Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and around 1,600 anti-Kremlin activists were detained by police on Saturday during street protests against Vladimir Putin ahead of his inauguration for a fourth term as president.

Navalny had called for demonstrations in more than 90 towns and cities across Russia against what he says is Putin's autocratic, tsar-like rule.

Before his detention, he briefly addressed supporters in central Moscow, leading them in chants of 'Down with the Tsar!".

"They said that this city belongs to Putin. Is that right?" Navalny asked his supporters. "Do you need a tsar?" he asked, eliciting a collective roar of "No!"

Putin won re-election overwhelmingly in March, extending his grip over Russia for six more years - a tenure of 24 years that would make him Moscow's longest-serving leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

Navalny, who was barred from running in the election on what he says was a false pretext, was detained soon after showing up on Moscow's Pushkin Square, where young people were chanting "Russia without Putin!" and "Putin is a Thief!".

Video footage showed five policemen hauling him to a waiting van by his arms and legs, a scene that was repeated dozens of times with his supporters.

Early on Sunday, shortly after midnight, Navalny said on social media he had been released from custody until a court appearance, which is expected to take place on May 11.

Navalny said he had been charged with organising an unsanctioned meeting and with disobeying the police.

"Apparently the order came down not to 'jail me before the (Putin) inauguration,'" wrote Navalny.

The penalty for the offences he is charged with could see him fined and jailed for up to 30 days.

'NOTHING WILL CHANGE'

Navalny, who has been detained and jailed numerous times for organising similar protests, said he was proud to have made it to the rally.

One protester in Moscow, wearing a rabbit's mask with the legend "Tsar of the Animals", said he was unsure what the protest would achieve.

"I have the feeling that people are gathering just to let off steam and that nothing will change," said the 31-year-old man called Alexander, who declined to give his surname.

OVD-Info, a rights organisation that monitors detentions, said it had received reports of police detaining 1,597 people across Russia, nearly half of them in Moscow. Images from the Moscow protest showed pro-Kremlin Cossacks beating protesters with leather whips.

A police spokesman said around 1,500 people had protested in Moscow, of whom around 300 had been detained, the Interfax news agency reported. Reuters reporters estimated the crowd numbered several thousand.

Protests also took place in the Far East, Siberia and St. Petersburg, where Interfax cited the police as saying around 200 people had been detained. In the city of Yekaterinburg, around 1,500 km (900 miles) east of Moscow, a Reuters reporter saw over 1,000 people protesting and shouting anti-Putin slogans.

FATHER OF THE NATION

Putin, 65, has been in power, either as president or prime minister, since 2000.

Backed by state TV and the ruling party, and credited with an approval rating of around 80 percent, he is lauded by supporters as a father-of-the-nation figure who has restored national pride and expanded Moscow’s global clout with interventions in Syria and Ukraine.

The authorities regard most of the protests as illegal, arguing that their time and place was not approved beforehand, and that the police have a duty to protect public order.

Putin has dismissed Navalny as a troublemaker bent on sowing chaos on behalf of Washington. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, a close Putin ally, has called Navalny a political charlatan.

Putin is due to be inaugurated on Monday in a Kremlin ceremony heavy on pomp.

With more than 56 million votes, almost 77 percent of the total, his March election win was his biggest ever and the largest by any post-Soviet Russian leader, something he and his allies say gave him an unequivocal mandate to govern.

European observers said there had been no real choice in the election, and complained of unfair pressure on critical voices. Critics like Navalny accuse Putin of overseeing a corrupt authoritarian system and of annexing Ukraine’s Crimea illegally in 2014, a move that isolated Russia internationally.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and around 1,600 anti-Kremlin activists were detained by police

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and around 1,600 anti-Kremlin activists were detained by police on Saturday during street protests against Vladimir Putin ahead of his inauguration for a fourth term as president. Navalny had called for demonstrations in more than 90 towns and cities across Russia against what he says is Putin's autocratic, tsar-like rule. Before his detention, he briefly addressed supporters in central Moscow, leading them in chants of 'Down with the Tsar!". "They said that this city belongs to Putin. Is that right?" Navalny asked his supporters. "Do you need a tsar?" he asked, eliciting a collective roar of "No!" Putin won re-election overwhelmingly in March, extending his grip over Russia for six more years - a tenure of 24 years that would make him Moscow's longest-serving leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. Navalny, who was barred from running in the election on what he says was a false pretext, was detained soon after showing up on Moscow's Pushkin Square, where young people were chanting "Russia without Putin!" and "Putin is a Thief!". Video footage showed five policemen hauling him to a waiting van by his arms and legs, a scene that was repeated dozens of times with his supporters. Early on Sunday, shortly after midnight, Navalny said on social media he had been released from custody until a court appearance, which is expected to take place on May 11. Navalny said he had been charged with organising an unsanctioned meeting and with disobeying the police. "Apparently the order came down not to 'jail me before the (Putin) inauguration,'" wrote Navalny. The penalty for the offences he is charged with could see him fined and jailed for up to 30 days. 'NOTHING WILL CHANGE' Navalny, who has been detained and jailed numerous times for organising similar protests, said he was proud to have made it to the rally. One protester in Moscow, wearing a rabbit's mask with the legend "Tsar of the Animals", said he was unsure what the protest would achieve. "I have the feeling that people are gathering just to let off steam and that nothing will change," said the 31-year-old man called Alexander, who declined to give his surname. OVD-Info, a rights organisation that monitors detentions, said it had received reports of police detaining 1,597 people across Russia, nearly half of them in Moscow. Images from the Moscow protest showed pro-Kremlin Cossacks beating protesters with leather whips. A police spokesman said around 1,500 people had protested in Moscow, of whom around 300 had been detained, the Interfax news agency reported. Reuters reporters estimated the crowd numbered several thousand. Protests also took place in the Far East, Siberia and St. Petersburg, where Interfax cited the police as saying around 200 people had been detained. In the city of Yekaterinburg, around 1,500 km (900 miles) east of Moscow, a Reuters reporter saw over 1,000 people protesting and shouting anti-Putin slogans. FATHER OF THE NATION Putin, 65, has been in power, either as president or prime minister, since 2000. Backed by state TV and the ruling party, and credited with an approval rating of around 80 percent, he is lauded by supporters as a father-of-the-nation figure who has restored national pride and expanded Moscow’s global clout with interventions in Syria and Ukraine. The authorities regard most of the protests as illegal, arguing that their time and place was not approved beforehand, and that the police have a duty to protect public order. Putin has dismissed Navalny as a troublemaker bent on sowing chaos on behalf of Washington. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, a close Putin ally, has called Navalny a political charlatan. Putin is due to be inaugurated on Monday in a Kremlin ceremony heavy on pomp. With more than 56 million votes, almost 77 percent of the total, his March election win was his biggest ever and the largest by any post-Soviet Russian leader, something he and his allies say gave him an unequivocal mandate to govern. European observers said there had been no real choice in the election, and complained of unfair pressure on critical voices. Critics like Navalny accuse Putin of overseeing a corrupt authoritarian system and of annexing Ukraine’s Crimea illegally in 2014, a move that isolated Russia internationally.

Russian opposition leader and activists held before Putin inauguration

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and more than 1,000 anti-Kremlin activists were detained by police on Saturday during street protests against Vladimir Putin ahead of his inauguration for a fourth term as president.

Navalny had called for demonstrations in more than 90 towns and cities across Russia against what he says is Putin's autocratic, tsar-like rule.

"We will force the authorities, made up of swindlers and thieves, to take into account the millions of citizens who did not vote for Putin," Navalny said beforehand.

Putin overwhelmingly won re-election in March, extending his grip over Russia for six more years - a tenure of 24 years that would make him Moscow's longest-serving leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

Navalny, who was barred from running in the election on what he says was a false pretext, was detained soon after showing up on Moscow's Pushkin Square, where young people chanted "Russia without Putin!" and "Down with the Tsar!".

Video footage showed five policemen hauling him to a waiting van by his arms and legs, a scene that was repeated dozens of times with his supporters. Moscow police said he had been detained for organising an unsanctioned rally.

"Nothing Will Change"

Navalny, who has been detained and jailed numerous times for organising similar protests, had managed to address his supporters briefly, saying he was glad they had shown up.

One protester in Moscow, donning a rabbit's mask with the legend "Tsar of the Animals" said he was unsure what the protest would achieve.

"I have the feeling that people are gathering just to let off steam and that nothing will change," said the 31-year-old man called Alexander, who declined to give his surname.

OVD-Info, a rights organisation that monitors detentions, said it had received reports of police detaining over 1,000 people across Russia, nearly 500 of them in Moscow. It cited its own sources at the Moscow protest as saying pro-Kremlin Cossacks had beaten protesters with leather whips, sparking a fight.

A police spokesman said around 1,500 people had protested in Moscow, the Interfax news agency reported. Reuters reporters estimated the crowd numbered several thousand.

Protests also took place in the Far East, Siberia and St Petersburg. In the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, around 1,500 km (900 miles) east of Moscow, a Reuters reporter saw more than 1,000 people protesting, some shouting "Down with the Tsar!"

Father Of The Nation

Putin, 65, has been in power, either as president or prime minister, since 2000. 
Backed by state TV and the ruling party, and credited with an approval rating of around 80 percent, he is lauded by supporters as a father-of-the-nation figure who has restored national pride and expanded Moscow's global clout with interventions in Syria and Ukraine.

The authorities regard most of the protests as illegal, arguing that their time and place was not approved beforehand and that the police have a duty to protect public order.

Putin has dismissed Navalny as a troublemaker bent on sowing chaos on behalf of Washington. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, a close Putin ally, has called Navalny a political charlatan.

Putin is due to be inaugurated on Monday in a Kremlin ceremony heavy on pomp.

With more than 56 million votes, almost 77 percent of the total, his March election win was his biggest ever and the largest by any post-Soviet Russian leader, something he and his allies say gave him an unequivocal mandate to govern.

European observers said there had been no real choice in the election, and complained of unfair pressure on critical voices. Critics like Navalny accuse Putin of overseeing a corrupt authoritarian system and of annexing Ukraine's Crimea illegally in 2014, a move that isolated Russia internationally.

Alexei Navalny had called for demonstrations in more than 90 towns and cities across Russia against what he says is Putin's autocratic, tsar-like rule.

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and more than 1,000 anti-Kremlin activists were detained by police on Saturday during street protests against Vladimir Putin ahead of his inauguration for a fourth term as president. Navalny had called for demonstrations in more than 90 towns and cities across Russia against what he says is Putin's autocratic, tsar-like rule. "We will force the authorities, made up of swindlers and thieves, to take into account the millions of citizens who did not vote for Putin," Navalny said beforehand. Putin overwhelmingly won re-election in March, extending his grip over Russia for six more years - a tenure of 24 years that would make him Moscow's longest-serving leader since Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. Navalny, who was barred from running in the election on what he says was a false pretext, was detained soon after showing up on Moscow's Pushkin Square, where young people chanted "Russia without Putin!" and "Down with the Tsar!". Video footage showed five policemen hauling him to a waiting van by his arms and legs, a scene that was repeated dozens of times with his supporters. Moscow police said he had been detained for organising an unsanctioned rally. "Nothing Will Change" Navalny, who has been detained and jailed numerous times for organising similar protests, had managed to address his supporters briefly, saying he was glad they had shown up. One protester in Moscow, donning a rabbit's mask with the legend "Tsar of the Animals" said he was unsure what the protest would achieve. "I have the feeling that people are gathering just to let off steam and that nothing will change," said the 31-year-old man called Alexander, who declined to give his surname. OVD-Info, a rights organisation that monitors detentions, said it had received reports of police detaining over 1,000 people across Russia, nearly 500 of them in Moscow. It cited its own sources at the Moscow protest as saying pro-Kremlin Cossacks had beaten protesters with leather whips, sparking a fight. A police spokesman said around 1,500 people had protested in Moscow, the Interfax news agency reported. Reuters reporters estimated the crowd numbered several thousand. Protests also took place in the Far East, Siberia and St Petersburg. In the Urals city of Yekaterinburg, around 1,500 km (900 miles) east of Moscow, a Reuters reporter saw more than 1,000 people protesting, some shouting "Down with the Tsar!" Father Of The Nation Putin, 65, has been in power, either as president or prime minister, since 2000. Backed by state TV and the ruling party, and credited with an approval rating of around 80 percent, he is lauded by supporters as a father-of-the-nation figure who has restored national pride and expanded Moscow's global clout with interventions in Syria and Ukraine. The authorities regard most of the protests as illegal, arguing that their time and place was not approved beforehand and that the police have a duty to protect public order. Putin has dismissed Navalny as a troublemaker bent on sowing chaos on behalf of Washington. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, a close Putin ally, has called Navalny a political charlatan. Putin is due to be inaugurated on Monday in a Kremlin ceremony heavy on pomp. With more than 56 million votes, almost 77 percent of the total, his March election win was his biggest ever and the largest by any post-Soviet Russian leader, something he and his allies say gave him an unequivocal mandate to govern. European observers said there had been no real choice in the election, and complained of unfair pressure on critical voices. Critics like Navalny accuse Putin of overseeing a corrupt authoritarian system and of annexing Ukraine's Crimea illegally in 2014, a move that isolated Russia internationally.

Russian police detain over 1,000 people at anti-Putin protests

Police on Wednesday lobbed teargas shells to disperse AMU students demanding the arrest of protesters who had barged into the campus, shouting slogans over a portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah which hangs at the student union office.

District magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh said two youths were injured in the police action.

Earlier, members of a right-wing organisation had briefly clashed with Aligarh Muslim University students and entered the campus.

They were then taken away to a police station from where they were later "rescued" by other protesters, AMU student union members said.

The protesters were agitated over the portrait of the Pakistan founder which a local BJP MP wanted to be removed.

(With inputs from PTI)

The AMU students were demanding the arrest of protesters who had barged onto the campus and wanted a portrait of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah taken down.

Police on Wednesday lobbed teargas shells to disperse AMU students demanding the arrest of protesters who had barged into the campus, shouting slogans over a portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah which hangs at the student union office. District magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh said two youths were injured in the police action. Earlier, members of a right-wing organisation had briefly clashed with Aligarh Muslim University students and entered the campus. They were then taken away to a police station from where they were later "rescued" by other protesters, AMU student union members said. The protesters were agitated over the portrait of the Pakistan founder which a local BJP MP wanted to be removed. (With inputs from PTI)

Jinnah portrait row: Police lob teargas shells at AMU students, 2 injured

The Malaysian police on Monday released computer-generated pictures of the two men behind the killing of a Palestinian Hamas weapons engineer on Saturday in Kuala Lumpur, reports said.&nbsp

The two unidentified men shot Fadi al-Batsh and engineering lecturer and also a Hamas drones and rocket expert, killing him on the spot, reports said. Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister said the suspects were believed to be linked to a foreign intelligence service.

The police department said that the men, who were on motorcycles, fired over 10 shots at the 35-year-old victim. While Hamas and Batsch’s family have pointed the finger at the Mossad, Mohamad Fuzi said it was too early to speculate.

Police Chief Mohamad Fuzi Bin Harun informed that alerts have been made at all country's exit points but said that it is likely that the men may have fled soon after the attack.&nbsp

The photographs of the suspects are based on descriptions by witnesses and not actual pictures saying that it could be possible that they were European&nbspor Middle Eastern, reports said.

Both suspects were on a high-powered, dark-colored motorbike which could be a BMW or a Kawasaki. Both were carrying backpacks and have on dark jackets and helmets, which likely obscured a direct photo of their faces.

Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi added the victim had links with foreign intelligence and was active in pro-Palestinian non-governmental organizations, describing him as an expert in electrical engineering and rocket-building.

The victim could have been seen as “a liability for a country that is an enemy of Palestine,” Zahid was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Hamas, which exercises de facto control over Gaza, said one of its members had been “assassinated” in Malaysia and it had sent a delegation to meet with Malaysian officials to discuss the killing.

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said Israel’s Mossad intelligence service had been behind past attempts to assassinate Palestinian scientists, and that al-Batsh’s killing “follows this sequence.”

Officials in Israel declined to comment.

Batsh’s uncle Jamal al-Batsh spoke to Reuters in the town of Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip.

 
&nbsp

The two unidentified men shot Fadi al-Batsh and engineering lecturer and also a Hamas drones and rocket expert, killing him on the spot

The Malaysian police on Monday released computer-generated pictures of the two men behind the killing of a Palestinian Hamas weapons engineer on Saturday in Kuala Lumpur, reports said. The two unidentified men shot Fadi al-Batsh and engineering lecturer and also a Hamas drones and rocket expert, killing him on the spot, reports said. Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister said the suspects were believed to be linked to a foreign intelligence service. The police department said that the men, who were on motorcycles, fired over 10 shots at the 35-year-old victim. While Hamas and Batsch’s family have pointed the finger at the Mossad, Mohamad Fuzi said it was too early to speculate. Police Chief Mohamad Fuzi Bin Harun informed that alerts have been made at all country's exit points but said that it is likely that the men may have fled soon after the attack. The photographs of the suspects are based on descriptions by witnesses and not actual pictures saying that it could be possible that they were European&nbspor Middle Eastern, reports said. Both suspects were on a high-powered, dark-colored motorbike which could be a BMW or a Kawasaki. Both were carrying backpacks and have on dark jackets and helmets, which likely obscured a direct photo of their faces. Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi added the victim had links with foreign intelligence and was active in pro-Palestinian non-governmental organizations, describing him as an expert in electrical engineering and rocket-building. The victim could have been seen as “a liability for a country that is an enemy of Palestine,” Zahid was quoted as saying by Bernama. Hamas, which exercises de facto control over Gaza, said one of its members had been “assassinated” in Malaysia and it had sent a delegation to meet with Malaysian officials to discuss the killing. Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said Israel’s Mossad intelligence service had been behind past attempts to assassinate Palestinian scientists, and that al-Batsh’s killing “follows this sequence.” Officials in Israel declined to comment. Batsh’s uncle Jamal al-Batsh spoke to Reuters in the town of Jabalya in the northern Gaza Strip.

Malaysia police releases pictures of suspects involved in Palestinian lecturer, Hamas shooting

One person was killed on Saturday when Madagascar police fired teargas at opposition demonstrators protesting against new electoral laws they say are designed to lock out their candidate from a presidential election due this year.

Olivat Rakoto, director of the Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona hospital in the city, said they had received 17 people with injuries from midday (0900 GMT) to 3 p.m. (1200 GMT).

"One person came but we could do nothing for him when he arrived," she said, referring to the dead person, one of the 17.

Rakoto did not comment on the nature of the injuries but some witnesses at the hospital said some injuries were caused by landing gas canisters. There was no immediate comment from the government or police.

Supporters of Marc Ravalomanana, a former leader of the Indian Ocean island nation, say the new electoral laws are designed to prevent him running in the election. The opposition is also contending provisions on campaign financing and access to media in the laws.

Ravalomanana, who was deposed in a 2009 coup, has teamed up with the man who succeeded him, Andy Rajoelina, to oppose the laws pushed by President Hery Rajaonarimampianina.&nbsp;

Hundreds of protesters gathered in the centre of the capital early on Saturday to protest against the laws which were enacted by parliament earlier this month, before police fired dozens of teargas canisters at the crowd.

One opposition lawmaker accused the government of attacking opposition MPs while carrying out their work and demanded the president's resignation.

"Hery Rajaonarimampianina has to resign, he attacks members of Parliament which are in the line of their duty," said Paul Bert Rahasimanana who represents a constituency in the capital.&nbsp;

"We just wanted to do some report on the adoption of electoral laws and he sends us forces of repression."

Police later retreated from the scene outside the mayor's office, leaving about 1,000 opposition supporters protesting peacefully.&nbsp;

"We are here because we need freedom of speech and because we do not agree with the authoritarian government," said Fafah Rasoanirina, a 24-year old protester.

The opposition says the law requires a presidential candidate to produce a report on all previous judicial convictions, which could be a disadvantage for their candidate. Ravalomanana was convicted by a court when he was in exile after the 2009 coup for a range of offences.

He has already said he will run in the election due before the end of this year through the precise date has yet to be set. 
&nbsp;

Madagascar police on Saturday fired teargas at opposition demonstrators protesting against new electoral laws

One person was killed on Saturday when Madagascar police fired teargas at opposition demonstrators protesting against new electoral laws they say are designed to lock out their candidate from a presidential election due this year. Olivat Rakoto, director of the Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona hospital in the city, said they had received 17 people with injuries from midday (0900 GMT) to 3 p.m. (1200 GMT). "One person came but we could do nothing for him when he arrived," she said, referring to the dead person, one of the 17. Rakoto did not comment on the nature of the injuries but some witnesses at the hospital said some injuries were caused by landing gas canisters. There was no immediate comment from the government or police. Supporters of Marc Ravalomanana, a former leader of the Indian Ocean island nation, say the new electoral laws are designed to prevent him running in the election. The opposition is also contending provisions on campaign financing and access to media in the laws. Ravalomanana, who was deposed in a 2009 coup, has teamed up with the man who succeeded him, Andy Rajoelina, to oppose the laws pushed by President Hery Rajaonarimampianina. Hundreds of protesters gathered in the centre of the capital early on Saturday to protest against the laws which were enacted by parliament earlier this month, before police fired dozens of teargas canisters at the crowd. One opposition lawmaker accused the government of attacking opposition MPs while carrying out their work and demanded the president's resignation. "Hery Rajaonarimampianina has to resign, he attacks members of Parliament which are in the line of their duty," said Paul Bert Rahasimanana who represents a constituency in the capital. "We just wanted to do some report on the adoption of electoral laws and he sends us forces of repression." Police later retreated from the scene outside the mayor's office, leaving about 1,000 opposition supporters protesting peacefully. "We are here because we need freedom of speech and because we do not agree with the authoritarian government," said Fafah Rasoanirina, a 24-year old protester. The opposition says the law requires a presidential candidate to produce a report on all previous judicial convictions, which could be a disadvantage for their candidate. Ravalomanana was convicted by a court when he was in exile after the 2009 coup for a range of offences. He has already said he will run in the election due before the end of this year through the precise date has yet to be set.

One killed, 16 injured as Madagascar police disperse protests

A brave 16-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by two men in 2017 got her parents booked when try tried to convince her to change her statement against the case in exchange for bribe, reports said on Tuesday.&nbsp;

The girl had gone missing in August last year after which her parents had filed a police complaint. She returned after a week and told police that she was held captive by two men who raped her.&nbsp;

The two men were later arrested. However, one of them got out on interim mail and approached her parents on April 10 hoping they would convince their daughter to withdraw the case in exchange for a bribe of Rs 20 lakh. As per reports, the parents quickly agreed and asked for an advance but the girl went to the police on Tuesday to lodge a complaint against them.&nbsp;

The victim told the police that she was in her room when her parents met the accused and heard the entire conversation. She said that as soon as the man left her house, she went up to her parents to ask for justification. Instead, they tried to convince her to give a false statement.&nbsp;

Reports say that the girl was thrashed and blackmailed by her parents, saying that they desperately needed the money. She said that after thrashing her for a while, someone came to their house to hand them Rs 5 lakh as advance money. Her parents hid that money beneath the bed and left for court.

But, the girl quickly took the bag and went to Aman Vihar police station to lodge a complaint. She narrated the entire incident to the police, immediately after which a case under IPC Sections 195 (A) (threatening any person to give false evidence), 506 (threatening any person to give false evidence) and 120 (B) (punishment of criminal conspiracy) and Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act was registered.

Later the mother, upon her arrival from court, was arrested. The father, however, fled as he got the news of his wife's arrest. The police are on a lookout for the man to arrest him.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

As per reports, the girl was raped in August 2017 by two men who had kidnaped her and then left her at an unknown spot afterward. The two men were later arrested.

A brave 16-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by two men in 2017 got her parents booked when try tried to convince her to change her statement against the case in exchange for bribe, reports said on Tuesday. The girl had gone missing in August last year after which her parents had filed a police complaint. She returned after a week and told police that she was held captive by two men who raped her. The two men were later arrested. However, one of them got out on interim mail and approached her parents on April 10 hoping they would convince their daughter to withdraw the case in exchange for a bribe of Rs 20 lakh. As per reports, the parents quickly agreed and asked for an advance but the girl went to the police on Tuesday to lodge a complaint against them. The victim told the police that she was in her room when her parents met the accused and heard the entire conversation. She said that as soon as the man left her house, she went up to her parents to ask for justification. Instead, they tried to convince her to give a false statement. Reports say that the girl was thrashed and blackmailed by her parents, saying that they desperately needed the money. She said that after thrashing her for a while, someone came to their house to hand them Rs 5 lakh as advance money. Her parents hid that money beneath the bed and left for court. But, the girl quickly took the bag and went to Aman Vihar police station to lodge a complaint. She narrated the entire incident to the police, immediately after which a case under IPC Sections 195 (A) (threatening any person to give false evidence), 506 (threatening any person to give false evidence) and 120 (B) (punishment of criminal conspiracy) and Section 75 of the Juvenile Justice Act was registered. Later the mother, upon her arrival from court, was arrested. The father, however, fled as he got the news of his wife's arrest. The police are on a lookout for the man to arrest him.

Delhi girl gets parents booked after they accept a bribe from her rapists

Seven Myanmar soldiers have been sentenced to “10 years in prison with hard labor in a remote area” for participating in a massacre of 10 Rohingya Muslim men in a village in northwestern Rakhine state last September, the army said on Tuesday.

The military said in a statement the soldiers will serve 10 years with hard labour for "contributing and participating in murder".

The sentencing of the seven soldiers comes after an internal investigation by Tatmadaw or the Myanmar military recently revealed that the bodies of 10 Rohingya men were found buried in a mass grave in Inn Din, a village located in the strife-torn Rakhine State.

The authorities told Reuters in February the military opened an internal investigation independently and that it is unrelated to the Reuters reporters who are accused of obtaining unrelated secret government papers.

The Rohingya men from the northern Rakhine village of Inn Din were buried in a mass grave in early September after being hacked to death or shot by Buddhist neighbors and soldiers. Reuters published its story on the murder in February.

The murders were part of a larger army crackdown on the Rohingya, beset by allegations of murder, rape, arson and looting, unleashed in response to Rohingya militant attacks on security forces in late August. The United Nations and the United States described it as ethnic cleansing - an accusation which Myanmar denies.

“Four officers were denounced and permanently dismissed from the military and sentenced to 10 years with hard labor at a prison in a remote area. Three soldiers of other rank were demoted to the rank of ‘private’, permanently dismissed from the military and sentenced to 10 years with hard labor at a prison in a remote area,” read the military statement.

It added that legal proceedings against the police personnel and civilians “involved in the crime” are still underway.

On Jan. 10, the military said the 10 Rohingya men belonged to a group of 200 militants who had attacked security forces. Buddhist villagers attacked some of them with swords and soldiers shot the others dead, the military had said.

The military’s version of events is contradicted by accounts given to Reuters by Rakhine Buddhist and Rohingya Muslim witnesses published in the February story.

Buddhist villagers reported no attack by a large number of insurgents on security forces in Inn Din. And Rohingya witnesses.&nbsp;

(With inputs from Reuters)

The military said in a statement the soldiers will serve 10 years with hard labor for 'contributing and participating in murder'

Seven Myanmar soldiers have been sentenced to “10 years in prison with hard labor in a remote area” for participating in a massacre of 10 Rohingya Muslim men in a village in northwestern Rakhine state last September, the army said on Tuesday. The military said in a statement the soldiers will serve 10 years with hard labour for "contributing and participating in murder". The sentencing of the seven soldiers comes after an internal investigation by Tatmadaw or the Myanmar military recently revealed that the bodies of 10 Rohingya men were found buried in a mass grave in Inn Din, a village located in the strife-torn Rakhine State. The authorities told Reuters in February the military opened an internal investigation independently and that it is unrelated to the Reuters reporters who are accused of obtaining unrelated secret government papers. The Rohingya men from the northern Rakhine village of Inn Din were buried in a mass grave in early September after being hacked to death or shot by Buddhist neighbors and soldiers. Reuters published its story on the murder in February. The murders were part of a larger army crackdown on the Rohingya, beset by allegations of murder, rape, arson and looting, unleashed in response to Rohingya militant attacks on security forces in late August. The United Nations and the United States described it as ethnic cleansing - an accusation which Myanmar denies. “Four officers were denounced and permanently dismissed from the military and sentenced to 10 years with hard labor at a prison in a remote area. Three soldiers of other rank were demoted to the rank of ‘private’, permanently dismissed from the military and sentenced to 10 years with hard labor at a prison in a remote area,” read the military statement. It added that legal proceedings against the police personnel and civilians “involved in the crime” are still underway. On Jan. 10, the military said the 10 Rohingya men belonged to a group of 200 militants who had attacked security forces. Buddhist villagers attacked some of them with swords and soldiers shot the others dead, the military had said. The military’s version of events is contradicted by accounts given to Reuters by Rakhine Buddhist and Rohingya Muslim witnesses published in the February story. Buddhist villagers reported no attack by a large number of insurgents on security forces in Inn Din. And Rohingya witnesses. (With inputs from Reuters)

7 Myanmar soldiers sentenced to 10 years in prison for Rohingya massacre

The Home Ministry has directed a nationwide advisory to make sure that sufficient security is deployed to ensure that things don't go out of control during the strike-call today&nbsp;against the policy of caste-based reservation in education and jobs.&nbsp;

The bandh(strike) has now spread in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh after eight days in which nine people have lost their lives due to the violence during protests by the Dalit community demanding dilusion of the SC/ST Act.

The strike has not been called by any prominent outfit. The Ministry of Home Affairs has said that the district magistrates and SPs will be personally held responsible for any violence in their area of jurisdiction.&nbsp;

An official of the MHA said the ministry has issued an advisory to all states to take necessary precautionary measures in view of the calls on social media for the shutdown on April 10.&nbsp;

"The MHA has advised the states to beef up security and make appropriate arrangements to prevent any untoward incident, including the issue of prohibitory orders, if necessary," the official said.&nbsp;

The states have been asked to intensify patrolling in all sensitive locations so as to prevent any loss of life or damage to property. There will be no procession, public gathering tomorrow. Range IGs, district SPs, police commissioners have been given clear instructions to take prompt action against any such activity.

Security sources said calls for the so-called anti-quota bandh started circulating through social media, including various WhatsApp groups, after the protest on April 2 against the Supreme Court order mandating stringent safeguards before the SC/ST Act can be invoked.

Prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC have been imposed in Jaipur city. Mobile internet service has also been blocked for 24 hours in Jaipur from tonight as a precautionary measure, the official said. Officials today said that they had been paying particular attention to messages being circulated on social media platforms.

Security across Madhya Pradesh was also beefed up in the wake of a shutdown call. Officials said the call has been a social media-fuelled one and no organisation had come forward so far to claim responsibility for it.

