October 12, 2025 • 31 mins
First, we talk to The Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy about Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi's first official visit to India. He shares what this visit means and how significant this visit is for India's foreign policy.
Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Tanushree Bose about another case of sexual assault reported in West Bengal. A MBBS student from a private medical college in Paschim Bardhaman district has allegedly been sexually assaulted in a jungle near the campus. Tanushree shares the details of the case and the investigation. (16:56)
Lastly, we talk about a case of caste based humiliation that has happened in Madhya Pradesh due to an AI generated image and a social media video. (28:12)
Hosted by Niharika Nanda
Produced by Niharika Nanda and Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
Next, we talk to The Indian Express' Tanushree Bose about another case of sexual assault reported in West Bengal. A MBBS student from a private medical college in Paschim Bardhaman district has allegedly been sexually assaulted in a jungle near the campus. Tanushree shares the details of the case and the investigation. (16:56)
Lastly, we talk about a case of caste based humiliation that has happened in Madhya Pradesh due to an AI generated image and a social media video. (28:12)
Hosted by Niharika Nanda
Produced by Niharika Nanda and Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
In this episode, we talk about a case of an
alleged sexual assault of a second year MBBS student in
West Bengal. We also talk about Madhi Pradasha's Bhamo district
where an AI generated image and a viral video have
sparked a controversy. But we begin today by talking about
the Taliban foreign minister's first official.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Visit to India.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Hi, I am Ahara Kananda and you are listening to
three things in an Express News show. Last Thursday, Taliban
foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaki arrived in New Delhi for
his first official.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Visit to India.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
The visit, which will conclude on the sixteenth of October,
marks a significant moment in India's foreign policy as it
further normalizes diplomatic engagement with the Taliban, even though New
Delhi has yet to officially recognize its rule in Afghanistan. Now,
this going visit hasn't been without controversy. During a press
conference last week, of Khans based in Delhi protested against
(01:07):
the Taliban hoisting their flag, and headlines were made when
the delegation barred women journalists from attending the briefing to
discuss the significance of this visit and why India is
engaging with the Taliban. Michael League Shank Pargev speaks to
The Indian Expresses diplomatic affairs editor Shubiji Troy sh would you.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Talk about this situation New Delhi finds itself in because
we know that Taliban is a fundamentalist group, It has
several regressive policies, Its treatment of women has been appalling,
and India, of course has had a very troubled history
with the organization. So tell us why has it chosen
to engage with the Taliban and how is it navigating
(01:46):
this tricky situation.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
So to kind of answer a question, we need to
go back a few decades in history, about three decades back,
so between nineteen ninety six and two thousand and one,
when the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan for the
first time. India did not have any diplomatic relations back
(02:09):
then with the Taliban. In fact, it didn't efficially recognize them.
They did not have a relationship. It broke off all
relationship with Taliban and towards the end of it, by
end of ninety nine, there's this Kandahar hijack. Indian allies,
I said, went four plane which was hijacked and taken
(02:29):
to you know a Kandahar at that point of time
in Afghanistan.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Right, this was a flight carrying one hundred and ninety
people and it was five men belonging to the Taliban
that had hijacked that plane. And later, among other things,
they had demanded the release of Molana Mazu Dazar, who
is a designated global terrorist and who at the time
was lodged in a jail in Jumbo, and India to
(02:58):
save the people on board had to agree to that demand,
and that was a really big deal at the.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Time, absolutely absolutely because you know, at the par three
terrorists were released in return of the hostages who were
captured by the hijackers.
Speaker 5 (03:15):
And we know what happened.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
After Masudaza was released and handed over to the hijackers.
He went on to form this dreaded barbaric terrorist group
called the Jeshi Mohammad, which were conducted several terror attacks
in India including the Palment attack on Indian soil, and
(03:40):
in the last few years as well and the last
decade or sold so it has sort of struck at
Indian targets in Kashmir. So I think that bitter memory
of dealing with the Taliban still haunts Indian government, Indian establishment,
Indian policy because.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
And despite this, we understand that the reason that India
is engaging with the Taliban is because of Afghanistan's strategic
importance and its proximity to Pakistan. So could you talk
about that a bit, especially considering the ongoing tensions between
the two countries.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
Yeah, right now, Afghanistan and Pakistan are pretty hostile at
each other. They're fighting amongst themselves their classes of the border.
We are also seeing unpredictable US under President Trump.
Speaker 5 (04:31):
We're also seen the Iran being weakened.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
So the global situation and the regional situation has changed.
And so in that sense, engaging with Afghanistan for India
is very important because India wants to ensure the security
situation in Afghanistan is not hostile to Indian interests. So
and Afghanistan and Mtaki has repeatedly said that, you know,
(04:58):
there is security for India interest for we'd never say
anything against India. We are not hostile against India. So
we want India to come and to do all the projects.
So it's sort of a pragmatic, transactional relationship that India
is entering with the Taliban.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
And early, of course India has supported the US's war
on terror in Afghanistan and had also supported the post
Taliban republic there. But after the Taliban came back to
power in twenty twenty one, the Indian diplomats of course
came back. But since then we understand that New Delhi
has been engaging with it in a very sort of
(05:39):
functional way. And later India also set up a technical
mission in Couble with a few diplomats posted there. This
was in twenty twenty two.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
Yeah, so since then India also started giving humanitarant aid
right after that September October twenty twenty one onwards itself
and it continued over the last four years. There were
several trips by Indian officials to Afghanistan and the breakthrough
really came in early this year in January when Foreign
(06:11):
Secretary with Chrimistry he flew down to the UAE and
met the Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaki in the UAE.
Speaker 5 (06:21):
And they for the first time.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
That was the first high level contact at a senior
official level from the Indian side in a third country.
And there they discussed issues like visas for Afghans, giving
more humanitar and aid, helping them with their food situation
and medicine situation because there were scarcity of food, scarcity
(06:45):
of medication, which India has been giving you know about
it had I think so far it's given about almost
fifty thousand metric tons of wheat.
Speaker 5 (06:53):
So that sort of changed the conversation.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
And in May this year, it's a fast mister Jashankari,
he had a phone conversation with Miss Mutaki, who's the
Taliban's foreignister. And again they spoke when a month or
two back when there was this earthquake in Kunar in Afghanistan.
