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Zuckerberg’s admission, Twitter Files, and more: How USA has been censoring and ‘controlling’ speech while delivering sermons to India

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Zuckerberg’s admission, Twitter Files, and more: How USA has been censoring and ‘controlling’ speech while delivering sermons to India

On 26th August, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg admitted to assisting the Biden-Harris administration in weaponising political censorship to curtail free speech on its platforms, Facebook and Instagram, during the COVID-19 pandemic. He revealed that the United States government, prodded by the White House, interfered in Meta’s content moderation process and coerced its management to censor ‘certain’ Covid-19-related information.

This admission from the tech tycoon comes as the United States aspires to play the role of a global policeman on freedom of speech and expression. US government agencies and US government-funded NGOs always manage to wag a finger at any nation that dares take an exception to their lofty standards. For example, India is regularly targeted and accused of suppressing free speech.

But then, strangely enough, the US strikes hard at India based on these highly debatable, one-sided, and confounding reports, which are more disinformation than information, and lastly, more the US itself preaches and spends, rather than results in revealing its alarming acts of state suppression and censorship that have just come out. It is a classic case of “Do as I say,” with a mark of supreme irony.

Zuckerberg’s Confession: The United States Government’s social media puppetry

This revelation should set off alarm bells worldwide. It shows that the US government can push US-based social media platforms to promote any information they like and suppress what they don’t want the world to see. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s admission that he bent under the pressure of the Biden-Harris administration to censor Americans underscores this. The same government that insists on the sanctity of freedom of expression (FoE) globally felt comfortable twisting the arms of social media giants at home.

Zuckerberg admitted that Meta was subjected to significant pressure from the administration to regulate content that did not align with their preferred narrative. This is a textbook case of governmental overreach, where the supposed protector of free speech has behaved like its biggest threat.

One has to wonder: if the United States government is this brazen about its interference with social media platforms, what else is happening behind closed doors? Perhaps freedom of expression in America is free only as long as it aligns with the interests of those in power.

Twitter Files: The relentless censoring that was exposed after Elon Musk took over Twitter (now X)

The case of Zuckerberg isn’t the only one that defies a superpower, terming it as the guardian of FoE. Twitter was another social media platform that was said to be a chaotic place filled with several complaints against its previous administration. When Musk bought Twitter, all the data on the platform was made accessible to journalists thus making it possible to uncover the ‘shadowy’ manipulation of the US government.

Known as the Twitter Files, it exposed the deep entanglement between Twitter and various government agencies. Twitter was found to be under the thumb of state actors who sought to suppress certain stories and voices. One of the most notable examples was the Hunter Biden laptop story, which was wiped from Twitter and other social media platforms, apparently to save President Joe Biden’s government. Although the Twitter team provided excuses for this action, they were ultimately dismissed, as the story was significant enough to topple Biden’s government. The story resurfaced only after losing its initial impact, effectively saving Biden. There were several other instances where Twitter not only assisted the US government but also other state actors in setting a narrative that suited their ideology and agenda.

In India’s case, several pro-government accounts were suspended over the years merely to voice support for the government or oppose anti-India sentiments. When Musk took over Twitter, he launched a campaign to unsuspend such accounts, granting access to hundreds of thousands of users worldwide. This selective censorship wasn’t just an accident—it was a well-coordinated effort to control the narrative.

Interestingly, the US loves to criticise other nations for restricting access to information. But more often than not, the US government cannot resist the urge to simply control the narrative with its citizens. What the Twitter Files prescribe is a country where freedom of speech is a privilege, not a right of those who toe the line. Orwellian? It is. At least they are transparent about the hypocrisy, no?

Trump’s gag order by United States court: Muzzling a former President

If that is not enough, who can forget how a sitting President in the US was gagged by social media? On his last days in office, Trump got gagged by social media as he went “rogue” and deviated from the liberal nexus of leaders, media, and social media.

More recently, a United States court placed a gag order on former President Donald Trump, which is inarguably burdening free speech about issues of public interest. Many would say that this is plainly an attempt at political gagging of a high-profile figure, with his case raising very serious questions over democracy and the state of free speech in the country today.

