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Evening NEWS DIGEST
13 Dec.2016: 13 Rabiul Awwal 1438: Vol:8, No:61
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN Aleppo
'Situation is apocalyptic': Aleppo citizens send 'death bulletins' pleading for help as Assad's forces 'shoot 82 civilians in their homes'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4028168/A-woman-burns-men-lie-pools-blood-footage-showing-aftermath-Syrian-air-strike-Assad-s-forces-shoot-82-civilians-homes-Aleppo.html
Aleppo citizens have posted harrowing 'death bulletins' pleading for help from the outside world as Syrian govt forces sweep through the city.Terrified residents have filmed themselves describing their plight in the besieged city with one doctor calling the situation 'apocalyptic' and another saying: 'This may be my last video'.It comes as president Bashar al-Assad's forces were accused of shooting 82 Aleppo civilians in their homes and as the UN described a 'complete meltdown of humanity' in the war-torn city. There are reports that 11 women and 13 children were among those killed in 'on the spot' shootings in besieged Syrian city while 100 unaccompanied children are feared trapped in a building under heavy attack. Reports emerged as Syrian troops were poised to recapture all of the country's war-torn second city. Rights group Amnesty International has described global inaction over the siege as 'shameful'. International Committee of the Red Cross warned Tuesday that thousands of civilians were at risk 'as front lines close in around them in eastern Aleppo.UN chief Ban Ki-moon expressed alarm over reports of atrocities against 'a large number of civilians, including women and children' in Aleppo, his spokesman Stephan Dujarric said Monday.Meanwhile UNICEF Regional Director Geert Cappelaere said in a statement: 'According to alarming reports from a doctor in the city, many children, possibly more than 100, unaccompanied or separated from their families, are trapped in a building, under heavy attack in east Aleppo.'DailyMail
Pro-govt forces slaughter at least 82 civilians including women, kids closing in on Syrian Aleppo city: UN
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/aleppo-latest-battle-un-syrian-army-forces-govt -regime-kill-civilians-massacre-assad-russia-a7471416.html
Mass killing reported in Aleppo as Syria troops near victory
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/mass-killing-reported-in-aleppo-as-syria-troops-near-victory/story-VGBiszUjih6J98VvPRQYII.html
Slaughter of Aleppo is being recorded in real time on Twitter, by its own victims
http://qz.com/861710/the-slaughter-of-aleppo-is-being-recorded-in-real-time-on-twitter-by-its-own-victims/
Aleppo civilians killed in complete meltdown of humanity:UN
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/aleppos-children/aleppo-civilians-killed-complete-meltdown-humanity-u-n-n695286
Message from Aleppo: 'Tomorrow will be too late for us'
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2016/12/message-aleppo-tomorrow-late-161213131759683.html
Last messages from Aleppo as Syria regime massacres women and children
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20161213-last-messages-from-aleppo-as-syria-regime-massacres-women-and-children/
Reports of children burned alive and mass executions in the street as Aleppo falls to Syrian Army
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/reports-children-burned-alive-mass-9446656
Aleppo rebel commander says US, Turkey must save civilians
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20161213-aleppo-rebel-commander-says-us-turkey-must-save-civilians/
‘People burned alive in their homes’
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20161213-people-burned-alive-in-their-homes/
Civilians killed on spot as battle for Aleppo nears end
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/civilians-killed-spot-battle-aleppo-nears-161213133240891.html
Emergency Commons debate as Aleppo civilians executed, children trapped under bombardment: Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/13/syria-aleppo-mps-emergency-debate-live/
MPs have called on the British govt to pursue a ceasefire in Aleppo, where 100 children were trapped in a building under heavy attack and some 80 civilians are thought to have been executed. Humanitarian help is desperately needed in the wartorn Syrian city, Commons heard in an emergency debate. Britain is "complicit" in the suffering faced by thousands of Syrians, ex-Conservative minister Andrew Mitchell warned.
