Page 287 - Social Issues
Two close aides of Muzaffarpur shelter home case prime accused arrested
Two close aides of Brajesh Thakur, the prime accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home sex scandal case, including his associate Shaista Parveen alias Madhu were arrested by the CBI on Tuesday, officials said. The CBI alleged that the girls at the shelter home were taken to Parveen's residence where they "were taught dance and soliciting men" but she claimed she was not an accused and no warrant had been issued against her. "I have nothing to fear as I was not even associated with the shelter home which is under scanner. I did work for Thakur but I have no knowledge of what happened there," Madhu told reporters with her face covered with a dupatta. The CBI officials took her inside their camp office located in the district court premises here. She was accompanied by her lawyers. "I am ready to extend full cooperation to the CBI, though I am privy to no secrets. I cannot say whether Thakur was involved in any illegal activities. Although I also handled the affairs of some of his ...
Eight people taken into custody from temple complex
: Eight people were taken into preventive custody from the temple complex Tuesday night based on intelligence report that they were at the hill shrine to create trouble, the police said. A senior police officer told PTI that they were taken into custody after they had offered prayers. Later they were taken to the Pamba police station, which is around four km downhill. "Two of the detainees have criminal cases registered against them at local police stations.They were taken into custody based on intelligence report," the official said. Senior BJP leaders and MPs, V Muraleedharan and Nalin Kumar Kateel, who were here to take stock of the facilities and situation at the Lord Ayyappa temple, arrived at the 'Sannidhanam' (temple complex) police station where the detainees were kept initially. Terming the detention "unlawful", Muraleedharan protested and sought explanation from the superintendent of police Pratheesh Kumar, who is in charge of security at Sannidhanam. Later, ...
Verdict in 1984 anti-sikh riots pronounced in Tihar after a petition citing security reasons: Police
The verdict in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots was pronounced on Monday in Tihar Jail after the local police moved a petition in the High Court citing security reasons and possibility of attack on the convicts on the premises of the Delhi court, said a senior police officer. The local police treaded a cautious path because they did not want to have a situation like 2016 when the then JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar was allegedly attacked in the Patiala House Court. A Delhi court Tuesday awarded death penalty to convict Yashpal Singh for killing two men in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the first capital punishment in the case. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey also awarded life term to co-convict Naresh Sherawat in the case. The officer said the local police had moved a petition on Monday requesting them to not announce the verdict in the court, since they were anticipating a law and order situation. "We had anticipated that the convicts might be attacked since an untoward incident had ...
Chronology of events in 1984 anti-Sikh riots
Following is the chronology of events that led to conviction and the awarding of capital punishment in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in which Yashpal Singh was given death penalty and co-convict Naresh Sherawat imprisoned to life Tuesday. -Nov 1, 1984: Hardev Singh and Avtar Singh were attacked and killed by a violent mob in the Mahipalpur area of South Delhi during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. -Feb 23, 1985: Charge sheet filed against one Jai Pal Singh -May 1985: Justice Ranganath Misra formed. -Sep 9, 1985: Affidavit filed by Santokh Singh, brother of Hardev Singh before Justice Rangnath Misra Commission and investigation was conducted by Anti-Riot Cell of Delhi Police. -Dec 20, 1986: Jai Pal Singh was acquitted. -1993: A case was registered at Vasant Kunj police station on the recommendation of Justice J D Jain and D K Aggarwal committee based on Singh's affidavit. -Feb 9, 1994: Delhi Police could not gather evidence to prosecute any accused and after investigation, an untraced (closure)
'Agra needs clean, safe public toilets for tourists'
Social activists and environmentalists on Monday demanded free, safe and clean public toilets every one kilometer in the Taj city.
