Bilkis Bano’s family was surprised by the release of 11 life-term convicts in case of her gang rape and kin murder

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August 16, 2022

Bilkis Banos family — Image: PTI | Bilkis Bano, who was gang-raped during the 2002 riots, gets emotional while addressing a press conference, in New Delhi, Wednesday, April 24, 2019

The husband of Bilkis Bano on Tuesday said they were surprised after coming to know from the media about the release of all 11 convicts sentenced to life imprisonment for her gang rape and murder of seven members of her family during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Bilkis Bano’s husband Yakub Rasul told the media that he does not intend to comment on the latest development in the case on Monday.

Rasul said he, his wife and five sons, the eldest now aged 20, continue to live without a fixed address, more than 20 years after the incident.

The 11 convicts on Monday walked out of the Godhra sub-jail after the Gujarat government allowed their release under its remission policy.

A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Mumbai on January 21, 2008, sentenced the 11 accused to life imprisonment on the charge of gang rape and murder of seven members of Bilkis Bano’s family. Their conviction was later upheld by the Bombay High Court.

Rasul said he came to know about their release from the media.

“We had no knowledge about when they (convicts) processed their application and which judgement the state government took into consideration. We never received any kind of notice and were not told about this. There was no way we could have known about this in advance,” he said.

Asked about his reaction to the government’s decision, Rasul said he does not know what to say.

“We don’t intend to say anything on this. I can talk only after getting the details. All we want to do is pray for peace in the souls of our near and dear ones who lost their lives in the riots. Every day we remember those who were killed in the incident, including our daughter,” he said.

Rasul said the Gujarat government paid the family a compensation of Rs 50 lakh as directed by the Supreme Court.

“But the government has not yet made any arrangements for a job or house as directed by the Supreme Court,” he said.

The family continues to live virtually in hiding without a fixed address, he said.

“We have no fixed address yet, we can’t yet talk about where we live, it is quite difficult for us to do so,” he said.

The compensation money, he said, was being used for the education of his sons.

The 11 convicts who were granted premature release are Jaswantbhai Nai, Govindbhai Nai, Shailesh Bhatt, Radheshyam Shah, Bipin Chandra Joshi, Kesarbhai Vohania, Pradeep Mordhiya, Bakabhai Vohania, Rajubhai Soni, Mitesh Bhatt, and Ramesh Chandana.

Radheshyam Shah, the convict whose plea for premature release paved the way for all the 11 life sentence convicts to walk out of jail, said he feels happy to be released.

“The Gujarat government has released us as per the order of the Supreme Court. I feel glad to be out as I will be able to meet my family members and begin a new life,” he said.

“We were convicted and lodged in jail. When I was not released after completing 14 years in jail, I approached the Supreme Court for remission. The apex court directed the Gujarat government to take a decision, after which we were released,” he said.

The convicts were released on Monday under the Gujarat government’s remission policy after they completed more than 15 years in jail.

On March 3, 2002, Bilkis Bano’s family was attacked by a mob at Randhikpur village in Limkheda taluka of Dahod district during the post-Godhra riots. Bilkis, who was five months pregnant at that time, was gang-raped and seven members of her family were killed.

The Supreme Court had in April 2019 directed the Gujarat government to give Rs 50 lakh compensation, a job and accommodation to Bilkis.

The 11 convicts who walked out of the jail were convicted for gang rape of a pregnant woman, murder and unlawful assembly under sections of the Indian Penal Code.

While convicting them, the special court acquitted seven accused citing a lack of evidence.

One of the accused had died during the course of the trial.

The Bombay High Court on May 3, 2017, upheld their conviction. It also convicted seven others, including five policemen and two doctors, under IPC sections 218 (not performing their duties) and 201 (tampering with evidence).

Riots had erupted in Gujarat following the burning of a Sabarmati Express coach that killed 59 ‘karsevaks ‘on February 27, 2002.

The violence had claimed the lives of 1,044 people, mostly Muslims, across different parts of the state.

The central government had informed the Rajya Sabha in May 2005 that 254 Hindus and 790 Muslims were killed in the post-Godhra riots.

Mumbai already got 83% of season’s rain, before the monsoon ends

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Web Team

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August 16, 2022

Rainfall, Maharashtra — Image: Agencies/ Representative

The total rainfall required for the season that extends from June to September is 2,319mm .

The total rainfall recorded so far by IMD’s Colaba observatory is 1,523mm.

The weather bureau has indicated that the wet spell is expected to continue in the city for the next few days.

The 75th Independence Day celebrations in the city saw rain coupled with gusty winds playing spoilsport at intervals.

The Santacruz observatory of IMD has recorded 83% of the season’s average rainfall with another month still to go of the monsoon season.Till 8. 30am on August 15, the total rainfall recorded at Santacruz was 1,947mm, 234mm above normal.

Heterologous Covid-19 vaccine came to market

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Web Team

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August 16, 2022

Covid-19, Maharashtra,Mumbai — Image: Representative

The country’s first heterologous Covid vaccine, Corbevax, is now available at all public vaccination centres.

