Posts
Evening NEWS DIGEST
03 Aug 2017: 10 Zulqida 1438: Vol: 8, No:249
INDIA
Muslim clerics term UP govt’s move to make marriage registration mandatory ‘unfair’
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/muslim-clerics-term-up-govt-s-move-to-make-marriage-registration-mandatory-unfair/story-64Zcyij0r791Nl9SVwv2rK.html
Lucknow: Muslim clerics in UP on Thursday termed as “unfair” state govt’s decision to make registration of all marriages mandatory. Clerics from the Darul Uloom Deoband Islamic school came out out strongly against the move, saying it was “completely unwarranted and unnecessary”.Mufti Abul Qasim Naumani said while he was not against marriage registration per se, making it mandatory was against religious freedom. Another cleric, Maulana Ahmad Khijar Shah Masoodi, said it was unfair to deprive people of govt benefits if they did not register their marriage.Clerics in Lucknow said the uneducated and poorer sections among Muslims may find it difficult to go through the registration process.According to Imam Ali Asgar, it was unfortunate that such orders were being given although they were a clear violation of one’s religious rights.“Nikaah” itself is a marriage registration, he added.IANS
AIMPLB, Deoband clerics express resercations over Aadhaar role in mandatory marriage registeration
http://twocircles.net/2017aug02/414247.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Muslims opting for multiple marriages in UP need to register them separately
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/muslims-opting-for-multiple-marriages-in-up-need-to-register-them-separately-117080300998_1.html
Lucknow: Muslims opting for multiple marriages will have to get them registered separately in UP and the Govt guidelines do not in any way interfere with practices of any religion, a top official said today. UP Marriage Registration Guidelines, 2017 were approved by Cabinet on Aug.1. After notification,Stamp and Registration Dept will implement it, Renuka Kumar, the principal secretary to Women Welfare Dept, told PTI. She also made it clear that the guidelines "do not interfere" in practices of "any religion". "UP govt does not intend to interfere in the practices of any religion. If any male Muslim is going to register his marriage, then he will have the option of registration a maximum of four marriages. For this, he has to fill different registration forms," she said. However, she added that Muslims opting to marry more than once will have to get each marriage registered separately. "But, if any Muslim male has married more than once, then he has to register each of his marriage. Males from the Muslim community will get the facility of registering 4 marriages, but Hindus and people practicing other religions will be allowed to register only one marriage," Kumar said. The principal secretary also said that registering a marriage henceforth will not need the services of a lawyer. If the marriage is registered within a year of marriage, then Rs 10 will be levied as registration charges, she said. After this, the marriage will be considered as registered, and a reference number will be given. The marriage certificate can be obtained on one's personal email id or can be downloaded from any cyber cafe, she said, adding only the reference number has to be remembered. PTI
Deendayal Upadhyaya birth centenary: Triple Talaq seminars dropped, push for Centre’s minority welfare schemes
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/deendayal-upadhyaya-birth-centenary-triple-talaq-seminars-dropped-push-for-centres-minority-welfare-schemes-4779817/
Lucknow: Seminars on triple talaq will not be a part of BJP’s programmes to mark its ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya’s birth centenary. Instead, it will move to apprise Muslims of central Govt schemes for minorities. BJP had asked its alpsankhyak morcha (minority wing) to organise the triple talaq seminars for two weeks starting from Sept.1. These were scheduled to preferably be organised in madrasas, where experts on women’s rights would address Muslim women on their legal rights and counsel them on empowerment. However, plans changed during BJP national chief Amit Shah’s visit to Lucknow last week.UP state president of BJP’s minority wing Haider Abbas ‘Chaand’, said, “Party will hold seminars at district level to make Muslims and other minority communities aware of schemes being run by the Modi govt in the Centre for welfare and empowerment of minorities.”Seminars would be organised from Aug.25 to Sept.20 in all districts and regional meetings for its preparations will begin from Aug.6,he added. On why the party decided to drop the planned seminars on triple talaq, he said, “This was because there is no need to organise seminars on triple talaq now. It is expected that the Supreme Court judgment in the triple talaq case will favour the victims. BJP has fought the battle for the rights of Muslim women.” In its manifesto for UP Assembly polls, BJP had promised to take up the triple talaq matter. After the win, BJP leaders had claimed Muslim women had backed them as the party was opposed to the practice.Now, Haider clarified that the UP election was held on the agenda of development and hence the party will speak on such issues only. “We have to change the anti-BJP perception that opposition parties have created among Muslims,” he said.Asked what steps the Yogi Adityanath Govt took to meet its poll promise on triple talaq, Haider replied he was not aware about it. indian express
Bhopal school locked Muslim students for refusing to make Shivlings
https://www.siasat.com/news/video-bhopal-school-locked-muslim-students-refusing-make-shivlings-1219482/
