By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday dismissed the Public Interest Litigation pleading implementation of Andhra Pradesh prohibition of cow slaughter and animal preservation Act of 1977, to control anti-social elements taking law into their hands especially during Bakreid in the name of protection of cows.

PIL No. 422/2013 came up for the hearing at the bench of Chief Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta and Justice K.C. Bhanu. The petitioner Advocate Ghulam Rabbani presented before the bench that there is no functional competent authority as prescribed under the Act to certify the sale of animals as defined in the Act, thus its giving space to anti-social elements under the banner of Hindu Vahini, Bajrang Dal, VHP and RSS to attack Muslims who are involved in cattle trading business especially during Bakreid.

Advocate Rabbani also raised a valid point that according to the Act that both buyer and seller has to be prosecuted, but in all the cases Muslim buyers incurred huge losses due to looting of animals in addition to police cases where as the Hindu villager sellers doesn’t face any action at all.

Petitioner pleaded the Court to direct the Government to appoint competent authority for proper certification in hundreds of markets where big animals are sold for Bakreid, so to give legitimacy to the trade business under the act and to stop violent raids by Gou Raksha militia on the highway roads which is resulting in communal tensions.

Chief Justice Kalyan Sengupta after listening to the petitioner, asked him whether he approached the police and registered FIR in such cases; after getting answer in negative, CJ Sengupta stated that according to CRPC rules person first have to approach the concerned police, if no action is taken than court is available.

When petitioner Ghulam Rabbani pointed out that he had already given representations to the state DGP and city commissioner of police but didn’t receive any reply from their office, which was also attached with the petition, than CJ asked him to go in a proper way and approach the local station or the district Superintendent of Police.

Chief Justice in his order dismissing the petition stated that as matter is still premature court cannot entertain the case, however, petitioner is at liberty to approach the court again, if police failed to take any action on his complain even after registering of complaint.

Petitioner Advocate Ghulam Rabbani speaking with TCN said he his amazed by the court judgment as his main demand was just the implementation of existing legislative Act, but court felt the need of FIR to oversee the functioning of the Act.

Even though petition has been dismissed but Advocate Rabbani is taking the court judgment in the positive context all thanks to the liberty granted by CJ in his dismissal order, “Although PIL has been dismissed but the court judgment dismissing it is now binding on police. As it is clearly stated that petitioner is at liberty to approach the court if police doesn’t take any action on the complaints. It is like a warning to the police that if they don’t act then high court will interfere.”

Now Advocate Ghulam Rabbani is planning to file complain in the entire district SP’s office in the state demanding check on the anti-social elements and if any untoward incident occurred of attack on Muslim cattle traders than he will again approach the court in the light of liberty window provided by the CJ.

Related Report:

PIL filed in AP HC demanding implementation of Cow Slaughter Prohibition Act

By TCN News,

New Delhi: The Outreach Programme, Jamia Millia Islamia in collaboration with Indian School of Women’s Students and Development (ISWSD) is going to organize a Young Girls’ Convention on issue of “Consent, Choice and Young Women”.

The Panelists in the Convention shall include Prof. Malini Bhattacharya, Director, ISWSD, and Former Member, National Commission for Women 2) Shubha, Writer, Poet & Former Professor, M.D. University, Rohtak and 3) Nandita Rao, Lawyer, Delhi High Court & Supreme Court.

The purpose of organizing the event is to spread awareness amongst the young girls about legal literacy on violence against women.

The programme is scheduled to be held on September 25, 2013 at 2.30 PM in Mir Anis Room, Dayar-I-Mir Taqi Mir, Jamia Millia Islamia.

By TCN News,

Mumbai: A Rs.10 crore defamation suit has been filed against the Mumbai Police by Jamaat e islami hind and Girls Islamic organisation (GIO), girls’ wing of JIH on Tuesday for issuing slanderous circular in Bombay High Court.

In April, earlier this year, an internal circular of Mumbai Police, had surfaced in the media, that had hinted at alleged suspicious activities of GIO. This had irked not only GIO cadres, but Muslim leaders at large, particularly the JIH as they saw it as an attempt of ‘witch hunting’.

JIH will today hold a press conference at 4 PM in Mumbai in this regard.

By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,

Guwahati: It was another act of ‘misuse’ of Arms Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) in Manipur. One Y. Krishnadas Singh of Kakching was allegedly taken away by Assam Rifles personnel before killing him on June 12, 2009, according to the locals of Kakching Naohallai Lampak, Kakching Bazar, Thoubal district in Manipur.

That very personnel who was accused by the people even won a bravery award. “This is an act of violation of human rights. As if we people have no rights to live in Manipur. One citizen was killed without having any prove against him by security personnel,” shouted a protester at at Kakching Naohallai Lampak.