Heterologous is when a booster dose is different from the first two doses.

While the availability of the first mix-and-match booster has expanded options, it has also caused a dilemma in many — should they switch vaccines for the third shot or stick to their primary vaccine? Vaccination centres will offer both heterologous and homologous choices, leaving it to individuals to decide what they want.

After the Centre recently allowed mixing and matching by enabling the use of Corbevax as a heterologous booster, it was made available at all public centres from August 12.

A centre head called for clarity on what should be offered to individuals when they walk into a vaccination centre. He said there had been no instructions from the Centre or state.

MeT dept predicts heavy showers in next 24 hours

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Web Team

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August 16, 2022

Mumbai witnessed heavy showers on Tuesday as the rain intensity increased in the city after a gap of a few days.

There was no report so far of any major water-logging in low-lying areas. Trains and bus services of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) were running normally, civic officials said.

Early in the morning, there was either no rain or light showers in most parts of the city.The heavy downpour started around 10 am, they said.

Two people died to ceiling collapse in the house at Mumbai

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Web Team

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August 16, 2022

In Mumbai’s Mulund area two people died due to the ceiling collapsing in a house. The incident took place at Moti Chhaya in the building on Monday. The incident came to light from the Brihammumbai Municipal Corporation.

It was a two-storey building including the ground floor and the incident took place at approximately 7:45 pm on the first floor of the building.

The two deceased people have been identified as Devshankar Nathalal Shukla who was 93 years old and Arkhiben Devshankar Shukla who was 87 years old.

The BMC officials reached the spot and took the people to the hospital. The victims at the accident spot were taken to Ashirwad Critical Care Hospital.

In Aashirwad Critical care hospital Dr Sharad, a Resident Medical officer declared the victims of the accident dead.

As per the reports BMC officials have stated “It was a two-storey private building which is approximately 25 years old and 351 notices were also been sent to the building people”.

Centre mentions FIFA suspension of AIFF before SC, hearing tomorrow

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Web Team

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August 16, 2022

Supreme Court 1 — Image: ANI | Supreme Court

The Supreme Court agreed to hear the issues related to FIFA suspending the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Wednesday with immediate effect.

Tushar Mehta General of Solicitor mentioned the matter before the court and updated recent developments and request to hear the issue tomorrow
The beach will hear the matter on Wednesday, as the decision of FIFA stripped the country to host the Under 17 Women’s World Cup which was scheduled in October.

FIFA suspended India with immediate effect citing “undue influence” from third parties.

In FIFA’s statement, they said, “The Bureau of the FIFA Council has unanimously decided to suspend the All India Football Federation (AIFF) with immediate effect due to undue influence from third parties, which constitutes a serious violation of the FIFA Statutes.”

“There is some development. The matter may not be deleted. FIFA has sent a letter, it’s in the public domain,” Mehta told the Supreme Court.
Justice Chandrachud said the AIFF matter is listed for hearing tomorrow and it will not be deleted. “It would not be deleted. Court master says it is the first item tomorrow,” the bench said.

Mehta will submit a letter from FIFA which is available in the public domain.

The Suspension will be revoked once the order appoints the Committee of Administrators (CoA) to assume the powers of the AIFF Executive Committee are repealed, FIFA said in a statement.

The apex court on 18th May Praful Patel was removed as AIFF president for not holding elections in December 2020 and appointed a three-member Committee of Administrators (CoA) headed by AR Dave former top court judge the manage the affairs of AIFF.

The CoA had to frame its constitution in line with National Sports Code and model guidelines.

Supreme Court directed the executive committee of the AIFF to expeditiously hold elections as per the schedule proposed by the CoA which is currently running the affairs of the national federation on 03rd August.

FIFA had threatened to suspend India to host women’s U-17 World Cup day the Supreme Court ordered to hold elections of the AIFF on 05th August
Elections are to be held on August 28 and the poll process will begin on August 13 as per the court-approved timeline.

“The suspension means that the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2022, scheduled to take place in India on 11-30 October 2022, cannot currently be held in India as planned,” the statement added.

FIFA will refer the matters to the Bureau of the Council if and when necessary.

The governing body said that it is in constant constructive contact with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in India and is hopeful that a positive outcome to the case may still be achieved.

Bombay HC directs BAI to include wild card entry to the national player in the international tournament

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PTI

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August 16, 2022

In a Monday’s special hearing on Independence Day, the Bombay High Court’s Aurangabad bench directed the Badminton Association of India (BAI) to include national player Prathamesh Kulkarni’s name for wild card entry in an international tournament to be held in Pune.

The name of 18-year-old Kulkarni was not included in the list due to a clerical error on part of the BAI.

A division bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Arun Pednekar in its order, which was made available on Tuesday, said Kulkrani cannot be faulted as he had submitted his application form online with correct details well before the deadline.

