Page 1716 - Law Crime
Bollywood outraged over Kathua rape and murder
Bollywood stars such as Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra Sanjay Dutt are among the celebrities who made a rallying call for swift action and deliverance of justice in the Kathua rape and murder case. Prominent B-Town artistes Alia Bhatt, Anushka Sharma, Kalki Koechlin and Ayushmann Khurrana took to Twitter to express their disgust over the brutal crime. In Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua area, an eight-year-old girl from a minority nomadic community disappeared near her house on January 10. A week later, her body was found in the same area. A Special Investigation Team, formed to probe the incident, has arrested eight people, including two special police officers (SPOs) and a head constable, who was charged with destroying evidence. Taking to Twitter, Hrithik Roshan wondered about the human capability to commit heinous crimes. "This really the work of human beings? Breaks my heart to know we are capable of such atrocities. We need even more activism, courage, outspokenness, communication, ..
SC to hear plea against allocation of cases by CJI
The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to examine a plea on whether the allocation of "sensitive and important cases" should be done by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) alone or by the collegium of five senior-most judges.
Ishrat Jahan case: Pranesh's father dies in hospital
Gopinath Pillai, the father of Pranesh Pillai alias Javed Sheikh who was shot dead in an alleged fake encounter in June 2004, died in hospital while undergoing treatment following a car accident, police said today. Gopinathan Pillai (78) hailed from Charummoodu in Alappuzha district. The car carrying Pillai, a heart patient, had met with the accident on April 11 in Alappuzha district when he was going to the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences at Kochi for a medical check-up. Pillai, who was admitted to the Amrita hospital following the accident, died at 2.30 am today, police said. His body was taken to his village for the last rites. Javed Sheikh was among the four alleged terrorists shot dead on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on June 15, 2004. The others gunned down were 19-year-old college girl Ishrat Jahan from Mumbra in Maharashtra, Zeeshan Johar and Amzad Rana. The police termed them Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives allegedly on a mission to kill then Gujarat Chief Minister
Kathua rape-murder: Gujjars demand death penalty for accused
Gujjars today took to streets here demanding the accused in the rape and murder case of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua be given death penalty. Protestors also raised slogans against the Bar Association of Jammu and Kashmir High Court (BAJ). The BAJ had yesterday claimed that the probe by the state Crime Branch was done on questionable line amid threats and coercion by a team of officers from Kashmir, and demanded the case be handed over to the CBI. Protestors led by Gujjar and Bakerwal leader Choudhary Nazakat Khatana staged demonstrations in which they alleged that two state BJP ministers had supported a CBI probe in the case during an agitation at Rassana in Kathua last month. The ministers -- Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga -- should be sacked by the Mehbooba Mufti government, the protestors said. "We demand justice for the girl. We demand death penalty to the accused involved in her rape and murder case," Khatana told reporters. The Jammu and Kashmir ...
Smriti attacks Rahul for midnight march
Union Minister Smriti Irani on Friday attacked Congress President Rahul Gandhi in his home constituency here in Uttar Pradesh. She slammed as a farce his midnight march seeking justice for the Unnao and Kathua rape victims.
Man dies after being run over by speeding car in Maha's Nashik
A 69-year-old man was today killed after he was run over by a speeding car early morning here, police said. Bhuraram Arakh, along with his family, was on a pilgrimage to Nashik and was sleeping at Mhasoba ground here on the banks of Godavari river when the incident happened, police said. "A speeding car ran over him, killing him instantly. His son, Rambabu, has lodged a complaint and has also provided us the registration number of the car involved in the incident. Efforts to trace the driver of the car are underway," a Panchavati police official said. He said that Arakh was a resident of Muroilly village in Banda district of Uttar Pradesh.
Arrest MLA Sengar immediately, Allahabad High Court directs CBI
The Allahabad High Court today directed the CBI to immediately arrest BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar, accused in the Unnao rape case, and rapped the Uttar Pradesh government saying the law and order machinery and officials were directly under his influence. A bench of Chief Justice DB Bhosale and Justice Suneet Kumar gave the direction to the agency after the counsel for the Uttar Pradesh government informed it that Sengar has been detained for interrogation and not arrested yet. It directed CBI to arrest "forthwith" Sengar and the other accused named in the FIR registered yesterday for offences punishable under sections 363, 366, 376, 506 of IPC and sections 3 and 4 of POCSO Act and carry out further investigation within the time stipulated under the provisions of CrPC. It also directed the agency to file status report by May 2. The judges also took strong objection to Advocate General Raghvendra Singh's submission that Sengar would not be arrested on mere registration of the FIR, ...
