On Wednesday(20th November), the Union Food Ministry informed that the government’s incredible drive towards digitisation has revolutionised India’s Public Distribution System (PDS) and established new standards for food security initiatives around the world.
According to an official statement, 5.8 crore phony ration cards have been eliminated as a result of the system’s makeover.
The system serves 80.6 crore beneficiaries and uses electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) verification and Aadhaar-based identification.
It further read, “These efforts have resulted in substantial reductions in leakages and enhanced targeting.”
The ministry mentioned that almost all of the 20.4 crore ration cards have been digitalized, with 98.7% of beneficiaries’ credentials being validated through biometric identification and 99.8% being connected to Aadhaar.
Aadhaar-based authentication during distribution is made possible by the ministry’s deployment of 5.33 lakh e-PoS (Electronic Point of Sale) devices throughout fair-pricing stores across the country, guaranteeing that beneficiaries are identified appropriately.
The press release stated, “Today, Aadhaar authentication is used for distributing approximately 98 per cent of total foodgrains, reducing leakages to ineligible beneficiaries and mitigating any risk of pilferage.”
The process is still in progress for the remaining PDS recipients in fair-price shops nationwide, while the government’s eKYC project has verified 64% of all PDS beneficiaries.
A vehicle position tracking system that is connected to railways for real-time food shipment monitoring is one of the end-to-end supply chain management systems that the Food Corporation of India (FCI) has put in place on the supply side.
The ‘One Nation One Ration Card system’ has made it accessible to beneficiaries to employ their current cards to collect rations anywhere in India, enabling statewide portability.
The ministry pointed out, “Through digitisation, rightful targeting, and supply chain innovations, the Government of India has set a global benchmark for state-sponsored food security initiatives.”
Ghost cards and fraudulent entries are removed from the system, and targeted delivery to actual beneficiaries is ensured by the digital transformation, which covers the whole PDS chain from procurement to distribution.
On Wednesday, 20th November, as the voting for the Maharashtra state assembly elections 2024 went underway, one of the voters from the Solapur district of Maharashtra illegally shot a video portraying his favor for the Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate. The accused person shot the video while inside the polling booth and exposed that he voted for Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Dilip Sopal. As per OpIndia sources, the voter who shot the video and posted it on social media has been identified as Rutwik Pawar.
As per the initial reports, the incident is said to have happened in the Barshi taluka of Solapur district at an 84-number poll station. Chaos erupted after the video went viral over the internet provoking the poll authorities to investigate the matter.
The citizens criticized the matter saying that the voter illegally shot the video when phones weren’t allowed inside the polling booth. This incident also raised questions about the local administration and the poll officials as the locals argued about how the voter could carry the mobile phone inside the polling station when it was strictly not allowed.
Barshi ECI official Prakash Gaikwad took cognizance of the event and stated that strict action against the accused voter would be taken. Gaikwad also said that a police complaint against the accused voter will be filed. Notably, several similar incidents were reported from Baramati constituency and Wardha constituency. However, no action has yet been initiated in these cases.
It is crucial to note that 184 candidates from 11 constituencies in Solapur contested for the MLA race. Around 38 lakh voters from the district are believed to have exercised their right to elect 11 of 184 candidates. The results of the same will be declared on 23rd November.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) recently imposed a hefty monetary penalty of Rs. 213.14 crore on Meta for abusing its dominant position. The penalty imposition on Meta came in the case pertaining to the implementation of WhatsApp’s 2021 Privacy Policy, involving controversial data collection and sharing practices with other Meta entities.
In addition to the penalty, the CCI on Monday (18th November) issued cease-and-desist directions and mandated behavioural remedies be implemented within a stipulated timeline. The CCI identified two key markets in its investigation: the market for over-the-top (OTT) messaging apps through smartphones in India and the market for online display advertising in India.
The Commission concluded that WhatsApp, operated by Meta, holds a dominant position in the OTT messaging app market in India. Similarly, Meta was found to have a leading position in the online display advertising market compared to its competitors.
