A court in India’s eastern Jharkhand state has given a 10-year jail sentence to 10 convicts in the 2019 lynching case of Tabrez Ansari.

On June 17, Ansari was beaten up after he was accused of trying to steal a motorcycle. He later succumbed to his injuries.

The video of the incident had gone viral that purportedly showed a mob forcing Ansari to chant gods' names— 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Jai Hanuman' —in the Saraikela Kharsawan district of Jharkhand.

He died five days later. His family claimed that the police denied him treatment despite his injuries.

The verdict was pronounced on June 27 by Additional District Judge Amit Shekhar ruling the 10 men "guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder", PTI news agency reported.

The judge also slapped a fine of Rs 15,000 ($182 approx.) on each of them.

<h2>Prime accused was already in jail</h2>

The prime accused, Prakash Mandal alias Pappu Mandal, was already in jail, while the others were taken into custody after they were convicted by the court last week.

One of the accused Kushal Mahali died in the course of the trial.

The convicted persons - Bhim Singh Munda, Kamal Mahato, Madan Nayak, Atul Mahali, Sunamo Pradhan, Vikram Mandal, Chamu Nayak, Prem Chand Mahali, Mahesh Mahali – were taken into custody soon after they were convicted by the court.

The incident in the state, which was ruled by the BJP at that time, sparked a national political furore. The opposition parties had even raised the issue in the parliament and disrupted the proceedings for a few days.

Even the police were slammed for not invoking stringent murder charges against the accused. They relented after immense pressure and added murder charges in a supplementary charge sheet.

<h2>Lynching sparked a national furore</h2>

On June 25, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was the Member of Parliament at that time, termed the lynching a "blot on humanity" and said the "silence" of powerful voices in the BJP-ruled central and state governments over the incident is shocking.

The following day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rajya Sabha (upper house) said that he was “pained” by the lynching and the guilty must be severely punished.

Ansari was working as a labourer in Pune. He had come home to celebrate Eid. On the night of the incident, locals at Dhatkidih village caught him over suspicion of trying to steal a motorcycle. He was tied to a pole and beaten up with sticks through the night.

(With inputs from agencies)

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A court in India’s eastern Jharkhand state has given a 10-year jail sentence to 10 convicts in the 2019 lynching case of Tabrez Ansari. On June 17, Ansari was beaten up after he was accused of trying to steal a motorcycle.

A court in India’s eastern Jharkhand state has given a 10-year jail sentence to 10 convicts in the 2019 lynching case of Tabrez Ansari. On June 17, Ansari was beaten up after he was accused of trying to steal a motorcycle. He later succumbed to his injuries. The video of the incident had gone viral that purportedly showed a mob forcing Ansari to chant gods' names— 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Jai Hanuman' —in the Saraikela Kharsawan district of Jharkhand. He died five days later. His family claimed that the police denied him treatment despite his injuries. The verdict was pronounced on June 27 by Additional District Judge Amit Shekhar ruling the 10 men "guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder", PTI news agency reported. The judge also slapped a fine of Rs 15,000 ($182 approx.) on each of them. Prime accused was already in jail The prime accused, Prakash Mandal alias Pappu Mandal, was already in jail, while the others were taken into custody after they were convicted by the court last week. One of the accused Kushal Mahali died in the course of the trial. The convicted persons - Bhim Singh Munda, Kamal Mahato, Madan Nayak, Atul Mahali, Sunamo Pradhan, Vikram Mandal, Chamu Nayak, Prem Chand Mahali, Mahesh Mahali – were taken into custody soon after they were convicted by the court. The incident in the state, which was ruled by the BJP at that time, sparked a national political furore. The opposition parties had even raised the issue in the parliament and disrupted the proceedings for a few days. Even the police were slammed for not invoking stringent murder charges against the accused. They relented after immense pressure and added murder charges in a supplementary charge sheet. Lynching sparked a national furore On June 25, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who was the Member of Parliament at that time, termed the lynching a "blot on humanity" and said the "silence" of powerful voices in the BJP-ruled central and state governments over the incident is shocking. The following day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rajya Sabha (upper house) said that he was “pained” by the lynching and the guilty must be severely punished. Ansari was working as a labourer in Pune. He had come home to celebrate Eid. On the night of the incident, locals at Dhatkidih village caught him over suspicion of trying to steal a motorcycle. He was tied to a pole and beaten up with sticks through the night. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India: Jharkhand court gives 10-year jail term to all convicted in 2019 Tabrez Ansari lynching case

A man was lynched by a blood-thirsty mob in the&nbsp;Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan on Saturday, according to an ANI report. The deceased was accused of blasphemy during a rally of former prime minister Imran Khan's political outfit&nbsp;Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).&nbsp;

A spine-tingling video of the incident is currently doing the rounds of social media and shows a crowd of hundreds converging upon a single man and beating him mercilessly with sticks and other crude weapons. The mob&nbsp;even dragged the lifeless body of the man, believed to be in his 40s.&nbsp;

A Twitter user named Harris Sultan, claiming to be an ex-Muslim atheist activist and author of "The Curse of God, why I left Islam" shared the video of the incident saying the deceased was a Muslim scholar who said he loved Imran Khan like he loved the prophet as the PTI leader was an honest man.&nbsp;

"I've been saying it for at least 5 years that the frequency of these lynchings is only going to increase. According to initial reports, a cleric by the name of Maulana Nigar Alam said "I love Imran Khan like I love prophets"," tweeted the user.&nbsp;

"A seemingly harmless comment in Pakistan can get you killed. Soon, nobody will mention Muhammad or any prophet out of fear of getting misinterpreted as a 'blasphemer'."

(Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of the media shared by the Twitter user)

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**WARNING DISTRESSING CONTENT** 
 
I've been saying it for at least 5 years that the frequency of these lynchings is only going to increase. According to initial reports, a cleric by the name of Maulana Nigar Alam said "I love Imran Khan like I love prophets." 
 
A seemingly… <a href="https://t.co/4nGfbcshfL">pic.twitter.com/4nGfbcshfL</a>
— Harris Sultan (@TheHarrisSultan) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheHarrisSultan/status/1654896113369899010?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The deceased scholar has been identified as&nbsp;Maulana Nigar Alam, according to the ANI report. The police had reportedly reached the spot to push the crowd back. However, while holding a conversation with some of the elders to simmer down the situation, the&nbsp;mob lynched the man.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-chinese-national-arrested-on-blasphemy-charges-this-world-585202">WATCH |&nbsp;Pakistan: Chinese national arrested on blasphemy charges | This World</a>

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<h2>Blasphemy laws in Pakistan</h2>

Blasphemy laws in Pakistan are highly ambiguous and anything said against Islam can land one in trouble.&nbsp;Last month, a Chinese engineer&nbsp;working at the Dasu hydropower project in Kohistan District in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province became the latest victim of the blasphemy laws. He was arrested for allegedly "insulting Allah".&nbsp;

The incident occurred at the project when an employee of China Gezhouba Group Company working at the site got into a heated&nbsp;argument with local labourers.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-national-arrested-in-pakistan-for-insulting-allah-583173">ALSO READ |&nbsp;Chinese national in Pakistan's police custody for 'insulting Allah' in Ramadan row</a>

In January this year, Pakistan's National Assembly voted to expand the definition of the blasphemy law, which already carries a death penalty for insulting the Prophet Muhammad. Under the new law, individuals who are deemed to have insulted the prophet's companions can also receive 10 years in prison or life imprisonment.&nbsp;

The blasphemy laws have been criticised by human rights organisations and international bodies, including the United Nations. These organisations argue that the laws violate freedom of expression and religion, and have called for their repeal or reform.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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A man was lynched by a blood-thirsty mob in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan on Saturday, according to an ANI report. The deceased was accused of blasphemy during a rally of former prime minister Imran Khan's political outfit Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

