Evening NEWS
DIGEST
INDIA :
LYNCHING & COMMUNAL
VIOLENCE, crimes
Strict action against those violating law in name of cow protection: PM
Modi at all-party meet
New Delhi:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that strict action
will be taken against ‘cow vigilantes’ indulging in violence,PTI reported.
Speaking at an all-party meeting ahead of the Parliament monsoon session, Prime
Minister said, “I have asked states to take strict action against those
violating law in name of cow protection.”PM Modi went on to say that the the
country does not gain from the violence in the name of cow protection and urged
everyone to not to take law into their hands. “It (cow vigilantism) should not
be given political or communal colour; the nation doesn’t benefit from it.
There is a widespread belief that cow is like mother but this should not let
people take law in their own hands,” PM Modi said.Union Minister Ananth Kumar,
after the all-party meet, also iterated PM statements and said those committing
violence will face severe prosecution. “Those committing violence in the name
of cow protection will face severe prosecution,” Kumar said, according to ANI.
Kumar went on to add that PM Modi expressed concern about the flood situation
in North-east India in the meet. “PM Modi said that he has started a war
against corruption and he called all-party meet for the same reason,” Kumar
added.indian express
Modi asks states to crack down on cow vigilantes, calls for ‘stringent
action’
State govts should take stringent action against those violating law in
the name of cow protection: PM Modi
14 yrs in jail if you kill cow, 2 if you kill people: Judge in BMW case
New Delhi:When a Delhi judge sentenced the son of a Haryana-based
industrialist to 2 years’ imprisonment on Saturday for mowing down a
motorcyclist with his luxury car in 2008, he couldn’t help but observe how
present-day laws provide more stringent punishment to perpetrators of
cattle-related crimes than errant drivers who take human lives.“The sentence
for killing cow is 5, 7 or 14 years in different states, but the sentence for
causing the death of a human being through rash or negligent driving is only 2
years,” additional sessions judge Sanjeev Kumar said. Court held the accused,
30-year-old Utsav Bhasin, guilty of rash driving, voluntarily causing hurt on
provocation and causing death by negligence. It also announced a compensation
of Rs 10 lakh for the family of the deceased and Rs 2 lakh for injured.The
court said a copy of the judgment must be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
so he can consider steps to enhance punishment prescribed for such offences
under section 304-A of IPC. HT
‘14 yrs in jail if you kill cow, 2 years if you kill people’, Delhi
judge wonder why cows value more than human life
Police now find Muslim BJP worker beaten by cow vigilantes was carrying
beef, party to dismiss him
Nagpur:Nagpur police have found out that the Muslim man, who was
thrashed by cow vigilantes in Maharashtra's Nagpur district four days ago, was
carrying beef.The police have sent the meat Salim Shaha(34) was carrying to a
forensic laboratory.“The lab report was "positive",i.e. it was beef”,
SP (Nagpur rural) Shailesh Balkawde said.He also added that the police will
initiate further action against Shaha in accordance with the law.Sha was a
member of the BJP's Katol unit.Nagpur (rural) unit president of BJP, Rajiv
Potdar, expressed shock at the findings. It was shocking that Shaha has been
found to be carrying beef that day, Potdar said, adding he would be dismissed
from the party.Shaha's mother had claimed that he was the head of BJP's Katol
tehsil minority morcha, while local BJP leaders said he was a party member. southlive
Bajrang Dal cadre 'raids' police station, frees leader from police
custody in Bhopal
Bhopal: In a shocking incident, scores of Bajrang Dal workers forcibly
made their way into a police station and freed their leader who had been in the
custody of police. Despite heavy police presence, the staff at the police
station failed to stop while a detainee was being taken away, forcibly. This
incident occurred in Bhopal on late Friday night. Bajrang Dal leader Kamlesh
Thakur was found drinking at a public place in Arera Colony. He allegedly misbehaved with the local
policemen and abused them.The police personnel caught him and brought him to
the police station. However, as the news about Thakur's detention spread, a
large number of Bajrang Dal workers reached the Habibganj police station. They
forcibly entered the police station and took away their leader from police
custody. The policemen present on the spot couldn't even stop them from taking
away Thakur from the police detention.A sort of victory procession was taken
out and the Bajrang Dal men danced on the streets.It was only after media
persons reached the spot and asked the top officials that a case was later
registered against them (Thakur and Bajrang Dal men for stopping public servant
from discharge of duty). However, Thakur is yet to be arrested. The accused,
Kamlesh Thakur is regional co-convener of the Bajrang Dal.NewsBits.in
Hisar: 1 more arrested for slapping Muslim trader during Bajrang Dal
protest
Hisar:Another person was arrested on Sunday for allegedly slapping a
Muslim trader when he refused to raise the slogan of ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’
during a protest by Bajrang Dal activists against the recent terror attack on
Amarnath pilgrims, police said. Kapil, a resident of Gandhi Dairy Colony Hisar,
was arrested from Panchkula, they said.Accused was produced before a duty magistrate
here who sent him to 14-days judicial custody, police said. Anil Kumar (28),a
resident of Hisar’s Rishi Nagar, was arrested in this connection on
Wednesday.PTI
Train attack on Muslim family in UP: Cops identify main accused, 10
others from viral video
Agra: UP police on Friday said they have identified the main accused
involved in the attack on a family of 10 at Mainpuri that was travelling in a
passenger train on Wednesday night.Police added that they have also identified
10 others from videos of the attack on the family, which belong to a particular
community, that went viral on social media soon after the brutality on the
running train. Cops said that preliminary investigations suggest it all started
when some youths forced their way on berths occupied by female members of the
family and tried to snuggle close to them. When members of the family
protested, the youths started passing lewd comments. A confrontation soon
followed and the youths called up their friends who were waiting at a station
some distance away with iron rods and sticks.SP OP Singh, who is leading the
probe, said, "About 5-6 youths were travelling in the train from
Shikohabad junction. When the train reached Bhongaon station, the family of
