Posts
Evening NEWS DIGEST
12 Oct.2017: 21 Muharram 1439:Vol:9, No:18
INDIA
Hindu, Muslim Marriage laws not in consonance with Prohibition of Child Marriage Act: SC
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/hindu-and-muslim-marriage-laws-not-in-consonance-with-pcma-supreme-court-4885736/
New Delhi:Highlighting the inconsistencies in various laws, the Supreme Court has also touched upon separate marriage laws for Hindus and Muslims and said the provisions make a “mockery” of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA). Under the Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939, if a minor girl under the age of 15 years is married under Muslim law, she can obtain a decree of dissolution of marriage before she attains the age of 18 years provided that the marriage has not been consummated.“This provision deals with girls below the age of 15 years who are got married. Such a girl is required to repudiate her marriage before she attains majority and she can only repudiate the marriage, if the marriage has not been consummated.This virtually makes mockery of PCMA,”a bench of Justices MB Lokur and Deepak Gupta said. Elaborating on the anomaly, the bench said even in a marriage which is void under PCMA, the girl will have to obtain a decree for dissolution of her marriage, that too before she attains the age of majority and only if the marriage has not been consummated. The bench dealt with another anomalous situation and said that if the husband has forcible sex with such a girl, the marriage is consummated and the girl child is deprived of her right to get the marriage annulled.While dealing with provisions of Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, the bench said, a Hindu girl can file a petition for divorce on the ground that her marriage, whether consummated or not, was solemnised before she attained the age of 15 years and she has refused to accept her marriage after attaining the age of 15 years but before attaining the age of 18 years.“This is also not in consonance with the provisions of PCMA, according to which marriage of a child bride below the age of 15 years is void and there is no question of seeking a divorce. A void marriage is no marriage,” it said.The bench also highlighted another anomaly in the Hindu Marriage Act saying that a child bride, who is above 15 years under PCMA, can apply for annulment of marriage up to the age of 20 years.“…Under Section 13(2)(iv) of the Hindu Marriage Act, a child bride under the age of 15 years must repudiate the marriage after attaining the age of 15 years but before she attains the age of 18 years, i.e. even before she attains majority. The question that remains unanswered is who will represent or help this child, who has been forced to marry, to approach the Courts,” the bench said. The top court said it is obvious that while making amendments to various laws, some laws are “forgotten” and consequential amendments are not made in those laws.It said that after the PCMA was enacted both the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and the Dissolution of Muslim Marriages and Divorce Act, 1939 should also have been suitably amended, but this has not been done.“In my opinion, PCMA is a secular Act applicable to all. It being a special Act dealing with children, the provisions of this Act will prevail over the provisions of both the Hindu Marriage Act and the Muslim Marriages and Divorce Act, in so far as children are concerned,” Justice Gupta said.PTI
Men may face 10 yr-RI, lifer for sex with minor wives
http://www.india.com/news/agencies/men-may-face-10-yr-ri-lifer-for-having-sex-with-minor-wives-2529951/
Centre wanted IPC Section 375 that allows man to have sex with his below 18-yr wife to stay: The Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-wanted-ipc-section-375-to-stay/article19840764.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi:Centre wanted IPC Section that allowed a man to have sex with his wife aged below 15 to stay.IPC Section was read down by the Supreme Court.There were deliberations on striking down exception 2 to Section 375 (rape) of IPC in MHA and the Women and Child Development Ministry after an NGO Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) moved the court. NGO run by Nobel Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi wanted the SC to examine the conflict of Section 375 IPC with Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act as the latter specifies that sexual intercourse with children aged below 18 amounted to rape.In its response to the WCD Ministry, the nodal Ministry for such subjects, the Home Ministry had said, “marriage of minors is an old custom in India, practised by all social groups, however,MHA will abide by SC directions.”MHA under UPA govt in 2014 had filed a counter-affidavit against striking down provision.NDA Govt adopted UPA’s affidavit and supported the IPC provision. The affidavit said, “It is true that the minimum age of marriage of a female is 18 years and punishment has been provided in the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 to discourage child marriages. However,it is also a fact that a large section of the Indian society, which is living in rural areas, continues to follow such practices as part of their tradition. As per data collected in National Family Health Survey-III, 46% of women between 18-29 years in India were married before the age of 18. It is also estimated that there are 23 million child brides in the country. Hence criminalising the consummation of a marriage union with a serious offence such as rape would not be appropriate and practical.”
‘Progressive’ Uniform Civil Code draft handed over to law panel chief: indianexpress
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/uniform-civil-code-draft-handed-over-to-law-panel-chief-4885969/
New Delhi:A draft of a potential Uniform Civil Code, termed the ‘Progressive Uniform Civil Code’ (PUCC) was presented to the Chairman of the Law Commission, Justice (retd) BS Chauhan by a group of eminent citizens from various walks of life.Soli Sorabjee, a senior advocate of the Supreme Court, who was the Attorney General under the previous NDA Govt , wrote a letter to Justice Chauhan in support of the initiative. He said that “Law Commission should obviate any apprehension that anything uniform, would be majoritarian.Besides its recommendations need to be far-sighted and progressive.”8 eminent citizens, including scholars, a retired senior army officer, Magsasay award winning activist and a classical singer, writers and a legal luminary have lent their weight to a draft that purports to provide “equal rights in marriage, divorce, child custody, guardianship, inheritance and succession”, that too “irrespective of their gender, sex and sexuality, religious or cultural traditions or beliefs.” It sets out at the onset to bring about progressive uniform laws, “in line with globally accepted values of human rights”.The signatories include TM Krishna (singer and artiste), S Irfan Habib (historian), Mukul Kesavan (writer), Dushyant (lawyer), Maj Gen S Vombetkere (retd), Nilanjana Roy (writer), Gul Panag (actor) and Bezwada Wilson (Safai Karamchari Andolan).Krishna said;“The idea of a UCC has been floated by people for sometime now. But under the present political dispensation there has been a conscious attempt to use it to create a Hindu majoritarian country. The targets of such an agenda are the minorities, which include religious, sexual and socially marginalised citizens of India whom they want to homogenise as per upper-caste Hindu norms. This needs to be challenged with robustness. We have therefore proposed a UCC that is progressive, forward thinking and creative. It looks at the wonderful possibilities that exist in such an idea.”Magsaysay Award winners,TM Krishna, Bezwada Wilson and lawyer Dushyant met the Chairman of the Commission on Wednesday to submit a draft proposal to him for his perusal.This draft, defines marriage as “a legal union” between straight and gay couples. If brought into force, Triple Talaq, unequal rights of men and women to parental property, polygamy, and unequal privileges like Hindu Undivided Family, which allows for special tax concessions to Hindus would go.
