The US Supreme Court on Monday ruled that former President Donald Trump can assert limited immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken during the final days of his presidency. This ruling is expected to further postpone a trial regarding federal charges of election subversion against him, CNN reported.
The case, widely anticipated as one of the most significant this year, overturned a federal appeals court’s February ruling that denied Trump immunity for alleged crimes aimed at overturning the 2020 election results. Special counsel Jack Smith had strongly advocated for preventing Trump from delaying legal proceedings, a cornerstone of the former president’s legal defence strategy.
Trump, amidst multiple legal battles, while also positioning himself against President Joe Biden for a White House return, faced another setback in May when he became the first former US president convicted of a felony in a hush money trial, according to CNN.
Simultaneously, the Supreme Court is deliberating on cases about First Amendment rights and social media regulations.
Recent polling indicates widespread scepticism towards the Supreme Court’s handling of Trump’s immunity claims.
An AP-NORC poll released last week highlighted a significant lack of public confidence in the institution, with only 16 per cent expressing a great deal of trust in the Supreme Court. A substantial 44 per cent reported having only some confidence, while 40 per cent indicated having hardly any confidence at all. Democrats, in particular, displayed significant distrust, with 58 per cent stating they had hardly any confidence in the Supreme Court.
Regarding specific issues, approximately two-thirds of US adults expressed scepticism about the Court’s approach to presidential powers and immunity (66 per cent), as well as elections and voting matters (63 per cent). Similar levels of doubt were observed on other contentious issues such as abortion and gun policies, as reported by CNN.
A staggering 70 per cent of respondents believed that Supreme Court justices are inclined to shape laws according to their ideological leanings, while only 28 per cent believed they provide an impartial check on other branches of government, CNN reported.
In another survey conducted by Marquette Law School in May, public approval of the Supreme Court stood at a low 39 per cent, with 61 per cent disapproving of its performance. This dissatisfaction has persisted since the Court’s controversial 2022 Dobbs decision.
Public opinion remains sharply divided on the issue of presidential immunity from criminal prosecution. When asked specifically about Trump, 60 per cent of respondents opposed granting him immunity for official acts, compared to 30 per cent who supported it.
On the broader question of whether former presidents should enjoy immunity, 71 per cent believed they should not, with only 16 per cent in favour. Among Republicans specifically asked about Trump, a majority (61 per cent) supported immunity from criminal prosecution, CNN reported. (ANI)
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
An anti-terrorism court in Pakistan has issued a death sentence to a Christian youth, accusing him of sharing a social media post that allegedly sparked riots in Jaranwala (a city in Punjab’s Pakistan) in August last year, Dawn reported.
Dozens of Christian homes and around 20 churches were vandalised and ransacked by mobs in Jaranwala following allegations that a copy of the Holy Quran had been desecrated.
Judge Ziaullah Khan announced the verdict, also sentencing the young man to 22 years in prison and imposing a fine of (Pakistani currency) PKR 1 million, as per Dawn.
Punjab police had claimed last year that around 135 miscreants had been booked for the attacks on the minority community in Jaranwala.
But according to advocate Akmal Bhatti, chairman of the Minorities Alliance, most of the accused had either been discharged or freed on bail. Hardly 12 people are currently facing trials, he said.
The issue of blasphemy allegations in Pakistan is highly contentious and sensitive, often resulting in serious consequences such as violence and fatalities. False accusations of blasphemy are frequently employed to settle personal scores, target religious minorities, or incite communal unrest.
These allegations frequently trigger immediate public outrage and mob violence, placing the lives of the accused and their communities in jeopardy.
According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), there have been numerous instances of false blasphemy accusations over the years, disproportionately affecting minority communities like Christians and Ahmadi Muslims.
Several incidents have resulted in lethal violence against individuals accused of blasphemy or their communities. For instance, in 2014, a Christian couple in Kot Radha Kishan was lynched and burned alive following allegations of blasphemy. Similarly, in 2021, a Sri Lankan national faced a similar fate in Sialkot due to accusations of blasphemy.
Blasphemy cases in Pakistan often unfold in an environment of fear and intimidation, with insufficient legal safeguards for the accused. International human rights organizations have repeatedly highlighted concerns about the misuse of blasphemy laws and the absence of due process in Pakistan.
