NEWS DIGEST, EVENING
11 June 2019: 06 sHAWAL 1440:Vol: 11, No:219
INDIA
‘Islamophobia in 37% of hate speech, disinformation on Facebook’
https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/islamophobia-in-37-of-hate-speech-disinformation-on-facebook-5774337/
NewDelhi:An analysis of hate speech and disinformation on the social networking site Facebook India by a South Asian American human rights and technology research organisation shows that the highest proportion of hate speech — 37 per cent — is linked to Islamophobia.This is followed by false news (16 per cent), and content that can be classified as casteist and gender/ sexuality-related hate speech, each accounting for 13 per cent of the hate speech content.The report by the US-based Equality Labs titled ‘Facebook India:Towards The Tipping Point of Violence Caste and Religious Hate Speech’ states that homophobic content is so widely prevalent on Facebook that it had to be tracked as its own category, separate from all other religious minorities. “Homophobic content is foundational to the hate speech echo chamber in Facebook India…(It) is often the most violent, most threatening, and most gruesome,” the report reads. Anti-religious minorities content, other than Islamophobia, accounted for another 9 per cent of the hate speech.The report, which dis-aggregates hate speech content into categories in the Indian context as also analyses Facebook’s response, is set to be released on Wednesday at the RightsCon Summit on human rights in the digital age in Tunis.It looks at more than 1,000 posts in six Indian languages over a period of four months. The sample set is based on Facebook’s own guidelines for tier 1 hate speech which include violent or dehumanising speech that targets a person or people based on Facebook’s defined protected categories (“race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, caste, sex, gender, gender tech identity, and serious disease or disability”).This includes content advocating violence, bullying and use of offensive slurs.The study points to failure of the content moderation process by Facebook, adding that 93 per cent of all hate speech posts reported are still available on the platform. It also faults Facebook’s hiring policies that do not include those with an understanding of issues of caste, religious, gender and queer minorities.A Facebook spokesperson told Indian Express:“We recognize, respect, and seek to protect the rights of minorities and communities that are often marginalized, both in India and around the world. We have clear rules against hate speech, which we define as attacks against people on the basis of their protected characteristics, including caste, nationality, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity. We take this extremely seriously and remove this content as soon as we become aware of it. To do this, we have invested in staff in India, including content reviewers, with local language capabilities and an understanding of the country’s longstanding historical and social tensions. We’ve also made significant progress in proactively detecting hate speech on our services before anyone reports it to us, to help us get to potentially harmful content faster.”A further breakdown of posts within each category shows that of the Islamophobic posts, 6 per cent is anti-Rohingya “with calls to violence similar to content that led to the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar”. The rest were mostly pertaining to ‘love jihad’, glorification of violence by alluding to earlier instances of religious violence against Muslims, and Islamophobic profanities.Less than half of the casteist hate speech on Facebook India, it states, is relating to India’s reservation policy with the rest being caste slurs, anti-Ambedkar messages and anti inter-caste personal relationships content. Similarly, a quarter of the posts containing gender/sexuality hate speech were found to be transphobic or queerphobic in content including calls for sexual violence.Outlining why Facebook needs to strengthen its content moderation policy, the report states, “In a country of 1.3 billion people with over 294 million active accounts, Facebook India’s user base will soon exceed the entire population of US.And, unlike US, Facebook India has an unprecedented growth potential of over 400% because a whole new generation of users has yet to come online. Future of Facebook then is Indian market.”indianexpress
Free journalist jailed for "defaming" Yogi: SC
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/up-journalist-prashant-kanojias-arrest-for-defaming-chief-minister-yogi-adityanath-questioned-by-sup-2051265
New Delhi: Journalist Prashant Kanojia, who was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police for "defaming" Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, must immediately be released, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday. The right to liberty, a fundamental right, is non-negotiable, the court said as it granted bail."It is made clear that this order is not construed as an approval of tweets," the top court said.The Supreme Court was hearing a petition by Kanojia's wife Jagisha Arora, challenging his arrest on Saturday. "Normally we don't entertain these type of petitions. But a person can't spend 11 days in jail," the Supreme Court said.Kanojia is likely to walk out of jail tomorrow after his bail bond will be produced. Five people, including Kanojia, were arrested in two days on charges of posting allegedly objectionable content about the Chief Minister. The arrests over the weekend sparked a huge debate on social media on freedom of expression in the country, with the Editors Guild of India terming the journalists' arrests "high-handed and arbitrary". The editors' body had said it amounted to "authoritarian misuse of laws"."We may disapprove these tweets but we disapprove the denial of liberty," the top court said."I believe in Constitution. I have fought this case. I am happy," a visibly emotional and tired Jagisha Arora told reporters outside the Supreme Court, soon after the hearing. The Uttar Pradesh government opposed any relief to Prashant Kanojia, saying he must approach the High Court. The state government said he was arrested not for his latest tweet on Yogi Adityanath but for his older tweets which were "casteist".Prashant Kanojia, a freelance journalist, was arrested by Uttar Pradesh police in Delhi on Saturday for a tweet that had "objectionable comments" on Yogi Adityanath. The wife had alleged that Prashant Kanojia was taken away from his home by policemen in plain clothes.The same evening, the head of a private news channel and its editor were arrested in Noida.Two more people were arrested in Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, the Chief Minister's stronghold, on Sunday evening.ndtv