A man was lynched by a blood-thirsty mob in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan on Saturday, according to an ANI report. The deceased was accused of blasphemy during a rally of former prime minister Imran Khan's political outfit Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). A spine-tingling video of the incident is currently doing the rounds of social media and shows a crowd of hundreds converging upon a single man and beating him mercilessly with sticks and other crude weapons. The mob even dragged the lifeless body of the man, believed to be in his 40s. A Twitter user named Harris Sultan, claiming to be an ex-Muslim atheist activist and author of "The Curse of God, why I left Islam" shared the video of the incident saying the deceased was a Muslim scholar who said he loved Imran Khan like he loved the prophet as the PTI leader was an honest man. "I've been saying it for at least 5 years that the frequency of these lynchings is only going to increase. According to initial reports, a cleric by the name of Maulana Nigar Alam said "I love Imran Khan like I love prophets"," tweeted the user. "A seemingly harmless comment in Pakistan can get you killed. Soon, nobody will mention Muhammad or any prophet out of fear of getting misinterpreted as a 'blasphemer'." (Disclaimer: WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of the media shared by the Twitter user) **WARNING DISTRESSING CONTENT** I've been saying it for at least 5 years that the frequency of these lynchings is only going to increase. According to initial reports, a cleric by the name of Maulana Nigar Alam said "I love Imran Khan like I love prophets." A seemingly… pic.twitter.com/4nGfbcshfL — Harris Sultan (@TheHarrisSultan) May 6, 2023 × The deceased scholar has been identified as Maulana Nigar Alam, according to the ANI report. The police had reportedly reached the spot to push the crowd back. However, while holding a conversation with some of the elders to simmer down the situation, the mob lynched the man. WATCH | Pakistan: Chinese national arrested on blasphemy charges | This World × Blasphemy laws in Pakistan Blasphemy laws in Pakistan are highly ambiguous and anything said against Islam can land one in trouble. Last month, a Chinese engineer working at the Dasu hydropower project in Kohistan District in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province became the latest victim of the blasphemy laws. He was arrested for allegedly "insulting Allah". The incident occurred at the project when an employee of China Gezhouba Group Company working at the site got into a heated argument with local labourers. ALSO READ | Chinese national in Pakistan's police custody for 'insulting Allah' in Ramadan row In January this year, Pakistan's National Assembly voted to expand the definition of the blasphemy law, which already carries a death penalty for insulting the Prophet Muhammad. Under the new law, individuals who are deemed to have insulted the prophet's companions can also receive 10 years in prison or life imprisonment. The blasphemy laws have been criticised by human rights organisations and international bodies, including the United Nations. These organisations argue that the laws violate freedom of expression and religion, and have called for their repeal or reform. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Pakistan: Islamic scholar lynched in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for blasphemy

Bangladesh on Saturday opened an important bridge near the capital Dhaka after a long construction plagued by delays, graft allegations, and even deadly lynchings sparked by rumours of human sacrifice.

The inauguration of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge now officially the country's longest caps a key infrastructure goal by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the nearly eight years since construction began.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/how-bangladeshs-rivers-have-paid-the-price-for-garment-driven-economic-boom-490367">How Bangladesh's rivers have paid the price for garment-driven economic boom</a>

It ends an economic bottleneck that required freight destined for the country's poverty-stricken south and the Indian megacity of Kolkata to be slowly ferried over the Padma river, a major tributary of the mighty Ganges.

"This bridge is not just bricks, cement, iron, and concrete," Hasina told a crowd of nearly a million people who had gathered along the river's banks for its opening ceremony.&nbsp;

"This bridge is our pride, a symbol of our capacity, strength and dignity," the leader added.

But the project was also burdened by other, more vexing associations even before work began.&nbsp;

Bangladesh financed the $3.87 billion project itself after corruption allegations saw the World Bank and other lenders withdraw finance.

Canadian engineering firm SNC-Lavalin was banned from bidding on World Bank projects for a decade after it was accused of bribing officials over the project.

Watch |&nbsp;Flash floods hit parts of Bangladesh: 2,700 diarrhoea cases reported this week

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Prosecutors in Canada eventually declined to pursue corruption charges against company executives after a court ruled some wiretap evidence against them was inadmissible.&nbsp;

Engineers said building challenges for the project were "immense" as siltation left the bottom of the Padma river unstable, making it difficult to place spans and helping blow out the bridge's finish date by four years.&nbsp;

And in 2019, eight people were killed in vigilante lynchings sparked by social media rumours of children being kidnapped and sacrificed as offerings for the bridge's construction.&nbsp;

More than 30 others were attacked in connection with the rumours, mostly spread on Facebook, that said human heads were needed to help finish the project.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/fms-of-india-bangladesh-sri-lanka-to-attend-commonwealth-summit-in-rwanda-maldives-by-its-president-490016">India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka FMs, Maldives president to attend Commonwealth Summit in Rwanda</a>

Despite its troubles, the 6.2 kilometres (3.8-mile) road and rail link has long been signposted as one of the most significant endeavours of Hasina's tenure.

Local media reported breathlessly on minor construction milestones, such as the completion of one of its 41 concrete spans.&nbsp;

Major roads across Dhaka were festooned with lights, lasers and decorations to mark Saturday's inauguration.&nbsp;

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Bangladesh on Saturday opened an important bridge near the capital Dhaka after a long construction plagued by delays, graft allegations, and even deadly lynchings sparked by rumours of human sacrifice.

Bangladesh on Saturday opened an important bridge near the capital Dhaka after a long construction plagued by delays, graft allegations, and even deadly lynchings sparked by rumours of human sacrifice. The inauguration of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge now officially the country's longest caps a key infrastructure goal by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the nearly eight years since construction began. Also read | How Bangladesh's rivers have paid the price for garment-driven economic boom It ends an economic bottleneck that required freight destined for the country's poverty-stricken south and the Indian megacity of Kolkata to be slowly ferried over the Padma river, a major tributary of the mighty Ganges. "This bridge is not just bricks, cement, iron, and concrete," Hasina told a crowd of nearly a million people who had gathered along the river's banks for its opening ceremony. "This bridge is our pride, a symbol of our capacity, strength and dignity," the leader added. But the project was also burdened by other, more vexing associations even before work began. Bangladesh financed the $3.87 billion project itself after corruption allegations saw the World Bank and other lenders withdraw finance. Canadian engineering firm SNC-Lavalin was banned from bidding on World Bank projects for a decade after it was accused of bribing officials over the project. Watch | Flash floods hit parts of Bangladesh: 2,700 diarrhoea cases reported this week Prosecutors in Canada eventually declined to pursue corruption charges against company executives after a court ruled some wiretap evidence against them was inadmissible. Engineers said building challenges for the project were "immense" as siltation left the bottom of the Padma river unstable, making it difficult to place spans and helping blow out the bridge's finish date by four years. And in 2019, eight people were killed in vigilante lynchings sparked by social media rumours of children being kidnapped and sacrificed as offerings for the bridge's construction. More than 30 others were attacked in connection with the rumours, mostly spread on Facebook, that said human heads were needed to help finish the project. Also read | India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka FMs, Maldives president to attend Commonwealth Summit in Rwanda Despite its troubles, the 6.2 kilometres (3.8-mile) road and rail link has long been signposted as one of the most significant endeavours of Hasina's tenure. Local media reported breathlessly on minor construction milestones, such as the completion of one of its 41 concrete spans. Major roads across Dhaka were festooned with lights, lasers and decorations to mark Saturday's inauguration. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Once plagued by graft claims, lynchings, Bangladesh's Padma Multipurpose Bridge opens to public

According to Pakistani media, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court sentenced six people to death and seven others to life in jail for their roles in the lynching of a Sri Lankan national for alleged blasphemy.

In the murder case, 89 men have been charged, nine of whom are juveniles.

Seven of them have been sentenced to life in prison, while the remaining 76 have been sentenced to two years in prison.&nbsp;

Judge Natasha Nasim, who conducted the trial in secret within the high-security Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore on a daily basis, declared the verdict in front of the suspects.

The judge did not announce the verdicts of nine minor defendants whose trials are still ongoing.&nbsp;

Last year, a religiously fanatic mob lynched and burned Priyantha Kumara, a 49-year-old Sri Lankan citizen and manufacturing manager in Pakistan's Punjab city of Sialkot.

At the time, Imran Khan, Pakistan's prime minister, condemned the vigilante violence and promised to prosecute the offenders.

The trial of the case in Kot Lakhpat Jail was completed by an anti-terrorism court.

In the case that was heard on a daily basis, both the prosecution and the defence had finished their arguments.

The investigative officers' and eyewitnesses' statements had also been recorded.

Watch | Pakistan: Sri Lankan national lynched over alleged blasphemy

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According to Pakistani media, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court sentenced six people to death and seven others to life in jail for their roles in the lynching of a Sri Lankan national for alleged blasphemy.

