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Curfew clamped in Aligarh

      Aligarh: An indefinite curfew has been imposed in Saasani Gate, Delhi Gate, Kotwali, Gandhi Park and Banno Devi areas of Aligarh town following violence that started after unidentified gunmen shot at a local BJP leader on Sunday night. Riot police swarmed across the city as curfew was clamped after killing of BJP leader O.P Gupta. Unidentified gunmen had on Sunday barged into the office of Gupta at Delhi Gate area, a local leader of the BJP and a businessman, and shot at point blank range. The trader died on way to hospital and angry supporters, who have alleged some Muslim men to be behind the attack, clashed with the community, pelting stones and setting vehicles afire. Police said six people were injured. "There is curfew clamped in all sensitive areas. Following the incidents in the evening, there has been some violence. We are assessing the situation and accordingly the force mobilisation is being done. In all, four people are in hospital, two more are injured. One has died," Akhil Kumar, senior superintendent of police, told reporters. Meanwhile, one of the gunmen was caught by the people and beaten harshly. Following the news of the attack, supporters of the BJP leader went on a rampage and threw stones on members of the other community. To control the agitating mob, police had to resort to firing tear gas. As per the reports, at least three persons were killed and a dozen were injured when the clashes became violent in different parts of the city. There has also been an arrangement of extra police personnel in the trouble-torn areas to monitor the situation.

Muslims oppose Rajasthan marriage Act (Go To Top)
by Lokendra Singh

      Jaipur: The recent decision of Rajasthan Government making marriage registration mandatory for all has drawn flak from the local leaders of Muslim community here. From May 23rd, it has become compulsory for all, irrespective of religious beliefs, to register their marriages. The rule has come into force following Supreme Court orders issued in February and the Rajasthan government proclaiming it as an ordinance after getting it signed from the Governor. According to Muslim leaders, they do not believe in marriage registration since it is not allowed as stated in Shariyat laws. They want the government not to interfere with the centuries old Muslim marriage system. "From the time of Maharajas, we have had their approval to solemnise a marriage and register it. We had records some even dating back to 160 years. So the government should recognise the Qazi for marriage registration and it will pose no problem," said Khadim Usmani, the Chief Qazi, Jaipur The Muslim community is of the view that there should not be two systems of marriage registration. As the present system of marriage requires registration by a Qazi and a marriage certificate issued by him. This is followed for ages. There is no need for any other system for marriage registration. Government has brought this ordinance after the instructions of Supreme Court.

India, China sign defence pact (Go To Top)

       New Delhi: India and China on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation on defence in Beijing. Reports from Beijing said that the MoU was signed after Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is on his first official visit to China, met with his Chinese counterpart General Cao Gangchuan at the central military commission headquarters this evening. The MoU is expected to serve as an instrument for a regular and sustained dialogue on defence and national defence issues between New Delhi and Beijing and envisages further bilateral contacts between the armed forces, and defence officials and experts of the two countries. General Cao described Mukherjee's visit as an important event for Indo-China 'Friendship', adding, it would deepen the mutual understanding and mutual cooperation between Indian and Chinese armed forces. Mukherjee also extended greetings on behalf of the Indian armed forces to the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). The Defence Minister, who arrived in Beijing from Japan yesterday, today said that the diplomatic relations between India and China could be resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding.

Jaya elected TN Opposition leader (Go To Top)

      Chennai: All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief and former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was today elected unanimously as the Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, by her party members. After being elected as the Opposition Leader, Jayalalithaa talking to newsmen announced this decision of the party. She also said that she was ready to face the Privilege Motion against her, raised by State Electricity Minister and the ruling DMK Treasury Arcot Veerasamy charging Jayalalithaa with making false statements regarding the Assembly proceedings. It may be recalled that AIADMK members were suspended from the Assembly by the Speaker of House, Avoodiappan, for trying to create mayhem in the House and attempting to attack Chief Minister Karunanidhi. Following her party members suspension, Jayalalithaa, reversing her earlier resolve not to attend the Assembly citing security reasons, she attended the Assembly proceedings on Saturday alone and charged the ruling DMK Government with making false promises and questioned how the promises are to be fulfilled without proper resources.