The court has barred him from speaking about the Manhattan Criminal Case, the Federal Election Case, the Georgia Election Case, and the Federal Documents Case. It’s laughable yet tragic that the self-proclaimed defender of democracy has actively silenced a former head of state. The gag order against Trump is not just a matter of legal manoeuvring; it is a blatant suppression of dissenting voices. If a former President can be gagged in such a way, how powerless must a general citizen of the US feel? Think about it…

India in the Crosshairs: The hypocrisy of selective outrage

The United States has glaring issues at home that demand its attention. However, its focus is often on other countries and how they manage FoE. India is frequently one of its prime targets. However, in most cases, US agencies rely on questionable reports and misinformation to back their claims.

India is a vibrant democracy with a multilayered and diverse media setup. Hyped as the mother of democracy, India is far more in control of managing her own affairs. At the same time, the US often seems to feel it is its “responsibility” to poke its nose into India’s affairs while ignoring its failures.

The way US behaves, it constitutes a tale of reproach. While it points its eager fingers at others’ sins, it somehow smartly ignores the increasing censorship and suppression within its borders. The moral high ground it professes to occupy is built on shaky foundations, and the facade is crumbling under the weight of its hypocrisy.

It is high time for this so-called superpower to learn that, rather than shouting about free speech to other countries, it should find a reflection in the mirror for a very long time. Because, as it is said, “those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”

Telangana: Idols of Goddesses vandalised in Bhoolaxmi temple in Hyderabad, two suspects arrested

ANI
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Telangana: Idols of Goddesses vandalised in Bhoolaxmi temple in Hyderabad, two suspects arrested

A few unidentified assailants vandalised the idol of the goddess in Bhoolaxmi temple located in the Rakshapuram area in Santosh Nagar police station limits of Hyderabad on Monday night. Two suspects have been arrested by the police in the case.

A huge crowd gathered at the temple and raised slogans against the attack. Police officials reached the spot and tried to take the situation under control.

DCP South East Kanti Lal Patil said, “This incident occurred on Monday between 11.30 pm and 12 pm in the night under the Santosh Nagar police station limits. Police took immediate action and took two people into custody after police had done the tracking through CCTV. Out of that one person is the main responsible. The investigation is in progress.”

He further said that in preliminary investigation names of two people have emerged. He further added, “All those responsible for the vandalism will be nabbed. Two people who are responsible directly have been held. At present there is no evidence of political motive behind the attack.”

BJP Bhagya Nagar district president Samreddy Surender Reddy said that this incident happened at Chandrayanagutta Assembly Constituency Riyasat Nagar division, Rakshapuram colony in Bhoolaxmi temple.

He further said, “The idol of the Bhoolaxmi goddess was vandalised. The local corporator and his people have done this act. This is not the first time this incident has occurred. This has been happening for the last 5 years. This temple has been attacked 5 times. This time the idol of the goddess has been destroyed. Two years ago this same thing happened at Vinayak mandap. They tried to disturb the law and order.”

He further said that this temple is just 50 square Yards away from the police station.

He further added, “Police conduct regular patrolling here but today there has been no patrolling. Two people have been arrested but they are not the main culprits. Police say that two people have been arrested but they have been placed by the corporator. The corporator and a pan shop owner near the temple should be interrogated.”

(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: Police arrest 4 students ahead of ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ protest march claiming they were ‘planning large-scale violence’, BJP to move court

OpIndia Staff
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West Bengal: Police arrest 4 students ahead of ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ protest march claiming they were ‘planning large-scale violence’, BJP to move court

The situation remains tense in West Bengal as Mamata Banerjee’s administration is strongly opposing the “Nabanna Abhijan” rally, organised to protest the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, on 27th August accused the state government of “detaining or arresting” four students, Subhojit Ghosh, Pulokesh Pandit, Goutam Senapati and Pritam Sarkarset to join the protest. He added, “Neither they can be traced nor are they answering their phones. We apprehend that they may have been arrested/detained by the Mamata Police. If something happens to them Mamata Police will be held accountable.”

Adhikari’s assertions were swiftly refuted by the West Bengal Police, who declared that the students had been arrested for allegedly planning violence during the event and were not missing. It also charged the politician with creating “a false narrative” and added, “The four were planning to orchestrate large-scale violence during the Nabanna Abhijan today, and were involved in a conspiracy of murder and attempted murder. They have been arrested in the Interest of public safety and security, and their families have been informed.”

