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Suicide bomb attack in heart of Kabul kills five

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ISIL claims responsibility for deadly suicide bomb blast near government offices in the centre of the Afghan capital.

ISIL claimed responsibility for the suicide bomb attack [Mohammad Ismail/Reuters]

ISIL claimed responsibility for the suicide bomb attack [Mohammad Ismail/Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

At least five people have been killed and 10 wounded in a suicide bomb blast near government offices in the heart of Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, according to police.

The incident on Wednesday happened when a suicide bomber on foot detonated his explosives about 100m from the gate of the presidential palace and close to where the Afghan finance ministry is located.

Al Jazeera’s Qais Azimy, reporting from Kabul, said both the location and the timing of the attack were very important.

“It happened in District N.2 – almost at the heart of Kabul and one of its safest parts,” Azimy said.

“It also happened at the end of the working day, when most of the government employees working in the presidential palace and the finance ministry were rushing to go to their homes.”

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) armed group claimed responsibility for the attack in an online post.

Azimy said ISIL’s emergence in Afghanistan and its ability to launch such attacks raised further concerns in a country already struggling to deal with an offensive by the Taliban armed group.

“The people of Kabul and Afghanistan are now more worried because the Afghan security forces are really having a hard time to fight the Taliban, and no one is looking forward for a new group to emerge in this country,” Azimy said.

ISIL’s offshoot in Afghanistan in Pakistan, known as the so-called Khorasan Province, was created in 2015.

The Afghan Taliban, who are trying to overthrow the US-backed government in Kabul, is opposed to it and the two have clashed as they seek to expand territory and influence.

US officials say intelligence suggests ISIL is based overwhelmingly in Nangarhar and neighbouring Kunar province.

Estimates of its strength in Afghanistan vary. US officials have said they believe its has only 700 fighters but Afghan officials estimate it has about 1,500.

PMLA court issues non-bailable warrant against Zakir Naik

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zakir naik

Mumbai, Apr 13 (PTI): A special court to hear cases under the PMLA here issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik today in connection with a money laundering case.

The Enforcement Directorate sought the NBW against Naik, saying that the preacher has not joined the investigation so far.

The central probe agency, which moved the court earlier this week, had said that although Naik was served summons repeatedly, he had failed to appear before it.

It said Naik needed to be questioned in connection with the money laundering.

The ED registered a criminal case against Naik and others last December after taking cognisance of an NIA complaint under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The ED is looking into the charges of alleged illegal funds laundered by the accused in the case and the subsequent proceeds of crime thus generated.

Naik, 51, who is said to be staying in Saudi Arabia to evade arrest after some perpetrators of the Dhaka terror strike last year claimed they were inspired by him, has been booked along with unnamed Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) officials under section 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and doing acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony) of the IPC, besides various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

2002 Gujarat riots probe: SC relieves SIT chief R K Raghavan

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R K Raghavan in Gandhinagar. *** Local Caption *** Javed Raja

New Delhi, Apr 13 (PTI): The Supreme Court today allowed R K Raghavan, who was heading the apex-court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe 2002 Gujarat riots cases, to be relieved as the head of the team.

A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justices D Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul considered the submission of senior advocate Harish Salve, who is assisting the court as an amicus curiae, that Raghavan be relieved from the duty of heading the SIT.

The bench hailed the work done so far by the SIT and allowed the request of Salve, while asking A K Malhotra, another member of the SIT, to oversee the functioning of the probe team.

It also relieved another member K Venkatesam from the SIT and asked Malhotra to continue filing quarterly status report about the progress in the riots cases in the apex court.

The top court-appointed SIT has been probing nine major post-Godhra riots cases including the Naroda Gam riots case pertaining to the killing of eleven members of a community.

The apex court had on September 19 last year granted six months to a lower court in Gujarat to conclude trial in the 2002 Naroda Gam riots case, one of the nine post-Godhra riots matters probed by the SIT, after Salve and Raghavan sought the same saying the trial court has to examine nearly 300 witnesses.

The apex court was earlier informed that in other eight cases, investigation has been completed, the trial courts have pronounced the judgements and the cases are at the stage of appeal in the High Court.

Eleven persons belonging to the minority community were killed at Naroda Gam in 2002 riots during a bandh called to protest the Godhra train burning incident. A total of 82 persons are facing trial in the case.