Bhopal: Muslim girl students were locked up in a classroom after they denied participating in the ‘religious Shivlings aka Shiva Lingams making workshop’.The incident happened at Kamla Nehru Girls Higher Secondary School in TT Nagar of MP’s Bhopal.According to The Quint, a religious workshop was organised on 29 July where students were asked to participate in the making of 2,100 mud Shivlings. School Principal Nisha Kamranani told the students that if they want good number in the exam and want to succeed in their life, then take part in this Shivlinga making workshop with dedication.About 100 Muslim students boycotted the workshop as it’s against the religious belief.When the girls from the minority community did not participate in Shiva Lingams making workshop, they were locked in a different classroom. However, the girls were later released and allowed to go home.The students said that the respective class teachers made announcement about the programme a day prior to it but did not mention about such religion-specific activity. Workshop was held in the presence of some school officers, puja followed by feast were organised but no attempt was made to stop such religious activity inside govt school premises.A teacher on condition of anonymity said, it is not appropriate to conduct such religion-specific activity in the school premises. Such type of activities will make students belonging to other religion uncomfortable. siasat
Bhopal school asks students to make Shivlings, Muslims protest
https://www.thequint.com/india/2017/08/01/bhopal-school-asks-students-to-make-shivlings-muslims-protest
INDIA-CHINA, PAK & J&K
China again blocks UN terror tag for Jaish’s Masood Azhar
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/china-again-blocks-un-terror-tag-for-jaish-chief-masood-azhar-1732841
UN: China has again extended by three months its technical hold on the US, France and UK-backed proposal to list Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a designated terrorist by the United Nations.China had in February this year blocked the US move to designate Azhar as a global terrorist at UN. The deadline for China to take action on its technical hold was till August 2.If China would not have extended the technical hold, Masood Azhar would have automatically been designated under the UN as a terrorist.Sources told PTI that hours before the deadline lapsed, China once again sought a three-month extension until Nov.2 on its technical hold on the proposal.PTI
Withdraw troops or face consequences: Chinese diplomat
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/withdraw-troops-or-face-consequences-says-chinese-diplomat/article19417002.ece
New Delhi: India must withdraw its troops on the Doklam plateau or “face consequences”, said a senior Chinese diplomat in New Delhi on Thursday. The remarks that mark a serious escalation in rhetoric over the ongoing tensions between the two countries, as their armies continue a six-week long stand-off near India-Bhutan-China trijunction off Sikkim. “The crossing of the boundary line by Indian troops into the territory of China using the pretext of security concerns for a 3rd party (Bhutan) is illegal,” Chinese Deputy Chief of Mission Liu Jinsong said, adding that “Troops should be withdrawn immediately, otherwise there will be serious consequences.” While refusing to elaborate on what the “consequences” would be, the diplomat said that the Indian action at Doklam was akin to “intruding into your neighbours house, and demanding the neighbour leave to ensure your withdrawal,”and quoting Chinese President Xi Jinping added, “Military option is the fundamental guarantor of sovereignty.”thehindu
China claims India pulled out most troops from Doklam; govt denies
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/china-claims-india-pulled-out-most-troops-from-doklam-govt-denies/articleshow/59889544.cms
New Delhi: India has not pulled back troops from the Doklam face-off with the People's Liberation Army, sources said, flatly rejecting China's claim that the number of Indian soldiers at the actual confrontation site had gone down from 400 to just over 40 by July-end. Chinese foreign ministry, through a 15-page statement with maps, photographs and documents on Wednesday, seemed to give the impression that the Doklam crisis in Bhutanese territory near the Sikkim-Bhutan-Tibet trijunction had finally begun to de-escalate with India backing down from the confrontation after 45 long days.The statement, which came after NSA Ajit Doval recently held talks with his counterpart Yang Jiechi in Beijing, also sought to drive a clear wedge between India and Bhutan. It said the "illegal action" by "trespassing" Indian soldiers "not only violated China's territorial sovereignty but also challenged Bhutan's sovereignty and independence".But brushing all this aside, Indian sources stressed China had unilaterally broken the status quo by trying to construct a motorable road in the Doklam area , which was physically blocked by Indian troops on June 18. timesofindia
Dokalam standoff: Transgressions by PLA along LAC likely to rise
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/dokalam-standoff-transgressions-by-pla-along-lac-likely-to-rise/articleshow/59892414.cms
NewDelhi:Transgressions by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) across different sectors of 4,057-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC) —de facto boundary between India and China — can increase in the coming months as India remains firm to thwart Beijing’s designs in Dokalam plateau.With PLA failing to make headway in the Sino-Bhutan-India trijunction to create infrastructure and claim territory, there are apprehensions that transgressions by Chinese troops along LAC in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh could spike with an aim to create pressure on India, according to persons familiar with Chinese military strategy. timesofindia
Opposition to Govt : What is your road map to deal with 'unusually aggressive' China?
