By IANS,

New Delhi : A civil society group comprising Jamia Millia Islamia teachers Thursday expressed shock over the conviction of lone accused Shahzad Ahmad in the Batla House shootout case and vowed to seek justice for him in a higher court.

"It was a huge disappointment for us. We will definitely approach the higher court for justice," said Manisha Sethi, president of Jamia Teachers Solidarity Association (JTSA).

A Delhi court convicted Ahmad, from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, for killing Delhi Police Special Cell Inspector M.C. Sharma, who had led a police team that raided a flat in Batla House neighbourhood, close to the university, where the shootout took place Sep 19, 2008.

Sethi said they fought for five years to reveal the real face of Delhi Police who staged the shootout and arrested the innocent people.

"The prosecution has failed to explain the theory of Delhi Police. I really wonder how such the decision took place," she said.

Defence lawyer S. Qamar said: "Since we did not receive a copy of the court's judgment, wWe will look at the order and challenge the decision."

JTSA, a civil society group, ran a campaign claiming that the shootout was fake and the arrests of Shahzad and other suspects for it were wrong.

In October 2012, JTSA brought out a report, 'Framed, Damned, Acquitted' documenting 16 cases where trials of terror accused resulted in acquittals for lack of evidence.

JTSA also questioned the alleged discrepancies in the police version on the Batla House shootout through a report "Encounter' at Batla House: Unanswered Questions".

By IANS,

New Delhi : A section of people in Delhi's Batla House neighbourhood, the spot of a shootout in 2008, Thursday aired dissatisfaction over the conviction of an Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative for the gunfight which left a police inspector dead.

Shahzad Ahmad was held guilty by a court here for killing Delhi Police Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, who led a raid on a flat in the area where terror suspects were present.

Just after the trial court's decision, a Batla House resident Amanullah Khan told IANS: "We are not happy with the decision, but we are not surprised."

"We demanded a magisterial inquiry but it was rejected by the union and state governments saying that such an inquiry will demoralise Delhi Police. It means that the government already believed that the boys were terrorist," he said.

Once the central and state governments rejected the demand for judicial inquiry into matter, it was clear that the trial court would convict Ahmad, from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, said another resident.

Retired professor of Jamia Millia Islamia, Firoz Alam told IANS: "We were expecting this ruling only because the government had already denied a judicial probe in the case."

The residents also did not believe the theory of Delhi Police officials who claimed that Ahmad, along with another accused Junaid, had jumped off the balcony and fled after firing at the police party.

"There is no such structure on the back side of the building which Delhi Police claim was used by them to escape," said Maseeh Alam, an eye-witness who lives close to the L-18 flat in the four-storeyed building in Batla House where the incident took place.

The police team's attempts to storm the flat Sep 19, 2008 on the second floor around 10.30 a.m. resulted in exchange of fire, the prosecution said.

Alam said at the time of the shootout policemen were present at the front gate of the building and it was not possible for anyone to run away from there.

Waseem Ansari, another resident of the neighbourhood, said: "Five years after the shootout, residents say life has returned to normal in the area but they still feel embarrassed when they are suspected as terrorists."

The shootout took place between the seven-member Delhi Police Special Cell team, led by Sharma, and suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorists, allegedly involved in the Sep 13, 2008, serial blasts in Delhi that killed over 26 people and over 133 injured.

Two suspected terrorists - Atif Amin and Mohd Sajid - were killed, Mohd Saif was arrested while Ahmad and Junaid managed to escape, said police.

By IANS,

New Delhi : A Delhi court Thursday convicted Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative Shahzad Ahmad, the lone accused in the 2008 Batla House shootout here, for killing a police inspector and attacking other officers.

Nearly five years after the shootout, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Rajender Kumar Shastri convicted Ahmad, 24, from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, of killing Delhi Police Special Cell Inspector M.C. Sharma.

The court also found Ahmad guilty of attempt to murder, obstructing public servants from doing their duty, causing disappearance of evidence, voluntarily causing grievous hurt to public servants, criminal conspiracy and violating provisions of the Arms Act.

Sharma, who was leading the team in the raid at flat L-18 in Batla House neighbourhood in south Delhi to catch the alleged terrorists, was killed by Ahmad in the shootout. Sharma was not wearing bullet-proof jacket during the operation.

