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Evening NEWS DIGEST
19 Dec.2016: 19 Rabiul Awwal 1438: Vol:8, No:66
INDIA
Madras high court bans Sharia courts in Tamil Nadu; asks govt to ensure they don't function
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/madras-hc-bans-unauthorised-sharia-courts-in-tamil-nadu/story-LAYh4RyesKrK5fZLvSuokK.html
The Madras high court on Monday banned all unauthorised Sharia courts in mosques across Tamil Nadu, saying centres of worship were only to be used for religious purposes.The first bench of the court, comprising chief justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and justice M Sundar, directed the state govt to ensure that unofficial courts were banned. It was asked to file a report in this regard within 4 weeks.The court’s direction came in response to a PIL filed by a non-resident Indian, Abdul Rahman, who alleged that the Makka Masjid Shariat Council was operating as a court of law from a mosque on Chennai’s Anna Salai. He said the council dealt largely with matrimonial disputes, even going to the extent of passing divorce orders.A PIL filed alleged that the Makka Masjid Shariat Council was operating as a court of law from a mosque in Anna Salai.The Supreme Court had refused to ban Sharia courts in 2014, saying the interpretations made by Islamic judges were not legally binding.Rahman’s counsel, A Sirajudeen, told the court that the PIL had been filed “to safeguard the interests of a large number of innocent Muslims” who were adversely affected by decisions made by Sharia courts and councils across Tamil Nadu. He also said the council had created an impression among Muslims that it was functioning as per Sharia law, and all its orders and judgments were therefore binding on the community. hindustantimes
Madras High Court bans illegal 'Sharia courts', asks Tamil Nadu govt to ensure they don't function
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-madras-high-court-bans-illegal-sharia-courts-asks-tamil-nadu-govt-to-ensure-they-don-t-function-2284516
Madras HC bans unauthorised Sharia courts in Tamil Nadu
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/madras-hc-bans-unauthorised-sharia-courts-in-tamil-nadu/story-LAYh4RyesKrK5fZLvSuokK.html
Religious places are meant only for religious purposes: Madras HC
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/religious-places-are-meant-only-for-religious-purposes-hc-116121900966_1.html
Insight: Modi's camp seeks support from unlikely quarter - Muslim women for UP polls: Reuters spl report
http://in.reuters.com/article/india-modi-muslims-idINKBN148066
Deoband: When Narendra Modi stood before faithful followers in October, on a stage swathed in the saffron colours of his Hindu nationalist movement, the leader made an unexpected overture."It is the responsibility of the govt and people of the country to give justice to Muslim women," the PM declared. Modi's public political career took off as CM of Gujarat in 2001, just before rioters killed about 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, leading to accusations that he turned a blind eye to the murder and rape going on around him.Now, his ruling BJP is challenging an Islamic practice, known as "triple talaq", that allows a man to divorce his wife simply by uttering the word "talaq" three times.The proposal is a bold ploy to win approval and votes from Muslim women and chip away at an important bloc of voters - there are around 170 million Muslims in India - that has thus far viewed Modi with suspicion.The outreach could help decide the outcome of a bellwether state election early next year. UP, with nearly 40 million Muslims out of 200 million people, is a key test of Modi's popularity as he prepares to seek a second term in 2019.Some Muslim women there have said they support Modi's proposal, although they are less sure about him.There is fierce opposition, meanwhile, from influential Muslim elders and teachers."They are using this tactic to attack Islam, to attack Muslims," said Abul Qasim Nomani, vice chancellor of Darul Uloom Deoband. "Muslim women are being used as showpieces to fight a battle against Islam," he added. He muttered:"This is like a wolf advocating for the rights of goats." BJP and its ideological surrogates are betting that by confronting divisions within India's Muslim population about those traditional divorce practices, they can win in two ways.The move will appeal to Hindu majority, by emphasizing the need to counter Islamic influence in society, while at the same time splintering off Muslim voters.That may help Modi curb electoral damage from another big political gambit - the recent abolition of high value banknotes that has led to cash shortages and dented key sectors of the economy. A senior BJP leader in UP said the party planned to highlight triple talaq during election campaigning there.Indresh Kumar, who heads a division dedicated to Muslim issues within the hardline Hindu outfit RSS, which helped create BJP, said he thinks women voters will respond to Modi's call for change.
