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India politics thread
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What is going on ? Is there no new low that we can't stoop to ? This is embarrassing to say the least!
Kashmiri Child at Centre of Propaganda War Says 'Police Killed Grandfather'
https://m.thewire.in/article/securi...propaganda-war-says-police-killed-grandfather
Protests in Indian Kashmir over civilian death during attack
https://news.yahoo.com/protests-indian-kashmir-over-civilian-death-during-attack-113308478.html
Meanwhile BJP spokesperson
https://m.thewire.in/article/securi...propaganda-war-says-police-killed-grandfather
Protests in Indian Kashmir over civilian death during attack
https://news.yahoo.com/protests-indian-kashmir-over-civilian-death-during-attack-113308478.html
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Meanwhile BJP spokesperson
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i love these people.
if they were born in different circumstances, they would have been general dyer.
if they were born in different circumstances, they would have been general dyer.
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very typical police work, they have drunks who hang around the station who are used as panchnama witnesses and sign all this. cases sometimes collapse because they disappear or die. cases against sushpected naxals also involve a lot of copy-paste.
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Only those who are truly bottom of the barrel scum will parrot the line that no incursion has happened. Real traitors.
How long before they label general bakshi as anti-national naxalite-congressi-cpc-isi agent ?
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Andh-bhakti reaches Pakistan
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WhatsApp group with 125 members used to push hate, mobilise rioters in Northeast Delhi
A WhatsApp group with at least 125 members where members bragged about “killing Muslims” and “dumping their bodies in the sewer”, and offering manpower and guns when necessary, has been named in three chargesheets filed in connection with killing of three men during the riots in Northeast Delhi in February.
The chargesheets detail how the group, called ‘Kattar Hindut Ekta’, was used to mobilise and coordinate between rioters, and how armed men stopped passersby, asked them their name, address, ID proof and told them to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’. Police plan to use the WhatsApp conversations as “extrajudicial confessions”.
The nine men accused of murder and rioting in the three chargesheets are Lokesh Solanki (19), Pankaj Sharma (31), Ankit Chaudary (23), Prince (22), Jatin Sharma (19), Himanshu Thakur (19), Vivek Panchal (20), Rishab Chaudary (20) and Sumit Chaudhary (23).
While the chargesheets deal specifically with the murders of Aamin, Bhure Ali and Hamza, police say the members targeted others: “They (the accused) resolved to kill Muslims, whoever they came across. From February 25 afternoon to February 26 midnight, these murderers/accused persons, bludgeoned nine Muslim persons to death, whoever they come across or (if they) found someone, (and) injured several persons in Bhagirathi Vihar and other areas.”
Aamin was killed and thrown in a drain in Bhagirathi Vihar’s C-block around 9.30 pm on February 25, when he was coming from Brijpuri Puliya on foot. On February 26, around 10.30 am, Bhure Ali was killed and thrown at the same spot as Aamin. Hamza was murdered on February 26 around 9.15 pm, and thrown in a drain in E-block, while coming from Mustafabad.
“During investigation, it has been established that all the arrested accused persons along with other identified and yet to be identified accused persons were members of an unlawful armed mob, who, with a common object to take revenge of the death of Hindus during riots and to teach Muslims a lesson, had bludgeoned/stabbed many innocent persons, including Aamin, to death for no fault of theirs,” the chargesheet in his murder states. Identical statements have been recorded by police in the other two cases.
Police say 12 persons from the WhatsApp group have been “examined or joined” the investigation, and their mobile phones have been sent for forensic examination. “This ‘Kattar Hindut Ekta’ group was created on 25.02.2020 at 12.49 hrs. Initially there were 125 members… total 47 had exited the group by 08.03.2020,” the chargesheets state.
Lokesh Solanki, who is identified as “key accused”, had “deleted all messages and left this group. However, the police had also seized the mobile phone of one Deepak Singh” and confronted Lokesh with the chats, the chargesheets say.
“On interrogation, he (Lokesh) initially denied that he was a member of ‘Kattar Hindut Ekta’ group, but on sustained interrogation and when confronted with the chat of the group, he admitted that he was a member and admitted to his posts in group,” the chargesheet states.
Police have also shared messages allegedly posted on the WhatsApp group on the intervening night of February 26 and 27 by Lokesh. The first message, at 11.39 pm was: “Bhai, I am Lokesh Solanki from Ganga Vihar. If there is any problem or a shortage of people, let me know. I will come with the entire Ganga Vihar team. We have everything necessary — bullets, guns, everything.”
At 11.44 pm, he allegedly posted: “Around 9 pm, near B.Vihar, your brother has killed two Muslims and thrown them into the drain along with my team. Vinay, you know that your brother is always in the front in accomplishing this kind of a job.”
Half-an-hour later, at 12.15 am, he allegedly posted again: “I am awake the whole night. If there is anything, just remember me.”
