19 Sept. NEWS DIGEST ~ NEWS DIGEST

Evening NEWS DIGEST

19 Sept. 2017: 27 Zilhajja 1438:Vol:8, No:281

INDIA: ROHINGYA & REFUGESS

Suu Kyi condemns 'all human rights violations', says ready to begin verification process for Rohingya refugees

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/09/aung-san-suu-kyi-condemns-human-rights-violations-170919034711821.html

Aung San Suu Kyi said she "feels deeply" for the suffering of "all people" caught up in conflict-torn Rakhine state in her first comments on the crisis since the latest violence began last month. "We are concerned to hear the number of Muslims fleeing areas to Bangladesh," she said in a televised address on Tuesday, adding that Myanmar condemns any "human rights violations" that may have exacerbated the crisis. Suu Kyi also said she was "concerned" over Muslims and others who have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh.On Monday, leaders from the UK, US, France, Canada and Australia had urged Aung San Suu Kyi to push for an end to violence against the Rohingya.In her address, Suu Kyi said "it is not the intention of the Myanmar Govt to apportion blame or to abnegate responsibility", adding that Myanmar does not fear "international scrutiny" over the Rohingya crisis.She invited outside observers to visit Rakhine and see the problems in person." Security forces have been instructed to adhere strictly to the code of conduct in carrying out security operations, to exercise all due restraint and to take full measures to avoid collateral damages and the harming of innocent civilians," she said." Human rights violations and all other acts that impair stability and harmony and undermine the rule of law will be addressed with strict norms of justice," she said.Suu Kyi said that her country stood ready "at any time" to verify the status of the Rohingya who have fled violence in the last month to aid the return of those eligible for resettlement."We are prepared to start the verification process at any time," she said referring to those who have fled in the unprecedented exodus to Bangladesh, without guaranteeing a return for all of the refugees. Al Jazeera's Scott Heidler, who attended the speech at Naypyidaw, said Suu Kyi "expressed good faith" in vowing to repatriate citizens of Myanmar from Bangladesh.But he added that "the majority of the Rohingya are not treated as citizens in Myanmar and lack the proper documentation to begin with".

Suu Kyi says Myanmar ready to begin verification process for Rohingya refugees who wish to return

http://indianexpress.com/article/world/myanmar-rohingya-muslim-crisis-aung-san-suu-kyi-state-of-the-union-address-live-updates-4850454/

Suu Kyi 'burying head in sand' over Rohingya:refugees

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/09/suu-kyi-burying-head-sand-rohingya-crisis-170919092338988.html

Rohingya refugees who fled violence in Myanmar have dismissed leader Aung San Suu Kyi's stated concern over their plight, as activists accused her Govt of "burying their heads in the sand" over violence tearing through Rakhine state.In a sprawling and squalid camp on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, Rohingya refugees on Tuesday rejected Suu Kyi's claim that many members of their minority group were safe in Myanmar and said her vow to repatriate displaced Rohingya carried no weight."Suu Kyi is a traitor. We can't rely on her words," said Sultan Ahmed, who arrived in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh along with hundreds of thousands of refugees two weeks ago.80-year-old told Al Jazeera that he did not believe the de facto leader would act on her words because "everything is run and decided by the army".Suu Kyi "is only a name there. Nobody cares about her," he said. She broke her silence on Tuesday, condemning "all human rights violations" in Rakhine State, and vowing to take action against those who commit abuses.However, she failed to comment on the military offensive that sent more than 420,000 Rohingya pouring across the border into Bangladesh, an operation the UN has branded as "ethnic cleansing".Abdul Hafiz, a Rohingya man in Kutupalong, was angered by Suu Kyi's implication that Rohingya were themselves responsible for their plight.Hafiz told AP, "They have kept people in confinement. Let the world media know from them whether we are tortured or living in joy." Shah Ahmed, a 60-year-old refugee who fled Maungdaw in northern Rakhine State 2 weeks ago, said he also no longer trusted Suu Kyi.Human rights groups were sceptical too, criticising Suu Kyi for failing to condemn the army's alleged abuses, as well as her claim that army operations had ceased on Sept.5."While it was positive to hear Suu Kyi condemn human rights violations in Rakhine state, she is still silent about role of the security forces," Amnesty said .Phil Robertson of HRW, referring to Suu Kyi's assertion that military operations had ended, asked: "If that is true, then who is burning all the villages we've seen in the past two weeks?"Ronan Lee, a Rohingya researcher at Deakin University, said Suu Kyi's speech was "deeply concerning from a humanitarian point of view". It was likely to provide the military with "genuine solace and certainty that she will not call on them to stop what they are doing," he told Al Jazeera from Melbourne.

How Rohingya Muslims being wiped off Myanmar’s map

http://indianexpress.com/article/world/rohingya-muslims-being-wiped-off-myanmars-map-4850889/

Rohingya crisis: UN to investigate reports of ethnic cleansing of Muslims by Burmese military

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/rohingya-crisis-latest-news-un-burma-ethnic-cleansing-military-muslim-minority-villages-bangladesh-a7954626.html

UN has announced it will investigate reports of mass killings, torture, sexual violence, and the burning of Rohingya villages in Burma.The chairman of the fact-finding mission, Marzuki Darusman asked the UNHRC for a further 6 months to investigate the violence – taking it up to Sept.2018.He said the team "will go where the evidence leads us" but warned that he still needs a clear signal from the Burmese govt that they will be allowed into the country. He also called for Burmese govt to release its own investigation in the violence in Rakhine state which was completed in August.But the Burmese ambassador to the UN, Htin Lynn, said the investigation was "not a helpful course of action" and said Burma was taking proportionate security measures against terrorists to restore peace. Darusman also said Rohingya people had faced "major atrocities" and had been the subject of “dehumanizing propaganda”. He said: "There are reports of landmines being planted on the border with Bangladesh that are maiming and killing those trying to escape the violence, including children. “There are also reports of dehumanizing propaganda that akin the Rohingya to pests." Independent/ Anadolu agency

