Posts
Evening NEWS DIGEST
02 July 2017: 07 Shawwal 1438: Vol: 8, No:227
INDIA
Indian Army pushes more troops in Doka La in longest impasse since 1962 Sino-Indian War
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/china-doka-laindian-army-pushes-more-troops-in-doka-la-in-longest-impasse-since-1962-sino-indian-war-4732005/
New Delhi;India has pushed in more troops in a “non-combative mode” to strengthen its position in an area near Sikkim, where its soldiers have been locked in a standoff with Chinese troops for almost a month now in what has been the longest such impasse between the two armies since 1962. India brought in more troops after the destruction of two of its bunkers and “aggressive tactics” adopted by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army(PLA), sources said.In a “non-combative mode”, the nozzle of a gun is placed downwards.Giving details for the first time about the events that preceded the face off between the two armies, the sources said the PLA on June 1 asked the Indian Army to remove the two bunkers set up in 2012 at Lalten in Doka La, which falls in the vicinity of Chumbi Valley at the corner of India-Bhutan-Tibet tri-junction. Indian Army, which had been patrolling this area for many years, decided in 2012 that two bunkers would be positioned there as a backup option, besides providing security to the Bhutan-China border.The Indian Army forward positions informed Sukna-based 33 Corps Headquarter in North Bengal about the Chinese warnings on the bunkers, the sources said. However, during the night of June 6, two Chinese bulldozers destroyed the bunkers, claiming that the area belonged to China and that India or Bhutan had no right over it, the sources said. Indian troops on the ground prevented the Chinese men and machines from doing any further damage or transgressing into the area, they said. Additional forces from nearby brigade headquarters, located 20 km from the face off point, were moved in on June 8 during which a scuffle led to soldiers on both sides suffering minor injuries. PLA troops were rushed in from its 141 division located in the area, prompting the Indian Army to also strengthen its position. This is the longest standoff between the two armies since 1962. The last one, which carried on for 21 days, occurred at Daulat Beg Oldie in the Ladakh division of Jammu and Kashmir in 2013, when Chinese troops entered 30 km into Indian territory till the Depsang Plains and claimed it to be a part of its Xinjiang province.They were, however, pushed back. Sikkim, which became a part of India in May 1976, is the only state which has a demarcated border with China. The lines are based on a treaty signed with the Chinese in 1898. After the India-China war of 1962, the area where the Indian troops are stationed was placed under the Indian Army and the ITBP, which is the border guarding force and has a camp 15 km from the international border.As the scuffle broke out between the two sides, the Indian Army rushed an officer of the Major General rank to the area and a flag meeting was sought with the Chinese counterparts. China rejected two such requests from the Indian side, but accepted the third call for a meeting, where it asked the Indian Army to withdraw its troops from the Lalten area, which falls in Doka La.PTI
New Chinese map claims Indian troops’ ‘incursion’ in Doklam
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/china-map-claims-indian-troops-incursion-in-doklam-4731937/
New Delhi:China on Sunday released a map supporting its claim that Indian troops transgressed into the Doklam area of the Sikkim sector, which is a part of its territory. The map released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry indicated a blue arrow with markings in Chinese points Indian troops alleged transgression into the area to prevent the PLA troops.from building a strategic road. Bhutan has also protested saying that its action ruled out the 1988 and 1998 agreements. Bhutan also claimed the area as a part of its territory.China has earlier released two pictures on Thursday to claim Indian troops alleged transgression on the Chinese side of the border. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang displayed the two photographs claiming Doklam as a part of its territory. The photos showed bulldozers of Indian military on the Chinese side of the border. indian express
India should shed ‘strategic anxiety’, join Belt and Road Initiative: Chinese media
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-should-shed-strategic-anxiety-join-belt-and-road-initiative-chinese-media-4732001/
Beijing:India should shed its “strategic anxiety” over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and join the Belt and Road Initiative to become a cooperative partner and not a rival, a state-run Chinese news agency said on Sunday, amid a standoff between the two nations in the Sikkim sector. The commentary in Xinhua – India’s China-phobia Might Lead To Strategic Myopia – criticised New Delhi’s boycott of the Belt and Road Forum conference held in May and asked India to shed its “China anxiety”.India boycotted the BRF after sovereignty concerns over the USD 50-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which traverses through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Then, India said the Chinese ambitious initiative must be pursued in a manner that respects sovereignty and territorial integrity.The piece did not mention the CPEC by name, but referred to the BRI – the umbrella project under which the CPEC falls.PTI
Israeli PM Netanyahu to join ‘best friend’ Modi in Tel Aviv on July 5 to meet PIOs
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/netanyahu-to-join-best-friend-modi-in-tel-aviv-on-july-5-to-meet-pios/articleshow/59406749.cms
New Delhi: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has been invited to attend a public event on July 5 in Tel Aviv where PM Narendra Modi is scheduled to speak to a gathering of the Indian Jewish community during his visit to the middle east nation.The organisers of the event, expected to be attended by around 4,000 people of Indian origin, hope the invitation will be accepted and "Bibi" will turn up at the do and also address the gathering.Modi regularly interacts with Indian diaspora on his visits abroad. He usually addresses the Indian community on his own except on occasions as when he was joined by former British PM David Cameron at London's Wembley in November, 2015.Modi's visit to Israel has evoked considerable interest as it is the first by an Indian PM to the country as it has been de-linked with Palestine and is intended to deepen ties beyond existing areas of cooperation.TOI