The court, during the arguments, questioned the prosecution on why Sharma was not wearing a bullet-proof jacket when he knew that he was leading the team to catch terror suspects and why two police officers were not carrying arms.

The court in its order said: "It agitates my mind that the incident in question was not a sudden confrontation between police and the assailants."

"Police had already information, receiving which a raiding party was formed well in advance. Despite all this, Inspector M.C. Sharma did not wear any body protection device i.e. bullet-proof jacket. Moreover, at least two members of the raiding party were having no weapon with them, despite knowing the fact that they may face firing."

"It is not clear whether it was merely a misadventure or lack of professionalism in Delhi Police or scarcity of weapons," the judge said.

The court, however, said that if policemen did not wear bullet-proof jacket or carry arms, it did not give any licence to the accused to fire at them.

The court acquitted Ahmad of charges of not appearing before police or court despite a proclamation, saying the prosecution failed to prove that any such process was initiated.

Ahmad was present in the second floor flat in the four-storey building in Batla House in Jamia Nagar area when the shootout took place, police said.

The Sep 19, 2008, exchange of fire took place between a seven-member Delhi Police Special Cell team, led by Sharma, and suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorists, allegedly involved in the Sep 13, 2008, serial blasts in Delhi.

The police team's attempts to storm the flat on the second floor around 10.30 a.m. resulted in exchange of fire. Sharma was hit and subsequently died.

Two suspected terrorists - Atif Amin and Mohammad Sajid - were killed, Mohommad Saif was apprehended, while Ahmad along with suspect Junaid managed to escape.

Saif was not made an accused in this case as according to the prosecution, he surrendered peacefully and did not play any part in the incident. Junaid was declared a proclaimed offender.

Ahmad was arrested Jan 1, 2010 from Azamgarh. Police filed the charge sheet against him April 28, 2010.

The prosecution examined around 70 witnesses, including six eye-witnesses who were part of the police raid team.

By Swastik Pal, TwoCircles.net

Wajihuddin, aged 60, is a Lungi seller near Market Street, Kolkata. Lungi is a very popular dress among Muslims in this part of the world. He has spent all his life in this business. This year like every other year he is fasting.

By IANS,

New Delhi: An Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative was Thursday held guilty by a Delhi court in the 2008 Batla House shootout here, and the family of a killed police inspector as well as political leaders hailed the verdict while some groups and area residents expressed their dismay.

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, who earlier was the home minister, said he was glad that "police have been able to prove their case", and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stressed it was a boost to anti-terror forces.

Additional Sessions Judge Rajender Kumar Shastri convicted IM terror group's operative Shahzad Ahmad for killing Inspector M.C. Sharma and fixed July 29 for arguments on sentencing.

Ahmad, from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh, was said to be present in a flat in Batla House neighbourhood in Jamia Nagar area in south Delhi when the shootout took place.

The Sep 19, 2008, exchange of fire took place between a seven-member Delhi Police Special Cell team, led by Inspector Sharma, and suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorists who were allegedly involved in the Sep 13, 2008, serial blasts in Delhi that killed 26 people.

The court, during the arguments, questioned why Sharma was not wearing a bullet-proof jacket when he knew that he was leading the team to catch terror suspects and why two police officers were not carrying arms.

"It agitates my mind that the incident in question was not a sudden confrontation between police and the assailants."

"Police had already information, receiving which a raiding party was formed well in advance. Despite all this, Inspector M.C. Sharma did not wear any body protection device i.e. bullet-proof jacket. Moreover, at least two members of the raiding party were having no weapon with them, despite knowing the fact that they may face firing."

"It is not clear whether it was merely a misadventure or lack of professionalism in Delhi Police or scarcity of weapons," the judge said.

Police filed the charge sheet against Ahmad April 28, 2010, and the prosecution examined around 70 witnesses, including six eye-witnesses who were part of the police raid team.

Sharma's family expressed satisfaction over the verdict.

His octogenarian father, Naurottam Sharma, told IANS: "I am satisfied with the court's decision, but await the final judgment. I am worried that the accused can move the higher court."

Jamia Teachers Solidarity Association (JTSA) expressed their disappointment at the verdict, and said they would approach the higher court to seek justice for Ahmad.

"It was a huge disappointment for us. We will definitely approach the higher court for justice," said Manisha Sethi, president of JTSA.