Allow gay marriages, give couples police protection if needed, suggests draft Uniform Civil Code
https://scroll.in/latest/853850/allow-gay-marriages-give-couples-police-protection-if-needed-suggests-draft-uniform-civil-code
Police, NIA so worried about ‘indoctrination’ of Hindu Women? The Wire
https://thewire.in/186479/nia-hadiya-hindu-women-islam/
New Delhi: The “indoctrination” of Hindu women by Muslim men is apparently very high up on the list of things the police is worrying about these days. According to an Indian Express report, that, along with illegal immigration and Pakistan-based terror groups like Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, tops the agenda for the annual DGPs conference to be held near Gwalior.The 3-day event, to be held in the first week of Dec.at Tekanpur BSF academy, will be attended by Prime Ministry Narendra Modi, home ministry officials told the newspaper. Cases of inter-community marriages in Kerala are likely to be taken up in light of the NIA’s remarks in the Hadiya case. The agency had said that the inter-faith marriage was not an isolated case and was part of a “pattern”.Meanwhile, an NDTV report says that NIA has now decided to probe 90 inter-faith marriages in the state. In 23 of these cases, an NIA official told the channel, the investigators hoped to be able to link the individuals concerned to the PFI. NIA, Indian Express reported, has also questioned 2 Hindu women who converted to Islam in relation to the Hadiya case. They have reportedly said they were lured to convert to Islam, but not forced to do so. A senior NIA official told the paper the 2 women, both named Athira, were questioned in Kochi last week. “They claimed that they were lured to convert to Islam but no one forced them. We are corroborating their statements,”NIA official said.However, activists are less than convinced by NIA and police’s motivations in this case. J. Devika, a teacher and researcher at the Centre for Development Studies, Thiruvananthapuram, told The Wire, “The whole ‘love jihad‘ discourse, if you look at it without the blinkers of Islamophobia, especially for Kerala, you will see that it has too many holes in it. Too many cases don’t fit into that nice, neat mould they’ve created – of a women being lured by a man who is part of an organised racket of men being paid to do this. There’s no evidence of this in most cases. And the cases that have become controversial, including Hadiya’s, the conversion didn’t involve men, they happened independently.”Manisha Sethi, a teacher at Jamia Milia, agreed. “These (NIA enquiry and DGP conference agenda) are symptomatic of the systematic and relentless criminalisation of Muslims through law. The anti-terror laws have successfully created a suspect community and so wide and all embracing is its ambit, that even the most intimate relations can be reduced to the terrorism frame.”
Annual DGP conference: Indoctrination of Hindu women, illegal migrants high on agenda
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/annual-dgp-conference-indoctrination-of-hindu-women-illegal-migrants-high-on-agenda-4884397/
Aarushi-Hemraj murder case: Rajesh, Nupur Talwar acquitted by Allahabad High Court
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/aarushi-hemraj-murder-case-verdict-rajesh-nupur-talwar-acquitted-by-allahabad-high-court-4886556/
New Delhi: Allahabad High Court today acquitted Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, who were convicted by a special CBI court for murdering their daughter Aarushi Talwar and domestic help Hemraj Banjade in 2008. Talwars had appealed against a special CBI court’s 2013 ruling that held them guilty for the twin murders and sentenced them to life imprisonment. A division bench of the high court, comprising justices B K Narayana and AK Mishra, had previously reserved its judgment on September 7 and fixed today as the date for the verdict. The couple has been lodged in Dasna jail, Ghaziabad.Aarushi was found with her throat slit and her head bludgeoned on May 16, 2008. She was 14 at the time. The Noida Police initially suspected Hemraj for the murder, but a day later found his body on the terrace of the house. On further investigations, the police held Nupur and Rajesh, both dentists, as prime suspects in what they suspected was a case of honour killing. They also found that the murders were done with “surgical precision.” indianexpress
Jay Shah row: PM’s anti-corruption slogans are ‘eyewash’, says Congress
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/jay-shah-row-pm-modis-anti-corruption-slogans-are-eyewash-says-congress-4885713/
Jammu;Using issue of BJP chief Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah, the Congress alleged that PM Narendra Modi’s anti-corruption slogans are an “eyewash” and questioned how he would safeguard the country if he “fails to notice a scandal”.Congress spokesperson Ajoy Kumar, while demanding a probe into certain allegations against a company owned by Jay Shah, said PM is faced with a “test”. He also demanded resignation of Amit Shah as BJP chief.“He (PM) should immediately announce a probe into the (alleged) increase of fortunes of Jay Shah’s businesses,” Kumar told reporters in Jammu.Alleging that Modi’s anti-corruption slogans were an “eyewash”, the Congress spokesman said, “If he (PM) has failed to notice a scandal, what is expected of such a PM and how will he safeguard the country?” He said the PM has been maintaining “a studied silence on every scam”.PTI
Ramdev got huge discounts on land deals after BJP came to power at Centre: Report
http://www.indiasamvad.co.in/special-stories/yoga-guru-ramdev-got-huge-discounts-on-land-deals-after-bjp--25239
New Delhi: A media report has claimed that since BJP-led NDA Govt has come to power at the Centre, our very own ‘Yoga Guru’ Baba Ramdev has been aided with discounts in land acquisition amounting to as high as $46 million.The yoga guru is one of the most instantly recognizable figures in India. His company's traditional foods and health supplements are among the country's fastest-growing brands.In 2014, he tapped his following as a TV yoga celebrity mobilizing voters for BJP. In return, leading BJP figures have endorsed Ramdev's vision for India.Since 2014 Ramdev's company has received more than $46 million in discounts for land acquisitions in the BJP ruled states, news agency Reuters said in its report.It is a partnership that reveals the inner workings of influence and money in Modi's India.Ramdev's business has boomed since the BJP came to power. Revenues at his consumer goods enterprise are soaring. From about $156 million in the financial year ending March 2013 to more than $322 million in the year to March 2015.In early May, Ramdev had said that Patanjali’s revenues in the financial year 2017 had jumped to about $1.6 billion.Since NDA Govt took office in May 2014, Patanjali has acquired almost 2,000 acres of land. During the rule of the previous Congress-led Govt the firm had been selling large tracts of its land holdings.Two of the four acquisitions exceeding 100 acres were in states controlled by BJP. A third was in an area where the governing party was in the process of partnering with the BJP.In BJP-controlled states, Patanjali received a discount on the land purchased at 77% off market prices.In Nov 2016, Patanjali recieved 36% discount on 148 acres land in Bandipura, Assam.In Oct and Dec 2014, 1200 acres of land were given at 100% discount in Chirang, Assam.In another BJP ruled state Maharashtra, Patanjali received 78% discount on 234 acres of land in Sept 2016. Patanjali also recieved 25% discount on 300 acres of land in Greater Noida, UP a non BJP ruled state in Nov 2016.In Jan 2017 Patanjali trust was granted access to 52,000 acres of land to develop food Park in Panchkula.India Samvad