According to Pakistani media, a Pakistani anti-terrorism court sentenced six people to death and seven others to life in jail for their roles in the lynching of a Sri Lankan national for alleged blasphemy. In the murder case, 89 men have been charged, nine of whom are juveniles. Seven of them have been sentenced to life in prison, while the remaining 76 have been sentenced to two years in prison. Judge Natasha Nasim, who conducted the trial in secret within the high-security Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore on a daily basis, declared the verdict in front of the suspects. The judge did not announce the verdicts of nine minor defendants whose trials are still ongoing. Last year, a religiously fanatic mob lynched and burned Priyantha Kumara, a 49-year-old Sri Lankan citizen and manufacturing manager in Pakistan's Punjab city of Sialkot. At the time, Imran Khan, Pakistan's prime minister, condemned the vigilante violence and promised to prosecute the offenders. The trial of the case in Kot Lakhpat Jail was completed by an anti-terrorism court. In the case that was heard on a daily basis, both the prosecution and the defence had finished their arguments. The investigative officers' and eyewitnesses' statements had also been recorded. Watch | Pakistan: Sri Lankan national lynched over alleged blasphemy

Lynching of Priyantha Kumara: Pakistan Court gives death sentence to 6, life imprisonment to 7

On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden signed a bill making lynching a federal hate crime, putting an end to more than a century of delays in criminalising the symbol of what he called "pure terror."

The new law will punish anyone convicted of lynching for up to 30 years, ending what researchers say was an unbroken history of impunity over the thousands of lynchings that took place between the end of the Civil War and 1950.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/war-in-ukraine-enhances-eus-resolve-to-act-in-indo-pacific-says-top-diplomat-gabriele-466800" hreflang="en">War in Ukraine enhances EU's resolve to act in Indo Pacific, says top diplomat Gabriele</a>

The bill is named after the tragically murdered 14-year-old black teen Bill Emmett Till, who sparked the civil rights movement during the 1950s.

President Biden was joined at the Rose Garden ceremony by Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the first Black female vice president, and Michelle Duster, the great-granddaughter of anti-lynching activist and pioneering Black journalist Ida B. Wells.

Biden said lynching was "pure terror," noting the horrific practice of killing mostly black Americans in public, often in front of enthusiastic white crowds in the post-slavery United States.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-still-doubts-that-russia-is-serious-in-talks-with-ukraine-blinken-466765" hreflang="en">United States still doubts that Russia is serious in talks with Ukraine: Blinken</a>

However, Biden warned that "racial hate isn't an old problem, it's a persistent problem," stating that "hate never goes away, it only hides."

VP Harris also warned that "lynching is not a relic of the past."

"Racial acts of terror still occur in our nation," she said.&nbsp;

Earlier this month the Senate had unanimously passed this bill. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has said that the long delay has proven to be "a stain on America".

Watch |&nbsp;U.S. President Joe Biden says Asia-Pacific is still a priority as he hosts Singapore PM Loong

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In August 1955, Bill Emmett Till was abducted and murdered while visiting relatives in the US southern state of Mississippi. The mutilated body of the teenager was discovered three days later in a nearby river.

This was in response to a white woman, Carolyn Bryant, alleging that he had propositioned her in a store and touched her on the arm, hand, and waist.&nbsp;

The mother of Till famously demanded that her son's remains be displayed in an open casket so that everyone could see what had been done.

A white Mississippi jury acquitted two men charged with murder, Roy Bryant, Carolyn Bryant's husband, and J W Milam, his half-brother. Later, the pair admitted that they had killed the boy in a magazine interview.

(WIth inputs from agencies)

On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden signed a bill making lynching a federal hate crime, putting an end to more than a century of delays in criminalising the symbol of what he called "pure terror.

On Tuesday, US President Joe Biden signed a bill making lynching a federal hate crime, putting an end to more than a century of delays in criminalising the symbol of what he called "pure terror." The new law will punish anyone convicted of lynching for up to 30 years, ending what researchers say was an unbroken history of impunity over the thousands of lynchings that took place between the end of the Civil War and 1950. Also read | War in Ukraine enhances EU's resolve to act in Indo Pacific, says top diplomat Gabriele The bill is named after the tragically murdered 14-year-old black teen Bill Emmett Till, who sparked the civil rights movement during the 1950s. President Biden was joined at the Rose Garden ceremony by Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the first Black female vice president, and Michelle Duster, the great-granddaughter of anti-lynching activist and pioneering Black journalist Ida B. Wells. Biden said lynching was "pure terror," noting the horrific practice of killing mostly black Americans in public, often in front of enthusiastic white crowds in the post-slavery United States. Also read | United States still doubts that Russia is serious in talks with Ukraine: Blinken However, Biden warned that "racial hate isn't an old problem, it's a persistent problem," stating that "hate never goes away, it only hides." VP Harris also warned that "lynching is not a relic of the past." "Racial acts of terror still occur in our nation," she said. Earlier this month the Senate had unanimously passed this bill. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has said that the long delay has proven to be "a stain on America". Watch | U.S. President Joe Biden says Asia-Pacific is still a priority as he hosts Singapore PM Loong In August 1955, Bill Emmett Till was abducted and murdered while visiting relatives in the US southern state of Mississippi. The mutilated body of the teenager was discovered three days later in a nearby river. This was in response to a white woman, Carolyn Bryant, alleging that he had propositioned her in a store and touched her on the arm, hand, and waist. The mother of Till famously demanded that her son's remains be displayed in an open casket so that everyone could see what had been done. A white Mississippi jury acquitted two men charged with murder, Roy Bryant, Carolyn Bryant's husband, and J W Milam, his half-brother. Later, the pair admitted that they had killed the boy in a magazine interview. (WIth inputs from agencies)

Biden makes the 'pure terror' of lynching a federal crime

The Senate unanimously approved a bill that would make lynching a federal hate crime, explicitly criminalizing a heinous act that has become a symbol of the nation’s history of racial violence.

It was a remarkable moment after more than a century of failed attempts. The historic bill carries the name of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black boy tortured and murdered in Mississippi in 1955. Under the measure, the crime is punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

“Hallelujah — it is long overdue,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. and the Senate majority leader, who oversaw the legislation’s passage in a sparsely filled chamber Monday evening. He added: “That it took so long is a stain, a bitter stain on America.”

Without any senators showing up to object, the bill cleared the Senate without a formal vote. The measure now heads to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature, having passed the House in late February with only three lawmakers opposed.

“Although no legislation will reverse the pain and fear felt by those victims, their loved ones and Black communities, this legislation is a necessary step America must take to heal from the racialized violence that has permeated its history,” Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., a sponsor of the legislation, said in a statement Monday.

Failure to pass such a measure before this year had become a glaring example of the nation’s inadequate response to a crime that has long terrorized Black Americans. The NAACP estimated, based on its records, that Black victims accounted for 72% of 4,743 lynchings that occurred between 1882 and 1968.

“This is the year, now is the time, that we do the right thing,” Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., a longtime champion of the legislation, said in an impassioned speech on the Senate floor on Thursday. “Not for Republicans or Democrats, but for Americans who’ve watched, with bewildered eyes and confused hearts, their government fall short on issues of importance to them again and again and again. Let this year be the year we put politics to the side and we get it done.”

In 1900, Rep. George Henry White of North Carolina first introduced legislation to make lynching a hate crime; he was the only Black lawmaker in Congress at the time. The bill never made it to the House floor for a vote. In the years since, more than 200 similar bills have been filed, lawmakers estimated.

In 2005, the Senate formally apologized for its failure to act on the issue, including when Southern senators blocked similar legislation during the Jim Crow era. More than a decade later, three Black senators — Scott, Booker and Kamala Harris of California — began a renewed effort to see an anti-lynching measure signed into law.

As racial justice protests swept through the country in the summer of 2020 after the killings of Black men and women by white police and civilians, the three senators renewed their efforts to pass the measure.

But Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., objected to expedited passage at the time, saying the legislation was overly broad, and it failed to pass the Senate. In an opinion piece published this month, he described negotiating a revised version of the legislation, which notably specifies “death or serious bodily injury” resulting from the offense.

“Our partnership worked because of a profound mutual respect for one another and a shared goal to right historic wrongs without inadvertently creating new victims,” Paul wrote, singling out Booker.

The bipartisan passage, said Rep. Bobby L. Rush, D-Ill., a champion of the measure in the House, “sends a clear and emphatic message that our nation will no longer ignore this shameful chapter of our history.”

The Senate unanimously approved a bill that would make lynching a federal hate crime, explicitly criminalizing a heinous act that has become a symbol of the nation’s history of racial violence.

