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Tag: India

  • Eight-year-old Indian girl killed in ‘human sacrifice’ ritual, four held: police

    Eight-year-old Indian girl killed in ‘human sacrifice’ ritual, four held: police

    An eight-year-old girl was reportedly murdered as part of a human sacrifice ritual planned by a local mystic in India’s Bihar, Hindustan Times reported.

    The victim was a third grade student who went missing on August 4. A day later, her mutilated body was found on the banks of Ganga River.

    The police detained four people and charged them with kidnapping and murder under the Indian Penal Code.

    Superintendent JJ Reddy told the media that self-proclaimed mystic Parvez Alam had told a local villager, Dilip Kumar Choudhary, that he had to sacrifice a girl so that his pregnant wife would not lose her baby.

    Choudhary further informed that Alam had four children and wanted a fifth. Alam had asked him to bring the eye of a 10-year-old boy or girl so he could prepare an amulet.

    Choudhary told the police that he was involved in the crime because Alam provoked him.

    The other two suspects, Tanvir Alam and Dasrath Kumar, allegedly helped Alam in the crime, the police reported.

    Initial police reports suggest that Choudhary, Tanvir and Dasrath had abducted the girl when she was coming back home after delivering lunch to her father, who is a fisherman.

    The three men dragged the girl inside a brick kiln, choked her and extracted out her right eye.

    Read More: Police arrest teacher for raping, blackmailing woman in Chiniot

    The girl’s body also had wounds suspected of rape.

    After the forensic examination of the girl’s clothes and pendant, the medical board denied the possibility of rape, informed SP Reddy.

    Initially, the police arrested 12 people but all were freed after an inquiry. Alam was arrested from his home after Choudhary confessed to the crime.

    The girl’s mother and father, however, stated that the police have “cooked” up a story. They said that their daughter was sexually assaulted before being murdered

  • ‘Kabul should avoid pointing fingers at Pakistan for its own failures’: Shah Mahmood Qureshi

    ‘Kabul should avoid pointing fingers at Pakistan for its own failures’: Shah Mahmood Qureshi

    Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mahmood Qureshi asked the Afghan government to avoid pointing fingers at Pakistan for its own failures and look into its governance issues.

    In a press briefing at the Foreign Office (FO), he said Pakistan had repeatedly said it had no favourites in Afghanistan and saw all sides of the conflict as Afghans.

    “It is unfortunate to scapegoat Pakistan for the failures of others; the issues of governance and meltdown of Afghan National Defence Forces need to be looked into — and not just start pointing fingers at Pakistan.”

    “The time has come when the world wants answers to what has been achieved in Afghanistan in these past 20 years. The taxpayer in the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), and Europe wants to know who is responsible for no achievement. Pakistan will not be apologetic, as we are not accountable nor responsible for the trillions spent and nothing to show for it. No capacity building, no arms, where has everything gone?” remarked Qureshi.

    “Pakistan is against a forceful takeover of Afghanistan. Pakistan does not want a military takeover, as we do not support one. We speak of a political takeover. A military takeover will result in more bloodshed and the people of Afghanistan have suffered and this suffering should end. Leadership inside Afghanistan should rise to the occasion and avoid a military takeover. We urge all sides to show respect for human rights and international humanitarian laws,” said Qureshi.

    “We had made a request to be present there, but unfortunately, it was not accepted,” he said, adding that at the time of India assuming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) presidency, Pakistan had asked it to operate objectively.

    However, India did not behave in a manner that was befitting of that responsibility, the foreign minister said. “India has been, in our view, in breach of its obligation as president of the Security Council.”

    Pakistan has been facilitating the peace process, and its role has been and will continue to be of a facilitator, the foreign minister said.

    “We cannot guarantee, we can only facilitate,” he said, noting it was up to the Afghans to decide their future, and now the world community was backing Pakistan’s narrative that there is no military solution in Afghanistan.

    While on the request of President Ashraf Ghani, intra-Afghan peace talks were postponed in Islamabad, Pakistan now looks forward to the August 11 peace talks of the troika consisting of Pakistan, China, and Russia with an aim of chartering a political way out for an Afghan-led peace process.

    “We reiterate the need for the effective use of available peace mechanisms,” Qureshi said, adding Pakistan has always stressed the need for talks.

