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Ebrahim Pandor, Amjad Hussain sentenced to jail in England’s historic sexual abuse inquiry, jail terms totalling almost 400 years given out to 28 sexual predators

OpIndia Staff
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Ebrahim Pandor, Amjad Hussain sentenced to jail in England’s historic sexual abuse inquiry, jail terms totalling almost 400 years given out to 28 sexual predators

Twenty-eight sexual predators who preyed on helpless females in Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England have received prison sentences totaling nearly 400 years. Another two men were jailed on 31st July at Leeds Crown Court as part of Kirklees Police’s ongoing Operation Tourway investigation into non-recent sexual assault.

Ebrahim Pandor and Amjad Hussain have been jailed for crimes perpetrated against a single female victim in Kirklees between 2004 and 2012. Pandor (44) of Dewsbury received a six-year sentence for child trafficking and Hussain (45) of Dewsbury has been sentenced to ten years in prison for rape. 

Leeds Crown Court learned that the female victim in the recent case was trafficked by Pandor when she was between the ages of 13 and 14, and then raped by Hussain when she was 18.

Operation Tourway has been a long-running inquiry into the sexual abuse and trafficking of eight female victims in North Kirklees from 1999 to 2012. During the trials, juries heard numerous anecdotes of how vulnerable victims were targeted and groomed by their abusers, who exploited them almost like commodities.

Several individuals have been sentenced to more than 20 years in prison, with one serving 30 years. The combined punishment of the 28 accused persons has now totaled 400 years.

Detective Chief Inspector Oliver Coates of Kirklees District Police commented on the matter and welcomed the punishment announced to the two accused. “During trials for Operation Tourway,  juries have heard some shocking accounts of how badly these young women were abused, and this is reflected in the significant sentences handed down by the court. The simple fact that 28 men have been sentenced to almost 400 years in jail between them, speaks volumes for the depravity of some of the acts committed by them,” he said.

“The length of time between offences in this particular case illustrates the sheer hold defendants were able to exert on victims and the depth of the grooming the victim in this case, and in others like it, suffered. I want to thank her and praise her courage for coming forward in her 30s to make us aware of this dreadful offending and then proving so resolute in helping us secure justice,” he added.

 

Paris Olympics 2024: Indian hockey team beats Australia 3-2, first Olympics victory against the Aussies in 52 years

Jinit Jain
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Paris Olympics 2024: Indian hockey team beats Australia 3-2, first Olympics victory against the Aussies in 52 years

India triumphed over World No. 4 Australia, the silver medallists from Tokyo 2020, with a 3-2 victory in their final Pool B match of Friday’s Paris 2024 Olympics hockey competition. This marks the Indian men’s first Olympic win against Australia since the 1972 Munich Games.

India started strong, taking a 2-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. Abhishek netted his second goal in as many games during open play in the 12th minute, and captain Harmanpreet Singh successfully converted a penalty corner in the 13th. Although Australia had several attempts on goal in the first quarter, Indian goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh effectively defended his team’s lead.

Australia reduced the deficit to 1-2 at halftime with a goal from Thomas Craig in the 25th minute. Harmanpreet Singh extended India’s lead to 3-1 in the third quarter by converting a penalty stroke after a successful video referral. Harmanpreet’s drag flick had struck Flynn Ogilvie’s foot on the line, which the referee initially missed, prompting the review.

Australia put up a strong fight in the final quarter and gave India a scare when Blake Govers made it 3-2 with a penalty stroke. However, India held its nerve and concluded the group stage on a high note.

Before this match, the Indian men’s hockey team had already secured its place in the quarterfinals, having won against Ireland and New Zealand, and drawn against 2016 champion Argentina.

Officials not working is norm, no respect for law: Delhi HC slams police, MCD over deaths of 3 IAS aspirants in coaching centre, transfers probe to CBI under CVC supervision

OpIndia Staff
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Officials not working is norm, no respect for law: Delhi HC slams police, MCD over deaths of 3 IAS aspirants in coaching centre, transfers probe to CBI under CVC supervision

Delhi High Court came down heavily on Aam Aadmi Party-ruled Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Delhi Police on 2nd August in response to a petition filed by students regarding the drowning of three civil service aspirants in the flooded basement of a coaching centre. The bench of ACJ Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gadela asked why the commissioner was not notified by MCD officials about the area’s malfunctioning stormwater drains. The court also slammed police for not questioning any official so far, and for instead arresting a passerby accusing him of creating waves with his car.

