*INDIA- ISLAMOPHOBIA, HUMAN RIGHTS & OTHERS*

Jamiat Ulama moves SC against Hindu outfit’s bid to open Kashi, Mathura mosques disputes

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/jamiat-ulama-i-hind-moves-sc-against-hindu-outfits-bid-to-open-kashi-mathura-disputes-99073

New Delhi:A day after a Hindu outfit sought to open Kashi, Mathura temple disputes by challenging the validity of the Place of Worship Act, 1991, that prohibits changing character of religious places, a Muslim organisation moved the Supreme Court against it, saying it will open floodgates of litigation against countless mosques. Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind — which works for Islamic causes — urged the Supreme Court not to entertain the petition filed by Vishwa Bhadra Pujari Purohit Mahasangh, that said the impugned Act protected the “barbarous action of invaders who had converted the Hindu places of worship”.“Even issuance of a notice in the present matter will create fear in the minds of the Muslim community with regard to their places of worship, especially in the aftermath of the Ayodhya dispute and will destroy the secular fabric of the nation,” Jamiat said in its intervention application filed on Saturday.It said: “If the present petition is entertained, it will open floodgates of litigation against  countless mosques in the country and the  religious divide from which the country is recovering in the aftermath of Ayodhya dispute will only be widened.”“It was pointed out during the hearing of the Ayodhya case...that there is a list of numerous mosques which is doing the rounds on social media, alleging that the said mosques were built allegedly by destroying Hindu places of worship,” it said.7 months after the Supreme Court paved the way for construction of Ram Temple at Ayodhya, Vishwa Bhadra Pujari Purohit Mahasangh moved the Supreme Court on Friday seeking to open Kashi and Mathura temple disputes.Petitioner Mahasangh has challenged the validity of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which says the character of religious places at the time of Independence can’t be changed.The petition is being seen as an attempt to start a legal battle to reclaim disputed religious sites at Kashi, Mathura and some other places where disputed mosques stand.In its unanimous November 9 verdict, a five-judge Bench headed by then CJI Ranjan Gogoi had described the 1991 Act as a legislative instrument designed to protect the secular features of Indian polity.But the Mahasangh has sought directions to declare Section 4 of the 1991 Act unconstitutional. The petition said the Supreme Court’s remarks were mere observations without any judicial force as the Act was not under challenge before it.

Muslim body moves SC opposing Hindu organisation's plea against Place of Worship Act, 1991

Saharanpur lawyer files petition in SC demanding probe in ‘foreign funding’ to Darul Uloom

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/saharanpur-lawyer-files-petition-in-sc-demanding-probe-in-foreign-funding-to-darul-uloom/articleshow/76364142.cms

Muzaffarnagar: A Saharanpur-based lawyer has filed a petition in the Supreme Court demanding a probe into the funding to renowned Islamic seminary Darul Uloom. The petitioner, Farah Faiz, has claimed that the activities of Darul Uloom and Tablighi Jamaat are “suspicious” and a probe should be initiated of the foreign funding to these organisations. Faiz, who is also a lawyer practising in the apex court, urged in her petition, filed on Friday, “Direct the Union of India to pass an order to set up an inquiry against Daul Uloom Deoband in Saharanpur and its activities and its funding from abroad (of which Markaz Nizamuddin is a part, to propagate Deobandi movement through the Tablighi Jamat)." Notably, Faiz runs an NGO called “Muslim women’s quest for equality” in Uttar Pradesh and it was one of the petitioners in the triple talaq case in the SC.TOI

 

SC asks police not to arrest journalist Vinod Dua in sedition case, but says probe can go on

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-restrains-hp-police-from-arresting-vinod-dua-in-sedition-case-refuses-to-stay-probe/article31825375.ece?homepage=true

The Supreme Court has protected senior journalist and Padma Shri awardee Vinod Dua from arrest till further orders in a sedition case registered by the Himachal Pradesh police for his telecast on Delhi riots in Feb.In an urgently convened virtual court hearing on Sunday, a 3-judge Bench led by Justice UU Lalit agreed to Dua's terms to the police that he would join investigation through videoconferencing or online mode, keeping in mind travel restrictions imposed amid the pandemic.The Bench, also comprising Justices Mohan M. Shantanagoudar and Vineet Saran, however refused repeated pleas made by senior advocate Vikas Singh, for Mr. Dua, to stay the investigation.The court said Himachal Pradesh Police was "entitled to carry on the investigation, including interrogation of petitioner (Dua) at his residence after giving him prior notice of 24 hours".The police should comply with the social distancing norms, the SC ordered.The court sought a detailed status report on the investigation from the State of Himachal by the next hearing on July 6."The affidavit in reply filed on behalf of State (Himachal) shall indicate the steps taken during investigation and a complete status report shall be filed before the next date of hearing. Investigating Officer shall remain personally present in case the open court hearing is resumed by this court or shall be available in case the proceedings are taken up through video conferencing mode," the order read.The court has also asked the Centre to a plea made by Dua that no FIR should be registered against journalists with at least 10 years of standing unless cleared by a committee constituted by the respective State governments. These committees should comprise Chief Justice of the high court concerned or a judge designated by the Chief Justice, the Leader of the Opposition and State Home Minister, petition had suggested.

 

Anti-CAA violence in Delhi: More voices seek release of pregnant student activist Safoora Zargar

https://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2020/jun/14/anti-caa-violence-in-delhi-more-voices-seek-release-of-pregnant-student-activist-safoora-zargar-2156274.html

NEW DELHI : As many as 66 members of IIM-B have signed a solidarity statement demanding the immediate release of pregnant student activist Safoora Zargar and several others, who are currently languishing behind bars, even as Center for Human Rights at American Bar Association (ABA) said her detention lacks evidence.The Delhi Police had booked Safoora, a Jamia Millia Islamia student, under UAPA in a case of communal violence in northeast Delhi over the CAA in Feb. The student activist, along with others, was also protesting against NRC and NPR.66 signatories alleged that while Safoora, other students as well as senior citizens, including professors, continue to suffer in “crowded prisons” at a time COVID-19 is peaking, “the real perpetrators that incited violence in Delhi, including a union minister,” have gone scot-free.According to the signatories, the government has refused to heed appeals made by them to release the activists.

Safoora Zargar's Detention Against International Law: American Bar Association Report

 

Charges against police over probe into northeast Delhi riots could be motivated: Police commissioner

https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/charges-against-police-over-probe-into-northeast-delhi-riots-could-be-motivated-police-commissioner/1865809

New Delhi: Accusations against police over its probe into the northeast Delhi violence could be "motivated" and are also directed at the court of law, the chief of the force, SN Shrivastava, has said.The police have been criticised for their handling of the investigation in various quarters, including by student activists, filmmakers and civil society groups, who have accused the force of carrying out a "witchhunt" at a time when the country is battling the coronavirus pandemic.Shrivastava said whether there is a lockdown or not, law-and-order issues will have to be handled with precautions."You can also expect many such accusations to be motivated and coming from people who may have reasons to make false accusations," he told PTI. Shrivastava asserted that Delhi Police is a "credible force", which has carried out the investigation into the northeast Delhi violence "with full responsibility" and has "been very fair and transparent".The arrests made in connection with the northeast Delhi violence have been sanctioned and approved by the court of law, the police commissioner said.The police were heavily criticised for arresting several students in connection with Delhi violence, including Jamia students Safoora Zargar, who is 4 months pregnant, and Meeran Haider, and JNU students Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal.PTI

