Evening NEWS DIGEST
18 June 2017: 22 Ramazan 1438: Vol: 8, No:220
INDIA
Darjeeling on boil: 3 dead, police officer critical as Mamata sees foreign hand
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/darjeeling-unrest-one-police-officer-critically-injured-gjm-claims-death-of-2-supporters-gorkhaland-protests-4708737/
Darjeeling/kolkata:West Bengal was grappling with a serious crisis in the Darjeeling Hills which descended into chaos Saturday after violence and firing on the streets left at least three activists of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) dead, a police officer in critical condition and several persons injured.GJM, spearheading an agitation that began as a protest against the mandatory teaching of Bengali in schools and then escalated into a movement for a separate state of Gorkhaland, said three of its cadre were killed in police firing — a charge that CM Mamata Banerjee and police rejected. The GJM identified its three dead as Bimal Sashankar of Goke Basti, Sunil Rai of Kainjalay and Mahesh Gurung of Relling. It said Sashankar and Rai were killed in the Singamari area and Gurung in Ghoom. But ADG (Law and Order) Anuj Sharma said: “We have confirmation of one death. We will know the cause only after post-mortem. 36 policemen were injured, some victims of gunshots.” indianexpress
Gorkha Janamukti Morcha observes black day, slams Modi govt, questions Darjeeling's BJP MP's absence
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/darjeeling-unrest-gorkha-janamukti-morcha-gjm-black-day-mamata-banerjee-bimal-gurung-gorkhaland/1/981668.html
Darjeeling;Thousands of Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) protesters today took out huge rallies to observe 'black day' in Darjeeling to protest the death of three its activists in police firing.The GJM activists marched with the coffins of the three activists who were allegedly shot dead in the police firing in Darjeeling's Singmari on Saturday.GJM, which is an BJP ally, also slammed the Modi Govt. They said they were disappointed with Centre's role and questioned BJP MP SS Ahluwalia's absence. BJP MP has not visited once since the crisis broke out.Meanwhile, administration had deployed heavy security forces across the city and there were no reports of fresh clashes.IndiaToday
Darjeeling On Edge As Protesters Take Out Rally With Body Of Activist Killed In Clashes With Police
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/06/18/darjeeling-on-edge-as-protesters-take-out-rally-with-body-of-act_a_22486698/
Bhim Army hits Delhi streets 2nd time, led by Kanshi Ram’s sister, Chandrashekhar’s mother,demands to release chief
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bhim-army-hits-delhi-streets-second-time-this-month-demands-chandrashekhar-s-release/story-mOXS9UaSwM8EjiPgyORTOO.html
New Delhi: Mobilised by Bhim Army, a large number of Dalit youths hit the streets of Delhi on Sunday, for the second time in less than a month, protesting caste violence in UP and demanding the release of Chandrashekhar Azad, the outfit’s chief.The spirited gathering, of around 2,500 as estimated by the police, saw the presence of Chandrashekhar’s mother Kamlesh Devi and BSP founder Kanshi Ram’s sister Swarn Kaur among others.The stretch between the Parliament Street police station and the New Delhi Municipal Council convention centre turned into a sea of blue, the colour of Dalit resistance, and pulsated with the cries of ‘Jai Bheem’ as protesters from UP, Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab trooped in, from around 10 am.“I will protest, sit on dharna and also stage indefinite fast till my son is not released. We will fight. I have no expectation from the Narendra Modi Govt or the UP Govt , especially since the violence has been triggered by the very rise of Yogi Adityanath,” Kamlesh Devi told PTI.
TISS scholar seeks UNHRC intervention for ‘protection of Dalit, tribal students’ rights’: Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/tiss-scholar-seeks-unhrc-intervention-for-protection-of-dalit-tribal-students-rights/
Mumbai;A Research scholar from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, has drawn the attention of the UNHRC to the recent cuts in the expenditure on higher education in the country.Sangharsh Apte, who is pursuing a PhD in reproductive health from TISS, made a representation at the UNHRC in Geneva on Friday. In his statement, Apte had urged the council “to take appropriate measures and make the Indian Govt accountable for the protection [of] Dalit and tribal students’ rights. TISS administration’s recent withdrawal of its financial aid to the students belonging to Scheduled Castes , Scheduled Tribes and OBC, with a family income below the union Govt norms, also found mention in Apte’s statement.
