PFI condemn Togadia statement of converting Gujarat into ‘Hindu’ state
By TwoCIrcles.net Staff reporter
Muslim bodies, civil rights groups condemn custodial murder of Khalid Mujhaid
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
New Delhi: Several Muslim originations and rights bodies have condemned the ‘custodial murder’ of Khalid Mujhaid and demanded fair CBI probe.
Court rap over riots worries Mulayam, Akhilesh
By Mohit Dubey,
Lucknow: A Supreme Court rap over official carelessness and laxity vis-a-vis the Muzaffarnagar communal riots is bad news for the ruling Samjwadi...
Book released highlighting contemporary issues in Muslim community’s life
By TCN News,
Hyderabad: Prof. Kancha Illaiah director, Centre for Social Exclusion and Inclusive Studies, Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) released a book Politics of Hatred authored by Kaneez Fathima, published by Indus Publication House, Hyderabad, on 30th March, Sunday at Press Club, Basheerbagh. This meeting was presided by Dr. G. Nagaraju, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Hyderabad Central University and the Guest of Honour was Mr. Lateef Mohammed Khan, Gen. Secretary, Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee.
‘Loyalty’ vs new aspirations split Muslim voters in Delhi; BJP may be the ultimate...
By M Reyaz, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: Muslims voters in Delhi appeared spilt between old loyalties with the Congress party and the new aspirations of youth, voiced by the Aam Aadmi Party.
Top IM operatives’ police custody extended
New Delhi : A court here Friday extended the police custody of top Indian Mujahideen suspects Tehsin Akhtar alias Monu and Pakistani national Waqas...
JIH promotes ‘going green’ on Environ Day
By TCN News,
New Delhi: On the occasion of World Environment Day, Jamate Islami Hind organized a rally comprising of JIH members and SIO students in Mumbai. The 30-strong rally began at the Islamic Centre at 4:30 in the evening and concluded an hour later at Nihal Corner, wounding through a 2 KM circle.
19 percent hike in allocation for minorities
New Delhi : A total of Rs.3,734 crore (Rs.37.34 billion) was Thursday allocated to the minorities affairs ministry, 19 percent more than the revised...
Cry for bringing peace in Assam’s BTAD through review of BTC
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Guwahati: Slamming the Assam government for failing to protect the innocent people All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) demanded that the state government has no right to be in power. AIUDF also demanded that the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) under the leadership of Hagrama Mohilary should be reviewed for better law and order maintenance.
IOS Int’l Conf: Indian Ocean bridge between ASEAN & India: Khurshid
By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
“If dedicated Hindu officers for temples, why not Muslim officers for Wakf?”
By TCN Staff Reporter,
Modi calls the riots of 2002 as “evil” on the eve of his three-day...
By TCN Special Correspondent,
Bihar’s quest for Central University delays due to all wrong reasons
By Mohammad Mudassir Alam,
3rd anniversary of Batla House ‘encounter’ to be observed
By TCN Special Correspondent,
Ramlila Maidan all set to host PFI’s Social Justice Conf.
By Pervez Bari,TwoCircles.net,
Rushdie welcome to visit Delhi, says Dikshit
By IANS,
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Tuesday extended an invitation to author Salman Rushdie to visit the capital, saying that the "eminent writer" is welcome.
Modi now in TIME’s poll for 100 most influential people
Sonia, Rahul not included in the poll list of 195 people
By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Khudai Khidmatgar’s National Youth Leadership camp planned in Allahabad
By TCN News,
Allahabad: Khudai Khidmatgar that was revived last year is planning to organize its National Youth Leadership camp in Allahabad from Aug 30th to Sept 2nd.
Telangana protestors call off march
By IANS,
Hyderabad : The Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) late Sunday night called off the Telangana march.
Former Russian spy to be charged with Litvinenko murder
By DPA
London : Britain's chief public prosecutor Tuesday recommended that murder charges should be brought against former Russian agent Andrei Lugovoy in connection with the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko in London last November.
Students, police clash in front of British embassy
By DPA
Tehran : Hundreds of Iranian radical students clashed with the police in front of the British embassy here.
10 Indians freed in Nigeria after 16 days in captivity
By IANS
New Delhi : Ten Indians abducted in the oil-rich Rivers state of Nigeria have been freed by militants after 16 days in captivity.
Stolen pages of Aurangzeb’s manuscript recovered
By IANS
Patna : All the pages of a rare manuscript authored by 17th century Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, stolen from a Bihar school library last month, have been recovered by the police.
BBC reporter’s release won’t change position towards Hamas – White House
By NNN-KUNA
Washington : The White House has said that the release of BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston by Hamas will not change the attitude of President George W. Bush's Administration towards the Palestinian Islamic group.
After 16 weeks in captivity, Johnston was released Wednesday as Hamas is seeking to improve its image on the international scene after its militants took over Gaza last month.