7th Pay Commission: 8 lakh teachers to receive pay hike of up to 28 % on current salary
http://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/7th-pay-commission-8-lakh-teachers-to-receive-pay-hike-of-up-to-28-per-cent-on-current-salary/story/261901.html
New Delhi:Govt gave the biggest Diwali bonanza for about 8 lakh teachers and other equivalent academic staff in higher educational institutions. Union Cabinet cleared revised pay scales for about 7.58 lakh teachers and academic staff of higher educational institutions following the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission. The approved pay scales would be applicable from Jan.2016, Govt said in a press statement. The annual Central financial liability on account of this measure would be about Rs 9,800 crore.The cabinet decision will benefit 7.58 lakh teachers and equivalent academic staff in the 106 universities and colleges which are funded by the University Grants Commission and the union HRD ministry and also 329 universities which are funded by state Govt s and 12,912 Govt and private aided colleges affiliated to state public universities. "In addition, the revised pay package will cover teachers of 119 Centrally Funded Technical Institutions viz. IITs, IISc, IIMs, IISERs, IIITs, NITIE," the statement said. "The implementation of the pay revision will enhance the teachers' pay in the range of Rs 10,400 and Rs 49,800 as against the extant entry pay due to the implementation of the 6th Pay Commission for the pay of teachers. This revision would register an entry pay growth in the range of 22 % to 28 % ," the Govt said. For state Govt funded institutions, the revised pay scales will require adoption by the respective state govts. businesstoday
India worse than Nepal, Bangladesh in tackling hunger; down 3 ranks at global level: Report
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-worse-than-nepal-bangladesh-in-tackling-hunger-down-3-ranks-at-global-level-report/story-a2SyCOUEiNwRgMMI4cqZYN.html
With more than a 5th (21%) of its children wasted — low weight for height — India ranks 100 of 119 countries in the 2017 Global Hunger Index (GHI), down three places from 97 last year. Only in three other countries — Djibouti, Sri Lanka and South Sudan — are more than 20% of children wasted.India ties with Djibouti and Rwanda for the 100th rank, and with a score of 31.4 of 100 (with 0 being best and 100 the worst), India’s 2017 GHI falls at the high end of the “serious” category. Published by the International Food Policy Research Institute, with Concern Worldwide,Irish aid agency, and Welthungerhilfe, German private aid organisation, GHI tracks hunger worldwide, focussing on countries where hunger is an urgent issue.HT
Himachal elections: Voting on Nov.9, counting on Dec.18
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/himachal-pradesh-elections-2017-dates-voting-on-Nov -9-counting-on-december-18-bjp-congress-virbhadra-singh-prem-kumar-dhumal-rahul-gandhi-narendra-modi-4886978/
New Delhi: Elections to 68-seat Himachal Pradesh Assembly will be held on Nov. 9 and counting will begin on Dec.18, the Elections Commission of India announced today. Announcing the dates, Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti said the polling process for Himachal Pradesh will begin with the issue of election notification on Oct 16, and the last date for filing nomination is Oct 23.On the question of when elections would be held in Gujarat, CEC Joti said it will be organised prior to Dec. 18. He said the poll schedule was planned such that the Himachal result does not impact voting in Gujarat.The model code of conduct for Himachal comes into effect immediately, he said. Also, bulk SMSes and voice messages on phone will come in the purview of election advertisements, Joti added.And the height of the voting compartment has been increased to 30 inches. “We will have VVPATs along with EVMs; Commission has issued instructions to increase the height of the voting compartment to 30 inches,” he said. indianexpress
Congress sweeps Nanded civic polls
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/congress-sweeps-nanded-civic-polls/article19845777.ece?homepage=true
MUMBAI: Congress today made a clean sweep in the Nanded-Waghala municipal corporation elections, winning 49 of the 54 seats for which results were declared.Results for 54 seats, out of total 81, have been declared so far.Nanded is Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan’s home turf and it saw an aggressive campaign, with BJP making all efforts to wrest control of the civic body.The campaign for the polls witnessed a bitter war of words among the Congress, BJP and Shiv Sena.Of the results declared so far, BJP has won three, while Shiv Sena is placed a distant third, winning a solitary seat. The results indicate a rout of the AIMIM, which had around a dozen corporators in the outgoing body.Congress has 41 members in the outgoing civic body, followed by 14 corporators of the Shiv Sena, 11 of AIMIM and NCP’s 10.PTI
BJP wins all 4 civic body bypolls in Maharashtra
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/bjp-wins-all-four-civic-body-bypolls-in-maharashtra/articleshow/61053823.cms
BJP has won all the 4 municipal corporation by-elections in the state.The by-elections for the four seats in Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur and Nagpur civic bodies were held on Wednesday.Of the 4, one seat in Kolhapur Municipal Corporation was bagged by an outfit, which has a tie-up with BJP at the local level.PTI
RSS clarifies: No plan to admit women into shakhas
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/rss-clarifies-no-plan-to-admit-women-into-shakhas-4886624/
New Delhi:RSS has rubbished media reports that the organisation will consider admitting women into its shakhas (congregation).Terming them as “deliberately concocted baseless reports”, the ideological parent organisation of the BJP clarified that one of its top leader, Manmohan Vaidya, only said that the outfit works exclusively with men in shakhas, and through them it connects with their families.“Shakha work among women is being conducted by Rashtra Sevika Samiti. In all programs & campaign in society women also are participating. Women create an atmosphere of cooperation in families to support RSS,” the RSS tweeted. indianexpress
Malegaon blast case: Accused Sameer Kulkarni gets bail
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/malegaon-blast-case-accused-sameer-kulkarni-gets-bail-4885626/
Mumbai:A sessions court in Mumbai granted bail to Sameer Kulkarni on Wednesday, arrested for his alleged involvement in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.The court granted Kulkarni bail on a bond of Rs 50,000 on the grounds of parity, as several other accused in the case including Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and retired Army Major Ramesh Upadhyay, have already been given bail.Six persons were killed and nearly 100 injured when a bomb strapped to a motorcycle exploded in Malegaon town of Nashik district in 2008. Kulkarni, a printing press employee from Bhopal, was arrested soon after the blast.According to the prosecution, he is alleged to have arranged chemicals used in the blast. It was also alleged that Kulkarni had been to Indore and Nashik to attend meetings in which the conspiracy was hatched.PTI
At Jaisalmer shelter,no food for Muslims forced out of village
http://www.hindustantimes.com/jaipur/at-jaisalmer-shelter-no-food-for-muslims-forced-out-of-village-after-threats-from-hindus/story-m0uaywgtOCjj4t4CazUbfL.html