A section of people in the Batla House neighbourhood aired dissatisfaction over the conviction, saying they knew the eventual outcome since their demand for a magisterial probe had been rejected.

Chidambaram told a TV channel: "I am glad that the police have been able to prove their case."

Asked about comments made by his Congress party colleagues like Digvijaya Singh, who had feared the shootout was fake, he said: "They (leaders) meant well. They were reflecting the views of the affected families or the people who lived in the area."

"Earlier, the NHRC (National Human Rights Commission) and the high court also held that there was no reason to doubt the genuineness of the encounter," he said.

The BJP said the conviction of Ahmad will go a long way in boosting the morale of the security forces fighting terror.

"There was a consistent campaign by several political parties, including the Congress, to declare it (shootout) fake... this verdict will go a long way in upholding the morale of those police officers fighting terror," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

In a tweet, his party colleague Prakash Javedakar demanded Digvijaya Singh must apologise for his earlier remarks concerning the shootout.

He alleged the Congress should also apologise as Digvijaya Singh speaks not "off the cuff", but for Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

By TCN News,

Hyderabad: All India Muslim Sangam called a meeting of all its District representatives and some guests from all the 10 districts of Telangana to discuss and decide on their observations on the creation of new separate of Telangana.

75 persons representing all the 10 districts of Telangana met in Hyderabad under the presidentship of Mr. Kahlid Rasool Khan and discussed the pros and cons of the creation of Telangana, and whether this move would benefit the Muslims of the region.

Khalid Rasool Khan adressing AIMS meeting

After over three hours of discussion many suggestions and ideas emerged, there was almost unanimous support for the creation of Telangana by all the attendees. The attendees, however, felt that after formation of Telangana they don’t want to witness the same sort of problems that the Muslim community has been facing in United Andhra Pradesh, which is caused by extreme neglect by the government, leading to backwardness and poverty.

Participants were of the opinion that if Telangana is to be created they want certain safeguards including; political reservation in the Assembly, Parliament, local bodies and proper representation according to their population in all walks of life including appointment to committees and different government posts.

They further demanded that no decision on Telangana should be taken without consulting representatives of all districts of Telangana, they were of the opinion that the domestic problems of a person can only be seen and addressed by himself and not by outsiders. They therefore demanded that government and political parties to consult them before taking any important decisions that affect their lives and welfare.

The meeting further decided that the Sangam should establish branches in all Districts and towns of Andhra Pradesh, so that it can better address the problems being faced by the rural Muslim community.

By IANS,

Srinagar : Curfew continued for the third day Friday in over two dozen villages of central Badgam district in Jammu and Kashmir where sectarian clashes had erupted early this week.

"The situation is peaceful in the areas under restrictions and is returning to normal. Today being Friday, we do not want to take any chances. Restrictions are being continued in the affected areas," a police officer told IANS.

Over two dozen houses were torched in sectarian clashes in central Badgam district where groups of Shia and Sunni Muslims had clashed with each other.

Columns of the army and counter-insurgency Rashtriya Rifles were moved out Wednesday to restore order in the areas.

Additional deployments of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have also been made in over 50 villages of the district.

Over two dozen villages witnessed flag marches by the army and troops of Rashtriya Rifles to instill confidence among the people.

Both mainstream and separatist leaders have appealed to Muslims to defeat the designs of anti-social elements stoking trouble among members of the two sects.

The state government has announced relief for families whose homes have been destroyed or properties damaged during the clashes.

By IANS,

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Thursday sought a report from the central and Jammu and Kashmir governments over the firing by paramilitary forces in Ramban district July 18 which left four dead and 42 injured.

"We have issued notices to the union Home Secretary and Director General of Police Jammu and Kashmir, calling for reports within four weeks in this matter," said an official of the NHRC.

The contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the victims, the commission said.

Hundreds of people had marched to the BSF camp alleging that some personnel had gate-crashed into the mosque wearing shoes, thereby desecrating the place of worship. There were also allegations that people engaged in prayers in the mosque were roughed up.

BSF Inspector General (Frontier Jammu) Rajeev Krishna has claimed that the Border Security Force at the camp had opened fire to prevent looting of arms and ammunition.

The killing of the four villagers triggered widespread anger and violent protests, during which scores of people, including police and paramilitary personnel, were injured across the state.