INDIA
Chief Vigilance Officer names Union Minister Rijiju, relatives in Arunachal’s Rs.450-crore hydro project scam
, alleges http://indianexpress.com/article/india/vigilance-probe-red-flags-fraud-and-corruption-in-arunachal-hydro-project-kiren-rijiju-4424240/
New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju; his cousin, a contractor in Arunachal Pradesh, Goboi Rijiju; and several top officials of North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO), including its Chairman and Managing Director, have been named in a 129-page report by the PSU’s Chief Vigilance Officer that alleges corruption in the construction of 2 dams for 600 MW Kameng Hydro Electric Project, one of the biggest hydro-electric projects in Arunachal Pradesh.The report by CVO Satish Verma, sent to the CBI, CVC and the Ministry of Power in July this year, alleges an “elaborate conspiracy” involving contractors, NEEPCO officials and the West Kameng district administration to defraud NEEPCO and the govt of funds that “may extend up to Rs 450 crore.” West Kameng, the site of the project, falls in Arunachal West, the Minister’s parliamentary constituency.CBI has made two “surprise checks” but no FIR has been registered yet.Verma, a Gujarat IPS officer, was pulled up by NEEPCO for “unauthorised absence,” and transferred to the CRPF in Tripura soon after his report. He attributes the “absence” to his investigation.At the heart of the conspiracy, Verma’s report says, are several fake and inflated bills by contractors to allegedly siphon off money in the name of transporting rocks needed for the dam construction. Not only was the transportation cost decided arbitrarily, the report says, but many transport challans and records provided by the contractor, Patel Engineering Limited (PEL), were found to be fake. For example, thousands of tonnes of rocks were found to have been carried to the project site, at least on paper, on scooters, bikes and cars even as several registration numbers provided by PEL were found to be non-existent, the report says. In some cases, the same vehicle number or the same driver appeared many times on different challans claiming to have begun the journey from different quarries situated 70 km away on the same date just half an hour apart. indian express
Sack Rijiju, order probe:Opposition to PM; BJP defends minister
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/sack-rijiju-order-probe-opposition-to-pm-bjp-defends-minister-4425480/
New Delhi:Taking note of a report in The Indian Express and calling it “a clear case of misuse of official position”, the Congress and AAP Tuesday demanded the sacking of Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju after his name and that of his cousin figured in a report of the Chief Vigilance Officer of the NEEPCO that alleged corruption in the construction of 2 dams for the Kameng Hydro Electric Project in Arunachal.indianexpress
IPS officer alleges vendetta by Rijiju’s relative for reporting Rs.450-crore scam
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/IPS-officer-alleges-vendetta-by-Rijiju%E2%80%99s-relative-for-reporting-Rs.450-crore-scam/article16798373.ece
Rijiju named in Arunachal hydro project scam involving more than Rs 450 crore
http://scroll.in/latest/824038/kiren-rijiju-named-in-arunachal-hydro-project-scam-involving-more-than-rs-450-crore-indian-express
Congress demands sacking of Rijiju over alleged power project scam
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/55963610.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
‘Threatened to kill us': Movie turned nightmare for Chennai residents who refused to stand up for national anthem
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2016/12/13/how-a-movie-night-turned-into-a-nightmare-for-chennai-residents/?preview=refactor&ncid=fcbklnkinhpmg00000001
On Sunday, a group of 8 persons, including 3 women, were inside Chennai's Kasi theatre for a screening of the film 'Chennai 28-II', a coming-of-age sports comedy. What was slated to be regular movie watching experience, turned into a nightmare for these eight after a mob of 20 people attacked them for not standing up when the national anthem played before the film was to begin.Among the group was a social worker, a freelance writer and a college lecturer who took the decision to defy, on grounds of principles, a Supreme Court order of 30 November that made it mandatory for cinema halls across India to play the national anthem before a film's screening."Almost an hour later, as the movie was about to resume after the interval, a man grabbed Viji (a freelance writer) by his shirt and sought an explanation for not standing up. He kept threatening he would kill us. Some 20 people seated near him joined him. We asked him to call the police if he had a problem with what we had done. But he grabbed my hand and pushed me. Nobody in the hall came to our support," social worker Sreela M told the Indian Express.The horrifying incident of reckless crowd vigilantism happened during the intermission. Sreela said their decision stemmed mainly out of their belief that "this (being made to stand up during the national anthem) was not the way to show patriotism."20 people who assaulted 8 soon started to abuse the women, an official said. Sreela said a police officer at MGR Nagar police station gave them a lecture on patriotism.huffingtonpost
J&K govt orders compensation to Burhan Wani's family
http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/kashmir-govt -orders-compensation-to-burhan-s-family-116121300941_1.html
