpal
Targeting non-Muslims over statements made against Islam is not a new phenomenon; it has been occurring for decades. Historical records indicate that this was the reason Mahashay Rajpal was killed for publishing “Rangeela Rasool” in the 1920s.
Mahashay Rajpal, who published “Rangeela Rasool,” was ultimately assassinated for his actions. It is often said that he was killed for publishing a satirical work on Prophet Muhammad called “Rangeela Rasool.” However, rarely it is talked about why he chose to publish the book in the first place. In 1923, Muslims published two particularly offensive books against Hindus: “Krishna Teri Geeta Jalani Padegi,” which used derogatory and vulgar language against Shri Krishna and other Hindu deities, and “Uniseevi Sadi Ka Maharshi,” which contained derogatory remarks about Arya Samaj founder Swami Dayanand Saraswati (incidentally written by an Ahmadi).
In response to this provocation by Islamists, Pandit Chamupati Lal, a close friend of Mahashay Rajpal, wrote a short biography of the Islamic Prophet, Mohammed. “Rangeela Rasool” was a short pamphlet that satirized the life of the Prophet of Islam. Pandit Chamupati made Mahashay Rajpal promise that he would never reveal the author’s name—aware of the potential consequences. The book was anonymously published under the name “Doodh Ka Doodh Aur Pani Ka Pani,” enraging Muslims.
Staying true to his values of one-sided brotherhood, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi condemned “Rangeela Rasool” in his magazine “Young India.” While Gandhi ignored the provocation by Muslims, the colonial government banned the book by the end of June 1924. The Muslim community, partly emboldened by MK Gandhi’s endorsement of their rhetoric of “hurt sentiments” and the whitewashing of the provocation against Hindus, filed multiple cases against the book under Section 153A. In May 1927, Mahashay Rajpal was acquitted of all charges, with the court observing that commentary based on facts about historical figures, including the Prophet of Islam, could not be said to promote enmity between groups. As soon as the verdict was delivered, Muslim mobs erupted in fury. They rioted and demanded the death of Mahashay Rajpal, chanting that his murder was acceptable because, under Sharia law, the punishment for blasphemy is death.
To placate the mobs, Section 295A was passed, and in the same year, there were two unsuccessful attempts on Mahashay Rajpal’s life.
On 6th April 1929, a 19-year-old carpenter named Ilm-ud-Din stabbed Mahashay Rajpal eight times in the chest while he was seated on the outer verandah of his shop. Though he was pressured to reveal the name of the author, Pandit Chamupati Lal, during the court proceedings, he refused and did not tell anyone who wrote the piece. He paid the ultimate price for this—publishing the book despite his acquittal and despite Muslims securing a special law to protect their fragile sentiments.
Let it be Nitesh Rane, Nupur Sharma or Mahashay Rajpal, the series of events are the same. Violent, derogatory and even open slogans for murder are raised by the Islamic mobs are ignored by the likes of Mohammad Zubair and the Leftist media, but any statement declaring retaliation or warning is declared a crime.
A shocking case of gang rape of a minor Hindu girl has come to light from Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh. The accused have been identified as Rizwan, Wasim, and his brother Roshu. After committing the heinous crime, the accused attempted to kidnap the girl from her house. They brutally assaulted the victim’s family for opposing them. They were also pressuring the minor victim to do religious conversion by threatening to leak her obscene videos. Through video calls, they also gave her information about activities practised by Muslims, including teaching her how to wear the Hijab and offer Namaz.
On Sunday (1st September), Police arrested Rizwan, the main accused in this case while raids are underway to nab the absconding accused Wasim and his brother Roshu.
The incident took place in the Kotwali area of Baghpat city. The 15-year-old girl is currently studying in 8th Class. Her father filed a complaint with the Police on Saturday (31st August).