Despite both international pressure and domestic advocacy, the Pakistani government has faced criticism for its failure to amend or repeal blasphemy laws.
Syed Naseruddin Chishty, Chairman of All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council, refuted controversial remarks made by Rahul Gandhi in the parliament on Monday. The Gandhi scion had tried to link ‘Abhaya Mudra’ seen in the images of Hindu gods and goddesses to the election symbol of his party and to all other religions, including Islam, which forbids idol-worshipping.
“Islam also says darna nahin hai (don’t be scared). When prayers are done in Islam, abhay-mudra is seen in both hands,” Gandhi said.
However, Gandhi’s comments did not sit well with Syed Naseruddin Chisty, who denounced his claims saying, “While speaking in the Parliament today, Rahul Gandhi has said ‘Abhaya Mudra’ is also there in Islam. There is no mention of idol worship in Islam, nor is there any kind of mudra. I refute it, there is no mention of ‘Abhaya Mudra’ in Islam and I believe that Rahul Gandhi should correct his statement.”
#WATCH | On Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's speech in Parliament, Syed Naseruddin Chishty, Chairman of All India Sufi Sajjadanashin Council, says, "While speaking in the Parliament today, Rahul Gandhi has said 'Abhayamudra' is also there in Islam. There is no mention of idol worship… pic.twitter.com/4dugkfmHU7
Rahul’s perverse attempt to link all religions to the Congress party’s symbol and forge a faux unity among different sections of society comes after months of divisive political campaigning, which included promising a caste census and redistribution of wealth based on population to exploit the existing faultlines, especially among the Hindu society where caste still holds dominance.
Gandhi’s disdain for the Hindu community was evident earlier today when he made a controversial remark that spurred a rare intervention from PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, both of whom corrected the Gandhi scion for his sweeping proclamation that those who call themselves Hindus indulge in violence all the time.
During his speech, Rahul Gandhi, said, “All our great men have spoken about non-violence and eliminating fear… But those who call themselves Hindu only talk about violence, hatred, untruth…”
PM Modi raised serious objection to Rahul Gandhi’s comments saying, “Calling the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious matter.”
Following a heated exchange between the Opposition and the ruling NDA’s MPs, Union Minister Amit Shah called for an apology from Rahul Gandhi.
Union Minister Amit Shah criticised Rahul Gandhi’s comment, insisting on an apology.
“The Leader of the Opposition has clearly stated that those who identify as Hindu speak of and commit violence. He is unaware that millions proudly call themselves Hindu. Associating violence with any religion is wrong. He should apologize,” he stated.
A few days ago a cricket tournament was organised in the Chikhodara area of Anand, Gujarat. While the cricket match was going on in the late evening, an altercation broke out between some people over a parking dispute. The altercation regarding the parking of a bike soon turned violent in which a 23-year-old youth lost his life. Following the incident, Police arrested 9 accused, presented them before the court, and got their remand. However, left-wing portals including The Wire, Quint, Maktoob Media, and The Kashmiriyat gave a communal angle to the whole incident and tried to spread animosity between the two communities.
Notably, the incident took place on 22nd June 2024. The deceased was identified as Salman Whora. He arrived there to watch the cricket tournament which was being played at Chikhodara, late in the evening.
Meanwhile, a person named Imroz Abdul Rahim got into an argument with the accused. Soon, the argument over the issue of bike parking turned into a fistfight. During this time, the deceased Salman Muhammad Hanif Whora intervened to defend Imroz. It is alleged that the accused assaulted them with a bat and other sharp weapons. Afterward, both of them were shifted to a hospital for treatment. However, 23-year-old Salman died during treatment.
Based on Imroz’s complaint, the police have so far arrested 9 people – 7 accused were initially arrested and 2 were later – and 2 accused are said to be absconding. The Police are carrying out a search operation to nab them. After their demand was over, the police produced them again before the court.
In this matter, the Police have registered a case against the accused under Sections 143, 147, 148, 149, 302, 324, 323, 504, and 506(2) of the IPC and Section 135 of the Gujarat Police Act.