Speaker 5 (07:12):
So you see there's a.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
Gradual progress, incremental progress engagement with the Taliban. Finally, I
think now after almost more than four years since Taliban
took par or in Kabul, they have now been given
this sort of India as now ready finds itself ready
(07:34):
to engage politically with the Talibans.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Yeah, and although it is engaging with the Taliban politically,
it has still not officially recognized the Taliban rule in Afghanistan.
So could you talk about how this engagement is happening
without that? For example, was Taliban able to hoist its
flag during the official ceremonies.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
So firstly, Mutaki has been on the UN Security Council's
sanctioned list of terrorists as top leaders of Taliban are
still and he has to take a special permission from
the UNSC to travel outside of Nankistan. So this time
he got the permission in September. There was sort of
a lot of back and forth August and September and
(08:18):
then finally he got it from ninth to sixteenth of October,
and he first went to Moscow where he attended the
Moscow Format of Talks, which where India was also present
Indian representative and diplomats for prison.
Speaker 5 (08:31):
And then he came here to India.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
Now, as regarding the recognition, you know, of course India has.
Speaker 5 (08:36):
Not yet given its recognition.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
But what happened was because he had a meeting with
X Mister je Shankar. So that was a challenge where
you know, how do you navigate and negotiate this issue
of flags when you haven't you know, recognized the country.
And to give a context, so every time a visiting
foreignister meets the Indian furnister, flags of both the countries
(09:00):
are kept in the backdrop, so they couldn't have had
the Taliban flag, which is different from the Republic flag.
Speaker 5 (09:07):
It looks different.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
It's a white with inscription on it, and whereas the
Republic flag, which is of the ousted government led by
President Ghani, that flag is a tricolor. So Indian government
still allows the embassy here to hoist the old flag
for the republic flag. So when Murtaki came here in
(09:31):
the official meeting, they did a compromise that okay, both
the flags or the Indian flag or the Taliban flag
both were not there to remove any sort of diplomatic challenge.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
Right, But what happened when they met at the Afghan
embassy was Murtaki still not able to hoist the flag.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
So the Afghan Embassy is still controlled by people officials,
Afghans and diplomats aligned with the and appointed by the
previous government, so they still hoist they still fly the
old flag.
Speaker 5 (10:05):
So when he went there, the.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
Main flagpole still has the old flag and there were
flags on the lobby also of the embassy which are
of the old regime. But when he did the press
conference earlier this week, he put a tabletop flag, a
small flag in front of him. And on Sunday when
he did the press conference, he put the big flag
(10:27):
behind him in the backdrop and a tabletop flag a
small flag in front of him, so essentially asserting the flag.
And when he was asked, he said that this is
the flag of our struggle. There's a flag of a jihad,
so that's why we fly it, that's why we keep it.
So he's completely unapologetic about the flag, and that's how
he's sort of stressing his identity.
Speaker 5 (10:49):
And also you have to remember that after the talks.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
With Jashunker, one of the big outcomes was that the
Indian government has decided to upgrade the status of the
technical mission to an Indian embassy and has also allowed
the Taliban to send its diplomats to New Delhi. So far,
that was not the case, that was not allowed by
(11:13):
the Indian government. And because that's why, the Afghan embassy
in Delhi was run by people aligned by and appointed
by the previous government and most of them have left,
only few people are still around. So now basically it's
a matter of time, a matter of days and weeks
before the Taliban appointed diplomat comes to India, comes to
(11:37):
Delhi and takes charge of the Afghanistan embassy in New Delhi.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
And Shobijit you mentioned the press conference, now, the first
one they did in New Delhi. There were a lot
of issues, a number of Afghans posted in the capital
they were protesting, and more notably, no women journalists were
allowed during this briefing. So tell us what do we
know about that and what did we see take place
on the ground.
Speaker 4 (12:03):
So you know what happened was I saw that there
was sort of a struggle between the existing Afghan staffers
and diplomats, I mean the officials and visiting Taliban delegation
about the flag that you know, both sidists wanted to
hoist their own flags. I mean essentially the Taliban wanted
to hoist their own flag, which was resisted by the
(12:26):
local Afghan employees. So finally there was sort of as
I said, the main flag still remains the old flag,
but at the press conference, his aides, his officials, they
put a small tablet of flag just in front of
him just before the press conference, and that's how it happened.
And the other notable sort of thing which created a
(12:47):
lot of concern and outrage amongst journalists and Indians and
Afghans of you all you that, you know, the women
journalists were excluded from that press conference.
Speaker 5 (13:00):
And I was part of the press conference, and.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
It was absolutely astounding to see how the Taliban relegation
decided to exclude. Essentially, they had the shield of the
fact that because they were holdsting it at the embassy,
they could get away with their exclusionary behavior. But you know,
there was a lot of protests, a lot of opposition
(13:23):
politicians as well as journalist bodies as well as individual journalists.
You know, we also did stories and pieces and articles,
and the Taliban Foreign minister actually tried to course correct
and so on Sunday he called pres conference at short
notice and he said that you know, last time, when
he was asked by journalists that why did women journalists
(13:46):
were kept out while only men were brought in, he
essentially said that, you know, it was a technical error,
it was done on a short notice. It was not
our intention to exclude women journalists. And this time he
took all all the questions from the women journalists, including
very sort of you know, important questions raised by women
(14:07):
as well as men journalists in the room on women's
rights in Afghanistan on women's being denied being from education
or you know, in offices or even going to parks
or working in the un So he sort of tried
to make the course correction by including the women journalists,
(14:28):
although his answers were far from satisfactory. For you know,
when it came to women's rights and the situation of
women in Afghanistan.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
And you talked about the strategic significance of Afghanistan for India,
and we know that Taliban of course wants more aid.
India has committed to give food and medicines and ambulances.
Taliban also wants to do business and trade with India.
But you know, like we mentioned, Taliban is a fundamentalist organization.
(14:59):
We know how so especially women are being treated in
Afghanistan right now. They have been banned from higher education
and work out of public spaces. There are also restrictions
on their travel without male escorts, and they can't even
be heard singing or reading out loud from inside their homes.