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/what-is-Govt s-road-map-to-deal-with-unusually-aggressive-china-asks-opposition/articleshow/59899672.cms
New Delhi: The opposition on Thursday accused Govt of having no stable foreign policy and asked it to spell out its roadmap to deal with China amid the border standoff which it wanted to be resolved diplomatically.During a discussion on "India's foreign policy and engagement with strategic partners" in Rajya Sabha, opposition parties said they are with the Govt in the face of "unusually aggressive" position adopted by China but wanted the country to be strengthened further militarily to ward off any threat.The opposition parties also accused the Govt of spoiling relations with the neighbours and felt that India should not be isolated in the process of isolating Pakistan." As we engage with our partner countries, please ensure that there is balance. We should ensure that we engage with all of them. But we should ensure that there is strategic balance," said Congress leader Anand Sharma.PTI
Sushma on China standoff in Rajya Sabha: War not a solution, wisdom is to resolve issues diplomatically
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/sushma-swaraj-in-rajya-sabha-war-is-not-a-solution-even-after-war-we-need-to-talk-sikkim-standoff-pakistan-pathankot-attack-china-4780926/
New Delhi: Replying to opposition’s questions on govt’s foriegn policies in Rajya Sabha, External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said it is the first time after Pathankot terror attack that ‘Pakistan has not gone on a denial mode’. She added that the Indian govt has given a roadmap for peace and friendship to Pakistan but “one-sided roadmap can’t function and terror and talks cannot go together.On Dokhlam standoff, Swaraj targetted Congress party over its vice president Rahul Gandhi’s meeting with Chinese ambassador. indianexpress
Pak constructing 6 dams in PoK with China’s help: Govt
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/indus-waters-treaty-pakistan-constructing-6-dams-in-pok-with-chinas-assistance-govt/
New Delhi: Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh has informed the Rajya Sabha that Pakistan is constructing 6 dams on the Indus river in PoK with China’s assistance and India has made demarches to both Islamabad and Beijing conveying it is in violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. In a written reply, Singh said that according to the government’s information, Pakistan is constructing 6 dams on the Indus river in PoK with assistance committed to those projects by China. “India has a clear and consistent position that these territories are illegally occupied by Pakistan and that any collaborative activity there is in violation of India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said. “Accordingly, we have made demarches to both Pakistan and China conveying the position. Govt will continue to maintain this position,” Singh added. indianexpress
Kashmir: After Abu Dujana's encounter, security forces resorted to 'targetted' civilian firing
http://www.firstpost.com/india/kashmir-after-abu-dujanas-encounter-security-forces-resorted-to-targetted-civilian-firing-3888613.html
Srinagar: 27-year-old Firdous Ahmad Khan returned home around the time LeT commander Abu Dujana was trapped in a house, barely a few km from his Begam Bagh village in Pulwama. Firdous had travelled hundreds of kilometres from Jammu, where he would often go to sell vegetables. Early next morning, he went out to water his paddy fields close by, where Dujana was trapped and engaged in a gun battle with the security forces. He saw that the roads leading to his house were sealed by a heavy deployment of forces. A security cordon had been laid down in the surrounding areas since 10:45 pm on Monday. Unaware of the ongoing encounter operation, Firdous died within few hours of leaving his house as a gun battle ensued between the forces and the holed-up militants. While the police claim that Firdous had died because he was caught in the crossfire, his family and the local villagers deny those claims. His family members say that Firdous was targetted by the forces and had received a bullet to his hip. He died while being shifted to a hospital in Pulwama.Firdous's death left his family in a state of deep remorse. His pregnant wife wailed over his body draped in a shroud before his burial and had to be admitted to the hospital after she developed pregnancy-related complications. She now has to take care of their one-year-old daughter and remains in a state of pathos.On a grille in front of his house, a banner of many slain militants – including Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzafar Wani – could be seen. Mohammad Shaban Khan, his father, wept as he blamed himself for his son's death. "My son had come home only yesterday from Jammu and I only told him to go to the field and water the paddy," he rued, as he welled up.Sakina Banoo, a 30-year-old woman from Narbal, was among the at least 10 injured in the firing by security forces in the village after the encounter on Tuesday. Sakina’s mother, Rashida Banoo, said that she had gone to a nearby village, where she worked as an Anganwadi teacher when she was fired upon. A bullet had pierced her leg and she was immediately shifted to a hospital in Srinagar.Another resident, Ali Mohammad Khan, said that many were surprised when the forces fired indiscriminately upon people. "Our village is many kms away from Hakripora, where the encounter took place... they targetted us as well," said the elderly Khan.firstpost
J&K:2 army men, 2 militants killed in separate encounters
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kashmir-two-army-men-including-major-killed-in-shopian-encounter-with-militants/story-CUtudAsMDs546ai7mKsYPP.html
Srinagar: 2 Indian Army personnel, including a major, and as many militants were killed in 2 separate gun battles in J&K on Thursday, officials said, in an upsurge of shootouts in the restive region in the past few months.Major Kamlesh Pandey and sepoy Tanzin Chhultim were killed after militants fired upon the security forces during a gun battle in the Zaipora area of Shopian district on Thursday morning.“Trapped militants escaped after firing on the soldiers,” a senior district police officer said.“The slain militants were identified as Aaqib Ahmad Itoo son of Abdul Hamid Itoo resident of Gopalpora and Suhail Ahmad Rather son of Mohammad Arif Rather resident of Tantraypora Yaripora.Both the militants were involved in unlawful and anti-national activities,” police said.hindustantimes
2017 most violent year in J&K with 184 incidents of violence: Govt
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/jammu-and-kashmir-terror-attacks-mha-violence-burhan-wani/1/1016789.html