Unhappy with the police probe so far into the incident and the causes behind it, including the role of officials responsible for maintaining drains, the High Court transferred the case to CBI. The court cited the seriousness of the case and the possibility of corruption by public servants. The Delhi High Court also directed the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) to nominate a senior officer to oversee the CBI probe into the deaths of the Civil Services aspirants.

The bench also directed MCD commissioner to ensure that the drains in the area are functional and if their capacity has to be increased, the same should be done in a systematic manner at the earliest. The court ordered the removal of Encroachments and illegal constructions immediately.

The Court also said that there were serious issues plaguing the functioning of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) and added that the entire system would need a relook.

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the creation of a high-level committee to look into the deaths of UPSC candidates in the Old Rajender Nagar area was being heard by the high court. A petitioner’s attorney brought up the possibility that the Delhi Police was involved in the incident, emphasizing the role of a police chowki. The court conveyed that personnel not performing their duties must be informed that such behaviour will not be tolerated. The court stated that it has issued several instructions in a suo motu case, along with specific deadlines, yet the MCD has completely disregarded them.

“You keep on passing orders. These orders are not implemented. Their whole case is that there is an order that is not abided by. There is no respect in law by your department. This has gone too far. That can’t happen. You should have a robust mechanism where people should come to you and you should get feedback,” expressed ACJ Manmohan. “Your person supervising is not doing anything. He is not moving out of his office. What is the action against this man? If the portion of the drain was under repair, someone should have done something. Why was the officer not aware of all this? Everyone knew how hot summer had been. You need not be a scientist to know it would be heavy rainfall this monsoon,” the court further asked.

The court remarked that the staff at MCD believes they are above the law and no action would be taken against them. The bench questioned, “The water flooded, and now it is being told that the basement of that coaching centre was at a lower height than others. Then why was the building sanctioned? And even if it was, why there were no pumps? We are not engineers, even then we know it.”

The court also slammed the Delhi Police for not taking any immediate measures and noted, “You ask the people and MCD but then wait. Why are you powerless? You are the police you will get a response immediately. You do not know how to get files from the MCD office. You should be proactive. They are trained for all this. You think criminals will come to you and confess themselves? No, you will have to investigate.” It added, “Mercifully, you have not challaned rainwater for entering into the basement, the way you arrested the SUV driver for driving his car there,” while talking a jibe at the Delhi Police.

The court revealed that a student had written a complaint one month before the occurrence and five days later, DFS carried out an inspection after which they passed a certificate of clearance. “How come the basement which was for storage became a library in 25 days? How come,” it asked. The court pointed out, “We are not investigators. We are just asking you questions. The fact that statements of MCD officials are not recorded seems to be very glaring at first blush. Three people have lost their lives. And it’s becoming a norm, that MCD officials are not working.”

On the role of the Delhi Fire Service, the police told the court that the reply of the DFS was evasive. They said there was firefighting equipment in place. “We will proceed against them sir,” the Delhi Police Commissioner (DCP) said.

The court mentioned that there must be some responsibility and pointed out that certain organizations have traversed legal boundaries. It highlighted, “We have orders to show. I passed a judicial order in January saying that I would wind up MCD as they were not paying salaries to its employees. I got the money from them. That matter has been pending since 2017. Imagine, for seven years we were trying to control you. Your financial health is precarious. Whenever a building is sealed today due to unauthorised construction, its size increases. From two floors, it becomes five floors.”

The court voiced that their orders have been repeatedly ignored. “This is happening in 2024. I am not talking about some old times. Your sealing process is, you put some symbol and thread and say it’s sealed. Anyone can enter, exit and construct. We keep on passing orders, they keep on falling on deaf ears.” The bench conveyed that criminal procedure would be used to address the incident and the Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI) would be brought in. “This requires a systematic approach. There is a larger malice in all this. This tragedy will have to be dealt with by way of criminal process. But the criminal process is also not very flawless. We’ll send it to CBI and get it monitored. As far as this is concerned, there is a problem with MCD.”

