Monthly Archives: August 2018

Bajaur blast comes at a critical juncture

AT least 54 people were killed in Sunday’s suicide bombing that targeted workers of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan-Fazl group (JUI-F) in Bajaur, located on the border with Afghanistan. What makes the strike particularly significant is that the JUI-F is a part of the country’s ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement; the JUI-F chief, Fazl-ur-Rehman, is also the president of this coalition. Investigators in Pakistan are blaming the outrage on the ISIS, which had so far been operating just across the border in Nangarhar province. The core of the ISIS is said to be made up of Pakistan Pashtun tribals who revolted against Rawalpindi for its double-dealing.

It was in Bajaur that a US airstrike had killed several women and children in 2006, triggering a bloody insurgency that was suppressed by the Pakistan army at a great cost to itself. It is due to these self-inflicted wounds that Pakistan rather archly calls itself a victim of terrorism. The JUI-F has had its hands soaked in blood ever since the CIA decided to take on the Soviet army in Afghanistan in the 1980s. Indian investigators believe that the JUI-F’s madarsas have produced many Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists who have perpetrated attacks in India.

The blast comes at a time when Pakistan is surviving on financial support from the IMF, China, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Even these emergency bailouts cannot compensate for the lack of visionary leadership as politicians and army squabble to secure their interests. With elections to take place within 60 days of the dissolution of the National Assembly on August 13, the snakes in Pakistan’s backyard have struck at a critical juncture.

PTI

Srinagar, July 31

An army jawan on Monday allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service weapon in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baramulla district, officials said.

S Surendra shot himself while on duty at an army camp in Baramulla town in north Kashmir, they said, adding that he died due to the gunshot injuries.

This is the second such incident in the last two days.

A police constable shot himself with his service rifle in Rajbagh area of the city on Sunday night.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 31

Acting on an application filed by former chairperson of Punjab State Commission for Women Manisha Gulati, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today stayed her eviction from her official accommodation during the pendency of her appeal. A detailed order the matter was not yet available.

Gulati, through senior advocate Chetan Mittal with counsel Mayank Aggarwal, submitted that she was appointed to the post of chairperson and the term was to expire on March 18, 2024. But the applicant was removed following the government change in Punjab in February 2022. He petition challenging the action was ultimately disposed of following a statement on the state’s behalf.

But the state again removed the applicant from the post vide an order dated March 7. Just over a month after a single Judge dismissed her petition challenging the order of her removal, the former chairperson filed an appeal against the verdict.

Taking up the matter, the HC asserted the authorities might go ahead with the process initiated pursuant to the advertisement, but the same would not be finalised without the leave of the court. Mittal asserted the state issued a letter/order dated July 13, whereby she was asked to vacate the residential accommodation and to hand over the possession.

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 31

Two women who were seen being paraded naked in the Manipur sexual violence video have moved the Supreme Court against the state government and the Centre.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the Centre doesn’t have any objection if the Supreme Court decides to monitor the probe.

Mehta’s statement came after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the two women shown in the viral video, told a three-judge Bench led by CJI DY Chandrachud that the probe should be conducted by an independent agency.

“We need an agency in which the victims have confidence,” Sibal told the top court.

PTI

Singapore, July 31

Sikhs in Singapore have distinguished themselves in their chosen professions and made significant contributions in diverse fields while retaining their culture, faith and unique identity, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said.

He was addressing the 75th anniversary celebration dinner of the Sikh Advisory Board (SAB) on Sunday.

“You have all distinguished yourselves in your chosen professions and made significant contributions in diverse fields…Crucially, Sikhs have done all this in Singapore while retaining their culture, faith and unique identity,” he told the gathering.

“Whether it is in the civil service or the uniformed services, the judiciary, business, sports or many other professions, Sikhs are well represented, excelling and taking on leadership positions,” he told the community.