  • Man dies after his Bluetooth headphones explode in ear

    A 28-year-old man died in India’s Jaipur after his Bluetooth headphones exploded in his ears while he was using them for his studies.

    As per details, the deceased, Rakesh Kumar Nagar, was using his Bluetooth headphone device while it was plugged into an electrical outlet.

    However, the device exploded suddenly in his ear leaving him unconscious. Both his ears had suffered serious injuries, said the police.

    Read More: Bride dies during her wedding ceremony, sister marries groom

    Nagar was shifted to a nearby hospital where he died during treatment. Police said that Nagar was preparing for a competitive examination at his residence.

    Meanwhile, confirming Nagar’s death, Dr Rundla of Siddhivinayak Hospital said the man was brought to the facility in an unconscious condition. He died during treatment at the hospital. The man probably died of cardiac arrest, he added.

    Nagar got married in February this year and was the eldest of his siblings.

  • Anti-Muslim slogans call for murder at event organised by BJP

    Anti-Muslim slogans call for murder at event organised by BJP

    Inflammatory, anti-Muslim slogans calling for murder were raised in New Delhi, India, on Sunday during a march “against Colonial-era laws” in the country — an event organised by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ashwini Upadhyay, reported The Wire.

    The event, organised under the ‘Bharat Jodo Movement’, demanded the end of “colonial-era laws” by implementing a Uniform Civil Code. The event was reportedly held without police permission.

    In photos and videos of the event doing the rounds on social media, violent and inflammatory anti-Muslim slogans were raised at the event, including slogans directly calling for the murder of Muslims. The Delhi Police have registered an FIR against unknown persons.

    https://twitter.com/asfreeasjafri/status/1424366863711043587?s=21

    People are questioning why an FIR has been registered against unknown people when their faces are clearly visible.

    Senior Journalist Barkha Dutt tweeted: “Revolting anti-Muslim slogans in heart of the capital is a clear example of hate speech and incitement to violence.”

    “I do not agree with the sedition law or with the phrase anti-national but if ever there was an apt definition of it, it is these men, caught on tape,” tweeted the journalist.

    Indian journalist Smita Sharma tweeted, “Video clips doing the rounds of vitriolic dangerous sloganeering against Muslims in the heart of the capital.”

    Sharma further said, “These are not fringe elements or just stupid crowds. They have been emboldened. Will @DelhiPolice act against these toxic anti-nationals?@CPDelhi.”

    Journalist Maya Mirchandani tweeted, “A group gets permission to hold a sit in at Jantar Mantar supposedly for unity in the country, then raises genocidal slogans against Indian Muslims in the heart of Delhi, a stone’s throw from parliament. Under govt’s nose, under @CPDelhi nose. How? #rightwingextremism #hatespeech”

  • VIDEO: Man gets stuck behind ATM machine during theft

    A drunk thief in India’s Tamil Nadu got stuck behind an automated teller machine (ATM) while he was trying to steal money.

    The police arrested the thief identified as Upendra Roy. The police first rescued the thief and then detained him. 

     As per reports, Roy in his drunk state, removed the plywood on the wall behind the ATM and managed to reach the back of the machine. 

    Read More: Thief arrested after falling asleep in AC room during robbery

    Nearby residents informed the authorities when they heard strange sounds coming from the ATM. The police reached the spot and arrested the thief.

  • Pakistan on Red List for not providing Covid-19 data, UK claims

    Pakistan on Red List for not providing Covid-19 data, UK claims

    The British government has claimed that the Pakistan authorities did not send them the Covid-19 data on vaccination and testing, which likely explains why Pakistan is still on the United Kingdom (UK) travel ban Red List while India and several other countries have been removed from the ban list and moved to the Amber category, Murtaza Ali Shah reports for The News.

    Social media users, Pakistani and some UK officials also criticised the UK’s decision to not move Pakistan from the Red List to the Amber List but it has now come to light that the Pakistan government’s National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) did not share the data of vaccination and testing with the UK authorities.

    The Pakistani government officials have claimed that the UK authorities did not ask them for any data; that the Pakistan government has been sharing data with the British High Commission in Islamabad. The data was accessible on the NCOC’s Twitter and the UK government could have easily checked it before making and announcing a decision on the latest removals and retention of the travel list.

    Several British Pakistani MPs wrote objection letters after it was announced that Pakistan would stay on the Red List while India was taken off the list despite worse Covid-19 situation.

