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Alleged Indian woman ‘recruiter’ for ISIS extradited from Dubai

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Afshan Jabeen

Hyderabad: A Dubai-based Indian woman allegedly recruiting youth for terror outfit ISIS in Syria and Iraq has been extradited, police said.

Afshan Jabeen alias Nicky Joseph was brought to Hyderabad on Friday. There are allegations that the woman, a resident of this city, was recruiting youth online for Islamic State and propagating jihadi literature.

A police officer said she would be examined and arrested.
The woman was extradited as part of the investigations taken up by police following the arrest of a US-returned engineer in January this year at Hyderabad airport when he was allegedly leaving for Syria via Dubai to join ISIS.

Salman Moinuddin had told police that he was in touch with Joseph and they were planning to leave for Syria to join Islamic State.

The 32-year-old techie, who has a master’s degree in electronics from Houston, that he came in touch with her over social media when he was in the US.

Initially it was believed that Joseph is a British national who converted to Islam and known by her Islamic name Ayesha.

According to police, Moinuddin admitted that he was trying to attract youth across India with an intention to take them to Syria and Iraq.

Police claimed that he intended to undergo training in Syria, and after returning wanted to indulge in anti-national activities in the country.

(IANS)

Protest against KSAPS – Irregular funding for HIV prevention programmesa

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ksaps_protest

Bengaluru: Karnataka HIV Sonkithara Sanghatane, Karnataka Sexual Minorities Forum, Karnataka Sex Workers Union along with many representatives of over 22 districts held a huge silent protest with Placards opposite the office of the Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS) on Crescent Road here on Friday.

Over 200 members of sex workers and sexual minorities participated in the protest for over two hours. Project Director of KSAPS Raveendra assured them that action will be taken against erring Programme Officers who were harassing the HIV workers but gave copies of emails written to NACO requesting early release of funds.

“When approached to present a memorandum, Health Minister UT Khader has asked the leaders of the community members to have a meeting with him and has given an appointment,” said Mallappa Kumbar, State Coordinator, Karnataka Sexual Minorities Forum.

“The protest marked the beginning of a statewide AIDS Campaign, to bring to the notice of the State Government and KSAPS, the grave concerns of our community-based organizations (CBOs) of sex workers, sexual minorities (including MSM, transgender and Hijras), People who inject drugs (IDUs), people living with HIV (PLHA) and civil society members about the dwindling funds and irregular release of money for HIV prevention programme in Karnataka,” said Parveen, State Coordinator, Karnataka HIV Sonkithara Sanghatane.

“Thousands of sex workers, MSMs, Transgenders, hijras who are working as peer educators and out reach workers (ORW) in the Targeted Interventions (TIs), the HIV prevention programme run by KSAPS in all the districts are suffering for irregular funding and lack of salaries. The cut in HIV funding and irregular release of funds has badly affected the HIV prevention programme jeopardising the lives of many people. HIV prevalence is increasing and the number of HIV deaths in Karnataka is increasing because of these problems,” she added.

Lack of drug stocks, closure of Care Centres, frequent change of ART combinations and vacancies of doctors and para medical staff in ART centres, including at the Centre of Excellence at Bowring hospital has been killing people living with HIV and affected the prevention programme. On the other had HIV workers including sex workers, transgender and MSMs who are working as peer educators and outreach workers (ORW) in the HIV prevention programme called Targetted Interventions are facing severe harassment and hardships from the Programme Officers.

“All the prevention work is done by communities themselves as the frontline prevention workers are sex workers, sexual minorities and drug users, but irregular release of funds is badly affecting the HIV programme. More than 80 per cent of the workers in a TI are community workers like sex workers and sexual minorities. These community members are harassed by programme officers of TSU (consultants who support KSAPS) and forced HIV testing to meet the targets are a common practice,” said Bharathi, Secretary of Karnataka Sex Workers Union.

“The Government has closed all the Community Care Centres and HIV positive patients are suffering because of lack of in-patient services. They are undergoing serious side effects due to frequent change of

combination of ART (HIV medicines) and have nowhere to go as CCCs are closed from 2012. The present Care and Support Centre’s are poor cousins of CCCs with absolutely no facilities for people living with HIV. They are an eye-wash,’’ said Parveen Ahmed, from Davangere, who is waging a relentless fight for the rights of PLHA in Karnataka from 2010. She is living with HIV for over a decade.

“Government’s decision to shrink organisational and budgetary support to the AIDS response and irregular flow of funds has badly affected the HIV programme in the State. This will lead to a reversal of the good work done in the last 10 years and will result in an upsurge of the epidemic among the most vulnerable groups,” said Mallappa, State Coordinator, Karnataka Sexual Minorities Forum, which works with all identities of gender minorities in 28 districts of Karnataka.