The Senate unanimously approved a bill that would make lynching a federal hate crime, explicitly criminalizing a heinous act that has become a symbol of the nation’s history of racial violence. It was a remarkable moment after more than a century of failed attempts. The historic bill carries the name of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black boy tortured and murdered in Mississippi in 1955. Under the measure, the crime is punishable by up to 30 years in prison. “Hallelujah — it is long overdue,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. and the Senate majority leader, who oversaw the legislation’s passage in a sparsely filled chamber Monday evening. He added: “That it took so long is a stain, a bitter stain on America.” Without any senators showing up to object, the bill cleared the Senate without a formal vote. The measure now heads to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature, having passed the House in late February with only three lawmakers opposed. “Although no legislation will reverse the pain and fear felt by those victims, their loved ones and Black communities, this legislation is a necessary step America must take to heal from the racialized violence that has permeated its history,” Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., a sponsor of the legislation, said in a statement Monday. Failure to pass such a measure before this year had become a glaring example of the nation’s inadequate response to a crime that has long terrorized Black Americans. The NAACP estimated, based on its records, that Black victims accounted for 72% of 4,743 lynchings that occurred between 1882 and 1968. “This is the year, now is the time, that we do the right thing,” Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., a longtime champion of the legislation, said in an impassioned speech on the Senate floor on Thursday. “Not for Republicans or Democrats, but for Americans who’ve watched, with bewildered eyes and confused hearts, their government fall short on issues of importance to them again and again and again. Let this year be the year we put politics to the side and we get it done.” In 1900, Rep. George Henry White of North Carolina first introduced legislation to make lynching a hate crime; he was the only Black lawmaker in Congress at the time. The bill never made it to the House floor for a vote. In the years since, more than 200 similar bills have been filed, lawmakers estimated. In 2005, the Senate formally apologized for its failure to act on the issue, including when Southern senators blocked similar legislation during the Jim Crow era. More than a decade later, three Black senators — Scott, Booker and Kamala Harris of California — began a renewed effort to see an anti-lynching measure signed into law. As racial justice protests swept through the country in the summer of 2020 after the killings of Black men and women by white police and civilians, the three senators renewed their efforts to pass the measure. But Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., objected to expedited passage at the time, saying the legislation was overly broad, and it failed to pass the Senate. In an opinion piece published this month, he described negotiating a revised version of the legislation, which notably specifies “death or serious bodily injury” resulting from the offense. “Our partnership worked because of a profound mutual respect for one another and a shared goal to right historic wrongs without inadvertently creating new victims,” Paul wrote, singling out Booker. The bipartisan passage, said Rep. Bobby L. Rush, D-Ill., a champion of the measure in the House, “sends a clear and emphatic message that our nation will no longer ignore this shameful chapter of our history.”

US Congress gives final approval to make lynching a hate crime

After global condemnation for Pakistan in the Sri Lankan man's public lynching case, the trials for all the accused to be conducted inside the jail.

Pakistan: Trial to be conducted inside the jail in Sri Lankan man's public lynching case

The chief of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), the radical Islamist party whose supporters are accused of lynching a Sri Lankan man over blasphemy charges, has predicted that his party would be a “kingmaker” in the 2023 general elections.

In an interview with Newsweek Pakistan, TLP chief Saad Hussain Rizvi, who was recently released from jail after nearly seven months, said that their vote bank will likely get a massive boost in Punjab and Sindh regions, provided that the “polls are held in a free and fair manner”.

“No opposition will be able to function, and no party will be able to make government without the support of the TLP,” Rizvi said while claiming that his party's vote banks in Punjab and Sindh had experienced a massive boost since the last general elections.

“The TLP enjoys good support in both provinces and its vote bank has increased manifold compared to last elections,” he told the magazine on Thursday.

When asked whether any major political parties have reached out to him after his release and the possibility of an electoral alliance, Saad said the TLP’s doors were open to all parties.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/tlp-to-end-sit-in-protest-as-pakistan-lifts-ban-on-group-427738">TLP to end sit-in protest as Pakistan lifts ban on group</a>

When asked for his views regarding last week’s mob lynching of Priyantha Kumara in Sialkot over allegations of blasphemy, Rizvi sought to distance TLP from the incident.

He claimed that such incidents were linked to the TLP by the media to harm it.

Police had arrested Rizvi on April 12 as a “pre-emptive measure", ahead of planned protests by the TLP for the implementation of its demands, including the expulsion the French ambassador, severing ties with France and boycotting French products over blasphemous sketches of the Prophet.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bowing-down-pakistan-pm-imran-khan-approves-tlps-de-proscription-427362">Bowing down? Pakistan PM Imran Khan approves TLP's de-proscription</a>

The next day, police had registered a first information report (FIR) against the TLP chief under sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997.

Later on November 18, Rizvi was released from Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail in the aftermath of an agreement with the Imran Khan-led government.

The agreement was reached following days of protest by his party workers, who also clashed with police, and were marching towards the capital, Islamabad.

The details of the agreement have not been made public.

On November 7, the Imran Khan-led government had dropped TLP from the list of proscribed group.

(With inputs from agencies)

The chief of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), the radical Islamist party whose supporters are accused of lynching a Sri Lankan man over blasphemy charges, has predicted that his party would be a “kingmaker” in the 2023 general elections.

The chief of Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), the radical Islamist party whose supporters are accused of lynching a Sri Lankan man over blasphemy charges, has predicted that his party would be a “kingmaker” in the 2023 general elections. In an interview with Newsweek Pakistan, TLP chief Saad Hussain Rizvi, who was recently released from jail after nearly seven months, said that their vote bank will likely get a massive boost in Punjab and Sindh regions, provided that the “polls are held in a free and fair manner”. “No opposition will be able to function, and no party will be able to make government without the support of the TLP,” Rizvi said while claiming that his party's vote banks in Punjab and Sindh had experienced a massive boost since the last general elections. “The TLP enjoys good support in both provinces and its vote bank has increased manifold compared to last elections,” he told the magazine on Thursday. When asked whether any major political parties have reached out to him after his release and the possibility of an electoral alliance, Saad said the TLP’s doors were open to all parties. Also read | TLP to end sit-in protest as Pakistan lifts ban on group When asked for his views regarding last week’s mob lynching of Priyantha Kumara in Sialkot over allegations of blasphemy, Rizvi sought to distance TLP from the incident. He claimed that such incidents were linked to the TLP by the media to harm it. Police had arrested Rizvi on April 12 as a “pre-emptive measure", ahead of planned protests by the TLP for the implementation of its demands, including the expulsion the French ambassador, severing ties with France and boycotting French products over blasphemous sketches of the Prophet. Also read | Bowing down? Pakistan PM Imran Khan approves TLP's de-proscription The next day, police had registered a first information report (FIR) against the TLP chief under sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997. Later on November 18, Rizvi was released from Lahore's Kot Lakhpat jail in the aftermath of an agreement with the Imran Khan-led government. The agreement was reached following days of protest by his party workers, who also clashed with police, and were marching towards the capital, Islamabad. The details of the agreement have not been made public. On November 7, the Imran Khan-led government had dropped TLP from the list of proscribed group. (With inputs from agencies)

Chief of hardline Islamist party TLP aims to become ‘kingmaker’ in 2023 Pak general elections

The remains of the Sri Lankan national Priyantha Kumara, who was brutally tortured and lynched in Pakistan's Sialkot have been handed over to the family after a second post-mortem at the national hospital in Colombo.

Sialkot Lynching: Priyantha Kumara's remains handed to family, kin suspects of 'pre-planned murder'

The lynching of a Sri Lankan national in Pakistan has sparked global outrage. But Pakistani ministers are trying to justify the killing by comparing the mob to 'children' who often get carried away by 'emotions'. Palki Sharma has a report.

Gravitas: Pak Defence minister justifies lynching of Sri Lankan national

When a mob in eastern Pakistan attacked and killed a Sri Lankan factory manager, Priyantha Kumara, his family was unaware of what was happening. It was only through the evening news that his wife got to know about the heartbreaking news.<o:p></o:p>

In an exclusive interview with WION, Kumara’s wife, Nilushi Dissanayaka, and his brother,&nbsp;Kamalasiri Shantha Kumara, revealed that family was unaware of this heinous attack till they saw it in news.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-mob-lynching-remains-of-lankan-man-sent-to-colombo-for-last-rites-434613">Pakistan mob lynching: Remains of Lankan man sent to Colombo for last rites</a></o:p>

Describing him as a "very calm and cool person", Kumara’s wife agreed that her husband was a very "disciplined person". Sadly, she added ‘unfortunately’ as many reports have stated that it was his strictness that the factory employees were not fond of, and therefore headed out for revenge.<o:p></o:p>

Priyantha Kumara had been working in Pakistan for the past 11 years and the factory was his second workplace where he had been working for the past nine years. The victim's brother claims that the family believes that this murder was pre-planned. "This is not a sudden attack, it was pre=planned," he told WION.<o:p></o:p>

It is being believed that Kumara was brutally slapped, kicked, punched which led to his death, and his body was then set to fire by a frenzied mob, in which there were also supporters of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/remains-of-sri-lankan-lynching-victim-handed-over-to-family-434900">WATCH |</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/remains-of-sri-lankan-lynching-victim-handed-over-to-family-434900/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

On Monday, the Pakistan government sent his remains back to his family in Sri Lanka. After Sri Lankan embassy officials visited the hospital to lay flowers on his remains and escort the body to the airport, the remains were sent to Colombo from Lahore airport.<o:p></o:p>

Kumara’s wife has been told by the Sri Lankan government that "they will take the necessary action needed and we have placed our trust in" them. <o:p></o:p>

She also added that the family will not be able to return to Pakistan ever. "This will be a lesson to all those, if they don’t, no foreigners would go to work in Pakistan. Asking Pakistan government, don’t give chance to these cruel people," she said.<o:p></o:p>

When a mob in eastern Pakistan attacked and killed a Sri Lankan factory manager, Priyantha Kumara, his family was unaware of what was happening. It was only through the evening news that his wife got to know about the heartbreaking news.