Rajasthan CM hints Pratapgarh man’s death wasn’t murder, gets trolled
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rajasthan-cm-hints-pratapgarh-man-s-death-wasn-t-murder-gets-trolled/story-GKXLfovKRCtLNWyPFaDH7M.html
Breaking her silence on the lynching of social activist Zafar Hussein in Pratapgarh on Friday, Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje on Sunday tweeted that “demise” was extremely unfortunate.However, she also indicated that the death was not a murder by re-tweeting a tweet posted by IG Udaipur that scientific evidence did not point to murder.Commenting on the incident, Raje tweeted Sunday morning, “the demise of Zafar Khan ji in Pratapgarh is extremely unfortunate. Investigation is on - justice shall prevail.”But the CM’s choice of words in the tweet drew a couple of sharp reactions.Rajasthan Congress president Sachin Pilot took a swipe at Raje’s tweet by re-tweeting that “killed would have been a far more appropriate word, and going by previous lynching incidents, justice is unlikely to prevail.”Senior journalist Shekhar Gupta also hit out at CM tweeting, “when a lawfully elected CM , sworn to rule based on the Constitution, can’t call a murder a murder, it’s time to cry.” hindustantimes
Rajasthan lynching: Daylight murder is the appropriate term, says Twitter after CM Raje calls it 'demise'
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-rajasthan-lynching-daylight-murder-is-the-appropriate-term-says-twitter-after-raje-calls-it-demise-2476337
Zafar was a ‘pillar of support’ for locality
http://www.hindustantimes.com/jaipur/in-lynching-of-muslim-man-a-rajasthan-locality-becomes-an-orphan/story-1mMLNPZDLoS6k9Zp8PercM.html
Jaipur:The earth on a mound, far inside the Peerbagh graveyard, is still drying up. The flowers on the mound indicate that a body was buried there not long ago.There’s no tombstone. There’s no epitaph. In fact, there’s nothing out of the ordinary to signify who lies buried there.Ask the residents of the Jagwas Kachchi Basti and they’ll tell you that the man they buried on Friday at the Peerbagh graveyard was anything but ordinary.“Wohi they basti ka support (He was the pillar of support for this locality),” says Ajab Khan about Zafar Hussain, his neighbour and now the occupant of that grave at Peerbagh. Zafar died after being allegedly thrashed brutally by some municipal officials for objecting to them clicking photographs of women defecating in the open.“My wife woke me up saying that he is being assaulted. When I reached the spot, the officials were getting into their car to leave,” says Khan. He rushed to lift Zafar in his arms.The Jagwas Kachchi Basti locality remembers Zafar for his simplicity. He always wore kurta pyjama, used an entry level android phone, and owned a motorcycle but mostly preferred to walk. “Every year he used to organize an iftar for the people here,” says Kalu Khan, a neighbour who sells biryani on cart in the city.“People from all castes and faiths are here, mourning his death. This tells you what kind of a person he was,” says Kalu.Another resident, Ramdev Maru says that Zafar was the one who got everything done for the locality. “There is nobody now. He was the one who helped the labourers get assistance from Govt for marriage of their daughters. He was the one who filled up forms, got us identity cards, and helped us get loans.” Younger women of the locality regarded him as a father figure.20-year-old Rekha Kumari says that when her father died 5 years ago, it was Zafar who helped the family get Rs 30,000 from the Govt .Zafar was the district president of Rajasthan Nirman Mazdoor Sangathan. His red-colour visiting card pronounced his Marxist leanings.“Whenever any labourer approached him for help, he would just pull on the kurta and say chalo,” says Ishwar Bhai Dhobi, district president of Congress’ labour wing. The civic body reportedly offered Rs 2 lakh to victim’s family,a contractual job to family member and Rs 1,500 pension every month to his wife. But she rejects the idea with disdain.HT
‘Saw father die in front of my eyes,’ says daughter of man lynched in Rajasthan
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/saw-father-die-in-front-of-my-eyes-says-daughter-of-man-lynched-in-rajasthan-4709227/
Pratapgarh: “I followed my father on Friday morning. He fell down before me and died in front of my eyes,” said Sabira, 17. Civic body officials in Rajasthan’s Pratapgarh have denied that they assaulted Zafar Khan. On Saturday, Sabira and residents of Mehtab Shah Kutchi Basti said they witnessed the assault unfold and Khan die on the spot.Speaking to The Sunday Express, they also said that women here have been facing harassment for months from the accused on the issue of open defecation — but without a single toilet in this unauthorised settlement, they have nowhere else to go. indianexpress
An Adivasi Dies and Maybe a Bull Too. Guess Which Death the Gujarat Police is Probing?The Wire
https://thewire.in/147882/gujarat-cattle-adivasi-dalit/
