The Apolitical Indian: February 2012

The violence against women in Delhi, the national capital of India reported daily in national papers panics me.
2010 records of one rape case every 14 hours, molestation every 18 hours.
The rape case increased 12 times more in 2011, which means one rape case every 15 hours.
Among these crimes, the girls and women from North East India became easy target.
Madhu Chandra www.nehelpline.net
Publication: The Times Of India Delhi;
Date: Feb 11, 2012;
Section: Front Page;
Page: 1
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CRIMINALS ON PROWL IN MOVING VEHICLES
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
In two days, 2 minors forced into cars, raped
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: The capital’s notorious mode of assault on women — rape or molestation in a moving vehicle — returned to shame the city, with two incidents reported in the past 48 hours. Both victims were minors. In the first incident, a 13-year-old girl was forced into a Santro car allegedly by three youths, including a minor, in Jyoti Nagar, northeast Delhi, on Thursday afternoon and raped by one of them after she snubbed their moves to strike a friendship with her. “The victim, a class VIII student who had stepped out to the market around 2.30pm when she was abducted, reported the crime to a policeman on the road. All three accused have since been nabbed,” said additional DCP (northeast) B K Singh. The second crime followed a similar pattern. A 16-yearold girl who had left home to buy milk around 7.30pm on Friday was allegedly abducted by two men and raped in a moving car in the Kanjhawala area of northwest Delhi. The accused pushed her into their Wagon R and drove around in the neighbourhood for three to four hours, taking turns to rape the victim, police said. Rape cases in the capital rose by 12% to 568 in 2011, as compared to 507 in 2010. Four youths drive away with 18-yr-old Dwaipayan Ghosh TNN
New Delhi: An 18-year-old data operator in a Gurgaon firm, who was walking home with three other girls after getting off a bus at Qutab Vihar near Dwarka, was allegedly dragged into an Indica car and taken away by unidentified persons late Thursday evening. The accused stopped their car near the girls around 8.30pm and chased them into the fields, police said. All four girls as well as a passerby who tried to intervene were beaten up before the victim was put into the car. Eyewitness Yudhvir Singh Rawat claimed the accused, four in number, were in a red car that did not have a registration plate. “The girls were alarmed when the men began following them. They tried to run towards the fields but the men outran them and punched them on their faces. They then began dragging them towards the car. They finally managed to push the 18-year-old into the car and escape.” Rawat said it was strange that the police were trying to probe an elopement angle in the case when all girls had been beaten up. Hundreds of angry residents hit the roads protesting against police “inaction” in not registering a case. Girl abducted, gangraped in moving car Captors Zipped Past Pickets
New Delhi: A 16-year-old girl was abducted by two men and raped in a moving car in Kanjhawala area of northwest Delhi on Friday.
The accused pushed the girl into a Wagon R and drove around the neighbourhood even as they took turns to rape her, police said. The accused, Amit and Manoj, have been held. Shockingly, the car zoomed past scores of pickets and police barricades, but was not stopped even once. After four agonizing hours, the girl was finally dumped by the wayside. Battered and bruised, she got up and staggered home in the dead of night. That the car skirted detection at several barricades raises serious questions about the efficacy of the police force.
The girl was abducted around 7.30pm after she left home to buy milk. She told police that when she headed towards a shop near Utsav Vihar, a car screeched to a halt in front of her. One of the occupants of the car pulled her inside and tried to gag her, police said. The girl told police that one of the accused was her brother-in-law’s friend who had earlier visited home. Surprisingly, the car circled around the Outer Delhi areas of Mangolpuri, Narela, Kanjhawala and Bawana areas without a single chase by a PCR van. Around 11.30pm, the accused dumped the girl near the forests of Kanjhawala and fled. The girl managed to reach home and told her parents about the incident. The shocked parents then approached the police for help.