Leftist media gives the parking dispute incident a communal colour
However, in its reportage, leftist media including The Wire, The Quint, Maktoob Media, The Kashmiriyat, and some other portals tried to paint this whole incident in a communal colour. They alleged that Hindutva supporters were angry at Muslims who were playing well and they killed a Muslim man. They further alleged that Hindus gathered in the crowd and were chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans during the match. They went further to allege that at the time of the incident, Hindus in the crowd were inciting the killers.
(Snippet of the leftist media reports on this incident, giving it a communal colour)
Media claim completely wrong: DySP Panchal
OpIndia tried to find out the truth about the entire incident and first contacted Anand district DySP Jayesh Panchal. During the conversation, OpIndia asked the Deputy SP about the claims being made in the media reports.
Responding to the query, he said, “The kind of communal angle that the media is talking about is completely wrong. Police are continuously investigating after the incident. We have interrogated the arrested accused, they also did not say any such thing, the statements of the people present in the field during the incident have also been taken. Even the eyewitnesses have not recorded anything like this in the statement.”
During the conversation, he further stated, “Not only this, the person who is the complainant in the incident has also not mentioned any such incident in his complaint.”
When OpIndia asked him about the slogans of “Jai Shri Ram” and the claims about the Hindu crowd during the cricket match, he outrightly denied it.
He said, “In the investigation so far, no incident of this kind has come to our notice, either in the statement of the complainant, the witness, or the accused. ”
He noted that there was a clash over a motorcycle and added that the claims made in the media were false.
The incident does not have a communal angle: a local Muslim leader
After the conversation with the DySP, OpIndia spoke to Ismailbhai, a local Muslim leader. He told OpIndia, “The slogans raised during the match have nothing to do with the murder. There is no communal angle in this whole incident. What has happened is very wrong. The deceased was recently married. The assailants hit him in the kidney and seriously injured him. All we want is that those who are responsible should be severely punished.”
When OpIndia asked him about the religious angle in the murder, he said, “Look, the incident is very bad and serious. But let’s not be wrong, there is no communal element in this. The angle does not appear.”
After speaking to Ismailbhai, OpIndia spoke to another local. On condition of anonymity, he said, “People from both parties were present on the ground at the time of the incident. Cricket matches are always held here, but nothing like this has ever happened. People who are saying this is a matter between two communities are totally wrong. Everyone lives in harmony here. The whole tussle was about the parking of a bike. The police have arrested the accused and the matter is now in court. Hope the court will do justice and punish the accused severely.”
On 1st July, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi provoked fury in the Lok Sabha with his controversial remarks, forcing a rare intervention from Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Speaking in parliament, Gandhi claimed that individuals who identified as Hindus only talked about violence, bigotry, and lies, prompting Prime Minister Modi to interrupt.
“Those who call themselves Hindu only talk about violence, hatred, untruth,” Gandhi was quoted as saying. To this, PM Modi raised serious objection to Rahul Gandhi’s comments saying, “Calling the entire Hindu community violent is a very serious matter.”
Gandhi also showed Lord Shiva’s picture in the House after he attacked BJP saying Hinduism is not about spreading fear, hatred, and falsehoods. Further, he displayed placards featuring images of Guru Nanak and Jesus Christ. He was also carrying a placard featuring a quote from the Quran. “All our great men have spoken about non-violence and ending fear. But, those who call themselves Hindu only talk about violence, hatred, and untruth,” Gandhi said, adding, “Aap Hindu ho hi nahi.” (You are not a Hindu).
India Today
Union Minister Amit Shah meanwhile criticized Rahul Gandhi’s comment, insisting on an apology. “The Leader of the Opposition has clearly stated that those who identify as Hindu speak of and commit violence. He is unaware that millions proudly call themselves Hindu. Associating violence with any religion is wrong. He should apologize,” he stated.
Gandhi is known for making anti-India and anti-Hindu statements. However, this time he attempted to enrage the entire Hindu community by calling them violent. Gandhi seems to have selectively forgotten that several incidents have appeared in the recent past that have been committed by the Muslim community. It is the Islamists who deliberately target the Hindu community and harass them for belonging to a particular religion. Here are some of the instances reported from last week where Hindus have been deliberately targeted by the Islamists.