"We were pleased by the safe release of Mr Johnston," said White House spokesperson Scott Stanzel in a press briefing Thursday.
Pakistan mosque siege shows extremist threat: White House
By DPA
Washington : The seizure of the Red Mosque in Pakistan by radical Islamists shows the danger of extremism, the White House said Tuesday.
Bomb plot suspect Haneef faces 12 more hours of questioning
By Neena Bhandari, IANS
Sydney : Muhammad Haneef, the Indian doctor detained in a Brisbane watch house since July 2 in connection with last month's UK bomb plot, may be charged - or walk free - as early as Saturday but faces 12 more hours of police interrogation.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) at the eleventh hour Friday afternoon decided to drop its application to extend the detention of the 27-year-old Gold Coast registrar. Haneef was then moved from the Brisbane watch house to the state police headquarters next door, where his interrogation began at 3pm local time.
Pakistani militant commander blows himself up to evade arrest
By DPA
Islamabad : A top militant leader commanding pro-Taliban fighters in Pakistan's tribal region bordering Afghanistan Tuesday blew himself up to evade arrest in southern Balochistan province, officials said.
Security forces laid siege to a house in the town of Zhob after receiving information that rebels having suspected links with the Taliban and al-Qaeda were present inside the compound, Balochistan government's spokesman Raziq Bugti said.
Militant combine orders Kashmir news channels off air
By IANS
Srinagar : A combine of three militant groups in Jammu and Kashmir Tuesday ordered four local television news channels in the Valley to stop airing their programmes, but gave no reason.
A caller identifying himself as the spokesman of Al Madina, Al Badr and Al Nasreen, a combine of three guerrilla groups, called up a local news agency, CNS, here Tuesday to announce its ban.
Pakistan conducts successful test fire of enhanced range cruise missile
By NNN-APP
Â
Islamabad : Pakistan on Thursday conducted a successful test fire of the indigenously developed Cruise Missile Babur (Hatf-VII). The missile test is part of a continuous process of validating the design parameters set for this weapon system, stated a media release of ISPR.
The range of Hatf-VII (Babur) Cruise Missile, which was first tested in 2005, has been enhanced to 700 Kms.
Â
Islamabad : Pakistan on Thursday conducted a successful test fire of the indigenously developed Cruise Missile Babur (Hatf-VII). The missile test is part of a continuous process of validating the design parameters set for this weapon system, stated a media release of ISPR.
The range of Hatf-VII (Babur) Cruise Missile, which was first tested in 2005, has been enhanced to 700 Kms.
Gates says he is involved in withdrawal planning
·Gates said he was involved in planning the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.
·Gates said he agreed with Clinton planning concerning the future of U.S. forces in Iraq.
·The Democratic-controlled Congress has called for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq.
By Xinhua
Washington : U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he was involved in planning the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, in a letter made public on Thursday.
Spokesman: Taliban kills 2nd S Korean hostage
·A Taliban spokesman said the male hostage named Song Kin-Shi was shot dead Monday night as the Afghan government was not serious in the talks.
·He said the dead body was dumped near Ghazni-Kandahar highway.
By Xinhua
Kabul : The Taliban has killed one more South Korean hostage held in Afghanistan on Monday night, a purported Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi told Xinhua from an undisclosed place.
BMW case: Lawyers Anand, Khan asked to file replies
By IANS
Delhi : The Delhi High Court Tuesday directed senior advocates R.K. Anand and I.U. Khan to file their replies for allegedly influencing a witness in the high-profile BMW hit-and-run case of 1999.
Anand, who was representing prime accused Sanjiv Nanda, and special public prosecutor I.U. Khan were caught on camera purportedly influencing Sunil Kulkarni, a crucial witness. Their alleged move goes against the rules and norms of the criminal procedure code (CrPC).
US legislation on aid conditions disappointing: Musharraf
By Xinhua
Islamabad : Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf Tuesday expressed his disappointment over a legislation by the US Congress introducing conditionalities on future assistance to Pakistan.
"Such legislation constitutes an irritant in the bilateral relationship, which must be based on trust and confidence in moving forward on issues of common interest," a foreign ministry statement quoted Musharraf as saying.
Musharraf made the remarks when meeting the visiting US Senator Richard J. Durbin in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi.
Eight migrant workers killed in Assam
By IANS
Guwahati : Eight Hindi-speaking migrant workers were killed and three seriously wounded Wednesday by separatists in Assam, the latest in a string of attacks ahead of the August 15 Independence Day celebrations.
A police spokesman said heavily armed militants late Wednesday attacked Ampahar village in Karbi Anglong district, about 320 km east of Assam's main city of Guwahati.
Iraqi political leaders hold crucial summit on Tuesday
By NNN-KUNA
Baghdad : Iraqi political leaders will hold summit talks here Tuesday to discuss the creation of a "moderate" front, wide-scale reform policy, and reformation of the government, an official spokesman said.
