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Evening NEWS DIGEST
17 June 2017: 21 Ramazan 1438: Vol: 8, No:219
INDIA
Lynched Zaffar Hussein was protecting wife and daughter, eyewitnesses say Rajasthan govt official yelled ‘kill him’
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/lynched-rajasthan-man-was-protecting-wife-and-daughter-eyewitnesses-say-govt-official-yelled-kill-him/story-I6FWd0xv3JBZ7ZoeNcEavJ.html
Pratapgarh: For 24 hours, Rashida Bi has been in a daze. With a white dupatta over her face, she sits facing a blank wall, wailing and talking incoherently in snatches.Next to her, her 14-year-old daughter Sabra is reading the Quran to come to terms with her grief, sitting on the floor of their modest one-storey home in a congested neighbourhood in Rajasthan’s Pratapgarh.Her father, CPI (ML) member and activist Zaffar Hussein was allegedly lynched by Govt officials early on Friday after he objected to their photographing women defecating in the open.The mother and daughter were among the women being clicked by civic officials, including the commissioner.“They threatened my daughter, said they’ll burn her father, break my face,” Rashida says in an outburst before collapsing into sobs.“It was about 6:30 am and we had gone for latrine [to relieve ourselves] there when the car of municipal officials came. They started clicking our photos, abusing us and kicking our water mugs. Abba came out and told them to stop after which they started beating him,” says Sabra, the younger of Zaffar’s 2 daughters.Kamal, a sweeper at the municipality, was hitting Zaffar’s head with a stone, she adds. “The commissioner, who was sitting in the car, egged him on. ‘Maaro, maaro, jaan se khatam kar do’,” says the daughter, who studies in Class 10.Shahida (30), a neighbour who too claims to be an eyewitness, adds that Kamal’s hand and shirt got stained with Zaffar’s blood during the assault.Police haven’t arrested anyone for the alleged assault but has named 5 civic officials – including commissioner Ashok Jain – in the FIR. “We were only telling women coming back after defecating to stop doing it in the open. Zaffar came and attacked Kamal,” he told HT.“I held him and took him aside. Whatever the issue, you must not fight, I told him. Zaffar then left cursing us,” he said. He added that there was no attack or retaliation from his men.But eyewitnesses dismiss the official’s version of events and say they saw the alleged attack on the 48-year-old Zaffar. “They threatened my 14, said they’ll burn her father, break my face.” -- Rashida Bi, wife of Zaffar Hussein.At the spot where the alleged lynching took place, a few stones, a little larger than fist, are lying on the road. “I was returning from there after taking a dump,” Durga Shankar, a 16-year old standing at the spot, says pointing towards a mound of black rocky ground.“A white car was parked here. And the red-haired man [Kamal] was punching him [Zaffar] in the stomach,” he says.Another woman who had gone to relieve herself, Sarsi Meena, says Zaffar had come out running after the women made noise. “The officials had been coming since four days and clicking our photos and telling us to use the community toilet,” she says. Zaffar, who ran a small grocery shop and worked for rights of labourers, had repeatedly petitioned the municipal councillor to release money for the construction of toilets in the homes, the villagers say.The photographing of people defecating in the open is part of the govt’s Swachh Bharat scheme to shame and discourage public defecation. But many experts say such naming-and-shaming doesn’t work because poor and backward communities have scant access to functional toilets or funds to build their own facilities. HT
Rajasthan officials beat man to death after he objects to their photographing women defecating in open
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/rajasthan-pratapgarh-man-zafar-hussain-dies-after-fight-with-officials-taking-photos-of-women-defecating-in-open-4707972/
Activist Zafar lynched to death in Rajasthan’s Pratapgarh for objecting photography of women defecating in open
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/activist-zafar-khan-lynched-to-death-in-rajasthans-pratapgarh-for-objecting-photography-of-women-defecating-in-open-4707822/
Lynching of Zafar Khan: Hundreds protest in Pratapgarh
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/lynching-of-zafar-khan-hundreds-protest-in-pratapgarh
Jaipur: Hundreds of people came out on the streets in Pratapgarh town of Rajasthan on Friday when news spread about the lynching of a local resident Zafar Khan allegedly by municipality employees when he tried to stop them from taking photos of women easing out in the open.They marched towards the civil hospital where 44-year-old Khan's body was kept. They were demanding death sentence for the assailants. Locals said Zafar had submitted a memorandum to the local administration, a few days ago,complaining about unavailability of the funds for construction of toilets in houses under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.He had also demanded fund to repair the public latrine, which is not in working state till now.IndiaTomorrow
No arrests made as cops aren't sure whether Zafar was indeed lynched: timesofindia
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/no-arrests-made-as-cops-arent-sure-whether-zafar-was-indeed-lynched/articleshow/59193702.cms
Jaipur: No arrests have yet been made although there are witnesses who saw CPI-ML leader Zafar Hussain, 55, being beaten viciously by municipal workers. Pratapgarh commissioner Ashok Jain was also allegedly part of the group that was out touring early Friday morning in a bid to prevent open defecation as part of PM Modi's Swachh Bharat Campaign at a Kachi Basti in Pratapgarh.SP Shivraj Meena of Pratapgarh said,"We received a complaint from the civic officials and a case was filed. We later received information that Zafar Hussain had died. On a complaint from the man's brother, a case has been filed under Section 302 of IPC. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination and the report is awaited. Until it arrives, we cannot ascertain the cause of death. If indeed he died of thrashing, arrests will be made." In a handwritten note in Hindi signed by Zafar himself (date not visible; copy with TOI), CPI-M has appealed to local authorities to construct toilets in area and prevent sanitation workers from harassing poor women who are left with no option but to defecate in the open, given the lack of toilets.