In January 2021, WhatsApp introduced updates to its terms of service and privacy policy, notifying users via in-app prompts. Effective from the 8th of February, 2021, the new policy required users to accept expanded data collection terms, including mandatory sharing of user data with other Meta companies.
Unlike the 2016 privacy policy, which allowed users to opt out of data sharing with Facebook, the 2021 update removed this choice, compelling users to accept the terms or lose access to WhatsApp. The CCI found this ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ policy to be an unfair condition under the Competition Act, as it forced users to comply with expanded data collection and sharing terms, undermining their autonomy.
Given WhatsApp’s network effects and lack of effective alternatives, the update constituted an abuse of Meta’s dominant position, violating Section 4(2)(a)(i) of the Act. The Commission also highlighted anti-competitive practices arising from the sharing of user data between Meta entities. Sharing WhatsApp user data with other Meta companies for purposes beyond providing WhatsApp services creates significant entry barriers for competitors, violating Section 4(2)(c) of the Act.
Meta leveraged its dominance in the OTT messaging app market to strengthen its position in the online display advertising market, contravening Section 4(2)(e) of the Act. To address the identified anti-competitive harm, the CCI directed Meta and WhatsApp to implement several measures. WhatsApp is prohibited from sharing user data collected on its platform with other Meta companies for advertising purposes for five years. After this period, certain provisions will apply to regulate such data sharing.
WhatsApp must provide a detailed explanation of the types of user data shared with other Meta companies, specifying the purposes for each type of data. Data sharing for purposes other than providing WhatsApp services cannot be a condition for using WhatsApp in India.
All users, including those who accepted the 2021 update, must be offered an opt-out option for nonservice-related data sharing via a prominent in-app notification. Users should be able to review and modify their choices through a clear tab in the app’s settings. Future policy updates must comply with these requirements.
Meta says it “disagrees” with CCI’s decision to impose Rs 213 crore penalty, will appeal
On Tuesday, Meta said it disagrees with the Competition Commission of India’s decision to slap a penalty and plans to appeal against the CCI order. A Meta spokesperson in a statement argued that the 2021 update did not change the privacy of people’s personal messages and was offered as a choice for users at the time. “We also ensured no one would have their accounts deleted or lose functionality of the WhatsApp service because of this update,” the spokesperson added.
“The update was about introducing optional business features on WhatsApp, and provided further transparency about how we collect and use data. And since that time, WhatsApp has been incredibly valuable to people and businesses, enabling organizations and government institutions to deliver citizen services through COVID and beyond, and as well as supporting small businesses, all of which furthers the Indian economy. WhatsApp is able to do all of this because it offers services supported by Meta.”
The Meta spokesperson said they are committed to finding a path forward that allows them to continue providing the experiences that people and businesses have come to expect from them.
Violence was perpetrated by a Muslim mob alleging obstruction in voting during the Meerapur assembly by-election in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh on 20th November. Many videos of the incident went viral on social media and a police inspector is seen holding a pistol in his hand in one of the clips. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav called it an attempt to intimidate voters and demanded the suspension of the inspector. However, Muzaffarnagar police countered these allegations and netizens also accused him of lying.
Akhilesh Yadav shared a 28-second video on 20th November in which several women are seen standing in front of the policemen. They are asking the cops not to fire bullets and assuring them to stop something immediately. At the same time, a police inspector can be heard warning some people standing far away while holding a pistol. Several stones are spotted on the road. “Election Commission should immediately suspend SHO (Station House Officer) of Kakarwali police station area of Meerapur because he is stopping voters from casting their votes by threatening them with a revolver,” he posted. He tagged several handles including Election Commission in his tweet.
People have put the truth in front of Akhilesh Yadav as multiple netizens uploaded the full video of the incident which is 1 minute 48 seconds below his tweet. The mob can be seen rioting and attacking the policemen. Many women are standing on the roofs of houses. Cops are taking cover behind the walls to escape the assault. A policeman is seen trying to chase away the rioters with a pistol in his hand as the footage ends.