CID questions Swami Pranavananda in Kalburgi murder probe

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Swami Pranavananda

Bengaluru: With the ongoing probe of professor Kalburgi’s murder, the CID on Thursday September 10 questioned Hindu Mahasabha chief Swami Pranavananda and his driver.

Sources say that Swami Pranavananda and his driver were questioned at Ranebennur in Haveri. The swami had in the past issued a threat to Kalburgi and others who had insulted the Hindu religion.

This questioning however did not give any headway into the probe. The officials have informed their higher-ups that the angles probed so far including property disputes within the family, professional jealousy and possible action by violent pro-Kannada and pro-Hindutva groups had not brought out any results.

(Agencies)

Congress-JDS coalition capture BBMP, Manjunath Reddy new Bengaluru Mayor

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Manjunath Reddy Mayor

Bengaluru: B.N. Manjunath Reddy (Congress) has been elected BBMP Mayor and Hemalatha Gopalaiah the Deputy Mayor. Mr. Reddy secured 131 votes against 128 votes to the losing candidate.

Ms. Gopalaiah, a first-time councillor from Crushabhavathi Nagar (JDS), too secured 131 votes against 128. The members to 12 standing committees were elected unopposed. The members of these committees will in turn elect their presidents.

B.N. Manjunath Reddy, third-time councillor from Madiwala (Congress) and Hemalatha Gopalaiah, first-time councillor from Crushabhavathi Nagar (JDS) have filed nominations for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively.

Manjunath Raju, second-time councillor from Kadu Malleshwara Ward and H.C. Nagarathna from BJP jave also filed their nominations for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

BJP councillors arrived in two buses to the BBMP office led by R. Ashoka, former Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka. JDS councillors also arrived at the BBMP head office.

Chetan, a Congress councillor from Kodigehalli was earlier hospitalised after being diagnosed from dengue. Minister of Agriculture for State Krishna Byre Gowda is said to be bringing him to BBMP HQ straight from the hospital.

(Agencies)

2008 Malegaon blasts case: SC seeks Centre, NIA reply on PIL

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Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today sought response from Centre and National Investigating Agency (NIA) on a plea challenging removal of Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case and alleging that Government was exerting pressure on her to “go soft” on the accused.

A bench comprising Justices J Chelameswar and A M Sapre asked Centre and NIA to file their responses within one week.

The bench, however, did not allow the submission of senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Indira Jaising that hearing on the bail applications of the accused persons be stayed for the time being.

The bench has also issued notice to Maharashtra government in the case. Earlier, a Supreme Court Judge had recused from hearing the plea, saying that he had represented certain accused in the matter.

The PIL, filed by social activist Harsh Mander, has accused NDA government of trying to interfere with the functioning of the prosecutor in the case by exerting “pressure” on her to “go soft” on the accused. It alleged that the executive was attempting to influence the judicial system.

It has alleged that NIA officials had pressured erstwhile Special Public Prosecutor in case, Rohini Salian, “presumably” under instructions from their “political masters”.

Salian, who was SPP in the case, had alleged that an NIA officer had told her to go soft on the accused. She also claimed the same officer had told her that she would be replaced. Salian is no longer on NIA’s panel of lawyers.

The petition has sought the apex court’s intervention to ensure a fair trial as there were reasons to “credibly fear” that “executive is attempting to influence the judicial system to cave in to the pressure exerted by it in all matters, including affording protection to right-wing extremists who sympathize with its ideology”.

The PIL also sought direction to the Centre to appoint an SPP to conduct “fair” trial and constitute a Special Investigating Team of CBI to probe alleged actions of NIA officials who allegedly pressured Salian.

The high-profile accused in the case include Lt Col S P Purohit and Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur.

The 4,000-page charge sheet had alleged that Malegaon was selected for the blasts because of its sizeable Muslim population. It named Pragya Singh Thakur, Purohit and another accused, Swami Dayanand Pandey, as the key conspirators.

The charge sheet had alleged it was Pandey who had instructed Purohit to arrange for RDX, while Pragya owned the motorcycle which was used in the blast.

Ajay Rahirkar, another accused, allegedly organised funds for the terror act, while conspiracy meetings were held at Bhonsala Military School in Nasik, according to charge sheet.

Rakesh Dhawde, Ramesh Upadhyay, Shyamlal Sahu, Shivnarain Kalsangra, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Jagdish Mhatre and Sameer Kulkarni were the other accused. The blast on September 29, 2008 had left four dead and nearly 80 injured.

(PTI)

Only 1 in 4 Indian applicants will make it to Hajj this year

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india-hajj-pilgrims

Mumbai: Only one in four of Indian Muslims desiring to perform Hajj will be travelling to Saudi Arabia this year. The 20% reduction in Hajj quota ordered by the Saudi government is causing a huge backlog of pilgrims who want to perform the “once-in-a-lifetime” ritual.