Says the chargesheet, “Accused persons and their associates were seething with anger as many stories/news of Hindus being targeted/killed by Muslims were making the rounds. Further, as per the WhatsApp chat, they conspired to teach Muslims a lesson for attacking Hindus, and equipped themselves with lathis, dandas, sticks, swords, firearms, etc and started roaming in the area with a clear cut motive to vandalise/burn the properties and places of worships.”
Police say call detail records of the accused also show they “were continuously wandering” the riot-hit areas — Gokalpuri, Ganga Vihar, Johripur, Johripur Extension and Nala Road, Bhagirathi Vihar. “Their modus operandi was to catch people and ascertain their religion by asking name, address and by their document, that is identity card, and forcing them to call ‘Jai Shri Ram’ many times. Persons who were not calling ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and carrying a Muslim ID were bluntly attacked and thrown into the Main Ganda Nala, Bhagirathi Vihar”.
The chargesheet specifically names Pankaj and Prince for stopping “passersby and checking their identity to confirm whether they are from Muslim community”. Sumit, along with Ankit Chaudhary, was “leading the rioters and giving directions to check the identity” of people, the chargesheet states.
“As per the investigation conducted so far and analysis of CDR of accused persons, it was revealed that the mobile phones of accused persons were continuously connected with each other and were present on the spot, that is, the scene of crime,” the chargesheet states.
Talking about the WhatsApp conversations, the chargesheet says, “These confessions have been done voluntarily by a few of the accused persons and further the attention of the court is drawn towards the timings of these confessions, which are exactly at the time when the offenses were being committed.”
Calling the conversations “extra-judicial confessions”, the chargesheet adds, these “are further fortified by eyewitness accounts which fully establish the culpability of the accused persons. The circumstantial evidence collected during the investigation forms a chain of events. It is to further emphasise that these extra-judicial confessions were not extracted by the police officer but are fully voluntary.”
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/northeast-delhi-riots-whatsapp-group-6488320/
A WhatsApp group with at least 125 members where members bragged about “killing Muslims” and “dumping their bodies in the sewer”, and offering manpower and guns when necessary, has been named in three chargesheets filed in connection with killing of three men during the riots in Northeast Delhi in February.
The chargesheets detail how the group, called ‘Kattar Hindut Ekta’, was used to mobilise and coordinate between rioters, and how armed men stopped passersby, asked them their name, address, ID proof and told them to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’. Police plan to use the WhatsApp conversations as “extrajudicial confessions”.
The nine men accused of murder and rioting in the three chargesheets are Lokesh Solanki (19), Pankaj Sharma (31), Ankit Chaudary (23), Prince (22), Jatin Sharma (19), Himanshu Thakur (19), Vivek Panchal (20), Rishab Chaudary (20) and Sumit Chaudhary (23).
While the chargesheets deal specifically with the murders of Aamin, Bhure Ali and Hamza, police say the members targeted others: “They (the accused) resolved to kill Muslims, whoever they came across. From February 25 afternoon to February 26 midnight, these murderers/accused persons, bludgeoned nine Muslim persons to death, whoever they come across or (if they) found someone, (and) injured several persons in Bhagirathi Vihar and other areas.”
Aamin was killed and thrown in a drain in Bhagirathi Vihar’s C-block around 9.30 pm on February 25, when he was coming from Brijpuri Puliya on foot. On February 26, around 10.30 am, Bhure Ali was killed and thrown at the same spot as Aamin. Hamza was murdered on February 26 around 9.15 pm, and thrown in a drain in E-block, while coming from Mustafabad.
“During investigation, it has been established that all the arrested accused persons along with other identified and yet to be identified accused persons were members of an unlawful armed mob, who, with a common object to take revenge of the death of Hindus during riots and to teach Muslims a lesson, had bludgeoned/stabbed many innocent persons, including Aamin, to death for no fault of theirs,” the chargesheet in his murder states. Identical statements have been recorded by police in the other two cases.
Police say 12 persons from the WhatsApp group have been “examined or joined” the investigation, and their mobile phones have been sent for forensic examination. “This ‘Kattar Hindut Ekta’ group was created on 25.02.2020 at 12.49 hrs. Initially there were 125 members… total 47 had exited the group by 08.03.2020,” the chargesheets state.
Lokesh Solanki, who is identified as “key accused”, had “deleted all messages and left this group. However, the police had also seized the mobile phone of one Deepak Singh” and confronted Lokesh with the chats, the chargesheets say.
“On interrogation, he (Lokesh) initially denied that he was a member of ‘Kattar Hindut Ekta’ group, but on sustained interrogation and when confronted with the chat of the group, he admitted that he was a member and admitted to his posts in group,” the chargesheet states.