Mohammad Shakir also boarded the train. While they were looking for berths in
the train, one of the youths started passing lewd comments. against female
members of the family. This led to a confrontation between the family and the
youths."Station officer Arun Kumar of GRP Mathura station said, "We
expect to crack the case and arrest all the accused involved by Saturday
morning. We have identified 10 men and three are currently under detention. On
Friday, we took the statements of all the victims and showed them video
pictures to identify the accused."TOI
Odisha cattle traffickers assault Andhra tourists for opposing ill
treatment of animals
Suspected cattle traffickers in Odisha allegedly assaulted seven
tourists from Andhra Pradesh for opposing the way they were ill treating the
animals in Rayagada district, police said on Saturday. Three women were among
the tourists allegedly beaten up, police added.The incident was reported from
Patupadar under Bissamkataka police station area of Rayagada district on Friday
evening. More than 20 cattle traffickers were taking around 500 cattle on road
and were thrashing the animals. When the tourists tried to protest, the
traffickers allegedly assaulted them and smashed their mobile phones. One of
the victims, KV Kannan, a software engineer, sustained injuries on his head and
body. Rayagada district collector Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar said a case was
registered with Bissamkataka police station. She said all the accused would be
arrested soon. The state govt will bear the treatment cost of the injured
tourists, she added. HT
Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh threatens to torch CM Mamata’s residence
New Delhi: BJP Bengal president Dilip Ghosh has threatened that he will
torch CM Mamata Banerjee’s residence if the state tried to arrest him under
false cases.The shocking statement was made by Ghosh while addressing a public
meeting. TMC and BJP are currently at loggerheads with each other following
violence in the state.Earlier on Friday, BJP leader Rupa Ganguly had stirred a
controversy when she challenged Banerjee supporters to send the women of their
families to Bengal and survive for 15 days without getting raped.“I dare all
the parties, the ones who keep flattering the Bengal government and Congress,
to send their daughters, wives, and sister-in-laws to Bengal without taking any
hospitality from Banerjee. If they are able to survive for 15 days without getting
raped, then tell me,” Ganguly said to ANI.NewsX
Bengal’s madrasas under scanner after Basirhat violence
Kolkata:With the communal violence that rocked West Bengal’s Basirhat
having ebbed, questions are now being raised over whether unregulated madrasas,
locally called khareji madrasas, had a role in last week’s mayhem.Basirhat in North
24 Parganas district bordering Bangladesh was swept by violence for several
days after Muslim mobs went on a rampage, angered by a controversial Facebook
post by a Hindu teenager. One person was killed and several homes, shops and
vehicles torched before sanity was restored. Stunned by the scale of the
violence, sections of locals have blamed outsiders for it. But police say the
role of unregulated madrasas, often viewed as breeding grounds of
radicalisation, cannot be ruled out. Under scanner are two in Ghoraras and
Kholapota of Basirhat and one in nearby Baduria. HT
Students of Aliah University take out march against recent communal
tensions in Bengal
Taking a cue from ‘Not in My Name’ and various other protests meant to
counter the growing communalisation in India, students of Aliah University,
Kolkata, also took out a march on Friday, July 14 in an attempt to strengthen
Hindu-Muslim relationship in the backdrop of recent Baduria- Basirhat communal
tensions. Teachers, students and non-teaching staffs participated in this
procession urging communal harmony throughout the state.Twocircles
In Sultanpur, upper-caste attack on Dalit family leaves one dead, 3
injured
After a few calm days in Uttar Pradesh, caste violence has now engulfed
Sultanpur in Eastern UP. Ramnathpur village of Sultanpur had been simmering
with tensions between two groups for the past few days. On Friday, the clash
took a violent route when a group of upper-caste people attacked a Dalit
family. Of the 4 injured, 42-year-old Ramjeet, the breadwinner of the family,
died in the hospital while Ramjeet’s wife Sumitra (40), Ramjeet’s son Manjit
(23), and Manjit’s wife Antima (20) suffered serious injuries. Antima was
pregnant when she was attacked.Locals have informed media that police had prior
information about the clash between the two groups. But police allegedly did
not pay attention to the complaints and dismissed the clashes a result of
excess drinking. When TCN asked Police about the same, no explanation was
given. Moreover the Police has registered FIR against five people based on the
complaint of Manjit, but has not arrested anyone yet.TCN
Dalit Youth Attacked And Beaten Up By Man Said To Be Bajrang Dal Member
Three men were detained in Mumbai after they allegedly beat up a Dalit
youth and hurled invectives at him. One of the men has been identified as Jatin
Suraj Singh and claims to be a Bajrang Dal worker. However, the organisation
has denied he has links with them. According to Mumbai Mirror, a 23-year-old
man called Pritesh Tribhuvan, a resident of Samrat Ashok Chawl in Ramabai
Ambedkar Nag, was riding around on a bike at 11 pm on Wednesday, when Singh,
his brothers and a mob of 30 people attacked him. Tribhuvan told Mirror that
they insisted that people were only allowed to display the orange Hindutva flag
and not the blue Ambedkarite flags.Mirror reports: "According to the FIR,
Singh brothers have been booked for intentional insult with intent to provoke
breach of peace (Section 504), deliberate and malicious acts, intended to
outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious
beliefs (295 A), voluntarily causing hurt (323), and under provisions of the SC/ST
(Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015."This incident comes close
on the heels of the lynching of a Dalit man in Tamil Nadu. Last week, a
21-year-old Dalit man was murdered by three upper caste men apparently because
he had broken a plastic tap in their field. 3 men first barged into
Kathiresan's house in a village in Trichy. When they couldn't find him, they
went to hunt for the young auto-driver elsewhere. Then, when they found him,
they took him to the nearest market place, tied him up and beat him with an
iron rod. huffingtonpost
Hundreds March in Delhi Against Mob Lynching, Violation of Rights
New Delhi: Hundreds of people from across religious and social divides
took out a protest march in the country's capital on Sunday against the rise in
incidents of mob lynching and attacks on rights of deprived classes."The
purpose of the rally was to bring together all sections of people whose rights
