SC declines early hearing on plea by Kerala MLA
New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday declined urgent hearing on a plea by Indian Union Muslim League legislator K M Shaji, challenging his disqualification by the Kerala High Court on the ground that he made communal remarks in the run-up to the assembly polls in the state in 2016. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said the matter will come up for hearing in regular course. In the petition, Shaji, who was disqualified as MLA of Azhikode, had sought a stay on the high court verdict. “Do you want to continue as an MLA by virtue of a stay order (of this court),” asked the bench, also comprising justices K M Joseph and M R Shah. The high court on November 9 disqualified Shaji for six years and directed the Kerala Assembly speaker and the Election Commission to take appropriate action. The high court had delivered the judgement on a plea filed by LDF candidate M V Nikesh Kumar, who contested the election against Shaji. The IUML is a partner of the opposition United Democratic Front that is led by the Congress party in the state. (PTI)
14 arrested for clashes in Uttar Pradesh
Mirzapur: Fourteen people have been arrested in connection with clashes between members of two communities in Uttar Pradesh’s Mirzapur town over two days, police said on Thursday. Violence erupted on Tuesday night after a saffron flag being carried in a procession of right-wing group Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) broke an overhead light in Mukeri Bazar area. Two persons were injured in the clash. Stone pelting took place in the same area between the two communities on Wednesday during a Barawafat procession. Three policemen were injured in similar incidents that took place in other areas of the city. Cross FIRs were filed against 40 people, of which 14 have been arrested and the remaining 26 are being identified through CCTV footage, Inspector Katra Kotwali Bhuvaneshwar Pandey said. Those arrested include the district vice president of BJP youth wing Ashwani Kumar Gupta and his two brothers, he said. Superintendent of Police Shalini said the situation in the area is normal and under control. A meeting of the peace committee was held and a peace march was also taken out, she said. (PTI)
Upset over boyfriend’s death woman commits suicide in TN
Tirunelveli: A 21-year-old woman allegedly committed suicide in her house here as she was upset over the death of her boyfriend, who was found murdered near the Tamirabarani river in the district, police said on Thursday. The woman Sathyabama and her lover Isakki Shankar(33) who belonged todifferent communities were in love for the past three years and had decided to get married despite strong opposition from their families. It was against this background that the body of Shankar was found with cut injuries here on Tuesday. The district Superintendent of Police Arun Sakthikumar has ordered a probe into the death of the man. Sathayabama, who was reportedly upset over Shankar’s death did not talk to any one in the family on Tuesday, police said. On Wednesday morning, she was found hanging in her room. (PTI)