New Delhi:A day after Abu Dujana, ex-Lashkar Commander was killed in a fierce encounter in Hakripora, Pulwama on Tuesday, Ministry of Home Affairs has declared 2017 one of the most violent years in the decade.Minister of State for Home Hasnraj Gangaram Ahir gave a written statement in response to a question asked by Member of Parliament Naresh Aggarwal. While the trouble torn state had seemingly reached an abyss with state witnessing strife for 7 months after killing of Burhan Wani Hizbul Mujahideen commander by security forces on July 8.While 2016 was believed to be the most violent years in the recent times, 2017 seems to have surpassed with more incidents of violence.In his statement before the upper house of Parliament said that about 184 incidents of terror were reported from J&K till the end of July 2017. There were about 155 incidents last year during the same period. indiatoday
RSS leader Indresh Kumar dares Mehbooba Mufti to Revoke Art 370 to test waters
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/panjab-university-rss-leader-dares-mehbooba-mufti-to-revoke-art-370-to-test-waters-4779806/
Chandigarh: Senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar has suggested revocation of Article 370 in J&K as an “experiment” to check whether people would as a reaction burn the tricolour or unfurl it. Kumar’s comments came days after J&K CM Mehbooba Mufti said in New Delhi that if the special constitutional status of J&K was tampered with or the Permanent Resident Act (35A) – a provision that empowers the state’s permanent residents – is removed, there would be “no one to shoulder the Indian flag in the Valley.”“ NDA’s partner CM Mehbooba Mufti said that if Article 370 is touched with, there will be no one to shoulder the tricolor. I am telling you, I keep telling Farooq (Abdullah), Ghulam Nabi (Azad), Mehbooba or Geelani (Syed Ali Shah), Shabbir (Shah), everyone see doing an experiment in J&K to remove Article 370 to see if people unfurl the flag or burn it. Do it as experiment. I can request them. They will know the truth and the world would also know the truth…,” said Kumar, while addressing the media. indianexpress
OTHERS
Elderly Dalit woman suspected of braid cutting lynched in Agra: IANS
http://twocircles.net/2017aug02/414251.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Agra: An elderly Dalit woman, termed an evil witch involved in cutting hair of women, was beaten to death near here on Wednesday morning, police said.Family members told police that the old woman had gone to the field to relieve herself, but lost her way and entered the Baghaels Mutnai village under Dauki police station, 25 km from the city, where she was surrounded by a group of men who accused her of coming to cut the hair of some young girls. Her son Manoj told the police that his mother had identified herself and kept pleading to be let off, but a group refused to free her and kept beating her.As news spread, people from her mohalla ran to rescue her, but she died on way to the hospital.A senior police official said she was mentally unstable and incoherent, while her grey hair and scary looks seem to have prejudiced the locals. 2 persons named in FIR have disappeared from the village. Last 2 weeks, there have been scores of claims of hair cutting in Agra, Mathura, Bharatpur, and Palwal area, fuelled by social media.
60-yr-old woman lynched in Agra after rumours she was chopping people’s hair
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/60-year-old-woman-lynched-in-agra-after-rumours-she-was-chopping-people-s-hair/story-qTYizvFIivxjpflxIZbHhM.html
17-yr Muslim boy stripped naked lynched after spotted with a hindu girl in jharkhand
http://www.indiasamvad.co.in/top-stories/muslim-boy-stripped-naked-lynched-in-jharkhand-23491
New Delhi: In the last few months, there have been a number of cases of communal violence which triggered panic in the nation. In the latest, a 17-year-old Muslim boy, native of Jharkhand, was stripped naked and beaten by a mob because he was found with a girl from other community. According to reports, a boy named Mohammed Shakir, belonging to Muslim community was attacked and assaulted by a mob in Bokaro while a number of people stood there watching the whole incident, refusing to take a step against mob lynching.The attackers stripped Shakir naked, pushed him to the ground, groped him and beat him with sticks. However, one person has been arrested, while a few others have been identified from the video. The probe is going on. Shakir is admitted in the hospital and his condition is serious. Meanwhile,Shakir's relative claimed that the attack was a hate crime as attackers belonged to Hindu community.Bokaro's DSP, Poonam Minz, said, "the boy was attacked because he was found with a Hindu girl. Police reached the spot as soon as we were informed, but the time we got there, he was already badly injured. We rescued him from crowd and admitted him to a hospital.India Samvad
3 men thrashed by mob in Bihar on suspicion of carrying beef, arrested
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/three-men-thrashed-by-mob-in-bihar-on-suspicion-of-carrying-beef-arrested/story-IFOZqhBRPI4Fx8L1nkjYsN.html
Patna: In a first of its kind in Bihar, a mob in Bhojpur district led by cow vigilantes on Thursday thrashed a truck driver and 2 others on suspicion of transporting beef, police said.They also tried to set on fire the vehicle which was on its way to Muzaffarpur district. But the police said they foiled the attempt. The incident occurred in Shahpur near Ara town when the mob stopped the truck on suspicion that it was carrying beef and caught the 3. All 3 men were arrested after being rescued from the mob, a police official said. “They will be interrogated whether they were carrying beef or buffalo meat,” the official said.The protesters blocked the Ara-Buxar road demanding that the three men be handed over to them. The police refused to do that. “Tuck driver has confessed that they were carrying buffalo meat and not cow meat,” the official said.IANS
Cow vigilantes beat up 4 youth in MP, policeman too joins in
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/cow-vigilantes-beat-up-four-youth-in-mp-policeman-too-joins-in/story-ubPdhEK084UUn7ZgWcLlFN.html
Betul/Bhopal: Cow vigilantes and a policeman thrashed 4 youth in Betul district on suspicion of being involved in smuggling of cows.The incident took place at Dulhara village, about 110 kilometers away from the district headquarters of Betul on Friday, but it came to light when a video clip of the same went viral on social media on Tuesday. According to sub-divisional officer of police Bhanisdehi Prem Singh Thakur, Suresh Meena, Mohd Sameer, Roopsingh and Mohd Afzal, all residents of Rahat village in Harda district, were taking a bath in a river near Dulhariya village when some villagers thrashed them, levelling allegations of cow smuggling.The villagers had earlier spotted 18 cattle heads at a tribal’s house and they assumed these were smuggled by the 4 youth.The hands of the youth were tied and they were beaten up by cow vigilantes.The policeman who also beat up the youth is yet to be identified. The cop booked the youth on charges of cow smuggling and sent them to jail.However, after the video clip went viral on social media on Tuesday, a report was lodged by village chowkidar against the cow vigilantes — Shyam, Manak, Sundar Parate and others.However, no arrest has been made so far in connection with the second FIR. hindustantimes