are being violated by the Indian state and its institutions, so that we can
unitedly find ways to change the present state of affairs," said Birju
Nayak, Secretary, Lok Raj Sangathan, one of the organizers.The rally was
jointly organised by Lok Raj Sangathan, Social Democratic Party of India,
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, United Muslim Front, CGPI, CPI (M-L)-New Proletarian,
Citizens for Democracy, WPI, APCR, Sarvahara Patrika, SIO, AIFTU (New), South
Asian Human Rights Documentation Centre, Purogami Mahila Sangathan, NCHRO and
many others.The protest march started from Ram Lila Maidan and passing through
the busy streets of central Delhi culminated into a public meeting at Jantar
Mantar. indiatomorrow
#NotInMyName rally against lynchings draws massive support in Pune
Pune:Former Bombay high court judge BG Kolse-Patil and social activist
Teesta Setalvad were among those who led a gathering in the city on Saturday to
participate in the #NotInMyName rally organised against the recent lynchings in
the country.The protest was held at Kausar Baug ground in Kondhwa. The 2 social
activists spoke strongly about the lynchings and said that such incidents were
aimed at polarising the population with the aim of winning elections. Others
who were present at the rally included Salim Shekh, Rahul Ambale, Zayed Khan
and Subhash Ware among others. More than 40 organisations including Muslim
Foundation, Indian Muslim Foundation and political parties like the Republican
Party of India came together for the peace rally. The rally started from Konark
Park in Kondhwa and ended at Kausar Baug.The organisers of the programme asked
the participants to respect law and order. Participants held a number of
placards to protest against the lynchings. More than 3,000 people including
women and children participated in the rally.While talking to HT, Teesta
Setalvad said, “Recently heard Ramdev Baba now opening his business Ramdev’s
Parakram Suraksha Private Limited.He would rope in retired army personnel, para
military troopers, and police personnel into his force.Is this move of the
government towards privatisation of security forces? She also raised question
of Aadhaar data security,she thought Aadhaar data might be given to other
countries.She also concern about privatisation of 27 railway station.HT
Ghaziabad cops face probe for 'apathy' towards bleeding teen Qadir
Ghaziabad:UP police have launched a probe against officers of Vijay
Nagar police station in Ghaziabad for their alleged laxity and inhumane
behaviour in rushing the victim of a knife attack to a hospital. A video of the
incident was recorded by a local resident and uploaded online, which was widely
shared on social media.14-year-old Qadir from Vijay Nagar had reached the
station around 11am on Friday with a stab wound on his hand. A disturbing video
of the incident shows Qadir pacing around at the station complex in pain, with
blood running down his hand. The boy, in a desperate attempt to stop the
bleeding, had covered his wound with his shirt. Video shows policemen at the
station keeping Qadir waiting for nearly 20 minutes and finishing their
documentation, rather than rushing him to a hospital urgently.“I was speaking
on my mobile phone when some neighbours arrived and tried to snatch my phone.
When I resisted, one of them stabbed me,” Qadir said, on how he was inflicted
the would.The boy and his mother, who was also injured in the attack, were
rudely packed off in an autorickshaw to a nearby hospital. One of the
constables on duty handed the women their documents and said, “Pakdo isey,
chalo... (Hold this and get going).” The constable is later heard telling the
auto driver to take them to a hospital, where he said he would be reaching
soon.Senior policemen on Saturday took cognizance of the video and said they
have initiated an inquiry into the behaviour of the officers at Vijay Nagar station.HT
As Bhagalpur riot Kameshwar Yadav mastermind is acquitted, Bihar netas
go silent
Patna: Much of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s appeal among the state’s Muslims
stems from his February 2006 decision, four months after he took office heading
a JD (U)-BJP government, to reopen 27 cases related to the 1989 anti-Muslim
riots in Bhagalpur. This and other pro-minority initiatives had antagonised
sections of the BJP and VHP leadership.The two-month-long riots in which 1,852
people were killed has been a politically divisive issue in Bihar, which houses
India’s highest number of Muslims after UP. BJP, when accused of the
post-Godhra riots in Gujarat, targeted RJD and Congress by citing this carnage
in the eastern Bihar town.But when Kameshwar Yadav, mastermind of the Bhagalpur
riots, was acquitted by Patna High Court last week, hardly any politician spoke
on the issue, except the Left.The silence continues because the acquittal was
the result of weak investigation and trial due to political compulsions. Yadav
allegedly benefited from his proximity to both RJD and BJP and, most
importantly, due to JD(U)’s alliance with these parties and Congress. This was
the third acquittal for Yadav, 58, who was released from Bhagalpur Jail after
10 years. The case pertains to murder of 15-year-old Qayumuddin, for which the
trial court had sentenced Yadav to life imprisonment in 2009. A VHP activist,
he was earlier acquitted in two other riot cases.newindian express
Gujarat riot convict gets bail to play daughter’s matchmaker
Ahmedabad: A 2002 riots convict has got bail from the Gujarat high court
to conduct interviews of suitable boys shortlisted as potential matches for his
daughter's engagement.Minesh Patel, a convict in the Ode massacre of Malav
Bhagol, where three persons were killed, was sentenced to life imprisonment
along with others by a special court in 2012. The court had found him guilty of
murder, conspiracy, rioting and arson. TOI
Prohibitory orders clamped in Mangaluru, seer summoned over RSS worker’s
murder
Mangaluru:Prohibitory orders were clamped in the city limits on Sunday
till July 30 in the wake of recent incidents of communal unrest in parts of
Dakshina Kannada district.In a related development, head of a local mutt has
been asked to appear before police in connection with his claims that he had “vital
leads” on the murder of an RSS worker in nearby Bantwal, police said at the
district headquarters here.PTI
INDIA CHINA & KASHMIR
Pak Military Court Rejects Kulbhushan Jadhav’s mercy plea, now Pak Army
Chief to Decide on his appeal
Islamabad: The clemency appeal of imprisoned Indian national Kulbhushan
Jadhav was rejected by Islamabad’s Military Appellate Court on Sunday, Pakistan
Army stated. Jadhav’s plea would now be heard by General Qamar Javed
Bajwa,Chief of Army Staff (COAS). “Clemency appeal of Kulbhushan Jadhav was
rejected by Military Appellate Court. It is now with COAS, who will decide