Police have also shared messages allegedly posted on the WhatsApp group on the intervening night of February 26 and 27 by Lokesh. The first message, at 11.39 pm was: “Bhai, I am Lokesh Solanki from Ganga Vihar. If there is any problem or a shortage of people, let me know. I will come with the entire Ganga Vihar team. We have everything necessary — bullets, guns, everything.”
At 11.44 pm, he allegedly posted: “Around 9 pm, near B.Vihar, your brother has killed two Muslims and thrown them into the drain along with my team. Vinay, you know that your brother is always in the front in accomplishing this kind of a job.”
Half-an-hour later, at 12.15 am, he allegedly posted again: “I am awake the whole night. If there is anything, just remember me.”
Says the chargesheet, “Accused persons and their associates were seething with anger as many stories/news of Hindus being targeted/killed by Muslims were making the rounds. Further, as per the WhatsApp chat, they conspired to teach Muslims a lesson for attacking Hindus, and equipped themselves with lathis, dandas, sticks, swords, firearms, etc and started roaming in the area with a clear cut motive to vandalise/burn the properties and places of worships.”
Police say call detail records of the accused also show they “were continuously wandering” the riot-hit areas — Gokalpuri, Ganga Vihar, Johripur, Johripur Extension and Nala Road, Bhagirathi Vihar. “Their modus operandi was to catch people and ascertain their religion by asking name, address and by their document, that is identity card, and forcing them to call ‘Jai Shri Ram’ many times. Persons who were not calling ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and carrying a Muslim ID were bluntly attacked and thrown into the Main Ganda Nala, Bhagirathi Vihar”.
The chargesheet specifically names Pankaj and Prince for stopping “passersby and checking their identity to confirm whether they are from Muslim community”. Sumit, along with Ankit Chaudhary, was “leading the rioters and giving directions to check the identity” of people, the chargesheet states.
“As per the investigation conducted so far and analysis of CDR of accused persons, it was revealed that the mobile phones of accused persons were continuously connected with each other and were present on the spot, that is, the scene of crime,” the chargesheet states.
Talking about the WhatsApp conversations, the chargesheet says, “These confessions have been done voluntarily by a few of the accused persons and further the attention of the court is drawn towards the timings of these confessions, which are exactly at the time when the offenses were being committed.”
Calling the conversations “extra-judicial confessions”, the chargesheet adds, these “are further fortified by eyewitness accounts which fully establish the culpability of the accused persons. The circumstantial evidence collected during the investigation forms a chain of events. It is to further emphasise that these extra-judicial confessions were not extracted by the police officer but are fully voluntary.”
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/northeast-delhi-riots-whatsapp-group-6488320/
Arnab is best seen as comedic relief. He sounds absolutely mental there. I mean, even more than normal.Sadly India has no option but to cede the territory, which we have already done. Being reactive and allowing China to consolidate their forward positions has ensured that. Fait accompli
https://warontherocks.com/2020/06/chinas-strategic-assessment-of-the-ladakh-clash/
https://warontherocks.com/2020/07/i...ew-delhis-options-after-its-clash-with-china/
https://warontherocks.com/2020/06/chinas-strategic-assessment-of-the-ladakh-clash/
https://warontherocks.com/2020/07/i...ew-delhis-options-after-its-clash-with-china/
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It's ok guys, digital strike has hurt China a lot more.
Delhi riots: Inside the ‘Kattar Hindu’ WhatsApp group that planned, executed murders
References to BJP leader Kapil Mishra and the RSS pop up in these chats, in between plans to murder Muslims and destroy mosques.
https://www.newslaundry.com/2020/07...-whatsapp-group-that-planned-executed-murders
In February this year, communal violence in Delhi killed at least 53 people. The violence began shortly after a provocative speech by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Kapil Mishra on February 23. In March, Newslaundry had reported that in the aftermath of the carnage, multiple dead bodies were recovered from the drains in Northeast Delhi.
Chargesheets filed by the Delhi police in these murders allege at least nine murders were committed at a puliya, or a bridge, in Johripur on February 25 and 26. Four of these murders, according to the Delhi police, took place between 9 pm and 9.40 pm on February 26, contradicting Home Minister Amit Shah’s claim in the Parliament in March that the rioting stopped on February 25.
In the murder of Aamir Khan, 30, who was killed along with his brother Hashim Ali, 19, on February 26, the Delhi police arrested 11 Hindu men and zeroed in on a WhatsApp group called “Kattar Hindut Ekta”, a probable typo for “Kattar Hindu Ekta”, which was created on the intervening night of February 24-25 and soon swelled to 125 members. The group name loosely translates to "hardcore Hindu unity".
The chargesheet claims that the WhatsApp group was created to conspire and kill Muslims and vandalise their properties and local mosques.
