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Quid pro quo? Vinesh Phogat joins farmers’ protest at the Shambhu border days after being awarded a ‘gold medal’ by Khap panchayat

OpIndia Staff
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Quid pro quo? Vinesh Phogat joins farmers’ protest at the Shambhu border days after being awarded a ‘gold medal’ by Khap panchayat

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat joined the protesting farmers at the Shambhu border between Punjab and Haryana on Saturday morning, expressing her solidarity by stating that she was the daughter of a farmer and her family had experienced the daily struggles faced by farmers.

“To protect crops and future generations, I stand with the families of farmers and labourers,” Phogat declared, as hundreds of farmers marked the 200th day of their protest, demanding several reforms, including a legal assurance of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops. She emphasized that farmers should be listened to and should receive their rights.

“We are citizens of this country, and if someone raises an issue, it should be heard. Not everything should be associated with caste or religion,” Phogat added.

“They came from Bhartiya Kisan Union (Shaheed Bhagat Singh)-Haryana, BKU Ekta (Azad), BKU (Krantikari), Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, and Rajasthan Gramin Kisan Sangharsh Samiti. I will never forget their backing in the wrestlers’ fight, and I sincerely thank them. I will always stand strong with the farmers and labourers of this country,” she stated.

Phogat was honoured by several farmer union leaders, including Sarwan Singh Pandher, coordinator of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM); Amarjeet Singh Morhi from BKU (Shaheed Bhagat Singh); Tejveer Singh, spokesperson for BKU (Shaheed Bhagat Singh); and Surjit Singh Phul from BKU (Krantikari), among others.

On her birthday, Sunday, August 25, Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat was honoured with a gold medal by the Sarvkhap Panchayat in Haryana. Vinesh had a heartbreak at the Paris Olympics when she was disqualified from the gold medal match against the USA’s Sarah Hildebrandt. She was 100g over the 50 kg weight limit on the morning of the match.

May seek extradition of Sheikh Hasina, but it will be an embarrassing situation for the Indian government: Bangladesh foreign affairs advisor

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May seek extradition of Sheikh Hasina, but it will be an embarrassing situation for the Indian government: Bangladesh foreign affairs advisor

The Bangladesh interim government’s foreign affairs advisor Mohammed Touhid Hossain, has said that as cases mount against Sheikh Hasina, his country could consider seeking the extradition of the former premier but that would create an “embarrassing situation for the Indian government.”

In an exclusive interview to Reuters TV in Dhaka, Hossain said that “since there are so many cases” against Hasina in Bangladesh, the country’s home and law ministries could make the request to extradite her.

“Her staying in Delhi, in India, the question comes that…there are so many cases (against Hasina) that could be… again some speculating, I am not a person right to answer this, if there is a request from there (Ministry of Home and Ministry of Law) we have to ask for her, you know, return to Bangladesh. If there is a demand from there, that creates an embarrassing situation for the Indian government. So I think the Indian government knows this and I am sure they will take care of it”, Hossain told Reuters TV.

Sheikh Hasina had arrived in India on August 5, following an uprising led by students against her that turned violent. As per the Dhaka Tribune, a complaint has been lodged against Hasina and 24 others in the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands for allegedly violating human rights.

The Bangladeshi media outlet said that there are multiple cases filed against Hasina.

Further, Hossein, the foreign affairs advisor in Bangladesh’s interim government led by Mohammad Yunus stated that the Nobel Laureate is “very unhappy” about the way the statements are coming from India, from the former Prime Minister and he had conveyed this to the Indian envoy in a meeting.

“Professor Yunus is very unhappy about the way the statements are coming from India, from the former Prime Minister. He is quite unhappy about this and I have conveyed this to the High Commissioner (of India),” Hossain said in the interview to Reuters TV.

“I have also told the press that we have conveyed this because we believe in transparent relations. So whatever actually is there, unless there are some, there are some secret points could be there. Otherwise, we want to make things public. And we have – I have just told him about the displeasure of the chief adviser, and let us hope that they take care of it,” he told Reuters TV in an interview.

Regarding the possibility of elections in the violence-hit country, Hossein said there will be more clarity on the timeline by September.

“All my colleagues in the council of advisors, they are extremely busy with bringing back normalcy”, he said adding, “I think from September, things will, normalcy and normal way of functioning will start.”

On the issue of giving refuge to Rohingyas, Hossain underscored that Bangladesh has “done more than its share” and is “not in a position to allow any more Rohingyas to enter”.