soon. COAS is looking at each aspect of Kulbhushan Jadhav’s appeal and will
decide on its merits,” the statement issued by Pakistan Army said.“Pakistan
Army chief is likely to reject the mercy plea. Kulbhushan’s plea would then go
to the President. It would not be surprising even when he rejects the clemency
appeal. The international community has been apprised about the farcical trials
in Pakistan, which led to the conviction of Kulbhushan. ICJ is required to
intervene in the matter and stay Kulbhushan execution at all cost,”Defence
expert Sushant Sareen said, while speaking to NDTV. india.com
Pak army chief 'analysing' evidence against Kulbhushan: DG Inter
Services Public Relations
Shutdown observed in Anantnag in response to vandalism of local Jamia
Masjid; police, protesters clash
Srinagar: Anantnag town in south Kashmir on Saturday observed a shutdown
in response to a call given by a religious organisation against the alleged
vandalism of the local Jamia Masjid and the arrest of over a dozen youths
during clashes, officials said.Movement of traffic was also thin because of the
strike call given by the Auqaf Committee Jamia Masjid in the town, the
officials said. Anantnag town had witnessed intense clashes between
stone-pelters and security forces on Friday shortly after prayers.Auqaf
Committee headed by Mirwaiz south Kashmir Qazi Yasir Ahmad had accused security
forces of ransacking the Jamia Masjid during the clashes and arresting 14
persons from there.Meanwhile, the Jamia Masjid area in downtown Srinagar also
observed a shutdown to mourn the death of terrorist Sajid Ahmad Gilkar who was
killed along with two of his associates in a gunbattle with security forces at
in Budgam district's Radbugh village on 12 July.PTI
Urge militants to agree to ceasefire, Imam Bukhari asks Pak PM Sharif
New Delhi:Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the shahi imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid, has
written to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif urging him to persuade militant
youth and Hurriyat leaders to agree to a ceasefire and resolve the Kashmir
issue through dialogue.In a nearly one-month-old letter, Bukhari said the
Kashmir issue was becoming volatile day-by-day, resulting in increase in
tension between the two countries and the only practical way to ease tension on
the border was initiation of dialogue between India and Pakistan.“Thousands of
people are living under the shadow of AK- 47, a life besieged by bloodshed,” he
said.This game of death and destruction is making the situation grave. Due to
these circumstances, millions of Indian Muslims are also facing a trying
situation. Whenever ties between the two countries are tense it directly
affects the Muslims of India, Bukhari said.“The Kashmir issue can neither be
solved through guns and stones nor through military expeditions. We should
create an environment conducive for the talks at the earliest.“Through the
exchange of views and dialogue on the larger issues, we all should formulate a
strategy that is in the interest of both nations,” he said in the letter.“I
request you to kindly persuade the militant youth and Hurriyat leaders to agree
for a ceasefire through your good offices and influence,” the shahi imam
said.PTI
Shahi Imam Mufti Mukarram back's Imam Bukhari, urges for dialogue with
Pak
New Delhi: Shahi Imam of Shahi Masjid Fatehpuri Mufti Mukarram Ahmad on
Saturday said Kashmir is India's internal problem and dialogues must be held
with Pakistan to find a permanent solution to the ongoing strife in the Valley.
Shahai Imam Ahmad's remarks came hours after Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari, wrote a
letter to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, urging him to to resolve the
unrest in the Kashmir Valley."Kashmir is India's internal problem. We have
always advocated for peace in Kashmir and talks should be initiated with them
who are creating disturbances. If Pakistan is anyhow being involved, then it is
right to talk with them; if it is not, then there is no point in talking with
them," Mukarram Ahmad told ANI.Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid said the
government's top priority should be to resolve conflict in the Valley."India
and Pakistan should hold dialogue to resolve the Kashmir dispute. We want peace
and no outside person should be involved in India's integral matter," he
added.ANI
RSS condemns Bukhari's letter to Pak PM on Kashmir
RSS on Saturday condemned Delhi Jama Masjid?s Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed
Bukhari for urging Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resolve the unrest
in the Kashmir valley, stating that the religious leader must clarify on whose
behalf he has written the letter."He has, in a way, given an
authentication to the Hurriyat by writing such a letter without informing the
government. Such authentication is against India's interest and diplomacy.
Secondly, he must come out clean and clarify to the nation in what capacity has
he written the letter," RSS ideologue Rakesh Sinha told ANI. "Has he
written the letter on behalf of Sunni leaders or on behalf of Jama Masjid's
Imam or that of Indian citizen? The way he has mixed up religion with diplomacy
is condemnable," he added.ANI
Imam's letter to Sharif objectionable, doesn't have authority to surpass
his govt:BJP
Sajad Threw Stones, Took to Militancy, But Did Not Lynch Police
Officer:Family
Srinagar: When the news about an encounter in central Kashmir’s Budgam
district broke on the evening of July 11, Nazir Ahmad Gilkar of Nowhatta in
downtown Srinagar received a call from an unknown number on his mobile. “I am
trapped…I may die, I want to talk to mouj (mother),” the voice on the other
side said.A mason, Gilkar recognised it was his son Sajad Ahmad, who had gone
missing on June 29 and joined a group of militants. But away from home, at work
in Pulwama district, he couldn’t fulfil his son’s wish. Restlessness took over
him and he left for home. By the time he reached Nowhatta, a hub of pro-azadi
sentiment in Srinagar, late in the evening, people had already started to
gather outside his home. The family prayed for the entire night, hoping against
hope for any good news. But that wasn’t meant to be.the wire
Syed Ali Shah Geelani tones down hawkish stand
Srinagar:Seemingly climbing down from his hard-line stand, Hurriyat hawk
Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Saturday batted for talks and asked both India and
Pakistan to shun rigid and stubborn attitudes in a bid to resolve the vexed
Kashmir issue."Dialogue is the only option for the peaceful resolution of
all issues.Authorities in India and Pakistan should shun haughty and stubborn
attitude and play a constructive role for its peaceful resolution. War and
inconsistencies is no option instead they cause devastation and destructions.