The court criticised the Delhi Police for not questioning MCD officials and for not collecting any documents. “Whom did you call from MCD? Which official have you called? You’ve not even called a minion. You’ve not taken care of the file. You know how they function. We see their files every day. We don’t know how their files change. Your officer should have gone on day one and get the file. It’s again a case of neglect which is chargeable.” Delhi Police issued an apology but placed the blame for the unfavourable impression on media reporting.

Slamming the Delhi police for not questioning MCD officers and arresting a driver instead, the court said, “You do not even have the audacity to call the MCD officials. Mercifully, you have not challaned the water and asked the water how it entered the basement. You arrested a driver. The MCD officers are responsible to desilt. If he does not do that, he must understand that this is criminal negligence.”

On the arrest of Manuj Kathuria for allegedly creating waves by driving on the flooded road, the court said, “How a person who was passing on the road arrested? This is not fair. The maximum someone deserves in this situation is an apology. Police is respected when you arrest the culprit and leave the innocent. If you arrest the innocent and leave the guilty, it would be very sad.” Notably, Kathuria was released yesterday on bail granted by district court after the magistrate court refused him bail a day earlier.

The court further chastised the Delhi administration of the Aam Aadmi Party for failing to hold any new programs and not having even one cabinet meeting in the previous few months. The court noted that no cabinet meeting has been held by the Delhi govt for months, and as a result, no new project has been cleared.

“Today any project you have to do is 5 crores. There is chaos in the standing committee. It has not been formed in the last year. Who is for Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD? What’s the next cabinet meeting date? The cabinet meeting has not happened in the last five or six months. No project is taking place. Imagine this is the administrative chaos we are dealing with here. We are going to dictate this order. When was the last cabinet meeting held and when is the next meeting? Let us know quickly.”

Due to these governance issues, the court ordered the constitution of a committee headed by the Delhi Chief Secretary to examine the financial and administrative set-up of Delhi and submit a report. The Committee will have Delhi Chief Secretary, DDA VC, Delhi Police Commissioner, and the Committee is directed to submit its report within eight weeks, the court directed.

The bench pronounced, “Whole Delhi infrastructure, physical and administrative, needs a relook.” The Delhi Police were told by the court not to give in to outside pressure and were instructed to carry out the inquiry in a scientific manner. The Delhi Police was also ordered by the court to give a detailed account of the circumstances, adding that it would be improper to do otherwise and drawing comparisons to a “brothers club” mentality.

The Delhi Police arrested the owner and the coordinator of Rau’s IAS Study Circle and charged them with culpable homicide after three students, Shreya Yadav (25) from Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad, Tanya Soni (25) of Telangana and Nevin Delvin (24) from Ernakulam in Kerala died in its flooded basement in Old Rajinder Nagar. According to officials, the tragic instance happened as a result of the basement being used for commercial activities against rules and the lack of a drainage system and safety precautions.

Remove Kalava, eat halal, change name: 3 Muslim students try to convert a Hindu classmate to Islam in West London school, suspended

OpIndia Staff
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Remove Kalava, eat halal, change name: 3 Muslim students try to convert a Hindu classmate to Islam in West London school, suspended

On Friday, 2nd August, 3 Muslim children were suspended from Springwell School in Hounslow, West London, after they tried to forcefully convert one of their Hindu classmates to Islam. The Muslim students brainwashed the Hindu child into agreeing to alter his name to Mohammed and remove his kalava (sacred thread tied to the wrist) with scissors. The Muslim boys additionally advised the Hindu boy that eating meat would make him stronger and halal meat is stronger. This is even though they knew he was a vegetarian.

The incident came to the fore only after the parents of the Hindu child noticed changes in his behaviour after he returned from school one day. They learnt that their son’s Muslim classmates were motivating him to convert to Islam. They even threatened to stop talking to him if he did not change his religion.

The parents then talked to the class teacher who allegedly tried to pacify the matter saying that it must be the part of kids’ exploration. The parents continued to question the Muslim students’ activities. “I love any religion. It’s not the problem. But what I am worried about is those kids who have been taught like this by their parents or someone,” the parents said expressing concern about why were the Muslims trying to convert their son.

But the situation escalated after the minor boy told his mother that he wants to change his name to Muhammad. “I was at work and in the afternoon I got a phone call from my son’s mummy and she said to me that our son wants to change his name to Muhammad. I am like where is this coming from and I was really shocked actually to hear that. We never talk about any other religion at home, not even our own religion. We just keep it to us adults, especially with kids,” the father of the boy said.

