September 2022 - Page 23 of 52 - Lokmarg

Samajwadi Takes Out March Against UP Govt, Security Tight In Lucknow

By LokMarg 19th September 2022

A large number of security personnel were deployed at the State Assembly as Samajwadi Party (SP) on Monday held a protest march against the UP government, raising various demands.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and many party legislators and leaders led the march from the party office to Vidhan Sabha highlighting issues in the state before the Monsoon Session of the state legislature commenced today.

“We have come here to protest on the various issues of public interest. This is our constitutional right, but the BJP is not letting the legislators go to the assembly,” said a party leader.

Hitting back at the protest led by Akhilesh Yadav, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prashad Maurya said that the march is not related to the benefit of the common people.

“SP’s protest is not related to the benefit of the common people. If they want to discuss this, they are free to do it in the Assembly. Our government is ready for discussions. Such protests will only create problems for people,” Maurya said.

Maurya also took a jibe at Samajwadi and said that the party is jobless now and they have nothing to do.

Massive security deployment in Lucknow had been done in view of the march.

“They had not taken permission.” Still, they were assigned a designated route which would not have caused traffic congestion. They refused to take that. We have no option but to stop them here. If they take the designated route, there would not be a problem,” Joint Commissioner of Police, Law and Order Piyush Mordia said. (ANI)

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Queen’s Funeral To Take Place At Westminster Abbey Today

By LokMarg 19th September 2022

The longest-serving monarch of the UK – Queen Elizabeth II – who died on September 8 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, will be laid to rest at Westminster Abbey in London today.

According to a statement by the UK royal family, the state funeral of the Queen will take place on Monday at 1100 hrs BST.
Queen Elizabeth’s coffin draped in the Royal Standard is currently lying in state in London’s Westminster Hall for members of the public to pay their respects to the Queen.

The Lying-in-State will end right before the funeral and the coffin will be taken in procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey, where the State Funeral Service will take place.

Following the state funeral, the coffin will travel in procession from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch, after which the coffin will travel to Windsor and once there, the State Hearse will travel in procession to St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle via the Long Walk.

A Committal Service will then take place in St George’s Chapel after which Queen Elizabeth II will be buried in the castle’s King George VI Memorial Chapel.

Numerous guests ranging from political heads of countries to distinct royal family members and dignitaries from across the globe will fly to the UK for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen’s funeral is the first state funeral in the UK since Winston Churchill’s in 1965.

A state funeral means that the UK government has officially declared the day of the funeral as a bank holiday.

President Droupadi Murmu arrived in London to attend Queen’s funeral on September 17 and offered condolences on behalf of the government of India.

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden Sunday also expressed his condolences to the royal family.

While mourning the passing of Queen Elizabeth, Biden remembered Queen’s warm candour and said, “The way she touched when she leaned over. The way — she had that look like, “Are you okay? Anything I can do for you? What do you need?” And then also, “Make sure you do what you’re supposed to do,” Biden said adding that she reminded him of his mother.

Moreover, senior citizens and children are among those camping along the funeral routes, for over 48 hours in some cases, to bid a final goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II on Monday.

Notably, the funeral service will be conducted by the Dean of Westminster, and readings will be given by Patricia Scotland, the secretary general of the Commonwealth, and Prime Minister Liz Truss. The sermon will be delivered by Canterbury’s archbishop, the Most Reverend Justin Welby.

Two minutes of silence will be observed across Britain towards the end of the ceremony. The service is expected to end around 12 pm (UK time).

The Queen was born on April 21, 1926, at 17 Bruton Street in Mayfair, London. She was the first child of The Duke and Duchess of York – who later became King George VI – and Queen Elizabeth. (ANI)

Chd Uni Row: CM Sets up 3-Member All-Women SIT

By LokMarg 19th September 2022

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has constituted a three-member all-women SIT (Special Investigation Team) of police officials to probe the case in which a Chandigarh University student allegedly made objectionable videos of her hostel mates, police said on Monday.

Three accused including a girl student from the college have been arrested in connection with the case.
The SIT team will be under the supervision of senior IPS officer Gurpreet Kaur Deo.