He said that other countries, including India should “take charge on that.”

“We are not in a position to allow any more Rohingyas to enter. It’s a humanitarian issue that involves the entire world, not only Bangladesh. We have done more than our share, and the world should take charge of that,” Hossein said.

Other countries “should put pressure through appropriate countries on the Arakan Army, who is the main actor in Rakhine state now to ensure that this does not happen, because we are not in a position,” Hossain told Reuters TV.

“Well, India is a very large country, if they want to take some, it’s fine. We have taken a million, let them take 200,000, I don’t mind. But the goal is their repatriation to their country,” Hossain said.

As per a report in the Dhaka Tribune, Bangladesh’s interim government has cancelled the passports of Sheikh Hasina, her advisers, former cabinet members, and all members of the 12th national parliament.

The authorities have also revoked diplomatic passports for their spouses and children have also been revoked with immediate effect, the Bangladesh publication reported.

Bangladesh is facing a fluid political situation with Sheikh Hasina, tendering her resignation from her post on August 5 in the wake of mounting protests. Hasina, who fled Bangladesh for India in a military aircraft on August 5, is currently staying in India.

The protests, led majorly by students demanding an end to a quota system for government jobs, took the shape of anti-government protests.

On August 8, Nobel laureate economist Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as the head of Bangladesh’s interim government. 17 members of Bangladesh’s interim government took their oaths at a ceremony in Dhaka.

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

Actresses changing clothes in vanity vans recorded using hidden cameras, they had folders with names of actresses: actress Radhika Sarathkumar amidst findings of Hema Committee report

OpIndia Staff
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Actresses changing clothes in vanity vans recorded using hidden cameras, they had folders with names of actresses: actress Radhika Sarathkumar amidst findings of Hema Committee report

Amidst the shocking findings of the Justice Hema Committee report on rampant sexual misconduct in the Malayalam film industry, popular South Indian actress Radhika Sarathkumar has made startling allegations. In a recent interview, she said that the ordeals of actresses aren’t limited only to Malayalam cinema but also to the Tamil and Telugu industries. 

Recounting her own experience, she said that hidden cameras were secretly installed inside the vanity vans on the shooting set of a Malayalam film to record videos of actresses, specifically while they were changing clothes. She asserted that she had personally witnessed male actors watching such objectionable videos on their mobile phones. 

She told a news channel, “I have seen this. I have seen videos of women changing clothes in caravans.” She added that they had folders of actresses with their names. 

Speaking with Asianet News’ ‘Namaste Kerala’ about the findings of Justice Hema Committee report, Radhika Sarathkumar recalled, “While I was on a set in Kerala, I saw people gathered together and laughing at something. As I passed by, I noticed they were watching a video. I called a crew member and asked him what they were watching. I was told there were cameras in the vanity vans and footage of women changing clothes was captured using the same. I was told you should just type the name of the artiste, and you will find a video of them changing dresses. I saw the video.”

However, she refused to divulge other details, including names of the film or the actors who were allegedly watching the illicit videos. She said, “If we spit looking upwards, it will fall on our face only. So I don’t want to take names”.

Radhika added that after this incident, she was so scared that she started using her hotel room to change clothes and was careful about her presence inside the vanity van. 

She further stated, “This system is wrong. After the incident, I told other female artists about the hidden cameras. I was afraid to go into my vanity van after the incident. It is a private space for us to change, to take rest, or to have food.”

According to her, she herself saw such objectionable videos of actresses and had warned the staff against using cameras in the vanity van.  

She added, “I have seen videos of women changing clothes in vans. I confronted the team and told them this was not right. I told the van team that I would hit them with chappals [slippers] if I found a camera in the vehicle. I was angry. I insisted that I wanted to be safe and didn’t want the van at all. They then told me that they will look into it.” 

The veteran actress also recalled her own experience of encountering misconduct. She raised questions over the delay in releasing the findings of the Justice Hema Committee and slammed the actors for not speaking up on this issue. Radhika urged actresses to take this responsibility on their shoulders. 

She said, “I was wondering why there was so much delay in the release of the Justice Hema Committee report. I have been in the industry for 46 years. Of course, there have been people who have tried to misbehave with me. Women should be empowered to say ‘No’ when such incidents happen to them. No man has said anything in any industry. So the onus is back on women. Now, they have to shoulder this responsibility of safeguarding themselves.”

