NEWS DIGEST, MID-DAY
30 Sept. 2018: 19 Muhram 1440: Vol: 11, No:15
INDIA
Aligarh encounter case: ‘Kidnapped’ women say left voluntarily
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/aligarh-encounter-case-kidnapped-women-say-left-voluntarily-5379800/
New Delhi: 2 days after an FIR was registered against 2 former student leaders of AMU, accusing them of kidnapping mothers of 2 men killed in a police encounter on September 20, the women held a press conference in the national capital on Saturday and said they were not kidnapped.Accusing the police of “holding us captive in our homes”, they said they had themselves left home to seek justice for their sons. The police said there was no pressure on the families.Speaking at the press conference, Shaheen mother of Naushad, one of the men killed in the alleged encounter, said: “We have not been kidnapped. The police were holding us captive inside our home. We have come to Delhi voluntarily — we want to ask the Prime Minister to help us get justice for our sons. We want a CBI inquiry into their deaths.”Naushad and Mustakeem had been killed on Sept.20. According to the police, the two carried bounties of Rs 25,000 each for their arrests in connection with six murders in different parts of the district over the course of a month.Mustakeem’s mother and grandmother had, however, alleged that the police had picked up the two men from their homes four days before the encounter.An FIR was lodged in Aligarh’s Atrauli police station on Sept.27 in the name of Hina, Mustakeem’s wife, alleging that Shaheen and Shabana — the latter is Mustaqeem’s mother — had been kidnapped from their homes in Bainspada mohalla by seven or eight men. Among them, FIR mentions, were 2 former presidents of the AMU students’ union. According to Shabana, a day after the alleged encounter, the police held both their families inside their home and did not allow them to leave. “The activists were allowed in following pressure from local residents and media. We left with them (for Delhi) on Thursday,” Shabana said. She also alleged that the police put pressure on Hina to lodge the FIR and she and a few other family members are still in the house. Maskoor Usmani, one of the student leaders named in the FIR, said, “We had gone to help the family. They themselves asked to be taken to Delhi to seek help.” Indianexpress
'Rihai Manch' raises questions over Aligarh encounter
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/rihai-manch-raises-questions-over-aligarh-encounter/articleshow/66017228.cms
Agra: Rihai Manch, an advocacy group that takes up cases of minority members wrongfully arrested in terror cases, has also accused the Aligarh police of illegally keeping the families of two alleged criminals, who were shot dead by the police in an encounter on September 20, under house arrest.Raising questions on the encounter, a spokesperson of the advocacy group said the preliminary inquiries conducted by them had revealed that both, Mustakeem and Naushad, were "innocent". A fact-finding team of the group visited the families of alleged criminals Mustakeem and Naushad and family members of slain temple priest, Roop Singh, who was alleged killed by them on September 14 night.Talking to TOI, Rihai Manch’s general secretary Rajeev Yadav said that police has been deployed in civil dress at Mustakeem’s house illegally. He claimed that his family members are not being allowed to meet anyone. He said he has written a letter to DGP and apprised him about the facts collected by them.He told TOI that during conversation Naushad’s mother Shaheen told the fact finding committee that they are not being allowed to go anywhere. Policemen are sitting inside the house despite the fact that there is no male member in the family. She told the committee members that policemen are deployed for 24 hours and no one can meet them without giving details to the policemen on duty.Rajeev said that the family members of Roop Singh, told the team members that 17-year-old Naushad and Mustakeem (22) shot dead in the encounter by the police were innocent.The delegation of Rihai Manch said that Giriraj Singh, brother of the slain temple priest Roop Singh has not only raised question over the murder of his brother but also on the September 20th police encounter. Singh told the delegation that the time police claims that the priest was killed, he was actually with his elder brother in the temple.
Apple executive killed despite being Hindu;Kejriwal
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/apple-executive-killed-arvind-kejriwal-vivek-tiwari-wife-5380216/
Giving a religious twist to the Apple executive death case in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that Vivek Tiwari was killed despite being a Hindu, even as the deceased’s wife asked legislators not to play politics over her husband’s death. Kejriwal asked the people not to be blindfolded by BJP’s rhetoric, claiming that the saffron party won’t think twice if they had to kill all Hindus for power. Responding to a tweet that asked if there would be a proper investigation into the incident, Kejriwal tweeted, “No. Even though Vivek Tiwari was a Hindu. BJP does not protect the interests of Hindus.” In a subsequent tweet, the Delhi CM said the reality was that BJP doesn’t favour Hindus. “Vivek Tiwari was a Hindu, right? Then why was he killed? BJP leaders rape Hindu girls across the country? Don’t be blindfolded. BJP doesn’t favour Hindus. If they have to murder all Hindus for power, they won’t think twice,” Kejriwal said.Tiwari was shot dead early Saturday morning by a police constable in Lucknow after he allegedly tried to evade a routine check. Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested two constables based on a complaint by Tiwari’s colleague who was in the car. The constables have alleged that Tiwari tried to run them down and fired the shot in “self-defence”.Calling it a “murder”, DGP OP Singh constituted a SIT headed by IG Lucknow range Sujeet Kumar and comprising SP Crime and Lucknow SP (Rural). A magisterial inquiry has also been recommended.indianexpress
UP Police Chief Seeks "Forgiveness" After Constable Kills Lucknow Man
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/uttar-pradesh-police-chief-seeks-forgiveness-after-constable-kills-lucknow-man-1924367
Lucknow: Hours after a 38-year-old employee of an international firm was shot dead by a constable for not stopping his car at a Lucknow checkpoint, Uttar Pradesh police chief OP Singh expressed grief over the incident and vowed to wean out "rogues in uniform" who bring dishonour to the force.The victim, Vivek Tiwari, was shot by the constable in the early hours of Saturday. The constable has alleged that he opened fire in "self defence" after Tiwari rammed into a patrol motorcycle and "tried to run him over". In contrast, the victim's co-passenger has maintained that they hadn't realised that the policemen wanted them to stop, and their vehicle had hit the motorcycle while trying to pass them."No amount of apology will suffice for the loss of a precious life, heal the wounds of the devastated family. My heart goes out for the little daughters, wife and family members of late Vivek Tiwari. I share my grief with them," Director General of Police said, adding that such deviant and criminal behaviour by police personnel deserves the "strictest punishment"."We are determined to punish and wean out such rogues in uniform who (make us) hang our heads in shame. At the same time, we have also embarked on systematic reforms through behavioural training and humanisation of the force," Singh asserted.ndtv