Video: Mentally-challenged woman thrashed by hooligans in Rajasthan’s Nagaur, forced to chant ‘Jai Shree Ram’
http://www.india.com/news/india/video-mentally-challenged-woman-thrashed-by-hooligans-in-rajasthans-nagaur-forced-to-chant-jai-shree-ram-2239396/
Rajasthan:A mentally challenged woman in Rajasthan was thrashed by two men and the act was recorded and uploaded on social media. The incident reportedly took place on Tuesday in Nagaur district of Rajasthan. This incident came to limelight when some of them uploaded the video of two people thrashed a mentally-challenged woman with a rubber pipe on social media. Men those who are thrashing the lady identified as Prakash Meghwal and Shrawan Meghwal has been arrested by the police for thrashing a lady and forcing her to say Jai Shree Ram. india
Rajasthan: 2 arrested for thrashing mentally-challenged woman
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/rajasthan-group-of-men-thrash-differently-abled-woman-make-her-say-allah-jai-shri-ram-4706705/
Jaipur:2 persons have been arrested for allegedly thrashing a mentally-challenged woman with a rubber pipe in Nagaur district of Rajasthan, police said on Thursday. 2 persons identified as Prakash Meghwal and Shrawan Meghwal have been arrested, they said. “We are also searching for the man who uploaded the video on social media,”SHO, Balaji police station, Puranmal Meena said.PTI
Demonetisation one of most ‘disruptive experiments’, made ‘little sense’: US Report
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/demonetisation-one-of-most-disruptive-experiments-made-little-sense-report/story-49c9OsJ6oIWrG4koGCFciN.html
Washington: PM Narendra Modi’s “grand gesture” of demonetisation has proved to be one of the most “disruptive experiments” in recent economic history and it brought India’s cash-dependent economy to a “standstill”, according to a report published in a top US magazine today. The report in the latest issue of ‘Foreign Affairs’ magazine said demonetisation made “little sense” economically even as it proved enduringly popular.“This (demonetisation) has proved to be one of the most disruptive experiments in recent economic history, and one from which Modi’s administration now risks learning all the wrong lessons,” wrote author James Crabtree.A senior visiting research fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy NUS in Singapore, Crabtree who is currently on sabbatical from his previous position at the ‘Financial Times’, has been highly critical of demonetisation policy.“So far Modi’s economic achievements are real, but his record on delivering growth-enhancing reforms, especially those that risk upsetting the public, is mixed,” Crabtree wrote.“Although his grand gesture of demonetisation made little sense economically, it has proved enduringly popular, and it appears to have made only a minor dent in the GDP. As he approaches 2019, it is not hard to see the lesson that he might learn,” he wrote.“The fact that demonetisation has been bad for short-term growth is no longer in doubt. Last week, India released GDP figures for the first quarter of 2017, the period when Modi’s demonetisation had its largest impact,” he wrote.“The fact that demonetisation has been bad for short-term growth is no longer in doubt.”According to the report, hundreds of millions of Indians were forced to line up at cash machines and bank counters to replace their old 500-rupee and 1000-rupee notes which made up about nine-tenths of the value of all currency in circulation.“The crunch hit the poor particularly hard, and brought swaths of commercial activity in India’s cash-dependent economy, and especially in its large semi-legal gray market, to a standstill,” Crabtree said.PTI
Note ban fails? Govt report reveals that fake currency detection in banks is highest in 8 yrs
http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/note-ban-fails-govt-report-reveals-that-fake-currency-detection-in-banks-is-highest-in-8-years-323955.html
The claims of PM Modi about curbing production of fake currency after note-ban seem to be falling flat as counterfeit currency detection instances in the banking channels have seen an all time increase in the last eight years at over 3.53 lakh instances, according to latest Govt report. According to reports, all banks, either public sector, private or foreign banks in the country, are mandated to report such instances to Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) under anti-money laundering law provisions. "The number of counterfeit currency reports (CCRs) increased from a mere 8,580 in 2007-08 to 35,730 in 2008-09 and 3,53,837 in 2014-15," the report, accessed by PTI, said. However, the amount of fake currency detected has not been specified.CCR is defined as the usage of a forged or counterfeit currency note or bank note as genuine or where any forgery of a valuable security or a document has taken place during a cash transaction at a bank.Indiatimes
Traders in Chandni Chowk shut shop, protest against GST
http://www.hindustantimes.com/photos/india-news/traders-in-chandni-chowk-shut-shop-protest-against-gst/photo-PbGvzL8dfiOYVmjhubOlzL.html
Delhi: A view of the empty Nai Sadak in Old Delhi on account of bandh called by the textile traders against implementation of GST. While a number of brands and retailers have already started offering discounts to clear their sellers stock, small traders across various parts of the country closed their shops down demanding revision of the tax rates and withdrawal of taxes in textiles.The landmark GST reform is expected to be levied from next month. India times
No Aadhaar, no banking and threat to privacy: Do you have a choice?
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/aadhaar-bank-accounts-income-tax-pan-card-privacy/1/980954.html
New Delhi:On June 1, the revenue department of the finance ministry issued a notification making linking of Aadhaar with bank accounts mandatory.The notification amended the Prevention of Money-laundering (Maintenance of Records) Rules, 2005 to make quoting of Aadhaar mandatory along with PAN or Form 60 by individuals, companies and partnership firms for all financial transactions of Rs 50,000 or above.This has intensified the privacy debate in the country. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee termed it anti-poor and said, "Aadhaar has serious issues about privacy." The SC is already seized with the question of privacy versus Aadhaar. India today
Aadhaar mandatory for opening bank account, transactions of Rs 50,000 and above
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/aadhaar-mandatory-for-opening-bank-account-transactions-of-rs-50000-and-above-4707158/
‘Dad is not going to come back now’: Son of 1993 Mumbai blast convict Mustafa as 6 convicted, 1 acquitted in case
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/dad-is-not-going-to-come-back-now-son-of-1993-mumbai-blast-convict-mustafa-dossa/story-uqBNhF9vmlMkHT4OkOX1AM.html
Mumbai: “Everything is over... My dad is not going to come back now.”This was how Shahnawaz reacted to the conviction of his father Mustafa Dossa by a court in Mumbai in 1993 Mumbai serial blasts’ case on Friday. The special TADA court convicted 6 out of 7 accused, including Dossa and extradited gangster Abu Salem, in the second leg of the trial in the blasts case, 24 years after the attacks, which had left 257 people dead. Though Shahnawaz was struggling to stay composed tears welled up in his eyes. However, his sister wore a stoic expression.“My dad has a heart issue... Just wanted to know if he is fine,” she said.The court found Abu Salem, Mustafa Dossa, Karimullah Khan, Firoz Abdul Rashid Khan, Riyaz Siddiqui, and Tahir Merchant guilty under multiple charges which included criminal conspiracy, waging war against Govt of India and murder.The court acquitted another accused, Abdul Quayyum for want of evidence. Unable to contain his disappointment, Tahir Merchant’s cousin Arhan Akhtar said, “We had not expected this verdict. We thought he will be acquitted as all the evidences were in our favour”. Echoing him, Riyaz Siddhiqui’s relative Ahan Siddique said they were shocked to hear the conviction by court.“We had not expected this. We were hoping for the best. Though he (Riyaz) is convicted, he has already served eleven and half years in jail. We will decide our future course of action after consulting our lawyers,” he said.However, Quayyum, who was acquitted by the court, was overwhelmed.“...(I’m acquitted,” he kept on saying repeatedly.His relative said, “All of us are waiting outside the court. Abdul (Quayyum) was away from us for the last 10-12 years. We are very happy that he is finally free”.HT