“We lodged a case and began investigations. The victim’s medical examination has confirmed rape. We were able to arrest the accused after raids on their hideout. One of the accused was known to the victim. They have been produced in court,” a senior police officer said. The girl, a school dropout, lives with her parents and three sisters in Kanjhawala area. One of the accused, Amit is a transporter while Manoj is a driver. Police are verifying their antecedents and sources said they have a criminal past. http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=CAP/2012/02/11/1/Img/Pc0011600.jpg
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Christians fleeing from persecution in Kashmir Preliminary Observations on Reported Religious Cleansing Noon, 6th February, 2012, Media Conference, Press Club, Jammu by Joseph Dias, +91 9769555657, General Secretary, The Catholic-Christian Secular Forum (CSF) * Adv. Iftikhar Bazmi +91 9419309189 India Representative, Intl Centre for Religion & Diplomacy, Washington DC * Dr. Agnishekhar +91 9419100035 Convenor, Panun Kashmir * Mr. H. S. Rana +91 9419150912 & Other Senior Sikh Representatives * Mr. Nichodemus, president, J & K Christian United Federation * Mr. Lal Gill, president, J & K Catholic Sabha These are impressions gathered by Joseph Dias, general secretary of the Mumbai-based activist community NGO – The Catholic-Christian Secular Forum (CSF) – who has been in J & K since 3rd February, 2012 and been in touch with prominent civil society representatives, besides Christian community leaders and victims from all denominations – Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, etc. This report could be endorsed by some of them, whose names are mentioned at the end of this report. At the outset, to prevent mis-representation, one would like to state that we respect Islam as a world religion and hold Muslims in high esteem. These observations relate specifically to communalists, who in the name of religion are causing religious discord among communities. The issue clearly is one of basic human rights violations and Indian Constitutional freedoms of citizens of the country. Fundamentalists Target Christians in Kashmir Christians and secular-minded citizens are alarmed at reports emanating from Kashmir, in the aftermath of what is being called a fatwa, reportedly by the "Supreme Court of Islamic Shariet" against Christian clergy - Rev. CM Khanna, Rev. Gayoor Massih and Father Jim Borst, Catholic Mill Hill Missionary, besides other Christians and their families. In danger are the lives and property of dozens of Christians, who have fled the Kashmir valley and are living as refugees in Jammu and other parts of the country. At risk are also the institutions – educational and social service agencies – and the work these do, irrespective of any distinctions. But most important, is the impending danger of the annihilation of Christians and the community's presence in the Kashmir valley, which is centuries’ old. Even as many neo-converts are fleeing the hostile neighbour, local communalists, fundamentalist courts, extremists/terrorists, police and local administration, seemingly paralyzed judicial system, etc. The moot question is - To whom does the Kashmir Valley Christian go to for survival? The CSF Urgent Recommendations 1. The union & state governments must ensures the safety of Rev. CM Khanna, Fr. Jim Borst, missionaries and dozen converted families, whose lives and property are in danger. All secular-minded citizens feel that there is grave threat and Christians live in fear and constant danger. 2. The “Supreme Court of Islamic Shariet in J & K”, is an extra-constitutional authority, with no legal sanction and Fatwas or complaints by / against believers of any faiths is unhealthy for secularism & is to be avoided. The communal harmony and rule of law needs to be restored. 3. Efforts must be made to stop the rumor-mongering and baseless allegations, being made in Kashmir and stereotyping / profiling the Christian community, as converting with allurements, such as providing neo-converts with money, alcohol, women, passports, immoral lifestyle, etc. 4. The civil society, human rights activists, mass media and patriots must rise to the occasion and express solidarity with the Christians in Kashmir and ensure that their constitutional rights and freedoms are safeguarded – as in such a hostile environment, they are defenceless. 5. The police under pressure from the "Supreme Court of Islamic Shariet", has registered false cases trumped-up under sections 153A and 295A, for spreading hatred between communities, etc. These cases have been forged upon the missionaries and Christians without a shred of evidence. We therefore urge that they be squashed by the government. 