I remain concerned by situation in J&K: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres
https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world-i-remain-concerned-by-the-situation-in-jammu-and-kashmir-says-un-secretary-general-antonio-guterres-466924
Voicing concern over the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres encouraged ‘positive dialogue’ to peacefully resolve the disagreements. The UN welcomes a greater role for India in addressing the challenges of regional peace and security, he said."On the development front, India already is, and can become an even greater regional development force, helping other countries of the region forge a better future," Guterres said ahead of his visit to India. "I remain concerned by the situation in J&K– I encourage positive dialogue for disagreements to be resolved peacefully," he said.UN chief will be on a visit to India from October 1 to 3.His visit coincides with the beginning of events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi on Oct. 2, 2019.Guterres said he greatly appreciated India for its significant contributions to the UN."The dedication and sacrifice of India's uniformed personnel are deeply valued and are a model for many others," he said.indiatvnews
Strongly defends calling off talks: At UN, Swaraj tears into Pakistan ‘malevolence, verbal duplicity’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/strongly-defends-calling-off-talks-at-un-sushma-swaraj-tears-into-pakistan-malevolence-verbal-duplicity-5379797/
For the third year in a row, and less then two weeks after it cancelled the foreign ministers’ meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, India used the UNGA platform to hit out powerfully at Pakistan over its sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj accused Pakistan of being an “expert in trying to mask malevolence with verbal duplicity”, and justified India’s decision to call off the meeting with her Pakistani counterpart.“We are accused of sabotaging the process of talks. This is a complete lie. We believe that talks are the only rational means to resolve the most complex of disputes. Talks with Pakistan have begun many times. If they stopped, it was only because of their (Pakistan’s) behaviour,” Swaraj said in her address to the 73rd session of the UNGA in New York Saturday.indianexpress
‘Baseless allegations’: How Pakistani media reacted to Sushma Swaraj’s speech at UNGA
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sushma-swaraj-unga-speech-pakistan-terrorism-media-report-5379897/
Pakistan claims Indian hand behind Peshawar school attack, India calls it ‘despicable insinuation’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pakistan-raises-kashmir-issue-at-un-accuses-india-of-sponsoring-peshawar-attack-india-hits-back-5379914/
New Delhi :In a counter to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj’s UNGA speech on Saturday, Pakistan accused India of sponsoring terrorism on its soil including the Peshawar school attack in 2014 and warned the Indian side of “severe reaction if it attempted any misadventure against Pakistan”. Pakistan foreign minister Mehmood Qureshi, who addressed the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly after his Indian counterpart, portrayed Pakistan as a victim of terror and alleged that the Indian government was behind Pakistani Taliban that carried out the Army school attack in 2014 that killed about 150 students.He also mentioned Kulbhushan Jadhav as its evidence of India’s involvement with terrorism in Pakistan.Raking up the Kashmir issue in the United Nations Assembly, Pakistan Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi called it a “blot on the conscience of humanity” and said that peace can never be restored between the two countries until the dispute is resolved.Qureshi said New Delhi must “stop human rights violations in Kashmir and also stop ceasefire violations across the line of control”. “It is India that in plain sight operates state terrorism in Jammu Kashmir,” he stressed, adding that it is a matter of great concern that “humanity is being crushed and human rights are being violated all across India”.Qureshi also expressed support for the report on Kashmir presented by Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and said that it was ready to welcome the international commission of inquiry he proposed. “They used the pretext of stamps issued months ago…and depicting grave human rights violations, including pellet gun victims, as an excuse to back out from the talks,” he said. India had called off the meeting, citing the brutal killings of three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad releasing postage stamps “glorifying” Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani.Rejecting Pakistan’s accusations, Eenam Gambhir, India’s First Secretary in Permanent Mission of India to UN reiterated that talks and terror cannot happen hand-in-hand. Referring to the newly-appointed Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi’s address, India exercising its Right to Reply said, “What we heard is a new Pakistan cast in the mould of old.”indianexpress
Pakistan rakes up RSS, Yogi Adityanath, NRC to attack India at UN
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/unga-pakistan-rss-nrc-yogi-adityanath-5380311/
New Delhi:A day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj sharply criticised Islamabad over its sponsorship of cross-border terrorism, Pakistan’s envoy to the United Nations Saad Warraich on Sunday trained guns at RSS and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to allege that there was no room for dissent in “illiberal India of today”. Exercising the Right of Reply, Warraich accused the RSS, BJP’s ideological mentor, of supporting the spread of fascism through its centres. “The breeding ground of terrorism in our region is the RSS centres of Fascism. The claims of religious superiority are perpetrated through straight patronage all across India,” the Pakistan envoy said. He also said that the face of the largest Indian state of Uttar Pradesh was an unabashed Hindi extremist who openly advocated religious superiority of Hindus.“Members of India’s minorities, including Christians and Muslims, are publically lynched at the hands of Hindus elites, where an unabashed Hindu extremist Yogi Adityanath, who openly supports the superiority of the Hindus, serves as the face of the largest Indian state Uttar Pradesh,” Warraich said. Without naming BJP chief Amit Shah, Warraich said several Bengalis in Assam had suddenly become “homeless” and “have been called termites by a prominent Indian leader”. “For a country where Right to citizenship to Bengalis in Assam is being arbitrarily rescinded and who have suddenly been made stateless and have been called ‘termites’ by a prominent Indian leader, where churches and mosques are torched, is surely not qualified to give sermons to others,” he retorted sharply. Warraich’s response came after India’s First Secretary in Permanent Mission of India to UN Eenam Gambhir denounced Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s allegation that New Delhi was behind the 2014 Peshawar terror attack as “outrageous”.indianexpress
Cornered by Swaraj, Pakistan Goes After RSS and Yogi Adityanath at UN
https://www.news18.com/news/india/cornered-by-sushma-swaraj-pakistan-goes-after-rss-and-yogi-adityanath-at-un-1893713.html