“SIT will go to the bottom of the conspiracy. No person is to be spared if found involved. One student and two others were arrested. Thanks to DGP Himachal Pradesh for excellent co-operation. Electronic devices were seized and sent for forensic examination,” said DGP Punjab, Gaurav Yadav.

He further appealed to everyone to maintain peace and said, “Don’t fall to unverified rumours. Let’s work together for peace in society. Appeal to everyone to maintain peace and harmony.

Earlier in the day sources said that the Chandigarh University varsity has been shut for students till September 24.

The decision comes in the wake of massive protests by students demanding action against the allegations that objectionable videos of several students at the girls’ hostel of Chandigarh University in Mohali were recorded by a fellow hosteller and shared on social media. Two accused have been arrested and one detained in connection with the incident.

Visuals today from the campus of the University showed several students carrying their luggage as they left the premises.

Protests that began on Saturday night continued till late on Sunday.

Protesting students alleged that a student made videos of girl students while taking showers in the hostel. The video was later made viral on social media. The protesting students also claimed that after the videos went viral, girl students living in the hostel attempted suicide. However, police refuted all these claims of suicide.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) GS Bhullar spoke to the protesting students late on Sunday night and tried to pacify them by saying “implicit faith is necessary” and “law is being followed”.

“We will keep coming to you, implicit faith is necessary,” said DIG GS Bhullar.

DIG Bhullar told ANI that there was a communication gap earlier, which the police are trying to bridge.

“The issue has been of communication gap. We have been clarifying again and again. We are assuring students that law is being followed and all legal procedures are being undertaken,” DIG Bhullar said.

The Mohali Deputy Commissioner (DC) Amit Talwar also dismissed as “rumours” that students have attempted suicide.

“No information about suicide has come out. It is a rumour that has been spread. We have not been brought forward any information that a suicide has taken place,” Talwar said.

On Sunday, one accused identified as Sunny Mehta was arrested. The youth belongs to a village under the Rohru Sub division of Shimla district, nearly 130 km away from the northern town.

The detained person has been identified as 31-year-old Rankaj Verma.

Both the accused were nabbed by a team led by Dr Monika, Superintendent of Police, Shimla and were handed over to Punjab Police from Rohur and Dhalli police stations respectively.

“Punjab Police has arrested and has left with the accused from Rohru in case FIR no 194/22 dt 18/9/22 u/s 354C IPC, 66E IT act PS Sadar Kharad Punjab. The 23-year accused, resident of Rohru has been handed over to them,” read a statement of Shimla Police.

The girl student of Chandigarh University in Mohali has also been arrested by police. She had reportedly said that she had made videos of some girls and sent them to a youth in Shimla. (ANI)

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Chandigarh Varsity Hit With Video Scandal: 2 Held By Police

By LokMarg 18th September 2022

One person was arrested while another was detained in connection with alleged leaked objectionable videos of Chandigarh University students, said police on Sunday.

The arrested accused has been identified as Sunny Mehta. The youth belongs to a local village under Rohru Sub division of Shimla district, nearly 130 km away from the northern town.

The accused was nabbed by a team led by Dr Monika, Superintendent of Police, Shimla.

The detained person has been identified as Rankaj Verma, who is 31 years old. Both the accused were handed over to Punjab Police from Rohur and Dhalli police stations respectively.

“Chandigarh University Case. Punjab Police reached PS Rohru in Shimla. The accused Sunny Mehta has been handed over to them. Zero tolerance to crime against women. If any collateral evidence comes our way, we will take action as per law,” said Director General of Police Himachal Pradesh, Sanjay Kundu.

The accused was nabbed by a team led by Dr Monika, Superintendent of Police, Shimla.

Earlier the Police had arrested one student in the matter.

“It is a matter of videos being shot by a girl student and later circulated. FIR was registered in the matter and the accused student was arrested. No death reported related to this incident. As per medical records, no attempt (to commit suicide) was reported,” said Senior Superintendent of Police, Mohali Vivek Soni on Chandigarh University row.

Earlier massive protests were held by Chandigarh University students in Mohali on Saturday night after alleged ‘leaked objectionable videos’ of women students went viral.