The Delhi police said that it apprehended the accused in Aamir Khan’s murder — which includes members of “Kattar Hindut Ekta” — when its officers noticed that three men were “continuously hovering” around the team and trying to snoop on its conversations while it was investigating the murders at the Johripur puliya. Upon suspicion, the men were interrogated and their phones were searched by the officers. That’s when the Delhi police struck upon the WhatsApp group. When it filed the chargesheet, the police had interrogated 12 of the 125 members.
Newslaundry accessed dozens of pages of conversations in this WhatsApp group between February 25 and March 8. These chats are replete with hate, abuse and anti-Muslim slurs. They contain references to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Kapil Mishra, and include plans to torch mosques and install idols, acquire arms, and kill and molest Muslims. Most of these did not find a mention in the Delhi police’s main chargesheet; instead, they were limited to the annexure.
Kapil Mishra
Kapil Mishra, who joined the BJP in August 2019, is a former leader of the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi. He was elected from the Karawal Nagar Assembly seat on an AAP ticket in 2015. On February 23, Mishra had given an ultimatum to citizenship law protesters in Northeast Delhi. “Till the US president is in India, we are leaving the area peacefully. After that we won’t listen to you [police] if the roads are not vacated by then,” he said at a rally in Jaffrabad.
On the “Kattar Hindut Ekta” Whatsapp group, a media file of Mishra was circulated multiple times. It has been omitted from the Delhi police’s documents, but references appear in text, once with the hashtag #I-STAND-WITH-KAPIL-MISHRA.
“Hear and understand this video of Kapil Mishra and diligently spread it across India because it is 100% in national interest. This is the least you can do friends,” read one message, sent at 10.46 pm on February 26. It was sent again on February 27 and March 1.
Another long message, sent around 9 pm on February 25, defended Mishra from the charge that he had incited the riots. “What did he [Mishra] say except that if the roads weren’t cleared, CAA supporters would also hit the road. This is as constitutional as these rioters who occupy the streets. What is wrong with giving an ultimatum in the name of opposition?”
On March 7, an interview of Mishra with the YouTube channel “Shining India” was shared on the group, where the BJP leader claimed that those opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act were “trying to break India and insult Hindu beliefs and the Hindu tradition”.
Newslaundry reached out to Mishra with a questionnaire for this story. The piece will be updated if he responds.
RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal
The RSS, the parent organisation of the BJP, also surfaced a couple of times in the rioters’ WhatsApp group. The most critical mention was at 8 pm on February 25.
“Brothers, people from RSS have come here to support us in Brijpuri,” it said. “Aur 9 mullo ko maar diya gya hai Brijpuri puliya pr.” Nine more Muslims have been killed on the Brijpuri puliya.
Incidentally, 16 people associated with the RSS have been accused in the murder of Parvez, a property dealer in Northeast Delhi’s Gonda. According to his son, Parvez was shot dead in Ghonda at 7 pm on February 25. In response, the RSS claimed that officers in the Delhi police are conspiring against the organisation.
Around 10 pm on February 26, a member of the WhatsApp group asked how he could get in touch with the Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, an RSS affiliate. “Yes brother, if anyone has the number, please share it on the group so we can contact the Bajrang Dal,” another member replied.
The first member repeated the request at 11 pm. At 11.43 pm, a user shared this link: the Facebook page of a Bajrang Dal leader called Rahul Gola from Loni, which is barely a kilometre away from the Johripur puliya.
In the afternoon that day, February 26, a member of the group, who was paranoid about Muslims attacking Hindu homes in Bhagirathi Vihar, suggested that in the event of any trouble, everyone should first call the police, and then inform their “brothers” in the group and those who are associated with the RSS and the Bajrang Dal.
On March 3, a message shared in the group said that all Hindus must join the RSS, Hindu Sena and other organisations to protect the community. “Hindus, support and join RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal and Hindu Sena. Because when Hindus are in trouble, they’ll be the first to fight for you,” it read.
Planning murders and arson
Newslaundry had earlier reported that on March 4, children living near Johripur had claimed that Muslims were sought out and killed at the nearby puliya during the riots. Conversations in the “Kattar Hindut Ekta” WhatsApp group lay bare how members planned to gather at the puliya to attack passersby. Some would even inform others in the group that they had attacked or killed Muslims.
A man called Lokesh Solanki, 19, who has been arrested for multiple murders, told the group the following at 11.39 pm on February 26: “Brothers, I am Lokesh Solanki from Ganga Vihar. If anyone faces any problems, and if there is a shortage of people, I will come with my entire Ganga Vihar team. We have all the stuff, includings guns and bullets.”
Other members thanked Solanki, saying Gokulpuri and Johripur were “with him”. One member asked if he had any bullets. Solanki said he has pistols.
At 11.44 pm, Solanki confessed murder: “Your brother has killed two Muslims around 9 pm in Bhagirathi Vihar and threw them into the drains.”
Five minutes later, Solanki wrote: “Vinay, you know that your brother is at the forefront when it comes to these things.”