Israel-inspired civic app to be showcased during PM Modi’s visit
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/israel-inspired-civic-app-to-be-showcased-during-pm-modis-visit-4731584/
Mumbai:An app modelled on an Israeli technology, which gives the residents of neighbouring Thane city a say in civic matters, will be showcased during PM ’s upcoming visit to the West Asian country.Thane Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal has said the ‘DigiThane’ mobile application will give the city residents a stake in civic governance and help boost local businesses. The app is being developed under the Tel Aviv civic body’s guidance, he said. It uses the technology which earned Tel Aviv the tag of the ‘smartest city in the world’, Jaiswal said..PTI
We expect minority status after PM Modi’s Israel visit: Indian Jews
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/we-expect-minority-status-after-pms-israel-visit-indian-jews-4731932/
New Delhi;India’s small community of Jews is looking forward to PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Israel — the first ever by an Indian Premier — hoping that it will lead to Jews being granted a minority status in India. Some 6,000 Indian Jews live in the country, which has been home to the community for the past 2,000 years. Jews are spread across cities in West Bengal, Maharashtra, Kerala and Gujarat, apart from Delhi.The community says while they have never faced any form of discrimination in India because of their religion, a minority status for Jews is among their foremost expectations from the PM ’s visit, which starts on July 4. “We look forward to the PM’s visit and hope that a minority status is conferred upon the community,” says Ezekiel Markel, priest at the Judah Hyam Synagogue in Delhi, only synagogue in National Capital.PTI
BJP leader arrested in Muslim trader’s lynching case in Jharkhand; prime accused surrenders
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bjp-leader-arrested-in-muslim-trader-s-lynching-case-prime-accused-surrenders/story-wLXhTA3eIlrPUEGjwGdDQM.html
Manuwa/Ranchi: Ramgarh police have arrested a BJP leader, Nityanand Mahto on Saturday in connection with the lynching of a Muslim trader Alimuddin by a mob in Jharkhand’s Ramgarh two days back. The main accused Chottu Rana, who was seen beating Alimuddin with a stick repeatedly in a video, surrendered before the court, Ramgarh superintendent of police, Kaushal Kishore said.55-year-old Alimuddin alias Asgar Ali was lynched by a frenzied mob of about 100 people for allegedly carrying beef in his car. The incident happened at the Bazartand market of the district on Thursday, when PM Narendra Modi announced that he disapproved killing people in the name of protecting cows.A video of the brutal incident also went viral following which police have arrested 8 of the 13 people named in the FIR. The other five have been identified and would be arrested soon, officials said.Mahto, who is the BJP’s Ramgarh district media- in-charge, claimed innocence, saying he had visited the spot after the police arrived to take stock of the incident, and demanded a fair investigation into the matter.The police had also detained a member of ABVP of Ramgarh district for interrogation but released him later due to lack of evidence, police sources said.On the arrest of saffron activists, state BJP’s media in-charge Shivpujan Pathak said the party will not defend anybody, but added that all the accused had the right to a fair trial.“We have sought arrest warrants against 7 other accused named in the FIR,” said Ramgarh DDC Sunil Kumar.HT
BJP leader booked in Jharkhand for ‘inciting cow vigilantes’
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bjp-leader-booked-in-jharkhand-for-inciting-cow-vigilantes-4731347/
Bajrang Dal activists threatened to set car on fire, forced my family to say ‘Jai Shri Ram’: journalist Munne Bharti
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/was-forced-to-say-jai-sri-ram-by-bajrang-dal-activists-claims-ndtv-journalist-4731743/
New Delhi:Munne Bharti, a journalist with news channel NDTV India, claimed that he was stopped and forced to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ by men believed to be Bajrang Dal activists, while travelling with his family from Bihar’s Vaishali to his mother’s village in Samastipur. In a first-person account published by BBC Hindi, Bharti recounted the incident which took place on June 29, one km from the toll booth on Muzzaffarnagar NH 28, when men donning saffron blocked the road.Bharti claimed that 4-5 Bajrang Dal activists wielding bamboo sticks surrounded his car after they took note of his father’s long beard and his wife’s veil. He was travelling with his parents and wife to meet his ailing maternal uncle.“They threatened to set our car on fire if we did not chant Jai Shri Ram,” Bharti wrote. Sensing danger, Bharti and other members of his family complied. After being let off by the men, they took a detour and continued their journey. Bharti also took to Twitter and tagged CM Nitish Kumar in his post.The incident comes close on the heels of widespread criticism over the recent lynchings across the country. Earlier on Thursday, PM Narendra Modi condemned violence in the name of cow protection and urged people to not take law into their hands. President Pranab Mukherjee also spoke on the violent lynchings. “We should ponder about this country when we see someone being lynched,” he said. indian express
Bihar: Muslim journalist Munne Bharti forced to say ‘Jai Shri Ram’ to stop saffron-clad mob from torching his car
https://scroll.in/latest/842418/up-muslim-journalist-forced-to-say-jai-shri-ram-to-stop-saffron-clad-mob-from-torching-his-car
https://www.urdumediamonitor.com/2017/07/01/say-jai-shri-ram-otherwise-will-burn-car/
4 Arrested For Lynching Muslim Teenager In Haryana Sent To 14-Day Judicial Custody
http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/four-arrested-for-lynching-muslim-teenager-in-haryana-sent-to-14-day-judicial-custody-324998.html
Haryana Police have arrested 4 persons for brutally killing 17-year-old Muslim youth after an altercation and eventual communal slur a few days before Eid. According to police, all the accused have been sent to judicial custody, after they produced before the district court. The swift police action seems to be an effect PM Modi's warning against lynching in the name of cow.Police said these accused were arrested on June 28 and were initially sent to two-day police remand. Junaid was stabbed onboard a Mathura-bound train. Police have so far arrested five persons. Of the 5, 4 arrested on June 28 are residents of Khambi village.Indiatimes
