By TCN News,

Kurnool: Popular Front of India organised a protest n Kurnool on Friday in front of the District Collector office against ‘political and police discrimination’ towards Muslims and other downtrodden Communities.

Hundreds of Popular Front cadres participated in the protest. The gathering was addressed by Popular Front A.P State President Mufti Abdus Subhan and Vice President Mr DS Habibullah.

These leaders strongly condemned the discrimination of police and political leaders in power towards Muslims, other downtrodden and their organisations.

After the Demonstration a memorandum was forwarded to the Chief Minister through the Kurnool District Collector C Sudarshan Reddy.

By TCN News,

New Delhi: The Centre for Culture, Media & Governance, Jamia Millia Islamia and International Development Research Centre, Canada, United States of America are jointly organizing a Round Table Consultation on “Asia’s Science and Social Science Research Councils” on November 25-26, 2013.

The purpose of the Round Table Consultation is to generate discussions among decision-makers of granting councils in the region (South Asia, China & some S.E Asian Countries) to identify priorities, challenges and opportunities that may be considered for International Development Research Centre’s engagement in future.

The overall aim of this effort at Centre for Culture, Media & Governance, Jamia Millia Islamia is to enhance understanding of the policies and practices of science granting councils in low and middle income countries and subsequently to promote collaboration among them, to enhance their contribution to development in their own or other countries. Specific objectives include:

1) Understanding the changing contexts for granting councils (and similar research funding mechanisms), their strategic objectives, and how they operate;
2) Foster joint learning and knowledge sharing among low and middle income countries’ granting councils;
3) Identify opportunities for enhanced cooperation or collaboration among granting councils within and across regions;
4) Identify follow up opportunities for International Development Research Centre to further its mandate by engaging with or supporting these councils; and
5) Explore opportunities for partnerships with other agencies to support science granting Councils in low and middle income groups.

The Inaugural Session of the programme is scheduled to be held on November 25, 2013 at 10 AM in the FTK-Centre for Information Technology, Jamia Millia Islamia.

Prof. Sukhdeo Thorat, Chairperson, Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR) shall deliver the Inaugural Address.

The programme is spread across various sessions where eminent academicians, research scholars, professionals from pertinent fields will deliberate on the relevant issues. The distinguished speakers are from Canada, Myanmar, Manila, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand and India.

The details of the programme scheduled to be held on November 25, 2013 in FTK-Centre for Information Technology, Jamia Millia Islamia are as follows:

The Inaugural Session on November 25, 2013 at 10 AM in the FTK-Centre for Information Technology, Jamia Millia Islamia. Prof. Sukhdeo Thorat, Chairperson, Indian Council of Social Science Research to deliver the Inaugural Address

11.00 AM - 12 Noon

Theme: Private Sector Funding of Science and Social Science Research

12 Noon - 01.00 PM

Theme: Institutional Mechanisms for Collaboration within Councils

02.00 PM – 3.30 PM

Theme: Open Data, Open Science and Autonomy in Sciences

04.00 PM – 5.30 PM

Theme: Enhanced Sectoral and Bilateral Collaborations in Science &Tech

5.30 PM – 06.00 PM

Theme: Introducing Themes for Discussion on Day Two

The Thematic Discussions in Sub-Groups are scheduled to be held on November 26, 2013 at 10 AM in the Conference Hall of FTK-Centre for Information Technology and Tagore Hall, Dayar-e-Mir Taqi Mir, Jamia Millia Islamia simultaneously.

The Valedictory Address shall be delivered by Prof. S.M. Sajid, Vice-Chancellor, Jamia Millia Islamia at 12.30 PM in the Seminar Hall of FTK-Centre for Information Technology, Jamia Millia Islamia.

Besides kin, houses and cattle, Muzaffarnagar Muslims may lose their farm lands as well.

By Mohammed Anas,

New Delhi: Around 4,000 acres of land, 17 madarsa buildings, 4 mosques, thousands of houses, both thatched and concrete-built, and equal number of cattle have been left behind by victims of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli riots in their native villages when they escaped violence in September. Though it’s a rough estimate, but activists and Muslim outfits working on riot victims said that losses may be at a larger scale.

Interestingly, to compensate these losses and making the victims never to return to their villages, the Uttar Pradesh government is distributing Rs 5 lakh per family among the selected 1800 families from nine villages. Some Meerut-based realtors evaluated 4,000 acres of victims’ land, which is largely farm land with ripe sugarcane yield, at Rs 600 cr.

Around 40,000 were uprooted from 162 villages in Muzaffarnagar, Shamli and Baghpat. While most of Baghpat villagers have returned home, victims from other two districts are living in relief camps run mu Muslim organisations in various places, including the National Capital Region.

Some Meerut-based realtors evaluated 4,000 acres of victims’ land, which is largely farm land with ripe sugarcane yield, at Rs 600 cr.

As per the Government Order of 27 October issued by the UP government, Rs 90 cr were to be given to 1800 displaced families of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts. But, when this order was implemented last week, the district administrations forced victims to sign affidavit which says that “families that receive ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh will not return to their native villages and claim for losses to their properties.” The district administrations of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli confirmed to The Sunday Guardian that around 1260 families have signed the said affidavit and received Rs 5 lakh each.

“Since the major violence (killing included) took place only in nine villages and villagers from other areas fled in fear, a list of 1800 families from these nine villages have been prepared for the compensation to be paid,” said a senior district administration from Muzaffarnagar. He didn’t elaborate why victims were being forced to forego their right to return.

A UP government spokesperson said that since victims have showed apprehension to return to their native villages, they are being enlisted for rehabilitation elsewhere they are being helped to restart their life elsewhere. Even he didn’t elaborate on why affidavits were made obligatory to get the compensation.

Muslim outfits working for the rehabilitation of victims said that the distribution of compensation is only a facade to conceal the acute mismanagement of riots and victim’s rehabilitation. “The government has failed to even check violence being perpetrated on victims living in relief camps. The administration is not all interested to carry investigation into the FIRs lodged by the victims. Accused can be seen roaming freely in the villages. And now through these paltry compensations, the government is making sure that victims are uprooted from their lands permanently and their properties will be occupied by their agents,” said Advocate Asad Hayat, secretary of Awami Council.