Abu Salem, Dossa, 4 Others Convicted In 1993 Mumbai Blast Case, Hearing On Sentence To Begin On Monday
http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/abu-salem-mustafa-dossa-four-others-convicted-in-1993-mumbai-blast-case-hearing-on-sentence-to-begin-on-monday-323952.html
Violence rocks Kashmir: 6 policemen shot dead in LeT ambush, 2 civilians killed in clashes with securitymen
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/violence-rocks-jammu-and-kashmir-6-policemen-shot-dead-in-let-ambush-2-civilians-killed-in-clashes-with-securitymen/story-L7BcnvYfwZ0uoL0JHbeAWM.html
Separate incidents in J&K on Friday killed at least 11 people -- 6 police officers, a soldier, 2 civilians and 2 suspected militants -- authorities said, as violence in the troubled region spikes. Suspected militants ambushed a police patrol in the town of Achhabal, killing five police personnel, a top police official said.Militants have stepped up attacks in recent weeks on Govt forces patrolling the area as counter-insurgency operations intensify.Militants ambushed the police party on the outskirts of Anantnag district of south Kashmir, believed to be the hotbed of new-age militancy in the state. The policemen retaliated but could not break the trap laid for them. Militants overpowered them, then fatally shot them in their faces from a close range and escaped with their weapons. A Station House Officer of Achhabal area was among the victims of the attack.“It is an unfortunate incident to have lost six men including sub inspector Feroz , a resident of Pulwama. Their contribution to the police service will be remembered,” director general of police SP Vaid said.Pakistan-based LeT claimed responsibility for the attack, police said, adding it seems they wanted to take revenge of Arwani encounter in which their local commander Junaid Mattoo was believed to have died earlier in the day.Earlier, soldiers and a police special counter-insurgency force cordoned off Arwani on a tip off that armed militants were hiding in two homes, triggering a firefight. 2 civilians, including a teenage boy, were killed when security forces fired at hundreds of villagers who marched to the site of the shootout to help the militants escape, he added.Villagers said soldiers blasted at least two houses with explosives.As the fighting raged, thousands of people in the village and neighbouring areas ignored the Govt security lockdown and marched to Arwani in an attempt to help the trapped militants escape. 2 suspected militants were also killed in the shootout, an official said. It is believed that LeT commander, Junaid Mattoo, and his associate were 2 militants gunned down in the operation. Authorities suspended mobile internet services in Kashmir and cellphone service in some areas of southern Kashmir, fearing activists would mobilise anti-India protests in the region. Separatist leaders called for a general strike on Saturday to protest the killings.Separately on Friday, a soldier was killed when Pakistani soldiers fired at Indian posts in southern Naushera along the LoC that divides Kashmir between the nuclear-armed rivals, Army said. hindustantimes
2 civilians killed as locals protest at J&K encounter site; 2 militants dead
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/two-civilians-killed-as-locals-protest-at-jammu-kashmir-encounter-site-2-militants-dead-4707826/
Bodies of LeT’s Matoo, 2 aides found after ops;JK tense
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kashmir-bodies-of-three-let-militants-killed-in-arwani-encounter-recovered/story-aIx1u5dIHogRZdnPHVac2N.html
Bodies of 3 LeT militants including top commander Mattoo recovered; shutdown, curbs hit normal life in Valley
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/jun/17/bodies-of-3-let-militants-including-top-commander-junaid-mattoo-recovered-shutdown-curbs-hit-norma-1617762--1.html
Scores attend LeT commander Matoo’s funeral, militants perform gun salute
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/scores-attend-let-commander-junaid-matoo-s-funeral-militants-perform-gun-salute/story-7b5EO11Dhm7Iol560yK9IK.html
Srinagar: Scores of people, including militants, turned up for the funeral of LeT commander Junaid Matoo at Khudwani village in Kashmir’s Kulgam district on Saturday.Matoo was among the three LeT militants killed in an encounter with security forces at Arwani in Bijbehara on Friday. Among the mourners were fellow-militants who performed a gun salute at the funeral.A resident of Khudwani village, 20-year-old Matoo was a category A++ militant with a bounty of Rs 10 lakh on his head. His name figured in a list of 12 wanted men released recently by the Army. He became the outfit’s Kulgam commander after Majid Zargar was killed by security forces in Dec.According to reports, Matoo was still a college student when he took up militancy in June 2015. hindustantimes
Security forces doing a great job in Kashmir: Army chief
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/misinformation-compels-youth-to-pick-up-arms-in-kashmir-army-chief-bipin-rawat/story-AndCHx0eUrRjNDwqgPp4hO.html
Hyderabad:Army Chief General Bipin Rawat said on Saturday that security forces were doing a great job in bringing the Kashmir situation under control.He said the J&K situation should not be looked from the perspective of what was being projected and that the security forces were taking necessary action in the Valley.PTI
We have two options: Surrender or live like bravehearts, say joint separatist Kashmiri leadership: kashmirreader
http://kashmirreader.com/2017/06/17/two-options-surrender-live-like-bravehearts/
Srinagar: The joint resistance leadership has called for complete shutdown today against civilian killings, ransacking of properties and forces’ “arrogance”.In a statement, the leadership comprising Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Yasin Malik termed the forces’ action as “state-sponsored terrorism”. “Forces have virtually declared war on civilians and feel free to kill and (go) on rampage. They are not accountable for their wrongdoings,” they said.They said authorities are creating mayhem and have given unbridled powers to forces.Expressing deep grief over the killing of youth Nazir Ahmad of Ashtengoo, in Rangreth area of Srinagar, and a civilian in Arwani by forces, the leaders termed it as “target killing”. The leaders strongly condemned the vandalising of private vehicles and ransacking of houses and business establishments, saying it illustrates “sheer vengeance”. Geelani, Mirwaiz and Malik said after the recent statement of Indian army chief General Bipin Rawat, forces have been vested with unbridled powers and they feel free to go to any extent. “They (forces) are treating (the) state as a hunting ground and killing whosoever comes in their way,” they said.
Illegal VoIP phone exchanges allegedly used by Pak agencies busted in Latur; Shankar, Ravi arrested
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/illegal-voip-phone-exchanges-allegedly-used-by-pakistani-agencies-busted-in-latur/story-euHbWK6MsU2Izre3XcFrfO.html
Mumbai: Illegal telephone exchanges routing calls via a computer network and allegedly used by Pakistani intelligence agencies to access sensitive military information have been busted in Maharashtra’s Latur district, police said on Saturday. 2 persons, Shankar Biradar (33) and Ravi Sabde (27), have been arrested in this connection.They were making use of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), a technology that allows a person to make voice calls using an Internet connection instead of a regular phone line.The phone exchanges were busted on Friday during raids conducted by a joint team of the Maharashtra ATS, Latur police and telecommunication dept at 3 places in the district on a tip-off from a J&K -based military intelligence agency, a police official said.PTI
Is Taj Mahal not 'Indian' enough for CM Yogi Adityanath?
