Nasheman

India's largest selling Urdu weekly, now also in English

You are here: Home / Archives for 2015

Archives for 2015

Newly elected Sri Lankan govt to investigate Rajapaksa's 'coup plot'

by

Photo: AP

Photo: AP

London: The newly elected government of Sri Lanka has said that it will investigate what it claims was a coup attempt by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa after he lost the presidential elections on Friday.

Top presidential aide Mangala Samaraweera remarked that people thought it was a peaceful transition of power but it was anything but “peaceful,” reported the BBC.

Rajapaksa’s spokesman said that the allegations were “baseless.”

He had endured a “shock defeat” to Maithripala Sirisena , the main opposition candidate who was a minister in his government just two months ago.

Before losing the presidential elections on Friday, Rajapaksa was South Asia’s longest-serving leader and had initially been widely praised for conceding defeat to Sirisena before the results were made public.

(ANI)

Puttur Hindu convention hoarding glorifies terror accused Sadhvi Pragya Thakur

by

Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur

Mangaluru: The organizers of Hindu Hridaya Sangama, a massive Hindutva convention scheduled to be held on January 16 at Puttur in Dakshina Kannada district, have raked up a controversy by using a terrorist’s image in their hoardings.

The photo of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, a key accused in the 2008 Malegaon terror attack, which claimed at least seven human lives and injured many, on the promotional hoardings has created tension in the region.

Umar K S, a local PFI leader has lodged a complaint in jurisdictional Puttur Town Police station demanding immediate action against the supporters of the anti-national terrorists.

Meanwhile, Puttur PFI president has submitted a memorandum to the police urging them to take necessary steps to prevent the organizers of Hindutva convention from attempting disturb the peace in the society.

“Police should not allow the speakers including VHP supremo Praveen Togadia to deliver communally provocative speech,” he urged in the memorandum.

Witness in Asaram Bapu's Surat rape case shot dead

by

asaram_bapu

Muzaffarnagar: A witness in the Asaram Bapu’s Surat rape case, 35-year-old Akhil Gupta, was shot dead by unidentified assailants on Jansath Road under New Mandi police station area here when he was returning home this evening.

Police said Gupta was shot at when he was on his way home and was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead.

Gupta was cook and personal aide of self-styled Godman Asaram Bapu, who is in jail in connection with another case of sexual assault on a minor girl.

Two sisters in Surat have accused Asaram and his son Narayan Sai of raping them. Gupta was a witness in the case of rape against Asaram and had recorded his statement before a Gandhinagar court.

(PTI)

Bajrang Dal attacks Christian Bhawan in Bihar town

by

Bajrang Dal

Patna: A group of Bajrang Dal activists Sunday attacked and vandalized the Christian Bhawan (building) at a Bihar town, police said.

The incident created panic among the small Christian community, who demanded police protection for their security in Jehanabad town of the same district, 52km from Patna.

“Some Bajrang Dal activists attacked and vandalized the Christian Bhawan at Jehanabad town,” a district police official said.

They were apparently protesting against the alleged conversion of poor Hindus by Christians.

They also blocked National Highway 83 connecting state capital Patna to Gaya district.

Later, however, the accusation of conversion was proved baseless.

According to police, the activists attacked the building at Jehanabad because the Christian priest at the bhawan had allegedly lured poor Hindus into converting. The latter told the police that some people had informed them that Christians had been practising conversion at the bhawan.

“The fact was that local Christian residents used to gather at the bhawan for weekly prayers as well as to socialise with each other. There was no evidence of conversion,” police officials said.

In the last one-and-half months, more than 200 poor Hindus, mostly Mahadalits, embraced Christianity across the state.

The right-wing Hindu organisations – RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal – have alleged that the poor Hindus were lured into conversion.

(IANS)

Bengaluru police arrest another man at Mangaluru airport for alleged terror link; family says he's innocent

by

Photo: R. Eswarraj

Photo: R. Eswarraj

Mangaluru: Bengaluru police have arrested a man from Bhatkal for alleged terror links.

The person, said to be identified as Riyaz (32), a resident of Makhdoom Colony, Bhatkal was arrested from Mangalore International Airport at around 11.30 pm on Saturday January 10.

Riyaz was about to board the Jet Airways flight to Dubai when he was apprehended by the Bengaluru police.

It is said that the Bengaluru police with the help of Mangaluru CCB police arrested Riyaz based on the alleged information provided by the three persons from Bhatkal who were arrested on January 8.