Soon afterwards, Adhikari responded by announcing that the families of the arrested students had approached the Calcutta High Court in this regard and challenged, “See you in Court Mamata Police.”

The ruling Trinamool Congress claimed that the march demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had been organised by political forces and has vehemently opposed it while the Bharatiya Janata Party has accused TMC of stifling dissent. The Kolkata Police have implemented extensive security measures for the protest march to the West Bengal state secretariat which has been arranged to demonstrate against the horrifying rape and death of the 31-year-old trainee doctor.

While the students’ organization “Paschimbanga Chhatro Samaj” insisted that its “Nabanna Abhijan” rally on 27th August would be peaceful and centred on calling for Mamata Banerjee’s resignation along with the arrest of those accountable for the incident, on 26th August Additional Director General of Police (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar announced that the group’s application to hold the march had been denied. He dubbed the agitation as illegal and aimed to trigger unrest in the state.

Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha set to humanize IC 814 hijackers including Masood Azhar’s brother, upcoming web series to show terrorists hugging pilot and playing antakshari with hostages

OpIndia Staff
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Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha set to humanize IC 814 hijackers including Masood Azhar’s brother, upcoming web series to show terrorists hugging pilot and playing antakshari with hostages

Controversial filmmaker Anubhav Sinha is all set to distort one of the darkest chapters in India’s recent history – the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814.

For the unversed, the Airbus was hijacked on 25th December 1999 while it was en route to Delhi from Kathmandu. It was carried out by 5 terrorists belonging to the Islamist outfit ‘Harkat-ul-Mujahideen.’

The Indian government had to release three terrorists Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, Masood Azhar, and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar to secure the release of 185 people (including passengers and crew members).

Anubhav Sinha has created a web series for Netflix dubbed ‘IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack’, which will be spread across 6 episodes. The web series is based on the book “Flight Into Fear”, written by the hijacked plane’s captain Devi Sharan and Srinjoy Chowdhury.

While speaking to The Indian Express, Sinha claimed, “I thought I knew about the incident and then I read the script. I shouldn’t say I didn’t like it, but I thought we should do more with it.”

As such, the controversial filmmaker decided to give a ‘360 degree view of the hijacking’. In his own words, he began ‘researching’ the IC 814 hijacking incident along with film writer Trishant Srivastava and journalist Adrian Levy.

Terrorists played antakshari, apologised to flight caption: Anubhav Sinha

“The three of us then started jamming and that is when it started to take the shape it has now,” Sinha told The Indian Express. And he came up with bizarre findings.

During his interview with the Indian daily, he alleged that the hostages were somehow playing ‘antakshari’ with the Islamic terrorists. Sinha further claimed that the people onboard also exchanged numbers and hugged the hijackers.

On top of it, he alleged that one of the terrorists had hurt the Indian Airlines Flight 814 captain Devi Sharan even ‘apologised’ for his actions.

Hijacking like no other

Anubhav Sinha claimed, “The captain himself told me that one of the terrorists, who was nastiest of the lot and gave him a scar on his neck, came to the captain, hugged and apologised to him.”

He further added, “The hijacker even told the captain, ‘Mai apke kisi kaam aa sakta hu toh batana ap’ (Let me know if you ever need any favour).”

“The captain told me that the people were exchanging phone numbers. They were playing antakshari on the last day,” Sinha continued.

The web series is set to stream on Netflix from 29th August onwards and will feature tense negotiations and high-stakes diplomacy besides obvious distortions.

The reality of IC 814 Hijacking

It must be mentioned that one of the hijackers of Indian Airlines Flight 814 was Ibrahim Azhar, the elder brother of Masood Azhar.

He along with the 4 other terrorists onboard the airbus brutally killed a 27-year-old electronic engineer named Rupin Katyal, who was on his honeymoon with his wife Rachna.

Rupin was stabbed to death while Rachna remained with other hostages, unknowing of the tragedy that befell her fate. “I had no idea that he was stabbed. I don’t know why it happened to me,” the widowed Rachna said in 2009.

A Bhopal-based builder named Durgesh Goel who was on the same hijacked flight suffered nightmares for years at an end. The memory of the incident still haunts him and his wife Renu.

“It took me 10 years to board a flight after that incident. My wife and I lived through a nightmare that will remain seared in our souls,” he told The Times of India.

