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Pakistan: Donkey population booms amid slowdown in the economy, reaches 5.9 million

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Pakistan: Donkey population booms amid slowdown in the economy, reaches 5.9 million

The recent Pakistan Economic Survey for 2023-24 showed a significant increase in the nation’s donkey population, reaching 5.9 million, representing a growth of 1.72 per cent from the previous fiscal year.

Despite this rise in the donkey population, Pakistan’s overall economic growth failed to meet expectations. The economy is expected to have grown by 2.4 per cent in the current fiscal year, which is lower than the government’s target of 3.5 per cent as stated in the latest economic survey.

Donkeys play a significant role in Pakistan’s economy, particularly in rural areas.

They are used for various tasks such as transportation of goods and people, agriculture, and as a source of livelihood for many families.

Donkeys are valued for their strength, reliability, and ability to navigate rugged terrains, making them indispensable for certain industries and communities, especially in regions where modern transportation infrastructure is lacking.

Therefore, the increase in the donkey population highlighted in the economic survey indicates its importance and relevance to the country’s economy.

On the other hand, Pakistan is facing several challenges in achieving its economic growth targets.

High inflation rates and unsustainable fiscal deficits have undermined investor confidence while hampering business activities.

Security challenges, such as terrorism and insurgency have disrupted supply chains and increased security-related expenses, further impeding development. Structural weaknesses, such as inadequate infrastructure and an inefficient bureaucracy, also constrain productivity and hinder economic expansion.

During the unveiling of the Pakistan Economic Survey on Tuesday, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb revealed that the economy fell short of most targets set in the previous budget due to challenging conditions.

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

Alwar Pujari suicide case: Family accuses suspended Policeman of filing false case under SC/ST act to blackmail, alleges Police inaction, mother attempts suicide

OpIndia Staff
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Alwar Pujari suicide case: Family accuses suspended Policeman of filing false case under SC/ST act to blackmail, alleges Police inaction, mother attempts suicide

The mother of the deceased Pujari Akhilesh Sharma who reportedly committed suicide on 4th June in Rajasthan’s Alwar, took the drastic step and attempted to commit suicide for not getting Justice for his deceased son. Notably, the family has claimed that Akhilesh committed suicide as he went into depression after a suspended Policeman filed a false case against him under the SC/ST act and started blackmailing him to extort money. 

Speaking with a NeoPolitico journalist, the family alleged that no arrests had been made in the case, even 8 days after the deceased victim took the extreme step. They added that the Police neither came to record his mother’s statement nor gave an FIR copy to the grieving family. While crying inconsolably, his mother mentioned that she had attempted to commit suicide claiming that there was no one left to take care of her. The family added that they had not received any support from the local Hindu community or political leaders. 

The incident reportedly occured on Tuesday night (4th June) when the 40-year-old priest committed suicide by hanging himself. Akhilesh Sharma was the Pujari of a Shiv Hanuman temple which is located in Kotwali police station area of Alwar city. The family had accused a suspended Policeman of blackmailing Akhilesh which according to them was the reason why he took the extreme step of hanging himself. 

The police had conducted a post-mortem of the body and handed it over to the family members. According to the police, the incident of the suicide of the priest took place in Hanumanji Street located in Sidhpur Mohalla of the Kotwali area. The family members have blamed a policeman for this and have made serious allegations against him. 

Omprakash Vashishtha, the family member of the deceased, said that Akhilesh Sharma used to work as a priest in the temple located in Rath Nagar of the city. A suspended policeman Dhaniram also works as a guard there. 

He added that about a month ago, an argument broke out between them regarding the puja donations. After that, the suspended policeman filed a case under the SC-ST Act against Akhilesh. 

As per reports, Dhaniram Khatik was earlier caught by the ACB. As a result, he was suspended from police service.

The family alleges that the accused policeman, Dhaniram Khatik, was demanding Rs 1 lakh from Akhilesh in exchange for withdrawing the case. According to them, Akhilesh did not share anything with his family members. However, he became fed up with the blackmailing, fell into depression, and committed suicide by hanging himself.

Meanwhile, the police are investigating the entire matter.