The family then approached the school administration and informed them about the incident. The school took cognizance of the incident and learned that the Muslim students had threatened the Hindu boy of cutting the friendship ties if he failed to change his religion. The school eventually ended up suspending the students.

“In this day and age, we all have freedom of expression but then you know people they use the kids, I mean, if that is the case in this in scenario then it’s really sad,” the Indian father added.

The parent revealed Ealing Nub News email correspondence between himself and Springwell’s Headteacher, Mrs Kamaljeet Grewal, who acknowledged the problem. She informed the parent that the school is actively working to build a safe and inclusive environment, with procedures in place to avoid grooming, indoctrination, and pressure based on religious or ideological beliefs. 

The family also informed other families and neighbours about the incident, worried that it might be happening to other students and in other schools too.

Atiq Ahmed often soiled his trousers while in jail: Here is what the Judicial Commission’s report reveals, giving clean chit to police

अर्पित त्रिपाठी
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Atiq Ahmed often soiled his trousers while in jail: Here is what the Judicial Commission’s report reveals, giving clean chit to police

On the 15th of April 2023, three gunmen shot and killed Mafia Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf outside a hospital in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. This incident occurred in front of media cameras. Numerous questions were raised over the killing of the mafia brothers.

The Uttar Pradesh government appointed a five-member judicial commission to investigate the matter. Dilip B Bhosale, former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, presided over this judicial panel. On the 1st of August 2024, the commission presented its report to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. OpIndia has accessed the commission’s report.

In this case, the judicial commission found no negligence on the part of the police and granted the police a clean chit. Other than this, the judicial commission’s report discusses Atiq Ahmed’s health. The report also raised questions about the role of media. According to the report, Atiq Ahmed repeatedly peed and pooped in his pyjamas.

The judicial commission has stated that the police were not involved in this incident. The commission said that the killing of the mafia duo was not carried out at the police’s behest adding that it was not pre-planned and could not have been prevented.

Furthermore, the commission stated that the police exercised prudence in taking Atiq and Ashraf to the hospital. The police response and actions during the shootings of Atiq and Ashraf cannot be regarded as wrong. The commission stated that the event ended in 9 seconds and that the police did not fire on the three attackers, which was right.

The commission’s investigation concluded that the police were proper overall. Aside from that, the commission’s report disclosed facts about Atiq’s health before his murder. The police told the commission that Atiq had been suffering from respiratory and stomach issues before the incident.

A day before the incident, Atiq defecated in his pyjamas on the 14th of April 2023. Atiq and Ashraf were then examined by a doctor. On the 14th of April 2023, Atiq was also sent to the hospital, and while returning, he pooped in his trousers again.

The report said that Atiq Ahmed had diabetes and excessive blood pressure. He often used to soil his pajamas while in custody. The police officers accompanying him had told their superiors about this. The panel has questioned the media’s role in this incident.

The panel has stated that in its haste to obtain a statement from Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf Ahmed, the media lacked discipline. In addition, due to the media’s flashlight, the police officers protecting Atiq and Ashraf were unable to see while the perpetrators opened fire. The panel stated that the media’s role in this case was unsatisfactory.

Zubair selectively quotes police to paint a Muslim man as a victim of religious bigotry, leaves out critical detail that he was ‘framed’ for harassing a Hindu student’s sister

OpIndia Staff
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Zubair selectively quotes police to paint a Muslim man as a victim of religious bigotry, leaves out critical detail that he was ‘framed’ for harassing a Hindu student’s sister

Agra Police on Thursday arrested a Class 10 student from Rajasthan’s Dholpur district after receiving a threatening email, claiming they would blow up Agra Airport, also known as Kheria Airport, and the railway station using 50 kg of RDX.

The incident was uncovered on July 30 when the Uttar Pradesh Police control room received an email from an account named K Ahmed ([email protected]). However, upon investigation, it was discovered that Gopesh had stolen his neighbour Ahmed’s phone to send the email.

The official X handle of the DCP City Agra took to social media to share the details of the matter.

Explaining the circumstances why Gopesh tried to implicate Ahmed in the case, the DCP City Agra said, “He wanted to implicate Ahmed because he was continuously harassing his sister on Instagram. Despite being told not to harass her, Ahmed continued with his behaviour, following which the accused stole his phone and sent a hoax email to UP Police of bombing the Agra airport.”