Srinagar: ammu and Kashmir govt has ordered compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the family of slain militant Burhan Wani for his brother's mysterious killing in April last year.However, his father Muzaffar Wani, a school teacher, refused to accept the compensation, alleging that his elder son, Khalid, was killed by security forces in "cold blood".Pulwama District Deputy Commissioner Muneer ul Islam in a notification on Monday ordered the monetary relief for the next of kin of those persons who died or suffered injuries in militancy-related incidents. Compensation was ordered for at least 17 families of the south Kashmir district. The Wanis figure at the serial number 9 on the notification, offering them either Rs 4 lakh as compensation or a govt job.Khalid, 25, who was studying economics at the Indira Gandhi National Open University, was killed on April 14 when he had allegedly gone to meet his brother Burhan, hiding in a forested area of Tral, some 40 km from here.The state police had alleged that Khalid was an over-ground worker of the Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit. They said he and three of his friends were stopped by security forces on their way to the forest to meet Burhan. But they didn't, triggering a shootout in which Khalid and one of his associates were killed.The family alleged that Khalid's body bore torture marks and accused the security forces of killing him in custody.His father said there was not even a single bullet mark on Khalid's body and all his teeth had been damaged with a "broken nose and skull".The senior Wani told the media on Tuesday that "no compensation can bring" his son back.IANS
Kashmir: Govt 'clears' compensation for Burhan Wani's brother killed by army
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/kashmir-govt-clears-compensation-for-burhan-s-brother-killed-by-army/236052.html
India's unfolding education crisis: Govt schools short of 1 mn teachers
http://twocircles.net/2016dec12/1481524917.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29#.WE_-7xp97IU
18% positions of teachers in govt -run primary schools and 15 govt in secondary schools are vacant nationwide, according to data tabled in the Lok Sabha by the HRD Minister on Dec. 5, 2016. Put another way, one in 6 teaching positions in govt schools is vacant, a collective shortage of a million teachers. These figures represent average vacancies nationwide; some states have filled all posts; in some, more than half are vacant. States with lower literacy rates appear to have larger shortages of teachers. Up to 55% of India's 260 million schoolchildren attend govt schools, according to 2015-16 education data. Among 36 states and union territories, Jharkhand has the most acute secondary school teacher shortage: 70 govt (38 govt at the elementary level).Half of all secondary school teacher posts in UP are vacant, as are a third in Bihar and Gujarat. reasons for shortageof teachers are lack of regular recruitment, not clearing position, bungled deployment of teachers, lack of specialist teachers for certain subjects, and small schools, which cause available teachers to be thinly spread. Of 6 million teaching positions in govt schools nationwide, about 900,000 elementary school teaching positions and 100,000 in secondary school - put together, 1 million - are vacant.IANS
US envoy on religious freedom meets Naqvi, Uniform Civil Code, to interact with minority community leaders
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/us-envoy-on-religious-freedom-meets-mukhtar-abbas-naqvi-talks-triple-talaq/articleshow/55963159.cms
New Delhi: A top US diplomat on international religious freedom today discussed issues concerning minority rights in India including 'triple talaq' and Uniform Civil Code during his meeting with Minority Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi here. US Ambassador at Large for Religious Freedom David Saperstein, who is currently visiting India, also met Munu Mahawar, Joint Secretary (Americas) in the External Affairs Ministry apart from interacting with some minority leaders. During his meeting with Naqvi, another source said, the US diplomat talked about various reports which mentioned change in the reservation policy vis-a-vis minorities by Modi govt . "Not only was he told about the various initiatives taken by the govt for the rights and upliftment of minorities, it was also conveyed to him that these reports don't present factual position in India," the source said, adding the issues including 'triple talaq' and UCC were also discussed.On his interactions with minority community leaders, Saperstein, who will also visit Mumbai and Bangalore, tweeted, "Had deeply meaningful conversations with community leaders on religious life in #India. Appreciate their insights. PTI
NIA court convicts Yasin Bhatkal, 4 others convicted in Hyderabad blast case:PTI
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Yasin-Bhatkal-four-others-convicted-in-Hyderabad-blast-case/article16799864.ece1
In the first ever conviction of banned IM cadres in a terror case, a special NIA court here convicted Mohammed Ahmed Siddibappa alias Yasin Bhatkal and 4 others for their involvement in Feb.21, 2013 twin blasts at Dilsukhnagar in Hyderabad. NIA special court convicted Bhatkal and others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Arms Act and UAPA. Besides Bhatkal, the others convicted were Asadullah Akthar of UP, Zia-ur-Rahman alias Waqas of Pakistan, Tahseen Akhthar of Bihar and Aizaz Shaik of Maharashtra. All of them are in judicial custody.Alleged key conspirator, Riyaz Bhatkal, believed to be operating from Karachi, is still at large.The court will announce the sentences for all the accused on Dec.19.In its charge sheet, the NIA claimed that the IM had hatched a conspiracy to wage a war against India and decided to carry out bomb blasts in Hyderabad to create terror in the minds of people and further its activities.
