NEWS DIGEST, MID-DAY
20 OCT. 2018: 10 Safar 1440: Vol: 11, No:36
INDIA
61 killed as train runs over revellers in Amritsar during Dussehra event: Union Minister says no action against driver, railways not at fault
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/many-dead-as-train-runs-over-people-celebrating-dussehra-near-amritsar/article25269812.ece?homepage=true
61 people were run over by a train on Friday evening when a crowd of Dussehra revellers spilled onto the railway tracks while watching the burning of a Ravana effigy near Joda Phatak in Amritsar. The injured were admitted to different hospitals in the city.As the effigy was lit and fireworks went off, a section of the crowd started retreating towards the tracks where a large number of people were already standing to watch the event, officials said.Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha ruled out any punitive action against the driver of the train that mowed down Dussehra revellers in Amritsar, saying there was no negligence on the part of the national transporter and also advised people not to organise such events near tracks.The railways has maintained that it was not at fault because it had no intimation about the Dussehra event.“The incident was not a railways’ fault. There was no lapse on our part and no action against the driver will be initiated. People should refrain from organising such events near tracks in future. I think if precaution had been taken, the accident could have been averted,” he said, adding wherever such events are held, district administration concerned gives permission.The man who played the character of Ravana at Ram Leela at Joda Phatak is among those killed in the accident.After he enacted the role of Ravana, Dalbir Singh, in his twenties, was watching the burning of an effigy from the tracks when he, along with 58 others, was run over by the train.Most people who were mowed down by the speeding train were migrant workers from UP and Bihar, an official says.A senior official in the district administration says migrant workers work in an industrial area at a stone’s throw away from the accident site and live nearby.The official, however, does not give exact the breakdown of numbers as 20 bodies are yet to be identified.The railways have cancelled 37 trains and diverted 16 on Saturday, a day after the accident, say officials.Punjab CM Amarinder Singh tells reporters that he had ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident after visiting the injured and kin of those killed in the tragedy, reports PTI. CM, who postponed a trip to Israel and arrived in Amritsar in the morning, says 4 weeks have been given to submit a report to find out who was at fault. Divisional Commissioner of Jalandhar has been entrusted with the job of holding the inquiry.People stage a sit-in on the railway tracks in Amritsar, demanding action against the erring officials and train driver and seeking adequate compensation for the victims.One of the protesters alleges that the train passed through the area at high speed and that the driver did not slow down the train despite the presence of a large crowd. According to villagers, the burning of Ravana effigy has been taking place at the same venue for over 20 years. But, what has been a source of joy and excitement to the young and the old for over 2decades turned out to be a nightmare on Friday. thehindu
No action against driver of Amritsar train that killed 60 at Dussehra event: Union Minister
https://theprint.in/governance/no-action-against-driver-of-amritsar-train-that-killed-59-at-dussehra-event-minister/137757/
Malegaon blast case: Lt Col. Purohit to face trial under UAPA
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/2008-malegaon-blast-case-accused-to-face-trial-under-uapa-5410385/
Mumbai:The accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, including Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit and Pragya Singh, will face trial under the UAPA. A special court Saturday rejected their pleas on the applicability of the anti-terror law against them.Last month, the court had begun hearing arguments by the accused on the validity of the sanction under the Act to prosecute them. The accused had claimed that the Bombay High Court had directed that ‘reasonable opportunity’ should be given to them before charges are framed. In December last year, a special court had said that while sections under MCOCA should be dropped, the accused will face charges under UAPA and other sections of the IPC including murder and criminal conspiracy.During the last month, the court heard arguments from the accused — Pragya Singh Thakur, Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay, Sameer Kulkarni, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi and Sudhakar Chaturvedi — who objected to the validity of the sanction.NIA, through special public prosecutor Avinash Rasal, had submitted that the sanction was valid and that charges under the anti-terror law applied in the case. After the order was passed Saturday, the accused sought a stay on it to appeal to the Bombay HC. While the court has not granted a stay, the accused have been given time till Oct.26 to appeal against the order.indianexpress
Malegaon Blast: NIA Court Refuses To Drop UAPA Charges Against Col. Shrikant Purohit ...
https://www.livelaw.in/malegaon-blast-nia-court-refuses-to-drop-uapa-charges-against-col-shrikant-purohit/
"Attack On Press Freedom":Global Journalism Watchdog On Reliance Suing NDTV for Rafael deal coverage
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/attack-on-press-freedom-journalism-watchdog-on-reliance-suing-ndtv-1934832
New Delhi:Committee to Protect Journalists, a global journalism watchdog, has called Anil Ambani's Reliance Group suing NDTV for its reportage on the Rafale fighter jet deal a severe attack on press freedom and called for the conglomerate to "end its use of excessive civil defamation cases filed against critical news outlets"."The ridiculously massive civil defamation claim Reliance Group has made against NDTV amounts to a severe attack on press freedom in India,"said Steven Butler, Committee to Protect Journalists' Asia program coordinator, in Washington, D.C.He added that "India's judiciary must ensure that powerful business groups cannot abuse the country's legal system to silence critics."The Committee reported that a Reliance Group spokesperson declined to respond to their request for a comment. NDTV has been sued for Rs. 10,000 crores by the Reliance Group in a court in Ahmedabad and the hearing has been listed for Oct.26. The lawsuit is filed against NDTV's weekly show, Truth vs Hype, which aired on Sept.29.Top executives of Reliance ignored repeated requests to appear on the show or comment on what is being widely discussed not just in India but in France as well - whether Anil Ambani's Reliance was transparently chosen as the partner for Dassault in a deal that saw India buying 36 fighter jets. NDTV will argue in court that the charges of defamation are nothing more than a heavy-handed attempt by Anil Ambani's group to suppress the facts and prevent the media from doing its job - asking questions about a defence deal and seeking answers that are very much in public interest. NDTV has said "As the Rafale deal has become a larger news story in India, the Reliance group has been on a notice-serving spree; to sue a news company for 10,000 crores in a court in Gujarat on false and frivolous charges, ignoring facts that are widely reported everywhere and not just by NDTV, can only be interpreted as an unsophisticated warning to the media to stop doing its job."NDTV
