Evening NEWS
DIGEST
06
May 2017: 09 Shaban 1438: Vol: 8, No:183
Bilkis Bano ‘wants the same justice’ after SC upholds death penalty for Delh’s
Nirbhaya gangrape convicts
Bilkis Bano, who was gangraped during the 2002 Gujarat riots, has also
sought death penalty for her attackers, after the Supreme Court on Friday
upheld the death sentences awarded to the four men convicted for the 2012 Delhi
gangrape. The 36-year-old told HT that she, too, “wants to get the same
justice” and will consult lawyers to decide on further course of action. The
Bombay High Court on Thursday had dismissed an appeal by the CBI to enhance the
punishment of 3 of the 11 convicts who had brutally assaulted Bano – then 19
and 5 months pregnant – to a death sentence. The attackers had also killed 14
members of her family, including her 3-year-old child, on March 6, 2002, in
Randhikpur near Ahmedabad.CBI had sought death sentences for Jaswant Nai,
Govind Nai, and Sailesh Bhatt, informing the High Court that this was a “rarest
of rare case”. The Supreme Court on Friday had used this very term to justify
its verdict in the Delhi gangrape.Bilkis’ husband Yakub told HT that the death
sentence would act as a deterrent. “No other woman in India should have to face
such a ghastly crime. It will act as a deterrent to future crimes, irrespective
of their religion,” he told the daily.The 2 verdicts, coming within a day of
each other, drew charges of lack of uniformity in the judicial process. A
section of lawyers said the Bilkis Bano case was equally, if not more, brutal
and should have qualified as a rarest of rare case, reported The Hindu. “As an
opponent of death penalty, I wouldn’t have supported it in Ms Bano’s case. But
I’m using it as an example just to say that when it comes to handing out
punishments, the judiciary does not have a uniform standard. It gives death
penalty to some, not to others,” said lawyer Rebecca John.Another lawyer,
Mahmood Pracha, told The Hindu: “It [Ms Bano’s case] was no less a rarest of
rare case...I don’t know what weighs in the mind of a judge. In the overall
current scenario, it creates doubt in the minds of people.”Political leaders,
too, compared the two judgments – Congress leader and President Pranab Mukherjee’s
daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee tweeted, “Finally justice given in Nirbhaya case.
What about Bilkis Bano? We should fight for the harshest punishment for those
beasts who raped her and killed her child.” Scroll.in
Dec 16 gang rape verdict: Bilkis Bano wants death penalty for her
rapists too
Hope SC gives death to convicts in my case: Bilkis Bano
Bilkis Bano rape case: Probe unsatisfactory, failed to screen culprits,
observes Bombay HC
Mumbai: Bombay High Court on Thursday upheld conviction of 11 men in the
Bilkis Bano gang rape case observing that the probe in the case not only
unsatisfactory but smacked of steps to screen culprits to protect them. The
court also convicted five Gujarat Police personnel, 2 doctors for errors in
investigation. “The investigation was not only unsatisfactory but it smacked of
dishonest steps to screen the culprits,” HC bench said.“In a case like this, we
need to look through the evidence, sift the evidence minutely and carefully, as
the truth lies beyond the layers of omissions and contradictions and dishonest,
callous investigation,” said the division bench. India.com
Case of 2 crimes and 2 varying verdicts:AESHA DATTA
Nirbhaya judgement vs Bilkis Bano case: Twitter erupts in anger on
selective application of death penalty
Bilkis gangrape case: Owaisi asks Centre to move SC seeking death
penalty for convicts
Hyderabad: Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi has asked the Centre to move
the Supreme Court to seek death penalty for the convicts in the 2002 post-Godhra
Gujarat riot case involving the gang-rape of Bilkis Bano and the killing of her
family members. MIM chief raised the demand a day after the Bombay High Court
upheld the conviction and life sentence of 12 people in the Bilkis Bano case
and set aside the acquittal of seven others.“I believe this (Bilkis) is a fit
case in which the culprits should have been awarded the death penalty. “Here
comes a chance (for PM Modi). File appeal in the Supreme court against the high
court judgement and see to it that it is converted into death penalty,” he
said.Modi was the CM of Gujarat when Bilkis Bano was raped and her family
members were killed, AIMIM leader said. The Supreme Court handed over the case
to the CBI because earlier there was no proper investigation, he said. indianexpress
Nirbhaya Verdict Great But Why No Death Penalty For Bilkis Bano’s
Rapists, Ask Activists
Nirbhaya gangrape convicts to be hanged, confirms SC
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday confirmed the death sentence
awarded by the Delhi High Court to the four convicts in the December 16
gangrape case. The bench comprising Justice Dipak Misra, R Banumathi and Ashok
Bhushan heard the plea by the four convicts – Mukesh Singh, Pawan Gupta, Vinay
Sharma and Akshay Thakur.The top court said the act ‘demonstrates perversion of
the accused’ and added that if any case warrants a death sentence, it’s this
one. indianexpress
‘Brutal, barbaric, diabolic’: SC upholds death for convicts in 2012 gang
rape case
Muslim Personal Law
Assam’s BJP Govt’s pension plan for triple talaq victims: Why single out
Muslim women ask leaders, activists
New Delhi: Assam Govt's plan to provide interim pension and skill
training to Muslim women who have been divorced through triple talaq has not
gone down well with women's organisations. They have protested the singling out
of one community for extending the benefit and the fear that this may be
politicised at a time when there is a raging debate over the issue. Calling the
Assam Govt scheme
"condemnable", Annie Raja, general secretary of the National
Federation for Indian Women, said all divorced women should be treated equally.
"No political party should use the plight of women who have faced the
trauma of divorce to gain political mileage."She is not alone. Zakia Soman
of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan said, "The important point is that the
hardships of all women who are divorced are equal.So why segregate like this on
the basis of triple talaq."While commending the initiative, AIMPLB member
SQR Ilyas put in a caveat. "All welfare schemes and benefits for women in
distress must be there but it should not happen that one community is specifically
highlighted because of triple talaq." He said the board is already
building awareness against instant triple talaq and asserted that "cases
of divorce by way of triple talaq were not many as was being projected."