Chennai Breaks Silence: Citizens protest against lynching, in solidarity with ‘Not in My Name’
http://www.thenewsminute.com/article/chennai-breaks-silence-citizens-protest-against-lynching-solidarity-not-my-name-64497
A gathering of about 500 people, Chennai witnessed on Saturday 3 hours of passionate protests against the recent public lynching of a Muslim youngster in UP, and several other violent attacks against people from disadvantaged or minority communities in the past few months. ‘Break The Silence’ was organized in solidarity with the ‘Not In My Name’ protests held in several cities across the country, including Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Thiruvanthapuram.Shouting slogans against the RSS, BJP and the Union Govt , reciting poems on democracy and violence, dancing to songs on humanity, the mood at ‘Break the Silence’ was one of anger and defiance.Students from different colleges, activists, musicians, senior citizens and members of different communities and civil society groups gathered to show their solidarity to the oppressed communities.“I’m extremely disturbed by the violence that is happening in the country and I feel sad. It is violence against the society, we need more voices against such incidents. This situation is very scary and I will be petrified to be a Muslim in such a situation. Like in British Raj, they used ‘Divide and Rule’, now they are causing division in the country by cultivating hatred. The majority need to be more sensitive,” said Arun, a teacher who attended the protest. Another protester said that it has become important to speak up against violence. “We are living under fear, it is not a nice feeling. It is not the country we knew,” she said.“Mob lynching is not a recent development,” said Mohammad Mustafa, State President of Campus Front of India, one of the organizations participating in the event. (CFI is student wing of PFI). “Since PM Modi got to power, most of the minorities are being attacked in the name of cow. We will retaliate and not tolerate this. We have connected to different states and carried out these protests in different places,” he said. News Minute
Assam: Muslim youth Killed as Police Firing on people, protesters against doubtful voters list
https://thewire.in/153300/one-killed-police-firing-assams-goalpara-district/
New Delhi: A 22-year-old man, Yakub Ali, died in police firing in Assam’s Goalpara district on June 30 during a public rally to protest against the alleged inclusion of several Indian citizens in the D (doubtful)-voters list in the state by police and foreigners’ tribunals.The rally was organised by a local advocate Nazrul Islam, who has been out on bail, along with two other advocates. The four were charged in a case of assault on a foreigners’ tribunal judge and ransacking of his office in February to protest against a verdict he delivered which turned eight suspected undocumented immigrants as foreigners. Presently, as many as 100 foreigners’ tribunals, set up as per a Supreme Court directive, are reviewing the list of D-voters, who were put in that list by the state Govt stating lack of proper citizenship credentials and thereby, disenfranchised. Many such voters, mostly Bengali speaking Muslims and Hindus of Bangladeshi origin, have been lodged in detention centres across the state.Based on the verdicts of the tribunals, 1951 NRC is soon going to be updated in the state. This has been done as per a clause of the Assam Accord signed between All Assam Students Union and Asom Jatiotabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad with the state and central Govt in 1985.On June 30, the protesters, belonging to Khutamari village of the district, came out in response to a call by Nazrul Islam who stated in a leaflet written in Assamese that the rally would end the “injustice meted out to Assam’s Muslims and Bengali Hindus.” Urging the protesters to be non-violent, the leaflet said, “The national highway would be blocked on June 30 from Makori to Sulmara and Pancharatna and Naranarayan Setu against the injustice.”Hussain Ahmed Madani, an eyewitness of the police firing, told The Wire on July 1, “About hundred people raising slogans demanding inclusion of genuine citizens in NRC were stopped close to Naranarayan setu (a bridge over river Brahmaputra) by the police asking them for the permission letter to hold the protest. CRPF personnel were also present. Aim of the protesters was to block the National Highway 37 which connects Goalpara to the neighbouring Bongaingaon district (and thereafter to West Bengal). Though the protesters had applied for permission, it was not granted by the police.”The Wire
Assam: One killed as Police opens fire on people protesting against ‘doubtful voter’ cases
http://twocircles.net/2017jul01/412292.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
UP woman cop who stood up against BJP leaders, sent 5 to jail transferred
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/up-woman-police-officer-who-stood-up-to-bjp-leaders-and-sent-5-to-jail-transferred/story-poKGM3EXsTIE9Sd2PvxoyN.html
Meerut: The woman police officer of Syana circle in district Bulandshahar, Shreshtha Thakur, who stood up against local BJP leaders and sent 5 of them to jail for creating obstacles in discharging Govt duties, was transferred to Bahraich on Saturday. The cop was transferred a week after the incident following a meeting of a delegation of the party’s 11 MLAs and MP with the CM over the issue. Local leaders had linked it with their pride and pressed the high command to initiate action against Thakur.Mukesh Bhardwaj, the party city president, made no bones in admitting that Thakur’s transfer was essential to keeping intact the pride of party workers and leaders. He also charged the cop with using objectionable language against CM Yogi Adityanath and other party leaders. Thakur and her team were checking vehicles in Syana area on June 22 when she stopped a person driving a motorcycle without wearing a helmet and slapped a fine of 200 on him. The man introduced himself as BJP leader Pramod Kumar — his wife is a member of jila panchayat in Bulandshahar.An altercation took place between Kumar and Thakur and the ex-soon telephoned BJP leaders, who arrived there and objected to the action of police. Bhardwaj also arrived on the spot and argued with Thakur and other police personnel. He blamed one of the constables for demanding money from Kumar to let him go without a fine.HT
UP Woman Cop Who Stood Up Against BJP Workers Transferred To Keep Party's Pride Intact