Ali Al-Dabbagh said in a statement Monday the top politicians would discuss the aftermath of the withdrawal of the Iraqi Accord Front from the government, and how to convince the Front to reverse the pull-out decision.
Nine civilians killed, 87 gunmen held in Iraq
By DPA
Baghdad : At least nine Iraqis were killed and 17 wounded in a terrorist attack here while 87 suspected militants were detained in a mop up operation in Kirkuk city, 250 km northeast of the capital, media sources reported Thursday.
In central Baghdad, a car bomb detonated Thursday morning in Rusafai square near a crowded wholesale market and a bus station, killing the nine and injuring 17, according to pan-Arab al-Arabiya news broadcast.
German hostage pleads for his release on Afghan TV
By DPA
Kabul/Berlin : A German engineer who is being held a hostage for more than a month in Afghanistan pleaded for help to secure his release in a video broadcast Thursday by a private Afghan channel.
Rudolf B., 62, was abducted on July 18 in the southern province of Maidan Wardak along with another German engineer and five Afghan colleagues.
He looked weak and pale and was coughing while saying, "I am a prisoner," and asked the Afghan and German governments for help during the broadcast on TOLO.
Bangladesh authorities target the media
By IANS
Dhaka : Several media persons, including university campus correspondents, were beaten up and some jailed for violating curfew restrictions as authorities in Bangladesh asked media to play "a responsible role".
"We do not like imposing censorship. But that does not mean we will not do it," Law and Information Advisor Mainul Hosein told media as government braced to impose nationwide curfew after three days of campus rioting.
Sharif claims exile deal was for five years
By NNN-PTI
London : In a new twist to the controversy over his exile deal, deposed Pakistan Premier Nawaz Sharif, who has vowed to return home tomorrow, has claimed he was verbally assured by intermediaries that he would have to stay out of the country only for five years and not for a decade as maintained by the government.
Close link between laundering, terrorist financing, says Algerian Official
By NNN-APS
Algiers : Disclosures during some criminal cases heard by courts in the country recently have exposed the close relationship between money laundering and terrorist financing, says a senior Algerian Justice Ministry official.
Mohamed Amara , the director-general for legal and judicial affairs at the ministry, said here Saturday on the sidelines of a meeting on money laundering and terrorist financing that the crimes relating to these activities, however, are not very common in Algeria.
Bush to address nation, announce troop drawdown
By Xinhua
Washington : U.S. President George W. Bush is expected to announce a plan to cut troop levels in Iraq by 30,000 by mid 2008 when he addresses the nation later this week, U.S. officials told U.S. media Tuesday.
The speech will be delivered as early as Thursday and then the White House is expected to deliver the long-awaited Iraq status report Friday, capping a week-long focus on the Iraq issue, officials said on condition of anonymity.
Four Bangladeshis escape from Orissa jail, one nabbed
By IANS
Balasore (Orissa) : In a daring effort, four under-trial prisoners Thursday scaled an 18-foot boundary wall of the district jail and escaped, senior police officials said.
While one prisoner was caught by the people and handed over to police, three others we still missing, the police told IANS.
All four were Bangladeshi nationals identified as Mohammad Babu Khan, Arif Khan, Mohhamad Asadul Mulla and Zahid Khan, and were arrested in June for committing a series of robberies in and around Balasore, nearly 200 km from state capital Bhubaneswar.
Major powers meet to discuss sanctions on Iran
By DPA
Washington : World powers met here to discuss imposing more sanctions on Iran over the Islamic state's defiance of the United Nations' demands to halt uranium enrichment.
Diplomats from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the US - plus Germany held talks Friday about a new resolution to pressure Iran.
China and Russia have been reluctant to place more sanctions on Iran, pointing to Tehran's recent decision to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN nuclear watchdog agency.
Abbas to meet Bush ahead of General Assembly meetings
By Xinhua
Ramallah : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet U.S. President George W. Bush next week in New York ahead of the UN General Assembly meetings, Palestinian chief negotiator said on Saturday.
Saeb Erekat said the meeting with the U.S. president "is very important" for it is "a direct preparation for reaching a substance" before the November peace conference Bush proposed to help revive the deadlocked Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Taliban claims killing several US soldiers
By DPA
Kabul : The Taliban has claimed killing several US soldiers in southeastern Afghanistan in twin roadside bomb attacks Sunday.
Local officials have confirmed the death of two of the US-led coalition troops and wounding of three others.
A spokesman for the Taliban, Zabihullah Mujahid, said all the occupants of two military vehicles of US forces were killed in the two roadside bomb blasts in Zurmat district of Paktia province.
Pakistan appoints M. Sadiq as foreign office spokesperson
By IANS
Islamabad : Senior official in foreign ministry M. Sadiq has been appointed as Pakistan's new foreign office spokesman.
During the weekly press briefing to media here Monday, outgoing spokesperson Tasnim Aslam introduced M. Sadiq to the journalists.