Post Bhopal jailbreak: SIMI undertrials in single cells, new locks everyday
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/post-bhopal-jailbreak-simi-undertrials-in-single-cells-new-locks-everyday-4424025/&gws_rd=cr&ei=zctPWOmyDsblvgSR2p_IDQ
Bhopal: Since the October jailbreak leading to the killing of 8 alleged SIMI undertrials, Bhopal Central Jail has isolated its remaining SIMI undetrial and tightened security to the extent of changing locks on these cells everyday.A Madhya Pradesh jail department document, accessed by The Indian Express, lists a series of new steps implemented in a jail that still has 21 prisoners charged with SIMI links:The new security measures have led to allegations about torture, with SIMI operatives having reportedly complained to visiting relatives.Advocate Parvez Alam, who represents some of the SIMI members, told The Indian Express that the prisoners have not been allowed to bathe and been kept in one cell, given only one quilt and food only once a day. The advocate alleged that family members talk briefly to the undertrials separated by a glass wall, through the intercom, with scores of security officials crowding them. Jail authorities had allegedly not allowed Alam to meet his clients despite a court order last month. Quoting the jail manual, the court had said that a lawyer could meet his clients in jail. A contempt plea filed by the advocate is expected to come up for hearing this week.In another move, which goes beyond the Bhopal jail, authorities have barred relatives starting this week from carrying food and other items of personal use for all undertrials lodged in 121 jails in Madhya Pradesh. Govt justified the order citing instances of some relatives passing blades and marijuana to undertrials.All SIMI undertrials in MP are in Bhopal Central Jail, shifted for administrative and security reasons. They used to be regularly produced in the district court. This has since been stopped for security concerns; undertrials are now being produced before the trial judge by videoconferencing. Indian Express
Post Bhopal Jailbreak: SIMI Undertrials in Single Cells, New Locks Everyday
https://www.thequint.com/india/2016/12/13/qbullet-vardah-wreaks-havoc-simi-undertrials-now-in-single-cells-kiren-rijiju-aadhaar-javadekar-pakistan-isi
After MP jailbreak, CISF to audit three more MP prisons:TOI
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/after-mp-jailbreak-cisf-to-audit-three-more-mp-prisons/articleshow/55951116.cms
JNU’s Azadi Chowk is now behind grills, so is students’ right to protest
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/jnu-azadi-chowk-where-kanhaiya-kumar-made-his-speech-is-now-off-limits-for-protesting-students-4425293/
New Delhi:The authorities at the JNU recently built an iron grill at the ‘Freedom Square’ or ‘Azadi Chowk’, a ground that has often functioned as the epicenter for students to hold protests. It was the same place where JNU’s Kanhaiya Kumar gave his speech earlier this year, rallying enthusiastic support. However, now JNU administration has placed an iron grill at its side entrance, arguing that due to space limitations, the place will be allocated to the administrative block. The gate had been put overnight on Sunday. Affronted, the institute’s student union, JNUSU has raised concerns, commenting that the institute is conceitedly taking away its “spaces of protests”. JNUSU’s general secretary Satarupa Chakraborty said, “This indicates how the JNU V-C is using cheap tactics to prevent students from raising their voices.” indianexpress
Najeeb Ahmad still missing: Is the JNU student union failing to lead the movement?Shishir Tripathi
http://www.firstpost.com/politics/najeeb-ahmad-still-missing-is-the-jnu-student-union-failing-to-lead-the-movement-3154596.html
Light Combat Aircraft to get radar; US, Israeli, European companies to bid for tender
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Light-Combat-Aircraft-to-get-radar-US-Israeli-and-European-companies-to-bid-for-tender/articleshow/55954104.cms
New Delhi: India is set to initiate a major international competition to acquire new age radars for its indigenous combat planes in the coming weeks, the winner of which is likely to gain a strong foothold for future domestic projects. Sources have told ET that an expression of interest for a new set of AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk 1A is set to be floated shortly, with top global aviation firms expected to participate. The govt had recently cleared an order for 83 of the LCA Mk 1A jets.The competition would be the largest international contract for AESA radars that are the heart of modern combat jets. These new radars give much more range and engagement potential to fighters, enabling them to engage targets from a distance without getting detected. AESA radars can track and direct weapons to multiple air and ground targets simultaneously.The first Indian Air Force aircraft with AESA radars will be the Jaguar fighter that is being upgraded to the DARIN 3 version. The first Jaguar with the new radar is expected to fly in January. The contract to equip 58 Jaguars with AESA radars had gone to Israel’s ELTA, making it the frontrunner for the LCA Mk 1A project as well.ET/TOI
Child born out of rape entitled to compensation: Delhi HC
