Lynching of 3 people in Tripura: CM warns of stern action
Agartala, June 29: Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Friday said that the police and civil administration would take stern action against those who take the law into their own hands.
The Chief Minister's warning came after three people including a vagabond woman and a vendor from Uttar Pradesh were lynched by mobs in different incidents in Tripura on Thursday.
Deb, who is also holding the home portfolio, while talking to the media said that police and other security forces were fully alert and ready to deal with the situation and adequate arrangements have been made to maintain law and order.
"Nobody would be allowed to take law in their hands and strict action would be taken against those who indulge in violence and attack innocent people," the Chief Minister said before leaving for Manipur capital Imphal where he would attend a party meeting to be chaired by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah.
Blaming the opposition CPI-M (Communist Party of India-Marxist) "for creating troubles and disturbing peace in Tripura", the Chief Minister said that police would not see the political affiliation while taking action against the law breakers.
A vendor from Uttar Pradesh was lynched and four others, including a policeman, were seriously injured when a group of persons mistook them to be child lifters.
The incident took place in the tribal-dominated Murabari village in western Tripura when three small-time vendors belonging to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar went there to sell garments in a vehicle.
In another incident, a youth was hacked to death and two government employees seriously injured when a group of persons attacked them at Manu Bazar in southern Tripura, 130 km south of the state capital.
Sukanta Chakraborty, 36, accompanied by two government employees, was attacked when he was appealing to the public on behalf of the administration not to heed rumours.
In the third incident, a vagabond woman was hacked to death by a group of people at Bishalgarh in western Tripura mistaking her to be a child trafficker.
The West Tripura district administration on Thursday imposed prohibitory orders under Sec 144 in the tense areas under Mohanpur sub-division.
The ban on social media and mobile Internet continued for the second day on Friday to prevent the spread of rumours in the state.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Parliament passes Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025
New Delhi (PTI): Parliament early Friday passed the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after it was approved by the Rajya Sabha.
The Lok Sabha had on Thursday approved the Bill after over a 12-hour debate.
In Rajya Sabha, the Bill got 128 votes in its favour and 95 against after all the amendments moved by the opposition were rejected.
In the lower house, the bill was supported by 288 MPs while 232 voted against it.
Participating in a debate in the Rajya Sabha, Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Bill was brought with a number of amendments based on suggestions given by various stakeholders.
"The Waqf Board is a statutory body. All government bodies should be secular," the minister said, explaining the inclusion of non-Muslims on the board.
He, however, said the number of non-Muslims has been restricted to only four out of 22.
Rijiju also alleged that the Congress and other opposition parties, and not the BJP, were trying to scare Muslims with the Waqf Bill.
"You (opposition) are pushing Muslims out of the mainstream," he added.
He said for 60 years, the Congress and others ruled the country, but did not do much for Muslims and the community continues to live in poverty.
"Muslims are poor, who is responsible? You (Congress) are. Modi is now leading the government to uplift them," the minister said.
According to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Waqf tribunals will be strengthened, a structured selection process will be maintained, and a tenure will be fixed to ensure efficient dispute resolution.
As per the Bill, while Waqf institutions' mandatory contribution to Waqf boards is reduced from 7 per cent to 5 per cent, Waqf institutions earning over Rs 1 lakh will undergo audits by state-sponsored auditors.
A centralised portal will automate Waqf property management, improving efficiency and transparency.
The Bill proposes that practising Muslims (for at least five years) can dedicate their property to the Waqf, restoring pre-2013 rules.
It stipulates that women must receive their inheritance before the Waqf declaration, with special provisions for widows, divorced women and orphans.
The Bill proposes that an officer above the rank of collector investigate government properties claimed as Waqf.
It also proposes that non-Muslim members be included in the central and state Waqf boards for inclusivity.