Barmer:Forced to leave their village in western Rajasthan following alleged threats from upper caste Hindu villagers, about 20 Muslim families are now staring at another crisis.The district administration, which arranged a temporary shelter for them in Jaisalmer, has failed to provide them food for last two days. Lack of facilities at the shelter has left them, especially women and children, in the lurch.Around 150 members of these 20 families do not want to return to their homes in Dantal, around 700 kms from Jaipur. They have urged the district administration to shift them to another safer location. The families left their village following a string of events that began with the killing of a Muslim folk singer, allegedly by a Hindu priest and his brothers. The priest, Ramesh Suthar, who is a traditional occultist, has been arrested on charges of while his brothers are absconding.Suthar is accused of killing 45-year-old Aamad Khan for his “poor singing” during a Navratri function at the village temple on September 27. Khan’s body was found outside his house the next day. Rajputs allegedly threatened Khan’s family against going to police to report the killing. Khan’s family quietly buried the body. hindustantimes
Muslim families flee after Hindu’s murder near Hardwar
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/muslim-families-flee-after-hindus-murder-near-haridwar-4885982/
All 17 Muslim families have left the Murgi Farm area near Haridwar after the murder of a taxi driver, who reportedly had an affair with a Muslim girl.19-year-old girl’s father and brother have been arrested for the murder of Lakshman Singh Kalura (32), who was found dead with his legs crushed along railway tracks close to Railwala town, 13 km from Haridwar.Tehri Farm, where Kalura lived, and Murgi Farm, where he went to meet the girl, are both in Raiwala town.According to Raiwala SHO Ashish Gusain, Kalura went to Murgi Farm on the night of Oct 3 to meet the girl. Girl’s father, who had reportedly tried to end the affair earlier, dissuaded Kalura from meeting his daughter that day. There was allegedly an argument between the 2 and Kalura’s body was found later that night, Gusain said. Raiwala remains tense and Section 144 is in force for about a week now.On Oct 6,after messages related to the killing circulated on social media, which Gusain said were fake and were spread to ignite communal discord, at least four shops owned by Muslims were vandalised by a mob in Kankhal, 15 km from Raiwala.The same day, a makeshift shop and a wooden cart owned by Muslims were set ablaze in Rishikesh, 13 km from Raiwala, by unidentified persons.To avoid backlash, other Muslims in Murgi Farm also started leaving the area on Oct.4. Police are guarding the area to avoid vandalism of their property by miscreants.“Most of the Muslim families residing in the Murgi Farm locality were from Sikroda (60 km from Raiwala). They’ve returned to Sikroda after the incident,” Gusain said. indianexpress
UP: Section 144 clamped in Ballia over violence after motorbike rams cyclist
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/uttar-pradesh-ballia-riots-communal-violence-motorbike-rams-cyclist/1/1066909.html
Ballia: A petty dispute snowballed into a conflict in Ballia district of UP on Thursday.Chaos ensued in Ratsar market after a motorbike collided with a bicycle. Soon after violence broke out between 2 groups, Section 144 clamped in the area. Incidents of arson were also reported from the area. Reportedly 20 people have been arrested by the Ballia Police. Market here has been shut and situation remains tense.On Wednesday, violence broke out in Rastar town. Sources said that the violence was outcome of a clash between two groups on Tuesday. Locals rued that the situation went out of hand due to delay in action by the police.Several shops were looted in the market and nearly four shops were set ablaze by rioters. Sources said that today both groups resorted to stone pelting at each other.SP suspended Rastar SHO Surendranath Sinha for inaction in wake of the violence.On Wednesday, evening a 17-year-old youth was returning home on his bicycle when speeding motorbike driven by another rammed his bicycle. After the youth on the bicycle suffered injuries, the duo got into a heated argument. However, locals intervened and settled the dispute between the duo.Sources said that moments later 17-year-old youth was attacked by a group of people in the market. His family informed the police and rushed him to the nearest hospital.On Thursday, locals took the youth and protested on the street near Rastar market. The locals blocked the road. The protest soon turned violent as two groups confronted each other and resorted to stone pelting.The situation continues to remain tense in Ballia.IndiaToday
Minor road accident turned into communal violence in Ballia: East UP new Hindutva laboratory? Tarique Anwar
https://newsclick.in/minor-road-accident-turned-communal-violence-ballia-east-new-hindutva-laboratory
BRD Medical College: 69 children dead in 4 days
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/gorakhpur-hospital-children-death-brd-medical-college-yogi-adityanath-69-children-dead-in-four-days-4886027/
Lucknow:About 2 months after deaths of children at BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur created a national uproar, the number of deaths at the hospital continue to remain high. 19 children have died at the hospital in the last 24 hours — 13 newborn deaths, and 6 others suffering from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), according to BRD Medical College principal P K Singh. 69 deaths have been reported at the hospital in the 4 days since Oct.7.In the second week of August, 60 deaths were reported over 5 days. “Most of these deaths are in NICU due to various reasons — such as pneumonia, septicemia, asphyxia, etc,” college principal said. He said a large number of newborns in critical condition are coming to the hospital from far-off places.“There are 118 children admitted at NICU at present, of which 13 died due to different medical reasons,” Singh said. “There are 333 patients admitted in the pediatric ward.” Of these 333 patients, 109 children are suffering from AES, he said.According to hospital records, the number of patients admitted varied between 333 and 360 over the last four days, and the number of deaths varied from 12 to 20 each day.indian express
69 Children Die at BRD Medical College in 4 Days
https://www.thequint.com/news/india/kids-die-in-brd-hospital-gorakhpur
Wife of Key Witness in Ramgarh Lynching Killed in "Accident" Outside Court, After Alleged Threats
http://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/NewsDetail/index/1/11970/Wife-of-Key-Witness-in-Ramgarh-Lynching-Killed-in-Accident-Outside-Court-After-Alleged-Threats