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/07/02/up-woman-cop-who-stood-up-against-bjp-workers-transferred-to-kee_a_23012118/?ncid=fcbklnkinhpmg00000001
I accept it as reward for my good work: UP policewoman on transfer for standing up against BJP leaders
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/up-policewoman-transferred-i-accept-it-as-reward-for-my-good-work-uttar-pradesh-bjp-leader-adityanath-4731935/
New Delhi: UP woman police officer, who received much praise on social media for standing up against agitating local BJP leaders last week, was transferred to Bahraich on Saturday. Shreshtha Thakur had sent five BJP leaders to jail for creating obstacles in discharging Govt duties recently. Reflecting on her transfer, she said she was happy and that she accepts the decision as a reward for her good work.“Got transfer to Bahraich, it’s Nepal border, don’t worry my friends I am happy ..I accept it as a reward for my good work. U all are invited to Bahraich,” said Thakur on her Facebook page. She was earlier stationed at Syana circle in Bulandshahar district and got the transfer along with a few other deputy superintendents. Indian express
Burhanpur sedition case fits the larger pattern of MP police acting under prejudice and RSS pressure
https://scroll.in/article/842381/burhanpur-sedition-case-fits-the-larger-pattern-of-mp-police-acting-under-prejudice-and-rss-pressure
On Friday, MP Govt transferred Sanjay Pathak, town inspector of Shahpur police station in Burhanpur district, where 15 Muslim men had been arrested and charged with sedition for allegedly bursting firecrackers after Pakistan’s cricket team defeated the Indian team on June 18. The police later dropped the sedition charge and replaced it with promoting enmity between groups.The case took an unexpected turn when Subhash Laxman Koli, the man listed as the complainant, recorded two statements before the Burhanpur district court that the police had filed a false case under his name. Koli, a dish antennae repairer, lives in Mohad, the village from where the men were picked up. He said he had gone to Shahpur police station to secure the release his friend, Anis Mansuri, one of those arrested. The policemen slapped Koli and taunted him. The next day, he was made to sign a false statement.The MP police has officially denied that Pathak’s transfer had anything to do with the Burhanpur case. District SP RRS Parihar said the inspector was transferred to Mandsaur in connection with an old departmental enquiry pending against him in that district since 2014.But senior officers in the police headquarters in Bhopal, who requested anonymity, admitted Pathak had been penalised for the shoddy handling of the case. By this, they did not mean the fabrication of a case but the wrong choice of complainant. “That one mistake of picking a wrong person as complainant proved costly for the police,” said an officer.Another officer pointed out that this definition of mistake is symptomatic of the communal mindset that has beset the MP police under the rule of the BJP. “The policemen who slapped Koli as they learnt his purpose for coming to the police station were instinctively furious because their minds have become conditioned to think that a Hindu cannot help Muslim,” he said. scroll.in
No bail for Zakir Sk, who allegedly sent mails after blasts
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/no-bail-for-man-who-allegedly-sent-mails-after-blasts/articleshow/59406745.cms
Mumbai: Bombay high court on Saturday rejected a bail plea filed by Mohammed Zakir Shaikh, one of the 23 persons who are accused of sending emails under the name of Indian Mujahideen to claim responsibility for attacks in Ahmedabad in 2008.Shaikh had filed for bail in 2015 and on July 1, Justice PD Naik rejected it after agreeing with special public prosecutor Raja Thakare that confessions of 3 co-accused in the case have to be considered against him. The confession, later retracted, was that Shaikh and they had received training in Pakistan in 2005. Thakare relied on a 2010 high court order dismissing Shaikh's discharge plea in blasts case, where a bench of Justices Ranjana Desai and VK Tahilramani had observed that there was not just one confession but two others that corroborate it.Shaikh's counsel Yug Chaudhary pointed out how he was languishing in jail for 8 and half years despite having nothing to with the alleged offence. He said the confessions find no corroboration and are in any case retracted. Shaikh's petition also said that it was not even the prosecution's case that he had sent any of the alleged emails, nor has he made any confession to suggest his nexus with the offence. Matunga police registered a criminal case on Aug.24 for an offence of acts meant to cause communal tension by deliberately disturbing religious feelings. Emails claiming responsibility were also sent on Sept.13, 2008, minutes before blasts in Delhi. Chembur police registered a case and the state crime investigation dept, which took over the probe, arrested Shaikh on Sept.24. Shaikh claimed he was arrested "on mere suspicion, without basis". In Feb.2009, a chargesheet was filed against the 23 accused, some arrested and some wanted. Shaikh was also made an accused in the Gujarat serial blasts case for abetment. His lawyers questioned the jurisdiction of the Mumbai court trying him for the alleged offence.TOI
Govt Must Stop Killings By Vigilante Groups: Meira Kumar
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/Govt -must-stop-killings-by-vigilante-groups-says-meira-kumar-1719243?fb
Mumbai: Amid a spike in attacks by cow vigilantes, opposition's presidential candidate Meira Kumar said the atmosphere in the country has become "very disturbing" and asked the Govt to take firm steps to stop such "killings"."The atmosphere in the country today is very disturbing. When I open newspapers in the morning, I am scared of having to read the news of killings of 16-year-olds on roads... in their homes," she told reporters.s Kumar's remarks come against the backdrop of violent incidents and protests. "Firm steps should be taken by the Govt and it should immediately stop the killings as it has got an unprecedented mandate in parliament," she responded to a query on PM Narendra Modi's remarks that killing of people in the name of cow protection was not acceptable.PTI
Delhi: Jamaat-e-Islami Hind holds Eid Get-together
http://jamaateislamihind.org/eng/eid-get-together-by-jamaat-e-islami-hind/