Ahmedabad: Allegations about a bull having been slaughtered in the Sabarkantha village of Kotda in April led to the arrest of four men and the mysterious death in custody of one of them. Yet seven weeks later, the exertions of the Gujarat police remain focused on the alleged killing of the bull and not on the circumstances under which the man, Kodarbhai Chapabhai Gamar, an adivasi who was 65 years old, died. The three other men arrested with him remain in custody, despite allegations of torture and extortion against the police.Most bizarre of all, there is no information about the dead bull. The ‘crime’ is supposed to have occurred in Gamar’s village, Kotda, tucked away in the north-eastern corner of Gujarat bang on the border with Rajasthan. But there are no remains, no witnesses, no blood or flesh samples.Gamar was arrested on May 2, after a complaint was registered under the state’s recently amended cow slaughter law. The complaint was filed under the Kheroj police station. This was the first FIR under the new Act in the district. “On the morning of May 2 this year, police sub inspector (PSI) AS Rabari raided the houses of Kodar Gamar (my father), Shabber Ahmed Raees Ahmed Sheikh and Imamuddin Nemauddin Padi. All three of them are residents of Kotda. The police then brought them to Lambadya Choraya (the local market place), tied them to a vehicle and assaulted them,” alleged Bhimabhai, one of Gamar’s sons.“Later Rabari demanded five lakh rupees from their families. The amount, the PSI said, was to guarantee that the three men would not be tortured in custody. My family told Rabari that we are poor tribals and don’t have that kind of money. We pleaded that they not assault our father in custody.But he did not listen. Our father died two days later,” said Bhimabhai.
Elderly man shot dead while offering prayers in Sonepat mosque
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/elderly-man-shot-dead-while-offering-prayers-in-sonepat-mosque/story-ReHjN5akVhSb7zJ6CmzgTK.html
Rohtak:A 56-year-old man was shot dead in a mosque in Sonepat’s Rasoi village at a time when he was offering his evening prayers on Saturday.The deceased has been identified as Shabbir Ahmed.A part of the incident was caught on camera, where a masked assailant is seen entering the mosque and running away after shooting Ahmed dead.The police said he died on the spot, while the assailant managed to flee away. An FIR under section 302 against an unknown man has been registered at Kundli police station.“The family said he had no enmity of any kind with anyone. We are probing the incident and will make arrest soon,”Kundli SHO inspector Sombir said. hindustantimes
MP sees 10 farmer suicides in a week
http://twocircles.net/2017jun17/411532.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Dhar: 2 more farmers committed suicide in Madhya Pradesh, taking to 10 the number of farmer suicides in the state this week.Jagdish More, 35, consumed poison in Rampura area of Dhar Police Station on Friday. He died later in the day. Rajendra Navaria, the in-charge of Dhar Police Station, confirmed that the farmer committed suicide.The deceased farmer’s family told the police that he committed suicide as he was upset over the pressure built by the bank for repayment of debt.Another farmer named Imrat died after consuming sulphas pills in Chandlaun village in Gotegaon, Narsinghpur. He breathed his last enroute to Jabalpur for treatment.IANS
Chandigarh Jama Masjid Imam says azaan shouldn’t disturb non-Muslims
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/chandigarh-jama-masjid-imam-says-azaan-shouldn-t-disturb-non-muslims/story-cdTPRJVUnzwNdgNLYGoVwI.html
Chandigarh: After singer Sonu Nigam tweeted in April expressing his displeasure on being woken up early by loudspeakers blaring the azaan from a mosque, Maulana Ajmal Khan, the Imam of Chandigarh’s Jama Masjid, said that the loudspeakers should not disturb the non-Muslims.On the third Friday of Ramzan, when Muslims from across the city had gathered for their afternoon prayers, Khan said, “We should not bother our neighbours unnecessarily. The volume of our loudspeakers should be brought down to a level that it does not disturb them. I believe that disturbing the neighbours is a nuisance, which is forbidden in Islam.”He added, “We make announcements at Sehri at about 3:40am when the other residents are sleeping. We should avoid doing this. It is a sensitive issue and anybody is free to take action against us. One can move court as well.”Khan gave an example of one of the mosques in Kerala where the authorities have decided to recite azaan once in five times.“They have decided that only a single azaan will be delivered from the Masjid and others in the area will repeat it without any noise,” Khan added.HT
Delhi:Govt panel fails to decide fate of 123 wakf properties
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/Govt -panel-fails-to-decide-fate-of-123-wakf-properties/story-IlkjxBZ7KnogHmpisRmSPO.html