UN investigators demand 'full, unfettered' access to Myanmar

http://dailytimes.com.pk/world/19-Sep-17/un-investigators-demand-full-unfettered-access-to-myanmar

UN warns of 'major atrocities' in Myanmar crisis

http://aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/un-figure-warns-of-major-atrocities-in-myanmar-crisis/913790

421,000 Rohingya entered Bangladesh since Aug. 25

http://aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/-421-000-rohingya-entered-bangladesh-since-aug-25/913835

Geneva;About 421,000 Rohingya Muslims have crossed from Myanmar to Bangladesh since Aug. 25, UN said on Tuesday. "Many of the new arrivals, who walked for days through jungle in intense heat and monsoon rains, are already sick and malnourished by the time they reach the teeming settlements of Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh," Joel Millman, spokesman for the UN’s International Agency for Migration (IOM) told a news conference at the UN in Geneva on Tuesday. Anadolu agency

UN General Assembly: UN chief urges Myanmar to halt military campaign against Rohingya

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/un-chief-urges-myanmar-to-halt-military-campaign-against-rohingya-9231614

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday urged Myanmar to halt its military campaign against Rohingya Muslims, just hours after Aung San Suu Kyi failed to quell an international outcry in a much-anticipated address. Addressing the opening of the UN General Assembly, Guterres said he "took note" of Aung San Suu Kyi's pledge to abide by the recommendations of a report by ex-UN chief Kofi Annan that has advocated citizenship for Rohingyas."But let me be clear," Guterres said. "The authorities in Myanmar must end the military operations,and allow unhindered humanitarian access."

Rohingya: UK condemned for continuing Burmese army training amid reports of 'ethnic cleansing'

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/rohingya-crisis-uk-burma-army-training-ethnic-cleansing-myanmar-michael-fallon-military-mod-defence-a7955171.html

Rohingya crisis: India stresses on restoring normalcy in Myanmar, says situation must be handled with restraint

http://www.firstpost.com/world/rohingya-crisis-india-stresses-on-restoring-normalcy-in-myanmar-says-situation-must-be-handled-with-restraint-4059763.html

Geneva: India has stressed on restoration of normalcy in Myanmar's Rakhine state where violence has triggered an outflow of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees to neighbouring Bangladesh and called for the situation to be handled with restraint."It is imperative that violence is ended and normalcy in the state is restored expeditiously through a solution based on respect for peace, communal harmony, justice, dignity and democratic values," Rajiv Chander, India's permanent representative to UN in Geneva, said."We urge that the situation in Rakhine state be handled with restraint, focusing on the welfare of the civilian population," he said. He was speaking at an interactive dialogue with the fact-finding mission on Myanmar at the 36th session of the UNHRC.IANS

Solution to Rohingya crisis is socio-economic and infrastructure development: Indian envoy tells UN

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/only-long-term-solution-to-rohingya-crisis-is-socio-economic-and-infrastructure-development-indian-envoy-tells-un-4850929/

Security beefed up to check entry of Rohingya Muslims along Indo-Myanmar border

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/security-beefed-up-to-check-entry-of-rohingya-muslims-along-indo-myanmar-border-4851248/

Aizawal:Security has been beefed up and patrolling by the Assam Rifles intensified along the Mizoram-Arakan border in the state’s Lawngtlai district, in view of the possibility of Rohingya Muslim militants and refugees attempting to enter the state.A senior home department official said today that several meetings were held by Mizoram police, paramilitary forces and intelligence agencies of both central and state Govt s to review the security situation along the Myanmar border. “Not a single Rohingya Muslim has so far entered Mizoram,” he added.PTI

India welcomes Suu Kyi’s ‘encouraging’ statement on Rohingyas

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-welcomes-aung-san-suu-kyi-s-encouraging-statement-on-rohingyas/story-fWvmmBMkgASANeb97YxMsK.html

Yangon: India has welcomed as encouraging and positive Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi’s address on the situation in the country’s Rakhine state where violence has triggered an outflow of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees to neighbouring Bangladesh.“It was an encouraging address and contained a very positive message,” India’s Ambassador to Myanmar Vikram Misri told the media after Suu Kyi’s state of the union address on the issue.IANS

New images show 214 Rakhine villages destroyed

http://aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/new-images-show-214-rakhine-villages-destroyed/913883

Nearly 214 villages in Myanmar’s Rakhine state have been completely destroyed, satellite images released by an international rights body revealed on Tuesday. Anadolu

Pak should take away Rohingyas if Masood Azhar is so fond of them: Union Minister Giriraj

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pak-should-take-away-rohingyas-union-minister-giriraj-singh/story-Pgqr2umi7urAGJZgBvyE3J.html

Union Minister Giriraj Singh, known for his controversial remarks, said on Tuesday that Pakistan should “take away” Rohingyas as Masood Azhar “is fond of them”.Referring to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Kashmir and the continuing infiltration attempts from across the border, Singh said that India does not have the capacity to bear more “infiltrators”, therefore the Rohingya Muslims will have to leave.The minister reiterated the Govt ’s stand that Rohingyas are illegal migrants who pose a threat to India’s internal security.PTI

Rohingya a ‘security threat’: ‘We love India, why would we join forces against country?’