When a mob in eastern Pakistan attacked and killed a Sri Lankan factory manager, Priyantha Kumara, his family was unaware of what was happening. It was only through the evening news that his wife got to know about the heartbreaking news. In an exclusive interview with WION, Kumara’s wife, Nilushi Dissanayaka, and his brother, Kamalasiri Shantha Kumara, revealed that family was unaware of this heinous attack till they saw it in news. Also read | Pakistan mob lynching: Remains of Lankan man sent to Colombo for last rites Describing him as a "very calm and cool person", Kumara’s wife agreed that her husband was a very "disciplined person". Sadly, she added ‘unfortunately’ as many reports have stated that it was his strictness that the factory employees were not fond of, and therefore headed out for revenge. Priyantha Kumara had been working in Pakistan for the past 11 years and the factory was his second workplace where he had been working for the past nine years. The victim's brother claims that the family believes that this murder was pre-planned. "This is not a sudden attack, it was pre=planned," he told WION. It is being believed that Kumara was brutally slapped, kicked, punched which led to his death, and his body was then set to fire by a frenzied mob, in which there were also supporters of Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). WATCH | On Monday, the Pakistan government sent his remains back to his family in Sri Lanka. After Sri Lankan embassy officials visited the hospital to lay flowers on his remains and escort the body to the airport, the remains were sent to Colombo from Lahore airport. Kumara’s wife has been told by the Sri Lankan government that "they will take the necessary action needed and we have placed our trust in" them. She also added that the family will not be able to return to Pakistan ever. "This will be a lesson to all those, if they don’t, no foreigners would go to work in Pakistan. Asking Pakistan government, don’t give chance to these cruel people," she said.

'Got to know about his death from news': Priyantha Kumara's wife tells WION

Remains of Sri Lankan lynching victim handed over to family

A leading opthalmologist in Pakistan has expressed sadness at lynching of Sri Lankan national in Sialkot. Dr Niaz Brohi, the opthalmologist, drew attention to the fact that 40 per cent of corneas used in Pakistan for eye transplant come from Sri Lanka and are donated by Sri Lankan citizens.

“We hang our heads in shame,” he has been quoted as saying by SAMAA digital.

He told the news platform that Pakistan was largest recipient of corneas from Sri Lanka.&nbsp;

Sri Lankan national Priyantha Kumara Diyawadana was lynched to death by a mob of hundreds on December 3 in Pakistan's Sialkot. The frenzied mob attacked Priyantha on suspicions that he had committed blasphemy. Priyantha, a manager of a factory was attacked, tortured and his body was burnt. As per media reports on post-mortem, all bones in his body were broken and the body was 99 per cent burnt.

Diyawadana's body was transferred to Lahore after the autopsy, according to a Punjab Police spokeswoman, where that was handed over to the Sri Lankan embassy.

Dr Brohi, who is a member of Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society from Pakistan. Samaa digital said that the society had donated 35,000 eye corneas to Pakistan.

“Sri Lankan donated us eyes, but we have lost sight,” Dr Brohi told the news platform

A leading opthalmologist in Pakistan has expressed sadness at lynching of Sri Lankan national in Sialkot. Dr Niaz Brohi, the opthalmologist, drew attention to the fact that 40 per cent of corneas used in Pakistan for eye transplant come from Sri Lanka and are donated by Sri Lankan citizens.

A leading opthalmologist in Pakistan has expressed sadness at lynching of Sri Lankan national in Sialkot. Dr Niaz Brohi, the opthalmologist, drew attention to the fact that 40 per cent of corneas used in Pakistan for eye transplant come from Sri Lanka and are donated by Sri Lankan citizens. “We hang our heads in shame,” he has been quoted as saying by SAMAA digital. He told the news platform that Pakistan was largest recipient of corneas from Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan national Priyantha Kumara Diyawadana was lynched to death by a mob of hundreds on December 3 in Pakistan's Sialkot. The frenzied mob attacked Priyantha on suspicions that he had committed blasphemy. Priyantha, a manager of a factory was attacked, tortured and his body was burnt. As per media reports on post-mortem, all bones in his body were broken and the body was 99 per cent burnt. Diyawadana's body was transferred to Lahore after the autopsy, according to a Punjab Police spokeswoman, where that was handed over to the Sri Lankan embassy. Dr Brohi, who is a member of Sri Lanka Eye Donation Society from Pakistan. Samaa digital said that the society had donated 35,000 eye corneas to Pakistan. “Sri Lankan donated us eyes, but we have lost sight,” Dr Brohi told the news platform

'Sri Lankans donated 35k eyes to Pakistanis, but we lost sight,' rues doctor after lynching

Amid the country-wide outrage over the brutal killing of a Sri Lankan national in Pakistan, the country's defence minister Pervez Khattak has now dismissed suggestions that the lynching incident has to be linked to the government's decision to lift the ban on the TLP party. WION's correspondent Anas Mallick brings in all the latest information.

Sialkot Lynching Case: Pakistan defence minister shields government from blame

The top American diplomat in Ukraine testified on Tuesday that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-compares-impeachment-to-lynching-faces-backlash-257586">President Donald Trump</a> made the release of US security aid to Ukraine contingent on Kiev publicly declaring it would carry out politically motivated investigations that he demanded.

The comments by William Taylor, a career diplomat and former Army officer who serves as the charge d'affaires in the US embassy in Ukraine, were in a copy of his statement to lawmakers posted online by US media.

Taylor's statement to the three Democratic-led House of Representatives committees leading an impeachment inquiry against the Republican president marked a pivotal development in the political drama unfolding in Washington that threatens Trump's presidency even as he pursues re-election.

It ran counter to Trump's contention that there was no quid pro quo - a Latin phrase meaning favour for favour - related to the $391 million in security assistance approved by the US Congress to help combat Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine that Trump had withheld.

"It was the most damning testimony," Democratic Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz told Reuters.

In closed-door testimony, Taylor said he was told by Gordon Sondland, the US envoy to the European Union, that Trump had linked release of the aid to public declarations by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that he would investigate Trump's domestic political rival Joe Biden, and his son Hunter Biden, as well as a debunked conspiracy theory about the 2016 election.

Zelenskiy agreed to the request. The aid was later released.

"There was no quid pro quo," said White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham. "Today was just more triple hearsay and selective leaks from the Democrats' politically-motivated, closed-door, secretive hearings."

In his testimony, Taylor detailed numerous conversations and events and emphasized the strategic importance of Ukraine as it faces Russian aggression.

Previously released text messages that Taylor sent to other senior U.S. officials denounced as "crazy" the idea of withholding the security aid to benefit a domestic political campaign.

In his testimony, Taylor emphatically reiterated that view.

The House inquiry is focusing on Trump's request during a July 25 telephone call with Zelenskiy that he investigate the Bidens.

Former Vice President Joe Biden is a leading contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination to face Republican Trump. Hunter Biden had served on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma.

Taylor said Trump also made a White House invitation to Zelenskiy contingent on announcing the investigations.

The content of the phone call was first revealed by a whistleblower within a U.S. intelligence agency, who submitted a report saying Trump pressured Zelenskiy to advance his personal political interests. 
Trump also publicly asked China to investigate the Bidens.

Federal election law prohibits candidates from accepting foreign help in an election.

'DIRECT LINE'

Wasserman Schultz said Taylor "drew the most direct line that I've heard from President Trump to the withholding of foreign aid to a vital diplomatic partner ... and tying the withholding of that funding and the meeting that President Zelenskiy wanted to President Zelenskiy declaring that he would open investigations into the Burisma Biden issue and the 2016 election."

Trump has denied any quid pro quo or wrongdoing and accused Democrats of trying to oust him to prevent him from being re-elected.

However, his acting chief of staff last week acknowledged that the aid was contingent on Ukraine investigating a discredited theory that there is a Democratic National Committee (DNC) computer server in Ukraine. 
In his opening statement, Taylor said, "Ambassador Sondland told me that President Trump had told him that he wants President Zelenskiy to state publicly that Ukraine will investigate Burisma and alleged Ukrainian interference in the 2016 election."