The protesting public demanded the arrest of Major Sreeramkumar of 39 Assam Riffles who was allegedly involved in the murder.

Family members of Krishnadas also reportedly gave Rs 25 lakh as ransom. The Yengkhom Krishnadas Singh memorial organisation criticized the move of the government to honour the accused personnel Major Sreeramkumar with the prestigious Ashok Chakra, the highest peace time gallantry award of the country.

During a recent enquiry by the Supreme Court it was found that almost all the encounter killings during the last few years reported by police and Assam Rifles / Army were all fake. All were allegedly killed in staged managed encounters. Many were also found innocent.

The said army officer was also found involved in killing of two brothers identified as N Nobo and N Govind earlier.

Noted human rights activists Irom Sharmila has been in hunger strike to repeal this AFSPA from the Northeast for more than 10 years which has already helped in occurring such acts of human rights violations several times.

Advocates on the promotion of culture and sporting events among people.

By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said on Monday that as the potential for sporadic outbreaks of ethnic tension remains, the deployment of Central forces should continue for some more time in the state as he spoke on the 16th meeting of National Integration Council at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi.

The Chief Minister also cautioned that there is always a threat from the forces inimical to India taking shelter in neighbouring countries and engaging in terrorist activities.

“There are also certain elements in the society who always try to create rift amongst communities on ethnic and religious lines. The State Government is vigilant towards such activities and will deal with them firmly. However, continued support would be required from the Central Government in our efforts to counter such elements and their nefarious designs in Assam,” the Chief Minister said.

Gogoi said firm and effective action taken by the State Government has been able to contain ethnic clashes periodically over the past three decades. “Due to firm action of the Government – deployment of Central Armed Police Forces, calling out army, and firm action against all trouble-mongers, handing over cases to CBI for investigation – the situation could be contained promptly in BTAD areas,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the Government has been taking various steps to formulate a proper and comprehensive response to civil disturbances that include training and capacity building of the personnel for handling such problems, strengthening intelligence, equipping them with adequate skills with special emphasis on use of non-lethal weapons and training in negotiation and communication skills of police personnel.

“Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) have been developed for tackling civil disturbances effectively. Equally important is proper liaison with the enlightened citizens and well meaning social mediators with established civil credentials. We are convinced that as a long term solution a more extensive civil police presence is necessitated in areas prone to ethnic violence. This will enable closer police-community contact that can address minor issues before these flare up,” he said.

The Community Liaison Groups and Nagarik Committees play a significant role in assessing and controlling the civil disturbances. I have always emphasised to my officers that while dealing with such situations they should proactively try to understand the genuineness of the grievances and redress them immediately,” he added.

It can be mentioned that the state has saw number of ethnic clashes during the last three decades with hundreds of innocent people becoming a victim and others remained a living witness to these horror tales.

Gogoi advocated the promotion of the culture of games and sports amongst the youth and exposing them to the tenets of all religions and faith through curricular instructions as effective tools in fostering respect for humankind and brotherhood.

By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,

Bhopal: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh which is trying to put up a united face at its planned massive “Karyakarta Mahakumbh” (Workers’ Summit Rally) on September 25 here to be addressed by Prime Ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, veteran leader LK Advani, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and others has apparently ran into rough weather with the surfacing of a video clip wherein former Chief Minister Uma Bharti is seen castigating Modi. The BJP is claiming to have a mammoth gathering of seven lakh party activists at the rally.

The video clip made in 2007, which is circulating on the social media, shows fire-brand Uma Bharti addressing a Press conference where she is seen lambasting Modi vehemently. She is seen describing Modi as “Vinash Purush” (one who promotes destruction) and not a “Vikas Purush” (one who promotes development) as it is generally propagated. The said footage was made when Ms Uma was not in the BJP. The video footage, which is of 3.24 minutes duration, also shows Ms Uma attacking Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley.

Ms Uma has been shown in the video saying that Gujarat is a state where fear is in the air and Hindus are fearful and Modi is responsible for the state of affairs there. She said in the video that Hindus are being falsely implicated and Jaitley, who is Modi’s friend, must tell whether he will plead for these innocent people. She in the video also alleged that saints are being murdered in Gujarat and women’s throats are being slit.

She has been shown criticising Modi by alleging that the claims of GDP growth in Gujarat were fake and the state is reeling under debt ever since he has come to power. She had said there is neither Ram nor Roti (food) in Gujarat. She had been shown saying that Modi is a balloon into which media has pumped air.

The bitter tone and tenor of Uma’s assault on Modi in the footage could invite problems for the party in the present political scenario. The video footage coming out in the open prior to Modi’s state visit might create friction between Modi and Ms Uma.