However, AIMPLB member Kamal Faruqui who is normally very vocal on the issue
chose not to comment claiming the matter was before SC. Maimoona Mollah of All
India Democratic Women's Association questioned Govt's decision to give an
interim pension.TOI
Assam pension plan for triple talaq victims draws criticism
New Delhi: BJP-led Assam Govt's decision to provide pension to Muslim
women divorced through triple talaq came in for severe condemnation from
Congress and CPM even as BJP maintained that there was nothing wrong with the
move. Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala said discrimination among destitute
women on the grounds of religion was unfair and unwarranted. "Why should
destitute or abandoned Hindu women be not given similar pension and assistance
by the state Govt ?" he asked.CPM politburo member Brinda Karat went a
step ahead and said the Assam Govt had
proved itself "unlettered" in the area of women's rights and had
turned the 'sabka saath sabka vikas' slogan on its head. timesofindia
End of triple talaq would not guarantee alleviation of all woes of
Muslim women, say rights activists: PTI
Mumbai: A group of activists working for the welfare of Muslims,
especially women, have said that apart from triple talaq there are several
other serious issues concerning the community that need to be addressed on a
priority basis. Activists from different advocacy groups, based mainly in
Maharashtra and Gujarat, feel that lack of education and healthcare facilities,
sense of insecurity, beef ban, communal riots targeting the minorities and
unemployment are some of the issues that Muslims were facing, which need to be
addressed.The group, which issued a joint statement recently, included Bebaak
Collective, Aawaz-e-Niswaan, Parvaaz Sangathan, Janvikas, Sahiya and Muslim
Mahila Manch. “We want what the Constitution says for equal opportunities and
human rights to every Indian citizen. End of triple talaq would not guarantee
alleviation of all the woes of Muslim women,” said Hasina Khan of Bebaak
Collective.“PM Narendra Modi’s stand on triple talaq alone is not sufficient.
It needs to go beyond that,” Hasina, an intervenor in Shayara Bano case, said.
Terming the previous Govts at the Centre as merely “vote seekers”, she said,
“It is good that Modi Govt has raised the issue of triple talaq, but it should
also be cleared that we do not consider Modi as our hero.”Khairunnisa Pathan of
Parvaaj Sangathan said it was good that the triple talaq issue has got some
momentum but there are other issues as well, which are creating panic and
insecurity among the Muslims countrywide.
Talaq said once is enough: Jamaat-e-Islami women’s wing
Nagpur: "Talaq uttered just once is enough for separation of man
and wife. However, there is a scope for reconciliation when divorce is granted
this way. But pronouncing triple talaq in a single sitting ruptures the
marriage irrevocably," said Sumaiyya Sheikh, a member of the women's wing
of Nagpur west of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), on Friday.Sheikh was speaking at
a meet of intellectuals organized as part a fortnight-long countrywide
awareness campaign on Muslim personal law by JIH exclusively for women at
Marcas Masjid, Jaffar Nagar. A number of intellectuals, including doctors,
engineers, lawyers, professors and social activists, participated in the
programme.With the ongoing controversy over triple talaq and uniform civil
code, the Jamaat emphasized the need for endorsing Shariat Law (Islamic Law)
for its protection. The meeting also discussed code of conduct for marriage, divorce
and inheritance to clear misconceptions and help women know their rights.Sheikh
claimed that most men in India have knowledge only about talaq-ul-biddat
(uttering talaq thrice) which is a sinful method. Explaining benefits of
talaq-ul-ahsan, the most approved way, she said, "A couple can reconcile
within three months after talaq is said only once. Post this period, they have
to carry out the process of nikah (marriage) again. There is no time frame for
reuniting in this case."Triple talaq said in anger does not leave any
chance for reunion, she added.According to Benazir Khan, talaq is a blessing in
disguise for Muslims. She said, "Unlike the Hindu Marriage Act which does
not allow separation within 1.5 years of marriage, Shariat law offers immediate
end to marital relationship in case it does not work." Men who resort to
triple talaq and exploit women will now have to face social boycott, said Khan.TOI
BJP wants to stop triple talaq distress: Amit Shah
Agartala: BJP President Amit Shah on Saturday said that his party wants
to stop Muslim women from the sufferings related with triple talaq."Triple
talaq must stop... it should not continue," he told media persons here,
adding that it causes a lot of suffering to Muslim women.
Minister Manoj Sinha hails work done by Yogi govt, calls 'triple talaq'
a matter of women's self-respect
Small Muslim group in UP bans 'triple talaq' at one go
Sambhal:A small group of Muslims living in this UP district has banned
the practice of 'triple talaq' at one go. The 'Turk' group will also consider
it a husband's fault if a case of 'triple talaq' at one go is reported before
panchayat.However, it was suggested that in unavoidable cases, a man should
utter talaq but only once and give time to his wife for things to resolve. The
decision was taken in a meeting of the 'Turk' group, which has about 50,000
members living in 50 villages of this Sambhal district. Asrar Ahmed, who
presided over the panchayat meeting, termed the practice of 'triple talaq' at
one go as wrong and said the community has decided to do away with it. PTI
Why is PM Modi Silent on Vrindavan Widows:Yechury
Kolkata: CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury questioned PM Narendra Modi’s intention to oppose Triple
Talaq.“I would like to ask why he is showing sympathy towards Muslim women and
not on those widows who are there in Vrindavan. What is his stand on Women’s
Reservation Bill despite having majority in Lok Sabha?” he
questioned.News18.com
OTHERS
India comes in the line of fire at UNHRC over rights record
New Delhi: India faced questions about its human rights records from
over 100 countries, ranging from attacks on Africans to restrictions on foreign
funding of NGOs, even as it asserted that a “vibrant” civil society and
“fiercely independent” judiciary was enough to address any aberrations.On
Thursday, India was under the spotlight for the 3rd time during the
universal periodic review (UPR) at the UNHRC, peer-based scrutiny of a nation’s
human rights situation. Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi led an inter-ministerial
delegation at UNHRC’s 27th UPR session. Around 110 nations spoke for about one
minute each during the afternoon
session, but several had also submitted written questions earlier. Report will
be formally adopted on May 9. Although India claimed at the UNHRC that it takes
“pride in our extremely vibrant civil society,” there was disquiet among