After Rahul Gandhi claimed he is in a dilemma over which constituency to keep, Kerala Congress chief Sudhakaran says he is leaving Wayanad ‘to lead India’

OpIndia Staff
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After Rahul Gandhi claimed he is in a dilemma over which constituency to keep, Kerala Congress chief Sudhakaran says he is leaving Wayanad ‘to lead India’

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on 12th June stated at a roadshow in Kerala’s Malappuram that he was in a dilemma over choosing between the Wayanad and Raebareli constituencies. The Congress leader has won Lok Sabha elections from both the constituencies in Kerala and Uttar Pradesh respectively, and he has to leave one constituency before he takes oath as a member of the Lok Sabha.

Rahul Gandhi said, “What I will commit to you is that both Wayand and Raebareli will be happy with my decision.” Rahul Gandhi also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and claimed that he was led by ‘his God, the poor of the country, the people of Wayanad,’ as opposed to the latter, ‘who was prompted by God to take significant decisions benefitting Adani and Ambani.’

The 53-year-old alleged, “I have a dilemma in front of me – Will I be a Member of Parliament of Wayanad or Raebareli? Unfortunately, like the Prime Minister, I am not guided by God. I am a human being. You saw how the Prime Minister said ‘400-paar’ which disappeared and then came ‘300-paar.’ After that, he said, ‘I am not biological. I do not take any decision. I have been put on this earth by ‘Parmatma’ and he takes decisions.’ His strange ‘Parmatma’ makes him take all the decisions in favour of Ambani and Adani. He tells him to give Bombay airport, Lucknow airport and power plants to Adani and help him with schemes like ‘Agniveer.’ Unfortunately, I do not have the luxury of receiving instructions from God. For me, it’s much simpler. My God is the poor people of India, the people of Wayanad. I go and talk to those people and my God tells me what to do.”

The Gandhi scion thanked the electorate after winning the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat by a wide majority for the second time in a row. He also emerged victorious in Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat. This was his first visit to the region after the election results were announced. He added, “I look forward to seeing you soon.” Interestingly, the party flags of the Congress and its ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) which could not be spotted anywhere during his roadshow in Wayanad in April, appeared during his roadshow at Edavanna.

While Rahul Gandhi said he is yet to decide which seat to retain, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K Sudhakaran claimed that Rahul Gandhi is planning to vacate the Wayanad seat for the sake of Raebareli. He said that Rahul Gandhi will have to leave the Kerala seat as he can’t lead India as Wayanad MP.

K Sudhakaran said while speaking at the public event organised for Rahul Gandhi to thank his supporters, “It is sad to hear that Rahul Gandhi is leaving Wayanad. Rahul Gandhi cannot stay in Wayanad to lead India. A mother was crying because Rahul Gandhi was leaving Wayanad which made me sad as well. We don’t have to be sad”.

He added, “We should not be upset as Rahul Gandhi who is supposed to lead the nation cannot be expected to remain in Wayanad. Therefore, we should not be sad. Everyone should understand that and give all their wishes and support to him.”

Meanwhile, Congress workers from Wayanad want Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to take her brother’s place if Rahul Gandhi leaves the seat and held a message which read, “Dear big brother Rahulji, Please don’t leave us. You are our best hope. But if you must, please ask sister (Priyankaji) to take care of us.” The appeal was made by the Indian National Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) alliance.

Notably, despite all the noise and chest-thumping, the grand old party couldn’t even touch three digits and was restricted to 99 seats even after ten consecutive years in opposition while the Bharatiya Janata Party was also reduced to 240 seats. The National Democratic Alliance headed by the saffron party secured 293 seats while Congress’ I.N.D.I. Alliance obtained 232 seats.

Was Shantanu Sinha, who apologised for making sexual misconduct allegations against Amit Malviya, set up by TMC? Images emerge raising questions

OpIndia Staff
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Was Shantanu Sinha, who apologised for making sexual misconduct allegations against Amit Malviya, set up by TMC? Images emerge raising questions

In a shocking development, Santanu Sinha, who made sexual misconduct allegations against BJP social media head Amit Malviya and later apologised after receiving a defamation notice, was earlier seen outside the Trinamool Congress party office, as reported by some journalists. 