Muslim students assault 4 Hindus for celebrating T20 World Cup win in Nanded, Maharashtra
On June 29th, around 20-25 Muslim youngsters launched an attack on 4 Hindu students after the latter celebrated India’s T20 World Cup win in the Shrinagar area of Maharashtra’s Nanded region. The accused persons barged into the rented apartment of the 4 victims and assaulted them with sticks and iron rods. The victims identified as Vikas Madvi, Raosaheb Narwade, Balaji Pormad, and Kapil Patil suffered serious injuries after which a police complaint was filed. The entire incident got recorded in the CCTV footage in which the accused can be seen barging into the apartment of the victims. The owner of the apartment confirmed the incident and said that all the accused persons belonged to the Muslim community.
100-150 Muslims enter a temple after one accused Muslim molests a Hindu woman in Thane, Maharashtra
On the 27th, an FIR was registered by Thane Police against one Shehzad Sheikh after he molested a Hindu woman and forced her to keep her mouth shut. The incident happened last week in the Hajuri Dargah region of Thane which is Muslim dominated area. The accused molested a Hindu woman residing in the area. Later when the woman went to seek shelter in a nearby temple, around 100-150 Muslims entered the temple wearing shoes and threatened the woman to not file a police complaint. The accused however was caught by the police after the intervention of the Hindu community. Sakal Hindu Samaj, Thane organized a massive protest and demanded strict punishment against the accused.
Copy obtained by OpIndia
Dalit Hindu attacked with swords by Eijaz, Afridi, and 2 more in Pune
Last week on June 27th, the Pune city police registered an official FIR against 4 individuals identified as Eijaz Sheikh, Afridi Sheikh, Sadik Sheikh, and Umesh Bhandari for brutally assaulting a 19-year-old Hindu who belongs to the Matang community. The accused persons are said to have threatened the individual and assaulted him using a sword at around 1:10 am on the 26th night.
As per the FIR copy obtained by OpIndia, the victim was stopped and assaulted by the accused persons in the Gangadha area of Pune when he was on his way home from a relative’s place. His vehicle was stopped by the accused after which the latter hurled caste-based abuses at the former and attacked with a sword. Meanwhile, the other accused threw glass bottles at the victim.
The Police have imposed sections 307, 504, 341, 506, 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 37(1), 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act, and sections 3(1)(r), 3(1)(s), 3(2), 3(v), 3(2)(va) and 6 of the SC/ST Act, 1989.
Finger of Hindu activist chopped by Islamists
On 24th June, Khadak Police Station in the Pune district of Maharashtra booked 9 Islamists identified as Atul Khan, Salman Sheikh, Sultan Sheikh, Aslam Patel, Asif Sheikh, and 4 others for a deadly attack on a Hindu Dalit activist. The accused mobilized ruffians and attacked Akshay Dhavre, breaking his thumb and leaving him severely injured. The accused persons are said to have attacked Dhavre given his claimed association with the BJP. The victim also works as a Hindu-Dalit activist and is known for raising his voice against Islamists in the region. A detailed report of this case can be read here.
— Legal Rights Observatory- LRO (@LegalLro) June 24, 2024
Nasirullah raped minor boy inside madrassa in Thane
On Wednesday (26th June), a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against a man for raping an 11-year-old boy inside the premises of a madrassa in Bhiwandi city in the Thane district of Maharashtra. As per reports, the accused was identified as Nasirullah. The incident occurred when the victim was studying in the madrassa. Nasirullah sexually assaulted the minor boy and performed ‘unnatural sex.’
The accused has been booked under the Prevention of Child Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The cops have now launched a search operation to nab Nasirullah.
Faridabad: Iqbal, Mehtab and others attack a temple priest by slashing his throat
On 28th June, a young priest at a local temple in Faridabad, Ravi Bhagat, was brutally assaulted and his throat was slashed using a knife by Islamists identified as Iqbal, Mehtab, and their accomplices. The incident took place outside the Kali Mata Temple located in Janata Colony in the Mujesar Police Station area of Faridabad. As per reports, the assailants chanted religious slogans including “Sar Tan Se Juda” at the time of the attack. Ravi Bhagat was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
Ravi Bhagat manages the temple and takes care of the rituals. On the night of the attack, he was sleeping on a cot outside the temple. The attackers approached him and started an argument. Soon, it escalated and they restrained him and began slashing his neck with a knife. The assailants were allegedly chanting “Sar Tan Se Juda” slogans at the time of the attack. Following the attack, they fled the scene.