New Delhi: Alimuddin Ansari was lynched by a mob in a market at Ramgarh in Jharkhand in broad daylight. On the suspicion of carrying beef in his vehicle, Ansari was beaten to death, the entire incident captured on video that was then shared by the assailants and their supporters on the social media. 2 and a half months later, just as the court was hearing the case, the wife of a key witness in the case Jalil Ansari was killed and Alimuddin Ansari’s son injured in an “accident” just about a km away from the court room. This was after they said they had received death threats in the court room itself, where they were asked not to depose. The 2 were on a motorcycle going to the residence of the witness to collect his identity card. According to eyewitnesses to this incident, they were followed and hit from behind with the woman dying on the spot, and Alimuddin Ansari’s son now in hospital with injuries.Local activists said that the family had been receiving threats for all these weeks, more so from July when a few of the suspects named in FIR on the lynching had been arrested. Local BJP leader Nityanand Mahato and Santosh Singh were arrested initially for the murder, with another accused of the 12 named Chhotu Rana surrendering in the Ramgarh court.Alimuddin Ansari’s relatives told reporters subsequently that he had been killed in full view of the shopkeepers and tea stall owners in the busy market place. But that no one had intervened to try and stop the killing. A special court was set up to try the case, that has already left one witness dead. The family has been feeling the pressure since, with local Bajrang Dal and BJP members warning them against deposing. The family is convinced of foul play and has filed a written complaint with the police on this: The relatives and local activists insist that this was not an “accident” but a “deliberate murder” to threaten and intimidate the witnesses. Just before the 2 left to collect the documents, they were asked not to testify according to local activists who were with them in the court premises. The atmosphere of threat and abuse had intensified over the past few weeks, with Ansari’s family feeling the pressure.Jalil Ansari, grieved and sobbing, was in court waiting for his wife to return when he was told that she had met with a fatal accident.Jalil Ansari, an eyewitness to the lynching, has said that both he and his wife were threatened with dire consequences just before she left to get his identity papers. Maryam Khatoon, wife of Alimuddin Ansari said that family was living under deep fear.The Citizen
Ansari, eye witness (Alimuddin lynching) threatened in court even as wife killed in suspicious hit & run
https://sabrangindia.in/article/jalil-ansari-eye-witness-alimuddin-ansari-lynching-threatened-court-even-wife-killed
After school bags,booklets, now buses in UP turn saffron
https://thewire.in/186616/after-school-bags-and-booklets-now-buses-in-yogi-adityanaths-up-turn-saffron/
New Delhi: Following the distribution of saffron school bags and booklets, UP CM Adityanath on Wednesday flagged of a fleet of 50 buses painted saffron, according to reports.The buses will provide better connectivity to rural areas of the state. The stage for the inauguration was decorated with saffron-coloured curtains and the buses with saffron-coloured balloons, reported the Indian Express.The bus service, called Sankalp, to be run by UP State Road Corporation, is to connect interior areas of the state, where BJP Govt is planning to build “gaurav paths,”or link roads to villages of martyred soldiers, HT reported.The project is part of the Govt ’s plan to provide public transport to 40,000 villages in the next four years, and is going to start with Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Kanpur, Allahabad, Bareilly and Moradabad. Currently around 1,500 buses under the Sankalp scheme provide transport to 16,000 villages.Over the last few months,UP Govt has been handing out saffron-coloured certificates, including to sportspersons in August and for state’s Crop Loan Redemption Scheme as well, reported Indian Express. Basic Education Dept had distributed saffron school bags in Govt primary schools, to replace ones carrying former CM Akhilesh Yadav’s photograph.The Wire
Conduct survey to identify foreign nationals staying illegally in UP: Adityanath
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/conduct-survey-to-identify-foreign-nationals-staying-illegally-in-up-adityanath/story-yjcZ9kzd0HBfoVfrns1LzI.html
Lucknow:UP CM Yogi Adityanath has directed police officials to launch a survey to identify foreign nationals staying illegally in the state. CM also said that an intensive campaign should be conducted to check infiltration of suspicious elements from states sharing borders with UP .“A statewide survey of foreign nationals, who are staying illegally in the state should be conducted, and they should be sent out,” an official UP Govt statement said quoting Adityanath. CM issued the directions at a meeting to review the law and order situation in the state on Wednesday.“There is no place for criminals in the state, and they should be forced to leave the state. Inefficient and insensitive police station in-charges should be identified, and they should be shown the door,” he said.PTI
Pandey’s discharge plea: Court directs Ishrat Jahan’s mother to file reply
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/pandeys-discharge-plea-court-directs-ishrat-jahans-mother-to-file-reply-4886213/
Ahmedabad: special CBI court has granted one last chance to Shamima Kauser, mother of Ishrat Jahan, to file her reply on an application moved by ex-DGP P P Pandey, who has sought discharge from the trial. The court has concluded the hearing advanced by the CBI and Pandey’s lawyer last month. The court adjourned the hearing till Nov 7, with a warning that it won’t give further chance for filing a reply. Later her lawyer told the court that reply will be filed by the next date. Indianexpress
Delhi HC sets aside JNU disciplinary action against Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and 13 others
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-delhi-hc-sets-aside-jnu-disciplinary-action-against-kanhaiya-kumar-umar-khalid-and-13-others-2552313
In a significant decision, Delhi HC today set aside disciplinary action taken by JNU against 15 of its students, including ex-JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar, in connection with a controversial event on Feb.9 last year in the varsity. Justice V K Rao has asked JNU to hear the matter afresh after allowing the students to inspect the records and hearing them. The court told JNU's appellate authority to pass a reasoned order within 6 weeks of hearing the students, who also included Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, that the varsity did not give them due opportunity to defend themselves against the charge of indiscipline. The students in their pleas had also challenged their punishment, which ranges from rustication for a few semesters to withdrawal of hostel facilities. dnaindia
JK:Separatist Andrabi in ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ poster
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pro-pak-separatist-asiya-andrabi-in-beti-bachao-beti-padhao-poster-in-anantnag/story-XpePi9zqDvrwmnGWSc3qlN.html
Srinagar: Kashmir’s hardline separatist woman leader is a role model on a poster for PM Narendra Modi’s signature “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao”, a social campaign for girls to arrest the skewed child sex ratio in the country.The Govt poster has the image of a burka-clad Asiya Andrabi, founding leader of Dukhtaran-e-Millat, who is behind bars since May this year.It also features CM Mehbooba Mufti, Mother Teresa and ex-PM Indira Gandhi, among others. Besides, poster shows a wrong photograph of Kashmir’s first IPS officer, Ruweda Salam.It was unveiled at an event organised by the state tourism department at Kokernag in south Kashmir on Wednesday, which senior ministers and bureaucrats attended.Andrabi is a hardcore pro-Pakistan separatist leader and her image in a Govt campaign generated curiosity and criticism.BJP, which rules the state with coalition partner PDP of CM Mufti, demanded an inquiry. Party spokesman Sunil Sethi demanded action against people responsible for the “goof-up”.According to a circular issued by the deputy commissioner of Anantnag late on Wednesday, child development project officer Shameema Akhter was suspended. Akhter said that the poster was made by the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), and Andrabi’s name and image was used “only in her capacity as a religious leader”.ICDS minister Asiya Naqash said she was not aware of the mistake and didn’t attend the function at Kokernag.HT
BJP Fumes As Sajad Lone's Ministry Features Separatist Andrabi As Woman Achiever