The "alleged Ukrainian interference" is a reference to a debunked conspiracy theory that it was Ukraine, and not Russia, that interfered in the 2016 U.S. election.

U.S. intelligence agencies and a special counsel investigation concluded that Russia used a campaign of hacking and propaganda to undermine Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and boost Trump's candidacy in 2016.

Taylor had mentioned his concerns over the withholding of U.S. aid on Sept. 9 to Sondland and Kurt Volker, the State Department's former special envoy to Ukraine, in a text message provided to House investigators and later made public.

"As I said on the phone, I think it's crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign," Taylor wrote in the text message.

'A RANCOROUS STORY'

On Tuesday, Taylor told lawmakers that Trump's administration had established an "irregular, informal channel of U.S. policy-making" that ran counter to stated diplomatic goals.

Taylor described this channel as including Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, then-Special Envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker, Energy Secretary Rick Perry and Sondland.

"It is a rancorous story about whistleblowers, Mr. Giuliani, side channels, quid pro quos, corruption, and interference in elections," Taylor testified.

Taylor also said Sondland told him that he recognized he had made a mistake by earlier telling Ukrainian officials that Zelenskiy's desire for a White House meeting with Trump was dependent on a public announcement of investigations Trump sought.

Taylor testified Sondland said, "'Everything' was dependent on such an announcement, including security assistance."

Taylor was tapped to serve as charge d'affaires in Kiev, where he had served as U.S. ambassador from 2006 to 2009, after Trump in May abruptly removed Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch. Giuliani had portrayed her as resisting his efforts to push Ukraine to investigate the Bidens.

Yovanovitch testified in the impeachment inquiry on Oct. 11. 
Sondland was a wealthy Oregon hotelier and Trump political donor named to his European diplomatic post last year.

In his testimony to lawmakers, he expressed concern that Trump had ordered U.S. officials in May to work with Giuliani on Ukraine policy. Giuliani had been working to engineer a Ukrainian investigation of the Bidens.

Taylor said Sondland, during a Sept. 8 phone call, "tried to explain to me that President Trump is a businessman. When a businessman is about to sign a check to someone who owes him something, he said, the businessman asks that person to pay up before signing the check."

Also, Taylor said Volker used the same terms days later.

"I argued to both that the explanation made no sense: The Ukrainians did not 'owe' President Trump anything, and holding up security assistance for domestic political gain was 'crazy,' as I had said in my message to Ambassadors Sondland and Volker on September 9," Taylor testified.

Democratic Representative Gerry Connolly told reporters Taylor's testimony was based on meticulous contemporaneous notes of conversations and meetings, adding to his credibility as a witness.

The top American diplomat in Ukraine testified on Tuesday that President Donald Trump made the release of US security aid to Ukraine contingent on Kiev publicly declaring it would carry out politically motivated investigations that he demanded.

The top American diplomat in Ukraine testified on Tuesday that President Donald Trump made the release of US security aid to Ukraine contingent on Kiev publicly declaring it would carry out politically motivated investigations that he demanded. The comments by William Taylor, a career diplomat and former Army officer who serves as the charge d'affaires in the US embassy in Ukraine, were in a copy of his statement to lawmakers posted online by US media. Taylor's statement to the three Democratic-led House of Representatives committees leading an impeachment inquiry against the Republican president marked a pivotal development in the political drama unfolding in Washington that threatens Trump's presidency even as he pursues re-election. It ran counter to Trump's contention that there was no quid pro quo - a Latin phrase meaning favour for favour - related to the $391 million in security assistance approved by the US Congress to help combat Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine that Trump had withheld. "It was the most damning testimony," Democratic Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz told Reuters. In closed-door testimony, Taylor said he was told by Gordon Sondland, the US envoy to the European Union, that Trump had linked release of the aid to public declarations by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that he would investigate Trump's domestic political rival Joe Biden, and his son Hunter Biden, as well as a debunked conspiracy theory about the 2016 election. Zelenskiy agreed to the request. The aid was later released. "There was no quid pro quo," said White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham. "Today was just more triple hearsay and selective leaks from the Democrats' politically-motivated, closed-door, secretive hearings." In his testimony, Taylor detailed numerous conversations and events and emphasized the strategic importance of Ukraine as it faces Russian aggression. Previously released text messages that Taylor sent to other senior U.S. officials denounced as "crazy" the idea of withholding the security aid to benefit a domestic political campaign. In his testimony, Taylor emphatically reiterated that view. The House inquiry is focusing on Trump's request during a July 25 telephone call with Zelenskiy that he investigate the Bidens. Former Vice President Joe Biden is a leading contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination to face Republican Trump. Hunter Biden had served on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma. Taylor said Trump also made a White House invitation to Zelenskiy contingent on announcing the investigations. The content of the phone call was first revealed by a whistleblower within a U.S. intelligence agency, who submitted a report saying Trump pressured Zelenskiy to advance his personal political interests. Trump also publicly asked China to investigate the Bidens. Federal election law prohibits candidates from accepting foreign help in an election. 'DIRECT LINE' Wasserman Schultz said Taylor "drew the most direct line that I've heard from President Trump to the withholding of foreign aid to a vital diplomatic partner ... and tying the withholding of that funding and the meeting that President Zelenskiy wanted to President Zelenskiy declaring that he would open investigations into the Burisma Biden issue and the 2016 election." Trump has denied any quid pro quo or wrongdoing and accused Democrats of trying to oust him to prevent him from being re-elected. However, his acting chief of staff last week acknowledged that the aid was contingent on Ukraine investigating a discredited theory that there is a Democratic National Committee (DNC) computer server in Ukraine. In his opening statement, Taylor said, "Ambassador Sondland told me that President Trump had told him that he wants President Zelenskiy to state publicly that Ukraine will investigate Burisma and alleged Ukrainian interference in the 2016 election." The "alleged Ukrainian interference" is a reference to a debunked conspiracy theory that it was Ukraine, and not Russia, that interfered in the 2016 U.S. election. U.S. intelligence agencies and a special counsel investigation concluded that Russia used a campaign of hacking and propaganda to undermine Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and boost Trump's candidacy in 2016. Taylor had mentioned his concerns over the withholding of U.S. aid on Sept. 9 to Sondland and Kurt Volker, the State Department's former special envoy to Ukraine, in a text message provided to House investigators and later made public. "As I said on the phone, I think it's crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign," Taylor wrote in the text message. 'A RANCOROUS STORY' On Tuesday, Taylor told lawmakers that Trump's administration had established an "irregular, informal channel of U.S. policy-making" that ran counter to stated diplomatic goals. Taylor described this channel as including Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, then-Special Envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker, Energy Secretary Rick Perry and Sondland. "It is a rancorous story about whistleblowers, Mr. Giuliani, side channels, quid pro quos, corruption, and interference in elections," Taylor testified. Taylor also said Sondland told him that he recognized he had made a mistake by earlier telling Ukrainian officials that Zelenskiy's desire for a White House meeting with Trump was dependent on a public announcement of investigations Trump sought. Taylor testified Sondland said, "'Everything' was dependent on such an announcement, including security assistance." Taylor was tapped to serve as charge d'affaires in Kiev, where he had served as U.S. ambassador from 2006 to 2009, after Trump in May abruptly removed Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch. Giuliani had portrayed her as resisting his efforts to push Ukraine to investigate the Bidens. Yovanovitch testified in the impeachment inquiry on Oct. 11. Sondland was a wealthy Oregon hotelier and Trump political donor named to his European diplomatic post last year. In his testimony to lawmakers, he expressed concern that Trump had ordered U.S. officials in May to work with Giuliani on Ukraine policy. Giuliani had been working to engineer a Ukrainian investigation of the Bidens. Taylor said Sondland, during a Sept. 8 phone call, "tried to explain to me that President Trump is a businessman. When a businessman is about to sign a check to someone who owes him something, he said, the businessman asks that person to pay up before signing the check." Also, Taylor said Volker used the same terms days later. "I argued to both that the explanation made no sense: The Ukrainians did not 'owe' President Trump anything, and holding up security assistance for domestic political gain was 'crazy,' as I had said in my message to Ambassadors Sondland and Volker on September 9," Taylor testified. Democratic Representative Gerry Connolly told reporters Taylor's testimony was based on meticulous contemporaneous notes of conversations and meetings, adding to his credibility as a witness.

US diplomat testifies Trump tied Ukraine aid to politically motivated probes

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday likened the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-exhorts-republicans-to-get-tougher-against-impeachment-enquiry-257396"> impeachment investigation</a> against him to a "lynching," a racially charged word from the darkest days of America's slavery legacy.