Both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers and any flare can prove extremely
detrimental," said Geelani.Geelani's remarks are seen as a big climb-down
from his hawkish stand on dialogue and India. All along, Geelani has been
blaming India for stubbornness over the Kashmir issue and bailing out Pakistan
at the same time.DNA india
Opposition to demand debate on China’s involvement in Kashmir in Parliament:
Congress
New Delhi: Observing that differences with China over Kashmir was a new
focal point, the Congress said it would seek a debate in Parliament on the
issue, while asserting that the party stood with the govt on matters of
territorial integrity and national security.The govt has closed all doors for
dialogue on Kashmir “which has led to political suffocation in the Valley”,
senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said.PTI
Beijing won't have formal talks with India; stand-off may continue till
winter: Chinese expert
Beijing: Beijing will not agree to formal talks with New Delhi until
Indian troops withdraw from the position they are holding at the Doklam plateau
on the Sikkim border, a prominent Chinese expert told TOI in an interview on
Saturday.The border stalemate may continue until the harsh winter sets in the
area, he said.China is trying to send a signal that National Security Adviser
Ajit Doval is unlikely to persuade Beijing to begin negotiations without a
troop withdrawal from the Indian side during his visit to Beijing later this
month.Doval is visiting Beijing to attend a multilateral security dialogue
under BRICS on July 27 and 28 and is expected to use the occasion to initiate a
dialogue for ending the border stalemate."Our official position is that
before Indian troops pull back from Doklam, there will be no talks. It (holding
talks) may stir up some uneasy feelings among the ordinary people (in China)
who know the recent faceoff in the border area," Hu Shisheng, director of
the govt think-tank, Institute of South and Southeast Asian and Oceanic
Studies, said. The situation has become alarming because "both sides
cannot afford to be regarded as a loser" by their domestic audience, he
said. "There is no room for both sides to sit down and negotiate because
the (Chinese) precondition is very clear,"expert said."My personal
feeling is that this kind of confrontation in border areas will the until
climate becoming more and more inhuman. Finally, because of the weather, Indian
troops may pull back, both sides may pull back," Hu said.TOI
16 Amarnath pilgrims killed, about 30 injured as bus skids off highway
At least 16 Amarnath pilgrims were killed and about 30 injured when a
bus skidded off the Jammu-Srinagar national highway and rolled down into a deep
nullah in the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir today, officials said.The
bus carrying pilgrims skidded off the road, overturned and rolled down into nullah
at Nachlana belt of Ramban late this afternoon, Ramban SSP Mohan Lal said. A rescue
operation was underway.“16 people are now confirmed dead, 19 with serious
injuries and eight others with minor injuries,” Jammu and Kashmir police said
in a statement Sunday.Some of the worst injured are being airlifted to
hospital, while others were taken to local clinics for treatment, police
said.HT
When a Muslim family took care of holy Hindu shrine: Iftikhar Gilani's story,
DNA
Baktok (Pahalgam):A Muslim family took care of the Amarnath cave after
shepherd Butta Malik was said to have rediscovered the holiest Hindu shrine.In
2008,Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) ended the Malik family’s association
with Lord Shiva. Three parties —Pandits of Mattan Temple, the Mahant and the
Malik family — were offered a one-time settlement to make SASB the sole
guardian of the shrine.“We were offered Rs 1.5 crore to give away the
custodianship. While other two parties took the money, we refused,” Mohammad
Afzal Malik tells DNA, sitting in his modest house in his village of Batkot
near Pahalgam.An employee in J&K’s roads and buildings dept, he heads the
Malik clan of 11 families. “I told the Governor, who heads SASB, that mosques
and temples cannot be weighed in money,” he says, adding that his family was
never after the proceeds, but that helping pilgrims would give them a spiritual
satisfaction. Many sadhus, after resting at Nunwan’s base camp, visit the
Maliks before proceeding to the holy cave. “We continue visiting the shrine in
turns to do our service to Lord Shiva, by putting up a stall to distribute free
medicines,” he says.Though the cave is mentioned in ancient scriptures, it was
said to have been rediscovered by Buta Malik some 150 years ago. He encountered
a sadhu who gave him a sack of coal that transformed into a precious metal once
he returned home. The curious shepherd again visited the cave after a few days
and saw a sadhu (believed to be Lord Shiva). Afzal says that his ancestor was
told to arrange pilgrimage to the cave from next year and take care of
pilgrims. When a group of pilgrims came, there was a lingam inside the
magnificent cave. Irrespective of whether the legend is true or not, since the
shrine is located within a Muslim majority locality, it was prudent to involve
them if not by faith or spiritually, but economically.Afzal agrees that setting
up of the SASB has regulated pilgrimage and provided better facilities to
pilgrims, but laments that some elements were increasingly trying to keep
locals at bay.More than SASB, it was Farooq Abdullah’s govtwho broke the Muslim
connection of the shrine. “He always jeered at us, accusing us of taking
proceeds from pilgrims. You see our condition, if that had been case, we should
have had mansions here,” says Afzal’s father Subhan.