6. The state government needs to consider extending the National Minorities Commission Act and other such human rights and Indian Constitutional safeguards legislation or enact such laws for application in J & K, to ensure that the fundamental guarantees to citizens are available, as available in all other parts of the country. Chilling reports from Jammu & Kashmir valley - Christians flee & reduced to less than half We express our collective shock and serious concern at the concerted hate campaign against Christians in the Kashmir valley. The union and state government are urged to act immediately to counter the danger from fundamentalists and prevent total annihilation of Christians in the valley. Reports received by The CSF from the Kashmir valley indicate that a large number of Christians are fleeing their houses, fearing danger of en mass killings and are now less than half in number. Sections of the Kashmir mass media have aggravated the situation, with irresponsible coverage of accounts of reverts, stating that they were asked to even drink swine's blood – which is strongly refuted and denied, as allegations without an aota of proof and mischievous, with the intention to create a divide in society on communal lines. It is reported that false charges, are being repeated ad-nasuem against “unknown non-subject” persons and Kashmiri Christians framed, which is enough for fundamentalists to unleash a reign of mass terror, with none to help. Even worse are reports of raids being conducted on houses of Christians or those who are believed converted and their families being threatened with dire consequences and a socio-economic boycott in place. Thus starving the Christians, severely compounded with a freezing winter, and leaving them with no refuge, but to fall sick and die. Most of the 400 odd Christians living in the valley now face the same persecution that Kashmiri Pandits and others faced in 1990s, when they were forcibly exiled from the Kashmir valley en mass. 23 year ago: 19, January, 1990 - Pundits & Christians of Pundit Origin had to flee The persecution of Christians started after the "Supreme Court of Islamic Shariet", headed by Kashmiri Grand Mufti, (head cleric) Bashir-ud-din Ahmad's verdict demanding the punishment and expulsion of missionaries, besides ordering a take-over of Christian schools, where Islamic studies should be taught and stating that there would be no more baptisms in the valley of Kashmir. It served as a signal to any one and every one interested to target the miniscule Christian micro-minorities, who now number less than a few hundred, trapped with their institution and NGOs, under threat. The fatwa date coincided with what is termed as Holocaust Day by the Kashmiri Pandits and Christians of Kashmiri Pandit origin, who on 19 January 1990, over 23 years ago, had to flee their homes. This year on the same date, the "Supreme Court of Islamic Shariet" also reportedly launched a public hate diatribe against Christians through some mosques, mass media and more effectively word of mouth. The Christians fear what happened to the Kashmiri Pundits and Christians of Kashmiri Pundit origin will happen to them. They too are being forced out of their homes, the men are beaten-up, women have their rights violated, property either taken over or left isolated – all because they professed a different faith, from the one professed by the vast majority. Christians want to return to their homes and resume their lives. Alas - this is a doomed hope. The ones who dare go back, fear instant torture and death. It has been made clear to them that they are no longer welcome to Kashmir and can do so at their own risk. There are therefore a handful ready to go back as their homes are forcibly occupied and taken over, their families set-up against them, means of livelihood destroyed, etc. And in many cases – in what must count as the greatest tragedy – the exiles find that their neighbors had profited from their absence and actively opposed their return. This is exactly what is happening to the 200 odd Christians in the Kashmir valley Despite persecution, it was estimated that there were over 400 Christians left in the valley, but sources say that as of date - about half the number have fled, leaving the remaining half to fend for themselves. One cannot blame those who have left, as torture is imminent - where you either recant or die. For those left behind and most of all Rev. CM Khanna of the Church of North India (CNI) and Fr. Jim Borst, a Dutch Catholic priest, besides the believed converts and their families, living underground - it is less an issue of religious liberty or freedom of faith. It is more about preparing to be martyred for their belief. It is mobocracy. It is theocracy in a secular democracy. But what is worse is, being J & K, the situation is even more complex - even if one wants to, little can be done. A feeling is gaining ground that one one has no option but leave them to their fate – to suffer or die. Ground Zero realities: Christian Victims – Clergy & Others It seems the complete annihilation of Christians at least from the Kashmir valley, is a stark harsh reality – Religious Cleansing? 