Tasnim Aslam has been appointed Pakistan's ambassador to Italy and will take charge in October.
Musharraf hot favourite of Pakistani bookies
Lahore/Karachi, Sep 28 (IANS) Pakistan's military strongman President Pervez Musharraf is the hot favourite of bookies who have placed one to five odds on him in the forthcoming presidential election.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)'s candidate Makhdoom Amin Fahim, fielded more for strategic reasons by his leader, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, has one to four odds against him.
US Air raid kills civilians in Baghdad
By NNN-Prensa Latina
Baghdad : At least 13 Iraqi civilians died and 11 others were wounded in a shelling launched by the US Air forces on Al Doura neighbourhood, southern Baghdad, on Friday, police sources reported.
According to Al Doura residents, the victims included two women and four children. Al Sharkiya television channel quoted the sources repeatedly saying that the attack was staged by an American fighter against a house building in Hay al Siha, which the US military suspected to be a shelter of the resistance.
Six including Musharraf validated to contest Presidential Election
By NNN-APP
Islamabad : The Election Commission of Pakistan Saturday validated six candidates including President Pervez Musharraf as candidates for October 6 Presidential Election, finding their nomination papers in order.
“All the 17 nomination papers of Pervez Musharraf are in order and are accepted,” Chief Election Commissioner Justice ® Qazi Muhammad Farooq announced after hearing the objections from three opposition-backed candidates.
Next months critical for Iranian nuclear issue – El-Baradei
By NNN-KUNA
Cairo : Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Dr Mohammad El-Baradei said the remaining months of 2007 would be critical for the Iranian nuclear programme, strongly refusing the use of force to resolve the issue.
In an interview with Al-Ahram paper, El-Baradei called for giving diplomatic efforts a chance before discussing any other means.
The international community should encourage Iran to cooperate with the IAEA in order to prove the Iranian nuclear programme is peaceful, he stressed.
Suicide car bombing kills 1 American in Kabul
By Xinhua
Kabul : A suicide car bombing targeting a convoy of U.S. military in the Afghan capital Kabul Saturday morning killed at least three persons, including one American, and injured nine others, an official at the press department of Afghan Interior Ministry said.
The attack occurred at 8:20 a.m. local time at the busy road linking Kabul International Airport to the fortified U.S. embassy.
Georgia calls for expansion of economic ties with Iran
By NNN-IRNA
Isfahan : Georgian Ambassador to Iran Lovan Asatiani on Saturday said that Iran-Georgia economic exchanges are not at a satisfactory level and called for expansion of mutual ties in this respect.
Asatiani made the remark in a gathering dubbed the Identification of Trade Opportunities of Central Asia and Georgia in the presence of a number of businessmen and managers of Isfahan province, adding that given current potentials and good relations between Tehran and Tbilisi, the bilateral economic ties should increase more than ever.
Nothing can keep me away from Pakistan: Benazir
By IANS
Dubai : Rejecting President Pervez Musharraf's advice to postpone her return to Pakistan, former prime minister Benazir Bhutto said here Wednesday that nothing could stop her from reaching her country as scheduled at 11 a.m. Thursday.
Addressing a crowded press conference here with her two daughters on either side, Bhutto, who returns home after nine years of self exile on an Emirates flight, said: "I will be leaving for Pakistan 24 hours from now and will reach my country tomorrow."
Kurdistan regional govt seeks dialogue with Turkey
By NNN-KUNA
Irbil : The Kurdistan regional government on Thursday invited Turkey to man-to-man dialogue on the PKK issue, urging it not to carry out any military operation in Iraq.
The Kurdish invitation came following Turkish parliament's support for a military incursion into Iraq.
The Kurdistan regional government said in a release that it welcomed direct dialogue with Ankara on all issues of mutual concern, including the PKK.
Iran the single challenge facing US foreign policy – Rice
By NNN-KUNA
Washington : US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has singled out Iran as the sole challenge facing the United States in the Middle East and the world.
"We are very concerned that the policies of Iran constitute perhaps the single, greatest challenge for American security interests in the Middle East and possibly around the world," said Rice before the House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee Wednesday.
US consulate shelled in Iraq, seven rebels killed
By DPA
Baghdad : At least seven terrorist suspects were killed and 32 others detained in separate raids across Iraq in the past 24 hours as the US Consulate in Hillah came under a mortar shell attack, sources said Friday.
Seventeen mortar shells jolted the US Consulate and an Iraqi police barracks Thursday in central Hillah, 100 km south of Baghdad, injuring three Iraqi civilians and damaging five houses nearby, Colonel Ali Hassan said.
Shortly afterwards, police forces arrested a suspect and found mortar launchers, Hassan added.
Emergency pitches army against Pakistani society: report
Islamabad(IANS) : By imposing "what amounts to martial law", Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has pitched himself and by extension, the army, against all civil and legal institution of the country and alienated what remained of his support among the intelligentsia and civil society, a newspaper comment Tuesday said.
