Communal Clashes

Pakistan: Sectarian clashes kills 37 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 30 injured

At least 18 people were killed and 30 others injured in sectarian violence in northwest Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the last 24 hours, police said. The clashes between the tribes of Alizai and Bagan in Kurram district bordering Afghanistan took place following Thursday's attack on a convoy of passenger vans in which 47 people were killed by militants. Gunfire is also continuing in Balishkhel, Khar Kali, Kunj Alizai and Maqbal. The tribes are targeting each other with heavy and automatic weapons. So far, 18 people have been killed and 30 injured in the clashes. Independent and media sources reported more than 30 deaths in the clashes. Homes and shops have also been damaged in the fighting. People from various villages have fled to safer locations. Due to the deteriorating situation, all educational institutions in the district remain closed on Saturday, confirmed Muhammad Hayat Hassan, chairman of the Private Education Network. Over 50 passenger vehicles were

Communal clash in Bharuch over putting up religious flags, 2 injured

Members of two communities indulged in a violent clash over the issue of installation of religious flags in a locality in Gujarat's Bharuch city, leaving two persons injured, police said on Wednesday. Seventeen persons have been detained in connection with the incident which took place on Tuesday night in Gokul Nagar area, they said. The police rushed to spot and dispersed the rioters. The situation is currently under control, an official said. People from the two sides gathered in large numbers and then hurled stones at each other, which left two persons injured and caused damage to some vehicles parked there, said Bharuch Superintendent of Police Mayur Chavda, who rushed to the spot with security personnel after learning about the clash. Based on a complaint given by members of one community, police registered an FIR and detained 17 persons belonging to another community, who were involved in the violence, Chavda said. "People from two different faiths had an altercation in Goku

Communal tensions erupt in Udaipur over stabbing in school; cars burnt

A mob set fire to cars and pelted stones amid communal tension in Udaipur after a class 10 student stabbed another boy at a government school on Friday. Prohibitory orders banning the assembly of people were imposed in the Rajasthan city. It was not immediately known what led to the stabbing at the government school. Members of some Hindu outfits gathered at Madhuban in the city to protest over the stabbing, police said, adding the victim has been admitted in the ICU of the district hospital. Police said a mob pelted stones and set three or four cars on fire. "Additional policemen have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order. The accused has been detained," SP Yogesh Goyal said.

Kanwar Yatra row: SC extends stay on UP govt order, says can't force anyone

The Supreme Court bench refused to issue any clarification on the July 22 stay order saying 'we have said what needed to be said in our previous order'

LS polls: Congress accuses PM of attempting to create communal polarisation

Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his controversial speech at an election rally a day ago, the Congress on Monday accused him of attempting to create communal polarisation for electoral gains. AICC general secretary in-charge of organisation K C Venugopal said Modi made statements that were not befitting the post of Prime Minister. He alleged that the Prime Minister was quoting something that wasn't there in the Congress manifesto and that he was attempting to create "communal polarisation" in the country for electoral gains. Taking a jibe at Modi, Venugopal said Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has sought an appointment with the Prime Minister to "educate him" about the party manifesto. The Congress stepped up its attack on Modi after he suggested that if the Congress comes to power, it would redistribute people's wealth to Muslims and cited former PM Manmohan Singh's remark that the minority community had the first claim on the country's resources. Addressing a rally

Peace gradually returning to state, efforts are being taken: Manipur CM

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh on Monday said peace has been gradually returning to the state, particularly over the last four months. Addressing the public at a function for the distribution of welfare benefits, Singh said, "We are working hard for peace to return. Peace has begun to return in the last four months compared to the period following the outbreak of violence on May 3 last year." Reflecting on the May 3 incident, Singh expressed regret, saying, "What was unfortunate was that we didn't anticipate there would be targeted and deliberate attacks on the government." Singh elaborated, "We thought it was a simple rally for the students," referring to the rally organised by the All Tribal Students Union Manipur against the demand for Scheduled Tribe status by the Meitei community. Singh, however, pointed out that the attacks were isolated to one or two places, with no incidents reported in other parts of the hill districts. "At that time, security personnel and police

Court dismisses bail plea of accused charged under UAPA In 2020 Delhi riots

A court here on Thursday rejected the bail plea of an accused charged in the UAPA case related to the alleged conspiracy behind the 2020 northeast Delhi communal riots, saying he could not claim parity with three other co-accused. Additional Sessions Judge Sameer Bajpai was hearing the regular bail application of accused Tasleem Ahmed. The court noted that Ahmed sought parity with the co-accused, Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal and Asif Iqbal Tanha who had been granted bail by the Delhi High Court on June 15, 2021. It further noted the submissions of Ahmed's counsel, saying according to the chargesheet, the role of his client and the three other co-accused was similar. The court said that the high court had granted relief to Kalita, Narwal and Tanha after observing that the allegations against them under UAPA provisions were prima facie not true. It said, "The opinion of the high court is with respect to the co-accused persons only and is not general and, therefore, cannot be ...