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/child-born-out-of-rape-entitled-to-compensation-delhi-high-court-4425291/
New Delhi:A child born out of rape is entitled to compensation, independent of any such relief granted to the mother, the Delhi High Court has ruled. The verdict to this effect, in which a man has been sent to jail for his entire “natural life” for raping his minor step-daughter, was delivered after the court noted that there was no such provision under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act or under the Delhi govt ’s victim compensation scheme.PTI
DEMONETISATION
Senior RBI official arrested for 'illegal currency exchange'
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/senior-rbi-official-arrested-for-illegal-currency-exchange/articleshow/55956614.cms
New Delhi: A senior central bank official is one of nine men arrested in Bengaluru by the CBI, for allegedly exchanging Rs 1.50 crore of banned currency notes.Sources in CBI said the RBI official was K Michael, a special assistant with the Bengaluru branch. However, no official confirmation of his name or designation was made available immediately. Other 8 people, sources said, were middlemen who allegedly got money converted for a fee. Nearly Rs 1 crore was found in the raids that were conducted over the past few days. "They charged between15%to30% for conversion," a source said.TOI
FM hints at low tax rates due to demonetisation, digi-payments
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/FM-hints-at-low-tax-rates-due-to-demonetisation-digi-payments/article16800122.ece
New Delhi :Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday hinted at lower direct and indirect tax rates in the future as demonetisation results in higher tax revenues from unaccounted wealth coming into system.He also warned of a “very heavy price” that unscrupulous elements will have to pay for amassing large amounts of cash unlawfully, saying agencies are keeping a close eye on cash accumulations.PTI
BJP legislators used own PAN in land buys: JD(U)
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/BJP-legislators-used-own-PAN-in-land-buys-JDU/articleshow/55950681.cms
Patna: JD(U) intensified its attack on the BJP for buying many pieces of land in Bihar before announcing demonetisation. It claimed on Monday that the BJP's PAN, issued by the Income-Tax Dept., was not used in 10 of 31 land deals even though the BJP claimed it had bought these tracts because it wanted to build party offices in different districts. JD(U) released a list of 10 purchases of land in which the personal PANs of three BJP legislators — Lalbabu Prasad, Sanjiv Chaurasia and Dilip Kumar Jaiswal — were used.JD(U) national general secretary Shyam Rajak and state spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said senior Bihar BJP leaders, like former deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi and Leader of the Opposition in the assembly Prem Kumar, had claimed that land in different districts was purchased by the BJP on the instructions of party national president Amit Shah using party funds. If these claims are to be believed, JD(U) leaders said, then BJP legislators should not have used their own PAN cards to make the purchases.TOI
Demonetisation biggest scam of the year, must be probed: Chidambaram
http://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/demonetisation-biggest-scam-of-the-year-must-be-probed-p-chidambaram-4424541/
New Delhi:Ex-Finance minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday hit out at the Union govt terming the demonetisation move as the “biggest scam of the year” and demanded that it be investigated. “It has broken the back of poor people, a case of khoda pahad nikli chuhiya,” Chidambaram said, adding that “not even a national calamity would have caused so much suffering”. Indianexpress
Owaisi calls PM Modi ‘tyrant’, says banks, ATMs not running in Muslim localities
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/asaduddin-owaisi-calls-pm-modi-tyrant-says-banks-atms-not-running-in-muslim-localities-4423968/
Hyderabad:Hitting out at the govt over demonetisation, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi Monday accused PM Narendra Modi of being a “tyrant” and alleged banks and ATMs in Muslim dominated areas in the city were not functioning. “Every family is in distress today…I cannot withdraw my money. Who made this law,” the Hyderabad MP said, addressing a public meeting on the occasion of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad ‘Milad-un-Nabi’. PM should remember that those standing in queues now to withdraw their money would stand in queue again to vote against him (in the elections), Owaisi said.PTI
Hiring in telecom sector falls by 40% as cost pressure goes up
http://www.gadgetsnow.com/tech-news/Telcos-hiring-slashed-as-firms-battle-cost-pressures/articleshow/55954583.cms?utm_source=toiweb&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=toiweb_hptopnews
OTHERS
Muslim organizations protest Assam's minister Sarma’s anti Madrassa directive
http://www.sentinelassam.com/cachar/story.php?sec=2&subsec=12&id=291331&dtP=2016-12-13&ppr=1