However, the BJP’s state leadership has put under the carpet this unhealthy development and ignored it while trying to put up a bold face to bring warring groups in the party on one platform in order to project a united face in the wake of ensuing Vidhan Sabha elections which are due by November end this year.

The state BJP chief Narendra Singh Tomar talking to a section of media said all the top BJP leaders of the country including Uma Bharti will be present on the dais. Party patriarch L K Advani and his estranged protégé Modi will share the dais. This will be the first time that Modi and Advani will share stage after their bitter battle over the prime ministerial candidature. So will the two squabbling saffron satraps of the Hindi heartland, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and party vice-president Uma Bharti, who has been forced to shift base to Uttar Pradesh since her return to the party fold in June 2011. All four leaders will sit alongside and address party workers. Apart from this party president Rajnath Singh, senior leaders Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar will also be there on the dais, he added.

The “Karyakarta Mahakumbh” which was planned as the culmination event to focus on Chouhan's 50-day “Jan Ashirwad Yatra” in the face of impending state legislative assembly elections in November will now also project Modi as PM before the nation and reassure the cadre that all's well with the BJP High Command. For this reason 50,000 Muslims are being mobilised to join the rally. After much hue and cry raised by the state Congress BJP’s earlier plan to seat the Muslim participants separately in a special tent with men sporting skull caps and women clad in traditional “Burquas” has been abandoned. Now, Muslims will inter-mingle with other BJP workers and sit wherever seat is available.

Meanwhile, BJP is in a fix to finalise the sequence of its speakers addressing the “Karyakarta Mahakumbh”. The party leaders, who are finalising the programme schedule, are unable to set the sequence of its leaders to speak at the workers rally. Modi’s address is one of the key features of the rally. The organisers of the programme fear that if Modi speaks before Chief Minister Chouhan then people might not wait for the latter. Another that is being considered is that if Modi speaks at the end then he would hog the limelight of the programme. Similarly, if Modi speaks before Advani it might offend the latter. All this is creating confusion among the party leaders and the sequence of speakers is still not final. The issue of sequence of addressing has been left too Chouhan, sources said.

Movement for Empowerment of Muslim Indians (MOEMIN)*
# 2143, Qasim Jan Street, Ballimaran, Delhi 110 006

Dear Friends,

Greetings of Peace,

The communal strife in Muzaffarnagar, UP was seems to be pre-planned and aimed at ethnic cleansing of Muslims.

Officials confirms 50 deaths though actual number of dead seems to be much much more than that as hundreds are still missing and more than one lac people are refugees in their own country who were forced to leave their home barefoot with no or little belongings and most of them are in single clothes. No body knows about the fate of the kidnapped girls.

The State Government claims that it had set up some Refugee camps so far but we have found after visiting around some refugee camps, in Muzaffar Nagar and Shamli districtrs of UP, inhuman conditions, fear, lack of proper medical help to the sick and injured and unhygenic conditions. In most of the areas where these refugees ahd taken shelter local villagers had opened doors of their houses for their stay and men are living in village masjids and madarsas.

*
Back in their villages, overwhelming majority of their homes are razed to ground with no belongings left, fodders killed and hostile atmosphere.*

*A joint delegation of MOEMIN and All India Muslim Majlis e Mushawarat visited the effected camps and found condition of refugees in concentrated camps is pathetic, inhuman and heart rendering.

*We are in midst of relief work and have generated funds and material to be send as urgent relief including, medicines, clothes- for females, children and gents, toiletries, utencils, bed sheets, Manjan, Daries and Chappals worth Rs. twenty five lacs approximately to the riot affected victims at the earliest available opportunity and are in constant touch with some of the local activists who have been associated with one or the other activity of MOEMIN in recent past.

*We have already distributed clothes and other material worth around 2 lacs.

*We are also planning to explore all possibilities to start rehabilitation work at the earliest given opportunity in terms of helping them to start their life with courage and confidence by supporting them financially to start their small means of lively-hood and have decided to adopt five villages for the rehabilitation work. A survey is already underway for the purpose. We plans to help the victims in rebuilding their houses too. *

We know that though the exercise would not be even a peanut in the relief work and would continue to do our best whatever possible to extend all possible help in near future too.

As winter is approaching fast and people have lost every thing, it needs an urgent attention to provide Blankets and woolen clothes for children, women and the elderly at the earliest opportunity. We are exploring every possible opportunity to work on winter needs and requesting all well wishers of MOEMIN to at-least donate cost of TEN or in multiple of ten blankets.

*All are requested to help in the endeavor to save the lives of tens of thousand of innocents in this hour of humanitarian crisis. *

The contributions can be transfer to the A/c of
'Movement for Empowerment of Muslim Indians',
A/c No**. 601 210 11000 4476,
Bank of India, Hamdard Branch, Delhi*

OR by Demand Draft / Cheque in favor of :
Movement for Empowerment of Muslim Indians,
and can be sent to:
# 2143, Qasim Jan Street, Ballimaran, Delhi 110006 at the earliest convenience.

