Saturday, November 16, 2024
Home Blog Page 21

Canada violated international laws including Viena Convention by spying on Indian diplomats, asserts former India diplomats

ANI
-
0
Canada violated international laws including Viena Convention by spying on Indian diplomats, asserts former India diplomats

In strong disapproval, former Indian diplomats have termed Canadian authorities’ surveillance of Indian diplomats posted there as atrocious, adding that they violated international law such as the Vienna Convention.

JK Tripathi, a former diplomat, told ANI, that, “No country has the power to do it…but the Canadian government has done it and this is the rarest of rare cases of violation of international law according to the Vienna Convention. They have even gone up to the extent of accusing the Union Home Minister of being the mastermind behind that and now they have put India among the list of 4 countries who are cyber threats to Canada….”

The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) is established to define fundamental principles and terms governing how countries must treat each other’s diplomatic representatives.

A key principle of the Convention is diplomatic immunity. It grants diplomats exemption from certain laws and taxes in the host country where they are posted. It ensures that diplomats can fulfill their duties without fear, threat, or intimidation.

“…so in a way, India has been declared as an enemy state by Canada, which is very disturbing and serious,” said Tripathi.

Virendra Gupta, another former diplomat, said this action of Canada merited an extremely strong reaction from the Indian government.

“Merely criticising Canada is not enough…Canada has crossed all the limits of decency and normal diplomatic behaviour…,” Gupta told ANI.

According to Article 29 of the Convention, diplomats are not subject to arrest or detention. The host country must accord the diplomatic agent the appropriate level of respect and is responsible for undertaking all necessary measures to prevent any form of harm or violation to the diplomat’s person, liberty, or dignity.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Saturday that India has lodged a formal protest with the Canadian government after revelations that its consular officials in Canada were subjected to audio and video surveillance. The MEA condemned these actions as “flagrant violations” of diplomatic and consular conventions.

During a press briefing, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that some Indian consular officials were recently informed by the Canadian government about the ongoing surveillance. Jaiswal criticized Canada for attempting to justify its actions by citing technicalities, arguing that such justifications cannot excuse what he described as harassment and intimidation of Indian diplomatic personnel.

Also, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) strongly protested against recent allegations made by the Canadian government against Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s purported involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The MEA described these allegations as “absurd and baseless” and lodged a formal protest against Canada.

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that a “diplomatic note” was handed to a representative of the Canadian High Commission on Friday, conveying India’s strong objections.

Tensions between India and Canada escalated after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged in Parliament last year that there were “credible allegations” of India’s involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

India has firmly denied all such allegations, labelling them as “absurd” and “motivated,” while accusing Canada of providing a haven for extremist and anti-India elements.

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

Anita Chaudhary murder case: Abida Parveen confesses to killing her with husband Gulamuddin, revealing financial motive and gruesome details

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Anita Chaudhary murder case: Abida Parveen confesses to killing her with husband Gulamuddin, revealing financial motive and gruesome details

The murder case of a 50-year-old woman Anita Chaudhary in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, has taken unexpected twists and turns. The police have arrested a woman named Abida Parveen for the murder of Anita, while her husband, Gulamuddin, remains at large. Meanwhile, an audio conversation between the husband of the deceased woman and a woman who worked at her parlour has surfaced, which has further complicated the matter. A dozen individuals have been detained by the police for questioning.

Post-mortem and missing evidence

Reportedly, the post-mortem of Anita’s body is yet to be conducted, leaving the cause of death undetermined. Her mobile phone is also missing. Reports have surfaced suggesting the clothes in which the victim’s body was found were different from those she was last wearing in CCTV footage when she left in an auto-rickshaw. This raised further questions about the robbery narrative surrounding the incident, specifically regarding the change in clothes.

Jewellery, debt, and a gruesome murder plot

It is being said that Gulamuddin and his wife, Abida, murdered Anita to sell her jewellery and settle a debt of Rs 10.2 lakhs. Anita was reportedly drugged with a sedative-laced drink before being killed. Her body was then dismembered into six pieces using a meat cleaver and buried. The police arrested Abida, but the search for her husband, Gulamuddin, is still on.

Initial disappearance and search

The case is from the western area of Jodhpur, where Anita lived with her husband, Manmohan Chaudhary, on Sardarpara C Road. She ran a beauty parlour. She had a last conversation with her husband on 26 October, after which she went missing. Her phone was unreachable when her husband tried to get in touch with her. Despite extensive searches, she was not found, and eventually, a missing person report was filed the next day. The police began the search for Anita and checked CCTV footage, which showed her leaving in a taxi at 2:30 PM on the day of her disappearance.