Silchar: Different Muslim organizations of Barak Valley have formed a joint platform named as ‘Madrasa Suraksha Action Committee’ in order to voice their protest against Himanta Biswa Sarma’s directive to keep madrasas open on Friday. A broad based Committee representing the representatives of different minority organizations and All Assam Madrasa Students’ Association (AAMSA) was formed at a meeting on Sunday at Badarpur. This Committee would prevail over the Education Minister to take back the directive and in the event of his refusal to do so it has threatened to launch statewide agitation. sentinelassam
Maharashtra: Communal tension erupts in Malkapur, curfew imposed
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Communal-tension-erupts-in-Malkapur-curfew-imposed/articleshow/55947403.cms
Nagpur: Communal tension erupted in Malkapur town of Buldhana district when police tried to stop an illegaltembeing taken out through a locality dominated by members of a community. Malkapur is about 356 kms from Nagpur and lies on the Mumbai-Howrah railway line.The community had the required permission for their religious procession. The rallyists, however, took out a motorcycle rally. Moreover, the approved procession route did not include Baradari and Salipura, localities dominated by one community. In spite of this, the rally took the unapproved route. When the rallyists raised some objectionable slogans, the police personnel posted on the route tried to stop the rally. The rallyists pelted stones on them. Then local residents retaliated by pelting stones on the rallyists.The route of the religious procession had been a point of contention between the two communities since last few days. Last year too, the Eid rally passing through some localities had created tension. This time a new route was allowed and the main procession passed through this route without any incident. It was the illegal rally that created trouble.Superintendent of police Sanjay Baviskar said in the evening that normalcy had been restored and police were arresting the rioters. The police had rounded up around 25 people till the filing of the report but had not booked anybody. TOI
Karnataka: Communal clash shuts down Hosapete
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/586324/communal-clash-shuts-down-hosapete.html
Hosapete (Ballari dist):Tension prevailed in the town as two communities clashed over tying flags for the Hanuma Jayanti and Eid-e-Milad celebrations on Monday.Flags and banners were put up at the Chittawadgi Circle on the eve of Hanuma Jayanti, on Sunday night. Members of the other community tried to tie flags for Eid-e-Milad, resulting in a war of words between the two groups. When the two groups almost came to blows, local residents intervened and brokered peace.On Monday morning, two women from different communities had a fight over the issue. People from the two groups gathered there and a clash broke out. Police rushed there and dispersed the crowds.An uneasy calm prevailed in Gangavathi in Koppal district on Monday, following Sunday’s clash between two communities over tying buntings for their respective festivals.A mob threw stones on the car belonging to District Superintendent of Police K Tyagarajan. More than 70 people have been injured in the two days of violence in the town. A total of 15 two-wheelers, eight petty shops, at least four goods carrier vehicles have been damaged in the violent incidents.
Basic literacy rate among Telangana Muslims high
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-telangana/Basic-literacy-rate-among-Telangana-Muslims-high/article16796495.ece
Hyderabad:Muslims in Telangana have higher average of basic literacy rate than the national average, but they fare worse than all other communities in case of graduate and postgraduate education. Their dropout rates are also among the highest. According to the Sudhir Commission that went into the socio-economic and educational conditions of Muslims in Telangana, their literacy rate is better than the State and national average and only Christian and some other religious minority groups have better literacy. The Commission report said that literacy rate among Muslims is 76.89 govt compared to the State average of 66.46 govt and national average of 74.04 govt .Literacy among Muslims is also high compared to Hindus (64.64 p.c.), Scheduled Castes (59 p.c.) and Scheduled Tribes (50 p.c.). The gender gap in literacy rate among Muslims is also low (10.38 p.c.) compared to SCs (18.10 p.c.), STs (20.10 p.c.) and Hindus (18.12 p.c.). thehindu
Maratha Seva Sangh organises communal harmony rally as part of Eid ul Milad celebrations
http://twocircles.net/2016dec13/1481609250.html#.WFADzhp97IU
Solapur: In view of Eid Ul Milad, the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Maratha Seva Sangh organised a “Aman Sandesh” rally on Monday in the city in association with Chhatrapati Shivaji Muslim Brigade, Jijajau Brigade and the Sambhaji Brigade.The main objective behind holding this rally was to spread the teachings of Prophet (PBUH) and humanity and communal harmony among countrymen. The rally began in the city centre place and covered a number of Muslim-dominated areas. The rally, which received a good response from all sections of the society, saw the participation of nearly 200 activists from various organisations. twocircles