Parents of Victims of 2010 Kashmir Uprising Protest Amarnath Yatra
Killings
New Delhi: The families of the teenagers and young men killed by the
security forces in the 2010 Kashmir uprising held a protest in Srinagar to
condemn the recent killing of seven Amarnath yatris by terrorists in Anantnag
district of south Kashmir.The parents, on Saturday afternoon, gathered at Press
Enclave in Srinagar and protested under the banner of ‘Parents of Victims of
2010’. Families of the slain civilians carried banners and placards that read
“prosecute and punish perpetrators of all killings and we condemn Amarnath
yatra killing”, reported Kashmir Times.“We stand in solidarity with the
families of the deceased. Having lost our loved ones, we can understand the
pain that they are going through. Whosoever has done this barbaric act has
acted against humanity”, Abdul Qayoom, father of slain teenager Umar Qayoom,
told Greater Kashmir.“Every innocent life matters. While the CM has rightly
condemned the killings of Amarnath yatris, there is a criminal silence on her
part regarding the killings of the civilians by the state forces, ” Ashraf
Mattoo, father of slain teenager Tufail Mattoo, told Greater Kashmir.In 2010
uprising, more than 120 civilians were killed by security forces. The families
of Wamiq Farooq of Rainawari, Tufail Matto of Saidakadal and Zahid Farooq
Sheikh of Brein Nishat denounced the attack on the Hindu pilgrims and accused
the govt of human rights violations.Wamiq Farooq, a class 7 student, was hit by
a police teargas shell on his head in Rajouri Kadal on Jan.10, 2010 while Zahid
Farooq went out with his friends to play cricket on Feb.5, 2010 when a BSF
contingent allegedly opened fire on them, killing Zahid on the spot.The Wire
OTHER
Muslim, Christian households top
in donations for charity
Kolkata: Hindus donated a little over Rs15,600 crore as religious
contribution in 2014-15 — 6 times the quantum donated by Muslims — but the
per-household contribution of Muslims is marginally higher than that of Hindus,
as they are enjoined by religion to give to charity.But the per-household
religious contribution of Christians is the highest among all communities, as
per data from the 72nd round of National Sample Survey (NSS) on Household
Expenditure on Services and Durable Goods. The data were recently extracted
from the NSS’ raw findings by a team of researchers led by Sabir Ahamed of the
Pratichi Institute and Zakaria Siddiqui, research assistant at the Crawford
School of Public Policy, Australian National University. 72nd round was
conducted in 2014-15, but could be accessed only in late 2016.Religious
contributions are divided under two heads: the contribution to institutions is
‘charity’ and the non-charitable part is under ‘priests and rituals’. Hindus
contribute ₹82 per household per month to charities and ₹92 to the priests,
while Muslims give ₹126 and ₹54 to charities and Maulanas respectively.Thus,
the average monthly household contribution of Muslims is ₹180 while for the
Hindus, it is ₹174, the researchers found. Contributions multiplied by each
surveyed household of Hindus in the country indicates that the community
contributes ₹15,600 crore to priests and charities. The actual contribution of
Muslims is ₹2,580 crore. Siddiqui argued that the charity component as a share
of total religious expenditure is largest for Muslims, “implying that Muslims
are likely to contribute more to those who are poorer than them.”“A higher
level of charity by Muslims might be one of the factors behind lower inequality
of consumption among Muslims compared to Hindus. NSS estimate of charity for
Muslims might actually be an underestimate, since large sums are given away
during their holy month of Ramzan,” he said.The per capita religious
contribution of Christians and Sikhs is higher than Hindus and Muslims, but the
size of the population makes the absolute contribution lower. While the actual
contribution of Sikhs is ₹1,716 crore, it is ₹420 crore for the Christians.
Ahamed, a senior researcher at the Pratichi Institute, said the data analysis
was based on the number of people who incur a religious expenditure.“There is
no organised structure to utilise the money which comes as Zakat contribution,
especially during Ramzan,” Ahmed said. The Zakat is 2.5% of the assets or
savings of a person, who is expected to contribute the amount as per the
Quranic instruction for people who are below the level of subsistence.“The
actual Zakat collection is presumably much more than what is indicated by NSS,”
he said since it is mandatory in Islam to make a religious contribution.“If
this amount can be properly channelised — for health, sanitation and education
— it would hugely benefit the community,” Ahamed said. thehindu
Missing Indians in Iraq probaly in jail in Badush: Sushma
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, along with Minister of State
(MoS) for Ministry of External Aaffairs (MEA) MJ Akbar and MoS MEA Gen. (Retd.)
VK Singh, met families of 39 Indians who are missing in Iraq since 2014.She
said that the fighting is still going on in West Mosul and Indian authorities
have been informed that the missing Indians were last located in a prison in
Badush, so as soon as the area is cleared, further developments would be
reported" I have already met them several times, but this time the
situation was different as Iraqi PM recently announced that Mosul has been
liberated from the ISIS. The very same day I asked VK Singh ji to go to Erbil
and personally oversee where are the missing Indians and how can they be
rescued," Swaraj said.ANI
Sushma says missing Indian hostages were last located in an Iraqi prison
Delhi in dark on 39 men abducted in Mosul
Court rejects plea for CBI probe against PM Modi
New Delhi:A special court has junked the plea of a sacked Defence
Ministry official for a CBI probe against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his
alleged inaction on charges of corruption in the Ministry.Dismissing the plea
calling it "not maintainable", Special Judge Virender Kumar Goyal
said "there are no allegations against the Prime Minister of taking
gratification or obtaining (any) valuable thing ..." In the entire
complaint, "the nature of allegations made are only that Prime Minister
has failed to take action", which do not attract the provisions of Section
14 (habitual committing of offence) of the Prevention of Corruption Act
"in any manner", the court said. The order came on a private
complaint of KN Manjunatha, who was working in Ministry of Defence (MoD) and
was sacked after disciplinary proceedings.PTI
Modi govt planning to replace PTI, UNI with RSS-backed news agency for
DD, All India Radio : southlive
In what is considered as latest attempt by the govt to gain more control
over the media and information flow, the BJP government is believed to be
mulling to replace subscription of news agencies like PTI and UNI for Prasar
Bharati with RSS backed Hindusthan Samachar.In a most explicit attempt to
influence news flow, the Centre has apparently directed the public broadcaster
– which runs Doordarshan and All India Radio – to rely the Hindusthan Samachar
for basic news.The information was revealed earlier this week by the former
I&B minister and current Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari, who tweeted
that his “sources in the ministry” told him that the government has instructed
Prasar Bharati to terminate the services of largest, old and most reliable news
agencies. Tewari further alleged that “pressure” was being exerted on both the
news agencies to provide “slanted” feeds, which, in other words, means news
which depicts the government only in a positive light. Prasar Bharati
officials, the news portal The Wire contacted to confirm the allegation refused
to comment on the issue, but admitted that there have been “rumours” about the
replacement plan for the past one month. The authorities also claimed that, as
of now, DD and AIR continue to use PTI and UNI news feeds.According to an
earlier report by the Hindustan Times, the Hindustan Samachar was expecting a
major expansion, with some help from the NDA government. In the new policy on
print media advertisements, Modi government included the RSS backed agency as
one of the three news agencies to which newspapers could subscribe, to score
points to qualify for government ads, along with PTI and UNI. The Wire further
reports that the government might project the increasing financial burden on
Prasar Bharati (because of the high subscription rates charged by PTI and UNI)
as the reason to rope in Hindusthan Samachar. The two agencies are together
paid Rs 15.75 crore annually. With choosing Hindusthan Samachar for Prasar
Bharti, the agency will also get a financial boost.“The replacement plan has
been on the cards for some time now. Prasar Bharati was located in the PTI
building in New Delhi. Not only was PTI charging exorbitant rent for its space,
it also had very high subscription rates. Prasar Bharati was forced to vacate
the building consequently. The government may now see this as an opportunity to
remove PTI and UNI and bring in one of their agencies,” ex-I&B secretary
with intimate knowledge of the goings on at Prasar Bharati was quoted by The
Wire.
