Baba Siddique murder case: Accused communicated with conspirators using labourer's mobile hotspot
Mumbai: In a significant development in the Baba Siddique murder case, Akashdeep Gill, arrested from Fazilka, Punjab, revealed during interrogation that he communicated with key conspirators using a labourer's mobile hotspot to avoid police detection.
During interrogation, Gill admitted to using the hotspot of a labourer named Balwinder, allowing him to appear offline and avoid tracking.
The Crime Branch is currently searching for Gill's mobile phone, which may hold vital evidence related to the case.
Gill hails from Pacca Chisti village in Punjab's Fazilka district. The 22-year-old was held by the Mumbai Crime Branch in coordination with the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of the northern state.
The Congress-turned-NCP leader was shot dead on October 12 near his MLA son Zeeshan Siddique's office in Bandra East's Nirmal Nagar area.
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Activists write open letter to Odisha govt flagging anti-Christian violence
New Delhi: Activists and rights campaigners John Dayal, Aakar Patel, Vidya Dinker and Harsh Mander have expressed serious concern over the alleged rise in violence and intimidation against Christians in several districts, accusing both Hindutva organisations and sections of the police of targeting the minority community.
In a strongly worded communication addressed to the state administration, the signatories said they had received disturbing testimonies from affected people regarding social boycott, denial of burial rights, physical assaults and police intimidation.
According to the activists, Christians in some areas were allegedly boycotted by villagers, while people who traded with them, employed them or provided them shelter were also targeted.
The letter also highlighted what it described as “gruesome” incidents involving the prevention of burials of Christians within village burial grounds and even on privately owned lands belonging to Christian families. The activists said there were cases where bodies remained unburied for days due to opposition from local groups, while in some instances burials were allegedly forced to take place in forest areas outside village limits. Funeral prayers were also reportedly disrupted.
The signatories further alleged that in certain districts the violence escalated into physical assaults on Christians. They claimed that some victims were tied to trees and beaten, while others were allegedly placed inside sacks and assaulted. The letter also mentioned a few reported instances of sexual violence and attempts to burn people alive, which, according to them, were stopped at the last moment.
Expressing particular concern, the activists said many victims had testified that police personnel joined hands with Hindutva organisations to force Christians into signing “compromise” agreements. These agreements allegedly required them to give up their faith and stop collective worship.
The letter also accused the police of registering serious criminal cases against victims of attacks instead of taking action against the attackers. According to the signatories, many of those attacked were detained in police stations and jails, while in some cases the police themselves allegedly played a direct role in intimidation and violence against Christians.
Stating that there appeared to be a “complete breakdown in the constitutional machinery of the state” in relation to Christian minorities, the activists urged the administration to uphold and protect the constitutional and religious rights of all citizens without discrimination based on religion, caste or creed.
The letter was signed by John Dayal, Aakar Patel, Vidya Dinker and Harsh Mander.