Police traced the driver of the vehicle, and the driver confirmed that he had dropped her off at Gulamuddin’s house in Gangana.

Confessions and initial revelations

Forty-two-year-old Gulamuddin, alias Gul Mohammed, runs a shop called “Star Dry Clean” opposite Anita’s parlour. They had known each other for around 25 years. When police reached his house on 30 October, they found his wife Abida there. After initial hesitation during questioning, she eventually confessed to the crime and admitted that she and her husband had planned to kill Anita.

Financial motive behind the crime

Abida revealed that her husband, Gulamuddin, had a gambling addiction. He had recently purchased a house, which led to an accumulation of debt amounting to Rs 10.2 lakhs. Gulamuddin had often seen Anita wearing expensive jewellery, leading him to plot her murder with his wife’s help to acquire her valuables.

Execution of the murder

As planned, they invited Anita to their home, where they offered her a sedative-laced drink. Once Anita Chaudhary was unconscious, they killed her and stripped her of her jewellery. They then dismembered her body into six pieces using a meat cleaver, separating her limbs and head from the torso. They filled sacks with the body parts and buried them in a 10-foot pit outside their house.

Family’s efforts to locate Anita

Meanwhile, when Anita Chaudhary did not come back, her family started looking for her, leading to the police complaint and eventually her body being recovered.

Gruesome planning details

According to the police, Abida admitted that a 10-foot pit had already been dug outside their house using a JCB machine. They had also purchased a meat cleaver from the market to cut Anita’s body into pieces. To mask the odour of the decomposing body, they sprayed perfume over it.

Evidence recovered by the police

One of Anita’s rings was recovered from Abida’s possession by the police. Her mobile phone was disposed of by the accused, and the police are still looking for it. The police have intensified efforts to locate Gulamuddin. A case has been filed in the matter based on the complaint of Anita’s husband, naming Gulamuddin Farooqi, his wife Abida, and a person named Tayyab Ansari.

Family protests with community support

Anita’s family has not collected the body yet. The post-mortem remains pending. They are holding a sit-in protest at the Tejaji Temple. Members of Hindu organisations and community members have joined them in the protest. They are demanding a judicial inquiry by a retired High Court judge, a government job for the son of the deceased, and a compensation of Rs 1 crore from the government.

Viral audio recording complicates the case

An audio conversation between Anita’s husband, Manmohan, and Sunita (aka Suman Sen), who worked at Anita’s parlour, has also gone viral. In this recording, Sunita mentions an individual named Ansari, who is believed to be the accused Tayyab Ansari. Sunita expresses fear for her own life, mentioning several names. However, OpIndia has not verified this audio clip.

In the recording, Sunita reportedly told Manmohan that Tayyab Ansari could kill her. Before the body was discovered, Sunita told Manmohan, “Tayyab must have gotten rid of Didi (Anita). If I call Ansari, he’ll have me killed within four days.” The husband of the deceased confirmed the authenticity of the audio. The case continues to unfold with multiple twists.

Supreme Court to hear plea of Khalistani terrorist Balwant Singh Rajoana to commute death sentence: Read details of the convict on death row for 28 years

Anurag
-
0
Supreme Court to hear plea of Khalistani terrorist Balwant Singh Rajoana to commute death sentence: Read details of the convict on death row for 28 years

On 4th November, the Supreme Court will take up a plea filed by Khalistani terrorist and Beant Singh assassination case convict, Balwant Singh Rajoana, seeking commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment. Rajoana has filed the petition for commutation on the grounds that the Government of India has taken an “inordinate delay” in deciding his mercy petition.

Rajoana was convicted of assassinating the then-Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh, in 1995. Rajoana is a former Punjab Police constable. He has been in prison for the past 28 years awaiting his execution. On 31st August 1995, Beant Singh and 16 others were killed in a blast outside the Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh. Rajoana was arrested and tried in the matter as one of the suspects. He was sentenced to death in 2007 by a special court. His mercy petition has been pending for more than 12 years.

In May 2023, the apex court refused to commute his death sentence to life imprisonment. The court had asked the Central Government to take a decision on his mercy petition “as and when it is deemed necessary”. Sixteen months later, the court, however, agreed to hear the matter afresh. The case will be heard by a three-judge bench led by Justice BR Gavai. The bench had asked the Centre and the Punjab Government to respond to his fresh petition for commutation of the death sentence on the grounds of delay in deciding his mercy petition, which was filed on 25th March 2012.