Modi seeks support from Muslim women in run-up to UP polls
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/EbifI3fvFlTAn6KGCPfc6H/In-runup-to-UP-elections-Narendra-Modi-seeks-support-from.html
Muslim women in DK district unite to oppose Centre’s move to ban triple talaq
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/Muslim-women-in-DK-district-unite-to-oppose-Centres-move-to-ban-triple-talaq/articleshow/56041207.cms
Mangaluru: Muslim women in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts are coming together to oppose the central govt 's move to ban triple talaq.Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Districts Muslim Central Committee has planned to hold a mass convention of Muslim women in Mangaluru on Tuesday.The Shariat Protection Women's Convention will provide platform for Muslim women leaders of various organizations to express their views on triple talaq and uniform civil code.Sajida Moomin, convener of Shariat Protection Women's Convention, said the issue of talaq is being projected as a gigantic issue due to political and other reasons. timesofindia
Shariat should be rejected as source of public law: Tarek Fatah
http://www.hindustantimes.com/indore/shariat-should-be-rejected-as-source-of-public-law-tarek-fatah/story-pDT6qHGGbVrBqHbGGdk5pN.html
Indore:Pakistan-born Canadian commentator Tarek Fatah has said shariat, which is made by men, should be rejected as a source of public laws.“If you accept it as a public law, you’re finished,” Fatah said at an interactive session on the second day of the Indore Literature Festival.“You (Indians) don’t know about your country, your heroes like king Dahir (last Hindu ruler of Sindh) who protected Prophet Muhammad’s family and resisted Arab invasion to India,” Fatah said.“You couldn’t even build a statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Delhi who resisted Muslim attack,”he remarked and questioned that how many affluent people in India send their sons to defence forces. “You will not find any of their sons in the frontlines at a battle field,” he said. Responding to another query, he said 95% of Muslims of Deoband, Bareli,Patna, Bombay, Madras voted for Muslim League leader Mohammad Ali Jinnah for creation of Pakistan. “They butchered this country (India) and stayed back to get Haj subsidy,” he added. Hindustantimes
Triple talaq,polygamy not right for women:SC lawyer Arora
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Triple-talaq-polygamy-not-right-for-women/articleshow/56054568.cms
Nagpur: Triple talaq, polygamy and halala are detrimental to women's rights, said Supreme Court lawyer Monika Arora. She was speaking on the relevance of Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in current times. The programme was jointly organized by Sanatan Dharm Yuvak Sabha and Bharatiya Vichar Manch at Tidke Mahavidyalaya's Dadasaheb Kannamwar Sabhagruh, Katol Road. Vikas Sirpurkar, retired judge of the Supreme Court, was the chief guest. timesofindia
Double life sentence for 11 RSS activists in Kerala
http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2016/dec/19/double-life-sentence-for-11-rss-activists-in-kerala-1550822.html
Additional Sessions Court here sentenced 11 RSS activists to double life imprisonment in connection with the murder of Democratic Youth Federation of India activist Vishnu. The court also sentenced one person to 3 years imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 51,000 to each of the culprits.newindianexpress
Dilsukhnagar blasts case: NIA Court sentences Yasin Bhatkal, 4 other to death
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/Dilsukhnagar-blasts-case-Yasin-Bhatkal-four-other-IM-men-sentenced-to-death/article16904961.ece
NIA Special Court in Hyderabad on Monday sentenced 5 persons to death in the Dilsukhnagar twin blasts case.Last week, Asadullah Akthar alias Haddi, Zia Ur Rahman alias Waqas, Mohammed Tahseen Akthar alias Hassan, Ahmed Siddibappa Zarrar alias Yasin Bhatkal and Ajaz Shaikh — were held guilty for the Feb.21, 2013 blasts in Hyderabad.The first accused, Mohammed Riyaz alias Riyaz Bhatkal, is at large. At around 4.45 pm, the Special court judge pronounced the judgement awarding death penalty to all the five accused. Interestingly, the defence advocate did not turn up nor were the family members of the 5 seen anywhere near the Cherlapalli Central Prison.NIA prosecutor Surender, citing judgement of different courts presented to the Judge that convicts should be given death sentence. Investigators were initially clueless and the cases were transferred to the NIA. the hindu
Malegaon blasts: NIA refutes ATS allegations of biased probe
newindianexpress.com/nation/2016/dec/19/malegaon-blasts-nia-refutes-ats-allegations-of-biased-probe-1550862.html
Mumbai: NIA has refuted allegations of state ATS that it conducted investigation in the 2006 Malegaon bomb blasts case in a pre-determined and calculated manner to negate the effects of earlier probe by ATS and CBI. NIA today filed its affidavit in response to a petition filed by Maharashtra ATS challenging the discharge of eight Muslim persons from the 2006 blasts case.In April this year, a sessions court had discharged the eight persons (accused by ATS and CBI) of all terror charges after NIA submitted that a "Hindu Right Wing" organisation was behind the blasts.ATS approached HC claiming that the sessions court order was "illegal, unjust and goes against evidence on record". Its conclusion that "Muslims would not plant bombs inside a mosque was absolutely wrong, and had no legal basis," the ATS claimed.In its affidavit, the NIA said it arrived at the conclusion that the blasts were carried out by Hindu group only after a thorough probe was carried out. "It is not correct to say NIA conducted investigation in a pre-determined and calculated manner to negate the effects of earlier probe by ATS and CBI," affidavit filed by NIA Superintendent of Police Vikram Khalate said. They (accused) wanted to set off the bomb in a Muslim dominated area so that it would result in communal riots between Hindus and Muslims in Malegaon," the affidavit said.PTI