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/06/16/why-is-the-taj-mahal-not-indian-enough-for-uttar-pradesh-cm-yogi_a_22345065/?ncid=tweetlnkinhpmg00000001
Taj Mahal may be the only Indian monument to be counted among the wonders of the world and figure in the list of the world's top tourist destinations, but the CM of UP doesn't think that the majestic white marble mausoleum in Agra built in 1653 reflects "Indian culture", reports The Telegraph.At a public meeting in Darbhanga in Bihar, Yogi Adityanath said, "Foreign dignitaries visiting the country used to be gifted replicas of the Taj Mahal and other minarets which do not reflect Indian culture." So, the Modi govt, according to Adityanath, brought about a change and began giving copies of the Bhagvad Gita and the Ramayan to visiting foreign dignitaries. He was in Darbhanga, traditionally home to Maithili Brahmin community, to showcase Modi Govt 's achievements upon the completion of three years of NDA govt at the Centre. Party sources told the TOI that the venue had been chosen to appeal to Hindu sentiments in the region.This is not the first time that there has been controversy related to the Taj Mahal, 17th century mausoleum built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. huffingtonpost
Over 100 Dalit women in UP's Saharanpur announce embracing Buddhism
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-dalit-women-in-up-s-saharanpur-announce-embracing-buddhism-2475355
A group of over 100 Dalit women here today announced embracing Buddhism, alleging police excesses on the community. The women had gathered in Rampur Maniharan area where they staged a demonstration for over two hours demanding release of Bhim army workers who have been arrested in connection with the recent inter-caste violence in Shabbirpur village.Later the protesting women assembled at Rajbaahe culvert holding pictures of Hindu deities which they immersed in water and announced embracing Buddhism, officials said."These women have alleged that the police is harassing the Dalits," SDM Rakesh Kumar Gupta said.The women also handed over a memorandum, addressed to the President, of their demands to the district administration, according to Gupta.PTI
More than 100 Dalit women convert to Buddhism amid caste tensions in Saharanpur
https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/100-dalit-women-convert-to-buddhism-amid-caste-tensions-in-saharanpur-16929
Dalits still converting to Buddhism, but at a dwindling rate
http://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/dalits-are-still-converting-to-buddhism-but-at-a-dwindling-rate-117061700355_1.html
Dalits ranked lowest in the Hindu caste hierarchy, first started converting to Buddhism as a political gesture in 1956. This was the year BR Ambedkar, a Dalit icon, embraced Buddhism contending that this was the only way to escape caste oppression. The community has continued to use initiation into Buddhism as a gesture of protest. Every time Dalit movement peaked, the number of conversions rose. After 1956, the number of neo-Buddhists–or fresh converts to Buddhism–grew again in the 1980s and 1990s because of the rise of the BSP, a major Dalit-centric political party.Today, around 87% of Buddhists in India are neo-converts; the rest belong to traditional Buddhist communities, mostly in the north-east of India and other Himalayan regions.However, there has been a decline in the growth rate of Buddhists in India in recent years. Among religious groups, this decline is second only to the fall in the growth of Jains, according to Census data.The number of Buddhists grew by 6.13% in 2001-11 and Hindus, 16.76%, Census data show. But in the previous decade, this trend had been the reverse: Buddhists (24.53%) and Hindus (20.35%). decline was most noticeable in states such as Karnataka, UP and MP–known for their neo-Buddhist movements. Maharashtra, which accounts for 77% of all Buddhists in the country, has also seen the growth rate in the community sliding from 15.83% in 1991-2001 to 11.85% in 2001-11.IndiaSpend.org
Centre asks Rajasthan to crack down on cow vigilantes
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/centre-asks-rajasthan-govt-to-crack-down-on-cow-vigilantes/articleshow/59187026.cms
New Delhi: In the wake of violence by 'gau rakshaks', the home ministry has asked the Rajasthan Govt to follow the Centre's advisory, issued a few months ago, on the need to check lawlessness in the name of cow vigilantism.The latest case from the state involved an attack on Tamil Nadu officials transporting cattle near Barmer.Officials from the Tamil Nadu Govt 's animal husbandry department were attacked when they were transporting cattle to the southern state on Sunday night. The decision to name Rajasthan, a BJP-ruled state, indicates the Centre is feeling the heat over cow vigilantism that has earned it bad press. timesofindia
Gau Rakshaks are hard criminals out to defame Govt , terrorise minority: NCM Chairperson
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/gau-rakshaks-are-hard-criminals-out-to-defame-Govt -terrorise-minority-ncm-chairperson
New Delhi: Those who lynch people in the name of cow are not Gau Rakshaks, they are in fact hard criminals who are defaming the Govt and terrorizing the minorities, said Syed Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi, newly-appointed Chairperson of National Commission For Minorities (NCM). In an exclusive interview with IndiaTomorrow ,NCM chairperson highlighted his priorities and spoke on various contemporary issues pertaining to religious minorities in the country. Asked about lynching of dairy farmer Pahlu Khan by Gau Rakshaks (cow vigilantes) and other such attacks by them in the name of cow, Rizvi said: "They are not Gau Rakshaks, they are hard criminals who are doing such things to defame the Govt and also to terrorise the minority. This is a matter of law & order which is the subject of the state....All such happenings are unfortunate. Minority commission does not justify this. And we are making efforts that such incidents may not occur in future."IndiaTomorrow
‘Local people have apprehensions’: BJP-led Goa to write to centre against cattle rules
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/local-people-have-apprehensions-bjp-led-goa-to-write-to-centre-against-cattle-rules/story-oNMLyJwqA8LLUUr5IJYhkM.html
Panaji: The Goa Govt has decided to write to the centre raising certain objections to the recent notification banning the sale and purchase of cattle at animal markets for slaughter, as it has created “apprehensions” in the minds of local people, a state minister said on Saturday.Talking to reporters, state agriculture minister Vijai Sardesai said, “I have discussed the issue with CM Manohar Parrikar and he said he will write to the Centre.”“The state Govt is going raise certain objections and suggest some corrections to notification on the Prevention of Cruelty Towards Animal Act,” he said.The notification has created apprehensions in the minds of Goans, who fear that Govt wants to turn everyone into vegetarian, he said adding, “A significant section of people in Goa eats beef and there is a doubt in the minds of people that needs to be cleared.”PTI
Goa to object Centre’s cattle slaughter notification
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/goa-to-object-centres-cattle-slaughter-notification-manohar-parrikar-vijai-sardesai-4708569/