Badal welcomes Delhi court verdict in anti-Sikh riots case
SAD patron and former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Tuesday hailed a Delhi court's verdict sentencing one person to death and another to life imprisonment in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case. In the first capital punishment in the 1984 riots cases, the Delhi court Tuesday awarded the death penalty to Yashpal Singh for killing two men in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. It also awarded life term to co-convict Naresh Sherawat in the case. Parkash Singh Badal in a statement here said he hoped that the verdict was just a stepping stone and "this will lead to the delivery justice to thousands of other innocent victims". "The judgement is proof of what a change in government at the Centre can achieve in securing justice for thousands of innocent Sikhs as these cases had been closed by the previous Congress government at the Centre and had been reopened only when the present Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered these to be reopened at the behest of the SAD,"
Implement 16% quota for Marathas without delay: Congress
The Maharashtra Congress Tuesday demanded the state government grant 16 per cent quota to the Maratha community without disturbing the existing 52 per cent reservation for various categories. Maharashtra Congress unit president Ashok Chavan also accused the state government of adopting "delaying tactics" on the issue. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said the state government had accepted the report of the State Backward Classes Commission (SBCC) on social and economic backwardness of Marathas, paving the way for quota. Fadnavis had announced creation of a special category--Socially and Economically Backward Class (SEBC)-- to clear reservation for Marathas in jobs and education. The Maratha community has been demanding 16 per cent reservation under the OBC grouping. "The previous Congress-NCP government had set up committees under Narayan Rane andMehmood-ur-Rehman for studying the demand for Maratha and Muslim quotas, respectively, and accordinglyprovided 16 ...
1984 riots: Cong welcomes verdict sentencing one man to death, another to life
The Congress Tuesday welcomed a Delhi court's verdict sentencing one person to death and another to life imprisonment in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case and said it was "proud" that the legal process was being allowed to work out its course. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the party's stand on the legal process is clear and asserted that there should be no external influences. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh also welcomed the decision, saying justice has finally been meted out to the perpetrators of the "heinous crime". In the first capital punishment in the 1984 riots cases, the Delhi court awarded death penalty to Yashpal Singh for killing two men in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the first capital punishment in the cases. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey also awarded life term to co-convict Naresh Sherawat in the case. "The Congress Party's stand is clear. This is a legal process, a legal process which must be allowed to work out its course and we are very proud, ...
227 farmers committed suicide in Odisha in last 5 years, but none due to loan burden: Minister
The Odisha government on Tuesday said a total of 227 farmer suicide cases were reported in the state in the last five years, but none of them were due to loan burden. This was informed to the assembly by Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy in reply to a question. "A total of 227 farmers had committed suicide between 2013-14 and 2017-18. However, loan burden was not the reason for them to take such an extreme step," the minister said in a written reply. One farmer in Basta block of Balasore district had committed suicide due to crop loss, the minister said, adding, the other farmers had ended their lives due to different reasons, including family problems. The minister also said that out of the 227 alleged farmer suicides in the state, the case of Brunda Sahu of Bargarh district, who committed suicide on November 1, 2017, was still under investigation. "The alleged suicide may not be due to debt burden and investigation is on," Maharathy said.
Sikh leaders welcome death penalty to 1984 riots case convict
Sikh leaders cutting across party lines have welcomed the decision of a court to award death penalty to one of the convicts in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, and vowed to continue their fight till each and every victim gets justice. A Delhi court Tuesday awarded death penalty to convict Yashpal Singh for killing two men in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, the first capital punishment in the case. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey also awarded life term to co-convict Naresh Sherawat in the case. Akali Dal leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa said they will challenge the life sentence of Sherawat and ensure that even he gets "hanged for his crimes". "We are satisfied with the judgement but we will keep on fighting and challenge the life sentence of one accused and ensure that even he gets "hanged for his crimes," he told PTI. He also said that the judgement has given witnesses a very big boost and after 34 years they finally got justice. Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief and Akali Dal ..
Rajasthan tribals want their demands to be included in election manifesto
Social activists of Rajasthan's three tribal-dominated districts Tuesday urged mainstream political parties to include their demands in their election manifestoes. Following a discussion with nearly 10,000 people of 563 villages in Banswara, Dungarpur and Pratapgarh districts, activists have urged the parties to incorporate their demands related to farming, malnutrition, education and health in their election manifesto, Parmesh Patidar, the convener of the Tribal Development Forum, said at a press conference here. For holistic development of the tribals, the inclusion of these demands in the manifesto are important, Patidar added. Among the key demands include, sustainable and inclusive development of tribal areas, improvement in the healthcare services, rights for tribal children and prioritisation of agriculture above all other occupations.