Numbers favour NDA in Presidential poll to be held tomorrow
New Delhi: Election for the next President of India will be held on July
17 where NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind is pitted against opposition nominee
Meira Kumar.The counting of votes will take place on July 20 in New Delhi where
all the ballot boxes will be brought from various state capitals. The
electorate, comprising elected Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members and members of
state assemblies, is tilted in favour of the NDA, but the opposition is still
working to seek support of some regional parties in favour of their
candidate.PTI
Delhi: Minor is home but wants to be with 'husband'
Delhi: The girl, who reportedly eloped with a neighbour, Iddu Khan and
later got 'married' to him, also refused to go back to her parents.A
13-year-old girl who went missing in May and returned on July 7, was found to
be three months pregnant.She told police that she wants to stay with the
accused, who had surrendered at Saket court, and has been booked under rape and
kidnapping.Khan, who works as a cook in a local restaurant, reportedly told the
police he had married the girl. He has been booked under Child Marriage
Restraint Act. The police have also arrested two of his friends, who acted as
witnesses in the marriage.Meanwhile, the minor is currently in the custody of
Children Welfare Committee.DNA
Suspecting affair, Muslim man strangles wife to death in south Delhi
Delhi: Suspecting her of having an affair, a 37-year-old man allegedly
strangled his wife to death after the two had an argument over the issue. The
incident was reported from south east Delhi’s Kotla Mubarakpur area on Friday
morning. Shabnam reportedly had a fight with her husband Taiyab a night before
as well.The murder was discovered after their landlord Anil Kumar came to meet
Taiyab and found the door ajar. When he went inside to check if Taiyab was
around, he saw Shabnam lying dead on her bed. He then made a PCR call and
informed the police.The neighbours told the police that the couple often fought
over the issue. While Taiyab suspected her of having an extra marital affair, Shabnam
denied being involved in a relationship outside marriage. Shabnam had
reportedly even confided in a neighbour about Taiyab thrashing her.“Taiyab had
gone to Saudi Arabia and returned a few months ago. He suspected that while he
was out of India, his wife had an affair. He allegedly even checked her phone
and always kept a watch on her which often led to arguments between the two,” a
police officer said. HT
Mehfuz arrested after hoax call to blow up Red Fort sends police into
panic mode
New Delhi: The Delhi Police went into panic mode when it was alerted by
a man about a threat call about blowing up the historical monument Red Fort.
However, the call turned out to be a hoax, officials said. The accused, who had
made the call “just for fun” was arrested, the police said. The matter was
first reported to the Begumpur police station around 7.30 pm on Saturday.Nitin
Kumar, who informed the police about the call, recalled the ordeal that he had
gone through yesterday. “I was in my digital marketing class when I got a call
around 7 pm from a man, claiming to be from Pakistan. He said that there will
be a bomb blast at the Red Fort around 8.30 pm. He also claimed that there is a
bomb planted in a hotel in Connaught Place,” Kumar was quoted as saying by PTI.
A 22-year-old man, identified as Mehfuz, was arrested after personnel from the
Paharganj police station visited the hotel. A resident of Kishanganj in Bihar,
Mehfuz was working as a manager in the hotel for the last couple of years.
indian express
I was victimised, says army’s most decorated officer
New Delhi: India’s most decorated officer, Colonel Saurabh Singh
Shekhawat, has accused two former army chiefs and a senior serving officer of
victimising him for speaking up about a botched operation in 2011 that
embarrassed the force.45-year-old Shekhawat has named former chief Gen Bikram
Singh, his successor Gen Dalbir Singh and Lt Gen Abhay Krishna in his complaint
to the army headquarters.“I am forced, with distress and disillusionment, to
state that despite being highest decorated serving officer in the army with an
unblemished operational profile, I have been systematically vicitimised by
officers at the highest level,” Shekhawat has said in the letter, a copy of
which is with HT.Shekhawat’s allegations have brought the focus back on the
Jorhat operation that led to an all-out war among India’s top army officers and
at one point even threatened to derail the force’s succession plan.Gen Dalbir
Singh and Lt Gen Krishna didn’t respond to repeated phone calls or messages.
Gen Bikram Singh said he didn’t remember the case. “It is not right for me to
comment also, as it’s more than three years that I have retired,” he told HT.