Reacting to Radhika Sarathkumar’s statement, RMP leader K K Rema expressed shock. She told the media, “What kind of cruelty is this… cinema world is fast becoming the biggest underworld… that is what we understand from all these allegations.” 

She added generally women in the film industry believe that the caravan is safer and if they also get such facilities as men, they can be safer in the shooting locations. But, the latest charge has proved it to be wrong. 

It is pertinent to note that the publication of the Justice K Hema Committee report on sexual misconduct and abuse in the Malayalam film industry has opened a can of worms. Several actresses have come forward with disturbing accounts of the mistreatment they faced at the hands of their various male counterparts in the Kerala film industry. Meanwhile, around 17 cases have also been filed after the release of Hema Committee report. 

Furthermore, 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.

Karnataka: ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ chants raised by Islamists in Bagalkote over alleged ‘blasphemy’, Muslim clerics deliver hate speeches

OpIndia Staff
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Karnataka: ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ chants raised by Islamists in Bagalkote over alleged ‘blasphemy’, Muslim clerics deliver hate speeches

Thousands of Islamists in Karnataka’s Bagalkote chanted ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ slogans, a clarion call for beheading, as Muslim clerics ginned up their sentiments with hate speeches, social media users said while sharing the videos.

The videos, purportedly from Bagalkote, show a raft of rabid Islamic crowd chanting ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ and ‘Allahu Akbar’ slogans, highlighting the jarring normalisation of death threats allegedly issued in the name of protecting the ‘honour’ of Prophet Muhammad.

While the slogan has been in the vogue for centuries, it has often been used to mobilise Islamists against their perennial foes, i.e. non-Muslims, under the pretext of blasphemy against the Islamic Prophet.

In India though, the alarming trend of ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ protests gained renewed momentum after Alt News Mohammed Zubair shared an incomplete video of Nupur Sharma, a former BJP spokesperson, after she made observations derived from authentic and reliable Islamic texts to oppose scorn poured over Hinduism and Hindu Gods by a fellow Muslim panelists. Zubair’s dog-whistling triggered large-scale protests across the country, with gullible Islamists sparing no time in going on a rampage and calling for Sharma’s beheading with ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ slogans.

Nevertheless, as Islamists in Bagalkote raised ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ slogans, Muslim clerics who attended the demonstrations, indulged in hate speech against perceived blasphemers, in this case, Ramgiri Maharaj, who has been accused by the fringe elements in the Islamic fold of committing blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad.

The protests against Ramgiri Maharaj, which have been underway in different parts of the country, saw participation from not just indoctrinated youth but also impressionable young children, who have been fed the poison of Islamic supremacism and their ‘religious duty’ to avenge the disrespect of their Prophet. The NCPCR took cognisance of the participation of children in ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ protests and called for authorities to take action to deradicalise young minds and provide them with counselling.

Earlier this month, 300 Islamists were booked for raising ‘Sar Tan Se Juda’ slogans in front of the Pune Collector’s office. The Islamist mob carried out the protest march on Friday, without taking necessary permission from the administration. According to Pune City Police officials, a case was lodged at Bund Garden Police Station on Saturday. The accused have been booked under sections 189(2), 190, 196, and 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), as well as sections 135 and 37(1) of the Maharashtra Police Act. 

Shreya Ghoshal postpones Kolkata concert amid protests over RG Kar Doctor rape-murder

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Shreya Ghoshal postpones Kolkata concert amid protests over RG Kar Doctor rape-murder

Shreya Ghoshal has postponed her Kolkata concert, part of the “All Hearts Tour,” due to ongoing protests in the city following the alleged murder and sexual assault of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital earlier this month.

The concert was scheduled for September 14 this year. Shreya on Saturday, took to her social media account to announce the decision. In a statement that she shared on her Instagram account, the singer revealed that she is deeply affected by the gruesome incident.

“I am deeply affected by the gruesome and heinous incident that recently took place in Kolkata. Being a woman myself the very thought of sheer brutality that she must have gone through is unthinkable and sends shivers down my spine,” read her statement.

“With an aching heart and with deep sorrow, my promoters (Ishq FM) and I wish to reschedule our concert “Shreya Ghoshal Live, All Hearts Tour lshq FM Grand Concert” which was originally scheduled for the 14th of September 2024, to a new date in October 2024. This concert was highly anticipated by all of us, but it is absolutely imperative for me to take a stand and join you all in solidarity. I sincerely pray for the respect and safety of women in this world, not just our country (sic),” it said.