The Bench, comprising Justice BR Gavai, Justice PK Mishra, and Justice KV Vishwanathan, will hear the petition. In May last year, the apex court had said, “The stand of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to defer the decision on the mercy petition of the petitioner is also a decision for the reasons given thereunder. It actually amounts to a decision declining to grant the same for the present.” However, it had directed “that the competent authority, in due course of time, would again, as and when it is deemed necessary, may deal with the mercy petition, and take a further decision.”

In his fresh petition, Rajoana has argued, “About 01 year and 04 months have now elapsed since the disposal of the petitioner’s first writ petition, and a decision on his fate still hangs under a cloud of uncertainty, causing deep mental trauma and anxiety to the petitioner every single living day, which by itself is a sufficient ground for the exercise of this court’s Article 32 powers to allow the reliefs sought.”

Senior counsel Mukul Rohtagi is representing the convict. He contended that Rajoana has been in jail for over 28 years and on death row for 17 years; thus, he cannot be made to wait indefinitely on the grounds of national security. Earlier, he had argued that keeping him on death row while sitting over the mercy plea is a violation of Rajoana’s fundamental rights.

On the other hand, appearing for the Ministry of Home Affairs, Additional Solicitor General KM Natraj contended that the mercy petition filed by Rajoana cannot be considered as it was filed by SGPC and not by the convict himself. Furthermore, Natraj argued that the mercy petition of Rajoana cannot be decided until the appeals of other convicts are decided by the Supreme Court. Considering the circumstances, the MHA decided it would be appropriate not to take any decision on the mercy petition as it could potentially compromise national security and create a law and order situation.

Who is Balwant Singh Rajoana?

Balwant Singh Rajoana was a resident of Kalan village in Ludhiana district. He joined the Punjab Police as a constable on 1st October 1987. Rajoana was sympathetic to the views of the Khalistani terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International. He is one of the two assassins responsible for the killing of the then-Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh. Justifying the assassination, Rajoana blamed Beant Singh for the “extra-judicial” killings of Sikh youth.

Babbar Khalsa International’s terrorist Dilawar Singh Babbar acted as the suicide bomber who carried out the attack on Beant Singh. Rajoana was the one who attached the bombs to Dilawar’s body. He was also the backup bomber, prepared to attempt the assassination himself if Dilawar had failed.

On 22nd and 23rd January 1996, Rajoana recorded his confession under Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code. He stated, “Judge Sahib, Beant Singh assumed himself [to be the] angel of peace after killing thousands of innocent people, compared himself with Guru Gobind Singh Ji and Ram Ji; thereafter, we had decided to kill Chief Minister Shri Beant Singh.”

He also expressed deep anguish over Operation Blue Star and the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, angered that the agencies and police were given “full liberty” to “kill” young, innocent Sikhs. He claimed that these atrocities were committed by the Punjab CM at the behest of “agencies of Delhi.”

Rajoana was arrested by the Punjab police in December 1995. A special CBI court in Chandigarh sentenced him to death on 27th July 2007. Along with him, the court also sentenced Jagtar Singh Hawara to death, while Gurmit Singh, Lakhwinder Singh, and Shamsher Singh received life imprisonment. Later, Hawara’s death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2010 after he appealed the trial court’s verdict.

Did Balwant SIngh Rajoana challenge the death penalty?

Interestingly, Rajoana never engaged a lawyer during the trial. He stated, “Yes, I was involved in this murder. I have no repentance for my involvement. I and Bhai Dilawar Singh prepared this bomb.” On 10th August 2009, he requested the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to consider his death penalty case separately from that of the co-accused who had appealed the conviction. Rajoana considered the death sentence “for this act is justice” and a blessing. He refused to “bow before a worthless system.”

In a letter to the High Court, he wrote, “How can I say that I am innocent, and why should I engage any advocate when my conscience does not allow me to do so?”

What happened thereafter?

Balwant Singh Rajoana was scheduled to be executed on 31st March 2012. However, there was public resentment and anger over the death sentence, prompting then-CM of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal to attempt to halt it. On 28th March 2012, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) filed a mercy petition before the President of India. In response, the Ministry of Home Affairs stayed the execution.

Irked by the delay in a decision on the mercy petition, Rajoana went on hunger strike twice in Patiala Central Jail in 2016 and 2018. He ended his five-day hunger strike in 2018 after SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal assured him that his petition would be expedited.

What is the background of the latest Supreme Court order on mercy petition of Balwant Singh Rajoana?

