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Siddaramaiah rushes to Delhi, will apprise Sonia of crisis in Karnataka

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Siddaramaiah

New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has rushed to New Delhi to consult the Congress party High Command on Cabinet reshuffle in an effort to quell rebellion in the state unit.

Siddaramaiah is expected to meet Congress party President Sonia Gandhi on Monday evening to discuss the issue. There are three vacancies in the Council of Ministers and Siddaramaiah is expected to drop three from his Cabinet. In all, Siddaramaiah plans to induct 6 ministers and undertake a reshuffle, as his government completed two years in Karnataka.

Internal differences have come to the fore in Karnataka Congress after several legislators complained to party Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Siddaramaiah’s working style. Since then, former Union minister SM Krishna met Sonia Gandhi twice to apprise her of the situation in Karnataka. Consequently, she summoned Siddaramaiah to New Delhi for a possible reshuffle to end the rebellion.

(Agencies)

Child rapists must be castrated: Madras HC to Centre

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Madras High Court

Chennai: In an interesting order, Madras High Court has suggested castration as punishment for child rapists.

While passing the order, Justice N Kirubakaran said, “The court cannot be a silent spectator, unmoved and oblivious of the horrible blood curdling gang-rapes of children in various parts of India.”

While recommending the Central government to make castration a punishment for child sexual abuse, Justice N Kirubakaran said, the court is sure the castration of child rapists will fetch magical results.

The HC pointed out that countries like US, Poland and Russia have already enforced castration for sex offences against children.

“This court could foresee that the suggestion of ‘castration’ would be surely condemned, censured and criticised as barbaric, punitive, draconian, cruel, etc. Inspite of many penal laws and the recent POCSO Act, 2012, prescribing severe punishment for crimes against children, the number of such cases has increased from 38,172 in 2012 to 58,224 in 2013 and to 89,423 in 2014,” the HC order said.

The judge noted that between 2012 and 2014 the number of these crimes had increased from 38,172 to 89,423. “Those activists should first exhibit sympathy with, and support to, the victims of such crimes by visiting and consoling them at the hour of crisis instead of having misplaced sympathy with the perpetrators under the usual banner of ‘human rights violation’. They must remember that ‘human rights’ is not a term restricted to, and reserved only, for offenders, the order read.”

The court passed the order on October 16 while hearing a petition of a youth hailing from Tamil Nadu. The 18-year-old boy alleged that a British national sexually abused him in 2011 after promising his mother that he would take care of his education.

(Agencies)

Sushma Swaraj welcomes ‘India’s daughter’ Geeta

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Sushma Swaraj Geeta

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday welcomed Geeta, the speech and hearing impaired Indian woman, on her arrival in India.

“Geeta – Welcome home our daughter.,” tweeted Swaraj.

Escorted by five members of the Edhi Foundation, Geeta emerged from the special entrance at the IGI airport surrounded by officials.

Swaraj will brief the media at 3 p.m. today with details about Geeta’s arrival. Pakistan’s High Commissioner Abdul Basit will host Geeta and the Edhi delegation this evening.

She will be handed over to her real parents after the DNA test. The Ministry of External Affairs had earlier said if the DNA does not match then she will be accommodated at either of the two identified institutions in Delhi and Indore.

Geeta was reportedly just seven or eight years old when she was found sitting alone on the Samjhauta Express by the Pakistan Rangers 15 years ago at the Lahore railway station. The police then took her to the Edhi Foundation in Lahore and later she was shifted to Karachi.

(ANI)

Muslim woman’s body dug out from grave, raped to stoke communal violence

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grave-yard

Meerut: In an apparent attempt to stoke communal violence, a group of miscreants, said to be activists of a communal group, dug out the body of a woman from her grave and allegedly raped the corpse.

 

The incident took place at Talheta village near the border of Meerut and Ghaziabad districts in Uttar Pradesh. The woman had been buried two days before the incident took place.

The 26-year-old, who was pregnant, died of complications after she suffered a miscarriage. The village, which falls under Ghaziabad district, is less than 70 km from the national capital. While police have said that rape has not been established, they said it was an attempt to stoke “communal violence” in the region since the woman belonged to the minority community.