#baghpatpolice थाना बागपत पुलिस ने मु0अ0सं0 739/24धारा 137(2)/333/352/115(2)/65(1)बीएनएस व 9L/10 पोक्सो एक्ट व 3/5(1) उ0प्र0 विधि विरुद्ध धर्म सपरिवर्तन प्रतिषेध अधि0 से सम्बन्धित 01अभियुक्त को गिरफ्तार कर मा0 न्यायालय के समक्ष पेश किया जा चुका है। CO नगर बागपत की बाइट-@Uppolicehttps://t.co/k0wRW1iYVcpic.twitter.com/cv8aIZLeLr
In the complaint, he stated that at around 7 pm on Saturday, his minor daughter went missing. When they started searching for her, they located the minor in the nearby house of a man named Wasim. Inside one of the rooms of this house, they caught Rizwan in a compromising position. After the confrontation, he brought his daughter back home.
The victim informed her relatives that Wasim took her to his house on the pretext of giving her washed clothes, where Rizwan and Wasim gang-raped her.
The complaint further states that after some time, Rizwan, Wasim, and his brother Roshu reached the victim’s house and they were carrying sticks with them. They barged into the victim’s house and started abusing them. They threatened to kidnap the minor girl again. When the victim’s family opposed them, they hurled abuses and manhandled them.
As per reports, Rizwan was pressurizing the minor victim to convert to Islam and had been threatening her that he would make her obscene video viral. The victim stated that Rizwan used to give her information about the activities of the Muslim religion on video calls. He used to teach her how to tie hijab and say salam.
According to the victim’s father, his wife had seen their daughter offering Namaz several times at home. They scolded her multiple times, but it did not make a difference.
In the complaint, he added that his daughter often talked about religious conversion at home. According to them, Rizwan had been instigating the minor for a long time to do religious conversion. He called Rizwan a conspirator of ‘Love Jihad’ and accused him of raping his daughter several times.
According to the complainant, through the victim, Rizwan also siphoned off Rs 48,000 and a gold ring. Additionally, he also wanted to take the victim away with him. After filing the complaint, the victim’s family demanded strict action against the accused.
The Police have named Rizwan, Roshu, and his brother Wasim in the FIR. They have been charged under sections 137 (2), 333, 352, 115 (2), and 64 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) along with the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act and POCSO Act. OpIndia has accessed the complaint copy.
On Sunday (September 1), the police arrested Rizwan. According to DSP Baghpat, raids are being conducted to search for the absconding accused.
A painful incident of honour killing has come to light from the Bahraich district in Uttar Pradesh where a person named Naeem brutally murdered his 17-year-old daughter Khushboo in the name of honour. He first severed her head and then cut the body into several pieces after he reportedly became aware of her love affair. Naeem repeatedly tried to convince Khushboo to snap ties with her boyfriend but she didn’t comply. The crime was committed on 2nd September.
The police, who arrived there at the information of the villagers, arrested the accused Naeem. They collected the body parts and sent them for postmortem. They also recovered the murder weapon from the spot. The matter pertains to the Laxmanpur Matehi village of the Motipur police station area. The victim was in a romantic relationship with a boy of the same village. She had already eloped with him twice. Naeem had also filed a case against his daughter’s lover in Motipur and Nanpara police stations. The authorities had even sent the youth to jail during the investigation.
On the fateful morning, Naeem spotted his daughter in conversation with her boyfriend, due to which he lost his temper and killed her outside their residence. He continued to sit beside his daughter’s corpse after ending her life. Senior police officials also visited the location due to the sensitive situation. Statements of the deceased’s mother were also recorded. She was at her maternal home during the crime.
According to the police, the issue is being thoroughly investigated and appropriate action will be taken moving forward. Circle Officer Hira Lal Kanaujia provided additional details on the issue and stated that the girl had run away with her boyfriend numerous times. The boy belonged to the Mangta community. A First Information Report was also filed against him in two police stations. Naeem has three more daughters and he claimed that the love affair was making a negative impact on his other children. He said they had to face humiliation in the village due to which he was forced to take the extreme step.
Superintendent of Police (Rural) Pavitra Mohan Tripathi mentioned, “A case has been registered against Naeem. The father said that his daughter had run away from home twice and he suspected that she might do it again. Due to this apprehension, he killed his daughter.”