“I am hopeful my friends and fans will accept and understand our decision to push this concert. Please stay together with my band and myself, as we stand united against the demons of humankind. I request you to bear with us while we announce a new date. Your current tickets will remain valid for the new date. Looking forward to seeing you all. Love, prayers and hope, Shreya Ghoshal,” it further read.
The concert is now expected to take place in October. However, no official date has been announced yet.

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

Rajasthan: Loco Pilot averts major accident after goods train collides with motorcycle scrap placed on track, Railways say ‘Deliberate attempt to derail’

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: Loco Pilot averts major accident after goods train collides with motorcycle scrap placed on track, Railways say ‘Deliberate attempt to derail’

At a time when the Indian Railways and probing agencies are investigating multiple sabotage attempts to derail trains, another case of a train derailment attempt has come to light from Rajasthan. According to railway officials, a loco pilot averted a major train derailment and loss of life by promptly applying emergency brakes after the goods train he was operating collided with motorcycle scrap placed on the railway track in Rajasthan’s Baran district. 

According to officials, the incident occurred on the night of 29th August. An unidentified person placed bike scrap on the railway track near Chachauda village in the Chhabra area. A goods train passing through the track on the Kota-Bina railway line in Rajasthan collided with a motorcycle scrap. 

Officials stated that while the incident could have led to a major accident, the disaster was averted because of the attentiveness of the goods train pilot, Vinod Meena. 

The officials added that he stopped the train by applying emergency brakes and prevented a major accident.

Following the incident, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) registered a case to probe whether the scrap was accidentally left on the track or if it was a planned conspiracy.

RPF Commandant A Naveen Kumar said that the incident took place on 28th Aug at 9:27 pm when the loco pilot of the train running on the Kota Bina railway line noticed the motorcycle scrap placed on the track near Chachauda village in the Chhabra area.

Kumar added that someone had left a motorcycle scrap on the railway line and covered it with mud. While a goods train collided with it, however, loco pilot Vinod Meena wisely stopped the goods train by applying emergency brakes, Kumar said. 

According to Kumar, a case has been registered against an unknown person under CR number 284/2024 under sections 147, 153, and 174 of the Railway Act 1989. 

Additionally, efforts are underway to trace the motorbike owner based on the chassis number written on the bike scrap. It is speculated that this scrap was picked up from junk that had been dumped on the railway track, or that it could be the scrap of a bike that had been lying near the railway track after an old accident. 

It is pertinent to note that multiple sabotage attempts to derail trains have been reported in recent months, particularly after the announcement of the results of the Lok Sabha 2024 elections on 4th June.

Pakistan-based Islamic terrorist instigate Jihadis to cause large-scale train derailments in major Indian cities

According to reports, the Indian authorities are currently reviewing train derailment incidents that transpired in the recent past after a video of a Pakistan-based Islamic terrorist, Farhatullah Ghori surfaced online. Notably, the Pakistani terrorist has posted a video on Telegram instigating his supporters to carry out large-scale train derailments in Delhi, Mumbai, and other Indian cities. 

Inciting the Jihadis to interrupt the railway lines and their transportation system, Ghori said that it would cause havoc in India. The terror recruiter on the intelligence establishment’s most wanted list stated, “The government is targeting our properties through ED and NIA, but we will remain steadfast and usurp power sooner or later.”

In the three-minute video posted three weeks ago, Ghori asked the mujahideen to launch an “ishtishadi jung” or “fidayeen war” against Hindu leaders and police.

“Experiment with different tactics to ascertain what works… where they are most vulnerable,” he told them. Intelligence officers confirmed that the video had circulated for 1-2 weeks.

Notably, the Farhatullah Ghori who was designated a terrorist in 2020 has been involved in several terror attacks in India. Ghori was the mastermind of the 2001 Akshardham Temple attack which left 30 dead and 80 injured, the 2004 suicide attack on the Task Force office in Hyderabad, and the 2023 Rameshwaram Café blast case. Terrorist Farhatullah Ghori is originally from Hyderabad, India.

Instances of attempted train sabotage on the rise in India

Nevertheless, the Pakistani terrorist’s clarion call to his fellow jihadis across the border has sounded alarm bells for the Indian intelligence agencies, especially in the wake of multiple train sabotages that have struck the railways after the Lok Sabha 2024 elections. 