Notably, on 12th June, News 18 journalist Pallavi Ghosh tweeted, “Now a twist in the allegations case against @amitmalviya – a picture of Santanu Sinha, who accused Amit Malviya and BJP Bengal leaders of sexual abuse outside TMC office has been released.” 

Additionally, journalist Rohan Dua shared the pictures of Sinha outside the TMC office, where he was allegedly meeting with TMC leaders. In his post, Dua asked whether TMC colluded with Sinha to vilify its rival, Bharatiya Janata Party. 

He wrote, “Santanu Sinha, who first made accusations against BJP National Information Technology department head Amit Malviya @amitmalviya before retracting them, has courted a row after his own photos with TMC leaders & visit to TMC office surface. Did TMC collude with him to villify BJP?”

Sharing Sinha’s picture outside the TMC party office, several X users questioned whether TMC could be behind the conspiracy to malign the image of BJP leaders and if the ruling party orchestrated this to counter allegations made by local villagers and women in Sandeshkhali.

The current controversy erupted after Santanu Sinha made a Facebook post on 7th June in which he accused Amit Malviya and other senior leadership of the BJP of accepting sexual favours from leaders in West Bengal and in exchange providing them positions in the party. He accused West Bengal BJP leaders of sending women to Malviya and other senior leaders of BJP in 5-star hotels to secure the president’s posts.

These allegations were then used by Congress and Trinamool Congress to attack the BJP and Malviya. However, after Amit Malviya sent a legal notice of defamation to him, he retracted his statement. In another Facebook post on 11 June, Sinha claimed that he did not level sexual harassment allegations against Amit Malviya and that his Facebook post had been deliberately misinterpreted by the Indian National Congress.

However, he claimed that his post was to warn against getting entangled in a honey trap, not to target Malviya. The alleged RSS member, Sinha also said that he does not want BJP and its office bearers getting undermined in any manner by misinterpretation of his post. He added that as he didn’t write anything untoward in the post, he is not deleting it.

Consequently, after Sinha asserted that he is not deleting the post, Malviya announced on 12th June that he had decided to pursue criminal defamation proceedings against Sinha even after he retracted his allegations of sexual misconduct against the BJP leader. In a post on X, Amit Malviya said that the statement by Hindu Samhati President, Santanu Sinha retracting his allegations was qualified and not unequivocal.

Amit Malviya said in the statement, “The alleged post was defamatory, calculated and malicious. The wide dissemination by opposition parties has added to the defamation. As such, I have decided to pursue Criminal Defamation against Santanu Sinha, under appropriate sections of the IPC. Other civil remedies may also follow, as would be advised.” 

Malviya added how Sinha’s allegations were propagated by Congress and Trinamool Congress leaders.

Now in a shocking turn of events, Sinha’s picture outside the TMC office surfaced on social media, igniting a political storm.  

It is pertinent to note that it is not the first time that questions have been raised over the collusion of Trinamool Congress with members of the Hindu Samhati. Incidentally, in 2018, both BJP and the Left had branded Hindu Samhati as the ‘Trinamool’s Hindutva wing’. 

For those unversed, Hindu Samhati has grown rapidly in various parts of Bengal since its foundation in 2008. It was founded by Tapan Ghosh but he later quit the organisation accusing it of “lacking courage”. 

Tapan Ghosh was a pracharak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in West Bengal. He had joined the RSS in 1975 but he left RSS over differences in the way of functioning of the organisation. He established Hindu Samhati, a Hindu nationalist organisation with the goal of protecting Bengali Hindus. 

Uttar Pradesh: BJP worker Sanjay Mishra murdered allegedly by SP supporters for campaigning for BJP during polls, shocking details

OpIndia Staff
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Uttar Pradesh: BJP worker Sanjay Mishra murdered allegedly by SP supporters for campaigning for BJP during polls, shocking details

In a shocking incident, a BJP worker identified as Sanjay Mishra was found brutally murdered in Uttar Pradesh. As per a report by Organizer, he clashed with activists from the opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) during the campaign. When the election results were published, SP supporters allegedly went to Sanjay’s house and attacked him, causing serious injuries and leading to his death. The incident is said to have happened in Uttar Pradesh’s Shravasti district.