New Delhi: An Eid Get-Together program was organized by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, yesterday at the Indian Islamic Cultural Center, New Delhi. In his welcome speech, Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari, Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Hind greeted the guests and extended a warm welcome to non-Muslim brothers and sisters who were attending the program. He said that: “we must take note of the delicate situation in which our country is passing through. We are all witnessing that there is no peace in the country. Various sections of society are feeling insecure especially the minorities and the weaker sections are increasingly becoming the target of violence. On a various small pretext, people are killed and it seems that rule of law is vanishing away especially in the north Indian states. The criminal elements are seen killing peoples and they have no fear of law in their heart. This situation is alarming although there it is a good sign that there have been recently some very strong protests against such negative tendencies. These protests show that humanity is still alive and this is a good sign for our country. We pray that this trend will continue and ultimately this may win over those kinds of evil elements which are trying to destroy peace and harmony of our country. We pray that present situation may end and peace and rule of law may be restored in our country. The program was followed by the speeches of guests and scholars of different religions especially Swami Agniwesh (Arya Samaj), Goswami Sushilji Maharaj (Hindu Religion), Dr. A.K. Merchant (Bahai Religion), Dr. M.D. Thomas (Christianity, Director, Institute of Peace & Harmony), B.K. Raghunandan (BrahmaKumari’s), Swami Manoharpuri Maharaj (Harisiddhi Math), Br. Harmindar Singh (Sikh Religion). The program concluded with the thanksgiving speech of Engineer Mohammad Salim (Secretary General, Jamaat) and was followed by dinner.
Restrictions in parts of Srinagar over killing of 2 civilians
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/restrictions-in-parts-of-srinagar-in-view-of-strike-call/story-EDerkc2Cy02Py4tPfq50nO.html
Srinagar: Kashmir shut down on Sunday to protest the killing of two civilians, allegedly by security forces during an encounter with militants in south Kashmir.The two civilians – a woman and a youth – were killed on Saturday in the Brinty Dialgam area of Anantnag district.Shops were closed and vehicles off the roads in capital Srinagar and other district headquarters in response to the shutdown call by three separatist leaders, Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik.Authorities imposed restrictions in major parts of the old city and some uptown areas.HT
Thousands attend funeral of LeT commander amid Kashmir shutdown
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/thousands-attend-funeral-of-let-commander-bashir-lashkari-amid-kashmir-shutdown/story-pvAuosnP1nBvFpBxSNerEI.html
Srinagar:Amid pro-freedom slogans, thousands of people participated in the funeral of Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Bashir Lashkari as Kashmir shut on Sunday over the killing of two civilians, allegedly by security forces during an encounter with militants in south Kashmir on Saturday.Thousands of people on Sunday participated in the funeral prayers of Lashkari at his ancestral Soaf-shali village of Kokernag in Anantnag. They shouted slogans demanding freedom from Indian rule as they took his body to the graveyard for burial.HT
Use social media to counter negative publicity against Kashmir: Minister to Omar Abdullah
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/use-social-media-to-counter-negative-publicity-against-kashmir-minister-to-omar-abdullah-4731728/
A J&K minister has appealed to ex CM Omar Abdullah to leverage his fan following on social media to counter “negative publicity by a section of national electronic media” against Kashmir and help promote tourism in the Valley. The appeal was made by Minster for Public Works Naeem Akhtar.PTI
Money laundering: Non bailable warrant against separatist leader Shabir Shah
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/non-bailable-warrant-against-shabir-shah-in-money-laundering-case/story-VWQbG67DZ1O5t6c5rmpkCN.html
New Delhi: A Delhi court has issued a non- bailable warrant against Kashmiri separatist leader Shabir Shah in an over a decade-old case of money laundering registered against him for alleged terror financing.Additional sessions judge Sidharth Sharma issued the arrest warrant after the ED told the court that Shah was repeatedly evading the summons asking him to depose before it and join the investigation.PTI
Samjhauta Express blasts case: Pakistan seeks time on sending blast witnesses to India
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/pakistan-seeks-time-on-sending-blast-witnesses-to-india-2007-samjhauta-express-blasts-case-4731774/
New Delhi:Pakistan has sought four more months from India for a decision on producing 13 witnesses before a special Haryana court which is trying the 2007 Samjhauta Express blasts case in which 68 people were killed. Last month, summons issued by the special NIA court at Panchkula were handed over to the Pakistani authorities, for sending the 13 witnesses to India for the trial. Pakistani recently conveyed through diplomatic channels that it needed four more months for taking a decision on producing the witnesses before the Indian court, official sources said.The court, while issuing the summons on March 17, had asked the witnesses to appear before it from July 4. The NIA counsel would inform the special court about the decision of Pakistani authorities once the court resumes hearing on Tuesday, the sources said. Out of 299 witnesses, court proceedings for 249 have been completed.PTI
Kashmiri preacher says ‘agencies’ tortured, harassed him in Mumbai
http://kashmirmonitor.in/Details/127158/islamic-preacher-says-%E2%80%98agencies-tortured-harassed-him-in-mumbai
Srinagar: The head of a group working in the field of Dawah and Islamic Education in Kashmir on Saturday said he and his associates were recently “harassed and interrogated” by “govt agencies in Mumbai”. Muhammad Aamir, President ‘Islamic Fraternity (IF)’, said in a presser that on May 19, while he was in Mumbai to visit one of his close associates, he was “interrogated” for hours by the “agencies”.“At around 8 pm, while I was having dinner with my host, I received a call from an unknown person, asking me to come over to his texted address. In about an hour, I reached to the address where I was interrogated until 12:30am,” Aamir claimed.The next morning, he said, his hotel room was “raided” by the “agency” people.“Morning after the interrogation they raided the hotel where I was staying, and questioned me for carrying the holy Quran with me,” he said. kashmir minitor