OpIndia Hindi
Madrasa teacher, Abdul Rahman, earns triple life sentence for sexually assaulting minor girl student in Kerala
A fast-track court in Kerala’s Tirur convicted a Madrasa teacher, Abdur Rahiman (51), for sexually assaulting a minor girl who was under the age of seven at the time of the crime. Following the conviction, the court sentenced him to triple life imprisonment till the end of his life, 15 years imprisonment in various departments. The court also imposed a fine on the convicted Madrasa teacher and asked him to pay Rs 1.5 lakh. He will have to undergo an additional two years in prison, in case he fails to pay the fine. According to local media reports, it is enough to suffer the punishment together.
The convicted Madrassa teacher, Abdur Rahiman (51) was sentenced in Cheruparambi in southern Kuttur. The Tirur Police had registered a case against Abdur Rahiman on charges of sexually assaulting a student in a classroom in the Tirur area in April and May 2016.
Madrasa teacher, Abdul Rahman, gets triple life sentence for sexually assaulting minor girl student
Tirur, Kerala: A fast-track special court has sentenced madrasa teacher Cheruparambil Abdulrahman (51) to triple life imprisonment for sexually abusing a female student under the… pic.twitter.com/ZLmyYMvuaf
On 30th June, a video shared by CPI(M) leader Mohammed Salim went viral over the internet in which a local Bahubali leader could be seen assaulting a married woman and a man. The duo could be seen lying helplessly on the road in the name of ‘summary Justice’. Sharing the video of the assault, CPI(M) leader and Former Rajya Sabha MP Salim alleged that the main accused seen in the video was a local TMC goon who goes by the nickname ‘JCB’. According to him, the local goon runs a Kangaroo court where he allegedly serves summary trial and punishment like the Taliban.
As the video was shared by the BJP leaders or supporters, the West Bengal police ruled by the I.N.D.I.Alliance associate TMC sent notices to the formers asking them to take the posts down. Several journalists BJP leaders and also advocates were served notices. Taking to X, Bhandari informed about the same and wrote, “Action against criminals: No. Action against journalists reporting the crime: Yes. Welcome to West Bengal!”
Action against criminals : No
Action against journalists reporting the crime : Yes
— Pradeep Bhandari(प्रदीप भंडारी)?? (@pradip103) July 1, 2024
Supreme Court lawyer Shashank Shekhar Jha questioned if the West Bengal police has no shame left that they are asking X to delete his post wherein he talked about the incident in question. “What Bengal thinks today, India will think tomorrow. Bengal is thinking Sharia today,” Jha’s post stated.
X user Rishi Bagree said that a case against him for quoting a video of the Chopra incident shared by a CPIM leader. He called the Bengal Police’s action as “real dictatorship”.
“West Bengal Police filed a case against me for quoting a video of Md Salim, CPIM leader. Instead of taking action against the culprit they are busy shooting the messengers. This is how real dictatorship looks like,” Bagree posted.
West Bengal Police filed a case against me for quoting a video of Md Salim, CPIM leader.
Instead of taking action against the culprit they are busy shooting the messengers.
It is important to note that the Congress party has always used Muslims and favored them as they assisted them in the elections by becoming a strong vote bank. This was evident in the recently happened Lok Sabha elections where Muslims in various places issued fatwas to vote in favor of INC.
Rahul Gandhi also has always extended support to Muslims and Islamists calling them secular. Last year in Washington he had made a statement calling the Muslim League, an off-shoot of Jinnah’s party as ‘completely secular’.