"Whatever implication this has for his personal role in the country's future, more troubling is the disaffection that this generates against the army," Shafqat Mahmood wrote in an article headlined "Musharraf has pitched army against civil society" in The News.
Goa police afraid rape suspect may leave India
By IANS,
Panaji : The Goa Police Wednesday said they were concerned about the possibility of state Education Minister Atanasio Monseratte's son Rohit fleeing the country, after he was formally charged with raping a 14-year-old German girl Tuesday.
"We are worried about him (Rohit) leaving India," Superintendent of Police (north) Bosco George told reporters here.
Rohit has managed to elude the police, even as his father maintains he is innocent.
Notice to Delhi Police on Jamia Nagar suspects
By IANS,
New Delhi : The Delhi High Court Wednesday issued notice to the Delhi Police on the custodial status of two suspected terrorists who have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the Sept 13 serial blasts in the national capital.
Justice Kailash Gambhir issued the notice on a petition of Mohammad Shakeel and Zeeshan Ahmed seeking quashing of the order allowing their police custody till Oct 27. The police was asked to file its reply by Oct 31.
No Friday prayers in Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid
By IANS,
Srinagar : Friday prayers were not allowed in Srinagar's historic Jamia Masjid as strict curfew-like restrictions remained in force for the second day here to foil separatists' proposed rally at the main mosque of Kashmir.
Unprecedented security measures remained in place for the second consecutive day in the Kashmir Valley, with hundreds of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers on roads.
Hundreds of police and CRPF men surrounded the 15th century mosque to thwart the rally, meant to be pro-independence.
Security forces kill two protesters in Kashmir
By IANS,
Srinagar : Two young men were killed Saturday when police and paramilitary troops fired at people protesting against the holding of elections in Jammu and Kashmir, officials and witnesses said.
The deaths took place in north Kashmir's Baramulla town, which will see voting Dec 7 in the staggered state elections that end Dec 24.
Manzoor Ahmed Kumar, a Class 10 student, died after police guards of Congress candidate Mir Mushtaq fired at a stone pelting mob in Khanpora area, 55 km from here, the police said.
Top LeT commander killed in Jammu and Kashmir
By IANS,
Jammu : A day after assembly polls were held in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, security personnel Thursday killed a top commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist group in the region.
"Saifullah, a top LeT commander, was killed in Thathri area Thursday morning," Prabhat Singh, senior superintendent of police (Doda), told IANS on phone.
Following specific intelligence input, soldiers of the 4 Rashtriya Rifles and state police personnel raided Saifullah's hideout. The militant commander opened fire, leading to an hour-long gunbattle in which he was killed.
Human rights body not satisfied with Delhi shoot-out report
By IANS,
New Delhi : Unhappy with the Delhi Police's interim report, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked them to come out with a full enquiry report on the Jamia Nagar shoot-out in the capital within six weeks' time.
Following allegations by Kamran Siddiqui of the NGO Real Cause that the Sep 19, 2008 shootout at Batla House in Jamia Nagar of south Delhi could have been "fabricated", NHRC had issued notice to Delhi Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal and sought a report.
LeT militant arrested in Jammu and Kashmir
By IANS,
Jammu : A suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist was arrested from the mountainous district of Doda in Jammu and Kashmir Monday, the police said.
A police team, on a specific input, conducted search operations in a village near Bhaderwah town of Doda, about 180 km northeast of Jammu, and arrested Imtiaz Ahmed.
"Imtiaz was working for the LeT," district police chief Prabhat Singh said.
Singh said the arrested militant was active in the area for over a year and a pistol and some grenades have been recovered from him.
Maneka Gandhi refuses to comment on son Varun
By IANS,
New Delhi : Maneka Gandhi, mother of Varun Gandhi who has created a furore for his hate campaign against Muslims in Pilibhit, refused to comment Tuesday on the swirling controversy.
"I don't want to say anything," Gandhi, who is five time MP from Pilibhit, told IANS.
I am proud of my faith, says Varun Gandhi
By IANS,
New Delhi : Asserting that he was a "Gandhi, a Hindu and an Indian" in equal measure, an unapologetic Varun Gandhi said here Wednesday that the CD showing him making an inflammatory speech was doctored and that was not his voice, nor his words.
"I am proud of my faith, not apologising for it," Varun Gandhi told reporters while reading out a written statement.
Groom, 2 others killed in militant attack on wedding party
By IANS,
Jammu: Three people - the bridegroom, his father, and the bride's mother - were killed when militants from the Hizb-ul-Mujahadeen attacked a wedding party in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, the police said Friday. The attack was reportedly led by a militant who wanted to marry the bride.
After a visit to the mountain-side village of Dewal Morah, Bhramidhar, about 130 km from here, the police discovered that the Hizb-ul-Mujahadeen militants opened fire on the wedding party late Thursday, officials said.