The name of the police inspector seen in the video is Rajiv Sharma. He is currently SHO Kakaroli. Muzaffarnagar police termed Akhilesh Yadav’s tweet as a conspiracy. Muzaffarnagar Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) IPS Abhishek Singh stated that an edited portion of a long video is being shared as part of a well-planned conspiracy. He described Sharma’s action as an attempt to control the situation. He said that action is underway and a case has been registered against the miscreants.
In fact, according to IPS Abhishek Singh, the police arrived at the location after receiving reports of conflict between two parties. Some began trying to block the route as soon as the police arrived. As the police attempted to remove the road barricade, the attackers started hurling stones at them. The police used the necessary force to quell this violence. The rioters left the area once the police intervened, and put the women forward.
According to the information gathered by OpIndia, there was also an effort to bring cell phones into the polling station during the Meerapur assembly by-election in addition to traffic blockages and stone pelting. Abdullah, the son of Arshad Rana, the candidate for Asaduddin Owaisi’s party All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in the Meerapur assembly, attempted to enter the booth with a mobile phone. When the police stopped him, he started quarreling. However, Abdullah’s clamor did not affect the police and he had to go to the booth without a mobile phone.
A five-count criminal indictment has been unsealed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, charging prominent Indian executives including the Chairman of the Adani Group Gautam Adani by linking them to an alleged bribery and fraud scheme, Reuters reported citing US prosecutors.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York, “A five-count criminal indictment was unsealed in federal court charging Gautam Adani, Sagar R. Adani, and Vneet S. Jaain, with conspiracies to commit securities and wire fraud and substantive securities fraud for their roles in a multi-billion-dollar scheme to obtain funds from U.S. investors and global financial institutions on the basis of false and misleading statements.”
The indictment also charges Ranjit Gupta and Rupesh Agarwal, former executives of a renewable-energy company with securities that had traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the U.S. Issuer), and Cyril Cabanes, Saurabh Agarwal and Deepak Malhotra, former employees of a Canadian institutional investor, with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in connection with the alleged bribery scheme.
“As alleged, the defendants orchestrated an elaborate scheme to bribe Indian government officials to secure contracts worth billions of dollars and Gautam S. Adani, Sagar R. Adani and Vneet S. Jaain lied about the bribery scheme as they sought to raise capital from U.S. and international investors,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace.
Breon Peace further alleged that the people named in the indictment undermined the integrity of international financial markets and defrauded U.S. and global investors.
“The business executives allegedly bribed the Indian government to finance lucrative contracts designed to benefit their businesses. Adani and other defendants also defrauded investors by raising capital on the basis of false statements about bribery and corruption, while still other defendants allegedly attempted to conceal the bribery conspiracy by obstructing the government’s investigation,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Dennehy.
The indictment also accuses the executive of obstructing investigations by the FBI, Department of Justice (DOJ), and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The US Attorney’s office says that the charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI New York’s Corporate, Securities and Commodities Fraud and International Corruption Units.
The government’s case is being handled by the Business and Securities Fraud Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York and the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
There has been no response so far from the office of Gautam Adani or others named in the indictment.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On 19th November, a court-mandated survey was conducted at Jama Masjid in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. The court ordered the survey in response to a petition filed by Supreme Court Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, and seven co-plaintiffs, asserting that the mosque occupies the site of a temple dedicated to Bhagwan Kalki.
The mosque in question is a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act of 1904.
The survey was carried out under the supervision of Advocate Commission. A heavy police force was deployed in the area to ensure the survey proceeded peacefully.
During the survey, however, Muslims living in the area gathered outside the Jama Masjid and raised religious slogans. The District Magistrate of Sambhal confirmed that the survey was completed in around two hours and stated that a report would be submitted to the Civil Court, which will review it on the next date of hearing, 29th November 2024. OpIndia accessed the petition filed by the plaintiffs in the case.
