Rape of B'desh Hindu woman sparks anger, BNP 'supporter' held
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Fazar Ali has been arrested on the charge of rape while four others are accused of making and circulating the video, said authorities, who have also been directed to ensure medical support to the woman. HC asked them to file a report within 15 days on the progress of investigations into the Thursday night incident. The video surfaced online on Saturday night.
Condemning the incident and demanding exemplary punishment, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said there is a "dangerous conspiracy afoot to damage BNP's reputation".
The party is yet to clarify whether Fazar was linked to it. Fakhrul claimed the woman was a Hindu expatriate's wife.
Fazar, after the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League govt's fall last year, started introducing himself as a BNP member and attending its programmes, according to sources in political parties. He's seen in photos of BNP's Ramchandrapur South Union office's inauguration on Dec 14 last year.
University students, including in Dhaka, held marches in solidarity with the victim, calling for justice.
While Naripokkho, a women's rights body, called on citizens to break silence and resist violence against women, human rights organisations such as Ain o-Salish Kendra and Manusher Jonno Foundation called for "swift trial and exemplary punishment".
The woman filed a case on Friday. She said she had come with her children to visit her parents, and on Thursday night, Fazar came to her house and asked her to open the door. When she refused, he broke the door, entered the house and raped her, according to authorities.
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News18
32 minutes ago
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'Cryptic Reasoning': SC Sets Aside HC Order On Bail To Murder Accused For Carrying Victim To Hospital
The High Court, however, allowed the said applications by way of the common impugned order of November 14, 2024, thereby enlarging the respondents on bail The Supreme Court has said the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order allowing bail to two persons in a murder case, by a cryptic reasoning and having noted they have carried the victim to the hospital after the incident, holding that the trial court has rightly noted the said aspect and declined to grant relief to them. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma said the respondent-accused have been alleged to have committed the offence under Section 302 of the IPC. It may be a fact that they may have carried the injured victim, who later died, to the hospital but he was actually brought dead to the hospital. This fact will have to be considered de hors from the fact as to who actually had committed the offence in the first place in the instant case. 'In the circumstances, we find that the order of the High Court calls for interference and therefore, the same is set aside. Consequently, the order of the Sessions Court is restored," the bench said. By the impugned order, the High Court has set aside the order of the Trial Court declining to grant regular bail to the respondents herein and consequently, has allowed the petitions for bail. An FIR was registered on March 22, 2023 under Sections 302, 323, 148, 149 (Sections 148 and 149 deleted and Sections 34, 427, 120B added later on) of the Indian Penal Code at Police Station Nangal, District Rupnagar. The said FIR was registered based on the statement given by the complainant-appellant Baljinder Singh alias Aman against accused No. 1 – Mandeep Singh alias Bhoda and accused No.2- Narinder Kumar alias Nindi. The appellant alleged that he received a telephonic call at about 11.30 p.m. to the effect that the respondents, accompanied by 7-8 other persons, were using filthy language against the appellant and trespassed onto his land by dismantling the barbed wire fencing on his property. He claimed that after receiving the said call, the appellant along with his driver Anil (deceased), Deepak Kumar and Chowkidar Bahadur Singh had gone to the appellant's land at Taraf Majri in his Land Cruiser vehicle when the respondents rammed their Fortuner car into the car of the appellant. When the appellant came out from his car, accused No. 1 hit the deceased with their car and threw him down. It was alleged that all the accused persons were armed with wooden sticks when they stepped out of their car. Accused No.1 gave a wooden stick blow on the head of the deceased whereas accused No.2 inflicted injuries to the deceased and other persons accompanying the appellant. The appellant witnessed the entire occurrence but fearing for his life, fled the scene and later discovered that the respondents took the deceased to the hospital where he was found to be dead. The respondents were arrested in connection with FIR on March 23, 2023 and were sent to judicial custody. The Inspector General (IG) Rupnagar Range, Rupnagar, on receipt of complaint from Dev Raj (father of accused No. 2) transferred the investigation in the present matter to Ms Darpan