**As we do not have FCRA, we don't accept foreign donations and only Indian Bank Account holder NRI's and well wishers are requested to send their contributions. *

*
Navaid Hamid*
General Secretary, MOEMIN,
Member, National Integration Council
+91 9811643929

http://www.facebook.com/globalminorities
navaidhamid@twitter.com
http://navaidhamid.blogindia.com/
www.facebook.com/navaid.hamid
www.facebook.com/moemin.india

List of the material with average cost:

1. Kurta Pyjama 2 sets Rs. 450/-
2. Lungi 85/-
3. Ladies suits 2 set 600/-
4. Kids wear 2 sets 300/-
5. Baby Food 100/-
6. Blanket (150cm x 225 cm) Rs.275 (As winter is fast approaching and the
victims don't have any savings left)
7. Trunk 450/-
8. Soap 50/-
9. Manjan 15/-

Moreover, we have also exploring to distribute a kit containing utensils
etc. of Rs. 500/- which includes

i) 1Plastic Bucket.
ii) 1 Plastic Mug
iii) 2 Steel Bhagona
iv) 1 Rice Aluminium Bowl
V) 4 steel plates
vi) 2 Steel Spoons
vii) 2 Steel Glasses

MEDICINES REQUIRED AT RELIEF CAMPS:

Medicines for :
water born,air born diseases
viral fever,diarrhea,cough, anti helminthic,antacid,H2
blocker,PPI,laxatives,anti emetics,digestive enzyme,
COPD,anti allergic,anti hypertensive,analgesic,
antipyratics,antibiotics
Eye & Ear drops, vitamins,Ca++,iron,Zn,ORS,topical anti
fungal/infective/scabies,drug fr ANC,
Baby food

*About MOEMIN*

* * MOEMIN is an advocacy group and working for the empowerment-social, educational and economic, of Muslim Indians since 1999 and have organised various activities besides advocating for their equitable share and participation of Muslims in public life.

Volunteers of MOEMIN had always been in the forefront to reach the disturbed areas of communal strife and natural calamities and had organised massive relief operations during Gujarat pogrom (2002); Earthquake in Kashmir (2006); Relief work for the victims of communal strife in Kokhrajhar, Assam (2012) and also had sponsored mass marriages oforphans of Gujarat pogrom in 2003 and Assam violence in 2012.

MOEMIN has been fortunate to sponsor students for Secondary and Higher studies from time to time, mostly of the disturbed areas.

Fortunately, some of the workshop of MOEMIN have become an annual event now and have been included in plan of actions by other organisations too from across the country. The organisation has earned goodwill as an advocacy group for the rights of the Muslims across the nation.

By IANS,

New Delhi : President Pranab Mukherjee has approved the Wakf Amendment Bill, 2013, thus making it a law, said a statement Tuesday.

Parliament had Sep 5 approved the Waqf Amendment Bill that aims to make properties under the Waqf Board more commercially viable.

According to the bill, the government would maintain the record of Waqf properties and would extend their lease period to a maximum of 30 years.

As per data, there are around four lakh registered Waqf properties across the country. If these are developed, more income can be generated, the government said.

Minority Affairs Minister K. Rahman Khan had said the bill would ensure proper commercial utilisation of Waqf property and generate revenue for socio-economic development of the entire Muslim community.

The bill also aims to strengthen Waqf institutions and streamline their functioning.

By IANS,

Panaji : The Goa government Tuesday asked job seekers headed for Saudi Arabia to beware against fake agents promising them employment on the so-called "free visa".

The advisory issued by the state government comes in the wake of a crackdown by the Saudi authorities against aliens and other expats working in the Islamic kingdom on fraudulent paperwork.

"The government of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has warned against entering Saudi Arabia for employment on the so-called 'free visa'. The authorities have pointed out that there is no such visa under the Saudi labour regulations," the Goa government's advisory said.

"The Saudi authorities stressed that they have to work only with their employers whose names are mentioned in the entry visa, and that the relevant rules in Saudi Arabia prohibit people from taking up jobs with businesses other than their original employers," it said.

Currently over 65,000 Indians are legally residing in Saudi Arabia, while over 90,000 Indians have applied for regularisation of their documents under an amnesty programme declared by Riyadh.

By IANS,

Lucknow : The Uttar Pradesh government Tuesday formed a special investigation cell to probe the Muzaffarnagar riots and also slapped the National Security Act (NSA) on jailed BJP legislator from Sardhana, Sangeet Som.

A home department official said the cell, to be headed by a superintendent of police-level official, will comprise specialised team of investigators.