UP: Man,kin arrested on charge of cow slaughter in Shamli
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/man-sister-in-law-arrested-on-charge-of-cow-slaughter-in-shamli-4708579/
Muzaffarnagar : A man and his sister-in-law were arrested on the charge of cow slaughter after police raided their home in neighbouring Shamli district and allegedly recovered beef.Police said the raid was carried out yesterday after a complaint was received from some villagers that a cow was slaughtered in the household at Bunta village in Garhi Pukhta police station area. The arrested were Mubarik (30) and Reshma (27). Tension mounted in the area after the incident, prompting authorities to deploy policemen.In a separate case, police raided a house in Banat town of Shamli and seized buffalo meat on Friday. A case was registered against two persons, police said, adding that they were on the run.PTI
Jharkhand: Principal jailed for cooking meat in school
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jharkhand-principal-jailed-for-cooking-beef-in-school-kitchen/story-ivxcYdHtGV3QUSS63kR71J.html
Ranchi: Principal of a Govt school in Jharkhand’s Pakur district was arrested on Saturday on charges of hurting religious sentiments by cooking beef at the institute, police said.Her aide, one Birju Hansda, who ostensibly supplied the bovine meat to her at the school, too was arrested.They were later sent to the jail after being produced to the chief judicial magistrate’s court.The meat was sent to lab to ascertain whether it was cow, oxen or buffalo meat, said Pakur deputy commissioner Dilip Kumar Jha.“It was not mutton for sure,” he added. The action was taken against the principal Rosa Hansda based on complaints lodged by students on Friday. She was accused of cooking the meat at the school’s kitchen where mid-day meals for students are cooked. hindustantimes
42 autonomous bodies, including NCPUL, SRFTI, FTII and IIMC to be reduced after review by PMO and NITI Aayog
http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/42-autonomous-bodies-including-srfti-ftii-and-iimc-to-be-reduced-after-review-by-pmo-and-niti-aayog/716972/
After a review of autonomous bodies, the Govt has decided to ‘corporatise’ three important institutes, namely the Delhi Public Library, Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) and the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). The Govt is also mulling the merger of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) with either Jamia Millia Islamia or JNU. Centre is planning to do this as part of a review of 679 existing autonomous institutions. The review of these independent institutions, which are formed under the Societies Registration Act, began in Jan.of this year, according to the Indian Express.The first phase of the review has covered 114 autonomous bodies which come under 7 ministries or departments. After the review, the Govt has decided to reduce 42, over a third of these, bodies or merge them with other entities or organise these bodies under a common body. The review of these bodies has been spearheaded by the PMO and the NITI Aayog. Ministries with a large number of independent bodies which get a high quantum of central assistance were picked by the Centre or phase-I of the exercise.PMO officials have told the Indian Express that after the ‘corporatisation’ of the aforementioned autonomous bodies could translate to these organisations becoming special purpose vehicle (SPV) or they may become independent companies. 24 of these 42 bodies which were reviewed will be clubbed under a common umbrella. Of the remaining 18 organisations 11 bodies will be merged with other organisations, 4 will be shut down and the last 3 will be given a corporate makeover.Rs 72,206 was allocated to these 679 autonomous bodies, which are spread across 68 ministries or departments, in 2017-18 budget. many of these organisations have either an overlapping function or definitional problems. NITI Aayog will begin phase-II of the programme later this month, which will look into societies registration act and cover Societies Registration Act. Phase-III of the programme will look into bodies found outside the ambit of Societies Registration Act.ICSSR, ICPR and ICHR to be merged with JNU. National Council for Promotion of Sindhi Language to be merged with Central Institute of Indian Languages. National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language to be merged with either MANUU or Jamia Millia. Children’s Film Society to be merged with Film’s Division.Indian Express
Govt to corporatise autonomous universities; IIMC to merge with JNU or Jamia
https://newsd.in/Govt -to-corporatise-autonomous-universities-iimc-to-merge-with-jnu-or-jamia/
Darjeeling unrest: One police officer critically injured as GJM claims death of 2 supporters
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/darjeeling-unrest-one-police-officer-critically-injured-gjm-claims-death-of-2-supporters-gorkhaland-protests-4708737/
Singmari:On the third day of the indefinite strike, Darjeeling turned into a war zone. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha claimed two of their cadres were in police firing. Meanwhile, one police officer is in critical condition after being attacked with sharp weapons. Various areas in the Hills saw pitched battle between GJM supporters and police as four vehicles were torched. As police allegedly resorted to firing and lobbing tear gas shells after lathi charge, GJM workers hurled bombs and petrol bombs on policemen, apart from throwing stones. indianexpress
Darjeeling violence is a deep-rooted conspiracy, police did not fire: Mamata
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/darjeeling-violence-is-a-deep-rooted-conspiracy-police-did-not-fire-mamata-banerjee-4708647/
Major Gaurav Arya circulates a fake image as evidence of lathi-charge by W. Bengal Police: altnews
https://www.altnews.in/major-gaurav-arya-circulates-fake-image-evidence-lathi-charge-west-bengal-police/?utm_content=buffer68289&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
Major Gaurav Arya, Republic TV’s Defence and Strategy advisor, has fallen for a fake viral image. Via his Twitter account, Gaurav Arya circulated the picture of a bloodied man claiming him to be a victim of lathi-charge by West Bengal (WB) Police against supporters of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GFM). In reality, the person who’s image he circulated had passed away in March 2017.The background to this issue is the lathi-charge on GJM supporters by West Bengal police as reported by HT on June 9. According to HT, after the announcement by West Bengal Govt that Bengali would be taught compulsorily up to Class 10 in state schools, GJM supporters came out in thousands to oppose this diktat. In order to curb the agitation and disperse the mob, West Bengal police had resorted to lathi-charge and fired tear gas shells. Several people including policemen were injured in these clashes.As it invariably happens these days, a misleading image of a bloodied man was circulated on social media after the clashes between the protestors and West Bengal Police. Major Gaurav Arya who has joined the crony channel Republic TV as Advisor, Defence and Strategy, posted same viral image on his Twitter account with the message, “@MamataOfficial Please treat Gurkhas of Darjeeling with respect & honour. You have seen them in peace.You are very fortunate.”