“In a bid to frame Ahmed, Gopesh also sent threatening emails to the police in Shimla and Delhi, but no action was taken. Hoping that the Uttar Pradesh Police would respond more forcefully, he sent the bomb threat to us,” the police officer added. 

Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair, notorious for carrying out ‘fact-checks’ that align with his agenda, shared the issue on X, formerly known as Twitter, but left out crucial details.

“UP Police Agra control room got an email threatening a bomb attack at Agra airport, railway station. The anonymous email ( in the name of K Ahmed
Email: [email protected] ) claimed that 50 kilograms of RDX would be placed at Agra Airport. Police have now arrested 21-year-old Gopesh from Rajasthan for threatening to blow up Agra Railway station and Airport,” Zubair tweeted.

“Gopesh first stole Ahmed’s phone, created an email id and sent a threat email to Agra Police. He sent a threat email to UP police and not other states because he was confident UP police would quickly take action against Ahmed. Well done @agrapolice,” he further added along with the video of the DCP Agra City explaining the matter.

Source: X

However, the critical detail that explained the motive behind framing Ahmed was conveniently left out by Zubair, in the absence of which his tweet tried to imply that a Hindu, out of religious zealotry, targeted a Muslim neighbour while the case was about a boy trying to ‘frame’ his neighbour who was constantly harassing his sister on Instagram.

This was, of course, omitted by Zubair in his tweet, keeping his more than 1 million X followers in the dark about the motive that drove the Class 10 student to send a hoax bomb threat email in his neighbour’s name. Even though Zubair explained in excruciating detail the sequence of events that led to the arrest of the Class 10 student by Agra Police, he left out crucial details of how Ahmed harassing the accused’s sister on Instagram drove him to ‘frame’ him in the matter.

Mohammed Zubair shared an incomplete video to dog whistle Islamists against Nupur Sharma

Such subterfuge is a hallmark of Zubair’s online persona, where he often leaves out critical details to target individuals who dare to raise their voices against Islamism and Muslim hegemony. In 2022, Mohammed Zubair dog whistled against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma over an incomplete video from her response on a Times Now debate.

Sharma was part of a debate panel on Times Now, discussing the finding of Shivling in the Gyanvapi complex and the subsequent mockery of the Hindu Gods and Goddesses that followed in the wake of the discovery. Islamists had claimed that the Shivling discovered inside the wuzukhana of the Gyanvapi disputed structure was not a Shivling but a fountain. Across social media platforms, detractors had repeated ad nauseam that the Shivling found inside the Gyanvapi premises was a fountain and not an idol of a Hindu God.

In response to the contempt and scorn poured over Hindu Gods and Goddesses, which was evident even during the Times Now debate where some of the fellow panellists referred to the Shivling as a fountain, BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma asked them to refrain from insulting Hindu Gods and cited Islamic scriptures and Holy Quran for substantiating her remarks on Prophet Muhammad and Islam. Zubair shared an incomplete video of the debate, touching off Sar Tan Se Juda protests all over the country.

Umesh Kolhe, Kanhaiya Lal killed by Islamists for expressing solidarity with Nupur Sharma

At least 2 people were killed following the controversy. The ominous hounding of Nupur Sharma prompted many to extend their support to her. Kanhaiya Lal from Udaipur, Umesh Kolhe in Amravati, and many others extended their solidarity with the beleaguered leader, voicing their support for her amid the death threats from Islamists. 

And so, Lal was a marked man the moment he came out in support of Nupur Sharma. Islamists, provoked by Mohammed Zubair, dished out death threats to him for what they considered an unpardonable sin committed against the Prophet. And days later, the Hindu man was killed for something as trivial as just sharing a social media post in support of Nupur Sharma.

A similar fate befell Umesh Kolhe, a chemist living in Maharashtra’s Amravati, who was murdered by four Muslim assailants while he was returning from his pharmacy on the night of June 22. Kolhe, too, was murdered for his social media post supporting Nupur Sharma.

Supreme Court declines pleas seeking SIT probe into alleged quid pro quo in electoral bond donations and to recover money donated through the scheme

ANI
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Supreme Court declines pleas seeking SIT probe into alleged quid pro quo in electoral bond donations and to recover money donated through the scheme

The Supreme Court on Friday declined a batch of petitions seeking a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the alleged instances of quid pro quo arrangements between corporates and political parties through Electoral Bonds donations.