Manipur returning to normalcy after enduring over 7 months of ethnic strife

Manipur made headlines for much of 2023 as it witnessed one of the worst ethnic conflicts between the Kuki and Meitei communities, resulting in over 200 deaths and leaving nearly 60,000 people homeless. Though violence broke out on May 3, tension had been building in the hill districts of Churachandpur and Kangpokpi since February due to the state government's efforts to remove encroachers from reserved forest areas. In late February, the state government demolished few Kuki houses in Churachandpur district for encroaching on reserved forest land, triggering condemnation by Kuki-Zo community members. Clashes broke out between demonstrators and police in Kangpokpi district in March when they tried to hold a rally against "encroachment of tribal land in the name of reserved forests, protected forests and wildlife sanctuary. Following the clashes, the state cabinet withdrew from the tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) talks with two Kuki-based outfits Kuki National Army and Zom

Manipur violence: NIA court sends accused Gangte to judicial custody

Accused Seiminlun Gangte was recentlty arrested from Manipur and brought to Delhi

Manipur's tribal body ITLF withdraws indefinite shutdown after 2 days

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF), a major Kuki organisation, on Tuesday withdrew the indefinite shutdown it called two days ago in Churachandpur district to protest against the arrests made by the CBI and NIA in connection with the killing of two youths and another case. The ITLF said it will monitor the situation and decide later if another intense agitation is needed. After careful consideration, the indefinite shutdown declared by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum ... will be concluded by 6 pm today, the tribal body said in a statement. It said that an ongoing dharna by the ITLF women's wing will be resumed from next week. News of the killing of two youths - 20-year-old male Phijam Hemanjit and Hijam Linthoingambi, a 17-year-old girl - who had gone missing on July 6 caused a massive outcry and violent demonstration in Imphal Valley after photos of their bodies surfaced on September 25. Four people were arrested by CBI in connection with the kidnapping and killing.

Attempts underway to disrupt harmony in Goa but govt taking action: CM

There are some conscious attempts to disrupt communal harmony in Goa but people must trust the state government as it is acting against such elements, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Monday. Talking to reporters after paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversaries, Sawant cited examples of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj being broken and a church priest making anti-Hindu statements and someone posting something objectionable about Muslims. "Goa has maintained communal harmony for ages. But there are some people who are trying to disrupt it. People get disturbed with such instances and hold protests outside police stations," he said. "People should have full trust in the government. We have taken action and we will not allow communal harmony to be disturbed," the CM added.

Communal tension erupts in Jaipur after death of biker due to thrashing

Communal tension erupted in Ramganj and nearby areas here on Saturday after a man died allegedly due to thrashing by a group of men over an accident between two motorcycles, police said. Two motorbikes collided in Subhash Chowk after which a group of men with one of the two riders thrashed the other rider, Iqbal, late Friday night, police said. He was rushed to SMS hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, they said. Several shops in the Muslim-dominated areas were shut down, and family members of the deceased and locals gathered there are demanding action against the other side. Additional forces have been deployed around the area and efforts were being made to diffuse the tension, police said. Shops in Ramganj, Subhash chowk and nearby areas have been closed in view of the tension.

Pakistan's Ahmadi minority in Punjab faces attacks on their worship places

In a fresh attack on the Ahmadi community in Pakistan, the minarets of three worship places of the minority group in different districts of Punjab province were demolished by radical Islamists who alleged that the minarets signified that of a Muslim mosque. The incident comes more than a week after arches of a worship place of the Ahmadi community were destroyed in defiance of a high court order banning such actions against the places of worship of the minority community built before 1984. Pakistan's Parliament in 1974 declared the Ahmadi community as non-Muslims. They have even been banned from calling themselves Muslims. "Identifying the minarets of Ahmadi worship places with that of Muslim Mosque, the activists of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) stormed into three Ahmadi worship places in Sheikhupura, Bahawalnagar and Bahawalpur districts of Punjab and demolished their minarets during the last couple of days," Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan official Amir Mahmood told PTI on ...