NDTV says Reliance Infrastructure files Rs 10,000 crore defamation suit on Rafael deal coverage
https://www.financialexpress.com/industry/ndtv-says-reliance-infrastructure-files-rs-10k-cr-defamation-suit-on-rafael-deal-coverage/1354675/
Reliance Group sues India's NDTV for US$1 billion over its reporting on Rafale jet deal
https://cpj.org/2018/10/reliance-group-sues-indias-ndtv-for-us1-billion-ov.php
Law unlikely, BJP to wait for SC verdict on Ram Mandir
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/no-unlikely-bjp-to-wait-for-sc-verdict-on-ram-mandir/articleshow/66289486.cms
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s suggestion that the Modi Govt should bring a law to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya has been endorsed by BJP workers, but a few senior leaders indicated that the party would wait for the Supreme Court judgment while ‘keeping the pot boiling’. VHP, RSS and a section within the BJP have been demanding an early settlement of the Ram temple issue. Bhagwat’s Thursday remark is one more attempt in the series. A party leader said it was more of an effort to “test the waters” as the election season approaches, with chances of a Supreme Court verdict on the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit quite unlikely before 2019 Lok Sabha elections.While BJP MP Subramanian Swamy’s petition in the apex court for a daily hearing in the case has been rejected, he has maintained that political parties and activists opposed to building of a Ram temple were indulging in ‘delaying tactics’, even as counsel for the wakf, Kapil Sibal, had demanded that the hearing be postponed till the Lok Sabha polls.For the record, the minister of state for parliamentary affairs Vijay Goel when asked about Bhagwat’s statement said “he has given expression to feelings of crores of Indians on the issue. Building a Ram temple is also mentioned in the BJP election manifesto.” However, he was evasive when asked if the Govt was mulling an ordinance or preparing a bill for building a Ram temple at Ayodhya. “What he (Bhagwat) has said is legally correct.”Senior BJP leaders said on condition of anonymity that there are no plans, as of now, to bring any legislation on the issue and the party would wait for the SC verdict. Swamy has maintained that the verdict will be ‘in favour of Hindus’ as there is ‘ample evidence that a temple existed’ at the place where the Babri Masjid was built. “Whenever RSS chief says something, it has an impact. But what lies in the womb of the future and how this movement will progress one cannot predict,”BJP office-bearer said.The demand for an early resolution of the case is likely to be made at frequent intervals by BJP, RSS and VHP leaders in the coming weeks. While BJP maintains it is not an election issue for the party, the fact that it is mentioned in election manifestoes and is fanned when polls are round the corner leaves little doubt that it is not merely a matter of faith for the party. Economictimes
Prepare for a Ram temple:Adityanath
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/prepare-for-a-ram-temple-says-adityanath/article25267281.ece
Lucknow:Stirring Ram Mandir pot once again, UP CM Yogi Adityanath on Friday exhorted his supporters to start preparing for the construction of a temple in Ayodhya with the same zeal with which they celebrated Ram Leela.Delivering his annual Vijayadashami speech in Gorakhpur, Adityanath said: "Along with the grandeur of the Ram Leelas, we should all also start preparing to build a grand temple in the same way in which grand Ram Leelas have been organised in the form of the temple,” Adityanath said. He, however, did not explain or clarify his remark, which was delivered in a winding sentence in Hindi.“I would appeal to all of you that along with the Leelas (enactment of the life) of Bhagwan Shri Ram, we must also incorporate his values into our lives and propagate it in the society,” he said. thehindu
Bhagwat's demand for law to construct Ram temple politically motivated: Oppn; Muslim leaders
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/bhagwat-s-demand-for-law-to-construct-ram-temple-politically-motivated-oppn-118101800624_1.html
Lucknow:Opposition parties and Muslim leaders said RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's demand for a law to enable construction of Ram temple was "politically motivated" as it comes ahead of assembly polls in some states."The statement on Ram temple given by RSS chief is a political statement before upcoming polls," Samajwadi Party spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary told PTI here. "RSS has not desisted from using the names of gods for political means and this statement proves their intentions in this regard once again," Chaudhary added. Congress spokesman Anshu Awasthi said it was now an open secret that whenever RSS and BJP speak about Lord Ram it should be understood that elections are round the corner."In the over 4 years of their Govt they failed on all fronts, even the promise of bringing Ram Rajya was not fulfilled," Awasthi said."Now they are out to raise the name of Ram shamelessly at election time to serve their political interests,"Awasthi added. Backing opposition parties, Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangimahli said even a child in the country knows that the Ram temple issue is raised by RSS-BJP everytime before elections.Convenor of Babri Masjid Action Committee Zafaryab Jilani said Bhagwat had issued similar statements in the past as well wherein he exhorted people to ensure that temple is constructed before 2019.Bhagwat is trying to influence the court but I am sure he will not succeed, Jilani who is also a senior lawyer said.The judges will not be influenced and will act as per the SC's procedures and law of the land, he added. He further said that an ordinance cannot be issued for annulment of any order of the SC or the High Court as it is unconstitutional and against the settled law laid down by the SC.As of now the SC has ordered status quo on the issue,he said.PTI
‘Ayodhya matter must be settled by court’: Nitish’s JD(U) differs on Bhagwat’s stand
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ayodhya-matter-must-be-settled-by-court-nitish-kumars-jdu-differs-on-bhagwats-stand-5408540/