On the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, the Government of India in September 2019 decided to recommend cases of eight Sikh prisoners for special remission and release under Article 161 of the Constitution of India, delegating this to the respective states. Article 161 empowers the Governor of a state to commute death sentences to life imprisonment.

The Central Government also recommended processing Rajoana’s case for commutation of his death sentence under Article 72 of the Constitution, which gives the President of India the power to commute a death sentence to life imprisonment. The Union Home Ministry sent correspondence to this effect to the respective states/UTs in September 2019. However, in December 2019, Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated in the Lok Sabha that no pardon had been granted to Rajoana, after Congress Member of Parliament Ravneet Singh Bittu, the grandson of Beant Singh, questioned why “Rajoana was pardoned” during Question Hour.

In 2020, Balwant Singh Rajoana filed a Writ Petition (Criminal) seeking a directive for the expeditious disposal of the Ministry of Home Affairs’ proposal to commute his death sentence. Hearing this plea, the Supreme Court recently ordered that the mercy plea be decided within 14 days. Previously, in December last year, the court had questioned the Centre’s delay in forwarding a proposal regarding Rajoana’s death sentence to the President.

Digital Arrest: Enforcement Directorate issues fresh advisory against the scam, shares gang’s modus operandi

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Digital Arrest: Enforcement Directorate issues fresh advisory against the scam, shares gang’s modus operandi

On Saturday, November 2, the Enforcement Directorate filed a fresh prosecution complaint in the rampant cybercrime called ‘Digital Arrest Scam’. ED registered a case in the scam after studying multiple police FIRs, and arrested eight persons named in its October 10 chargesheet.

The accused named in the ED chargesheet are Charan Raj C, Kiran S K, Shahi Kumar M, Sachin M, Tamilarasan, Prakash R, Ajith R, and Aravindan. Along with running the cyber scam, the accused also reportedly ran multiple shell companies. All the accused are currently in judicial custody.

Notably, ED’s fresh complaint came just a week after PM Narendra Modi warned about these cyber scams in the country during his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ address. During his address, PM Modi played a recorded example of a scam call to show how the scam is executed, and urged people to stay alert to such scams. The Prime Minister also emphasised that no genuine agency conducts inquiries over phone or video calls.

The case regarding this ‘Digital Arrest’ scam involves fraudulent transaction of money to the tune of ₹159 crore from various victims. The fraudsters obtained hundreds of SIM cards, allegedly linked to shell companies’ bank accounts, and also used these SIM cards to create fake WhatsApp accounts.

The ED also seized a lot of evidence, cheque books, and communication records, that indicates these individuals were part of a syndicate that laundered cybercrime proceeds from India.

What is Digital Arrest

‘Digital arrest’ is a method used by cybercriminals to confine victims to their houses to defraud them. The perpetrators create fear in the minds of internet users by making audio or video calls, often impersonating law enforcement agents with AI-generated voices or visual technology.

In most situations, the fraud starts with an apparently innocent phone call from a claimed courier firm, cellphone provider, telecom department, or bank. These calls can be either live or automated, urging the recipient to enter a number for more information. Once connected, the victim chats with someone professing to be a support agent, and the misery begins.

The fraudsters often have some personal information about the victim, such as Aadhaar (or the last four digits), PAN, or bank details. Using this information, they convince the victim that their Aadhaar, PAN, mobile number, or bank account has been linked to alleged illegal activities. The victim is then connected to individuals impersonating law enforcement officers from agencies like the police, customs, ED, or CBI, who conduct a fake interrogation over video conferencing and issue a bogus arrest warrant via call or WhatsApp.

A ‘Digital Arrest’ involves the virtual confinement of the victim, including restricted access to bank accounts and digital platforms, prevention of online activities, live monitoring through video calls, and periodic check-ins, all of which continue until the scammers extort money. The scam typically escalates by taking the victim to a fake virtual court via Skype while they are under ‘digital arrest.’ The victim is then persuaded to transfer their bank balance to another account for ‘verification,’ with promises that the funds will be returned within 30 minutes. Fake documents, including letters and receipts on counterfeit letterheads of various authorities, are issued to further deceive the victim.

Adani Power to stop supplying electricity to Bangladesh if dues not paid by 7 November, earlier 50% supply was cut

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Adani Power to stop supplying electricity to Bangladesh if dues not paid by 7 November, earlier 50% supply was cut

The Adani Group has warned Bangladesh of a full power cut if outstanding dues aren’t cleared by November 7, 2024. Adani Power Jharkhand Limited, a subsidiary of Adani Power, has already halved its supply to Bangladesh, citing a debt of around $850 million owed by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).