Some of the victims who have left behind their properties behind spoke to this correspondent over phone. Shamshad, a victim from Kharad village, had met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when they had visited riot victims. He said that despite promise of support, they have not got anything so far. “Even our camps are being run by well wishers from our own community. There is not even security arrangement to defend us. We keep vigil at night to safeguard our women and children. My family’s 250 bigha land is left behind in Kharad village and I fear that even our crop will be cut by our neighbours who had attacked our houses on 8 September. Despite repeated pleas to the district administration, nothis has been done,” said Shamshad.

Jamiate Ulema Hind, which has the largest network of seminaries and cadres in the area and which is the most active Muslim outfit to rehabilitate the riot victims, is also worried at the prospects of huge property losses to displaced Muslims. “Not only people have been uprooted, our graveyards, mosques and madarsas are on the verge of being taken over by Jats. Many of the houses have already been merged into their own by Jats in villages like Kutba and Lac. But, we hope the district administration will take strict note of it,” said Hakeemuddin, a Jamiat member in Muzaffarnagar.

Meanwhile, Jamaate Islami outfit, which has adopted around 1,000 riot victim families and is building homes for them, plans to go to court to challenge the UP government if it forces victims to forego their rights over their properties.

“First we are meeting people like Ajit Chaudhary of Rashtriya Lok Dal(RLD) and Rakesh Tikait of Bhartiya Kisan Union to end bitterness among Hindus and Muslims of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli. But, if the UP government helps criminals and local mafia to take over victims’ properties in any way, we will fight it in court,” said Mohammed Ahmed, secretary of the Jamaat.

Leaders of ruling Samajwadi Party like Ram Gopal Yadav, Azam Khan and Iqbal Mahmood refused to comment on Muzaffarnagar issue. But, a close aide of party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, told this correspondent that netaji (as Mulayam is fondly called) has decided to annul the clause in the affidavit which bars riot victims to return to their properties in their villages.

Later on Thursday, after the Supreme Court lambasted the UP government for “Muslims only” rehabilitation of riot victims, it announced to include even Hindu victims as worthy of Rs 5 lakh compensation.

(The article first appeared in The Sunday Guardian)

By Quaid Najmi, IANS,

Mumbai : Five years since the diabolic Mumbai assault by 10 heavily armed gunmen from Pakistan, an attack that shook India and whose images reverberated across the world, the terror strike seems to have almost faded from public memory like an old nightmare, as survivors and families of victims, and the people of the city, get on with their lives.

Barring the symbolic memorial services and the ritualistic media coverage, there are barely any evident emotions that betray those 60 hours that traumatised the nation's financial and entertainment capital. The final toll in that attack was 166 people, including 26 foreign nationals. The attack left 300 injured, besides huge damage to public and private properties. The toll on the nation's social-political psyche was even higher.

As the anniversary of the attacks approaches, memories of those attacks flicker, again.

"Whatever happened was indeed sad, and should not have happened. We remember the victims. Now, all of us must move ahead and think of the future," said software consultant Dukul Pandya of Vile Parle who stayed awake during the Nov 26-28, 2008, terror attack and watched the unfolding drama live on television, like millions worldwide.

Middle-class housewife K.S. Minakshi of Borivli told IANS: "That was a huge national tragedy and everybody felt bad about it, especially for the innocent victims. But we are constantly facing major problems of the basics in daily life, like the galloping inflation."

She feels that the people must face the present and plan for the future while the government must ensure that incidents like 26/11 are not repeated.

Five years ago, 10 heavily armed Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai through the virtually unguarded Arabian Sea route.

Leaving Karachi shores a few days earlier, they hijacked an Indian fishing vessel, killed its crew and then landed in India's commercial capital in a rubber dinghy on the cold evening of Nov 26.

Alighting on a small bay near Colaba, they unobtrusively divided themselves into groups of two or three and systematically went after their targets.

According to subsequent investigations, three of them - Abdul Rehman, Abu Ali and Abu Soheb - went to the Leopold Cafe in Colaba and then Taj Mahal Palace Hotel; two others - Abdul Rehman Chota and Fahad Ullah - headed to the Trident-Oberoi Hotel.

Two more - Nasir Abu Umar and Babar Imran alias Abu Aakasha - targeted Nariman House; the final trio - Isamal Khan, Abu Ismail and Ajmal Amir Kasab -unleashed terror on the busy Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and later in Cama Hospital.

All the targeted locations fall within a radius of around five kilometers of the congested south Mumbai, housing the state government headquarters, the residences of ministers, bureaucrats, scientists, top business personalities and others.

Nine of the terrorists - all except 22-year-old Kasab - were gunned down in the combined security operations by Mumbai Police, army and naval commandos and other paramilitary forces who battled them for 60 hours.

In the early hours of Nov 27, barely five hours after they launched the mayhem, Kasab was caught alive following a fierce gun battle with police officials near the historic Chowpatty.

At that time, Kasab and his accomplice Abu Ismail were speeding in a hijacked car towards the sensitive Malabar Hill where the Raj Bhavan and the chief minister's official residence, besides that of other important functionaries, are located.

In the final analysis, the 10-strong team targeted the world heritage building, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Hotel Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Hotel Trident, Nariman House, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, Wadi Bunder which is the hub of shipping and transport agencies, and a bomb exploded in one of the taxis taken by them at Vile Parle, a quiet upper middle-class residential locality.

An aggressive Mumbai Police interrogated Kasab, investigated the matter, and identified and named 35 accused directly or indirectly responsible for the 26/11 terror attacks.

The investigators made an air-tight case against Kasab, the sole terrorist nabbed alive while the state government handed over the trial to top criminal lawyer Ujjwal Nikam. As Special Public Prosecutor, Nikam successfully participated in the trial right from the Special Court in Mumbai to Bombay High Court and finally the Supreme Court.

While the trial was in progress, Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil ordered the secret burial of the nine slain terrorists whose bodies were kept in tight security in an air-conditioned morgue in Sir J.J. Hospital, at considerable expense to the state exchequer, in January 2010.

On May 6, 2010, Kasab was awarded the death sentence after getting all legal privileges.

Kasab challenged the death verdict right up to the Supreme Court.

Rejected by the apex court, he tried his luck with the President of India, appealing for mercy, but even that was rejected.

Kasab was quietly hanged inside the Yerawada Central Jail, Pune Nov 21, 2012, and his body buried somewhere on the jail campus.