In a shocking incident in Haryana, a Class 12 student was chased and shot dead by miscreants on suspicion of cow smuggling. The deceased student has been identified as 19-year-old Aryan Mishra. He was reportedly mistaken for a cattle smuggler and killed by the accused.
The incident transpired on the night of 23rd August. Five accused, Anil Kaushik, Varun, Krishna, Saurabh and Aadesh have already been arrested by the Faridabad Police Crime Branch Sector-30 team. The authorities brought them before the court on 31st August and then sent them to jail. Anil Kaushik runs his own organisation called “Live for Nation.”
हरियाणा के फरीदाबाद में 23 अगस्त की रात डस्टर कार सवार छात्र आर्यन मिश्रा की गोतस्कर समझकर हत्या कर दी गई।
आर्यन उस रात अपने लैंडलॉर्ड व अन्य लोगों के साथ मैगी खाकर लौट रहा था। रास्ते में कुछ लोगों ने गाड़ी रोकने की कोशिश की। डर की वजह से उन्होंने गाड़ी नहीं रोकी।
During interrogation, the perpetrators revealed that they shot the victim with an illegal weapon and threw it in a canal passing through Bawana in Delhi. Afterwards, the police took them to the scene but they were unable to locate it. However, the firearm was found on 1st September in Anil Kaushik’s house during a search along with a toy pistol. A car used in the incident has also been recovered. The matter is currently under probe.
Aryan Mishra was killed by the culprits as they believed him to be a cow smuggler. He had driven to a mall in Badkhal with his landlord and friends to eat Maggi at around 9:30 pm. The accused attempted to stop them at Patel Chowk upon their return at about 11:30 pm. The young boy’s acquaintance, who was driving raced the vehicle out of fear after which they were chased by the offenders for around thirty kilometres. Aryan Mishra was shot a little ahead of the Gadpuri toll on the Delhi-Agra Highway and passed away during treatment in a private hospital on 24th August.
The accused unveiled that on the fateful night, an informer told them that some cattle smugglers were doing reconnaissance in the city using Duster and Fortuner four-wheelers. Additionally, the smugglers were bringing containers and grabbing cattle from anywhere they could find the animals. They were searching for the smugglers in their Swift when they spotted a Duster car at Patel Chowk. They asked the driver to stop but he accelerated the speed and they started firing bullets at the vehicle, leading to Mishra’s death.
The cops also questioned the other side and revealed that an offender named Shanky, booked under various sections, including an attempt to murder, was with Aryan Mishra in the car. His brother Harshit was behind the wheel while his mother and another woman were in the back seat. Police have been looking for him and when the gau rakshaks signalled them to halt, he assumed they were a crime branch team in a personal Swift car and asked his brother to drive fast. They reached the highway and the accused fired a volley of gunshots at them.
Shanky suspected that he would die in an encounter today and they pulled over after a bullet hit Aryan Mishra’s neck. The gau rakshaks reached the vehicle and shot him in the chest, just as the window opened but fled after seeing females inside the car. Aryan Mishra’s family and friends had initially suggested personal enmity as the cause of his murder. The officials from the crime branch later arrived at their house for interrogation. It was then established that the youths were innocent. When the police team checked the CCTV footage of the route followed by the attackers, they got the number of the Swift car through which they found about Anil Kaushik and uncovered the truth.
Uttar Pradesh government employees have received a major wake-up call as the Yogi government has stopped paying the salaries of the state’s 2.44 lakh government employees. Recently, all employees were asked to provide details about their assets by August 31st. The government has taken this step of withholding salaries against the employees who have failed to provide details as required.
As per the reports, recently, the Chief Secretary of the state had instructed all government employees to provide their property details by August 31st. The orders were issued by the Chief Secretary on August 17th.
The information was sought by the government about both moveable and immovable properties of the employees via the Manav Sampada website. Despite this, just 71% of employees provided details about their movable and immovable property on the Manav Sampada website. Following this, the said action was taken.
The majority of those who have not provided details about their property are workers of the education and health departments. Apart from that, the majority of revenue department personnel have also not provided specifics about their property. The Chief Secretary has now issued instructions to suspend the salaries of those who have not provided their personal information.