He emphasised, “Bhola and Burger used to hit passengers, while Doctor and Chief used to talk with the authorities. Those 175 hours were the worst part of each passenger’s life who was on that flight.”

While Anubhav Sinha was to give his usual ‘Bollywood spin’ to a national tragedy, the testimonies of the victims onboard Indian Airlines Flight 814 would always thwart attempts to humanise terrorists.

The terrorists released in exchange for hostages

Maulana Masood Azhar, upon his release, started a new outfit named ‘Jaish-e-Mohammed’ (JeM). Within a year of its inception, JeM launched a series of deadly attacks that almost brought India and Pakistan to the brink of a full-scale war.

Azhar has been responsible for several direct attacks on Indian soil including on the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the Pathankot airbase attack in January 2016 and the 2019 Pulwama terror attacks.

Freed terrorist Omar Sheikh, just like Maulana Masood Azhar, became one of the biggest security threats not just for India, but for the United States.

All thanks to his connections inside Pakistan’s military and the innermost circles of Osama Bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda. He is known for the 2002 beheading of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, who was investigating the financing of Al-Qaeda.

In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in the United States, the US investigators had discovered that Omar Sheikh used aliases to send money from the United Arab Emirates to Mohamed Atta –  the main terrorist leader of the 9/11 attacks.

After his release, terrorist Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar carried out several terror attacks in Kashmir. He actively recruited and trained youngsters for ‘Jihad’.

The intelligence officials believe that Zargar is suspected to be the man behind the June 2019 terror attack in Kashmir’s Anantnag, in which five CRPF personnel were killed and three others were injured after terrorists attacked them with grenades. In 2017, Zargar claimed responsibility for many of the grenade attacks on the security forces in the Kashmir valley.

Manipur: BJP leader Michael Lamjathang Haokip’s house attacked after TV discussion on ‘Kuki Supremacy & its agenda’, bullets fired, rooms set on fire

OpIndia Staff
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Manipur: BJP leader Michael Lamjathang Haokip’s house attacked after TV discussion on ‘Kuki Supremacy & its agenda’, bullets fired, rooms set on fire

On Monday, 26th August, the house of Michael Lamjathang Haokip, a BJP spokesperson and Thadou community leader, was attacked in the Churachandpur district of Manipur after he participated in a TV discussion. The discussion in which the leader was the panelist was titled “Kuki Supremacy and Its Propaganda.” During the incident, the miscreants are believed to have shot approximately ten rounds of bullets at his house.

Manipur CM N Biren Singh took cognizance of the event and condemned the attack. Calling the attack an act of cowardice, he said, “I consider this personal harm being put on one of our recognized tribes as a direct challenge to the unity and the integrity of the State. Attacks on any particular community of the recognized tribes of Manipur as well as the attack on the family of the BJP Spokesperson are condemned in the strongest terms. We will initiate appropriate legal action against the culprits.”

As per the CM, the leader belongs to the Thadou community which is the oldest among the ethnic tribes of Manipur. Haokip, while talking about the vandalism to NDTV, mentioned that two rooms of his house were set on fire by the miscreants. “Around 30 people barged in at 10.30 pm. They poured kerosene on the walls and burned two rooms. They also fired many rounds in the air to scare our neighbors and other residents in the neighborhood. Everybody in the area is angry at the attackers,” the leader said.

State minister Govindas Konthoujam also condemned the incident on X. “I strongly condemn the barbaric attack on Thadou student leader & BJP Manipur Spokesperson Michael Lamjathang Haokip in Peniel village, Churachandpur. This cowardly act of violence against his home & family is not just an assault on an individual but on the entire Thadou community & our civilization. Such heinous acts expose the mentality of those who, are unable to engage in logical debate & resort to violence. We must stand united against such attempts to silence voices through fear,” he said.

The Thadou Community International (TCI) also strongly condemned the attack on Michael Lamjathang Haokip’s home. According to TCI, the attack occurred about 10:30 pm local time on August 25th, 2024, when about thirty armed miscreants suspected of supporting the Kuki supremacy movement attacked his residence in Peniel village, Churachandpur, Manipur. The intruders shot several rounds of weapons, entered the house, and set fire to some of the belongings.