Yogi behaving foolishly:Rahul on journalist arrest
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rahul-gandhi-prashant-kanojia-yogi-adityanath-bjp-5774818/
Congress president Rahul Gandhi condemned the arrest of 3 journalists by the Uttar Pradesh police for allegedly “defaming” Yogi Adityanath, and said the Chief Minister was behaving “foolishly”. Gandhi tweeted minutes before the Supreme Court ordered the immediate release of freelance journalist Prashant Kanojia. indianexpress
Malaysia has the right not to extradite Zakir Naik: PM Mahathir
https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/malaysia-has-the-right-not-to-extradite-zakir-naik-pm-mahathir-mohamad-1546165-2019-06-10
New Delhi:Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has said Malaysia has the right not to extradite preacher Dr Zakir Naik if he is not going to be accorded justice. He said the situation was the same with Australia not sending Sirul Azhar Umar, a former bodyguard who was sentenced to death in 2015 for the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu, back to Malaysia."We requested Australia to extradite Sirul and they are afraid we are going to send him to the gallows," he said."Zakir in general feels that he is not going to get a fair trial (in India)," Dr Mahathir said after opening the affordable homes scheme at Lipat Kajang in Jasin here on Monday. India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) had earlier charged Naik with laundering INR193 crore in illicit funds. As per reports, it is trying to get a non-bailable warrant for his arrest from a Mumbai court by June 19.If the warrant is issued would ED will send petition to the INTERPOL for a red notice to member countries including Malaysia, asking them to return him to India under the two countries' extradition treaty.indiatoday
Naik willing to return to India if SC ‘ensures his safety’
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/zakir-naik-says-willing-to-return-to-india-if-supreme-court-ensures-his-safety/story-cvww1kpH5Wx4ZzJ8ULuW9J.html
New Delhi: Zakir Naik has expressed his willingness to return to India if the Supreme Court gave him in writing that he will not be arrested and jailed till he is actually convicted.In a statement, Naik said that while he has trust in the Indian judiciary, he had no faith in the prosecution system.“Despite allegations and complaints, there is not a single verdict against me in any court anywhere in India or the world. The recent history of India is replete with cases of Muslims being arrested and put in jail for eight-20 years before being declared innocent by the court. Knowing this record of the Indian agencies, I would not like to take chance of ruining my life and my unfinished work,” Naik asserted.He was responding to the latest developments in India where the ED - which has charged him with a Rs 193 crore money-laundering case - is planning to get a Mumbai court issue a non-bailable arrest warrant.Against this backdrop, Naik wondered what was the reason behind the desperation of the Indian agencies, that is “shameful and keep shifting focus from terror to money-laundering” to make something stick to him.“I want to hasten up clearing my name from fictitious charges by the Indian agencies, they continue an exercise steeped in injustice and unfairness and are trying to put in jail irrespective of whether I am guilty or not... without trial and without hearing,”Naik alleged.Accusing Indian agencies of “trying to pin something, some charges, any charges” on him, he pointed out that when the terror charges did not work with InterPol, they moved to money-laundering, but the InterPol refused to accept India’s charges against him twice in two years. Despite pressures from India, the InterPol has not issued a RCN, and now the agencies are trying their luck with money-laundering to get them to comply,Naik added.He said the Indian agencies even tried to attach his legally-acquired properties, but on two occasions--in early-2018 and in March 2019-- the Appellate Tribunal stayed their actions as they (Indian agencies) could not prove that properties were acquired illegally.“Any rational mind will see that the Indian agencies are not being driven by their duty of solving a crime but by the will of their political bosses. Fortunately for me, Interpol is not driven by Indian politics. Somehow they are not convinced about my ‘crime’ the way Indian agencies have been claiming,”Naik contended.He reiterated that he has offered several times to meet any agency officials in Malaysia, these were spurned as they were not interested in giving a hearing or a fair trial, “but put me behind bars...no charges, no trial, no investigations...looks like my punishment has already been decided.”Under circumstances, he sought the SC’s protection in writing after which he was prepared to return to India immediately.HT
Kathua rape case: Activist, who led campaign for justice, hails verdict as win for judiciary
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/kathua-rape-case-activist-who-led-campaign-for-justice-hails-verdict-as-win-for-democracy-judiciary/articleshow/69733378.cms
