Top stories on 23rd July in a capsule

Maharashtra Bandh today after youth jumps off river in protest

The Maratha Kranti Morcha, a group leading the protests over reservation for Maratha community in Maharashtra have called a state-wide bandh on Tuesday. The decision came after 28-year-old protestor Kakasaheb Shinde killed himself by jumping into the Godavari river near Aurangabad on Monday. The groups held the Devendra Fadnavis-led government responsible for Shinde's death, adding that had the government kept its promise of reservation, Shinde would be still alive. The groups added that the protests and the bandh will be peaceful but if the government does not implement its promise in two days, then it will turn violent. The protesters are also asking for a compensation of Rs 50 lakh for Shinde's family.
______________

Govt forms panel to check mob lynching cases; to report to PM Modi

A panel headed by Home Minister Rajnath Singh was set up on Mondayl to deal with the rising cases of mob lynching, two days after the Alwar lynching case where a 28-year-old was beaten to death by a mob in a Rajasthan town, on suspicion of being a cow smuggler. The four member panel will submit its report to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a period of four weeks, on whether new laws are needed to stop such incidents. The panel will have secretaries of justice, department of legal affairs, legislative department and social justice and empowerment as members and will be led by Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, according to NDTV. The Saturday incident relates to Rakbar Khan and his friend Aslam from Haryana bringing cows from a Rajasthan village when they were attacked by the people from Alwar’s Lalawandi village with sticks and firearms. While Aslam escaped, Rakbar became the victim of the brutal violence and allegedly expired under police custody, due to late medical attention. Meanwhile as per media reports, three constables were tranferred and a cop was suspended in relation to the case

___________________

Sri Lankan cricketer in rape scandal after friend is accused in case

A Sri Lankan test cricketer was suspended from all forms of games after an acquaintance of his, posed charges of rape on the player and a friend while they were in a Colombo hotel room. The victim, a woman of Norwegian nationality accused 27-year-old cricketer Dhanushka Gunathilaka of being witness to her rape, while his friend, a British passport holder of Sri Lankan origin assaulted her on Sunday. The Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC), the body that governs the sport in the country, suspended Gunathilaka with immediate effect, limiting his participation only to the ongoing Test series with South Africa. The SLC further said that they will withhold the players fees till the investigations are on.

___________________

Nawaz Sharif suffering from heart, kidney illness; personal doctor denied

In building tension for former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif, the politician is reportedly suffering from heart and kidney related ailments, but is not being allowed to meet his personal doctor. The jailed politician who is currently serving his time on corruption charges in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, as per reports is suffering from high blood pressure as well. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spokesperson Maryam Aurangzeb told media agencies that Sharif has been denied the special diet and air conditioning that he needs due to his heart condition. She also added that his jail room had "serious hygiene issues". Nawaz’s role ahead of the Pakistan general elections on 25 July, comes as a significant one with his party PML-N clashing with the national military to gather support.

___________________

Building collapse in Delhi kills 2; Leakage main culprit, say police

In yet another incident of building collapse, 2 people were killed in Delhi’s Dwarka on Monday morning, after a rooftop of a house collapsed. The deceased, identified as a couple Sunil and Rachna were declared brought dead on the spot, while their children Gungun (9), Vaibhav (19) and Gulshan (16) survived the accident. According to a report in The Indian Express, the police said that the accident occurred as the roof had collapsed after the heavy rainfall on Sunday, resulting in seepage which loosened the iron support holding the roof. The elder son, Vaibhav further said that the building was 20-years-old. Another building collapsed in Kolkata this morning killing two. This is the fifth such tragedy within a week after similar incidents were reported from Greater Noida, Chennai, and Ghaziabad.

___________________

SC re-allows protests in Jantar Mantar after one year ban

The Supreme Court on Monday re-allowed protests in Delhi's popular spot Jantar Mantar and the Boat Club (near India Gate) saying, ‘there cannot be a complete ban’ in a democracy. The issue arose after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had banned protests and sit-ins in the popular spots last year on grounds that the Delhi government has failed to provide the ‘public with a clean and noise-free environment. The NGT argued that in the name of the right to freedom and expression the  Delhi government had failed to take care of the residents. The apex court giving the order said, “We have to balance the interests of the protesters.” Hours later, Delhi Chief Minister also welcomed the order of the top court.

___________________

Indian Table Tennis team denied boarding in flight; Air India issues an apology

CWG gold medallist Manika Batra along with six other prominent India Table Tennis players were denied boarding in a Delhi-Melbourne Air India flight on the grounds that it was overbooked. The players were left stranded at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Air India, however, apologized to the players after facing criticism. on Twitter. "Our contingent of total 17 players and officials of Indian table tennis team including CWG medalist myself, Sharath Kamal, Mouma Das, Madhurika, Harmeet, Suthirta, Sathyan were supposed to fly to Melbourne by AI 0308 to participate in ITTF World Tour Australian Open from tom," the player had tweeted. Following this Air India spokesperson issued a statement, "This was a very unfortunate incident, we apologize to the players and we are arranging next available flights."

___________________ 

INX Media Case: SC allows Karti Chidambaram to travel abroad

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram and one of the accused in the INX media case, to visit the United Kingdom, France and the United States of America from July 23 to 31 for business purpose. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud considered the submissions of senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, representing Karti, that he was planning to visit offshore destinations for personal reasons. Karti who is facing proceedings in cases like Aircel-Maxis, INX Media and money laundering matters, will have to surrender his passport with the Enforcement Directorate when he returns from his visit. Earlier, the court had allowed Karti to travel abroad with certain conditions, including that he would not open or close any bank account abroad.

___________________