The team will probe all the 106 cases registered during and after the riots that left 48 dead and rendered more than 43,000 people homeless.

The state government also slapped NSA on Som. Inspector general of police (law and order) R.K. Vishwakarma told IANS two more cases have been registered against the legislator and he has been booked under sections 153 A, 420, 120 B and 66 A of the IT Act.

Som is accused of spreading a fake video which showed a mob lynching people. The state government says the video was of a Pakistan incident that happened a few years back. Som, lodged in the Orai jail, has denied the allegation.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Akhilesh Yadav government of falsely implicating its party leaders and legislators in the Muzaffarnagar riots.

BJP legislator Suresh Rana and Bahujan Samaj Party leader Noor Saleem Rana, arrested for their alleged involvement in inciting communal violence in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas, were granted bail by a court.

By TCN News,

New Delhi: Popular Front Chairman K M Shareef and General Secretary OMA Salam met with the Chairman of National Commission for Minorities Wajahat Habibullah and with the National Human Rights Commission Chairman K G Balakrishnan here in New Delhi today.

The meeting held immediately after the leaders’ visit to the villages where the victims of Muzaffarnagar riots are sheltered. Wajahat Habeebulla told the leaders that the commission was already involved in the issue and had written a letter to the Central Government. KM Shareef submitted a memorandum demanding justice to the victims of the riot. He has sought a thorough investigation in to the factors that led to the wide spread violence in Muzaffarnagar and surrounding regions.

K.M. Shareef also submitted a memorandum to Justice KG Balakrishnan, who during their discussion told the leaders that a team of National Human Rights Commission will be set to visit the victims for a hearing. Shri Balakarishnan has also promised substantial intervention in the cases of Human rights violations.

By IANS,

Hyderabad : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has announced reward of Rs.10 lakh each for information about two operatives of the Indian Mujahideen (IM), including a Pakistani, allegedly involved in Feb 21 bomb blasts in Hyderabad.

Stating that they are hiding somewhere in India and may be planning further attacks, the NIA sought people's assistance in apprehending them.

Tahseen Akhtar alias Monu alias Hassan and Waqas alias Javed alias Ahmed are also allegedly involved in the blasts at Varanasi (2010) and Mumbai (2011). Tahseen is a native of Bihar while Waqas is a Pakistani and his last known address in India was Mangalore (Karnataka).

The NIA has released the pictures and other details of the two IM operatives and has appealed to people to provide any information to the agency. It said the identity of those providing information will be kept confidential.

The NIA released the photographs of the suspects on the day when it began questioning IM co-founder Yasin Bhatkal here in connection with Feb 21 bomb blasts. A Hyderabad court had Monday remanded Bhatkal to 15-day custody of NIA.

The NIA is already questioning Bhatkal's aide Asadullah Akhtar, who was brought here last week. They were arrested on India-Nepal border last month and are allegedly involved in several terror attacks in different parts of the country.

Seventeen people were killed and 100 others were injured in the twin bomb blast at crowded Dilsukhnagar area here on Feb 21.

Tahseen Akhtar, a native of Samastipur district of Bihar, is computer savvy and extensively visits cyber cafes. He is capable of changing identities and can pose as a person belonging to another community.

"He is likely to be found near important tourist sites, pretending himself to be a tourist guide for cover and survey of possible targets for attack," the NIA said in a statement.

The agency said both the IM operatives are likely to contact shops for purchasing SIM cards using fake documents.

Waqas, who speaks in Urdu/Hindi with strong Punjabi accent, generally wears half shirt, pant and sport shoes and walks with a slight bent. He suffers from facial paralysis and visits doctors frequently for treatment.

By Abdul Gani, TwoCircles.net,

Guwahati: Three youths including one Surrendered ULFA militant along with a several arms and ammunition were seized in a major development by Police at Jorabat area in the outskirts of Guwahati on Tuesday morning.

The consignment which was supposed to be delivered to ULFA militants in Goalapara include three AK 81 rifle, nine AK magazines, three US made bottle grenade and three sets of mobile phones.

Assam Police IG (CWR) L R Bishnoi displays the seized consignment, recovered from SULFA cadre Krishan Rabha, Priyanath Rabha and Dhananjay Rabha.

Assam police IG for Central and Western Range LR Bishnoi said that the consignment was supposed to be delivered in Goalpara where a few ULFA militants were taking shelter. The three youths who are nabbed is identified as Krishna Rabha (SULFA), Priyanath Rabha and Dhananjay Rabah who was the driver of the Scorpio.

“This is the first consignment of ULFA in recent times. All our recent seizures were of GNLA consignment,” Bishnoi said. According to police it was a handiwork of Drishti Rajkhowa of Paresh Barua faction of the banned outfit to make their presence felt in lower Assam.