Who are the petitioners
The petition has been filed in the court by Hari Shankar Jain, a Supreme Court advocate and father of Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, along with Parth Yadav of Noida. Other petitioners are Mahant Rishiraj Giri from Mujahidpur, Sambhal; Rakesh Kumar from Hayatnagar, Sambhal; Jitpal Yadav from Tataipur Ghosi Rudayan, Sambhal; Madanpal from Mujahidpur, Sambhal; Ved Pal Singh from Greater Noida; and Deenanath from Shahzadi Sarai, Sambhal. The petitioners have sought access to the historic site for the Hindu community.ubmissions made by the petitioners
In the petition, it has been asserted that the Jama Masjid in Sambhal was constructed on the centuries-old Shri Hari Har Temple, dedicated to Bhagwan Kalki and destroyed by Babar. The petitioners added that the site holds significant religious importance for Hindus and was forcibly and unlawfully converted into a mosque during the Mughal period. The petitioners further argued that it is a centrally protected monument as per the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act of 1904 and is listed as a monument of national importance by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
They contended that, being devotees of Bhagwan Vishnu and Bhagwan Shiv, they have the right to access the temple for worship and homage. They asserted that the right to worship has been denied by the mosque’s management committee. Furthermore, they also accused the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) of failing to fulfil its statutory duty to ensure public access to the site. They cited Section 18 of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, while seeking access to the site.
The petitioners emphasised that the current situation infringes upon their constitutional right to practise their religion and called for immediate action to restore public access to the site.
Historical facts
The petition highlighted the ancient and historical significance of the Shri Hari Har Temple. It stated that the site is revered in Hindu scriptures and known for its association with the prophesied Kalki Avatar. For those who are unaware, Bhagwan Kalki is believed to be the tenth and final incarnation of Lord Vishnu. According to Hindu belief, Kalki will manifest in Sambhal to bring an end to Kaliyuga and usher in the era of Satyuga. The city of Sambhal, located on the banks of the Mahismat River in the heart of Rohilkhand, has had various names over different ages, such as Sabrit or Sambhaleswar in Satyuga, Mahadgiri in Treta Yuga, Pingala in Dwapar Yuga, and Sambhal in Kaliyuga.
The Shri Hari Har Mandir, dedicated to Bhagwan Kalki, was believed to have been created by Bhagwan Vishwakarma at the beginning of creation. Bhagwan Vishwakarma is the celestial architect. The temple holds a unique place in Hindu theology, symbolising the unity of Bhagwan Vishnu and Bhagwan Shiv as described in Hindu scriptures: “Yatha Shivastatha Vishnu, Yatha Vishnustatha Shivah,” which translates to “As Shiv is, so is Vishnu; as Vishnu is, so is Shiv.” The temple was considered a marvel of ancient architecture. The petition stated that it was a combination of spiritual significance and intricate design.
According to the petition, the temple faced significant destruction during the Mughal invasion. Babur’s lieutenant, Hindu Beg, allegedly partly demolished the temple and converted it into a mosque in 1527–28. The act was reportedly carried out on Babur’s instructions to establish Islamic supremacy and demoralise the local Hindu population.
The reference to this incident is found in Babur’s diary, also known as the Baburnama. It states that Hindu Beg converted the temple into a mosque. The petitioners argued that an inscription inside the mosque mentioning Babur’s name is a later forgery designed to justify the conversion of the temple into a mosque.
Baburnama reads, “Hindu Beg quchin had been Humayun’s retainer in 932 AH (f297) and had taken possession of Sambhal for him. Hence, as it seems, he was ordered, while escorting the ladies from Kabul, to go to Sambhal. He seems to have gone before waiting to Babur, probably not coming into Agra till now. It may be noted here that in 933 AH he transformed a Hindu temple into a Mosque Sambhal; it was done by Babur’s orders and is commemorated by an inscription still existing on the Mosque, one seeming not to be of his own composition, judging by its praise of himself.”
Source: rarebooksocietyofindia
Furthermore, the petition mentioned that during the reign of Akbar, the Ain-i-Akbari was written, which also referred to a prominent temple in Sambhal named Hari Mandir. The text described the temple as being dedicated to Bhagwan Vishnu and the prophesied birthplace of Bhagwan Kalki’s avatar. It further highlighted that the temple held importance during Akbar’s time, suggesting that Hindus had temporarily reclaimed the site before subsequent Mughal interventions.