By IANS,

Geneva: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued travel advice on the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) for pilgrims going for Umra and Hajj to Saudi Arabia in the coming months.

The MERS-CoV has affected nine countries to date, Xinhua reported.

In a guidance to countries for the prevention, detection and management of imported cases of MERS-CoV, the WHO said that at this time, the risk to an individual pilgrim of contracting MERS-CoV is considered very low.

In the advisory, the WHO does not recommend the application of any travel or trade restrictions or entry screening.

It also encouraged countries to raise awareness to reduce the risk of MERS-CoV infection among pilgrims and those associated with their travel, including transport operators and ground staff, and about self-reporting of illness by travellers.

The WHO recommended that travellers who develop a significant acute respiratory illness with fever and cough - severe enough to interfere with usual daily activities - should be advised to minimise their contact with others to keep from infecting them.

They should also report to medical staff accompanying the group or to local health services.

By Sheikh Qayoom, IANS,

Srinagar : Deployment of the Indian Army and the paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is helping restore calm in Jammu and Kashmir's central Badgam district where sectarian tensions have prevailed for nearly a week now.

Clashes between Shia and Sunni Muslims over trivial issues have occurred in the Valley in the past, but good sense has always prevailed and elements interested in stoking sectarian fires have been defeated.

Some among the Shia community in the affected areas of Badgam district have blamed the local police for "gross mishandling the situation encouraged the miscreants to spread sectarian fires".

Those who argue against the local police say a 55-year old woman, Fatima, was beaten with a rifle butt by a local policeman. Fatima was shifted to hospital in a critical condition. Fatima belongs to the Shia community.

The authorities on Wednesday morning deployed columns of the army and the CRPF, withdrawing the local police from the affected areas. The deployment followed overnight rioting in the area in which over two dozen houses were torched in sectarian clashes.

Yasin Malik of the pro-Azadi Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) went around the affected areas Wednesday on a peace rally. Residents in the affected areas said Malik's move helped restore confidence among them.

Interestingly, the Badgam assembly constituency is represented by a Shia leader, Aga Syed Ruhullah of the ruling National Conference (NC). Members of the Shia community are not in a majority in the constituency, but the fact that Shia voters unitedly supported Ruhullah during the 2008 elections made his victory possible.

"If the Shias in Badgam get disgruntled with the NC, it would cost us the seat in the assembly elections (later this year)," said a senior NC leader here.

This has probably been the reason for many in the NC blaming the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Mufti Muhammad Sayeed for stoking sectarian troubles in Badgam.

The NC leaders have been blaming Sayeed's confidante and senior Shia leader Molvi Ifftekhar Hussain Ansari for using his "influence" among the Shias in Badgam to fan sectarian fires.

Senior PDP leaders, including Sayeed, have appealed to the people to remain united and defeat anti-religion and anti-social elements responsible for fanning sectarian fires.

Senior separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, toeing his standard line, has said that there is a conspiracy behind the sectarian clashes in Badgam and that these have been started to distract the attention of the people from the Gool violence in which four people were killed and 13 others injured in paramilitary firing on July 18.

"There was a minor scuffle between two persons and mysterious hands manipulated it to the hilt to fuel sectarian clashes", Geelani said here in a statement.

Syed Salahuddin, the Muzaffarabad-based supreme commander of the United Jehad Council (UJC) guerrilla conglomerate, also issued a statement appealing for calm between the two sects, but added that "agencies are always looking forward to creating a wedge among the Muslims to weaken the freedom struggle".

Political overtones to the recent sectarian clashes in Badgam district notwithstanding, the fact remains that given the fragile security situation, Kashmir cannot afford a sectarian flare-up.

The sooner the Congress-NC coalition government headed by Omar Abdullah gets to the bottom of these clashes the better for the state.

If the local police were really partisan during the clashes, the involved officers deserve nothing short of being sacked.

(Sheikh Qayoom can be contacted at sheikh.abdul@ians.in)

It, however, ruled out that for the purpose of decision of this case it hardly matters whether accused was affiliated to IM or not.

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

New Delhi: As a Delhi court found Shahzad Ahmed guilty in the Batla House encounter case on charges of obstructing public servants in discharge of duties, murder of Inspector MC Sharma and attempt to murder, it has been hailed by many as ‘victory’ of the police version that claimed to have broken the backbone of Indian Mujahedeen with the 2008 Batla House ‘operation’.