So is there a fear that by engaging with them
(15:21):
you're actually legitimizing that regime.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
Absolutely, that is the perception that will go out now,
especially because see the women's rights and the minority rights
in Afghanistan is far from satisfactory. You know, it's really
poor in all those accounts, and those have been India's
biggest concerns and it has always raised this, but now
it is not talking about it. It is now looking
(15:46):
at his own security interests and it sees that because
there's a wedge, there's a gap between Pakistan and Afghanistan,
he's trying to make the most of the.
Speaker 5 (15:57):
Situation by engaging with the Taliban.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
And hoping that India's own security interests are paramount and
are taken care of, and the Taliban, if they have
stakes with India, it will not go hostile. It will
not cooperate with Pakistan. It will not give shelter to
terror groups in Afghanistan. It will not give shelter to
terrorists in Pakistan based terrorists who are hostile to India
(16:24):
and anti India terrorist groups on Afghanistan soil. So it
is sort of looking at that as a pragmatic approach.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
But yes, you're right, there is a fear.
Speaker 4 (16:34):
There is an apprehension, there's a concern amongst many in
Deli that this may tantamount to an official recognition of
the Taliban. So we'll see how that plays out, how
India navigates and so far it has sort of tiptoed
around the question, so we'll have to really wait and
see how Indian government negotiates this space.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
And next we turned to West Bengal, where a second
year MBBA student from a private medical college in Kashtimberdaman
district was allegedly dragged into a nearby jungle behind the
campus and sexually assaulted. Since the incident came to light,
students have staged protests outside the principal's office demanding justice
(17:21):
and stronger.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Safety measures on campus.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
This marks the third such case from Mngal to make
national headlines in recent months, following the Articra Medical College and.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
The Kolkata Law College shapecases.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
To understand what happened and what the investigation has revealed
so far, we speak to the Indian Expresses Tanushri Bos.
Tanushri tell us, what do we know about what happened
on Friday night?
Speaker 6 (17:46):
Well, what we are getting to know from the police
is that late on Friday night, as second year MBB
student who is from Urisa, she had gone out with
her friend to get dinner.
Speaker 7 (17:56):
While they were returning.
Speaker 6 (17:58):
They were returning from the back side of the hospital
and the outer campus is basically a jungle, and according
to what the victim has stated in her statement to
the police, apparently there were three to four men who
were following them and the area was secluded.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
It was dark.
Speaker 6 (18:16):
That is when one of them had grabbed her. Her
male companion ran away, and the three accused they dragged
her inside the jungle and allegedly raped her, took away
her mobile phone. Then her male companion had come back
after some time taken her back to the college campus
she had fallen in and then she was rushed to
(18:38):
the hospital where.
Speaker 7 (18:40):
She gave her statement and the police was called.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
And she What is the victim's condition right now?
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Is she stable and has her family said anything about
the incident yet?
Speaker 6 (18:50):
The victim is stable right now, but she's very traumatized.
She's unable to speak much, according to her family members.
We had spoken to her father and her father said
that she's slightly stable, but she's unable to get up
from the bed.
Speaker 7 (19:05):
She is bedridden.
Speaker 6 (19:06):
It would take some time to heal from the trauma
mentally and physically both, but he has stated that he
would like to take his daughter back to Urisa, from
where they hail, and he would like her to continue
her studies from there. She had dreams, that is what
her father said, to become a doctor. But certainly those
dreams are marred over here and he does not feel
(19:29):
that his daughter is safe in West Bengal. He's also
told Indian Express that he fears that she might be killed,
which is why he would like to take her back
to Urisa and not keep her any further in Durgapur.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Right and has the investigation begun in the case and
have any arrests been made yet?
Speaker 7 (19:48):
Well?
Speaker 6 (19:48):
As the investigation had begun the moment the police had
got information of the alleged gang rape yesterday entire night
the Durgapur Asansol Police Commission it along with the local
police had conducted searches in the jungle and in the
neighboring three villages which surround the campus and the three
(20:10):
arrests have been made and after interrogation, the arrests were made.
The accused were produced in courts today and the police
have been given ten plays Remand also I would like
to say that the main companion of the victim, he
has also been interrogated. The interrogation is still going on
because the police are also looking into his role, whether
(20:31):
he has any role to play. Why did he run away,
Why did he not inform anyone that such an incident
was happening. Why didn't he call people or raise an alarm.
That is what they're looking into. And also a third
accused has also been detained and the questioning is going on.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
And Tanstry, what all do we know about the accused
right now?
Speaker 7 (20:52):
Well, they accused.
Speaker 6 (20:54):
The three are Opu Barui who's aged twenty one. The
second accused who has been arrest is Fido's Sheik who's
aged twenty three, and the third accused is shak Riazudin
thirty two. And they're all from the neighboring village. That
is what the police have stated till now. They are
all locals of the area. And it is because of
(21:15):
the mobile towers of the accused matching with that of
the victim that the police were able to conduct raids
in the villages. They had done a house by house
raid to find out about the accused to nap the
accus and that.
Speaker 7 (21:30):
Is how they were napped.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
And has the Medical college given any statement about the incident.
Yet have they said anything, Well, certainly.
Speaker 6 (21:38):
They have given a statement yesterday they have condemned the
issue and they've also stated that they are fully cooperating
with the police. But also a medical college has stated
that since the incident has happened outside the college premises,
they did not have any knowledge about the incident, but
certainly they would be cooperating with the police.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
And then astre we understand that the students of the
medical college had held protests in front of the principal's
office and they were joined by some members of the
opposition as well. So tell us what were the protesters demanding.
Speaker 6 (22:15):
The students of the private medical college they had gear
out the dean on Saturday. Once the incidents had come
to light, they have submitted a memorandum regarding demanding immediate action,
accountability and more security measures to be taken by the
college administration. Now they have put forth certain demands. One
is to ensure justice for the survivor and to prevent
(22:37):
such incidents in the future. Also, they want a transparent
and immediate investigation. They were also called for security upgrades
such as twenty four to seven surveillance with trained guards,
improved lighting in the area, functional CCTV and the installation
of panic buttons across the campus. Also the formation of
joint Safety Committee with student representation. These are the demands
(23:01):
that the students have meet in their memorandum which they've
submitted to the Dean on Saturday. Also, we've seen that
the BDP and the Congress have held protests. They had
gone to the hospital today to meet with the victim,
but the hospital authorities and the police have not allowed
BDP and the Congress representatives to meet with the victim
(23:21):
or speak to the family. That is the allegation that
the oppositions have been making. Also, we know that the
Joint Doctor's Forum and the Abbaya Mancha, which was formed
after the Archicra incident last year in August twenty twenty four,
they had also gone to the Urugapo to visit with
the victims family, but they've also alleged that they were
(23:42):
not allowed to meet with the victims family. They had
also gone to the Deputy Commissioner east of the Uruapa
and Assencial Commissioner's office. Over there, a three member representation
was allowed, but over there also they alleged that the
victim's father was not allowed to speak to them.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
You mentioned the BGP and the Congress earlier. What are
the kind of things that they have been saying.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
About the case.