In the morning, the woman’s corpse was found lying 20 meters from her grave. The woman had no clothes on when she was found. Village residents immediately informed the woman’s family and then informed the police.

Station officer at Bhojpur police station said, “Locals have claimed that the miscreants sexually exploited the corpse. However, there is nothing as of now that can establish that fact. It is certain, however, that the woman was dug out of her grave. We have sent the body for postmortem and we cannot file a case of rape until it can be ascertained via the postmortem report. The CMO of Ghaziabad district has said that it is highly improbable that someone can rape a corpse after it has been in the grave for a full day.”

When asked what other possible theory the cops have, the SO said, “Since the woman who was dug out belonged to the minority community, we think it is an attempt to stoke communal violence in the village. The miscreants had even robbed the woman of her clothes. We are keeping a close eye on the situation and are investigating the case. We registered a case under sections 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings) and 297 (trespassing on burial places) of the Indian Penal Code. The investigation will move forward once the postmortem report is back.”

(Agencies)

Chhota Rajan arrested in Bali, says report; others say it’s Cyanide Mohan

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Chhota-Rajan

Jakarta: Indonesian police officials said that they have arrested a wanted criminal from India in Bali but there was little clarity on whether it was gangster Chhota Rajan, who has been on the run for decades, or serial killer Mohan Kumar better known as ‘Cyanide Mohan’.

Acting on a tip-off from Australian police, Indonesian authorities detained Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje better known as Chhota Rajan on Sunday as he arrived in the popular resort island of Bali from Sydney, Bali police spokesman Heri Wiyanto told media.

 

The 55-year-old Nikalje, an gangster from India, had been on the run for two decades, Wiyanto said, with Interpol flagging him as a wanted man back in 1995.

“We received information from police in Canberra yesterday (Sunday) about the red notice for a murderer,” he said.

“We arrested the man at the airport yesterday. What we know is that this man was suspected to have carried out 15 to 20 murders in India.”

Tribun Regional reported that the person arrested was Mohan Kumar but the photograph used to identify him bears closer resemblance to Nikalje.

However, another police official said that the arrested individual was Mohan Kumar, a former Indian primary school teacher, facing the death penalty for the murders of 20 young women.

Mohan Kumar is accused of using cyanide to kill the women from 2003 to 2009. A court in the southern Indian city of Mangalore sentenced him to death in December 2013.

Bali police were coordinating with Interpol and Indian authorities, Wiyanto said, adding it was likely Nikalje would be deported to India.

A spokesperson for Australian Federal Police said Interpol in Canberra had alerted Indonesian authorities “who apprehended Nikalje at the request of Indian authorities”.

The federal police confirmed last month that Nikalje was living in Australia under another identity and had been in discussions with Indian authorities, the spokesperson said, but would not provide further details.

Interpol’s website states that Nikalje was born in the Indian city of Mumbai, and was wanted for multiple charges including murder and possession and use of illegal firearms.

However, the official from Denpasar said that they had arrested Kumar based on a red corner notice from Interpol.

Kumar was arrested Sunday after arriving at Bali’s airport from Sydney, based on a red corner notice from Interpol and following a tip from Australian authorities, said Denpasar Police chief detective Reinhard Habonaran Nainggolan.

Media in India have portrayed Kumar, 56, known as Cyanide Mohan, as a serial killer who preyed on women looking for marriage.
Nainggolan said police were questioning Kumar and coordinating with Indian diplomats.

He said Kumar told police that he had been hiding in Australia for years to avoid arrest, and had planned a 15-day vacation in Bali.

Kumar faces possible deportation, which could happen in days, or extradition, which could take more than a month, Nainggolan said.

(Agencies)

Maharashtra CM relief fund sponsors dance troupe’s Thailand visit

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Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis approved Rs 8 lakh for a government employees dance troupe to participate in a competition in Bangkok in December.

Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai: The sanction of Rs eight lakh from Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for a dance troupe’s visit to Thailand has sparked a row with the opposition questioning the BJP-led government’s “priorities” at a time when the state is reeling under severe drought.

An RTI query filed by activist Anil Galgali found that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis approved Rs 8 lakh for a government employees dance troupe to participate in a competition in Bangkok in December. He sanctioned the sum that was transferred to Sachivalaya Gymkhana for the dance contest.