However, the court found no evidence to prove that Shahzad had any link with Indian Mujahedeen or any other terror outfit. Defence counsel Satish Tamta had argued, “As per the prorsecution, the occupants of flat 108 including accused Shahzad were active members of Indian Muzahiddin but this fact has not been proved on file.”

Additional Sessions Judge Rajender Kumar Shastri seemed to have agreed to this as the prosecution failed to provide any clinching evidence. The honourable judge noted, “True, there is no evidence on record to establish that fact.”

However, it concurred, “At the same time this cannot be expected to endeavour in giving any finding about said fact,” adding, “for the purpose of decision of this case it hardly matters as to whether accused was affiliated to Indian Muzahiddin or not.”

The Additional Sessions Judge has set July 29, Monday at 2.0 pm to deliver the quantum of punishment.

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

New Delhi: The judgement of Shahzad Ahmed in connection with the Batla House shoot out has some important revelations. On the question of why local residents were not informed and made the witness, as is the procedure laid down in laws, prosecution counsel additional public prosecutor argued that the raiding party was in hurry; adding, “Moreover, majority of residents of that area are followers of the religion, as was of those suspects. If the police officers tried to involve any such local resident, it would have created social unrest in that area, causing fear to the life of those police persons even.”

A Delhi court found Shahzad Ahmed guilty in the Batla House encounter case on Thursday on charges of obstructing public servants in discharge of duties, murder of Inspector MC Sharma and attempt to murder. Additional Sessions Judge Rajender Kumar Shastri will deliver the the quantum of punishment on July 29.

Delhi Police has also maintained that a team of special cell, “requested 7-8 passer by persons to join raiding party after apprising them about contents of information, but none joined by giving genuine excuses.” Hence instead of wasting time they hurried in for the operation.

No religion professes crimes as its tradition, then why the police fostered a belief that it will stir communal violence if they invited local residents to join a raid, to arrest an offender, who was belonging to their religion?

The bench of additional Sessions Judge Rajender Kumar Shastri wrote in the judgement explaining, “It is equally true that having witnessed incidents of clashes between different religions, way as apprehended by Ld. Addl. PP (learned additional public prosecutor), the fear of police being targeted, cannot be abnegated outrightly.”

The honourable judge believes that even otherwise, “public apathy in joining investigation of heinous offences even of general concern as a witness, have been highlighted by the media as well as by the higher courts, time and again.”

Hence keeping in mind all this trend of general public, in the opinion of the honourable judge, “if the police could not join any public person on the way to spot, same is not fatal to the case of prosecution.”

By Syed Ali Mujtaba

The judgement on the controversial Batla House encounter in New Delhi in 2008 raises some fundamental questions. The judge has convicted one person who police claimed to have fled from the L-18 flat in Batla House area. If the hon'ble judge had visited the building he could have found that the building has only one exit which was manned by police and there was no possibility to escape by jumping. In such case the accused either had to be caught or had to be shot. The escape theory put up by the police does not hold any ground.

The judge should have taken the cops and may have asked them to escape before believing them. Unfortunately, it did not happen, and the judgement was based on what was told by the police. It’s really a travesty of justice.

The second point in this case that requires consideration is that the input to do the Batla House encounter came from the same infamous IB special director Ravider Kumar who has provided the fake inputs that were used for 17 fake encounters in Gujarat and that are now being probed.

If the judge could have considered probing the source of the encounter and had related them to the on-going probe the judgement may have been different.

Interestingly Mr Chidambram who was the home minister at that time has found the encounter as genuine. He says that he has gone through the sequence of events and has probed into the matter and those killed were terrorists and the one who “fled” their accomplice.

The popular theory is that those believed to be the terrorists were actually students who had come for admission in Jamia College. It was wrong information on which police swooped on them and killed them in clod blooded manner. They had no weapons to retaliate and it was fabricated by the police after the encounter. The police officer killed in the encounter may have been due to cross firing by the police weapons or he may have been shot by his colleague to settle some old rivalry.

In the aftermath of the Batla house judgement, I am reminded of the words of the death convict Dhananjoy Chatterjee who was hanged on August 14, 2004 at Alipore Jail in Calcutta for rape and murder of the 14-year-old, while working as security guard in that building. While being taken to the gallows Dhananjoy told the hangman that he has not committed the crime. This was the biggest travesty of justice in recent times.