4 persons beaten up on suspicion of cow smuggling in MP
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/four-persons-beaten-up-on-suspicion-of-cow-smuggling-in-madhya-pradesh-4779994/
Anti-lynching law MASUKA continues to remain ignored by the Central govt
http://twocircles.net/2017aug02/414205.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Maanav Suraksha Kanoon, popularly known as MASUKA, which is a draft law to prevent mob lynching events in the country is still waiting for the enaction and approval from the cabinet. MASUKA was drafted and launched on July 7, but until now no substantial progress has been registered. The drafting committee showed hope that the legislation would be made implemented soon but NDA govt continues to ignore the matter even as the number of deaths due to mob lynching continue to rise.Shahzad Poonawalla, who is leading the campaign along with Tehseen Poonawalla, Pankhuri Pathak and others, talked with TCN on the progress. Poonawalla said, “We have gathered support from at least 11 political parties until now. The number is likely to increase because the law is not limited to any particular religion or race. So more groups will join.”A couple of MPs from the BJP have also extended their support to the MASUKA campaign, but they do not want to be identified before the voting on the Bill begins. Poonawalla said, “They have assured us they will talk their party members when the bill comes on the table.”Moreover, the forerunners of the campaign have also planned to march to the house of Law MInister to demand implementation of MASUKA before the end of the parliamentary session. On Aug.15, a countrywide online campaign is being planned to gather support from various sections of the society.When parliament was having a discussion on mob lynchings on July 3, Saugata Roy, MP from West Bengal demanded discussion and implementation on MASUKA in his Lok Sabha speech. The campaign is yet to see the nod from the union Govt which has not passed any statement on the issue.TwoCircles
Shimla: Uneasy calm after communal flare-up over schoolgirl’s rape in Tissa: indianexpress
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/shimla/tissa-uneasy-calm-after-communal-flare-up-over-schoolgirls-rape-4778121/
Shimla: 3 days after violence first broke out in Tissa over alleged rape of a schoolgirl by a teacher, normalcy is slowly returning to this remote sub-division in Chamba. Accused teacher, Tek Chand, was earlier arrested, and police claim that that he has confessed to sexually exploiting the schoolgirl, who belonged to the Muslim community.But the rape allegation triggered a communal flare-up in the area, with school teachers from one community being beaten up on July 29 by a mob, which included women led by a Congress leader and Haj committee chairman Dildar Ali Bhat.On Tuesday, Chamba Deputy Commissioner Sudesh Mokhta and local SP Varinder Tomar held a meeting with representatives of the two communities and sought their support in maintaining peace in the area. They also promised action against those responsible for triggering clashes between members the 2 communities. An angry mob had targeted policemen and set shops on fire on Monday. Anger reportedly stemmed from the incident at Govt Senior Secondary School, Khushnagar, where some teachers were called by by SDM Hitesh Azad supposedly at the behest of Bhat and then attacked in the presence of local admin. A few teachers were singled out for the attack, protesters have alleged.While police have confirmed the incident, they have denied the presence of Tissa SDM at the incident site. Kesari Singh, a teacher present there and accused by women of having a role in the victim’s exploitation, alleged he was called over phone by SDM and found the mob already there.Later, Bhat, along with 4 others, was arrested by police on a complaint lodged by the teachers’ union. The union went on a protest threatening revenge against those who singled out teachers and beat them up, alleging that the incident had given the issue a communal colour.The last few days have seen clear communal fault lines emerge in Tissa and Khushinagar, with VHP and political activists – both from Congress and BJP, attacking police for shielding those who attacked the teachers.
Shimla rape-murder of minor girl: Peace returns to Tissa
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/shimla-rape-murder-peace-returns-to-tissa-finally/articleshow/59871110.cms?
SIT to probe Assam Muslim student leader’s killing
http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2017/aug/03/sit-to-probe-assam-muslim-student-leaders-killing-1637557.html
Guwahati: AS tension prevailed in this communally sensitive region of Assam, the Govt of Sarbananda Sonowal set up a SIT to probe the killing of Muslim student leader Lafiqul Islam Ahmed.All BTC Minority Students’ Union (ABMSU) demanded a CBI inquiry and immediate removal of the Kokrajhar superintendent of police over the killing and the Congress has also called for a probe by the premier investigation agency. Ahmed was gunned down by 2 motorcycle-borne assailants at a market in Kokrajhar on Tuesday.newindianexpress
Lucknow University: lathi-charged at students, protesting against hostel allotment; admin claims students took them as hostage
http://twocircles.net/2017aug02/414199.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Students of Lucknow University were lathi-charged by the Police on Tuesday after their protests against the faulty hostel allotment system got out of hand. The police have arrested nine students and lodged a case against at least 100 students. University has been facing a lot of heat for the past couple of weeks after the administration decided to hike the hostel fee of self-financed courses up to 6 times, a decision which was taken back in next couple of days seeing the protest from every side.On Tuesday morning, University administration started allocating Acharya Narendra Dev Hostel to the students without putting the list of qualified students online because of which many students had to return empty-handed because they did not know of their eligibility for the same.Around 3 in the evening, student leaders and activists reached the Registrar office to discuss the same.The grievance could not be resolved at the moment, so students reached the vice-chancellor office to protest against the same. Around 15 past midnight, police reached the campus with heavy force and started charging at the students. Moreover, police arrested around nine students and lodged FIR against 100 students including Vinay Vikram Singh, Prabhat Singh. Vipul Balian, Manish, Ashish Mishra and Pooja Shukla.TCN
Cow dung can be used to create bunkers, urine cures cancer, says RSS leader