Speaker 6 (24:06):
Well, certainly the opposition has attacked the ruling government regarding
the safety and security of women in this state, because
if you see, the opposition is saying that there are
ape cases happening one after another. This year itself, the
Law college rape had happened, which was in South Kolkata.
(24:27):
Argica incident has happened. So certainly the opposition is stating
that Bengal is not safe for women, especially working women.
That is what they're letting and they are asking that
more security with a woman Chief Minister, more security should
be provided for women in this state.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
And talking about that, how has the state government responded
so far, especially considering that last time long discussions had
taken place between the Artica doctors and the mamthavanergy government.
Speaker 6 (24:57):
So certainly the state government has condemned the issue. We
know that Chiefiness the Manthabanagi herself has condemned the issue
and she has said that there is zero tolerance to
such incidents. Strict action will be taken. And also we
know that three arrests have been made, which is within
thirty six hours of the incident. We also know that
(25:19):
the West Bengal Principal Health Secretary nalans Of Nigum has
stated that the Director of Medical Education has asked for
a detailed report from the college in this issue. So
certainly the state government has looked into the matter. We've
heard she finished a Mamathabanagi on Sunday while she was
leaving for the Hills in North Bengal to look into
(25:39):
the plads.
Speaker 7 (25:40):
She has given a statement. She has stated.
Speaker 6 (25:43):
That it is also the responsibility of the private colleges
to look into the safety and security of the students.
She's also garnered a lot of criticism when she has
stated that women should not go out at night.
Speaker 7 (25:56):
That is what she has stated, so.
Speaker 6 (25:58):
That has got a lot of critical But certainly she
has stated that there is zero tolerance to any such
crimes against women in the state of West Bengal and
the strictest and stringent of actions would be taken against
the accuse.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
And what does the Kolkata Doctors Forum have to say
about this incident? Since this is the second case reported
at a medical college in West Bengal, in the last
one year.
Speaker 6 (26:22):
Well, I have spoken to the junior doctors yesterday and
they said that it does not really matter whether the
girl is an MBBA, a student, whether the girl is
a doctor, lawyer.
Speaker 7 (26:31):
It is that the crime against women are rising.
Speaker 6 (26:34):
And we know that recently Calcutta was given as the
safest city by the NCAIB data.
Speaker 7 (26:41):
But then the doctor's question that is it really safe?
Speaker 6 (26:45):
Is Bengal really saved because the crime against women is rising?
Speaker 7 (26:49):
Another such genius crime has occurred.
Speaker 6 (26:51):
We have spoken to some common people and they have
sai that, you know, sometimes we seeing the current situation,
it seems like it's the crime that we've committed by
giving birth to a clo child because there is no
safety security in this state and in the city. So
when comparisons are made, people are making comparison with other
states like Maharashtram other cities like Mumbai, where you know,
(27:15):
girls walk late in the night, you know, in the
marine drive and all. But over here parents are concerned
about their daughter's security.
Speaker 7 (27:23):
Certainly after this issue and.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
When she talk about what comes next, what do the
authorities have to say about what will happen going forward?
Speaker 6 (27:32):
Well, certainly the investigation is going on. Three arrests have
been made. Two people are still being interrogated. One is
the male companion. The second is, according to police sources,
another accused in the case. Also forensics have you know
gone to the spot. They have selected evidence. The victim's
(27:52):
statement has been recorded by the police. Today three of
the accused have been sent to police custody.
Speaker 7 (27:58):
For the next ten days. Suttainly, the case is progressing.
Speaker 6 (28:02):
We had spoken to the VC of Adam Sool and
Durgapa Police commersion to Abishai Gupta. He has also said
that all protocols are being followed. Three rs have already
been made and investigation is going on in the case.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
And in the end we talk about the developments in
Malti Pradasha's Damo district where an AI generated image and
a viral video have sparked a major controversy. It began
when Pushotam Kushwaha, a resident of Sataria village, posted an
AI generated image on Instagram showing a man wearing a
garland of shoes. The man in that image was Anujpandi,
(28:42):
who belongs to the Brahmin community and was accused of
defying a local liquor band. Kushwaha deleted the post within
minutes and issued an apology, but anger had already spread
through the local community. The Indian Expresses Anana Moohan reports
that soon after, a video emerged showing him washing Pandey's
feet and saying, quote, I am apologizing to the Brahmin community.
(29:06):
Such a mistake will not happen again. We will keep
worshiping the Brahmins like this unquote. The video, which later
went viral, drew widespread criticism and prompted police action. The
most Superintendent of Police, abishaik Twari said the incident is
being treated as a case of caste based humiliation and
(29:26):
i FIR has been registered and preventative steps have been
taken against both the parties. In fact, senior officials and
prominent citizens have also been holding.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
Peace talks in the area.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
Pandey has since claimed that he and Kushwaha share a
Gurusesha relationship and that Kushwaha washed his feet voluntarily. He said, quote,
he apologized for the mistake he made. I apologize to
the Kushwaha community if they feel hurt because he washed
my feet. Pandae also said that the matter was being
politicized by the people of the OBC community. According to
(30:00):
Nan Muhan's report, the chain of events began with Sataria
Village's collective decision to impose a liquor band. Panda was
accused of selling alcohol despite the band, and was ordered
by the Panchayat to publicly apologize and pay a fine
of repeat two thousand, one hundred. It was in this
context that Kushwaha created and posted the AI generated image
(30:21):
mocking Pandae. So what started as a local dispute over
a liquor band has since escalated into a cast and
communal confrontation that has divided the village.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
You were listening to Three Things by the nin Express.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
Today's show was edited and mixed by Siriesh Bawar and
produced by Shashank Pargev and Ninahari kan Nanda. If you
like the show, then do subscribe to us wherever you
get your podcasts. You can also recommend the show to
someone you think will like it, share it with a
friend or someone in a family. It's the best way
for people to get to know about us. You can
also tweet us at Express Audio and write to us
(30:59):
at podcast lets at Inden Express dot com
In this episode, we talk about a case of an
alleged sexual assault of a second year MBBS student in
West Bengal. We also talk about Madhi Pradasha's Bhamo district
where an AI generated image and a viral video have
sparked a controversy. But we begin today by talking about
the Taliban foreign minister's first official.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Visit to India.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Hi, I am Ahara Kananda and you are listening to
three things in an Express News show. Last Thursday, Taliban
foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaki arrived in New Delhi for
his first official.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Visit to India.