various states about restrictions on activists and human rights defenders,
which was reflected in their interventions.US, Norway, Australia, Germany,
Ireland and the Czech Republic were among the dozen countries to raise issue
about the clampdown on foreign funds for voluntary agencies.Ireland urged India
to review FCRA in light of its negative impact on civil society and to give
special attention to human rights defenders working with minority rights, journalists
and children.Similarly, German delegate said that his country was “worried
about the continued social hardship endured especially by marginalised groups,
and is concerned about restrictions on civil society”. thewire
What UN said as India defended its human rights record
Katju rips apart govt’s stand on secularism at UNHRC
Only
PM Modi can solve problems in Kashmir:CM Mufti
Jammu:Only
PM Narendra Modi can resolve the
problems plaguing Kashmir, CM Mehbooba
Mufti said on Saturday as her Govt struggled to keep a lid on increasing violence
and bitterness in the Valley.Amid speculations of the Centre dismissing her
administration and imposing Governor’s Rule in the state, Mehbooba threw her
weight behind Modi and praised the PM for his surprise Christmas visit to
Lahore two years ago.“PM of our country had been given a very strong mandate by
the people. I am saying it again and I may be criticised for it but if there is
someone, who could find solution to the problem of J&K , it is Shri
Narendra Modi ji and none else,” she told a gathering after inaugurating a
flyover in Jammu.“If J&K has to be
bailed out of this quagmire of violence and unrest, it is only the PM Modi ji
who can help.” hindustantimes
Centre
‘conspiring’ to escalate tensions in Kashmir for Lok Sabha poll gains: Yechury
Kolkatal:CPM
general secretary Sitaram Yechury Friday said the Centre is “conspiring” to
escalate tensions in Kashmir so it could reap benefits in 2019 Lok Sabha
polls.“Govt has lost the opportunity to find a solution to unrest in Kashmir. I
do not know whether it was intentional. It seems there is a conspiracy by the
Centre not to find a solution to the unrest,” Yechury said on the sidelines of
an event organised to commemorate Karl Marx’s birth anniversary. indianexpress
Students
clash with forces in J&K's Handwara, Pulwama
Srinagar:
Clashes broke out on Saturday between protesting students and security forces
in Handwara town in north and Pulwama in south Kashmir, the police said.Several
students have been injured in the clashes which were going on till last reports
came in.Dozens of students from the Govt higher secondary school in Newa area of
Pulwama district staged a protest against the alleged high-handedness of
security forces, a police official said.He said the students were asked by
security forces to disperse but they refused, leading to clashes. The students
pelted stones at security forces, who resorted to baton charge and tear smoke
shelling, the official said, adding that clashes were going on till the reports
last came in.Similar protests took place in Handwara town of Kupwara district
where students of the Govt degree
college clashes with security forces, the official said.PTI
Pak,Saudi
channels into Kashmir, stoke 'azadi' rage:TOI
Srinagar:Saudi
clerics and Pakistani news anchors are being beamed direct to Kashmiri homes,
and are stoking the fires of 'azadi'. Over 50 Saudi and Pakistani channels,
including Zakir Naik's banned Peace TV preaching Salafist Islam, and others
indulging in anti-India propaganda are running without necessary clearances via
private cable networks in Kashmir.All this is happening under the nose of the
PDP-BJP govt, which even subscribes to these cable services in some of its
offices and buildings. Although satellite TV service providers like Tata Sky,
Airtel digital TV and Dish TV, are available in Kashmir, most people subscribe
to private cable. A cable operator, who did not want to be named, said that
there are over 50,000 private cable connections in Srinagar alone, and only
because these broadcast Pakistani and Saudi channels.Besides Naik's Peace TV
Urdu and English channels, private operators air Saudi and Pakistani channels
like Saudi Sunnah, Saudi Quran, Al Arabia, Paigham, Hidayat, Noor, Madani,
Sehar, Karbala, Hadi, Sehar, Ary QTV , Bethat, Ahlibat, Message, Falak, Geo
News, Ary News, Dawn News, and many others, which cannot be accessed through
satellite TV service providers. None of these channels is permitted to air in
the rest of the country by I&B ministry.Amjad Noor, owner of Site
Entertainment Network (SEN)-the biggest local cable network in Srinagar which
has been running for the last 20 years and is subscribed by some Govt offices, said all Saudi and Pakistani channels
were "free-to-air" and "legal" because J&K has its
"own constitution under Article 370 and a separate law, Ranbir Penal
Code"."We have been beaming these channels ever since these were
launched because Kashmir is a religious place. We also broadcast Hindu
religious channels even though there are hardly any Hindus living in Kashmir.
Also, these channels are running not just in Kashmir but in Jammu via other
cable operators," Noor said.
Clamp
down on Pakistani channels, Naidu tells J-K govt
New
Delhi: Union information and broadcasting minister M Venkaiah Naidu has asked
the J&K Govt to ensure that Pakistani channels are not
aired in the Valley.The minister spoke to the state chief secretary in this
regard on Friday.
Kashmir;
Cash transactions stopped in 40 bank branches
Srinagar:In
wake of militants targeting banks in south Kashmir, cash transactions at nearly
40 branches in sensitive areas of Pulwama and Shopian districts in South
Kashmir have been stopped.The step has been taken following an advisory issued
by security agencies asking the banks operating in the two districts to stop
cash deliveries apprehending more such attacks.The cash transactions have been
stopped at the branches belonging to the J&K Bank and Ellaquai Dehati Bank,
which were targeted by militants recently.A senior official of J&K Bank said all other banking operations
including ATM services would continue in these areas.PTI
He was
taken forcibly, used as human shield by army: Kashmiri family of slain Sumo
driver
Shopian:The
family of slain Sumo driver killed while ferrying army men in Shopian Friday
alleged that he was taken forcibly by the army and was used as a ‘human shield’
in a purely army operation. 40-year-old Nazir Ahmad Sheikh son of Abdul Ahad
Sheikh of Kaczdoora village in Shopian was killed after militants fired on army
men travelling in his vehicle at Kiloora area of Shopian. 2 army men including
a Major were injured in the attack.Sheikh’s family alleged today that he was
taken forcibly by 62 RR personnel stationed at Chaudhrygund area of Shopian
district. “He ferried passengers from Kapran to Shopian. He was stopped by 62
RR personnel at Chaudhrygund. They took his registration papers and asked him
to ferry their men to Imam Sahib area in Shopian,” one of his family member said.