 

37 Muslims Arrested After a Clash With Dalits, CM Adityanath Orders Booking of Accused Under NSA and Gangsters Act

http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/37-muslims-arrested-after-a-clash-with-dalits-cm-adityanath-orders-booking-of-accused-under-nsa-and-gangsters-act

NEW DELHI/JAUNPUR:Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath has ordered that National Security Act and Gangster Act be invoked against the accused involved in Muslim-Dalit clashes in Bhadethi village under Sarai Khwaja Police Station of Jaunpur district in Eastern Uttar Pradesh.As many as 37 persons have so far been arrested, all Muslims, in the case in which FIR has been lodged against 57 identified persons and 20-25 unidentified persons. Among the arrested persons include Shamsuddin Siddiqui and two of his brothers who run businesses in Chennai and Singapore. Siddiqui is also a Samajwadi Party leader and had once unsuccessfully contested assembly elections from Jaunpur Sadar assembly seat. Meanwhile, SHO of Sarai Khwaja Police Station Sanjiv Mishra has been sent to the lines and inquiry in the incident has been assigned to a senior police official. Varanasi Range Police officials and Jaunpur district SP and other officials visited the village after the incident on June 10 to take stock of the situation. Huge police force has been deployed in the village to prevent occurrence of any untoward incident. FIR lodged on a complaint from Dalit community has named only Muslims as accused. A villager on conditions of anonymity told India Tomorrow over phone that most of the male members of Muslim families have left the village for fear of being arrested by the police. Villager said that no Dalit has been arrested though many Muslims were also injured in the clash.A clash incident took place on June 9 evening between Dalit and Muslim children when they were grazing their goats and buffaloes on the outskirts of the village. Elders of the two sides also reached there immediately on the spot but they also fought, resulting into injuries to some people from both sides. However, village ‘pradhan’(village head)  struck a compromise between 2 sides and the matter ended there.However, an incident of fire took place in the night in which 10 huts belonging to Dalits were gutted and one or two goats also died. While Muslims denied their involvement, Dalits claimed that it were Muslims who committed the crime. The issue flared up after this.

 

Actor Sushant Singh , 34, Found Dead. Police Say Suicide

https://www.ndtv.com/entertainment/actor-sushant-singh-rajput-commits-suicide-at-34-2246095

New Delhi: Actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Mumbai residence, Mumbai Police said. Confirming suicide, the police said no suicide note was found. The actor was 34. "He has committed suicide at his residence in Bandra. Our team is there," Manoj Sharma, ACP, Western Region, told PTI. A statement released by actor's team said, "It pains us to share that Sushant Singh Rajput is no longer with us. We request his fans to keep him in their thoughts and celebrate his life, and his work like they have done so far. We request media to help us maintain privacy at this moment of grief."Sushant Singh Rajput, a native of Patna, studied engineering in New Delhi before dropping out to pursue a career in acting. ndtv

 

Ahead of MP assembly by-polls, leaked audio clips of Chouhan, Scindia and ex-minister put BJP in a spot

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/ahead-of-mp-assembly-by-polls-leaked-audio-clips-of-chouhan-scindia-and-ex-minister-put-bjp-in-a-spot

Days after the Madhya Pradesh unit of BJP launched a political campaign for the upcoming by-polls in 24 Assembly constituencies, a series of audio leaks of speeches and threats allegedly made by its senior leaders has put the party in a spot.An audio recording of a speech allegedly made by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivarj Singh Chouhan recently went viral. In the 9:28 minutes long clip, Chouhan was reportedly addressing BJP workers of Sanware Assembly constituency in Indore on June 8 when he allegedly said in Hindi, “The Central leadership (of BJP) decided that the (Kamal Nath) government should fall. They (the Kamal Nath government) will ruin and destroy (the state)… Tell me, was it possible to dislodge the government without Jyotiraditya Scindia and Tulsi Bhai? There was no other way.”The “Tulsi Bhai” referred to in the clip is former Health Minister Tulsi Silawat who joined the BJP along with Jyotiradiya Scindia.“In the coming bypoll, if Tulsi Silawat doesn’t become MLA again, will I be able to remain CM, will the BJP government survive?” he allegedly said, exhorting BJP workers to overcome their differences and work for Silawat’s victory in the upcoming by-elections in the Sanwer Assembly seat.Two days later, an audio recording of Scindia’s loyalist and former minister Imarti Devi, who too switched over to BJP with Scindia, went viral. Talking with a party worker of Dabra constituency, she allegedly threatened a party worker, Dharmendra Baghel, of gouging out his eyes when he said that there is rage among voters against her for switching parties.

 

HC pulls up Punjab Police over using ‘unprintable word’ to describe African in drug case

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/punjab-and-haryana-high-court-police-african-drug-case-6458152/

APPALLED OVER the use of the term “negro” in reference to an African national in a drugs case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the police to refrain from using the “unprintable word” in any of its documents related to the investigation.The court has also requested the Punjab DGP to take into consideration the entire issue and notify the police force to never use such offensive terms in the near future.“They deserve the dignity and respect in a foreign land as visitors or students in India from Africa, temporarily living in our country, which prides itself of many peoples of all colours of the skin ranging from white to black and aboriginal. This has nothing to do with the investigation or crime,” the order passed by Justice Rajiv Narain Raina read. The HC passed the order on June 12 while hearing the bail petition of a local accused in the case.

 

 

Chhattisgarh BJP Leader Arrested For Allegedly Giving Tractors To Maoists

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjp-leader-arrested-for-supplying-tractor-to-maoists-in-chhattisgarh-2246174?pfrom=home-topscroll

Dantewada: Bharatiya Janata Party's district unit vice-president Jagat Pujari and one other person were arrested for allegedly supplying tractors to Maoists in Chhattishgarh. According to the police, Pujari has been involved in facilitating supply of goods and other items to Maoists for at least a decade.The three were arrested for purchasing a tractor meant for Maoist leader Ajay Alami, who carries a reward of Rs. 5 lakh on his arrest. The new tractor, worth Rs. 9,10,000 has been seized.

 

 

IIT-Kharagpur asks faculty not to write on topics critical of government

https://indianexpress.com/article/education/iit-kharagpur-asks-faculty-not-to-write-on-topics-critical-of-government-6458768/

IIT Kharagpur has asked its faculty members not to participate in any radio broadcast or write on subjects critical of the state and central governments. However, they can write on literary or scientific topics, the premier institute said in a recent circular.Registrar B N Singh told PTI on Sunday, it was not a fresh notice and the authorities have been quoting excerpts from an old central government circular from time to time for the new recruits who “may not have an idea about certain service conduct rules for central government employees.”  “It is not a gag order,” he said.PTI

 

 

Faulty data push AMU down in national rankings

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/faulty-data-push-aligarh-muslim-university-down-in-national-rankings/article31817481.ece