1. False cases, frenzy zealots & rumours There is always the eminent danger of even more serious charges, like sedition, crimes against the nation… being added to cover their guilt. The fundamentalists are given a free hand and operate with impunity targeting Christians individually, if they don't revert to Islam. The "Supreme Court of Islamic Shariet" has also requested the Sr. Superintendent of Police in Srinagar to ensure that a list of Muslims baptized by Rev. CM Khanna reaches it, as soon as possible. Thousands of CDs of Rev. Khanna’s Baptism programme were distributed in the locality and hate speech was reportedly heard through the mosques. The mass media put out stories of those who recanted, which has added fuel to the fire. 2. Hostile legal and official state machinery We are given to understand that The Bar Association and judicial system allegedly also did not live up to expectations. It was reported that a notice urged lawyers to boycott Rev. CM Khanna and mentioned, if any one even assisted him, action would be taken and they would themselves be responsible for the "consequences". Some members of the local Bar, reportedly disturbed the proceedings of the court. It was also reported that some lawyers also opposed bail, shouting that if bail is given, there will be strike by advocates and Kashmir will be closed. There was also seemingly no local official, no lawyer, no notary, no typist, no stationary, no photocopying machines etc. available to the missionaries & converts. 3. Christian schools and institutions targeted The Tyndel Biscoe School has just 4 Christian students out of over 7,000 including the girls wing. The Burn House Catholic School, has 3 students out of over 2,000 and the same is true of also the faculty, where Christians are negligible. Christian schools were reportedly ordered by the fundamentalists to teach Islam and daily prayers written by Syed Mohammad Iqbal should also be sung in the morning. They also ordered that Muslims be placed on the managing committees of Christian schools and their opinions sought before taking decisions. No one denied an unconfirmed report that a Christian student was beaten up and that Christian schools encouraged drug addiction and a permissive lifestyle among children. Pamphlets and handbills are reportedly circulated asking students not to recite prayers, calling God - one's Father, as it goes against the tenets of Islam, which does not mention God to be so. There is a view that some influential Muslim businesspersons involved with education, fear the Christian institutions, which offer quality education at fair fees and want to either get them out of the competition or control them by being on the management or taking over these institutions. 4. Christians are soft targets with no support For many people, Christians are soft targets for politicians, extremist groups and other vested interests and the bogey of conversions is a handy tool to achieve their selfish ends. Most of the time, conversions are used by the opposition and the ruling parties to score points over each other - with Christians caught in between. No political party or group has spoken in favor of the Christians, since they are politically inconsequential and economically backward in the state. Whipping up anti-Christian sentiments is the fastest ticket to gaining popularity, with many a minion fundamentalist, taking potshots at will. All those who have converted have done so, knowing fully well the consequences and reportedly buckle down only under extreme torture and pressure, for there is no one to hear their cry. 5. Muslims well organized to protect the faith Noted clergyman & Hurriyat Conference chief, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq recently launched a well networked multi-faceted Majlis Tahafuz-e-Imaan (Committee for Protection of Faith) to "thwart nefarious designs of pervasive forces and the deep-rooted conspiracy of making youth apostate and defectors by giving them concessions and benefits secretly". It aims to make people "aware of missionary tactics and this would be exposed before public to safeguard Imaan (faith) of our brethren". The website (www.tahafuzeiman.org) further adds "Though the fundamental goal for this organization is to thwart catastrophic missionary activities however it cannot dissociate itself from immunizing its own people with injections of Quran and Authentic Sunnah. These are noble ideals and one must stand up for one's belief. However, the fear is that such advocacy can well be misused at the lower level, with little control or machinery to check the abuse in the name of protecting the faith, including taking law into one's hand. Imams (clerics) are reported at the Friday prayer gatherings preach against apostasy, mentioning Christians & one even referring to a Korean couple to be targeted next. 6. Persecution history of death, churches burnt & mayhem There have been instances of Christians killed and property destroyed mysteriously, even until recently, besides dozens facing grievous inquiries, but here is the track record of over 20 years that cannot be denied. Christians in the Kashmir Valley have faced the fundamentalist wrath earlier. One was when it was alleged that the Alaska Mosque was desecrated by the Israelis in the mid-sixties Arab-Israeli war and the Catholic Church of the Holy Family in the heart of Srinagar at Maulana