He said this was not the first time Sheikh was taken forcibly by army like
this. risingkashmir
Muslim IAS-IPS couple who offered to look after Kashmir martyr’s
daughter meet family:HT report
Punjab:Muslim IAS-IPS couple of Himachal Pradesh who offered desire to
look after Khushdeep Kaur, the 12-year-old daughter of naib subedar Paramjit
Singh, met their family at Vain Poin village in Tarn Taran on Saturday.Paramjit
Singh was killed by the border action team of the Pakistan army in J&K ’s
Poonch sector earlier this week.Yunus Khan and his wife Anjum Ara had earlier
spoken to the family and expressed the desire of looking after her till she
grows independent. The martyr’s wife Paramjit Kaur on Saturday said she was
happy that Khushdeep will now be able to fulfil her father’s dream. She said
the naib subedar loved Khushdeep and wanted her to study and be successful in
life. She said it was by God’s grace that her father’s dream was going to come
true. She said Khushdeep was also happy that she would now be able to fulfil
her father’s dream. Born in Malerkotla, Punjab, Yunus Khan is an Indian
Administrative Service officer of the 2010-batch and is posted as deputy
commissioner, Kullu. His wife, Anjum Ara, is an Indian Police Service officer
of the 2011-batch and is posted as the superintendent of police, Solan. hindustantimes
Govt declares entire Assam as ‘disturbed’ area under AFSPA for 3 more
months
New Delhi: Centre has declared the entire Assam as a “disturbed” area
under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act -- AFSPA -- for 3 more months,
citing various violent activities by insurgent groups ULFA, NDFB and others. In
a gazette notification, the Home Ministry said the entire Assam, besides
bordering areas of Meghalaya, have been declared “disturbed” under the AFSPA
for 3 months with effect from May 3. The ministry said there were 75 incidents
of violence in Assam in 2016 in which 33 people, including 4 security
personnel, were killed and 14 others were abducted. Besides, there were 9
violent incidents in the state in which four people, including 2 security
personnel, were killed in 2017.PTI
Only Wakf tribunal can decide whether property is wakf or not: SC
When the main question involved in the suit is whether the suit land is
a Wakf property or not, it can be decided only by the Wakf Tribunal, and not by
the civil court, the Supreme Court has held in Rajasthan Wakf Board vs Devki
Nandan Pathak.A bench comprising Justice AM Sapre and Justice RK Agrawal also
held that matters falling under Sections 51 and 52 of the Wakf Act are also
required to be decided by the tribunal and not by the civil court. The court
has now remanded the matter to the high court for deciding the revision afresh
on merits.In the instant case, the Wakf Tribunal, on a plea by Wakf Board, had
granted permanent injunction in respect of the property in question and
declared the sale deed executed in favour of the other party ‘null and void’.
The HC set aside this order holding that the tribunal has no jurisdiction in
the matter and on the ground that since no order was made by any authority
under the said Act, the applicant before the Wakf Tribunal could not be said to
be the person aggrieved also as contemplated in Section 83(2) of the said Act
and hence the tribunal would have no jurisdiction to determine the issue
involved in the suit. Relying on an apex court judgment, the high court
observed that in so far as the relief of cancellation of sale deed is
concerned, it is to be tried by the civil court for the reason that it is not
covered by Section 6 or 7 of the Wakf Act. livelaw.in
BJP supporters are passing off a Mexican stabbing video as one of RSS
member getting killed in Kerala: Alt news
Puneet Sharma, who is followed by PM Modi on Twitter, posted a video of
one person being tied up and stabbed repeatedly. In this video that he posted
at 3:47 PM on 3rd March 2017, Puneet claimed that the video is that of a RSS
member getting killed in Kerala. Considering that he has over 31.8k followers
on Twitter, the video got massively retweeted. He wrote “केरल में हो रहे @RSSorg एवं @BJP4India कार्यकर्ताओ पर अत्याचार की वीडियो देखने के बाद जिस हिन्दू का खून न खोले, खून नही वो पानी है।” (After watching this video of torture on RSS Karyakarta
in Kerala, those Hindu whose blood doesn’t boil, their blood is not blood but
water). The link to the video is at the bottom of the post.Puneet Sharma’s
twitter video was embedded in a blog post by a site called ‘hindutva.info‘ with
a title “VIDEO : केरल में RSS और BJP के कार्यकर्ताओं पर हो रहे अत्याचार का खौफनाक मंजर!” (A horrifying instance of the torture on RSS/BJP
workers in Kerala). This post, in turn, has been shared close to 10k times on
different social media networks. altnews
UP: Saharanpur on boil again: One dead, Thakurs
burn 25 Dalit homes after clash
Saharanpur district of western UP remains tense
after Thakurs of the area tried to take a procession parade on Maharana Pratap
in the region.Violence started after the Thakur community of Shimlana village
took out a procession march to commemorate the birth anniversary of Maharana
Pratap, and it moved towards a Dalit dominated village Shabbirpur.At
Shabbirpur, residents raised objection and as a result of that a verbal spat
started between the two groups. Whole argument led to spark of violence which
was supported by stone pelting and burning of private as well as public
properties. After a Dalit woman was hit badly by the stone, the Dalit community
also started stone pelting. Things turned out more ugly and Thakurs allegedly
broke Ravidas temple and a statue of Ambedkar. During the altercation, a stone
hit 25-year-old Sumit s/o Dharmpal on the head and he was declared dead when
taken to the hospital. When the news of the death reached the clash site,
members of Thakur community set ablaze 25 houses of the Dalit
community.Moreover, the police was also targeted this time the mob. A fire
engine was broke down and three police vehicles were set on fire. Chaman Singh Chavda,
CO Deoband, also got injured when he intervened into the matter. Violence came
to a halt after District Magistrate NP Singh and SSP Subhash Dubey reached the
spot with security forces from adjoining districts.SSP Dubey said, “The
situation is tense but in control. To maintain the peace is our
priority.”Earlier on April 20, situation in Saharanpur got communally tense
when Saharanpur MP from BJP Ram Lakhan Pal Sharma tried to take out a
procession March in remembrance of Dr. BR Ambedkar without permission from the Govt
.Sharma’s brother Raghav Lakhanpal Sharma started beating police personnel
while Ram Lakhanpal Sharma started shouting on Police to shoot Muslims.FIR was
lodged against both of them.TCN
UP: 1 dead, 25 houses torched as Thakurs, Dalits
clash in Saharanpur:HT
Saharanpur violence: Mayawati accuses Yogi Govt of saffron appeasement
Lucknow: Expressing concern over the clash between
Thakurs and Dalits in Saharanpur, BSP chief Mayawati on Saturday accused Yogi
Adityanath Govt of “saffron
appeasement”. A man was killed and at least 15 others were injured in clashes
at Shabirpur village of Saharanpur on Friday when Dalits objected to a
procession taken out by Thakurs to commemorate the birth anniversary of Rajput
king Maharana Pratap. This was the second clash in Saharanpur in a fortnight
involving Dalits.Mayawati said she was sad and worried over caste clashes in