AMU has 2,911 full-time research scholars. According to the Centre’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), however, it only has 33. The faulty data resulted in AMU slipping from 18th to 31st place in the rankings released on Thursday.“This gross discrepancy in the number of overall PhD students enrolled at AMU has resulted in a false steep decline in our ranking,” Vice-Chancellor Tariq Mansoor said in a letter to National Board of Accreditation and HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank on Friday.NIRF sources much of the data for its metrics from institutions themselves. Prof. Mansoor said the correct data, sent by email in March 2020 and also uploaded on the AMU website, showed that the number of full-time PhD graduates over the last three years ranged from 312 to 387. However, the document accompanying the ranking on NIRF website shows only 8-10 doctoral graduates each year. The faulty data led to a sharp fall in AMU’s score for the parameter of graduation outcomes.thehindu

NIRF Ranking: AMU to file representation with MHRD/NIRF against downgrading

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/nirf-ranking-amu-to-file-representation-with-mhrd/nirf-against-downgrading/articleshow/76344609.cms

 

 

Earthquake: Tremors felt in Gujarat, epicentre in Rajkot

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/earthquake-tremors-felt-in-gujarat-epicentre-in-rajkot-1689017-2020-06-14

Tremors were felt in Gujarat on Sunday evening. According to a preliminary statement by the National Center for Seismology (NCS), "an earthquake of magnitude 5.8 struck 122 km north-northwest (NNW) of Rajkot, Gujarat at 8:13 pm today". More details are awaited as this is a developing story.

 

 

*CORONAVIRUS- LOCKDOWN*

Centre promises to ramp up COVID tests in Delhi, door-to-door survey in containment zones

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/amit-shah-holds-meeting-with-delhi-lg-cm-kejriwal-amid-covid-crisis-99015

Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday the central government would ramp up COVID-19 tests in the national capital---a development that comes as coronavirus tally touched nearly 39,000 cases and the death toll rose to over 1,200.Shah, who told the press about decisions taken at a high-level meeting with Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, said COVID-19 tests would be doubled in Delhi over the next two days and tripled in the next six days.   Centre to provide Delhi 500 rail coaches having 8,000 beds equipped with COVID-19 treatment facilitiesShah said the central government had decided to immediately give 500 railway coaches to Delhi, which will not only increase the number of isolation beds by 8,000 beds, but these will also add up to the facility equipped with means to fight the virus infection.“COVID-19 tests will be started at every polling station in Delhi containment zones in a few days. Comprehensive house-to-house health survey will be done in Delhi containment zones for COVID-19 contact tracing,” Shah said, adding that tests “will be doubled in next 2 days and increased by three times after 6 days”.Shah also said a decision has been taken to issue new guidelines for the last rites of those who die of the COVID-19 infection, so that “the waiting time for performing last rites would reduce”.Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal said the meeting was “extremely productive”.“We will fight against COVID-19 together,” he said. Apart from Shah, Baijal and Kejriwal, those who attended the meeting include Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, members of the State Disaster Management Authority and senior officers from the Home and Health ministries.The COVID-19 case tally has reached nearly 39,000 and the virus has claimed more than 1,200 lives in the capital.tribuneindia

 

Coronavirus: Amit Shah calls meeting of parties of Delhi tomorrow to review situation in capital

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/covid-19-coronavirus-india-news-live-updates-covid-19-tracker-corona-virus-cases-in-india-lockdown-today-latest-news-corona-vaccine-update-6457557/

After a review meeting with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, LG Anil Baijal, and other authorities on Sunday, Home Minister Amit Shah has called a meeting of all political parties active in Delhi on Monday to review Covid-19 situation in the national capital, reported PTI. In a series of tweets, Shah wrote, “Modi govt is committed to control the spread of infection in Delhi. It will provide 500 railway coaches to Delhi in view of shortage of beds for COVID-19 patients. A comprehensive house-to-house health survey will be done in Delhi containment zones for COVID-19 contact tracing.” He also added that testing will be doubled in the next few days and tripled in six days.

 

Coronavirus : Remdesivir, convalescent plasma use based on limited available evidence, says Health Ministry

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/coronavirus-india-updates-june-14-maharashtra-delhi-tamil-nadu-6458185/

 The centre on Saturday released guidelines for doctors to use investigational antiviral medication remdesivir in treating India’s Covid-19 patients, but there is still little clarity on how patients can access the drug. A day after allowing the use of antiviral drug remdesivir and off-label application of tocilizumab and convalescent plasma in moderate cases of COVID-19, Union health ministry on Sunday said the “use of these therapies is based on limited available evidence at present”. The ministry clarified that remdesivir has been included as an “investigational therapy” only for the purpose of restricted emergency use following certain news reports regarding the use of the drug as part of the clinical management protocols for COVID-19 and its availability in the country.

 

Loss of Smell, Taste Added as New Symptoms for COVID: Health Min

https://fit.thequint.com/coronavirus/loss-of-smell-taste-added-as-new-symptoms-for-covid-health-min

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released an updated set of clinical management protocols on their website on Saturday, 13 June.In this, they added new symptoms like the “loss of smell and taste” in their criteria for testing COVID-19.Loss of smell (anosmia) or loss of taste (ageusia) preceding the onset of respiratory symptoms has also been reported. The report added that older people and immune-suppressed patients, in particular, may present with atypical symptoms such as fatigue, reduced alertness, reduced mobility, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, delirium, and absence of fever.Children might not have reported fever or cough as frequently as adults.

 

Covid-19 peak in India may arrive mid-November, paucity of ICU beds, ventilators likely: Study

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/covid-19-peak-in-india-may-arrive-mid-november-paucity-of-icu-beds-ventilators-likely-study-1688963-2020-06-14

The peak stage of Covid-19 pandemic in India has been delayed by the eight-week lockdown along with strengthened public health measures and it may now arrive around mid-November during which there could be a paucity of isolation and ICU beds, and ventilators, according to a study.The study conducted by researchers from an Operations Research Group constituted by ICMR said the lockdown shifted the peak of the pandemic by an estimated 34 to 76 days and helped bring down the number of infections by 69 to 97 per cent thereby allowing time for the healthcare system to shore up resources and infrastructure.

 

 

Delhi moving into a red zone: Every third person tested is COVID-19 positive

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/delhi-moving-into-a-red-zone-every-third-person-tested-is-covid-19-positive

Delhi is slowing moving into a red zone where soon every second test could result in a COVID-19 positive case. On June 13, it took only 2.71 teststo find one Coronavirus positive case. This means there is at least 37% positivity in Delhi, i.e. more than one-third of the people who are being tested are COVID-19 positive.If we were to consider a week, from June 7 to June 13, a COVID-19 positive case was being discovered every 3.13 tests. This increase in positivity is a worrying trend. When we compute the positivity for a month (May 14 to June 13), it took 5.36 cases to find one positive case and the cumulative figure from when the cases began in Delhi, it is 7.3. An increase in positivity means that fewer number of tests are required to find one COVID-19 positive case. It is inversely proportional. On May 14, there was were 8,470 COVID-19 cases in the capital and 1,19,736 tests had been done. This meant that one COVID-19 positive case was being found after every 14.1 tests. For a month (from May 14 to June 13), 1,63,550 tests were done, and 30,488 cases were COVID-19 positive. Within a month, it took only 5.36 tests to find one COVID-19 positive case in Delhi.For the last one week, the number of tests required to identify a positive case has decreased. From June 7 to June 13, 31,324 tests were done, of which 10,022 were COVID-19 positive. For the last week, it took only 3.13 tests to find one positive case.If we were to look at the numbers for the last three days (June 11, 12, 13), it is quite perturbing. On June 11, it took 2.86 tests to find one COVID-19 positive case, on June 12, it became 2.78 tests and on June 13, 2.71 tests. Trends suggest that soon every second person who would be tested would be positive for coronavirus.