A win for democracy and judiciary — that’s how Talib Hussain, the activist who had led the campaign against the convicts in the case of rape and murder of eight-year-old Asifa from Kathua, described the court verdict on Monday. He said the ruling reinstated faith in the democratic and judicial system. “This verdict means that Indian judiciary is alive and it has reinstated our faith in the judiciary and Indian democracy,” said Hussain, who joined PDP last year. “Everybody fighting for justice was pressurised and forced to surrender, but we are indebted to court that it proved our belief in the system right.”Politicians across the spectrum in J&K welcomed the court verdict and, for once, the state police received praise for its meticulous investigation in the case. Hussain, who fights for tribals’ rights, claimed that the motive behind the brutal crime was to ‘‘terrorise Muslim tribal population of Jammu, Kathua and Samba, and change the demography of the area”.The activist, who was also arrested during the protests against the rape accused in Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir last year, said the plans of communal forces were defeated and that those rallying for the accused should be booked as well.“Those who exploited the Tricolour and rallied for the rapists with communal agenda should be booked under the law. Communal forces were defeated with this verdict,” said Hussain. economictimes
Kathua rape-murder covinction: Her parents miles away, in the mountains, Woh baar baar yaad aati hai
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kathua-rape-case-her-parents-miles-away-in-the-mountains-woh-baar-baar-yaad-aati-hai-5774270/
Srinagar: When the Pathankot court was sentencing six men found guilty in the rape and murder of a minor girl in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, her parents were miles away, herding their livestock through the mountains towards Kargil, a journey the nomadic Bakarwals undertake twice a year.Their daughter disappeared on Jan.10, 2018, and her body was found in a forest a week later. “There isn’t a day I don’t think about her. She is always before my eyes, mujhe baar baar yaad aati hai,” the father said.He knew the verdict was coming Monday. “I could not bear to be in court and listen to the episode being repeated over and over” for the sentencing. He had learnt of the court ruling, and was somewhat dismayed that one of the seven accused had not been held guilty. “This was long overdue, par tasalli nahin hui (We are not completely satisfied). Sabko sazaa milni chahiye thi (all accused should have been punished).”He said months after his daughter was kidnapped, raped and murdered, he had returned to the area to pray at her grave. An innocent child, he said, had been killed for no reason, and “justice will only be done if all accused of taking away our child are given the punishment they deserve”.The mother was more vocal: “I want justice for my girl and that justice will be delivered when all the accused are hanged.”“I was at her grave two months ago… bohot yaad aati hai, hum ab bhi ro rahe hain (we remember her a lot, and we still weep).” Her brother, the girl’s adopted father, had lost two children in a bus accident around the time their daughter was born. For more than a year, the brother kept asking her for the child. She finally agreed and gave her youngest child to her brother.indianexpress
11 booked in Aligarh for alleged inflammatory posts after toddler’s murder
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/11-booked-in-aligarh-for-alleged-inflammatory-posts-after-toddler-s-murder/786387.html
Aligarh:Police have booked 11 persons here for allegedly posting inflammatory content, and were maintaining tight security on Tuesday to prevent any flare-up in the aftermath of the brutal murder of a toddler, even as Internet services were restored late evening in Khair tehsil.Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC banning assembly of five or more people remained clamped in Tappal, where the incident had occurred.In a statement issued on Tuesday, DM Chandra Bhushan Singh said the situation in Tappal town in Khair tehsil remained peaceful.Earlier in the day, DM said the ban on Internet services in tehseel Khair imposed on Monday has been extended by another day. But in the evening, he announced that the Internet services were being restored.“This ban was imposed yesterday to prevent misuse of social media by some mischievous elements, who were deliberately spreading fake and inflammatory posts ever since the horrific murder of a two-and-half-year-old girl,” Singh said.SSP Akash Kulhari told reporters that cases under the IT Act have been registered against 11 persons at Civil Lines police station here since past two days for allegedly posting fake and inflammatory content.Tension has been prevailing in the area after the body of the girl was found in a garbage dump on June 2, three days after she was reported missing.According to police, four people have been arrested in the case so far.Authorities had on Sunday thwarted attempts by right-wing groups to hold a “mahapanchayat” in the town against the ghastly crime.Circle Officer (CO) of Tappal area, Pankaj Srivastava, was transferred on Monday as a fall out of the events of the past few days. PTI
Aligarh Murder Case: Communal Tension Simmers in Tappal
https://www.newsclick.in/aligarh-murder-case-communal-tension-simmers-tappal
Tappal village in Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh is on an edge after the horrific murder of a two-and-a-half-year-old girl a few days ago and is now simmering with communal tension. Since the accused belong to the Muslim community, Right-wing groups, such as VHP and Bajrang Dal, are allegedly egging the victim’s family to seek “instant justice” against the accused. Meanwhile, the bid to whip up communal tension in the aftermath of the brutal crime, has gripped Muslims in Tappal area with fear. Sources said that about a dozen Muslim families had already fled the area. However, Akash Kulahari,SSP,Aligarh, dismissed such reports. Meanwhile, tension has gripped the entire Aligarh region with people reporting seeing groups of men atop bikes hitting the streets and blocking roads at different places, adding to atmosphere of fear and intimidation.Attempts to give a communal colour to the heinous crime, began soon after the Uttar Pradesh police revealed the names of the accused.Newsclick spoke to some of journalist who visited Tappal area recently , who confirmed that they saw saffron-scarved groups taking over the streets, trying to vitiate the atmosphere. Praising the victim’s family, a journalist who visited Tappal, requesting anonymity, said: "Family members of the Aligarh murder victim are very wise. Otherwise activists of VHP and Bajrang Dal left no stone unturned to make it communal and are still trying hard. When I visited the victim's house, I found 3 