Not surprisingly, all actions post-26/11 by the Indian and Maharashtra government, including the disposal of the bodies, met with no international opposition, barring some stray voices from Pakistan.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in)

By IANS,

It was a cold night of Nov 26, 2008, when 10 heavily armed Pakistani terrorists brazenly entered Mumbai through the virtually unguarded Arabian Sea route. Shortly afterwards, they unleashed a brutal terrorist attack on several prime locations in south Mumbai spread over a four-five square km area, leaving the world shocked.

Here's what happened and the subsequent events that finally culminated in the hanging of the sole gunman caught alive - Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab.

2008:

Nov 26: Kasab and nine Pakistani gunmen launch a bloody attack on multiple locations in south Mumbai.

Nov 27: At 1.30 a.m., Kasab caught and placed under arrest, admitted to Nair hospital.

Nov 29: Kasab gives statement to police, confesses role.

Nov 29: All places under siege secured after 60 hours, nine terrorists killed -- Nazir, Babar Imran alias Abu Aksa, Abu Ali, Abu Soheb, Bada Abdul Rehman, Abu Umar, Fahadullah, Abdul Rehman Chhota and Abu Ismael.

Nov 30: Kasab confesses before police.

Dec 27/28: Identification parade held.

2009:

Jan 13: M.L. Tahaliyani appointed 26/11 Special Judge.

Jan 16: Arthur Road Jail selected for Kasab's trial.

Feb 5: Kasab's DNA samples matches with articles seized from fishing boat, Kuber.

Feb 20/21: Kasab makes confession before Magistrate R.V. Sawant-Wagule.

Feb 22: Ujjwal Nikam appointed Special Public Prosecutor.

Feb 25: Chargesheet against Kasab, two others filed in Esplanade Metropolitan Court.

April 15: Trial in 26/11 case commences.

April 16: S.G. Abbas Kazmi appointed as Kasab's lawyer.

April 17: Kasab's confession opened in court, he retracts.

April 20: Prosecution charges Kasab on 312 counts.

April 29: Kasab is major: experts' opinion.

May 6: Charges framed, Kasab charged on 86 counts, but denies charges.

May 8: First eyewitness deposes, identifies Kasab.

June 23: Non-bailable warrants issued against 22 including Hafeez Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi.

July 20: Kasab pleads guilty before Special Judge M.L. Tahaliyani.

Nov 30: S.G. Abbas Kazmi removed as Kasab's lawyer.

Dec 1: K.P. Pawar officially takes place of Kazmi.

Dec 16: Prosecution completes case in 26/11.

Dec 18: Kasab denies all charges.

2010:

Feb 22: David Coleman Headley issue crops up in court

Feb 23: Final argument begins from March 9

April 6: Home Minister R.R. Patil makes the sensational disclosure in Maharashtra legislature that the bodies of nine slain Pakistani terrorists were buried in January 2010, somewhere near Mumbai. He warned that any future terrorists would meet a similar fate.

May 6: Kasab sentenced to death by 26/11 court

June 8: Amin Solkar, Farhana Shah appointed lawyers for Kasab to appear in HC

Oct 18: Kasab's death sentence confirmation/his appeal hearing to commence in high court

Oct 19: Kasab throws tantrums, says he wants to attend the court in person, spits at camera and says "send me to America"; judges warn him to behave properly

Oct 21: Kasab reiterates before his lawyers that he wants to come to court personally

Oct 25: High Court judges view CCTV footage purportedly showing Kasab and slain terrorist Abu Ismail in terror acts.

Oct 27: Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam justifies death sentence awarded to Kasab by trial court

Nov 19 Nikam tells court that 26/11 attackers wanted separate state for Muslims

Nov 22: Kasab is a liar and plotter, argues Nikam

Nov 24: Nikam tells High Court that trial court had erred in partially accepting Kasab's confession.

Nov 25: Kasab's lawyer Amin Solkar begins argument, says trial was unfair. He demands retrial in 26/11 case.

Nov 30: Solkar argues that charge of "waging war against nation" was not made out against Kasab.

Dec 2: Kasab did not come from Pakistan by dinghy, his lawyer says and added that the dinghy could not accommodate 10 people.

2011:

Feb 7: Bombay High Court sets Feb 21 as judgement date.

Feb 21: Bombay High Court upholds death verdict on Kasab.

Oct 10: Supreme Court stays execution of Kasab's death sentence. Kasab claims to the SC that he was 'brainwashed', did not deserve the death sentence as he was very young.

Oct 18: SC admits Maharashtra appeal challenging the acquittal of Kasab associates Fahim Ansari & Sabahuddin Ahmed.

2012:

Jan 31: Kasab contends in SC that he was denied a free and fair trial.

Feb 23: SC views footage of Mumbai carnage, hears taped conversation of Kasab and his Pakistani handlers and among the 10 terrorists who carried out the attacks.

April 25: After a marathon hearing of nearly 10 weeks, SC reserves its verdict.

Aug 29: SC upholds HC death sentence to Kasab.

Sept : Kasab, through the Maharashtra government, moves a mercy plea to the president of India.

Oct 16: Centre moves SC seeking rejection of Kasab's mercy petition.

Nov 5: President rejects Kasab's mercy plea.

Nov 21: Kasab taken to Yerawada Central Jail, Pune, and hanged in secrecy, and later buried somewhere in the jail complex, in an operation scripted by State Home Minister R.R. Patil.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in)

(Five years after 26/11 attack)

By Amit Agnihotri and Prashant Sood, IANS,

New Delhi : In the five years after the Mumbai carnage in which 10 Pakistani terrorists laid siege to key institutions in India's commercial capital and killed 166 people, many steps have been taken to improve the country's counter-terror apparatus, but much more needs to be done, security experts say.

The country's coastal security is much better and intelligence sharing has improved, but the police-population ratio remains inadequate, intelligence gathering needs to be beefed up and more anti-terror mock drills need to be held across the country, the experts said.

Former Punjab director general of police K.P.S. Gill, who is credited with ending the Punjab militancy of the 1980s, feels that India is better prepared today to handle a terror attack.

"The coastal security is much better and people in different branches of the security system are more alert and sensitive to intelligence inputs," Gill told IANS.

But he said that as a nation, "we have not learnt any lessons".