Reacting to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s advocacy of a law to facilitate construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya, ruling JD(U)in Bihar said it stood by its original stand that the issue must be settled through a consensus between the affected communities or a court order. Party, headed by CM Nitish Kumar which shares power with BJP, also pointed out that NDA had been formed with an understanding among all allies that the three contentious issues of Ayodhya, Article 370 relating to J&K and uniform civil code will be kept on the backburner.JD(U) sticks to its original stand that the matter should be settled by the court or through mutual consent.JD(U) spokesman Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said.PTI
Those who fought for equality of Muslim women now silent on the rights of Hindu women: Yechury
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/those-who-fought-for-equality-of-muslim-women-now-silent-on-the-rights-of-hindu-women-sitaram-yechury/articleshow/66286902.cms
New Delhi:CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury drew parallels between the demolition of the Babri Masjid and the Sabarimala shrine, alleging that similar looking “saffron-clad men” who had brought down the mosque in Ayodhya in 1992 were now unleashing terror in Kerala to consolidate the Hindutva vote and to gain politically and electorally. Yechury said the LDF Govt in Kerala was doing everything in its power to implement the Supreme Court order linfting the ban on women’s entery into Sabarimala, but that BJP-RSS combine was deliberately fuelling communal passions.Yechury said, “The pattern is very similar. At the time of the Babri masjid demolition, volunteers wore saffron bands. Now, people clad in a similar dress are spread out in Sabarimala. It is an organised thing that RSS is doing.” CPM chief also sought to corner BJP leadership for its silence over “Hindu women” being denied their rights -- endorsed by the SC-- to enter into the embattled Sabarimala shrine. “BJP, in the name of equality for Muslim women, brought in the Triple Talaq law through an ordinance without even waiting for Parliament to discuss it properly. Now it is silent when the rights of Hindu women are in question,” Yechury said.Fielding questions over its poor handling of the violent protests at Sabarimala, LDF Govt maintained on Friday that it would not file a review petition against the SC order because it had already accepted the verdict.However,causing some embarrassment to Govt, Devaswom Board announced it would move the SC against its verdit. Backing the state Govt’s position, Yechury said,“There are already 6 review petitions before the SC. Whatever the SC reviews is going to be the same. What is the point of state Govt moving another one. Wait for them. The bigger question is that BJP should either implement, or stick to its position of giving equality to women like they claimed to have done in the case of Triple Talaq.”TOI
Yechury likens Sabarimala protests to Babri demolition
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/yechury-likens-sabarimala-protests-to-babri-demolition/articleshow/66284323.cms
Murmurs on ground suggest Sabarimala will polarise Kerala’s Hindu voters like never before
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/murmurs-on-ground-suggest-sabarimala-will-polarise-keralas-hindu-voters-like-never-before/
Erumely:On a late night bus ride from Pamba to Nilackal – 2 important base camps of the Sabarimala hill shrine in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district – a young man in his twenties vented his frustrations to a friend about young women attempting to enter the temple after the Supreme Court verdict.“What’s wrong with all these women? No true devotee of Ayyappan will make attempts like these to climb the hill. These are feminists who want to prove a point. There’s a Trupti Desai in Maharashtra who has also vowed to come. I’m sure she won’t be allowed to set foot in Kerala,”he gloated. His friend just nodded.And then, the conversation slowly and unsurprisingly veered towards politics. The young man continued, “All this is the handiwork of Pinarayi. It seems he’s hell-bent upon following the directions of the Supreme Court. He thinks by having the administration, police and Devaswom Board under his control, he can do anything. Under a Congress or BJP administration, this would never have taken place.”Around 70 kilometres away in Erumely, Manju, who was initially wary of revealing her name and runs a shop that sells fruits and vegetables in the centre of the town, was unequivocal in her disapproval of the Govt ’s position on the issue.indianexpress
Sabarimala: BJP-RSS playing dirty politics, why is PM Modi silent on the issue, asks Trupti Desai
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/sabarimala-bjp-rss-playing-dirty-politics-why-is-pm-modi-silent-on-the-issue-asks-trupti-desai
“BJP and its parental organisation RSS are playing dirty politics over Saabrimala issue. The stoic silence maintained by otherwise our very vocal PM , Narendra Modi is more disheartening. I want to ask why he has kept mum on the issue while people supporting his ideology heckled women journalists,” said Trupti Desai, leader of the Bhumata Brigade who was detained by the Pune police ahead of PM Modi’s visit to Shirdi on Friday. Desai said that Pune police, at the behest of the Fadnavis Govt kept her under “illegal detention” for more than eight hours.“They released me after PM Modi left Shirdi. Why is BJP Govt in Maharashtra so scared of women’s voice?” asked Desai.nationalheraldindia
Nobel laureate Satyarthi face criticisms for attending RSS event
http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/nobel-laureate-kailash-satyarthi-faces-condemnation-for-attending-rss-event-activists-equate-him-with-disgraced-aung-san-suu-kyi/213930/
Nobel Peace Prize winner activist Kailash Satyarthi on Thursday shared the state with RSS bigwigs at Hindutva organisation’s annual Vijaydashmi event. Speaking at the event, Satyarthi said that RSS shakhas, local units, could act as firewall to protect children. However, Satyarthi accepting the invitation to speak the RSS event evoked angry reactions from activists, who accused him of dishonouring his Nobel prize by sharing the stage with proponents of ‘majoritarian fascist’ ideology. Leading the protest was activist Kavita Krishnan, who posted a series of tweets expressing her disgust over Satyarthi’s ill-fated decision. She wrote, “World needs to know that Nobel Laureate @k_satyarthi spoke at a platform the Indian Hindu majoritarian fascist organization RSS and asked the RSS to act as a ‘firewall to protect this generation of children’.“RSS wants to turn inclusive India into a Hindu Nation. RSS founders openly admired Hitler & Mussolini and modelled their organisation on these European fascists. RSS has organised anti Muslim pogroms on many occasions. Yet @k_satyarthi asks them to ‘protect’ children!”Academic and columnist Ashok Swain felt that Satyarthi was determined to follow the footsteps of Burma’s disgraced Aung San Suu Kyi, who has played an instrumental role in facilitating the ethnic cleansing of thousands of Rohongya Muslims. Swain wrote, “Kailash Satyarthi is following the path of fellow noble laureate Suu Kyi–By joining fascist gang.”Journalisr Ruchira Gupta wrote, “Ironically a Nobel Peace winner attends RSS annual function on worship of Arms.”jantakareporter