Police are also on alert in Punjab, where anti-riot squads have also been deployed, and Haryana, where last week’s bandh led to clashes in Kaithal town. In Jharkhand, apart from alerts against any rally or procession, police are keeping a watch on various social media platforms to track calls for a bandh.

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Bhopal, Dharmendra Dubey said that social media messages were being monitored and warned that those spreading hate messages would be booked under section 188 (disobedience to order promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code.

Ajatshatru, Divisional Commissioner of Bhopal said that prohibitory orders under section 144 had been clamped in the city for Tuesday but services including schools, government offices and banks would operate as usual.

In Gujarat, there have been no open calls for a bandh although Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani has already warned of a “counter protest” on April 14.

The Bandh has now heavily spread in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh after eight days where nine people lost their lives due to violence during protests by the Dalit community demanding dilusion of the SC/ST Act

The Home Ministry has directed a nationwide advisory to make sure that sufficient security is deployed to ensure that things don't go out of control during the strike-call today against the policy of caste-based reservation in education and jobs. The bandh(strike) has now spread in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh after eight days in which nine people have lost their lives due to the violence during protests by the Dalit community demanding dilusion of the SC/ST Act. The strike has not been called by any prominent outfit. The Ministry of Home Affairs has said that the district magistrates and SPs will be personally held responsible for any violence in their area of jurisdiction. An official of the MHA said the ministry has issued an advisory to all states to take necessary precautionary measures in view of the calls on social media for the shutdown on April 10. "The MHA has advised the states to beef up security and make appropriate arrangements to prevent any untoward incident, including the issue of prohibitory orders, if necessary," the official said. The states have been asked to intensify patrolling in all sensitive locations so as to prevent any loss of life or damage to property. There will be no procession, public gathering tomorrow. Range IGs, district SPs, police commissioners have been given clear instructions to take prompt action against any such activity. Security sources said calls for the so-called anti-quota bandh started circulating through social media, including various WhatsApp groups, after the protest on April 2 against the Supreme Court order mandating stringent safeguards before the SC/ST Act can be invoked. Prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC have been imposed in Jaipur city. Mobile internet service has also been blocked for 24 hours in Jaipur from tonight as a precautionary measure, the official said. Officials today said that they had been paying particular attention to messages being circulated on social media platforms. Security across Madhya Pradesh was also beefed up in the wake of a shutdown call. Officials said the call has been a social media-fuelled one and no organisation had come forward so far to claim responsibility for it. Police are also on alert in Punjab, where anti-riot squads have also been deployed, and Haryana, where last week’s bandh led to clashes in Kaithal town. In Jharkhand, apart from alerts against any rally or procession, police are keeping a watch on various social media platforms to track calls for a bandh. Deputy Inspector General of Police, Bhopal, Dharmendra Dubey said that social media messages were being monitored and warned that those spreading hate messages would be booked under section 188 (disobedience to order promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code. Ajatshatru, Divisional Commissioner of Bhopal said that prohibitory orders under section 144 had been clamped in the city for Tuesday but services including schools, government offices and banks would operate as usual. In Gujarat, there have been no open calls for a bandh although Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani has already warned of a “counter protest” on April 14.

'Bharat Bandh': Home ministry issues advisory, security forces on alert nationwide

The controversy surrounding a 29-year-old police constable’s request to the Maharashtra government to undergo a sex reassignment surgery, has prompted the state police to include gender determination test in their recruitment process.

Lalita Salve, who now prefers to be called Lalit, met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last month seeking his permission to undergo the surgery and be retained in the police force as a male police constable after the procedure.

“Till now, we did not have a gender determination test during police recruitment. However, going by this case, we felt the need to introduce such a test to avoid complications in future,” Rajkumar Vhatkar, inspector general of police (establishment), told PTI in Mumbai today.

The recruitment process of around 8,000 police constables is underway in Maharashtra, he said, adding the gender determination test will be included during the process.

Besides physical tests, the police force is including the gender test to avoid male candidates being selected in the female category, another police official said. &nbsp;This case is unique for the 1.80-lakh-strong police constabulary in Maharashtra. Salve grew up as a woman and was recruited as a woman police constable, he said.

Salve moved the Bombay High Court in November, seeking a direction to the DGP to grant Salve leave to undergo the surgery. Salve also sought a month’s leave for the surgery, but it was rejected by Beed police authorities, after which the constable approached the high court.

Later, Fadnavis asked the DGP to consider Salve’s case favourably. Salve is a member of the all-women patrolling team called “Damini” squad, formed to keep eve-teasers at bay, at Majalgaon in Beed district. When Salve met Fadnavis last month, the latter asked DGP Satish Mathur to take a “quick decision” in the case. After meeting the chief minister, Salve had appeared “hopeful” of getting permission for the surgery and of being retained as a male police constable.

Lalita Salve, who now prefers to be called Lalit, met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last month seeking his permission to undergo the surgery and be retained in the police force as a male police constable after the procedure.

The controversy surrounding a 29-year-old police constable’s request to the Maharashtra government to undergo a sex reassignment surgery, has prompted the state police to include gender determination test in their recruitment process. Lalita Salve, who now prefers to be called Lalit, met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis last month seeking his permission to undergo the surgery and be retained in the police force as a male police constable after the procedure. “Till now, we did not have a gender determination test during police recruitment. However, going by this case, we felt the need to introduce such a test to avoid complications in future,” Rajkumar Vhatkar, inspector general of police (establishment), told PTI in Mumbai today. The recruitment process of around 8,000 police constables is underway in Maharashtra, he said, adding the gender determination test will be included during the process. Besides physical tests, the police force is including the gender test to avoid male candidates being selected in the female category, another police official said. This case is unique for the 1.80-lakh-strong police constabulary in Maharashtra. Salve grew up as a woman and was recruited as a woman police constable, he said. Salve moved the Bombay High Court in November, seeking a direction to the DGP to grant Salve leave to undergo the surgery. Salve also sought a month’s leave for the surgery, but it was rejected by Beed police authorities, after which the constable approached the high court. Later, Fadnavis asked the DGP to consider Salve’s case favourably. Salve is a member of the all-women patrolling team called “Damini” squad, formed to keep eve-teasers at bay, at Majalgaon in Beed district. When Salve met Fadnavis last month, the latter asked DGP Satish Mathur to take a “quick decision” in the case. After meeting the chief minister, Salve had appeared “hopeful” of getting permission for the surgery and of being retained as a male police constable.

Maharashtra to start gender determination test for police recruitment

The truck driver who allegedly hit the journalist reporting on sand mafia yesterday has been arrested by Bhopal Police. The accused admitted that he was driving the truck when the accident happened.&nbsp

"The person has admitted that he was driving the vehicle at the time of the incident. Our team is questioning and doing the investigations," a police official noted.

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Bhind: Driver of the truck which hit the journalist reporting on sand mafia yesterday, arrested. SS Kushwaha,TI,City Kotwali,says, 'person has admitted that he was driving the vehicle at time of the incident. SIT team is questioning & doing investigation'<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadhyaPradesh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MadhyaPradesh</a> <a href="https://t.co/ViGStCcVOq">pic.twitter.com/ViGStCcVOq</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/978369197083209728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp

A leading Indian news agency posted a video yesterday where an investigative journalist was run over by a truck in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh. Sandeep Sharma was investigating a possible link between the local police and the sand mafia.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>:Chilling CCTV footage of moment when Journalist Sandeep Sharma was run over by a truck in Bhind. He had been reporting on the sand mafia and had earlier complained to Police about threat to his life. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadhyaPradesh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MadhyaPradesh</a> <a href="https://t.co/LZxNuTLyap">pic.twitter.com/LZxNuTLyap</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/978176717113217024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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In the video, the journalist was seen riding a bike with a truck chasing him. According to reports, Sharma had previously lodged a complaint reporting threat to his life.&nbsp

A leading Indian news agency posted a video yesterday where an investigative journalist was run over by a truck in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh

The truck driver who allegedly hit the journalist reporting on sand mafia yesterday has been arrested by Bhopal Police. The accused admitted that he was driving the truck when the accident happened. "The person has admitted that he was driving the vehicle at the time of the incident. Our team is questioning and doing the investigations," a police official noted. Bhind: Driver of the truck which hit the journalist reporting on sand mafia yesterday, arrested. SS Kushwaha,TI,City Kotwali,says, 'person has admitted that he was driving the vehicle at time of the incident. SIT team is questioning & doing investigation'#MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/ViGStCcVOq — ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2018 × A leading Indian news agency posted a video yesterday where an investigative journalist was run over by a truck in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh. Sandeep Sharma was investigating a possible link between the local police and the sand mafia. #WATCH:Chilling CCTV footage of moment when Journalist Sandeep Sharma was run over by a truck in Bhind. He had been reporting on the sand mafia and had earlier complained to Police about threat to his life. #MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/LZxNuTLyap — ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2018 × In the video, the journalist was seen riding a bike with a truck chasing him. According to reports, Sharma had previously lodged a complaint reporting threat to his life.

Madhya Pradesh Police arrest truck driver accused of running over journalist

A suspected criminal was injured and another one went absconding during an encounter between police and criminals in Meerut on Monday.

The combing operation to arrest the absconding criminal is underway.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/history-sheeter-shot-dead-in-police-encounter-in-noida-36982" target="_blank">UP continues </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/history-sheeter-shot-dead-in-police-encounter-in-noida-36982" target="_blank">spate</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/history-sheeter-shot-dead-in-police-encounter-in-noida-36982" target="_blank"> of encounters, 2 more killed in 24 hours</a>

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Meerut: One criminal was injured during an encounter between police and criminals. One criminal absconding, combing operation on. (Earlier visuals) <a href="https://t.co/wmkxJvSdnJ">pic.twitter.com/wmkxJvSdnJ</a>
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANINewsUP/status/978460646093262848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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As per official data, ever since the Yogi Adityanath-led government came to power, there have been more than 1100 police encounters in the state.

These shootouts have caused the death of 34 criminals, left 265 injured and led to the arrest of 2744 history-sheeters. On the other hand, four police personnel have been killed and 247 injured in these 10 months.

The UP chief minister had said that police will have full freedom to deal with rising crime rates in the state and asked criminals to either surrender or leave the state. The police promptly launched ‘Operation Clean’ and took no time in beginning to deal with the wanted men.

According to information released by Uttar Pradesh Police, there were 1142 police encounter in Uttar Pradesh between March 20, 2017, and January 31, 2018.

The combing operation to arrest the absconded criminal is underway

A suspected criminal was injured and another one went absconding during an encounter between police and criminals in Meerut on Monday. The combing operation to arrest the absconding criminal is underway. Also read: UP continues spate of encounters, 2 more killed in 24 hours Meerut: One criminal was injured during an encounter between police and criminals. One criminal absconding, combing operation on. (Earlier visuals) pic.twitter.com/wmkxJvSdnJ — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 27, 2018 × As per official data, ever since the Yogi Adityanath-led government came to power, there have been more than 1100 police encounters in the state. These shootouts have caused the death of 34 criminals, left 265 injured and led to the arrest of 2744 history-sheeters. On the other hand, four police personnel have been killed and 247 injured in these 10 months. The UP chief minister had said that police will have full freedom to deal with rising crime rates in the state and asked criminals to either surrender or leave the state. The police promptly launched ‘Operation Clean’ and took no time in beginning to deal with the wanted men. According to information released by Uttar Pradesh Police, there were 1142 police encounter in Uttar Pradesh between March 20, 2017, and January 31, 2018.

Another encounter in UP, suspected criminal injured, 1 absconding

Six terrorists were killed in Egypt today in a shootout with security forces, the government said.

The ministry of interior said in a statement that security forces discovered a terrorist spot in a residential apartment in Behira governorate in a fire exchange, earlier on Sunday.

The anti-terror police raid came hours before Egypt's 2018 presidential election kicks off on Monday morning, in which incumbent President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi is expected to easily win a second four-year term.

The interior ministry said the terrorist cell in Beheira was involved in Saturday's car bomb attack in the nearby coastal province of Alexandria that killed two policemen and wounded at least four others.

The statement pointed out that the six terrorists belonged to the Hasm militant group which emerged late 2016 and is seen by the police as the armed wing of the currently outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.

The anti-terror police raid came hours before Egypt's 2018 presidential election kicks off on Monday morning

Six terrorists were killed in Egypt today in a shootout with security forces, the government said. The ministry of interior said in a statement that security forces discovered a terrorist spot in a residential apartment in Behira governorate in a fire exchange, earlier on Sunday. The anti-terror police raid came hours before Egypt's 2018 presidential election kicks off on Monday morning, in which incumbent President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi is expected to easily win a second four-year term. The interior ministry said the terrorist cell in Beheira was involved in Saturday's car bomb attack in the nearby coastal province of Alexandria that killed two policemen and wounded at least four others. The statement pointed out that the six terrorists belonged to the Hasm militant group which emerged late 2016 and is seen by the police as the armed wing of the currently outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.

Egypt's police kill 6 terrorists on election evening

Police and politicians backed by the country&#39;s former strongman President Mahinda Rajapaksa joined anti-Muslim riots that rocked Sri Lanka&#39;s Kandy district this month, according to witnesses, officials and CCTV footage reviewed by Reuters.

Scores of Muslim mosques, homes and businesses were destroyed as mobs ran amok for three days in Kandy, the central highlands district previously known for its diversity and tolerance. The government declared a state of emergency and blocked social media platforms for a week to control the unrest.

The role of police and some local Buddhist politicians suggests the Sri Lankan government lost control of elements of its security forces, and that the violence was more than a spontaneous outbreak fuelled by fringe Buddhist extremists and hate-speech spread on social media.

Rajapaksa has denied that he or other leaders of his party were involved. Police said the allegations against officers and politicians were being investigated.

Victims and witnesses, whose accounts were partly backed by CCTV footage seen by Reuters, described members of an elite paramilitary police unit, the Special Task Force (STF), assaulting Muslim cleric and leaders. Local STF commanders declined to comment.

&quot;They came to attack,&quot; said A.H Ramees, a cleric at a mosque where worshippers say they were beaten by police who were supposed to be protecting them. &quot;They were shouting. There was filthy language. They said all the problems were because of us, that we were like terrorists.&quot;

Ruwan Gunasekera, a spokesman for the national police force, including the STF, said a special investigation unit was &quot;probing the deficiencies of the police in the incident&quot;. A second unit was examining the role of political actors, he said.

The riots were the latest example of rising Buddhist nationalism and anti-Muslim sentiment in the region and have unnerved Sri Lanka&#39;s multi-ethnic coalition government, which ousted Rajapaksa in an election in 2015, according to analysts and two sources familiar with the government&#39;s deliberations.

Buddhists make up about 70 percent of Sri Lanka&#39;s 21 million people. Tamils, most of whom are Hindu, account for 13 percent while Muslims make up about 9 per cent of the population.

Sri Lanka&#39;s Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara has said the violence in Kandy was &quot;well organised&quot; and pointed the finger at members of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), a political party backed by Rajapaksa that scored a huge victory in local elections last month.

At a press conference flanked by senior leaders earlier this month, Rajapaksa said the accusations were politically motivated. In fact, the government fomented the violence to &quot;get the Muslim vote&quot; and to distract from its inadequacies, he said.

TRIGGER FOR VIOLENCE

The violence in Kandy was triggered by an attack on a Buddhist truck driver, H.G Kumarasinghe, by four Muslim men after a traffic dispute on Feb. 22.