"It is good to talk about metros, but such things (attacks) can happen even in the countryside," said Gill.

Noting that "the police systems are breaking down", Gill said there should be "no political interference" in transfers and postings of police officers.

Ten heavily armed Pakistani terrorists stealthily slipped into Mumbai from the sea on Nov 26, 2008, and unleashed a brutal attack on several key locations, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Taj Mahal Hotel, Chabad House and Leopold Cafe. The terror assault ended three days later when security forces killed nine of the gunmen. One of the attackers, Ajmal Kasab, had been captured soon after the assault began. He was hanged a year ago after a trial.

According to former union home secretary G.K. Pillai, efforts should continue towards better analysis of intelligence inputs and more mock anti-terror drills should be conducted in schools and shopping malls.

"We are short of practice... There should be proper coordination so that everyone knows what to do," Pillai told IANS.

He said in the five years since the attack India has been able to strengthen its intelligence network. More hubs of the elite National Security Guards (NSG) have been set up and many countries are now sharing intelligence with India, he added.

"Even if terrorists infiltrate, the response should be fast enough," he opined.

Sounding a note of caution, Pillai said terrorists tend to pick new targets. "This time the attack may be quite different. It could be major schools, malls. We have to be prepared for that," he emphasised.

On the option of targeting terror training camps on foreign soil, Pillai said that will have to be a policy decision.

Former Intelligence Bureau director Arun Bhagat said while India's security system has improved, intelligence gathering and processing remain a formidable challenge.

"Local police should be involved more," Bhagat told IANS.

Given the challenge of policing in a large country like India, he said no "security system can be fool-proof."

According to Ajai Sahni, executive director, Institute for Conflict Management, huge gaps still exist in India's security system since the 26/11 attack.

"It is like a house with 200 broken windows. You may repair five or seven, but you need to repair all. The deficit (in security architecture) is so great," Sahni told IANS.

The low police to population ratio in India is a problem area, he said.

"There are around 500 police personnel per 100,000 population in some developed countries...In India it has improved - from 128 policemen per 100,000 population in 2008 to 138 in 2012," he said.

Sahni said the number of personnel gathering field intelligence was also inadequate.

"There are less than 5,000 staff in the field though India's population needs a much bigger number," he said.

The list of the wanted accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks:

1. Hafeez Mohammad Saeed @ Hafiz @ Hafiz Saab

2. Zaki-Ur-Rehaman Lakhvi

3. Abu Hamza

4. Abu Al Kama @ Amjid

5. Abu Kaahfa

6. Mujja Mil @ Yusuf

7. Zarar Shah

8. Abu Fahad Ullah

9. Abu Abdul Rehman

10. Abu Anas

11. Abu Bashir

12. Abu Imran

13. Abu Mufti Saeed

14. Hakim Saab

15. Yusuf

16. Mursheed

17. Aakib

18. Abu Umar Saeed

19. Usman

20. Major General Sahab (Name not known)

21. Kharaksing

22. Mohammad Ishfak

23. Javid Iqbal

24. Sajid Iftikhar

25. Col. R. Sadat Ullah

26. Khurram Shahdad

27. Abu Abdur Rehaman

28. Abu Maria

29. Abu Anis

30. Abu Bashir

31. Abu Hanjla Pathan

32. Abu Saria

33. Abu Saif-Ur-Rehman

34. Abu Imran

35. Hakim Saheb

(Amit Agnihotri can be contacted at amit.a@ians.in. Prashant Sood can be contacted at prashant.s@ians.in)

By IANS,

Patna : Death toll in the Patna serial blasts rose to seven after an injured man died in Bihar's Nalanda district, police said Saturday.

Lakhan Rajvanshi, a resident of Nalanda district's Pandiptpur area, critically injured in the Patna serial blasts, died Thursday, a police officer said.

After initial treatment in Patna, Rajvanshi had returned to his village and was being treated at a local hospital, the family members said.

At least six people were killed and nearly 100 injured in the serial blasts in Patna ahead of a rally addressed by the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

Besides, a suspected bomber was also killed.

The NIA has arrested four people including Mohammed Imtiyaz Ansari in connection with serial blasts in Patna.

The NIA is probing into the serial blasts.

By IANS,

New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday expressed worry over the communal violence in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh last September and said state governments have the responsibility of tackling such disturbances with utmost firmness.

Addressing the annual director generals of police conference here, the prime minister reminded the senior police officials of rising expectations from them on the part of the general public, saying they were responsible for preventing crimes against women and must also ensure sensitive treatment of victims during investigation and trial.

He said some states have witnessed a substantial increase in the number of communal incidents and a major communal clash in Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh last September took a large toll of lives, leaving thousands of innocent people displaced from their homes.

"This is most worrisome. We simply cannot allow such a state of affairs to continue. Our law and order agencies must ensure that trivial or local issues are not exploited by vested interests to incite communal passions. And once disturbances occur, they must be tackled with the utmost firmness and speed, without prejudice, fear or favour," the prime minister said.

He said state governments have the responsibility to ensure firm handling of communal situations.

"State DGPs present here have the responsibility to ensure that their police forces act in the required manner in preventing communal tensions and dealing with them once they do take place. I expect all state DGPs to discharge this responsibility fully," he said.

He said that the tragic rape and murder of a young girl in Delhi last December had brought into sharp focus the issue of women's safety and the rising expectations of the people from the police in preventing such crimes.

"We have recently enacted several laws providing stringent punishment for such crimes and more sensitive treatment of victims during investigation and trial. We also need to put in place other institutional mechanisms to ensure the safety and security of women and children," he said.

The prime minister said he expected DGPs to show leadership in putting in place institutional mechanisms for the security of women and children.

By IANS,

New Delhi : There is a need to find creative solutions which do not unreasonably curb the freedom of expression social media tools provide and that check its misuse also, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said at a conference here Saturday.

"We witnessed misuse of the social media and SMSes to fan violence during the recent disturbances in Muzaffarnagar (in Uttar Pradesh)," the prime minister said addressing the annual conference of top police officials.

"Last year, disinformation spread through these means contributed to a mass exodus of people belonging to the northeast from southern states like Karnataka," he said.

The prime minister said it is widely accepted that social media platforms facilitate exchange of knowledge, information and ideas and can be used for constructive purposes.