Police arrests man accused of opening fire during Haryana's Nuh violence

Police have arrested a man accused of opening fire and injuring a man during the communal violence in Haryana's Nuh, officials said on Thursday. The police, acting on an FIR registered on July 31 at Sohna City police station, arrested Mohammad Kaif. A Vishva Hindu Parishad-led procession was attacked by mobs in Nuh on July 31. Six people were killed, most of them during the attack. A cleric died in an attack on a mosque in adjoining Gurugram. In his complaint to the police, a Sohna resident said he suffered an injury on his leg while returning from a gym on the evening of July 31. Bleeding profusely, the man was admitted to a hospital. "During treatment, it was revealed that I had been shot in my leg. Some unknown person shot me with the intention of killing me during the communal riots," he said in his complaint. Subash Boken, a spokesperson for the police, said, "The arrested accused has been identified as Mohammad Kaif, a resident of Lahbas village in Nuh. We will take him on

SC protects ex-Army officer, professor in two FIRs lodged in Manipur

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted protection from any coercive action to a retired colonel against whom an FIR was lodged by the Manipur Police allegedly on the basis of the contents of his book published in January 2022. The top court also protected a professor against possible coercive action in connection with another FIR lodged on the basis of his alleged speech made in public. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took note of the submissions that no lawyers were willing to take up their cases and appear in the Manipur High Court. Issue notice. We are going to ask you to file an affidavit that there is no lawyer who is willing to appear for you in the High Court of Manipur...no coercive steps shall be taken against petitioner till next date of hearing, the bench said. It asked Vijaykant Chenji, former army officer, and professor Henminlun, who have filed separate pleas seeking protection and the quashing of the FIRs lodg

Withdraw Disturbed Areas Act, AFSPA from entire state: Assam to Centre

Earlier, Assam CM Sarma on Monday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the national capital and pleaded for the complete withdrawal of the AFSPA from the state

Court grants 8 more weeks to ASI to complete Gyanvapi mosque survey

A Varanasi court on Friday granted additional time of eight weeks to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to complete the scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque complex and submit its report. District Judge A K Vishvesh dismissed the mosque management committee's objection and provided the additional time to the ASI, government counsel Rajesh Mishra said. The ASI is carrying out a scientific survey of the Gyanvapi mosque premises, next to Kashi Vishwanath temple here, to determine whether the 17th-century mosque was constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple. The survey began after the Allahabad High Court upheld a Varanasi district court order and ruled that the step is "necessary in the interest of justice" and will benefit both the Hindu and Muslim sides.

Security tightened in Nuh, Sec 144 imposed ahead of VHP yatra tomorrow

Haryana Police said that it is constantly monitoring the situation in the district and drone is being used by forces for surveillance

Prosecution pulled up for not submitting evidence in 2020 Delhi riots case

A court here has pulled up the prosecution for not submitting a video pertaining to the identification of the accused in connection with the 2020 northeast Delhi riots case. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Pulastya Pramachala, hearing a case on Friday, said it was "unfortunate" that the prosecution was "befooling" the court. He also warned the investigating agency not to repeat such conduct in future. The matter pertains to a case registered by the Dayalpur police station against Mohammed Farooq and others where the court had asked the prosecution to submit a video for identification of the accused. It is unfortunate that till date, the Special Public Prosecutor and Sub-Inspector Rajiv (the Investigating Officer) have been befooling this court in the name of the pendency of this video and the report before FSL, without actually having any information in respect of the same. The same should not be repeated in future, the ASJ said in an order passed on Friday. He said the prosecution

Haryana govt orders suspension of mobile Internet in Nuh, imposes Sec 144

The Haryana government on Saturday ordered the suspension of mobile Internet and bulk SMS services in the communally charged Nuh district till August 28 in view of a call for a 'shobha yatra'. The government announced the decision, apprehending the spread of rumours through social media ahead of or during Monday's rally. The Nuh authorities had recently denied permission to hold a religious procession in the district on August 28 after an earlier one in July was disrupted following communal violence. The order to suspend mobile Internet was issued by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) TVSN Prasad on Saturday. The district administration has also imposed Section 144 of the CrPC, prohibiting the assembly of four or more people in an area, as a precautionary measure. This order will be effective from August 26-28, said officials. During this period, no person will be allowed to carry weapons such as licensed firearms, lathis, axes and others. The Haryana government had earlier suspen