leaders, including a district head of VHP and Bajrang Dal, accompanied by 10-12 others,chatting with victim's father and grandfather. They kept mounting pressure on them to take revenge."Journalist claimed that one Bajrang Dal activist from the crowd, who was making inflammatory remarks against Muslims, even asked us to shut our camera. The saving grace, according to this journalist, was that the victim’s father seemed sensible as did not get convinced.He told them he also wanted justice but through law.Another journalist reported seeing a “huge mob gathered outside victim's house and they were outsiders.”They were chanting slogans against a specific community and seeking revenge. Various people covering their faces in saffron towel were also seen clashing with the police.A social activist based in Aligarh, who visited Tappal twice,said, "Though the administration controlled the situation in region but still people of minority community are frightened after various people wearing saffron gamchas were spotted nearby victim's house. They were in a large number and are visiting regularly despite police not allowing them to enter the village."newsclick
‘Youths with covered faces’ lay siege to Aligarh village as Twinkle murder takes communal turn
https://theprint.in/india/muslims-flee-aligarh-village-as-youths-with-covered-faces-lay-siege-after-twinkle-murder/248130/
Hindu girl saves Muslim family from mob attack in aftermath of minor girl’s murder in Aligarh
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/hindu-girl-saves-muslim-family-from-mob-attack-in-aftermath-of-minor-girls-murder-in-aligarh/articleshow/69730659.cms
Days after killing of a 2-and-a-half-year-old girl in Aligarh’s Tappal area, a Muslim family was allegedly attacked on Sunday by a mob in Jattari area while they were travelling from Ballabhgarh in Haryana to Aligarh. The family was saved by a Hindu girl, who is their close friend and was travelling with them in a van to attend a function. According to police, the incident occurred around 3 pm in Jattari, when the van with seven passengers on board, including the Hindu girl, was moving towards Maheshpur after crossing Tappal area. One of the travellers, Shafi Mohammad Abbasi, said the goons on motorcycles attacked the van with iron rods. “They beat me, my daughter who wore a veil and our driver,” Abbasi said, adding that the goons would have killed them if 24-year-old Pooja Chauhan, who was travelling with them, had not bravely intervened. “Pooja stepped out and boldly confronted the attackers,” he said. Abbasi said he had known Pooja’s family for 32 years and considers her one of his daughters. “One member from the mob softened his stand after seeing Pooja. He quietly handed us our car keys and asked us to drive away immediately,”Abbasi said. Pooja said, “The mob attacked us just because they realized that the travellers were from the other community, as some of the women were wearing veils. Such incidents should not happen with anyone.” The family managed to reach Aligarh later. Aligarh police has registered an FIR against 10 unidentified people on a complaint filed by Pooja Chauhan at the Civil Lines police station. Aligarh SSP Akash Kulhary said police have raided several places, but no suspect has been arrested so far. He said no one will be allowed to take law in their hands. TOI
After Aligarh, 7 More Cases Of Rape & Murder Of Minors Reported From UP & MP In Two Days
https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/after-aligarh-seven-more-cases-of-rape-murder-of-minors-reported-from-up-mp-in-two-days-368948.html
The gruesome murder of two-year-old girl over a family dispute in Uttar Pradesh’s Aligarh has jolted the nation. The incident, that took place on May 30, has drawn widespread condemnation and calls for giving harshest punishment to the guilty are intensifying.The number of heinous crimes against minors, especially rape, is only escalating. Four cases of rape and murder of minors have been reported from Uttar Pradesh and three cases have been reported from Madhya Pradesh.A minor girl was allegedly gangraped by six men in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district on June 9. 6 accused have been arrested and a case has been registered against them.A 15-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a teacher in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh on June 9. In a third incident surfacing from Uttar Pradesh in week, body of a 7-year-old girl was found in a field, with her ‘salwar’ tied around her neck, fuelling suspicion that she was raped.The was missing since Friday evening when she stepped out to play. A group of villagers found her body on June 9 and informed the family. An 11-year-old girl was raped and murdered in Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur district. The victim’s naked body was found in a graveyard in the early hours of June 9.Police have registered an FIR against unidentified accused for rape and murder. An 8-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered in MP on Sunday. Her body was found near a drain close to her house in the wee hours of June 10. According to an initial post mortem report, the girl "died of strangulation after rape," ASP Akhil Patel told PTI.A 16-year-old boy was arrested for allegedly sodomising a four-year-old girl in Madhya Pradesh’s Jabalpur on June 9. The boy found the girl playing outside in the afternoon and took advantage of the situation. In yet another horrific crime against a minor, the body of a five-year-old girl was found floating in a river. Further investigation revealed that the girl was raped and murdered. According to ANI, the girl went missing on Friday following which her family members lodged a complaint with the police. After which the cops found her naked body floating in the River Shipra. Prima facie, injuries on the girl’s body indicated that she was sexually abused. Three people have been detained in connection with the case. In India, each day, police registers 293 cases of crimes against children on average, suggest the latest NCRB data. Only a few are reported and fewer make the headlines.indiatimes
Bengal violence: Mamata says 8 of TMC, 2 of BJP killed in poll clashes
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mamata-banerjee-bjp-tmc-killed-in-bengal-poll-violence-announces-financial-assistance-5775189/