As Kumarasinghe lay in a coma, calls for retribution and anti-Islam polemics flooded social media and the government ordered the deployment of 1,000 members of the STF.

Rioting erupted after his funeral 11 days later.

An excerpt of CCTV footage from the first day of attacks reviewed by Reuters showed police letting a large group of men through the cordon protecting the Noor Jummah mosque in Digana, a Kandy township.

The men rush into a multi-story building opposite the mosque. A local SLPP politician, Samantha Perera, can be seen pointing at the higher floors of the building.

Perera confirmed he was the person shown in the footage. He said he was trying to calm the rioters and only found out later the mosque had been attacked. &quot;I am a good Buddhist. I am not instigating violence against anybody,&quot; he told Reuters.

Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said Perera was under investigation for &quot;attacking Muslim-owned shops and mosques with stones&quot;. At least three other SLPP politicians, including a national politician, were being investigated and another SLPP councillor has been arrested for setting fire to a mosque, he said. All deny any involvement in the violence.

&quot;There&#39;s a political motive to discredit me, Mahinda Rajapaksa and the party,&quot; Perera said.

&quot;MONSTER BEYOND CONTROL&quot;

Anti-Muslim sentiment has surged in Sri Lanka since 2009, when a long civil war against Tamil insurgents was brutally ended by Rajapaksa amid charges by a United Nations panel of experts of human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings by the military and STF.

As in Myanmar, from where 700,000&nbsp;Rohingya&nbsp;Muslims have fled an army crackdown in recent months, Buddhist hardliners in Sri Lanka have argued that Islam is a threat to the Buddhist way of life.

Though the level of violence is not comparable, the Sri Lankan Secretariat for Muslims, a civil society group, logged more than 600 attacks and threats to Muslims in the past five years, according to director Hilmy Ahamed, who added the rate of anti-Muslim violence had accelerated in the recent years.

&quot;The fear that Muslims are going to take over, are going to deprive you of your welfare, is so widespread,&quot; he said.

Veteran political analyst Jayadeva Uyangoda said Buddhist chauvinism in Sri Lanka was a &quot;monster beyond control&quot;, as local activists draw inspiration from the Buddhist extremists in Myanmar and Hindu radicals in India hostile to Muslims.

&quot;CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?&quot;

About 10 minutes after the incident near the Noor Jummah mosque shown in the CCTV footage, the mob returned via a back road, out of the line of sight of the mosque&#39;s exterior cameras, and threw a petrol bomb into the mosque&#39;s first floor office, according to witnesses Mohamed Niyaskhan, who said he was beaten and left bloodied, and the mosque secretary M.I.M Shukry.

The men burned Korans during 45 minutes of looting and destruction, they said.

Niyaskhan said earlier that day he had prepared food and drinks for STF members protecting the mosque, but they had left shortly before the attack.

&quot;No STF, no police were there,&quot; he said. &quot;They had gone around the corner. Can you believe it?&quot;

Later that day, eight to 10 members of the STF rushed the Hijrapura mosque, also in Digana, according to clerics and worshippers.

The police assaulted worshippers with batons, according to Ramees, the cleric.

CCTV footage shows police in riot gear striking Ramees and another cleric, M.S.M Nizam, four times with batons. A local Buddhist monk, Gerendigala Chanda Wimala, told Reuters he saw the men being manhandled by police and successfully demanded their release.

At about the same time, a local Muslim politician, Abdul Saleem Mohamad Fazil, and a friend Mohamad Faizal, were also attacked by members of the elite police unit, according to the victims and a witness, Father Christy Paul, the prelate at Digana&#39;s Catholic church.

&quot;Three STFs came through the back entrance of the house and started beating us,&quot; said Fazil, who suffered a deep head wound and said he spent in a night in prison after being refused medical treatment.

&quot;They grabbed some bottles from the landing and put them in a bag and said we were making petrol bombs.&quot;

Father Christy said he heard the men&#39;s screams and saw the police hitting them with batons. The men were cowering on the ground and not offering any resistance to the police, he said.

A local STF commander, asked about the incidents described to Reuters, declined to comment, citing restrictions on talking to the media. The law and order ministry referred to the police special investigation into alleged abuses.

Police say they have arrested more than 300 people involved in the riots.

Scores of Muslim mosques, homes and businesses were destroyed as mobs ran amok for three days in Kandy, the central highlands district previously known for its diversity and tolerance

Police and politicians backed by the country's former strongman President Mahinda Rajapaksa joined anti-Muslim riots that rocked Sri Lanka's Kandy district this month, according to witnesses, officials and CCTV footage reviewed by Reuters. Scores of Muslim mosques, homes and businesses were destroyed as mobs ran amok for three days in Kandy, the central highlands district previously known for its diversity and tolerance. The government declared a state of emergency and blocked social media platforms for a week to control the unrest. The role of police and some local Buddhist politicians suggests the Sri Lankan government lost control of elements of its security forces, and that the violence was more than a spontaneous outbreak fuelled by fringe Buddhist extremists and hate-speech spread on social media. Rajapaksa has denied that he or other leaders of his party were involved. Police said the allegations against officers and politicians were being investigated. Victims and witnesses, whose accounts were partly backed by CCTV footage seen by Reuters, described members of an elite paramilitary police unit, the Special Task Force (STF), assaulting Muslim cleric and leaders. Local STF commanders declined to comment. "They came to attack," said A.H Ramees, a cleric at a mosque where worshippers say they were beaten by police who were supposed to be protecting them. "They were shouting. There was filthy language. They said all the problems were because of us, that we were like terrorists." Ruwan Gunasekera, a spokesman for the national police force, including the STF, said a special investigation unit was "probing the deficiencies of the police in the incident". A second unit was examining the role of political actors, he said. The riots were the latest example of rising Buddhist nationalism and anti-Muslim sentiment in the region and have unnerved Sri Lanka's multi-ethnic coalition government, which ousted Rajapaksa in an election in 2015, according to analysts and two sources familiar with the government's deliberations. Buddhists make up about 70 percent of Sri Lanka's 21 million people. Tamils, most of whom are Hindu, account for 13 percent while Muslims make up about 9 per cent of the population. Sri Lanka's Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara has said the violence in Kandy was "well organised" and pointed the finger at members of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), a political party backed by Rajapaksa that scored a huge victory in local elections last month. At a press conference flanked by senior leaders earlier this month, Rajapaksa said the accusations were politically motivated. In fact, the government fomented the violence to "get the Muslim vote" and to distract from its inadequacies, he said. TRIGGER FOR VIOLENCE The violence in Kandy was triggered by an attack on a Buddhist truck driver, H.G Kumarasinghe, by four Muslim men after a traffic dispute on Feb. 22. As Kumarasinghe lay in a coma, calls for retribution and anti-Islam polemics flooded social media and the government ordered the deployment of 1,000 members of the STF. Rioting erupted after his funeral 11 days later. An excerpt of CCTV footage from the first day of attacks reviewed by Reuters showed police letting a large group of men through the cordon protecting the Noor Jummah mosque in Digana, a Kandy township. The men rush into a multi-story building opposite the mosque. A local SLPP politician, Samantha Perera, can be seen pointing at the higher floors of the building. Perera confirmed he was the person shown in the footage. He said he was trying to calm the rioters and only found out later the mosque had been attacked. "I am a good Buddhist. I am not instigating violence against anybody," he told Reuters. Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said Perera was under investigation for "attacking Muslim-owned shops and mosques with stones". At least three other SLPP politicians, including a national politician, were being investigated and another SLPP councillor has been arrested for setting fire to a mosque, he said. All deny any involvement in the violence. "There's a political motive to discredit me, Mahinda Rajapaksa and the party," Perera said. "MONSTER BEYOND CONTROL" Anti-Muslim sentiment has surged in Sri Lanka since 2009, when a long civil war against Tamil insurgents was brutally ended by Rajapaksa amid charges by a United Nations panel of experts of human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings by the military and STF. As in Myanmar, from where 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled an army crackdown in recent months, Buddhist hardliners in Sri Lanka have argued that Islam is a threat to the Buddhist way of life. Though the level of violence is not comparable, the Sri Lankan Secretariat for Muslims, a civil society group, logged more than 600 attacks and threats to Muslims in the past five years, according to director Hilmy Ahamed, who added the rate of anti-Muslim violence had accelerated in the recent years. "The fear that Muslims are going to take over, are going to deprive you of your welfare, is so widespread," he said. Veteran political analyst Jayadeva Uyangoda said Buddhist chauvinism in Sri Lanka was a "monster beyond control", as local activists draw inspiration from the Buddhist extremists in Myanmar and Hindu radicals in India hostile to Muslims. "CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?" About 10 minutes after the incident near the Noor Jummah mosque shown in the CCTV footage, the mob returned via a back road, out of the line of sight of the mosque's exterior cameras, and threw a petrol bomb into the mosque's first floor office, according to witnesses Mohamed Niyaskhan, who said he was beaten and left bloodied, and the mosque secretary M.I.M Shukry. The men burned Korans during 45 minutes of looting and destruction, they said. Niyaskhan said earlier that day he had prepared food and drinks for STF members protecting the mosque, but they had left shortly before the attack. "No STF, no police were there," he said. "They had gone around the corner. Can you believe it?" Later that day, eight to 10 members of the STF rushed the Hijrapura mosque, also in Digana, according to clerics and worshippers. The police assaulted worshippers with batons, according to Ramees, the cleric. CCTV footage shows police in riot gear striking Ramees and another cleric, M.S.M Nizam, four times with batons. A local Buddhist monk, Gerendigala Chanda Wimala, told Reuters he saw the men being manhandled by police and successfully demanded their release. At about the same time, a local Muslim politician, Abdul Saleem Mohamad Fazil, and a friend Mohamad Faizal, were also attacked by members of the elite police unit, according to the victims and a witness, Father Christy Paul, the prelate at Digana's Catholic church. "Three STFs came through the back entrance of the house and started beating us," said Fazil, who suffered a deep head wound and said he spent in a night in prison after being refused medical treatment. "They grabbed some bottles from the landing and put them in a bag and said we were making petrol bombs." Father Christy said he heard the men's screams and saw the police hitting them with batons. The men were cowering on the ground and not offering any resistance to the police, he said. A local STF commander, asked about the incidents described to Reuters, declined to comment, citing restrictions on talking to the media. The law and order ministry referred to the police special investigation into alleged abuses. Police say they have arrested more than 300 people involved in the riots.

Police, politicians accused of joining Sri Lanka's anti-Muslim riots

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for abducting and killing 10 policemen.

Pictures posted online late last night by the extremist group showed eight men in civilian clothing on their knees in an open area with militants pointing rifles at their backs. Another picture showed two men flanked by militants brandishing knives.

Two police officers said on Sunday that only nine troops from the federal police were kidnapped on Tuesday by militants disguised in government-sanctioned paramilitary forces uniforms.

They said the slain troops were on leave when the militants stopped their SUV taxi at a checkpoint on a highway between the northern Kirkuk and Salaheddin provinces.

Both spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to brief reporters.

Meanwhile, a French judicial official said Saturday that police searching the home of the terrorist who killed four people in a deadly rampage a day earlier in southern France found notes referring to the Islamic State jihadist group that appeared to be a final testament.

The official said there apparently was no mention in the notes of the attack plans.

Investigators also found three homemade explosive devices, a handgun, and a hunting knife inside the supermarket in the French town of Trebes, the official said, suggesting his intent to do further damage.

(With inputs frim PTI)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Pictures posted online late last night by the extremist group showed eight men in civilian clothing on their knees in an open area with militants pointing rifles at their backs

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for abducting and killing 10 policemen. Pictures posted online late last night by the extremist group showed eight men in civilian clothing on their knees in an open area with militants pointing rifles at their backs. Another picture showed two men flanked by militants brandishing knives. Two police officers said on Sunday that only nine troops from the federal police were kidnapped on Tuesday by militants disguised in government-sanctioned paramilitary forces uniforms. They said the slain troops were on leave when the militants stopped their SUV taxi at a checkpoint on a highway between the northern Kirkuk and Salaheddin provinces. Both spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to brief reporters. Meanwhile, a French judicial official said Saturday that police searching the home of the terrorist who killed four people in a deadly rampage a day earlier in southern France found notes referring to the Islamic State jihadist group that appeared to be a final testament. The official said there apparently was no mention in the notes of the attack plans. Investigators also found three homemade explosive devices, a handgun, and a hunting knife inside the supermarket in the French town of Trebes, the official said, suggesting his intent to do further damage. (With inputs frim PTI)

Iraq: Islamic State group says it killed 10 policemen

Delhi Police has arrested Professor Atul Johri of JNU on Tuesday after allegations of sexual harassment were leveled against him by students.

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Delhi Police has arrested Professor Atul Johri of JNU after allegations of sexual harassment were leveled against him by students <a href="https://t.co/wI8wj9K75d">pic.twitter.com/wI8wj9K75d</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/976069305283612672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students, had been protesting outside the Vasant Kunj police station, demanding JNU professor&#39;s arrest in an alleged sexual harassment case, accused the police of &quot;inaction&quot; in the matter.

&quot;Four days after eight women students came forward with sexual harassment complaints against the professor, no action has been taken against him and just one FIR has been lodged,&quot; Jawaharlal Nehru University Students&#39; Union (JNUSU) vice-president Simone Zoya Khan said.

The police said a probe was on in the case. &quot;A notice has been issued to the accused, asking him to join the investigation. The statements of the complainants have also been recorded,&quot; Joint Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Ajay Chaudhary said.

Students demanded strict and prompt action against the accused JNU professor. Meanwhile, All India Progressive Women&#39;s Association (AIPWA) also staged a protest and submitted a memorandum to Vasant Kunj police station regarding the issue.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a>: All India Progressive Women&#39;s Association (AIPWA) staged protest and submitted a memorandum to Vasant Kunj police station over alleged molestation against a JNU professor. <a href="https://t.co/g6lCLHWA2V">pic.twitter.com/g6lCLHWA2V</a>
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The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Tuesday issued a notice to the Vasant Kunj Police Station, seeking status report and reasons for not arresting JNU professor in a sexual harassment case.

The women&#39;s panel said it has received a representation from the students of the School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, regarding the alleged sexual harassment of women students by the professor.

&quot;The Commission considers this a serious matter related to the safety and security of the young women. Further, we have been informed that the complainants are protesting lack of arrest of the accused,&quot; the commission said, while seeking the information latest by March 23.

It has also issued a notice to the JNU registrar, seeking to know what safeguards have been taken to ensure the safety and security of the complainants and whether the present complaint is being looked into by the Internal Complainants Committee (ICC).

It also sought to know the composition of the ICC as well as the action taken by the committee in the matter till now.It further asked the Registrar if the complaints of sexual harassment against the accused have been registered in the past.

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Students of JNU protest against JNU professor who is accused of sexually harsassing female students. (PTI)
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&quot;If yes. Provide details of the complaints so made. The action taken on those complaints,&quot; the Commission said in its notice.

&quot;The present complaints appear to display a pattern of sexual assault at workplace. Hence, we recommend swift action in the matter and ensuring that the complainants are able to pursue their studies as well as their complaints in a free and fearless environment,&quot; it said.

The accused professor has, however, maintained that he is innocent. While he has resigned from two administrative posts in JNU -- the director of the Human Resources Development Centre (HRDC) and the director of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) -- on &quot;moral grounds&quot;, he claims that the allegation against him was a &quot;motivated move&quot; by students with vested interests.

Professor of School of Life Sciences (SLS) has been accused of sexual harassment by a group of women students of the prestigious university. He has also been accused of financial irregularities.