'Why girls with Muslim names were married to Hindus?'Muslim leaders
https://m.timesofindia.com/city/lucknow/why-girls-with-muslim-names-were-married-to-hindus/amp_articleshow/66279517.cms
Lucknow: Muslim leaders have demanded a judicial probe into the wedding of four orphan Muslim girls with Hindu boys as per Hindu rituals in the mass marriage organised by the district administration at Mahanagar Kalyan Mandap on Wednesday under UP Govt 's mass marriage scheme.The couples were married on Tuesday in court under Special Marriage Act and on Wednesday were made to take seven rounds of the sacred fire and exchanged garlands in a mandap while priests recited mantras. Along with them, 27 Hindu couples also got married.The girls had been admitted to Govt shelter home at Motinagar when they were 6-10 years of age. Chief development officer (CDO) Manish Bansal had said on Wednesday that the girls have Muslim names but they did not follow any faith during their stay at the shelter home and will follow their husband's religion after their marriage.However, Imam Eidgah Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali said that a judicial probe should be conducted to find out whether or not consent of Muslim girls was taken before marrying them to Hindu boys. "Why did the district administration did not take Muslim clerics into confidence before the weddings. We will explore legal possibilities of dealing with the matter," he added.Shia cleric Maulana Saif Abbas also demanded a judicial probe and said that such actions can affect cordial relations between Hindus and Muslims. If the marriage was conducted under the Special Marriage Act in court, then what was the need of having one as per Hindu rituals, he questioned.TOI
Hadiya’s Husband Shafin Jahan Seeks Apology from Republic TV, Times Now
http://caravandaily.com/portal/hadiyas-husband-shafin-jahan-seeks-apology-from-republic-tv-times-now/
New Delhi:As NIA has found no evidence of coercion in the interfaith marriage of Kerala Muslim man Shafin Jahan with Hadiya, and 10 other interfaith marriages in the state,effectively deflating the propaganda of “Love Jihad”, Shafin has sought apology from some TV channels for running the false propaganda against him and wife Hadiya.Shafin, whose marriage with Hadiya, was upheld by the Supreme Court in March this year by quashing the contrary verdict of the Kerala High Court, has asked Republic TV and Times Now and TV anchor Arnab Goswami to apologize “for running false propaganda against us.” “Will @republic issue apology for running false propaganda against us..? #Hadiya #hadiyacase #HadiyaWins,”tweeted Shafin on Thursday. “The nation wants to know that will Arnab Goswami apologise to us?@republic @TimesNow #Hadiya #hadiyacase #HadiyaWins,” he asked hours after NIA officials ended the “Love Jihad” cases.Caravan Daily
Delhi Minorities Commission team in Palwal to probe 'terror funding' of local mosque
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/delhi-minorities-commission-team-in-palwal-to-probe-foreign-funding-of-local-mosque/article25272526.ece?homepage=true
Chandigarh: A 3-member fact-finding team of Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC) on Saturday reached Palwal in neighbouring Haryana to probe the alleged funding of a local mosque by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).The team will also meet the family members of the persons arrested by NIA in connection with foreign funding of the mosque, DMC chairman Zafarul Islam Khan said.“The fact-finding team is in Palwal to probe the allegations about the alleged foreign funding of the mosque being constructed in a village in Palwal, Haryana,” he said.It will also meet, in Hazrat Nizamuddin area, the family members of the persons arrested in this connection, he added.The team comprises human rights activist Ovais Sultan Khan, a member of DMC’s advisory committee Sardar Gurmindar Singh Matharu and a member of Sikh Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee, Amritsar, Abu Bakr Sabbaq.In July this year, NIA filed a case to probe the terror funding module linked to Hafeez Saeed’s Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) — a front-end organisation of LeT.So far, three persons have been arrested in this case including Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Salim, both residents of Delhi, and Sajjad Ahmad Wani, who is a native of Srinagar.PTI
J&K municipal polls: Congress wins Anantnag, sweeps Leh, BJP makes its mark in Valley
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/j-k-municipal-polls-congress-wins-anantnag-sweeps-leh-bjp-makes-its-mark-in-valley/story-spGcmH2CI4hP1QLkEab4FO.html
Srinagar:Congress won 2 prominent Municipal Councils of Kashmir, while BJP for the first time managed to win few committees in the four-phase elections to local bodies as counting began early Saturday morning amid tight security at various centres. The elections saw abysmal voter turnout with just four % of them casting their votes in Kashmir while Ladakh and Jammu regions saw good participation.In Baramulla Municipal Council, Congress won 12, while BJP came second with five seats.In South Kashmir’s Anantnag Municipal Council, Congress bagged 20 out of 23 wards while the BJP won in three wards.In Uri while Congress won 6 wards, while independents managed to secure 7 wards in the 13-member committee. In Watergam BJP won eight seats unopposed and one seat was bagged by an independent candidate.In Leh Municipality, Congress swept all 13 seats. The party won 5 wards in Kargil while independents were declared elected to six wards. BJP drew a blank in Leh and Kargil.In Srinagar Municipal Corporation so far Congress has won 2 seats and BJP won a single seat as counting is going on 74 seats.BJP won opposed in 12 wards in Shopian while 5 wards in the district did not have any nominations. In Devsar municipal committee, the party won all the eight seats.BJP got a simple majority in Qazigund Municipal Committee, winning four of 7 wards.HT
JK civic poll: It’s BJP against independents in valley
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jk-civic-polls-its-bjp-against-independents-in-the-valley-5410581/
J&K Polls LIVE: Congress Wins All 13 Wards In Leh
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/jammu-and-kashmir-municipal-election-result-live-updates-counting-underway-amid-heavy-security-1934747
J&K : 5 militants killed in 24 hours in Valley