NRC applicant will not be allowed to change legacy person in claim form: Official
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/nrc-applicant-will-not-be-allowed-to-change-legacy-person-in-claim-form-official/article25088263.ece?homepage=true
Guwahati:An applicant for inclusion of name in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will not be allowed to change the legacy person in the claim form from the originally submitted form in 2015, an NRC official said here on Sunday.A claim can be submitted for re-consideration of eligibility based on documents already submitted or it can be submitted with additional List A or List B documents, NRC official said here. There is no need to re-submit the documents submitted earlier but if additional documents are required to be submitted, then any one or more of the 10 documents listed by the Supreme Court, under whose supervision the NRC is being updated, must be submitted.“The claim form displays the list of all 15 List A documents for the purpose of quoting but only 10 documents as mentioned above will be accepted at present,” the official added.PTI
J-K civic polls: In first two phases, 131 wards out of 187 left blank; candidates elected unopposed at places
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/j-k-municipal-polls-in-first-two-phases-131-wards-out-of-187-left-blank-candidates-elected-unopposed-at-places-5380052/
Srinagar :Putting a question mark on the credibility of the municipal polls in the valley, 131 out of 187 municipal seats that are going to polls have been either left blank or the candidates have been elected uncontested in the first two phases.In at least four municipal bodies, more than half of the seats have been drawn blank as no candidate has filed his nomination paper. The partial figures released by the Chief Electoral Officer Shaleen Kabra, on Wednesday, reveal that not a single candidate has filed his nomination papers from Frisal municipality in south Kashmir’sKulgam.Frisal municipality has 13 wards.In Beerwah municipality of central Kashmir’s Budgam, only one candidate has filed his nomination papers from the 13 wards of the municipality leaving the 12 wards without any candidate.In south Kashmir’s Bijbehara Municipality only five candidates have submitted their nomination forms. Bijbehara municipality has 17 wards and there is no candidate contesting for 12 wards of the municipality. Similarly, in Yaripora municipality of south Kashmir’s Kulgam, only 3 candidates have filed nomination in the six wards of the municipality.In central Kashmir’s Chadoora municipality that has 13 wards, there is no candidate for five wards while eight candidates have been elected unopposed ensuring there are no polls in the municipality.indianexpress
Niti Aayog CEO unhappy with Supreme Court’s verdict to scrap Section 57 of Aadhaar Act
https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/economy/article/niti-aayog-ceo-unhappy-with-supreme-court-s-verdict-to-scrap-section-57-of-aadhaar-act/291700
New Delhi: Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant lauded the Supreme Court for its judgement in which it upheld Aadhaar’s constitutional validity but said the top court should have “asked centre for guidelines” to protect privacy instead of scrapping Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act. In a contributory article for the Economic Times, Kant started off appreciating the top court’s effort in protecting good governance. He said, “Over Rs 90,000 crore is saved every year by plugging leakages in over 500 welfare schemes through the usage of Aadhaar for authentication.”However, Kant was not happy that the apex court scrapped Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act, which enables third-party firms to authenticate users using Aadhaar to provide services. He suggests that by limiting the scope of Aadhaar use for validation by the private sector, the “judgement has not gone far enough”. timesnownews
BJP plans campaign around ‘nationalism’ on twin planks of infiltration, govt’s stance on security
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bjp-plans-campaign-around-nationalism-on-twin-planks-of-infiltration-govts-stance-on-security-5380329/
New Delhi:With the Congress looking to corner the Modi government over the Rafale issue, the ruling BJP believes it can turn the heat on the opposition party by building up a campaign around nationalism on the twin planks of illegal infiltration and the Centre’s “tough policy” on security matters. Sources in BJP said the decision to hold nationwide events on September 28-29 to mark the second anniversary of the surgical strikes, following a relatively quiet first anniversary of the Army operation in PoK, was taken to highlight the government’s tough policy on security matters.Though it has been accused of politicising the Army action and its critics have also referred to the growing violence in Kashmir under its tenure to question the effectiveness of its policies, the saffron party believes that the surgical strikes continue to have resonance on the ground and can help it build a positive narrative in the run-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha election.BJP president Amit Shah has also been constantly harping on the issue of illegal infiltration and has gone on to assert that the government will identify such infiltrators across the country if the saffron party retains power after 2019 Lok Sabha polls.A senior BJP functionary said the top leaders of the party believe that the contentious issue of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam can help them, especially in states where infiltrators are said to be living in large numbers.PTI
Citing personal law in a Muslim couple case, HC holds 16-year-old girl’s marriage valid
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/citing-personal-law-in-a-muslim-couple-case-hc-holds-16-year-old-girls-marriage-valid-5379651/
Chandigarh : Directing the Nuh district’s Protection Home to release a 16-year-old Muslim girl from custody, Punjab and Haryana High Court has allowed her to stay with her husband and said the Muslim couple’s marriage cannot be said to be invalid, while referring to the Muslim law. “As per the Text Book of Mohammedan Law by Aqil Ahmad, ‘Puberty and majority’ in the Muslim law are one and the same thing…,”the judgment passed by Justice Daya Chaudhary on Sept.26 reads. The judgment further reads, “A boy or girl, who has attained puberty, is at liberty to marry anyone he or she likes and the guardian has no right to interfere.”The girl was more than 15 years of age at the time of her marriage in June 2018 and “strongly objected” when the court had asked her whether she wants to stay with her parents.“The detenue is entitled to remain with the petitioner, being his wife. In-charge,Safe House (Protection Home) at Nuh, District Nuh, is directed to complete all formalities and release the detenue,” reads the order. Her husband had filed a habeas corpus plea in the High Court in June after he was not allowed to meet her in the Safe House.The couple had also approached the High Court in June for police protection after the marriage. They were residing in Nuh Protection Home until the husband was taken into custody by the police on June 12 in the case registered against him by the girl’s family for kidnapping a minor.He was not allowed to meet her after being released on bail by the trial court and approached the High Court regarding it. His counsel argued before the court that their marriage was governed by Muslim law and provisions of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 are not applicable on them.“Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937 is a special Act, whereas, the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, is a general Act. The general provisions would yield to specific provisions. This is a well-settled proposition of law. Special Act would have predominance over the general Act,” the judgment passed by the High Court reads.indian express