Protesting students alleged that a student made videos of girl students while taking a bath in the hostel. The video was later made viral on social media. The protesting students also claimed that after the videos went viral, girl students living in the hostel attempted suicide. However, police refuted the suicide attempts claim.

“Forensic evidence is being collected. So far no attempt to suicide has been reported. Medical records of students have been taken on record. People should not pay attention to any rumours,” he added.

Punjab School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains had appealed to Chandigarh University students to remain calm and assured them that the guilty will not be spared.

“I humbly request all the students of Chandigarh University to remain calm. No one guilty will be spared. It is a very sensitive matter and relates to the dignity of our sisters and daughters,” said the minister in a Twitter post.

Punjab State Women Commission took cognisance of the matter. (ANI)

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Virat, Umran Drive India To 67-Run Win Over Lanka | Lokmarg

Night Cricket Returns To Kashmir, Enthusiasts Filled With Joy

By LokMarg 18th September 2022

Cricket tournaments held under floodlights are now bringing cheer to thousands of sports enthusiasts in Jammu and Kashmir.

There was little development of sports infrastructure in Kashmir after militancy broke out in 1990. But sports infrastructure is being built in the valley during the past few years.

Just two international cricket matches had been played in Kashmir before the eruption of militancy. The last international cricket match was held in Srinagar’s Sher-e-Kashmir cricket stadium between India and Australia in the autumn of 1986.

As the news of the matches–which were scheduled to be played in the North Kashmir Pattan area under floodlights–went viral on social media, people left the cosy atmosphere at their homes and rushed to the ground.

The event was inaugurated by the chairman of Municipal committee Pattan, Pritpal Singh Oberoi, After inaugurating the event, he said that sports have a positive and constructive role in our social and psychological development and such events enable our youth to divert their attention towards positive pursuits.

He said that various initiatives are being taken to develop sports infrastructure so that more and more sports activities are promoted and he assured of every possible assistance on part of the administration.

Over 20,000 spectators who came from every nook and corner of northern Kashmir cheered and encouraged the players during the match being held floodlights at Pattan. Mohammad Lateef Ganaie, organizer of Presidents Cup 2022 said that it was a major development in the history of sports in J&K and he hoped they would hold such matches in future.

“In the evening, thousands of spectators come here to watch the match, which was never seen here before as such events are being held for the first time in our region,” Tabish Ayaz a young cricketer said. He hopes that cricket matches will be played with the same enthusiasm in the future.

“Around 9 PM, the cricket match starts here and thousands of spectators come to cheer the cricketers,” Tabish added. “It was a dream for the youth here to play a night cricket match and we fulfilled that dream,” he said.

Iqbal Khan another cricketer says that sports infrastructure should be further developed in Kashmir as the youth here have a lot of talent in sports.

Meanwhile, a similar league is being played in Durhama area of Baramulla district where atleast 65 cricket teams from faraway places are competing. In the evening, this playground is also crowded with spectators.

At Ghani Kashmir Memorial Stadium in the downtown area of Central Kashmir’s Srinagar city, cricket matches are also held here in the evening attracting thousands of elderly and young people from across the city to the stadium.

Azim Irfan, one of the cricketers, says that it is a good initiative that more and more people will get involved in sports so that they will be saved from bad deeds. Azam believes that more sports infrastructure will be developed here in the near future.

“We have come from about 10 kilometres away to watch this night match and we enjoy watching the match here. We hope that such tournaments should continue in the future,” a group of spectators said.

Similarly, in South Kashmir districts and central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, cricket lovers are also organizing night competitions. Organizers said that they make special arrangements for the teams as well as spectators to enjoy the night cricket.

Meanwhile, the secretary Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council, Nuzhat Gul has said that about 35 lakh youths have to be engaged in sports activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

She further said that the youth service and sports and sports council have got a target by the government to involve 35 lakh youth in sports activities.

