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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Raj Thackeray tormented over ‘missing kids’ in state

Mumbai : Expressing grave concerns over the steep rise in cases of ‘missing children’ in the state, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray has accused the state government of treating the matter casually and failing to respond to it urgently.   In an open missive on 'X' to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Raj Thackeray quoted data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) pointing at almost an alarming 30 pc increase in the number of children ‘missing’ in the state...

Raj Thackeray tormented over ‘missing kids’ in state

Mumbai : Expressing grave concerns over the steep rise in cases of ‘missing children’ in the state, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray has accused the state government of treating the matter casually and failing to respond to it urgently.   In an open missive on 'X' to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Raj Thackeray quoted data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) pointing at almost an alarming 30 pc increase in the number of children ‘missing’ in the state between 2021-2024.   When asked for his reactions, Fadnavis told media-persons in Nagpur that he had not read the letter, but the issue raised is important and he would reply to it. Fadnavis stated that the NCRB has also provided the reasons why the kids go ‘missing’, how they return and the period, ranging from 3 days to 18 months.   Dwelling on the sufficiency of the NCRB figures, he contended that they reflect only complaints formally registered by the police and thousands of cases may never be reported.   On the ‘rescue, return and reunion’ of such missing children, he pointed to the sheer psychological trauma they may have suffered and sought to know how such child-lifter networks continued to thrive openly and blatantly.   The MNS chief targeted what he claimed was the “state’s lack of proactive measures to identify and dismantle child-begging rackets” as many juveniles can be seen begging at railway stations, bus stands, traffic signals, often accompanied by adults with doubtful authenticity.   “If some woman claims to be the child’s relative or guardian, should the government not order a thorough probe? Is it inappropriate to consider even a DNA test in suspicious cases,” Raj Thackeray demanded.   Slamming the government and the Opposition, he lamented how both sides failed to prioritise such urgent social issues in the legislature where discussions centre around partisan sparring.   The letter also mentions attempts by the Centre to coordinate with states on the ‘missing or trafficked children’, regretting how political upmanships and symbolic debates prevent meaningful action on the ground.   The NCRB said that Maharashtra has consistently ranked among states with the highest number of ‘missing children’, particularly in urban centres like Mumbai, Thane, and Pune.   Simultaneously, experts, child rights NGOs and activists have warned about trafficking networks that exploit poverty, migration and weak law enforcement and low convictions, despite official rescue missions or rehab efforts.   In his appeal, Raj Thackeray called upon Fadnavis to take concrete, visible measures rather than discussions and conventions. “Maharashtra expects decisive steps from you, not speeches. Jai Maharashtra,” he signed off.     In October 2023,Sharad Pawar red-flagged ‘missing girls-women’ This is the second major social cause by a political leader, two years after Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar had red-flagged nearly 20,000 ‘missing women and girls’ from the state between Jan-May 2023.   In the present instance, Raj Thackeray said that “behind the statistics lies a far more disturbing reality involving organised, inter-state gangs that kidnap children, physically abuse them and force them into begging rings”.   “Little kids are assaulted, made to beg and shifted across states. Groups of children disappear suddenly, and the government appears unable, or unwilling, to grasp the seriousness of what is happening,” said Thackeray in a strong tone.

India bans 16 Pakistani YouTube channels over misinformation after Pahalgam terror attack


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NEW DELHI: Following the terror attack in Pahalgam, the Indian government on Monday banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including several major news outlets such as Dawn, Samaa TV, ARY News, Geo News, Razi Naama, GNN, and Irshad Bhatti’s channel, officials said.


According to officials, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting acted on a recommendation from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) after it was found that these channels were "spreading communally sensitive content and misinformation against India."


A senior official stated, "On the MHA’s recommendation, the Government of India has banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels, including Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, and Geo News, for promoting provocative, communally sensitive content, and false narratives against India, its Army, and its security agencies, especially after the tragic Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir."


The combined subscriber base of these 16 banned channels is around 63.08 million, according to a list shared by officials. The banned channels include both news agencies and individual creators: Dawn News, Irshad Bhatti, Samaa TV, ARY News, BOL News, Raftar, The Pakistan Reference, Geo News, Samaa Sports, GNN, Uzair Cricket, Umar Cheema Exclusive, Asma Shirazi, Muneeb Farooq, Suno News HD, and Razi Naama.


Officials added that these channels are now inaccessible in India, and warned that any other platforms spreading misinformation against India and its security forces will also face similar action.


Additionally, the government has taken up the matter with the BBC over its coverage of the Pahalgam attack. A senior official said, "The XP division of the Ministry of External Affairs has conveyed strong concerns to Jackie Martin (BBC India Head) regarding their portrayal of the terrorists as militants. A formal letter has been sent to BBC criticizing this terminology, and the XP division will continue monitoring future reporting."


This move comes after the U.S. government also criticized The New York Times for using the term "militants" instead of "terrorists" in its coverage, with the U.S. Senate panel and House Foreign Affairs Committee stating that such language downplays the seriousness of the attack.


Meanwhile, tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated further. India has suspended the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), cancelled visas issued to Pakistani nationals, and intensified retaliatory action following continuous ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops over the past three nights along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara and Poonch districts.

Indian forces have been responding to Pakistani fire with appropriate retaliation, though no casualties have been reported so far.


Following the deadly Pahalgam attack, India has also expelled Pakistani military attachés, closed the Attari land-transit post, and taken several strong diplomatic measures. These decisions were finalized in a Cabinet Committee on Security meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who pledged that India would "identify, track, and punish" the terrorists and their "backers" responsible for the attack.


In response, Pakistan has suspended all bilateral agreements with India, including the 1972 Simla Agreement.


Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over the investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, intensifying efforts to collect evidence and interrogating several overground workers and jailed terrorists aggressively.

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