In June last year, a special court had convicted 24 persons in the Gulberg society riots case in which 68 people, including former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri, were killed.

The apex court had on February 22, 2016 paved the way for pronouncement of judgement by Ahmedabad trial court in various cases including the Gulberg Society massacre case.

It had said there was no restraint on the trial judge to pronounce the verdict and granted him three months for it.

The apex court had on August 5, 2015 granted an extension of another three months to wind up proceedings in the case.

The apex court has been monitoring nine sensitive cases after the National Human Rights Commission and various NGOs termed the investigation into these as shoddy and unreliable.

The cases were about the riots in different parts of Gujarat, including the Gulberg Society, Ode, Sardarpura, Narodao Gaon, Naroda Patya, Machipith, Tarsali, Pandarwada and Raghavapura.

An estimated 2,000 people were killed in post-Godhra riots in 2002.

UN says not in position to comment on Jadhav’s death sentence

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Kulbhushan Jadhav

United Nations, Apr 13 (PTI): The UN has asked India and Pakistan to engage in a dialogue to find a peaceful solution to their problems, but refrained from commenting on the death sentence given by a Pakistani military court to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav.

“We’re not in a position to judge the process or to have a position on this, on this particular case,” UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at the daily briefing here yesterday in response to a question by PTI on the death sentence awarded to Jadhav by military Field General Court Martial under the army act for his alleged involvement in terrorism and espionage.

Dujarric was asked that India is strongly disputing the sentence, saying that the due process of law and justice was not observed in this case and that it will consider the sentence as “a premeditated murder”.

Amid tensions between India and Pakistan over the death sentence, Dujarric reiterated the need for the two nations to engage in dialogue.

“Overall, in terms of relations between India and Pakistan, I think we continue to underline the need for the parties to find a peaceful solution…through engagement and dialogue,” he said.

BJP wins bypolls in Delhi, HP, MP, Assam, Rajasthan; Cong in Karnataka

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bjp-bihar

New Delhi: The BJP today won the assembly bypolls in Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Assam while it was leading in Rajasthan as results poured in for the nine seats where elections were held on Sunday.

 

There was some solace for the Congress in Karnataka where it won both the seats.

By-elections were held in nine Assembly constituencies in seven states on Sunday, besides the Srinagar parliamentary seat. Two seats each are in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh and one each in West Bengal, Assam, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi.

The thumping victory in the national capital was sweet music for the BJP ahead of the municipal polls. The BJP registered a victory in the Rajouri Garden Assembly bypoll, handing a humiliating defeat to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, which finished a distant third and even lost its deposit.

BJP-SAD joint candidate Manjinder Singh Sirsa bagged 40,602 seats, over 50 per cent of the total votes polled, in a boost for the saffron party. Congress’ Meenakshi Chandela finished second with 25,950 votes while AAP’s Harjeet Singh managed to get only 10,243 votes, less than one-sixth of the total votes polled.

In Madhya Pradesh, BJP retained the Bandhavgarh Assembly seat after defeating rival Congress by margin of over 25,000 votes while it was a close fight between Congress and BJP in Ater seat.

BJP nominee Shivnarayan Singh defeated Congress’ candidate Savitri Singh from the seat in Umaria district by 25,476 votes, an election official said. The bypoll was necessitated as BJP MLA Gyan Singh got elected to the Lok Sabha in November last year from Shahdol in a bye election.

In Himachal Pradesh, BJP candidate Dr Anil Dhiman won the Bhoranj (SC) Assembly seat in Himachal Pradesh by 8,290 votes. The BJP candidate defeated his nearest Congress rival, Promila Devi by 8,290 votes. Dhiman polled 24,453 votes against 16,144 votes polled by Devi while Pawan Chandel, a BJP rebel who contested as an Independent, polled 4,630 votes.

The seat fell vacant following the death of BJP stalwart and former minister Ishwar Dass Dhiman, who won the seat six times in a row since 1990 and now his son Dr Anil Dhiman has retained the seat.

With this, the strength of the BJP has increased to 28 in the 68-member House. The showing was good for the party in Assam also where its candidate Ranoj Pegu won the Dhemaji Assembly by-election defeating his nearest Congress rival Babul Sonowal by 9,285 votes.