“From the government’s perspective, we certainly appreciate and value this very close collaboration with the community. Compared to other communities you may be small in number, but your contribution to Singapore is out of proportion to your number,” the minister added.

Lawrence Wong also highlighted the Sikh Advisory Board having been instrumental in advising the state on matters concerning the community, be it religion, customs or overall welfare issues.

The Board, he noted, has always been candid, open and forthcoming in sharing perspectives and views on the issues of concern to the community.

“So, even though you may be an Advisory Board, I assure you the government listens to your advice and takes it very seriously.

“The Board has also been instrumental in mediating disputes as those relating to employment practices to ensure that Sikhs continue to observe the key tenets of their faith,” he underscored.

Tribune News Service

Aditi Tandon

New Delhi, July 31

By this Independence Day, every village panchayat in India will have a war memorial of its own, saluting the memory of martyrs with their names inscribed on a special structure to come up at a prominent local site.

Memorials to display…

• Name and location of panchayat
• Name of martyrs from village
• Salutations to bravehearts
• PM’s quote for Vision 2047

The plan is part of the nationwide campaign “Meri Maati Mera Desh” that will mark the culmination of yearlong Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations which started on the Independence Day last year.

The campaign, to be held across all 2.5 lakh gram panchayats between August 9 (Quit India Day anniversary) and August 15 (I-Day), will conclude on August 30 at New Delhi’s Kartavya Path with the dedication of a uniquely landscaped garden to be curated with the soil sourced from all villages in the country.

“A fundamental aspect of the campaign is the expression of gratitude to brave hearts who sacrificed their lives for the unity of India,” official sources said, adding that the village level war memorial – the Shilaphalakam – would serve as a permanent expression of national gratitude to martyrs and will bring people together.

For the purpose of the campaign, martyrs have been defined as “freedom fighters; defence personnel (Army, Navy, Air Force); or state police forces and Central Armed Police Forces personnel who have died in the line of duty”.

According to the campaign details, accessed by The Tribune, villagers will on I-Day this year gather at war memorial sites and hoist the Tricolour.

Once the village events end on August 15, youth volunteers from all over India will collect the soil from each village and travel to Delhi on August 27 with 7,500 urns containing the soil, which will ultimately become part of the “Amrit Vatika” — to be landscaped at Delhi’s Kartavya Path as a symbol of national unity.

Our Correspondent

Jammu, July 31

A Pakistani intruder was shot dead by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel when he was trying to intrude into the Indian territory.

The incident took place along the International Border (IB) in the Arnia sector of Jammu in the wee hours of Monday.

IED defused on national highway

Srinagar: A potentially catastrophic incident was averted on Monday morning when an explosive device was found and defused on the Srinagar-Baramulla highway at the Zangam flyover in the Pattan area of Jammu and Kashmir. OC

A BSF spokesperson said, “In the wee hours of Monday, vigilant BSF troops observed suspicious movement across the IB in the Arnia border area. An intruder was observed approaching towards the fence, when alert BSF personnel neutralised him and thwarted an infiltration bid.”

The incident took place near the Jabowal border outpost in the Arnia sector around 1.30 am. Repeated warnings were given to the intruder. When he ignored the warnings, BSF personnel fired at him.

The paramilitary force did not inform about the recovery of any weapon or drugs from the intruder.

The area was cordoned off and a search operation launched to know if there were any other intruders. The body was retrieved from the area.

This is second such incident in a week. A Pakistani drug smuggler was shot dead in the Ramgarh border area of Samba on July 25. Four packets of narcotics weighing 4 kg were recovered from him.

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 31

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to consider a plea for probe into alleged incidents of sexual violence against women in Opposition-ruled states such as West Bengal, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Kerala, saying the violence perpetrated against women in Manipur was of “unprecedented magnitude”.

During the hearing on petitions seeking an independent probe into the ethnic violence in Manipur, advocate Bansuri Swaraj highlighted incidents of violence against women in West Bengal and other Opposition-ruled states and said the mechanism sought to be evolved in Manipur’s case should also be made applicable in other states.