Ministers supporting Kathua accused have no right to stay in Cabinet: Omar
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah on Friday urged incumbent state chief Mehbooba Mufti to take stringent action against the ministers who are supporting the accused in Kathua Rape case.Abdullah further asserted that the ministers who have allegedly threatened the police to not make arrests, have no right to stay in the Cabinet."The ministers who supported killers of Kathua Rape case victim and threatened police not to make arrests, have no right to stay in the cabinet. Mehbooba Mufti should take action just like she took against Haseeb Drabu (ex J&K FM), whose crime wasn't this heinous," he said.The father of the eight-year-old girl, who was raped and murdered in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district today said that the culprits should be "hanged till death".Speaking to ANI on Friday, he said, "I miss my daughter every day. Those responsible for killing my daughter should be hanged till death."Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday announced .
SC to examine plea to regulate CJI's roster power
The Supreme Court on Friday decided to examine plea seeking to regulate Chief Justice of India's (CJI) discretionary power to constitute benches and allocate important cases.The petition was filed by senior apex court lawyer Shanti Bhushan.Last week, Bhushan approached the top court to regulate the power of CJI Dipak Misra.In his petition, Bhushan sought a check on the powers of the CJI, who is the 'master of the roster' and allocates hearing of cases to different courts."The petition raises a very fundamental issue going to the root of the functioning of the Supreme Court of India and as such is very critical to the interpretation of the Constitution of India and the Rule of Law in India," stated Bhushan in his petition."The CJI could not have heard this case himself quite apart from exercising his power as master of roster in allocating a bench to hear this case and constituting a Constitution Bench that finally pronounced the order declaring the Chief Justice of India as master of .
Pb CM terms Kathua rape-cum-murder 'sickening perversity'
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today described the rape and killing of the 8-year-old girl in Kathua as "sickening perversity" and sought "exemplary punishment" for those involved in the crime. "Sickening perversity that deserves only exemplary punishment. Nothing can justify the horrific crime perpetrated against an 8-year-old. It's not the time to procrastinate or politicise, but to rise in one voice for #Asifa #JusticeforAsifa #IfThisWasYourChild #Kathua (sic)," he tweeted. The girl, who was from the nomadic Bakerwal Muslim community, disappeared near her house in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, on January 10. A week later, her body was found in the same area. A Special Investigation Team, formed to probe the incident, has arrested eight people, including two special police officers (SPOs) and a head constable, who was charged with destroying evidence. Jammu has been tense since the brutal rape and murder of the girl.
Kathua rape case: J-K DGP assures protection to victim's family, witnesses
Jammu and Kashmir Police chief S P Vaid today asserted that all necessary steps will be taken to provide protection to the family members of the eight-year-old girl, who was raped and killed in Kathua, and the witnesses in the case. His assurance came amid a nationwide outrage over the rape and killing of the girl. "We will do whatever is required and take care of it. Nothing to worry about," Vaid said when asked about alleged threats to the witnesses, including the family members of the victim. On the demand by some people for a CBI inquiry into the case, the Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police said, "Only they (those demanding CBI probe) can answer this. Why they don't have trust on the same J&K police which is fighting a war in Kashmir." Vaid said he was satisfied with the investigation carried out by the state Crime Branch, in spite of attempts to destroy evidence during the initial investigations. "I am satisfied with the investigations and am sure the people who ...
Plan to develop parking in green belt near Noida's Sector-72 shelved: NOIDA to NGT
NOIDA has told the National Green Tribunal that it has scrapped its plan to develop a parking area on a land in Sector-72 after a plea alleged that it was a green belt. The New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA) informed a bench headed by acting Chairperson Justice Jawad Rahim that the issue was considered by the authority and it was decided not to develop any parking area on any portion of the green belt adjoining Block A in the sector. "Responding to it (plea) on behalf of respondent no 3 (NOIDA), it is submitted that the respondent no 3 on its own is maintaining the area and therefore, there is no need for any order to this effect. Submission placed on record," the bench said while disposing of the plea. "In view of the fact that the respondent no 3 has categorically undertaken that no construction activity as alleged in the application was to be done, the applicant's grievance is dispelled," it said. The parking area was to be built constructed by Noida along with the .