Speaker 1 (00:43):
The visit, which will conclude on the sixteenth of October,
marks a significant moment in India's foreign policy as it
further normalizes diplomatic engagement with the Taliban, even though New
Delhi has yet to officially recognize its rule in Afghanistan. Now,
this going visit hasn't been without controversy. During a press
conference last week, of Khans based in Delhi protested against
(01:07):
the Taliban hoisting their flag, and headlines were made when
the delegation barred women journalists from attending the briefing to
discuss the significance of this visit and why India is
engaging with the Taliban. Michael League Shank Pargev speaks to
The Indian Expresses diplomatic affairs editor Shubiji Troy sh would you.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Talk about this situation New Delhi finds itself in because
we know that Taliban is a fundamentalist group, It has
several regressive policies, Its treatment of women has been appalling,
and India, of course has had a very troubled history
with the organization. So tell us why has it chosen
to engage with the Taliban and how is it navigating
(01:46):
this tricky situation.
Speaker 4 (01:49):
So to kind of answer a question, we need to
go back a few decades in history, about three decades back,
so between nineteen ninety six and two thousand and one,
when the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan for the
first time. India did not have any diplomatic relations back
(02:09):
then with the Taliban. In fact, it didn't efficially recognize them.
They did not have a relationship. It broke off all
relationship with Taliban and towards the end of it, by
end of ninety nine, there's this Kandahar hijack. Indian allies,
I said, went four plane which was hijacked and taken
(02:29):
to you know a Kandahar at that point of time
in Afghanistan.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Right, this was a flight carrying one hundred and ninety
people and it was five men belonging to the Taliban
that had hijacked that plane. And later, among other things,
they had demanded the release of Molana Mazu Dazar, who
is a designated global terrorist and who at the time
was lodged in a jail in Jumbo, and India to
(02:58):
save the people on board had to agree to that demand,
and that was a really big deal at the.
Speaker 4 (03:03):
Time, absolutely absolutely because you know, at the par three
terrorists were released in return of the hostages who were
captured by the hijackers.
Speaker 5 (03:15):
And we know what happened.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
After Masudaza was released and handed over to the hijackers.
He went on to form this dreaded barbaric terrorist group
called the Jeshi Mohammad, which were conducted several terror attacks
in India including the Palment attack on Indian soil, and
(03:40):
in the last few years as well and the last
decade or sold so it has sort of struck at
Indian targets in Kashmir. So I think that bitter memory
of dealing with the Taliban still haunts Indian government, Indian establishment,
Indian policy because.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
And despite this, we understand that the reason that India
is engaging with the Taliban is because of Afghanistan's strategic
importance and its proximity to Pakistan. So could you talk
about that a bit, especially considering the ongoing tensions between
the two countries.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
Yeah, right now, Afghanistan and Pakistan are pretty hostile at
each other. They're fighting amongst themselves their classes of the border.
We are also seeing unpredictable US under President Trump.
Speaker 5 (04:31):
We're also seen the Iran being weakened.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
So the global situation and the regional situation has changed.
And so in that sense, engaging with Afghanistan for India
is very important because India wants to ensure the security
situation in Afghanistan is not hostile to Indian interests. So
and Afghanistan and Mtaki has repeatedly said that, you know,
(04:58):
there is security for India interest for we'd never say
anything against India. We are not hostile against India. So
we want India to come and to do all the projects.
So it's sort of a pragmatic, transactional relationship that India
is entering with the Taliban.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
And early, of course India has supported the US's war
on terror in Afghanistan and had also supported the post
Taliban republic there. But after the Taliban came back to
power in twenty twenty one, the Indian diplomats of course
came back. But since then we understand that New Delhi
has been engaging with it in a very sort of
(05:39):
functional way. And later India also set up a technical
mission in Couble with a few diplomats posted there. This
was in twenty twenty two.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
Yeah, so since then India also started giving humanitarant aid
right after that September October twenty twenty one onwards itself
and it continued over the last four years. There were
several trips by Indian officials to Afghanistan and the breakthrough
really came in early this year in January when Foreign
(06:11):
Secretary with Chrimistry he flew down to the UAE and
met the Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Mutaki in the UAE.
Speaker 5 (06:21):
And they for the first time.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
That was the first high level contact at a senior
official level from the Indian side in a third country.
And there they discussed issues like visas for Afghans, giving
more humanitar and aid, helping them with their food situation
and medicine situation because there were scarcity of food, scarcity
(06:45):
of medication, which India has been giving you know about
it had I think so far it's given about almost
fifty thousand metric tons of wheat.
Speaker 5 (06:53):
So that sort of changed the conversation.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
And in May this year, it's a fast mister Jashankari,
he had a phone conversation with Miss Mutaki, who's the
Taliban's foreignister. And again they spoke when a month or
two back when there was this earthquake in Kunar in Afghanistan.
Speaker 5 (07:12):
So you see there's a.
Speaker 4 (07:13):
Gradual progress, incremental progress engagement with the Taliban. Finally, I
think now after almost more than four years since Taliban
took par or in Kabul, they have now been given
this sort of India as now ready finds itself ready
(07:34):
to engage politically with the Talibans.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Yeah, and although it is engaging with the Taliban politically,
it has still not officially recognized the Taliban rule in Afghanistan.