Minorities given special consideration in appointments: Khurshid
By IANS,
New Delhi : Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid Friday said that under the prime minister's 15 point programme special consideration is given to minorities for appointment in police, armed forces and public sector units.
Three MIM legislators suspended from Andhra assembly
By IANS,
Hyderabad : Three legislators of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) were Monday suspended from the Andhra Pradesh assembly for a day for stalling proceedings of the house.
Speaker N. Kiran Kumar Reddy announced the suspension of three legislators, including floor leader of the party Akbaruddin Owaisi, and declared that he would not tolerate any indiscipline in the house.
Ahmed Pasha Khadri and Virasat Rasool Khan were the other MIM legislators suspended.
Kashmir’s Gujjars want aid package for community
By IANS,
Jammu: Gujjars in Jammu and Kashmir have demanded an aid package for the nomadic community, which its leaders alleged was a victim of neglect by successive governments in the state.
Lashing out at the state government led by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for its indifference toward the Gujjars, Gujjar United Front (GUF) president and senior community leader Mohammad Anwar Choudhary Friday sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention.
Shutdown in south Kashmir’s Shopian town
By IANS,
Srinagar, Oct 23 (IANS) South Kashmir's Shopian town observed a total shutdown Friday in response to a call given by hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani.
Shops, educational institutions and banks were closed following the shutdown call. Geelani ordered the shutdown as part of his resistance programme against the alleged delay in delivering justice to the rape and murder victims Nilofar Jan,22, and her sister-in-law Asiya Jan, 17. Both women were found dead by the side of a local stream near the town May 30.
Six get two-year jail in Bhagalpur riots case
By IANS,
Patna : A court in Bihar sentenced six persons accused in a case of murder during the 1989 communal riots in Bhagalpur to two years' rigorous imprisonment after convicting them of involvement in the crime, court sources said Tuesday.
Bhagalpur Additional District and Sessions judge Anil Kumar Pandey acquitted the six of charges of murdering a Muslim man during the riots but found them guilty of involvement in the crime.
Over 1,000 people, a majority of them Muslims, were killed in the month-long riots in Bhagalpur city in October 1989.
Paramour held for throwing acid on woman’s face
By IANS,
Ghaziabad: A man was arrested here Monday, six months after he allegedly threw acid on the face of a 22-year-old woman, police said.
Abid, who allegedly threw acid on the face of Shaheen Parveen for rejecting his marriage proposal, was arrested from a bus stand at Loni, a police officer said.
Abid threw acid on Shaheen Parveen, principal of Shanti Niketan Junior High School on Delhi-Saharanpur Road in the Loni area of Ghaziabad, inside the school campus Aug 11 last year.
Beheading of Sikh condemned by Pakistan, India
By IANS,
Islamabad/Chandigarh: Hundreds of fear-stricken Sikhs in Pakistan clamoured to escape to India after the Taliban beheaded a Sikh man in the restive tribal region of Khyber Pass. The killing sparked outrage among Sikhs in India while the incident was condemned by both India and Pakistan.
The body of Jaspal Singh was found in Tirah valley of the Khyber agency in Pakistan's restive tribal region Sunday, and triggered panic in the small community that has faced the ire of the Taliban for some time.
Chhattisgarh minister faces flak over Maoist links
By IANS,
Raipur: A senior minister in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Chhattisgarh came under sharp criticism Wednesday after the opposition Congress alleged that the minister had links with a person held for being involved in Maoist activities.
CBI asked to probe Kandla Port Trust land leases
By IANS,
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Thursday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe Kandla Port Trust (KPT) officials who allegedly leased land to influential people at a throw-away rent without proper valuation.
A division bench of acting Chief Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Mukta Gupta passed the order on a petition of Centre for Public Interest Litigation, an NGO which alleged that over 16,000 acres of the port land was leased out by KPT officials to select individuals at throw-away rents.
BJP has not forgotten Ram temple: Gadkari
By IANS,
Kolkata: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Nitin Gadkari Thursday said his party has not "forgotten" the Ayodhya Ram temple issue.
Addressing the media here, Gadkari said: "Just because the (party) president has changed, it does not imply that the policy has also changed."
Gadkari was replying to a query as to whether the party has forgotten the temple in Ayodhya as it was only talking about economic policies and issues like price rise.
Suicide bombing in Quetta hospital kills eight
By IANS,
Islamabad : Eight people, including a TV channel cameraman and a senior police official, were killed and 35 wounded Friday when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a hospital in Pakistan's Quetta city.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Investigations) Qazi Abdul Wahid said it was a suicide blast at the Civil Hospital on Jinnah Road.
The suicide bomber struck when a crowd gathered at the hospital on learning that bank official Arshad Zaidi was shot at near Mannan Chowk. Zaidi, who was brought to the Civil Hospital, succumbed to the gunshot injuries, Geo TV reported.