Image- NDTV

Following the incident, a video emerged on social media of a man brandishing a gun and threatening to kill Michael Lamjathang. The attack happened just hours after Michael took part in a TV panel debate on “Kuki Supremacy and Its Agenda.” This is the second attack on his residence, after the first that took place in May 2023 and involved blazes and gunshots by alleged armed Kuki militants. Michael had also survived an attempted assassination in April 2023.

The TCI statement condemned the incident, calling it brutal, cowardly, and an attack on the entire Thadou community. The statement highlighted that the incident was an attempt to instill terror in the Thadou community as well as an assault on civilization. “What Michael discussed, as part of the panel discussion last night, about the historical and ongoing persecution of Thadous by extremist Kuki supremacists was the tip of the iceberg,” the statement added.

Haokip stated that he has been raising awareness about his tribe, Thadou, being incorrectly identified as a Kuki tribe during the ethnic conflict in Manipur. He claimed that was the second time his residence in Churachandpur had been attacked, purportedly by individuals who do not recognize the Thadou tribe’s distinct identity.

Maharashtra: Auto driver rapes 19-year-old nursing student after spiking her drink, search launched to arrest the accused

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: Auto driver rapes 19-year-old nursing student after spiking her drink, search launched to arrest the accused

As the country is reeling under the shock of the horrific rape and murder of a trainee female doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital, another heinous case has come to light, this time from Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri. According to police, an unknown auto-driver raped a 19-year-old nursing student after giving her spiked water. The victim was found unconscious and severely injured near Champak Ground in Ratnagiri district on Tuesday (August 27). She was shifted to the district hospital for treatment.

According to the hospital sources, the victim has sustained multiple injuries which has raised suspicions of a brutal sexual assault or rape. 

According to police officials, the nursing student booked an auto for college when the driver sexually assaulted her and fled from there. After regaining consciousness, the survivor called her family. Subsequently, her family lodged a Police complaint on Monday.

The Police said that an auto-rickshaw driver allegedly drugged and raped a 19-year-old nursing student on her way home from college in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri. According to reports, the driver offered her spiked water and after she lost consciousness, he took her to a secluded place and sexually assaulted her.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Jayashree Gaikwad said that the age of the victim is 19 years. On the 26th of August morning, she took an auto rickshaw from the bus stand to go to college. During this time, the driver gave her water to drink. The victim lost consciousness when she drank the water. 

When the victim regained consciousness, she found herself in a forest with her clothes torn. There were injury marks on her hands. Following the sexual assault, she reached the hospital and informed the Police about the incident. Police have registered a case against an unknown auto driver. They have launched a probe into this case and are making efforts to identify and arrest the culprits. 

They are searching for the accused auto-rickshaw driver with the help of CCTV footage. Meanwhile, the survivor was admitted to the government hospital for treatment. 

The case has sparked massive outrage in Ratnagiri with angry residents gathering in large numbers to demand Justice. They have staged a protest by holding ‘Rasta Roko Andolan’ (Road Block). 

It is pertinent to note that the incident has come to light at a time when widespread protests are taking place across the nation to demand Justice for the 31-year-old trainee female doctor who was raped and murdered in Kolkata’s state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on 9th August. 

The case brought into the spotlight the horrific cases in recent times where medical staff had been attacked or sexually assaulted in their workplace and elsewhere. Click here, to read in detail the safety concerns raised by the health care professionals as well as major instances of attacks on medical staff in recent years. 

This has led healthcare professionals to launch strikes and nationwide protests to demand strict laws to ensure their security at the workplace and outside. 

Additionally, it has also drawn attention to the heinous cases of crime against women and minors, with voices getting louder to demand exemplary and swift punishment in such cases. 

How ‘Muslim journalists’ and Congress leader lied to paint the death of beef smuggler as ‘mob lynching by a Hindu mob’: Read details

OpIndia Staff
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How ‘Muslim journalists’ and Congress leader lied to paint the death of beef smuggler as ‘mob lynching by a Hindu mob’: Read details

On 25th August, 22-year-old Monu, son of Wasim, a resident of Sohalpur Gada, Uttarakhand jumped into a pool to flee from the cow protection team of police which resulted in his death. However, the incident soon led to a major uproar as many Islamists on social media tried to give it a communal colour and indulged in spreading fake news after which the Uttarakhand Police warned to take strict action against those responsible for rumor-mongering.

