Nasheman

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

You are here: Home / Archives for Nasheman

Telangana must investigate alleged extrajudicial executions of five undertrials: Amnesty India

by

Vikaruddin Ahmed

New Delhi: Amnesty International India  has asked the Telangana government ‘to order an independent criminal investigation into the killing of five undertrials by Telangana police on 7 April. ‘ according to its web site amnesty.org.in.

The Telangana police say the five undertrials – Viqaruddin, Amjad Ali, Mohammed Hanif, Zakir Ali and Izhar Khan – were being taken in a van by 17 policemen from the Warangal central prison to a court in Hyderabad. The police say that the undertrials attempted to overpower the policemen and snatch their assault rifles, and claim they opened fire in self-defense.

Video footage given to Amnesty International India by a journalist appears to show the five undertrials inside the police van after they were killed. All five appear to be handcuffed.

“Impunity for extrajudicial executions is a serious issue in India,” said Abhirr V P, Senior Campaigner at Amnesty International India.“Authorities in Telangana need to urgently conduct an independent criminal investigation into the case to determine if it involved extrajudicial executions disguised as ‘encounter’ killings.”

The five undertrials had been arrested on suspicion of killing two police officials and a state paramilitary official in different incidents between 2007 and 2010, and other offences.

On 1 April, two suspected members of a banned group allegedly shot dead two policemen in Nalgonda, Telangana. The police say that the suspects were killed three days later in an armed exchange with the police, in which another policeman was also killed.

According to guidelines issued by the National Human Rights Commission in 2010, alleged ‘fake encounters’ must be investigated by an independent agency. In September 2014, the Supreme Court stated in the PUCL versus State of Maharashtra case that killings in police encounters require independent investigations.

The UN Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions require that “[t]here shall be thorough, prompt and impartial investigation of all suspected cases of extra-legal, arbitrary and summary executions, including cases where…reliable reports suggest unnatural death in the above circumstances.”

Richie Benaud: Australia cricket legend & commentator dies at 84

by

Richie Benaud

by BBC

Former Australia captain and legendary cricket commentator Richie Benaud has died at the age of 84.

A pioneering leg-spin bowler, Benaud played in 63 Tests, 28 as captain, before retiring in 1964 to pursue a career in journalism and broadcasting.

His final commentary in England came during the 2005 Ashes series, but he continued to work for Channel Nine in Australia until 2013.

In November, he revealed he was being treated for skin cancer.

Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards said Benaud was “the iconic voice of our summer”, while the Australian government has offered to hold a state funeral.

Benaud enjoyed a long association with the BBC following his first radio appearance for the corporation in 1960.

“Richie was not just a great cricket commentator, he was one of the finest sports commentators of his generation,” said Barbara Slater, Director of BBC Sport.

“He was an integral part of the BBC team for decades and will be sorely missed by everyone who had the pleasure of working with him.”

Benaud built his reputation as a commentator following an outstanding playing career in which he took 945 wickets in 259 first-class matches and made 11,719 first-class runs, scoring 23 centuries at an average of 36.50.

Tributes have been pouring in from around the world following the news of Benaud’s death.

Shane Warne, Australia’s record wicket-taker, made a particularlyheartfelt contribution.

“Dear Richie, you were a legend on all levels and rightly so too,” said Warne. “As a cricketer, commentator and as a person, you were the best there’s ever been and, to top it off, an absolute gentleman.”

The Australia government has offered to hold a state funeral for Richie Benaud

 

Australia Prime Minister Tony Abbott  said Benaud’s passing was “a sad day for Australia”, adding: “We have lost a cricketing champion and Australian icon. What an innings. RIP Richie Benaud.”

Former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott  said: “Farewell Richie Benaud. Wonderful cricketer, great captain, a master craftsman commentator and top man. Will always be remembered and admired.”

Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara  added: “So sad to hear about the passing of Richie Benaud. The great voice of cricket is no more. He defined an era with conviction and sincerity.”

England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke said cricket had “lost perhaps its greatest advocate and someone who was a true giant of the modern game”.