Espionage case: Delhi Police question MP Munawwar Saleem whose assistant was arrested
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/espionage-case-delhi-police-munavvar-farhat-defence-forces-documents-4424188/
New Delhi:Delhi Police’s Crime Branch last week questioned Samajwadi Party Rajya Sabha MP Munawwar Saleem in connection with an alleged espionage ring busted in October. His personal assistant, Farhat Khan, was arrested last month for allegedly procuring “confidential” defence forces documents. Police sources said Saleem was called and questioned at Crime Branch’s Chanakyapuri office for several hours last week. “He was asked about his connections to his PA Farhat Khan and was also given a questionnaire. He did not respond to any of the questions,” a senior police officer said. He added that the Crime Branch had sent a notice to Saleem to join the probe after Farhat’s arrest. indianexpress
Maulvi, living on Prez Estate for 42 yrs, detained by cops
http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/terror-alert-cops-detain-70-year-old-maulvi-near-president-s-estate-for-7-hours/story-81WXbAM9kvUO9VhR74PV2K.html
Delhi :A terror alert on Saturday evening led the police to a mazar inside a forest at the Bodyguard Lines, opposite President Estate, where a 70-year-old maulvi had been staying for the past 42 years.The maulvi, Gazi Norool Hassan, who claims to be a preacher and a teacher to former president Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, was detained on suspicion by the police and questioned for over seven hours.He was later released after he furnished documents including his passport, ID card, voter card, a valid electricity connection and other address proofs to the police.According to sources, on Saturday night, a patrolling van spotted Hassan scaling the wall of Bodyguard Lines, going inside the forest.Unaware of a mazar inside the forest, which could be someone’s home, the personnel reported the matter to higher authorities. Hours later, a team of personnel reached Hassan’s door asking him to accompany them to the police station for questioning.HT
Ahmadiyya converge in Qadian for annual congregation; extends support to Uniform Civil Code:PTI
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ahmadiyya-muslims-converge-in-qadian-for-annual-congregation-4425182/
New Delhi; Ahmadiyyas from over 50 countries are expected to participate in the 125th annual congregation of the community to be held in the last week of this month at Qadian in Punjab. Thousands of Ahmadiyyas including those from Pakistan are expected to arrive at Qadian for the spiritual ‘Salana Jalsa’. A large delegation from Indonesia will also participate in the event scheduled on Dec.26-28.Ahmadiyya leaders also expressed their opposition to instantaneous triple talaq and extended support to Uniform Civil Code for the country. “As far as Uniform Civil Code is concerned, we go by govt. We feel Ahmadiyyas will not face any problems if it is implemented,” its spokeperson Tariq said in reply to questions by reporters.PTI
If Yatra, RSS marches are facilitated, why ban Islamic functions? Hurriyat
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/story/235999.html
Srinagar: Angry over govt not allowing a religious conference at Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani’s residence here, pro-freedom leaders on Monday questioned the govt that if Amarnath Yatra and RSS marches are facilitated, why an Islamic function is disallowed by using force. Tehreek-e-Hurriyat had organised a Seerat conference on Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi (SAW), birth anniversary of Prophet (SAW), at Geelani’s Hyderpora residence where Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Miwaiz Umar Farooq and JKLF chief Muhammad Yasin Malik were also invited to address besides various other religious clerics of Kashmir. greaterkashmir
Yusuf Falahi of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat arrested in Srinagar
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/kashmir/yusuf-falahi-of-tehreek-e-hurriyat-arrested-in-srinagar/236062.html
Anantnag:Police on Tuesday arrested the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat District president Shopian who had evaded arrest during past five months of uprising in Kashmir.An official said that Mohammad Yusuf Falahi, a resident of Molu Chitragam, was arrested from Natipora area of Srinagar.Police had raided his home in Shopian on several occasions during past five months. He was declared a proclaimed offender and was wanted in several cases, said the official. greaterkashmir
FIR against IISc director, faculty over Dalit atrocity
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/FIR-against-IISc-director-faculty-over-Dalit-atrocity/articleshow/55951099.cms
Bengaluru: Sadashivnagar police registered an FIR against the director of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and four faculty members for allegedly orchestrating a sexual harassment complaint against a male Dalit faculty member and subsequently dismissing him without an inquiry. timesofindia
Gujarat man's Pakistani wife not allowed to enter Kutch
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/gujarat-mans-pakistani-wife-not-allowed-to-enter-kutch/articleshow/55950015.cms