On February 25, Solanki had tried to discipline the group and make them follow his example. “What will you get out of bakchodi in the group? If you want to do something, come out on the roads,” he wrote. “Last night, I roamed Bhagirathi Vihar, Ganga Vihar, Gokulpuri, Johripur and smashed the heads of 23 Muslims.”
This message came around 11 pm, nearly 24 hours after the group was created. One of the first instructions to gather came around 7 am that day, when one member asked “all brothers” to gather at the Johripur puliya at 10 am.
According to the Delhi police chargesheet, the first victim of this gathering was a man named Mursalin, who was killed around 4 pm and thrown into the drain. The second victim was Aas Mohammad, 30, a daily wage worker who was killed around 7.30 pm. After a heavy spell of rain on February 28, Aas’s body surfaced in the drain half a kilometre downstream below Gokulpuri metro station on March 1.
Around 2 pm on February 25, one member in the group specifically targeted Muslim women, saying: “Masjido ki bahan chodo....Jo bahar baithi thi...Mullani unhe chodo.” At 7 pm, they informed each other that the electricity in the area had been cut. “It is dark and all Hindus brothers are ready,” one person texted.
The Delhi police chargesheet says: “On 25.02.2020 at about 7:30/8 pm, rioters cut the electricity and in the dark, they attacked the house of Musharraf, grabbed him and dragged him out into the street and they beat him to death and threw him into the open drain.”
On“Kattar Hindut Ekta”, members kept each other abreast of the latest developments in their areas, especially any news about approaching “Muslim mobs”. “Wherever you face problems, alert us by messaging in the group,” said one message at 7.36 pm on February 25. “And all kattar Hindu brothers carry the stones to the terrace.”
After talking about killing Muslims, one member alerted the group that a local mosque had been set alight. “Swaha ho gayi Masjid,” he wrote. “Jai Shri Ram,” declared another.
Shortly after 8 pm on February 25, one person wrote: “Burn everything that is theirs, just like we torched their madrassa today.” Another replied, “Yes brother, that’s what we are doing.”
The same member made similar plans the next morning. “Brothers, listen, all brothers have to be ready today to attack the Fatima masjid in the evening,” he wrote at 9.45 am.
The night before, the rioters had planned to install an idol in a madrassa that they had destroyed. “This is a request to all brothers,” a member said. “The madrassa in Number 11 that we wrecked today...tomorrow we should unite at 10 am and install an idol inside it.”
Rioters’ banter
When they weren’t discussing murder and arson, members of “Kattar Hindut Ekta” abused and mocked Muslims, shared jokes about the community and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cursed the AAP and the Congress, and shared poems and other forwards on Hindu victimhood.
“Muslims told Modi, ‘remove the police for 10-15 minutes, not one Hindu would survive’,” began one message that was shared multiple times. “So Modi said: ‘I did remove them for 7-8 minutes in Gujarat, now you’re only 10% there’.”
Another message outlined how Hindus were responsible for their poor state. It read: “The situation is such that Modi today stands up for Hindutva, and delusional Hindus are bent on erasing it. We’ve seen lakhs of Hindus oppose Modi, but tell me just one Muslim who opposes [Asaduddin] Owaisi.”
On AAP, members talked derisively about those who voted for the party out of greed for freebies. “Brothers, even some Hindus turned greedy and voted for AAP. They didn’t know that that fecker is up the Muslims’ ass” said one member. Another replied, “They’ll give free electricity and water to those feckers.”
YouTube videos of one Nitin Shukla were shared widely on the group, including one “exposing” journalist Rana Ayyub, and another on “biased reporting” by ABP News. Members of the group also forwarded messages about journalists like Barkha Dutt and Ravish Kumar and their so-called biased reporting.
The police also made a cameo in the chats, notably when the members were discussing self-preservation by deleting incendiary videos on their phones, especially one where a pro-Citizenship Amendment Act protester was seen torching a Sufi shrine. “The police just came to my lane. They said we should not keep such videos in our phones,” read one message, as others agreed.
According to the Delhi police chargesheet: “All these persons were angry with the Muslim community due to the riots in Delhi. He [Solanki] along with his team members/friends had hatched a criminal conspiracy and planned to take revenge from the Muslims for killing Hindus and for destroying/burning their properties.”
Solanki, along with the 10 other accused, have been booked under a dozen sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder, dacoity, criminal conspiracy and rioting.
References to BJP leader Kapil Mishra and the RSS pop up in these chats, in between plans to murder Muslims and destroy mosques.
https://www.newslaundry.com/2020/07...-whatsapp-group-that-planned-executed-murders
In February this year, communal violence in Delhi killed at least 53 people. The violence began shortly after a provocative speech by the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Kapil Mishra on February 23. In March, Newslaundry had reported that in the aftermath of the carnage, multiple dead bodies were recovered from the drains in Northeast Delhi.