“Misleading posts have been made on social media handles giving wrong information regarding the death of a youth in Madhopur village of Roorkee. In this regard, strict action has been taken by Haridwar Police and three cases have been registered. Please do not comment or share any post without knowing the truth,” it stated on X (formerly Twitter).

Meanwhile, Haridwar Police also informed, “Social media users are trying to destroy the communal harmony by circulating fraudulent and deceptive information about a youth’s death in Madhopur village of Roorkee Ganganahar district, yesterday, claiming mob lynching, assault and other allegations. The young person abandoned his scooter and leapt into the pond to evade the police’s “Gauvansh Squad” but the postmortem report is still pending. Haridwar Police has undertaken stringent measures and opened three cases in Ganganahar police station under relevant sections. Haridwar Police appeals to the general public not to share misleading posts on social media without knowing the truth, otherwise, strict legal action will be taken and the perpetrator will be subjected to legal action.”

Misleading posts by the Islamists

‘Journalist’ Zakir Ali Tyagi referred to the deceased as 22-year-old gym trainer Wasim who was shot dead and thrown in the pond by police. He then quoted the family members and alleged that Wasim was returning after having dinner at his sister’s house in Madhopur of Roorkee’s Ganganahar police station area. However, the Gauvansh Squad team arrived there and caught him. He was then shot, beaten and thrown in the pond. The team stood around it with guns and told Wasim that if he came out, they would shoot him. When the villagers tried to save the young man, the police threatened to shoot them too and chased them away. Eventually, the injured Wasim drowned in the pond and died.”

“Haridwar Roorkee- Gym trainer Wasim was returning after having food at his sister’s house. The cow squad team arrived, caught him, shot him, beat him and then threw him into a pond. The team stood around the pond with guns and told Wasim that if he came out, they would shoot him. When the villagers tried to save the youth, the police chased them away, threatening to shoot them. Ultimately the injured Wasim drowned in the pond and died,” claimed Congress leader Nazar Faridi.

Another netizen alleged, “In Madhopur, Roorkee, a young man Bahsir Qureshi alias Monu was murdered and his body was thrown into a pond. The family members allege that the police are trying to cover up the matter.”

According to the information, the team of Gauvansh Sanrakshan Squad received information from an informer that a young man was going to smuggle beef on a bike near Madhopur village of Roorkee Ganganahar Kotwali area. On this information, the team of Gauvansh Sanrakshan Squad reached near Madhopur village to catch him. He reportedly jumped into the pond of Madhopur village and died by drowning in the pond to escape from the police team.

Indian govt investigates use of messaging platform Telegram for alleged illegal activities, including extortion and gambling; may ban post probe

OpIndia Staff
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Indian govt investigates use of messaging platform Telegram for alleged illegal activities, including extortion and gambling; may ban post probe

The Indian government is conducting an investigation into Telegram’s alleged usage in illegal activities such as extortion and gambling. As per the reports, the messaging app may be banned if the investigation’s results are confirmed.

The news comes only days after Pavel Durov, the 39-year-old founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested in Paris on August 24th for the app’s moderation practices. He was held for failing to prevent illegal activity on the app. “The Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C) (under MHA) and MeitY have been looking into P2P communications on Telegram,” a government official was quoted as saying by Moneycontrol on August 25th. 

He said that the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) were conducting the investigation, which focused on illicit acts such as extortion and gambling.

The official meanwhile refused to rule out blocking the platform, which has over 5 million registered users in India but stated that the decision will be based on the results of the investigation. In recent years, Telegram and other social media platforms have emerged as breeding grounds for criminal activity, including frauds that have cost citizens crores of rupees.

Telegram was recently in the headlines due to the UGC-NEET debate, which sparked student protests and prompted the Supreme Court to intervene. The question paper for the medical entrance exam was leaked and purportedly widely distributed over Telegram, an encrypted messaging service. According to reports, the paper was selling on the platform for anywhere from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000.

Notably, the government is investigating the non-IT violations. “The platform is compliant with the IT rules,” the official stated. The IT guidelines require platforms like Telegram to establish a nodal officer and a chief compliance officer, as well as publish monthly compliance reports.