Who is an urban naxal, asks Romila Thapar
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/who-is-an-urban-naxal-asks-romila-thapar/article25088465.ece?homepage=true
New Delhi:Eminent historian Romila Thapar, who petitioned the Supreme Court against the house arrest of five Left-leaning activists, has asked government to define the phrase “urban naxal”, saying either they do not understand the meaning of the term or the activists like her do not.Talking on the house arrests of five activists Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha, she said these are the people who are fighting against social injustice.“We were all born Indians, lived as Indians all our lives. These activists are fighting for good causes and terming them urban naxal is a political move,” she said.“Do they even know what urban naxal means, first ask the government to define the term urban naxal and then tell us how we fall into this category.It is very easy to call us urban naxal. And also tell us how we have become urban naxal, either govt does not understand the meaning of urban naxal or we don’t understand the meaning of the term,” Thapar told PTI.She was speaking on the sidelines of a press conference held by the petitioners after the Supreme Court judgement on September 28 refused to interfere with the arrest of the five rights activists and declined to appoint a Special Investigation Team to probe their arrests.The five activists have been under house arrest since August 29.Politicians including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have referred to the five activists as “urban naxals”. Many social media users have enlisted themselves as “urban naxals” in a show of solidarity with the arrested Left-leaning activists as #MeTooUrbanNaxal trended on Twitter.PTI
Maharashtra Government withdraws rioting cases against Sambhji Bhide, BJP and Shiv Sena workers
https://www.newsx.com/national/sambhaji-bhide-devendra-fadnavis-bjp-shiv-sena-maharashtra-government
On Sunday, Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP-Sena government withdrew at least six rioting cases against 85-year-old right wing activist Sambhaji Bhide. Apart from cleaning Bhide’s name in six rioting cases, the BJP government also withdrew cases against hundred’s of his workers. The following information was revealed by an RTI. The information adds that several cases registered against BJP and Shiv Sena workers have also been withdrawn by the government. The information revealed by the RTI added that at least eight circulars were issued by the Maharashtra government. the circulars demanded the withdrawal of cases registered against right-wing activist Sambhaji Bhide, political leaders belonging to BJP and Shiv Sena and hundreds of their party workers.Earlier, a report formed by a 10-member committee that was formed by Pune Police stated that the Bhima-Koregaon violence that took place on January 1 was orchestrated by Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote. One person was said to be killed in the violence while scores sustained injuries.newsx
Second Brush With Death For Azmat Khan, Grievously Injured When Pehlu Khan Was Lynched
https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/2/15131/Second-Brush-With-Death-For-Azmat-Khan-Grievously-Injured-When-Pehlu-Khan-Was-Lynched
New Delhi: “We are terrified, we will not go to the courts now no matter what unless the police gives us protection, they can do whatever want to us, nothing is more valuable than life,” said Azmat Khan who was travelling with five others for the court proceedings in the Pehlu Khan case when they were attacked and fired upon.For Azmat, this was the second encounter with death. The first being when he was beaten to a pulp by the cow mob that lynched Pehlu Khan on Delhi Jaipur highway in broad daylight over a year ago. Azmat was grievously injured, and it took about six months of treatment at a Delhi hospital before he could return home. Even now he is not fully recovered, living a life of penury in deep fear.The men identified in the FIR after the lynching are all out on bail. They were not locked up at all for the crime. Instead while going for the court case, Azmat, along with their lawyer, and Pehlu Khans two sons and relatives were chased, abused and fired upon by about 4-5 men in a car without a number plate on the same Delhi-Jaipur highway. And escaped only because they did not stop, and the driver had the presence of mind eventually to take the car across the highway to the opposite side and drive back towards Delhi.As Azmat said, they saw this car waiting after Neemran, near Maharaja hotel where there is a deserted spot, with woods. The men in the car first tried to stop them, but they did not, then gave chase in what seemed to be a scene out of a violent Bollywood film. Except that this was for real, with the car drawing up at one stage and the men using choice abuse to make the Khans stop their vehicle.“We realised almost immediately that there was something wrong and speeded up, but the car was beside us, sometimes just behind, sometimes almost overtaking us. When they started firing at us the driver took the car across the highway, pointing back towards Delhi, and somehow we went through inner roads and reached the SP’s office in Alwar,” Azmat said.A FIR was lodged, and the police promised protection. But the family, for valid reasons, is not sure whether this word will be kept. As Azmat said, “ everyone is living in fear of our lives.”thecitizen
India’s Climate for Free Expression Severely Deteriorated Under Modi Govt: PEN International
http://caravandaily.com/portal/indias-climate-for-free-expression-severely-deteriorated-under-modi-govt-pen-international/
Pune/New Delhi: India has witnessed a rising tide of violence, impunity, extended pre-trial detentions, and surveillance under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA govt, PEN International, said on Saturday as it wound up the 84th PEN International Congress with representation from 80 countries in Pune. The International writers body called upon the Indian government to safeguard freedom of expression in the country. It released a report “India: Pursuing truth in the face of intolerance” that outlines how dissenting voices, by journalists, writers, academics or students “face intimidation, harassment, prosecution, online abuse, and physical violence.”The report brings together voices of writers, journalists, lawyers and academics, illustrating the varied ways in which critical voices are targeted and silenced.It highlights “the use of overbroad laws; directed attacks online and offline; the systematic stifling of academic research and freedom; and the continued marginalisation of and hostility towards women’s voices.”“Laws that stifle speech; an environment hostile to dissenting views; and emboldened critics online and in the real world have cast a chill over free expression in India. Journalists and writers have been sued, intimidated, threatened, and sometimes murdered. There is little political will to amend the laws that prevent free expression or to enforce laws that protect the writer,” said Salil Tripathi, Writers in Prison Committee Chair. Ians