http://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/NewsDetail/index/3/11966/BJP-Fumes-As-Sajad-Lones-Ministry-Features-Separatist-Andrabi-As-Woman-Achiever-
'Braid-chopping' sparks fear and unrest in Kashmir
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/sparks-fear-unrest-kashmir-171012095359240.html
Srinagar: A wave of fear has gripped Kashmir after a series of "braid-chopping" attacks that have resulted in protests across the region.At least 200 women in Kashmir have reported being attacked by masked assailants in the last 2 months.The women claimed the attackers sprayed chemicals on their faces and left them unconscious. Upon waking up, they found their hair had been chopped off.On Sunday, masked attackers cut off a woman's braid in Srinagar, sparking angry protests.35-year-old victim said she was attacked after she responded to someone knocking at the gate of her house. Her husband - an auto-rickshaw driver - was not home at that time."One of the masked attackers grabbed me by my hair from behind and sprayed something on my face,"victim, Gulshan, said."I screamed loudly before fainting. I assumed it was my husband, but."Gulshan was unable to finish off her sentence. She started shivering amid inconsolable sobs, sitting on her bed as she relayed Sunday's events.Hussain Ahmed, a neighbour, was the first to respond to Gulshan's screams."I saw her face had some sort of liquid on it and her eyes were fluttering," Ahmed said."We tried contacting the police several times. Nobody answered our calls or came for help."Pro-independence groups, who oversaw protests on Monday, see a Govt hand behind the increase in these attacks."Govt wants to instil fear and divert attention from the main issue which is unabated killings and other human rights violations committed by the Indian troops in Kashmir,"Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said.AlJazeera
‘Pak wants peaceful relations with ‘belligerent’ India’
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/pakistan-wants-peaceful-relations-with-belligerent-india-bajwa/article19844830.ece?homepage=true
Karachi:Pakistan genuinely wants to have peaceful ties with its neighbours, including a “belligerent” India, the country’s Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said, underlining that it takes “two to tango”.Gen. Bajwa also said that the region surrounding Pakistan remains captive due to “historical baggage” and “negative competition”.With a belligerent India on our East and an unstable Afghanistan on our West, the region remains captive due to historical baggage and negative competition,” Gen. Bajwa said.He said there is a need for comprehensive effort to pursue the National Action Plan and remove vulnerabilities well before they turn into threats.PTI
5 lions attack gaushala in Gujarat, maul 15 cows
https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/five-lions-attack-gaushala-in-gujarat-maul-15-cows-in-just-45-minutes-331484.html
A pride of five or more lions went on a killing spree in a village of Amreli district, mauling as many as 15 cows within just 45 minutes. The incident happened in Juni Vaghaniya village near Bagasara town on Monday night as lions attacked cows and calves one after another in Bhaktidham gaushala.The gaushala is managed by Ramdev Pir temple and there are nearly 300 cows and calves there. "We suspect there were at least five lions. They somehow entered the gaushala at around 8.30pm and went on a killing spree till around 9.15pm," said Kalu Rupareliya, a resident of the village.INDIATIMES
WORLD
Hamas, Fatah reach deal on employees, Rafah Crossing
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20171012-hamas-and-fatah-reach-agreement-on-employees-rafah-crossing/
Details have emerged of the agreement reached between Hamas and Fatah, facilitated by the Egyptian authorities and held at the headquarters of the Egyptian Public Intelligence. With respect to the issue of Gaza-based employees, there is an agreement that the legal committee – who will assess progress in resolving outstanding issues such as salaries and reappointing employees – will work for a period of 120 days. Payments to staff in Gaza will be disbursed only when the legal committee has completed its work, and after they have been integrated into the Palestinian National Authority’s payroll on a security protection basis.The total number of Gaza civilian staff and civilian authority personnel is 30, and five new recruits will be employed to fill in the gaps and vacancies in the education and health sector. Staff in the health sector and the educational sector will be invited to return to their work prior to the division in 2007 in accordance with the needs of the ministries.Rafah crossing, meanwhile, will be under Egyptian security supervision and there will be follow-up from Major General Hammam Abuzayd, as well as Palestinian National Authority Director General in charge of crossings.Fatah and Hamas delegations agreed that Samir Abu-Bee-Al-Sharif will manage the Rafah crossing.With respect to a Govt of national unity, it is agreed that each minister will re-establish ministry’s structure in accordance with the administrative structure and integrate senior staff with new staff. It has been agreed that General Mohamed Mansour will be responsible for the re-establishment of the police and national security service.As for public freedoms – the right to gather, travel, associate and freedom of expression – the two sides agree to activate the 2011 Cairo public freedoms committee to report to Egypt on any violations or prosecutions in the West Bank and Gaza. With respect to the measures taken against Gaza there is agreement that the Fatah delegation, after its departure from Cairo tomorrow, will ask President Mahmoud Abbas to issue a decision to renounce all punitive actions taken since March this year, in particular the supply of medicine, patient transfers and decision-making. These actions will be taken by Mahmoud Abbas before inviting factions to the Cairo meeting at the end of the month. There is also an agreement to increase the electricity supply of Egyptian and Israeli gas. middleeastmonitor
Hamas: Deal reached with Palestinian rival Fatah
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/hamas-deal-reached-palestinian-rival-fatah-171012040727616.html
US withdraws from UNESCO over ‘anti-Israel bias’
http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-withdraws-from-unesco/story-x0b3qLyjsBMdf2bpOb8qRK.html
Washington: The US announced Thursday that it will withdraw from the UN Scientific and Cultural Organization, accusing the body of “anti-Israel bias.”State Dept spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Washington would establish an “observer mission” to replace its representation at the Paris-based agency.The US was angered in 2011 when UNESCO members granted Palestine full membership of the body, despite opposition from its ally Israel. Washington opposes any move by UN bodies to recognize the Palestinians as a state, believing that this must await a negotiated Middle East peace deal.But US President Donald Trump’s administration is also reviewing many of its multilateral commitments, pursuing what he calls an “America First” foreign policy.Nauert said the State Dept had notified UNESCO’s outgoing Director-General Irina Bokova of their decision earlier Thursday.“This decision was not taken lightly, and reflects US concerns with mounting arrears at UNESCO, the need for fundamental reform in the organization, and continuing anti-Israel bias at UNESCO,”she said. “US indicated to the director-general its desire to remain engaged with UNESCO as a non-member observer state in order to contribute US views, perspectives and expertise on some of the important issues undertaken by the organization, including the protection of world heritage, advocating for press freedoms and promoting scientific collaboration and education.”AFP