Ain-i-Akbari read, “There is game in plenty in the Sarkar of Sambel (Sambhal), where the rhinoceros is found.! It is an animal like a small elephant, without a trunk, and having a horn on its snout with which it attacks animals. From its skin, shields are made and from the horn, finger-guards for bow-strings and the like. In the city of Sambal is a temple called Hari Mandal (the temple of Vishnu) belonging to a Brahman, from among whose descendants the tenth avatar will appear in this spot. Hansi is an ancient, the resting-place of Jamal the successor of Shaikh Farid-i-Shakar ganj.“
Source: rarebooksocietyofindia
According to the petition, several archaeological surveys were conducted in Sambhal during 1874–76 by Major-General A. Cunningham, who was then Director General of the ASI. He wrote a report titled “Tours in the Central Doab and Gorakhpur”, which mentioned the architectural elements of the temple that survived the conversion.
Some parts of the book on Sambhal read, “The principal building in Sambhal is the Jami Masjid, which the Hindus claim to have been originally the temple of Hari Mandir. It consists of a central domed room upwards to 20 feet square, with two wings of unequal length, that to the north being 500 feet 6 inches, while the southern wing is only 38 feet 1½ inches. Each wing has three arched openings in front, which are all of different widths, varying from 7 feet to 8 feet.”
Source: Archive.org
It further read, “The Muhammadans ascribe the erection of the building to the time of the Emperor Babar, and point to an inscription inside the masjid, which certainly contains the name of Babar, but which the Hindus assert to be a forgery of late date. On the back of this slab, they say that there is the original Hindu inscription belonging to the temple. Several Musalmans of Sambhal confessed to me that the inscription containing Babar’s name was a forgery, and that the Muhammadans did not get possession of the building until about the time of the mutiny, or a little before it, say about 25 years ago. That they took possession of the building by force; and that there was then a trial about the case in Court before the Judge of the district and that the Muhammadans gained the case mainly by of the forged inscription, and also by all the Muhammadans joining together and bearing false witness against the Hindus, who were in the minority.”
The petition pointed out that Cunningham noted distinct differences between the original Hindu structure and the later Mughal modifications, which included the use of small bricks and mud mortar in the additions. The report mentioned that some remnants of Hindu sculptures and carvings were found under the plaster used by Mughal builders. He documented fluted pillars, sandstone fragments, and other artefacts consistent with Hindu temple architecture.
The history of the temple further extends to links with Prithviraj Chauhan, who was a benefactor of Sambhal. He reportedly built a grand temple of Bhagwan Vishnu, parts of which survived even during Akbar’s reign. The petition stated that the temple represents a unique example of Rajput-period architecture, which retained its Hindu character despite attempts at conversion to a mosque.
The site was officially declared a protected monument under the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act of 1904 and listed as a monument of national importance by the ASI. The petitioners contended that the site is a historical and religious landmark and asserted that they have the right to access it for worship and heritage preservation. The petitioners argued that the site must be recognised and restored to its original purpose as the Shri Hari Har Mandir based on historical narratives supported by religious scriptures, archaeological findings, and colonial-era records.
Vesting of property in Archaeological Survey of India
The petition further drew attention to the legal and administrative history surrounding the control and management of the disputed site. It mentioned the role of ASI in preserving the monument. It was declared a protected monument on 22nd December 1920 via a notification issued by the Secretary to the Government of United Provinces under Section 3(3) of the Act. The petitioners argued that it placed the site under the supervision and control of the ASI. Thus, ASI should be the legal custodian responsible for the upkeep, management, and the facilitation of public access.
As per the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act of 1904 and then under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, the ASI has the legal mandate to protect and manage the monuments of historical significance. ASI is responsible that public access to these monuments is maintained as per the Section 18 of the 1958 Act.
The petitioners argued that the ASI failed in its statutory duty to provide proper access to the public especially when there is an ongoing religious dispute on the site. The inaction of the ASI has allowed the management committee of the Jama Masjid to restrict the access to the site. The petitioners argued that it is in the violation of the rights of the Hindu devotees to worship at the site, which they believe is the original site of Shri Hari Har Temple that was destroyed by the Mughals.