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/cow-dung-bunkers-urine-cancer-rss-bjp-indresh-kumar-cowpathy-meenakshi-lekhi/1/1017643.html
New Delhi:RSS leader Indresh Kumar on Wednesday suggested that cow dung could be used to make bunkers. Calling cow meat "poison" and cow as the "mother of humanity", Kumar said,"90% of world's population depends on cow milk, and that is why it is called mother of humanity. Cow keeps poisonous things to itself and gives milk and gobar (cow dung)"."Dung can also be used for making bunkers. It is also used as cement by common man for making houses. It's urine has medicinal properties which treat diseases like cancer," he added.Kumar also claimed that cow urine has anti-cancer properties.Meanwhile, BJP minister Meenakshi Lekhi said on Tuesday that cow urine has helped a former law officer to recover from a serious illness. While stressing on the benefits of cow urine, Meenakshi Lekhi also asked Govt what steps are being taken to promote the usage of cow urine. IndiaToday
IIT Delhi gets 50 research proposals to study benefits of cow urine under SVAROP programme
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/iit-delhi-gets-50-research-proposals-to-study-benefits-of-cow-urine-under-svarop-programme-4780110/
New Delhi: IIT, Delhi, has received 50 proposals from different academic and research institutes to study the benefits of cow urine and milk under SVAROP programme, Govt said on Wednesday. In a written reply in Lok Sabha, YS Chowdary, Minister of State in the Science and Technology Ministry, said that at a brainstorming-cum-consultative workshop held at IIT, concept ideas/proposals related to SVAROP programme, including the research and development (R&D) component on cow derivatives, were discussed.PTI
SC allows use of NOTA in elections to three RS seats in Gujarat, refuses Congress party's plea to disallow it
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sc-allows-use-of-nota-in-elections-to-3-rs-seats-in-gujarat-dismisses-congress-partys-plea-to-disallow-it/articleshow/59894437.cms
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has allowed the use of the 'None of the Above" (NOTA) option in the upcoming poll for three Rajya Sabha seats in Gujarat.It refused a Congress party plea to stay the use of the voting option.The SC said the use of the NOTA option is a constitutional issue which needs to be debated. It asked the Election Commission (EC) to respond in two weeks to the Congress petition disallowing NOTA. The SC then set September 18 as the date to hear detailed arguments on the issue. Since the election in Gujarat for the RS seats is on August 8, it means legislators will be able to exercise the NOTA option during the poll.The SC had a day earlier agreed to hear a plea moved by the Gujarat Congress to remove NOTA. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal had sought an urgent hearing.In its arguments earlier, the Congress party told the SC that if the NOTA option is allowed, its MLAs' votes would be "bought" by other parties to defeat its candidate. It would also become "a tool for corruption", Congress added.TOI
Income Tax officials seize Rs 11.43 crore cash during searches on Congress minister DK Shivakumar
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/income-tax-raids-continue-at-congress-minister-dk-shivakumars-delhi-residence-4780025/
New Delhi; Income Tax dept officials seized cash worth Rs 11.43 crore during searches at properties linked to Karnataka Energy Minister D K Shivakumar and his associates. The raids had begun early Wednesday morning in connection with an alleged tax evasion case. More than Rs 7 crore in cash had been recovered from the minister’s Delhi residence in Safdarjung.A political storm had erupted when the Eagleton Golf Resorts in Bengaluru, where Shivakumar was overseeing the stay of the 42 Gujarat Congress MLAs, was among the 60 premises that were searched by tax officials in connection with the case. The Congress questioned the timing of the raids and asked BJP why the resort was targeted where the Congress MLAs were holed up to avoid being poached by BJP in their home state, especially ahead of Aug.8 Rajya Sabha polls.
LS passes 2 bills extending CGST, IGST to J&K
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/ls-passes-2-bills-extending-cgst-igst-to-jammu-kashmir/articleshow/59897028.cms
New Delhi:Lok Sabha today passed 2 bills extending Central GST and Integrated GST to J&K, with Finance Minister Arun Jaitley saying the step will ensure greater economic integration of the state with rest of the country. He asserted that special status of J&K was "never meant to create economic impediment" as he maintained that GST is in the larger interest of traders and consumers of J&K . Central GST (Extension to J&K) Bill and the Integrated GST (Extension to J&K) Bill passed by the House by a voice vote are aimed at giving effect to the formal amendments required in Central GST (CGST) and Integrated GST (IGST) Acts by removing the exemption that was carved out for J&K. PTI
Ahmedabad cops can now keep beards up to a month
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/city-cops-can-now-keep-beards-up-to-a-month/articleshow/59888528.cms
Ahmedabad: A notification by city police commissioner, A K Singh, has made it permissible for city police personnel to keep beards up to a month for valid reasons. The police chief has also directed senior officers to properly verify the reasons before granting any personnel permission to keep beard. Recently, some police officials from Zone-7 and Zone-2 had asked for permission to grow beards during the month of Shravan which is sacred to Hindus. When permission was denied, concerned personnel had put in leave applications." Senior police officials then approached DGP Geetha Johri who then directed district police chiefs and police commissioners to allow police personnel to grow beards subject to conditions. Meanwhile, Gujarat high court has admitted a petition filed by a Muslim policeman, Sajid Sabirmiya Shaikh, who had approached the court after the department asked him to shave his beard. During his 9-month service, the dept did not object to his sporting a beard, but in Dec.last year he was asked to remove it. Shaikh had unsuccessfully argued before his senior officials that the right to keep a beard fell within his fundamental right to freedom of religion. timesofindia
WORLD
Interim PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi may continue as Pak PM for 10-month PML-N tenure
http://indianexpress.com/article/pakistan/pakistan-pm-shahid-khaqan-abbasi-nawaz-sharif-4780752/