However, an official of the CMO said there is no wrongdoing in disbursing of the fund.

Registered in 1967 with the charity commissioner, the CM’s relief fund can be used for funding cultural activities, the official said, amid mounting criticism of the move.

Maharashtra Congress General Secretary Sanjay Dutt said the government’s priorities are flawed. “It attaches more importance to funds for dance than funds for drought,” he said.

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik told PTI that the state government “which does not have funds to help cancer and heart patients, was very prompt in giving money for the dance troupe’s visit to Thailand”.

The government should recover the money and if it fails to do so, Fadnavis should pay from his pocket, he said.

The Gymkhana had sought aid to send its 15-member team of government employees to enable them to participate in a dance competition in Bangkok from December 26-30.

The 5th Cultural Olympiad of Performing Arts 2015 is being held in Bangkok by Global Council of Art and Culture.

In 2008, former CIC Shailesh Gandhi had revealed through RTI that public money collected between 2003 and 2005, when Congress-NCP regime was in power, went to the organisers of a kabaddi competition, a women’s football match, a ghazal contest, a Marathi actor’s fan club and a Congress MLA’s religious congregation.

“The disbursement of the fund is made at the discretion of the Chief Minister, and in accordance with the Chief Ministers directions,” said the official.

The official from CMO said the funds were granted for government employees and were not for any commercial performance. “There is no wrongdoing while disbursing the funds,” he said.

Galgali, who had sought details about the funds, claimed it “is clear violation of rules governing the CM Relief Fund at a time when the state is facing the severe brunt of drought, which has fueled a spate of suicides amongst farmers in the state”.

“Common man from all walks of life including students are chipping in their best to the CM Relief Fund so as to enable the CM and the government to provide maximum relief to the population hit by the calamity,” he said.

The Public Information Officer (PIO) of the CM Relief Fund Desk, in response to the RTI query, informed Galgali that the Sachivalya Gymkhana had sought assistance from the CM Relief Fund through a letter on August 25 this year to send its dance troupe to Thailand in December.

On August 27, the application was put up before Fadnavis as a special case and the assistance of Rs 8 lakh was immediately sanctioned by him. The fund was transferred to the account of the Sachivalaya Gymkhana (which is headed by the CM) on September 11, 2015.

The dance troupe is slated to participate in the competition being held at Akshara theatre in Bangkok, which is organised by private bodies like Akhil Bhartiya Sanskrutik Sangh and the Global Council of Art and Culture comprising 15 artists for which Rs 50,000 each has been sanctioned totaling Rs 7,50,000.

Another Rs 50,000 has been additionally sanctioned to cover other miscellaneous expenses during the trip taking the overall total to Rs 8 lakh.

A PIL is pending before the Mumbai High Court against the adhoc functioning of the CM Relief Fund, due to which the government had taken a policy decision to keep on hold the applications of personal nature and also of Institutions seeking assistance.

The purpose of the CM Relief Fund is to provide immediate help to those effected by disaster within the Maharashtra state or anywhere in the country. The victims or survivors of disasters such as floods, drought, accidents due to fire or any other major natural calamities are provided immediate assistance from the CM Relief Fund.

Assistance is also provided to economically backward sections among the communities in cases of medical treatment for various critical ailments, Galgali said.

Meanwhile, clarifying on the fund misuse row, a CMO official said, “this money granted has nothing to do with drought donations since that money is secured in Mukhyamantri Sahaayta Nidhi-Jalyukta Shivar, CM Relief Fund-Dushkaal Nidhi, Corporate social responsibility-CM Relief Fund and CM Earthquake Relief Fund…all these other accounts are operated but called as CM Relief Fund.

“Whatever donations are received are deposited in these concerned accounts… so there can’t be misuse of drought donation. This particular cultural and medical assistance is given from the general contributions.”

“It wasn’t a commercial event but was performing cultural/art competition. CM Relief Fund has separate accounts for drought relief, Jalyukt Shivar and others. The fund used here is neither from drought relief nor Jalyukt Shivar,” he said.