The Samajwadi Party has responded to the government’s decision and SP’s media cell commented on the matter saying, “In the rule of Yogi even employees’ salaries are being stopped.”
Notably, only 6,02,075 of the state government’s 8,46,640 employees have provided information about their movable and immovable assets. Employees from the textile, military welfare, energy, sports, agricultural, and women’s welfare departments are leading in offering details about their holdings. However, maximum employees in the education department and the revenue department are yet to share their asset details.
The social media account (X) of Salwan Momika, an Iraqi Christian known for publicly burning copies of the Quran has been withheld in India and Pakistan. The X account revealed that the individual’s account had been withheld in the two countries in response to legal demands.
It is perhaps one of those rare occasions when X has revealed the withholding of an account in both India and Pakistan. However, not much is known about why his account was banned. Momika’s contentious history though offers a cue into why X may have deplatformed him in both India and Pakistan.
X mentions Salwan Momika’s account has been withheld in India and Pakistan
Salwan Momika is believed to be a 38-year-old Iraqi immigrant who arrived in Sweden in April 2018 and was granted refugee status in April 2021. As per the reports, he is a former Iraqi military leader who was part of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a pro-Iran outfit.
On social media, he presents himself as an atheist, enlightened politician, thinker, and novelist. However, he came into the limelight after he set fire to a Quran in front of Stockholm’s main mosque on June 28th, 2023, the first day of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha.
He also placed slices of ham on the Quran and stamped on it with his foot, repeatedly yelling “Allahu Akbar” in a sneer. This demonstration prompted condemnations from worldwide, including Turkey, which had withheld Sweden’s NATO membership. However, Sweden became a NATO member in March 2024.
Notably, the demonstration by Momika was executed only after the Swedish authorities permitted him to carry out this act, and a judge granted him the privilege based on Sweden’s free speech principles.
Momika, in the aftermath of the protests in Stockholm, kicked and stomped on a copy of the Muslim holy book outside Iraq’s embassy. He did not burn it. He stated that he was protesting against Islam and for free speech. His actions have angered many Muslims and spurred protests in various nations since then.
Later in October 2023, amid the war between the State of Israel and Hamas, activist Salwan Momika expressed his solidarity with the Jewish nation by stepping on the Quran and waving the Israeli flag. The incident took place again in Stockholm on 21st October. Salwan Momika, an Iraqi refugee living in Sweden, was also seen kissing the Israeli flag and trampling a copy of the Quran with his foot.
A video of the incident had gone viral on social media.
Recently, in April 2024 several rumors were hyped claiming that Momika was found dead in Norway. However, the controversial protester had revealed that he was alive and was imprisoned in Norway after being considered a threat to “national security” due to his strong stance against Islamic traditions.
“The newspapers and news sites that published the news of my death in Norway are false and their goal is to intimidate everyone who doubts or criticizes Islam. Therefore, I say, that your rumours and false media will not scare us. I am alive and will not surrender despite the injustice I was subjected to by the Norwegian authorities,” he was quoted as saying in a separate post now unavailable given ‘legal demands’.
“When I arrived, they arrested me immediately and stripped me of my phones. They prevented me from communicating with anyone, and then they took me to court, where the court charged me with the following: “You are detained because you pose a threat to Norwegian national security.” The foolish old judge seemed fond of Islam, so I told him that neither your imprisonment nor your courts will frighten me,” Momika further wrote after being arrested in Norway.
Salman Momika
According to Momika, he was hauled out of court and placed in a “secret prison” that was neither monitored by human rights organizations nor covered by the media. Later, he stated the event reminded him of Saddam Hussein’s “oppressive dictatorial regime.” He also said Norway is “ruled by fools and idiots who are in love with Islam,” which he will discuss in his upcoming book.
In a recent update to the case, it has come to the fore that Momika would face trial in Stockholm.
Amid the ongoing Islamist onslaught on Hindus in Bangladesh, it came to light that 25 Hindu families were left trapped after a local thug named Sohail Hazra built a house overnight in the middle of the road.