According to reports, Sanjay Mishra was an active BJP member who was named Panna Pramukh for the Shivpuri Bankat area. He’d been actively campaigning for the BJP.

On the day the results were announced, June 4, Mishra went to Sunil Verma’s residence for a lunch invitation. At Sunil’s house, a fight broke out between Mishra and Ghanshyam over political ties, with Mishra supporting the BJP and Ghanshyam supporting the SP. During the fight, Ghanshyam assaulted Mishra, causing him to file a complaint with the police. However, no complaint was lodged by the police.

Mishra spent the days following the altercation at home.

On June 7, the attackers arrived at Sanjay Mishra’s home after knowing that he had informed the police following an earlier assault. Mishra’s lynching began in front of his family members. When his wife and children intervened, the attackers threatened to kill them, too.

The assailants mercilessly assaulted Mishra with bamboo sticks. He tried to flee to the terrace, but the assailants pursued and shoved him down. Even after throwing him down, they continued their assault by hurling stones at him.

After the perpetrators departed, Mishra’s family hurried him to the Community Health Centre (CHC), where he was pronounced dead. A video of his family after the deceased body was taken home was made public on social media. 

The hospital staff notified the authorities, and a case was subsequently filed. A First Information Report (FIR number 69/2024) has been filed, and authorities are actively investigating the case.

According to the FIR, Mishra’s wife, Nandana Devi, told the police that her husband was attacked and killed by villagers because of past animosity. She identified those involved as Ghanshyam, Badkan Chaurasiya, Chhotka, Shrikant Chaurasiya, and others.

Accused persons named in the FIR

SP Ghanshyam Chaurasia investigated the area after learning of the incident. The SP verified that a case has been filed, and an investigation is underway. He has given Station In-Charge Gannath Prasad significant orders to arrest the offenders immediately.

The accused have been booked under IPC sections 147 (Rioting), 149 (Unlawful Assembly), 302 (Murder), 323 (Voluntarily Causing Hurt), 504 (Intentional Insult with Intent to Provoke Breach of the Peace) and 506 (Criminal Intimidation).

After Mishra’s death, his wife Nandana is left to care for their daughter (7) and two kids (5 and 3 years old). Mishra, whose parents died when he was a minor, lived with his maternal grandparents in Shravasti and worked as a farmer.

It is worth noting that Ram Shiromani Verma, leader of the Samajwadi Party, won the Shravasti Lok Sabha constituency with 511,055 votes. Saket Mishra, the BJP candidate, came second with 434,382 votes. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) fielded a Muslim candidate, Muinuddin Ahmad Khan, also known as Hazi Daddan Khan, who secured the third important position in the recently concluded Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

UP: Shakuntala became Shakila after marrying Abdul Lateef, availed Haj subsidy, yet won panchayat poll from SC seat & officials upheld her caste certificate, now cancelled

OpIndia Staff
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UP: Shakuntala became Shakila after marrying Abdul Lateef, availed Haj subsidy, yet won panchayat poll from SC seat & officials upheld her caste certificate, now cancelled

In Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor district, a district-level monitoring committee led by the district magistrate (DM) revoked the Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate of a woman named Shakuntala on the 3rd of June, who previously ran for Zilla Panchayat elections from a reserved seat despite converting to Islam many years ago, Swarajya reported.

It is pertinent to note that according to the Indian constitution, any person born as in Scheduled Caste is not eligible to receive caste-related benefits after converting to Islam or Christianity. “no person who professes a religion different from the Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist religion shall be deemed to be a member of Scheduled Castes,” Paragraph 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, under Article 341 states.

Shakuntala was born into a Hindu Dalit family of Jaatav caste in Bijnor to Ramnath Singh and Bhagwan Deyi. Following the death of her first husband belonging Jaatav caste, Shakuntala married Abdul Lateef, a Bijnor native in 1983. Shakuntala changed her name to Shakila after marrying Abdul Lateef.