US withdraws from UNESCO
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/withdraws-unesco-171012133838151.html
40,000 Israeli settlers storm into Ibrahimi Mosque
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20171011-40000-israeli-settlers-storm-into-ibrahimi-mosque-in-hebron/
An estimated 40,000 Israeli settlers have stormed into the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron over the past two days as they mark the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, the Palestinian Information Centre has reported. Israeli occupying forces imposed a curfew on the indigenous Palestinian residents of the occupied West Bank city and closed off numerous roads leading to the mosque in order to allow settlers to enter freely.Some 22,500 Jewish settlers performed religious rituals at the Muslim holy site on Monday, with a further 22,000 storming the building yesterday. Extent of the incursion is unprecedented, but such events are increasingly common. middleeastmonitor
Would-be Egyptian Prez candidate says Sisi’s popularity has waned: middleeastmonitor
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20171012-would-be-egyptian-presidential-candidate-says-sisis-popularity-has-waned/
An Egyptian politician and would-be presidential candidate has said that he hopes to gain at least 10 million votes if not an outright victory in the 2018 polls. Mohamed Anwar Sadat is an ex parliamentarian who was dismissed by his peers in Feb. over the alleged leaking to foreign embassies of a bill on civil society. He is the nephew of the former president who was assassinated in 1981.Sadat told Anadolu that by running for president he will not be playing a cosmetic role or legitimising the electoral process. “Alternation of power is the future, and the era of a president with 97or 99% [of vote] has ended,” he explained.The popularity of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, who is expected to run for a second term, is not as high as it was when he first came to power in 2014, Sadat claimed. “It is my right, as it is that of others, to take part in a fair competition as long as we meet the conditions [required for candidacy],”he pointed out.The circumstances surrounding the elections determine whether he and other possible candidates decide whether to stand for office. Such circumstances, he suggested, are related to the impartiality of the electoral commission as well as the objectivity of the media and state institutions. Another factor, he said, is the ability of a candidate’s electoral campaign to get their message across without obstacles.
Russia offers to mediate talks between Saudi and Iran
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20171012-russia-offers-to-mediate-talks-between-saudi-arabia-and-iran/
Russia has offered to mediate talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran, a senior official in Moscow has said. Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov made his comment when he was asked if Russia has ever offered to mediate talks between the rival states.He said that several attempts have been made. “However, we do not impose our intermediary role,” Bogdanov explained. “Much depends on these 2 countries understanding and, we hope, their cooperation, especially in the fight against terrorism.”Iran has set several conditions for resuming diplomatic ties with Saudi, including an end to the Kingdom’s military operations in Yemen through its Arab coalition. According to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasimi, 2 countries have planned visits by delegations from both countries to inspect diplomatic premises but they have not yet taken place.He said that to improve relations between them, Saudi Arabia “must end its irrational behaviour towards Iran and region’s countries” and end its “aggression against the oppressed people of Yemen.” middleeastmonitor
‘UAE plans to invade Qatar using mercenaries’
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20171012-uae-plans-to-invade-qatar-using-mercenaries/
Qatar’s ex-Deputy PM has revealed details of a plan funded by UAE to invade his country using mercenaries from American security service company formerly known as Blackwater. Abdullah Bin Hamas Al-Attiyah noted that the plan still hasn’t received the green light from Washington.Al-Attiyah told Spain’s ABC paper that thousands of mercenaries from Blackwater — now called Academi — are undergoing training in UAE. “Plans for the invasion led by the Emirati authorities were underway before the announcement of the economic and diplomatic siege on Qatar by Saudi, Egypt, UAE and Bahrain,” he explained.According to the Spanish paper, the White House was supposed to approve the plan, but it did not get the final “green light” from US President Donald Trump. There was no immediate comment from UAE regarding the accusation.Huff Post paper quoted unnamed official sources saying that the foreign mercenaries are being training in the Emirati military base in Liwa. The same sources also noted that Blackwater has trained 15,000 other mercenaries, mostly from Colombia and South America. middleeastmonitor
Qatari opposition figures to announce 'Govt-in-exile':report
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/qatari-opposition-414323423
Qatari exiles, some with Saudi business interests, are set to declare the formation of a Qatari Govt -in-exile to push for regime change in Doha, a source briefed on the declaration has told Middle East Eye.The source, who wished to remain anonymous, said a number of exiled Qataris, already known publicly as opponents of the ruling emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, were preparing to announce the establishment of an opposition Govt , possibly on Saturday.Qatar has been isolated in the Gulf since June when neighbouring Arab states broke off diplomatic relations and imposed a blockade.Since then, a number of events have been held featuring Qatari dissidents calling for a change of Govt in the country and the creation of a constitutional monarchy, as well as an end to what they label Qatari "terrorism" funding.Sultan Bin Suhaim al-Thani, member of ruling Thani tribe who has previously condemned Qatar's "embrace" of terrorist organisations, said on Twitter on 4 Oct that there would be a "historic decision" the following week."I learnt from the Gulf crisis that calm precedes the storm, and next week will see a historic decision for the crisis," he wrote. "Remember this tweet very well."He also tweeted a hashtag referring to "Movement of 13 Oct in Qatar".MEE understands that the prince is one of two figures leading the new initiative, the other one being Abdullah bin Ali al-Thani, another dissident Qatari royal who has been publicly highly critical of current Qatari administration.Abdullah is the brother of Sheikh Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani, who ruled Qatar until 1972 when he was overthrown by current emir Tamim's grandfather.MiddleEastEye
Bangladesh bans Islamic charities from giving aid to Rohingya refugees
http://kashmirnarrator.com/bangladesh-bans-islamic-charities-giving-aid-rohingya-refugees/