NIA files charge sheet, names Masood Azhar, brother
http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/nia-files-charge-sheet-names-azhar-and-his-brother/479086/
New Delhi: NIA today filed a charge sheet in the Pathankot airbase attack, naming Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar and 3 others of his organisation as accused. In a comprehensive charge sheet filed at Panchkula Special Court about a year after attack, NIA has highlighted the role of terror group Jaish in spreading mayhem in India and referred to the nefarious plans of the outfit, sources said.The charge sheet which also named Azhar’s brother Rauf Asghar as accused, alleged that immediately after the Pathankot incident, he had hosted a video message claiming responsibility for the terror strike and glorified the role of Azhar, who was released in exchange for passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines plane IC-814 in 1999.The Home Ministry had given sanction to NIA to file the charge sheet against Azhar, his brother and Qashif Jan and Shaid Latif – of the four terrorists, under the UAPA.PTI
Bhopal encounter: Probe panel starts working, slaps notice on jail administration
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/simi-probe-panel-starts-working-slaps-notice-on-jail-administration/articleshow/56058933.cms
Bhopal:Justice SK Pandey led-judicial commission probing jailbreak by 8 alleged SIMI members from Bhopal central jail and their deaths in encounter thereafter, started their work by serving notice to the jail authorities and seeking details under which the gunned-down youths were incarcerated.The commission started their work more than a month after the notice was issued. Justice Pandey was given three months to investigate on how the alleged SIMI undertrials escaped from jail and the circumstances under which they were shot dead."Jail authorities have been asked to give number and details of cases under which the SIMI suspects were arrested and kept in judicial custody. They will also have to furnish name and details of the courts where they were being tried," an officer at the jail headquarters told TOI pleading anonymity.It took govt almost a month to provide a suitable accommodation to house the office of the commission and provide basic infrastructure. Notice to the jail department is the first step towards inquiry, said officer.Autopsy reports and witness statements would be cross examined.Meanwhile, city police are ready with ballistic and forensic reports to be submitted before inquiry commission.TOI
Bhopal Encounter: Commission probes jailbreak case without visiting premises in Bhopal
http://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/simi-encounter-commission-probes-jailbreak-case-without-visiting-premises-in-bhopal/989413
Family keeps dead SIMI activist ‘alive’ for his children who are awaiting his homecoming
http://www.hindustantimes.com/bhopal/family-keeps-dead-simi-activist-alive-for-his-children-who-are-awaiting-his-homecoming/story-ZjuNwgTUrFSPqHWo1foBGP.html
Bhopal: 4-year old Mohd Talha everyday nudges his maternal uncle Zahid Nagauri to take him to the Bhopal Central Jail, where he believes his father is lodged.Talha is the son of Abdul Majid, a suspected SIMI activist, who was gunned down by police in an alleged encounter in Bhopal 45 days ago. Talha’s 2 elder siblings--6-year-old sister Sharmin Fiza and 8-year-old brother Imanq Abdullah—too are yet to realize their father, an electrician turned alleged bomb maker, has died. They often pester their truck-driver uncle Abdul Rashid (elder brother of Majid) to take them to the jail where their father is “waiting to meet them.”Faced with the poignant situation, the joint family of the slain militant at the state’s Ujjan district is forced to “keep the dead man alive” for his children. “We have not yet mustered the courage to tell the truth to the children. We don’t know how long we have to hide the truth from the children,” said Rashid.“We had brought Majid’s body to home town Mahidpur at 3.30pm on Nov.1 and buried it by 5 pm. But in the hubbub none of the 3 kids could realise that the deceased was their father, whom they had met in Bhopal Central Jail a few weeks ago,” claimed Zahid.HT
Indian Police responsible for hundreds of custodial deaths: HRW
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/hrw-police-responsible-hundreds-prisoner-deaths-161219075150546.html