The incident occurred in Bandal village in Kotalipara upazila in the Gopalganj district of Bangladesh. According to a report by Jamuna TV, the kuccha road in the Hindu locality has existed for over 50 years.
But the lives of the residents have now come to a standstill. While speaking about the matter, a woman named Jyotsna Karmakar lamented, “We are unable to step out of our homes because he built the house on the road.”
“We have a land there. He ploughed it overnight and built the house,” a Hindu man narrated.
An elderly woman was heard saying, “We did not even have a fight. We know nothing when he pulled it off. The road has been there since the time of the Britishers. We saw it as children.”
After the Hindu families objected to the blockade, the influential local goon Sohail Hazra threatened them with physical harm. The Hindu community in Bandal village is now living in a state of fear.
“The situation is so grim now that we cannot take anyone to the hospital in case of an emergency. We will have to carry the patient on our shoulders,” a Hindu man emphasised.
“This is the condition of the road. He (Sohail) and I both have our land here. This does not belong to him alone,” he added.
Another local stated, “We do not have an alternate road available for commute. If the road is not freed of the encroachment, then, we will have to stay under house arrest.”
He informed that Sohail Hazra and his men intimidated him with sharp weapons upon being caught red-handed building the illegal house.
One woman lamented how Sohail destroyed their area and created problems for the community.
Sohail Hazra justifies action, Hindus get consolation prize
The accused, on the other hand, has cried foul over the matter and alleged that he is the owner of the land on which the house has been built.
Following complaints to the local administration by the stranded Hindu families, the authorities reached the spot and tried to strike a settlement between both parties.
As a consolation prize, a narrow passage was provided for the movement of the locals.
The land encroachment and the temporary house, built by Sohail Hazra overnight, continue to remain intact.
Using matrimonial sites or dating websites to cheat innocent individuals is very common. But in a disturbing trend that has emerged in the Ahmedabad district of Gujarat, gay men are being targeted by criminals who pose as gays with malicious intentions to loot and blackmail them.
An exclusive report by Ahmedabad Mirror revealed a case in which a young gay individual fell victim to such a trap. On August 21st, a 32-year-old living in the Satellite area of the city reported to the Satellite Police station saying that he was robbed by a man who posed to belong to the LGBTQ+ community. Usually when such incidents happen gay victims choose to keep shut given the social pressures, but in this case, the victim bravely decided to report the case.
The victim in this case used the Grindr app, a special dating app for LGBTQ+ people. Through this app, he met a man who posed to be a gay individual. “About a fortnight ago, while browsing Grindr, an app specifically for the LGBTQ+ community, I met a guy who also claimed to be gay. We chatted, and he seemed nice and caring. About a week ago, he invited me to his house, which was in my neighborhood. I went there, but to my shock, there were four other young men present,” the victim said while talking to Ahmedabad Mirror.
The victim said that the accused men stripped him and began beating him after which they demanded Rs 1 lakh. They also threatened the victim to expose his sexual orientation in society if he failed to give Rs 1 lakh.
“I didn’t have that much money. They eventually settled for Rs 20,000. They took my ATM card, held me captive while still undressed, withdrew the money from a nearby ATM, and then let me go. They had taken pictures of me and threatened to make them viral if I reported the incident. What if my family finds out about my sexual orientation?” the victim said.
Past similar incidents from Ahmedabad
Notably, this is not the first time such an incident has occurred in Ahmedabad. As per activist Ayushi Shah who assists cybercrime victims, dominant men in society target submissive men and threaten them to be exposed in society. “Here, the dominant male exploits the submissive one, and if such elements are not exposed, it will become another trend of cybercrime that can reach dangerous proportions,” she was quoted as saying.
Earlier, in the year 2022, the Ahmedabad Police had arrested three accused men who had trapped and robbed a gay individual using a gay dating app. The incident also happened through the Grindr app. As per the police, the accused men had then confessed that they had trapped and robbed 15-20 more gay individuals using the same app.