The reduction in supply from Adani’s Godda power plant in Jharkhand is significant, as it is a key energy source for Bangladesh, which is already dealing with power shortages. The plant, capable of producing 1,496 MW, currently supplies only about 700 MW, intensifying Bangladesh’s energy challenges​.

Earlier, Adani set a deadline for payment by October 31 and requested a $170 million letter of credit as payment security, which Bangladesh has struggled to fulfil due to dollar shortages. Despite BPDB’s attempts to arrange a payment guarantee through Krishi Bank, the proposed terms reportedly did not align with the power purchase agreement.

As a result, Adani Power Jharkhand Limited (APJL) cut down electricity supply to Bangladesh by more than 50% starting from 31st October. Before cutting down the electricity supply to Bangladesh, APJL asked the Power Development Board (PDB) of Bangladesh to clear outstanding payments by Wednesday (30th October). A letter sent by the company said, “PDB has neither provided LC (Letter of Credit) for an amount of $170.03 million from Bangladesh Krishi Bank nor cleared the outstanding amount of $846 million.”

On Friday, Adani Power supplied 724 megawatts (MW) of power to Bangladesh. This has caused a major power crisis in Bangladesh, as generation in power plants in Bangladesh has also come down due to fuel shortage. Now, if the company does not receive the pending dues, it will completely stop supplying power to Bangladesh.

Adani Power is in the process of connecting with the domestic grid, to supply power from the plant to neighbouring states after it stops supplying to Bangladesh.

The interim govt in Bangladesh is struggling with payments due to shortage of dollars. The government has been exploring ways to meet the financial obligations, including the possibility of issuing government bonds to fund these payments​.

“Was not at my best as captain, batter…”: Indian skipper Rohit Sharma after series whitewash against New Zealand

ANI
-
0
“Was not at my best as captain, batter…”: Indian skipper Rohit Sharma after series whitewash against New Zealand

 Following his side’s whitewash series loss to New Zealand, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma admitted that not being at his best as a captain and batter in the series would “rankle him”.

Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillips unleashed a spin web on Indian batter, spinning them towards history as NZ beat India by 25 runs and become the first visiting side to whitewash India in India in a series of three or more matches.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Rohit said that the loss is indigestible and admitted that the team was outperformed by Kiwis, especially in batting.

“We made a lot of mistakes and we will have to accept it. We did not put enough runs on the board in the 1st innings (in Bengaluru and Pune) and we were behind in the game, here, we got a 30-run lead, we thought we were ahead, the target was achievable as well, we had to do better though. You want runs on the board as well, that is something that was there in my mind,” he added.

Speaking on his batting struggles throughout the series, Rohit said that when it does not come off, it does not look great and felt disappointing. However, he was full of praise for youngsters Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant for showing how to bat on tough, spin-friendly pitches.

“You have got to be ahead and be proactive, we are playing on such pitches in the last 3-4 years, we know how to play (and play well). But this series, it did not come off and that is going to hurt. Also, I was not at my best with both bat and as a captain, that is something that will rankle me. But, we did not perform well collectively and that is the reason for these losses,” he concluded.

Chasing a target of 147 runs, India was five down at 29 runs. However, a fighting half-century by Rishabh Pant (64 in 57 balls, with nine fours and a six) kept India in the game. After his dismissal, India once again lost their footing in the game and was bundled out for 121 runs.

Ajaz (6/57) took a memorable six-wicket haul. Also, Phillips (3/42) was fine with the ball, taking timely and crucial wickets.

Earlier, Kiwis were bundled out for 174, thanks to a five-wicket haul from Jadeja (5/55) and some fine bowling from Ravichandran Ashwin (3/62). A fighting half-century from Will Young (51 in 100 balls, with two fours and a six) was NZ innings highlight. Kiwis took a 146 run lead over India, who made 263 in their first innings while replying to NZ’s first innings total of 235 runs.

In their first innings, India had taken a 28-run lead over New Zealand. India was 84/4 at one point, but a 96-run stand between Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant (60 in 59 balls, with eight four and two sixes) helped India recover. Gilll played a memorable knock of 90 in 146 balls, with seven fours and a six. A fine knock of Washington Sundar (38* in 36 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) pushed India towards a lead, taking them to 263.

Ajaz Patel (5/103) was the pick of the bowlers for Kiwis. Phillips, Ish Sodhi and Matt Henry took a wicket each.