MP: Prof removed from association post after ABVP feet-touching incident
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/professor-kicked-out-of-association-for-touching-abvp-students-feet-in-mandsaur-madhya-pradesh
A day after an upset senior professor of Mandsaur’s Rajiv Gandhi PG College touched the feet of RSS-affiliated ABVP students after they forced him to apologise, Regional Govt University Professors’ Association removed him from the post of association’s secretary. Association alleged that Professor Dr Dinesh Gupta defamed the gravity of the profession by touching ABVP activists’ feet.Miffed after being dubbed ‘anti-national’ by the group of ABVP students, Gupta of Mandsaur’s Rajiv Gandhi PG College had touched their feet when he asked them not to raise slogans outside his classroom and forced him to apologise.The association not only removed Professor Dinesh Gupta but also Dr RK Sohoni, the principal of Rajiv Gandhi PG College, for backing professor Gupta. Sohoni was District Head of the professor’s association in Mandsaur. When contacted, the regional head of Professors’ Association Kailash Tyagi said, “Both the professors (Dr Gupta and Dr Sohoni) have defamed the dignity of the professors, so, the association decided to remove them from all posts.” Tyagi further said, “If the students were raising slogans inside the college premises and misbehaving with the professors, then, they should have called the police. Touching feet was not a solution and it has diluted the gravity of profession.”Congress media coordinator Narendra Saluja targeted the professor’s association for removing Gupta and Sohoni. “Instead of standing with them, the association has removed the professors for standing against injustice. Association is acting like a government agency,” said Saluja.nationalheraldindia
Using Mosque Loudspeakers, Alert Kerala Muezzin Averts Major Fire in Malappuram
https://www.news18.com/news/india/using-mosque-loudspeakers-alert-kerala-muezzin-averts-major-fire-in-malappuram-1893441.html
Malappuram: The swift action and timely intervention by a Kerala ‘Muezzin’ averted a major blaze after he cautioned locals about a gas leakage due to an overturned LPG tanker in Malappuram district’s Chelari area in the wee hours of Friday.Thirty-year-old Muhammad Ali Chonari, who has been working as a ‘Muezzin’ (one who is appointed at a mosque to lead and recite the call to prayer) at Panambra Juma Masjid woke up at 2:35 am on hearing a loud noise followed by the smell of gas leakage.Sensing possibilities of a fire mishap, Ali rushed to the spot with water.“When I reached the spot, I saw a huge tanker lying overturned with a strong smell of gas, but the driver who hurt his back was trying to turn the ignition off as the gas was leaking fast,” he said, adding that it took some time to turn the ignition off.To seek help, Ali tried to stop vehicles which were passing by but no one stopped after realising that it was a gas tanker that has overturned. Besides, the tanker tumbled at a low-lying area for which it was not too noticeable. Fire and rescue operations began only after a police vehicle arrived at the spot. The injured driver was also taken to a hospital, said Ali.news18
PIL in Gujarat HC: ‘Segregate train seats for veg, meat-eaters’
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pil-in-gujarat-high-court-segregate-train-seats-for-veg-meat-eaters-5379802/
A PIL filed in Gujarat High Court has sought the court’s intervention in having segregated seats for vegetarian and non-vegetarian passengers in trains.PIL, filed by E E Saiyed, 67, a resident of Khanpur in Ahmedabad, a lawyer himself, has pleaded the court to direct Indian Railways to give option for allotting seats in accordance with the food choice of passengers. Filed through advocate RJ Goswami, PIL is likely to come up for hearing next week.The petition states, “Respondents be directed to segregate vegetarian and non-vegetarian food and segregate seats at the time of ticket booking in accordance with food choices so that no discomfort is caused to passengers who are vegetarian.”Claiming that his PIL does not have any political motive, the petitioner states, “Indian Railways in its contract for catering services takes utmost care and caution for providing the best eatables to its passengers. Furthermore, the effort put in to cater to a vast diversity of people residing in a country like India is praiseworthy. However, the segregation between vegetarian food and non-vegetarian food is precarious and there is no distinction with regard to serving the passenger according to their choices.”Petitioner Saiyed has said that he is a “pure vegetarian” and has filed PIL so that “separate sitting arrangements for vegetarian and non-vegetarian passengers can be provided.”indianexpress
Islampur violence: Bengal school has 50% vacancy, no science teachers for senior classes: Indian express
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/days-after-islampur-violence-bengal-school-has-50-vacancy-no-science-teachers-for-senior-classes-5379804/
Islampur :Days after the Sept. 20 violence in Islampur in West Bengal’s Uttar Dinajpur district, the Daribhit High School remains shut. The sprawling football field outside the school bears deep scars of the incident, when protests over the appointment of two teachers led to clashes in which two former students were killed. Inside, books, answer sheets, computers and official documents lie strewn on the floor. In one of the classrooms, bicycles, meant for distribution under a state government scheme, lie in a heap.On Sept.20, villagers and students — angry over the appointment of Urdu teacher Md Sanaullah Rehmani and Sanskrit teacher Touranga Mullick while they had been demanding teachers for science and other subjects – allegedly ransacked the school and attacked the teachers.Villagers say the school has a teacher vacancy of 50 per cent and that anger had been building up over this for a while. According to sources, there are 20 vacant posts in the school (after excluding the 2 recent appointments). Apart from headmaster Avijit Kundu and the assistant headmaster, who is due to retire in a couple of months, there are 19 teachers and para-teachers in the school. The school, established in 1969, has 1,951 students, of whom 89.5% are SC students, 0.5% ST and 10% minority students.A teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “There is only one maths teacher in the school. There are no science teachers for the higher secondary classes. Since last year, the school education department stopped sending science books to us. Every day, we have to take three or four additional classes since there aren’t enough of us. Sometimes we take two classes at a time, walking from one room to another.”indianexpress
Amul vice-chairman to ‘boycott’ Modi’s Anand event today
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/amul-vice-chairman-to-boycott-pm-modis-anand-event-today-5379825/