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jammu-kashmir-5-militants-killed-in-24-hours-in-valley-5409952/
Srinagar:5 militants have been killed and 10 security personnel injured in three separate incidents, including an encounter, in the Valley in the past 24 hours. In another incident on Friday evening, police said militants lobbed 2 grenades towards an army camp at Shadimarg area in Pulwama, leading to a gunfight. A local woman identified as Firdousa was killed in “cross firing”, said police. Army officers said they foiled an infiltration bid along the LoC by killing three militants in north Kashmir’s Uri area. They said soldiers guarding LoC intercepted a group of militants in Boniyar forest at Uri on Thursday morning and the militants were killed in the ensuing gunfight.A senior Army officer in Srinagar said that the operation continued till Thursday evening. “In the search operation after the gunfight, we recovered three bodies,” the officer said. Operation in progress,” Srinagar based XV (Chinar) Corps said on Twitter. The militants have not been identified so far, said the officers.In another incident, J&K police officers said two militants were killed in a brief shootout with police and CRPF personnel at Kralhar area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Friday afternoon.indianexpress
Srinagar encounter: Family says son ‘beaten to pulp’, taken to unknown location before killing
http://twocircles.net/2018oct19/426560.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Shakeela Hanga, 52 is wailing inside a marriage hall. She is surrounded by womenfolk who have come to console her. Shakeela’s world has turned upside down after she lost her son and her house while her husband is battling for life in a hospital.“Please convey to the Indian media that my son wasn’t a militant, he was innocent,” she pleads in agony.Her son, Rayees Habibullah, was killed during an encounter with the Govt forces in the Fateh Kadel area of Srinagar. His family allege that he was “beaten to a pulp” and then taken to some unknown location before being killed and strongly refute claims that he was an ‘accomplice’ of the slain militants.On Wednesday midnight, SOG of J&K police along with the CRPF barged inside the family’s house.“I was sleeping with my daughter when forces broke our door. We got very much frightened after they started abusing and kicking us while looking for militants,” says Shakeela.4-storey house of Habibullah Hanga, the father of Rayees Ahmad, has a bakery shop on the ground floor which was run by Rayees. The encounter destroyed the entire building along with killing his son and two militants.“We haven’t received post-mortem report because we were told that we will get the death certificate from the Municipal Committee Srinagar,” said his mother.“When I saw his dead body, it was bruised. He probably was shot in his head,” said a neighbour who wished not to be named. He added that the forces laid a cordon around 12 am and the firing started around 6 am.“My house is close to Hanga’s home. I saw a militant coming out of the window and firing many rounds towards security forces,” he says.Raees is survived by his wife, Nargis, and 15-month-old son, Mohammad.TCN
Bareilly: family awaits fair investigation, justice in Dubai expat Shahrukh’s lynching
http://caravandaily.com/portal/bareilly-family-awaits-fair-investigation-justice-in-dubai-expats-lynching/
Bareilly:“Some residents of that village have stated that Shahrukh had told other villagers that though he accompanied some of the people to the village he was not part of the group. But the paranoid villagers would have none of it. He kept pleading for his life and beseeched them to have pity on him but they killed him. Those who took him with them should be interrogated. Police is taking us for a ride. We must get justice. Those (killers) should realize the trauma of a mother,” said a weeping Nazreen Khan, mother of Shahrukh Khan who was lynched by a mob of Hindu villagers on suspicion of stealing cattle in UP ’s Bareilly district in August, earlier this year.It has been over one and a half month since 21-year-old Shahrukh, an embroidery worker and native of Thiriya Nijabat Khan Village, sustained severe internal injuries, when he was brutally lynched by a mob in Bholapur-Hindoliya village of Bareilly during the wee hours of Aug.29. Since then his parents are in a state of trauma as their son was not just killed but was also falsely implicated in a cattle stealing case. The family now says that it is losing faith in police probe.40-year-old Nazreen asked, “Shahrukh was capable of earning money then why would he steal cattle? Who gave them (villagers) the right to kill anyone? Now, we don’t have anybody to come to our help except God. We have lost our hard working son. He was a dutiful son and understood the problems of his parents and tried his best to bear the expenses of the family. I know how simple and honest my son was. But now not only has he been killed, he has also been accused of theft.” Shahrukh’s father,Nathu Khan, has 6 children (2 sons and 4 daughters of which one son and two daughters are married). He runs a cloth kiosk and other members do embroidery work to eke out a living.Caravan Daily
Tribals to oppose 'Statue of Unity' unveiling by Modi
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/tribals-to-oppose-statue-of-unity-unveiling-by-prime-minister-modi/articleshow/66290610.cms
The tribals are complaining that their lands were taken away for the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Project as well as for the statue.As BJP Govt , both at the state and the Centre, gears up for the unveiling of the tallest statue in the world -- "Statue of Unity" of Sardar Patel -- by PM Narendra Modi on Oct.31, thousands of tribals in villages near the site are bracing for a major showdown against the project.Local tribal organisations said as many as 75,000 tribals adversely affected by the Statue of Unity project would oppose the PM and the unveiling of statue at Kevadia in Narmada district."No food will be cooked in 72 villages affected by the entire project, as we will be mourning on that day, for the project is being carried out for our destruction,"said Dr. Praful Vasava, tribal leader. Traditionally, food is not cooked in a tribal village when they are mourning for the dead.He said: "Our rights as tribals are being violated by Govt.We don't have anything against the great son of Gujarat, Sardar Patel, and his honour should be maintained.We are not against this development even, but this Govt's development idea is lopsided and against the tribals." The tribals are complaining that their lands were taken away for Sardar Sarovar Narmada Project, near which is the statue site, as well as for the statue and all other tourism activities which have been planned in the area.IANS
Vastanvi removed from Waqf Board membership
https://www.siasat.com/news/maulana-ghulam-mohamad-vastanvi-removed-waqf-board-membership-1421969/