New Delhi: Delhi wakf commissioner should take a final call on the ownership rights of 123 prime wakf properties in national capital, govt-appointed committee has recommended. The panel’s suggestion is seen as a temporary setback to the VHP that approached the Delhi high court challenging UPA govt’s decision to de-notify the properties in March 2014, 2 months before its term ended.VHP had raised the issue with NDA Govt shortly after it came to power.The urban development ministry set up the one-member committee under retired judicial officer JR Aryan in May last year to review the UPA decision that resulted in the ownership rights of these 123 properties getting transferred to Delhi Wakf Board from the Govt .A majority of these properties are mired in controversy over their ownership rights. Located in prime real estate such as Connaught Place, Janpath, Ashoka Road, Pandara Road and Jangpura, the properties are estimated to be worth crores of rupees in current market value.“Had the panel taken a call on the ownership of properties and not left it to the waqf commissioner, NDA Govt could have struck down the UPA’s decision,” an official source said. The issue could now hang fire as its resolution will involve AAP-led Delhi Govt, which appoints the waqf commissioner. The post is vacant after the last incumbent Azimul Haque was transferred to Arunachal Pradesh last Oct. The then Delhi Lt. governor Najeeb Jung had also dissolved the Delhi Wakf Board last October. The new board is yet to be constituted.The commissioner, a bureaucrat appointed by Delhi Govt, plays the role of an arbitrator in disputes related to waqf properties. Aryan committee has recommended that Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the urban development (UD) ministry should approach the Delhi wakf commissioner for a solution in the politically sensitive case, sources said.In its petition, the VHP accused the UPA Govt of showing “undue favour” towards the “Muslim community for showing them that the Govt was gifting them away 123 prime properties in Delhi”. HT
Dissolution of Waqf boards 'illegal; Ready to face CBI inquiry in alleged scam of waqf properties; Azam Khan
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/ready-to-face-cbi-inquiry-in-alleged-scam-of-waqf-properties-says-azam/articleshow/59196458.cms
Rampur: Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan has said that he is ready to face a CBI inquiry into the alleged scam involving Waqf properties in UP. Recently, state minister Mohsin Raza had announced that Shia and Sunni Waqf Boards in UP would be dissolved in the wake of corruption charges against them. The dissolution process has been started after taking into account all legal aspects, the minister had said.“Shia and Sunni Central Waqf Boards are autonomous bodies governed by the Constitution of India. The chairpersons and other members of these boards are elected after voting. Dissolving them will amount to an attack on the democratic values of the country and on the minorities,” Azam said. According to PTI Khan said,"The state Govt 's decision to dissolve the waqf boards is not legal and democratic as there is no provision to dissolve the waqf boards.If the Govt was so keen to dissolve them, it should have held fresh elections of Mutavallis (managers), according to the Parliamentary Act in this regard. He said if there were reports of irregularities, the Govt can order a CBI probe. “What is the point of dissolving the boards? Not a single inch of Waqf land is registered in my name,” he said. Clarifying over the issue of Jauhar trust acquiring Waqf properties in Rampur during the SP rule, Azam said “That was the decision of the state Govt after conducting an inquiry and the land was used for the purposes of education.”TOI
UP Govt's Order To Dissolve Waqf Boards 'Illegal And Undemocratic', SP Leader Azam Khan
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/06/17/up-govts-order-to-dissolve-waqf-boards-illegal-and-undemocrati_a_22417428/
IS case: Delhi HC rejects plea of Mufti Abdus Sami Qasmi
http://www.ptinews.com/news/8807459_Delhi-HC-rejects-plea-of-suspected-ISIS-operative.html
New Delhi:Delhi High Court has rejected ISIS suspect plea seeking nod to inspect the documents, submitted by the NIA to a trial court in a case relating to the alleged charges of recruiting and financing people to join the terror group.A bench of justices GS Sistani and Vinod Goel said that the case was related to the "larger conspiracy" by the ISIS and further investigation in the matter was going on.The court also said that a charge sheet has already been filed in the case and the material relied upon by the NIA would be part of the final report filed by the investigators.Delhi-based Mufti Abdus Sami Qasmi had approached the high court challenging a special court's December order by which he was denied the copy of documents submitted by the NIA in sealed covers.Upholding the special court order, the bench referred to the agency's affidavit before it which said that during the investigation, credible intelligence inputs were received that a module for ISIS was active in different parts of the country and is engaged in recruiting Muslim youth for the banned terror group."The input was developed and raids were conducted in different cities at different locations. 18 accused persons were arrested in the instant case and incriminating literature, material to fabricate IEDs, electronic devices and money received through hawala channels were seized from the possession of the accused," the bench noted in its order.NIA claimed that Qasmi was "delivering provocative and inflammatory speeches and was instigating youths for anti- national activities".The agency, in its affidavit, has also claimed that Qasmi "in the guise of a religious preacher was inciting, motivating and abetting Muslim youths, who sought his guidance in waging violent jihad and supporting and joining the ISIS".The accused persons against whom the agency had filed the charge sheet include Mohd Aleem, Mohd Obaidullah Khan, Nafees Khan, Mohd Shareef Moinuddin Khan, Asif Ali, Najmul Huda, Mudabbir Mushtaq Shaikh, Mohd Abdul Ahad, Suhail Ahmed, Syed Mujahid, Mohd Hussain Khan, Mohd Afzal, Imran and Abu Anas.PTI