"Therefore, in preventing its misuse, we need to find creative solutions which do not unreasonably curb the freedom of expression and the ease of communication that social media does provide," he added.

By IANS,

New Delhi : Amid concerns in the government over misuse of social media, Intelligence Bureau chief Asif Ibrahim Saturday suggested that foreign content providers on the internet be brought within the ambit of Indian laws.

Speaking at the annual Directors General of Police (DGPs) conference here, Ibrahim said there had been instance of misuse of social media to fan communal violence.

He said "a disturbing trend" was of rural areas, which have a long tradition of people living in harmony, being affected by communal violence.

He said malicious content was sometimes deliberately loaded on the internet and security forces had limitations in acting against the culprits.

"The legal framework is evolving," he said and suggested bringing the content providers into the ambit of the Indian law.

The conference was also addressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Ibrahim said that emphasis on strengthening non-lethal capacities of police, as suggested by the prime minister in the past, had helped in reducing casualties in Jammu and Kashmir during protests in the aftermath of hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru this year.

He said there were three casualties during protests over Afzal Guru's hanging compared to 113 during the agitation in the state in 2010.

Ibrahim said emphasis should be laid on indigenously developed hardware in tackling issues of cyber security.

He said terror outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen continued to target security forces in Jammu and Kashmir to generate disproportionate response which could result in civilian casualties.

Ibrahim said that Indian Mujahideen continues to act at the behest of "its mentors in Pakistan".

By IANS,

Srinagar : Mushtaq Ahmad Peer, the former chairman of Jammu and Kashmir's Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (BOPEE), was Saturday arrested in the multi-million 2012 test paper leak racket, police said.

"Yes, we have arrested Mustaq Ahmad Peer, former chairman of BOPEE, in Srinagar today (Saturday)," a senior officer of the state crime branch told IANS.

Peer is allegedly involved in a multi-million test paper leakage racket for the 2012 MBBS entrance examinations in which test papers were leaked in advance to aspirants who paid hefty sums of money to get selected for the course.

He is also alleged to have set up a special examination centre in Srinagar city for the candidates who had paid him money, crime branch officials said.

Peer was assisted by two residents of Anantnag district in south Kashmir in the paper leak racket.

One of the two, identified as Farooq Ahmad Itoo, has already turned approver for the investigators.

Peer was regularly summoned by investigators for questioning to the crime branch headquarters during the last three days.

He had also been advised not to leave Srinagar city without permission.

The high-profile Peer, who was last year appointed as consultant by the state government to fast track appointments for non-gazetted posts, was sacked by the government on Nov 14 this year.

By Mohd. Ismail Khan, TwoCircles.net,

Bhopal: Narela constituency in Bhopal exemplifies Muslim political situation in Madhya Pradesh in many ways: a Muslim dominated seat which doesn’t have a strong community leadership, a vast Muslim vote ‘block’ which feels helpless to vote for the Congress, a growing section of Muslims who are opting for BJP to get close to power circles, and the mounting disillusion of Muslim community from politics who sees nothing better for their deprived localities in this number game.

Till 2003 elections there used to be four constituencies in Bhopal. Bhopal North was the sole Muslim dominated seat. After delimitation of 2008 seven constituencies were formed out of whom Bhopal North, Central and Narela were Muslim concentrated.

Though Bhopal North was a traditional ‘Muslim seat’, Bhopal Central was soon recognized as one. But Narela still lags in getting the tag of undeclared Muslim reservation.

When Narela was crafted out, its 40% Muslim vote was seen as deciding factor. But in constituency’s debut election, seat was surprisingly bagged by the BJP candidate Vishwas Sarang defeating his Congress rival Sunil Sood with just 3,200 votes.

Locals believed that in a polarized fight Muslims en block voted for Congress and Hindus for the BJP. But small partys like SP and BSP played spoiler whose Muslim candidates bagged 4,520 votes, thus giving an edge to Sarang over Sood.

Narela majorly consists of most deprived Muslim localities of Bhopal. Situation is so grim that residents doesn’t have drinking water supply, open dug up private sewerage lane front of every house takes care of other basic needs.

A group of Muslims campaigning at BJP office at Umrao Dula Bagh believes that community’s distance with ruling BJP and its sitting MLA is the reason for their localities being ignored.

Babu Mastan, a local leader in the area who is organizing local Muslims behind BJP, prefers to call himself a social worker. He developed a good following among locals, after he personally from his own money laid down water pipeline in the whole locality, the first running water supply to come up in any Muslim locality of Narela.

“Muslims are made to fear from BJP. So Congress can use us anyway they want,” Babu Mastan said smoking his cigarette sitting near long open drain stretch. “We should also give BJP a chance,” he says, otherwise “we will be left as orphans.”

For some Muslim residents of Narela Congress candidate Sunil Sood is more biased than BJP’s Vishwas Sarang. “When Sunil Sood was Mayor of Bhopal he did a Bhoomi Pooja and laid a foundation stone for a drinking water tank to be constructed near Railway Phathak which could supply drinking water to three Muslim localities, Umrao Dula Bagh, Akbar colony and Bismillah Colony.

But when elections were drawn closer the water tank construction was shifted to other side of Railway Phathak. Now drinking water is supplied to Sunder Nagar, Ashoka Colony and Jain Colony. Babu Mastan asks, “Why do you think this happened?” and then he went on to answer, “Because Congress knew that even if we made Muslims to live like dogs, they will again run back to vote for Panja (Hand, the Congress symbol)”. That let down feeling shared by Babu Mastan was wide spread at many Muslim localities of Narela.

According to locals, Congress candidate Sunil Sood, as former Mayor of Bhopal did nothing for the development of constituency. They even alleged that after he lost 2008 election, he ‘disappeared’ and just six months before elections has resurfaced making many more promises.

Some Muslim supporters at the local office of BJP.

On the other hand BJP MLA Vishwas Sarang is taking Muslims of his constituency into confidence. In his five years term, it is said there is no mosque left in Narela where Sarang didn’t go to wish Muslims on Eid.

Sarang’s Muslim vote magnate this time will be 350 crore drinking water pipeline project he got sanctioned from the state government to supply drinking water to mostly Muslim dominated localities of Narela. His deed of bringing in large chunk of investment for the development of Muslim localities has struck a good chore with the residents.

“It is his way of asking Muslims for votes,” explains Nawaz Peer Quadri auto repair mechanic in Narela.