While the BJP candidate polled 75,217 votes, his Congress rival garnered 65,932 votes, the election office here said. The bypoll was necessitated following the election of BJP MLA Pradan Baruah as MP from Lakhimpur Lok Sabha seat. The BJP had won 60 of 126 Assembly seats and formed the government in partnership with its pre-poll alliance partners last year.

In Rajasthan, BJP candidate Shobha Rani was leading by 22,602 votes after ten rounds of counting in the Dholpur Assembly bypoll.

(Agencies)

DIET’s Umar Shariff responds to New Indian Express’s Article “Caliphate Radicalisation Rising In India”

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caliphate-india

by Umar Shariff

An article was published on the 9th April 2017 by the New Indian Express Newspaper, written by one Rakesh K Singh on the topic “Caliphate Radicalisation Rising In India”.The article talked about the issue of radicalisation of the Muslim youths to join the

The article talked about the issue of radicalisation of the Muslim youths to join the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. It also said that the youths were getting indoctrinated by the materials available on the internet to do jihad or join the so-called caliphate of Iraq and Syria. In the course of listing the names of the organisations influencing the Muslim youths, the writer has indiscriminately taken the names of well-reputed institutions and organisations along with some unknown ones of the Muslim community in India. Baseless allegations were laid against those organisations that have on the contrary always been vocal against ISIS and the extremism promoted by the terror outfits.

The list of the reputed organisations that are accused by the writer are:
Niche of Truth (Kerala),
Peace Educational Foundation (Kerala),
Jamiat ul Muflihaat (Hyderabad),
Discover Islam Education Trust (Bengaluru),
Tauheed Educational Trust (Bihar),
Islamic Research and Dawah Centre (Mumbai),
Islamic information Centre (Mumbai)
Popular Front of India,
Jamat-e-Islami Hind,
Tamil Nadu Tauheed Jamat
Kerala Nadwathul Mujahideen

The article didn’t make any reference to any content, or any statements made by any government official or the government department. The article didn’t have any proof to substantiate the claim.

Most of the organisations listed by the writer have had a history of working in the field of da’wah and education. Da’wah would mean “propagation of the religion Islam”. And some organisations have been in the forefront to work in uplifting the social and political status of the Muslim community. It is so unfortunate that a well-known newspaper could allow such hate-mongering polarising articles in its reputed newspaper.

The article also has a mentioning of the growth of the followers of Dr. Zakir Naik, by raising concerns over it. Why must Dr. Zakir Naik be feared when the charges against him were all proven wrong, while no connections to any sort of terror activities were proven. And nowhere can anyone find any statement of Dr. Zakir Naik prove him to be a promoter of terror. His past contributions to the Indian Muslims, through his talks and conferences, speak volumes of his mission to spread peace and harmony amongst the people of India. The whole world knows that the media trials were the cause for blemishing the image of Dr. Zakir Naik, that has happened only during the current BJP rule, while most of the TV channels are being purchased by the Ambanis, who serve the interest of the ruling BJP, that is faithful to the RSS ideologies that talks of anti-Islamic policies. Hence one need not be a rocket scientist to connect the dots together to understand the unfolding events that are politically motivated.

Many baseless charges made by the paid and biased media has been clearly exposed by the intellectuals of this country India.

Rakesh K Singh further goes to say that the “Growth of Wahabism-Salafism undermines Indian Islam which is based on Sufi-Barelvi practices that so far have been the most effective counter to radicalization.” He says that the ideology of Wahhabism-Salafism undermines Indian Islam. Can he give any reference to any author or book that can define the newly coined term “Indian Islam”? There’s nothing called the Indian Islam or the African Islam. Islam is one. And the Muslims are one community when they address the political issues, irrespective of their theological and methodological differences within them. The writer is trying hard to divide the Muslims between Salafis and Sufis to weaken the political strength of the Muslims of India. I can recall the statements made by the infamous economist and politician Subramanian Swami who once made a statement that he and his people will divide the Muslims into various factions, and divide the votes to form the government at the central. And it is now evident that all these articles are the manifestation of the vision of the ones like Subramanian Swami who are desirous to become the ruling statesmen of this country, after dividing the Muslims into bits and pieces.

Their purpose of publishing such articles is to demoralise the Muslim organisations, and to frighten the common Muslims from associating with these organisations so that the common Muslims will be disconnected from those who are equipped and trained to guide them to progress and prosperity. The people like Rakesh K Singh are those sold out comic characters who have no self-esteem to carry in their lives to live a dignified life through lawful earnings. They don’t care of spewing venomous ideas into the masses, as long as their coffers get filled by some dirty kickbacks. They are the perfect examples of ‘yellow journalism’ in our times.