Ahmedabad:Accusing BJP of hijacking Amul Dairy event where PM Narendra Modi is expected to unveil Rs 1,500 crore worth of projects and address a gathering of farmers, the vice-chairman of Amul, Rajendrasinh Parmar, on Saturday said that he would boycott the programme near Anand on Sunday.“I will be boycotting the event,” said Parmar, who is also a Congress MLA from Borsad Assembly constituency.When asked the reason for the boycott, he told The Sunday Express, “It does not look like a function organised by Amul Dairy. It now seems like a political function where one political party (BJP) is running the show. In the past, several Congress prime ministers have visited Amul Dairy, but flag of one political party was never used. The management of Amul has no idea of the function and it is the political party that is in charge.”When asked if he was invited for the event, Parmar replied in the affirmative. “Few other members of board of directors might also boycott tomorrow’s event,” he said, when asked if other members of the board were considering to stay away. He, however, did not name the other directors.indianexpress
Bengaluru: In name of Halal, financial company cheats people of Rs 4,000 crore
https://deccanchronicle.com/nation/crime/300918/bengaluru-in-name-of-halal-firm-cheats-people-of-rs-4-000-crore.html
Bengaluru: A Bengaluru-based financial company allegedly duped thousands of people of thousands of crores while systematically targeting the city's Muslim community. It allegedly lured people by claiming that the investments would be under Islamic and halal principles. The company had its victims spread across Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, and is said to have made away with a whopping Rs 4,000 crore. Feroz Khan, a resident of R.T. Nagar, said that the victims on Saturday filed a complaint at the Ramamurthy Nagar police station, exposing how the supposed Dubai-based company targeted only the Muslim community. The company, Morgenall Ventures LLP, claiming to be headquartered in Dubai, had its local office at Horamavu since 2017. The financial investment and consultancy firm, headed by one Irfan Pasha, allegedly promised to give higher than normal returns. Another complainant Kabir Mohammed said that he invested Rs 16 lakh three months ago and realised that he was duped only recently. Irfan Pasha had allegedly put up posters of the company on schools and Islamic centres too to attract more gullible investors.If one invested Rs 1 lakh, he received the principal amount of Rs 25,000 in the first instalment and an additional 5% profit on the remaining Rs 75,000. The second month, he received another Rs 25,000 and 5% profit on the remaining Rs 50,000 and it continued this way till the fourth month. The investor was expected to get back the entire principal amount of Rs 1 lakh, 20% profit earned in interest, an additional Rs 25,000, a 2-gram gold coin and Rs 2,000 worth gift vouchers from Big Bazaar, sources said.Soon, hundreds of people fell into the trap and ended up losing large amounts of money, as the fly-by-night operator shut shop and fled. A group of victims recently met senior police officials and are approaching the Central Crime Branch on Monday. Deccan Chronicle.
Railways alerts RPF over Rohingya exodus to Kerala
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/railways-alerts-rpf-over-rohingyas-exodus-to-kerala/articleshow/66001397.cms
Chennai: Acting on intelligence inputs from Railway Board, Southern Railway has directed RPF units across all divisions to watch out for movement of huge number of Rohingyas travelling from northeastern states to Kerala, and hand them over to local police. A letter has been sent by the chief security commissioner of Southern Railways to the divisional security commissioners of Chennai, Madurai, Salem, Trivandrum, Palaghat, and Tiruchirapalli on Wednesday. A RPF officer said the alert spoke exclusively about Rohingya movement from the northeast to Kerala.The letter has given a list of 14 trains originating from states such as West Bengal and Assam with destinations spread across Tamil Nadu and Kerala.“All Rohingyas are travelling in groups along with their families,” the letter has stated. The list of trains include, the Santragachi-Chennai Central Antyodaya Express, Howrah-Kanyakumari Express, Howrah Mail, Guwahati-Trivandrum Superfast Express, and Shalimar-Trivandrum Express.These are the trains preferred by skilled and unskilled labourers of northeastern states to travel to Kerala and Tamil Nadu all through the year. The letter, which wanted officers be sensitised to the issue, said: “If found in these trains, they may be handed over to the local police. An action taken report should be sent.” A senior RPF officer confirmed that railway board had indicated a security risk over Rohingya after which the alert was sounded off. timesofindia
Kalyan youth: Areeb never spoke of jihad or joining ISIS, says key witness
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kalyan-youth-areeb-never-spoke-of-jihad-or-joining-isis-says-witness-5376214/
MUMBAI: A key witness of the NIA in the case in which a Kalyan youth Areeb Majeed arrested in 2014 for terror charges was declared the hostile on Wednesday after he claimed Areeb never spoke of jihad or joining the Daesh in Syria.The Imam at the Ahle Hadis Masjid in Kalyan who deposed as witness number 16, is the first to be declared hostile.According to Indian Express reports, the witness denied that his statements were recorded by the investigating agency in 2014 and claimed that only general questions about the shariyat and jihad were asked and not Majeed.He told during the trial before the special court that he knew Areeb and Fahad Shaikh as they infrequently came to the masajid to pray.He said he knew Areeb’s father, Ejaz but denied that in March 2014, he had approached to meet him and discussed that Areeb was talking about jihad and Iraq and Syria. “It did not happen that thereafter accused (Areeb) met me and discussed about jihad and told me that, he is going to Syria for jihad,” the witness told.According to the NIA, Areeb’s father had come to the imam and told him that Areeb was visiting Islamic Guidance Centre in Kalyan run by a man who is ‘highly influenced’ by Dr. Zakir Naik.“It is not true that his father told me that the accused regularly visited the Islamic Guidance Centre, his interest in jihad, ISIS and Hizrat,” the witness said denying the prosecution’s case.The witness further denied his father come to him to conduct prayers for his departed soul.NIA claims that Areeb, a civil engineering pursuing student from Father Agnel’s Polytechnic College in Vashi, Navi Mumbai allegedly decided to join ISIS along with of his friends from Kalyan — Fahad Shaikh, Shaheen Tanki, and Aman Tandel–were part of a pilgrims group from India to Iraq in May, 2014 when they went missing.indianexpress
Jat quota agitation: Court sends four to jail for 5 years for rioting and other offences
https://scroll.in/latest/896347/jat-quota-agitation-court-sends-four-to-jail-for-five-years-for-rioting-and-other-offences
A court in Haryana’s Hisar district on Friday sentenced four people to five years in jail for rioting and other offences during the 2016 Jat reservation agitation, reported PTI. Daljit, Raju, Suraj and Vinod, all residents of Sisai village, were also asked to pay a fine of Rs 1 lakh each.The court of additional district and sessions judge RK Jain convicted them under various sections of the Indian Penal Code as well as under provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and the Indian Forest Act, 1927. Advocate MS Nain, who represented the convicts, said that they would challenge the conviction in the High Court, reported Tribune.
CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan announces cow ministry in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/shivraj-singh-chouhan-announces-cow-ministry-in-mp-5380313/
Bhopal :Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday announced the establishment of a Gau Mantralaya (cow ministry) in MP to serve the cow better. The ministry will replace the Madhya Pradesh Gaupalan Evam Pashudhan Samvardhan Board.Chouhan made the announcement in Khajuraho where a function to give awards to gaushalas was organised. The announcement comes days before the model code of conduct kicks-in the poll-bound state. indianexpress
Meerut: Hatred for love-jihad blinds radical oufits, thrashed Muslim man had served Kanwar Yatris
https://www.siasat.com/news/meerut-hatred-love-jihad-blinds-radical-oufits-thrashed-muslim-man-had-served-kanwar-yatris-1414251/
Meerut: ‘Love-Jihad’ as it is termed, has become a social evil lurking in the Indian society with radical outfits boldly taking criminal action behind the mask of ‘love-jihad’.Whether or not it is an actual case of love-jihad is and was never a question here rather Muslim man is beaten, thrashed or in some cases lynched to death by radical outfits, TOI reports. Similar is the recent Meerut case where a student was dragged from her Muslim classmate’s residence and thrashed inside the police van while the classmate was brutally beaten up by VHP activists until he was bleeding.This Muslim man was accused of ‘love jihad’, dragged out of his house and thrashed by VHP activists and was even kept in detention for several hours along with the female student.But this young man aged around 21 never failed to serve humanity regardless of his religion as Islam promotes humanity over enmity. 21-year-old’s pictures from earlier this year shows him serving food to kanwar yatris and treating them at a camp, which now a completely different story most people are not aware of due to hatred that has blinded them.siasat
Interfaith couple assault: Suspended cops transferred to Gorakhpur, no arrest yet
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/interfaith-couple-assault-suspended-cops-transferred-to-gorakhpur-no-arrest-yet/articleshow/66010642.cms
Meerut:It has been a week since an interfaith couple was assaulted — the youth by VHP activists and his female friend by cops — but no action has been taken by police so far. “We are waiting for the departmental enquiry to get over following which we will take a call on criminal proceedings against the erring persons,” Meerut SSP Akhilesh Meena told TOI. Meanwhile, 3 cops (head constable Salek Chand, constable Neetu Singh and constable Priyanka) who were earlier suspended for assaulting the 20-year-old female nursing student for “choosing a Muslim partner”, have been transferred to Gorakhpur. However, no action has been taken against VHP activists.“The sections in FIR do not require immediate arrest,” SSP said. Police claim that statements of the victims are being recorded which will determine criminal proceedings against the cops accused of assaulting the girl. “The video footage of the incident will be used as corroborative evidence to back the claims made by the victims in their statement to police,” SSP Meena said. TOI
WORLD
Palestine sues US at international court over Jerusalem embassy
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/09/palestine-sues-international-court-jerusalem-embassy-180929121629965.html
Palestine filed a complaint against the United States with the United Nations top court over Washington's decision to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In a statement issued on Friday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said Palestine contends the embassy's relocation is in breach of 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. In its application, Palestine argued that the treaty dictates embassies must be established on the territory of the receiving state and that the "special status of Jerusalem" means that the US violated its international obligations when it moved its embassy.According to the statement, Palestine asked the court to declare the move illegal as well as order the US to withdraw the embassy from Jerusalem. On Saturday, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said the complaint "comes in line with the policy of the State of Palestine, which aims to preserve the character of the holy city of Jerusalem with its unique spiritual, religious and cultural dimensions".aljazeera
OIC expresses concern on rising hate crimes against Muslims
http://www.uniindia.com/oic-expresses-concern-on-rising-hate-crimes-against-muslims/world/news/1365245.html
Islamabad:Organization of Islamic Cooperation which has been the collective voice of Muslim world adopted a statement calling respect of Islam, the revered personalities and its symbols, said a statement issued by Pakistan Foreign ministry. The statement proposed jointly by Pakistan and Turkey was adopted on the sidelines of UNGA at New York. Pakistan Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi expressed serious concerns on the intensification of hate campaigns which deliberately targeted Muslims and the Islamic religious symbols. Earlier, Pakistan had raised the matter of caricature competitions at the diplomatic level with the United Nations, OIC and European Union. Pak Prime Minister Imran Khan had also expressed concerns and subsequently a resolution was passed in Pakistan cabinet condemning the campaign of derogating Islam. PM Imran Khan had even assured the parliament that the matter will be raised during the OIC ministerial meeting in New York. Qureshi expressing concerns during his bilateral meeting in New York said that freedom of expression comes with concomitant responsibilities, and should be exercised keeping in view the ethical, moral and legal obligations. UNI
Mahathir Mohamad, 93, slams leading powers over ‘undemocratic’ UN
https://www.oneindia.com/international/mahathir-mohamad-93-slams-leading-powers-over-undemocratic-un-2785110.html
