4 SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS IMPRISONMENT IN ALWAR LYNCHING CASE
A district court in Alwar on May 25 held four cow vigilantes guilty in the 2018 Rakbar Khan lynching case. All four convicts have been sentenced to seven years in jail.One man was acquitted as the prosecution failed to prove a case against him.Additional District Judge Sunil Kumar Goyal convicted Naresh, Vijay, Paramjeet and Dharmendra under Sections 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint) and 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC. The court gave the benefit of doubt to another accused, Nawal.Rakbar was killed on the night of July 20, 2018, when he and his friend, Aslam Khan, were brutally attacked by a mob on suspicion of cow-smuggling while they were transporting milch cows on foot to their home in Nuh’s Kolgaon from a village in Alwar. Though Aslam escaped, Rakbar was brutally beaten up. After some time, the police reached the spot and took the injured Rakbar to hospital, where he was declared brought dead.
TIPU SULTAN’S SWORD SOLD FOR RS 143 CRORE AT LONDON AUCTION
The bedchamber sword of Tipu Sultan, the 18th-century ruler of Mysuru, has been sold for 14 million pounds ($17.4 million or Rs 143 crore) at Bonhams Islamic and Indian Art sale, an auction house in London. This is a new auction world record for an Indian and Islamic object.As per a press release by Bonhams, the sword was estimated at around 1,500,000-2,000,000 pounds. Bonhams further said that the sword was the most important of the weapons with a proven personal association with the ruler.“This spectacular sword is the greatest of all the weapons linked to Tipu Sultan still in private hands. Its close personal association with the Sultan, its impeccable provenance traceable to the very day it was captured, and the outstanding craftsmanship that went into its manufacture make it unique and highly desirable,” said Oliver White, Bonhams Head of Islamic and Indian Art and auctioneer.After Tipu Sultan was killed, his sword was presented to British Major General David Baird as a token of his courage, according to the auction house.Tipu Sultan succeeded his father as the ruler of the kingdom of Mysore in south India in 1782. He earned the soubriquet ‘Tiger of Mysore’ for the ferocity with which he defended his kingdom’s interests. He pioneered the use of rocket artillery in wars both against neighbouring states and also the East Indian Company, of which he was an implacable opponent.
DU TO DROP ALLAMA IQBAL FROM POLITICAL SCIENCE SYLLABUS
The academic council of Delhi University has passed a proposal to drop references to Muslim philosopher and poet Muhammad Iqbal from the Political Science syllabus for undergraduates.Announcing the decision, Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh, who presided over the meeting, said that those “who laid the foundation to break India should not be in the syllabus” and emphasised on “teaching Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar more and more.”Iqbal, who penned the famous song ‘Saarejahan se achha Hindustan Hamara’has become victim of hate politics. Students studied Iqbal as part of a chapter titled “Modern Indian Political Thought” in the sixth semester of the B.A. programme.In its 15-hour-long meeting that ended at 1.20 a.m. on May 27, the academic council also passed proposals to set up the Centre for Independence and Partition Studies as well as a Tribal Studies Centre.
TRAVANCORE DEVASWOM BOARD BANS RSS ‘SHAKHAS’
The Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has issued a fresh circular to all temples under it not to allow mass drills and other activities organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on temple premises, a report said on May 23. TDB is a body that manages around 1,200 temples in southern India. TBD reiterated its ban on RSS ‘shakhas’ (branches) or mass drills at temples under its management in Kerala. It asked the temples to strictly follow its order. This is not the first time the TDB has taken measures to restrict arms training within temple complexes. In 2016, the board issued a circular banning all forms of arms training by the RSS. Travancore Devaswom Board reissued an order on March 30, 2021 stating the temple premises should not be used for any other purpose other than for temple rituals and festivals. The new circular by the TDB warned of strict action against those who fail to comply with the ban.
U’KHAND HC SEEKS REPLY FROM MPLB ON MARRIAGE OF GIRLS UNDER 18
Uttarakhand High Court on May 26 heard a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against the Muslim Law, declaring it illegal to allow girls to be married below 18 years of age.After hearing the case, the division bench of Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Manoj Alok Kumar Verma has issued a notice to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and sought its reply within four weeks. The next hearing of the case has been listed on August 25.The Youth Bar Association of India had filed a PIL in the Uttarakhand High Court stating that despite getting married below 18 years, some courts are giving recognition to the newly wed couples and ordering police protection to them as Muslim Personal Law allows it. The plea said that if girls establish physical relationship or get pregnant before attaining 18 years, then it causes health issues among them. Infact, under-age marriages affect the health of both the minor girl and her newborn, it added. The PIL further stated that the government has introduced laws like Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and it is a crime to grant permission for marriage to girls below the age of 18. Such marriages are not only a violation of the act but are invalid, the plea stated. It went on to demand action under POCSO against those who maintain physical relationship with girls under 18 years.The PIL has suggested increasing the age of marriage of a girl from 18 to 21 years and introducing a bill in this regard.
MISCREANTS DAMAGE NAGA CLUB BUILDING IN KOHIMA
The Naga Club building, housing the office of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), an apex body of the Naga students and youth and also some shops and printing press as well as the office of Kohima Press Club and All Nagaland College Students’ Union, has been damaged. As per the initial report, the incident reportedly took place at around 3 am. Additional SP of Kohima, Relo T Aye said, adding that they have received an FIR from the NSF and an investigation is being carried out by a four-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by himself. Police have recovered various tools including machetes used by the miscreants and sharp materials to destroy the office, while further investigation is in progress.
DELHI MAYOR NO TO CONVERT SCHOOL INTO TEMPORARY JAIL
Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi on May 28 said no permission will be granted to convert an MCD school into a temporary jail. The Delhi Police had sought permission to convert the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) school at Kanjhawala into a temporary jail in view of the wrestlers’‘MahilaMaha Panchayat’.It is hereby directed that “no permission will be granted”, Oberoi said in an order issued on May 28. Oberoi is a councillor of the AAP, which governs the MCD.The Delhi police detained VineshPhogat, Sakshi Malik and Bajrang Punia after they breached the security cordon while trying to move towards the new Parliament building for a women’s ‘Mahapanchayat’.