     One British Pakistani spoke to a senior UK government minister who told the MP that Pakistan had failed to provide data to the UK government. There was no lobbying effort from the Pakistani government, which was why Pakistan remained on the Red List. Both the MP and the senior government minister wanted to be anonymous.

    On Friday, NCOC head Asad Umar, and SAPM National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan conducted a virtual meeting with Pakistani-origin Labour MPs Khalid Mahmood, Muhammad Yasin, Tahir Ali, Afzal Khan, Lord Wajid Khan, Imran Hussain, Yasim Qureshi, Pakistan High Commissioner Moazzam Ali Khan, Naz Shah and Dr Rosena Khan.

    Five MPs, who spoke to Geo and The News, confirmed that the subject was discussed during the meeting whether Islamabad had given data to London or not – after two MPs asked the same question to Pakistani ministers. The MPs told Pakistan officials what the UK government had told them about not sharing the data.

    According to the MPs, Asad Umar told them that the data was publicly available on the NCOC forums including Twitter and Youtube and the UK authorities could have got it. According to one MP, Faisal Sultan said that he had not spoken to British High Commissioner Christian Turner in “4-5 weeks”.

    The MPs said they asked Pakistani ministers and Pakistan High Commission diplomats what efforts had they made to engage with the UK government through the Foreign Office and the High Commission to get Pakistan off the list. The MPs said Pakistani officials had no response.

    The Pakistan High Commission said on Friday that the Pakistani envoy met PM Boris Johnson at Sandhurst Academy and highlighted the issue of Red List.

    During their meeting with Asad Umar and Faisal Sultan, the MPs said that the UK government believed that Pakistan was performing lower in areas over positivity rate, percentage of genomic testing, and types of viruses, vaccination rates and testing.

    In comparison, other countries fared well and came off the Red List. One MP told the Pakistani officials that Pakistan had conducted under 300 genomics tests in the whole year while some countries were conducting 2,500 genomics tests a month.

    At the end of the meeting, Asad Umar tweeted: “Had a session with some UK MP’s regarding the continuation of Pakistan on the red list. Shared data regarding Covid disease surveillance and explained Pak strategy for Covid response. Will engage with the UK govt to ensure that red list decisions are based on science not politics.”

    One MP said that at the end of the meeting, Asad Umar shared with them the information sheets that were required. “It’s clear looking at these sheets that Pakistan has up-to-date data but I feel Pakistan authorities should have shared the same with the UK government and run effective lobbying. The UK MPs have been raising their voice because they are under pressure from their constituents but it’s the government’s responsibility to have engaged with the UK government,” said the MP.

  • Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir: Pakistan highlights Indian oppression in IOK

    Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir: Pakistan highlights Indian oppression in IOK

    Pakistan is observing Youm-e-Istehsal Kashmir today to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir, as August 5 marks two years of Indian Occupied Kashmir’s (IOK) military siege by the Modi regime in India.

    Prime Minister Imran Khan, in a series of tweets, said: “Today marks two years since India’s unilateral and illegal actions of 5 Aug 2019 in IIOJK. In these two years, the world has witnessed unprecedented oppression in IIOJK (Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir) by Indian Occupation forces. It is also witnessing Indian efforts to force demographic change and destroy Kashmiri identity.”

    PM Khan further said that the government and the people of Pakistan salute their Kashmiri brothers and sisters for their “sacrifices in their determined & legitimate struggle” for their inalienable rights.

    The Inter-Services Public Relation (ISPR), the military’s media wing, quoted Cheif of Army Staff (COAS) Qamar Javed Bajwa as saying that the “continuation of an inhuman military siege, machinations to bring demographic changes and gross violations of human rights and international laws are perpetuating humanitarian and security crises in IIOJ&K” that imperil regional security.

    Speaking to a rally arranged to salute the bravery and courage of Kashmiri brothers and sisters in Islamabad, President Arif Alvi said no Pakistani will rest until occupied Kashmir, under Indian military siege is liberated. 

    “Pakistan will liberate occupied Kashmir,” he said. “Let me warn India that Pakistan is a strong nation.”

    President Arif Alvi addressing a rally in Islamabad. -Radio Pakistan

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan will continue to support oppressed Kashmiris. 

    Events have been arranged in order to call out India’s unilateral, illegal actions against the Kashmiri people. Solidarity walks of one mile have been planned in all the main cities, including the federal capital. 