Authorities frequently have difficulties examining sites that do not operate in India. The lack of a local office impedes direct communication, hampering attempts to obtain user data. “We will examine the kind of material that we get and based on our laws, we will come to a conclusion,” the official stated.

Durov was arrested at Bourget airport outside Paris by French officials, who are examining Telegram’s lack of moderators. Durov was arrested for illicit behavior such as drug trafficking and the distribution of child sexual abuse images on the chat platform.

In a statement issued early on August 26th, the company stated, “Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. Almost a billion users globally use Telegram as a means of communication and as a source of vital information. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all… It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner is responsible for abuse of that platform.”

Durov’s detention was strongly condemned by key tech personalities. Former NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden described the arrest as an assault on the fundamental human rights of speech and association.

Balaji Srinivasan, an American entrepreneur, claimed that the French government’s activities were more about control than crime prevention. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin stated that, while he had previously criticized Telegram’s encryption policy, the arrest sparked concerns about the future of European communication freedom.

This is not the first time Telegram has come under scrutiny in India. In October, the IT ministry sent letters to Telegram and other social media companies, urging them to remove child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from their platforms.

On May 23rd, the government, acting on the home ministry’s recommendations, prohibited many encrypted messaging networks, including Briar, Element, Germany-based Crypviser, UK-based Enigma, Switzerland-based SafeSwiss, and AWS-owned Wickr. Recently, the IT ministry considered shutting down Proton Mail, an end-to-end encrypted email platform that was being used to transmit false bomb threats to schools, malls, and even airports.

Telegram claims it has over 950 million active users. It is frequently used in France as a messaging tool, notably by some officials in the presidential palace and the ministry overseeing the Durov probe. However, French police during the discussion discovered that the application had been used by both terrorists and narcotics dealers for illegal purposes. 

Bihar Sunni Waqf Board sends notice to 7 Hindu houses claiming ownership, fails to give proof in Patna HC: Here’s what happened

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar Sunni Waqf Board sends notice to 7 Hindu houses claiming ownership, fails to give proof in Patna HC: Here’s what happened

Back in 2022, OpIndia reported how the Waqf Board had encroached on an entire village with a Hindu majority population in Tamil Nadu, and later it emerged that over 7 such Hindu villages. The sinister trend has extended to Bihar now wherein it has been reported that the Bihar Sunni Waqf Board has issued a notice in the Hindu-majority Govindpur village of Fatuha near Patna claiming ownership of around 7 Hindu houses.

The Sunni Waqf Board has been frequently issuing notices to residents of Govindpur village who have built houses and have been living there for many years. There are around 95% Hindu families living in this village.

The Sunni Waqf Board notice written in Urdu stated that this land belonged to the Waqf Board and that the residents should evacuate it within 30 30-day time period. The Waqf Board also erected a board regarding the same, which is still standing The afflicted continued to visit the officials but received no relief. When the residents approached the Patna High Court, the Waqf Board was unable to produce any proof for claiming the ownership of 7 Hindu houses and the Patna High Court thus granted relief to the Hindu residents.

Among those who received the Bihar Sunni Waqf Board notice include Brijesh Ballabh Prasad, Rajkishore Mehta, Ramlal Sao, Malti Devi, Sanjay Prasad, Sudip Kumar and Surendra Vishwakarma.

The Hindu residents who received Waqf notices told the media that their ancestors have been residing in Govindpur village since the survey was conducted in 1908. While the residents have received immediate relief from the court, they are scared that the Waqf Board can challenge their properties or other houses in the area employing some or the other tactic since the board is very powerful.

Notably, back in 2022, OpIndia reported a similar attempt by Waqf Board to encroach Hindu houses in Tamil Nadu. It was reported that the Waqf Board had encroached on a Hindu majority village hiruchenthurai village near Trichy in Tamil Nadu. The issue was uncovered when a person named Rajagopal attempted to sell his 1 acre 2 cents of land to one Rajarajeshwari. When Rajagopal, a resident of the nearby village Mullikarupur village arrived at the Registrar’s office to get the sale of his land registered, he was surprised to learn that the land did not belong to him and instead belonged to the Waqf Board.

Later, it was reported that this village is not the only one. The report suggests that the Tamil Nadu Waqf board has claimed ownership of 7 such Hindu villages in the state. The villagers have additionally, alleged that the Waqf Board has also claimed that the 1500-year-old Sundareswarar Temple belongs to them. The Waqf Board placed posters across the villages claiming ownership of the village land.