UP. “After communal riots, caste violence is now disturbing the state. It
indicates that improving law and order is not the BJP’s cup of tea,” she said. hindustantimes
Mahadalit women stopped from entering temple,
thrashed in Bihar: FIR
Patna:Tension prevails at a village in Bihar’s
Muzaffarpur district, 71 km north of state capital Patna, for the second
consecutive day after a Mahadalit woman registered an FIR alleging that she and
other women of her family were prevented by some village strongmen from
entering a temple. Complainant Usha Devi, 30, of Bishunpur Baghnagari village
in Sakra police station area said they were also thrashed for registering their
protest on Friday.Confirming the lodging of FIR, police said the injured women
were provided first aid at Sakra primary healthcentre.Muzaffarpur deputy
superintendent of police (east) Mutaffique Ahmad said a police team was camping
at the village to avert any untoward incident.“We have strengthened security
arrangements in the village in the view of tension after registration of FIR
against four named and three unidentified accused. FIR was registered on the
basis of statement made by Devi,” Ahmed said. HT
HC summons UP chief secretary with records of Gorakhpur
riots in which CM Adityanath is named accused
Lucknow: Allahabad High
Court on Thursday summoned the chief secretary of UP , directing him to bring
along all documents relating to the 2007 Gorakhpur riots in which the then
local MP and current CM Yogi Adityanath
was named as an accused. A division bench of justices Ramesh Sinha and Umesh
Chandra Srivastava directed the chief secretary to appear in person on May 11
and file a personal affidavit besides producing all documents relating to the
2007 riots, including the sanction given by the state Govt to prosecute the accused.The order was passed
on a petition filed by Parvez Parwaz, the complainant in the FIR that was
lodged at Cantt police station of Gorakhpur in connection with the riots, and
Asad Hayat, a witness in the case. siasat
Control illegal activities in name of cow
protection, religious conversion: UP DGP
directs officers
UP DGP
Sulkhan Singh Friday directed SSPs and SPs of all districts to “effectively
control” illegal activities committed by “vigilantes” in the name of cow
protection, morality, religious conversion or illegal trafficking of milch
animals.Singh asked the officers to register FIRs against vigilantes when they
violated the law, and to prepare dossiers on them after identification with
help of intelligence networks. indianexpress
Cow vigilantes thrash 2 Hindu farmers walking
cattle home in Greater Noida
Greater Noida: 2 farmers returning home with a cow
and a calf were thrashed on Thursday afternoon in Greater Noida in the same
kind of violent vigilantism that led to the lynching of dairy farmer Pehlu Khan
in Alwar last month.Bhoop Singh (50) and his 30-year-old nephew Jabar Singh
were accosted in a Jewar village by a group of men (8-9 in number), who accused
them of being cattle smugglers and rained punches and kicks on them."We
pleaded that we were Hindus and local farmers, but they did not listen,"
Jabar later told TOI at Noida's district hospital, where he and his uncle were
brought for treatment. "They abused us verbally and kicked us on the
stomach and even the face. We collapsed on the ground but they continued beating
us." But the men, who introduced themselves to police as BJP workers, did
not relent. Instead, they dragged Bhoop and Jabar nearly 1.5km to Jewar police
station and handed them over to the cops, saying they had caught cattle
smugglers "red-handed". In the meantime, people had gathered, at the
spot where the assault happened and along the road to the police station. But
no one intervened.The truth became apparent to the police when they questioned
Bhoop and Jabar and verified their version with people in Sirsa Khadar, the
village where they live, and Mehndipur, where they were returning from. timesofindia
Mob attacks 2 Hindu men transporting cows near
Noida
Why this incident should serve as alarm for even
Hindu owners of cow
Pehlu Khan was killed by 'gau rakshaks' because he
was a Muslim: Ex-CIC Wajahat Habibullah
New Delhi: Former Chief Information Commissioner
(CIC) Wajahat Habibullah on Friday highlighted the rise of "religious
radicalism" in the country and said dairy farmer Pehlu Khan, who was
killed by cow vigilantes in Rajasthan, was targeted because he was a
Muslim.Speaking at a symposium on 'Religious Persecution of Baha'is in Iran and
Belief in the Interfaith Co-existence', Habibullah said that by allowing
atrocities on Baha'is, leaders in Iran are giving Islam a bad name. "We
now have this rise of religious radicalism. Iran itself fighting against the
rise of ISIS."In our own country we have this instance of Pehlu
Khan...Simply because he was a Muslim. This is the time for all of those who
are right thinking and religious minded for standing together," Habibullah
said.PTI
Country slipping into hands of goons, Hindus should
come out to protect it
New Delhi: "The rule of State seems to have
ended, or State has willingly promoted such elements who catch, assault and
kill people and loot their cattle. This can't happen without tacit support of
State. It seems country has slipped into the hands of goons...And this all in
the name of Hindu Rashtra...More than others, Hindus of the country should
think if they have lost their civilization or they want to protect it,"
said Prof. Apoorvanand Jha of Delhi University.Deeply aggrieved at incidents of
lynching of Muslim men in the name of cow protection, Prof. Jha said it would
be a crude joke if one keeps mum on such incidents but talks about rights of women.IndiaTomorrow
Malegaon blast: NIA gets SC notice on Purohit plea
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/nia-gets-sc-notice-on-purohit-plea/articleshow/58542566.cms
New Delhi: Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to
the NIA on Malegaon blast accused Lt Col Srikant Purohit's bail plea. Purohit
has said the Bombay HC erred in granting bail to Pragya Thakur but denying him
relief in the same case.Senior advocate Gopal Subramaniam and advocate Neela
Gokhale informed a bench of Justices R K Agrawal and A M Sapre that Purohit was
regarded as an excellent counter-insurgency officer and alleged that he was
framed in the case. Purohit has been in jail for more than 8 years.TOI
Gujarat HC rejects double jeopardy plea by blasts
accused
Ahmedabad: Gujarat high court on Friday turned down
a petition by one of those accused in the 2008 serial blasts case, Raziuddin
Nasir, who demanded discharge on the grounds that he was acquitted by a
Karnataka court in a case based on same conspiracy.Raziuddin, the son of
Maulana Nasiruddin who was arrested and later acquitted in a Pota case, first
requested the trial court to drop the case against him on the grounds that a
similar case was lodged by Karnataka police against him and a court in Hubli
acquitted him in Feb.last year on the grounds that he could not be convicted
merely by statements from police personnel. There was no evidence against him
with regard to the charges of criminal conspiracy, waging war against the
nation etc. timesofindia
Qureshi,alleged ISI man,had been held during
Gujarat riots
Ahmedabad:Gujarat police Friday on said that Altaf
Qureshi, suspected ISI agent held from Mumbai two days ago, had been arrested
during a communal riot at Dhoraji in Rajkot district of the state in 2002.