“Both the departments are working on this target in and sports activities including football and hockey are going on in every district of J&K,” she said, adding that the government’s focus is on sports and sports-related activities. (ANI)

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50s From Mandhana, Harmanpreet Help India Beat UK In ODI

By LokMarg 18th September 2022

Half-centuries from opener Smriti Mandhana, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia powered India to a seven-wicket win over England in the first ODI held in Hove on Sunday.

With this, India has a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. England posted a rather disappointing 227/7 in their 50 overs, with Alice Davidson-Richards (50) and Danni Wyatt (43) being the top scorers. Deepti Sharma took a remarkable 2/33 with the ball. Chasing 221, fifties from Mandhana (91), Harmanpreet (74) and Yastika (50) helped India brush off the English challenge with 34 balls to spare.

Chasing 221, India faced an early hiccup after opener Shafali Verma was dismissed for just one run by pacer Kate Cross after her flick attempt went into the hands of a fielder at the midwicket region. India was 1/3 at this point.

After that, opener Smriti Mandhana and wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia pushed the innings into another gear with their aggressive intent, hunting every ball that they could. They helped their side cross the 50-run mark in nine overs and also developed a fifty-run stand.

After the mandatory powerplay in 10 overs, India stood firm at 59/1, with Yastika (25) and Smriti (27).

The hosts’ search for wickets continued as the duo kept the scoreboard running with healthy mix of strike rotation and boundaries. Bhatia brought her half-century in just 45 balls after a lucky inside edge that went for four.

Charlie Dean broke up the 96-run stand between the duo, as the offspinner’s delivery went through the gap between bat and pad and hit the top of off stump. Bhatia was back for a well-made 50 off 47 balls. India was at 99/2.

The next batter was skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. She carried from where the previous partnership left off, providing valuable support to Mandhana, who also completed her fifty. Mandhana was looking well on course towards her century, but top-edged a swipe aimed over the midwicket region, giving Davidson-Richards a catch at mid-on that ended the 99-run stand between Mandhana and Kaur. Cross got Mandhana, out for 91 off 99 balls as her second scalp. India was at 198/3.

Harleen Deol was the next batter up. The batters continued whatever was left of the chase. Kaur brought. Kaur brought up her half-century in 80 balls.

India finished the innings on a winning note at 232/3 in 44.2 overs, with Kaur (74) and Deol (6).

Kate Cross finished as the best English bowler with 2/43.

Earlier, India women restricted England to a paltry score of 227 at the end of 50 overs after inviting the hosts to bat first, winning the toss at the Hove County ground on Sunday.

The Indian bowlers made merry throughout the innings, taking wickets regularly ensuring the England batters don’t stitch a big partnership.

Indian bowlers made quick inroads into the batting of the English lineup not allowing the hosts to make use of the powerplay overs. India struck in the eighth over after Meghna Singh dismissed Emma Lamb for 12, drawing first blood.

Veteran Jhulan Goswami found Tammy Beaumont (7) plumb in front of the wickets to send her back to the pavilion cheaply leaving England tottering at 21/2 in the ninth over.

Sophia Dunkley partnered with Alice Capsey to steer the English innings and glued together a partnership of 43 runs.

Captain Harmanpreet introduced slow bowlers and that saw the demise of Alice Capsey. Snehrana got the better of Capsey as she spooned a simple catch to the Indian captain and walked back to the dressing room, scoring 19 runs on her ODI debut.

Sophia Dunkley, who played match-winning knocks in the recently concluded T20 series followed soon after and was caught by Deepti Sharma off Harleen Deol for 29 runs leaving England in a state of worry at 88/4 in the 25th over. England stand-in captain Amy Jones was bowled out by Rajeshwari Gaikwad for three, sending half the hosts’ side into the dugout with England still not reaching the three-figure mark. England were 94/5 in the 27th over.

Danielle Wyatt and Davidson Richards then shared a 34-run partnership to England past the three-figure mark. Wyatt was then dismissed by Deepti Sharma as the all-rounder dismissed the timber of the batter.

Richards shared a half-century stand with Ecclestone and took England to 178. The partnership was broken by Deepti Sharma as she caught Ecclestone in front of the wickets in the 43rd over.

The innings never saw a real flourish as the hosts ended with 227 at the end of 50 overs.