At least 591 people died in police custody in India between 2010 and 2015, according to a report by Human Rights Watch . The report published on Monday, "Bound by Brotherhood", accuses Indian authorities of failing to hold officers responsible for the deaths and of failing to implement accountability mechanisms, which are already in place."While investigations were ordered by courts, human rights commissions, or other authorities in some cases, HRW is not aware of a single case in which a police official was convicted for a custodial death between 2010 and 2015," said the report, which added that "torture is likely" almost as soon as a person is taken into custody. While torture is illegal in India, the report said that many were beaten to extract confessions, with the families of the victims often being bullied into silence.Al Jazeera made several attempts to contact numerous police officials as well as the interior ministry but was unable to reach anyone for comment. Meenakshi Ganguly, HRW's South Asia director, told Al Jazeera that India's policies "try and protect people in custody" are bypased. Al Jazeera
600 custodial deaths in India from 2009-15: HRW
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/U.S.-rights-group-says-600-custodial-deaths-in-India-from-2009-15/article16903598.ece?homepage=true
NIA to employ financial consultants to help crack IRF case
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/zakir-naik-national-investigation-agency-ministry-of-home-affairs/1/837282.html
New Delhi:NIA will seek the approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to hire financial consultants to crack Zakir Naik NGO case.The move comes in the wake of NIA raids conducted at Naik's NGO IRF.During the operations, video tapes and DVDs of Naik's public speeches, documents related to property and investment, financial transactions, foreign and domestic funding of proscribed IRF as well as its associated companies, and electronic storage devices have been recovered. However, the agency, which has a limited team, needs financial experts to decipher the documents which have been lying idle with the agency.A top level NIA source told Mail Today that "the cost of hiring a financial consultant has been estimated at Rs 35 lakh."The source further said that though the agency had picked up speed in investigation and collection of evidence, NIA may have hit a roadblock with financial jargon. Sources say the NIA is mulling on hiring a financial firm like KPMG. But it will first approach the MHA for a nod. On Thursday govt constituted a tribunal comprising Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal of Delhi HC to adjudicate whether or not there was sufficient cause for declaring IRF as an "unlawful association" under UAPA. mail today
No deposits above Rs 5,000 more than once before Dec 30; one more broken promise
http://www.firstpost.com/politics/demonetisation-cash-deposits-above-rs-5000-to-face-scrutiny-what-about-pm-modis-promise-to-common-man-on-8-nov-3163452.html
On the 41st day of PM Narendra Modi’s 50-day promise to get back normalcy in common man’s life post 8Nov. demonetisation announcement, yet another promise is broken. RBI, in a press release said in the remaining days of this month, one can make a deposits in Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in excess of Rs 5,000 only once per account.If you want to deposit cash in banned currency in excess of that amount, you’ll have to explain in the presence of at least two officers on why you could not do it earlier. Even if the deposits are made in small amounts multiple times, if they add up to the magic number of Rs 5,000, again you stand exposed to questions. One wonders what happened to PM Modi’s promise to the nation that, “Persons holding old notes of 500 or 1,000 rupees can deposit these notes in their bank or post office accounts from 10th Nov.till close of banking hours on 30th Dec.2016 without any limit. Thus you will have 50 days to deposit your notes and there is no need for panic. Your money will remain yours. You need have no worry on this point.”RBI circular is also silent on why should an honest citizen need to answer a banker on the timing of his deposit and the amount? A banker, after all, is not an investigator. Or is the assumption here that anyone who hasn’t deposited invalidated currencies in their bank accounts are hoarders of black money?Repeated flip-flops in withdrawal/exchange rules since 8 November makes one wonder what is the nature of the plan both RBI and the govt claims to have for the ‘well-thought out’ rollout of currency ban. It reminds one the statement of former PM Manmohan Singh’s caution to RBI, an institution he headed once, about the trust deficit the central bank is facing with the way it dealt with the demonetisation from the very beginning.first post
RBI imposes curbs on old note deposits exceeding Rs 5000
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/rbi-imposes-curbs-on-old-note-deposits-exceeding-rs-5000/articleshow/56062828.cms
Modi govt may hike base Income Tax slab from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 4 lakh: Report
http://www.financialexpress.com/economy/modi-govt -may-hike-base-income-tax-slab-from-rs-2-5-lakh-to-rs-4-lakh-report/479570/
New Delhi:Facing criticism from the opposition over demonetisation, Modi govt is considering a proposal to revise the base Income Tax slab and increase it up to Rs 4 lakh per annum from the current Rs 2.5 lakh per year, according to a report by India Today news channel.However, the govt spokesman Frank Noronha rejected the report about new income tax slabs. ANI reported him calling the term “‘baseless and unfounded”.Earlier on Dec.14,Union Finance minister Arun Jaitley had indicated that the govt may reward the common man by lowering both direct and indirect tax rates in Budget FY18 as demonetisation is set to expand the tax net.ANI
Naqvi reaches out to minorities batting for cashless system