Benaud was the first man to achieve 2,000 runs and 200 wickets at Test level. He was also a highly regarded tactician and never lost a Test series as Australia captain, winning five and drawing two.

After such an impressive playing career, he became even better known as a prolific author, columnist and commentator on cricket.

Richie Benaud’s appearance was affectionately parodied at Australian grounds

After the 1956 Ashes tour in England, he completed a BBC training course while still a player, marking the beginning of a 40-year association with the corporation.

His first BBC radio commentary came in 1960, followed by his first television appearance three years later.

With his mellifluous, light delivery, enthusiastically imitated by comedians and cricket fans alike, Benaud also became the lead commentator on Australian television’s Channel Nine from 1977.

At the age of 83, he crushed two vertebrae when his 1963 Sunbeam vintage sports car hit a brick wall near his home in Coogee, Sydney.

Benaud often spoke of a return to commentary but, to the great sadness of his legions of admirers, it did not materialise.

Benaud, who was appointed OBE in 1961 for services to cricket, leaves a wife of 48 years, Daphne, and two children from his first marriage.

Richie Benaud took 248 Test wickets with a best of 7-72 against India in October 1956

Benaud married his wife Daphne in 1967

Richie Benaud led an acclaimed Channel Nine commentary team, which featured the late Tony Greig (left), Ian Chappell (second right) and Bill Lawry (right)

Girish Karnad turns up for Bengaluru beef fest, but cops take away food

by

Girish Karnad (sitting, second from right) expressing solidarity with Left activists protesting the beef ban in Maharashtra. (HT Photo)

Girish Karnad (sitting, second from right) expressing solidarity with activists protesting the beef ban in Maharashtra. (HT Photo)

Bengaluru: Calling ban on beef as an act that was against the diverse food culture of our society, Left wing body Democratic Youth Federation of India and Dalit outfits today held a beef eating programme here that was attended by Jnanpith awardee Girish Karnad.

The event was organised in protest against the ban on beef in different parts of the country and also supported and attended another famous Kannada writer Dr K Marulasiddappa.

Protesters criticised the beef ban as an attempt to encroach upon the choice of food and against the diverse food culture of Indian society.

Both Karnad and Marulasiddappa did not eat beef,but said they support the event and stand against such ban.

“I don’t want people to say that because I eat beef therefore I opposed the law. No, everyone has the right to practice….” Karnad said.

To a question he said “Who said large part our population doesn’t eat beef? This nonsense is created by Brahmins;this is created by Hindutva protagonists. Vokkaligas, Muslims, Christians, Dalits and many other communities eat….then how is it against the practice of large population of this
country?”

Marulasiddappa said “I have not eaten beef here because I don’t follow that food habit, I have that right, but at the same time I don’t have right to scorn at those who eat it. I have respect towards them.”

Anticipating trouble as the event had invited a lot of opposition, police intervened and took away the eatables made of beef from the organisers.

Criticising the police action as undemocratic, organisers said, “this is against the law, we criticise this act by the police, ours was a peaceful programme, we have in no way affected the law and order situation.”

(PTI)

Rajasthan Royals player was offered money for fixing IPL 2015 match

by

Rajasthan Royals

Jaipur: Match fixing and betting controversies are not new during the IPL season. Of late, reports are pouring in that a Rajasthan Royals player was offered money by a Ranji teammate for fixing a match in the ongoing IPL 8.

The match-fixing offer was made at a time when Rajasthan Royals were gearing up to play their first IPL match against Kings XI Punjab.

However, the RR player didn’t accept the offer and reported the incident to the Rajasthan Royals officials. Now, the IPL Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) are looking into the matter.

According to media reports, the BCCI officials have confirmed the news.

Rajasthan Royals will be playing their first IPL 8 match against Kings XI Punjab in Pune, today on April 10.

Cricket franchise Rajasthan Royals represent the city Jaipur in the IPL. Australian all-rounder Shane Watson is the captain of the team.