Aurangabad: Maulana Ghulam Mohamad Vastanvi has been removed from Board membership over alleged irregularities committed in transfer and lease of Waqf properties. He has been banned from contesting in the next election of the Board.In an order issued on Oct. 16, signed by Pradhan Secretary Shyam Tagde, it was stated that Maulana has been found guilty in Badshahi Mulla Masjid Trust lease case. Action against Maulana is based on a complaint lodged by Shabbir Ansari, president of All India Muslim OBC Organisation Trust, to the principal secretary of MDD on Nov.29, 2017.Later Minority Welfare Department issued orders in which the allegations were found to be true.On Sept. 21 Maulana Vastanvi will give a reply to the accusations made against him. Maulana has refuted the allegations and called it a conspiracy to frame him in false cases. siasat
Former MP contestant, many others find names missing from voter list in Telangana
http://twocircles.net/2018oct19/426542.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Twocirclesnet-IndianMuslim+%28TwoCircles.net+-+Indian+Muslim+News%29
Hyderabad: Dr Lubna Sarwath, who contested from Malakpet constituency on behalf of the Aam Aadmi Party in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, one day randomly checked for her name in the voter’s list and was shocked to find that her name was missing.As a result, she sent a series of emails to CEO of the district, GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) Commissioner, Complaint Forum, Election Commission along with informing different NGOs and people in the media.When the news of her name missing from the electoral list emerged, other eligible voters began looking up the official website of the Telangana Govt to search for their names. And almost in all the constituencies/Wards, there were many names missing from voter list.Before approaching Election officer personally, Dr Lubna called up the grievances cell, only to find that the numbers listed on the site were ‘unavailable’.Authorities had no explanations when Dr Lubna asked on what basis her voter identity was deleted when she neither changed her residential address nor moved from Hyderabad. Instead, she was informed that GHMC Election Commissioner and ERO are right agencies where she can get a satisfactory answer.TCN
Faizabad to be Sri Ayodhya? VHP asks Adityanath to rename another UP city
https://www.newsx.com/national/faizabad-to-be-sri-ayodhya-vhp-demands-renaming-of-another-uttar-pradesh-city
Yogi Adityanath Govt may move a proposal to rename Faizabad as Sri Ayodhya, reports said. Hindu outfits including VHP have raised the demand for renaming Faizabad. Hailing Govt’s decision to adopt a proposal to rename Allahabad as Prayagraj,VHP leader Sharad Sharma demanded that name of Faizabad be changed to Sri Ayodhya. The saints of Ayodhya have decided to meet CM when he visits Ayodhya for Diwali celebrations on the banks of river Saryu.newsx
Hyderabad: Man accused of promoting enmity between two groups held
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/man-accused-of-promoting-enmity-between-two-groups-held/article25265656.ece
Hyderabad:South Zone Police arrested Syed Abbas Ali Razvi after a widely-shared video clip showed him using objectionable language against religious personalities, who are revered by a sect of Muslim community.It was on Wednesday that Moghalpura police booked Razvi, who was then absconding, for allegedly promoting enmity between two sects. The video clip caused a flutter with several persons condemning its content.On Friday, the police convened a meeting with faith leaders of both sects to prevent the issue from snowballing into a sectarian conflict.While South Zone Deputy Commissioner of Police Ambar Kishore Jha convened a meeting with Maulana Taqi Raza Abedi, Maulana Waheeduddin Hyder and Syed Jafar, among others, Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar chaired a meeting with Maulana Husamuddin Sani,Maulana Mohammed Raheemuddin Ansari and others. thehindu
WORLD
Saudi admits Jamal Khashoggi killed in Istanbul consulate
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/saudi-arabia-confirms-khashoggi-killed-istanbul-consulate-181019221512552.html
Saudi Arabia admitted journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside its consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul, saying he died in brawl but made no mention of where his body is. Preliminary results of investigations showed the dissident writer died after a fight broke out inside the building shortly after he entered, the official SPA press agency said on Saturday. Saudi Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb said Khashoggi died after "discussions" at the consulate devolved into an altercation."Discussions that took place between him and the persons who met him…at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul led to a brawl and a fist fight with the citizen, Jamal Khashoggi, which led to his death, may his soul rest in peace," the attorney general said in a statement."The investigations are still under way and 18 Saudi nationals have been arrested."Royal court adviser Saud al-Qahtani and deputy intelligence chief Ahmed al-Asiri were fired from their positions,the statement said.It remains unclear where Khashoggi's body is following his killing.Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post who wrote critically of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's (MBS) rise to power, went missing on Oct.2 after entering the consulate in Istanbul.US President Donald Trump said he found Saudi's explanation about Khashoggi's credible.He said he does not want to cancel a multibillion-dollar arms deal with the Saudis in response to the admission of guilt."I would prefer, if there is going to be some form of sanction or what we may determine to do, if anything...that we don't use as retribution cancelling $110bn worth of work, which means 600,000 jobs," he said.Republican Senator Rand Paul tweeted:"We should also halt all military sales, aid and cooperation immediately.There must be a severe price for these actions by Saudi."Karen Greenberg, director of the Center on National Security, said she was "surprised" by the Saudis' story about Khashoggi's death."They knew they had to come up with a story, and this is what they think is the best story for their purposes. It's at the very least insufficient, but it's also insulting. It's 'here's our story and we're sticking to it'."Greenberg said Saudi King Salman could have reprimanded and removed his son from power for the killing. "This is a brutal, horrifying, pointed assassination of a journalist who had strong ties to the West and was a resident of the US. Each one of those is a line that you wouldn't have expected the king to allow to be crossed," Greenberg told Al Jazeera.Over the past 2 weeks, Turkish intelligence had also disclosed a steady stream of leaks to the media, saying it had audio recordings that proved Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate building.On Wednesday, Turkish pro-Govt paper Yeni Safak, citing what it described as an audio recording of the journalist's killing, said 15-member squad immediately accosted Khashoggi after he entered the consulate, cutting off his fingers and later decapitating him. Aaron David Miller, Middle East analyst at the Wilson Center in Washington, told Al Jazeera the Saudi announcement was an effort to protect the powerful crown prince. "Part of this is unprecedented. For an intel operation, for renditions and kidnappings, which they have done all the time, they have never disclosed or assumed any responsibility. And they've done it in response to pressure," said Miller."They are creating this cover story that his death occurred during a fist fight. It's another step in a big kabuki theatre." Meanwhile, SPA reported that Saudi King Salman had ordered the restructuring of the command of the general intelligence agency under the supervision of MBS.aljazeera
