The communal riots that erupted in Dhule on October 5 have claimed six lives and left hundreds others injured. Dhule is located at a distance of 50 km from Malegaon. The city has a population of around five lakh, with 75% Hindus and 25% Muslims. The riot started two groups clashed after news of posters being torn spread across the town. The police resorted to lathi-charge, threw teargas shells and even opened fire. A state transport bus was set on fire by the rioters.

Residents...

The four families who lost their members in the Malegaon blast have refused to accept the Rs 5 lakh compensation announced by the state Government. A ceremony to hand over the cheques was organised by the office of the Collector, but no family turned up. “The Muslim community needs justice, not compensation,” said Abdul Hameed Inamdar, who was at the Collector’s office to present the community’s viewpoint.

Two of the four deaths that followed the bomb bl...

Residents of Sanjarpur town in the district of Azamgarh on October 2 stayed away from Eid festivities to protest the death of the two youths in the Jamia Nagar shootout in Delhi and the subsequent arrests, all of whom hailed from the district. People stayed away from Eid celebrations and banners were put up demanding justice for the youths, whom the police accuse of being terrorists and connected with the serial blasts in the capital.

The counsels of Faizabad court blast accused have moved an application in a local court alleging that the Additional District Judge, R K Gautam, who is hearing the case, has Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) background and therefore his judgment will not be impartial. “You were a member of the RSS and still have many friends in the organisation, which you have admitted during the course of the hearing. The RSS and government officers linked with the RSS have played a major role in tra...

A top Thane police official, who retired from service on September 30, claimed that the communal violence at Rabodi could have been dealt within 15 minutes and with just half the number of policemen deployed if the police were given a free hand in the matter. “Half the police strength and 15 minutes were all that was required to contain the situation, provided the police had been given a free hand without any political interference,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Thane) Mad...

A resolution was introduced in the US House of Representatives on September 29 calling on the Indian government to take all necessary steps to restrict the reach and resources of Hindutva elements or what they called “radical religious elements” that cause violence periodically, including the incitement of violence against minorities. It exhorted all Indians of different backgrounds to set an example to the rest of the world on how a peaceful diverse society can work together. <...