NIA investigating if Hurriyat received money to send Kashmiris to Pak for studies
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nia-investigating-if-hurriyat-received-money-to-send-kashmiris-to-pak-for-studies/story-oCLj73ybU1LyhhxV2tLf9I.html
New Delhi: NIA is probing if some Hurriyat leaders are seeking and getting money to recommend Kashmiri students for medical or engineering studies in Pakistan.The probe is part of the federal anti-terror agency’s larger investigation into funding of Kashmiri separatists from Pakistan to fuel unrest in the Valley. “We suspect that some of these separatists charge anything between Rs 25-Rs 30 lakh to recommend names of Kashmiri students for studying in Pakistan. For more than a decade now, Pakistan has reserved dozens of seats in its medical and engineering colleges for Kashmiri students, but they get admission only after a recommendation from Hurriyat leaders. We believe, in many cases, these recommendations come after money changes hands,” said a senior NIA official. For years, there have been murmurs of sale of these seats but a formal probe is being initiated now. NIA believes the ‘sale of seats’ is one of the many channels of funding for Kashmiri separatists from Pakistan. Investigators say other channels of funding include cross-LoC trade between PoK and J&K, donations for charities and even legal banking channel.HT
No triple talaq in single sitting, families add clause in nikahnama in a very simple wedding held at Nagpur's Jafar Nagar Markaz Masjid
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/no-triple-talaq-in-single-sitting-families-add-clause-in-nikahnama/articleshow/59195500.cms
Nagpur: Even as the nationwide debate over triple talaq continues, assistant professor of Women's College of Arts and Commerce, Ayub Khan, has set a fine example by incorporating a clause against the 'evil' practice in the nikahnama of his 22-year-old daughter.Since no such clause is printed in nikahnamas, the condition that triple talaq won't be practised and that the girl would get 'khula' (when woman seeks divorce) without any delay was hand written."Triple talaq in one sitting shall not be practised and if the girl seeks divorce, she will be given without any delay," the clause included in the nikahnama reads.Khan's daughter, who is MSc in Biotech, was married to Pune-based Imtiyaz Shaikh's eldest son, who is R&D engineer in Turkey.Shaikh says, "We added the condition to send a message to society that triple talaq is wrong."Besides this, Khan married off his daughter in a Pune-based family during the ongoing month of ramzan to demonstrate the simplicity and ease of nikah. Generally, Muslims avoid marrying in the holy month of Ramzan since most part of the day and night goes in fasting and offering special prayers 'taraweeh'. But, the bride and groom's families believed that rituals like haldi, mehendi were unwarranted in Islam.Both, the Khans and Shaikhs, also incurred minimum cost on the wedding. Shaikh says, only eight members from his family had come from Pune. The nikah was solemnized at Markaz Masjid in Jafar Nagar."We had made ourselves very clear right from the beginning. No cards would be printed, no lawn or hall will be booked, no baraat and no festivities would be held," Khan says. Khan had laid these conditions so that the prospective groom and his family weren't disillusioned. The families had also agreed that there won't be any exchange of gifts and dowry except that has been prescribed by shariah."We also told that she won't be given dowry but her share in parents' property would be allocated to her," Khan says.In keeping with their agreement to follow shariah, the groom also handed over two tolas of gold as dower (mehr), which is kept pending for lifetime in many cases, on the spot.On his inspiration to follow the shariah in its pristine form, Khan says, "When I studied quran and hadith, I realized nikah should be as simple as any other routine task. The prophet prescribed making nikah easy and making illegitimate relations difficult so that people adopt the easier path."TOI
RSS-affiliate sets up Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership to train young guns for politics
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/rss-rambhau-mhalgi-prabodhini-indian-institute-of-democratic-leadership/1/981372.html
