Violence in pretext of cattle protection; SC sheds crocodile tears
Having taken serious objection to the extra legal powers the ‘Gau Rakshaks’ seem to be exerting, Supreme Court has said this is unacceptable. The court has also said it is the responsibility of the state governments to ensure such incidents do not occur. Even the central government has issued such diktats often and said it is the state that needs to control such incidents. All law and implementing agencies know cattle protection gangs have gained a notorious reputation. But when it comes to controlling, they all fall silent. Which simply means neither of them wants to take charge of the situation and control the damage.
It’s not like people are unaware of crimes in the name of cattle safety cannot be defended. This is a common fact known to even those who perpetuate violence under this pretext. Today, the society expects governments to put stringent measures in place to protect the interest of farmers and traders from Gau Raksha gangs. The states are yet to take cognizance of these matters in a serious way. Despite a big spurt in such incidents, Supreme Court has not pulled up states for failure of law system. Which basically would mean the SC isn’t interested in putting a stop to these incidents.
Despite stating the violence in the name of Gau Raksha cannot be tolerated, the court hasn’t given any ruling to ensure the Gau Raksha groups are banned or stopped from growing further. Why is the legal system not addressing the problem of some goondas coming together in the name of cattle and running a quasi-police department? All those brandishing powers are not innocent citizens. It is well known that they associate themselves with a particular political ideology and a party that is currently in power at the centre. Is the Supreme Court that innocent so as to not understand all this propaganda behind the act of Gau Raksha?
The party that gives them impetus is running the government. And it is no secret that the benefit of creating this scare in the name of Gau Raksha is going to the party. This is a government sponsored violence and SC should have issued a warning to the police and the centre. The police are unable to act owing to the backing the Gau Rakshaks enjoy by their political godfathers. SC needs to vest the police department with the power to register suo motu complaints in those states where such incidences are high. Unless this happens, nothing can stop this violence from spreading.
Supreme Court says the victims of this crime should not be categorized under the name of a religion. But the whole assault is happening on the community that is involved in the transfer and trading of cattle. Sangh Parivar has always been looking for pretexts to launch attack on a particular religion since long. Hence it floated theories such as ‘Love Jihad’ and created volatile atmosphere in the region. They want the society to be on tenterhooks with the other religion all the time. This polarization would finally benefit them politically and socially too. How does one not associate the target of crime with one religion when the religion itself has been made the target precisely? The Supreme Court is refusing to view this as an organized crime in that sense. As long as the law making agencies refuse to see that point, there would be no respite from this crime.
The legal system is vested with responsibility of checking this crime as much as the state and the centre are. Farmers are not free to sell their cattle and traders are never free from anxiety to buy them. Dairy farming is now seeming like a burden on the poor farmer, who are now hesitating to have any more cows for the fear of being assaulted.
The prospects of dairy farming are in serious danger in rural areas owing to this rise in crime against people who rear cattle and traders who buy them. If this continues, farmers may even stop dairy farming altogether for the fear of being attacked. Hence, the Supreme Court needs to act now to put a full stop to this organized crime from spreading further.
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Protests against Khamenei's killing: Curbs remain in force in Kashmir
Srinagar (PTI): Strict restrictions remained imposed in many areas of Kashmir for the third consecutive day on Wednesday following massive protests across the valley against the killing of Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, officials said.
As a precautionary measure, the government shut educational institutions till Saturday, while mobile internet speed continued to remain throttled.
"Restrictions on the movement and assembly of the people continued in many parts of Kashmir on Wednesday," the officials said.
They said strict restrictions were being enforced especially in the parts having large Shia population and those areas which have witnessed massive protests over the last three days.
A large number of police and paramilitary CRPF personnel were deployed across the city to prevent gatherings of protestors, the officials said.
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They added that concertina wires and barricades were placed at important intersections leading into the city, while asserting that these were precautionary measures imposed to maintain law and order.
The iconic Ghanta Ghar in the city centre of Lal Chowk here continued to remain a no-go zone after the authorities sealed area with barricades erected all around it on late Sunday night.
The move to seal the Ghanta Ghar came after it witnessed massive protests on Sunday after Khamenei's assassination in the joint air strikes by the US and Israel.
This is the first time since August 2019 that protests on such a large scale have taken place in Kashmir.
The government had first ordered the closure of schools, colleges and universities for two days. However, on Tuesday it decided to close the educational institutions till Saturday as a precautionary measure in view of the protests.
Mobile internet speeds continued to remain throttled while some prepaid mobile connections were also barred, the officials added.
On Tuesday, protests rocked several places in the valley, including Sumbal and Pattan areas of North Kashmir.
In Sumbal of Bandipora district, security forces had to resort to force to disperse the demonstrators.
Some media outlets and individuals, including National Conference Lok Sabha MP from Srinagar Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, and former Srinagar mayor Junaid Azim Mattu, faced police heat for allegedly circulating misleading information.
A case was filed against Mehdi and Mattu under BNS sections 197(1)(d) and 353(1)(b) at Cyber Police Station, Srinagar, for allegedly circulating "false, fabricated and misleading content" on digital and social media platforms.
"The content in question, prima facie, reflects the dissemination of distorted narratives and unverified information capable of causing public unrest and societal disharmony. Such deliberate attempts to spread misinformation pose a serious threat to peace, security, and overall stability," the police said in a statement.
Both have been condemning the killing of Khameinei and the attacks by the US and Israel on Iran.
However, hours after the registration of the case, Mehdi, an influential Shia leader, said he would not be deterred from speaking the truth.
"The people of Srinagar did not elect their MP to recite government-approved condolences. They elected him to speak truth. That mandate does not expire with an FIR," he said in a post on X.
Police has issued an appeal to people to refrain from violence and provocation.
"We appeal to all sections of the society to exercise restraint and refrain from violence and provocation," it said.
Police said they will take strict legal action against instigators of violence and those involved in unlawful activities.
On Tuesday, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha directed officials to be on high alert and chaired a meeting of top officials of the police and army here.
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"Chaired a meeting of senior police & civil administration officials at the Police Control Room, Kashmir, to review the law and order situation. Directed the officers to remain on heightened alert and take all necessary measures to ensure public peace and tranquillity," Sinha said on X.
He appealed to the people and community leaders to maintain peace.
"I also appeal to the citizens and community leaders to uphold harmony and contribute to an atmosphere of calm and goodwill in society. Preserving peace and sustaining the progress of society is a shared responsibility that rests equally upon each one of us," he said.