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/rohingya-muslims-myanmar-bangladesh-we-love-india-why-would-we-join-forces-against-the-country-4850271/

New Delhi;“We’d rather kill ourselves here than go back to Myanmar or Bangladesh… At least there are graveyards here for us, unlike back there,” said a despondent 25-year-old Sohail Khan. On Monday, seated on a broken plastic chair outside a tiny shop in Delhi’s Kanchan Kunj, where close to 50 Rohingya families have been living since 2012, Khan said he has barely eaten in the last few days. “Khauf hai, khaana kahan se khaayein?” he said.At Kanchan Kunj, semi-clad children — covered in dust and giant mosquito bites — run around, as their parents ponder about their impending future. “Look at these children, do they look like terrorists? We love India… it’s only when we came here that we realised what peace is, what living is, what laughing is. Why will we join forces against India?” said Jaffar (27), who works as an office boy in a company in Okhla.“We have UNHRC refugee cards… In the last two weeks, though, some people in the colony lost their jobs. Some employers said it’s because they are from Myanmar and will be thrown out. Are we not human?” asked Mohammad Salimullah (34. indianexpress

Sushma meets PM Hasina, no discussion on Rohingyas

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sushma-swaraj-meets-bangladeshi-pm-sheikh-hasina-no-discussion-on-rohingyas/story-VF3vnB1UR3T0W8Nl1xl1tL.html

Fate of jailed Rohingyas in Northeast hangs in the balance, infiltration fears mount

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/fate-of-jailed-rohingyas-in-northeast-hangs-in-the-balance-infiltration-fears-mount/story-VpVRhrbYmhGxmZpF76PunO.html

Centre takes U-turn on citizenship to Chakma-Hajong refugees?

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-takes-a-u-turn-on-citizenship-to-chakma-hajong-refugees/article19715216.ece?homepage=true

New Delhi: Days after saying that the Centre would honour the 2015 Supreme Court order on granting citizenship to the Chakma-Hajongs, Buddhists and Hindus from undivided Pakistan, Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said on Sept.19 that Supreme Court order was not implementable.In an about turn, Rijiju said the two persecuted communities who came from Chittagong (now Bangladesh) were settled in Arunachal Pradesh between 1964-69 by the then Congress Govt and any citizenship to them will disturb the “demography” of the tribal State.Rijiju said that the media had misrepresented his comments on the Chakma-Hajongs and that the Centre would appeal in the Supreme Court against its earlier 2015 direction to grant citizenship to them.“Arunachal enjoys special status as per Constitution. As a Member of Parliament from Arunachal, I have to stand by my people,” Rijiju said. thehindu

SC order on citizenship to Chakmas and Hajongs not implementable: Kiren Rijiju

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/sc-order-on-citizenship-to-chakmas-and-hajongs-not-implementable-kiren-rijiju/

INDIA: OTHERS

NIA Court grants bail to 2 more accused - Chaturvedi, Dwivedi in Malegaon bomb blast after Sadhvi, Purohit

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/court-grants-bail-to-two-accused-in-2008-malegaon-bomb-blast-4850987/

Mumbai: A special NIA court here today granted bail to 2 accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case. Sudhakar Chaturvedi and Sudhakar Dwivedi alias Shankaracharya, facing conspiracy charges, were granted bail by NIA Court judge SD Tekale.Both are accused of attending conspiracy meetings, where the terror attack was planned, along with others. 2 key accused in the case, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit, were granted bail earlier.Bombay High Court granted bail to Thakur earlier this year, while Purohit was given the relief by the Supreme Court last month. 12 people, including Thakur and Purohit, were arrested in connection with the blast. All the accused were booked under the stringent MCOCA UAPA, besides under various sections of the IPC.PTI

Malegaon blast: 2 accused granted bail, after Lt Col Purohit given interim relief by SC

http://www.firstpost.com/india/malegaon-blast-case-two-accused-granted-bail-after-lt-col-purohit-given-interim-relief-by-sc-4059081.html

Mumbai multiple blasts: SC dismisses Nachan's plea

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/2002-03-mumbai-multiple-blasts-supreme-court-dismisses-convicts-plea-4851263/

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the plea of a man seeking to set off the remainder of his 10-year jail term in the case of multiple blasts in Mumbai between Dec.2002 and March 2003 in which 13 people were killed. Saquib Abdul Hamid Nachan was awarded 10-year jail term in the case lodged under the POTA by a special court in Mumbai. Before being convicted, he had spent over seven years in jail during the adjudication of the case.A special POTA court in Mumbai had convicted 10 persons, including Nachan, in connection with the case. 3 convicts were awarded life term by the court.After being released on bail in POTA case in March 2011, Nachan was re-arrested on Aug.4, 2012 in connection with a separate case lodged under MCOCA. In Oct.last year, he was also released on bail in the MCOCA case, in which the trial is still pending. On April 6 last year, Nachan was convicted by a special court in the POTA case and subsequently awarded the decade long jail term.He had approached the HC claiming that the trial in the POTA case was going on when he was an undertrial prisoner in the MCOCA case. He had said that the period of detention undergone by him in MCOCA case should be set off against the jail term given to him in the POTA case. The high court had dismissed his plea saying the period undergone by him in MCOCA case cannot be set off against the sentence imposed in the POTA case.PTI

Kerala: 10 months after son was killed ‘for conversion’, father embraces Islam

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala-10-months-after-son-killed-for-conversion-man-embraces-islam-4850160/