New Delhi :Announcing details of casualties in the violence that took place in West Bengal during and after Lok Sabha polls, state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said that 10 people were killed, even as she notified that the government will provide financial assistance to families of the deceased. “10 people, including 8 of TMC and 2 of BJP, killed in West Bengal since Lok Sabha polls,” she said.Both BJP and the TMC are at loggerheads ever since the Lok Sabha polls, accusing each other of the political violence and unleashing terror in the state. Post-poll violence was reported from various places of the state after the BJP secured 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats, just four less than that of TMC, in West Bengal.indianexpress
Centre using social media to create communal tension in Bengal, alleges Mamata
https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/centre-using-social-media-to-create-communal-tension-in-bengal-alleges-mamata-119061000867_1.html
Sharad Pawar questions veracity of EVMs
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sharad-pawar-questions-veracity-of-evms-5774275/
Mumbai :Sharad Pawar questioned veracity of EVMs and said the issue would be discussed by Opposition parties in Delhi in the presence of experts and technocrats.On a day that the NCP was celebrating its 20th anniversary, Pawar brought up the party’s failure to create a space for itself among the upwardly mobile voters in urban belts. “We need to expand the party’s organisation in Mumbai and other urban areas. The NCP is perceived as a party with rural backing… Today, 50 per cent of Maharashtra is urban. We must be seen taking up issues concerning urbanisation and fight for the cause of the urban local,” said Pawar.indianexpress
Bomb blast accused will hear President speak: Sharad Pawar on Pragya Thakur
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bomb-blast-accused-will-hear-president-speak-sharad-pawar-on-pragya-thakur-5774086/
BJP’s Virendra Kumar appointed pro-tem Speaker of 17th Lok Sabha
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/bjps-virendra-kumar-appointed-pro-tem-speaker-of-17th-lok-sabha-5774830/
New Delhi :BJP MP Virendra Kumar has been appointed pro-tem Speaker of the 17th Lok Sabha. Kumar, a Dalit leader and seven-term Lok Sabha MP from Tikamgarh in Madhya Pradesh’s Bundelkhand region, has served as Minister of State (Mos) in the Ministry of Women and Child Development as well as MoS of Minority Affairs. Kumar will administer the oath-taking of the new Members of Parliament and will later assist the House to elect the new Speaker.indianexpress
Sharad Kumar named interim CVC
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sharad-kumar-named-interim-central-vigilance-commissioner-5775082/
Vigilance Commissioner Sharad Kumar has been named interim CVC until a new incumbent is chosen by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-headed selection panel.Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC) K V Chowdary and Vigilance Commissioner T M Bhasin completed their tenure at the anti-graft body on Sunday and Monday respectively. Kumar, who is the other Vigilance Commissioner, has been authorised to act as the CVC “until appointment of Central Vigilance Commissioner”, an order issued by Personnel Ministry said.PTI
Pakistan decides to let PM Modi’s plane fly over its airspace to Bishkek summit: Report
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pakistan-decides-to-let-pm-modis-plane-fly-over-its-airspace-to-bishkek-summit-5774403/
Pakistan decided in principle to let Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aircraft fly over its airspace to Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan where he has to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit on June 13-14, where his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan would also be present.Pakistan had fully closed its airspace on February 26 after an IAF strike in Balakot. Since then, it has only opened two routes, both of them pass through southern Pakistan, of the total 11.India requested Pakistan to let Prime Minister Modi’s aircraft fly over its airspace to Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan.indianexpress
Pompeo to boost US’ ‘incredibly important’ ties with India during visit to New Delhi
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/pompeo-to-boost-us-incredibly-important-ties-with-india-during-visit-to-new-delhi-5774463/
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that his visit to New Delhi this month will be focused on advancing the “incredibly important” ties with India which is a significant part of President Donald Trump’s strategy in the strategic Indo-Pacific region.Pompeo would leave for New Delhi on June 24.New Delhi would be Pompeo’s first stop and South Korea his last during nearly week-long visit to Indo-Pacific region, beginning June 24, that would also take him to Sri Lanka and Japan. Before starting his trip, Pompeo will address the India Ideas Summit of US-India Business Council on June 12.PTI
Ex-Army man declared ‘illegal foreigner’ in Assam: ‘When I entered jail, I cried and cried…’
https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/assam/ex-army-man-declared-illegal-when-i-entered-jail-i-cried-and-cried-had-defended-my-country-at-the-border-5774290/?fbclid=IwAR0qH-7KjUhGmBFU5rNcVxofYvhjqwJetmJEVywN7BlmAxEhRzvif_CPfRA
