Communal Riots

MHA asks states, UTs to ensure law and order during Hanuman Jayanti

Ahead of Hanuman Jayanti, the Centre on Wednesday asked all states to ensure the maintenance of law and order, peaceful observance of the festival, and to monitor any factor that can disturb communal harmony in the society. The Union Home Ministry's advisory to all states and union territories came in the wake of communal violence in different parts of the country during Ram Navami last week. "The state/UT governments are encouraged to ensure the maintenance of law and order, peaceful observance of the festival, and monitoring of any factors that could disturb communal harmony in society," the Home Minister's Office tweeted. This year, Hanuman Jayanti is on April 6.

Court acquits 9 in 2020 Delhi rioting-arson case on 'benefit of doubt'

A court here on Saturday acquitted nine people accused of rioting and arson during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, giving them the "benefit of doubt". The nine people were accused of being members of an unlawful assembly that committed robbery and arson in a shop in the Chaman Park area here on February 25, 2020. The court observed the sole testimony of the prosecution witness, who was a head constable, cannot be sufficient to assume the accused were part of the mob. "I find that charges levelled against all the accused persons in this case are not proved beyond doubt. Hence, accused are acquitted of all the charges levelled against them," Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala said. The Gokalpuri police station had registered the case against Mohd. Shahnawaz, Mohd. Shoaib, Shahrukh,Rashid, Azad, Ashraf Ali, Parvej, Mohd. Faisal and Rashid under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including rioting. The court said the formation of an unlawful assembly along with rio

Northeast Delhi violence 2020: Court acquits 4 of rioting charges

The rioters had allegedly beaten four Muslim men after asking their identity in Johripur Puliya

SC to set up bench to hear Gyanvapi Kashi Vishwanath case on Friday

The Supreme Court agreed to set up a bench on Friday to hear the Gyanvapi Kashi Vishwanath case in which the Hindu side has sought extension of an order by which protection of an area where a "Shivling" was found in Gyanvapi premises was ordered. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud on Thursday took note of the submissions of advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, appearing for some Hindu devotees, and said the order granting protection was expiring on November 12. We will constitute a bench at 3 pm tomorrow, the CJI said. The top court, on May 17, had passed an interim order directing protection of the area inside Gyanvapi premises at Varanasi.

125 die as tear gas triggers crush at Indonesia football match

Violence broke out after the game ended Saturday evening with host Arema FC of East Java's Malang city losing to Persebaya of Surabaya 3-2

Delhi Court grants bail to JNU student Sharjeel Imam in 2019 sedition case

A Delhi court on Friday granted bail to former JNU student Sharjeel Imam in a sedition case in which he was accused of instigating the Jamia riots here in 2019. Additional Sessions Judge Anuj Agrawal granted him relief in the matter. A detailed order from the court is awaited. In the New Friends Colony case, Imam was arrested for instigating and abetting the Jamia riots, due to his seditious speech delivered on December 13, 2019. During the investigation, police invoked sections 124 A (sedition) and 153 A IPC (promoting enmity between classes) against him. However, Imam, who is in judicial custody since January 2020, will continue to remain in jail as he is yet to secure bail in the Delhi riots conspiracy case.

UK Home Secretary visits Leicester to take stock of recent communal unrest

UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman met the police in Leicester to discuss and take stock of the recent communal unrest in the English city, the media reported

2020 Delhi riots: Court orders framing of charges against four accused

A court here has put four persons on trial for various offences, including rioting and mischief by fire or explosive substance to destroy the building, in a case related to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The case relates to a rioting incident inside a parking lot on February 25, 2020. Additional Sessions Judge Amitabh Rawat ordered the framing of charges against Shahrukh, Ashwani, Ashu, and Juber, saying that there were grounds to presume that they had committed the offences. The judge, meanwhile, discharged Kasim and Khalid Ansari, saying there was no material evidence against them except their disclosure statements. Thus, on the basis of the contents of the charge sheet, duly supported by the statement of the witnesses, it has come on record that on February 25, 2020, around 4.30 pm, a riotous mob consisting of 100-250 rioting persons, including Shahrukh, Ashwani, Ashu, and Juber, armed with dandas, petrol bottles, and canes, had entered into the MCD parking near Ambedkar Colle

Gujarat: Court defers order on bail pleas of Teesta, Sreekumar till July 28

The court of Additional Principal Judge DD Thakkar was scheduled to pronounce the order on Tuesday but said he will do so on Thursday as the order was not ready yet.

2020 Delhi riots: Court orders framing of charges against three accused

A court here has put three persons on trial for the charges of rioting, attempt to murder, dacoity, and allegedly attacking a man with a sword during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala ordered the framing of charges against Vinay, Rahul, and Sourabh Sharma, who are currently on bail, saying the charges were prima facie made out against them. "It is well established that injured Jafar Jiya was assaulted with a sword on his head by the rioters and it is a matter of common knowledge that assaulting a person on his head with a sword can cause the death of that person, therefore, a case of attempt to murder is prima facie reflected against the accused persons, the court noted. While charging the accused for the offence of dacoity, the court also noted that an amount of Rs 5,000 was also robbed from the complainant by a mob. The incident took place in the Karawal Nagar area of North East Delhi. According to the complaint, on February 24, 2020,

Gujarat Police arrests activist Teesta Setalvad, seeks 14-day custody

The action came after Union Minister Amit Shah in an interview with ANI said that Teesta Setalvad-run NGO gave baseless information about the 2002 Gujarat riots to the police

Prophet row: Situation peaceful in violence-hit areas, police deployed

Situation in parts of West Bengal, which had witnessed arson during protests against controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad, remained peaceful on Tuesday

Vote bank politics in states where rioters have created havoc: Gambhir

Cricketer-turned-politician, Gambhir said that nobody has supported the statements made by Sharma

No 'major communal riot in seven/eight years'? not quite, says data

The National Crime Records Bureau showed 5,415 communal riots reported between 2014 and 2020

NCP chief Sharad Pawar slams BJP, says there's no stability in country

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Centre saying "there is instability in the country."

'Zero' communal riots in UP since 2017, says Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath

UP CM Yogi Adityanath said no communal riots broke out during his tenure, while they had almost doubled from previous regime during the government of the Samajwadi Party.

2 more booked in Haridwar Dharam Sansad hate speech case

Haridwar Superintendent of Police (SP) City Shekhar Suyal on Saturday said that two more persons have been named in the FIR in connection with the alleged hate speech in the Dharma Sansad in Haridwar.The police have named Dharm Das and Annapurna, a woman in the hate speech case.Earlier on Wednesday, police said it had booked Wasim Rizvi aka Jitendra Tyagi, and others under Section 153A Indian Penal Code in the case.Meanwhile, Anand Swaroop, an attendee of Dharma Sansad told the mediapersons, "We stand by our statements that are well thought out. If a person rapes our sister, won't we kill him? Speakers talked about killing such persons, not ordinary Muslims who are our friends. No one can stop India from becoming Hindu Rashtra".

Take strict action against those inciting hatred: Priyanka on Haridwar row

The incident was reported to have taken place in Haridwar during an event held from December 17 to 20

Hate speech incidents will not be tolerated, warns Uttarakhand DGP

Uttarakhand Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Kumar on Friday said that incidents of 'hate speech' will not be tolerated in the state

Story in numbers: Riot cases in UP fell faster than national average

A total of 657,000 crimes were committed in the state in 2020.