The most recent one was hanging of Afzal Guru that’s still fresh in our memories. Afzal in an interview had said that he has not committed the crime and the entire charges against him are fabricated. He was a fruit seller who was picked up from Srinagar for hatching conspiracy to attack Indian parliament. He was convicted to death but his hanging was differed for some reasons. The Congress in order to save its skin from the BJP’s attack to punish the perpetrators of Parliament attackers finally decided to execute Afzal Guru.

It’s a very sad commentary on the developments in India and the only way a common man can express his feeling is to take recourse to some poetic lines and in this case it could be very aptly summed up by Ghalib as ; bana ke bhes faqiron ka, tamasha e ahle karam dekhte hain….

--
Syed Ali mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennnai. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba@yahoo.com

By TCN News,

Washington DC: The Association of Indian Muslims of America (AIM), Washington DC, has released information on schools built by them in India in recent years as part of their program to develop education in the Muslim community in India.

The schools are: 1. AIM-FD Industrial Technical Training Center, Jamalpur, Ahmedabad, built in 2007;

2. Saima Mansoor Higher Secondary School, Parsara, District Hathras, UP, built in 2009;

3. AIM Junior High School, Kopepur, District Faizabad, UP, built in 2011 ;

4. AIM Junior High School, Tewra, District Muzaffarnagar, UP, built in 2013.

These non-profit schools are new schools built by AIM in low income Muslim majority districts and are being operated by local charitable Muslim organizations to promote education in the needy segments of the community. The schools charge nominal tuition fees from the students; the differences between income from tuition fees and operating expenses are borne by AIM. These schools follow the Indian Government approved Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculam.

AIM's Education Program plan comprises of building one school every two years in a different city. The next school AIM is planning to build will be a Junir High School in Gujarat. In addition to building schools, AIM provides financial assistance to needy students from the community and relief & rehabilitation assistance to victims of natural disasters and sectarian violence.

AIM also operates an active program to develop friendly relation between Muslims and others in India.

AIM, established in 1985 and located in Washington DC, is a non-profit, Non Governmental Organization (NGO) of Indian-American Muslims who live in North America. It is dedicated to assisting the development of the socioeconomically and educationally backward Muslim community in India.

More information on AIM's activities can be obtained from its website, http://www.AimAmerica.org.

By TCN News,

Bhopal: The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has expressed deep shock and dismay over the Batla House shootout case verdict wherein a Delhi court has found accused Shahzad Ahmad guilty on charges of murder of Inspector MC Sharma, who led a raid on a flat in the area where terror suspects were present. The SDPI reiterated its stand that the Batla House encounter was fake and still demanded for a high level judicial enquiry into the incident.

SDPI national president Mr. A. Sayeed in a statement lamented that the Additional Sessions Judge Rajender Kumar Shastri in his judgement took no cognizance of the questions raised about the genuineness of the encounter and the court relied heavily on the police version alone while most of legal procedure were given a go by.

Mr. Sayeed said the demand for judicial inquiry into the matter by human right activists and others was rejected by the Union and state governments saying that such an inquiry will demoralise Delhi Police. It meant that the government already believed that the boys were terrorist and conviction of Shahzad as such was a foregone conclusion, he added.

He welcomed that the court has found no evidence to prove that Shahzad had any link with Indian Mujahedeen or any other terror outfit. The Additional Sessions Judge seemed to have agreed to this as the prosecution failed to provide any clinching evidence.

By Arif Kudroli, TwoCIrcles.net,

Uppinagady: A clash broke out between two groups of students at a college in Uppinangady Government First Grade College after a boy allegedly belonging to a saffron outfit misbehaved with a girl belonging to Muslim community on Thursday.

Around 10.30 a.m., Ranjith, a student of the Uppinangady First Grade College, pulled the ponytail of Shahida, who was studying in the same college, without any provocation.

She complained to her brother, who was also studying in the same college. Angered by the act, the brother questioned the boy for pulling his sister’s hair.

The incident led to a heated argument between the Hindu group that supported the boy, and the Muslim group that got behind the girl.

Blows were exchanged as members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the BJP, and group of students, mostly belonging to Muslim community clashed.

Five students taken into custody

Police who visited the college took five students into custody, three of whom were admitted to hospital.