In her report, Swarajya journalist Swati Goel Sharma said that Shakila won the zila panchayat election in 2015 from Ward 8 of the Najibabad block in Bijnor, which is an SC-reserved seat. The caste certificate she provided with her nomination was generated in 2011 and signed by one Khan Rashid Ali.

Copy of Shakila’s caste certificate (Source: Swarajya)

Shakila’s opponent in the election, Manju, raised the issue of Shakila’s religious identity and requested that the Bijnor superintendent of police and district magistrate (DM) take action against her. After the authorities took no action, the Vishwa Dalit Parishad, a Dalit organisation, raised the matter with the National Commission for Scheduled Castes in New Delhi.

In her complaint, Manju stated that Shakila’s passport, granted to her in 2011, proved that she went on Haj in Mecca after receiving the central government’s Haj subsidy, confirming her Muslim identity. The complaint further stated that Shakila and Abdul Lateef have a son named Yusuf, who married according to Islamic traditions. In her complaint, Manju further claimed that Shakila, who is no longer a Dalit, had an SC woman’s right to a reserved Zilla Panchayat seat.

In July 2017, the commission issued notices to the then-Bijnor DM Jagatraj and SP for a response. The same year, DM Jagatraj and Deputy SP Gajinder Pal Singh appeared in a hearing at the commission’s New Delhi office. The then-Bijnor DM told the commission that Manju’s complaint should be ignored because Shakila’s caste certificate issued in September 2015 was “legitimate” and Manju had not opposed Shakila’s name during the nomination process.

The commission, however, opined that Shakila’s caste certificate should be cancelled in addition, she should be suspended from the Zilla Panchayat post. Moreover, the commission said that an FIR should be registered against the officials who issued the caste certificate to Shakila. However, the Swarajya report says that no action has been taken against those officials to date.

Minutes of the meeting of an NCSC hearing in 2017 (Source: Swarajya)

The case was referred to the District Level Caste Scrutiny Committee, a government organisation in charge of verifying caste certificates and cancelling those that had been granted wrongly.

On the 3rd of June, the final hearing on the matter was held and the committee cancelled the caste certificate, citing Paragraph 3 of the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950, under Article 341. “The order states that all evidence establishes Shakila’s conversion to Islam and she has violated the Constitution,” Swarajya reported.

During the probe, it also emerged that Shakila had two votes registered in her name in the 2015 elections. In the voter list, her name appears twice, Shakuntala (her original name) and Shakila. Bhupendra of the Vishwa Dalit Parishad told Swati Goel Sharma that his organisation will now try to get an FIR filed against Shakila for using a forged document to obtain a government position meant for a person belonging to the Dalit community.

Guruji of RSS-affiliated school, firebrand tribal leader, and Four-time MLA: Mohan Charan Majhi takes oath as first BJP Chief Minister of Odisha

OpIndia Staff
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Guruji of RSS-affiliated school, firebrand tribal leader, and Four-time MLA: Mohan Charan Majhi takes oath as first BJP Chief Minister of Odisha

On Wednesday (12th June), BJP’s popular tribal leader, Mohan Charan Majhi, took oath as the 15th Chief Minister of Odisha, making him the saffron party’s inaugural CM in India’s eastern state.

First-time MLA Pravati Parida and six-time legislator Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo were sworn in as his two deputies. Senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath, attended the ceremony. Additionally, former state CM and BJD leader Naveen Patnaik was also present during the swearing-in ceremony.

Odisha CM Majhi has become the first leader from the tribal-dominated Keonjhar district to hold the topmost position in the state. He hails from the Santhali tribe and is seen as a firebrand tribal leader. He shares Santhal roots with India’s first Adivasi President, Droupadi Murmu, who also comes from the same tribe. The development is being viewed as a strategic move by the BJP months ahead of the assembly elections in predominantly tribal Jharkhand. Additionally, tribals have a dominant presence in Odisha, constituting around 23% of the state’s population.

He has been a strong organisational leader with firm links with the RSS. Throughout his career, he has taken on multiple roles including farmer, teacher in an RSS-affiliated school, sarpanch, advocate for Adivasi rights, and crusader against the mining mafia. In the past, he has served as the secretary of BJP’s Adivasi Morcha. He is married to Priyanka Marandi and the couple have two sons.