Muslim leaders have demanded an increase in quota for India as the latest census data shows a rise in Muslim population (172.2 million or 14.23% of India’s population). The Saudi government allows one pilgrim per 1,000 Muslims in a country to go for the Haj.

The Haj Committee of India said around 3.83 lakh people applied for Haj 2015 but only 1.20 lakh pilgrims are travelling through the Haj Committee to Saudi Arabia to perform the rituals in the last week of this month. Around 36,000 are using private tour operators (PTOs) to fly to Saudi Arabia. “Since 2013, the Saudi government has cut 20% quota of pilgrims from every country as the expansion of the holy mosque in Mecca is underway and the administration wants fewer pilgrims there,” said Haj Committee CEO Ataur Rahman.

Muslim leaders want India’s ministry of external affairs to take up the issue with Saudi’s Haj ministry. “Thousands of Indian Muslims who fulfill criteria to go for the Haj are being denied it as the quota has reduced. The external affairs ministry must intervene and communicate this growing concern of Indian Muslims to the Saudi authorities,” said Congress MLA Amin Patel.

“We have told the external affairs ministry to look into the issue for the last few years. Haj is one of the pillars of Islam and performing it is mandatory for Muslims who can afford it. The government should take up the issue with the Saudi authorities and get our quota increased,” former minority department minister and MLA Arif Naseem Khan said.

(Agencies)

Defying meat ban orders, MNS to sell meat in Mumbai today

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meat-mns

Mumbai: In defiance to a 4-day ban called for by the BMC on sale of meat in Mumbai, Shiv Sena and MNS activists on Thursday put up stalls to sell meat in Dadar market.

The activists were later detained by the Mumbai Police.

The BMC has imposed a four day ban on the sale of meat in Mumbai during the Jain fasting period. The ban covers mutton and chicken, and excludes fish and eggs. It also extends to private businesses selling raw meat.

As per the BMC orders, all the meat and poultry shops have been directed to remain closed on September 10, 13, 17 and 18.

While Shiv Sena and MNS are against the four-day meat ban, BJP has demanded an eight day ban. Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray wants the ban on the sale of meat to be revoked.

The Jain community will be observing Paryushan from September 10-17.

(Agencies)

Prof. K S Bhagwan receives anonymous threat letter

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K S Bhagwan

Mysuru: Rationalist Prof K S Bhagwan received an anonymous letter in English reportedly warning to kill him at his house on Wednesday. His wife said that the letter was delivered by the postman around 12.45 pm at Bhagwan’s house on Udayaravi road, Kuvempunagar. The letter was duly handed over to Kuvempunagar police station. The Police are reported to have been guarding the house round-the-clock.

The letter typed using a typewriter, addressed Bhagwan derogatorily and read as follows: “Don’t relax thinking you are safe. Haavina dvesha 12 years. 3 successful. Next you. Will never miss the target. No police security will save you when we come. We know how to do. Count your days”. (sic)

Sources said that the letter may have originated from Bengaluru, as per the seal on the order according to the report of investigators.

Earlier, soon after the Kannada scholar was shot dead by two unidentified men, a Bajrang Dal co-convener Bhuvith Shetty had posted a controversial tweet at 10:41 am on August 30 that said, “Then it was U R Anantamoorty and now it is M M Kalburgi. Mock Hinduism and die a dog’s death. And dear K. S Bhagwan you are next”, which had gone viral.

Soon after Bantwal police were informed about the controversial tweet, they registered a suo moto case at Bantwal police station.

Mysuru Police immediately provided Bhagwan with a personal security guard. Prof K S Bhagawan had reportedly received threats after his controversial speech on Bhagavad Gita at a recent event.

(Agencies)

High Court bans sale of beef in Jammu and Kashmir

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beef-export

Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has imposed a ban on sale of beef in the state.

The HC directive came on Wednesday but was widely reported in the media on Thursday.

A division bench of the J&K HC passed the order while hearing a public interest litigation against cow slaughter.

The court also directed the state DGP to instruct local police officials to ensure that the ban is strictly imposed.

The court has also ordered the police to take strict action against those who violate the ban.

(Agencies)

AAP leader Somnath Bharti booked for domestic violence, may face arrest

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Somnath Bharti

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Law Minister Somnath Bharti has been booked for domestic violence following a complaint by his wife Lipika Bharti.

After the couple’s stranded relationship became public, Somnath Bharti and Lipika underwent counseling for over three months to sort out their martial feuds.

However, when things didn’t work out between them, Lipika approached the Dwarka North police on Wednesday and filed an FIR against her husband.

Somnath Bharti has been booked for dowry harassment, attempt to murder, subjecting his wife to physical torture and cheating.

Earlier, Lipika Bharti had levied these allegations against her husband in the month of June. As all the means of reconciliation have failed, Lipika now wants an action to be taken against her husband.

The AAP leader may soon be arrested following the FIR lodged by his wife.

(Agencies)

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