At least 20 houses and shops along the Assam-Mizoram border in Cachar district were set ablaze and several people were injured as a shower of petrol bombs landed from the other side of the boundary following a dispute over a Mizo checkpoint set up the previous night. Lailapur residents alleged that a group of Mizos had illegally set up a checkpoint in Cachar, about 2km from the interstate border, on Friday. “They were armed and roamed about brandishing their weapons. They did not allow a group of Assam forest officials to cross the checkpoint,” a resident said. Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal called the PMO and home ministry to apprise them about attacks. Cachar DSP Bhargab Goswami, along with a police contingent, had reached Khulicherra, about 5km from Lailapur and spoken to Mizo police officials about removing the illegal checkpoint. After some hesitation, the checkpoint was dismantled, sources said. In retaliation, groups of Mizos attacked properties, threw petrol bombs and assaulted people on the Assam side.
Maha minister jailed for cop assault
Maharashtra cabinet minister Yashomati Thakur and three of her aides were sentenced to three months in jail for assaulting a traffic cop eight years ago. The Amravati district and sessions court also imposed a fine of Rs 15,500, failure to pay which would invite addition of another month to the jail term. The court granted bail to all four and permitted them to appeal the sentence in a higher court. Thakur, a three-time Congress MLA and advocate by training, said that she would challenge the verdict in the high court. “Being a lawyer myself, I have always respected the judiciary. As such, it will not be proper for me to comment on the judgment. I can only say at this moment that truth shall prevail,” she said. Sessions court judge Urmila Joshi (Falke) held the minister, her driver Sagar Khandekar and two others – Sharad Jawanjal and Raju Ingle – guilty of beating up traffic policeman Ulhas Raurale on March 24, 2012, after he had stopped her vehicle for entering a one-way road from the wrong direction. The incident occurred in Amravati’s Chunabhatti area. Raurale lodged a complaint against all four, based on which a case was registered under Section 353 (criminal force against a public servant with intent to prevent the person from doing duty) of the IPC, among other charges.
Muslim board to challenge acquittal of Babri accused
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board issued a statement to say that it will challenge in the high court the special CBI court verdict acquitting all accused on the Babri Masjid demolition case.
The AIMPLB working committee chaired by the board’s president, Maulana Syed Mohammad Rabey Hasani Nadvi issued a statement saying “members at the meeting expressed their dismay over the decision of the court. The board unanimously decided whether the CBI would challenge this decision or not, the board would challenge this decision in the high court.” The board’s legal committee also presented a detailed note to the working committee on the review of the Sabarimala case saying that “it clearly includes religious freedom, the scope of Article 25 of the Indian Constitution and what is mandatory and important for a religion could be dealt in this ruling. “This will affect the religious freedom of the majority, including Muslims and the other minorities. It was thus decided that the board would also be involved in the case as an intervenor.” The Board also decided to hold meetings with religious groups, other minorities and members of civil society other than political parties to discuss the issue of uniform civil code and build awareness among people about “how it can be damaging for a pluralistic society”.
One arrested for allegedly spreading fake news
The Mumbai Police arrested a Delhi resident, who claims to be an advocate by profession, for allegedly spreading fake news in connection with the Sushant Singh Rajput case. The Twitter account of the accused, identified as Vibhor Anand, has been suspended for violating the social media platform's guidelines. He had made sensational and defamatory allegations on social media and concocted fake conspiracy theories in the death cases of Sushant and his former manager Disha Salian, police sources said. The accused has been brought to Mumbai. Sushant was found dead in his apartment on June 14. The case was earlier being probed by the Mumbai Police but was later handed over to the CBI. The Enforcement Directorate and Narcotics Control Bureau are also probing other aspects of the case. "A fake narrative started in the media that the Mumbai police did a bad job - we faced a lot of abuse. We were always sure of our investigation," the report quoted Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh as saying.
Actor-producer Arbaaz Khan has also filed a defamation case against several social media users who alleged his involvement in the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput and his manager Disha Salian. Arbaaz filed the case in a civil court in Mumbai, and the court has directed defendants Vibhor Anand and Sakshi Bhandari, and unknown defendants -- namely John Doe / Ashok Kumar -- to withdraw, recall or take down defamatory content published directly or indirectly by any of them.