“The daughters of India need to be protected… After the horrific incident (of two women paraded naked) of May came to light in Manipur, identical incidents took place in Bengal and Chhattisgarh,” Swaraj told a Bench, led by CJI DY Chandrachud, adding no FIR had been registered in these cases. “Are you saying protect all daughters of India or don’t protect anyone,” the CJI asked Swaraj, who said she wanted the court to protect all daughters of India.

Tribune News Service

Satya Prakash

New Delhi, July 31

Pulling up the Manipur Police for inordinate delay in lodging an FIR in connection with a viral video of two women being paraded naked, the Supreme Court on Monday termed it a “horrendous” crime of “unprecedented magnitude” and hinted at setting up an SIT to probe the case.

Unprecedented act

A horrendous crime of unprecedented magnitude… women were handed over to mob by police. Why did police take 14 days to file FIR?… We do not want the police to handle it. SC Bench

“The incident happened on May 4 and the zero FIR was registered only on May 18. Why did the police take 14 days to register the FIR? What were the police doing from May 4 till May 18?… What stood in the way of police registering the FIR immediately?” a Bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who represented the Manipur Government.

“This is horrendous. There are media reports that these women were handed over to the mob by the police. We also do not want the police to handle it,” asked the Bench, which had on July 20 taken suo motu cognisance of the issue. The case has already been transferred to the CBI with the consent of the state government.

Opposition for early no-trust debate

A Congress delegation met LS Speaker seeking early listing of no-trust motion debate against govt. Speaker had admitted motion last week.

The Bench, which also included Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, pointed out that actual action started only after the video went viral on July 19. The Bench asked the Manipur Government to submit details with regard to the number of FIRs registered, investigation carried out as also relief and rehabilitation. It sought details as to the categories of offences —gang rape, murder, bodily injuries, loot and arson etc —and posted the matter for further hearing at 2 pm on Tuesday.

Parliament logjam on manipur persists

Both Houses were adjourned amid standoff between Opposition and government over rule under which Manipur issue is to be discussed.

“I am surprised the state of Manipur even today is not in possession of facts…. If these facts are partially true, we are not saying at this stage that there is complicity because that is a matter for investigation…. there are statements by the victims that these people were virtually handed over by the police to the mob,” the CJI said. The top court hinted at setting up a committee of retired judges, including women judges, to record statements of victims of sexual violence.

Mehta told the Bench that there were around 6,000 FIRs in Manipur and the Government of India didn’t have any objection to the Supreme Court monitoring the probe.

Mehta’s statement came after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the two women shown in the viral video who have moved the top court, told the Bench that the probe should be conducted by an independent agency. “We need an agency in which the victims have confidence,” Sibal said, accusing the state police of collaborating with the culprits. After hearing senior counsel Sibal, Indira Jaising, Colin Gonsalves, advocate Vrinda Grover and others for the petitioners and Attorney General R Venkataramani and the Solicitor General for the Centre/Manipur Government, the Bench deferred the hearing to Tuesday. Several petitioners demanded an SIT probe into cases of sexual violence against women in Manipur, saying they didn’t have faith in the state police and the CBI.

Maintaining that it was open to suggestions, the Bench asked the parties to submit names of police officers who could be on the SIT.

Noting that violence in the state might not be from one side, the Bench assured the parties that the top court will be “even-handed” in dealing with the culprits. “I have also seen the video myself. But we can’t confine ourselves to it. That was a trigger point… That’s all,” the CJI said.

Maintaining that it was concerned about bringing the lives of victims back on track, the Bench clarified that the issue of transfer of probe would be considered later. Noting that a large number of women were attacked and the viral video was not an isolated incident, the Bench said, “We need to put in place a mechanism to deal with it… it must be broad enough… it must ensure all the cases where complaints and FIRs have been lodged were probed.”