After Qureshi was arrested from south Mumbai by Anti Terrorism Squads of UP and Maharashtra, Rajkot police started probe
into his links in Gujarat, said Rajkot Superintendent of Police Antrip Sood.
Qureshi (37), accused of working for Pakistan’s spy agency ISI, had been
arrested and charge-sheeted in a rioting case at Dhoraji town, his native
place, back in 2002. PTI
Gujarat: Judicial probe ordered into custodial
death of a man accused of cow slaughter
Ahmedabad: Gujarat Govt on Saturday ordered a
judicial probe into the custodial death of a tribal man arrested under the
newly enacted cow protection law for allegedly slaughtering bovines.
Sabarkantha police, under whose custody Kodar Gamar died on Thursday night,
however ruled out any foul play in the incident. Gamar, in his 60s, had collapsed after he went
to take a bath on Wednesday evening, said a police official, adding the accused
had earlier complained of uneasiness.A case was registered against Kodar Gamar,
his son and 3 others on April 26 at Kheroj police station in Sabarkantha under
the Gujarat Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act 2011 for “slaughtering”
cows.Gamar and 2 others were remanded to police custody on May 2.HT
Haridwar: RSS backed Muslim Manch begins meet at
new venue after opposition from Hindu groups
Haridwar: 3 days after 2 organisations of priests
objected to Muslim Rashtriya Manch’s (MRM) meeting here, the 2-day convention
began at Piran Kaliyar, about 20 km from the city, on Friday. More than 400
participants, 150 of whom were estimated to be from the Muslim community,
reported for the meeting which began at 6 pm. MRM national convener Indresh
Kumar was present and is likely to take part in various sessions of the
executive committee meeting on May 6 as well. MRM, an RSS-affiliate body,
organised the meet in order to “build consensus among Muslims on the Ram temple
and triple talaq issues.” Members said that other topics which will be
discussed include Pakistan occupied Kashmir, communal riots, education, skill
development and others.The change in venue of the meeting took place after the
two organisations, Brahman Sabha and Akhil Bharatiya Yuva Tirth Purohit
Mahasabha, warned three days ago that MRM will have to face opposition if it
went ahead with its meeting which was proposed to be held at the Nishkam Sewa
Trust, which is a stone’s throw away from the Har-ki-Pauri ghat. timesofindia
Jharkhand: A Saddam Hussain gets HC nod to
challenge CBSE refusal to change name
Ranchi:Jharkhand high court on Friday allowed
Jamshedpur-born marine engineer, Saddam Hussain, who had legally changed his
name to Sajid Hussain, to challenge a recent order of the CBSE rejecting his
application to change his name in the Class 10 and 12 exam certificates.
Hussain had decided to change his name after finding it difficult to secure a
job.Though he managed to get fresh passport, aadhaar card, driving licence and
pan card with his new name, Hussain failed to get his name changed in the
educational certificates as CBSE governing body rejected his application on
April 28, clarifying that there was no such provision in the examination by
laws.The court, however, refused the request of petitioner’s counsel to pass a
favourable order, observing that Hussain had not challenged the CBSE’s
rejection order yet.Hussain, 25, is suffering for the last two years for
carrying the name of former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein. Hussain claims he
has failed to find a job because of his namesake. hindustantimes
Smriti Irani's husband a share-holder in firm
accused of land grabbing; Congress seeks probe
Bhopal: Umaria district administration has
instituted a probe into allegations by a primary school headmaster that a
company having union minister Smriti Irani's husband, Zubin Irani as a
shareholder has allegedly grabbed a part of the school’s land. The administration in Umaria district of MP
has ordered a probe following allegations by headmaster Janki Prasad Tiwari,
that company had grabbed land in Kuchwahi village, close to Bandhavgarh
National Park."We've begun a probe and also received a letter from union
minister Irani, in which she has asked us to conduct an independent probe as
her husband's name has been unnecessarily dragged in the matter. It is not her
husband, but the company in which he is a shareholder which purchased the land
in 2016. Prima facie, no school land has been grabbed or encroached. The probe
is underway and its outcome will be known in 4 to 5 days," Umaria collector
Abhishek Singh said. newindianexpress
Naroda Gam massacre: Muslim men witness in favour
of Hindu accused
Ahmedabad: Naroda Massacre that took place on
Feb.2002 during 2002 Gujarat Riots, has 2 new muslim witnesses came forward to
give alibi for one of the accused, Dinesh Patel in the case, in Special SIT
Court.The riot that lasted 10 hours murdering, burning many and raping women
was deemed “the largest single case of mass murder” during the 2002 Gujarat
riots.After the communal violence, a curfew was imposed in the state and army
troops were called in to contain further violence. Maqbulkhan Gulabkhan Pathan
and Nizam Gulamali Ansari were issued summons to be present in the court on the
request of the accuse.Pathan, a resident of Jahapura in his statement in the
court says, back then in 2002 when the Massacre happened he was working with a
private company in GIDC in Naroda. He reached his organization around 7.30am in
the morning on 28 Feb, 2002.TOI /siasat
Two Muslim witnesses provide alibi for accused
300 girl students taken ill due to chemical leakage
in Delhi
New Delhi: Over 300 students were hospitalised on
Saturday after toxic fumes spread due to chemical leakage at a container depot
near 2 schools in southeast Delhi's Tughlakabad area. timesofindia
Maulana Masood Madani's ‘rape victim’ lied about
herself: Cops
Meerut: Deoband cleric and brother of Jamiat
Ulema-e-Hind general secretary, Maulana Masood Madani, was arrested on March
18, following a complaint from a woman who claimed that Madani had raped her
under the pretext of curing her infertility with medicines and magic. Now, it
has emerged that the woman, in her statement before the magistrate and the
police, had lied about her name and her address. During investigation, when a
police team visited the address mentioned by the woman, they found out that she
never lived there and subsequently found that the name she had provided them