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

Recently, an investigation was launched into a suspected act of sabotage after the engine of the Nainpur Jabalpur train collided with an extraneous iron rod placed on the track near Kachhpura station.

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

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

Two men including a son of a local farmer leader were arrested in his case. One of the arrested individuals included Dev Singh and his neighbour Mohan Kumar. Both of them confessed during interrogation that they committed the act to gain fame. 

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

New twist in Andhra Pradesh ‘hidden camera’ case as cops deny existence of obscene videos, students accuse college management of ‘coverup’

OpIndia Staff
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New twist in Andhra Pradesh ‘hidden camera’ case as cops deny existence of obscene videos, students accuse college management of ‘coverup’

A day after female students at SR Gudlavalleru Engineering College in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh launched protests against the alleged voyeurism in the hostel washroom, the local police on Friday (30th August) have ruled out the existence of any ‘hidden cameras.’

The cops also clarified that no incriminating evidence in the form of obscene photos or videos was found in the laptop and cell phone of the engineering student Vijay Kumar, who was arrested in the aftermath of the protests.

While speaking about the matter, Krishna district SP R Gangadhar Rao said, “Police found no concealed cameras in the washrooms of the girls’ hostel premises as of Friday.”

“Police also examined the laptops, mobile phones, and other electronic devices belonging to the suspects in the presence of both students and college staff. However, no incriminating evidence was found,” he emphasised.

In the meantime, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted with only female police officers to further probe the case.

Students accuse college management of intimidation

The students have now accused the management of SR Gudlavalleru Engineering College of ‘covering-up’ the case.

They claimed that the college authorities threatened them against lodging complaints over the alleged discovery of ‘hidden cameras.’

“We (students) don’t have faith in the college management as it has been trying to hush up the matter (alleged hidden cameras issue) for the past three days. The college management threatened to act against us if we complain over this issue,” they said in a statement.

The students have called off their protests after assurance from Andra Pradesh Mines Minister, K Ravindra. They will however attend classes only after the completion of the investigation.

In the aftermath of the incident, security measures have been enhanced at the college.

Atrocities against women, safety of children are serious concerns, many strict laws made but we need to make them more active: PM Narendra Modi

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Atrocities against women, safety of children are serious concerns, many strict laws made but we need to make them more active: PM Narendra Modi

Amid the growing outrage over the alleged murder and sexual assault of a female trainee doctor in Kolkata, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated that many strict laws have been made in the country for the safety of women.

He said half the population (women) will get maximum security when swift action is taken in cases related to atrocities of women.

“Today, atrocities against women, safety of children… are serious concerns of the society. Many strict laws have been made in the country for the safety of women, but we need to make it more active. The faster the decisions are taken in cases related to atrocities against women, the greater assurance of safety half the population will get.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing the inaugural event of the 2-day National Conference of District Judiciary, at Bharat Mandapam on Friday.

His remarks came after West Bengal Chief Minister Banerjee on Friday wrote to PM Modi, reiterating her request for stringent central legislation and exemplary punishment on heinous crimes like rape and murder.

In his address, PM Modi said, “In the Amritkaal of Independence, 140 crore countrymen have only one dream – Developed India, New India. New India, that is – a modern India in thinking and determination. Our judiciary is a strong pillar of this vision.”

Prime Minister Modi said that significant efforts had been made to eliminate delays in justice.

“In the past decade, significant efforts have been made at various levels to eliminate delays in justice. In the last 10 years, the country has spent an amount worth around Rs8,000 crore on the development of judicial infrastructure. Interestingly, 75% of the total amount spent on judicial infrastructure in the last 25 years has been spent in just the last 10 years alone,” the PM said.

“We have got new Indian judicial law in the form of Indian Judicial Code. The spirit of these laws is – ‘Citizen First, Dignity First and Justice First’. Our criminal laws are free from the colonial mindset of rulers and slaves,” he added.

PM Modi also praised the Apex Court and said that the judiciary is the protector of the Constitution.

“In our democracy, the judiciary is considered the protector of the Constitution. This is a huge responsibility in itself. We can say with satisfaction that the Supreme Court has made an excellent effort to fulfill this responsibility,” PM Modi said.

“The people of India have never distrusted the Supreme Court, our judiciary. The 75 years of the Supreme Court, as the ‘mother of democracy’, further enhance India’s pride. This also strengthens our cultural ethos, which say, ‘Satyamev Jayate-Nanritam’,” the PM added.