Meanwhile, one ULFA militant was killed in an encounter early morning on Tuesday along the Assam-Meghalaya border in Goalpara district. After acting on a tip off police followed a group of four militants who were hiding there.

“At around 3.30 militants launched attack on us and while retaliated one militant was killed. Two were reportedly injured,” Bishnoi added. Police also seized one 9mm pistol and Rs 10, 000 in cash.

Presenting the fact finding report, ANHAD demands for CBI probe into Muzaffarnagar riot.

By M. Reyaz, TwoCircles.net,

New Delhi: “What we are seeing in Muzaffarnagar is a reflection of 2002 Gujarat, although in smaller proportion,” social activist Shabnam Hashmi said here on Tuesday, while releasing a fact finding report on the Muzaffarnagar riots prepared under by ANHAD (Act Now for Harmony and Democracy).

A team of 24 activists, journalists, lawyers and students visited several relief camps and villages in Muzaffarnagar, Shamli and Ghaziabad districts of Uttar Pradesh on September 22 - 23 September, 2013. The fact finding team met hundreds of victims, scores of relief camp committee members; spoke to people in general on the dhabas and in mohallas, besides policemen on the roads, at various police stations.

Shabnam Hashmi

Hashmi alleged that the riot was “well planned in advance” with the “connivance and manipulations of local administration.”

Speaking on the occasion Supreme Court lawyer Naushad Ahmad Khan, who originally hails from Muzaffarnagar district and was also part of the fact finding team alleged that although many FIRs have been registered, identifying the accused, even then there has been very few arrests in those cases.

Putting the figure of those displaced due to riots to approximate 70,000, although official figure is 40000, the fact finding team also lamented on the poor conditions of the relief camps. They said that most camps do no even have basic amenities and ration.

The Fact Finding Report says, “There is a lot which the UP police and administration would like to hide and push under the carpet. Unfortunately truth cannot be buried for ever and it has started coming out despite all efforts by majority of the media, barring a few exceptions, to portray a very different version of the situation on the ground.”

Members of ANHAD Fact Finding Team on Muzaffarnagar riot, including Shabnam Hashmi, Advocate Naushad Ahmad Khan, Bhasha Singh, Advocate Ramzan Chowdhry, Mansi Sharma and DU students.

Meticulous planning:

Alleging that the riot was the outcome of “meticulous planning,” ANHAD report says, “In parts of Western Uttar Pradesh and Uttrakhand, Sangh Parivar has been active for quite some time. In fact it had increased its activities during the past two years. Very large gatherings, RSS camps and procession have been organised in this area during this period. Evidence shows that systematic effort to recruit unemployed youth, especially from Jat community and local goons were being made, successfully, by the various Sangh Parivar outfits. The heightened activity to recruit and communalise the mind could be traced back to 2010.”

Conditions in the camps:

Highlighting the plight of the victims in the camp, the report pointed out, “Tent and daris have been provided but the day we visited the camp it was raining heavily and the whole place was flooded with water as the tent is not water proof. All the victims were crowded in small dirty corridors. Due to the rain it was also chilly with no warm clothes or blankets, not even space for people to lie down or rest on the floor. Most of the women, children could barely find place to sit in the corridor.”

It was pointed out that about 200 women have delivered their babies in these relief camps, practically without any medical aid from the government. There have hence been reports of several women dying during labour or of infants’ death at birth.

Accusations of rape:

Advocate Naushad Khan referred to the testimonies of girls and women, some of whom have been sighted in the report, alleging rapes, at times gang rapes. Later Shabnam Hashmi told TCN that although she cannot say the exact number, but an estimate 100 girls and women were sexually assaulted.

Bias role of administration:

Questioning the dubious role of the local administration, the fact finding report, says, “The administration, the state intelligence either totally failed to see and assess the danger signals of the communalisation process which were going on and were visible for the past 8-9 months or connived with the Sangh to let the hatred spread.”

They have pointed out that the relief and ex gratia compensation has not been implemented by the administration and that almost no relief measures have been undertaken by the administration.

“People posted in local police stations is highly biased against Muslims and as a result the cases are not being lodged,” the report notes.

Demands:

The fact finding report has demanded a CBI probe into the riots in Muzaffarnagar and surrounding districts, adding that those against whome FIRs have already been filed must be arrested immediately.

They have also sought proper relief and rehabilitation packages, besides immediate proper care and counseling of those in relief camps, with special focus on women.

Read the Full ANHAD Fact Finding Report here

By TCN News,

New Delhi: Welfare Party of India will launch a national campaign against all draconian and black laws that undermine democratic values and rights.

In a press release issued by the Party Headquarters, convenor of the national campaign P.C. Hamza alleged that in the pretext of fighting terrorism or combating violence, the central and state governments amass extra powers and use it against own citizens.