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/naqvi-reaches-out-to-minorities-batting-for-cashless-system/1/838305.html
Moradabad, UP:The inaugural cashless chaupal, an initiave of the Centre aimed at helping minorities connect with cashless economic system post demonetisation, was organised here today with Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi pitching for Muslims to join the campaign against "cancer of corruption".PTI
Aam Aadmi waiting, while 'change' agents converting Rs 1 crore in 1 hour
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/56055370.cms?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ETFBMain&utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Mumbai: Crores of people may still be spending hours queuing up before banks to withdraw their few thousands, but for a few, exchanging their crores don't require breaking a sweat. Illegal exchange of demonetised currency notes is rampant and the people involved in the trade say they have agents across the country who can get you the newly minted notes in a matter of hours. The commission they take, of course, is steep. ET
In Marathwada, a bank's humiliating 'Gandhigiri' tactics tighten the squeeze on desperate farmers: P. Sainath
http://scroll.in/article/823762/in-marathwada-a-banks-humiliating-gandhigiri-tactics-tighten-the-squeeze-on-desperate-farmers
More than 600 cops, sniffer dogs search JNU campus to get clues on Najeeb
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/more-than-600-cops-sniffer-dogs-search-jnu-campus-to-get-clues-on-najeeb/articleshow/56068090.cms
New Delhi: More than 600 Delhi Police personnel assisted by sniffer dogs scanned the inhabited and forested areas of the sprawling JNU campus on Monday to search for clues that could help them trace MSc student Najeeb Ahmed, who has been missing for over two months now.The men and women of Delhi Police began their search around 11 am under the supervision of DCP (Crime Branch) G Ram Gopal Naik. A team visited Mahi-Mandvi hostel where Najeeb stayed and took help of sniffer dogs who smelled Najeeb's clothes.The sniffer dogs failed to make any headway and stopped after circling around in the hostel."All agencies of Delhi Police including Special Cell, Special Branch and the local police pooling more than 600 personnel scanned the hostels, residential areas, academic blocks and forested area today till 5 pm. Help of Mounted Police was also taken to scan the vast area but nothing was found," said a senior police officer.About 65-70 percent of the campus was covered today and rest including the residential areas and the interiors of the campus will be scanned tomorrow, he said.Najeeb's mother Fatima Nafees who was present at the hostel termed the police search "too late" and "futile"."They should have carried out this search immediately after Najeeb went missing. But now, its of no use. I appeal to police to bring back my son and I will take him home from here," she said.PTI
JNU: Delhi Police search university campus for Najeeb
http://www.firstpost.com/india/jnu-missing-student-case-delhi-police-search-university-campus-for-najeeb-3163552.html
Congress demands legal action against BJP MP Parvesh Verma for his ‘disgusting’ remarks against Muslims
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/congress-demands-legal-action-against-parvesh-verma-for-his-disgusting-remarks-against-muslims-4434872/
New Delhi: Demanding legal action against BJP MP Parvesh Verma for his “disgusting” remarks against Muslims, the Congress on Monday attempted to corner ruling dispensation while asserting that this episode should be considered a part of the saffron party’s agenda as it believes in inciting communal violence.Congress leader Sandeep Dixit condemned Verma’s assertion that all terrorists are Muslims. “Verma’s statement is highly condemnable and I would say a legal action should be taken in this regard,” he told ANI. Dixit said Verma’s statement is dangerous and disgusting.“BJP is known for inciting communal violence and this episode should also be considered as part of it,” he added. The Congress leader further said every community is at liberty to choose its leader, adding it was extremely disgusting on the BJP’s part to give it a communal colour. Verma, who is a Member of Parliament from West Delhi Lok Sabha Constituency, had earlier on Sunday stirred up a hornet’s nest with his assertion that Muslims had never cast their vote for the BJP as they perceive it as a patriotic party. He has also said that all terrorists are Muslims.ANI
Muslims don't vote for 'patriotic' BJP: MP Parvesh Verma
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/muslims-dont-vote-for-patriotic-bjp-mp-parvesh-verma/articleshow/56066752.cms
BJP Delhi distances itself from Verma’s ‘Muslims are terrorists’ comment
http://www.newsx.com/national/49865-bjp-delhi-distances-itself-from-parvesh-verma-s-muslims-are-terrorists-comment
Atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Tribes: BJP-ruled Rajasthan tops list, UP follows:PTI
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/atrocities-against-scheduled-castes-and-tribes-bjp-ruled-rajasthan-tops-list-up-follows-4435307/