Guwahati:Mohammad Sanaullah walked out of detention centre in Assam’s Goalpara on June 8. But the day this Indian Army ex-subedar will never forget is May 29 — when he walked into the centre, carrying the tag of an “illegal foreigner”.“Entering through the prison gate, I cried and cried. I asked myself what sin have I committed that after serving my motherland for 3 decades, including at LoC in Kupwara, I am being detained like a foreigner,” he said at his residence in Guwahati’s Satgaon after being granted interim bail by the Gauhati High Court.“I have served for 30 years in the Army.I have been posted in MP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab, J&K, AP, Assam and Manipur. I have defended my country standing bravely at the border. I love my country. I am an Indian and I am sure justice will be done in my case,” he said.“After my retirement, I was looking for opportunities to continue serving my state and my country. I got selected to the Border wing and took the job. The officers who arrested me were my senior colleagues.They followed procedure as required after an FT order,” he said.“On May 28 evening, I was called by a DSP to North Guwahati police station. I had an apprehension that it could be related to my detention as per the procedure. At the station, I had to sit through the night, without a place to sleep. Next day, around 7 pm, I entered the detention centre in Goalpara. The prison cell where I was kept there had probably 40-odd people. They gave me 2 blankets, a mosquito-net and a plate and a glass,” he says.The bail order says Sanaullah has to furnish a bond of Rs 20,000 with two local sureties. The order states that Sanaullah’s biometrics — iris and fingerprints — and photograph should be obtained prior to his release. It also prohibits Sanaullah from moving out of territorial jurisdiction of Kamrup (Rural) and Kamrup (Metro) districts.There are 6 detention camps in Assam — housed in jails at Goalpara, Kokrajhar, Tezpur, Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Silchar — and they hold 1000-odd “illegal foreigners”. Many of those lodged in these centres have challenged the FT orders in courts.indian express
500,000 Apply for 166 Vacancies as Cleaners, Gardeners in Bihar
http://caravandaily.com/500000-apply-for-166-vacancies-as-cleaners-gardeners-in-bihar/
Patna: In response to the advertisement for 166 vacancies for Grade 4 employees in Bihar, more than 500,000 people, many of them highly qualified, have applied indicating the level of growing unemployment in the country.According to reports,Bihar assembly secretariat has announced vacancies for the positions that include drivers, library attendants, office attendants, watchmen, cleaners and gardeners.Anyone, who has passed Grade 10 school examination is eligible to apply for any of these positions that carry a salary of Rs18,000 per month.Strangely, out of 500,000 applicants seeking job, many applicants were those who had passed the graduation or post-graduation examinations. Hundreds of such applicants appeared before the state assembly on Monday for scrutiny of their papers by a private company hired by the secretariat. Around 2,000 applicants were being called every day for verifications of their documents.“I am jobless despite a graduation degree in hand and somehow surviving by working as daily-wage driver. I have applied for the position hoping to get a job,” said Sansar Kumar, a 27-year-old youth who applied for the post of driver, according to a report.The government advertisement says anyone in the age-group of 18 to 37 can apply for these posts and this has led to a huge rush of applicants.Data released by the labour ministry in May confirmed unemployment in the country was 6.1 per cent of the total labour force during 2017-18, which is the highest in 45 years. The data was released on the day Narendra Modi 2.0 cabinet took charge on May 30.Caravan Daily
Asaduddin Owaisi’s brother Akbaruddin admitted in London hospital
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/aimim-chief-asaduddin-owaisi-appeals-to-supporters-to-pray-for-brother-akbaruddins-recovery-5775466/
AIMIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi was admitted to a hospital in London after his health reportedly worsened last week. A 5-time MLA from Chandrayangutta, Akbaruddin survived bullet and knife injuries when a rival group brutally attacked him in his assembly constituency in 2011.After spending several days in hospital in a critical condition, he made a miraculous recovery. Akbaruddin, however, did not make a full recovery and needed frequent medical attention. Sources in MIM said that the injuries sustained in the shooting cause problems to Akbaruddin and his overall health has also been affected in recent years.His brother and MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi recently appealed to his supporters to pray for his brother.indian express
Wreckage Of Missing Air Force An-32 Plane Found In Arunachal Pradesh
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/parts-believed-to-be-of-air-force-plane-an-32-that-went-missing-on-june-3-found-in-arunachal-pradesh-2051454
The wreckage of an An-32 aircraft that went missing with 13 on board last week has been found in Arunachal Pradesh, the Indian Air Force confirmed on Tuesday. The aircraft went missing on June 3.The wreckage has been found in Payum Circle of Siang district. It was spotted by a Mi-17 helicopter of the Indian Air Force, at a height of around 12,000 feet.The Air Force plans to air drop search teams, including Garud commandos, mountaineers and other ground forces tomorrow morning to search the area for more wreckage, news agency ANI has reported. "Efforts are now continuing to establish the status of occupants and establish survivors," the Air Force tweeted.ndtv
Naqvi to focus on bringing down school dropout rate of girls from Muslim community
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/mukhtar-abbas-naqvi-to-focus-on-bringing-down-school-dropout-rate-of-girls-from-muslim-community/articleshow/69728556.cms
New Delhi: Setting his focus on quality education and bringing down school dropout rates, minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has said that the government would soon start work on providing central schools on the lines of Kendriya Vidyalayas in minority concentration districts.After a review of various schemes earlier this week, Naqvi announced that the ministry of minority affairs will be soon roll out 'Padho-Badho' campaign to bring down the school dropout rate of girls from the Muslim community. "Of the 308 districts identified for coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram, 50 districts will be taken up in the first six months for Padho-Badho campaign and then it will be extended to other districts," Naqvi said. TOI
WORLD
Hundreds more arrested as Kazakhs protest 'rigged vote'
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/hundreds-arrested-kazakhs-protest-rigged-vote-190611065702114.html