Coming to the NZ first innings, Kiwis had won the toss and opted to bat first. Though spinners Jadeja (5/65) and Sundar (4/81) dominated the proceedings, half-centuries from Will Young (71 in 138 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) and Daryl Mitchell (82 in 129 balls, with three fours and three sixes) pushed NZ to 235. An 87-run stand between Young and Mitchell was what helped Kiwis get to a respectable score.

Brief Scores: India: 263 and 121: (Rishabh Pant 64, Washington Sundar 12, Ajaz Patel 6/57) lost to NZ: 235 and 174: (Will Young 51, Glenn Phillips 26, Ravindra Jadeja 5/55).

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

Kerala Police register FIR against Union Minister Suresh Gopi for allegedly misusing an ambulance

ANI
-
0
Kerala Police register FIR against Union Minister Suresh Gopi for allegedly misusing an ambulance

Kerala Police has registered an FIR against Union Minister Suresh Gopi for allegedly misusing an ambulance by traveling on it to reach the Thrissur Pooram venue.

Thrissur East police registered the case under sections 279 of IPC and 179,288,192 of the Motor Vehicle Act.

The FIR states that Gopi travelled in an ambulance which should be used only for transporting patients.

The case was registered on the complaint of CPI district leader Sumesh KP.

Gopi traveled in the ambulance on the day when it was alleged that the Thrissur Pooram was deliberately disrupted.

The Opposition the Congress-led UDF had alleged that the disruption was made to favour Gopi who was then the BJP’s candidate from the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency.

The Thrissur Pooram row has sparked political debate within the state as the opposition claimed that police intervened in the rituals which led to a disruption.

The Kerala Police’s investigation is currently going on in the Pooram disruption allegation.

Suresh Gopi earlier demanded a CBI probe on the allegations made against him over the use of an ambulance to reach the festival site.

“This Pooram disruption is going to be a boomerang. Unlike Surendran’s (BJP state president) claim, I did not arrive at the scene in an ambulance. I arrived in a private car, the district president’s personal vehicle. If someone claims they saw me in an ambulance, they need to clarify whether it was a real sight or an illusion. To find the truth, Kerala’s police under Pinarayi will not suffice; a CBI investigation is necessary. I am prepared to face it. They should call in the CBI. Many, including former and current ministers in Kerala, fear being questioned,” Gopi had said.

However, he retracted this statement later, saying that he had to travel in the ambulance after his car was attacked by goons, getting his legs injured.

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

New York officials seized social media star Peanut the squirrel from its owner and killed it, becomes a political issue days before presidential elections

OpIndia Staff
-
0
New York officials seized social media star Peanut the squirrel from its owner and killed it, becomes a political issue days before presidential elections

On 30 October, an orphaned squirrel named Peanut, who became a social media sensation, was euthanised by New York state officials after being seized from the home of his caretaker, Mark Longo. According to reports, New York officials raided Longo’s house and seized the squirrel along with a rescued raccoon named Fred. Both animals were euthanised on the same day they were taken from Longo, apparently to test if they had rabbies.

The death of the beloved squirrel has sparked a backlash among fans of Peanut and animal welfare advocates. The matter has now become linked to the ongoing US Presidential Elections, with Republicans slamming the govt accusing it of overreach. Billionaire Elon Musk also voiced support for Longo.

Authorities from New York’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Chemung County’s health department raided Longo’s house based on a complaint alleging potential health risks related to housing wildlife. Following the raid, Peanut and Fred were removed from Longo’s home in Pine City. Reportedly, a woman named Monica Keasler had lodged the complaint.

Based on the complaint, a judge issueds a search warrant, after which officers from the state Department of Environmental Conservation raided Mark Longo’s house, and took away the two animals after a 5-hour search. “On Oct. 30, DEC seized a raccoon and squirrel sharing a residence with humans, creating the potential for human exposure to rabies,” officials said.

Officials claimed that during the seizure, a DEC officer was bitten by the squirrel. As a result, both animals were subsequently euthanised to test for rabies. A joint statement from DEC and Chemung County confirmed, “The animals are being tested for rabies, and anyone in contact with these animals is encouraged to consult their physician.”

However, Longo has denied that the squirrel bit anyone, saying he didn’t witness any such incident.

Peanut, the beloved squirrel which was rescued and lived in the Longo’s house for 7 years, had garnered tens of thousands of followers on Instagram and TikTok. Longo frequently posted videos of Peanut performing tricks, enjoying snacks, and wearing tiny hats. After rescuing the squirrel, Mark started an animal rescue initiative called P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary.