A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said it is of the considered view that the constitution of an SIT headed by a former judge of this court should not be ordered when remedies under the law governing criminal procedure are not availed.

“At the present stage, absent a recourse to remedies which are available under the law to pursue such grievances, it would be both premature – because the intervention under Article 32 must be preceded by the invocation of the normal remedies under the law and contingent upon the failure of those remedies – and inappropriate -because the intervention by this court at the present stage would postulate that the normal remedies which are available under the law are not efficacious- for this court to issue such directions,” the bench said in its order.

The top court also rejected the demand to direct the authorities to recover the donations received by political parties through Electoral Bonds and to re-open their income tax assessments. It added, “Issuing a direction of that nature at the present stage would amount to a conclusion on facts which would be inappropriate…”

Advocate Prashant Bhushan appearing for one of the petitioners, told the bench that there was a ‘quid pro quo’ between many corporates, who purchased the bonds, and the political parties, who received the donations.

The bench, however, was reluctant to entertain the plea asking why can’t the normal process of law like lodging of FIR or filing a private complaint before the concerned court be invoked concerning the claims.

The petition filed by NGOs Common Cause and the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) had sought direction from authorities to investigate the source of funding of shell companies and loss-making companies to various political parties, as has been disclosed through the electoral bonds data.

The petition further sought direction to the authorities to recover the amounts from political parties as donated by companies to these parties as part of quid pro quo arrangements where these are found to be proceeds of crime.

It alleged that a scam worth crores of rupees is involved in the Electoral Bonds matter, which can be unravelled only through an independent investigation under the monitoring of the apex court.

Seeking SIT probe to be supervised by a retired Supreme Court judge, the petitioners said, “The investigation in this case would not only need to unravel the entire conspiracy in each instance, which would involve officers of the company, officials of the government and functionaries of political parties but also the officers concerned of agencies like the ED/IT and CBI etc., who appear to have become part of this conspiracy.”

The plea alleged that data that was disclosed to the public after the top court struck down the anonymous Electoral Bonds scheme showed that the bulk of the bonds appear to have been given as quid pro quo arrangements by corporates to political parties either to secure government contracts or licenses, or to secure protection from investigations by CBI, Income Tax Department, Enforcement Directorate, or as consideration of favourable policy changes.

The Supreme Court by its February verdict had struck down the Electoral Bonds Scheme which allowed for anonymous funding to political parties, and ordered the SBI to stop issuing Electoral Bonds immediately. It had unanimously quashed the Electoral Bonds scheme as well as amendments made to the Income Tax Act and the Representation of People Act which had made the donations anonymous.

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

Shambhu border blockade: Supreme Court asks Punjab and Haryana to suggest neutral names for committee to negotiate with protestors

ANI
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Shambhu border blockade: Supreme Court asks Punjab and Haryana to suggest neutral names for committee to negotiate with protestors

The Supreme Court on Friday asked the states of Haryana and Punjab to suggest the names of neutral persons who can be included in a committee to negotiate with the protesting farmers at the Shambhu border near Ambala, where they have been camping since February 13.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and R Mahadevan emphasised the need to inspire confidence in the farmers and therefore suggested both the states come out with common names for the committee.

“We want a very smooth beginning in terms of dialogue. There are very good, very seasoned practical personalities in the country who have the experience to their credit and they know the ins and outs of the problem. Please think of some neutral personality. It will inspire more confidence in the farmers,” the bench said.

The apex court has now posted the matter for hearing on August 12 while asking Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh to suggest common names for the committee.

It also continued its earlier order of maintaining a status quo on the border.

The Supreme Court was hearing an appeal against the July 10 Punjab and Haryana High Court order by which it had directed it to open the highway and clear the barricading within seven days.

On the last date of the hearing, the top court had said that it was proposing to constitute some independent committee and asked both the states to suggest common names.

The bench had also observed that it’s more than a year now and the national highway can’t remain blocked.

In February, the Haryana government had set up barricades on the Ambala-New Delhi national highway when farmers’ bodies announced that farmers would march to Delhi in support of various demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

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

Pro-Pak allegiance, radical Islamism and the orgy of violence: Read why Sheikh Hasina govt banned Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
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Pro-Pak allegiance, radical Islamism and the orgy of violence: Read why Sheikh Hasina govt banned Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh

Bangladesh government, through gazette notification, has banned ultra-Islamist and Pakistan-linked Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) and its student wing Chharta Shibir as terrorist organizations under section 18/1 of Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009.