Mumbai;By the end of this year when BJP will be locked in a high-voltage electoral battle with political rivals in Gujarat, an affiliate of its ideological mentor RSS will be using the opportunity to shape up the greenhorns in the Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party, Shiv Sena and other parties as future leaders.Cutting across political lines, the participants coming from these parties will undergo an internship programme in poll-bound Gujarat conducted by Maharashtra-based Indian Institute of Democratic Leadership.Programme is an initiative of RSS-affiliated Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini but notwithstanding the political ideology, it has already received over 400 applications from aspirants across all parties.indiatoday
RSS enters last leg of BJP deliberations on next President
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/rss-enters-last-leg-of-bjp-deliberations-on-next-president-4709445/
New Delhi: RSS has joined the last leg of the process of internal deliberations within the ruling party to finalise a candidate for the post of President, ahead of an announcement early next week. With RSS No. 2 Bhaiyyaji Joshi indisposed — he is said to be recovering from a surgery — the task of informal consultations has fallen on RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and joint general secretaries Dattatreya Hosabale and Krishna Gopal, sources said.Sources did not rule out the possibility of Bhagwat having already held informal talks with a senior BJP leader before he left New Delhi Saturday morning. Bhagwat was in the capital Friday for a scheduled meeting with President Pranab Mukherjee. Indianexpress
GST roll-out on July 1, confirms Arun Jaitley; rates for hotels, lottery fixed: indianexpress
http://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/gst-roll-out-on-july-1-confirms-arun-jaitley-rates-for-hotels-lottery-fixed-4710201/
New Delhi:With the GST set for a July 1 rollout, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday stated that state-run lotteries will be taxed at 12 % of the face value, while a 28% tax rate has been fixed for state-authorised private lotteries. Addressing the 17th GST Council meeting at Vigyan Bhawan, Jaitley said 28 % limit in hotels will start from Rs 7,500, while a GST rate of 18 % has been made applicable for hotel rooms between Rs 2,500 to Rs 7,500. He further said GST on restaurants in these hotels will be at par with other air-conditioned restaurants (18%). He also confirmed that GST will roll out on July 1 and that the next meeting of the GST Council will be held on June 30. “We don’t have the luxury of time to defer the implementation of GST. Council decided categorically it will be implemented from 1st July onwards,” he said.
WORLD
Israeli forces denounced for 'fascist' assault on Palestinian worshippers at Al-Aqsa
http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=777695
Israeli forces raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem on Sunday morning and assaulted Muslim worshippers, as extremist Jewish Israelis were allowed to tour the holy site, with a Fatah official condemning the incident as “an extension of Israel’s fascist and aggressive policies against Palestinian people.”At least 3 Palestinians were injured from Israeli police beating, several others suffered from pepper spray and tear gas inhalation, and 2 Palestinians were also detained from the compound.The incident came as Palestinian in occupied East Jerusalem were being subjected to “collective punishment” measures following a deadly attack in front of Old City 2 days ago, in which 3 Palestinians were shot dead after conducting an attack that left on Israeli policewoman killed.Director of Al-Aqsa Mosque Sheikh Omar Kiswani told Ma’an that some 250 Israeli soldiers had stormed the compound through Moroccan Gate entrance and allowed “Israeli settlers” to enter.Israeli forces stationed at the doors of the compound’s main mosque, al-Qibli mosque, started to prevent Muslim worshippers from leaving the building, and subsequently began violently beating them and also fired rubber-coated steel bullets and tear gas canisters. maannews
Israel forces arrest 2 Palestinians after Aqsa standoff
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170618-israel-forces-arrest-2-palestinians-after-aqsa-standoff/
Saudis 'reject' Turkey offer to build base in kingdom
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/06/saudi-rejects-turkey-offer-build-base-kingdom-170617130342162.html
Saudi Arabia has rejected an offer from Turkey to build a military base in the kingdom, saying it "cannot allow" Ankara to establish such a facility on its territories, according to state-run media. The official SPA reported on Saturday that the kingdom would not be welcoming a Turkish military base similar to that built in neighbouring Qatar since its "armed forces and military capabilities are at the best level". Quoting an unnamed official, the statement said: "Saudi Arabia can not allow Turkey to establish military bases on its territories," before adding that Saudi armed forces were participating abroad, including from Turkey's Incirlik base, "in the fight against terrorism and protecting security and stability in the region". aljazeera
Iraq VP accuses Qatar of having tried to split his country
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170618-iraq-vp-accuses-qatar-of-having-tried-to-split-his-country/