Ahluwalia, IPS, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Sub Division Dera Bassi, District SAS Nagar, Mohali. A charge sheet was submitted by the SHO, Police Station Nangal before the competent court on June 20, 2023. The JMIC, Rupnagar took cognizance and the matter was committed to Additional Sessions Judge, Rupnagar for trial and adjudication. Thereafter, a supplementary charge sheet was filed on October 09, 2023 based on subsequent investigation conducted by Assistant Superintendent of Police, Dera Bassi, District SAS Nagar. On a petition filed by the respondents under Section 482 of Code of Criminal Procedure, the High Court dismissed it on July 16, 2024. However, an order was passed in interim restraining the trial court from proceeding further. This order remained in operation. The respondents filed separate bail applications before the trial court which came to be dismissed by orders on May 21, 2024 and May 24, 2024 respectively, finding that accused No. 1 is a habitual offender as eight other criminal cases have also been registered against him and keeping in view the gravity of the offences in this case and the heinous crime alleged to have been committed by them. The High Court, however, allowed the said applications by way of the common impugned order of November 14, 2024, thereby enlarging the respondents on bail. Being aggrieved, the appellant-complainant has preferred the instant appeal before this court. Challenging the order, the appellant contended that the impugned order is lacking in reasons for granting relief of bail to the respondents herein inasmuch as paragraph 12 of the impugned order only records the submissions in a cryptic manner, the reasoning given in paragraphs 13 and 14 and consequently, the relief of bail was granted to the respondents herein. He submitted that the reasons are erroneous in as they do not make merit a case for grant of bail. The counsel said the respondents have been, inter alia, alleged to have committed the offence under Section 302 IPC, the manner in which the offence was committed itself is gruesome and was planned and executed in a manner which reflects that there was a criminal conspiracy amongst the accused. The appellant said the respondents were in jail for a period of one year and eight months; the chargesheet had been filed and the supplementary chargesheet had also been filed. His counsel said the respondents-accused have been granted the relief of bail and on the other hand, there is a stay of trial. The said orders would require interference at the hands of this court inasmuch as the respondents herein have criminal antecedents and they are not entitled to the relief of bail having regard to the manner in which the deceased was put to death. The State counsel supported the case of the appellant-complainant herein and therefore, having regard to the merits of the case, appropriate orders may be made in these appeals. Defending the High Court's order, the respondents counsel said the fact the accused themselves carried the deceased to the hospital and saw to it that he was given treatment immediately showed that there was no criminal intent in their mind; they further submitted that the High Court has recorded in detail the submissions of the counsel for the respective parties and has come to a right conclusion and hence there is no merit in these appeals and the same may be dismissed. Allowing the appeal, the bench directed the respondent-accused to surrender before the Court of the Jurisdictional Magistrate or the concerned Police Station since they have been on bail pursuant to the impugned order. About the Author Sanya Talwar Sanya Talwar, Editor at Lawbeat, has been heading the organisation since its inception. After practising in courts for over four years, she discovered her affinity for legal journalism. She has worked More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 02, 2025, 21:12 IST News india 'Cryptic Reasoning': SC Sets Aside HC Order On Bail To Murder Accused For Carrying Victim To Hospital
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
'Digvijaya calls Hafiz 'sahab', finds communalism in Kanwar Yatra': BJP's Sudhanshu Trivedi
New Delhi: Political mercury soared over remarks made by senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh and Samajwadi Party leader ST Hasan on the annual Kanwar Yatra, prompting a sharp counterattack from the BJP. Addressing the media, BJP MP and national spokesperson Dr Sudhanshu Trivedi accused both leaders of spreading an anti-Hindu narrative and attempting to defame a long-standing spiritual tradition. Sudhanshu Trivedi said the statements made by both Singh and Hasan reflect the same ideological framework that has repeatedly opposed Hindu traditions. He alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's participation in foreign conferences like 'Dismantling Global Hindutva' and events aimed at 'eradicating Sanatan Dharma' in Chennai stems from this mindset. 'Digvijaya Singh sees Zakir Naik as a 'messenger of peace,' refers to Osama bin Laden as 'Osama ji,' and calls Hafiz Saeed 'Hafiz Sahab'. But when it comes to the Kanwar Yatra, he suddenly finds communalism in it,' Trivedi said. He questioned ST Hasan's alignment with groups allegedly concealing their identity. 