Top Stories on 13th October in a capsule

Congress cries foul over delayed Gujarat polls date 

The Congress party on Friday asserted BJP’s insecurity over the delayed dates for Gujarat polls, and said that this is done to suit their political ends. The EC on Thursday had released the date only for Himachal Pradesh, while mentioning that the dates for Gujarat were be declared later, but will be prior to December 18. Taking to Twitter, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, that the BJP is pressuring the EC as the Prime Minister will be addressing a rally in Gujarat on October 16. "Onus lies on ECI to ensure level playing field by announcing Guj election dates & imposing Code of Conduct immediately (sic)," he said.

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Clashes between Morcha supporters and police, 2 dead

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) on Friday engaged in fresh clashes with the Kolkata police, leading to the death of one sub inspector and injuring four personnel. The cross firing started at 5 am when the security forces approached chief Bimal Gurung’s residence at Patlebas, acting on the tip-off that the leader was hiding in the area. Gurung has been missing since he is wanted under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The police has also recovered six AK-47 rifles, a 9mm pistol, ammunition and bombs from the supporters. Earlier, Darjeeling went through tension during the GJM’s 105 days of protest, which was only called off after Home Minister Rajnath appealed for peace.

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Haryana: 9 women were raped in 2016 Jat quota violence, amicus curiae tells High Court

Almost a year after the horrific event of Murthal gang rapes had occurred, the amicus curie of the case, Senior advocate Anupam Gupta said that 9 rapes were committed in the Jat agitation, to Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday. Gupta, further mentioned IAS officer Vijay Vardhan, who was member of the Committee set up to examine the protests, informed him that the rapes had taken place, though he later denied he statement under political pressure. The Haryana government on February 2016, had falsified all reports of the rapes but only accepted to start probe after the High court asked them too. Gupta also demanded a CBI probe into the case.

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Sabarimala Temple case verdict to be decided by a 5-judge bench

The decision whether women would to be allowed to enter the premises of the Sabarimala Temple in Kerala now rests in the decision of a 5-judge Constitution bench, said Supreme Court on Friday. The temple maintains its age old practice of barring women from the age of 10 to 50 years from to enter inside the inner sanctum of the temple. The bench will also examine if the ban violates the Kerala Hindu Places of Public Worship Act that allows women to enter any place of worship. The court has given both the petitioner Indian Young Lawyers Association and Travancore Davaswom Board and other in opposition a week’s time to file their written submission. 

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Deportation of Rohingyas “a humanitarian issue” says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court announced to hold the deportation of Rohingyas from the country, until the next hearing on November 21 on Friday. The apex body called it a “humanitarian issue”, saying quote unquote “While national security and economic interests need to be secured, innocent women and children cannot be ignored.” The plea against the deportation of the discarded ethnic community from Myanmar was placed by two immigrants who had sought shelter in India. The Centre in response filed an affidavit that seeked transfer of the immigrants on grounds of being a ‘threat to national security’.