Police in Kazakhstan have arrested 200 more people, the interior ministry said on Tuesday, amid protests against what many see as a rigged presidential election. 200 people detained in the country's biggest city, Almaty, on Monday were in addition to 500 others who were held a day earlier over protests against a snap vote that saw a landslide victory for Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the hand-picked successor of longtime leader Nursultan Nazarbayev.Tokayev took nearly 71 percent of Sunday's vote with all ballots counted, according to the election commission, while Amirzhan Kosanov, the 66-year-old career diplomat's closest rival, took a mere 16.2 percent vote. Sunday's vote prompted large protests in the capital, Nur-Sultan, and Almaty, with demonstrators calling for a boycott of the election. Such gatherings are rare in the tightly controlled, oil-rich country and illegal unless explicitly approved by the government. On Tuesday, a heavy police presence was visible on the streets of Almaty, with several National Guard personnel carrier trucks parked near the focal spot of the previous two days of rallies.Authorities have blamed the protests on the banned Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK) party. But the latest rally on Monday night appeared to have little to do with DVK-promoted protests and was triggered instead by the detention earlier that day of Rinat Zaitov, a poet and musician who blasted the election as rigged and said he would start a political movement of his own.About 200 of Zaitov's supporters, some of whom broadcast the event online, gathered outside police headquarters and demanded his release.The protest continued for several hours until Zaitov appeared in front of the crowd saying he was free and heading home. The crowd began an impromptu victory march through the night, chanting "Oyan Kazakh" [Wake up Kazakh] and other slogans. Some walked and others drove slowly sounding the horns of their cars, until police blocked their way and detained a number of people. Police in black uniforms and balaclavas could be seen slamming people to the ground, according to the Reuters news agency. "The overnight crackdown has put the country on the brink of direct conflict between police and the people," political activist Mukhtar Taizhan wrote on his Facebook page on Tuesday."One cracked skull, first blood - and you will not be able to stop a justified wave of popular anger." The continued crackdown on opposition, allegations of ballot box stuffing and other election tampering has since darkened the view of Kazakhstan's election. aljazeera
Lanka Tamil leader says Muslims' rights being abused, demands international probe
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/lanka-tamil-leader-says-muslims-rights-being-abused-demands-international-probe-119061000406_1.html
Colombo :A top Tamil leader in Sri Lanka has called for an international investigation into the alleged injustice meted out to minority Muslim community in the country in the aftermath of the Easter Sunday bombings. The fundamental rights of Muslims are being abused using an act of terror, C V Wigneswaran, former chief minister of Tamil-dominated Northern Province, told reporters on Sunday, referring to the difficulties faced by the minority community, which constitutes nine per cent of population, following the April 21 bombings. Following the attacks, some Muslim politicians representing the government came under criticism for their alleged support extended to the rising militancy."Muslims are a part of the Sri Lankan community, they are being subjected to injustice in violation of the country's Constitution, "Wigneswaran said in Jaffna, once hotbed of the over 3-decade long conflict with the LTTE.A large number of Muslims have been arrested by the anti-terror agencies for questioning along with those having links to banned National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ). Wigneswaran expressed solidarity with Muslim ministers who resigned last week claiming that the government had failed to ensure the safety of the minority community in the country.9 Muslim ministers holding top positions in the Sri Lankan government resigned last week to allow authorities to investigate allegations against some of them on links to NTJ. There are 19 Muslims among 225-member Parliament and 9 of them held Cabinet, state and deputy ministerial positions. "Charges against the Muslim politicians have not been proved. Government must take responsibility for their resignations," Wigneswaran said. The majority Sinhala community mobs attacked Muslim-owned properties in towns north of Colombo, killing one Muslim man and leaving hundreds of homes, shops and mosques vandalised.PTI
Egypt upholds jail terms for 315 MB loyalists
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/11/c_138131887.htm
Cairo: An Egyptian court upheld on Monday jail terms from 5 to 25 years against 315 defendants, mostly loyalists of the Muslim Brotherhood, over acts of violence and sabotage in 2013, official MENA reported. The country's top Court of Cassation refused the defendants' appeal for a retrial and upheld the previous rulings issued by a criminal court.The prosecution charged the defendants with riot, violence and sabotage in response to security crackdown on pro-Brotherhood sit-ins in Giza and Cairo in mid-Aug 2013.Xinhua
Pakistan: Zardari sent to anti-graft body’s custody
https://scroll.in/latest/926684/pakistan-former-president-asif-ali-zardari-sent-to-anti-graft-bodys-custody-for-11-days
An accountability court in Pakistan on Tuesday remanded former President Asif Ali Zardari to the custody of anti-graft body National Accountability Bureau for 11 days, Dawn reported. The court directed Zardari to be present in court on June 21.This came a day after Zardari was arrested in a multi-million dollar money laundering case by bureau. His bail plea was rejected by the Islamabad High Court. The case is related to transactions worth Pakistani Rs 4.4 billion that were allegedly carried out through fake bank accounts. According to the prosecution, Zardari received Pakistani Rs 30 million (Rs 1.37 crore) of the money.scroll.in
Pak self-exiled leader Altaf Hussain arrested in UK
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/pakistans-self-exiled-leader-arrested-in-london/1501202