India sends relief to quake-hit Indonesia (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: An Indian Air Force IL-76 aircraft carrying 35 tons of relief material to earthquake-hit Indonesia, left for Jakarta this afternoon. The relief material includes emergency medicines, tents, ready to cook food and blankets etc. "We are carrying about 15 tonnes of tentage equipments, including tents and five tonnes of medicines, provided by the Indian Army," said Wing Commander Bakul Upadhyay, the captain of IL-76 aircraft before the aircraft flew out of Air Force Station Palam to Jakarta. Another aircraft with relief supplies is expected to fly out on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the INS Rajput, which is a part of the Eastern Fleet Task Force on an Overseas Deployment in the South China Sea has been diverted to render assistance in the earthquake affected area. The ship is carrying approximately seven tons of relief and medical stores along with two medical teams of two medical officers and four medical assistants. The ship is expected to enter Jakarta at 4 p.m.on Tuesday. INS Tabar, which is scheduled to proceed on an Overseas Deployment to Australasia in June, is also being loaded with relief and medical stores at Chennai. The ship is expected to enter Jakarta tomorrow morning for disembarkation of relief, medical stores and medical teams to render requisite assistance. Meanwhile reports from Jakarta have confirmed that aid from foreign countries has started arriving in quake-hit Indonesia, where the death toll is said to have crossed the 5,000 mark. So far, six countries have come forward with a pledge of 17.9 million dollars. Britain has pledged an aid of 5.5 million dollars, while the European Union, the United States, Australia, China and Canada have pledged 3.8 million dollars, 2.5 million dollars, 2.3 million dollars, 2 million dollars and 1.8 million dollars, respectively.

Nepalese Army to obey new government (Go To Top)

       Kathmandu: Nepal Army Chief, General Pyar Jung Thapa has said that the military would accept the orders of the new government. At his first public appearance since the Nepalese Parliament curbed King Gyanendra's powers including his control over the armed forces, General Thapa said that Nepalese troops were committed to democracy in the Himalayan kingdom. "The Nepal Army is committed to serve under the direction of the Nepal government, which is involved to maintain ability, peace and progress in the country at this time. Nepal's Army wants to be united with the patriotic Nepalese people, whose wishes are to restore stability, peace and progress in the country through dialogue," said General Thapa. General Thapa further said the 90,000-strong Nepalese Army, considered traditionally loyal to the King, was engaged in "consolidating multi-party democracy and promoting national prosperity by maintaining peace".

Five fall victim to honour killing in Pak (Go To Top)

      Islamabad: Five people, including two women, were killed in the name of Karo Kari (Honour Killing) in Garhi Khero sub- district of Pakistan's Jacobabad area. Dost Ali Gorkhani shot his wife Nusrat and aunt Kashmir Bibi dead in the name of so-called honour at Chandan Rind area, Miraanpur police said. Later, he killed three others including Muhammad Yousuf, Qutub Ali and Muhammad Afzal and escaped from the scene. Honour crimes are an archaic practice in Pakistan. Although precise figures are hard to obtain, especially for the more remote rural and tribal areas, Pakistan is thought to hold the world record in honour crimes. Karo Kari is a compound word literally meaning "black male" and "black female," metaphoric terms for adulterer and adulteress. Being so labelled leads more often than not to the murder of both man and woman allegedly guilty of having an illicit affair.

Media attacked in Bangladesh, 25 hurt  (Go To Top)
by Nazrul Islam

      Dhaka: At least 25 newsmen were injured when a group of ruling party men attacked a journalists' rally in Bangladesh's south-western Kustia district on Monday. The rally, attended by the country's leading journalists, was arranged to protest against alleged repression and torture on local journalists by a ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party lawmaker. Witnesses said over 50 activists of the Jatiaytabadi Jibo Dal, the youth front of the ruling BNP, carried out the attack soon after the protest meeting started at around 11:00 am. It is alleged the district BNP health affairs secretary AAK Koreshi Talal led the attack. The Bangladesh Observer editor, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Al Mamun Sagar, Munshi Harunur Rashid and Mizanur Rahman Vija were among those who were critically injured in the attack. They are undergoing treatment at the Kustia Sadar Hospital. Journalists of south-western districts and sub-districts had arranged the rally to protest against filing of false cases against three local journalists by Shahidul Islam, MP, and one of his followers.