New York:Malaysia's nonagenarian prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Friday (Sept 28) lashed out at the world's leading powers at the United Nations saying those nations should be reminded that they couldn't urge change of regimes in other countries when they themselves were not ready to give way to democracy in the world body. Malaysia's Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad "It's not a nice thing, it's hypocritical. On the one hand you say they all must be democratic, you cause regime change and lots of civil wars in order to achieve democracy," Mohamad, who returned to power in his country in a historic election in May, said in a media conference at the UN HQRS after delivering his address in the General Assembly.Mohamad said this in reply to a question on his expectations for a reform of the UN veto system. Senior-most statesman of Asia had given similar calls in the past but they did not yield results. Mohamad reappeared in the UN for his speech after 2003, the year he lost power after a 22-year rule, and said: "When I last spoke here in 2003, I lamented how the world had lost its way. I bemoaned the fact that small countries continued to be at the mercy of the powerful." He said that he had argued then for the developing world to push for reform but lamented saying nothing had changed much in the last 15 years. Speaking about the veto system in the UN which makes its permanent five powers even more powerful, Mohamad said he had suggested that instead of the veto being used by just one permanent member, it should be used by at least two powers backed by three non-permanent members of the Security Council. oneindia
Qatar refutes Saudi, UAE allegations of supporting 'terrorism'
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/09/qatar-refutes-saudi-uae-allegations-supporting-terrorism-180930105046850.html
The Gulf crisis has led to exchange of words at the United Nations General Assembly between Qatar and the countries imposing the blockade on the gas-rich nation.Qatar refuted allegations by Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and UAE of supporting "terrorism" on Saturday as the Gulf crisis featured at the UN forum."The representative of Qatar said that the three countries are the last ones to preach Qatar about peace and stability," Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from New York, said. "He referred to the past track record of Saudi Arabia and the UAE in the war in Yemen and instability in Libya as well as the US Congress inquiry into September 11 attacks, which blamed the two countries for providing havens for 'terrorists,'" our correspondent said.aljazeera
First rebel group begins withdrawal from demilitarised zone in Syria’s Idlib
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180930-first-rebel-group-begins-withdrawal-from-demilitarised-zone-in-syrias-idlib/
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Sunday that rebel group Failaq al-Sham has started withdrawing its forces and heavy arms from a demilitarised zone in northwest Syria.The group is the first to comply with a requirement to leave a demilitarised buffer zone set up by Turkey and Russia to avert a Russian-backed Syrian army offensive, Rami Abdulrahman, head of the UK-based war monitor told Reuters.Rebel sources could not immediately be reached for comment.middleeastmonitor
White Helmets ‘first witness’ to Syria massacres: Chief
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/analysis-news/white-helmets-first-witness-to-syria-massacres-chief/1268874
Raed al-Saleh, head of the White Helmets (Syrian Civil Defense), told Anadolu Agency the group has been targeted with false allegations by Russia and other countries because it collects first-hand evidence of the atrocities committed by the regime and its allies.The White Helmets have been battling two separate fights at the same time. While trying to save civilians from bombardments, they face dangers as they are turned into a "legitimate and open target" by the Bashar al-Assad regime and Russia.On the other front, they fight smear campaigns and defamation. al-Saleh of the White Helmets, or Syrian Civil Defense, spoke to Anadolu Agency about their efforts for humanity. Anadolu Agency: First of all, we'd like to thank you for speaking with us. Who are the White Helmets? How do you define yourself? When and why did you establish the White Helmets?Raed al-Saleh: The White Helmets started to operate in Aleppo through the end of 2012 and early 2013. We’re a group of Syrian young people from different occupations. Our teams include carpenters, tailors, blacksmiths, traders, and doctors. We’re from different backgrounds.Anadolu Agency
Indonesia: Tsunami death toll tops 800 amid search for survivors
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/09/indonesia-rescuers-search-survivors-quake-tsunami-180930052755793.html
The death toll from an earthquake that prompted a tsunami on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi has risen to 832, the national disaster mitigation agency has said, adding it assessed the affected area to be bigger than initially thought.Many people were reported trapped in the rubble of buildings brought down in the magnitude 7.5 earthquake which struck on Friday and triggered tsunami waves as high as six metres (20 feet), agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho told a news conference. Amid the levelled trees, overturned cars, concertinaed homes and flotsam tossed up to 50 metres inland, survivors and rescuers struggled to come to grips with the scale of the disaster.aljazeera
FLASH VIEWS & NEWS
Babri Was Demolished By Hindus Like Us & We Are Consumers of Hate:REVATI LAULUP
https://www.thequint.com/voices/opinion/babri-masjid-demolished-by-hindus-like-us
Muhammad Ismail, Indian Muslim League pioneer who wanted Hindustani as official language:Rupanwita Bhattacharjee
https://theprint.in/forgotten-founders/muhammad-ismail-indian-muslim-league-pioneer-who-wanted-hindustani-as-official-language/122525/
Apple executive shot dead: Question remains, What provoked cop to open fire?
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/apple-executive-shot-dead-question-remains-what-provoked-cop-to-open-fire-5379821/
‘An Innocent Vivek Tiwari Is Killed By Khaki When Encounter Killings Of Muslims Are Not Questioned’:caravandaily
http://caravandaily.com/portal/an-innocent-vivek-tiwari-is-killed-by-khaki-when-encounter-killings-of-muslims-are-not-questioned/
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:45 PM)
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