Almost 10 months after Anil Kumar, alias Faisal, 30, was hacked to death in Kerala’s Malappuram district, allegedly by RSS activists after he converted to Islam, his father Krishnan Nair has become a Muslim. Nair was the last in the family to embrace Islam, the police said. The family comes from Kodinji village in Malappuram district.Soon after Faisal was killed on Nove.19, 2016, his mother Meenakshi had publicly dared the Sangh Parivar by converting to Islam. 2 months ago, Faisal’s two sisters, one brother-in-law and their 5 children also converted. Police sources said Nair, an upper-caste Hindu, converted into Islam two weeks ago at Maunathul Islam Sabha in Ponnani in the district. Along with his wife, daughters and grandchildren, Nair is said to be now undergoing a course for newly converts at Markazul Hidya in Manjeri, Malappuram. To read this story in Malayalam, click here.“Except one of Faizal’s brothers-in-law, Vinod, who is one of the accused in his murder, all others in the family have converted to Islam. The Muslim community considered Faisal as a martyr and ensured all support for his family members. This worked as a trigger for their conversions,’’ a police official said.Faisal, who worked as a driver in Riyadh, had converted to Islam in 2015 in the Saudi Arabian capital. In August 2016, his wife Priya (now Jesni) and three minor children also converted, which had allegedly enraged Sangh Parivar members in the region. Following Faisal’s killing, 12 RSS and BJP workers were arrested, among them the victim’s brother-in-law. After their interrogation, the police had said that the killers feared Faisal would have triggered more conversions in the family. indianexpress

Shameful to demand that I should be returned: Ladakh woman Shifah who married a Muslim

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/shameful-to-demand-that-i-should-be-returned-says-ladakh-woman-who-married-muslim-man/story-9XOqt5GQBtx1vTfHMVsNTP.html

New Delhi: A Buddhist woman whose marriage to a Muslim man stoked communal tension in J&K’s Ladakh wrote in an article for the Indian Express on Tuesday that she ‘abhorred’ the politics being played on her personal decision.Shifah, formerly called Stanzin Saldon, said in the article she had decided to become a Muslim as an outcome of her “spiritual quest” and not because she “disliked her religion”. She added that she converted long before she met her husband Syed Murtaza Aga.Shifah, 30, converted to Islam in 2015 and married Aga, an engineer, last year.Earlier this month, the region’s apex religious body Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) had threatened communal unrest unless Shifah was “brought back”.LBA wrote to CM, asking for an annulment of Shifah and Mustaza’s marriage.“It is shameful to demand that I should be returned, because nobody has taken me or stolen me. I am here and I have made my choices out of my free will,” Shifah said, adding that the portrayal of women as a “mere baby-making machine to save the community” was another reason she questioned her life choices.HT

It saddens me that my marriage, spiritual choice are misused to stoke fear, hatred: Stanzin Saldon now Shifah

http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/i-am-saldon-i-am-shifah-4850000/

Will give Hadiya case findings to SC: Women Commission

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/will-give-hadiya-case-findings-to-sc-panel/article19711007.ece

Kerala State Women’s Commission on Monday said it would only reveal to the Supreme Court whether Hadiya, a 26-year-old Hindu woman who converted to Islam and subsequently married a Muslim youth, faced severe human rights violations, including forcible detention, at her parent’s home.The commission had opened an inquiry into the allegation that Ms. Hadiya’s parents flagrantly violated her fundamental rights after the High Court had placed her in their custody after annulling her marriage. The complainants, including 1,000 members of the Girls Islamic Organisation, alleged that none was allowed to meet her and that Ms. Hadiya was constantly under police watch. The SC was seized of the matter in August when Ms. Hadiya’s husband approached it to revoke the lower court’s decision.The SC reserved its judgement and ordered the NIA to probe whether the marriage was part of a “Love Jihad” conspiracy to convert women from other faith to Islam.The Commission said it was unwilling to comment on the status of the sensitive inquiry or the nature of its findings. It would submit its deductions in the Supreme Court if ordered.thehindu

UN reforms should include expansion of permanent or non-permanent members: India

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/un-reforms-should-include-expansion-of-permanent-or-non-permanent-members-india/story-9Pi7DMgklGWPXY20hjzyCJ.html

New York:India has extended its support to US President Donald Trump’s efforts to reform the UN, saying it should include the expansion of the world body’s permanent and non-permanent members to keep pace with the changed times. Trump, during a discussion on UN reform on Monday, insisted that he had always seen the “great potential” of the organisation but warned that “bureaucracy” was stopping it from realising its potential.Trump, once a harsh critic of the UN, called for reforms in the body -- a view India has been expressing for a long time.“We have said that the world body should be reformed to keep pace with the changed times including the expansion of its permanent or non-permanent members,” External affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told reporters at a news conference here. hindustantimes

Pak again brings up Kashmir at UN forum, India hits back calling it 'face of international terror'

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pak-again-brings-up-kashmir-at-un-forum-india-hits-back-calling-it-face-of-international-terror/articleshow/60744926.cms

New Delhi: In Geneva, at the UNHRC session that ended yesterday, Pakistan said: "...human needs, desires and the right to self-determination" are "being abused" in Kashmir". It then talked of "10,000 persons ... detained and tortured" in the state, according to a UNHRC statement on its proceedings. India then exercised its 'right of reply', to savage Pakistan and to talk of how it is once again misusing an international platform. India also said that PoK "is run by a 'deep state' and has become an epicentre of terrorism" where as Kashmiris in J&K have time and again reaffirmed their destiny through India's democratic processes. timesofindia

Eye on Pakistan, India wants probe into North Korea’s nuclear proliferation linkages

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/eye-on-pakistan-india-wants-probe-into-north-koreas-nuclear-proliferation-linkages-4850828/

Year after surgical strikes: Surge in death count of both soldiers, militants

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/a-year-after-surgical-strike-uri-attack-surge-in-death-count-of-both-soldiers-and-militants-indian-army-pok-kashmir-4850240/