New Delhi:BJP-ruled Rajasthan has reported the highest number of cases of atrocities against SCs and STs during 2013-15, followed by poll-bound UP, and Bihar, a new govt report said, even as the Centre on Monday flagged the issue of poor conviction rates in such cases. Rajasthan has registered 23,861 cases under the amended Prevention of Atrocities (PoA) Act, while UP and Bihar registered 23,556 and 21,061 cases respectively, according to the agenda papers for a meeting of a committee to review the implementation of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities)Act 1989 held on Monday.MP,AP,Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil and Gujarat reported 14,016, 9,054, 8,084, 7,565, 6,546, 5,131 and 3,969 such crimes respectively during the years. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment observed that during 2013-15, only 43.3% of the total cases registered (13,8077) were disposed of by courts and 25.7% of total cases disposed of by courts (59,779), ended in conviction.
MP:Tribal girl gang raped by local BJP leader for 36 hours
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/crime/181216/tribal-girl-gang-raped-by-local-bjp-leader-in-madhya-pradesh-for-36-hours.html
Bhopal: A tribal girl in a Madhya Pradesh district was allegedly gang raped by a local BJP leader and his five accomplices for refusing to withdraw a molestation case filed against him by her, police said. The incident took place in Amla in Baitul district. According to the victim, who is admitted in a serious condition in the district headquarters hospital at Baitul on Saturday, local BJP leader, ex-ward member, along with his five accomplices broke into her house late on Thursday night and abducted her.“I was taken to nearby jungle and raped for 36 hours by the 6. They beat me before raping me I was threatened of dire consequences if I did not withdraw the case of molestation filed against the former ward member, key accused. I was abandoned in the jungle when I became unconscious. Deccan Chronicle.
JK is a sovereign entity: Separatists on SC ruling
http://www.risingkashmir.com/news/jk-is-a-sovereign-entity-separatists-on-sc-ruling-
Srinagar: After the Supreme Court held that J&K has "no vestige" of sovereignty outside Indian Constitution and its own statute which is subordinate, separatist leaders asserted that Jammu and Kashmir was a “separate, independent and sovereign entity even when India did not exist on the map”.In a statement issued here Sunday,senior leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik said dozens of UN resolutions stand testimony to the fact that Kashmir is a disputed territory, final dispensation of which is still pending.“Top Indian leaders themselves knocked the doors of international forums claiming the disputed nature of Kashmir, which can never be denied by legal proclamations. Kashmir is a universally accepted and internationally legitimised dispute backed by UN resolutions,” reads the statement. “If legal luminaries and judicial authorities look into the issue without the prejudice and fog of hypernationalism, it is more than clear that J&K was, is and will never be a part of India. Our own legal experts, who have stood their ground in these highest judicial houses for decades, finally mortgaged their soul and mind for power perks,” the statement added. Rising Kashmir
BJP Slams Uttarakhand Govt For Declaring 90-Minute Friday Break For Muslim Employees
http://www.outlookindia.com/newswire/story/bjp-slams-uttarakhand-govt -for-declaring-90-minute-friday-break-for-muslim-employees/962607
New Delhi:BJP today slammed the Uttarakhand govt for declaring a special 90-minute Friday break for Muslim employees, saying it will set a wrong precedent and accused the Congress of "communalising" the state's politics ahead of the assembly polls.Accusing the Congress of pursuing a divisive agenda in its greed for power, the party said few people will be left working in the govt offices if Hindus, who observe different forms of pujas across the month, are also given a similar concession. Outlook
Muslims may spell trouble for BJP in Uttarakhand election
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/waveless-in-uttarakhand-muslims-spell-trouble-for-bjp-in-poll-bound-state/story-Jl6tjBglEqjzIAGtWTG2zL.html
The absence of a 2014-like wave is giving the BJP jitters in poll-bound Uttarakhand, especially in segments where Muslims are sizeable in number.Uttarakhand, which goes to vote early next year, has a 14% Muslim population. This goes up to between 15 and over 50% in 23 out of the 70 assembly constituencies that are spread across Haridwar (10 segments), Udhamsingh Nagar (8), Dehradun (3) and Nainital (2) districts. BJP had won 10 of these 23 seats in 2012 assembly polls while Congress and BSP had shared the rest, 10 and 3.HT
PM didn't want Hariz to be 1st Muslim General'
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pm-didnt-want-hariz-to-be-1st-muslim-general/articleshow/56056898.cms
New Delhi: Congress distanced itself from party member Shehzad Poonawalla's tweet that PM Narendra Modi did not want Lt Gen P M Hariz to become the first Muslim Army chief."Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi was senior most and according to the line of succession due to become chief. Had Modi not appointed Lt Gen Rawat out of turn as Army chief, Lt Gen Hariz would have been the first Muslim to head the Army after Lt Gen Bakshi. But Modi did not want it," Poonawalla said in a series of tweets. timesofindia
5 injured as 2 communities clash in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/five-injured-as-two-communities-clash-in-rajasthan-s-bhilwara/story-5VSrsT2fc3YSEJ7MkcIG6H.html