Following the squirrel’s death, heartbroken fans expressed outrage on social media. A post from Peanut’s Instagram account criticised the decision to euthanise the animals, calling it a “devastating decision” that left the sanctuary community in shock. He stated that he was in the process of securing a certification for Peanut as an educational animal when the seizure occurred. He alleged that officials used excessive force during the seizure and that the raid continued for hours, during which he was not allowed to feed his rescued animals, including horses.

Mark Longo said, “Honestly, this still kind of feels surreal, that the state that I live in actually targeted me and took two of the most beloved animals on this planet away, didn’t even quarantine them. They took them from my house and just killed them.”

Following the information of the animals getting euthanised reached Longo, several posts were made on social media platforms. One of the posts read, “Well internet, you WON. You took one of the most amazing animals away from me because of your selfishness. To the group of people who called DEC, there’s a special place in hell for you. Today at 10am Wednesday, Oct 30, 2024… The NY State DEC showed up to my house and took Peanut. He was TAKEN to the EUTHANIZED. Im in shock, disbelief, and disgusted to the people who did this to, PNUT. For the last 7 years, Peanut has been my best friend. He’s been the center of my world and many of yours for so long, I don’t know how to process this, emotionally. Last year we moved to NY in hopes of starting a NONPROFIT animal rescue in PNUT’s Name. @pnuts_freedom_farm will forever live in PNUT’s memory. With over 350 rescues, we’ve relied heavily on PNUT and his internet family to gather donations to help more animals. I don’t even know how will continue to fundraise for this nonprofit. I’ll be taking a break from social media for a bit. To the people who did this… THANK YOU for breaking apart a family and crushing any hopes of our nonprofit to survive. I want to thank those who have stuck by up for the last 7 years to watch peanut and his antic. I will set up a fundraiser for those who want to donate in Peanuts name. I’ll never give up on this nonprofit or those who fell in love with peanut. Thank you all. Mark Longo”

Longo also alleged that he was treated like a terrorist when a 10-member team searched his house. “They treated me like I was a terrorist. They treated this raid as if I was a drug dealer. They ransacked my house for five hours,” Longo told the media. He said that the officials even asked about the immigration status of his wife, despite having all the necessary documents.

Notably, it is illegal to keep wild animals as pets in New York unless the owner is licensed as a wildlife rehabilitator. To become one, a person must complete intensive paperwork and inspections. Longo asserted he was complying with the requirements and was “in the process of filing the necessary paperwork.” Despite the regulations, many people care for squirrels like Peanut due to limited rehabilitator resources available in the city.

After the incident, people are calling for a change in the law, which bars people from keeping harmless rescued animals. It has been noted that animals rescued young and kept with humans for a long time can’t be released to the wild as they become adapted to domestic life and can’t survive in the wild.

Unexpectedly, the killing of two pets after seizing them from their owner has become a political issue just days ahead of the voting for presidential elections. Donald John Trump Junior, son of presidential candidate Donald Trump, tweeted, “It’s time to vote out a government that will kill a pet squirrel but will gladly allow 600,000 criminals with 13,000 murderers & 16,000 rapists knowingly into their country. Maybe P’nuts murder will be the catalyst for real change & awakening as to our govts broken priorities!”

Elon Musk has also come forward in support of Longo, criticising state authorities for the extreme action of euthanising the squirrel. In a post on X, Musk said, “The government should not be allowed to barge into your house and kill your pet! That’s messed up. Even if it is illegal to have a pet squirrel (which it shouldn’t be), why kill PNut instead of simply releasing him into the forest!?”

In another post, he vouched for Presidential candidate Donald Trump and asserted he will save the squirrels.

Wildlife rehabilitators have expressed concerns that such incidents could discourage others from pursuing licences. One such rehabilitator, Tindal, said, “Pet squirrels are rarely a good idea… they’re aggressive, difficult to care for, but rare cases like Peanut’s can be truly exceptional.”

Will kill you like Baba Siddique: Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Mahant of Gorakhnath Math, receives death threat

OpIndia Staff
-
0
Will kill you like Baba Siddique: Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Mahant of Gorakhnath Math, receives death threat

On Saturday, November 2, a death threat was received by Mumbai Police against the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Notably, Yogi Adityanath is also the Mahant (Head Priest) of the holy Gorakhnath temple.

The Mumbai Police Traffic Control Cell received a call from an unknown number on Saturday, (November 2). The caller threatened that Yogi Adityanath would face similar consequences as assassinated NCP leader Baba Siddique if he did not resign within 10 days.