He said Government employees are not entitled for any other private aid for cultural activities and “this is the only way they can get the aid. This aid is as per the GR followed since years. 25 per cent funds can be spent on cultural activities. There’s no change done in it by this government.”

(PTI)

Haryana: SIT to probe into death of Dalit boy

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death Dalit boy

Sonipat: A Special Investigation Team has been formed to probe the death of a 15-year-old Dalit youth in Gohana here, a day after two ASIs were booked on murder charges following allegations from the family that he died in police custody.

The move to form the SIT-headed by a DSP came as Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar came under attack for claiming that the boy, Govind, had committed suicide.

Police said the postmortem, which was conducted by a board of doctors, showed that the boy died due to hanging.

“The SIT has been formed in the case. The report of the postmortem, which was conducted by a board of doctors, says that the boy died due to hanging. There was also a mark on his neck,” the Rohtak Range Inspector General of Police, Shrikant Jadhav, told PTI today.

On the directions of Jadhav, a SIT had also been formed to conduct further investigations in the case.

“The SIT will be headed by Rohtak Police DSP rank officer Amit Bhatia,” Superintendent of Police, Sonipat, Abhishek Garg said today.

He said the situation in Gohana town was peaceful after protests by the boy’s family, which had alleged that he was beaten by police and died in custody after being accused of pigeon theft.

The two Assistant Sub-inspectors were booked on murder charges and also under sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act on the direction of National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Commission.

Yesterday, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had told reporters here that “the post mortem report will throw light on why the suicide took place and for what reasons.”

He had said the boy’s family was involved in a dispute with another family over some money and pigeon and that the boy was not questioned and he had himself gone to the police station.

Congress had attacked the Chief Minister for claiming that the boy had committed suicide even before the investigation was completed.

“When Chief Minister of the state like M L Khattar will pre-judge a case before investigation, may I ask who will punish the guilty in this country. It is shameful, it is condemnable and it is reprehensible,” chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala had said.

He alleged that it reflected a mindset which is anti-dalit, anti-poor and anti-backward that is “taught in the school of RSS and BJP.”

The Gohana incident had come close on the heels of two Dalit children being burnt alive at Sunped village in Faridabad district.

Meanwhile, in the post-mortem examination report of the teenager, the doctors have mentioned that “the cause of death in our opinion in this case is hanging which is ante-mortem in nature.”

Further the report says, “However, the viscera have been preserved for chemical analysis for detection of any poisonous substance/intoxicant.”

According to Sanjeet Devi, the mother of Govind, “About eight to ten policemen came to our home and put pressure on us to perform last rites then and there.”

“Their behaviour was not good and after we denied to perform the last rites they went back,” she had said.

The deceased boy’s uncle, Ram Nivas, expressed apprehension that police might harass them in future as well. Khattar has announced that one family member will be given job and they will be provided compensation.

(PTI)

BJP got ‘Modi oxygen’, will last till popularity remains: Shiv Sena

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Shiv Sena-Modi

Mumbai: Continuing to target its ruling ally BJP, the Shiv Sena today said the former has received ‘Modi oxygen’ in the form of power, which will last as long as its popularity among the masses remains intact.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party also sent a strong message to the BJP saying its successful Dussehra rally indicated that the future belonged to the Sena and that it was prepared to fight the upcoming (poll) battles alone if needed.

“The BJP has received Modi oxygen in the form of power. This oxygen will last till the subsidy of the popularity ends…Sena is standing firm on its thoughts, struggle and patriotism. The party has never changed its stand on the issues of Hindutva, patriotism, Maharashtra’s identity and issues concerning common man’s life. Our beliefs will not change at any cost,” the Sena said in its mouthpiece ‘Saamana’.

Shiv Sena has waged a war against the enemies of the country. The party does not face challenge by anybody, it said adding, peoples’ support will ensure that the Sena’s flag flutters over Maharashtra in the future.

“The future belongs only to the Sena and the Dussehra rally of the party has sent this message across to everybody. We will fight it out with whosoever is willing to join us, or else, we are fully prepared to fight it out all alone with the confidence instilled in us by the Sena chief. Nobody should dare block our path!” it said.