 

BJP-ruled States yet to share details on changes to labour laws

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bjp-ruled-states-yet-to-share-details-on-changes-to-labour-laws/article31826838.ece?homepage=true

More than a month after the Parliamentary Committee on Labour wrote to eight State governments seeking explanation on the changes brought to the labour laws during the extended lockdown, three BJP-ruled States — Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh — have not responded, despite two reminders from the Committee. 3 States have effected the most significant changes, suspending the majority of the labour laws for a period up to three years.

 

Delhi: Salaries Not Paid, Doctors at Kasturba, Hindu Rao Hospitals Threaten Mass Resignation

https://thewire.in/rights/delhi-hindu-rao-kasturba-mcd-hospitals-doctors-mass-resgination

New Delhi: More than 350 resident doctors of two hospitals run by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation – Kasturba Hospital and Hindu Rao Hospital – have threatened to resign en masse citing non-payment of salaries for the past three-four months. They have given the authorities one week’s notice for meeting their demands.Recently, news emerged that salary arrears for the past three months have not been credited to more than 3,000 health workers under the North MCD. Medical associations have written multiple letters to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi but to no avail.Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) of Daryaganj’s Kasturba Hospital, which has around 100 resident doctors, issued a letter to the hospital administration on June 10 stating that unless their salaries, due for over three months, are disbursed by June 16 and they are ensured a regular salary payout in the future, they will be forced to resign.

 

Delhi rules: Pay ₹500 fine for not wearing masks, spitting in public

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/national/delhi-rules-pay-indian-rupee500-fine-for-not-wearing-masks-spitting-in-public

Amid a spike in coronavirus cases in the national capital, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal has approved rules imposing a fine of ₹ 500 on those flouting quarantine rules, not wearing masks, not maintaining social distancing and chewing and spitting tobacco in public places in Delhi from Sunday.The order issued on Saturday is aimed at cracking down on those violating rules of safety protocol to prevent the spread of COVID-19.IANS

 

Coronavirus: India’s recovery rate over 50%, testing ramped up continuously, says Centre

https://scroll.in/latest/964680/coronavirus-indias-recovery-rate-over-50-testing-ramped-up-continuously-says-centre

The Centre on Sunday said India’s coronavirus recovery rate has crossed 50% after the country reported its biggest single-day jump in infections.“With 8,049 Covid-19 patients cured in the last 24 hours, the recovery rate has become more than 50%,” the health ministry said. “A total of 1,62,378 patients, so far, have been cured. Currently, the recovery rate is 50.60%. This indicates that of all the cases of Covid-19, half of them have recovered from the disease. Timely case identification and proper clinical management has been the road to recovery.”Meanwhile, the health ministry said the Indian Council of Medical Research’s coronavirus testing capacity is being continuously increased. “The number of government labs has been increased to 646 and private labs has been increased to 247 [a total of 893],” it added. “In the last 24 hours, 1,51,432 samples were tested. The total number of samples tested thus far is 56,58,614.”

 

 

Kerala expats slam mandatory Covid-19 test rule for Gulf returnees

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/kerala-expats-slam-mandatory-test-rule-for-gulf-returnees/story-H5e776dEAbGdtwcRJCCFQO.html

Expatriates from Kerala are unhappy with the Kerala government’s decision to seek Covid-19 test results of all passengers returning by chartered flights from the Middle East. The minister of state for external affairs, V Muraldeedharan, also differed on the move.“From June 20, all private chartered flights departing to Kerala from Middle-East countries shall only carry passengers who have been tested for Covid-19 infection and shown to be negative. A test certificate to that effect should be carried by the passenger. It applies to all flights for which consent letters were issued earlier,” said the government order issued by state principal secretary K Elangovan on Friday.Anwar Naha, leader of the Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre, an outfit working among expatriates in the Gulf, said, “It is highly unethical and discriminatory. The government also insists the certificate should be obtained at least 48 hours before the flight. In some countries, it is a tedious process and a costly affair. We have no idea why the government is troubling people who are eager enough to reach their country.”

 

 

Darul Uloom allows use of alcohol-based sanitizers on mosque premises

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/meerut/darul-uloom-allows-use-of-alcohol-based-sanitizers-on-mosque-premises/articleshow/76349841.cms

Islamic seminary Darul Uloom, Deoband has issued a fatwa saying alcohol-based sanitizers can be used to clean the mosque premises. “There is nothing wrong in using alcohol-based sanitizers in mosques. Even it can be spread on mosque’s walls and floors to sanitize the place of worship,” read the fatwa issued by Darul Uloom. It has come as a reply to a query made by a resident of Karnataka.“The alcohol which is used in medicine and sanitizers is produced from vegetables, sugarcane juice etc. So it can be used. Even if the sanitizer has a high quantity of alcohol it is also valid. It can be used to sanitize mosques and also after the Vazu-- the practice of washing one’s face, hand and feet before namaaz-- this sanitizer can be applied on hands,” the fatwa read. It comes just 3 days after Dargah Aala Hazrat asked followers and mosque heads to avoid using alcohol-based sanitizers. “A mosque will become impure if alcohol-based sanitizer is used for cleaning the premises. We cannot make God’s home impure. Namaz cannot be offered at an impure place. I have appealed to Imams of mosques and mosques’ committees to refrain from using alcohol-based sanitizer,” Mufti Nashtar Farooqi of Sunni Markaz Darul Ifta, Dargah Aala Hazrat has said. Farooqi also gave an alternative to save the followers from the “sin”. “Muslims should properly wash their hands and mosque campus with soap, detergent powder and shampoo,” the cleric said.timesofindia

 

Anti-minority content in Public Service Commission bulletin: Plea at HC seeks action

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/anti-minority-content-in-psc-bulletin-plea-at-hc-seeks-action/articleshow/76344241.cms

KOCHI: A petition has been filed before the Kerala high court seeking a directive to the state govt and Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) to take action against the officers responsible for publishing a bulletin that attributed the spread of COVID-19 to the Tablighi Jamaat meeting held at New Delhi. Registration of FIR is also being sought in the plea.In addition to the state government and PSC, the petition filed by Nabeel Nasar names PSC secretary Saju George and PSC member R Parvathi Devi as respondents. The national media gave a communal flavour to the incident at New Delhi by naming it as ‘Thablig Covid’, ‘Corona Jihad’, etc and fake news spread over print, broadcast, and social media indicting a particular community. PSC bulletin also accepted these stories and included them in the e-version published on April 15th. Though complaints were raised against the same, no action was taken by the state government or PSC and the hatred is being circulated at the cost of the State, the petition said. During the hearing, the counsel pointed out that 6 or 7 persons who attended the meeting had reported positive at the time but 1,500 persons were affected with COVID-19 at Delhi itself. They were not affected because of the conference, the counsel submitted. Though a complaint has been filed before police about the spreading of fake news, no action has been taken yet, the counsel pointed out. Directing for sending a copy of the petition to the standing counsel of PSC, the court has scheduled further hearing on Tuesday.