He has been taken to Bengaluru for further investigation, sources said.

‘He’s innocent’

Khaja Sayeedi, the father of Riyaz Ahmed, said that the arrest of his son has surprised him.

Riyaz was working at a hardware shop there. Sayeedi said that he had come home on December 8. Riyaz’s wife had delivered a baby girl 18 days ago. He was married 18 months ago. He had been living in Dubai for the last 10 years.

“Riyaz was supposed to return to Dubai three days ago, but as we had no money for the ticket, his journey got postponed. We came to know about his arrest only through the media,” he said.

Sayeedi claimed that his son was innocent and that he never indulged in such activities and that he had been arrested without any reason.

Muslim body wants CCB, NIA to come clean on raids 

Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem, a social organisation run by Bhatkal Muslims, has sought to know why local leaders were not taken into confidence if the raid party knew that explosives were stored in a house in the town. Why were neighbours and the local media not informed during the raids, the Tanzeem wants to know.

It has sought to know what did the bag taken inside the house, with the help of the local police, contain. What was the need for the raid party to remain inside the small house for seven to eight hours by closing the door? the Tanzeem questioned.

It now plans to submit memorandum to the chief minister.

We will accept Christianity and Islam if our demands are not met: UP Hindus

by

Conversion_Agra

Lucknow: After the Sangh Parivar’s ‘Ghar Wapsi’ flop show, a few Hindu communities in Uttar Pradesh, especially from deprived castes, are now threatening the communal forces and authorities that they would convert en masse to Christianity and Islam if their demands were not fulfilled.

At least two incidents had been reported from different places in the North Indian state, where some communities threatened “mass conversion” to try to “force” authorities to meet their various demands which, in one case, was their inclusion in the list of scheduled castes (SC) so that they could get job reservation.

It began with the demand from the “Dhangarhs” (a community of herders) in Agra to issue them certificates declaring them as members of the SC in order to enable them to avail job reservation.

The community members threatened that they would undergo “mass conversion” and become Christians if their demand was not met. The community leaders have given the government a month’s time to meet their demand.

Similarly, a few days back, a group of people from “Valmiki” community also threatened to convert “en masse” to Islam after they were allegedly not allowed to undertake a “shobhayatra” (procession) and pay obeisance at a “Valmiki temple” at Baghpat.

About 50 “Valmikis” who live near the temple at Jamalpur Goma village in Baghpat district, about 600 km from here, alleged that they had not been allowed to worship at the temple and undertake the annual procession by the priest.

The priest Mahant Lakshyadevananda, however, claimed that he never prevented the “Valmikis” from praying at the temple. “It is basically a ploy to grab the land property that belonged to the temple. They (Valmikis) are threatening to convert to pressurize the authorities,” he claimed.

Saffron groups have held meetings with the “Valmikis” in a bid to persuade them not to “convert”. The “Valmikis” have set a deadline of January 26 for the administration to meet their demand.

‘Claims of scientific proofs in Hindu scriptures amount to mockery of myths:’ Girish Karnad

by

Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy, The Hindu

Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy, The Hindu

Bengaluru: Jnanpith Award-winning writer Girish Karnad has warned against picking out details and characters from ancient Indian mythology to argue that they are proof of scientific advance in ancient times.

Participating in a discussion organised by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) here on Saturday, the writer said that those who attempt to find proof of scientific advance in scriptures are indeed insulting and mocking mythical imagination.

Making an oblique reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who linked medical science to mythology recently by stating that the creation of Ganesha is proof of the existence of plastic surgeons thousands of years ago, Mr. Karnad said such claims amounted to mocking and falsifying the “mythical imagination and symbolism” of our ancient writers. Mythologies across the world were rich in such symbolisms, he added.

he said claims on 2,000-year-old texts providing answers to all present-day problems amounted to “freezing” ourselves in a historical past. He recalled that Gandhiji, who revered the Bhagavad Gita , said that only 33 shlokas in it were relevant to him. “We should pick what is relevant to us from our past and discard the rest,” he said.

On the Hindi film PK around which the discussion was organised, Mr. Karnad said the Rajkumar Hirani production showed a remarkable “rationalist courage”.

India secure a draw, Australia take series 2-0

by

AUSTRALIA-CRICKET

Sydney: India managed to cling on to a draw in the fourth and final Test courtesy some brave batting by Ajinkya Rahane and Bhuvneshwar Kumar as Australia won the series 2-0 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) here Saturday.

