Thousands of Muslims women join anti-CAA stir in Karnataka
Bengaluru, Dec 26: Anti-CAA protests refused to die down in Karnataka with thousands of Muslim women taking the centre-stage on Thursday holding protests here and at Shivamogaa and Kalaburagi.
The women staged a protest at Eidgah Grounds in Shivamogga holding the national flag, banners and placards declaring their opposition to CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) and NRC (National Register of Citizens).
A similar protest was held in front of the Bengaluru's town hall that was attended by large number of Muslim women.
At Kalaburagi, protesters, mostly women, staged a demonstration from Jagat Circle to Deputy Commissioner's (DC) office shouting slogans against the CAA.
Anti-CAA protests and demonstrations have also been held in Mysuru, Bagalkot and Dharwad, among other places.
Hundreds of protesters had taken part in an agitation in Dharwad, organised by "progressive organisations", which was attended by senior Congress leader and former MP V S Ugrappa.
Police had made elaborate security arrangements so that no untoward incidents take place.
At Mysuru's Town Hall grounds too, thousands of people staged a protest called by several Muslim organisations, amid tight security.
Holding national flags, the protesters demanded the withdrawal of CAA as they said it was anti-democratic.
At Bagalkot, hundreds of protesters staged a march till DC office. The protest was called by 'Bagalkote Muslim Unity' and other "progressive organisations".
Anti-CAA protests had reached its peak in the state last week, with it turning violent in Mangaluru, resulting in the death of two in police-firing.
The CAA says members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities, who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014, and facing religious persecution there, would not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship.
The Act says refugees of the six communities would be given Indian citizenship after residing in India for five years, instead of 11 earlier.
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South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