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Students of JNU protest against JNU professor who is accused of sexually harsassing female students at Vasant Kunj Police Station in New Delhi on Monday. (PTI)
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The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Tuesday issued a notice to the Vasant Kunj Police Station, seeking status report and reasons for not arresting JNU professor in a sexual harassment case

Delhi Police has arrested Professor Atul Johri of JNU on Tuesday after allegations of sexual harassment were leveled against him by students. Delhi Police has arrested Professor Atul Johri of JNU after allegations of sexual harassment were leveled against him by students pic.twitter.com/wI8wj9K75d — ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2018 × Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students, had been protesting outside the Vasant Kunj police station, demanding JNU professor's arrest in an alleged sexual harassment case, accused the police of "inaction" in the matter. "Four days after eight women students came forward with sexual harassment complaints against the professor, no action has been taken against him and just one FIR has been lodged," Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) vice-president Simone Zoya Khan said. The police said a probe was on in the case. "A notice has been issued to the accused, asking him to join the investigation. The statements of the complainants have also been recorded," Joint Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Ajay Chaudhary said. Students demanded strict and prompt action against the accused JNU professor. Meanwhile, All India Progressive Women's Association (AIPWA) also staged a protest and submitted a memorandum to Vasant Kunj police station regarding the issue. #Delhi: All India Progressive Women's Association (AIPWA) staged protest and submitted a memorandum to Vasant Kunj police station over alleged molestation against a JNU professor. pic.twitter.com/g6lCLHWA2V — ANI (@ANI) March 20, 2018 × The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Tuesday issued a notice to the Vasant Kunj Police Station, seeking status report and reasons for not arresting JNU professor in a sexual harassment case. The women's panel said it has received a representation from the students of the School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, regarding the alleged sexual harassment of women students by the professor. "The Commission considers this a serious matter related to the safety and security of the young women. Further, we have been informed that the complainants are protesting lack of arrest of the accused," the commission said, while seeking the information latest by March 23. It has also issued a notice to the JNU registrar, seeking to know what safeguards have been taken to ensure the safety and security of the complainants and whether the present complaint is being looked into by the Internal Complainants Committee (ICC). It also sought to know the composition of the ICC as well as the action taken by the committee in the matter till now.It further asked the Registrar if the complaints of sexual harassment against the accused have been registered in the past. Students of JNU protest against JNU professor who is accused of sexually harsassing female students. (PTI) × "If yes. Provide details of the complaints so made. The action taken on those complaints," the Commission said in its notice. "The present complaints appear to display a pattern of sexual assault at workplace. Hence, we recommend swift action in the matter and ensuring that the complainants are able to pursue their studies as well as their complaints in a free and fearless environment," it said. The accused professor has, however, maintained that he is innocent. While he has resigned from two administrative posts in JNU -- the director of the Human Resources Development Centre (HRDC) and the director of the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) -- on "moral grounds", he claims that the allegation against him was a "motivated move" by students with vested interests. Professor of School of Life Sciences (SLS) has been accused of sexual harassment by a group of women students of the prestigious university. He has also been accused of financial irregularities. Students of JNU protest against JNU professor who is accused of sexually harsassing female students at Vasant Kunj Police Station in New Delhi on Monday. (PTI) ×

Sexual harassment case: JNU professor arrested, granted bail

&nbsp;Four bombs that have gone off this month around Austin, Texas, with the latest inuring two men on Sunday, have similarities that lead investigators to believe they are the work of a serial bomber, police said on Monday.

Sunday&#39;s bomb may have been activated by a trip wire, a more advanced design that the previous explosions that were set off when victims handled packages that were left on doorsteps. Those packages killed two earlier this month.

&quot;We are clearly dealing with what we expect to be a serial bomber at this point,&quot; Austin Police Chief Brian Manley told a press conference. &quot;We have seen similarities in the devices that exploded here last night and the other three devices.&quot;

The men, one aged 22 and the other 23, suffered non-life threatening injuries and were taken to the hospital on Sunday after they came upon a suspicious device on the side of a road in a residential neighborhood, officials said.

Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at the scene, the FBI said on Twitter.

Investigators are trying to identify the person or people behind the three parcel bombs that exploded in three separate east side neighborhoods, killing two African-American males and leaving a 75-year-old Hispanic woman fighting for her life.

Austin police said whoever was responsible was trying to send a message and should contact authorities to explain any motive.

&quot;We are not going to understand that (message) until the suspect or suspects reach out to us to talk to us,&quot; Manley said.

Manley said police were also investigating the bombings as possible hate crimes.

The first bombing on March 2 killed Anthony Stephan House, a 39-year-old black man. It ripped a hole in a home entrance wall and damaged the front door.

A bomb last Monday morning killed Draylen Mason, a 17-year-old African-American teenager and budding musician, and injured his mother, who is in her 40s but was not further identified. A few hours later, a third bomb injured the 75-year-old Hispanic woman, who has not been identified.

The victims in Sunday&#39;s explosion were white, Manley told ABC News on Monday morning.

Police have received more than 700 calls about suspicious packages since the three parcel bombs, but authorities have not found any that posed a security risk, Manley said.

A reward of $115,000 has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible.

Sunday's bomb may have been activated by a trip wire, a more advanced design that the previous explosions that were set off when victims handled packages that were left on doorsteps

Four bombs that have gone off this month around Austin, Texas, with the latest inuring two men on Sunday, have similarities that lead investigators to believe they are the work of a serial bomber, police said on Monday. Sunday's bomb may have been activated by a trip wire, a more advanced design that the previous explosions that were set off when victims handled packages that were left on doorsteps. Those packages killed two earlier this month. "We are clearly dealing with what we expect to be a serial bomber at this point," Austin Police Chief Brian Manley told a press conference. "We have seen similarities in the devices that exploded here last night and the other three devices." The men, one aged 22 and the other 23, suffered non-life threatening injuries and were taken to the hospital on Sunday after they came upon a suspicious device on the side of a road in a residential neighborhood, officials said. Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were at the scene, the FBI said on Twitter. Investigators are trying to identify the person or people behind the three parcel bombs that exploded in three separate east side neighborhoods, killing two African-American males and leaving a 75-year-old Hispanic woman fighting for her life. Austin police said whoever was responsible was trying to send a message and should contact authorities to explain any motive. "We are not going to understand that (message) until the suspect or suspects reach out to us to talk to us," Manley said. Manley said police were also investigating the bombings as possible hate crimes. The first bombing on March 2 killed Anthony Stephan House, a 39-year-old black man. It ripped a hole in a home entrance wall and damaged the front door. A bomb last Monday morning killed Draylen Mason, a 17-year-old African-American teenager and budding musician, and injured his mother, who is in her 40s but was not further identified. A few hours later, a third bomb injured the 75-year-old Hispanic woman, who has not been identified. The victims in Sunday's explosion were white, Manley told ABC News on Monday morning. Police have received more than 700 calls about suspicious packages since the three parcel bombs, but authorities have not found any that posed a security risk, Manley said. A reward of $115,000 has been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible.

Police suspect 'serial bomber' in deadly Austin attacks

Israeli lawmakers have passed a controversial bill allowing police to hold the corpses of alleged Palestinian assailants indefinitely, parliament said on Thursday.&nbsp;

The act was passed late Wednesday by 48 votes to 10, a Knesset statement said, hours after another measure permitting the interior minister to strip Palestinians in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem of their permanent residency permits &quot;if they are involved in terrorism.&quot;

The government announced in 2016 that it would not release for burial the bodies of Palestinian assailants killed during attacks unless Palestinians in Gaza released the remains of two Israeli soldiers believed to have been killed in a 2014 war in Gaza.

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In November 2017, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled that Israel would not repatriate the bodies of five Islamic Jihad militants killed when the army blew up a tunnel stretching from the Gaza Strip into its territory.

The Israeli Supreme Court ruled in December that the policy was illegal under current law, but it gave the government six months to enact new legislation.

The revised act gives authority to police district commanders &quot;to set conditions for returning the body of a terrorist for family burial,&quot; the Knesset statement said.

If the commander decides that a funeral may spark another attack or turn into a political rally in support of violence he can impose limits on the time, location and number of mourners and &quot;a body could be held until the family agrees to the terms,&quot; the statement adds.

The bill was sponsored by two MPs from Netanyahu&#39;s right-wing Likud party and the religious-nationalist Jewish Home.

Arab MP Yousef Jabareen, of the opposition Joint List party, said it was &quot;a delusional and draconian law of a delusional government.&quot;

It applies only to Israel and east Jerusalem, where the police have authority, and not to the occupied West Bank, which is under army rule.

The legislation on revoking permanent residency permits, proposed by a Likud MP, passed by 48 votes to 18, the Knesset said.

Israel seized control of Arab east Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war.

It later annexed the territory, in a move never recognised by the international community, and today it is home to about 300,000 Palestinians.&nbsp;

Although they have the right to apply for Israeli citizenship few take up the offer and of those many are refused, often on unspecified &quot;security grounds.&quot;

The vast majority opt for permanent residency status, which gives them free movement throughout Israel, access to health and welfare services and a vote in Jerusalem municipal elections.

They cannot vote in parliamentary elections and they do not hold Israeli passports.

The act was passed late Wednesday by 48 votes to 10, a Knesset statement said

Israeli lawmakers have passed a controversial bill allowing police to hold the corpses of alleged Palestinian assailants indefinitely, parliament said on Thursday. The act was passed late Wednesday by 48 votes to 10, a Knesset statement said, hours after another measure permitting the interior minister to strip Palestinians in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem of their permanent residency permits "if they are involved in terrorism." The government announced in 2016 that it would not release for burial the bodies of Palestinian assailants killed during attacks unless Palestinians in Gaza released the remains of two Israeli soldiers believed to have been killed in a 2014 war in Gaza. The law was passed hours after another measure permitting the interior minister to strip Palestinians in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem of their permanent residency permits 'if they are involved in terrorism' × In November 2017, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled that Israel would not repatriate the bodies of five Islamic Jihad militants killed when the army blew up a tunnel stretching from the Gaza Strip into its territory. The Israeli Supreme Court ruled in December that the policy was illegal under current law, but it gave the government six months to enact new legislation. The revised act gives authority to police district commanders "to set conditions for returning the body of a terrorist for family burial," the Knesset statement said. If the commander decides that a funeral may spark another attack or turn into a political rally in support of violence he can impose limits on the time, location and number of mourners and "a body could be held until the family agrees to the terms," the statement adds. The bill was sponsored by two MPs from Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party and the religious-nationalist Jewish Home. Arab MP Yousef Jabareen, of the opposition Joint List party, said it was "a delusional and draconian law of a delusional government." It applies only to Israel and east Jerusalem, where the police have authority, and not to the occupied West Bank, which is under army rule. The legislation on revoking permanent residency permits, proposed by a Likud MP, passed by 48 votes to 18, the Knesset said. Israel seized control of Arab east Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war. It later annexed the territory, in a move never recognised by the international community, and today it is home to about 300,000 Palestinians. Although they have the right to apply for Israeli citizenship few take up the offer and of those many are refused, often on unspecified "security grounds." The vast majority opt for permanent residency status, which gives them free movement throughout Israel, access to health and welfare services and a vote in Jerusalem municipal elections. They cannot vote in parliamentary elections and they do not hold Israeli passports.

Israeli police get right to hold Palestinian assailants' bodies

At least 16 people, mostly women and children, were killed in clashes between youths and cattle herders in central Nigeria, police said Tuesday.

Monday&#39;s violence in the village of Omutu, in the Okpokwu area of Benue state, is the latest flare-up linked to tensions over land and grazing rights in the restive region.&nbsp;

State police spokesman Moses Yamu said in a statement that a meeting had been called to calm anger after a herdsman was killed on Monday and another went missing.

&quot;Unfortunately as the search and peace meeting were going on some herdsmen surreptitiously went on (a) rampage, resulting in the macheting to death of 15 persons, mainly women and children,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

Yamu said some houses were set on fire during the violence and four people were arrested.

&quot;An extensive patrol of the community is ongoing, which will be reinforced with the (military) special forces,&quot; he added.&nbsp;

The chairman of the Okpokwu local government area, Francis Ejembi, described the violence as &quot;heart-rending&quot;, and said the death toll could increase.

&quot;We are moving corpses and the injured from the village to the hospital and so far we have moved about 10 corpses and several injured persons to Saint Mary&#39;s Hospital, Okpoga, the local government headquarters,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

&quot;We are still searching for more corpses and the injured and it is very possible that we may recover more dead bodies and injured persons because the village has been sacked and many are still missing.&quot;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Central Nigeria has become the scene of almost daily clashes between settled farmers and the largely nomadic herders in a battle for land and resources.

Religion adds an extra dimension to the clashes, as farmers such as the ethnic Tiv people of Benue are Christian, while the herders are mainly ethnic Fulani Muslims.

Benue has been a flashpoint in recent months after resistance to a new law banning open grazing for cattle.&nbsp;

In January, 73 people from Tiv farming communities were buried at a mass funeral after a series of attacks blamed on Fulani herders.&nbsp;

More than 100 people have been killed since early January, with 100,000 fleeing their homes to safety, according to the local emergency management agency.&nbsp;

After months of pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to act, the Nigerian army announced the deployment of troops to several states, including Benue, to end the violence.&nbsp;

Buhari, a northern Muslim, was this week also visiting Benue and four other troubled states.

Most of the victims were women and children

At least 16 people, mostly women and children, were killed in clashes between youths and cattle herders in central Nigeria, police said Tuesday. Monday's violence in the village of Omutu, in the Okpokwu area of Benue state, is the latest flare-up linked to tensions over land and grazing rights in the restive region. State police spokesman Moses Yamu said in a statement that a meeting had been called to calm anger after a herdsman was killed on Monday and another went missing. "Unfortunately as the search and peace meeting were going on some herdsmen surreptitiously went on (a) rampage, resulting in the macheting to death of 15 persons, mainly women and children," he said. Yamu said some houses were set on fire during the violence and four people were arrested. "An extensive patrol of the community is ongoing, which will be reinforced with the (military) special forces," he added. The chairman of the Okpokwu local government area, Francis Ejembi, described the violence as "heart-rending", and said the death toll could increase. "We are moving corpses and the injured from the village to the hospital and so far we have moved about 10 corpses and several injured persons to Saint Mary's Hospital, Okpoga, the local government headquarters," he said. "We are still searching for more corpses and the injured and it is very possible that we may recover more dead bodies and injured persons because the village has been sacked and many are still missing." Central Nigeria has become the scene of almost daily clashes between settled farmers and the largely nomadic herders in a battle for land and resources. Religion adds an extra dimension to the clashes, as farmers such as the ethnic Tiv people of Benue are Christian, while the herders are mainly ethnic Fulani Muslims. Benue has been a flashpoint in recent months after resistance to a new law banning open grazing for cattle. In January, 73 people from Tiv farming communities were buried at a mass funeral after a series of attacks blamed on Fulani herders. More than 100 people have been killed since early January, with 100,000 fleeing their homes to safety, according to the local emergency management agency. After months of pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to act, the Nigerian army announced the deployment of troops to several states, including Benue, to end the violence. Buhari, a northern Muslim, was this week also visiting Benue and four other troubled states.

16 killed in central Nigeria violence, police confirm

A driver crashed into a police officer and two other people&nbsp;in northern Israel before being shot and wounded.

The incident happened on Sunday in northern Israel , media reports quoted authorities claiming it was a terror attack. &quot;Police confirm that the incident was a terror attack,&quot; police said in a statement.