Bangladesh has banned 3 Islamic charities from working with Rohingya refugees, a lawmaker said Thursday. Mahjabeen Khaled, an MP from the ruling Awami League, said the international charities Muslim Aid and Islamic Relief, and Bangladesh-based Allama Fazlullah Foundation, had been blacklisted from the Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar district.Khaled, who sits on the parliamentary standing committee on foreign affairs, said no specific allegations had been levelled at the charities.But authorities were “scrutinising and screening” all aid agencies wanting to contribute to the massive relief effort in Cox’s Bazar, where more than half a million refugees had fled to squalid camps since August.“We want to monitor who is giving aid, and why, for security reasons. Who are funding them, and what they are going to do with the money?”Khaled told AFP.“They (Rohingya) are vulnerable.A lot can be done with this Rohingya people. We want to be careful,” she said, adding it would be “easy” to lure the refugees to militancy.Bangladesh has heavily curtailed access to the Rohingya camps in recent years, but eased restrictions last month after nearly a million new refugees poured across the border.Khaled said Muslim Aid had also been banned from working in the refugee camps in 2012, when tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims fled a separate surge of violence in neighbouring Myanmar. kashmirnarrator
Bangladesh bans 3 NGOs from providing aid for Rohingya
https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2017/10/11/bangladesh-bans-three-ngos-from-providing-aid-for-rohingya-refugees
Rohingya not native: Myanmar army chief
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/rohingya-muslims-native-myanmar-army-chief-171012064646341.html
Rohingya are not native to Myanmar and were brought by British colonialists, the country's powerful army chief told the US ambassador.Senior General Min Aung Hlaing gave his most extensive account of the Rohingya refugee crisis in the meeting with American Ambassador Scot Marciel, according to a report posted on his Facebook page on Thursday.Min Aung Hlaing, referring to Rohingya by the term "Bengali", which they regard as derogatory, said British colonialists were responsible for the problem."The Bengalis were not taken into the country by Myanmar but by the colonialists," he told Marciel, according to the account of the meeting posted today."They are not the natives and the records prove that they were not even called Rohingya but just Bengalis during the colonial period."aljazeera
Rohingya: Mother says soldiers 'threw my baby into a fire'
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/rohingya-crisis-latest-baby-thrown-fire-burma-refugees-horror-stories-military-atrocities-aung-san-a7995836.html
Hundreds of women stood in the river, held at gunpoint, ordered not to move.A pack of soldiers stepped toward a petite young woman with light brown eyes and delicate cheekbones. Her name was Rajuma, and she was standing chest-high in the water, clutching her baby son, while her village in Burma burned down behind her.“You,” the soldiers said, pointing at her.She froze.“You!”She squeezed her baby tighter.In the next violent blur of moments, the soldiers clubbed Rajuma in the face, tore her screaming child out of her arms and hurled him into a fire. She was then dragged into a house and gang-raped. By the time the day was over, she was running through a field naked and covered in blood. Alone, she had lost her son, her mother, her two sisters and her younger brother, all wiped out in front of her eyes, she says.Rajuma is a Rohingya Muslim, one of the most persecuted ethnic groups on earth, and she now spends her days drifting through a refugee camp in Bangladesh in a daze.She relayed her story to me during a recent reporting trip I made to the camps, where hundreds of thousands of Rohingya like her have rushed for safety. Her deeply disturbing account of what happened in her village, in late August, was corroborated by dozens of other survivors, whom I spoke with at length, and by human rights groups gathering evidence of atrocities.Survivors said they saw Govt soldiers stabbing babies, cutting off boys’ heads, gang-raping girls, shooting 40-millimetre grenades into houses, burning entire families to death, and rounding up dozens of unarmed male villagers and summarily executing them.Much of the violence was flamboyantly brutal, intimate and personal — the kind that is detonated by a long, bitter history of ethnic hatred.“People were holding the soldiers’ feet, begging for their lives,” Rajuma said. “But they didn’t stop, they just kicked them off and killed them, they chopped people, they shot people, they raped us,they left us senseless.”Human rights investigators said that Burma's military killed over1000 civilians in the state of Rakhine, and possibly as many as 5,000, though it will be hard to ever know because Burma is not allowing the UN or anyone else into the affected areas.The Independent
Myanmar blocks UN investigators from areas of reported atrocities
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/myanmar-blocks-investigators-areas-reported-rohingya-atrocities-171011185924915.html
Iraq orders arrest of Kurd Referendum panel members
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20171012-iraq-orders-arrest-of-kurdistan-referendum-commission-members/
An Iraqi court has issued arrest warrants against the president and members of the Kurdistan Region’s High Electoral and Referendum Commission which oversaw the referendum on separation from Iraq.A spokesman for the high judicial council, Judge Abdulstar Bayraqdar, said “Rusafa Investigation Court has issued an arrest warrant for the head and members of the commission who supervised referendum in Kurdistan Region”.
Kurd fighters in Iraq briefly block roads to Mosul
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/kurd-fighters-iraq-briefly-block-roads-mosul-171012091357819.html
Kurdish Peshmerga forces blocked roads from Iraqi Kurdistan to the country's 2nd city Mosul for several hours in response to Iraqi troop movements, a senior Kurdish military official said."2 main roads connecting Erbil and Dohuk to Mosul were cut off on Thursday with sand embankments as a precautionary measure after we detected an increase in deployments and movements of Iraqi forces near the frontline with the Peshmerga," official told AFP..The move came after Kurdish authorities said late on Wednesday they feared Iraqi Govt forces and allied paramilitary units were preparing to launch an assault on the autonomous northern region. aljazeera
FLASH: VIEWS & NEWS
‘I still don’t understand my crime’: UP teenager Zakir jailed for Facebook posts in April seeks answers
https://scroll.in/article/853786/i-still-dont-understand-my-crime-up-teenager-jailed-for-facebook-posts-in-april-seeks-answers
PM Modi faces criticism as India loses ‘fastest-growing major economy’ tag:Bloomberg
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/pm-narendra-modi-faces-criticism-as-india-loses-fastest-growing-major-economy-tag-4886612/
$6,900 paid to Israeli soldier who killed injured Palestinian
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20171012-army-pays-6900-to-israeli-soldier-who-killed-wounded-palestinian/
With Modi in crisis, project Yogi goes national: Swati Chaturvedi
https://thewire.in/186796/modi-crisis-project-adityanath-goes-national/
Coach overcrowded,100 escaped: HC on commuting death sentence of 11 convicts to life imprisonment
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/2002-godhra-train-burning-case-gujarat-hc-explains-why-commute-death-for-11-convicts-to-life-in-prison-4884445/
As violence against Dalits mounts in Gujarat, it is worth recalling India of Ambedkar’s dreams:Sukhadeo Thorat
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/dalit-dalit-atrocities-discrimination-equality-denied-4885832/
Sorry Minister Saheb, I Will Continue to Treat Poor Patients from Bihar or Anywhere Else:Shah Alam Khan
https://thewire.in/186559/open-letter-ashwini-kumar-choubey/
4000% Increase In Loans To Amit Shah’s Son, Jay Shah: Cronyism Or Deserving?nowbreaking.in
http://nowbreaking.in/india/4000-increase-in-loans-to-amit-shahs-son-jay-shah-cronyism-or-deserving/
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:59 PM)