Tension gripped Bhilwara city for several hours on Sunday as two groups from different communities pelted stones and set vehicles on fire during a religious procession. Five people were injured in the clashes.Police have registered four cases in connection with the incident and arrested 22 for disturbing peace in the area on Sunday.It was the second time in the last 6 days that tension escalated between two communities in the district, forcing the administration to impose prohibitory orders. The situation, however, now is under control following several rounds of talks with the people of different communities.HT
MHA tells States to ensure no commercial exploitation of national anthem
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/mha-tells-states-to-ensure-no-commercial-exploitation-of-national-anthem-4435702/
New Delhi:The Centre has asked all states to ensure that there is no commercial exploitation or dramatisation of national anthem and all movie halls must show national flag on the screen while the Anthem is being played. In a communication to Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories, the Home Ministry said there shall be no commercial exploitation to give financial advantage or any kind of benefit.PTI
Assamese leader Akhil Gogoi vows to foil move for citizenship to Hindu Bangladeshis
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/akhil-gogoi-vows-to-foil-move-for-citizenship-to-hindu-bangladeshis-4435081/
Golaghat:Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti leader Akhil Gogoi today alleged the Centre’s move to grant citizenship to Bangladeshi Hindu immigrants was a “big conspiracy” and vowed to thwart it. “I urge all the workers, farmers and common people of Assam from today itself to protect the identity of the state. You will see that in the next three months, we will thwart any attempt to grant citizenship to Hindu Bangladeshis,” Gogoi told reporters just after coming out of Golaghat jail here.PTI
WB: Lawyers demand enactment of anti-communal law
http://theindianawaaz.com/lawyers-demand-enactment-of-anti-communal-law/
Kolkata: Prominent, jurists, intellectuals and journalists have urged the Central govt to pass the ‘Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2011 with utmost urgency. They said that it was duty of the State to provide security and safety to minoritities who feel threatened because of communal and radical ‘Hindutva forces’ violent activities.At a seminar, organized by the South Asian Minorities Lawyers Association(SAMLA),on the occasion of Minorities Rights Day here they demanded that SAARC must adopt a Convention for protection and promotion of minority rights in the region and set up special Tribunals/Courts at the district level for speedy trial of terror-related cases to tackle the menace of trans-boarder terrorism. theindianawaaz
WORLD
Orphans among thousands evacuated from east Aleppo
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/east-aleppo-evacuations-161219040452388.html
Dozens of buses carrying evacuees including orphaned children from the last rebel-held district of Aleppo travelled to opposition-controlled areas outside the city early on Monday, according to Turkish officials and a monitoring group.Turkey said that about 20,000 people have been evacuated from eastern Aleppo so far, as a fragile ceasefire between rebels and govt forces was holding.Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday that the evacuees from the besieged city were bused to an area under opposition control, in an ongoing effort to get people to safety.Nearly 50 children who were trapped in an orphanage in east Aleppo were evacuated, UNICEF said.Meanwhile, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said an estimated 500 people had been evacuated from two villages besieged by rebels in Idlib province on Monday as part of the deal.SOHR said 10 buses had left the majority Shia towns of Foua and Kefraya carrying evacuees through rebel-held territory towards Aleppo. Thousands of people remain in eastern Aleppo, many sleeping in the streets in freezing temperatures as they wait to be evacuated."Conditions in eastern Aleppo remain extremely dire," said Al Jazeera's Imtiaz Tyab, reporting from Gaziantep on the Turkey-Syria border.Most of the evacuees are taken to rebel-held Idlib province or Aleppo countryside. Meanwhile at the United Nations, France and Russia announced agreement on a compromise resolution to deploy UN monitors to eastern Aleppo to ensure safe evacuations and immediate delivery of humanitarian aid.France's UN ambassador, Francois Delattre, told reporters the compromise was reached after more than 3 hours of closed consultations on Sunday and the Security Council would vote on the resolution on Monday. Al Jazeera
Erdogan, Putin discuss evacuation of civilians in Aleppo
http://www.worldbulletin.net/headlines/181909/erdogan-putin-discuss-evacuation-of-civilians-in-aleppo
Myanmar govt accused of ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2016/12/19/Myanmar-govt -accused-of-ethnic-cleansing-of-Rohingya-Muslims/8231482150199/
London(UPI)Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya minority is facing crimes against humanity committed by authorities, Amnesty International warned. London-based human rights organization accused Myanmar police and military personnel of murder, torture, rape and looting in a report. It said an operation of ethnic cleansing began after border police were attacked by a militant group largely composed of Rohingya. The army then launched an anti-insurgency operation in late October, and has denied any atrocities, saying instead it is conducting anti-terrorist actions in western Myanmar's Rakhine province.