     A one-minute silence was observed across the country while traffic was also halted for a minute, and sirens were sounded.

    Two years ago, on August 5, 2019, the Narendra Modi government revoked the special status of the people of Kasmir. The Indian government rushed through a presidential decree and abolished Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which gave a measure of autonomy to the Muslim-majority Occupied Kashmir.

  • UK criticised for removing India from Red List despite worse Covid-19 situation than Pakistan

    UK criticised for removing India from Red List despite worse Covid-19 situation than Pakistan

    The United Kingdom (UK) has recently announced that it is removing India from the Red List and moving it to the to Amber List from August 8 while Pakistan is still on the Red List.

    Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps took to Twitter to announce the news.

    The website of the UK’s government states the rules if you are travelling from a country that lies in the Red List.

    “What you must do if you have been in a country or territory on the Red List in the 10 days before you arrive in England,” states the website.

    “If you have been in a country or territory on the Red List in the last 10 days you will only be allowed to enter the UK if you are a British or Irish National, or you have residence rights in the UK,” it added.

    Travellers who are fully vaccinated will have to follow these rules:

    Before you travel to England you must:

    Take a Covid-19 test – children aged 10 and under do not need to take this test

    Book a quarantine hotel package, including 2 Covid-19 tests

    Complete a passenger locator form

    On arrival in England you must:

    Quarantine in a managed hotel, including 2 Covid-19 tests

    Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari criticised the move and tweeted: “I had stated in April this year that UK was playing politics on Covid restrictions when they put Pak on Red List 2 weeks before India despite the Covid management disaster in India as opp to Pak’s good management raised internationally. NOW UK again playing politics targeting Pak.”

    Social media users are not happy with the decision as Pakistan’s Covid-19 situation is not as bad as India.  

  • Pakistan condemns Modi for not allowing India-based foreign journalists to visit Pakistan

    Pakistan condemns Modi for not allowing India-based foreign journalists to visit Pakistan

    India has refused permission to allow five India-based international journalists to travel to Pakistan via Wagah.

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi pointed out how the Indian government’s decision indicated that the space for free speech and independent journalism was shrinking in India under a “dictatorial regime”. Qureshi said the five journalists were to travel to Pakistan and were also to visit the Azad Kashmir Assembly.

    Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry also condemned New Delhi for refusing permission to the international journalists to visit Azad Kashmir. 

    The minister took to Twitter and questioned India for its freedom of expression.

    National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf said these “are the actions of an insecure government that has much to hide”.

    Federal Minister for Human Rights Shireen Mazari questioned whether the foreign journalists will expose the growing myth of Indian democracy under the fascist Modi regime.

    Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar tweeted, “We want the world to see what is happening in Azad Kashmir and they want to hide what is happening in Indian Occupied Kashmir. The difference between right and wrong cannot get more stark than this.”

    A request by Pakistan to allow a group of five India-based foreign journalists to travel to Islamabad through Wagah has been declined by Indian authorities as the border crossing is virtually closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, reported Times of India.

    The report stated that Pakistan planned to take the journalists for interactions with top political leadership and senior officials on the overall situation in Afghanistan.

    “One of the persons familiar with the development said the visit was planned from August 3 to 7,” read the report.

     

  • Viral Pakistani meme makes it to Hong Kong museum

    The disappointed Pakistani cricket fan Sarim Akhtar, who got famous after a video clip of him went viral in 2019, has been featured in Hong Kong’s Museum of Memes.

    His ‘disappointed face’ after Asif Ali dropped David Warner’s catch in Pakistan vs Australia became a meme, and it was widely shared by social media users.

    Sarim took to Twitter to share the video clip of a video featuring him in the museum. He tweeted, “My sister found the video of the Hongkong K11 Museum of Memes on YouTube.”

    https://twitter.com/msarimakhtar/status/1421599534258565120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1421599534258565120%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geo.tv%2Flatest%2F362910-disappointed-fan-sarim-akhtar-featured-in-hong-kongs-meme-museum

    The meme museum consists of seven themed zones, each showcasing famed memes from different periods in various forms such as imagery, 3D figures and even scent, allowing visitors to review some of the most humorous memes.

    Moreover, the famous Pakistani meme that went viral in 2015 “friendship ended with” has been put online for auction by a Lahore and London-based startup, Alter, as an NFT artwork.