Davidson Richards played an unbeaten innings of 50 runs while Wyatt also played a 43-run inning. Deepti Sharma was the pick of the bowlers as she picked up two wickets giving away just 33 runs of her 10 overs.

Brief Scores: England 227/7 in 50 overs (Davidson Richards 50, Danielle Wyatt 43; Deepti Sharma 2/33) lost to India 232/3 in 44.2 overs (Smriti Mandhana 91, Harmanpreet Kaur 74, Kate Cross 2/43) by seven wickets. (ANI)

Here’s A Minute To Minute Detail Of Queen’s Funeral

By LokMarg 18th September 2022

With world leaders and dignitaries flying from across the globe, and an expected crowd of over 2 million people, the Queen’s funeral will, in all likelihood, be the highest-attended event in the history of the United Kingdom.

Let’s see what will happen at the state funeral – a detailed step-by-step plan for Monday.

According to the New York Times, the funeral will begin at 11 am (London Time). According to Indian time, it will be 4:30 pm.

The Queen’s funeral will take place at Westminster Abbey and according to Buckingham palace officials, The Royal Hospital Chelsea which is a residence for retired soldiers in West London will host a gathering of heads of state and foreign royals before they leave for Westminster Abbey.

New York Times quoted some local UK media reports that claim that many world leaders are unhappy with community transportation because they heard rumours that some of them will get preferential treatment and be permitted to drive their own cars.

Currently, the Queen’s coffin is at Westminster Hall and after 6 am (London time) on September 19, the doors will close to the public. Preparations will thereafter begin for the Queen’s coffin to be moved to Westminster Abbey.

According to New York Times, the Westminster Abbey will open at 8:00 am (London time) for those who have been invited to the funeral.

New York Times also reports that the coffin will be carried in a procession from Westminster Hall to the abbey. The Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel will be stationed along the way. About 200 musicians, including the pipes and drums of the Scottish and Irish Regiments, will lead the procession. King Charles III and other royal family members will ride in the carriage.

The Queen’s funeral service will be conducted by the dean of Westminster, and readings will be given by Patricia Scotland, the secretary general of the Commonwealth, and Prime Minister Liz Truss. The sermon will be delivered by Canterbury’s archbishop, the Most Reverend Justin Welby.

Two minutes of silence will be observed across Britain towards the end of the ceremony. The service is expected to end around 12 pm (UK time)

After the service ends, a procession will follow the coffin to Wellington Arch in London after which it will be driven to Windsor.

New York Times also revealed that following the funeral, visiting heads of state and government representatives would attend a reception hosted by the foreign secretary.

Now, after the Queen’s coffin will reach Windsor, the hearse will join a new procession on the journey to St. George’s chapel. A committal service will be held there. All members of the queen’s staff, including those who have worked on private estates, will be in attendance.

The dean of Windsor will conduct the service there.

According to the online media portal, The Imperial State Crown, the orb, and the sceptre will be taken off the top of the coffin and placed on the altar by the crown jeweller before the last hymn is sung.

Then, the coffin will be lowered into the royal vault, a burial room underneath the chapel, following the hymn. New York Times quoted a Buckingham Palace release that read, “The Queen is to be buried together with The Duke of Edinburgh”.

The blessing will be pronounced by the archbishop of Canterbury, and “God Save the King” will then be sung.

The funeral service will be private and begin at 7:30 p.m. The dean of Windsor will be conducting it. (ANI)

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India Overtakes China To Be Biggest Lender To Sri Lanka

By LokMarg 18th September 2022

With a total of USD 968 million in loans in four months of 2022, India has emerged as Sri Lanka’s largest bilateral lender, overtaking China in the process, a media report said.

In the past five years from 2017-2021, China has been the largest bilateral lender to Sri Lanka as China disbursed USD 947 million, out of which USD 809 million was obtained as market borrowings from the China Development Bank, Daily Financial Times (FT) reported citing public finance.lk.

It said the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been the largest multilateral lender in the past five years and disbursed funds amounting to USD 610 million in 2021.