“Anti-terror laws are being used to terorise the people. Innocent youth in thousands, mostly from minority Muslim and Dalit communities along with the tribes are put behind bars for years as under trials and later at the end of the trial, acquitted on finding guiltless,” he said.

In a statement, WPI said that it is of strong conviction that all these draconian laws are enacted to “suppress dissenting voice against the anti-people policies of the governments, at the centre or states.

The press release continued that democracy will not flourish under the shadow of terror laws and a strong nation cannot be built by intimidation, but by inclusiveness of its citizens. National campaign convenor informed that the Party will strongly raise its voice against the black laws and will launch various programmes across the country in coming October.

A mass protest rally will be held at Parliament Street, Janatar Mantar on October 2nd. Other than WPI office bearers, leaders of various political parties, social and human right activists will address the rally.

By TCN News,

Mumbai: For issuing a slanderous circular against Girls Islamic Organisaition- GIO, its Patron Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Maharashtra- JIH, has filed a defamation suit in Bombay High Court of Rs.10 Crore against the Mumbai Police.

Engineer Taufique Aslam Khan, President of JIH said, “We waited for the inquiry report as promised by Mr. Naval Bajaj, Additional Commissioner, even send a letter asking about the inquiry but got no reply.” We are left with no option but to file a defamation suit against the Mumbai Police. They, even, did not bother to reply to our letter asking about the inquiry. He added.

It is not only the release but the content and the text of the circular is unconstitutional, Taufique Aslam Khan said. “If preaching of a religion, which is guaranteed under our constitution, creates suspicion than every devout Hindu, Muslim Christians will be a suspect. Its dangers for a plural society like us” he added.

Instead of protecting the citizens of India, Mumbai police, is found guilty of issuing defamatory circulars and statements thus, violated the article 14 of our constitution that guarantees equality before the law. Asalm Gazi, Secretary of JIH and a Petitioner said, “GIO have been, explicitly and in effect, branded as terrorists by the Mumbai Police without any basis for such a serious charge. Such arbitrary actions are in clear violation of the mandate of Article 14 of the Constitution.”

Different agencies pass the bucks to other when found guilty. In this case Mr. Bajaj said that they just pass on the information they got from other agency without any verification.

Aslam Gazi referred to the statement of Intelligence Bureau- IB stand in Ishrat Jahan encounter case, where IB said that when it receives information, it passes it on to the concerned law enforcement agency; it is the duty of such agency to verify the same before acting on it.

He said, Mr.Bajaj accepted as report that they find nothing incriminatory against the GIO. Its therefore necessary to compensate for the damages done.

Citing a secret circular issued by Mumbai Police, Samna, a Marathi newspaper published on 30th March 2013, which was later followed up by other newspapers, a report that Girls Islamic Organisation –GIO is making Muslim Women Terrorist. After which Mr. Naval Bajaj, Additional Commissioner Special Branch, the signatory of the circular, apologized for the leak of internal circular. He assured for an enquiry and punishment to the guilty.

Government of India, and the state Government of Maharashtra, Union and State Ministry of Home Affairs, Director General Intelligence Bureau, DGP of Maharashtra were also made respondent of the petition.

By TCN News,

New Delhi: The Outreach Programme in collaboration with AJK Mass Communication Research Centre, Jamia Millia Islamia is going to organize an exhibition titled “Photography as Archive: A Student Perspective” as part of the 2nd Delhi Photo Festival, 2013.

The exhibition will be inaugurated on September 26, 2013 at 5 PM by Prof. S.M. Sajid, Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia at M.F. Husain Art Gallery, Jamia Millia Islamia. This will be followed by a short presentation by Ms. Shabeena Gadihoke, who is one of the curators of the exhibition along with Sohail Akbar.

This exhibition showcases sixteen works by the students of Post Graduate Diploma in Still Photography and Visual Communication.

These student projects comment on personal photography by using found photographs or images from their own families and neighborhood studios. They use readings to explore styles, practices, histories, technologies and cultures of photography. Originally made as power point presentations these projects have been specially redesigned for this exhibition, keeping the original concepts intact.

This course was launched by the AJK MCRC in 2008. Besides training students in technical and conceptual skills, the course introduces them to social histories and cultural practices of photography in India.

By Ahamed Ansar MS, TwoCircles.net,

Trichy, Tamil Nadu: Tensions erupted between protest groups and BJP cadres in this divine city of Tiruchirapalli or Trichy ahead of Narendra Modi's public meeting on September 26, the first visit to the state after his party announced him as prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

First of its kind in secular coloured Tamil Nadu, apart from normal security check, the Trichy police allegedly also gave oral warning to hostel students of two Muslim minority educational institutions to vacate their rooms till Modi leave the meeting venue.