The English meaning of Jamaat-e-Islami is ‘congregation of Islam.’ Chhatra Shibir refers to ‘student camp’. This information about the banning of Jamaat-e-Islami by Bangladesh authorities was confirmed in a notification issued by the Public Security Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs on August 1, 2024.

Prior to the ban, the law ministry gave its legal opinion and forwarded the file to the home ministry. Afterwards, Law Minister Anisul Huq told reporters that these groups would no longer be able to engage in politics under their current names.

Government ministers had been accusing Jamaat and Chhatra Shibir of involvement in the violence surrounding the quota reform movement. Then on July 29, top leaders of the 14-party alliance, led by the Awami League, agreed to ban Jamaat and Shibir during a meeting chaired by Awami League chief Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Previously, in 2013, the Election Commission cancelled Jamaat’s registration following a court ruling. Jamaat appealed the High Court’s decision, but the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division dismissed the appeal on November 19, 2023, upholding the cancellation of the party’s registration.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman banned Jamaat-e-Islami after Independence

Later, following assassination of Bangabandhu, military dictator General Ziaur Rahman lifted the ban thus enabling Jamaat-e-Islami to resume its activities in the country.

It may be mentioned here that, from Bangladesh’s war of independence, the first government headed by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman banned Jamaat-e-Islami for its role against the country’s independence and collaborating with Pakistani occupation forces.

The origin of the radical Islamist outfit

Jamaat-e-Islami was founded by Muslim Brotherhood prodigy Sayyid Abul A’la Maududi with the notorious agenda of Islamic conquest and “bringing the world under the flag of Islam”.

A few years ago, the International Crimes Tribunals in Bangladesh described JeI’s role during the war of independence in 1971 as an active cohort of Pakistani occupation forces.

JeI played a vital role in forming the Pakistani army’s auxiliary forces, such as the Razakar, Al-Badr, Al-Shams, and the Peace Committee, which actively participated in atrocities against Bengali freedom fighters, especially Hindus.

Hundreds of thousands of Hindu men, women, and children were massacred by JeI and its forces, while a large number of Hindu girls and women were raped.

The Pakistani branch of Jamaat-e-Islami has remained the most prominent, due to its involvement in electoral politics. In 1950s, Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan launched a militant student wing – Islami Janiat-e-Talaba, which successfully gained control of many urban colleges and universities, often through violent tactics.

The student wing, which maintained control in many areas until 1988, marked Jamaat’s first use of violence.

Jamaat-e-Islami maintains deeper links with various militancy outfits, including Gaza-based Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PJI). It also maintains deeper ties with Muslim Brotherhood.

This dangerous Islamist terrorist entity has had a presence in Europe since 1960s, while it has prominent presence in the United States.

Footprints in multiple nations

According to a report published in Russia’s leading daily newspaper the Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Jamaat-e-Islami is designated as a terrorist organization and banned in Russia.

Jamaat-e-Islami is also banned in India and since 2003, it has been designated as a terrorist entity by the Russian Federation.

Declaring ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, Amit Shah, Union Home Minister of India in a tweet stated, “Pursuing PM Narendra Modi ji’s policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and separatism the government has extended the ban on Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu Kashmir for five years. The organization is found continuing its activities against the security, integrity and sovereignty of the nation. The outfit was first declared an “Unlawful Association” on 28 February 2019. Anyone threatening the security of the nation will face ruthless measures”.

In Afghanistan, Jamaat-e-Islami’s branch – Jamiat-e-Islami was founded in 1972 by Burhanuddin Rabbani. It followed the ideology of Abul A’la Maududi.

Hezbi Islami broke away from Jamiat-e-Islami in 1975-1976 – led by Gulbuddih Hekmatyar, its ethnic make-up was overwhelmingly Ghizal Pashtun. Its less moderate stance won it the backing of Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan and Pakistan’s military dictator General Zia-ul Haq.

In the United Kingdom, US Islamic Mission, being inspired by the Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan and “Islamic revivalist teachings of Abul A’la Maudidi – was founded by members of the East London Mosque in 1962.