India looked well poised in their 349-run chase at tea and raised prospects of an improbable win, batting at 160 for two with opener Murali Vijay (80) and skipper Virat Kohli (46) looking set at the crease.

But yet another spectacular collapse saw India surrender that initiative, slumping to 217 for seven from 178 for two, which put the visitors in a precarious position from where Rahane (38 not out) and Bhuvneshwar (20 not out) batted resolutely to save the match for India.

Australia declared at their overnight score of 251/6, setting India a target of 349 runs. Australia skipper Steven Smith, later declared man of the series, knew it would be difficult for India to chase down the target on a wearing fifth day SCG pitch.

Indian openers Vijay and Lokesh Rahul (16) looked solid at the crease at the start despite Vijay getting dropped twice. However, Australia did not have to wait long for success as off-spinner Nathan Lyon (two wickets for 110) scalped first innings century maker Rahul, who gloved a turning delivery to backward short leg.

Vijay and Rohit Sharma (39) then looked strong in the middle, striking a decent partnership until the latter was caught by Man-of-the-Match Smith, who took a blinder at wide slip, flying to his right and taking a single handed catch.

Vijay then consolidated the Indian innings with captain Kohli. Though India were quite respectful towards the pacers, they went after Lyon, who emerged as the most successful bowler of the series with 23 wickets.

The 30-year-old Vijay took time to settle down but slowly got into the attacking mode to score his fourth half-century of the series and 10th of his career. His innings was laden with seven boundaries and two magnificent sixes.

At 178 for two India looked well on course with two of their most successful batsmen of the series at the crease. This was when the fall started.

Kohli presence meant India were still in with a chance despite Vijay’s untimely dismissal. However, Kohli, Suresh Raina (0), Wriddhiman Saha (0) and Ravichandran Ashwin (1) fell within a span of 16 runs, spelling deep trouble for India.

With almost 22 overs left in the day and just three wickets more needed, Australia looked set for victory and they pulled all stops to achieve it.

However, their onslaught was negated by solid Rahane and Bhuvneshwar, who played out the remaining overs quietly and with one ball left in the day’s play, both sides decided to shake hands.

Australian pacers were right on target on the fifth day track where spinners are traditionally been more effective. Mitchell Starc (two wickets for 36 runs) and Josh Hazlewood (two for 31) choked the Indian batsmen bowling a tight length.

Their efforts helped Australia reclaim the coveted Border-Gavaskar trophy.

(IANS)

Amanath Co-operative employees beat up woman advocate, furore by supporters at bank office

by

The customers and activists led by Sardar Ahmed Qureshi, President of Amanath Bank Share Holders and Depositors Protection Committee, demanded the immidiate termination of all the four employees involved in the assualt.

The customers and activists led by Sardar Ahmed Qureshi, President of Amanath Bank Share Holders and Depositors Protection Committee, demanded the immidiate termination of all the four employees involved in the assualt.

Bengaluru: A woman advocate representing Amanath bank was assaulted allegedly by employees of the bank on the High Court of Karnataka premises on Friday.

Mubarak Begum, who represents Amanath bank in the case regarding the merger with Canara Bank was assaulted around 4.30 p.m. when she came out of court hall 8 after making submissions.

According to sources close to Nasheman, Begum was assaulted because of her stance that the bank has enough assets to operate independently, and there is no need for the merger. The soures said that the employees of the bank, want the bank to merge with Canara Bank.

A complaint has been lodged against Baba Farulla, Mohammad Akmal, Syed Mansoor and Mansoor. They allegedly pulled the advocate’s hair and assualted her. Her colleague claimed the men were employees of the bank.

A tense situation was witnessed at the bank premises today, with both bank customers and supporters of the non-merger of the co-operative reined in on employees protesting the asualt on the advocate. The customers and activists led by Sardar Ahmed Qureshi, President of Amanath Bank Share Holders and Depositors Protection Committee, demanded the immidiate termination of all the four employees involved in the assualt.

Amanath

Canara Bank refuses to take over Amanath

Canara Bank on Friday submitted in the High Court of Karnataka that it wanted to withdraw from its earlier decision to take over the loss-making Amanath Cooperative Bank.

During the hearing of petitions for and against the merger of Amanath Cooperative Bank with Canara Bank, the counsel representing the Canara Bank submitted that the bank would suffer a huge financial erosion and had therefore decided against the merger.

The latest audit of Amanath Cooperative Bank’s accounts has revealed that its customers would suffer a loss of 32 pc and not 18 pc as was estimated earlier, if the merger was to be financially viable.