 

PIL in SC seeks transfer of PM CARES Fund contributions to National Disaster Response Fund

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/pil-in-sc-seeks-transfer-of-pm-cares-fund-contributions-to-national-disaster-response-fund

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the Centre to transfer all contributions to PM CARES Fund set up for COVID-19 relief to the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), reports BarandBench. The plea filed by Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) also seeks the setting up of a National Plan under Disaster Management Act (DM Act).In line with Section 46(1)(b) of DM Act, all present and future collections, contributions, and grants for the fight against COVID-19 should be credited towards NDRF, plea prays. CPIL has also said that a National Plan under Sections 10 and 11 of the DM Act must be prepared, notified, and implemented to deal with the pandemic.

 

Bombay HC grants bail to nine Tablighi members from central Asia

https://www.deccanherald.com/national/hc-grants-bail-to-nine-tablighi-members-from-central-asia-848969.html

Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Friday granted bail to nine members of Tablighi Jamat hailing from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan who were staying in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. 9 were arrested on April 29 for allegedly violating their visa conditions and lockdown prohibitory orders. Their lawyers Firdos Mirza and Mir Naan Ali told the court that the group arrived in Gadchiroli in the first week of March from Delhi.As lockdown for containing coronavirus came into force, they had no option but to stay on in the district, the lawyers argued.PTI

 

Foreigners’ rights will be upheld, Telangana HC on Markaz

https://telanganatoday.com/foreigners-rights-will-be-upheld-telangana-hc-on-markaz

Hyderabad: Justice T Vinod Kumar of Telangana High Court on Friday dealt with a case which challenged the registration of cases against 40 foreign nationals for participating in Tablighi Jamaat congregation. The petitioners were charged under violations of Foreigners Act, Disaster Management Act and for offences under IPC. 6 guides and three shelter providers from Hyderabad, Lucknow and Delhi were also charged for helping the foreigners.The petitioners came from abroad on various dates from Dec.2019 to March 15, 2020. They attended Tablighi Jamaat meeting in Nizamuddin. It is alleged that petitioners came to Hyderabad between March 21 and 23 and stayed at a mosque in old Malakpet and that they violated visa and social distancing rules. O Manohar Reddy, counsel for the petitioners pointed out that visa rules did not prohibit visiting religious meetings or religious places. He pointed out that the petitioners moved to an isolation ward. “Taking away petitioners’ passports restricts their movement amounting to arrest,” counsel said.

 

West Bengal village exemplifies harmony in unity, Muslims turn pallbearers for Hindu woman during last journey

https://www.timesnownews.com/kolkata/article/west-bengal-village-exemplifies-harmony-in-unity-muslims-turn-pallbearers-for-hindu-woman-during-last-journey/605847

Kolkata: Muslims performed the last rites of a Hindu woman in West Bengal. "They are like my own brothers, my family. Their last names do not matter, it didn't matter to them that I was not from their faith, yet they all became my mother's pallbearers", said Ratan Saha who lost his mother Anjali Devi, 60 on Friday to a cardiac arrest. Anjali Saha belonged to a lone Hindu family at Dalboxtola, a village with over 400 Muslim families in Malda district. The Saha family was the only Hindu family in the village, yet never too alone. Anjali lost her husband last year and the family of 7 was left with Ratan Saha, her son as the only male member. On Friday morning as soon as the news of Anjali's death spread in the village, Muslims from the neighbourhood rushed to their help, the way they had during her husband's demise.

 

Muslim man develops contactless bell to ring in temple in Madhya Pradesh

https://www.newindianexpress.com/good-news/2020/jun/14/muslim-man-develops-contactless-bell-to-ring-in-shiva-temple-in-madhya-pradesh-2156397.html

BHOPAL: A Muslim mechanic, who provided soundproof generators to Hindu temples, has now ensured that a bell in a prominent Shiva temple in Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh can ring without being touched.Knowing well that temples across the central Indian state have opened after two months with strict guideline of none (devotee or priest) being allowed to touch the bell (for COVID-19 preventive reasons), 62-year-old mechanic Nahru Khan has fitted the bell with electric sensor at the Pashupatinath temple in Mandsaur.The innovation has ensured that the Pashupatinath Temple in Mandsaur town becomes the only temple in MP and perhaps in the country, where bell fitted with sensor rings even if a devotee's hand is around a feet and half from the bell.

 

Karnataka: Cases Registered as Thousands Gather for Village Festival Ignoring Admin's Pleas

https://thewire.in/religion/karnataka-kara-hunnime-religious-festival-covid-19

New Delhi: After a video showing thousands of people celebrating the annual festival of Brahmalingeshwara deity at Karjagi village in Haveri taluk went viral on Friday, the Karnataka police registered a case against 69 participants for violating the orders prohibiting congregations, aimed to contain the spread of COVID-19. TOI has reported that cases have also been slapped against the committee members of Brahmalingeshwar Temple for organizing Kara Hunnime celebration on Thursday, despite district administration’s order imposing Section 144 of CrPc. The event saw participation of thousands of devotees along with a bullock cart procession.The administration said that villagers had approached to seek permission for celebrations a week ago and were vehemently denied.“Villagers of Karjagi had visited office seeking permission for historic Kara Hunnime celebrations in last week. But, I had denied them permission as prohibitory orders were in place,”said Deputy Commissioner Krishna Bajpai.

 

Tablighi Chief Maulana Saad resurfaces after months to pray in a Delhi Mosque: timesnownews

https://www.timesnownews.com/videos/times-now/india/tablighi-chief-maulana-saad-resurfaces-after-months-to-pray-in-a-delhi-mosque-i-first-pictures/63831

 Tablighi Chief, Maulana Saad has resurfaced after months amid the Nizamuddin Markaz controversy. He was captured with a group when he came to offer prayers at the Abu Bakr mosque in Delhi. An investigation has been initiated against him by Delhi Police as High Court said that the congregation at the Nizamuddin Markaz was responsible for willfully spreading the Coronavirus.

 

Kashmir: Covid+ Mom Delivers Baby in Absence of Docs; Isolation Centre in Dock

https://clarionindia.net/kashmir-covid-mom-delivers-baby-in-absence-of-docs-isolation-centre-in-dock/

KUPWARA – An incident of mishandling of Covid case came to light where a corona positive pregnant woman gave birth to a child in Cheerkoot Lolab, Kupwara, when there was no doctor available in the isolation centre. The delivery was conducted by another Covid positive pregnant lady in the centre.According to the lady who donned the role of a midwife, when her fellow inmate went into labour, they tried to contact everyone around to for medical help, but unfortunately nobody came to their help. “We tried to hire an ambulance, but that too was not available. When her labour pain increased, we called the two nurses present here to attend on her, but they too refused to oblige. After that, I put the gloves on and I facilitated the delivery,” she narrated.The women even shot a video on phone to catch the moments of their ordeal. As the incident has become public, the ladies are alleging that they are now constantly being intimidated by the doctors and other medical staff at the Centre warning them against releasing the video.