4-year-old dies after attack by stray dog in Bhiwandi, MLA Rais Shaikh holds Municipal Corporation responsible, demands FIR

OpIndia Staff
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4-year-old dies after attack by stray dog in Bhiwandi, MLA Rais Shaikh holds Municipal Corporation responsible, demands FIR

On Monday, 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.

As per the reports, local residents of Bhiwandi’s Shanti Nagar locality killed a stray dog on the 10th of July after it had bitten numerous people in the preceding two days. According to locals, three dogs, including the one killed, bit 135 persons in Bhiwandi including over 30 children aged 4 to 12 in recent weeks. The injured were shifted to Bhiwandi’s Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital for treatment. 

According to Shanti Nagar locals, the Bhiwandi Nizampur City Municipal Corporation’s (BNCMC) dog sterilization clinic has remained closed for several years, increasing the city’s stray dog population.

Meanwhile, Bhiwandi East MLA Rais Shaikh has commented on the issue and demanded an FIR be filed for negligence in the case. “In the past two or three months, nearly 800 children have been attacked by dogs in Bhiwandi. Another girl, Nayeeb, who a dog bit on July 8, passed away today. She was in a lot of pain and it is a sad incident,” Shaikh said.

“The incident took place during the assembly session and we had provided details then as well and sought an inquiry by the collector. This is negligence as in January, a tender should have been issued to sterilize street dogs, which has not been done as yet,” he added.

As per a report by Hindustan Times, another girl named Laiba also lost her life to a severe dog bite on Sunday, 26th August. Riyaz Shaikh, Laiba’s grandfather commented on the issue and said that the girl suffered an injury on her right cheek. “My granddaughter suffered an injury to her right cheek. The dogs were uncontrollable, and we alerted each other about this particular dog as many of us noticed it attacking people. Unfortunately, my child could not survive the pain from the incident. She was continuously hospitalized, first at Indira Gandhi Government Hospital, then Kalwa Hospital, and finally at Sion Hospital. The doctors said the poison had spread throughout her body,” he added.

The residents of the Shanti Nagar area in Bhiwandi have expressed concern over increasing incidents of dog bites. They say that small children were bitten on the chest, legs, hands in multiple incidents. Also, several bikers and auto drivers had been attacked. Shaikh added. “It’s the municipal corporation’s fault for not taking cognizance of the matter.”

Meanwhile, the Bhiwandi Nizampur City Municipal Corporation (BNCMC) has stated that the cause of death of the minor girl will be investigated and action will soon be taken.

India has the world’s highest number of rabies cases

Rabies is a preventable viral disease that is most commonly spread via a rabid animal’s bite. The rabies virus attacks the central nervous system of the victim, resulting in brain illness and death. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), every year, more than 55,000 individuals die as a result of a dog bite due to a lack of awareness about the importance of seeking medical attention after a dog bite. The majority of these deaths occur in Asia and Africa. India is a rabies-endemic country, accounting for 36% of global rabies deaths.

As per WHO’s data, rabies kills around 18,000 to 20,000 people each year in India. Further, minors under the age of 15 account for 30-60% of reported rabies cases and deaths in India, as bites in minors frequently go unrecognized and unreported. Notably, a report by Times of India from July 2023 stated that around 307 persons died of rabies in India in the year 2022.

Dog bites generate around 96% of rabies cases and deaths in India. According to the Association for the Prevention and Control of Rabies in India (APCRI), India records several lakh dogbites each year. In India, dogs are responsible for about 97% of human rabies, followed by cats (2%) and jackals and mongoose (1%).

In September 2023, a 14-year-old boy identified as Shahvej lost his life one and a half months after he was bitten by a dog in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. The boy didn’t inform about the dog bite at home and failed to take the anti-rabies vaccine, as a result, the family was unaware of his deteriorating health. 

In June last year, a ‘dog lover’ named Stephin V Pareira died of rabies in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram. She used to feed stray dogs and had neglected scratches made by one of the dogs in her hand while feeding the animal. Her rabies symptoms were diagnosed while she was taking care of her sick brother in the hospital. Despite treatment, she succumbed on June 17 last year.

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