HT
WORLD
Israel reopens al-Aqsa Mosque compound
Israeli authorities gradually reopened the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in
Jerusalem's Old City on Sunday following a two-day closure, as religious
officials condemned new security measures put in place following a deadly gun
battle. The ultra-sensitive compound was closed on Friday after 3 Palestinian
citizens of Israel shot 2 Israeli officers dead in the Old City before fleeing
to the al-Aqsa compound where they were killed by Israeli police.Palestinian
worshippers on Sunday refused to enter the holy site for midday prayers after
metal detectors and cameras were added to the compound's gates.Dozens of
worshippers gathered to pray at an entrance to the compound next to the Lions'
Gate entry to the Old City. "We reject the changes imposed by the Israeli government,"
Sheikh Omar Kiswani, the director of al-Aqsa Mosque, told reporters
outside.Earlier in the day, Kiswani told Voice of Palestine radio station the
additional security measures were part of a "dangerous and unprecedented
move" by Israeli authorities "to impose control over al-Aqsa
Mosque".Israel's highly unusual decision of closing the al-Aqsa Mosque
compound for Friday prayers triggered anger from Palestinians and authorities
in Jordan, the holy site's custodian. aljazeera
Gazans left without electricity for 30 continuous hours
Palestinians took to demonstrate against the dire situation they are
living in after electricity supplies in Gaza were cut further, resulting in
Gaza having no electricity for 30 continuous hours for the first time since the
electricity crisis began earlier in 2017.Gaza’s last functioning turbine was
shut down on Wednesday due to a severe shortage of fuel, plunging the Strip
into near total darkness, according to Haaretz.Gazans protested to raise
awareness of the unfolding humanitarian disaster in the besieged enclave as a result
of the power crisis and salary cuts imposed by the Palestinian Authority in
occupied Ramallah on 14 July 2017. middleeastmonitor
Reopen 15 cases against Nawaz Sharif, recommends Panama panel
Islamabad: The joint investigation team which looked into Pakistan Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif's family assets in London following the the Panama Papers
leak scandal has recommended reopening of 15 cases against the embattled
leader, a media report said today.The high-profile scandal is about alleged
money laundering by Sharif in 1990s, when he twice served as prime minister, to
purchase assets in London. The assets surfaced when Panama Papers leak last
year revealed that they were managed through offshore companies owned by
Sharif's children. The six-member JIT which probed the issue submitted its
final report to the Supreme Court on July 10. It said the lifestyle of Sharif
and his children were beyond their known sources of income, and recommended
filing of a new corruption case against them. Sharif has dismissed the report
as a "bundle of baseless allegations". According to the report in
Pakistan's Dawn newspaper, the JIT has asked the court to reopen 15 old cases,
including five cases decided by the Lahore High Court, eight investigations and
two inquiries against the prime minister. PTI
Boycott to continue until Qatar changes its policies: Saudi envoy to
India
New Delhi:Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to India, Saud Mohammed Alsati,
tells Aditi Phadnis that his country along with 3 others cut diplomatic and
consular ties with Qatar because it reneged on its past commitments and
assurances and continued to shelter extremist and terror groups. Arabia’s
ambassador, "It is important to understand why the four countries — Saudi
Arabia, Egypt, UAE and Bahrain — took the step of cutting diplomatic and
consular ties with Qatar. We have been engaging with Qatar since 2012 and
before to persuade them to stop their support for extremist and terrorist
groups that are destabilising the security of other GCC countries. Qatari
government signed agreements to this effect in 2013 and 2014. Despite these
assurances, Qatar has been supporting terrorist groups and meddling in the
internal affairs of our country. As a result of this, our country decided to
boycott Qatar in the interests of our national security and to persuade Qatar
to abandon its divisive agenda. 13 demands submitted to the Qatar government
were to fulfil their previous pledges and commitments that were originally
stated in the agreements that Qatar signed in 2013 and 2014. Demands were fully
in line with the spirit of what Qatar had agreed upon earlier. Despite the end of 10-day deadline, our
countries gave Qatar another 48 hours in good faith. However, Qatar’s response
was disappointing. Hence, the political and economic measures will continue
until Qatar changes its policies for the better.Let me emphasise that we are
not against the people of Qatar. Our disappointment is with the behaviour of
Qatar’s authorities. I am sure all of us in the GCC wish to restore the ties
that our countries have shared in the past, but Qatar’s government must end its
violations and support for extremism and terrorism for that to happen."
Business Standard
Air raids kill 10 in Syria's Eastern Ghouta: SOHR
At least 10 people have been killed by aerial bombardment in the
opposition-held Damascus suburb of Ein Tarma, according to a UK-based monitor.
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said at least two children were
among those killed in the air attacks on Friday.The assault took place in the
eastern Ghouta region, which has been partially besieged by the Syrian govt
since 2013. Located about 15km outside of Damascus, region is the biggest
remaining opposition bastion in the Syrian capital's suburbs.SOHR said several
people were seriously injured and the death toll was expected to rise.aljazeera
Syrian army takes more oil fields from Daesh in Raqqa and eastern desert
Syrian army backed by heavy Russian air strikes seized a string of oil
wells in south-west Raqqa province on Saturday, as retreating Daesh militants
battle to defend their remaining territory in the country.State-owned
Ikhbariyah TV quoted a military source as saying the army had taken control of
Wahab, al Fahd, Dbaysan, al-Qseer, Abu al Qatat and Abu Qatash oil fields and
several other villages in the desert area that lies in the south-west of Raqqa
province.The seized oil fields lie south of the town of Rasafa and its oil
wells, which the army took last month from the militants in their first major
territorial gains inside the province. middleeastmonitor
Daesh leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
still alive: Iraqi intelligence official
Baghdad:An Iraqi intelligence officer said Sunday that Daesh leader Abu
Bakr al-Baghdadi was still alive. Last month, the Russian Defense Ministry
media said that al-Baghdadi was believed to have been killed in an airstrike in
Syria. US officials, however, said they don't have any proof confirming the
Daesh leader's death. "Al-Baghdadi is still hiding in Syria in an area
outside [the northern Syrian province of] Raqqah," Abu Ali al-Basri, the
head of the intelligence and anti-terrorism department at the Iraqi Interior
Ministry, told the local Al-Sabah newspaper. He insisted that reports speaking
about al-Baghdadi's death were untrue. Anadolu agency
Iran detains Rouhani's brother on financial charges
The younger brother of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has been
detained on financial crime charges, the judiciary has announced.Hossein
Fereydoun is accused of receiving zero-interest loans and influencing the
appointment of a bank director who Rouhani had to dismiss for taking an
enormous salary. Conservatives have demanded Fereydoun be put on trial.The
detention of Fereydoun on Sunday comes a year after the head of the General
Inspection Organisation, Naser Seraj, accused him of financial violations.
"Multiple investigations have been conducted regarding this person, also
other people have been investigated, some of whom are in jail," deputy
judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejeie said in a televised press
conference."Yesterday, bail was issued for him but because he failed to
secure it he was referred to prison," Ejeie said, adding that he would be
released if he secures bail, pending trial.Fereydoun has acted as a key advisor
and gatekeeper to the reformist Iranian leader who was re-elected in May. aljazeera
FLASH: NEWS & VIEWS
A Dangerous Arrogance of Power Is Setting In:HARISH KHARE,
editor-in-Chief of Tribune
New caste war in UP: 152 of 312 new law officers appointed by Adityanath
are Brahmins: Over 90% of new appointments are from so-called upper castes:
Dhirendra K Jha
‘Kashmir wants Islamic rule like Saudi Arabia': Much has changed from
Burhan Wani to Zakir Musa:Ipsita Chakravarty
& Rayan Naqash, scroll.in
Compiled and edited by Anwarulhaq (Released at: 8:38 PM)
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