Chidambaram attacks GST in its present form, says it will lead to inflation
http://twocircles.net/2017jul01/412273.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Karaikudi: In a scathing attack on the GST in its current form, senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Saturday said it will put a burden on the common man and hugely affect small, medium and micro businesses and entrepreneurs while being inflationary with multiple rates.The anti-profiteering provision in the new law will be an instrument of harassment in the hands of officials, he told a press conference here.He said 80 % of all goods and services will bear a tax and prices will be higher. “There will be inflation. What is Govt going to do about it?” he asked.IANS
1 Lakh Suspicious Companies Deregistered Hours Before GST Rollout
http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/07/01/1-lakh-suspicious-companies-deregistered-hours-before-gst-rollou_a_23012042/?utm_hp_ref=in-homepage
On the first day of the GST taking effect across the country, PM Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley spoke strongly about fiscal hygiene in separate events.Jaitley dismissed concerns that the people were unhappy with the way it has been rolled out. A report in The Times of India quoted him as saying that traders had no reason to be unhappy with GST since the onus of paying excess indirect taxes lay with the customers, who were not complaining. Instead of making taxes burdensome, GST will, contrary to what traders fear, help reduce liabilities by merging the 12% and 18% rates into one, Jaitley added.The most important lesson of the roll-out of GST, the finance minister said, will involve a palpable change in the existing mindset of society and "a new normal" has to be created. Huffington Post
Day after GST, PM Modi warning on black money: 3 lakh firms under scanner after note ban
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/day-after-gst-pm-warning-on-black-money-3-lakh-firms-under-scanner-after-note-ban-4731339/
Delhi kid auctioned twice by kidnappers on Whatsapp
http://www.newsx.com/national/67770-bizarre-delhi-minor-auctioned-twice-by-kidnappers-on-whatsapp
New Delhi: The nation’s capital has been shamed again and this time in an absolute dreadful manner as a 2-year-old kid was kidnapped and was sold twice on social media application Whatsapp.As per reports, the kid was first abducted from the outskirts of Jama Masjid at a time when he was with his parents for a prayer ceremony in the mosque.Reportedly, a suspect identified as Jaan Mohammad kidnapped the kid on June 5 and went to Shakurpur in search for a possible buyer. Mohammad then arranged a meeting with a woman named Radha, who assured him in getting a share from the kid’s selling.The boy was sold to Sonia, who is a resident of Mangolpur for Rs 1 lakh.In a series of bids the kid was then resold to another buyer named Saroj, who lives in Radghubir Nagar for around 1.10 lakh.Eventually Saroj gave an advertisement for the kid through Whatsapp in anticipation for a bid around Rs. 1.8 Lakh.Sources revealed that the local police were updated as soon as Saroj posted the boy’s photo in her advertisement and arrested 4 suspects in connection of human trafficking. NewsX
Boy Kidnapped From Outside Jama Masjid And Put Up For Sale On Whatsapp By Gang
https://www.scoopwhoop.com/boy-kidnapped-from-outside-jama-masjid-put-up-for-sale-on-whatsapp/#.a4jmojcmv
Over 1.25 lakh women trafficking cases in India last year
http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/over-125-lakh-women-trafficking-cases-in-india-last-year?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=emailemail&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Indiatomorrownet+%28IndiaTomorrow.net%29
Kolkata: There were 35,000 reported cases of child trafficking and 1,25,750 women trafficking cases in the country in 2016-17, with West Bengal topping in both categories, a senior National Anti-Trafficking Committee (NATC) official said here on Saturday. "Among 35,000 reported cases of child trafficking, 13,000 were registered from West Bengal. In percentage terms, it comes to 37," NATC Chairman Sk. Jinnar Ali said. He said in terms of women trafficking, the eastern state accounted for nearly 42% of the cases in India. Women victims were mostly trafficked to Mumbai, Chennai and Dubai, according to Ali. He said in West Bengal, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas and Murshidabad districts recorded most of the women's trafficking cases in the past one year. NATC, which held its state conference during the day, announced it would build 6 more schools for the trafficking victims, besides various other initiatives to curb trafficking.IANS
Textbook sparks row over mosque depicted as noise pollutant
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/textbook-sparks-row-over-mosque-depicted-as-noise-pollutant-4731666/
New Delhi:An image in a class VI textbook taught in ICSE schools showing a “mosque” as a source of noise pollution has sparked outrage on social media, prompting an apology from the publisher and the promise that the picture would be removed in subsequent editions. Science textbook, published by Selina Publishers, has a chapter on the causes of noise pollution. The picture, shared widely on social media, shows a train, car, plane and a mosque, all with symbols depicting loud sound, next to a man grimacing and shutting his ears. Netizens have now launched an online petition demanding the book be withdrawn. While ICSE board officials were not available for comment, the publisher has apologised for the image. “This is to inform all concerned that we will be changing the picture in subsequent editions of the book,” publisher Hemant Gupta said on social media sites. Gupta said the diagram on page 202 of its publication, Integrated Science, consisted of “a structure resembling a portion of a fort and other noise producing objects in a noisy city”.“We do apologise if it has hurt the sentiments of anyone,” he said. Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam had stoked a controversy in April this year when he said he was woken up by the sound of “azaan” — early morning calls for prayers from mosques — amplified by loudspeakers. There have been several incidents of controversial content being found in school textbooks in recent months.PTI
Haryana govt suspends magazine which described women’s veil as ‘identity of state’
