2 people beaten up for begging in Ajmer, told to 'go to Pakistan'; 5 youth arrested
Jaipur, Aug 24: Five people were arrested in Rajasthan's Ajmer town for allegedly thrashing two beggars who apparently looked like Muslims and asking them to go to Pakistan, police said on Tuesday.
The police action followed a video on social media that purportedly showed the accused, who have been booked under various offences, including promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, beating and threatening the men seeking alms in a housing colony in Ajmer.
The three victims in the video, two men and a woman, are yet to be identified, police officials said. The video was circulated across various social media platforms on Friday and the police registered the case on Tuesday.
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The victims are not yet identified and they are being traced. They apparently looked like Muslims, said SHO of Ramganj police station Satendra Singh.
The main accused Lalit Sharma, who beat up the beggars, was arrested on Friday while four other accomplices identified as Shailendra Tak, Tejpal, Surendra and Rohit were arrested on Saturday, the SHO said.
He said the action was taken suo motu on the basis of the video clip.
The video purportedly shows a boy, a man and a woman being cornered by the group of five youths. Sharma is seen purportedly kicking the boy on his head as he is crouched on the street. He is also seen slapping the man for apparently begging in the housing colony and asked him to "go to Pakistan" for alms.
Meanwhile, some members of the Muslim community approached the police officers raising objection over the issue saying their religious sentiments have been hurt.
The SHO said that case was registered on Tuesday by police itself under IPC Section 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion etc.), 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 341 (wrongful restraint).
No fresh arrest has been made and the matter is being investigated, he added.
The incident comes a few days after a bangle seller was thrashed by a group of people even as he begged for mercy in Madhya Pradesh's Indore city. The viral video showed the people levelling allegations of eve-teasing against the bangle seller and egging on others to beat him up.
This is in Chandrvardai Nagar, Ajmer, Rajasthan.
— Hussain Haidry (@hussainhaidry) August 23, 2021
"Pakistan jaa," this man says as he slaps a Muslim beggar with his two children. In the video, he kicks on the head of the young boy.
Via @asfreeasjafri pic.twitter.com/lyBgKf1nbe
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No stubble burning now, why air pollution crisis in Delhi: Mann takes dig at BJP
Chandigarh (PTI): Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday slammed the BJP saying its leaders used to "defame" Punjab farmers over stubble burning and blame them for Delhi's poor air quality and questioned why is there pollution crisis in national capital despite no farm fires now.
Mann said that as soon as paddy harvest takes place, BJP leaders blame Punjab and its farmers for Delhi's poor air quality.
He said they used to claim that stubble burning by Punjab farmers causes Delhi's pollution.
Mann said at present, the Air Quality Index in major Punjab cities is between 70 and 130.
"At present, Delhi's AQI is between 450 and 500 and no smoke is coming from Punjab. But the situation in Delhi is worse. At least now they should agree that there is no role of Punjab for Delhi's poor air quality," Mann said in a video message.
Mann's remarks came on a day Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa apologised for the air pollution crisis in the national capital and acknowledged its impact on children's health.
Sirsa, however, asserted that it was the result of the policies pursued by the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi.
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Last month, the BJP had trashed the Punjab CM's previous claim that stubble burning in the state has no role in the high levels of air pollution in Delhi as "ridiculous".
Dismissing Mann's claim, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva had last month said it is certain that stubble burning is a "major" factor (for the air pollution in Delhi).
Meanwhile, Mann in his video message said, due to severe floods which Punjab witnessed this year, paddy harvesting got delayed, "despite this, many Delhi ministers had already started blaming Punjab".
"I want to praise Punjab farmers, NGOs and efforts of the Punjab government have also paid off in controlling stubble burning this time. The cases of stubble burning in Punjab have reduced by 70-80 per cent and this has been acknowledged by the Central Government and the Union Agriculture Minister," Mann said.
The CM further said that after paddy harvest even the wheat crop has been sown and now, there is no incident of stubble burning.
He said BJP leaders used to claim that Punjab's smoke from stubble travels to Delhi.
"Now, there is no stubble burning, but Delhi is facing very poor air quality. This proves that earlier too Punjab's smoke had no role for Delhi's poor air quality. Only accusations were made by the BJP to defame Punjab. At least now the Centre should praise the farmers of Punjab," he said.
"Meanwhile, Delhi's AQI is between 450 and 500, flights are being cancelled, and breathing has become difficult," said Mann.
He asked both the BJP government in Delhi and the BJP led Centre to address Delhi's air pollution, saying citizens cannot even venture out for a walk due to air pollution.
He also asked the BJP that Punjab should not be dragged into this political battle, instead, Punjab's farmers should be appreciated, and the Delhi and Central governments should focus on addressing Delhi's air pollution.
Mann further said that farmers of Punjab are 'anndatas' (food providers) and they meet the country's food needs, they should not be defamed.