Majhi grew up in Raikala within the Keonjhar Sadar region. After studying law, he briefly taught at the RSS-run Saraswati Shisu Vidya Mandir before venturing into politics. The four-time MLA from Keonjhar, Mohan Majhi has an over two-decade-long political career which began in 1997. He was a village council chief (sarpanch) from 1997-2000.

In 2000, he was elected to the state assembly for the first time from Keonjhar and was re-elected in 2004. From 2005 to 2009, he served as the government deputy chief whip in the BJD-BJP coalition government. In 2019, he was again elected as an MLA, and after winning the 2019 assembly elections, he was appointed as the opposition chief whip in the Odisha Assembly. In the recent polls, he retained the Keonjhar seat by defeating BJD’s Mina Majhi by a margin of 11,577 votes. 

He was once forced to sleep on footpaths for several days due to a delay in the allotment of a quarter to him when he was elected to the assembly from Keonjhar in 2019.

Addressing the assembly, Majhi once recounted his experience of spending multiple nights on a footpath due to the delayed allocation of a government quarter. He informed the then assembly speaker, S N Patro, that he couldn’t secure accommodation on short notice and that his mobile phone was stolen while he slept outdoors.

Interestingly, the outgoing CM Naveen Patnaik has resided in his private residence in Bhubaneswar for the past 24 years. Consequently, the general administration department is now searching for a new state Chief Minister’s residence.

In 2022, Majhi warned the assembly about threats to some MLAs from the mining mafia. The year before, he survived an attack in Keonjhar when assailants on motorbikes threw crude bombs at his vehicle.

Last year in September, he staged a protest in the state assembly along with BJP’s Dalit legislator Mukesh Mahaling to highlight the alleged Rs 700-crore scam in the purchase of pulses for the mid-day meal scheme. However, former speaker Pramila Mallik suspended him along with Mahaling alleging that he threw uncooked dal at her, an allegation he had firmly denied.

Ahead of his swearing-in ceremony, Mohan Manjhi said that protecting Odisha’s ‘Asmita’ (pride) will be the priority of the new government.

Two Deputy Chief Ministers

Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo who has been chosen as the Deputy CM of the state, is a six-time MLA from Patnagarh in Balanagir District. He hails from the Kshatriya community and belongs to the royal family of Patnagarh, a notable area in western Odisha. Although he lost the election in 2019, he secured victory in 2024. He has also served as a minister in the previous BJD-BJP coalition government. He has previously served as the State President of BJP. His grandfather, Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo, was a former CM of Odisha. His wife, Sangeeta Singh Deo, is currently the MP from Balangir.

Pravati Parida who has also been chosen as the Deputy CM of the state is a first-time MLA from Nimapada of Puri District in coastal Odisha. He hails from the Khandayat community among the OBCs. She had earlier served as the president of the party’s women’s wing in Odisha between 2016 and 2022. From 2022 onwards, she was the state Vice President of the party. 

(With Inputs from ANI)

Several Indians killed and around 50 hospitalised as 6-storeyed building owned by Malayali businessman in Kuwait catches fire

OpIndia Staff
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Several Indians killed and around 50 hospitalised as 6-storeyed building owned by Malayali businessman in Kuwait catches fire

Several Indians are believed to have been among the 41 persons killed in a severe fire caught at a building in Kuwait’s southern Mangaf area on Wednesday, 12th June. The fire started early Wednesday morning, purportedly in a kitchen on a lower floor, and quickly spread throughout the structure, trapping many people inside.

According to initial reports, Kuwait’s deputy prime minister stated that 41 persons were reported to be killed in the tragic incident.

The building belongs to NBTC group owned by businessman KG Abraham from Kerala. Employees at NBTC’s supermarket also lived in the building.

According to Onmanorama, 11 people from Kerala are among the Indians killed in the incident. The facility reportedly accommodated approximately 195 workers, including those from Kerala and Tamil Nadu. As reported by Onmanorama, the building belongs to the NBTC group, which is owned by Malayali industrialist KG Abraham. As per the report, people from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and North India were living in the building.