with was also fake. The police will now file charges against the woman for
having lied in her statement to the magistrate."When police visited the
address given by the woman in her statement for investigation, it turned out
that the woman never actually lived there. On further investigation, it was
revealed that she had also given a false name. We then found out what her
correct address and name is. But we have not yet been able to ascertain why she
lied," a police source told TOI.The police will now file a complaint
against the woman also in connection with the case on the charge of lying in
her statement before magistrate. "It has emerged that the woman had lied
about her name and her address in the statement that she gave to the police and
also in the statement that she recorded in front of the magistrate. Now, since
she also lied in front of the magistrate, a connected case will have to be
filed against her. We will have to question her about her reasons for
lying," said Saharanpur SSP Subhas Chandra Dubey. Police officials said
the discrepancies have cast a large shadow of doubt over the entire case. timesofindia
ISI spy Satvinder linked to Pak espionage racket in
MP-Chhattisgarh brought for interrogation
Bhopal:Satvinder Singh, the ISI agent, who was
arrested in Jammu for sending information to Pakistan, and for his links with
ISI agents across Central India, has been brought to Chhattisgarh for
interrogation.It was after Satvinder and his companion Dadu's arrest that the
information about the spying racket in Central India was revealed to security
agencies. Subsequently, police had arrested Dhruv Saxena, who was earlier
associated with IT cell of BJYM. A series of arrests had followed from Bhopal,
Gwalior, Jabalpur, Satna and later from Chhattisgarh and Bihar.NewsBits.in
Court junks FIR against AMU pro-VC, officials
A local court has scrapped an FIR lodged against
the AMU pro-vice chancellor, S Ahmad Ali, and two other officials on a
complaint by a former varsity student in connection with violent incidents on
the campus on April 23 last year.CJM Gyanendra Singh expunged the FIR lodged on
the complaint of Mohammad Zorez after the police gave a clean chit to the
officials.He also directed that a case be filed against Zorez for lodging a
false complaint against the three officials and 14 students.On April 6, the
court had directed that a case should be filed against Ali, the Proctor, Prof.
M. Mohsin Khan, and the Deputy Proctor, Prof. Mahmood S. Khan, at the Civil
Lines police station on the basis of affidavit submitted by Zorez.PTI
Will reach out to Govt on AMU’s minority status: new VC
Dr Tariq Mansoor, AMU’s new V-C, speaks to Indian
Express about his priorities for the next 5 years, which include ensuring a
student-friendly campus. Replying to the question as Centre has opposed AMU’s
claim to minority status, Will you reach out to Govt?, he said, "Yes,
definitely. We have to talk to everyone concerned. Things can only be solved
through dialogue and discussion." Indian Express
Sadiq encounter:Gujarat HC rejects plea for compensation
Ahmedabad: Gujarat High Court Friday rejected a
petition moved by the father of Sadiq Jamal Mehtar seeking Rs 50 lakh
compensation from the state Govt for his
son’s death in an alleged fake encounter in 2003. As per the CBI probe,
encounter was staged by a team of Gujarat police officers, who had branded
Sadiq Jamal as a LeT terrorist. indianexpress
Suspended from AAP, Amanatullah Khan made Delhi
Assembly panel chief
New Delhi:A fresh round of tussle may erupt in the
Aam Aadmi Party as its MLA Amanatullah Khan, who was recently suspended from
the party for attacking senior leader Kumar Vishwas, has been appointed the
chairman of a panel of the Delhi Assembly. Khan, the MLA from Okhla, has also
been appointed a member in seven newly constituted committees, including the
Special Inquiry Committee, of the House by the Speaker.The move is seemed to
have been taken to placate Khan, considered as a prominent Muslim face in the
party. An MLA, who had spoken in favour of Vishwas, termed Khan’s appointment
as a “promotion”.PTI
WORLD
Ismail Haniya elected new political chief of Hamas
Ismail Haniya has been elected as the new leader of Hamas' political
bureau, according to the Palestinian movement's news agency.The announcement on
Satuday came just days after Hamas unveiled a more moderate stance towards
Israel. Khalid Meshaal, who preceded Haniya as leader of the bureau, confirmed
the transition of power to Al Jazeera."I would like to announce that this
new council has elected Abu al-Abed, my brother Ismail Haniya, the president of
the political bureau of the movement," Meshaal, who had been in charge of
the political wing for the past 10 years, said.Haniya, 54, is expected to
remain in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian enclave run by Hamas since 2007,
unlike Meshaal who lives in exile in Qarar's capital, Doha, and has completed
the maximum two terms in office.On Monday, Hamas unveiled a new policy document
easing its stance on Israel after having long called for its destruction. Al
Jazeera
ICRC: Prisoner family visits are Israel’s obligation under international
law
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which is in charge
of coordinating with Israeli authorities to arrange family visitations for
Palestinian prisoners, released a statement Wednesday calling upon Israel to
abide by international humanitarian law and increase family visits to
Palestinian prisoners detained inside Israel.The statement quoted Jacques de
Maio, head of the ICRC delegation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian
territory, as saying that “family contact must be improved, not further
restricted,” referring to Israel’s suspension of family visits for
hunger-striking prisoners, and of the visitation permits for their families. middleeastmonitor
Zurich recommends ban on Quran distribution campaign in public spaces:
Reuters
Zurich:Zurich’s public safety office on Friday recommended towns in
Switzerland’s most populous canton ban a campaign that hands out Korans in
public spaces, describing it as a front for incitement of radical activities
including jihadist involvement. The recommendation clashed with an assessment
by federal intelligence services published three days before which concluded a
ban on the campaign’s Koran distribution would lead to a “strong conflict with exercise
of religious freedom”.