New Delhi:In nearly a year since the Army’s Special Forces carried out “surgical strikes” on terror launch pads inside PoK, there has been an increase in the casualties suffered by the Army, the number of militants killed, and a sharp spurt in the number of ceasefire violations. According to Govt data 110 militants were killed by the Army between Jan.and Sept.last year (the surgical strikes took place on the morning of Sept.29, 2016).Since the surgical strikes, 178 militants have been killed, both in the Kashmir Valley and on the LoC — 31 between Oct.and Dec.last year, and the rest this year.Indian Express

DSP lynching case: JKLF chief moves SHRC over false implication of JK youths

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/dsp-lynching-jklf-chief-yasin-malik-moves-shrc-over-false-implication-of-jk-youths-4850875/

Srinagar; JKLF chief Yasin Malik has petitioned State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) to look into “false implication” of many Kashmiri youths by the police in the DSP Mohammed Ayub Pandith lynching case. It is for the first time the separatist leader has approached a state office.Malik visited the office of SHRC on Monday and met its chairman Justice(rtd)Bilal Nazki. He presented two petitions before the chairman and asked him to take serious cognisance of the matter, a JKLF spokesman said on Tuesday. In the first petition, JKLF chief raised the issue of “dozens of young boys being falsely implicated by police in the killing of Pandit,” he said. Malik told the commission that 15 incarcerated boys met him at the Central Jail, Srinagar, where he was lodged recently and narrated their ordeal to him, the spokesman said. Pandith was stripped and lynched by a mob outside the historic Jamia Masjid in Srinagar’s Nowhatta area on July 22, triggering outrage across Kashmir and drawing all-round condemnation. Malik called for a “fresh and unbiased inquiry” into the case. “Use your good offices for saving the lives and careers of these boys so that no injustice is done to them,” he told the commission.In the other petition, the separatist leader cited the case of ailing Syeda Asiya Andrabi and Fahmida Sofi who are languishing in a Jammu jail from a long time, the spokesman said.Malik asked SHRC to “take note of these gross human rights violations and ensure that the inmates are treated fairly”.PTI

Demand for explanation and release of Kashmiri photojournalist arrested by NIA grows louder

http://twocircles.net/2017sep18/416727.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29

NIA arrests 2 for providing support to infiltrators in J&K

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/nia-arrests-two-for-providing-support-to-infiltrators-in-kashmir-4851290/

New Delhi: NIA arrested two persons for allegedly providing logistical and material support to terrorists infiltrating from Pakistan into Kashmir for carrying out subversive activities, officials said here today.Zahoor Ahmed Peer and Nazir Ahmed Peer, both residents of Wahama, Kupwara, in North Kashmir, were arrested from Jammu in connection with a case registered by the NIA in July last year, an NIA spokesperson said. NIA will seek their transit remand and bring them to Delhi for further questioning, he added.In July last year, police in J&K arrested a Pakistani national, Bahadur Ali, from Handwara in North Kashmir and recovered a large quantity of incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, from him. The case was later handed over to the NIA.PTI

Fake news killing people, yet govt not taking it seriously

http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/fake-news-killing-people-yet-Govt -not-taking-it-seriously?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=emailemail&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Indiatomorrownet+%28IndiaTomorrow.net%29

New Delhi: "Recently we have seen many crimes due to rumours based on morphed image and fake videos in various states where people have been killed. So now fake news is killing people. It is a big issue that has not been taken seriously as it should have been," said senior journalist Pratik Sinha, who is co-founder of altnews.in, a website dedicated to exposing fake news.He was speaking at program entitled "Fake News:Kya Hai Is Jhooth Ka Sach?"organized by StudioAdda initiative here on Monday.He gave several example of fake news including the recent one tweeted by Congress leader Digvijaya Singh about NDTV executive editor Ravish Kumar's remarks against PM Narendra Modi. "Fake news has become prevalent in a divisive, polarised society based on religious identity. The main factors behind circulation fake stuff is illiteracy of people in urban and rural both areas and their way of using social media," said Sinha.His altnews.in has ripped through several fake news stories in recent time. While lamenting that the Govt is not doing enough to curb the menace of fake news, he said:"We have been consistently exposing fake news and videos that were viral at large level. Multiple organizations along with mainstream media must come together. Till there is no public pressure, no Govt will do anything. We need to tell people and make them aware," Sinha said. Gurmehar Kaur, Delhi University student who hit national and international headlines as she stood up against culture of violence by right-wing Hindu youth groups, was also a victim of fake news during the infamous Ramjas College incident.While speaking at the topic, Gurmehar said: When Ramjas violent incident happened, a fake video was circulated on social media that I am in a car and drinking (alcohol) and dancing. That video was purposely made."Other eminent persons present at the Constitution Club event included Apoorva from, Studio Adda; Anupam Pandey from Outlook Magazine and Martand Jha from The Hindu.IndiaTomorrow

No place for minorities in BJP, says expelled Muslim leader from Assam

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/no-place-for-minorities-in-bjp-says-expelled-muslim-leader-from-assam/story-GoIbJ1rSgXQ1SWb7gqfzoM.html

Guwahati: From being a prominent Muslim face of the BJP in Assam to getting expelled from the party for flouting its line on the issue of Rohingya Muslims - Benazir Arfan has seen it all in the past seven days.The state executive member of the saffron party’s ‘mazdoor morcha’ or workers’ wing was expelled from the BJP on Monday, five days after she uploaded a post on social media voicing support for Rohingyas.“I was suspended from the party on Thursday and expelled four days later. The action was taken without giving me a hearing and the decision was conveyed through WhatsApp,” Arfan told thesaid.“I replied to the notice but a disciplinary action committee of the party expelled me indefinitely without giving me a hearing. No party leader called me or sought my views,” she said.“Party is also doing lip service in the name of being there for minorities. They are not serious about our issues and no genuine leader from the community is allowed to rise,” Arfan added.HT

Mayawati drops a bombshell; claims BJP hatched plot to assassinate her during Saharanpur riots