Condemning this action, other students staged a protest in front of the police station. When the students intensified their protest, police resorted to lathi charge.

Later, circle inspector Suresh Kumar called heads of two communities and held discussion with them. Kemmar Ummar, gram panchayat member Abdul Rahiman, Ibrahim, Salim Nnekkilady, Tanjal Laxminagar, zilla panchayat member Keshava Gowda were part of the meeting.

Mohammed Asif, Mohammed Mustafa, Abdul Rashid, Zubair and Abdul Sattar who were injured in the fight were admitted to a hospital in Puttur.

SP's visit

Dakshina Kannada SP Abhishek Goyal, additional SP Shivakumar, Puttur assistant commissioner H Prasanna visited the police station and investigated.

The girl student in her complaint to Uppinangady police said that she was harassed by Ranjith.

By TCN News,

New Delhi: Starting this year, Jamia Millia Islamia has introduced a One-Year Certificate Course in Chinese Language which is being offered by the Academy of International Studies at Jamia. The classes for this course will commence from July 29, 2013.

To mark the launch of the programme at Jamia, a brief ceremony is scheduled to be held on August 1, 2013 at 11 AM in Mir Anis Room, Dayar-I-Mir Taqi Mir, Jamia Millia Islamia.

The programme will begin with Introductory Remarks by Ambassador Rangachari who is the Director of Academy of International Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia. Prof. S.M. Sajid, Offg. Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia will address the audience on the occasion.

On this occasion, Prof. Wang wei-chung, of New Tsing Hua University (NTHU), Taiwan will address the audience. Later, H.E. Mr. Gautam Bambawalle, Joint Secretary (East Asia), Ministry of External Affairs will also give his remarks.

The Taiwan Ambassador in India, H.E. Mr. Chung-Kwang, TIEN and his colleagues from the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Centre, colleagues from Ministry of External Affairs are expected to participate in the event.

By Swastik Pal, TwoCircles.net

Iftar party organised by the West Bengal Madrasa Education Society at the "Begum Rokeya Bhawan" near Eliot street, Kolkata. Here the teachers who have been working all the day, breaks fast after sundown .

Link:

TCN series on Ramadan 1434: http://twocircles.net/Special_Reports/ramadan_1434.html

By TCN News

Lucknow: Aaghaz Foundation, a Lucknow based education initiative, has stepped forward to support five poor orphan Muslim children who have taken refuge in a graveyard in Pratapgarh, after the death of their parents due to AIDS.

Fearing that others may contract the virus – the children were forced out of Jamua village three months back by their relatives and village elders.

Since then they (four boys and one girl) had been living in the graveyard close to the graves of their own parents. The youngest child is just seven years old.

Immediately after the shocking case was “>brought to light by NDTV's Kamal Khan this morning, Aaghaz Foundation contacted the news channel and offered to support all five children till they are able to stand on their feet.

Aaghaz Foundation's commitment was telecast live on NDTV today.

Meanwhile, taking cognisance of the news report, the state official machinery swung into action. A team has been rushed to Pratapgarh and efforts are on to relocate the children to a government guest house. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has announced Rs one lakh aid for each child and the district administration has pledged to provide them a house and look after their educational needs.

Aaghaz Foundation in a statement said that it is monitoring the case very closely – “because when the heat and dust settles, government promises often remain mere promises.”

“It's a shame on humanity - particularly the local Muslim community that they kept their eyes closed all this while,” said Mazhar Farooqui of Aaghaz Foundation.

Link:

http://www.aaghazfoundation.com

By IANS,

Srinagar : A sarpanch (village headman) in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district was critically injured after being shot at by separatist guerrillas Friday, police said.

A senior police officer said guerrillas fired at Khazir Muhammmad, who belongs to the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP), in Krankshivan area on the outskirts of Sopore town when he was coming out of the local mosque after congregational prayers in the afternoon.

"He was taken to a hospital in Srinagar where doctors have described his condition as stable," Sopore's Superintendent of Police Syed Imtiyaz Hussain told IANS.

Police have registered a case.

Since the overwhelming participation of people in panchayat elections which were held in the state in 2011 - after a gap of over 29 years, guerrillas have been targeting the elected representatives in villages across the Valley.

So far, five elected village headmen have been killed in guerrilla strikes in north and south Kashmir.