“Sarang did visit Muslim dominated localities and took his time to hear our problems. But whole development fund since last five years was spent at Hindu dominated colonies from where hbasically get votes. He just got sanctioned drinking water project but work has not started yet,” adds Quadri.

He then adds, “Just before election he is giving clear message to Muslims, vote for him get development pie. If Muslim votes turn out to be low again in his favor that sanctioned amount could be shifted elsewhere, as Sunil Sood did earlier.”

Muslims’ anger against Congress is foddered more with party’s reluctance in fielding community’s candidate for the seat.

Taking a dig at the Congress choice, Habib Akhtar, a local BJP worker, said, “Sunil Sood, a defeated candidate is given ticket all over again on a Muslim dominated seat. As if there was scarcity of local Congress Muslim leaders.”

When asked why BJP was reluctant in fielding Muslim candidate, Habib has an immediate explanation, “There are not many Muslims backing BJP here. How can party allot ticket to a community which is hostile to it?”

Site of one of the streets in Narela.

When we questioned Ibrahim Qureshi, Congress election management chief gave a plain but hesitant reply, “If Congress would have given tickets to Muslims in Bhopal North, Central and Narela, which fall under same belt, than it would have given a wrong signal to other communities.”

That ‘wrong signal’ which Congress campaign chief spoke about was visible in Narela, not in other communities as they feared, but among Muslims. Many local Congress leaders were seeing Narela as apple in their eye, and were disappointed after been denied ticket in 2008. They are now feeling disenchanted for once again being side-lined.

“Congress party is trying to walk on a tight rope in Madhya Pradesh. BJP has been trying to tag Congress has ‘Mohammadien ki party’ (party of Muslims). So Congress is succumbing to propaganda by denying tickets to Muslims even on Muslim concentrated constituency,” said Mohammed Akbar, who had himself demanded ticket from Narela, but was denied by the party and is hence upset.

Naseem Khan, former Wakf board chairman, was also in the fray. He presents his case as ticket from Narela was a matter of his right. He has been associated with Youth Congress and started count down of his years of service to the party. He is a local from Narela and his brother Shameem Khan is the municipal councillor from the same constituency, what made him ‘most deserving candidate,’ he argues. But at last moment he said ticket was denied to him as part of party’s ‘Maslihat’ (prudent measure).

Naseem Khan, a local Congress leader.

But rifts apart now Naseem Khan said all the Congressmen like him will do their best to make Congress candidate Sunil Sood win the seat.

And he is not ready to accept their traditional Muslim vote bank can slip away. He tries to create logic with Muslim getting closer to BJP, “Some section of Muslims are getting incline towards BJP because that party is in power. It is a normal thing in politics. Even Brahmans also cosy up with Mayawati when she comes to power,” he says.

Continuing with his rhetoric over Congress party favours on Muslims, Naseem Khan said that Muslims will continue to vote for Congress in en block. He said party has its own strategy to keep Muslim votes intact.

“We will raise Narendra Modi issue in Narela. We will make Muslims aware that if they are opting for some other party rather than Congress; they are helping Modi to grab power.” Then comes the ultimate gimmick, “And if he (Modi) seizes power then Muslims will be finished.”

By TCN News,

Chandigarh: In a programme organized by Yuvsatta, in a very heart touching gesture over 1000 students of DAV Senior Secondary School of Sector 8 B, Chandigarh presented 1000 Indo-Pak friendship cards to Prof. Manjit Singh and Dr. Mohd. Khalid of Panjab University, Chandigarh who’re leaving tomorrow for a conference in Panjab University, Lahore, Pakistan.

Giving information of the initiative Pramod Sharma, Yuvsatta Coordinator, shared that these children’s are hope for not only stronger Indo-Pak relations but also for resultant peace, stability and prosperity in South-Asia as a whole.

Speaking on the occasion Prof. Manjit Singh said that enough of playing at the hand of war-mongering fanatics, the political jingoism that we are fed in regular doses. We know, some will be there to ridicule us. But, this people-to-people peace initiative aims at defying the forces of evil. Dr. Mohd. Khalid added that we’ll persist on the power of our belief, the belief that the sum of all good must triumph over the sum of all evil.

Dr. Vibha Ray Principal of the School expressing her joy said that she believes that our future will be more peaceful in hands of young generation-the generation next and let us try to forget the past and spread the message of love and peace around.

For children’s of the School who had prepared these cards with their labour of love there is another good news which Avatar Singh of Punjab Book Centre, Chandigarh announced on the occasion that he’ll soon arrange a visit of students of DAV Sr. Sec. School (Lahore) to actual Lahore in Pakistan and later a similar visit from students of Pakistan is also on anvil.

These peaceniks are working on many other ideas to further spread and strengthen the message of love, peace and friendship between people, especially young people of SAARC countries through a ‘Friends of SAARC Forum’.

By TCN News,

Aligarh: The spirit of Urdu literature has essentially been secular. Since its very beginning it has promoted the cause of national integration. Whether through poetry or through fiction Urdu has brought all communities together”, said Professor Saghir Afrahim in an extension lecture organized by Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Urdu Arbi-Farsi University, Lucknow.

The lecture was followed by a one-day national seminar on the concept of national integration in Indian literature. Whereas Professor Afrahiem dwelt on Urdu literature, another distinguished teacher from the Department of English of Aligarh University, Dr Mohammad Asim Siddiqui talked about the concept of national integration with reference to Indian English fiction.

Dr Siddiqui elaborated on the hijacking of the concept of nationalism by vested interests in India. He was of the view that Indian English fiction often presents a strong critique of the concept of nationalism. Nationalism in its popular form often appears to repeat the mistakes of colonialism. He suggested that teachers of language and literature should use their training to teach students the cultural text as today more than ever before we are bombarded by texts of all kinds. Learning to read texts of different kinds is an important skill for students.

The seminar was attended, among others, by Mahfouz Kidwai, a minister in UP government, the governor of Chhattisgarh, and many distinguished professors of Urdu, Hindi and English from different universities of India.

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

New Delhi: Presided by Shabnam Hashmi and Manan Trivedi, Act Now for Harmony and Democracy (ANHAD) held a press conference to bring out ‘Kaccha Chittha 2’ (exposing truth II) at India Women’s Press Conference office in Windsor Palace.

