Palestinian teenager jailed for slapping Israeli soldiers released
Jerusalem, July 29 : Palestinian teenager Ahed Tamimi, convicted for assaulting Israeli soldiers, was released on Sunday morning after serving an eight-month jail term, prison officials said.
Palestinian activists had described Ahed, 17, as a "symbol of resistance against Israeli occupation".
The teenager and her mother were arrested together in December 2017 with another relative -- 20-year-old Nour Tamimi -- after they were filmed slapping and kicking Israel Defence Forces (IDF) soldiers in their village of Nabi Saleh in the West Bank.
Ahed was sentenced in March to eight months in prison after a plea bargain, under which she pleaded guilty to one account of assault, one account of incitement, and two accounts -- unrelated to the December incident -- of obstructing soldiers. She also agreed to pay fine.
The Tamimi family and Palestinian activists are preparing a hero's welcome for Ahed and her mother in Nabi Saleh, Arab News reported.
Dozens of family members and supporters are expected to receive the two upon their release at an IDF checkpoint near Tulkarm and go in a convoy to Ramallah to place a wreath on the late President Yasser Arafat's grave.
Afterwards, the convoy will head to Nabi Salah where there will be a festive reception and in the evening a press conference will be held at their house.
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Two held for 'firing' at BJP leader's house in Bengal
Kolkata (PTI): A day before the counting of votes for the West Bengal assembly elections, two persons were arrested on Sunday for allegedly being involved in a firing incident outside the residence of a BJP leader in North 24 Parganas district, police said.
BJP leader Kundan Singh lodged a police complaint, alleging that a few gunmen fired at his house in the Noapara constituency around Saturday midnight.
Based on the CCTV footage, the two accused were apprehended, a senior officer said.
BJP's Noapara candidate Arjun Singh, in a post on social media, claimed that around 12.05 am, two armed miscreants arrived on a motorcycle at the residence of Kundan Singh, a BJP functionary and secretary of the Barrackpore organisational district, with an "intent to kill him".
According to the BJP leader, the accused are residents of Garulia and are known criminals.
Their names as offenders had been submitted to the Election Commission, he said.
The police officer did not specify whether the two arrested persons were the same individuals named by Arjun Singh.
According to the complaint, one round of firing took place outside Kundan Singh's house, triggering panic in the area.
The BJP candidate also questioned the role of the police, claiming that one of the accused had been detained by the police on the polling day but was later released in the evening.
The Noapara assembly seat went to the polls on April 29.
Several BJP leaders alleged that attempts were being made to create an atmosphere of fear ahead of the counting and weaken the organisation of the opposition parties.
The counting of votes will take place on May 4. Polling for the West Bengal assembly elections was held on April 23 and April 29.
The BJP urged the Election Commission to intervene immediately to ensure peaceful counting.
TMC candidate Somnath Shyam rubbished Arjun Singh’s allegation, claiming that the BJP nominee had orchestrated the firing incident to divert attention from imminent defeat.
“Arjun Singh knows all the gangsters in the Barrackpore belt. Everyone knows about his links with the underworld. Let the police investigate the incident,” Shyam said.