Also, in the year 2019, the Ahmedabad Police arrested 5 persons for robbing a Gay individual for Rs 50,000 using a dating app. “The accused have confessed to have robbed many victims using the same modus operandi. The victims would book gay services using the Grindr App. No victim would go to lodge a complaint out of fear and social stigma,” the police then were quoted as saying.
The Grindr app then taking cognizance had declared a “zero-tolerance policy” against racism, transphobia, and other forms of discrimination and sought to reduce abusive behavior online. However, things hardly seem to have changed.
Million users stand at potential risk
Gay sexuality is no longer a crime in India, but the fear of being ostracized or ridiculed by society drives many members of the South Asian LGBT community to conceal their sexual status, making them easy targets for the unscrupulous.
Since launching in 2009, Grindr claims to have grown into the largest social networking app for gay, bi, trans, and queer people. Millions of users today are associated with the app, facing the fear of becoming the next potential victim. Such incidents need detailed police probes assuring justice.
On Monday (3rd September), the Bhil community took out a rally in support of the creamy layer exclusion and the sub-classification of Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservation in Rajasthan. The community members reached the Mini Secretariat and sought that the benefits of classification be offered to the community’s underprivileged members immediately. After the sloganeering, the Rajasthan Samagra Bhil Varg Aarakshan Manch, District Branch Jhalawar, presented a memorandum to Collector Ajay Singh Rathore.
The Bhil community members started the rally from Radha Raman Mangalik Bhawan carrying saffron flags in their hands and reached the Mini Secretariat to hand a memorandum to the Collector. During the rally, heavy police force was deployed to uphold law and order in the area.
Bhil community took out a rally in Rajasthan in support of sub-classification & reservation within SC & ST community.
The best part is that only saffron flags were visible and no blue flag was in sight.
District President Jamnalal Bhil stated that on the 1st of August this year, the Constitutional Bench of 7 judges of the court made recommendations to the Government of India and the state governments to establish quotas within quotas to provide the advantage of reservation to castes that are under-represented or missed in SC/ST reservation. He said that the Bhil community respects and endorses these recommendations made by the Supreme Court adding that this will benefit the deprived communities of the ST reservation, such as Bhil, Garsia, and Saharia.
Meanwhile, Arvind Bhil of Bhil Samaj Samiti stated that the quota for the Bhil community in the ST reservation should be set separately based on their population in Rajasthan ensuring that the downtrodden people can take advantage of reservation and get into government jobs, improve their living standard and join the country’s mainstream.
Notably, on the 1st of August, a 7-judge constitutional bench of the Supreme Court ruled by a 6:1 majority that sub-classification of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes is admissible in order to give distinct quotas for more backwards within the SC/ST categories. CJI DY Chandrachud stated that the ruling contains six views. While six out of seven judges agreed that sub-classification is permissible, Justice Bela Trivedi dissented. Justice Trivedi opined that such sub-classification is not permissible.
The seven-judge Constitution bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud and Justices BR Gavai, Vikram Nath, Bela M Trivedi, Pankaj Mithal, Manoj Misra, and Satish Chandra Sharma overturned the 2005 decision in EV Chinnaiah v. State of Andhra Pradesh, which ruled that sub-classification of SC/STs violates Article 341 of the Constitution, which grants the President the authority to prepare the list of SC/STs.
In his decision, CJI DY Chandrachud cited historical evidence to support his contention that scheduled castes are not a homogeneous entity. He opined that sub-classification does not violate the principle of equality established by Article 14 of the Constitution. Additionally, sub-classification does not violate Article 341(2) of the Constitution. Nothing in Articles 15 and 16 stops the State from subclassifying a Caste. The CJI had emphasised that the basis of subclassification must be supported by quantitative and demonstrable evidence from States.
Notably, right after the Supreme Court ruling, misinformation about it started spreading across social media. A Bharat Bandh was also called by the National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR) and other such bodies against the SC ruling. The protests were also reported to be backed by Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) among others. According to the protestors, the SC ruling undermines the earlier verdict of a nine-judge bench in the landmark Indira Sawhney case, which had set up the framework of reservations. However, the Supreme Court was of the view that the sub-classification of SC and ST castes would benefit the more backward caste groups within SCs and STs.