Pakistan’s newly-elected interim PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will likely continue as as premier for the remaining 10-month tenure of PML-N as the party chief and ousted PM Nawaz Sharif has indicated retaining his younger brother Shahbaz Sharif in the key province. Nawaz Sharif, who was disqualified by Supreme Court in the Panama Papers case on July 28, had nominated his brother Shahbaz Sharif to succeed him after winning a by-election on his vacant seat in Lahore.Abbasi, 58, was endorsed by Sharif to hold the post for interim arrangement of 45 days (till mid-Sept) till Shahbaz makes to Islamabad. “Sharif is holding a high-level huddle of PML-N senior leaders today in Murree to review his earlier decision to elevate Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif to the Centre or not,” a PML-N senior leader told PTI. After Abbasi was elected PM last Tuesday, he said many in the Nawaz camp suggested that the former retain the position for the remaining term of the PML-N Govt as Punjab is very important for the party and cannot be left to an “inexperienced hand”.“PML-N legislators including Punjab law minister Rrana Sanaullah have conveyed to Sharif that it will not be a wise move to elevate Shahbaz in the Centre as there will be no experience hand in the party to run the largest province in his absence,” he said, adding that the Sharif camp does not want Shahbaz in the Centre as well. There are also reports that Sharif’s refusal to nominate Shahbaz’s son Hamza as CM of Punjab has annoyed him who might choose not to give up the post in the province because of it.“Nawaz’s daughter Maryam is against handing over Punjab to Hamza while his father is at the Centre. But Shahbaz appeared too keen to keep both posts in the family. This is another reason of Shahbaz’s reluctance to leave Punjab to someone other than his son,” another PML-N insider said. PTI
Israeli settlers raid Al-Aqsa as 180 Palestine employees denied entry
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170803-settlers-raid-al-aqsa-as-180-palestine-employees-denied-entry/
Some 160 extremist Israeli settlers raided Al-Aqsa Mosque yesterday while Israeli authorities prevented 180 Palestinian employees in the holy site from carrying out their work, Safa News Agency reported.Israeli police opened Al-Maghrabeh Gate of Al-Aqsa Mosque for the Israeli Jewish settlers at 7.30am and deployed Special Forces around the holy side to protect the settlers.One of the Palestinian employees in the mosque told Safa that he counted 158 settlers flocking to the Sanctuary Yards in groups who then carried out “provocative” tours around the holy sites.Safa reported that Israeli police had tightened entry measures for Palestinian worshipers since the morning when they headed to Al-Aqsa Mosque to perform prayers and attend Qur’anic lessons.Director of Al-Aqsa Mosque Sheikh Omar Al-Kiswani said that Israeli authorities prevented 180 new Palestinian employees from entering the mosque to carry out their work, without giving a reason. Al-Kiswani condemned the repeated Israeli raids, stressing that Israelis do not have the right to enter Al-Aqsa Mosque. He stressed that their entry to the mosque is considered a “violation of its sanctity”.On Tuesday 1,079 Israeli Jewish settlers raided Al-Aqsa under intensive security protection to mark Jewish holiday of Tisha B’av. middleeastmonitor
Hamas unveils reconciliation drive amid calls for unity
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/hamas-unveils-reconciliation-drive-amid-calls-for-unity/875565
Gaza:Gaza-based resistance group Hamas unveiled a new initiative on Thursday aimed at ending a decade of inter-Palestinian political division.Within the context of its new initiative, Hamas has voiced its readiness to dissolve an “administrative committee” it established in March tasked with coordinating between Gaza’s public institutions.Since the committee’s establishment, the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority (PA) of President Mahmoud Abbas, led by rival Palestinian faction Fatah (which is also headed by Abbas), has repeatedly called for its dissolution.In a Wednesday statement, Salah al-Bardawil, a member of Hamas’s influential political bureau, promised that -- within the context of the new initiative -- the administrative committee “would end its emergency mission in Gaza immediately after the [Fatah-led] unity Govt assumes its responsibilities in the Gaza Strip”. Anadolu
Israel prevents football players from leaving Gaza
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/israel-prevents-football-players-from-leaving-gaza/875175
Gaza City:Israeli authorities on Wednesday prevented nine players of a Palestinian football club from leaving the Gaza Strip to participate in the final match of the Palestinian Cup in Israeli occupied West Bank. Rafah Youngsters team is slated to play Hebron-based team, Ahly al-Khalil on Friday. Anadolu
Turkey pledges to 'eliminate' anti-China forces, pledge close security cooperation with Beijing
http://zeenews.india.com/world/turkey-pledges-to-eliminate-anti-china-forces-pledge-close-security-cooperation-with-beijing-2029927.html?pfrom=article-next-story
Beijing: Turkey's foreign minister vowed Thursday to "eliminate" anti-China forces from his country, signalling a shift in Ankara`s stance towards Beijing`s treatment of Muslim minorities. The two countries have sparred in the past over Beijing`s treatment of the mostly Muslim Uighur minority in China`s far western region of Xinjiang, who have cultural ties with Turkey and speak a Turkic language."We treat China`s security as our own security," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters in Beijing during a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart."We absolutely will not allow any activities opposing or aimed against China within Turkey or its territories, and we will take measures to eliminate any media reports aimed against China."Cavusoglu`s remarks followed a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in which both sides vowed to work together to combat terrorism. Beijing blames unrest in Xinjiang on Islamist separatists seeking independence for the region, while Turkey in the past repeatedly expressed concerns about Beijing`s treatment of the minority -- with Erdogan even accusing Beijing of "genocide" in the region.But ties have warmed as Turkey has sought to pivot away from the West and toward Asia, seeing in China a wealth of economic possibilities.AFP
UN: Saudi-led coalition undermines aid delivery to starving Yemenis
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170803-un-saudi-led-coalition-undermines-aid-delivery-to-starving-yemenis/
Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has prevented the delivery of fuel to UN planes carrying humanitarian aid in Yemen, the international organisation has revealed.Speaking to reporters in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, Director of the UN Development Programme in Yemen Auke Lootsma said the country is suffering from the worst meningitis and cholera epidemics in the world in addition to a famine crisis.He described the situation in the country as “very bleak”.UN operates two humanitarian flights into Sana’a from Amman and Djibouti, but there is not enough fuel in Yemen for the planes to make the return trips.“We have difficulties obtaining permission from the coalition and from the Govt of Yemen to transport this jet fuel to Sana’a to facilitate these flights,” Lootsma said.