However, a report by Times Now claims that around 40 Indians have lost their lives in the given incident. The actual number of Indians killed or injured in the incident remains to be disclosed officially

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. He tweeted that the Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed shock at the occurrence and stated the Indian envoy was visiting the camp. “Deeply shocked by the news of the fire incident in Kuwait City. There are reportedly over 40 deaths and over 50 have been hospitalized. Our Ambassador has gone to the camp. We are awaiting further information,” Jaishankar posted on X.

“Deepest condolences to the families of those who tragically lost their lives. Wish early and full recovery to those who have been injured. Our Embassy will render the fullest assistance to all concerned in this regard,” he added.

As per details shared by the Indian Embassy in Kuwait, at least 47 Indians were hospitalized at three different hospitals following the incident. These include 30 in Al-Adan Hospital, 11 in Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital and 6 in Farwaniya Hospital.

Adarsh Swaika, the Indian ambassador to Kuwait, inspected the site in Mangaf to assess the situation. The Embassy stated that the Emassy is constant touch with relevant Kuwaiti law enforcement, fire-service and health authorities for necessary action and emergency medical health-care.

He also went to the Al-Adan hospital, where around 30 Indian labourers injured in the fire have been admitted.

“He visited Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, where 11 workers injured in today’s fire have been admitted. 10 of them are expected to be released today and one in hospital is reportedly stable. He met with patients still in hospital & assured them of the Embassy’s full support,” the Indian Embassy in Kuwait said in a post on X.

As per the embassy, 6 workers, expected to be mostly Indians, injured in the fire incident were admitted to the Farwaniya Hospital. Authorities confirmed that 4 of them have been released, 1 has been shifted to Jahra Hospital and 1 is reportedly stable.

The Indian Embassy has released helpline number +965-65505246 which can be reached over by phone call, WhatsApp call and WhatsApp messages.

Reports claim that the fire has been brought under control and that authorities are combing the area for evidence as to the cause of the blaze.

At 4.30 a.m. on Wednesday, a fire broke out in a kitchen on one of the labor camp’s lower floors. A preliminary assessment reveals that the fire was caused by a short circuit. According to reports, the fire soon spread to every room in the apartment. The presence of gas cylinders made problems worse.

A handful of people died after leaping out of the apartment when they saw the fire. Others died as a result of smoke inhalation and burn injuries. Several persons suffered injuries in the incident and have been admitted to Adan, Jaber, and Mubarak hospitals. The fire has been contained.

Kuwait’s Interior Minister, Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf Al-Sabah, has instructed police to detain the building’s owner, janitor, and the owner of the company accountable for the workers, according to the Kuwait Times.

“What happened today is a result of the greed of the company and the building owners,” the minister said in a statement after visiting the site of the fire. Authorities have initiated an investigation into the fire’s cause.

Mercy petition of Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Arif convicted in 2000 Red Fort attack case rejected by President Droupadi Murmu

OpIndia Staff
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Mercy petition of Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Arif convicted in 2000 Red Fort attack case rejected by President Droupadi Murmu

The mercy petition of Mohammed Arif, alias Ashfaq, a Pakistani terrorist found guilty in the nearly 24-year-old Red Fort attack case has been denied by President Droupadi Murmu. Since taking office on 25th July 2022, this is the President’s second rejection of a mercy petition. On 3rd November of the same year, the Supreme Court denied Arif’s petition for a review, upholding the death sentence that had been imposed.

Legal experts believe that a death row defendant could still petition the Supreme Court under Article 32 of the Constitution to have their sentence commuted on the grounds of protracted delay, even though the mercy request was rejected. As per the President’s secretariat statement of 29th May, the appeal submitted by Arif on 15th May was dismissed on 27th May.