In the sixth season of IPL in 2013, RR players Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila were arrested for spot-fixing.

(Agencies)

India ends evacuation in Yemen, 5,600 pulled out

by

yemen

New Delhi: India has ended its massive evacuation efforts of its nationals in Yemen, pulling out 5,600 people, including 4,640 Indians and 960 nationals from 41 countries, the government said.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted: “The evacuation operation from Yemen is over. General V.K. Singh is returning tonight. We are closing our Embassy there.”

Earlier the external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted that India concluded its evacuation efforts in Sana’a by airlifting over 630 people by three special Air India flights from the Yemeni capital.

Akbaruddin said the security situation in Yemen has deteriorated further with a bomb blast at Aden port on Thursday. “India completes its air evacuations from Sana’a”.

“The total no. of Indians evacuated from Sana’a by air has crossed 2,900 by 18 special flights since the beginning of the air operations,” he tweeted.

“Indian naval vessels have also evacuated over 1,670 Indians from Aden, Al Hudaydah and Al Mukalla ports in Yemen since 31 March,” he wrote.

“Indian Naval Ship INS Sumitra evacuated 349 persons, including 46 Indians and 303 foreign nationals from Al Hudaydah port on April 9,” he said.

(Agencies)

Kejriwal justifies expulsion of Bhushan and Yadav

by

Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday justified AAP’s decision to expel dissident leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav from top party posts, saying limits were “crossed” and “conspiracies” hatched.

Kejriwal also expressed regret for using abusive language that surfaced in audio sting in which he purportedly hurled expletives against rebel AAP leaders Ajit Jha and Anand Kumar.

“I am a human being and I make mistakes. I was angry. The kind of language could have been avoided,” he said in comments that came amid the turmoil in the Aam Admi Party(AAP).

The Delhi Chief Minister was speaking after launching a book titled “The Crown Prince, The Gladiator and the Hope” authored by AAP leader Ashutosh.

He also sought to dispel the notion that contrarian voices don’t have a place in the party and said that there was respect for different view points in the party.

“The notion that there are no contrarian voices among us are wrong. It would be wrong to say Ashutosh, Manish Sisodia and Kumar Vishwas agree to everything. They have all left their careers, put everything at stake and joined us.

“But everything happens within decorum. There is a limit. Within the four walls, we argue and fight a lot, but outside we are a team. When limits are crossed, it is painful,” Kejriwal said.

When further prodded on Shanti Bhushan’s comments that BJP’s Kiran Bedi was a better Chief Ministerial candidate, he said, “There were a series of incidents. I felt a lot of pain. Just before the election, such statements were issued which could affect (the outcome of the polls).”

The AAP chief said that he broke down at a National Executive meeting in June last year because “conspiracies were being hatched and personal attacks were being made.”
“Probably it was difficult for me to handle it emotionally. That is the reason I got emotional,” Kejriwal said.

Bhushan and Yadav were first removed from AAP’s top decision-making body and then from its National Executive for “anti-party” activities.

Asked whether he was a “ruthless” politician in the wake of allegations that dissent within the party had been crushed, Kejriwal dodged the question, saying, “People like me the way I am.”

The AAP chief said that his personal opinion was to not concentrate on 434 seats in the Lok Sabha polls, but only focus on a few constituencies in selected states.

“But the decision to contest in Benaras (against Narendra Modi) was mine,” he said.

Lashing out at the media, the Delhi chief minister said he had won the elections despite them.

“This is a wrong notion that we won because of the media. We won despite the media. The media did not leave any stone unturned to destroy us. They made all attempts to defeat us in the polls. In the last Assembly elections, there was a sting four days prior to the polls, but the people supported us,” Kejriwal said, adding the media has written AAP’s obituaries several times.

(PTI)

IPL 2015: Chennai Super Kings beat Delhi Daredevils by one run in last-ball thriller

by

csk-team

Chennai: Hosts Chennai Super Kings defeated Delhi Daredevils by one run in a thrilling Indian Premier League (IPL) match at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here on Thursday.