So could you talk about how this engagement is happening
without that? For example, was Taliban able to hoist its
flag during the official ceremonies.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
So firstly, Mutaki has been on the UN Security Council's
sanctioned list of terrorists as top leaders of Taliban are
still and he has to take a special permission from
the UNSC to travel outside of Nankistan. So this time
he got the permission in September. There was sort of
a lot of back and forth August and September and
(08:18):
then finally he got it from ninth to sixteenth of October,
and he first went to Moscow where he attended the
Moscow Format of Talks, which where India was also present
Indian representative and diplomats for prison.
Speaker 5 (08:31):
And then he came here to India.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
Now, as regarding the recognition, you know, of course India has.
Speaker 5 (08:36):
Not yet given its recognition.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
But what happened was because he had a meeting with
X Mister je Shankar. So that was a challenge where
you know, how do you navigate and negotiate this issue
of flags when you haven't you know, recognized the country.
And to give a context, so every time a visiting
foreignister meets the Indian furnister, flags of both the countries
(09:00):
are kept in the backdrop, so they couldn't have had
the Taliban flag, which is different from the Republic flag.
Speaker 5 (09:07):
It looks different.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
It's a white with inscription on it, and whereas the
Republic flag, which is of the ousted government led by
President Ghani, that flag is a tricolor. So Indian government
still allows the embassy here to hoist the old flag
for the republic flag. So when Murtaki came here in
(09:31):
the official meeting, they did a compromise that okay, both
the flags or the Indian flag or the Taliban flag
both were not there to remove any sort of diplomatic challenge.
Speaker 3 (09:42):
Right, But what happened when they met at the Afghan
embassy was Murtaki still not able to hoist the flag.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
So the Afghan Embassy is still controlled by people officials,
Afghans and diplomats aligned with the and appointed by the
previous government, so they still hoist they still fly the
old flag.
Speaker 5 (10:05):
So when he went there, the.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
Main flagpole still has the old flag and there were
flags on the lobby also of the embassy which are
of the old regime. But when he did the press
conference earlier this week, he put a tabletop flag, a
small flag in front of him. And on Sunday when
he did the press conference, he put the big flag
(10:27):
behind him in the backdrop and a tabletop flag a
small flag in front of him, so essentially asserting the flag.
And when he was asked, he said that this is
the flag of our struggle. There's a flag of a jihad,
so that's why we fly it, that's why we keep it.
So he's completely unapologetic about the flag, and that's how
he's sort of stressing his identity.
Speaker 5 (10:49):
And also you have to remember that after the talks.
Speaker 4 (10:52):
With Jashunker, one of the big outcomes was that the
Indian government has decided to upgrade the status of the
technical mission to an Indian embassy and has also allowed
the Taliban to send its diplomats to New Delhi. So far,
that was not the case, that was not allowed by
(11:13):
the Indian government. And because that's why, the Afghan embassy
in Delhi was run by people aligned by and appointed
by the previous government and most of them have left,
only few people are still around. So now basically it's
a matter of time, a matter of days and weeks
before the Taliban appointed diplomat comes to India, comes to
(11:37):
Delhi and takes charge of the Afghanistan embassy in New Delhi.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
And Shobijit you mentioned the press conference, now, the first
one they did in New Delhi. There were a lot
of issues, a number of Afghans posted in the capital
they were protesting, and more notably, no women journalists were
allowed during this briefing. So tell us what do we
know about that and what did we see take place
on the ground.
Speaker 4 (12:03):
So you know what happened was I saw that there
was sort of a struggle between the existing Afghan staffers
and diplomats, I mean the officials and visiting Taliban delegation
about the flag that you know, both sidists wanted to
hoist their own flags. I mean essentially the Taliban wanted
to hoist their own flag, which was resisted by the
(12:26):
local Afghan employees. So finally there was sort of as
I said, the main flag still remains the old flag,
but at the press conference, his aides, his officials, they
put a small tablet of flag just in front of
him just before the press conference, and that's how it happened.
And the other notable sort of thing which created a
(12:47):
lot of concern and outrage amongst journalists and Indians and
Afghans of you all you that, you know, the women
journalists were excluded from that press conference.
Speaker 5 (13:00):
And I was part of the press conference, and.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
It was absolutely astounding to see how the Taliban relegation
decided to exclude. Essentially, they had the shield of the
fact that because they were holdsting it at the embassy,
they could get away with their exclusionary behavior. But you know,
there was a lot of protests, a lot of opposition
(13:23):
politicians as well as journalist bodies as well as individual journalists.
You know, we also did stories and pieces and articles,
and the Taliban Foreign minister actually tried to course correct
and so on Sunday he called pres conference at short
notice and he said that you know, last time, when
he was asked by journalists that why did women journalists
(13:46):
were kept out while only men were brought in, he
essentially said that, you know, it was a technical error,
it was done on a short notice. It was not
our intention to exclude women journalists. And this time he
took all all the questions from the women journalists, including
very sort of you know, important questions raised by women
(14:07):
as well as men journalists in the room on women's
rights in Afghanistan on women's being denied being from education
or you know, in offices or even going to parks
or working in the un So he sort of tried
to make the course correction by including the women journalists,
(14:28):
although his answers were far from satisfactory. For you know,
when it came to women's rights and the situation of
women in Afghanistan.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
And you talked about the strategic significance of Afghanistan for India,
and we know that Taliban of course wants more aid.
India has committed to give food and medicines and ambulances.
Taliban also wants to do business and trade with India.
But you know, like we mentioned, Taliban is a fundamentalist organization.
(14:59):
We know how so especially women are being treated in
Afghanistan right now. They have been banned from higher education
and work out of public spaces. There are also restrictions
on their travel without male escorts, and they can't even
be heard singing or reading out loud from inside their homes.
So is there a fear that by engaging with them
(15:21):
you're actually legitimizing that regime.
Speaker 4 (15:25):
Absolutely, that is the perception that will go out now,
especially because see the women's rights and the minority rights
in Afghanistan is far from satisfactory. You know, it's really
poor in all those accounts, and those have been India's
biggest concerns and it has always raised this, but now
it is not talking about it. It is now looking
(15:46):
at his own security interests and it sees that because
there's a wedge, there's a gap between Pakistan and Afghanistan,
he's trying to make the most of the.
Speaker 5 (15:57):
Situation by engaging with the Taliban.