39 Indians missing in Iraq are alive, in touch with nations to rescue them: Govt
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/39-indians-missing-in-iraq-are-alive-in-touch-with-nations-to-rescue-them-govt/story-928DsV181FN1xLkLsA9mHK.html
New Delhi: India is in touch with all the countries which can help in locating 39 Indians, believed to have been abducted by the Islamic State in Iraq in 2014, Govt said on Friday. External affairs ministry spokesperson Gopal Baglay said Sushma Swaraj had met representatives and families of these 39 Indians early this month. “We are in touch with all nations who are helping us or who can help us. All possible steps are being taken. As of now we have the information that the people are alive. We have no such information to suggest that they are not alive,” Baglay said. hindustantimes
Hyderabad High Court refuses to stay State’s Iftar
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-telangana/high-court-refuses-to-stay-states-iftar/article19091631.ece
Hyderabad: A Division Bench of the Hyderabad High Court comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice T. Rajani said the Telangana Govt shall take care to ensure that the various benefits announced by the State’s Iftar party are available to poor and needy persons from the Muslim community. The bench refused to stay the ‘Iftar’ party proposed on June 18.The judge was dealing with case filed by Lubna Sarwat. She contended that the Govt had been spending the funds of the Minority Welfare department since 2015 in the name of Iftar dinners and this year Rs. 60 crore was allocated for this. J.Rama Chandra Rao,Additional Advocate General of Telangana, said Govt money was not being spent for the proposed Iftar party at LB stadium.thehindu
RSS-affiliate MRM to keep Pakistan out of its international iftar event on Monday
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rss-affiliate-mrm-to-keep-pakistan-out-of-its-international-iftar-event-on-monday/story-YLdIRXMGpMunhWhhEoVd4H.html
Kolkata: Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM), an affiliate of RSS, has decided to keep Pakistan out of its mega international iftart party to be held at parliament house annexe in New Delhi on Monday. National convener of the MRM Mohammad Afzal told HT the neighbouring country was not invited considering its “negative attitude” towards India.For the past two years it has been organising iftar, the first meal a Muslim takes after Roza (dawn-to-dusk fasting) during the month of Ramadan. Pakistan was not invited even last year.Diplomats and representatives from over 50 countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Indonesia, Malaysia and Tunisia, are invited for the event to be presided by Union home minister Rajnath Singh.The invitees will be offered cow milk to break the fast, which is a rare occurrence at an iftar party. Muslims traditionally break their fast with dates and a glass of water. But MRM this year is serving cow milk to those observing Roza (fasting) at the iftar parties, it has been hosting across the country, to create awareness against cow slaughter.Senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar, Manipur governor Najma Heptulla, Union minister of steel Choudhary Birender Singh, Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari will attend the iftar among others.Last year diplomats from more than 50 countries attended the MRM’s iftaar party. hindustantimes
RSS Muslim wing spree of iftar parties in UP preaching to shun non-veg
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/rss-muslim-wing-pledges-not-to-eat-beef-breaks-fast-with-cow-milk/article19054065.ece
After complaints, loudspeakers from 7 mosques in Bareilly to be taken down:TOI
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bareilly/after-complaints-from-hindus-muslims-loudspeakers-from-7-mosques-to-be-taken-down/articleshow/59192131.cms
Bareilly: After Hindus and a few Muslim residents of Premnagar in Bareilly complained about loudspeakers in seven mosques letting out loud wake-up calls for ‘sehri’ at 3 am every day during Ramzan, the administration has decided to take up the matter with the mosque administration and take the loudspeakers down or mute them.Aditional district magistrate Alok Kumar told TOI, “I have instructed SP (city) to investigate the matter and take action in accordance with the Supreme Court’s guidelines. Either the loudspeakers will be uninstalled from the religious places or the caretakers will have to play them in a low volume.”Residents had submitted a memorandum to district administration last week.UP Udyog Vyapar Pratinidhi Mandal (UPUVPM), a traders’ union that is considered to be close to the Samajwadi Party, also came out in support of the residents and complained about the issue to the ADM. Shobhit Saxena, district president of UPUVPM, said, “Whether it is a temple or a mosque, no religion allows bothering others. My father is a heart patient who has undergone an open heart surgery just last year. My 73-year-old mother is also suffering from old-age ailments. They have not slept peacefully for days. There are infants in every house.” Saxena added that seven of his Muslim neighbours joined him in taking the matter to the district magistrate.“They said Ramzan is about helping others, not causing distress,” he said. Following the complaint, one of the Muslim neighbours, Asif Beg, who had joined Saxena in his complaint, was allegedly targeted by some people. Beg said, “They stopped me near the mosque when I was on my way home in the evening and told me that I would go to hell as I had complained against the mosque loudspeakers. After a heated argument, they even assaulted me and escaped from the scene.”Bareilly deputy shahr qazi Shahabbudin Rizvi said,“It’s wrong to use loudspeakers persistently to wake up people for sehri. Ideally, there should be just one wake-up call within permissible decibel levels.”TOI
Bareilly residents complain against loud ‘sehri’ call
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bareilly-residents-complain-against-loud-sehri-call-4708228/
UP Minority welfare dept finds ‘anomalies’ in 12 Govt -aided madrasas
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/minority-welfare-dept-finds-anomalies-in-12-Govt -aided-madrasas-4707870/
Lucknow; UP minority welfare dept has, prima facie, found “gross anomalies” in 12 Govt -aided madrasas, including in terms of infrastructure and staff records. Over the last few weeks, the department has been physically verifying such madrasas across the state. It has also been inquiring into the records of their teachers and expenditure. According to it, there are 560 such madrasas out of a total of 7,500 recognised ones in the state whose teachers’ salaries are borne by the state.On an average, according to the Govt , it pays around Rs 60 lakh per annum in aid to each madrasa and spends about Rs 550 crore per annum in teacher salaries. The department claims there were complaints of a good number of these institutions not submitting qualification records and other details of teachers appointed here. Some of them did not even have proper buildings, said a source in the department. The task of the verification and subsequent inquiry was given to UP Madrasa Shiksha Board under the department. Till now, over half of such institutions have been inquired into and a list of defaulters is being prepared. indianexpress
Adityanath recommends CBI probe into finacial irregularities in running of Waqf boards
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-adityanath-recommends-cbi-probe-into-irregularities-of-shia-and-sunni-waqf-board-2475152
Hours after UP Govt ordered dissolution of Shia and Sunni waqf boards, CM Yogi Adityanath tonight recommended a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities worth multi-crores committed by the two bodies in the state." CM recommended a CBI probe into alleged scam worth crores in Shia and Sunni Waqf boards," Minister of State for Waqf Mohsin Raza told PTI here. Raza said scam worth crores has come to the fore in a probe by the Waqf Council of India.PTI
Kalbe Jawad welcomes move to dissolve waqf boards
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/maulana-kalbe-jawad-welcomes-move-to-dissolve-waqf-boards/articleshow/59187542.cms
Lucknow: A day after state minister for waqf and haj Mohsin Raza claimed the state Govt had initiated the process of dissolving the Shia and Sunni waqf boards, Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawad welcomed the move.Jawad had been at loggerheads with the chairperson of UP Shia Central Waqf Board and former minister Azam Khan. timesofindia
Gujarat’s Madrassa mufti held from Mumbai airport in Congress leader murder case: indianexpress
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/darul-uloom-mufti-held-from-mumbai-airport-in-congress-leader-murder-case-4708036/
Surat: Mufti Abdulla of Darul Uloom of Hansot, arrested from Mumbai international airport on Thursday for his involvement in the murder of a local Congress leader Sabir Kanunga (44). He was about to fly to Jeddah. This is the first arrest in the murder while other accused are still on run. Bharuch police, which had issued a look out notice against Abdulla, seized several documents, including his passport and visa, and cash from him. Hansot police inspector KV Chudasma said they had information that Abdulla might leave the country.Police said that Abdulla is accused of hatching a conspiracy to eliminate Kanunga as the latter had forced him to leave his madrasa over allegations of sexual harassment of students.After learning about the sexual harassment of madrasa students by Abdulla and his aides, the Congress leader had threatened the Darul Uloom chief to leave the village or face legal actions.