Following the threat against someone who is not only a politician, but a revered Hindu figure, security forces are on high alert. The Mumbai police are currently investigating the matter and are also attempting to locate the perpetrator of the death threat against Yogi Adityanath.

Yogi Adityanath is one of the most powerful people in India because he governs the most populous state and is also the Mahant of Gorakhnath. A life threat against him has apparently seriously concerned the security forces.

Baba Siddique murder case

On Saturday, 12th October, former Maharashtra minister and leader of Ajit Pawar’s NCP, Baba Siddique, was shot dead by three assailants possibly linked to Lawrence Bishnoi gang in Mumbai. He was shot in the chest and stomach. The 66-year-old politician was rushed to Lilavati Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

The incident took place around 9:30 PM outside Siddique’s son and Maharashtra MLA Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Bandra East. At the time of the incident, Siddique was bursting firecrackers to celebrate Dussehra. Reportedly, three assailants emerged from a vehicle with covered faces. They opened fire at Siddique using a 9.9mm pistol and fired three rounds. One of the bullets struck Siddique in the chest, and he collapsed. One of the bullets hit the windscreen of his vehicle.

Baba Siddique was born on 13th September 1958 in Patna. He grew up in Mumbai. In 1977, he joined Congress and quickly rose through the ranks. In 1980, he became General Secretary of Bandra Taluka of the Bandra Youth Congress. In 1988, he became the president of Mumbai Youth Congress. In 1992, he was elected as a Municipal Councillor. He was shot dead by 3 shooters on October 12.

“BJP stands out from other parties…Polls will ensure Jharkhand’s future”: Home Minister Amit Shah after releasing BJP’s Sankalp Patra

ANI
-
0
“BJP stands out from other parties…Polls will ensure Jharkhand’s future”: Home Minister Amit Shah after releasing BJP’s Sankalp Patra

After releasing the Bharatiya Janata Party Sankalp Patra (Manifesto) for Jharkhand Assembly elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that the BJP stands out from all other parties, adding that the upcoming elections in the state is not just an election to change the government, but an election to ensure the future of Jharkhand.

“This election in Jharkhand is not just an election to change the government, but an election to ensure the future of Jharkhand. The people of Jharkhand have to decide whether they want a government full of corruption or a BJP government moving forward on the path of development under the leadership of PM Modi. Do they want a government that endangers the identity, land and women of Jharkhand by allowing infiltration or do they want a Bharatiya Janata Party government that protects the borders,” Amit Shah said, after releasing the BJP’s Sankalp Patra event in Ranchi.

Shah further said that the backward classes, the poor, the tribals, the Dalits are looking towards the BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ with great hope.
“We are releasing the ‘Sankalp Patra’ today, the Bharatiya Janata Party stands out from all other parties. Because the Bharatiya Janata Party is the only party in the country’s politics that does what it says. Whenever the Bharatiya Janata Party has come to power, we have fulfilled all the resolutions. This is our track record and that is why the people of Jharkhand, especially the backward classes, the poor, the tribals, the Dalits are looking towards our ‘Sankalp Patra’ with great hope,” he added.

The Union Home Minister asserted that during the Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s government, the tribals of the state are not safe.

“The number of tribals in Santhal Pargana is continuously decreasing. Infiltrators are coming here and luring our daughters and marrying them and occupying the land. If this is not stopped, then neither the culture of Jharkhand, nor the employment, land, or daughters here will be safe. That is why the BJP is moving ahead with the slogan of securing “Roti, Beti, Maati,” Shah said.

The Home Minister also attacked the JMM led alliance alleging that they had allowed infiltrators into tribal lands.

“BJP government is being formed in Jharkhand and we will drive out these infiltrators. We will bring the law and return the land taken away from women. Hemant Soren, you have failed to provide security to the women of Jharkhand,” he said.

Amit Shah released Bharatiya Janata Party Sankalp Patra (Manifesto) for Jharkhand Assembly elections in Ranchi.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Sanjay Seth, and BJP Jharkhand president Babulal Marandi were present during the launch.

Elections for 81 seats in the Jharkhand Assembly will be conducted in two phases on November 13 and November 20, with the counting of votes scheduled for November 23.

In the previous assembly election, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha won 30 seats, the BJP won 25 and Congress won 16 seats.

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

1...202122...6,963Page 21 of 6,963

Contact: [email protected]

About us

News and opinion website that brings you reports and narrative from a perspective often ignored or suppressed by the mainstream media of India.

Follow us

© OpIndia.com