India has disbursed USD 377 million and ADB has disbursed USD 360 million, which account for 76 per cent of the total disbursements in the first four months of 2022, according to Daily FT.

Meanwhile, at a UNGA Annual Joint Debate on the Reports of Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) and Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj said that India had provided nearly USD 4 billion in food and financial assistance to Sri Lanka.

“In our immediate neighbourhood, we are continuing to help our good friend and neighbour Sri Lanka to ensure food security by providing nearly USD 4 billion in food and financial assistance during the past few months,” Kamboj said.

On August 22, India handed over 21,000 tonnes of fertilizer to the crisis-ridden neighbour Sri Lanka.

“Adding to the fragrance of friendship and cooperation. High Commissioner formally handed over 21,000 tonnes of fertilizer supplied under India’s special support to the people of Sri Lanka,” tweeted the High Commission of India in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

“This follows 44,000 tonnes supplied last month under Indian support totalling about USD 4 billion in 2022. The fertilizer will contribute to food security and support the farmers of Sri Lanka. It demonstrates benefits to the people from close ties with #India and mutual trust and goodwill between #India and #Sri Lanka,” added the High Commission of India.

India has been at forefront of extending economic assistance to Sri Lanka as per their requirements and is one of the countries that have provided the maximum amount of assistance in time of need.

Since the beginning of 2022, Sri Lanka has experienced an escalating economic crisis and the government has defaulted on its foreign loans.

Sri Lanka is battling a severe economic crisis with food and fuel scarcity affecting a large number of the people in the island nation. The economy has been in a free-fall since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sri Lanka is also facing a foreign exchange shortage, which has, incidentally, affected its capacity to import food and fuel, leading to power cuts in the country. The shortage of essential goods forced Sri Lanka to seek assistance from friendly countries. (ANI)

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Cheetahs Are Welcome, But Real Challenges Begin Now

By LokMarg 18th September 2022

Meetu Gupta, a wildlife conservationist, says re-introducing cheetahs to Indian wildlife is a welcome step but conservation is a long process, not a one-go event

Cheetah’s return to India was a couple of years late due to COVID situation. A process of this type involves many technicalities and clearances. India has re-introduced some wild species to their natural habitats in the Bandhavgarh and Kanha forests of Madhya Pradesh. But bringing African cheetahs from Namibia to India is a first of its kind. And it involves its fair share of challenges.

Historically, cheetahs were captured in India. Nobles captured them and used them for hunting and big game. Breeding was not possible as captives. There are just two instances of when captive breeding became possible. Mughal emperor Jahangir first successfully did captive breeding of cheetahs and later the same was done in England.

During the British era, the hunting of cheetahs reduced its number rapidly. The last Indian species was killed just after Independence, in December 1947. Therefore, no Indian zoo had cheetahs at any point of time in Independent India.

Until recently, captive breeding was not possible in closed habitats. San Diego zoo (US) is one of the place where captive breeding is done. However, relocating a species from its natural habitat for captive breeding will be a Herculean task. It involves many complexities.

We have heard how the enclosure prepared for Namibian cheetahs was invaded by leopards. The question of climate difference, conflict, and competitiveness among predators are some of the crucial factors. So there is also a need to protect the species from other predators like leopards, tigers, hyenas, etc. First, the animal will be living in a small enclosure. Then it would be moved to a larger enclosure and finally released into open natural habitat. This gradual process will ensure that the species get acquainted and adapted to local conditions.

That is why we need to understand that the return of cheetahs in India is just an initiation in the direction of conservation breeding. It does not guarantee that the number of cheetahs will increase. It is a long haul.

Indian wildlife owes a lot to Indira Gandhi, who formulated a policy, constituted a Wildlife Board. Project Tiger was also started during her regime. In the current regime, budgetary cuts in the wildlife fund and fundamental changes in the policy have taken a toll on many species and their conservation. Our elephant corridors are being destroyed due to mining activities in forests etc. We need to take into account all the endangered species, not just Cheetah.

So while the return of the cheetah is welcome, we need to see if we are not neglecting other wildlife species in the name of conserving just one of them. Conservation is not a one-go event. It involves a larger question of wildlife, forest conservation, tribal policy, and policies related to other sectors that are directly or indirectly related to our wildlife and their habitat.