Before his address, PM Modi inaugurated the two-day National Conference of District Judiciary and unveiled the stamp and coin commemorating 75 years of the establishment of the Supreme Court of India. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud presented a memento to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the event.

The Supreme Court is organising a two-day national conference of the district Judiciary beginning August 31 and September 1.

The two-day Conference, organised by the Supreme Court of India, will host five working sessions that will deliberate and discuss on the issues related to district judiciary such as infrastructure and human resources, inclusive courtrooms for all, judicial security and judicial wellness, case management and judicial training.

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Kapil Sibal, were also present at the event.

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

No one has the right to attack religious beliefs: NDA ally JD(U) criticises Assam assembly’s decision to end British-era 2-hour Jumma break on Fridays

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No one has the right to attack religious beliefs: NDA ally JD(U) criticises Assam assembly’s decision to end British-era 2-hour Jumma break on Fridays

Janata Dal-United (JDU) leader, Neeraj Kumar, on Saturday criticized the Assam government’s decision to scrap the practice of 2-hour adjournment for Jumma prayers in the state assembly and said that no one has the right to attack religious beliefs.

Neeraj told ANI that it would be better if Assam CM had focused more on lifting people above poverty.

“The decision made by the Assam Chief Minister is against the core principles of the country’s Constitution. Every religious belief has the right to preserve its traditions. I want to ask CM Sarma: You are imposing a ban on Friday holidays during Ramadan and claim that this will increase work efficiency. A significant part of Hindu tradition is the Maa Kamakhya Temple–can you impose a ban on the practice of sacrifice there?” he said.

“No one has the right to attack religious beliefs. It would have been better if you focused your attention on lifting people above the poverty line and ensuring that Assam doesn’t have to face floods,” the JDU leader added.

The Assam assembly ended the practice of a two-hour adjournment for Jumma Prayers, every Friday that was introduced by Saadulah’s Muslim League government in colonial Assam.

Speaking on the decision, CM Himanta Biswa said that Hindu and Muslim MLAs together sat and unanimously took the decision that they will work during this period also.

“The Hindus and Muslims of our assembly sat in the MLA’s Rule Committee and unanimously resolved that the two-hour break is not right. We should work during this period as well. This practice started in 1937 and has been discontinued from yesterday,” he said.

According to the previous rule, the sitting of the Assembly on Friday used to be adjourned at 11 am to facilitate Muslim members to go for namaaz, but, as per the new rule, the Assembly will conduct its proceedings without any adjournment for religious purposes.

As per the amended rule, the Assam assembly will commence its proceedings at 9.30 am every day, including Fridays. The order stated that the amendment was done to scrap the colonial practice which aimed at dividing the society on a religious basis.

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

West Bengal: Son of TMC leader rapes minor tribal girl, attempts to strangle her to death, had committed sexual crimes thrice

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: Son of TMC leader rapes minor tribal girl, attempts to strangle her to death, had committed sexual crimes thrice

On Thursday (29th August), the son of a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader was arrested for the rape and attempted murder of a 13-year-old tribal girl. The incident occurred in Banshihari in Gangarampur subdivision in Dakshin Dinajpur district of West Bengal.

As per reports, the accused was identified as Priyanath Rajbanshi. He is the son of Naresh Rajbanshi, an influential TMC booth President. Several family members of the accused are associated with the ruling political dispensation in the State.

Priyanath carried out the heinous crime on Wednesday (28th August) night at the residence of the victim. When the minor raised the alarm, her mother came to her rescue. The accused however managed to flee the crime scene.

Priyanath had reportedly tried to strangle the victim to death using a drawstring after committing rape, leaving serious injury marks on her neck.

On learning about the matter on Thursday (29th August), a police team led by ASP Indrajit Sarkar and IC Asim Gope reached the crime scene and recovered the pants and shoes of the accused. They also arrested Priyanath Rajbanshi while he was trying to escape.

The victim is said to be in critical condition and is currently undergoing treatment at Gangarampur Super Specialty Hospital. The incident has sparked fear and chaos in the Banshihari area.

While speaking about the incident, a local villager named Deepti Rajbanshi stated, “We want justice. The man has committed similar crimes before. We want strict punishment for the accused.”

She cautioned, “If the police do not take any action, we will take the law into our hands.” According to villagers, Priyanath Rajbanshi has been involved in at least 3 incidents of sexual violence.

Another villager named Shibnath Pandey inquired, “Girls have no protection. The government says they are protecting the tribal community. But where is the protection?”

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