The bench also noted that there was “bungling” and “error” committed by the BAI while handling Kulkarni’s form. Petitioner Kulkarni had informed the court that on August 15 the exercise of inclusion of names of eligible players for the tournament would conclude.

The court heard the petition filed by Kulkarni seeking to be included in the list of participants in the India Junior International Grand Prix-2022, to be held in Pune from August 30 to September 4, and the India Maharashtra International Challenge, to be held in Nagpur from September 13 to 18.

Kulkarni sought a direction to the BAI to generate a new and accurate ID so that he can participate in the tournament.

As per the plea, Kulkarni’s name was already included in the list of eligible candidates but due to a clerical error on the BAI’s part, his name was put in the female category and also there was an error in his date of birth.

When Kulkarni sought for the same to be rectified and his name to be deleted from the female category and included in the male category, a BAI official acknowledged and deleted his name from the female category but did not include his name in the male category.

Since the date of form submission had passed, Kulkarni later sought to be included in the wild card quota. When there was no response, he moved the HC. The HC bench said it was convinced that Kulkarni’s form was “perfectly in order” when it was uploaded online well before the deadline of August 2.

“It is clear that the petitioner (Prathamesh) cannot be faulted,” the high court said. “Due to the bungling of respondent No 2 (BAI), the petitioner’s name is not in the list of qualified male players for the Pune event though he is not to be faulted. Repeated mistakes committed by the respondent No 2 led to the said error and now the application of the petitioner is being treated as withdrawn,” the court said.

Former BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary passes away

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ANI

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August 16, 2022

amitabh chaudhari — Former BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary passes away 9

Former BCCI acting secretary and former president of the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA), Amitabh Choudhary passed away from a heart attack on Tuesday. He was 62.

Choudhary worked as the former JSCA president for more than a decade and also rose to become the BCCI’s joint-secretary. During the Committee of Administrators’ power in the cricket board, he also performed the role of its acting secretary.

A couple of years ago, he was appointed as the chairman of Jharkhand Public Service Commission.

Choudhary played an instrumental role in making Ranchi the headquarters of Jharkhand cricket, shifting the base from Jamshedpur. A world-class stadium was built and befittingly one end of the stadium was named after him.

He was the Indian team manager in Zimbabwe in 2005-06

President Murmu, PM Modi pay floral tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary

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ANI

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August 16, 2022

draupadi murmu 1 — President Murmu, PM Modi pay floral tribute to Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary 11

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several prominent leaders on Tuesday paid floral tribute to former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh paid floral tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary, at Sadaiv Atal in the national capital.

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar paid floral tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary, at Sadaiv Atal.

Former President Ram Nath Kovind, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and BJP national president JP Nadda paid floral tributes to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary, at Sadaiv Atal.

Atal Bihar Vajpayee was the former Prime Minister of India and was elected to the position twice in 1996 and 1999. A member of the Bhartiya Janta Party, Vajpayee had joined the Quit India Movement in 1942 as a student leader. He was awarded India’s highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna in 2015 on his birthday.

His birthday, December 25, was also declared as Good Governance Day by the Narendra Modi government. He was the first non-congress political leader who became the Prime Minister of India. He passed away on August 16, 2018

Chinese spy vessel Yuan Wang 5 arrives in Sri Lanka

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ANI

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August 16, 2022

spy ship — Chinese research ship Yuan Wang 5

Chinese research ship Yuan Wang 5 on Tuesday morning arrived and docked at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota Port, according to local media. The vessel is capable of tracking satellites and intercontinental missiles.

The research and survey vessel was earlier scheduled to dock at the Chinese-leased Hambantota Port on August 11 but was deferred for a while after India raised its concerns. This morning the ship docked at the Sri Lankan Port, Daily Mirror reported.

The Chinese Embassy requested the Sri Lankan government to provide necessary assistance and positive consideration for the ship to dock.

On August 12, the Chinese Embassy informed Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry via a Diplomatic Note that the vessel Yuan Wang-5 was scheduled to arrive at Hambantota port on August 16 and applied for clearance for replenishment purposes for the new date August 16 to August 22.

Following Sri Lanka’s decision, China had said that the cooperation between China and Sri Lanka is independently chosen by the two countries and meets common interests and does not target any third party.

Beijing had also said that it is “senseless to pressure Sri Lanka” by citing the issue of security concerns in an apparent reference to reports that Colombo had taken the decision following concerns expressed by India.

Designated as a research and survey vessel, Yuan Wang 5 was built in 2007 and has a carrying capacity of 11,000 tonnes.

India had expressed its security concerns over the docking of the vessel at the Sri Lankan port as it was shown as a research vessel with the capability of mapping the ocean bed, which is critical to anti-submarine operations of the Chinese Navy. The ship could conduct satellite research in the northwestern part of the Indian Ocean region, prompting security concerns for India.

Hambantota Port, located around 250 km from Colombo was built with high-interest Chinese loans. The Sri Lankan government struggled to repay the debt they had taken from China following which the port was handed over to the Chinese on a 99-year lease.