The Supreme Court underlined the direct threat that the assault on the Red Fort posed to the nation’s unity, integrity and sovereignty while maintaining the death penalty and noting the lack of favourable mitigating circumstances in Arif’s favour. Three Army personnel were killed in the 22nd December 2000 attack which involved terrorists opening fire on the 7 Rajputana Rifles regiment stationed inside the Red Fort grounds. Four days following the incident, Delhi Police detained Arif, a citizen of Pakistan and a member of the banned Islamic outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

The apex court in 2022 pointed out, “Appellant-accused Mohd. Arif alias Ashfaq was a Pakistani national and had entered the Indian territory illegally.” After Arif was found guilty of planning the attack alongside other terrorists, the trial court convicted him in October 2005. The verdict was confirmed in later appeals by the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court. The trial court had stated that the two conspirators’ home in Srinagar, where Arif and three other LeT terrorists had stayed after entering the country illegally in 1999 was the meeting place for the plot to attack the Red Fort.

Separate face-offs resulted in the deaths of the three terrorists, Abu Shaad, Abu Bilal, and Abu Haider who had also infiltrated the monument. Arif’s request for mercy was rejected in spite of several judicial challenges, such as reviews and curative petitions, underscoring the gravity of the offence and the danger it posed to national security. In September 2007, the Delhi High Court upheld the lower court’s ruling. Arif then contested the high court’s decision in the Supreme Court.

In August 2011, the Supreme Court also decided in support of the death penalty order that had been given to him. Later, in August 2012, his review petition was heard by a two-judge panel of the highest court, which dismissed it. In January 2014, a plea for curative measures was similarly denied. Afterwards, Arif filed a petition requesting that a bench of three judges consider review petitions in cases involving the issuance of death sentences in public.

In a September 2014 ruling, the apex court constitution panel determined that all cases in which the high court pronounced the death penalty should be brought before a three-judge bench. The review and curative petitions of death row inmates were resolved in chamber processes by circulation prior to the September 2014 order, rather than being heard in public tribunals. A constitution bench announced in January 2016 that Arif could request, within a month, a reopening of the dismissal of the review petitions for a public court hearing. On 3rd November 2022, the Supreme Court issued a judgment rejecting the review petition.

Notably, President Murmu took a tough stand against cases of horrific crimes last year when she denied another mercy appeal in a different case, setting the precedent for this decision.

Mahatma Gandhi’s statue vandalised by Khalistanis in Italy, was scheduled to be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi

OpIndia Staff
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Mahatma Gandhi’s statue vandalised by Khalistanis in Italy, was scheduled to be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi

In a shocking development, pro-Khalistani elements have once again displayed their nefarious agenda and vandalised a statue of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi in Italy. Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to inaugurate the statue in Italy’s Apulia during his G-7 visit to the European nation.

Apart from vandalising the statue, the attackers also wrote controversial slogans related to slain Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar at the base of the bust. On the adjacent side, they wrote ‘Arersstoo Terrsto Gandhi Modi’, which seems to be a call to arrest Gandhi and Modi.

Talking about the incident, foreign secretary Kwatra said the Indian authorities raised the matter with Italian officials. “We have a question regarding the vandalization of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. We have seen the reports of that and have taken it up with the Italian authorities. We understand that suitable rectification has already taken place,” he said.

The local authorities said that they cleaned up the area in record time.

The 50th G7 Summit will be held in Italy’s Apulia region from June 13 to 15. PM Modi will be travelling to the venue a tomorrow to participate in the summit at the invite of Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Last year at least three statues of Mahatma Gandhi were defaced in Canada. Khalistanis first vandalized and spray-painted a Mahatma Gandhi statue next to the city hall in the Canadian province of Ontario and then vandalised another statue of his which was placed at Peace Square on the Burnaby campus at Simon Fraser University. A Mahatma Gandhi statue at a Vishnu temple in Richmond Hill was also vandalized in July of the same year.

In February 2022, miscreants targeted a life-size bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi in a neighbourhood in New York City. Unidentified individuals vandalized the eight-foot-tall statue in Manhattan’s Union Square, according to the Indian Consulate General. In a similar incident, a monument of Mahatma Gandhi was vandalized, shattered, and removed from its base in a park in the US state of California in January 2021.

Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to Italy to take part in the G-7 summit on his first international visit since being elected for the third consecutive term. It will take place between 13th and 15th June. Other top leaders scheduled to attend the event include the United States President Joe Biden, his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. On 13th June, PM Modi will depart for Italy and return late the next day. According to the sources, the prime minister would be escorted by a high-level delegation consisting of National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, among others.

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