Azad Road was set ablaze. Another, when a book titled Book of Knowledge was discovered from the Government Degree College (Anantnag) in the early seventies and the All Saints Church, Srinagar was ransacked, set ablaze and copies of the Holy Bible desecrated. In November 2006, a convert from Islam, Bashir Ahmed Tantray, was shot dead by Islamist extremists in Baramullah district. Recently The All Saints Church was burnt again and in September 2010, Mobs burnt a school and a church in Tanmarg district. On 26 February 2011, a school run by a Christian family was burnt. Among the other schools torched by extremists are The Tyndale Biscoe School (Tanmarg), The Good Shepherd School (Pulwama), etc 7. Hundred percent Muslim Kashmir – Christian dilemma in J & K India will soon have a 100 percent Muslim Kashmir region, since returning back to their homes for the Kashmiri Pandits and now Christians is impossible, given no political will to remedy the situation and hostile conditions. The government's seeming inaction both at the state and federal level is greater cause for worry, as Christians in the valley are left at the mercy of the fundamentalists and allowed to perish. The non-existence of even a superficial state minorities commission or an effective human rights / women / child commissions, makes it even more difficult for the truth or the exact impact of persecution to be brought to light. The National Minorities Commission which visited J & K along with a fact finding team placed on record though that they found no evidence of force or fraud in baptisms. The government has not been able to quickly investigate the allegations made against the Christians and publicize its findings to prevent rumours from gaining currency and set the matter to rest. No relief of any kind from the administration has been received by the victims, nor is there any hope of it. The government would conveniently rather label these Christians as “migrants”, rather than “refugees or internally displaced persons”, which is what they are under international terms and also deny them assistance. Democracy, Federalism, Secularism, Harmony & Minority Rights at Stake The union and state government must take a firm stand on the issue, as it has wide repercussions for the country and its citizens as a whole. On the altar of sacrifice, in case of mishandling of the J & K anti-Christian violence issue is the very existence of India as a secular and democratic federation. Fundamentalism of / by any faith needs to be condemned and the rule of law in the land must prevail - not that of might is right. This is especially true for present-day India, which is looking at taking its rightful place as a world superpower. Fr. Jim Borst - Serving J & K for 50 years Rev. Father Jim Borst, Mill Hill Missionary Catholic Priest has been serving the valley since August 1963. He has established two schools under the name and style of Good Shepherd's Mission School - one each at Pulwama and Shiv Pora in the Kashmir Valley. His school at Pulwama was bombed twice by the terrorists and was later set ablaze. The Christian schools have been functioning in the valley since the 19th century and have been rendering yeoman's services in the valley. Tyndale Biscoe School was established in 1865 and St. Joseph's School, Baramulla in 1905 followed by the Burn Hall School, Srinagar in 1954 and Presentation Convent School, Srinagar in early 40s. Besides this the Mill Hill Missionaries had established Cambrigde school and a college too. Rev. CM Khanna – Serving as priest for 35 years The priest was responsible for co-ordinating the constructing 400 houses for the earthquake affected areas in Uri and feeding 200 children for a year and a half in the state. All of them were for Muslims, with no conversions. He has worked towards bringing about reconciliation between Kashmiri Pandits and Muslim groups. He has been awarded the Gandhian Global Family Award for 20 years service in J & K, besides other honours. He has been associated with the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy and active in building communal harmon, under the J & K Peace Foundation, which has been appreciated by all groups. Juan Marcos Troia, an Argentinian football coach In 2009, Juan Marcos Troia, an Argentinian football coach (star of the documentary, 'Inshallah Football') credited with reviving football in Kashmir has been questioned by the state football association about the funding for his clubs, is now the target of a whisper campaign. Fundamentalists are ratcheting up religious mobilization. His house vandalized, Marcos is now running around asking cops for help. "We have to fend for ourselves," says his dejected wife, Priscilla – as per media reports. Joseph Dias, General Secretary, The CSF csfpost@gmail.com

The Apolitical Indian

Saturday, February 25, 2012

A plea from tortured christians regarding violation of human rights in Kashmir

Thursday, February 16, 2012

One rape case every 14 hours-in our national capital Delhi

Monday, February 6, 2012

Christians fleeing Kashmir- a preliminary report on religious cleansing by CSF