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which claims to have been born after Indian Independence in 1948, is an off-shoot of Pakistan founder and Islamist Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s All India Muslim League (AIML). The All India Muslim League was succeeded by the Muslim League in Pakistan and the Indian Union Muslim League in India. On its website, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) claims that its motto is secularism and communal harmony but has often openly indulged in carrying out those objectives which are contrary to its own motto. The Indian Union Muslim League has been notoriously known for flaring up communal incidents. The party was found involved in the planning as well as the execution of the brutal Marad massacre in Kerala in 2003 as per the report of Justice Thomas P Joseph Commission which was set up to investigate the incident.
Interestingly, Rahul Gandhi had called the Muslim League ‘secular’ in response to a question that said he criticized the BJP for being a “Hindu party” and divisive. Rahul is said to have lambasted the Centre on Monday for a ‘full-scale assault on the notion of India and the Constitution, as well as on those who opposed the attack on the Constitution.’ The remarks have however been condemned by BJP leaders, demanding an apology from Gandhi.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks in the Lok Sabha and said that the latter has taken up a position of Leader of Opposition for the first time and has made very irresponsible statements thus bringing the level of politics down.
He said that Rahul Gandhi has degraded the position of the Leader of Opposition, which was once handled by prominent leaders.
“The position of the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) is a highly responsible one. Leaders like Atal Ji, Advani Ji, and Sushma Ji have handled this responsibility with great care. Today, Rahul Gandhi has taken up a position for the first time and has made very irresponsible statements. Rahul said that no compensation is given to the martyrs under the Agniveer scheme. This is the biggest lie. Today, the Defence Minister clearly stated in Parliament that martyrs under the Agniveer scheme receive a compensation of Rs 1 crore. Rahul Ji should check his facts before making such statements. Congress has always raised such questions about the army and tried to mislead the country,” Vaishnaw said.
“Rahul Gandhi insulted the constitutional position of the Speaker. This is not the first time; remember when Rahul Gandhi tore up his own government’s ordinance. During the UPA government, the constitutional position of the Prime Minister was undermined by the unconstitutional body called the National Advisory Council (NAC), which was run by Sonia Gandhi,” he added.
Further, the BJP leader added that the Congress has always aimed to weaken constitutional structures. Vaishnaw also mentioned that compensation in Ayodhya has been given to the affected people.
“What does Rahul know about culture? Today, he made another misleading statement regarding compensation in Ayodhya. The state government and administration have already provided clear figures on this. A compensation of Rs 1253 crore has been given to 4215 affected shopkeepers, and relocation has been carried out by the administration,” he added.
Levelling up his attack on the Congress leader, Ashwini Vaishnaw said today Rahul Gandhi insulted the entire Hindu community.
“The most concerning issue is that today Rahul Gandhi labelled the entire Hindu community as violent and gravely insulted Hindu society. This is an old habit of Congress. In 2010, P Chidambaram called Hindus terrorists. In 2013, Sushil Shinde also said the same. In 2021, Rahul Gandhi said that “Hindutvavadis” should be expelled from the country,” the Union Minister said.
“Rahul has degraded the position of LoP and brought the level of politics down so much. This statement deserves condemnation in the strongest terms,” he added.
Rahul Gandhi said in the lower house today that the BJP is not the entire Hindu society.
“Narendra Modi is not entire Hindu society. BJP is not the entire Hindu society, RSS is not the entire society, this is not BJP’s contract,” he said.
“Abhayamudra is the symbol of Congress…The Abhayamudra is the gesture of fearlessness, is the gesture of reassurance and safety, which dispels fear and accords divine protection and bliss in Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and other Indian religions….All our great men have spoken about non-violence and finishing fear…But, those who call themselves Hindu only talk about violence, hatred, untruth…Aap Hindu ho hi nahi,” the Congress leader added.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
On Monday (1st July), another mass shooting incident was reported in the United States of America in which three people lost their lives while two others were injured. According to the Police, the incident unfolded in the early hours of Monday near the University of Cincinnati campus. Following the shooting incident, Police took two suspects into custody, including one of the wounded. While the identity of the suspects or the motive of the crime is yet not known, all five victims in this case are male, as per local media reports.
In an email, Cincinnati police Capt. Mark Burns told The Associated Press, “There were multiple firearms recovered at the crime scene and two subjects (one of which was also shot) are being detained at this time.” He said he had no further information.