Several wildlife species are in crisis. The policies of successive governments in the last few decades have been fundamentally anti-conservation. We need to re-think and re-calibrate holistically on the question of wild species and their conservation.

As told to Abhishek Srivastava

The narrator is a Member of the State Wildlife Board, Chhattisgarh

Crackdown On PFI: NIA Raids Multiple Locations In Andhra, Telangana

By LokMarg 18th September 2022

In a major crackdown against the Popular Front of India (PFI), the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday carried out searches at multiple locations in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, sources said.

The raids were conducted at the residence and business premises of suspects in Kurnool, Nellore, Kadapa, Guntur of Andhra Pradesh and Nizamabad of Telangana.

Sources said that the NIA sleuths raided more than two dozen locations of several PFI leaders.

Special teams reached the APHB colony area in Nizamabad and carried out searches at the residence of Shahid Chaush alias Shahid. He has been served a notice under 41(A) Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc).

It is learnt that the agency probe is based on establishing and finding the sources of terrorism.

NIA’s Hyderabad branch registered a case linked to the PFI on August 26. One Abdul Khadar, 52, a resident of Autonagar, Nizamabad, along with 26 persons were accused in the NIA First Information Report (FIR) which mentions that they along with others conspired to wage war against the Government of India.

“In pursuance of the criminal conspiracy, they recruited the members of Popular Front of India (PFI), organised camps for imparting training for committing terrorist acts. They formed an unlawful assembly and promoted enmity between different groups on the basis of religion and were involved in activities disrupting sovereignty and territorial integrity of India,” the FIR mentions.

The case was earlier registered by Nizamabad Police Station in Telangana under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and section 13(1)(b) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against Abdul Khader and 26 persons and others relating to some anti-national activities in a house located at Auto Nagar near Osmania Masjid, Nizamabad.

“On searching the house, one Flexi with the name of Popular Front of India (PFI), bamboo sticks, whiteboard, non-chaks, one podium, note-books, handbooks and other materials were seized by Telangana Police. This amounts to a conspiracy to wage war against the Government of India,” the FIR reads.

During the further inquiry, official sources said, the owner of the house, Abdul Khader admitted that in lieu of financial assistance of Rs 6 lakh promised by some accused persons belonging to PFI, he had constructed a portion on the roof of his house and allowed the premises to be used for imparting training to the cadres of PFI and the meeting of the organization.

“The PFI members started coaching and physical exercises for the youth in the name of Karate classes and used to provoke them against a particular community with their hated speeches etc. They recruited the members of the Popular Front of India (PFI), organised camps for imparting training for committing terrorist acts. They formed an unlawful assembly and promoted enmity between different groups on the basis of religion and were involved in activities disrupting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. The Telangana Police, later, added sections 18A and 18(B) of UA(P) Act in the case,” the FIR added.

Ministry of Home Affairs later handed over the case to the NIA with the opinion that a Scheduled Offence under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, has been committed and having regard to the gravity of the offence and its repercussions on national security, it is required to be investigated by the agency in accordance with the National Investigation Act, 2008.

The PFI was launched in Kerala in 2006 after merging three Muslim organizations floated after the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992 – the National Development Front of Kerala, Karnataka Forum for Dignity and Manitha Neethi Pasari of Tamil Nadu. After the demolition of the Babri mosque, many fringe outfits had surfaced in south India and PFI was formed after merging some of them.

Now the PFI claims it has units in 22 states. Its growth is phenomenal, admit intelligence agencies, saying it successfully exploited a growing vacuum in the community by donning the role of a saviour. The successful portrayal of the image helps PFI to mobilise funds, especially from the rich middle-eastern countries. The PFI’s earlier headquarters was in Kozhikode, but after broadening of its base, it was shifted to Delhi. PFI’s state president Nasaruddin Elamarom is one of the founding leaders of the outfit. And its all-India president E Abubaker also hails from Kerala.

The PFI describes itself as a neo-social movement committed to empower people belonging to minority communities, Dalits and other weaker sections of society. (ANI)

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