This triggered already the temporary closure of famous autonomous Muslim institute Jamal Mohammed College, confirmed its student Farsath who do not want to disclose more and even his stream of study fearing police.

"The police visited hostel and asked my Muslim friends who are sharing room with Jamal College students but actually representing MIET to not be present in the campus till Thursday (Sep 26)," said Mohamed Habilur Rasath, a third-year student who is pursuing microbiology in MIET college in Trichy.

"Near my college, a state government run Periyar Arts College is also functioning. But the police did not order them to close. This warning came only for Muslim institutes," he alleges.

"I'm expecting the official announcement by my college management today (Sep 25) over its possible decision to shut classrooms like Jamal Institute" Rasath told TwoCircles.net.

The police commissioner of Trichy city Mr. Sailesh Kumar Yadav has, however, denied any such circular. He told TwoCircles, "It is false news. There are many institutes in and around the meeting venue, not only Jamal College. We haven't order such closure for even a single college" Mr. Yadav said.

Since Modi's visit was announced, many organisations in Trichy are actively distributing pamphlets to locals about the Gujarat Chief Minister on his involvement in post-Godhra riots. Social media in the state is also rife with several social activists in Tamil Nadu demanding Narendra Modi to not touch his feet in Dravidian land.

Earlier on Tuesday, a group of 200 lawyers who are practicing in various courts in Tiruchirapalli had signed a petition and submitted it to the district collector to take preventive measures against BJP members.

The lawyers complaint stated that the BJP men are using high volumed sound systems and passing lewd comments at veiled women in Muslim majority suburbs of Trichy city with the motive to disturb communal harmony during the visit of Modi.

Meanwhile over ten Muslim and other organisations are preparing to hold black flag protest against Narendra Modi at Trichy Airport on Thursday. Police beefed up in all corners of the city and three-tier security to be given to Narendra Modi in light of the possible terror threat alert sent by the intelligence.

On Wednesday, police arrested the Trichy law college students Chaaruvaagan, Sheik, Muthu Kumar, Vasanth and Sangathamizhan who were allegedly indulging in signature campaign among students of Periyar EVR Arts and Science College, a government institution against Narendra Modi's visit.

By IANS,

Lucknow : The opposition parties Wednesday demanded to know from the Akhilesh Yadav government who was behind inaction during the Muzaffarnagar violence after the state police chief admitted police failure.

With the admission of state Director General of Police (DGP) Devraj Nagar that police failed to contain communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar district, the Akhilesh Yadav government Wednesday came under opposition fire.

Political leaders wanted to know who was behind the police inaction.

Devraj Nagar Tuesday, during a visit to Muzaffarnagar, admitted of police failure in containing the riots that killed 48 and left more than 43,000 displaced and homeless.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the "confessional statement" of the state police chief was both serious and alarming as it cast fresh doubts on the police inaction and possible political interference.

"The statement of Nagar appears to be in line with a recent sting operation of a television channel in which middle-rung and junior police officials spoke of being told by a powerful minister not to act against miscreants behind the riots," Vijay Bahadur Pathak, state BJP spokesman, told IANS.

Pathak said there is a studied silence on the DGP's statement so far and he hoped some action would take place after the state government takes cognizance of it.

Pradeep Mathur, leader of the Congress Legislature Party in the state assembly, told IANS that the government needed to take action on senior officials too for their slackness in controlling riots in Muzaffarnagar.

"From day one, we have been of the view that the riots were a result of complete administrative failure of the state machinery and I feel that the government rather than just acting against junior police officials should act against senior officials too and that the buck has to stop somewhere," he added.

On way to Muzaffarnagar on a fact-finding mission, along with Congress general secretary in-charge of partgy affairs in UP Madhusudan Mistry, Mathur said, the government will have to act sternly.

Leader of Opposition in the state assembly and senior Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Swamy Prasad Maurya said the government has been yet again fully exposed by the statement of the state DGP.

"The government is in the dock again and the people need to know why did the police not act and failed to protect the life and property of the people," he said.

"There cannot be two parameters for the riots. Police failure is also failure of the SP (Samajwadi Party) government," he added.

By IANS,

Srinagar : Separatist guerrillas killed a youth in Kashmir's Baramulla district Tuesday, police said.

Two militants wielding AK-47 rifles barged into a house in Cherihar (in Sopore) forest area village around 11 p.m. Tuesday, and started shooting Muhammad Iqbal Khan, 22, at point blank range, a senior police officer said.

"The youth died on the spot after two militants with AK-47 rifles barged into his house and fired at him indiscriminately from point blank range," he said.

"An FIR has been registered in the incident at Bomai police station in Sopore police district and investigations have been started," the police officer said.

It is not clear whether the slain youth was affiliated with any political party or guerrilla outfit, police said.