This radical Islamic terrorist entity has been silently spreading network through England – mostly through South Asian immigrants. According to The Columbia World Dictionary of Islamism, Jamaat-e-Islami branches in England have followed Pakistani immigration to South Africa and Mauritius as well as the United Kingdom.

The United States has been a strong defender of Jamaat-e-Islami, repeatedly calling upon Bangladesh authorities to lift the ban on JeI and allow it to participate in the electoral process of the country.

Washington also vehemently opposed Bangladesh’s war of independence while then Soviet Union and India directly supported the Bengali freedom fighters and extended all-out support in the country’s war of independence.

Anti-quota protests and JeI carnage

From July 17, Jamaat-e-Islami, along with Al Qaeda-connected Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) perpetrated countrywide mayhem by hijacking student’s protests demanding reform in quota system in government jobs.

Since then, Jamaat-BNP nexus along with other militancy and terrorist groups have damaged public property worth hundreds of millions of dollars, while such acts resulted in Internet outage for more than a week that cost over US$7 billion economic loss to Bangladesh.

Following the ban, Jamaat-e-Islami activists are reportedly trying to bring-out processions in different parts of the country, while members of law enforcement agencies are expected to seal offices of this banned entity alongside its publication house.

Under the able leadership of Sheikh Hasina, the law enforcement authorities have begun a massive crackdown on Jammat-e-Islami, its offices and affiliates within the country.

Police complaint filed against The Wire’s Arfa Khanum Sherwani over Hinduphobic post replacing Shivling with a dustbin

Jinit Jain
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Police complaint filed against The Wire’s Arfa Khanum Sherwani over Hinduphobic post replacing Shivling with a dustbin

A police complaint has been lodged against far-left propaganda portal The Wire’s Arfa Khanum Sherwani for her Hinduphobic post that insulted Shivling.

X handle Legal Hindu Defence, a volunteer legal group that champions the rights of Hindus and extends legal help to Hindus hounded for expressing their opinions online, shared a police complaint filed against Ms Sherwani that has the potential of sparking violence and creating unrest in the society.

“The statement of the accused can create civil unrest in the society. The statements of the accused stand false prima facie which were reiterated even after the knowledge with the intention to disturb public peace. This promotes enmity amongst public groups,” the complaint read, adding that offences under sections 352, 353(2), and 293 of Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023, have been committed.

Arfa Khanum shares Hinduphobic post to mock the new parliament; deletes the tweet later after massive backlash

On Thursday (1st August), Arfa Khanum Sherwani of The Wire stirred the hornet’s nest after she resorted to brazen Hinduphobia to settle political scores.

In a tweet, she wrote, “Vision 2047.” The propaganda artist used the iconic poster from the 2015 movie ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’ wherein the male protagonist Shivudu (played by Prabhas) is seen lifting a giant Shivling using his bare hands.

Arfa Khanum not only replaced the picture of Prabhas with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla but went a step ahead to desecrate the sacred Hindu representation of Lord Shiva.

Arfa Khanum Sherwani shares an iconic pic from movie Baahubali, with Shivling replaced with a dustbin

The senior editor of the leftist propaganda portal, The Wire, replaced the Shivling with a dustbin. Arfa Khanum Sherwani had no qualms about vilifying the Hindu Faith and hurting the religious sentiments of a billion Hindus.

This is however not the first time that she has deliberately mocked Hindu beliefs. In the past, the propaganda artist had shared derogatory cartoons showing Lord Ram persecuting a Dalit man.

Arfa Khanum Sherwani had also posted provocative tweets, making ‘gaumutra’ and ‘gobar’ jibes. For the unversed, these terms were mainstreamed by Pulwama attacker and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terrorist, Adil Ahmed Dar. to dehumanise the Hindu community.

Interestingly, Arfa Khanum Sherwani was seen dog-whistling against former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma in 2022 after she quoted Hadiths to point out the relationship between Prophet Muhammad and his wife Aisha during a TV debate.

The senior editor of The Wire had not only attempted to provoke Indian Muslims against Nupur Sharma but also sought legal action against her.

“A national spokesperson of the ruling party BJP uses the most derogatory words for the Prophet of Islam on national television. He is my Prophet and the Prophet of 200 million Indian Muslims,” she tweeted on 28th May 2022.

The propaganda artist further added, “Strictest punishment should be given to her as per the law of the land.”

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