The border police officer and two soldiers were lightly wounded.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said that after a preliminary investigation, the incident in the city of Acre was deemed to be &quot;nationalistic,&quot; a term usually reserved for politically motivated attacks on Israelis by Palestinians.

Security footage showed a speeding jeep driving through a junction where a uniformed paramilitary man was crossing when it striked him, sending him flying into the air. In subsequent footage, the same jeep is seen crashing into another car.

Investigations are underway to find out more information about the attacker and no other details have yet been discovered.&nbsp;

Palestinians and Arab Israelis have carried out car-ramming attacks against Israelis and Israeli security forces numerous times in the past.

The border police officer and two soldiers were lightly wounded

A driver crashed into a police officer and two other people in northern Israel before being shot and wounded. The incident happened on Sunday in northern Israel , media reports quoted authorities claiming it was a terror attack. "Police confirm that the incident was a terror attack," police said in a statement. The border police officer and two soldiers were lightly wounded. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said that after a preliminary investigation, the incident in the city of Acre was deemed to be "nationalistic," a term usually reserved for politically motivated attacks on Israelis by Palestinians. Security footage showed a speeding jeep driving through a junction where a uniformed paramilitary man was crossing when it striked him, sending him flying into the air. In subsequent footage, the same jeep is seen crashing into another car. Investigations are underway to find out more information about the attacker and no other details have yet been discovered. Palestinians and Arab Israelis have carried out car-ramming attacks against Israelis and Israeli security forces numerous times in the past.

Car-ramming attack injures 3 in Israel, police confirm terror attack

A 23-year-old armed reserved police personnel posted at late chief minister J Jayalalithaa&#39;s memorial shot himself dead early Sunday morning.&nbsp;

The police personnel identified as Arul Raj, shot himself dead while he was on his guarding duty at the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa&#39;s memorial.&nbsp;

The incident took place around 4:55 am in the morning when he killed himself using his 303 bolt-action rifle. Reports say that there were&nbsp;three other police personnel around him at the time.&nbsp;

He was appointed to cover the memorial service from 2 am to 6 am, reports said.&nbsp;

The reason behind the attempt is yet to be disclosed but reports say that it could have been due to family related problems.&nbsp;

He was taken to the Royapettah government hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

The police personnel identified as Arul Raj, shot himself dead while he was on his guarding duty at the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's memorial

A 23-year-old armed reserved police personnel posted at late chief minister J Jayalalithaa's memorial shot himself dead early Sunday morning. The police personnel identified as Arul Raj, shot himself dead while he was on his guarding duty at the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's memorial. The incident took place around 4:55 am in the morning when he killed himself using his 303 bolt-action rifle. Reports say that there were three other police personnel around him at the time. He was appointed to cover the memorial service from 2 am to 6 am, reports said. The reason behind the attempt is yet to be disclosed but reports say that it could have been due to family related problems. He was taken to the Royapettah government hospital, where he was declared brought dead.

Police personnel shoots himself at Jayalalithaa's memorial

Israeli police questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday for the first time in a corruption case that involves the country&#39;s largest telecommunications company, Israel Radio said.&nbsp;

Along with two other corruption cases, in which Netanyahu is suspected of bribery, the probes announced in February pose a serious threat to the four-term prime minister&#39;s political survival. Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing in all the cases.&nbsp;

In the newest investigation, known as Case 4000, police allege that the owners of Bezeq Israel Telecom provided favourable coverage of Netanyahu and his wife on a news website they controlled in return for favours from communications regulators.

The company has denied wrongdoing.

A police spokesman declined to comment on the report that the prime minister was questioned. A Reuters cameraman saw a vehicle carrying two police officers pull into the prime minister&#39;s official residence on Friday morning.

Netanyahu&#39;s wife Sara was also questioned at the same time as her husband, at a police station near Tel Aviv, her lawyer told Reuters. Sara Netanyahu&#39;s interview took place under caution that she might be named as a suspect, the lawyer said.

Israeli media said the controlling shareholder of Bezeq Telecom, Shaul Elovitch, and Nir Hefetz, a former Netanyahu spokesman, were also being questioned. They are both in custody and have denied wrongdoing.&nbsp;

A representative for Elovitch had no immediate comment and Hefetz&#39;s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.

Shlomo Filber, a confidant of Netanyahu and former director general of the Communications Ministry, has also been arrested in connection with the case. Israeli media have reported that he has agreed to turn state&#39;s witness.&nbsp;

Government stable&nbsp;

About 70 protesters gathered outside the prime minister&#39;s residence, demanding he step down.

&quot;We want to see Netanyahu go to trial and, if needed, go to jail or go home. Let our people go free from all the corruption surrounding the government and the head of it,&quot; said Shimrit Orr, 72, a writer, from Tel Aviv.

Some cars beeped their horns in support as they drove by.

&quot;A prime minister under investigation cannot, and may not, take crucial decisions,&rdquo; said Shuki Cohen, 63, an economist from Moshav Arugot.

The right-wing prime minister has been Israel&#39;s dominant political figure for a generation, in power since 2009 and for 12 years in total since 1996. He calls the allegations against him a &quot;witch hunt&quot; and has said he will seek a fifth term in an election due in late 2019.

Police recommended in February that Netanyahu be indicted in two other corruption investigations. The attorney-general must determine whether to accept the police recommendation to charge him. The final decision on both cases could take months.

In one, known as Case 1000, he is suspected of bribery over gifts, which police say were worth nearly $300,000, that he received from wealthy businessmen.&nbsp;

The other, Case 2000, involves an alleged plot to win positive coverage in Israel&#39;s biggest newspaper by offering to take measures to curtail the circulation of a rival daily.

So far, partners in Netanyahu&#39;s governing coalition have stood by him, saying they are awaiting the attorney-general&#39;s next moves. Political analysts say such support could erode if the investigations against Netanyahu intensify.

Netanyahu could also call a snap election to try to stall legal proceedings during the campaign and rally his right-wing power base behind him.

Recent polls show that about half of Israelis believe the police over Netanyahu and think he should step down. A third think he should remain in office. 
&nbsp;

Along with two other corruption cases, in which Netanyahu is suspected of bribery, the probes announced in February pose a serious threat to the four-term prime minister's political survival

Israeli police questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday for the first time in a corruption case that involves the country's largest telecommunications company, Israel Radio said. Along with two other corruption cases, in which Netanyahu is suspected of bribery, the probes announced in February pose a serious threat to the four-term prime minister's political survival. Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing in all the cases. In the newest investigation, known as Case 4000, police allege that the owners of Bezeq Israel Telecom provided favourable coverage of Netanyahu and his wife on a news website they controlled in return for favours from communications regulators. The company has denied wrongdoing. A police spokesman declined to comment on the report that the prime minister was questioned. A Reuters cameraman saw a vehicle carrying two police officers pull into the prime minister's official residence on Friday morning. Netanyahu's wife Sara was also questioned at the same time as her husband, at a police station near Tel Aviv, her lawyer told Reuters. Sara Netanyahu's interview took place under caution that she might be named as a suspect, the lawyer said. Israeli media said the controlling shareholder of Bezeq Telecom, Shaul Elovitch, and Nir Hefetz, a former Netanyahu spokesman, were also being questioned. They are both in custody and have denied wrongdoing. A representative for Elovitch had no immediate comment and Hefetz's lawyer did not respond to a request for comment. Shlomo Filber, a confidant of Netanyahu and former director general of the Communications Ministry, has also been arrested in connection with the case. Israeli media have reported that he has agreed to turn state's witness. Government stable About 70 protesters gathered outside the prime minister's residence, demanding he step down. "We want to see Netanyahu go to trial and, if needed, go to jail or go home. Let our people go free from all the corruption surrounding the government and the head of it," said Shimrit Orr, 72, a writer, from Tel Aviv. Some cars beeped their horns in support as they drove by. "A prime minister under investigation cannot, and may not, take crucial decisions,” said Shuki Cohen, 63, an economist from Moshav Arugot. The right-wing prime minister has been Israel's dominant political figure for a generation, in power since 2009 and for 12 years in total since 1996. He calls the allegations against him a "witch hunt" and has said he will seek a fifth term in an election due in late 2019. Police recommended in February that Netanyahu be indicted in two other corruption investigations. The attorney-general must determine whether to accept the police recommendation to charge him. The final decision on both cases could take months. In one, known as Case 1000, he is suspected of bribery over gifts, which police say were worth nearly $300,000, that he received from wealthy businessmen. The other, Case 2000, involves an alleged plot to win positive coverage in Israel's biggest newspaper by offering to take measures to curtail the circulation of a rival daily. So far, partners in Netanyahu's governing coalition have stood by him, saying they are awaiting the attorney-general's next moves. Political analysts say such support could erode if the investigations against Netanyahu intensify. Netanyahu could also call a snap election to try to stall legal proceedings during the campaign and rally his right-wing power base behind him. Recent polls show that about half of Israelis believe the police over Netanyahu and think he should step down. A third think he should remain in office.

Israeli police question Netanyahu in telecoms corruption case

Delhi Police have told the court hearing the case that CCTV footage of the assault on Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash was tampered with.&nbsp;

Police added that the footage will be examined by the Forensic Science Laboratory.&nbsp;

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Alleged assault of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DelhiChiefSecretary?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DelhiChiefSecretary</a> Anshu Prakash: Delhi Police said the CCTV was tampered and that the Forensic Science Laboratory(FSL) would examine it. Court reserves order for tomorrow
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/968017067696971776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The alleged <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/breakdown-of-governance-say-ias-officers-after-delhi-chief-secretary-alleges-assault-by-aap-mlas-33465" target="_blank">assault on Prakash</a> by two Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs took place last Monday night, with the chief secretary saying Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was present during the attack.&nbsp;

The medical report of the attack has confirmed <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-chief-secretary-assault-case-medical-report-confirms-injuries-33606" target="_blank">injuries</a> to Prakash&#39;s face.&nbsp;

The two AAP ministers accused of attacking Prakash have since surrendered to police and have been remanded in police custody.&nbsp;

Delhi&#39;s Arvind Kejiwal-led Aam Aadmi Party government has had a running tiff with the city&#39;s Lieutenant Governor.&nbsp;

AAP has also accused the city&#39;s bureaucrats of putting up hurdles in the way of their work.&nbsp;

Since the alleged attack on the chief secretary, Delhi&#39;s officers have not been attending meetings of the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues, demanding that Kejriwal apologise for the incident.&nbsp;

The Delhi Administrative Subordinate Services meanwhile have gone on strike.&nbsp;

Anshu Prakash was allegedly assaulted by two AAP ministers in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi Police have told the court hearing the case that CCTV footage of the assault on Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash was tampered with. Police added that the footage will be examined by the Forensic Science Laboratory. Alleged assault of #DelhiChiefSecretary Anshu Prakash: Delhi Police said the CCTV was tampered and that the Forensic Science Laboratory(FSL) would examine it. Court reserves order for tomorrow — ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2018 × The alleged assault on Prakash by two Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs took place last Monday night, with the chief secretary saying Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was present during the attack. The medical report of the attack has confirmed injuries to Prakash's face. The two AAP ministers accused of attacking Prakash have since surrendered to police and have been remanded in police custody. Delhi's Arvind Kejiwal-led Aam Aadmi Party government has had a running tiff with the city's Lieutenant Governor. AAP has also accused the city's bureaucrats of putting up hurdles in the way of their work. Since the alleged attack on the chief secretary, Delhi's officers have not been attending meetings of the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues, demanding that Kejriwal apologise for the incident. The Delhi Administrative Subordinate Services meanwhile have gone on strike.

Delhi Chief Secretary assault case: Cops tell court CCTV footage tampered with

A few days back, there was a very interesting news piece. In the town Shamli of western UP,&nbsp; two dreaded criminals walked into the office of Police Superintendent and handed over an affidavit stating that they were leaving the crime world once and for all and going forward they would earn their bread with honesty and hard work.

This very clip manifest the changes which are ushering in the largest state of the country ever since Yogi Adityanath took over the reign around 11 months back. For someone like me who was born and brought up in UP, this is news of huge significance.

In 2005, when Nitish Kumar became Chief Minister of Bihar for the&nbsp;first time, my friend from college, who is from Bihar called me and said: &ldquo; we finally have our man, when will you have?&rdquo;.

There is a background to the question asked by my friend. UP and Bihar&nbsp;are two of the largest states in India. Combined together, these two states are 1/4th&nbsp;of India. Regretfully, these are the two states, who paid the hefty price for the political turmoil over the past three decades. Both states were left lurching and in the abysmal state on all indexes of development and human life.

For UP, it was a sorry figure for a state which has spearheaded the political, social and even&nbsp;economic&nbsp;activities of the country since the colonial times.

The process of decline started in 1985 when a few months after Indira Gandhi&rsquo;s assassination, Congress swept the assembly polls in Bihar and UP (with other states as well) with Rajiv Gandhi as the Congress supremo and Prime Minister. Rajiv Gandhi subverted constitutional values in a very big way and state governments were only interested in keeping their master happy. In UP and Bihar, Congress governments were jaded and with pathetic or say nil governance. The game of musical chair for chief ministership was on as Rajiv Gandhi was sacking and appointing them&nbsp;on&nbsp;his whims. The result, Congress lost base rapidly and voters alienated with Congress.

1990 was one plummeted steeply in the five years during 1985-90, lost its total voter base in UP and Bihar. In UP, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Kanshiram made most of this situation and UP just got entrapped in caste-based politics with clear compartments of votes.

In UP, the deterioration was thick and fast in the new millennium. Mayawati had some hold on the governance during 2007-2012 but transparency was completely missing, financial irregularities were pervasive, and BSP cadre was busy in the organised loot from top to bottom.

But it was the rule of Samajwadi Party during 2003-07 and 2012-17, which hit UP the most. Corruption was rife and so was nepotism. Criminals got brazen political protection. As the epitome of worst of cast appeasement, each and every institution like Police, Public Service Commission, Public Works Department, etc, were disrupted and were flooded with people of just one caste. Once a transporter told his plight to me that how goons backed by political dispensation were robbing their fleets and drivers with sheer impunity. The corruption was at an unthinkable peak. A few years back, during the discussion with one supplier who used to supply consumables to UP&rsquo;s health department, it came out that he had to dole out Rs. 55,000 to babus and brokers for a billing of Rs. 1 Lakh. You can imagine what stuff a supplier would deliver after paying a 55% commission. This will also throw some light that how so many kids died in Gorakhpur Medical College a few months back.

The sign of revival was palpable, soon after Yogi took the reign in March 2017. He first attacked the UP&rsquo;s road, which was full of potholes. Then he came hard on illegal butcheries, which were an absolute menace and polluting environment in a big way (liberals ranted though on this and tried to give this a communal twist).

But Yogi&rsquo;s crackdown on criminals is his biggest achievement. Liberals are again ranting on possible human right&rsquo;s violation by Police but these liberals have little idea that how deep-rooted the problem of crimes is in UP. It warrants radical steps and Yogi is just doing that. It needs the shock therapy, which Yogi is providing.

Yogi is the man of action and his actions are decisive and bold. He recently cracked down on blatant cheating in UP Board examinations. To my surprise, I read a piece by a famous liberal, wherein Yogi was criticised that how Yogi is ruthless on cheaters and playing with the future of youth.

His investor summit in Lucknow has been encouraging on the first day itself on 21st&nbsp;Feb 2018. Narendra Modi who is the originator of this very Idea with his &ldquo;Vibrant Gujarat&rdquo; initiatives when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat himself was present and presided over.