Deadly end to sieges in France

by

Brothers believed behind attack on satirical magazine killed north of Paris, as four hostages and gunman die in capital.

Hostages after an hold-up in a jewelery in Southern France

by Al Jazeera

Two suspects believed to have been involved in Wednesday’s attack on a satirical magazine’s office have been killed northeast of Paris, while a gunman who took several hostages at a supermarket in the east of the capital is also dead.

At least four hostages held at the kosher grocery store in Porte De Vincennes also died on Friday as police stormed the site. Speaking to reporters on Friday, the French prosecutor, Francois Molins, said it was likely the hostages had been killed before the police assault.

Earlier on Friday, police said that a man named Amedy Coulibaly was the primary suspect in the kosher store siege. His wife Hayat Boumeddiene was also named as a wanted suspect and accomplice, but her whereabouts were unclear.

“[Taking into account] declarations made once again to a TV station by [Amedy] Coulibaly saying – and I quote ‘I have killed four of them’ – and pending the result of the autopsy, we can suppose that none of the hostages were killed during the assault launched by law enforcement officers and that the deaths occurred at the hand of the terrorist when he entered the supermarket,” Molins said.

Seven people, including three police officers, were injured in the supermarket raid.

Police said that the grocery store gunman had threatened to kill the hostages if police launched an assault on two brothers holed up in Dammartin-en-Goele after being on the run for two days following the attack on the Charlie Hebdo office in Paris.

The brothers – identified as 32-year-old Said Kouachi and 34-year-old Cherif Kouachi – died in a simultaneous operation in the French town, where they had been cornered by police inside a printing house after taking a hostage. The hostage was unharmed.

Police say the brothers came out of their hideaway with guns blazing, and were killed in a shoot-out.

“The two brothers did not answer calls of negotiators,” Molins told reporters. “[They] came out with rifle guns and started firing on police
who replied with fire and hit the two brothers, who returned their fire.

“[The police] had to neutralise them.”

Officers earlier reported the brothers as saying they wanted to “die as martyrs”.

Sources connected to aAl-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) on Friday claimed responsibility for the attack on Charlie Hebdo in a statement to the Associated Press news agency.

The attack was carried out “as revenge for the honour” of Prophet Muhammad, a member of the group told AP.

An earlier video from AQAP’s leadership had praised the attack, but did not claim responsibility.

Said Kouachi is believed to have travelled to Yemen in 2011 and either received training from or fought alongside the group, according to US and Yemeni officials, AP reported.

If confirmed, the attack would be the first time al-Qaeda’s branch in Yemen has successfully carried out an operation in the West after at least two earlier attempts.

The group also threatened to carry out further attacks, the AFP news agency reported.

“It is better for you to stop your aggression against the Muslims, so perhaps you will live safely. If you refuse but to wage war, then wait for the glad tiding,” AQAP official Harith al-Nadhari was quoted as saying in a video according to monitoring group SITE.

Kosher supermarket suspect

Police said that Coulibaly had links to one of the Kouachi brothers and it was reported that Boumeddiene had called him more than 500 times.

Al Jazeera’s Tim Friend said the calls offered “clear evidence they were coordinating this”.

Coulibaly is also suspected of being the same gunman who killed a policewoman in a shooting in Mountrouge in southern Paris on Thursday.

The dramatic events on Friday followed a nationwide manhunt after 12 people were killed when masked gunmen attacked the office of Charlie Hebdo in Paris on Wednesday.

Events leading to the Dammartin-en-Goele siege

  • After the attack on the Charlie Hebdo office on Wednesday, the two gunmen were at-large for almost 24 hours until they were first spotted outside Paris on Thursday.
  • The owner of a petrol station in Villers-Cotterets called the police, claiming to have been robbed by the two suspects at around 9:30 GMT. The men reportedly stole petrol and food.
  • Almost 24 hours later on Friday, reports came in of a gunfight with police, north of Paris, in Seine-et-Marne, near Dammartin-en-Goele.
  • Police chased the vehicle which they believe the Kouachi brothers hijacked from a woman. The chase ended in the industrial area of Dammartin-en-Goele.
  • A hostage was taken by the gunmen, starting the siege that lasted hours.
  • The suspects were then surrounded, holed up in a print shop. Later on Friday, the gunmen came out of the shop firing at police and were killed in the shoot-out.

The Kouachi brothers – who are they?

KNOW US

GET INVOLVED

PROMOTE

Archives