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-mayawati-drop-a-bombshell-claims-bjp-hatched-plot-to-assassinate-her-during-saharanpur-riots-2546574

BSP chief Mayawati alleged that BJP had plotted her assassination during the Saharanpur riots that took place in April this year.Addressing a rally and workers’ convention in Meerut, the former UP CM claimed that the BJP had hatched the conspiracy to assassinate her after she resigned from her position in the Rajya Sabha, following the Saharanpur riots.She further alleged that the BJP had engineered the riots to divert the people’s attention from the issue of tampering of EVMs during the state assembly polls, which saw the BJP win a record 325 seats.“The violence in Shabbirpur was escalated, thanks to BJP and its supporters just to divert the attention from the EVM tampering allegation,” she alleged.She further claimed that the BJP had hatched a plan after they found out that she would be visiting the riot-hit area. dnaindia

CBI arrests BJD MLA Prabhat Biswal in Rs 500-crore Odisha chit fund scam

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cbi-arrests-bjd-mla-prabhat-biswal-in-rs-500-crore-odisha-chit-fund-scam/story-Fhc2aULQDufn8xRax1zzBK.html

Bhubaneswar:Ruling BJD MLA Prabhat Biswal was arrested by CBI on Tuesday in connection with an allegedly dubious land deal with the kingpin of a Rs 500-crore chit fund scam in Odisha, investigating officials said.The arrest of Biswal, a close confidante of CM Naveen Patnaik, could potentially give fresh ammunition to BJP which is trying to topple the BJD in the 2019 assembly polls.Officials said Biswal was arrested from his Cuttack residence early Tuesday morning over the land deal with Seashore Group chief Prashant Dash, accused of swindling more than Rs 500 crore from people through a pyramid scheme. hindustantimes

Police looking for BJP leader’s kin who opened fire with air gun during communal riot in MP

http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/sep/18/police-looking-for-bjp-leaders-kin-who-opened-fire-with-air-gun-during-communal-riot-in-madhya-prad-1659034.html

Bhopal: Police in Shajapur town in Madhya Pradesh are looking for the relative of a BJP leader who shot two persons with an air gun during communal violence that erupted on Saturday.Police are searching for Mahendra Kushwah, brother-in-law of Mona Vikram Kushwah, a BJP municipal corporator from Ward 14 (Kachhiwada) of Shajapur town. Mahendra Kushwah has been booked for attempt to murder under Section 307 of the IPC as pellets fired by him from the airgun injured two persons on Saturday. Of the two injured persons, one was hospitalised in Indore, according to Shajapur district police superintendent Shailendra Chouhan. Police clarified that it was not police firing that caused injuries to the two persons on Saturday. In a hurriedly convened press briefing in Bhopal Sunday, inspector-general (law and order) Makarand Deuskar said police did not fire even a single round on Saturday. "Our investigations have revealed that a man named Mahendra Kushwah open fire with his air gun. Pellets from the gun injured 2 persons," Deuskar said.newindianexpress

No single incident of riot recorded in UP since March:CM

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/no-single-incident-of-riot-recorded-in-uttar-pradesh-since-march-cm-yogi-adityanath-4851220/

New Delhi:There has not been a single incident of riot in the state, claimed UP CM Yogi Adityanath as he completes six months in office. “After March 2017, there hasn’t been a single incident of riot. Prior to that, we had seen cases of riots taking place in the state,” Adityanath was quoted as saying by ANI.Taking a jibe at the previous dispensation, CM Adityanath claimed that his Govt has removed jungle raj (law of the jungle) from the state. “It was priority to rid UP of jungle raj. Happy that hard work by ministers has instilled sense of confidence in people,” the CM said. indianexpress

Intolerance, unemployment key issues facing India:Rahul

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/intolerance-unemployment-key-issues-facing-india-says-rahul-gandhi-4850652/

Washington; Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi has said that intolerance and unemployment are the key issues that pose a serious challenge to India’s national security and development. Gandhi, who is in the US on a two-week-long tour, held a a series of meetings, including a roundtable with eminent Indian /South Asia experts hosted by the Center for American Progress (CAP), a Democratic-leaning think tank. Prominent among the attendees were CAP head Neera Tandon, the former US Ambassador to India, Richard Verma, and Hillary Clinton’s top campaign advisor John Podesta.PTI

Ex-Congress leader Vaghela announces third front in Gujarat: indianexpress

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/shankersinh-vaghela-gujarat-elections-congress-third-front-bjp-4851024/

Just a couple of months ahead of the Gujarat assembly elections, veteran political leader Shankersinh Vaghela —who quit the Congress party in July this year — launched a new “political front” on Tuesday and presented a political alternative which according to him was “anti-Congress and anti-BJP.”On Tuesday, announcing the formation a third political alternative in the state, Vaghela said, “This is not a party, but a political front like the UPA and NDA… This is not BJP’s “B” team. This is not match-fixing. While the Congress has no chance (of forming Govt), BJP is facing anti-incumbency. The issues we will be fighting for are all those against the (BJP) Govt .