The press conference was organized to highlight the loopholes in Narendra Modi’s claim of development in Gujarat, the pathetic condition of democracy in the state and lack of governance. The documents released in the press conference primarily dealt with grants of lands to Adani Group of companies by Modi’s government in Gujarat violating SEZ guidelines.

Shabnam Hashmi and Manan Trivedi

“The guidelines of SEZ were violated as it says that the “land has to be congruous” but the Gujarat government circumvented the rules and sold them as separate lands so that they could avoid its auctioning and taking the cabinet in confidence,” Hashmi said.

“Land upto 5,46,56,819 metre (5465 HECTARE) was sold to Adani through 30 orders from 2005 to 2007 for SEZ,” reads the figure in the document released by ANHAD. Other high points read:

· All rules were bent backwards. Twenty five applications for land were submitted on two consecutive days – 22 & 23 /12/03 and the other five on 23/12/2003, 5/10/2004, 23/06/2006, 3/07/2006 and for the last application date is not available.

· 23 orders for sale of land were released on a single day 15/07/2005

· The price of land charged from Adani was between Rs. 2.5- Rs 25 per sq meter when the market rate was between Rs 1000 to Rs.1,500 a square metre.

· The District Valuation Committee set up by the Gujarat Govt set the price very low so that land could be given at cheap rates. Even then the rates charged in most of the cases are much lower than the rates prescribed by the valuation committee.

“In Gujarat, the stamp duty for land is 8.4% which means if the cost of land is Rs. 100 then the stamp duty on stands as Rs. 8.4 but in the case of Gujarat the norms were inverted. For example, lands were shockingly sold for Rs. 6 whose stamp duties only were Rs. 300-400. That was the ratio. What can be bigger fraud than this?” she asked the media persons.

While throwing on the destruction of the villages brought about by the Modi-Adani nexus she said, “A big chunk of land in Gujarat is used for pastoral farming which the government sold to Adanis as a result of which animal husbandry has suffered fatal blows over there and the community living along the coast lines have lost their livelihood.”

Taking a shot on his victory in Gujarat for the third time despite all the corruption cited by CAG report or through the reports of organization like AHHAD she said that he may win in many ways and although a big size of middle class rallies for him but there are lots of movements going on in the villages of Gujarat and there is widespread anger against him in the rural area which obviously the mainstream media does now air.

“In the 70 villages of tribal belt, where he has promised to raise a bust of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, have been organizing rallies which are being attended by thousands of villages as there the sword of a direct threat of their forced displacement from the villages, due to the sites being chosen for building Patel’s statue, is dangling upon them,” she said.

The report has been made available on www.anhadin.net, www.secularstore.net, www. pheku.in, for all to read.

Related:

Civil society launches website to bring out ‘misdeeds’ of Modi

By TCN News,

New Delhi: A youth delegation of Khudai Khidmatgar Faizan Arish, Shoeb Ahmed, Rodsi Bhaitiya and others met the Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikishit on Friday and put forward their demands on the issue of women safety, professional training for minority youth, etc.

Shoeb Ahmed said that the youths today appear confused as there seems little political options, where on one side BJP is felicitating their MLAs who have been accused of inciting Muzaffarnagar riots.

By TCN News,

New Delhi: A consensus emerged on the efficacy and purposefulness of the proposed Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill, 2013 at a consultative meeting organised by the Institute of Objective Studies (IOS) here on Thursday evening.

Participants at the meeting, drawn from legal and academic fraternity and social service, unequivocally acknowledged that the proposed bill was certainly an improvement over the previous two bills of 2005 and 2011.

Initiating the discussion, the Chairman of the IOS, Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam, expressed the confidence that the bill would be introduced by the UPA government in the coming session of Parliament. He said that in order to garner support from non-BJP parties that had opposed the bill earlier, they would be approached to back the bill when it would be taken up for debate in Parliament.

The secular parties that had supported it earlier, would also be impressed upon to facilitate easy passage of the bill. Explaining the purpose for holding the consultative meeting, he said the suggestions made there would be forwarded to the Union Home Minister for inclusion in the bill. He said that the support for the bill gathered momentum with the growing demand from Muslim organisations to enact the anti-communal violence law.

A committee was formed to take a fresh look at the bill and suggest ways to make it more purposeful and deterrent to the eruption of communal violence. The former chief Justice of India, Justice A.M. Ahmadi, who chaired the consultative meeting, was tasked with compilation of the suggestions received from the committee members. It was decided to forward the suggestions to the Union Home Minister for incorporation in the bill.

The proposed bill was discussed threadbare at the meeting. Right to equality guaranteed under the Indian Constitution attracted the attention of the speakers, who endorsed the purpose of the bill to impose the duty on the Centre and state governments to exercise power to prevent targeted violence, including mass violence against SCs, STs and linguistic and religious minorities. The features of the bill that came up for discussion included the definition of communal and targeted violence and imposition of penalty on public servants for dereliction of duty.

The speakers were satisfied that the relief and reparation, including compensation, would remain the same for all, including the dominant group. Some of them were apprehensive of the provision for setting up of the National Authority for Communal Harmony, Justice and Reparation, since its recommendations would not be binding.

The experts felt that the provision for penal action against public servants found guilty of dereliction of duty, was the most important feature of the bill. While underlining the urgent need for tabling the bill at the earliest opportunity, the experts pleaded for making it fool-proof.

No hole in the bill should be left for the opponents to take advantage of it. The participants decided to elicit maximum support for the bill and reach a consensus among all stakeholders.

The consultative meeting was attended, among others, by Mr. Mushtaq Ahmed, advocate, Supreme Court, Prof. Afzal Wani, Mr. M.U. Siddiqui, Mr. Riyaz Ahmad Salehi of Jamat Ahl-e-Hadis and Dr. Eqbal Husain of Jamia Millia Islamia.

By TwoCircles.net Special Correspondent,

Aizwal: Finally the D Day has arrived in the north-eastern Indian state Mizoram for the polls with the campaigning drew to a close amid a hue and cry about armed gunmen being sighted in one of the sensitive constituencies, Chalfilh, which borders Manipur.

Though, the state has been known for its peaceful election campaigns for last several years due to the interference of Church. The voting takes place in the state on Monday for 40 seats which will be contested among 142 candidates. Total number of voters are 6.86 lakh including 3.49 lakh women.