‘These are rumours’: Sushma dismisses reports of being presidential contender
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/these-are-rumours-sushma-swaraj-dismisses-reports-of-being-presidential-contender/story-8HoXZsbjXdFnSF9P2IlzKM.html
New Delhi: External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj dismissed reports that she was a contender in the presidential poll as “rumours”.Though neither the Govt nor the opposition has declared their candidate for the poll to elect the country’s first citizen, several names, including Swaraj’s, have been doing the rounds.“These are rumours. I am an external affairs minister and you are asking me something which is an internal matter,” she said when asked by reporters whether she was being considered as a candidate in the presidential poll.The presidential poll is scheduled to be held on July 17 while the counting of votes would be held on July 20.PTI/HT
Presidential election: CPI says it asked BJP team about Bhagwat, reply, ‘RSS doesn’t contest’
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/on-presidential-election-cpi-says-it-asked-bjp-team-about-mohan-bhagwat-reply-rss-doesnt-contest-4708034/
As the BJP began reaching out to the Opposition ostensibly to build a consensus on the Presidential elections, at least one party Friday bluntly told the two top ministers when they came to meet them that the ruling alliance should not field a “hardcore” (read RSS) person for the office. Bringing no names or proposals to the table, ministers Rajnath Singh and M Venkaiah Naidu met with and called a host of leaders starting from Congress president Sonia Gandhi to CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, SP’s Mulayam Singh Yadav to BSP chief Mayawati, leaving all of them guessing. indianexpress
Presidential election: BJP has nomination papers ready, name column blank
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/presidential-election-bjp-has-nomination-papers-ready-name-column-blank-4708033/
President Mukherjee hosts RSS chief Bhagwat for ‘courtesy’ lunch
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/president-pranab-mukherjee-hosts-rss-chief-mohan-bhagwat-for-courtesy-lunch/articleshow/59186632.cms
WORLD
Israel, Saudi said to discuss open economic ties: reports
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-saudi-arabi-said-to-discuss-open-economic-ties/
Israel and Saudi Arabia are in talks to forge official economic ties, The Times of London reported Saturday, quoting US and Arab sources. According to the report in the British daily, Jerusalem and Riyadh are looking at developing relations in steps, possibly starting by allowing Israeli companies to set up shop in the Arab nation, or giving Israeli airline El Al permission to use Saudi airspace in its flights. Officials close to Saudi Arabia denied the story, saying the report was no more than wishful thinking by the Trump administration.There have been various media reports of clandestine talks between Israel and Arab powers, who have come to see the Jewish state as a possible ally against what they consider to be the greater threats of Iran and Islamist extremism. Saudi officials have had some open meetings with senior Israelis, and a Saudi general has visited Jerusalem and met with officials and politicians. Israel has been keen to see a regional peace process that would see Arab states partially thawing their relations with the Jewish state, as a step towards peace with the Palestinians. PM Benjamin Netanyahu has been promoting an “outside-in” approach that would see ties normalized between Israel and moderate Arab states as a way to promote peace.The Palestinian leadership, meanwhile, has insisted on the formula laid down in 2002 Saudi-led peace initiative, that sees a peace treaty between Israelis and Palestinians as a prerequisite for normalization with the entire Arab and Muslim world.The proposal was the result of months of negotiations led by then-US secretary of state John Kerry and culminated in a secret meeting on February 21, 2016, between Netanyahu, Kerry, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and Jordan’s King Abdullah.Opposition leader Isaac Herzog reportedly joined a second secret meeting between Netanyahu and Sissi in Cairo in April of that year.Herzog told Haaretz that meetings could have produced a deal that “changed the face of the Middle East,” but that the opportunity was ultimately torpedoed by hardliners in Netanyahu’s Likud party. Times of Israel
Israel,Saudi Arabia reportedly negotiating economic ties:Haaretz
http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.796215
Saudi Arabia’s trade talks with Israel carry huge risks: The Times
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/saudi-arabia-s-trade-talks-with-israel-carry-huge-risks-zhfth67rx
Saudis and allies working on list of Qatar 'grievances'
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/06/saudi-allies-working-list-qatar-grievances-170616185627905.html
Saudi Arabia's foreign minister says a list of "grievances" involving Qatar is being drawn up and will be presented to the Arab Gulf country shortly.Speaking in London, on Friday, Adel al-Jubeir called on Qatar to respond to what he claimed were international and regional calls for it to halt its support for "extremism and terrorism"."I would not call them demands. I would say it is a list of grievances that need to be addressed and that the Qataris need to fix," he said.Jubeir did not detail what complaints could be made, but added that they will be presented "very soon". aljazeera
Saudi, UAE, Bahrain say blockade on Qatar is necessary for ‘national security’
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170617-saudi-arabia-uae-bahrain-say-blockade-on-qatar-is-necessary-for-national-security/
Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Bahrain affirmed Friday that their recent moves to diplomatically isolate Qatar are within their rights to protect national security.Decisions to cut ties with Qatar are a sovereign right of the States concerned and aim to protect their national security from the dangers of terrorism and extremism said a joint declaration by the UN envoys of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain. The statement came in response to remarks Wednesday by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein expressing “alarm” about the human rights impact of cutting off ties.3 Gulf states said they were ready to work with relevant authorities “to maintain security, to combat terrorism and to safeguard the stability and well-being of the people of the region”. Middleeastmonitor
Egypt: 31 sentenced to death in prosecutor Hisham Barakat's killing
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/06/31-sentenced-death-hisham-barakat-killing-170617125844796.html