Yellow journalism, or the yellow press, is a type of journalism that presents little or no legitimate well-researched news and instead uses eye-catching headlines to sell more newspapers. Techniques may include exaggerations of news events, scandal-mongering or sensationalism. And Rakesh K Singh seems to be a club member of Yellow Journalism.

Meanwhile, we from all the organisations that are working to help the Indian Muslims strengthen their brotherhood and solidarity are taking legal actions and peaceful protests against such articles that aim at defaming the leaders of the Muslim community. We will not be bogged down by any infamous human being, while we know that the Greatest One Who controls all affairs is by our side. We rely on Allah, and Allah is sufficient for His slaves.

By the way, we acknowledge that there are various factions and sects among the Muslims. We have been holding dialogues and debates within the purview of the constitutional guidelines that is conducive to achieve peace and harmony by enabling each other to understand the perspectives. We have our differences since ages, but those differences must not let us resort to any violence in the name of religion. Religions must help people to have a strong relationship with the Creator of the Universe. And religions must help people to be well wishers to one another, to help other prosper in this world and the hereafter. If religions don’t work towards justice to all people, irrespective of their religions and nationalities, then they are only carrying the names with hollow philosophies.

Such articles must be condemned by the masses from our community to ensure that these things don’t repeat in the coming days, God Willing. All those readers of this article, who are members of the listed organisations can do your bit by writing to the Editor of New Indian Express and by sharing your thoughts about the discreditable and disgraceful article written by Rakesh K Singh.

Umar Shariff is the President of the Bengaluru-based Islamic organisation Discover Islam Education Trust (DIET).

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Nasheman.in

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad registers to run for president

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Former leader insists he will not run in the May 19 poll, saying his registration aims to support a political ally.

Ahmadinejad left office in August 2013 after two turbulent four-year terms [Kham/Reuters]

Ahmadinejad left office in August 2013 after two turbulent four-year terms [Kham/Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

In a surprise move, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran’s former president, has registered as a candidate for next month’s presidential election.

Ahmadinejad had previously said he would not stand after being advised not to by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying he would instead support his former deputy, Hamid Baghaei, who also registered on Wednesday.

He said he remained committed to his “moral promise” to Khamenei of not running for the May 19 election.

Khamenei’s “advice was not a ban”, he said at the interior ministry where registration was taking place.

“I repeat that I am committed to my moral promise [of not running] and my presence and registration is only to support Mr Baghaei.”

Two turbulent terms

Ahmadinejad left office in August 2013 after two turbulent four-year terms, leaving the country divided domestically, isolated internationally and struggling economically.

In 2009, Ahmadinejad’s re-election was followed by one the largest protests to hit the country since the Islamic Revolution three decades before.

Two candidates backed by reformists Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi – who have been under house arrest since February 2011 – contested the results.

Both of Ahmadinejad’s terms were also marked by anti-Western and anti-Israeli rhetoric, including questioning the Holocaust.

Ahmadinejad’s populist approach and humble roots mean that he remains a popular figure among poorer sections of society.

Heart attacks, suicides kill more CRPF jawans than Naxal ops

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indian-army

New Delhi: Heart attacks, depression and suicides have killed more CRPF troops, over 24 times higher, than operations and ambushes in Naxal violence-hit areas in the last two years.

Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj G Ahir today provided a data in this regard in Rajya Sabha, stating 5 CRPF men were killed in 2015, 31 in 2016 and thirteen till April 4 this year in the three Left Wing Extremism affected states of Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Jharkhand.

As compared to these operational or on-duty deaths, 476 personnel of the country’s largest paramilitary died last year while 407 died in 2015 owing to non-operational reasons.

The data for last year shows 92 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel died due to heart attacks, five due to malaria and dengue, 26 owing to depression and suicide and 353 due to other non-operational reasons.

Similarly, the data for 2015 reveals that 82 troops of the force died due to heart attacks, 13 due to dengue or malaria, 35 owing to depression and suicides while 277 lost their lives due to other reasons.

The about three-lakh personnel strong CRPF is country’s largest Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and is also the lead force to conduct anti-Naxal operations and render a variety of duties in the internal security domain of the country.