Chasing a 151-run target, Delhi Daredevils, led by a valiant innings from South African Albie Morkel (73 not out), came within inches of wining the contest. Requiring a six off the last ball, the left-handed batsman just managed to score a boundary to lose agonisingly by a run.

Daredevils run chase began on a wrong note, losing three quick wickets. Veteran pacer Asish Nehra (3/25) rocked their chase, grabbing the first three wickets as his intelligent bowling forced the Delhi batsmen into playing poor strokes.

But Delhi recoverd from the blows due to some sensible batting from Morkel and Kedar Yadav (20). Together they put on a 48-run fourth wicket stand to steady the Daredevils innings and keep them in contention.

But Yadav’s dismissal in the 14th over brought this year’s IPL’s most expensive man Yuvraj singh (9) into the crease – only to perish soon after miscuing a pull shot.

From there, Daredevils’ hope rested on Morkel’s shoulders. He carried his team to the brink of a win. But in the end the burly all-rounder just couldn’t pull off a morale-boosting victory for the team that finished bottom of the heap last season.

Earlier, CSK posted 150/7 after Daredevils opted to bowl after winning the toss.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s (30) and his Indian teammate Ravichandran Ashwin (12 not out) guided the team to the modest total after the home team struggled to force the pace throughtout their innings.

CSK’s hope for a strong start got an early jolt when New Zealand’s World Cup hero Brendon McCullum (4) was dismissed in the second over.

Newly-married India batsman Suresh Raina (4) also didn’t last long.

Some tight bowling by the Daredevils kept the Chennai batsman on a tight leash. CSK’s desperation to break the shackles got the better of them and after reaching their 100 in the 13th over, they lost wickets at regular intervals.

South African Faf du Plessis’ (32) dismissal triggered the downslide. His untimely dismissal, coupled with opener Dwayne Smith’s (34) in the ninth over, meant that CSK’s batting momentum was broken.

Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings 150/7 (Dwayne Smith 34, Faf du Plessis 32; Natha Coultir Nile 3/30, J.P Duminy 1/15), Delhi Daredevils 149/9 (Albie Morkel 73 not out, K. Yadav 20; Asish Nehra 3/25, Dwayne Bravo 1/19).

(IANS)

Reign in the trigger-happy police force in Andhra and Telangana – statement by JTSA

by

fake_encounter

by Jamia Teachers’ Solidarity Association

JTSA condemns the killing of over 20 woodcutters in the Seshachalam forests and the 5 under-trials in Nalagonda (Telangana). In the first case, reports are already emerging that 7 of those killed, were taken in police custody a day before the encounter. This, along with other details such as bullet injuries on the chest, head and face, contradict the police version of the events. The scale of this violence is unprecedented and suggests how entrenched the culture of impunity is in the state police.

The photographic and video evidence emerging from the police van in which five undertrials – alleged terrorists – were killed by the police party, which was escorting them from Warangal jail to a court in Hyderabad strongly suggests this to be a case of cold-blooded execution in custody. The arms on the dead bodies of these five men – with their hands handcuffed to the seats of the police vehicle – appear to be clearly planted in order to ‘dress’ this up as an exchange of fire. Is it a mere coincidence that the judgment in the case of these five men was due to be pronounced soon?

All efforts must be made to ensure that the post mortem reports and other evidence such as ballistics and the clothes worn by the deceased in both the cases are secured and not tampered with. Time-bound high level judicial probes must be conducted into both the killings. Simultaneously, cases of unnatural death must be filed immediately and special public prosecutors appointed in consultation with the families to prosecute the policemen who participated in the massacres.

The media must follow these cases right through to their logical end in the fixing of accountability and not be satisfied with merely reporting the events as they have taken place.