Pak rejects bill seeking to raise minimum age for marriage for girls,
terms it 'un-Islamic'
Pakistani lawmakers have unanimously rejected a bill aimed at increasing
the minimum age for marriage of a girl from 16 to 18 years, terming the
proposed amendment as "un-Islamic". PTI
Egypt court orders release of Muslim Brotherhood leader
Cairo: An Egyptian court has
ordered the release on bail of a senior leader and financier of outlawed Muslim
Brotherhood who has been in detention for nearly 2 years. A judicial official
said today that businessman Hassan Malik is to be released within 48 hours on
bail of 20,000 Egyptian pounds and pending the prosecution didn't challenge the
decision. The official spoke on condition of anonymity under regulations.AP
Egypt Al-Azhar head replaced after calling Muslim reformer ‘apostate’
Head of Egypt’s Al-Azhar
university, one of the world’s leading Islamic seats of learning, has been
replaced after labeling a controversial Muslim reformer an apostate, the
institution said. Development came as Al-Azhar was pressured by critics who say
the venerable Sunni Muslim authority has not done enough to counter Islamist
extremism. Ahmed Hosni Taha, the acting
university president, had been forced to apologize on Thursday after saying
reformer Islam al-Behairy was an “apostate” for attacking some of the founding
scholars of Islamic law.His apology was followed by a statement on Friday from
Al-Azhar saying that Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb, who heads the institution that
runs the university, had replaced Taha.AFP
Trump to Head to Saudi , Israel, Rome on 1st overseas Trip
In a surprise announcement, White House said President Donald Trump’s
first overseas trip will be to Saudi Arabia, where he will meet with leaders
from numerous Muslim nations to discuss a coordinated ideological campaign
against radical Islam. The trip is scheduled for later in May.Voice of America
Putin’s secret weapon in Syria: Sunni-Muslim Chechen forces
Russia has deployed roughly 1,000 Sunni-Muslim Special Forces from
Chechnya to Syria in an effort to hide its casualty figures and curtail the
Assad regime if it undermines Moscow’s wider interests in the Middle East
concludes a report by the global magazine Foreign Policy.Moscow has quietly
deployed roughly 1,000 Muslim Special Forces from Russia’s southern regions
since the end of last year, a clear sign that Moscow is serious about upping
its ground game in Syria, say authors.
Russia ready to work with Saudi, US on Syria
The head of Russia’s delegation to the Syrian peace talks in Astana,
Alexander Lavrentiev, said that his country is ready to work with Saudi Arabia
and the US regarding Syria. middleeastmonitor
Assad regime continues to produce chemical weapons – intelligence report
A western intelligence agency has revealed that the Syrian regime of
President Bashar Al-Assad continues to produce chemical weapons in violation of
a 2013 deal to eliminate them, AlKhaleej Online reported yesterday. middleeastmonitor
Germany to ban Turkish nationals from death penalty vote
Germany said on Friday it would not allow Turks to vote on its territory
in any Turkish referendum on reintroduction of the death penalty, with the
Netherlands possibly preparing to follow suit.A spokesperson for German
Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday that allowing such an option to vote
was not possible in Germany middleeasteye
Afghan Taliban take district near northern Kunduz:Reuters
Kunduz:Taliban militants captured a district just outside the northern
Afghan city of Kunduz on Saturday, officials said, pointing to renewed pickup
in fighting after the insurgents announced their annual spring offensive last
week.Mahfouz Akbari, a police spokesman for eastern Afghanistan, said security
forces had pulled out of Qala-i-Zal district, west of Kunduz city, on Saturday
to avoid further civilian and military casualties after heavy fighting. Taliban
spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said insurgents had taken police HQRS, Governor’s
compound and all security checkpoints. thehindu
Cautious welcome to Saudi decree over guardian system
A Saudi royal decree allowing women greater access to Govt services without the consent of a male
relative has drawn positive, but cautious, responses from human rights
advocates. The decree by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, issued last month
but first reported on Thursday, said women should not be required to obtain
consent for services "unless there is a legal basis for the request in
accordance with the provision of the Islamic [law]", according to local
media. aljazeera
FLASH: NEWS & VIEWS
Attacks on India's minority Muslims by Hindu vigilantes mount: Sujoy
Dhar, for USA TODAY
India can't hide its rape culture by hanging Jyoti Singh's murderers:
Ashley Tellis
Jyoti Singh & Bilkis Bano: 2 women. 2 judgments. 2 lessons of hope:
Posted By Deepanjana Pal
Friendly match between Sangh Parivar and Police in West Bengal:Causes of
the Telinipara riot : Milli Gazette Online
Modi Wants to Give Muslim Women Their Rights. So Why Did He Abandon
Bilkis in Her Hour of Need?Siddharth Varadarajan
Why does India consistently push the (false) narrative of radicalisation
in Kashmir?Hilal Mir, Kashmiri journalist
Did you know our Hindu ancestors ate beef? Kamal Mitra Chenoy
Nirbhaya vs Bilkis verdicts: Law selective in deciding rarest of rare
cases?India Today
At UN, It’s No to Hindu Rashtra, We are a Secular Country, the Land of
Gandhi & Buddha: India: Sabrangindia.in
JNU and the politics of alienation: On AISA that failed a Muslim
comrade: Sharjeel Imam, research scholar, JNU
Delhi gang rape verdict: Not rarest of rare case, but rarest of rare
outrage:VQUEERAM ADITYA
Was the Bilkis Bano gang rape case any less inhuman than
Nirbhaya's?Natalia George
Arnab’s Last But Not Finest Newshour: Will Republic Get it Right?Rohit
Khanna
Assam sits on a powder keg; Nearly 5 Million muslims overnight become
‘illegal’: Abdul Bari Masoud | Caravan Daily
Why Hindu farmers and cattle traders in Rajasthan are angry with gau
rakshaks; Ajaz Ashraf
Echoes of Gaza in Kashmir:Aijaz Zaka Syed
Fear of Sharia: Harvard project aims to shed light on Islamic law
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:48 PM)
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