Furthermore, the petitioners said that ASI did not take necessary steps to secure the site to maintain the historical integrity and prevent removal or destruction of the artefacts and symbols that may prove its Hindu origins. It is a failure of the ASI to fulfil the legal obligation under the said Acts, argued the petitioners.
Prayer
The petitioners sought a multi-fold relief with aim to reclaim the access to the site and ensuring that it is managed by ASI. They further requested the court to issue declaratory decree to affirm their rights to access the site. Furthermore, they asked for a mandatory injunction directing the ASI and relevant government authorities including Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Culture to make provisions to allow access to the site. They also sought orders directing Masjid Committee not to restrict the access to the site.
Jharkhand is likely to see a change of government with BJP-led National Democratic Alliance coming to power in the state, three exit polls said on Wednesday with one poll giving majority to the ruling JMM-led alliance.
Elections were held in two phases for 81 assembly seats in Jharkhand.
According to Today’s Chanakya exit poll, BJP-led NDA is likely to win 45-50 seats in the state while JMM-led alliance could win 35-38 seats. It said others could get 3-5 seats.
Peoples Pulse exit poll said that the NDA may get 44-53 seats, JMM-led alliance 25-37 seats and others 5-9 seats.
The BJP-led alliance include the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Janata Dal (United), and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led alliance includes Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist).
Matrize exit poll said NDA is poised to win 42-47 seats, INDIA bloc 25-30 seats and others 1-4 seats. My Axis predicted that JMM-led alliance will retain power in Jharkhand by winning 53 seats.
It predicted that NDA could win 25 seats, others one and Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JKLM) two seats.
Polling for the second phase of the Jharkhand Assembly elections across 38 constituencies in 12 districts concluded on Wednesday, recording an approximate voter turnout of 67.59 per cent till 5.00 pm.
According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), Jamtara recorded the highest turnout at 76.16 per cent, followed by Pakur with 75.88 per cent, and Deoghar with 72.46 per cent.
Bokaro recorded the lowest turnout of 60.97 per cent, with Dhanbad at 63.39 per cent, Dumka at 71.74 per cent, Giridih at 65.89 per cent, Godda at 67.24 per cent, Hazaribagh at 64.41 per cent, Ramgarh at 71.98 per cent, and Sahebganj at 65.63 per cent. The state capital, Ranchi, recorded a turnout of 72.01 per cent by 5.00 pm.
A total of 528 candidates were in the fray in the second phase of the Jharkhand elections, including 55 women, one third-gender candidate, and 472 male candidates.
Prominent candidates in the fray included Chief Minister Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren, and his sister-in-law Sita Soren from the JMM. Key BJP leaders in the second phase included former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, Assembly Speaker Ravindra Nath Mahto (JMM), AJSU Party chief Sudesh Mahto, and Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri.
The first phase of the Jharkhand polls was held in 43 of 81 assembly seats on November 13. The results for all 81 constituencies will be declared on November 23, alongside those for Maharashtra Assembly elections and bypolls across several states
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Tuesday, 20th November, people from the Muslim community clashed with the Hindu groups claiming that the Hindu saint Navnath Baba’s grave was an Islamic religious site.
The fight between the two communities escalated as the Islamists claimed that the religious site worshiped by Hindus as Navnath Baba’s grave was a ‘Dargah’. The clashes left four people injured. A large police force was deployed to bring the situation under control.
The incident happened in the Biroda village, Burhanpur district of Madhya Pradesh. As per the local reports, the fight between the two communities has been going on for a week.
The Muslims in Burhanpur village claimed that the Hindu saint’s grave was recently painted saffron. After this, the Muslims held protests against the Hindu community provoking the village administration to arrange a couple of meetings to mediate between the two communities.
However, the meeting, that was chaired by Naib Tehsildar became violent, with the protesters pelting stones at the other group, resulting in 4 major injuries. Meanwhile, the Hindus are also believed to have retaliated against the attack. The Police reached the spot and controlled the situation.