Israeli settlers agree to leave illegal Amona outpost
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/12/israeli-settlers-agree-leave-illegal-amona-outpost-161218182402685.html
Israeli Jewish settlers of a settlement in the occupied West Bank have agreed to a plan to relocate their hilltop outpost peacefully that could allow the govt to avoid a potentially violent clash.40 families living at Amona, northeast of Ramallah, face a high court order to leave the site by Dec.25 because it was found to have been built on private Palestinian land.The approaching deadline led to efforts to resolve peacefully the situation, with the settlers refusing to leave and several hundred Jewish youths streaming into the outpost in recent days in support.However, after hours of a debate on Sunday, outpost residents approved a revised govt proposal to relocate by a vote of 45 for and 29 against, a spokesman wrote on the outpost's Twitter account. Aljazeera
Source: Iran gave green light to Saudi Embassy bombing
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20161219-source-iran-gave-green-light-to-saudi-embassy-bombing/
The alleged mastermind of the Saudi Embassy attack in Iran has confessed that the attack was carried out with approval from the Iranian govt .According to a leaked audio message by the alleged mastermind, the Iranian regime had an involvement in the attack on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran in January 2016.Hassan Kurdmihan, who belongs to the militias of Ansar Hezbollah in Karaj, can be heard directing members of the Basij, a volunteer militia in Iran, and revolutionary guards to burn and destroy the embassy.Kurdmihan was arrested by Iranian authorities in January 2016 but released ten months later. Middle east monitor
Over 100,000 Iraqis displaced since Mosul operation: UN
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20161219-over-100000-iraqis-displaced-since-mosul-operation-un/
Around 100,000 people have been displaced from Mosul since a major offensive was launched in October to recapture the Daesh-held city in northern Iraq, the UN mission in Iraq (UNAMI) said.In a Saturday statement, UNAMI said more than 106,400 individuals have been displaced by Mosul operations since October 17.While 9,500 of the displaced have returned to their places of origin, UNAMI said, more than 99,300 Iraqis are still displaced.Last week, Iraq’s Ministry of Migration said more than 107,000 people have been displaced since the anti-Daesh offensive began in Mosul. Middle east monitor
Muslims more highly educated than non-Muslims in Malaysia, survey shows
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/muslims-more-highly-educated-than-non-muslims-in-malaysia-survey-shows#sthash.V1wmC9jo.dpuf
Kuala Lumpur:Muslims have more formal schooling in Malaysia compared to those of other faiths, a Pew Research Centre study showed. Survey by the global pollster found that Muslim men had the most education, but also found that younger Muslim women in Malaysia are now more likely to have post-secondary degrees compared to young Muslim men, as Muslim women globally close the gender gap. themalaymailonline
China state newspaper says Donald Trump has no idea how to lead a superpower
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/china-donald-trump-state-newspaper-no-idea-lead-superpower-president-elect-global-times-a7484006.html
Donald Trump does not know how to lead a superpower, Chinese state media is reported to have said on Monday morning, following the President-elect’s latest outburst on social media. “Trump is not behaving as a president who will become master of the White House in a month,” an editorial in the state-backed Global Times newspaper read. “He bears no sense of how to lead a superpower.”
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:28 PM)