Hindutva is a travesty of Hinduism: Nayantara Sahgal

http://www.ptinews.com/news/9081864_Hindutva-is-a-travesty-of-Hinduism--Nayantara-Sahgal.html

New Delhi: Author Nayantara Sahgal today said that the Hindutva being practised today is a travesty of Hinduism.In conversation with writer Githa Hariharan in a Facebook Live video on the 'The Making and Unmaking of India', Sahgal said the "transformation of the nation is happening right now in front of our eyes"."What is projected today as Hindutva is a travesty of Hinduism. Hindutva is a distortion of Hinduism, and that is what we are being shrunk into from this huge and rich inclusive idea of India," she said.PTI

“We are shrinking into a Hindu monoculture: Sehgal

http://www.india.com/news/agencies/we-are-shrinking-into-a-hindu-monoculture-nayantara-sehgal-2481960/

Dawood’s brother Iqbal arrested in extortion case

http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/dawood-ibrahim-s-brother-iqbal-kaskar-detained-in-extortion-case/story-SfvcXexXstM4ZKmkIXBA6O.html

Mumbai:Thane police on Monday arrested Iqbal Kaskar, India’s most wanted criminal Dawood Ibrahim’s brother, in connection with an extortion case.Thane Anti-Extortion Cell, led by encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma, took Kaskar in for questioning from his Mumbai residence in the evening. He was later arrested.“Kaskar called a builder from Thane around four months ago and tried to extort money from him. The builder lodged a complaint with the police a few days ago. When we traced the number, we confirmed it was Kaskar’s,” a police officer from the anti-extortion cell said.“We have questioned Kaskar about the call.We have detained him as a prime suspect in the case,” officer added.Kaskar, who was deported from UAE in 2003, is said to be operating his brother’s real estate business in the city, the police said. hindustantimes

Iqbal was watching KBC, eating biryani, when arrested

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/iqbal-kaskar-dawood-ibrahim-brother-was-watching-kbc-eating-biryani-when-arrested-4851244/

Economic slowdown is real, not just technical: SBI Research

http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/economic-slowdown-is-real-not-just-technical-sbi-research/article19714444.ece?homepage=true

Mumbai: Noting that the economy has been on a downslide since Sept. 2016, SBI Research on Tuesday said the slowdown is real and not technical and called for more public spending to arrest the slide.“We certainly believe that we are in a slowdown mode since Sept.2016 and a slowdown that has been prolonged to Q1 of this fiscal year is technically not short-term in nature or even transient,”SBI Research said in a report. Continuing slowdown has “raised the spectre of whether slowdown is temporary or not” but stopped short of answering the question.The note comes days after BJP president Amit Shah attributed the slowdown — GDP growth slid for the sixth quarter in a row to hit a three-year low at 5.7% in the June quarter — to “technical reasons” without elaborating on the same. Shah had said growth had gone up to 7.1% after falling to 4.7% in FY14 when UPA was in power.PTI

Inflation is down by 700 bp since 2013, policy rates have declined by 200bp; and you are still wondering why GDP growth is slow?Surjit S Bhalla

http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/gdp-growth-inflation-demonetisation-its-interest-rates-stupid-narendra-modi-govt-real-effective-exchange-rate-indian-economy/

WORLD

Palestinian PM to visit Gaza for reconciliation talks

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/09/palestinian-pm-visit-gaza-reconciliation-talks-170918185600982.html

Palestinian PM Rami Hamdallah is planning to visit Gaza for talks after Hamas agreed to steps towards resolving a decade-long split with its West Bank-based rival Fatah. Nabil Shaath, a senior adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, told journalists in the West Bank city of Ramallah that Hamdallah would meet Hamas officials in Gaza City and assert the govt's control over ministries as a first step towards implementing a larger agreement."We await the first steps on the ground. We want to see Mr Hamdallah received by Hamas, the door to all the ministries open," he said. "That really could happen in the next 24 hours."Hamdallah has not visited Gaza since 2015, and a previous attempt at a unity Govt fell apart that year, with the two sides exchanging blame.The head of the Arab League on Monday hailed the steps taken by Hamas and called for full reconciliation.In a statement, Hamas called on Abbas to "take urgent steps to cancel all his punitive decisions and measures against our people in the Strip". aljazeera

Hamas calls on Abbas to stop punishing Gaza

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170919-hamas-calls-on-abbas-to-stop-punishing-gaza/

Hamas Spokesman Fawzi Barhoum called on Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas to revoke measures taken against the Gaza Strip after his movement dissolved the administrative committee, Quds Press reported.Abbas should “immediately” allow the Govt of Rami Hamdallah to bear its responsibilities in the Gaza Strip “without any procrastination”, Barhoum stressed.In April, Abbas began imposing a number of measures on the besieged Gaza Strip included reduction PA payments for the electricity supplied by Israel to the enclave, reduction of medicine shipments and medical referrals, slashing salaries of Gaza’s civil servants and forcing thousands of them in to early retirement. middleeastmonitor

Palestinians decry church patriarch's role in land deal

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/09/palestinians-decry-church-patriarch-role-land-deal-170913065512328.html

Occupied East Jerusalem - Greek Orthodox Church has been plunged into a renewed crisis in the Holy Land as its leaders are accused of selling off land to extremist Jewish settlers in prime locations in Jerusalem's Old City.Hundreds of Palestinians rallied in the city this month to call for the removal of Patriarch Theophilos III, claiming that he had colluded with a settler organisation.The settler group, Ateret Cohanim, has been working for decades to evict Palestinians from their homes and shops in the Old City, including around important holy sites such as the al-Aqsa Mosque compound. The land deal, initiated back in 2004, brought down Theophilos's predecessor, Irineos, more than a decade ago after he sold an option for a 198-year lease on three strategically located properties in the Old City to front companies representing Ateret Cohanim. Secret tape recordings of Ateret Cohanim officials have in the past raised concerns that Israel is strong-arming each new Greek Orthodox Patriarch into selling land by refusing to agree to recognise his appointment until he cooperates with the settler group. aljazeera

Israel to seal off West Bank, Gaza Strip

https://www..com/20170919-israel-to-seal-off-west-bank-gaza-strip/

Israel will today close off the occupied West Bank and besieged Gaza Strip for five days to Saturday to mark the Jewish new year.During this holiday, Israeli occupation forces prevent Palestinians from entering Israel and Jerusalem. This stops them access their jobs and Al-Aqsa Mosque.Quds Press reported an Israeli military official saying that the situation in the West Bank and Jerusalem is “still sensitive” from a security perspective. middleeastmonitor