'Why does he stand with people who hide their names and religious affiliation?' Trivedi asked. Continuing his attack, the BJP leader remarked that the Congress is so consumed by anti-Modi sentiment that its leaders are unable to differentiate between truth and misinformation. 'This is the result of being gripped by a distorted 'Modi-Virodhi' mindset,' he said, adding that such an obsession leads to a poor understanding of basic facts. Congress veteran Digvijaya Singh had earlier said that while there is no objection to state governments facilitating the yatra, trouble arises when such religious events are allegedly used to spread hatred. 'In a civilised society, the spread of hatred cannot be justified,' he stated. Former MP ST Hasan had also alleged that during the Kanwar Yatra in Uttarakhand, some Hindu groups were reportedly questioning the religious identity of hotel staff and local shopkeepers. 'Asking people for their names or making them undress to confirm their religion is a form of terrorism,' Hasan said. He compared the alleged incidents to past terrorist acts where victims were targeted based on their religion, referring to the Pahalgam massacre. Trivedi also took a jibe at former police officer and Congress leader Ajoy Kumar, accusing him of lacking basic knowledge about India's geography. 'How can someone who served in the police force be unaware of India's northeastern region unless blinded by political bias?' he said. Addressing a press conference, Kumar, who is a former MP from Jamshedpur, had talked about India's "deteriorating relations" with neighbouring countries and blamed the BJP-led government at the Centre for the situation. He had cited examples of Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and ended up naming 'Sikkim' as well. Expressing surprise, the BJP spokesperson said it is ironic that the Congress—under whose regime the Emergency was imposed—now lectures on democratic values. 'They've forgotten that the darkest phase of Indian democracy happened under Indira Gandhi,' he stated. He asked the Congress to remove their 'anti-Modi lens' and look at the true picture of the country. 'Only then will they be able to see the real map and face of the nation,' he added.
India Gazette
an hour ago
- India Gazette
Saying 'I Love You' not proof of sexual intent: Bombay High Court acquits man in POCSO case
Nagpur (Maharashtra) [India], July 2 (ANI): The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court acquitted a 25-year-old man who was earlier convicted for allegedly teasing a minor girl by saying 'I love you' back in 2015, overturning the verdict of a lower court. According to the judgment, the man had been sentenced to three years' imprisonment by a Nagpur sessions court under sections 354-A (sexual harassment) and 354D (stalking) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 8 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POSCO) Act. The lower court had viewed his words as stemming from sexual intent. However, the High Court overturned the verdict, observing that merely expressing love verbally does not, in itself, constitute sexual harassment. Justice Urmila Joshi-Phalke, who delivered the judgment, clarified that actions such as inappropriate touching, forcible disrobing, or indecent gestures accompanied by intent to violate a woman's modesty are essential elements to establish a case of sexual offence. Simply saying 'I love you' without any corroborating evidence of such intent does not fulfil the legal criteria. The case dates back to 2015, when the accused allegedly approached a 17-year-old girl on her way home from school. According to the complaint, he held her hand, asked her name, and told her, 'I love you.' The girl informed her father, leading to the filing of a police complaint. In its ruling, the High Court noted that there was no proof indicating that the man's actions were driven by a desire for sexual contact. 'The phrase 'I love you' alone does not automatically imply sexual intent as defined under the law,' the court stated, adding, 'There must be additional factors that point toward a motive beyond mere expression of affection.' 'Thus, the state of mind, must be to establish some sort of physical contact or must be related to or associated with sex or indicative of involvement of sex in the relationship, if it is to be considered as sexual. Words uttered should be with 'sexual intent' associated with indicative of involvement of sex or physical contact or expressing sexual overtures. Words expressed 'I Love You' would not by itself amount to 'sexual intent' as contemplated by the legislature. There should be something more which must suggest that the real intention is to drag in the angle of sex, if the words uttered are to be taken as conveying sexual intent. it should reflect by the act,' the judgment read. The judgment is being seen as a precedent that distinguishes between emotional expression and sexual misconduct, emphasising the need for clear evidence of intent before drawing legal conclusions in such sensitive cases. (ANI)