Ahmedabad: Altaf Paleja has a home in Bhuj, in Gujarat's Kutch district, but when his Pakistani wife Sidra visited him, they were compelled to stay at a hotel in Morbi.Owing to the countries' strained relations, India has denied the Pakistani national entry to the border district of Kutch, where Paleja's family is based. When Sidra and her family visited India eight months ago, they were granted visas on the condition that they would choose any place but Kutch to stay.TOI
Warring Muslim groups in Kerala have joined forces to fight the govt on Uniform Civil Code:TA Ameerudheen
WORLD
HRW accuses Myanmar army of burning Rohingya houses
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/news/world/human-rights-watch-accuses-myanmar-army-of-burning-rohingya-houses/236056.html
Human Rights Watch on Tuesday accused the Myanmar army of burning hundreds of houses in the Rohingya Muslim minority villages where a massive military offensive has been ongoing for over two months.The rights group, with the help of satellite images, said 1,500 houses were burnt by the army in the northern Rakhine state, EFE news reported.IANS
Syrian Observatory reports suspected gas attack in IS area near Palmyra:Reuters
http://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-crisis-syria-chemicalweapons-idINKBN14119R
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there had been a suspected gas attack in Islamic State-held territory near Palmyra on Monday, amid heavy aerial bombardment of the same area which together killed at least 53 people.Citing local sources near the site of the attack in eastern Hama province, northwest of the ancient city of Palmyra, the Observatory said there were cases of suffocation and that dozens had been wounded during heavy rocket fire on the area. Dead included 28 children, the Observatory said.Local sources had reported seeing dead bodies with no visible injuries, said the Observatory, a British-based group that monitors the war in Syria through a network of contacts across the country. Ahmad al-Dbis, of the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations (UOSSM), said about 86 people had died, and about 250 were injured in the attacks on Monday.
103,000 displaced by Mosul Op
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20161212-103000-displaced-by-mosul-op/
Mosul:More than 103,000 people have been displaced since the start of the military campaign to restore the city of Mosul from Daesh, the Iraqi Ministry of Displacement and Migration revealed today.In a statement, Minister Jassim Al-Jaff said that about 2,470 more civilians had fled their homes in northern Iraq today. “This takes the total number of displaced people to 103,362 since the operation began,” he said. middleeastmonitor
UNICEF: One child dies every 10 minutes in Yemen
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/unicef-child-dies-10-minutes-yemen-161212192354606.html
More than 400,000 children are at risk of starvation in Yemen, with nearly 2.2 million in need of urgent care, according to the UN children's agency UNICEF.New figures indicate that hunger among children has reached an "all time high," with at least 462,000 suffering from severe acute malnutrition - a drastic increase of about 200 govt since 2014.In a report published on Monday, UNICEF said at least one child dies every 10 minutes because of malnutrition, diarrhoea and respiratory-tract infections. aljazeera
Putin ready to meet Donald Trump 'at any moment'
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/us-elections-2016/putin-ready-to-meet-trump-at-any-moment/articleshow/55958386.cms
Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is prepared to meet President-elect Donald Trump at any time.When asked by journalists about the possibility of arranging a meeting with Trump, Put said "we are ready at any moment. There are no problems from our side,'' according to an interview transcript released by the Kremlin on Tuesday.AP
Trump’s pick for top US diplomat has close ties to Russia
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/trump-s-pick-for-top-us-diplomat-has-close-ties-to-russia/story-DfO6DI3DG5dIi3EfX4QSlO.html
ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the State Department, has close ties to Russia through years of deal-making that will serve as valuable experience — but also raise concerns.AP
UK's Forest Hill stabbing: Attacker shouted 'I want to kill a Muslim' while chasing passengers
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/forest-hill-stabbing-kill-muslims-attacker-suspect-station-london-train-a7470016.html
A knifeman reportedly stabbed a passenger on a train at Forest Hill station before chasing people outside shouting "I want to kill a Muslim". Attacker allegedly shouted: "Who is a Muslim? I want to kill a Muslim."A 38-year-old man from London has been arrested on suspicion of GBH following "serious incident", British Transport Police confirmed.They said they were treating the incident as a "serious hate crime" but said there was "no suggestion of wider terrorist aspect". An eyewitness told The Daily Mirror: "The man came running out of the station with a knife and everybody started running and screaming.independent
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 9:49 PM)
