Seven arrested after pro-Palestine posters surface in Sambhal
Sambhal, Apr 20 (PTI): Seven people were arrested in connection with posters bearing 'Free Gaza, Free Palestine' messages appearing on walls of shops in Narauli town here, police said on Sunday.
The posters, which came to light a few days ago, also included an appeal to a particular community to boycott Israeli goods.
Baniyather Station House Officer Ramveer Singh told PTI that the police had launched a probe and identified the seven individuals based on CCTV camera footage. Additional information was gathered from owners of the shops on whose walls the posters appeared.
Singh said the arrested individuals were identified as Asim, Saif Ali, Rahees, Matloob, Fardeen, Arman and Arbaz.
Reacting to the incident, Bajrang Dal convenor Nitin Sharma told reporters that the posters, which urged Muslims to buy only from shops run by people of the same faith, were deeply disturbing and aimed at spreading communal hatred.
"These are not just posters. They represent a dangerous mentality that is seeping into the district," Sharma said.
"The situation in West Bengal is alarming with increasing atrocities against Hindus. Similar signs are now visible in Narauli, where posters have been put up asking Muslims to buy only from Muslims. Who is trying to incite riots and set the town on fire?" he asked.
He said that if the administration fails to take immediate action, organisations like Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal will take matters into their own hands.
Israel launched an offensive in Gaza after Hamas-led group attacked southern Israel in October 2023, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251.
The offensive has since killed more than 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, AP reported Gaza's health ministry as saying.
#संभल-इज्राइली सामान न खरीदने के लगे पोस्टर,गाज़ा और फलस्तीन के समर्थन में लगे पोस्टर, मीट एवं शराब से की गई इज्राइल में बने सामान की तुलना,गाज़ा और फलस्तीन के समर्थन में पोस्टर लगाए जाने की घटनाएं पर
— Asif Ansari (@Asifansari9410) April 20, 2025
Fir दर्ज 7लोग गिरफ्तार संभल के नरौली में लगे पोस्टर।@sambhalpolice @Uppolice pic.twitter.com/XxHxdlINRT
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