Chargesheets filed by the Delhi police in these murders allege at least nine murders were committed at a puliya, or a bridge, in Johripur on February 25 and 26. Four of these murders, according to the Delhi police, took place between 9 pm and 9.40 pm on February 26, contradicting Home Minister Amit Shah’s claim in the Parliament in March that the rioting stopped on February 25.
In the murder of Aamir Khan, 30, who was killed along with his brother Hashim Ali, 19, on February 26, the Delhi police arrested 11 Hindu men and zeroed in on a WhatsApp group called “Kattar Hindut Ekta”, a probable typo for “Kattar Hindu Ekta”, which was created on the intervening night of February 24-25 and soon swelled to 125 members. The group name loosely translates to "hardcore Hindu unity".
The chargesheet claims that the WhatsApp group was created to conspire and kill Muslims and vandalise their properties and local mosques.
The Delhi police said that it apprehended the accused in Aamir Khan’s murder — which includes members of “Kattar Hindut Ekta” — when its officers noticed that three men were “continuously hovering” around the team and trying to snoop on its conversations while it was investigating the murders at the Johripur puliya. Upon suspicion, the men were interrogated and their phones were searched by the officers. That’s when the Delhi police struck upon the WhatsApp group. When it filed the chargesheet, the police had interrogated 12 of the 125 members.
Newslaundry accessed dozens of pages of conversations in this WhatsApp group between February 25 and March 8. These chats are replete with hate, abuse and anti-Muslim slurs. They contain references to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Kapil Mishra, and include plans to torch mosques and install idols, acquire arms, and kill and molest Muslims. Most of these did not find a mention in the Delhi police’s main chargesheet; instead, they were limited to the annexure.
Kapil Mishra
Kapil Mishra, who joined the BJP in August 2019, is a former leader of the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi. He was elected from the Karawal Nagar Assembly seat on an AAP ticket in 2015. On February 23, Mishra had given an ultimatum to citizenship law protesters in Northeast Delhi. “Till the US president is in India, we are leaving the area peacefully. After that we won’t listen to you [police] if the roads are not vacated by then,” he said at a rally in Jaffrabad.
On the “Kattar Hindut Ekta” Whatsapp group, a media file of Mishra was circulated multiple times. It has been omitted from the Delhi police’s documents, but references appear in text, once with the hashtag #I-STAND-WITH-KAPIL-MISHRA.
“Hear and understand this video of Kapil Mishra and diligently spread it across India because it is 100% in national interest. This is the least you can do friends,” read one message, sent at 10.46 pm on February 26. It was sent again on February 27 and March 1.
Another long message, sent around 9 pm on February 25, defended Mishra from the charge that he had incited the riots. “What did he [Mishra] say except that if the roads weren’t cleared, CAA supporters would also hit the road. This is as constitutional as these rioters who occupy the streets. What is wrong with giving an ultimatum in the name of opposition?”
On March 7, an interview of Mishra with the YouTube channel “Shining India” was shared on the group, where the BJP leader claimed that those opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act were “trying to break India and insult Hindu beliefs and the Hindu tradition”.
Newslaundry reached out to Mishra with a questionnaire for this story. The piece will be updated if he responds.
RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal
The RSS, the parent organisation of the BJP, also surfaced a couple of times in the rioters’ WhatsApp group. The most critical mention was at 8 pm on February 25.
“Brothers, people from RSS have come here to support us in Brijpuri,” it said. “Aur 9 mullo ko maar diya gya hai Brijpuri puliya pr.” Nine more Muslims have been killed on the Brijpuri puliya.
Incidentally, 16 people associated with the RSS have been accused in the murder of Parvez, a property dealer in Northeast Delhi’s Gonda. According to his son, Parvez was shot dead in Ghonda at 7 pm on February 25. In response, the RSS claimed that officers in the Delhi police are conspiring against the organisation.
Around 10 pm on February 26, a member of the WhatsApp group asked how he could get in touch with the Bajrang Dal, the youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, an RSS affiliate. “Yes brother, if anyone has the number, please share it on the group so we can contact the Bajrang Dal,” another member replied.
The first member repeated the request at 11 pm. At 11.43 pm, a user shared this link: the Facebook page of a Bajrang Dal leader called Rahul Gola from Loni, which is barely a kilometre away from the Johripur puliya.
In the afternoon that day, February 26, a member of the group, who was paranoid about Muslims attacking Hindu homes in Bhagirathi Vihar, suggested that in the event of any trouble, everyone should first call the police, and then inform their “brothers” in the group and those who are associated with the RSS and the Bajrang Dal.
On March 3, a message shared in the group said that all Hindus must join the RSS, Hindu Sena and other organisations to protect the community. “Hindus, support and join RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal and Hindu Sena. Because when Hindus are in trouble, they’ll be the first to fight for you,” it read.