Qatar promoted a plan to split Iraq along sectarian lines, Iraqi Vice President Iyad Allawi said on Saturday, voicing support for the isolation of Doha by some Arab states.Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have broken off ties and imposed sanctions on Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism and courting regional rival Iran – allegations Doha denies.Allawi is a secular Shia politician who has some support within Iraq’s Sunni community. His position as vice president is largely ceremonial and his views do not reflect those of the Govt in Baghdad, headed by PM Haider al-Abadi.Abadi has refused to take sides officially in the Gulf Arab rift but criticised the sanctions imposed on Qatar, saying they hurt the population, not the Qatari Govt. PM belongs to the Dawa party, which traditionally has close ties to Iran, Saudi Arabia’s regional foe. middleeastmonitor
Afghan soldier opens fire on US troops, wounds 7
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/06/afghan-soldier-opens-fire-troops-wounds-170617172143323.html
An Afghan soldier has opened fire on American troops, wounding at least seven of them, before being shot dead in a military base in northern Afghanistan, officials said, in the second so-called "insider attack" in the past week.Abdul Qahar Araam, spokesman for the US military, said on Saturday that the attack took place at Camp Shaheen in Mazar-i-Sharif. Araam added that the soldiers returned fire and killed the attacker.General Dawlat Waziri, a spokesman for the Afghan defence ministry, also confirmed the incident. aljazeera
Afghan police officers killed in Taliban attack in Gardez
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/06/taliban-storms-afghan-police-compound-kills-officers-170618063851239.html
At least 5 police officers have been killed after the Taliban stormed a provincial police headquarters building in eastern Afghanistan, according to the interior ministry.Sardar Wali Tabasim, spokesman for the Paktia provincial police chief, said another nine officers and nine civilians were wounded in the attack in Gardez city.Tabasim added that all five of the attackers were killed at the compound, which also houses the regional command for Afghanistan's eastern provinces. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement that the group was responsible for the attack. aljazeera
Afghan security forces recaptured Tora Bora from IS
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/afghan-official-afghanistan-security-forces-recaptured-tora-bora-from-islamic-state/story-OMy9lORZeO0SOmltrJZxhN.html
A top Afghan security official says he welcomes US Govt decision to send an additional 4,000 US troops to Afghanistan. Gen.Tariq Shah Bahrami, acting Afghan defense minister, said Saturday the decision was in consultation with the Afghan Govt . The mission for the new US troops will be to train and advise Afghan security forces.Meanwhile, Bahrami says army security forces recaptured Tora Bora in eastern Nangarhar province. He said at least 22 Islamic State group fighters were killed and 10 others were wounded in a clearance operation.AP
700 IS militants killed in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar province during operations:ANI
http://www.indialivetoday.com/700-islamic-state-militants-killed-in-afghanistans-nangarhar-province-during-hamza-operations/167266.html
UN believes up to 150,000 civilians trapped in Mosul
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/06/believes-150000-civilians-trapped-mosul-170617134007615.html
UN believes up to 150,000 civilians are still trapped in harrowing conditions in Mosul's Old City, where ISIL fighters battling advancing Iraqi forces are shooting at anyone trying to flee as part of a tactic to keep them as human shields.The UN's humanitarian chief Lise Grande said in an interview on Friday with AP that the global body expects the final battle for the Old City to start "within days". She said conditions there "are desperate" and the UN expects almost all civilians to try to escape.US-backed Iraqi forces have been battling fighters from the ISIL in Mosul since October. Grande said there have been more than 7,000 gunshot wounds of people trying to leave districts still controlled by ISIL.Around 860,000 people have already fled Mosul, which was "beyond the worst case" scenario of 750,000 that UN had planned for, said Grande. UN and Iraqi authorities have coordinated to build new camps and find spaces in existing camps for families returning to already recaptured eastern Mosul.Grande said the Iraqi forces have tried to keep the daily flight of people below the saturation point of 20,000 when they attack a neighbourhood."We're averaging between 8,000 and 15,000 a day," she said. aljazeera
At least 117 civilians killed in US-backed Syrian offensive to expel IS
http://www.newsx.com/world/66605-at-least-117-killed-in-us-backed-syrian-offensive-to-expel-islamic-state