Speaker 4 (16:00):
And hoping that India's own security interests are paramount and
are taken care of, and the Taliban, if they have
stakes with India, it will not go hostile. It will
not cooperate with Pakistan. It will not give shelter to
terror groups in Afghanistan. It will not give shelter to
terrorists in Pakistan based terrorists who are hostile to India
(16:24):
and anti India terrorist groups on Afghanistan soil. So it
is sort of looking at that as a pragmatic approach.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
But yes, you're right, there is a fear.
Speaker 4 (16:34):
There is an apprehension, there's a concern amongst many in
Deli that this may tantamount to an official recognition of
the Taliban. So we'll see how that plays out, how
India navigates and so far it has sort of tiptoed
around the question, so we'll have to really wait and
see how Indian government negotiates this space.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
And next we turned to West Bengal, where a second
year MBBA student from a private medical college in Kashtimberdaman
district was allegedly dragged into a nearby jungle behind the
campus and sexually assaulted. Since the incident came to light,
students have staged protests outside the principal's office demanding justice
(17:21):
and stronger.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Safety measures on campus.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
This marks the third such case from Mngal to make
national headlines in recent months, following the Articra Medical College and.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
The Kolkata Law College shapecases.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
To understand what happened and what the investigation has revealed
so far, we speak to the Indian Expresses Tanushri Bos.
Tanushri tell us, what do we know about what happened
on Friday night?
Speaker 6 (17:46):
Well, what we are getting to know from the police
is that late on Friday night, as second year MBB
student who is from Urisa, she had gone out with
her friend to get dinner.
Speaker 7 (17:56):
While they were returning.
Speaker 6 (17:58):
They were returning from the back side of the hospital
and the outer campus is basically a jungle, and according
to what the victim has stated in her statement to
the police, apparently there were three to four men who
were following them and the area was secluded.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
It was dark.
Speaker 6 (18:16):
That is when one of them had grabbed her. Her
male companion ran away, and the three accused they dragged
her inside the jungle and allegedly raped her, took away
her mobile phone. Then her male companion had come back
after some time taken her back to the college campus
she had fallen in and then she was rushed to
(18:38):
the hospital where.
Speaker 7 (18:40):
She gave her statement and the police was called.
Speaker 2 (18:42):
And she What is the victim's condition right now?
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Is she stable and has her family said anything about
the incident yet?
Speaker 6 (18:50):
The victim is stable right now, but she's very traumatized.
She's unable to speak much, according to her family members.
We had spoken to her father and her father said
that she's slightly stable, but she's unable to get up
from the bed.
Speaker 7 (19:05):
She is bedridden.
Speaker 6 (19:06):
It would take some time to heal from the trauma
mentally and physically both, but he has stated that he
would like to take his daughter back to Urisa, from
where they hail, and he would like her to continue
her studies from there. She had dreams, that is what
her father said, to become a doctor. But certainly those
dreams are marred over here and he does not feel
(19:29):
that his daughter is safe in West Bengal. He's also
told Indian Express that he fears that she might be killed,
which is why he would like to take her back
to Urisa and not keep her any further in Durgapur.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
Right and has the investigation begun in the case and
have any arrests been made yet?
Speaker 7 (19:48):
Well?
Speaker 6 (19:48):
As the investigation had begun the moment the police had
got information of the alleged gang rape yesterday entire night
the Durgapur Asansol Police Commission it along with the local
police had conducted searches in the jungle and in the
neighboring three villages which surround the campus and the three
(20:10):
arrests have been made and after interrogation, the arrests were made.
The accused were produced in courts today and the police
have been given ten plays Remand also I would like
to say that the main companion of the victim, he
has also been interrogated. The interrogation is still going on
because the police are also looking into his role, whether
(20:31):
he has any role to play. Why did he run away,
Why did he not inform anyone that such an incident
was happening. Why didn't he call people or raise an alarm.
That is what they're looking into. And also a third
accused has also been detained and the questioning is going on.
Speaker 2 (20:48):
And Tanstry, what all do we know about the accused
right now?
Speaker 7 (20:52):
Well, they accused.
Speaker 6 (20:54):
The three are Opu Barui who's aged twenty one. The
second accused who has been arrest is Fido's Sheik who's
aged twenty three, and the third accused is shak Riazudin
thirty two. And they're all from the neighboring village. That
is what the police have stated till now. They are
all locals of the area. And it is because of
(21:15):
the mobile towers of the accused matching with that of
the victim that the police were able to conduct raids
in the villages. They had done a house by house
raid to find out about the accused to nap the
accus and that.
Speaker 7 (21:30):
Is how they were napped.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
And has the Medical college given any statement about the incident.
Yet have they said anything, Well, certainly.
Speaker 6 (21:38):
They have given a statement yesterday they have condemned the
issue and they've also stated that they are fully cooperating
with the police. But also a medical college has stated
that since the incident has happened outside the college premises,
they did not have any knowledge about the incident, but
certainly they would be cooperating with the police.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
And then astre we understand that the students of the
medical college had held protests in front of the principal's
office and they were joined by some members of the
opposition as well. So tell us what were the protesters demanding.
Speaker 6 (22:15):
The students of the private medical college they had gear
out the dean on Saturday. Once the incidents had come
to light, they have submitted a memorandum regarding demanding immediate action,
accountability and more security measures to be taken by the
college administration. Now they have put forth certain demands. One
is to ensure justice for the survivor and to prevent
(22:37):
such incidents in the future. Also, they want a transparent
and immediate investigation. They were also called for security upgrades
such as twenty four to seven surveillance with trained guards,
improved lighting in the area, functional CCTV and the installation
of panic buttons across the campus. Also the formation of
joint Safety Committee with student representation. These are the demands
(23:01):
that the students have meet in their memorandum which they've
submitted to the Dean on Saturday. Also, we've seen that
the BDP and the Congress have held protests. They had
gone to the hospital today to meet with the victim,
but the hospital authorities and the police have not allowed
BDP and the Congress representatives to meet with the victim
(23:21):
or speak to the family. That is the allegation that
the oppositions have been making. Also, we know that the
Joint Doctor's Forum and the Abbaya Mancha, which was formed
after the Archicra incident last year in August twenty twenty four,
they had also gone to the Urugapo to visit with
the victims family, but they've also alleged that they were
(23:42):
not allowed to meet with the victims family. They had
also gone to the Deputy Commissioner east of the Uruapa
and Assencial Commissioner's office. Over there, a three member representation
was allowed, but over there also they alleged that the
victim's father was not allowed to speak to them.