Unnao rape case: Stern action to be taken against the guilty, says Irani
Union minister Smriti Irani today said stern action will be taken against those found guilty in the Unnao rape case, in which a BJP MLA is the accused, and condemned what she said were efforts to "politicise" such cases. "The law and the administration will work according to the Constitution and an appeal in this regard has been made by senior persons in the BJP. There are some people who want to politicise such incidents, but as a woman, I believe and it is my request that victim-shaming should not be done," she said, responding to reporters' questions on the Unnao case here. The Information and Broadcasting Minister also took a dig at Congress president and Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi for taking part in a candlelight march in New Delhi yesterday against the growing incidents of crime against women in the country. "Those who asked for votes for Gayatri Prajapati are protesting today. People know the reality," she said. Irani, who started her two-day Amethi visit this morning, said, "I ...
Kathua rape: SC issues notice to BCI, J-K Bar Association
The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to Bar Council of India, Jammu and Kashmir Bar Association, Jammu High Court Bar Association and Kathua Bar Association on a plea filed against the lawyers for allegedly blocking filing of charge sheet in Kathua rape case.The apex court will next hear the matter on April 19.Earlier this week, lawyers held a protest against the charge sheet filed against seven people accused of kidnapping, raping and killing an eight-year-old girl in January.The Bar Association of Jammu reportedly supported the lawyers and also organised a strike against the FIR.
Woman, daughter burnt to death by kin in UP
A woman and her daughter was allegedly burnt alive by a relative over some property dispute at a village in this district, the police said today. SHO of Fursatganj police station R K Singh said Ameen (45) and Afreen (18) were set on fire by her bother-in-law, while the accused's brother received serious burn injuries while trying to save his wife and daughter. All the three were rushed to a hospital in Raebareli, where the woman and her daughter succumbed to their injuries. Thw woman's husband is under treatment, the police officer said. A case has been register and a hunt is on to nab the accused, he said.
SC/ST verdict of Supreme Court is basically wrong, says ex-CJI Balakrishnan
Former Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan today said the controversial SC/ST verdict of the Supreme Court was "basically wrong" as the decision will enable perpetrators to get away from the clutches of law. Balakrishnan, the first Dalit to become CJI (January 14, 2007 to May 12, 2010) also said that this decision of the apex court has incited violence. "This is probably the first time a decision of the Supreme Court has incited violence among the people. Usually, when violence is there, the Supreme Court intervenes. The people used to accept the verdict. "Now people are not in a position to accept the verdict of the highest court of the land. It is something which is strange. This we should understand. The Supreme Court should produce decisions which are acceptable to greater number of people. It should not create violence among the society," he said. He was delivering the presidential address at a seminar on "Supreme Court Judgement on SC/ST Causes, Effects and Solution" ...
Rahul has supported rape accused: Smriti Irani tears into Cong candlelight march
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting (I&B), Smriti Irani, on Friday, downplayed Congress President Rahul Gandhi's candlelight vigil against the Kathua and Unnao rape cases, pointing out to his alleged support for rape accused, former Samajwadi Party MLA."Rahul Gandhi earlier stood in support of Gayatri Prasad Prajapati. It's just his compulsion to take a stand this time but Amethi knows the truth. I have faith that justice will be provided," said the Union Minister.Prajapati was accused of raping a woman from Chitrakoot, who alleged that he took obscene photos of her and continued to rape her for two years under the threat of leaking those photos. He was arrested by the UP Police after a Supreme Court directive and was recently granted bail. He has also been accused in cases of corruption while his tenure as a cabinet minister in the Akhilesh Yadav-led Uttar Pradesh Government.Earlier, Irani had urged the nation to refrain from victim shaming in the rape and murder ...
Unnao rape: HC calls for arrest of accused BJP MLA
The Allahabad High Court (HC) on Friday called for the arrest of BJP legislator Kuldeep Singh Sengar accused of gang rape in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao, and said that mere detention was not enough.
Maneka Gandhi proposes death penalty for rape of children below 12 years
Disturbed over the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua in the Jammu region, Union minister Maneka Gandhi has asked her department to work on a proposal to amend the POCSO law to bring in the provision of death penalty for the rape of a minor below the age of 12 years. In the present Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, there is no provision for capital punishment with the maximum sentence being life imprisonment for penetrative sexual assault as well aggravated penetrative sexual assault. The Women and Children Development (WCD) minister has now proposed that rape of any child below the age of 12 years could lead to the death penalty, WCD officials said. "I have been deeply, deeply disturbed by the rape case in Kathua and all the recent rape cases that have happened on children. I and the (women and child development) ministry intend to bring an amendment to the POCSO Act asking for death penalty for rape of children below 12 years," Maneka ...
Amnesty slams Pakistan military courts over death penalties
Amnesty International has slammed Pakistan's military courts for violating UN principles and international fair trial standards in imposing death sentences.