So, finally, UP has its man, bit late albeit. Yogi has shown the glimpse that he can reinstate the lost glory of the largest state of the country.

Last but not the least, as UP send almost 15% of representative in the Lok Sabha, he is all important man for Modi and BJP as well in its run up to 2019. For the second term of Modi, UP would again play a decisive role and Yogi has the onus to deliver it, which he will.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Since Yogi Adityanath took the reign in March 2017, he has shown that he can reinstate the lost glory of the largest state of the country.

A few days back, there was a very interesting news piece. In the town Shamli of western UP, two dreaded criminals walked into the office of Police Superintendent and handed over an affidavit stating that they were leaving the crime world once and for all and going forward they would earn their bread with honesty and hard work. This very clip manifest the changes which are ushering in the largest state of the country ever since Yogi Adityanath took over the reign around 11 months back. For someone like me who was born and brought up in UP, this is news of huge significance. In 2005, when Nitish Kumar became Chief Minister of Bihar for the first time, my friend from college, who is from Bihar called me and said: “ we finally have our man, when will you have?”. There is a background to the question asked by my friend. UP and Bihar are two of the largest states in India. Combined together, these two states are 1/4th of India. Regretfully, these are the two states, who paid the hefty price for the political turmoil over the past three decades. Both states were left lurching and in the abysmal state on all indexes of development and human life. For UP, it was a sorry figure for a state which has spearheaded the political, social and even economic activities of the country since the colonial times. The process of decline started in 1985 when a few months after Indira Gandhi’s assassination, Congress swept the assembly polls in Bihar and UP (with other states as well) with Rajiv Gandhi as the Congress supremo and Prime Minister. Rajiv Gandhi subverted constitutional values in a very big way and state governments were only interested in keeping their master happy. In UP and Bihar, Congress governments were jaded and with pathetic or say nil governance. The game of musical chair for chief ministership was on as Rajiv Gandhi was sacking and appointing them on his whims. The result, Congress lost base rapidly and voters alienated with Congress. 1990 was one plummeted steeply in the five years during 1985-90, lost its total voter base in UP and Bihar. In UP, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Kanshiram made most of this situation and UP just got entrapped in caste-based politics with clear compartments of votes. In UP, the deterioration was thick and fast in the new millennium. Mayawati had some hold on the governance during 2007-2012 but transparency was completely missing, financial irregularities were pervasive, and BSP cadre was busy in the organised loot from top to bottom. But it was the rule of Samajwadi Party during 2003-07 and 2012-17, which hit UP the most. Corruption was rife and so was nepotism. Criminals got brazen political protection. As the epitome of worst of cast appeasement, each and every institution like Police, Public Service Commission, Public Works Department, etc, were disrupted and were flooded with people of just one caste. Once a transporter told his plight to me that how goons backed by political dispensation were robbing their fleets and drivers with sheer impunity. The corruption was at an unthinkable peak. A few years back, during the discussion with one supplier who used to supply consumables to UP’s health department, it came out that he had to dole out Rs. 55,000 to babus and brokers for a billing of Rs. 1 Lakh. You can imagine what stuff a supplier would deliver after paying a 55% commission. This will also throw some light that how so many kids died in Gorakhpur Medical College a few months back. The sign of revival was palpable, soon after Yogi took the reign in March 2017. He first attacked the UP’s road, which was full of potholes. Then he came hard on illegal butcheries, which were an absolute menace and polluting environment in a big way (liberals ranted though on this and tried to give this a communal twist). But Yogi’s crackdown on criminals is his biggest achievement. Liberals are again ranting on possible human right’s violation by Police but these liberals have little idea that how deep-rooted the problem of crimes is in UP. It warrants radical steps and Yogi is just doing that. It needs the shock therapy, which Yogi is providing. Yogi is the man of action and his actions are decisive and bold. He recently cracked down on blatant cheating in UP Board examinations. To my surprise, I read a piece by a famous liberal, wherein Yogi was criticised that how Yogi is ruthless on cheaters and playing with the future of youth. His investor summit in Lucknow has been encouraging on the first day itself on 21st Feb 2018. Narendra Modi who is the originator of this very Idea with his “Vibrant Gujarat” initiatives when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat himself was present and presided over. So, finally, UP has its man, bit late albeit. Yogi has shown the glimpse that he can reinstate the lost glory of the largest state of the country. Last but not the least, as UP send almost 15% of representative in the Lok Sabha, he is all important man for Modi and BJP as well in its run up to 2019. For the second term of Modi, UP would again play a decisive role and Yogi has the onus to deliver it, which he will. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Yogi Adityanath is the man to root out crime in UP

Mumbai police arrested a driver on Monday for allegedly masturbating in front of TV actor Sumeet Raghavan&#39;s wife, Marathi actress Chinmayee Surve Raghavan. 
 
Raghavan had filed a complaint at the Vile Parle Police Station and the Mumbai Traffic Police after the incident took place. The Sarabhai vs Sarabhai actor sought help to trace the culprit who was in a white BMW with the last four registration digits as 1985, a news agency reported. 
 
&quot;The driver wearing a grey safari who had parked near the Parle Tilak Vidyalaya School in Vile Parle east got off his car and started masturbating in front of my wife. Before she could slap him, he escaped. She could note down just the last four digits,&quot; he posted on Facebook and Twitter.

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A white BMW with last 4 digits 1985 needs to be traced. The driver wearing a grey safari who had parked near <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ParleTilakSchool?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ParleTilakSchool</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VileParleEast?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VileParleEast</a> started masturbating in front of my wife. Before she could slap him he escaped. She could note down just the last 4 digits<a href="https://twitter.com/MumbaiPolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MumbaiPolice</a>
&mdash; Sumeet (@sumrag) <a href="https://twitter.com/sumrag/status/965492020713263104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Raghavan added that the person needed to be found as there are schoolgirls in that area and he must have done this to them as well. The man was arrested within two hours of Raghavan filing the complaint, the actor confirmed on Twitter later.

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After lodging the F.I.R at 4.15pm,the cops have nabbed the bastard in 2 hrs flat.. Hats off <a href="https://twitter.com/MumbaiPolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MumbaiPolice</a> gratitude and respect. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VileParlePoliceStation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VileParlePoliceStation</a> and the concerned officers <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Salute?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Salute</a> &hearts; 
God forbid if at all such things happen,please go to the cops. Don&#39;t suffer. Speak up.
&mdash; Sumeet (@sumrag) <a href="https://twitter.com/sumrag/status/965584310228127744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&quot;Yes, we have detained the 42-year old driver of the vehicle, identified as Jivan Choudhary and further investigations are underway,&quot; Vile Parle police chief, Senior Police Inspector Laxman Chawan told the news agency. 
 
Raghavan is an actor for the past 35 years with several teleserials and Marathi and Hindi films to his credit including Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai, while Chinmayee is also an acclaimed Marathi stage, teleserial and film actress.

(With agency inputs)

The actor filed a complaint at the Vile Parle Police station soon after the incident took place and the man was nabbed within two hours.

Mumbai police arrested a driver on Monday for allegedly masturbating in front of TV actor Sumeet Raghavan's wife, Marathi actress Chinmayee Surve Raghavan. Raghavan had filed a complaint at the Vile Parle Police Station and the Mumbai Traffic Police after the incident took place. The Sarabhai vs Sarabhai actor sought help to trace the culprit who was in a white BMW with the last four registration digits as 1985, a news agency reported. "The driver wearing a grey safari who had parked near the Parle Tilak Vidyalaya School in Vile Parle east got off his car and started masturbating in front of my wife. Before she could slap him, he escaped. She could note down just the last four digits," he posted on Facebook and Twitter. A white BMW with last 4 digits 1985 needs to be traced. The driver wearing a grey safari who had parked near #ParleTilakSchool #VileParleEast started masturbating in front of my wife. Before she could slap him he escaped. She could note down just the last 4 digits@MumbaiPolice — Sumeet (@sumrag) February 19, 2018 × Raghavan added that the person needed to be found as there are schoolgirls in that area and he must have done this to them as well. The man was arrested within two hours of Raghavan filing the complaint, the actor confirmed on Twitter later. After lodging the F.I.R at 4.15pm,the cops have nabbed the bastard in 2 hrs flat.. Hats off @MumbaiPolice gratitude and respect. #VileParlePoliceStation and the concerned officers #Salute ♥ God forbid if at all such things happen,please go to the cops. Don't suffer. Speak up. — Sumeet (@sumrag) February 19, 2018 × "Yes, we have detained the 42-year old driver of the vehicle, identified as Jivan Choudhary and further investigations are underway," Vile Parle police chief, Senior Police Inspector Laxman Chawan told the news agency. Raghavan is an actor for the past 35 years with several teleserials and Marathi and Hindi films to his credit including Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai, while Chinmayee is also an acclaimed Marathi stage, teleserial and film actress. (With agency inputs)

Man arrested for allegedly masturbating in front of actor Sumeet Raghavan's wife

At least five policemen were killed and 41 others were left injured when a homemade bomb exploded outside a police station on Saturday in the Colombian city of Barranquilla.&nbsp;

The blast comes hours after a high-powered car bomb gutted another police station near the border in neighbouring Ecuador.

The attack was one of the deadliest on security personnel in recent years, in one of Colombia&#39;s most important cities.

It comes as the government of President Juan Manuel Santos seeks to bring the armed conflict that has wracked Colombia for 50 years to an end. Much of the violence has been financed by drug trafficking.

As per media reports, head of Barranquilla&#39;s police,&nbsp;Mariano Botero,&nbsp;said the attack may have been carried out by associates of a local crime boss known as &quot;Happy,&quot; who was arrested recently on charges of drug trafficking, extorting businesses and terrorizing residents with threats of murder in the Caribbean city.

&quot;I do not have the slightest doubt that this is a retaliation&quot; for successful police action against drug traffickers, he told reporters.

Botero also suggested that the attack could be in revenge after a police crackdown on local drug traffickers.

A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of carrying out the attack, according to attorney general Nestor Martinez.

&quot;We will charge (him) with five aggravated murders ... attempted murder, terrorism and use of explosives,&quot; he told a press conference.

 
&nbsp;

Head of Barranquilla's police suggested that the attack could be in revenge after a police crackdown on local drug traffickers

At least five policemen were killed and 41 others were left injured when a homemade bomb exploded outside a police station on Saturday in the Colombian city of Barranquilla. The blast comes hours after a high-powered car bomb gutted another police station near the border in neighbouring Ecuador. The attack was one of the deadliest on security personnel in recent years, in one of Colombia's most important cities. It comes as the government of President Juan Manuel Santos seeks to bring the armed conflict that has wracked Colombia for 50 years to an end. Much of the violence has been financed by drug trafficking. As per media reports, head of Barranquilla's police, Mariano Botero, said the attack may have been carried out by associates of a local crime boss known as "Happy," who was arrested recently on charges of drug trafficking, extorting businesses and terrorizing residents with threats of murder in the Caribbean city. "I do not have the slightest doubt that this is a retaliation" for successful police action against drug traffickers, he told reporters. Botero also suggested that the attack could be in revenge after a police crackdown on local drug traffickers. A 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of carrying out the attack, according to attorney general Nestor Martinez. "We will charge (him) with five aggravated murders ... attempted murder, terrorism and use of explosives," he told a press conference.

5 dead, 41 injured after attack in Colombia

The Russian police arrested opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow on Sunday as protests continue.&nbsp;

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/russian-opposition-leader-navalny-detained-in-moscow-30993">Russian Police detained</a> opposition leader Alexei Navalny moments after he appeared at a rally to urge voters to boycott what he said would be a rigged presidential election in March.

Police forced their way into Navalny`s office using power tools, citing reports of a bomb threat, an online feed run by Navalny`s supporters showed.

Surrounded by supporters, the 41-year-old chanted &quot;Swindlers and thieves&quot; before being detained by police shortly afterwards at an unsanctioned gathering in the city centre amid heavy police presence.

&quot;I have been detained,&quot; Navalny tweeted. &quot;This means nothing. Come to Tverskaya (Avenue),&quot; he said, referring to Moscow&#39;s main thoroughfare.

&quot;You are not rallying for me, but for yourselves and your future.&quot;

Heeding a call by President Putin&#39;s bete noire, thousands rallied in dozens of cities to protest upcoming &quot;pseudo-elections,&quot; with many chanting and brandishing placards saying &quot;Voters&#39; strike.&quot;

Around 90 people were detained across the country, according to OVD-Info, an independent group which monitors crackdowns on demonstrations.

Teenagers, pensioners and middle-aged citizens ignored police broadcasts to clear the square, chanting &ldquo;Putin is a thief&rdquo; and &ldquo;Russia without Putin&rdquo;, waving placards and Russian flags.

A dozen buses filled with riot police flanked the square, as the protest gradually swelled. &ldquo;Get Putin out of power,&rdquo; shouted one elderly lady as she moved through the crowd, under a placard reading: &ldquo;Putin, you leave us no choice.&rdquo;

Russia&rsquo;s election commission in December formally banned Navalny from taking part in the election, where Mr Putin will almost certainly win another six-year term in power and extend his 18-year rule.&nbsp;

Officials rejected Navalny&rsquo;s candidacy because of a February 2017 criminal conviction for embezzlement, which itself has been criticised by independent legal experts and foreign judges as politically motivated. 
&nbsp;

Heeding a call by President Putin's bete noire, thousands rallied in dozens of cities to protest upcoming 'pseudo-elections,' with many chanting and brandishing placards saying 'Voters' strike'

The Russian police arrested opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow on Sunday as protests continue. The Russian Police detained opposition leader Alexei Navalny moments after he appeared at a rally to urge voters to boycott what he said would be a rigged presidential election in March. Police forced their way into Navalny`s office using power tools, citing reports of a bomb threat, an online feed run by Navalny`s supporters showed. Surrounded by supporters, the 41-year-old chanted "Swindlers and thieves" before being detained by police shortly afterwards at an unsanctioned gathering in the city centre amid heavy police presence. "I have been detained," Navalny tweeted. "This means nothing. Come to Tverskaya (Avenue)," he said, referring to Moscow's main thoroughfare. "You are not rallying for me, but for yourselves and your future." Heeding a call by President Putin's bete noire, thousands rallied in dozens of cities to protest upcoming "pseudo-elections," with many chanting and brandishing placards saying "Voters' strike." Around 90 people were detained across the country, according to OVD-Info, an independent group which monitors crackdowns on demonstrations. Teenagers, pensioners and middle-aged citizens ignored police broadcasts to clear the square, chanting “Putin is a thief” and “Russia without Putin”, waving placards and Russian flags. A dozen buses filled with riot police flanked the square, as the protest gradually swelled. “Get Putin out of power,” shouted one elderly lady as she moved through the crowd, under a placard reading: “Putin, you leave us no choice.” Russia’s election commission in December formally banned Navalny from taking part in the election, where Mr Putin will almost certainly win another six-year term in power and extend his 18-year rule. Officials rejected Navalny’s candidacy because of a February 2017 criminal conviction for embezzlement, which itself has been criticised by independent legal experts and foreign judges as politically motivated.

Russian opposition leader Alexi Navalny arrested

Four people were arrested by the police in Hyderabad for allegedly trying to exchange scrapped currency notes, reports said on Sunday.&nbsp;

A total of Rs 2.53 crore of demonetised currency was found in possession of the four men, officials said.&nbsp;

The men were caught by the police after they tried to speed their vehicle during police checking at Bahadurpura Cross Road on January 26.&nbsp;

The police personnel chased the vehicle and after stopping it, they found the four persons in possession of the old currency notes in Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Zone) V Satyanarayana said in a press release on Saturday.