The four injured, including a woman, were taken to the district hospital for treatment.
ASP Antar Singh Kanesh indicated that the meeting was held to resolve the ongoing issue since both communities had urged the administration to interfere.
“Despite efforts to mediate, the disagreement escalated into a violent confrontation. Heavy police deployment remains in the area, and authorities are working to identify those responsible. Strict action will be taken against the offenders,” he said.
On Wednesday, 20th November, massive chaos erupted during voting in the Meerapur constituency of Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh where a crowd clashed with the state police in Kakrauli, pelting them with stones. The situation escalated to the point where officers who were attacked by the miscreants resorted to disperse the crowd by using a pistol. The SSP has since arrived at the scene with additional forces to manage the tense situation.
As per the reports, the incident is believed to have happened when Muslims in huge numbers reached the spot to cast their votes. The Police then began controlling the crowd, checking the IDs of all the voters in line and asking them to follow the due procedure and discipline. Following this the crowd began pelting stones at the police after which the latter resorted to using a pistol to disperse the crowd.
After creating a ruckus, the crowd consisting of Muslims later allegedly began playing victim claiming that they were being harassed by the state police. SP candidate Sumbul Rana meanwhile alleged that the police ‘obstructed’ the voting process by scrutinizing voters’ IDs and allegedly harassing them. Similar unrest was reported in Sisamau, Kanpur, where Muslim voters alleged that the police were checking their IDs but then barring them from voting. SP candidate Naseem Solanki accused the police of using force and preventing people from casting their votes.
Similarly, AIMIM candidate Arshad Rana raised serious concerns, while Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) candidate Mithlesh Pal filed a complaint with the Election Commission, accusing former MP Kadir Rana of facilitating fraudulent voting. Rana further expressed frustration, stating, “There are significant issues here. Our supporters are being denied the right to vote, and the administration is not offering any assistance. Police are actively stopping voters.”
Muzaffarnagar SSP Abhishek Singh meanwhile denied the claims and said that the clashes were stopped by the Police. “During the Meerapur assembly by-election, there was a clash between two parties near village Kakaroli of police station area Kakaroli. Police reached the spot immediately and removed everyone using force. Peace is maintained at the spot and voting is going on in a free and fair manner,” he said.
#WATCH | Muzaffarnagar SSP Abhishek Singh says "During the Meerapur assembly by-election, there was a clash between two parties near village Kakaroli of police station area Kakaroli. Police reached the spot immediately and removed everyone using force. Peace is maintained at the… pic.twitter.com/mt4qsqGEyY
Voting for nine Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh began at 7 a.m. on November 20 under tight security measures. Following intense campaigning and slogan-shouting by leaders from various political parties, the electioneering for these polls concluded on Monday evening. The constituencies where polling is taking place include Katehari in Ambedkar Nagar, Karhal in Mainpuri, Meerapur in Muzaffarnagar, Ghaziabad, Majhawan in Mirzapur, Sisamau in Kanpur, Khair in Aligarh, Phulpur in Prayagraj, and Kundarki in Moradabad.
The results of the Uttar Pradesh by-polls, along with those for 15 Assembly seats in Punjab, Kerala, and Uttarakhand, will be announced on November 23.
On 20th November, the body of a young Dalit woman was recovered in a sack near the Kanjara River bridge in Karhal, Mainpuri district, Uttar Pradesh. The family of the deceased has alleged that it was a politically motivated murder and accused a person named Prashant Yadav of the crime.
The victim’s family has further alleged that the deceased was raped before being killed. The victim had expressed her intention to vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Karhal bypolls, which allegedly enraged Prashant. As per reports, he threatened the woman with dire consequences if she voted for the BJP and not the Samajwadi Party.
The family stated that she was threatened on 19th November. On the same day, she was seen being taken away on a bike by two suspects. On 20th November, her naked body was found stuffed in a sack. The police were informed about the incident, and an investigation into the matter has been initiated. Upon arriving at the scene, the police took possession of the body and sent it for a post-mortem examination.