The combined data shows that heart attacks, depression, suicides, malaria, dengue and other such reasons constitute 24 times more, over operational duties, as the major reasons for the death of CRPF jawans and officers in the last two years time.

The minister added that in order to boost the morale of the troops deployed in anti-Maoist operations measures like grant of risk allowance, house rent allownace and extension of facility for retention of government accommodation at the last place of posting is “already in place.”

“In addition, insurance and various advances and loans are given to ensure financial well being. Basic amenities like proper accommodation, medical facilities, timely evacuation of injured, better promotional avenues, gallantry awards, rewards/appreciations, grievance redress among others are being addressed,” Ahir said.

(Agencies)

Petrol, diesel prices to change every day from May 1

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petrol-price

New Delhi: Come May 1, petrol and diesel prices will change every day in sync with international rates, much like what happens in most advanced markets.

State-owned fuel retailers Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL), which own over 95 per cent of nearly 58,000 petrol pumps in the country, will launch a pilot for daily price revision in five select cities from May 1 and gradually extend it to all over the country.

“Ultimately, we will be driving towards market linked rates on a daily basis at all pumps across the country,” IOC Chairman B Ashok told PTI.

A pilot for daily revision of petrol and diesel price will be first implemented in Puducherry, Vizag in Andhra Pradesh, Udaipur in Rajasthan, Jamshedpur in Jharkhand and Chandigarh, he said.

State fuel retailers currently revise rates on 1st and 16th of every month based on average international price of the fuel in the preceding fortnight and currency exchange rate.

Instead of using fortnightly average, pump rates will reflect daily movement in international oil prices and rupee- US dollar fluctuations.

“It is technically possible to change rates daily, but we have to first do a pilot. Once pilot is done and its implications are studied, we will extend it to other parts of the country,” he said.

While Ashok said the pilot is to be “launched within one month” and did not give a specific date, industry sources said the pilot is planned to be launched on May 1.

Daily price change will remove the big leaps in rates that need to be effected at the end of the fortnight and consumer will be more aligned to market dynamics.

While petrol price was freed from government control in June 2010, diesel rates were deregulated in October 2014.

Technically, oil companies have freedom to revise rates but often they have been guided by political considerations.

Rates differ by only a few paise between pumps of the three state fuel retailers. Unbranded petrol at IOC pumps in Delhi costs Rs 66.29 per litre, while the same at BPCL pumps in the city is priced at Rs 66.37 a litre. HPCL pumps sell for Rs 66.48 per litre.

Unbranded diesel at IOC pumps in Delhi costs Rs 55.61, Rs 55.66 at BPCL outlets and Rs 55.69 a litre at HPCL pumps.

With daily changes, which are unlikely to more than few paise per litre, the political pressures for not revising rates particularly when they are to be hiked will go, sources said.

Petrol price was last revised downward by Rs 3.77 a litre on April 1, and diesel rates were cut by Rs 2.91. This was the first revision in two-and-half-months as oil firms did not change prices during assembly elections in five states, including Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

Ashok said prices of petrol and diesel in a particular market (city or town) will be the same.

“By and large, in a particular market it should be same.

Though, there might be marginal difference from pump to pump,” he said.

(Agencies)

Caught on camera: Senior TN cop slaps woman during anti-liquor protest

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TN cop slaps woman

Coimbatore: A senior police official slapped a woman protester during a crackdown on an anti-liquor agitation in neighbouring Tirupur district with the act, caught on camera, coming in for strong condemnation.

The incident occurred last evening in Shamalpuram when a group of people, including women, blocked a road demanding closure of state-owned TASMAC liquor outlet in the locality.

As the protesters refused to disperse, Additional Deputy Superintendent of Police Pandiarajan slapped one of the women and pushed two others, asking them to move away from the road. Protesting this, a section of the agitators allegedly pelted stones at the police, who resorted to lathicharge to disperse them.

Police said three persons were injured in the melee with one of them being hospitalised.

As the video showing the act went viral, various political parties, including DMK, condemned the ‘police brutality’. Shops in the locality remained shut today in protest against the police action.

The assault of the woman was raised in the Madras High Court this morning by social activist Traffic Ramaswamy and PMK’s legal wing member K Balu, who sought action against the police official.

Following a special mention on the matter, a bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar agreed to hear their petitions later in the day.

(PTI)

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