Pakistan's self-exiled leader Altaf Hussain was arrested today from his residence in London, media and security officials reported.Hussain, who has been living in exile for over 25 years, leads the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), a party influential in urban areas of Pakistan's southern province of Sindh, including its restive port city of Karachi.He was arrested in an early morning raid by a team of the Scotland Yard, broadcaster Geo News reported. Hussain, who is wanted by Pakistani security forces in multiple cases relating to murder, terrorism, inciting violence, and money laundering, has been shifted to a police station in London.Anadolu Agency
Taliban welcome release of inmates by Afghan govt
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/taliban-welcome-release-of-inmates-by-afghan-government/1501360
In a rare acknowledgement, the Taliban on Tuesday welcomed the Afghan government's move to pardon and release hundreds of insurgents from different prisons. This came as the Afghan government began releasing nearly 900 inmates from various prisons on the directives of President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani on the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr.“Granting the right of liberty back to the inmates is a good step, we hope all those countrymen are released as well those who were arrested or kept captive for years over wrong intelligence information, wrong reports or due to local rivalries”, Zabihullah Mujahed, the Taliban spokesman said in a statement shared on the social media.Hamdullah Mohib, Ghani’s National Security Advisor, told local Tolo News last week that the decision to release 887 Taliban prisoners are in line with the demands of the people's representatives at the Loya Jirga (a grand consultative meeting) for peace in April.Anadolu Agency
Kim Jong nam, half-brother of North Korean leader, was a CIA informant: Wall Street Journal
https://scroll.in/latest/926653/kim-jong-nam-half-brother-of-north-korean-leader-was-a-cia-informant-wall-street-journal
Kim Jong nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong un who was killed in Malaysia in 2017, was an informant for CIA in US, Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.The daily cited an unidentified “person knowledgeable about the matter” for the report. It said many details of Kim Jong nam’s relationship with the US spy agency remained unclear. “There was a nexus” between CIA and Kim Jong nam, The Wall Street Journal quoted the person as saying. CIA declined to comment on the claim.scroll.in/
Mali attack: At least 95 killed in ethnic Dogon village
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/scores-killed-attack-central-mali-village-190610131528097.html
At least 95 people were killed in an attack on an ethnic Dogon village in central Mali in the latest deadly violence to hit the restive region.19 others were missing after unknown armed men attacked village of Sobane-Kou, in the Mopti region, in the early hours of Monday, the govt said.No immediate claim of responsibility was made but the massacre bore the hallmarks of tit-for-tat ethnic attacks that have claimed hundreds of lives. It came less than three months after nearly 160 members of Fulani ethnic group were killed by a group identified as Dogon. "This country cannot be led by a cycle of revenge and vendetta," Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita told ORTM public TV from Switzerland, where he cut short an official visit.He called on Malians to come together to "allow our nation to survive, because this is a question of survival".aljazeera
Turkish F-35 pilots no longer flying at US base amid S-400 row: aljazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/turkish-35-pilots-longer-flying-base-400-row-190611053456408.html
US said it is winding down Turkey's involvement in its F-35 stealth fighter jet programme over Ankara's plans to buy a Russian air defence system that could pose a danger to the aircraft.US officials announced on Monday that Washington had halted the training of Turkish pilots on F-35 fighters at an airbase in US state of Arizona.
Russian jets carry out deadly bombings in Syria
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/russian-jets-carry-deadly-bombings-syria-idlib-190611003401421.html
At least 25 people have been killed in aerial bombardment carried out by Russian jet fighters in Idlib region, with schools and medical centres knocked down during a continued Syrian military offensive.The rebel stronghold of northwestern Syria despite being part of a buffer-zone deal has come under deadly regime bombardment in recent weeks, sparking fears for its roughly three million residents.aljazeera
Sudan: Following their release, SPLM leaders deported to Juba
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190611-sudan-following-their-release-splm-leaders-deported-to-juba/
The Sudanese authorities has deported 3 leaders of Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) to Juba, the capital of South Sudan, following their release from police.The Sudanese Transitional Military Council (TMC) released Yasir Arman,SPLM deputy leader, movement’s spokesman Mubarak Ardual, and Secretary-General Khamis Jalab, Monday.Sources said that the release of these leaders came within the framework of Ethiopian initiative. Sudanese state TV reported “the release of Arman, Jalab, and Ardual”, without providing further details. Arman, deputy head of the SPLM, Malik Agar’s faction, was arrested after he arrived in Khartoum on 26 May to participate in negotiations with the TMC, which had deposed then-President Omar Al-Bashir on 11 April, after months of protests.MEMO
Flash: views & NEWS
Eviction Leaves Over 1,000 Muslims Homeless in Barak Valley:Taha Amin Mazumdar
https://www.newsclick.in/eviction-leaves-over-1000-muslims-homeless-barak-valley
Clean-up signals a shift, hurts old consensus in Jammu Kashmir:Pranab Dhal Samanta
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/clean-up-signals-a-shift-hurts-old-consensus-in-jammu-kashmir/articleshow/69733469.cms
How One Man Risked His Life to Save Dozens of Kashmiri Students After Pulwama
http://caravandaily.com/how-one-man-risked-his-life-to-save-dozens-of-kashmiri-students-after-pulwama/
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:40 PM)
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