Speaker 1 (23:59):
You mentioned the BGP and the Congress earlier. What are
the kind of things that they have been saying.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
About the case.
Speaker 6 (24:06):
Well, certainly the opposition has attacked the ruling government regarding
the safety and security of women in this state, because
if you see, the opposition is saying that there are
ape cases happening one after another. This year itself, the
Law college rape had happened, which was in South Kolkata.
(24:27):
Argica incident has happened. So certainly the opposition is stating
that Bengal is not safe for women, especially working women.
That is what they're letting and they are asking that
more security with a woman Chief Minister, more security should
be provided for women in this state.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
And talking about that, how has the state government responded
so far, especially considering that last time long discussions had
taken place between the Artica doctors and the mamthavanergy government.
Speaker 6 (24:57):
So certainly the state government has condemned the issue. We
know that Chiefiness the Manthabanagi herself has condemned the issue
and she has said that there is zero tolerance to
such incidents. Strict action will be taken. And also we
know that three arrests have been made, which is within
thirty six hours of the incident. We also know that
(25:19):
the West Bengal Principal Health Secretary nalans Of Nigum has
stated that the Director of Medical Education has asked for
a detailed report from the college in this issue. So
certainly the state government has looked into the matter. We've
heard she finished a Mamathabanagi on Sunday while she was
leaving for the Hills in North Bengal to look into
(25:39):
the plads.
Speaker 7 (25:40):
She has given a statement. She has stated.
Speaker 6 (25:43):
That it is also the responsibility of the private colleges
to look into the safety and security of the students.
She's also garnered a lot of criticism when she has
stated that women should not go out at night.
Speaker 7 (25:56):
That is what she has stated, so.
Speaker 6 (25:58):
That has got a lot of critical But certainly she
has stated that there is zero tolerance to any such
crimes against women in the state of West Bengal and
the strictest and stringent of actions would be taken against
the accuse.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
And what does the Kolkata Doctors Forum have to say
about this incident? Since this is the second case reported
at a medical college in West Bengal, in the last
one year.
Speaker 6 (26:22):
Well, I have spoken to the junior doctors yesterday and
they said that it does not really matter whether the
girl is an MBBA, a student, whether the girl is
a doctor, lawyer.
Speaker 7 (26:31):
It is that the crime against women are rising.
Speaker 6 (26:34):
And we know that recently Calcutta was given as the
safest city by the NCAIB data.
Speaker 7 (26:41):
But then the doctor's question that is it really safe?
Speaker 6 (26:45):
Is Bengal really saved because the crime against women is rising?
Speaker 7 (26:49):
Another such genius crime has occurred.
Speaker 6 (26:51):
We have spoken to some common people and they have
sai that, you know, sometimes we seeing the current situation,
it seems like it's the crime that we've committed by
giving birth to a clo child because there is no
safety security in this state and in the city. So
when comparisons are made, people are making comparison with other
states like Maharashtram other cities like Mumbai, where you know,
(27:15):
girls walk late in the night, you know, in the
marine drive and all. But over here parents are concerned
about their daughter's security.
Speaker 7 (27:23):
Certainly after this issue and.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
When she talk about what comes next, what do the
authorities have to say about what will happen going forward?
Speaker 6 (27:32):
Well, certainly the investigation is going on. Three arrests have
been made. Two people are still being interrogated. One is
the male companion. The second is, according to police sources,
another accused in the case. Also forensics have you know
gone to the spot. They have selected evidence. The victim's
(27:52):
statement has been recorded by the police. Today three of
the accused have been sent to police custody.
Speaker 7 (27:58):
For the next ten days. Suttainly, the case is progressing.
Speaker 6 (28:02):
We had spoken to the VC of Adam Sool and
Durgapa Police commersion to Abishai Gupta. He has also said
that all protocols are being followed. Three rs have already
been made and investigation is going on in the case.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
And in the end we talk about the developments in
Malti Pradasha's Damo district where an AI generated image and
a viral video have sparked a major controversy. It began
when Pushotam Kushwaha, a resident of Sataria village, posted an
AI generated image on Instagram showing a man wearing a
garland of shoes. The man in that image was Anujpandi,
(28:42):
who belongs to the Brahmin community and was accused of
defying a local liquor band. Kushwaha deleted the post within
minutes and issued an apology, but anger had already spread
through the local community. The Indian Expresses Anana Moohan reports
that soon after, a video emerged showing him washing Pandey's
feet and saying, quote, I am apologizing to the Brahmin community.
(29:06):
Such a mistake will not happen again. We will keep
worshiping the Brahmins like this unquote. The video, which later
went viral, drew widespread criticism and prompted police action. The
most Superintendent of Police, abishaik Twari said the incident is
being treated as a case of caste based humiliation and
(29:26):
i FIR has been registered and preventative steps have been
taken against both the parties. In fact, senior officials and
prominent citizens have also been holding.
Speaker 2 (29:35):
Peace talks in the area.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
Pandey has since claimed that he and Kushwaha share a
Gurusesha relationship and that Kushwaha washed his feet voluntarily. He said, quote,
he apologized for the mistake he made. I apologize to
the Kushwaha community if they feel hurt because he washed
my feet. Pandae also said that the matter was being
politicized by the people of the OBC community. According to
(30:00):
Nan Muhan's report, the chain of events began with Sataria
Village's collective decision to impose a liquor band. Panda was
accused of selling alcohol despite the band, and was ordered
by the Panchayat to publicly apologize and pay a fine
of repeat two thousand, one hundred. It was in this
context that Kushwaha created and posted the AI generated image
(30:21):
mocking Pandae. So what started as a local dispute over
a liquor band has since escalated into a cast and
communal confrontation that has divided the village.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
You were listening to Three Things by the nin Express.
Speaker 1 (30:36):
Today's show was edited and mixed by Siriesh Bawar and
produced by Shashank Pargev and Ninahari kan Nanda. If you
like the show, then do subscribe to us wherever you
get your podcasts. You can also recommend the show to
someone you think will like it, share it with a
friend or someone in a family. It's the best way
for people to get to know about us. You can
also tweet us at Express Audio and write to us
(30:59):
at podcast lets at Inden Express dot com
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