Soldier killed, security guards injured in Afghanistan
By DPA,
Kabul : A NATO soldier was killed in combat in southern Afghanistan and four private security guards were injured in an ambush on their convoy, officials said Sunday
The International Security Assistance Force said one of its troops died following an attack in the volatile region, but did not disclose the location or the soldier's nationality.
Most of the NATO soldiers stationed in southern provinces are from the US, Britain, Canada and the Netherlands.
Woman arrested for sending lewd messages to former boss
By IANS,
Chandigarh : The cyber crime cell of Chandigarh police has arrested a 22-year-old woman for sending vulgar text messages to her former female employer, police sources said Tuesday.
According to the police, they received a complaint from Anu Sharma, resident of neighbouring Panchkula town, that an unknown person had been sending her lewd messages on her mobile phone for the last four to five months.
Teenager dies after being set ablaze by molester
By IANS,
Malegaon (Maharashtra) : A 16-year-old girl was set ablaze by a man who tried to molest her in Deoghat village of Malegaon district. The girl died in hospital, police said Saturday.
The accused, Samadhan Khairnar, had barged into the girl's house when she was alone and tried to molest her before he set her on fire, the official added.
Three Maoists arrested in Jharkhand
By IANS,
Ranchi: Three Maoist rebels were arrested in Jharkhand's Latehar district and five guns and Rs.1 lakh in cash seized from them, police said Wednesday.
According to police, among those arrested is a self-styled area commander, Rajendra Yadav, of the People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI).
The rebels were arrested from a jungle near Chandawa of Latehar district, around 130 km from here.
Two terrorists killed in Poonch gunbattle
By IANS,
Jammu : Two terrorists have been killed in a gunbattle with the Indian Army that began two days ago, claiming an army major's life, and is still raging in a forest in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, an official said Thursday.
Tehelka’s Populist Turn?
By Bobby Kunhu and Sudeep KS,
The magazine joins the Great Kerala Terrorist Hunt. This was sent as a rebuttal to Tehelka, but has not been published.
Muslim leaders failed to link Babri issue with community’s backwardness: Faisal Khan
By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
Include expatriates in voters’ list: Muslim League and Congress
By TwoCircles.net Staff Correspondent,
Seminar on ‘Women’s rights and the legal systems’ at AMU
By TCN News,
Aligarh: A three-day seminar on ‘Women’s rights and the legal systems’ has been inaugurated today in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
“Greatness of the Quran & Hadees Conference” held In Chennai
By V.M. Khaleelur Rahman, for TwoCircles.net,
After Salman’s acquittal, we have been vindicated: AWMELA
By Salman Sultan, TwoCircles.net,
A British soldier’s mazar where cigarettes presented as offering
By TCN Special Correspondent,
West Asia is marching towards democracy: Muslim intellectuals
By TCN Special Correspondent,
Parent body of Lucknow’s Mumtaz PG College running in deficit
By TCN Special Correspondent,
‘Fear-stricken’ Kupwara children, whose life ‘cease’ to exist after sun-set
By Agence India Press Bureau Report
Kupwara: Children are visibly ‘fear-stricken’ in Ticker Kupwara even a week after the brutal murder of a 6-year-old girl child by unknown persons.
Chandrababu lays foundation stone for Urdu varsity in Andhra
Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday laid the foundation stone for a Urdu university in Kurnool district, and said his...
Bharuch murder case accused remanded in NIA custody
Bharuch : A special court here on Wednesday remanded Nasirkhan Pathan, arrested in the murder case of two BJP leaders in Bharuch, in National...
मज़हब पर उठती उंगलियों से भरा रहा बीता साल
जावेद अनीस
पिछले डेढ़ सालों में इस देश में अभिव्यक्ति की आज़ादी और लोकतंत्र के दायरे कम हुए हैं और बहुसंख्यकवाद का अहंकार सामने आया...
Transfer of officials knee-jerk reaction: AIADMK
Chennai : Tamil Nadu's ruling party AIADMK has lodged a protest against the large scale transfer of officials ordered by the Election Commission and...
Musharraf transfers emergency powers to president’s office
By IANS
Islamabad : Pakistan's military strongman Pervez Musharraf, who declared an emergency in his capacity as army chief, has transferred the power to lift the measure to the president's office that he also holds.
This is being seen as a move to continue the emergency even after he sheds his uniform and takes oath as a civilian president.
Pakistani election commission to announce schedule Tuesday
By Xinhua
Islamabad : The Election Commission (EC) of Pakistan will announce the schedule of the forthcoming general elections after dissolution of the provincial assemblies Tuesday.
Local press reports Saturday quoted EC Secretary Kanwar Dilshadas saying that an important meeting of the commission would be held Monday to discuss the election schedule.
He said that the meeting was also likely to finalize the code of conduct for the elections in the light of consultations with the political parties.