However, the recent judgment on Hashimpura reveals the problems germane to doing justice to victims of encounters and custodial violence, that are near rampant. While the judgment does not deny the incident of 42 Muslim men being killed in cold blood by the PAC, there were no convictions because of the extremely weak nature of the evidence put forward by the prosecution. There is a need for a clear mechanism whereby either the prosecution or investigating agencies can themselves be held accountable. In heinous crimes such as cold-blooded massacres, how can there be no means to ensure that the investigating agencies and prosecution do their duty in fixing responsibility? Unless such a procedure or mechanism is evolved, justice will always elude the mechanical and cynical application of laws.

Iran links signing nuclear deal to lifting of sanctions

by

President Rouhani says country will not sign final agreement unless all economic sanctions are “lifted immediately”.

Iran and six world powers reached an agreement last week aimed at keeping Tehran from being able to develop a nuclear weapon [AP]

Iran and six world powers reached an agreement last week aimed at keeping Tehran from being able to develop a nuclear weapon [AP]

by Al Jazeera

Iran’s president says his country will not sign on to a final nuclear deal with world powers unless it is predicated on the lifting of economic sanctions imposed on Iran over the nuclear programme.

Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday at a ceremony in Tehran that “all economic sanctions must be lifted immediately” once the deal is implemented.

He spoke during a ceremony marking Iran’s Nuclear Technology Day, which celebrates the country’s nuclear achievements.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stopped short of condoning the deal, saying he was “neither for nor against” it, in a statement published on his personal website.

Iran and six world powers reached a framework agreement last week aimed at keeping Iran from being able to develop a nuclear weapon. The deal is to be finalised by the end of June.

It is meant to curb Iran’s bomb-capable technology while giving Iran quick access to bank accounts, oil markets and financial assets blocked by international sanctions.

Rouhani also called for an end to air strikes in Yemen by Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies, saying they could not succeed, and said countries in the region should work towards a political solution.

“A great nation like Yemen will not submit to bombing. Come, let us all think about ending war. Let us think about a ceasefire,” Rouhani said.

Saudi Arabia and a coalition that includes four other Gulf Arab states have carried out air strikes against the Iran-allied Houthi group for the past two weeks to try to drive them back from the southern city of Aden.

“Let us prepare to bring Yemenis to the negotiating table to make decisions about their future. … Let us accept that the future of Yemen will be in the hands of the people of Yemen, not anyone else,” Rouhani said.

Coalition countries say they are supporting Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi against an attempted coup by the Houthis and accuse Iran of arming the group, a charge Iran denies.

John Kerry, US secretary of state, and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE’s foreign minister, both accused Iran of meddling in Yemen on Wednesday.

BJP appeals to governor not to clear proposed ordinance to trifurcate Bengaluru

by

vidhana soudha

Bengaluru: Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today petitioned Governor Vajubhai Vala requesting him not to approve the proposed ordinance by the government to trifurcate the city and to advise it to hold Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections as directed by the High Court.

BJP leaders led by Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Assembly and Former Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka, former Ministers Suresh Kumar, Somanna and Arvind Limbavali among others, marched to the Raj Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to the Governor.

The JDS, led by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, also staged a protest in the city opposing the state government’s move to trifurcate Bengaluru City.

“We understand that the state government is contemplating trifurcation of Bangalore City by issuing an ordinance before the BBMP elections that are due after its dissolution on April 21. The Bangalore city BJP unit strongly condemns the state government’s cavalier approach and its unilateral decision to impose their writ against the wishes of people of Bangalore,” BJP in its memorandum said.

Flaying the ‘haste’ at which the state government was going about on the issue, BJP informed the Governor that the three member committee formed under the Chairmanship of B S Patil (former Chief Secretary) is yet to submit its final report but the state cabinet has approved the trifurcation after hurriedly obtaining an interim report from the panel.

Questioning the state cabinet’s decision to split BBMP into three corporations citing efficient administration and governance, the BJP said it was being done with an ulterior motive to postpone the BBMP elections scheduled for May.

The Karnataka High Court has passed orders to ensure that the BBMP polls are conducted before May 30, 2015, BJP in its memorandum said, adding, that the ordinance route was only aimed at creating legal hurdles for the elections.

(PTI)

KNOW US

GET INVOLVED

PROMOTE

Archives