 

Lockdown Brings out the Humane Face of Indian Muslims

https://clarionindia.net/lockdown-brings-out-the-humane-face-of-indian-muslims-2/

India witnessed an unprecedented humanitarian and health crises during the longest lockdown worldwide amid Covid-19 pandemic. During this period, Indian Muslims were stigmatised for purportedly spreading the disease on purpose by the government and a section of media.Braving hate, discrimination and murderous attacks, uncounted Muslim groups and NGOs came forward to help large population of needy and poor fellow Indians in a gesture to serve the nation.The focus of these Muslim groups while carrying out their respective “Covid-19 Relief Campaigns” was not just distribution of food and dry ration kits but also helping people through helpline, monetary assistance, providing medical assistance such as telemedicine, distribution of PPE kits, sanitisers, masks, setting up quarantine centers and organising blood donation and medical camps and even online career counselling sessions.Several Muslim groups fanned out across the country to expand their relief and rehabilitation work at pan India level taking a cue from the holy month of Ramzan that promotes charity.As a joint collective, Foundation for Poverty Alleviation along with Qasid Foundation, Basti Suraksha Manch, Bhartiye Navedeep Samiti and Citizens Initiative launched “Project UMEED” to run food drive in Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The project focused on homeless, daily wagers, women and windows and benefitted around 33,000 families. The group also arranged buses to ferry 260 migrant labourers to their homes in Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.Scholars’ Education and Welfare Academy (SEWA), a group of Muslim youths, distributed around 7,000 food packets and water bottles among migrant labours and poor families during lockdown in Delhi.Delhi-based Hamaari Sadat Trust distributed cooked food packets and ration in Delhi and rural areas of eastern Uttar Pradesh.In the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh, Muslims under “Shoulder-to-Shoulder” banner ran community kitchen for underprivileged sections of the society. On the other hand, Aligarh-based “Unite For Change” provided food to daily wagers travelling by buses. Besides ration, the youth group provided medicine to patients in several cities.Team Sewa Bihar ran live kitchen to feed poor and marginalised sections of society living roadside in Patna and nearby areas. While in rural areas of Jharkhand, Milli Group, besides distributing ration Kits to the migrant labourers, arranged transport to send them to their homes in UP.Jaipur-based Helping Hand Foundation that works for marginalised sections distributed 45,223 cooked food packets through live kitchens and 5,223 kits of dry ration in Rajasthan. Naeem Rabbani, vice president of the NGO said, “Besides ration kits, we provided toilet kits in quarantine centres and supported 60 families through direct cash.”Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP) launched #Feed5000Families campaign throuh Zakat Crowd funding platform. Their campaign reached out to more than 3,000 needy families in 90 cities across India.Human Welfare Foundation covered rural and urban areas of a total of 25 states with distribution of over 5,2000 food kits.A medical team of the Rajasthan unit of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind helped bury the dead during the lockdown.Zakat Foundation of India (ZFI), a NGO known for its educational activities for the uplift of religious minorities and other marginalised sections, took various steps to help the people during the lockdown.SIO also worked at pan India level. The student body started 1,000 helpline centres especially for student community and migrant labourers.“With thousands of volunteers at its disposal, the organisation helped around 10,000 students and one lakh homeless people and daily wagers with food and basic needs. SIO also distributed around two lakh Ramzan and Eid kits,” Labeed Aliya, president of SIO said.Clarion India

 

 

 

Atlas Cycles shuts shop, blames cheaper imports, higher cost and lack of working capital

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/atlas-cycles-shuts-shop-blames-cheaper-imports-higher-cost-and-lack-of-working-capital

On the UN designated World Bicycle Day, India’s second largest manufacturer of bicycles shut shop. Atlas Cycles had shut its other units earlier and the Sahibabad plant was the last to close down on June 3.It had started operations from a tin shed in 1951 but the brand, named after the Greek Titan Atlas, condemned to hold up the celestial heaven for eternity, quickly became the largest bicycle brand in the country. It was the official supplier to the Asian games hosted by India in 1982.But the company insists that it is not the end of the road. It in fact admitted that it had sought permission to sell part of its land bank to raise operational funds. In fact, a company spokesman claimed that its application for permission to sell the parcel of land will be heard by the NCLT on June 18 and that it had sought to sell a small parcel of land to raise just Rs 50 crore.

 

Aurangabad: Online 'Eid Milan' today

http://www.uniindia.com/online-eid-milan-on-sunday/west/news/2036740.html

Aurangabad:To spread the message of love and brotherhood, the Jamaat-e-Islami

Hind Aurangabad unit has organised online ''EID Milan'' on Sunday through YouTube channel 'JIH MAHARASHTRA'. Every year, Shirkhurma feast with friends in "Eid Milan" events after Eid. But this year, it could not possible to gather for the events due to lockdown. UNI

 

AMU Students Oppose Administration Decision to Conduct Online Examinations

https://www.newsclick.in/AMU-Students-Oppose-Administration-Decision-Conduct-Online-Examinations

Lucknow: Students of AMU have voiced their concern after the university administration decided to conduct online examinations. The students have cited a lack of access to the internet, books and quality study material as reasons. The students, under lockdown in different parts of the country, also mention a dearth of laptops and computers as major concerns, and are vehemently opposing the idea of online examinations.The matter first took a turn after Aftab Alam, a professor at AMU’s political science department, came out openly against the university’s decision. Following his resistance, resident students have now refused to vacate hostels and return to their homes, citing connectivity issues in their home districts.

 

US Coronavirus Survivor Receives $1.1 Million Hospital Bill

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/coronavirus-us-covid-19-survivor-receives-1-1-million-hospital-bill-2245950?pfrom=home-topstories

Washington, United States: A 70-year-old American man who nearly died of COVID-19 has been billed a heart-stopping $1.1 million for his hospital expenses, the Seattle Times reported Saturday.Michael Flor was admitted to a hospital in the northwestern city on March 4, and stayed for 62 days -- at one point coming so close to death that nurses held up the phone so his wife and children could say goodbye.But he recovered and was discharged on May 5 to the cheers of nursing staff -- only to receive a 181-page bill totalling $1,122,501.04, he told the newspaper. That includes: $9,736 per day for the intensive care room, nearly $409,000 for its transformation into a sterile room for 42 days, $82,000 for the use of a ventilator for 29 days, and nearly $100,000 for two days when his prognosis was life-threatening.

 

 

 

 

 

*SOUTH ASIA- INDO-PAK, J&K*

 

India raises killing of Bihar's Sitamarhi resident with Nepal

https://zeenews.india.com/india/india-raises-killing-of-bihars-sitamarhi-resident-with-nepal-2289929.html

New Delhi: India has strongly raised the killing of its national at the diplomatic level with Nepal. The matter was raised with the Nepali mission in Delhi and by the Indian mission in Kathmandu with Nepali Home Ministry. Vinesh Kumar, a 22-year-old Indian farmer from Bihar's Sitamarhi was killed and two others were injured in indiscriminate firing by the Nepal police at the India-Nepal border on June 12. The incident happened when Nepalese Armed Police Force (NAPF) opened fire during an altercation killing one Bikesh Kumar Rai and injuring 3 others Indian nationals. One Indian was also taken into custody by the Nepali forces.

 

Indian Army chief says ties will remain strong, hours before Nepal votes on controversial map

https://theprint.in/defence/indian-army-chief-naravane-says-ties-will-remain-strong-hours-before-nepal-votes-on-controversial-map/440897/

New Delhi: In a U-turn of sorts, Army chief M.M. Naravane Saturday said the relationship between India and Nepal has “always been strong” and “will remain strong in the future”, hours before the Nepal parliament is scheduled to pass a constitutional amendment bill to adopt their new controversial political map in their national emblem.Last month, General Naravane had stated that Nepal was ratcheting up the Lipulekh border issue at the “behest of someone else and that is very much possible”,insinuating Chinese interference. Indian Army has been locked in a military stand-off with China near Line of Actual Control around Pangong lake since 5 May.“We have a very strong relationship with Nepal. We have geographical, cultural, historical, religious linkages. We have very strong people to people connect. Our relation with them has always been strong and will remain strong in the future,” Naravane said at Indian Military Academy (IMA) Saturday. Naravane was there to attend a passing out parade.