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/haryana-govt-suspends-magazine-which-described-women-s-veil-as-identity-of-state/story-FeITAfn3fxc3FiPM1SLx4K.html
Chandigarh: Publication of 5 Haryana Govt magazines, including the publication in which a photo caption describing of ‘ghoonghat’(veil) as “identity of the state” sparked controversy, have been temporarily suspended over complaints pertaining to their delayed circulation.The magazines, published and distributed free of cost by the state Govt , include Krishi Samvad, Haryana Samvad, Haryana Review (English), Ubharda Haryana (Punjabi) and Tamir-e-Haryana (Urdu).There were complaints of delayed distribution and non-distribution of these magazines. A senior official in CMO told HT that there were allegations that even MLAs were getting the issues of these magazines.“It was also alleged that the March issue of Haryana Samvad was circulated in June which had reports on Haryana tableaus at the Republic Day in Delhi and even the governor’s address during the budget session held in March,” he added.The Govt clarified that decision to suspend the Krishi Samvad, in which the photo caption appeared, was not linked to the controversy.“The decision to temporarily suspend the publication had been taken before the veil issue made headlines. The decision was because of the complaints, mainly pertaining to quality of the matter these magazines published,” a senior functionary at the CMO said. hindustantimes
Hindu-Muslim riots, caste-based conflicts should not be part of curriculum: ICSSR chief
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hindu-muslim-riots-caste-based-conflicts-should-not-be-part-of-curriculum-icssr-chief/article19198026.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi: Textbooks today are aimed at creating “activists” and not educating students, and subjects such as Hindu-Muslim riots and caste-based conflicts should not be part of school curriculum, according to newly appointed ICSSR Chief Braj Bihari Kumar. Kumar, an anthropologist who took over as the head of the apex body promoting research in social sciences last month, also believes that universities like JNU are becoming a “nurturing ground” for activists.Mr. Kumar,76, also believes that caste-based conflicts and intolerance in the country are “fringe” phenomena and should not be seen as a reflection of the Indian society.“Textbooks are not meant for making students activists, but for educating them. Unfortunately the books are driven by an agenda today and there is a need for a curriculum rehaul. Subjects like Hindu-Muslim riots and caste-based conflicts should not form basis of students’ mindset and their grooming,”Kumar said.PTI
Constables kept their caps as paper weights to facilitate Muslims offering ‘namaz’, get award from Cong
http://www.siasat.com/news/video-constables-kept-caps-paper-weights-facilitate-muslims-offering-namaz-get-award-cong-1206615/
Hyderabad: As a gesture of communal harmony, two constables of Kalapathar police station, R. Venkatesh Naik and V. Pratap Singh were given a cash award of Rs. 5000 by Congress. According to the reports, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, these constables had put their caps on the papers which were placed for offering ‘namaz’ to stop them from flying.Although, the rules don’t permit police constables on duty to take off their caps but these constables did so to show their respects for Muslims.Jana Reddy, Congress Leader of Opposition in Assembly and Mr. Mohammed Ali Shabbir, Congress Leader of Opposition in TS Legislative Council appreciated the gesture shown by these constables. They also thanked Commissioner of Police, Mahender Reddy and his team which made excellent arrangements at Eidgah Meer Alam on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.Siasat
WORLD
Qatar says Arab states’ demands ‘made to be rejected’, says open to talks
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170702-qatar-says-arab-states-demands-made-to-be-rejected-says-open-to-talks/
Demands made of Qatar by 4 other Arab states were designed to be rejected, Doha’s foreign minister said on Saturday, explaining that their ultimatum was aimed not at tackling terrorism but at curtailing his country’s sovereignty. However Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, speaking to reporters in Rome, added Doha was still ready to sit down and discuss grievances raised by its Arab neighbours. He was speaking ahead of a deadline set by Saudi, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt for Doha to accept 13 demands. Officials say they are aimed at ending a rift that erupted last month over accusations that Qatar supports terrorism, charges it denies. Adding that Qatar was willing to engage in further dialogue given “the proper conditions”, Sheikh Mohammed said:"This list of demands is made to be rejected. It’s not meant to be accepted or … to be negotiated."The demands included severing ties with terrorist groups, closing down the pan-Arab Al Jazeera satellite channel, downgrading ties with arch-rival Iran and closing a Turkish air base in Qatar. middle east monitor
Gulf deadline to resolve Qatar rift approaches
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/gulf-deadline-to-resolve-qatar-rift-approaches/articleshow/59412046.cms
Qatar: Saudi-led bloc's demands 'made to be rejected'
http://www.aljazeera.com/video/news/2017/07/qatar-saudi-led-blocs-demands-made-rejected-170702101951485.html
UAE allegedly funded ex-Al Jazeera crew to sue channel
http://www.aljazeera.com/video/news/2017/07/uae-allegedly-funded-al-jazeera-employee-sue-network-170702104641605.html
Former Al Jazeera journalist Mohamed Fahmy received significant funding from the UAE to sue the network, according to a recent report by the New York Times.Fahmy was jailed in Egypt in 2013 along with two of his colleagues, accused of collaborating with the Muslim Brotherhood to spread unrest.On his release he took legal action against Al Jazeera, saying the network knowingly endangered his life. Aljazeera
Israel allows Knesset members to enter AlAqsa compound
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-allows-knesset-members-to-enter-al-aqsa-compound/852746
Jerusalem:Israeli authorities have allowed members of Knesset (parliament) to enter the flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound in East Jerusalem, Israeli media reported on Sunday. According to Channel 7, PM Benjamin Netanyahu has temporarily allowed members of the Knesset to enter the complex as of next Sunday. Anadolu Agency
US attack on Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Mosque in Syria was ‘legal’, concludes internal investigation?