Muzaffarpur horror: Absconding Bihar ex-Minister surrenders
Former Bihar Minister Manju Verma, who had been absconding for nearly three months in an arms case related to the Muzaffarpur shelter home horror, surrendered at a court on Tuesday. She has been sent to 14 days' judicial custody.
Trump's asylum ban for migrants blocked by federal judge
A United States federal judge on Tuesday nullified the President Donald Trump-led administration's decision of refusing asylum to immigrants who enter the US mainland from Central America.The ruling was pronounced by Judge Jon S. Tigar of the US District Court for California, who was nominated to the court in 2012 by former President Barack Obama. Tigar also passed restraining orders after conducting proceedings in San Francisco, Fox News reported. The White House will likely challenge Tigar's ruling."Whatever the scope of the president's authority, he may not rewrite the immigration laws to impose a condition that Congress has expressly forbidden," The New York Times quoted Tigar's order as saying.The Trump administration had on November 9 sanctioned a proclamation, saying that none of the immigrants entering the US from the southern border will be eligible for asylum. His order came when the first waves of immigrants had started entering the US.The American Civil Liberties Union ...
227 farmers committed suicide in 5 years: Odisha Minister
Odisha Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy on Tuesday said a total of 227 farmers have committed suicide in the last five years due to various reasons but not because of loan burden.
Online video market to reach $5 billion in India by 2023: Report
The market for over-the-top (OTT) content, which is video content that is delivered over the Internet as an alternative to traditional media, will reach $5 billion in India by 2023, from $5 billion in 2018, according to a new report on Tuesday.
Trafficking survivors and activists urge govt to recognise human trafficking as national phenomenon
Trafficking survivors and activists have urged the government to recognise human trafficking as a national phenomenon and bring more women in the decision-making role to change the mindset of the people. In a workshop organised by Sankalp Foundation on 'Is Human Trafficking a People's Issue in Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Telangana?', the survivors made an appeal to the government to recognise trafficking as a people's issue or a mainstream governance issue. Naharvi, a trafficking survivor from Chattisgarh's Champa district, said she had worked as a bonded labour for 10 years in the brick-kiln industry. "We were made to work for 17 hours a day and just allowed to sleep for four hours. We were kept locked and not allowed to move at our will. That is not a kind of life I want for my children and no one recognises our problems," she said. Hemlata, an activist who worked for rehabilitation of brick-kiln workers from Rajasthan, said there was a need to look at ...
Twitter India apologises on Jack Dorsey poster row
Twitter has extended an apology after its CEO Jack Dorsey, who visited India last week, was seen holding a poster during a round-table with women journalists that read "Smash Brahminical Patriarchy".
TN Governor says he went by advice while freeing convicts
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit said on Tuesday that he went by the advice of the Advocate General while freeing three AIADMK activists convicted for burning a bus which killed three young women.
Gay dating app, Blued launches #whatsnext377 campaign
Blued, the largest Gay Dating App globally, today launched #whatsnext377 campaign in India. Aiming to strengthen and spread awareness about the LGBTQI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex) community and its rights, Blued unveiled #whatsnext377 campaign in support of renowned influencers. The company has also showcased the video on YouTube to build awareness on a larger scale.The campaign advocates for the meaningful rights which an individual from the LGBTQI community seeks from the law. According to the Section 377, the Supreme Court judgment ruled that 'consensual adult gay sex is not crime, saying sexual orientation is natural and people have no control over it'.Sushant Divgikr, Mona Varonica Campbell, Elton J Fernandez and Samarpan Maiti have voiced their opinions to help in generating awareness regarding the rights which should be same as common people avail. Every community aims to have a free right from wearing clothes to having a same gender partner or ...
Muzaffarpur horror: Woman accused surrenders
One of the accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home horror, Madhu Kumari, who has been absconding for nearly six months, appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and surrendered in a court on Tuesday.