Planning murders and arson
Newslaundry had earlier reported that on March 4, children living near Johripur had claimed that Muslims were sought out and killed at the nearby puliya during the riots. Conversations in the “Kattar Hindut Ekta” WhatsApp group lay bare how members planned to gather at the puliya to attack passersby. Some would even inform others in the group that they had attacked or killed Muslims.
A man called Lokesh Solanki, 19, who has been arrested for multiple murders, told the group the following at 11.39 pm on February 26: “Brothers, I am Lokesh Solanki from Ganga Vihar. If anyone faces any problems, and if there is a shortage of people, I will come with my entire Ganga Vihar team. We have all the stuff, includings guns and bullets.”
Other members thanked Solanki, saying Gokulpuri and Johripur were “with him”. One member asked if he had any bullets. Solanki said he has pistols.
At 11.44 pm, Solanki confessed murder: “Your brother has killed two Muslims around 9 pm in Bhagirathi Vihar and threw them into the drains.”
Five minutes later, Solanki wrote: “Vinay, you know that your brother is at the forefront when it comes to these things.”
On February 25, Solanki had tried to discipline the group and make them follow his example. “What will you get out of bakchodi in the group? If you want to do something, come out on the roads,” he wrote. “Last night, I roamed Bhagirathi Vihar, Ganga Vihar, Gokulpuri, Johripur and smashed the heads of 23 Muslims.”
This message came around 11 pm, nearly 24 hours after the group was created. One of the first instructions to gather came around 7 am that day, when one member asked “all brothers” to gather at the Johripur puliya at 10 am.
According to the Delhi police chargesheet, the first victim of this gathering was a man named Mursalin, who was killed around 4 pm and thrown into the drain. The second victim was Aas Mohammad, 30, a daily wage worker who was killed around 7.30 pm. After a heavy spell of rain on February 28, Aas’s body surfaced in the drain half a kilometre downstream below Gokulpuri metro station on March 1.
Around 2 pm on February 25, one member in the group specifically targeted Muslim women, saying: “Masjido ki bahan chodo....Jo bahar baithi thi...Mullani unhe chodo.” At 7 pm, they informed each other that the electricity in the area had been cut. “It is dark and all Hindus brothers are ready,” one person texted.
The Delhi police chargesheet says: “On 25.02.2020 at about 7:30/8 pm, rioters cut the electricity and in the dark, they attacked the house of Musharraf, grabbed him and dragged him out into the street and they beat him to death and threw him into the open drain.”
On“Kattar Hindut Ekta”, members kept each other abreast of the latest developments in their areas, especially any news about approaching “Muslim mobs”. “Wherever you face problems, alert us by messaging in the group,” said one message at 7.36 pm on February 25. “And all kattar Hindu brothers carry the stones to the terrace.”
After talking about killing Muslims, one member alerted the group that a local mosque had been set alight. “Swaha ho gayi Masjid,” he wrote. “Jai Shri Ram,” declared another.
Shortly after 8 pm on February 25, one person wrote: “Burn everything that is theirs, just like we torched their madrassa today.” Another replied, “Yes brother, that’s what we are doing.”
The same member made similar plans the next morning. “Brothers, listen, all brothers have to be ready today to attack the Fatima masjid in the evening,” he wrote at 9.45 am.
The night before, the rioters had planned to install an idol in a madrassa that they had destroyed. “This is a request to all brothers,” a member said. “The madrassa in Number 11 that we wrecked today...tomorrow we should unite at 10 am and install an idol inside it.”
Rioters’ banter
When they weren’t discussing murder and arson, members of “Kattar Hindut Ekta” abused and mocked Muslims, shared jokes about the community and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cursed the AAP and the Congress, and shared poems and other forwards on Hindu victimhood.
“Muslims told Modi, ‘remove the police for 10-15 minutes, not one Hindu would survive’,” began one message that was shared multiple times. “So Modi said: ‘I did remove them for 7-8 minutes in Gujarat, now you’re only 10% there’.”
Another message outlined how Hindus were responsible for their poor state. It read: “The situation is such that Modi today stands up for Hindutva, and delusional Hindus are bent on erasing it. We’ve seen lakhs of Hindus oppose Modi, but tell me just one Muslim who opposes [Asaduddin] Owaisi.”
On AAP, members talked derisively about those who voted for the party out of greed for freebies. “Brothers, even some Hindus turned greedy and voted for AAP. They didn’t know that that fecker is up the Muslims’ ass” said one member. Another replied, “They’ll give free electricity and water to those feckers.”
YouTube videos of one Nitin Shukla were shared widely on the group, including one “exposing” journalist Rana Ayyub, and another on “biased reporting” by ABP News. Members of the group also forwarded messages about journalists like Barkha Dutt and Ravish Kumar and their so-called biased reporting.