Israeli settlers’ groups calls for increasing raids of Al-Aqsa

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170919-israeli-settlers-groups-calls-for-increasing-raids-of-al-aqsa-mosque/

Israeli Jewish settlers’ groups called for increasing raids of Al-Aqsa Mosque during the Jewish holidays which start on Thursday, Quds Press reported yesterday.Israeli occupation authorities, Quds Press said, readied themselves to protect Israeli Jewish settlers who wish to raid Al-Aqsa Mosque.There are a number of Jewish holidays from the end of September through to Oct. and in previous years this has led to hundreds of settlers storming the Muslim holy site to perform prayers or tour the area while Muslim worshippers have had their access limited to been banned from entry at times. middleeastmonitor

Imam Abdulrahman al-Sudais slammed for claiming Trump 'steering world to peace'

http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-and-us-are-steering-world-security-saudi-imam-sparks-outcry-935145635

The imam of the grand mosque of Mecca has claimed Donald Trump, the US and Saudi Arabia are "steering the world to peace", in comments during a visit to New York that sparked an outcry on social media. Abdulrahman al-Sudais said in a TV interview with Saudi channel Al Ekhbariya that Saudi Arabia and the US are the "poles of influence in the world". They are "steering the world and humanity to the ports of security, peace and prosperity," he added, claiming that the two countries should unite to "combat terrorism" and to "realise security and international peace". Meet, on 'Civilisational communication between the US and the Islamic World', was held by Muslim World League over two days and attracted representatives of Islamic institutions globally.Imam' comments attracted criticism, with hashtag #SudaisDeclarationDoesNotRepresentMe circulating in Arabic. Many users criticised Sudais' remarks and his praising of the US. middleeasteye

Qatar discusses greater cooperation with Iran, Pakistan

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170919-qatar-discusses-greater-cooperation-with-iran-pakistan/

Qatar’s PM, Abdullah Bin Nasser Al Thani, discussed boosting cooperation between Doha and Iran and Pakistan with the ambassadors of both countries, the Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.Mohammed Javad Asayish and Shahzad Ahmad met with the Qatari official to discuss areas of common interest including enhancing trilateral cooperation.On 26 August, Qatar decided to return its ambassador to Iran 18 months after he quitted the country following angry demonstrations were held at Saudi’s missions in Iran after the Kingdom executed Shia Muslim cleric Nimr Al-Nimr. middleeastmonitor

Somalia backs Saudi-UAE bloc blockade on Qatar

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170919-somalia-backs-saudi-uae-bloc-blockade-on-qatar/

Somalia’s southern autonomous region has sided with Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s bloc against Qatar, news site Garowe said.President Sharif Hassan’s office of Southwest State said a neutral position previously taken by the Federal Govt of Somalia on the Qatar-Gulf rift did not match the considerations of the federal member states and people. middleeastmonitor

Chinese-Russian naval drills begin off North Korea

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/09/chinese-russian-naval-drills-north-korea-170919081458454.html

China and Russia have started joint naval drills in the waters near the Russia-North Korea border, local media reported.The exercises, which began on Monday off Russia's southeastern port of Vladivostok, are the second part of China and Russia's 'Joint Sea-2017' programme that started in June. The drills, which include submarine rescue and anti-submarine exercises, are not directly linked to increasing tensions over North Korea, China's state-owned Xinhua news agency reported. aljazeera

Polls suggest jump in German far-right party's support

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/09/polls-suggest-jump-german-party-support-170918165158217.html

Germany's right-wing populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party ramped up attacks against immigration and Islam as its poll ratings jumped in the final stretch of election campaigning. The Muslim religion "does not belong in Germany", said a leading AfD candidate Alexander Gauland, who argued its "political doctrine is not compatible with a free country". "Islamist rhetoric and violence and terror have roots in the Quran and in the teachings of Islam," he told reporters on Monday. Among other proposals, AfD wants a ban on minarets and public calls to prayer from mosques, a ban on headscarves for teachers and students, and for imams to lead prayers only in German.The latest polls show the AfD securing 10-12 % of the vote, up from 8-10 percent.The first far-right party set to enter Germany's parliament for more than a half a century has been saying it will press for Chancellor Angela Merkel to be "severely punished" for opening the door to refugees and migrants. aljazeera

UNHCR: Nearly 2 million Yemenis internally displaced

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170919-unhcr-nearly-2-million-yemenis-internally-displaced/

UNHCR said in a report posted ReliefWeb that the number of internally displaced people in Yemen had reached nearly 2 million due to the ongoing conflict in the country.It said 84 % of the nearly 1,980,510 people have been internally displaced for over a year.The report also said 946,044 internally displaced people had returned to their homes and 280,623 refugees and asylum seekers, mainly from Somalia and Ethiopia, are in the country.Additionally, the report said the “UNHCR remains deeply concerned by the significant impact the escalating hostilities are having on the protection of civilians and on the increase of newly displaced persons”. middleeastmonitor

US to send more than 3,000 Ztroops to Afghanistan

http://aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-to-send-more-than-3-000-troops-to-afghanistan/913538

US will deploy more than 3,000 additional troops to Afghanistan, Defense Secretary James Mattis said Monday.Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon most of the new forces are already on their way to Afghanistan or have orders to deploy."Frankly I haven't signed the last of the orders right now. As we look at specific, small elements that are going," he said during an impromptu news conference. U.S. currently has about 11,000 troops in Afghanistan.Anadolu agency

Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:03 PM)

NEWS DIGEST

NEWS DIGEST

19 September 2017