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170630-the-us-attack-on-a-mosque-in-syria-was-legal-concludes-an-internal-investigation-really/
US has concluded its internal investigation into the bombing of the Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Mosque in Syria and declared that it was “legal”. According to the official version of events, “two dozen” Al-Qaeda fighters were killed with possibly one civilian casualty, described as a “small-in-stature person”. On the ground reports, including human rights investigations, local testimonies and Syria-based journalists, contest the official US position.The attack took place on 16 March. US Special Operations Task Force attacked the mosque near Al-Jinah, a village in Aleppo province in northern Syria. A US F-15 Strike Eagle aircraft and an MQ-9 unmanned drone bombed the mosque where around 300 people had gathered for the evening prayer and a religious lecture. The attack destroyed a section of the mosque, killing 49 civilians according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The White Helmets civil defence group recovered 38 bodies from the rubble. US originally denied targeting a mosque, but in-depth investigations by Bellingcat, Forensic Architecture and Human Rights Watch concluded that the Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Mosque was indeed hit and at least 38 people had been killed.A number of reporters were invited by General Paul Bontrager, deputy director of operations at US Central Command , to be briefed on the investigation; full details of the official version of events have not been made public. However, Airwars, an organisation mapping coalition air strikes in Syria and Iraq, published the media briefing transcript. middle east monitor
Syria: Despite differences, US may need Assad's troops to defeat IS
http://www.firstpost.com/world/syria-offensive-despite-differences-us-may-need-bashar-al-assads-troops-to-defeat-islamic-state-3764203.html
Beirut: As the US-led coalition tightens the noose around the Islamic State group in Syria, President Bashar al-Assad's Iranian-backed troops are also seizing back territory from the militants with little protest from Washington, a sign of how American options are limited without a powerful ally on the ground. Washington is loath to cooperate with Assad's internationally ostracised Govt . But it will be difficult to uproot Islamic State militants and keep them out with only the Kurdish and Arab militias backed by the US – and a coalition spokesman pointed out that Assad's gains ease the burden on those forces.Letting Assad grab Islamic State territory, however, risks being seen as the US legitimising his continued rule and would likely strengthen his hand in his war against the already struggling rebellion. It also threatens to further empower Assad's allies, Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah, which both have forces alongside his troops in the assault into Islamic State-held territory.AP
Afghanistan: Taliban kills 13 pro-government fighters
http://aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/afghanistan-taliban-kills-13-pro-government-fighters/852666
Kabul:Taliban militants ambushed and killed 13 members of an anti-militant militia in a mosque in northern Afghanistan, officials confirmed .The incident took place a day earlier in the remote village of Haji Nadir in the restive Chamtal district, in the Balkh province bordering Uzbekistan. Anadolu Agency
FLASH: NEWS & VIEWS
Hapless pay the price as Islamophobia grows roots in India: Archana Dalmia, New Indian Express
http://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/2017/jul/02/hapless-pay-the-price-as-islamophobia-grows-roots-in-india-1623060--1.html
‘Innocent Humans Have Become the Target of Hate’:Renuka Shahane, The Wire
https://thewire.in/153445/lynching-done-in-any-name-cannot-be-condoned/
Paresh Rawal on Narendra Modi biopic showing 2002 Gujarat riots: Notion of those roaming around as judiciary will be tackled: Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/paresh-rawal-on-narendra-modi-biopic-showing-2002-gujarat-riots-notion-of-those-roaming-around-as-judiciary-will-be-tackled-4731126/
Many of the flaws in the GST design were the result of forced political compromise:P Chidambaram
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/gst-rollout-get-set-for-turbulence-p-chidamabaram-4731192/
PM Modi needs to investigate why is it mostly in states ruled by BJP that we have seen so many incidents of cow vigilantism;Tavleen Singh, Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/narendra-modi-speech-cow-vigilantism-lynching-4731224/
A boy called Junaid: Somya Lakhani, Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/faridabad-lynching-train-beef-ban-a-boy-called-junaid-4731198/
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:37 PM)