Cairo: At least 117 civilians have been killed in the Syrian city of al-Raqqa since June 6, when US-backed Syrian forces began an offensive to expel the IS, a British-based war monitor reported. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that the civilians, including 25 children and 21 women, lost their lives in fighting and airstrikes by the US-led international coalition, Efe news reported. The SOHR explained that the coalition’s airstrikes also injured hundreds of citizens, with some of the victims suffering mutilation of limbs or permanent disability.It added that the death toll could rise due to the serious condition of those injured.Dozens of houses and civilian facilities in the Syrian city were destroyed because of the intense bombing against al-Raqqa city and its surroundings.The NGO added that the airstrikes and military operations of the Syrian Democratic Forces — a Kurdish-led alliance backed by the US — killed 142 IS militants, including local leaders.On Friday, SDF announced it had killed 312 IS militants and captured seven others during 10-day offensive in al-Raqqa.IANS
Russia says 180 IS fighters including 2 commanders killed
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/syria-russia-says-180-islamic-state-fighters-killed-in-last-one-month/story-SO2bHI9SlMy86qcPqWuUYN.html
Moscow: Russia said Saturday that airstrikes carried out this month had killed about 180 Islamic State jihadists in Syria, including two field commanders. “As a result of June 6 and 8 aerial strikes on targets belonging to IS fighters, IS field commanders Abu Omar al-Belgiki and Abu Yasin al-Masri were killed” in Deir Ezzor, a province held mostly by IS forces, the defence ministry said in a statement carried by the Interfax news agency.The ministry said that around 180 fighters were killed, and that 16 military vehicles were destroyed along with weapons stores.AFP
Philippines eyes truce with communist rebels amid Islamic group's siege
http://www.firstpost.com/world/philippines-eyes-truce-with-communist-rebels-amid-islamic-groups-siege-3710229.html
Manila: Philippine Govt said Sunday that it would suspend offensives against communist guerrillas to reciprocate a similar plan by the insurgents and allow troops to focus on quelling a bloody siege by Islamic State group-aligned militants that has dragged on for nearly a month in a southern city.Philippine negotiator Silvestre Bello III said the Govt move aims to foster talks for a cease-fire accord and a peace pact with New People's Army rebels. Troops have been battling communist and Muslim militants simultaneously in the country's south.AP
Philippine troops battle IS militants in Marawi as civilian death toll rises to 300
http://www.firstpost.com/world/philippine-troops-battle-islamic-state-militants-in-marawi-as-civilian-death-toll-rises-to-300-3707197.html
Philippine troops pounded Islamist militants holding parts of southern Marawi city with air strikes and artillery on Saturday as more soldiers were deployed and the death toll rose to more than 300 after nearly a month of fighting.Fires erupted and dark plumes of smoke rose from enclaves still occupied by the militants as the air force staged bombing runs to support ground troops struggling to dislodge the fighters from entrenched positions, AFP journalists at the scene said.MG520 attack helicopters and FA50 fighter jets were used in the raids, while sustained bursts of automatic gunfire could be heard in the distance, indicating the intensity of the fighting.AFP
US issues terror alert for Istanbul; Turkey rejects statement, says it isn't based on 'concrete intelligence'
http://www.firstpost.com/world/us-issues-terror-alert-for-istanbul-turkey-rejects-statement-says-it-isnt-based-on-concrete-intelligence-3707263.html
Istanbul: A US consulate in Turkey has alerted its citizens of heightened security in an Istanbul neighborhood because of a possible terror threat.Turkey's foreign ministry issued a statement Saturday saying "US authorities made this statement based on normal precautions taken by our security forces rather than any concrete intelligence."AP
FLASH: NEWS & VIEWS
Salman vs Nayef: Rumours and ramblings in Saudi's game of thrones: Madawi Al-Rasheed, professor at National University of Singapore
http://www.middleeasteye.net/columns/rumours-and-ramblings-saudis-kingdom-cousins-1179520440
3 Mn Leather Industry Jobs at Risk After Ban on Cattle Slaughter:Hera Khan, The Quint
https://www.thequint.com/news-videos/2017/06/18/jobs-at-risk-in-leather-industry-after-ban-on-cattle-slaughter
Decades after earliest Quran was discovered, scholars to share full text of the Sana’a manuscript:Praveen Swami, Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/books/the-sanaa-code-4709129/
Facebook bug might have exposed moderators to suspected terrorist groups: reports
http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/facebook-bug-might-have-exposed-moderators-to-suspected-terrorist-groups-4708232/
Forest fire kills at least 58 in central Portugal
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/06/forest-fire-kills-25-central-portugal-170618044151132.html
Zakat funds gradually being used to educate poor kids:TOI
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/zakat-funds-gradually-being-used-to-educate-poor-kids/articleshow/59199507.cms
Kerala in the grip of viral fever, 103 deaths so far
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala-in-the-grip-of-viral-fever-103-deaths-so-far-4710024/
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:17 PM)
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