Saudi admits to death of journalist Khashoggi
https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/saudi-arabia-admits-to-death-of-journalist-jamal-khashoggi-20904
World reacts to Saudi confirmation of Khashoggi's killing
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/world-reacts-saudi-confirmation-jamal-khashoggi-killing-181020001510254.html
Saudi prince: ‘King ordered Khashoggi’s death and Mohammed bin Salman carried it out’
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181019-saudi-prince-the-king-ordered-khashoggis-death-and-mohammed-bin-salman-carried-it-out/
Dissident Saudi Prince Khalid bin Farhan Al-Saud has demanded King Salman bin Abdulaziz to abdicate the throne in favour of his brother Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz after the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Prince Khalid bin Farhan, who lives currently in Germany, said:“King Salman’s royal line should not be imposed as a fourth kingship. Your brothers were kings, and you also became one. It is not Saudi’s absolute fate that one of your grandchildren becomes the ruler, and then the rest of your offspring monopolises the thrown afterwards. Among the Saudi Royalty, there are highly cultivated, and humane princes with a good educational level and they are popular outside and even inside the ruling family.”During an interview with the German DW TV, The Saudi prince also stated: “Your brother Ahmed bin Abdulaziz is highly ethical, and you are aware of this, not only you but the whole royal family and the Saudi people realise it. So, the wise thing to do, if you have any wisdom left, is to abdicate the throne in his favour and save what remained of your dignity.”MEMO
Israeli rights group criticises ‘oppression’ of Palestinians at UN metting
https://indianexpress.com/article/world/israeli-rights-group-criticises-oppression-of-palestinians-5408584/
United Nations:The head of Israel’s leading human rights group strongly criticised PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s Govt during a contentious UN Security Council meeting on Thursday for what he called its “supremacy and oppression” of the Palestinians. Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon responded, accusing Hagai El-Ad, director of B’Tselem, of staging “a circus” in the council and then in Hebrew telling him: “Shame on you! You are a collaborator!”Israeli authorities have just released 10 tonnes of mail intended for Palestinians. The parcels from around the world were blocked from entering the occupied West Bank and Gaza from 2010 to and this year.That drew a rebuke from Britain’s UN Ambassador Karen Pierce who complained that council members could not understand Danon’s remarks in Hebrew, which is not one of UN’s official languages. AP obtained a translation after the council meeting. B’Tselem opposes Israeli settlements in West Bank and has documented abuses committed by Israeli soldiers, sparking accusations of treason by Israeli hardliners. The rights group has also angered Israeli leaders because it accepts funding from foreign donors including European Commission and because it airs its criticism in international venues like UN.AP
New York Gala raises $32m for Israel army
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20181018-new-york-gala-raises-32m-for-israel-army/#.W8iS5HEXKBg.facebook
A New York City gala held by Friends of Israel Defence Forces (FIDF) has raised $32 million for members of Israel’s occupation forces.The event was attended by 1,200 US business people and philanthropists as well as key figures from the Israeli establishment, including Israel’s envoy to UN Danny Danon and Israel’s Consul General in New York Dani Dayan. Army Chief of General Staff, Gadi Eisenkot, was also slated to attend but was called back to Israel amid an escalation of Israeli air strikes on the besieged Gaza Strip yesterday.Among the biggest donors to the gala were Or Lachayal – an organisation which works to “strengthen the Jewish identity of Israeli army”– which pledged $2.5 million and Nefesh B’Nefesh – which promotes Jewish immigration to Israel – which pledged $1.3 million, Arutz Sheva reported.FIDF has a long history of fundraising for Israel’s occupation forces, the proceeds of which it then spends on “educational, cultural, recreational, and social services” for Israeli soldiers. It operates 20 offices across US and Panama, according to its own website.MEMO
Belgian trade union boss says Israel kills Palestinian kids for their organs
https://www.jta.org/2018/10/19/news-opinion/belgian-trade-union-boss-says-israel-kills-palestinian-kids-organs#.W8qI_QG8gdY.facebook
A university lecturer and senior executive of one of Belgium’s main trade unions wrote that Israel poisons Palestinians and kills their children for their organs. Robrecht Vanderbeeken is the cultural secretary of ACOD trade union and a philosophy of science scholar affiliated with the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. His column was published in August on the left-wing news site De Wereld Morgen.The population of Gaza, which has a border with Israel and Egypt, is being “starved to death, poisoned and children are kidnapped and murdered for their organs,” Vanderbeeken wrote.Following the complaint, De Wereld Morgen on Thursday removed the part about stealing organs but kept in place the claim about poisoningand death by starvation.Paper published a 377-word correction titled “update” explaining why it had removed the accusation referring to organ theft. In the correction, news site accuses Israel of “murdering” and “kidnapping” Palestinian children, among other actions the paper defined as war crimes. It also said Israel uses organs belonging to Palestinians its forces killed, but the editors and columnist decided “not to suggest a causality between the kidnapping and murder of children by the Israeli occupation army and the removal of organs for transplants.”Source:Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Israeli forces wound at least 130 Palestinians in Gaza during Friday protest