There was an immediate backlash to Trump's tweet in which he claimed that impeachment was unfair and stripping him of his legal rights, although a senior Republican senator backed up the president.

"All Republicans must remember what they are witnessing here -- a lynching. But we will WIN!," Trump tweeted.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
So some day, if a Democrat becomes President and the Republicans win the House, even by a tiny margin, they can impeach the President, without due process or fairness or any legal rights. All Republicans must remember what they are witnessing here - a lynching. But we will WIN!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1186611272231636992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said she was "sickened to see Trump's gross misappropriation of this term today."

Clarke said that 4,743 people were lynched in the United States between 1882 and 1968, of which 3,446 were African Americans.

"Lynchings were crimes against humanity and an ugly part of our nation's history of racial violence," she said.

"It's beyond shameful to use the word 'lynching' to describe being held accountable for your actions," said Democratic presidential candidate Julian Castro.

Trump is being investigated for possible impeachment in the Democratic-led House of Representatives over his alleged abuse of office. He is counting on the Republican-dominated Senate to acquit him if the House does vote to impeach.

Senator Lindsey Graham, an influential Republican, however, said he fully agreed with Trump's complaint.

"Yes this is a lynching in every sense. This is un-American," he told reporters.

Graham said that the impeachment probe failed to give Trump the ability to defend himself and is a "complete sham."

"I will do everything I can to make sure it doesn't live very long in the Senate," he said. 
&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday likened the impeachment investigation against him to a "lynching," a racially charged word from the darkest days of America's slavery legacy.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday likened the impeachment investigation against him to a "lynching," a racially charged word from the darkest days of America's slavery legacy. There was an immediate backlash to Trump's tweet in which he claimed that impeachment was unfair and stripping him of his legal rights, although a senior Republican senator backed up the president. "All Republicans must remember what they are witnessing here -- a lynching. But we will WIN!," Trump tweeted. So some day, if a Democrat becomes President and the Republicans win the House, even by a tiny margin, they can impeach the President, without due process or fairness or any legal rights. All Republicans must remember what they are witnessing here - a lynching. But we will WIN! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2019 × Kristen Clarke, president of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said she was "sickened to see Trump's gross misappropriation of this term today." Clarke said that 4,743 people were lynched in the United States between 1882 and 1968, of which 3,446 were African Americans. "Lynchings were crimes against humanity and an ugly part of our nation's history of racial violence," she said. "It's beyond shameful to use the word 'lynching' to describe being held accountable for your actions," said Democratic presidential candidate Julian Castro. Trump is being investigated for possible impeachment in the Democratic-led House of Representatives over his alleged abuse of office. He is counting on the Republican-dominated Senate to acquit him if the House does vote to impeach. Senator Lindsey Graham, an influential Republican, however, said he fully agreed with Trump's complaint. "Yes this is a lynching in every sense. This is un-American," he told reporters. Graham said that the impeachment probe failed to give Trump the ability to defend himself and is a "complete sham." "I will do everything I can to make sure it doesn't live very long in the Senate," he said.

Trump compares impeachment to 'lynching', faces backlash

The Manipur Assembly has passed a bill which recommends life imprisonment for those involved in mob violence if it results in the death of a person.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who also holds charge of the Home Department, moved the 'The Manipur Protection from Mob Violence Bill, 2018' in the state Assembly.

The bill was passed by the Assembly unanimously on Friday.

It recommends a rigorous life imprisonment term if the crime results in the death of a victim.

The bill was introduced in the Assembly in the wake of incidents of mob lynchings in the state.&nbsp;

In September, a man was lynched at Tharoijamm in Thoubal district for allegedly trying to steal a scooter.

The Assembly also passed the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2018 unanimously.

The Manipur Assembly has passed a bill which recommends life imprisonment for those involved in mob violence if it results in the death of a person. Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who also holds charge of the Home Department, moved the 'The Manipur Protection from Mob Violence Bill, 2018' in the state Assembly.

The Manipur Assembly has passed a bill which recommends life imprisonment for those involved in mob violence if it results in the death of a person. Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who also holds charge of the Home Department, moved the 'The Manipur Protection from Mob Violence Bill, 2018' in the state Assembly. The bill was passed by the Assembly unanimously on Friday. It recommends a rigorous life imprisonment term if the crime results in the death of a victim. The bill was introduced in the Assembly in the wake of incidents of mob lynchings in the state. In September, a man was lynched at Tharoijamm in Thoubal district for allegedly trying to steal a scooter. The Assembly also passed the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2018 unanimously.

Manipur Assembly passes anti-mob violence bill

Fugitive diamantaire <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pnb-scam-this-is-how-nirav-modi-planned-his-safe-exit-from-india-33071">Nirav Modi</a>, a key accused in the USD 2 billion PNB<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/nirav-modi-sold-fake-diamond-rings-to-canada-national-his-engagement-now-broken-report-170163"> fraud case,</a> cannot return to India as he is afraid of "getting lynched" and is being compared to demon 'Ravan', his lawyer told a special court Saturday, but the ED dismissed the claim saying if he felt there were "security threats", he should have filed a police complaint, . 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
Nirav Modi's lawyer Vijay Agarwal stated this while arguing before Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court Judge MS Azmi against the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) application to declare Modi a fugitive under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
Countering the ED plea, Nirav Modi also said through his lawyer that he had no record or data with him about his finances. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
Referring to Nirav Modi's claims of "security threats" in India, the ED said these points are "irrelevant" to the case. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
The ED has claimed that Nirav Modi had refused to join the probe despite acknowledging emails and summons issued to him and that he doesn't want to return to India. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
Agarwal, however, said the diamond trader had responded to the emails sent by the investigating agencies and expressed his inability to return due to "security threats". 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
"In a letter addressed to both the CBI and the ED, Modi had stated that he was not able to join the probe because of security threats (in India) from private persons, the families of those who have been detained (in the PNB case), landlords, the creditors who have not been paid and the customers whose jewellery was taken away by the ED," he said. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
"My (Modi's) 50-ft tall effigy was burnt in India. There was evidence of a mob lynching (against me) and I (Modi) was being compared with 'Ravan'. I have been projected as evil and being made the poster boy of the bank fraud," said Agarwal. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
He also claimed that Modi cannot be declared a fugitive as various legal requirements stipulated by the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act have not been met by the investigating agency. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
"The main reason the ED is seeking to declare Nirav Modi a fugitive is that he left India under suspicious circumstances on January 1, 2018. However, there was no criminal case (against him) when he had left the country," Agarwal said. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
"They cannot just say that he left the country under suspicious circumstances. They need to specify what those suspicions were. Also, there is no material on record to say that he is refusing to return to India," he said. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
Unlike liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who is accused of a loan default of over Rs 9000 crore, Modi had no Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) when he left the country, Agarwal argued. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
He said that being a (jewellery) designer, Modi is a sort of an "artist" who cannot provide any financial information as desired by the ED. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
"All my (Modi) finances were taken care of by my employees who are already in the custody of the investigating agency. I have no record or data. What are they going to investigate with me, as they have taken away all my source of information," Agarwal said. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
Countering Agarwal's submission, ED counsel Hiten Venegaonkar said all these arguments have nothing to do with the Fugitive Act (FEO). 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
"As far as security threats are concerned, any prudent person who is fearing threats to his life needs to file a police complaint. Until now, there is no material before the ED or the court (about any such complaint). So these points are irrelevant," he said. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
As per the investigating agencies, Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, in connivance with certain bank officials, allegedly cheated the Punjab National Bank (PNB) to the tune of Rs 14,000 crore through issuance of fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs). 
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 
These LoUs were allegedly issued in a fraudulent manner by a Mumbai branch of the PNB to the group of companies belonging to Modi since March 2011 till the case came to light.

Fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, a key accused in the USD 2 billion PNB fraud case, cannot return to India as he is afraid of "getting lynched" and is being compared to demon 'Ravan', his lawyer told a special court Saturday, but the ED dismissed the claim saying if he felt there were "security threats", he should have filed a police complaint, .

Fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, a key accused in the USD 2 billion PNB fraud case, cannot return to India as he is afraid of "getting lynched" and is being compared to demon 'Ravan', his lawyer told a special court Saturday, but the ED dismissed the claim saying if he felt there were "security threats", he should have filed a police complaint, . Nirav Modi's lawyer Vijay Agarwal stated this while arguing before Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court Judge MS Azmi against the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) application to declare Modi a fugitive under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act. Countering the ED plea, Nirav Modi also said through his lawyer that he had no record or data with him about his finances. Referring to Nirav Modi's claims of "security threats" in India, the ED said these points are "irrelevant" to the case. The ED has claimed that Nirav Modi had refused to join the probe despite acknowledging emails and summons issued to him and that he doesn't want to return to India. Agarwal, however, said the diamond trader had responded to the emails sent by the investigating agencies and expressed his inability to return due to "security threats". "In a letter addressed to both the CBI and the ED, Modi had stated that he was not able to join the probe because of security threats (in India) from private persons, the families of those who have been detained (in the PNB case), landlords, the creditors who have not been paid and the customers whose jewellery was taken away by the ED," he said. "My (Modi's) 50-ft tall effigy was burnt in India. There was evidence of a mob lynching (against me) and I (Modi) was being compared with 'Ravan'. I have been projected as evil and being made the poster boy of the bank fraud," said Agarwal. He also claimed that Modi cannot be declared a fugitive as various legal requirements stipulated by the Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEO) Act have not been met by the investigating agency. "The main reason the ED is seeking to declare Nirav Modi a fugitive is that he left India under suspicious circumstances on January 1, 2018. However, there was no criminal case (against him) when he had left the country," Agarwal said. "They cannot just say that he left the country under suspicious circumstances. They need to specify what those suspicions were. Also, there is no material on record to say that he is refusing to return to India," he said. Unlike liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who is accused of a loan default of over Rs 9000 crore, Modi had no Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) when he left the country, Agarwal argued. He said that being a (jewellery) designer, Modi is a sort of an "artist" who cannot provide any financial information as desired by the ED. "All my (Modi) finances were taken care of by my employees who are already in the custody of the investigating agency. I have no record or data. What are they going to investigate with me, as they have taken away all my source of information," Agarwal said. Countering Agarwal's submission, ED counsel Hiten Venegaonkar said all these arguments have nothing to do with the Fugitive Act (FEO). "As far as security threats are concerned, any prudent person who is fearing threats to his life needs to file a police complaint. Until now, there is no material before the ED or the court (about any such complaint). So these points are irrelevant," he said. As per the investigating agencies, Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, in connivance with certain bank officials, allegedly cheated the Punjab National Bank (PNB) to the tune of Rs 14,000 crore through issuance of fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs). These LoUs were allegedly issued in a fraudulent manner by a Mumbai branch of the PNB to the group of companies belonging to Modi since March 2011 till the case came to light.

PNB scam accused Nirav Modi scared of mob lynching on return to India: Lawyer tells court

A Republican congressman in central Arkansas and his challenger on Thursday condemned a political action committee's radio ad that suggests white Democrats will lynch black Americans if they win the midterm election next month.

GOP Representative&nbsp;French Hill criticized the ad from Black Americans for the President's Agenda, which invokes the accusation that Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted a woman when he was a teenager.

A woman in the ad says that "white Democrats will be lynching black folk again."I'm voting to keep Congressman French Hill and the Republicans because we have to protect our men and boys," the woman in the ad says.

"We can't afford to let white Democrats take us back to bad old days of race verdicts, life sentences and lynchings when a white girl screams rape." Hill, who represents the 2nd District covering Little Rock and seven central Arkansas counties, blasted the ad.

"I condemn this outrageous ad in the strongest terms," he said in a statement. "There's no place in Arkansas for this nonsense." Vernon Robinson, the PAC's co-founder and treasurer, said the ad has been running in Little Rock.

He said the ad is part of a US $50,000 buy that includes a similar spot running on stations in Missouri, where Republican Josh Hawley is trying to unseat Democratic Senator&nbsp;Claire McCaskill. The group had not coordinated the ad with Hill or spoken to his campaign about it, Robinson said.

Robinson did not immediately respond to an email Thursday night from The Associated Press asking if the group planned to pull the ad. Clarke Tucker, the Democratic state legislator trying to unseat Hill, also condemned the ad.

"Congressman Hill and his allies will have to live with the kind of campaign they're running. This radio ad is disgraceful and has no place in our society,"

Tucker said in a statement. "We won't let these shameful tactics distract us from why we're running, to stand up for the people in Central Arkansas on the critical issues in our lives, not just health care and good-paying jobs but also having some basic decency in our political process."

The North Carolina-based PAC was formed earlier this year and this week reported having about US $52,507 cash on hand and US $62,769 in debt.

Arkansas hasn't sent a Democrat to the US&nbsp;House since 2010, but Tucker is mounting a surprisingly competitive bid to unseat the two-term Hill.

Democrats are relying on a heavy turnout in Little Rock and its surrounding county, which is about 37 per cent black and 6 per cent Hispanic.&nbsp;

A Republican congressman in central Arkansas and his challenger on Thursday condemned a political action committee's radio ad that suggests white Democrats will lynch black Americans if they win the midterm election next month.

A Republican congressman in central Arkansas and his challenger on Thursday condemned a political action committee's radio ad that suggests white Democrats will lynch black Americans if they win the midterm election next month. GOP Representative French Hill criticized the ad from Black Americans for the President's Agenda, which invokes the accusation that Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted a woman when he was a teenager. A woman in the ad says that "white Democrats will be lynching black folk again."I'm voting to keep Congressman French Hill and the Republicans because we have to protect our men and boys," the woman in the ad says. "We can't afford to let white Democrats take us back to bad old days of race verdicts, life sentences and lynchings when a white girl screams rape." Hill, who represents the 2nd District covering Little Rock and seven central Arkansas counties, blasted the ad. "I condemn this outrageous ad in the strongest terms," he said in a statement. "There's no place in Arkansas for this nonsense." Vernon Robinson, the PAC's co-founder and treasurer, said the ad has been running in Little Rock. He said the ad is part of a US $50,000 buy that includes a similar spot running on stations in Missouri, where Republican Josh Hawley is trying to unseat Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill. The group had not coordinated the ad with Hill or spoken to his campaign about it, Robinson said. Robinson did not immediately respond to an email Thursday night from The Associated Press asking if the group planned to pull the ad. Clarke Tucker, the Democratic state legislator trying to unseat Hill, also condemned the ad. "Congressman Hill and his allies will have to live with the kind of campaign they're running. This radio ad is disgraceful and has no place in our society," Tucker said in a statement. "We won't let these shameful tactics distract us from why we're running, to stand up for the people in Central Arkansas on the critical issues in our lives, not just health care and good-paying jobs but also having some basic decency in our political process." The North Carolina-based PAC was formed earlier this year and this week reported having about US $52,507 cash on hand and US $62,769 in debt. Arkansas hasn't sent a Democrat to the US House since 2010, but Tucker is mounting a surprisingly competitive bid to unseat the two-term Hill. Democrats are relying on a heavy turnout in Little Rock and its surrounding county, which is about 37 per cent black and 6 per cent Hispanic.

Radio ad in Arkansas suggests 'lynching' if Democrats win

Another Muslim man was beaten by a mob, reportedly after a dead cow was found outside his house, in Jharkhand&#39;s Giridih district on Tuesday. 
&nbsp; 
A part of his house was also set on fire, The Indian Express reported.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The man has been identified as Usman Ansari of Beria Hatiatand village.&nbsp;

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Giridh(Jharkhand): Man thrashed, house set on fire by mob claiming a dead cow was found outside his house (27.6.17) <a href="https://t.co/BwtJSCkp1X">pic.twitter.com/BwtJSCkp1X</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/879923762933579777">June 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Jharkhand police spokesperson and ADG (operations) R K Mullik told the Indian Express &nbsp;that &ldquo;there was resistance from the crowd&rdquo; when the police tried to take Ansari to the hospital.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
&ldquo;There was heavy stone pelting. We had to open fire in the air,&rdquo; Mullik said.

One person was injured in the firing&nbsp;and about 50 policemen injured in the stone pelting, The Express reported.&nbsp;

The police had to fire in the air to disperse the mob

Another Muslim man was beaten by a mob, reportedly after a dead cow was found outside his house, in Jharkhand's Giridih district on Tuesday. A part of his house was also set on fire, The Indian Express reported. The man has been identified as Usman Ansari of Beria Hatiatand village. Giridh(Jharkhand): Man thrashed, house set on fire by mob claiming a dead cow was found outside his house (27.6.17) pic.twitter.com/BwtJSCkp1X — ANI (@ANI_news) June 28, 2017 × Jharkhand police spokesperson and ADG (operations) R K Mullik told the Indian Express that “there was resistance from the crowd” when the police tried to take Ansari to the hospital. “There was heavy stone pelting. We had to open fire in the air,” Mullik said. One person was injured in the firing and about 50 policemen injured in the stone pelting, The Express reported.

Jharkhand: Mob beats Muslim man, sets his house on fire after 'finding dead cow' outside

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