लाल टोपी वाले गुंडों का कुकृत्य एक बार फिर सबके सामने है। PDA का नारा देने वाले अखिलेश यादव के लाल टोपी वाले गुंडों ने करहल में दलित बेटी की निर्मम हत्या कर दी। अखिलेश यादव को अपनी पार्टी के गुंडों को नियंत्रण में रखना चाहिए नहीं तो कानून और प्रशासन तो है ही। https://t.co/HZEhADK8YRpic.twitter.com/YQPbrRQ8B1
Speaking to the media, the mother of the victim said, “Yesterday, my daughter told Prashant that she does not fear anyone and will vote for Kamal [the political symbol of the BJP].” She asserted that her daughter was strangled to death for suggesting that she would vote for the BJP in the bypolls.
The victim’s father said that three days prior to voting, they were planning to go to Kota. However, an SP leader asked them to leave only after voting and urged them to vote for the cycle (SP’s symbol). His daughter told the leader that she would vote for the BJP, after which the leader and his associates threatened the young girl.
He further alleged that when they went to Bablu and Prashant’s house to inquire about their daughter, both of them denied any knowledge. However, he alleged to have seen his daughter’s slippers at Prashant’s house. Later, they found her body in a sack near the Kajra River.
BJP leaders have demanded strict action in the murder case. Speaking to the media, BJP’s candidate Anujesh accused the SP of killing the Dalit girl. BJP IT Cell chief shared the videos of the victim’s parents and wrote, “The misdeeds of the red-capped goons are once again in front of everyone. The red-capped goons of Akhilesh Yadav, who gave the slogan of PDA, brutally murdered a Dalit girl in Karhal. Akhilesh Yadav should keep the goons of his party under control, otherwise there is the law and administration.”
BJP state president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary said that a daughter, who had benefited from the public welfare schemes of the BJP government, was brutally murdered by SP leader Prashant Yadav and his companions. He added that the entire state is witnessing the mayhem caused by those wearing red caps.
In a social media post, he said, “The people of the state have kept them far away from power because of their hooliganism and bullying.”
जनपद मैनपुरी की विधानसभा करहल में सपाई प्रशांत यादव व उसके साथियों ने मिलकर एक दलित बेटी की नृशंस हत्या कर दी। हत्या सिर्फ इसलिए कि दलित बेटी ने साइकिल पर वोट देने से मना कर दिया था।
In a press conference, he stated, “These are people of the mafia rule. The Samajwadi Party is pressurising people across the state to vote for SP by making fake identity cards. SP is nervous due to the fear of defeat.”
Mainpuri Superintendent of Police (SP) Vinod Kumar stated that on 19th November, they received a complaint that a 23-year-old woman had gone missing. The next day (20th November), her dead body was recovered. The parents of the victim filed a complaint against two individuals, Prashant Yadav and Mohan Katheria alleging that they killed the woman for favouring BJP in bypolls. An FIR has been registered based on the complaint, and both of them have been arrested by the police. Further investigation into the matter is underway.
थाना करहल क्षेत्र अंतर्गत एक दलित युवती का शव बरामद होने की घटना के संबंध में थाना करहल पर अभियोग पंजीकृत कर अभियुक्तों की गिरफ्तारी व अग्रिम विवेचनात्मक विधिक कार्यवाही के संबंध में पुलिस अधीक्षक मैनपुरी द्वारा दिए गए आधिकारिक वक्तव्य। pic.twitter.com/tvCXBUeaEF
Bypolls took place in Karhal on 20th November after the seat was vacated following Akhilesh Yadav’s victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The seat has been considered a stronghold of the Samajwadi Party since 1993. Tej Pratap Yadav, nephew of Akhilesh Yadav, is the SP’s candidate from the seat. On the other hand, Anujesh Yadav, the uncle-in-law of Tej Pratap Yadav, is the BJP’s candidate. Yadavs comprise 1.4 lakh voters in the constituency, while Muslims and Dalits make up 15,000 and 40,000 voters, respectively.