With high profile campaigning including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, the ruling Congress made the New Land Use Policy its main poll agenda.

Congress has accused Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) for involving in activities with militant. ZNP, however, denied the allegation and held Congress responsible for this. ZNP leaders said that being in power Congress should have arrested the gunmen if there were any.

Meanwhile, the Mizroam Democratic Alliance (MDA) of the three Opposition parties —the Mizo National Front (MNF), the Mizoram People’s Conference (MPC) and the Maraland Democratic Front (MDF) — has promised the voters a special economic development programme in the state if they are voted to power.

Besides this, Mizoram has set an example of violence free campaigning, with no incident being reported for the 25 November Assembly elections. “For the last several years, elections in Mizoram have always been more or less peaceful. This year during campaign not a single incident of violence has been reported. It has been very peaceful,” said state DGP Amulya Patnaik in Aizawl.

One of the main reasons behind the violence free poll campaign is the strict watch kept by the powerful Presbyterian Church controlled Mizoram People’s Forum (MPF). “We don’t support any kind of violence. We have the MPF platform at state level, district level and at local level, which keeps a strict watch on any kind of wrong doings and any attempt to instigate violence,” MPF president Rev Lalramlian Pachuau, said.

However, even three decades ago, the scenario in Mizoram, which had a history of insurgency since the early sixties, was not the same. Violence and bloodshed was a common sight during elections.

Mizoram started become a peaceful state after the signing of the peace accord late eighties, which brought an end to insurgency in the state, bordered by Bangladesh on one side and Myanmar on the other.

By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,

New Delhi: Two Supreme Court Advocates have written to the Chief Justice of India urging him to take suo moto cognizance against English Daily DNA, for allegedly tarnishing the image of Judiciary and Honorable Judges of Supreme Court by inserting irrelevant photograph of CJI with Lady officials in background in an article.

The two petitioners are Advocate Vinod Tiwari, enrolled on the roll of Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa and is a member of Supreme Court Bar Association, while Advcate Naushad Ahmed Khan is enrolled on the roll of Bar Council of Delhi. He is a Member of Supreme Court Bar Association.

The petitioners have appealed the CJI to take suo moto cognizance of the said Article and photographs for causing the dis-reputation and deliberately lowering down the dignity of the Apex Court and its Judges and to further treat their emailed letter as petition.

In an article published in English daily DNA, dated 21.11.2013 on an editorial page no. 8 as a leading prominent article captioned “Poor Judge of Character”, purported to be written and authored by Delhi HC Advocate Nandita Rao.

The article pertained to an ongoing unfortunate controversial issue of alleged Sexual Harassment Case of an intern Law Graduate at the hands of then sitting Judge of this Hon’ble Court, arising out of a blog posting made by the victim in last week.

DNA is an English newspaper being published from Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Indore and largely circulated in India and across the globe through its e-paper on internet in its edition.

Although the petitioners are not really bothered about the content of the article since the matter is sub judice, what has constrained them though is the “unfortunate and irrelevant insertion and publication of photographs of the Your Lordship, that too accompanying a Lady Official along with the photograph of Hon’ble Apex Court, though it’s totally irreverent and uncalled for even by mistake in light of the contents in a story.”

The petitioners say that they have “reason to believe that with the unfortunate linking and irrelevance in publication of photographs,” the author, editor, printer, publisher and the owners of the said Newspaper have “acted in a most irresponsible and collusive manner.”

In the letter to the CJI, the petitioners write, that it “is an attempt to lowering down the respect and dignity of entire judiciary and to take it granted that nothing can happen even if print media tarnished the image and reputation of the judiciary as well as the Apex Court and its Hon’ble Judges.”

The petitioners have hence urged the CJI to take cognizance for appropriate proceedings and initiate further steps to “protect the Judiciary and Democracy from such elements killing the object and the purpose of doctrine of the Freedom of Expression as guaranteed by Constitution of our Country.”

By TCN News,

Loni, Ghaziabad: Left to survive on their own, dozens of families who fled the rioted affected areas of Western Uttar Pradesh and now living in Loni neighbourhood in the outskirts of New Delhi are facing severe problem with winter knocking the doors in north India.

Voluntary group India Wisdom Foundation (IWF) visited the area on Saturday to meet the survivors of anti-Muslim riots that hit Muzaffernagar, Shamli and Baghpat districts in August-September. People in large numbers fled these districts and took shelter in madrasas in Loni in Ghaziabad. About 5,000 people are living in rented or free accommodation provided by the locals here.

IWF volunteers Ehtasham Khan, Nizam Ansari and Md Haroon distributing blankets at Madrasa Kashiful Uloom in Loni, Ghaziabad, on Saturday.

Chilling winds in the morning and evening has made life difficult for the riot survivors who left everything in their villages and fled to save lives.

“Winter has begun. We don’t have warm clothes or blankets to protect ourselves. We are more concerned about our children. They do not have proper clothes,” said Farida of Lakh village of Shamli district.

She has been living in a rented house in Loni with five children ever since the riots broke out. Her husband works as daily wage labourer here. Once in a week, he goes to meet the patwari of his village to seek compensation announced by the government.

Farida adds, “Government has announced Rs.5 lakh as compensation. But the patwari is asking for so many documents that we do not have. Also, the compensation is for selected villages. Patwari says we are not counted in that. We are not living in a relief camp. What do we do now? There is no relief camp here. We are somehow managing to survive on our own. We are also not given compensation.”

Like Farida there are hundreds of survivors who are scattered all over western Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. They are not eligible for compensation as per the criterion of the government. They are also scared of going back to their villages.

IWF distributed blankets to some of the survivors in Loni on Saturday.

Supreme Court has asked the government on Thursday to protect the survivors from the winter onslaught. But as per UP govt record, there are only 3,000 people living in relief camps.

“This is nothing but a joke. We want the Supreme Court, minority commission and NHRC to send independent teams to assess the number of people living in camps and also their condition,” said Dr. Shahid Jameel, president of IWF.

“We are trying to conduct a survey which can be submitted in the court. We are getting reports that atleast 36,000 people are living in camps. There are many others who are living on their own and unable to go back to their villages fearing backlash. Govt and the court must think of these people as well.”

IWF is supporting 34 such families who are living in acute poverty in Loni.