The accused -- Amit Bagri, a businessman from Bengaluru, and the three locals -- were allegedly planning to exchange the old notes with the new currency on a commission basis, he said.

The four men were arrested under the Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Act, 2017, the police said.

Earlier this month, the Hyderabad police arrested<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/hyderabad-three-arrested-for-possessing-demonetised-notes-worth-1-crore-28593" target="_blank"> three people</a> for possessing demonetised notes worth Rs 1 crore in Secunderabad after the trio was found suspicious while looking for means to exchange the old notes with the new ones near a bank when the police were notified.&nbsp;

The men were caught by the police after they tried to speed their vehicle while the police checking at Bahadurpura Cross Road on January 26

Four people were arrested by the police in Hyderabad for allegedly trying to exchange scrapped currency notes, reports said on Sunday. A total of Rs 2.53 crore of demonetised currency was found in possession of the four men, officials said. The men were caught by the police after they tried to speed their vehicle during police checking at Bahadurpura Cross Road on January 26. The police personnel chased the vehicle and after stopping it, they found the four persons in possession of the old currency notes in Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South Zone) V Satyanarayana said in a press release on Saturday. The accused -- Amit Bagri, a businessman from Bengaluru, and the three locals -- were allegedly planning to exchange the old notes with the new currency on a commission basis, he said. The four men were arrested under the Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Act, 2017, the police said. Earlier this month, the Hyderabad police arrested three people for possessing demonetised notes worth Rs 1 crore in Secunderabad after the trio was found suspicious while looking for means to exchange the old notes with the new ones near a bank when the police were notified.

4 men arrested in Hyderabad for possessing demonetised notes worth 2.5 crore

The Jammu and Kashmir Police today appealed to the public to avoid thronging the Sunjwan Army camp area where an encounter between the Army and terrorists was underway.

Six persons, including five armymen and the father of a jawan, died while five others were injured in an attack by Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists. At least three JeM terrorists have also been gunned down.

&quot;I appeal to the public here not to throng the encounter sites. Several people had gathered here,&quot; Superintendent of Police, Jammu (South), Sandeep Chaudhary said while speaking to reporters here.

He said the gathering of people at the site created problems for the security personnel engaged in the encounter. It had to be ensured that people are not harmed and kept away, he said.

Please avoid coming to encounter sites, he said.

Chaudhary also appealed to people to maintain communal harmony. &quot;If some miscreants are engaged in creating communal tension, they will be taken to task,&quot; he said.

Five armymen including two JCOs and the father of an army-man died and at least three militants of the JeM were killed in the gun-battle following the attack by a group of heavily armed men on the Army camp in Sunjwan in Jammu city.&nbsp;

'I appeal to the public here not to throng the encounter sites. Several people had gathered here,' Superintendent of Police, Jammu (South), Sandeep Chaudhary said

The Jammu and Kashmir Police today appealed to the public to avoid thronging the Sunjwan Army camp area where an encounter between the Army and terrorists was underway. Six persons, including five armymen and the father of a jawan, died while five others were injured in an attack by Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists. At least three JeM terrorists have also been gunned down. "I appeal to the public here not to throng the encounter sites. Several people had gathered here," Superintendent of Police, Jammu (South), Sandeep Chaudhary said while speaking to reporters here. He said the gathering of people at the site created problems for the security personnel engaged in the encounter. It had to be ensured that people are not harmed and kept away, he said. Please avoid coming to encounter sites, he said. Chaudhary also appealed to people to maintain communal harmony. "If some miscreants are engaged in creating communal tension, they will be taken to task," he said. Five armymen including two JCOs and the father of an army-man died and at least three militants of the JeM were killed in the gun-battle following the attack by a group of heavily armed men on the Army camp in Sunjwan in Jammu city.

Don't throng encounter site, maintain communal harmony: Jammu Police to public

Action will be taken against 10 members of Myanmar&#39;s security forces in connection with the killing of captured Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state, a government spokesman said on Sunday, adding it was not related to a Reuters report on the incident.

Reuters on Friday published a report laying out events that led up to the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/one-grave-for-10-rohingya-men-how-myanmar-forces-burned-looted-and-killed-in-a-remote-village-32293" target="_blank">killing of 10 Rohingya men</a> in the northern Rakhine village of Inn Din who were buried in a mass grave after being hacked to death or shot by Buddhist neighbours and soldiers.

A Myanmar government spokesman, Zaw Htay, said that &quot;action according to the law&quot; would be taken against seven soldiers, three members of the police force and six villagers as part of an army investigation that was initiated before the Reuters report was published.

The arrests were &quot;not because of Reuters news. The investigation was being conducted even before Reuters news,&quot; Zaw Htay said, adding that he was unable to specify what action would be taken against the 16 people.

On Jan. 10, the military said the 10 Rohingya men belonged to a group of 200 &quot;terrorists&quot; who had attacked security forces. Buddhist villagers attacked some of them with swords and soldiers shot the others dead, the military said, adding that it would take action against those involved.

The military&#39;s version of events is contradicted by accounts given to Reuters by Rakhine Buddhist and Rohingya Muslim witnesses.

Buddhist villagers reported no attack by a large number of insurgents on security forces in Inn Din. And Rohingya witnesses told Reuters that soldiers plucked the 10 from among hundreds of men, women and children who had sought safety on a nearby beach.

Nearly 690,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine state and crossed into southern Bangladesh since August, when attacks on security posts by insurgents triggered a military crackdown that the United Nations has said may amount to genocide.

Arrested journalists

The Reuters investigation of the Inn Din massacre was what prompted the arrest of two of the news agency&#39;s reporters. Myanmar citizens Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were detained on Dec. 12 for allegedly obtaining confidential documents. The police has said two police officers were also arrested.

Prosecutors are seeking to charge Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo under Myanmar&#39;s Official Secrets Act, which dates back to the time of colonial British rule and carries a maximum 14-year prison sentence.

Asked about the evidence Reuters had uncovered about the massacre, spokesman Zaw Htay said on Thursday, before publication of the Reuters report: &quot;We are not denying the allegations about violations of human rights. And we are not giving blanket denials.&quot;

If there was &quot;strong and reliable primary evidence&quot; of abuses, the government would investigate, he said.

There has been no official comment from the government following the publication of the report.

Britain&#39;s foreign minister, Boris Johnson, said he would raise the case of the two journalists during a meeting with Myanmar&#39;s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on Sunday.

A statement issued by Britain&#39;s Foreign Office after Johnson met with Aung San Suu Kyi said he had raised the case of the two journalists without providing details.

&quot;Discussed importance of Burmese authorities in carrying out full &amp; independent investigation into the violence in #Rakhine &amp; urgent need to create the right conditions for #Rohingya refugees to return to their homes in Rakhine,&quot; Johnson said in a separate tweet following the talks.

The United States and the United Nations have called the military campaign against the Rohingya &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot;. Myanmar denies ethnic cleansing, and says its security forces mounted legitimate counter-insurgency clearance operations.

A Myanmar government spokesman said "action according to the law" would be taken against seven soldiers, three members of the police force and six villagers as part of an army investigation

Action will be taken against 10 members of Myanmar's security forces in connection with the killing of captured Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state, a government spokesman said on Sunday, adding it was not related to a Reuters report on the incident. Reuters on Friday published a report laying out events that led up to the killing of 10 Rohingya men in the northern Rakhine village of Inn Din who were buried in a mass grave after being hacked to death or shot by Buddhist neighbours and soldiers. A Myanmar government spokesman, Zaw Htay, said that "action according to the law" would be taken against seven soldiers, three members of the police force and six villagers as part of an army investigation that was initiated before the Reuters report was published. The arrests were "not because of Reuters news. The investigation was being conducted even before Reuters news," Zaw Htay said, adding that he was unable to specify what action would be taken against the 16 people. On Jan. 10, the military said the 10 Rohingya men belonged to a group of 200 "terrorists" who had attacked security forces. Buddhist villagers attacked some of them with swords and soldiers shot the others dead, the military said, adding that it would take action against those involved. The military's version of events is contradicted by accounts given to Reuters by Rakhine Buddhist and Rohingya Muslim witnesses. Buddhist villagers reported no attack by a large number of insurgents on security forces in Inn Din. And Rohingya witnesses told Reuters that soldiers plucked the 10 from among hundreds of men, women and children who had sought safety on a nearby beach. Nearly 690,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine state and crossed into southern Bangladesh since August, when attacks on security posts by insurgents triggered a military crackdown that the United Nations has said may amount to genocide. Arrested journalists The Reuters investigation of the Inn Din massacre was what prompted the arrest of two of the news agency's reporters. Myanmar citizens Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were detained on Dec. 12 for allegedly obtaining confidential documents. The police has said two police officers were also arrested. Prosecutors are seeking to charge Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo under Myanmar's Official Secrets Act, which dates back to the time of colonial British rule and carries a maximum 14-year prison sentence. Asked about the evidence Reuters had uncovered about the massacre, spokesman Zaw Htay said on Thursday, before publication of the Reuters report: "We are not denying the allegations about violations of human rights. And we are not giving blanket denials." If there was "strong and reliable primary evidence" of abuses, the government would investigate, he said. There has been no official comment from the government following the publication of the report. Britain's foreign minister, Boris Johnson, said he would raise the case of the two journalists during a meeting with Myanmar's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, on Sunday. A statement issued by Britain's Foreign Office after Johnson met with Aung San Suu Kyi said he had raised the case of the two journalists without providing details. "Discussed importance of Burmese authorities in carrying out full & independent investigation into the violence in #Rakhine & urgent need to create the right conditions for #Rohingya refugees to return to their homes in Rakhine," Johnson said in a separate tweet following the talks. The United States and the United Nations have called the military campaign against the Rohingya "ethnic cleansing". Myanmar denies ethnic cleansing, and says its security forces mounted legitimate counter-insurgency clearance operations.

Myanmar says soldiers, police face action over village killings

The beleaguered Maldives government Sunday ordered police and troops to reject any move by the Supreme Court to arrest or impeach President Abdulla Yameen over his refusal to release political prisoners.

The tiny tourist archipelago has been plunged into a political crisis pitting the country&#39;s top court against Yameen, whose crackdown on dissent has tarnished the nation&#39;s image as an upmarket holiday paradise.

On Thursday &mdash; in a move that surprised many &mdash; judges ordered authorities to release nine political dissidents and restore the seats of 12 legislators who had been sacked for defecting from Yameen&#39;s party, ruling the cases were politically motivated.

But the Yameen government has so far refused, shuttering parliament and resisting international calls to comply.

In a national television address on Sunday Attorney General Mohamed Anil said the government remained defiant.

&quot;Any Supreme Court order to arrest the president would be unconstitutional and illegal. So I have asked the police and the army not to implement any unconstitutional order,&quot; Anil said.

The reinstatement of the dozen legislators gave the opposition a majority in the 85-member assembly, and it can now potentially impeach Yameen.

However the authorities shut parliament indefinitely on Saturday to avert such a move. Yameen also sacked two police chiefs after the court&#39;s decision.

The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party &mdash; led by the country&#39;s first democratically-elected president Mohamed Nasheed &mdash; has urged the government to respect the top court&#39;s decision, fearing any refusal might trigger unrest in the nation of 340,000 Sunni Muslims.

The Maldivian government said Friday it had concerns about releasing those convicted for &quot;terrorism, corruption, embezzlement, and treason&quot;.

The United Nations, Australia, Britain, Canada, India and the United States welcomed the court&#39;s decision as a move towards restoring democracy in the politically troubled Indian Ocean nation.

Nasheed was barred from contesting any election in the Maldives after a controversial 2015 terrorism conviction which was internationally criticised as politically motivated. He lives abroad after travelling out of the country in 2016 on prison leave for medical treatment.

In a national television address on Sunday Attorney General Mohamed Anil said the government remained defiant

The beleaguered Maldives government Sunday ordered police and troops to reject any move by the Supreme Court to arrest or impeach President Abdulla Yameen over his refusal to release political prisoners. The tiny tourist archipelago has been plunged into a political crisis pitting the country's top court against Yameen, whose crackdown on dissent has tarnished the nation's image as an upmarket holiday paradise. On Thursday — in a move that surprised many — judges ordered authorities to release nine political dissidents and restore the seats of 12 legislators who had been sacked for defecting from Yameen's party, ruling the cases were politically motivated. But the Yameen government has so far refused, shuttering parliament and resisting international calls to comply. In a national television address on Sunday Attorney General Mohamed Anil said the government remained defiant. "Any Supreme Court order to arrest the president would be unconstitutional and illegal. So I have asked the police and the army not to implement any unconstitutional order," Anil said. The reinstatement of the dozen legislators gave the opposition a majority in the 85-member assembly, and it can now potentially impeach Yameen. However the authorities shut parliament indefinitely on Saturday to avert such a move. Yameen also sacked two police chiefs after the court's decision. The main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party — led by the country's first democratically-elected president Mohamed Nasheed — has urged the government to respect the top court's decision, fearing any refusal might trigger unrest in the nation of 340,000 Sunni Muslims. The Maldivian government said Friday it had concerns about releasing those convicted for "terrorism, corruption, embezzlement, and treason". The United Nations, Australia, Britain, Canada, India and the United States welcomed the court's decision as a move towards restoring democracy in the politically troubled Indian Ocean nation. Nasheed was barred from contesting any election in the Maldives after a controversial 2015 terrorism conviction which was internationally criticised as politically motivated. He lives abroad after travelling out of the country in 2016 on prison leave for medical treatment.

Maldives govt warns Supreme Court against impeachment move

A special sub-inspector of police was today arrested here for allegedly attempting to misbehave with a pregnant woman co-passenger in a train, police said.

The incident occurred in the Coimbatore bound Nilgiris express that left Chennai last night.

Erode Railway police said the woman was the wife of Ashok Kumar, an IAF personnel working at Coimbatore.

They said she was provided a middle berth in the train.

Following the woman&#39;s request, Chandrasekar, special sub-inspector attached to the CB-CID police, Udhagamandalam, offered her his lower berth.

When the train crossed Salem in the early hours today, Chandrasekar in a drunken mood allegedly attempted to misbehave with her. But she raised an alarm and her husband came to her rescue and warned him.

When the train reached Erode junction, Ashok Kumar and his wife got down and lodged a complaint against the police officer with the Erode railway police.

As the train left the station, a railway police team rushed to Coimbatore by another train, traced and arrested Chandrasekar.

He was taken back to Erode and a case registered, they added.&nbsp;

The incident occurred in the Coimbatore bound Nilgiris express that left Chennai last night

A special sub-inspector of police was today arrested here for allegedly attempting to misbehave with a pregnant woman co-passenger in a train, police said. The incident occurred in the Coimbatore bound Nilgiris express that left Chennai last night. Erode Railway police said the woman was the wife of Ashok Kumar, an IAF personnel working at Coimbatore. They said she was provided a middle berth in the train. Following the woman's request, Chandrasekar, special sub-inspector attached to the CB-CID police, Udhagamandalam, offered her his lower berth. When the train crossed Salem in the early hours today, Chandrasekar in a drunken mood allegedly attempted to misbehave with her. But she raised an alarm and her husband came to her rescue and warned him. When the train reached Erode junction, Ashok Kumar and his wife got down and lodged a complaint against the police officer with the Erode railway police. As the train left the station, a railway police team rushed to Coimbatore by another train, traced and arrested Chandrasekar. He was taken back to Erode and a case registered, they added.

Sub-inspector held for trying to misbehave with woman co-passenger

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