 

“Is it not our failure?”: BJP MP Subramanian Swamy steps up attack on Modi government after Nepal’s parliament clears new political map

http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/is-it-not-our-failure-bjp-mp-subramanian-swamy-steps-up-attack-on-modi-government-after-nepals-parliament-clears-new-political-map/293863/

BJP’s Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy on Sunday stepped up his attack on thje Centre’s Narendra Modi government by questioning its foreign policy. Reacting to Nepal’s parliament clearing the country’s new political map, Swamy wondered if the development in the neighbouring country was indicative of India’s failure in foreign policy.Swamy tweeted, “How can Nepal think of asking for Indian territory? What has hurt their sentiments so much that they want to break with India? Is it not our failure? Need RESET in foreign policy too.”

 

Chinese diplomat in Pakistan links Ladakh standoff to Article 370, deletes tweet later

https://theprint.in/diplomacy/chinese-diplomat-in-pakistan-links-ladakh-standoff-to-article-370-deletes-tweet-later/441476/

New Delhi: A Chinese envoy in Pakistan has sent diplomatic circles in a flurry after he suggested that the standoff between India and China in Ladakh may be linked to the revocation of Article 370, in a tweet.Wang Xianfengm, a press officer at the Chinese embassy in Islamabad according to his Twitter bio, put out a tweet Thursday that said: “India’s actions of unilaterally changing the status quo of Kashmir and continuing to exacerbate regional tensions have posed a challenge to the sovereignty of China and Pakistan and made the India-Pakistan relations and China-India relations more complex.”The tweet was subsequently deleted Saturday.

 

 

India no longer a weak country, won’t compromise: Rajnath Singh on border row with China

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/rajnath-singh-lac-india-china-ladakh-6458302/

Jammu :India will never compromise on its “national pride” as it is no longer a “weak” country since its security capability has increased, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday. He also assured the Opposition that talks were in progress to resolve the border stand-off with China and that no one would be kept in the dark.Addressing a virtual rally in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said: “I want to assure that we will not compromise with national pride under any circumstance. India is no longer a weak India. Our strength in national security has risen. But this strength is not meant to frighten anyone but to secure our country.”indianexpress

 

Give arms training, weapons to minority Hindus, vulnerable Muslims in Kashmir: Former J&K DGP Vaid

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/give-arms-training-weapons-to-minority-hindus-vulnerable-muslims-in-kashmir-former-j-k-dgp-vaid-1688502-2020-06-13

Jammu:Days after the assassination of Kashmiri Pandit Sarpanch, Ajay Pandita Bharti, in South Kashmir's Anantnag district, former DGP of J&K Police Shesh Paul Vaid has favoured arming the minority Hindus and vulnerable sections among the Muslim community in the Kashmir Valley so that they can protect themselves from terror attacks.Speaking to India Today TV, former J&K top cop said that all options must be explored for instilling a sense of security among the minority community of Kashmiri Hindus.He also said that weapons should be provided to the members of the community and arms training should be given to them so that they can protect themselves from the terror attacks. “There is no harm in giving arms training and providing weapons to the minority Hindu community as well as to the vulnerable section of the Muslims in Kashmir valley,” ex DGP said. He added, “Village Defence Committees(VDCs) can be constituted in the Valley. However, this formula requires detailed planning. Forming VDCs in the Kashmir Valley is difficult, but not impossible."Since the brutal killing of Kashmiri Hindu Sarpanch Ajay Pandita Bharti, many displaced Kashmiri Pandits have demanded that government must arm the Hindus in the valley as they are soft targets for the terrorists. He recalled how he as SSP of Udhampur in 1995 was instrumental in forming first VDC in Bagankote village which was part of Udhampur district at that time.

 

J&K: Army personnel killed, 2 injured in Pakistani firing in Poonch district

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jammu-and-kashmir-pakistan-firing-poonch-army-jawan-killed-injured-6458111/

An Army personnel was killed and 2 others were injured after Pakistani troops opened fire and resorted to shelling along LoC in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday. This is the third fatality this month due to Pakistani firing and shelling on forward posts and villages in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri.The firing, officials said today, took place in Shahpur-Kerni sector on Saturday night, prompting the Army to strongly retaliate. 3 Army personnel were injured and were immediately evacuated to hospital, where one of them succumbed to injuries, officials added. Officials also said that the casualties suffered by Pakistani Army in the retaliatory action were yet to be clarified. Three days ago, an Army soldier was killed and a civilian injured in Mendhar sector after Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked mortar shelling and small arms fire at various places in Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu and Kashmir.indianexpress

 

How did Shopian, Kashmir's apple bowl, turn into a battleground district?The Hindu story

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/shopian-district-the-battleground-district/article31822367.ece

Once known for its golden apples, pears and tall mountains, Shopian, the extreme southern district of the Kashmir Valley, is now in news mostly over militancy. Of around 116 militants killed in J&K so far this year, 28 (24%) were killed in encounters in Shopian, including district ‘commander’ of Hizbul Mujahideen. Between June 7 and 10, 14 militants were killed in three separate encounters in the sector.Spread over 412.9 sq. km and with a population of 2,66,000, Shopian is around 61 km away from Srinagar. Its boundary has a series of sky-scraping peaks of mountains of Pir Panjal Range. These not-so-easily accessible mountainous ranges and dense forests have been providing shelter to local militants, turning this idyllic location into a hotspot of militancy in the Valley. In recent times, many top militants had camped in the region, including Riyaz Naikoo, the operations ‘commander’ of Hizbul. Naikoo, who hailed from Pulwama, used to appear at the funerals of slain militants and fire a volley of bullets into the air to galvanise youth support to militancy. He was killed in Pulwama on May 6. Last month, a local militant, identified by the police as Hidayatullah Malik from Shopian’s Sharatpora area, had provided his car with the intent to carry out a Pulwama-style attack in south Kashmir. However, Malik’s car, which was filled with 40 to 45 kg of explosives, was timely tracked by security agencies and explosives were detonated. “Most of commanders active in the area have been killed this year,” said Vijay Kumar, IGP, Kashmir.According to police records, Shopian still has 27 active militants — Hizbul tops the list with 12, Jaish-e-Muhammad with 7, followed by Lashkar-e-Taiba with 6 and Ansar Ghazwatul Hind with 2. J&K Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), which was floated in 1942 and drew its inspiration from Islamic theologian Abul Ala Maududi, has also built considerable influence in Shopian.

 

‘Seeing development in J&K, people of PoK will demand to be part of India,’ says Rajnath Singh

https://scroll.in/latest/964655/seeing-development-in-j-k-people-of-pok-will-demand-to-be-part-of-india-says-rajnath-singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the fate of Jammu and Kashmir will change in the coming years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, HT reported.Singh also asserted that BJP-led administration will undertake such developmental projects in Jammu and Kashmir that will make “people of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir” demand “to be a part of India”, PTI reported. Union minister made these comments during the “Jammu and Kashmir Jan Samvad rally” via video conferencing.“Many landmark decisions were taken under PM [Prime Minister] Modi’s leadership and the abrogation of Article 370 was one of them,” Singh said.