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/gaza-protest-latest-updates-180406092506561.html
Israeli soldiers have wounded at least 130 Palestinians including 25 children, according to the spokesman for the Palestinian health ministry, Dr Ashraf al-Qedra.The official said protesters had been targeted with live ammunition and that there had not been any Palestinian fatality thus far during Friday's protest. It was the 30th consecutive Friday that Palestinian demonstrators converged on the Gaza-Israel buffer zone to protest Israel's decades-long occupation. aljazeera
Algeria bans wearing of full-face veils at work:Reuters
https://indianexpress.com/article/world/algeria-bans-wearing-of-full-face-veils-at-work-5408492/
Algiers :Algerian authorities have banned women from wearing full-face veils, or niqabs, at work, citing reasons of identification for the decision.The country has been split between moderate and more radical forms of Islam since it was plunged into years of civil war in 1992, when a military-backed Govt cancelled elections that an Islamist party was poised to win.Most Algerian women do not wear the niqab, a custom imported from more traditionally conservative Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, but the decision is likely to be criticized by Algeria’s Salafists minority. indianexpress
Afghan voters head to the polls amid security threats
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/afghan-voters-head-polls-security-threats-181020040339454.html
Polls opened in Afghanistan's long-delayed parliamentary election on Saturday amid security threats from the Taliban armed group who vowed to disrupt the "bogus" vote.Close to 9 million Afghans have registered to take part in the vote, which was first scheduled for 2015.The vote - the third since the fall of the Taliban in 2001 - was postponed because of security fears and reforms to the voter registration process.Security has been a major issue in the run up to voting day. Since late Sept, when campaigning officially started, at least 10 candidates have killed and two others abducted. Afghanistan's interior ministry told Al Jazeera it has deployed more than 70,000 security forces across the country to ensure security of the voters.There was a heavy presence of security forces on the streets of the capital, Kabul, with vehicles being searched and some roads closed. The election has been delayed by a week in southern province of Kandahar following the assassination on Thursday of the province's powerful police chief, General Abdul Raziq, in an attack claimed by the Taliban.Voting will also not take place in Ghazni because of the precarious security situation - the Taliban controls significant parts of the province. There is also an ongoing dispute over how to divide Ghazni's electoral constituencies to have a more balanced ethnic representation. The Taliban has vowed to disrupt what it calls "bogus elections"."People who are trying to help in holding this process successfully by providing security should be targeted and no stone should be left unturned for the prevention and failure [of the elections]," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said last week.aljazeera
IS releases 6 of 27 Druze hostages held in s. Syria: Monitor
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/is-releases-six-of-27-druze-hostages-held-in-southern-syria-monitor-118102000158_1.html
Beirut: Islamic State group has released 6 of 27 Druze hostages it seized during a deadly July attack in Syria's Sweida province in exchange for a prisoner swap and ransom, a monitor said Saturday."2 women and 4 children from the province of Sweida were released last night," Rami Abdel Rahman, director of Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitor group, said.He added that the releases were the "first wave" and part of an agreement sealed with the Syrian Govt to exchange all the hostages for "60 Islamic State prisoners held by the regime and a ransom of USD 27 million."IS abducted around 30 people -- mostly women and children-- from Sweida in late July during the deadliest attack on Syria's Druze community of 7-year civil war.AFP
FLASH VIEWS & NEWS
Supreme Court cannot become the priest between Indians and their Gods:SHEKHAR GUPTA
https://theprint.in/national-interest/sabarimala-verdict-shows-why-supreme-court-should-stay-out-of-religion/137468/
Khashoggi on life under MBS:'Nobody dares to speak':aljazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/khashoggi-life-mbs-dares-speak-181010065141849.html
Jamal Khashoggi is Dead. Long live the Crown Prince:Tallha Abdulrazaq
https://www.trtworld.com/opinion/jamal-khashoggi-is-dead-long-live-the-crown-prince-21003
Media Trial in Ayodhya Case Must be Carefully Watched:Syed Ali Mujtaba, ummid.com
http://www.ummid.com/news/2018/Oct./19.10.2018/media-trial-in-ayodhya-case-must-be-carefully-watched.html
One man’s (very polite) fight against media Islamophobia:theguardian
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/oct/18/miqdaad-versi-very-polite-fight-against-british-media-islamophobia?CMP=share_btn_fb
Mohammed bin Salman: The dark side of Saudi's crown prince:aljazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/10/mohammed-bin-salman-dark-side-saudi-arabia-crown-prince-181015123719153.html
The Saudi regime does not represent Islam:Khaled A Beydoun
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/saudi-regime-represent-islam-181019145130605.html
Kanhaiya Kumar being trapped in different cases before Oct 25 Bihar mega political rally:CJP
https://sabrangindia.in/article/kanhaiya-kumar-being-trapped-different-cases-oct-25-bihar-mega-political-rally
Almost Rs 4,000 Crore Spent, but the Ganga Is More Polluted Under Modi's Watch:Dheeraj Mishra
https://thewire.in/environment/ganga-pollution-narendra-modi-increased
Why Lowest-Ever Turnout in Kashmir Municipal Polls Should Worry Delhi:Mudasir Ahmad
https://thewire.in/politics/kashmir-ulb-elections-2018-turnout
Kerala MLA Abdul Razak dies of heart attack
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kerala-mla-abdul-razak-dies-of-heart-attack-5410210/
UP : Man ‘stoned to death by monkeys’, family wants FIR to be registered against them
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/up-man-stoned-to-death-by-monkeys-family-wants-fir-to-be-registered-against-them-5410463/
Mumbai: 127-Year-Old Islam Gymkhana May Lose Land Over Pending Rent: mid-day
https://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-127-year-old-islam-gymkhana-may-lose-land-over-pending-rent/19905155
‘Global human rights scandal’: 900 million live in overcrowded informal settlements, says UN report
https://scroll.in/latest/898981/global-human-rights-scandal-900-million-live-in-overcrowded-informal-settlements-says-un-report
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 7:06 PM)
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