An Egyptian criminal court has sentenced to death 31 people for their alleged part in the June 2015 assassination of the country's top prosecutor, Hisham Barakat. The ruling on Saturday, issued by judge Hassan Farid, referred the case to the country's top theologian to get his non-binding opinion on the death sentences, a formality followed by courts in the case of capital punishment.Delivering the verdict, Farid called Barakat's assassination a "heinous and cowardly conspiracy"."They shed the blood of a Muslim while he was fasting in Ramadan," Farid said, referring to the holy month for Muslims that fell in July in 2015."And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his punishment is hell," the judge added, quoting a verse from Islam's holy book, the Quran.Barakat was appointed prosecutor-general by Egypt's then interim-President Adly Mansour in July 2013, shortly after the military ousted the country's first freely-elected president, Mohamed Morsi.He oversaw the acquittal of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.He was killed in a car bombing near his house in Cairo on June 29, 2015, and was the most senior government official killed by armed groups since Morsi's ouster.The court will reconvene on July 22 to reaffirm the death sentences and issue its verdict on the 36 other defendants in the case. Of the 67 defendants, 15 are at large.The other suspects on trial, out of a total of 67, have yet to receive their judgements.Egyptian authorities have accused the Muslim Brotherhood movement and Palestinian group Hamas of involvement in the attack, an accusation strongly denied by both groups.Dozens of the Muslim Brotherhood's leaders and followers have been given heavy-handed sentences since Morsi's overthrow.Amnesty international has recently criticised the increasing number of mass death sentences handed down in Egypt. aljazeera
Egypt court seeks death penalty for 31 in prosecutor bombing case
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/egyptian-court-recommends-death-penalty-31-prosecutor-assassination-case-1696218274
CAR: Church shelters Muslims fleeing Anti-balaka
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/06/car-church-shelters-muslims-fleeing-anti-balaka-rebels-170616203130769.html
Bangui, Central African Republic - At least 1,500 people, mostly Muslim civilians, currently stuck in a Catholic church in the country's southeast, are growing increasingly desperate, a priest has told Al Jazeera. The displaced people took refuge in the cathedral in the town of Bangassou after fleeing deadly violence in mid-May."The situation is not safe enough to leave, and so they cannot move from here," said Father Alain Blaise Bissialo, the priest at the church."There are men who walk around town with guns."The crisis in Bangassou began between May 13-17 when Anti-balaka, a vigilante militia made up of mostly Christians, launched a series of attacks on Muslims in Tokoyo, a largely Muslim district of Bangassou.Thousands flocked to a nearby mosque to seek refuge.Yet, the mosque was subsequently attacked too, culminating in the killing of the local imam.In an attempt to save civilians at the mosque, the Catholic bishop sent trucks to Tokoyo to transport as many civilians as possible back to the church for their safety.Al Jazeera
Russia: Daesh leader al-Baghdadi may killed in Syria
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170617-russia-daesh-leader-al-baghdadi-may-have-been-killed-in-syria/
Daesh leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was likely killed late May in a Russian airstrike in Syria’s northern city of Raqqah, according to the Russian defense ministry on Friday.The Russian aircrafts attacked on May 28 a command post, where Daesh leaders were meeting and killed around 300 Daesh militants, including 30 field commanders, the ministry said in a statement.“According to information, which is being verified via various channels, the meeting was also attended by Daesh leader Ibrahim Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was killed during the strike,” it added.Baghdadi, has managed to evade being killed or captured by the US-led anti-Daesh coalition throughout its more than two-year campaign in Iraq and Syria.Sporadic rumors have continued to mount that he was killed in a variety of US-led actions, but little evidence has surfaced to support those claims. middleeastmonitor
Hundreds of members of Indonesian tribe converts to Islam: Nomadic 'Jungle people' become Muslim
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4610712/Nomadic-Indonesian-jungle-people-tribe-converts-Islam.html
Hundreds of members of a nomadic Indonesian tribe have converted to Islam as their rainforest hunting grounds are devastated by palm oil plantations and coal mines. The new Muslims changed their religion to capture the attention of the Govt , which they say ignores their needs. The Orang Rimba - 'jungle people - are also hoping to be handed ID cards by officials, which will then entitle them to benefits such as healthcare and education. Some tribesfolk, however, have remained faithful to old ways and continue to desperately hunt for prey in an area that was once lush Sumatran rainforest. 'Thank God, the Govt now pays attention to us; before our conversion they didn't care,' says Yusuf Muhammad, a convert.His small community now gathers around a stilt-mounted wooden hut, while children inside wearing Islamic skullcaps and hijabs enthusiastically recite the Koran.Stick-thin and wearing only loincloths over their weather-beaten skin, they brandish homemade rifles as they search for their next meal.Yusuf's group converted to Islam, the predominant faith in Indonesia, and gave up their nomadic ways in January in a bid to improve livelihoods that have been devastated by the expansion of palm oil plantations and coal mines into their forest homelands.Authorities insist the move is positive but critics say it amounts to a last throw of the dice for indigenous groups driven to desperation by the Govt 's failure to properly defend their rights against rapid commercial expansion.Indonesia is home to an estimated 70 million tribespeople, more than a quarter of the total 255-million population, from the heavily tattooed Dayaks of Borneo island to the Mentawai who are famed for sharpening their teeth as they believe it makes them more beautiful.But as a nomadic group, the Orang Rimba are a rarity.AFP DailyMail
FLASH: NEWS & VIEWS
The anniversary of a divide:Gopalkrishna Gandhi
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-anniversary-of-a-divide/article19077169.ece?homepage=true
Racism And Classism Killed The Residents Of Grenfell Tower:Skylar Baker-Jordan
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/skylar-bakerjordan/grenfell-fire_b_17104044.html
CBI crying foul over 'freedom of press' to New York Times is beyond embarrassing:Angshukanta Chakra
http://www.dailyo.in/politics/new-york-times-press-freedom-cbi-ndtv-prannoy-roy-arun-shourie/story/1/17845.html
Modi’s Govt , Like India, Has a Fake Photo Problem:KARNIKA KOHLI
https://thewire.in/148192/fake-news-narendra-modi-bjp-india/
More convictions in 1993 Mumbai blasts case but no justice yet for victims of riots that came before: Aarefa Johari
https://scroll.in/article/840881/more-convictions-in-1993-mumbai-blasts-case-but-no-justice-yet-for-victims-of-riots-that-came-before
How genetics is settling the Aryan migration debate: Tony Joseph, ex editor of Business World
http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/how-genetics-is-settling-the-aryan-migration-debate/article19090301.ece
The blockade of Qatar may have more to do with Palestine than we think: Nasim Ahmed
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170616-the-blockade-of-qatar-may-have-more-to-do-with-palestine-than-we-think/
An 80-year-old Urdu poet declared dead by the Delhi Govt is struggling to survive: Firoz Bakht Ahmed
https://scroll.in/magazine/839714/an-80-year-old-urdu-poet-declared-dead-by-the-delhi-Govt -is-struggling-to-survive
Mohan Bhagwat's presidential lunch reaffirms rise of RSS; no second term for Pranab Mukherjee: Sanjay Singh
http://www.firstpost.com/politics/mohan-bhagwats-presidential-lunch-reaffirms-rise-of-rss-no-second-term-for-pranab-mukherjee-3699343.html
UAE: Gurdwara in Dubai holds Ramzan Iftar for people of all religions
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/uae-gurdwara-in-dubai-holds-ramzan-iftar-for-people-of-all-religions/story-KCSz34SwOg1351CW40nQ4K.html
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:52 PM)