 

India do not want land of China or Pakistan but wants peace: Gadkari

https://www.deccanherald.com/national/india-do-not-want-land-of-china-or-pakistan-but-wants-peace-gadkari-849481.html

 India is not interested in land of Pakistan or China but wanted peace and amity, Union minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari said on Sunday.Addressing virtual 'Jan Samvad' rally of Gujarat BJP from Nagpur in Maharashtra, he said India believed in peace and non-violence and do not want to be strong by becoming an expansionist."India never tried to grab land of its neighbours like Bhutan and Bangladesh," he added."India do not want land of either Pakistan or China. All India want is peace, amity, love, and (want) to work together (with neighbouring countries)," Gadkari said.PTI

 

 

*WORLD*

Indian origin doctors in the US fight charges of fake research based on fake data

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/indian-origin-doctors-in-the-us-fight-charges-of-fake-research-based-on-fake-data

Dr Amit Patel, one of the 3 Indian doctors in US at the centre of a raging medical research scandal, has had his faculty position terminated by the University of Utah, where he was the chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery.The other two, Dr Mandeep Mehra, an MD from Harvard, and Dr Sapan Desai, a surgeon in Chicago, have been charged with unethical practices. Mehra has tendered an unconditional apology and confessed that he had written or lent his name as lead investigator to several research papers without accessing the data supplied by Desai. Patel too has distanced himself from Desai, who happens to be his dal brother-inlaw. Patel who apparently introduced Mehra to Desai, has also distanced himself from the brother-in-law. The 3 collaborated and wrote several research papers in reputed medical journals, promoting or debunking use of specific drugs and their side effects while dealing with their efficacy in treating COVID-19 patients.

 

Fatal police shooting of a black man outside a restaurant sparks fresh wave of protests in Atlanta

https://indianexpress.com/article/world/fatal-police-shooting-of-a-black-man-outside-a-restaurant-sparks-fresh-wave-of-protests-in-atlanta-6458325/

Amid the ongoing nation-wide protests against racism and police brutality in the United States, a police official on Saturday shot and killed an African American man who had fallen asleep in his car in the drive-thru lane of a fast food restaurant in Atlanta, Georgia. The man’s death has sparked a fresh wave of violent unrest in the city, with protestors blocking a major highway and setting ablaze the restaurant at which the incident occurred, New York Times reported. According to authorities, police arrived outside an outlet of the Wendy’s fast food chain after receiving complaints about a man obstructing the drive-thru lane with his car. The man, identified as 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks, allegedly struggled with the police officials in an attempt to escape arrest when he failed a sobriety test. A video captured by a bystander shows Brooks being shot while running away with what appears to be a police stun gun in his hand. Brooks later died while undergoing surgery at a nearby hospital, according to a report by Forbes.indian express

 

Taliban killed, wounded over 400 Afghan forces in one week: Afghan Govt

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/06/taliban-killed-wounded-400-afghan-forces-week-gov-200614111545393.html

Taliban has killed or wounded more than 400 Afghan security personnel over the past week, the interior ministry said, accusing the group of increasing attacks in the run-up to expected peace talks.Violence dropped across much of Afghanistan since the Taliban announced a 3-day ceasefire on May 24 to mark the Muslim Eid al-Fitr celebration, but officials have accused the group of stepping up attacks in recent days.  "In the past one week, Taliban carried out 222 attacks against the Afghan security forces, resulting in the death and injury of 422" personnel, interior ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said at a news conference on Sunday.He also accused Taliban of targeting religious scholars in a bid to put "psychological pressure" on the Afghan government. 4 people, including a prayer leader, were killed when a blast ripped through a mosque in Kabul during weekly Friday prayers. No group claimed responsibility for the attack which came just over a week after an ISIL attack at a mosque on the edge of Kabul's heavily fortified Green Zone killed a prominent prayer leader. The Taliban condemned both attacks. President Ashraf Ghani has promised to complete a Taliban prisoner release that is a key condition to beginning the negotiations with the group aimed at ending nearly two decades of war.

 

*views, Articles, FEATURES*

NE Delhi Violence Probe: Gaps Between Police Claims & Facts?SHORBORI PURKAYASTHA

https://www.thequint.com/podcast/northeast-delhi-violence-probe-gaps-between-police-claims-and-facts

Commentary: Fake medical research is rampant, take findings with a pinch of salt:Dr VK Sinha

https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/opinion/commentary-fake-medical-research-is-rampant-take-findings-with-a-pinch-of-salt

Being Muslim in a Small UP Village at the Moment it Learns of Its First COVID Positive Case:Istikhar Ali

https://thewire.in/communalism/covid-19-corona-jihad-muslims-tablighi

Home Minister's detractors are wrong; Amit Shah was as busy as ever during the lockdown, doing what he does best: Jyoti Punwani

https://www.firstpost.com/india/the-home-ministers-detractors-are-wrong-amit-shah-was-as-busy-as-ever-during-the-lockdown-doing-what-he-does-best-8482381.html

Amid India-China standoff, meet explorers who mapped Galwan’s lonely heights:Nirupama Subramanian

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-china-border-galwan-nicholas-george-roerich-tibet-6457639/

Dragon invites elephant to dance:P Chidambaram

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/india-china-border-lac-ladakh-p-chidambaram-6457596/

Actor Payal Rohatgi’s outburst against Safoora Zargar typifies right wing obsession with Muslim sexuality

https://www.firstpost.com/india/actor-payal-rohatgis-outburst-against-safoora-zargar-typifies-right-wing-obsession-with-muslim-sexuality-8482581.html

Varanasi priest, IIT professor, Modi critic: ‘The government is here to assist us, not rule us’

https://scroll.in/article/964635/varanasi-priest-iit-professor-modi-critic-the-government-is-here-to-assist-us-not-rule-us

Instead of lies and half-truths, it would be better if PM apologises for terrible suffering millions have endured:Tavleen Singh

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/amit-shah-narendra-modi-coronavirus-tavleen-singh-6457625/

2002 Gujarat riot victims rehabilitation woes continues:Syed Ali Mujtaba

http://muslimmirror.com/eng/2002-gujarat-riot-victims-rehabilitation-woes-continues/

Judicial system in India on the verge of collapse :By Dr. Rahul Kumar

http://muslimmirror.com/eng/judicial-system-in-india-on-the-verge-of-collapse/

New India: Hotbed for Islamophobia, Jihadophobia and anti- Muslim pogroms:By Shah Hussain

http://muslimmirror.com/eng/new-india-hotbed-for-islamophobia-jihadophobia-and-anti-muslim-pogroms/

Preventing school dropouts among Muslims is the biggest challenge of the academic year 2020-21: Salim Alware

http://muslimmirror.com/eng/preventing-school-dropouts-among-muslims-is-the-biggest-challenge-of-the-academic-year-2020-21/

Journalists In India Facing Threat and Intimidation For Criticising The Government:Syed Khalique Ahmed | India Tomorrow

http://www.indiatomorrow.net/eng/journalists-in-india-facing-threat-and-intimidation-for-criticising-the-government

 

 Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:53 PM)