Third OPEC summit opens in Saudi capital
By Xinhua
Riyadh : The third OPEC summit in the organization's 47-year history opened in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh on Saturday afternoon amid surging oil prices.
Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, the host of the summit, presided the opening ceremony while Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the host of the previous summit in 2000, gave the opening speech.
Death toll reaches 1,860 in Bangladesh cyclone – agency
By RIA Novosti
Dhaka : The death toll from a devastating cyclone in Bangladesh has climbed to 1,860, China's Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday.
The category four cyclone Sidr hit the coast of Bangladesh late on Thursday, with winds reaching 240 km (150 miles) per hour, ripping up trees and leveling houses, as well as causing damage to crops, transport routes, communication and power supply lines. Many coastal districts were flooded.
Dhaka : The death toll from a devastating cyclone in Bangladesh has climbed to 1,860, China's Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday.
The category four cyclone Sidr hit the coast of Bangladesh late on Thursday, with winds reaching 240 km (150 miles) per hour, ripping up trees and leveling houses, as well as causing damage to crops, transport routes, communication and power supply lines. Many coastal districts were flooded.
Poll panel extends deadline for Modi’s reply
By IANS
New Delhi : The Election Commission Saturday extended by over eight hours its 11 a.m. deadline for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to reply to its notice for his alleged speech inciting communal passions while referring to the 2005 staged killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh.
An official spokesperson of the poll panel told IANS that the commission extended the deadline after Modi's representative informed it that the reply was being drafted and would take some hours.
At this, the commission asked him to submit the reply by late evening, the spokesperson said.
Pakistan Missile Test Successful
By Prensa Latina
Islamabad : Pakistan successfully tested a Babur earth-earth cruise missile, named after a Mongolian emperor and developed by the country's engineers, reported Army sources in this capital.
The Hatf-VII rocket of 434 mile range has capacity of movement almost in silence, reported a military communiqué broadcast by the Pakistan Associated Press (APP).
The missile could carries nuclear or conventional warheads and can be launch from military submarines or fighter planes.
Abdullah asks moderate Hurriyat to contest polls
By IANS
Srinagar : National Conference (NC) president Omar Abdullah Thursday asked leaders of the moderate Hurriyat to contest the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections, due next year, and get people's views on their stand.
"Mirwaiz Umer Farooq has now said his group is ready to discuss a pre-1953 status for the state with some modifications. His group must join the next assembly elections to get the people's endorsement for their stand," Abdullah told a party rally in the Pulwama town, 32 km from here.
Blair calls for Palestinian-Israeli action to reach agreement within certain time
By Xinhua
Cairo : Mideast Quartet envoy Tony Blair called Friday for an action to reach an political agreement between the Palestinians and Israel within certain time, reported Qatar's al-Jazerra satellite news channel.
Blair, who is currently on a tour in the Middle East region seeking to speed up the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, made the call in an interview with al-Jazerra.
The Palestinian and Israeli sides should not take any measures that could hinder the final status negotiations, Blair told al-Jazerra.
Bush to visit Israel, West Bank in push for peace
By DPA
Washington : US President George W. Bush will make his first visit to Israel and the West Bank next month to steer negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians and build on the momentum gained during last month's peace conference.
Bush will also visit Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt during the Jan 8-16 trip to keep pressure on them to support the first Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in seven years.
Indian government has virtually asked me to leave: Taslima
By Sujoy Dhar, IANS
Kolkata/New Delhi : Her voice choked with emotion, Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen Thursday said the Indian government has virtually asked her to leave the country by insisting she could live here only confined in a room without being able to visit anywhere or receive visitors.
Pakistan crisis to figure in Bush meetings in West Asia
By NNN-PTI
Washington : Issues of violence in Pakistan including the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto and extremism will figure in the visit of the President George W Bush to the West Asia starting next week.
Bush is scheduled to embark on a nine-day visit to Israel, the West Bank, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Maoist guerrilla critically injures policeman in Orissa
By IANS
Malkangiri : A policeman was critically injured after a suspected Maoist guerrilla allegedly attacked him in Orissa's Malkangiri district, police said Tuesday.
The guerrilla allegedly attacked S.K. Barik, an assistant sub inspector, with an axe late Monday, district superintendent of police Satish Kumar Gajbhiye told IANS.
The incident occurred in a crowded place near the police station in Kalimela town, about 700 km from state capital Bhubaneswar.
After Bilkis Bano – ensure justice for all
People's Democracy Editorial
Finally, at least in one case amongst the thousands that occurred in the State-sponsored communal genocide in Gujarat in 2002, justice appears to have been done. The special court in Mumbai, designated by the Supreme Court, to conduct the trial in some of the most gruesome incidents of communal carnage, has sentenced eleven out of the twelve guilty to life imprisonment in the Bilkis Bano gang rape and massacre case. In addition, one police officer was sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment on charges of complicity.
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