Post-Babri Masjid demolition riots: SC gives split verdict

By TwoCircles.net staff reporter

New Delhi: Two courts of different status, two cases related to the nation-wide communal riots following the demolition of Babri Masjid, and two different verdicts, but what is similar is the time the procedure took: full 15 years.

On 3rd May the Supreme Court of India gave a split verdict on confirming the conviction of five persons accused of murder during the communal riots of 1992-1993 in Assam. As the two-judge bench comprising Justices S.B. Sinha and H.S. Bedi had different opinions, the matter has now been placed before the Chief Justice of India. The Chief Justice will refer the case to a larger bench.

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Muslims court arrest to demand right to pray at Nawab Masjid

By Tarique Anwar, TwoCircles.net

Vellore (Tamilnadu): A sea of Muslims disciplined and peacefully descended on the famous Vellore Fort to demand their right to pray. Located within Vellore Fort, Muslims are not allowed to pray in 250 years old Nawab Masjid. Muslims of Tamilnadu have been demanding for a long time that the masjid be opened up for prayers. On Friday, about ten thousand Muslims under the banner of Tamilnadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) marched towards the fort to be allowed to pray. They were prevented from entering the fort, as a result they offered prayers outside the fort on the road. More than two thousands of them detained and later released.

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Pakistan warns foreign terrorists to leave of face stiff action

LARKANA, March 1. (NNN-APP): Foreign terrorists hiding in Pakistan's mountainous tribal belt have been warned to leave the country or risk stiff military action.

Issuing the warning, President General Pervez Musharraf, declared before a large public gathering:

"People have come there from outside - they are living in our mountains and spreading terrorism not just in Pakistan but in the entire world."

He said Pakistan was facing threat of terrorism and extremism and although things were better in Sindh as compared to the NWFP, the impact was being felt in the entire country.

“These people are putting Pakistan in danger and they should; otherwise we will have to deal with them," he said, adding that Islam is a religion of peace and had no place for extremist and terrorist tendencies.

He dismissed the use of the concept of 'jihad' by these elements, saying it was the prerogative of the government and not individuals.

He urged the people to help the government fight such extremists and terrorists by informing the police.

"Identify and point out those who have such tendencies and inform the law enforcement agencies," he said.

Earlier, Musharraf who was here for the ground breaking of Larkana-Khairpur bridge, said it would halve the distance between the two towns and help bring progress to under-developed areas.

He also directed construction of additional 15 km road to link it with the Indus Highway, besides announcing Rs 100 million each for District Larkana and Khairpur, dualisation of Sehwan-Ratodero, improvement of N-5 at a cost of Rs 5 billion.

He said Karachi-Hyderabad Super Highway was being converted into a six- lane motorway.

He also urged the people of Sindh to consider the possibility of having large water reservoirs aimed at preserving precious water resources and for its judicious use.

"We are striving to provide water resources for all, particularly those living at the tail-end," he said, adding that in the next two years 30,000 water courses will be brick-lined so that water is not wasted.