The police also made a cameo in the chats, notably when the members were discussing self-preservation by deleting incendiary videos on their phones, especially one where a pro-Citizenship Amendment Act protester was seen torching a Sufi shrine. “The police just came to my lane. They said we should not keep such videos in our phones,” read one message, as others agreed.
According to the Delhi police chargesheet: “All these persons were angry with the Muslim community due to the riots in Delhi. He [Solanki] along with his team members/friends had hatched a criminal conspiracy and planned to take revenge from the Muslims for killing Hindus and for destroying/burning their properties.”
Solanki, along with the 10 other accused, have been booked under a dozen sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder, dacoity, criminal conspiracy and rioting.
Indian Paramilitary Forces To Soon Induct Transgender Officers
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/cor...elines-for-a-year-2257510?pfrom=home-bigstory
Kerala takes the first step and makes distancing rules mandatory for next 1 year or until further notice.
Masks at all workplaces and six feet distance applies everywhere.
Max 50 people in wedding, 20 in funerals.
Any gatherings over 10 people will need police permission
All shops have an upper limit of 20 and must ensure six feet distance.
Looks like these things will be part of our lives for long.
Kerala takes the first step and makes distancing rules mandatory for next 1 year or until further notice.
Masks at all workplaces and six feet distance applies everywhere.
Max 50 people in wedding, 20 in funerals.
Any gatherings over 10 people will need police permission
All shops have an upper limit of 20 and must ensure six feet distance.
Looks like these things will be part of our lives for long.
This is good, but the same armed forces said some shitty stuff about same sex relationships no?
Yep, but this is a rare instance of positive news, so I'm not going to mar the occasion by reminiscing about the countless abdurd acts we've come to expect as the norm.
Agreed, definitely.
India officially recording 23k covid19 new cases per day and 20k total dead.
What do you guys think the actual number is?
What do you guys think the actual number is?
The only country's numbers I trust are Italy's, and that's purely down to the fact that I work in the Italian medical system, and I had a front row seat as the pandemic While our initial response wasn't perfect, we managed to do as well as anyone could expect, keeping in mind the bureaucratic incompetence that plagues Italy.
Having said that, this country with a population of roughly 60 million people, recorded a peak of approximately 7k cases in one day, and that happened a couple weeks after the entire country had been locked down. India, on the other hand, never really experienced a total lockdown, and with a population of 1.3 billion +, it's almost impossible to believe that there are *only* 23k cases per day, specially considering some states have pretty much given up completely on testing. The real numbers have to be significantly higher than those being reported.
I also don’t believe India’s numbers and think they are wildly out (or US or UK for that matter!).
I have seen so many anecdotal hospital reports which suggest deaths are as much as 400% more. And the infected cases must be even higher, given India’s young population profile means lower death rate.
Was wondering what our resident Indians thought. Are cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata still under lockdown or has that period passed.
Must have been traumatic and life changing to observe Italy from such close quarters?
India was under a total lockdown for nearly 1.5 months.
I am of the opinion that India’s lockdown came at the right time before we imported too many cases to kickstart the transmission chain.
The only cities facing healthcare infra capacity issues to my knowledge are the ones with the highest number of reported cases. So I don’t think the numbers are multiples away from how things are today.
I believe that the numbers will diverge from the truth within the next couple of months as we do not seem to have the capacity(or maybe it’s inclination) to scale testing capacity at the rate the virus is growing at.
India was under a total lockdown in theory, yes, but in reality, it really wasn't. The worst affected parts like Mumbai and Pune were full of people flouting the rules back then. I remember people going out in huge numbers to celebrate the announcement of the lockdown back in March, absolutely mental scenes.
India's lockdown came a bit too late, and it was certainly lifted way too early, speaking from a purely epidemiological point of view. I realize a prolonged lockdown isn't sustainable in an economy like India, but things could definitely have been handled better from the get go.
We did not really have other much options
People clamouring for war are daydreaming.
Did China declare war to invade and land grab and build reinforcements?
The only one daydreaming is our Dear Leader, of all the foreign trips he could be making if covid wasn't a thing.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp university:
ऐसा लगता है- तीन शेर चल रहे हैं।
विश्वास ना हो तो *फोटो को उल्टा करके देख लो।*
ऐसा लगता है- तीन शेर चल रहे हैं।
विश्वास ना हो तो *फोटो को उल्टा करके देख लो।*
got a whatsapp forward, 2 guys on a bike talking about india's Sher. it's wrong for these small mosquitoes to complain about petrol price because when you get a Sher you need to pay for its upkeep. 1000 rupees petrol bhi thik hai, das-bees paiso ke liye tum baap change kar loge kya?
the brainwashing is realIndia's given up the Galwan Valley without any sort of a retaliation. It's mental how Modi's people will spin this. I guess they won't be able to read the statement about the buffer zone being on India's side of the LAC. And the truth is they're powerless to stop China encroaching further should they(China) decide to do so.