Assad regime executed missing Palestinian-Syrian activist
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170803-assad-regime-executed-missing-palestinian-syrian-activist/
Syrian regime has executed Palestinian-Syrian activist Bassel Khartabil Safadi, his wife Noura Ghazi Safadi announced on Facebook on Tuesday.Noura wrote on Facebook that her husband was executed in October 2015, noting that he was arrested by the Syrian regime in 2012, one year after the eruption of Syria’s civil war.Without providing a source for her information, she said that her husband had been subjected to torture during his lengthy incarceration.Upon hearing news of his death online, several Syrian activists paid tribute to him, describing him as an “icon of peaceful opposition in Syria”.On 15 March 2012, the Syrian authorities reportedly detained Safadi in the Mazza district of Damascus after ransacking his home and seizing his computer. middleeastmonitor
481 Syrian civilians killed in Raqqah in July: NGO
http://aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/-481-syrian-civilians-killed-in-raqqah-in-july-ngo/875156
Raqqa, Syria;At least 481 Syrian civilians were killed in Syria’s northern province of Raqqah during the month of July, an NGO reporting from the area has indicatedData from Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently (RBSS), which is a citizen journalist movement, revealed that U.S. coalition forces had carried out 633 air raids in the city of Raqqah in July, which led to the deaths of 189 Syrian civilians.Another 126 civilians were killed by 440 Russian airstrikes, while 121 others were killed by artillery shelling carried out by the PYD terrorist group, the Syrian branch of the PKK -- considered a terrorist outfit by the U.S, the EU and Turkey. Anadolu agency
Myanmar closes mosque and seminary in Yangon
http://aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/myanmar-closes-mosque-and-seminary-in-yangon/875634
Yangon:Authorities closed a mosque and a seminary in Myanmar’s commercial region of Yangon, said a media report on Thursday.A local newspaper the Voice Daily claimed that three buildings were chained shut on Wednesday, after it was found that they were being used as a mosque and seminary, without official permission, at Kywe Pone Lay village in Okkan Township, about 100 kilometres north of Yangon.Township administrator Myo Lwin told the newspaper that the closure was to prevent problems in Okkan area which had seen an anti-Muslim riot in 2013. Anadolu agency
Trump, frustrated by Afghan war, suggests firing US commander
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/trump-frustrated-by-afghan-war-suggests-firing-us-commander/story-i47Yd20QyjQzlAvdSrsTQO.html
US President Donald Trump’s doubts about the war in Afghanistan has led to a delay in completing a new strategy in South Asia, scepticism that included a suggestion that the country’s military commander in the region be fired, officials said on Wednesday.During a July 19 meeting in White House situation room, Trump demanded that his top national security aides provide more information on what one official called “the end-state” in a country that US has spent 16 years fighting against the Taliban with no end in sight. Meeting grew stormy when Trump said defence secretary James Mattis and joint chiefs of staff chairman Gen Joseph Dunford should consider firing Gen John Nicholson, commander of US forces in Afghanistan, for not winning the war. hindustantimes
FLASH: NEWS & VIEWS
India’s Muslims Speak Out in the Time of ‘Gau Raksha’
https://www.thequint.com/quintlab/indian-muslims-on-mob-lynching-and-gau-raksha/
NIA crackdown on terror funding in Kashmir has left leaders of both factions of Hurriyat isolated:Sameer Yasir
http://www.firstpost.com/india/nia-crackdown-on-terror-funding-in-kashmir-has-left-leaders-of-both-factions-of-hurriyat-isolated-3887529.html
EPW must be saved and resurrected. Is the Sameeksha Trust up to it?Omkar Goswami, Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/epw-economic-and-political-weekly-sameeksha-trust-paranjoy-guha-thakurta-4779547/
Nitish's pragmatic choice reinforces a fraught idea — of Hindu consolidation, Muslim peripherality:Ashutosh Varshney, Indian Express
Nitish's pragmatic choice reinforces a fraught idea — of Hindu consolidation, Muslim peripherality:Ashutosh Varshney, Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/nitish-kumar-bihar-jdu-bjp-alliance-lalu-prasad-yadav-corruption-4779525/
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:25 PM)