The saffron party also hit out at NCP supremo Sharad Pawar apparently over hosting Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his hometowm Baramati last week.

“With no work left in Delhi, Pawar has opened a new business of lodging and boarding and finding solace in hosting political leaders at Govind Baug in Baramati. With ageing, Pawar’s politics is also on the wane,” it said.

“Pawar’s politics is something that should not be taken seriously. You never know when he becomes secular and when he starts praising BJP,” the Sena said.

Taking a dig at Congress, it said the Sonia Gandhi-led party has become virtually a non-entity in Maharashtra. “There are no (Congress) leaders, workers and hence no voters.”

(PTI)

Communal clashes erupts in Madhya Pradesh during ‘vjiay juloos’

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vjiay juloos

Indore: An indefinite curfew has been clamped in Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone city after overnight clashes between two communities during a religious procession injured over two dozen people including police personnel.

 

Police lobbed tear gas shells and canned rioters after several houses and vehicles were set ablaze during the violence on Thursday night during the ‘vijay juloos’ (victory procession) which followed the Dussehra celebrations.

The Hindu festivities coincided with the Muharram procession of the Muslims this year.

Sources said differences over the same route taken by members of the two communities triggered the clashes, shattering a fragile peace in the midst of a surcharged atmosphere in many parts of the country.

The Khargone additional superintend of police (ASP) and three other security personnel were injured when rioters pelted stones during the clashes which spread to several localities of the city.

“Extra police forces have been deployed to prevent any untoward incident in the future,” said Dilip Arya, the Khargone deputy inspector general of police.

Police said that the clashes started when some people allegedly pelted stones on the ‘victory procession’ near a popular cinema hall in the heart of the city. This turned into full-fledged clashes as the other group retaliated.

The violence spread to several other localities — Sanjay Nagar, Tevedi, Goshala Marg, Talaab Chauk – where houses and vehicles were set ablaze.  Police said that several families of a community fled their homes as the arson spread.

(Agencies)

Kejriwal visits turmoil-hit Punjab, condemns sacrilege acts

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Arvind Kejriwal Golden Temple

Amritsar: Terming as painful the alleged incidents of desecration of holy books, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today said it was a “willful act” to disturb Punjab as he prayed at the Golden Temple here for “return of peace” in the state.

It “is unfortunate and painful. It seems it is a willful act by somebody who wanted to disturb peace in the state,” Kejriwal told reporters here after he arrived on his first visit to Punjab since becoming the Chief Minister in February and was set to meet families of two Sikhs killed in police firing during anti-desecration protests at Faridkot.

The AAP leader condemned the police action, saying it was wrong to use force against people who were protesting peacefully against acts of sacrilege.

Kejriwal said it was the responsibility of Punjab government to arrest the real culprits behind the incidents of desecration of holy books, saying no innocent person should be slapped with “false cases”.

He refused to answer more queries, saying he was here to pray for peace in Punjab.

“Golden Temple has great spiritual power and I prayed before the Almighty for early peace and normalcy to get rid of current turmoil in Punjab,” he said after paying obeisance at the Sikh shrine.

His visit to Punjab assumes significance as AAP is eying the 2017 Assembly polls and has re-structured its unit in the state, where it won its four seats in the last Lok Sabaha elections. The fledgling AAP recently suspended two of the MPs for “anti-party” activities.

While paying obeisance at the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Golden Temple, Kejriwal preferred to go inside along with other devotees, ignoring the VIP passage.Thereafter, he also paid obeisance in front of Akal Takht (the highest Sikh Temporal Seat).

Earlier before entering Golden Temple, he was he was honoured with Siropa (robe of honour) and presented a set of Sikh religious books at the information centre.
However, he did not register his visit in the visitors’ book of the shrine.

After paying obeisance, he went to Kotkapura by road to meet families of two persons who were killed in police firing.

Alleged incidents of sacrilege took place at seven villages in the state in the recent past plunging the state into turmoil with Sikh protesters blocking highways and other key roads.

Police have so far arrested six persons, mostly working in Sikh shrines, in connection with the sacrilege incidents.

Punjab police has alleged “foreign hand” behind the incidents of sacrilege even as the Centre has sought a report from the Punjab government on the matter.

(Agencies)

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