Earlier, the university’s public safety department shared posts on X (Formerly Twitter) updating about the incident. It initially stated that police were responding to an emergency shortly before 3 a.m. It later stated that it was a shooting incident and said, “Be observant/take action as needed.”
UC Emergency- Police on scene of shooting at Highland/ E University. If safe, stay at your location. Be observant / take action as needed. More info soon.
According to the Local news stations, officers patrolling in the area had heard multiple gunshots and arrived to find several people suffering from gunshot wounds.
Rampant incidences of mass shooting in the United States
Incidentally, gun violence including the menace of mass shooting has been a tragic yet familiar pattern for American cities which has continued in the first weekend of summer in the US. Notably, several incidents of mass shootings left dozens dead or wounded at a party in Alabama, an entertainment district in Ohio, and a grocery store in Arkansas, among others.
According to news agency Associated Press, the last weekend in the US was the second straight weekend that saw an outbreak of mass shootings across the U.S. which forced mayors of respective areas to plead for help.
Police in Montgomery, Alabama, said that hundreds of rounds were fired at a crowded party early Sunday (23rd June) in which at least 13 people were injured.
Interim Police Chief John Hall said that the investigators recovered more than 350 different spent shell casings.
Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed said, “This senseless violence just has to stop.” He called it a blessing that no one died and asked for help in keeping guns out of the hands of criminals.
Similarly, another incident of mass shooting took place on early Sunday (23rd June) near the main street of a popular restaurant and entertainment district near downtown Columbus, Ohio. At least ten people were injured in the incident and one was said to be in critical condition.
Mayor Andrew Ginther said the gun violence “is outrageous, it’s unacceptable, and it must stop.”
Earlier on Friday (28th June), a Nebraska man opened an indiscriminate fire on seven people all of whom are believed to be Hispanic. The injured included four children. Police said that the accused had earlier told the victims to “go back to where they came from” and to “speak English”. He later fatally shot himself.
Nebraska State Patrol said that Billy Booth (74) fired shots at his neighbors from inside his Crete home just before 7 p.m. Friday before fatally turning the gun on himself.
A lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, Jillian Snider said that one reason for so many shootings with multiple victims is the increased use of modified guns that can spray hundreds of shots. She said, “That’s why you’re seeing more victims that are not even involved in the initial confrontation.”
According to the Gun Violence Archive, the violence brought the number of mass shootings in the US so far this year, as of Sunday (23rd June), to more than 240 – an average of more than one daily.
On Monday, the Delhi High Court denied BRS leader K Kavitha’s bail requests in two cases involving corruption and money laundering related to the alleged excise policy scam.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma rejected Kavitha’s bail petitions after having reserved the decision on May 28. A detailed order is yet to be issued.
Kavitha had challenged the trial court’s May 6 decision, which rejected her bail applications in both the CBI’s corruption case and the ED’s money laundering case.
Kavitha’s lawyer argued that she is the only woman among the 50 accused in the excise case and requested the court to consider granting her bail, as the law treats women differently.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed Kavitha’s bail pleas, arguing that she is influential enough to sway witnesses.
Kavitha remains in judicial custody for both cases. The alleged scam involves corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government’s 2021-22 excise policy, which was later withdrawn.
The ED arrested Kavitha, 46, at her Banjara Hills home in Hyderabad on March 15, and the CBI later arrested her in Tihar jail. In her bail plea regarding the ED case, the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader, who is also the daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, claimed she had no involvement with the excise policy and alleged a criminal conspiracy against her orchestrated by the ruling party at the Centre with the ED’s cooperation.
On Monday (1st July), a Delhi court sentenced controversial ‘activist’ Medha Patkar to 5 months of simple imprisonment in the criminal defamation case. The defamation suit was filed against her by Vinai Kumar Saxena in 2001 and Patkar was convicted in May 2024. Notably, VK Saxena is presently serving as the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. The court cited her health condition and age as the reason for giving lenient sentencing in the case.
The Metropolitan Magistrate Raghav Sharma of the Saket Court said that excessive punishment is not being imposed on Patkar looking at her age and medical ailments. Additionally, the judge said that the sentencing would remain suspended for 30 days.
The court further imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh and asked Patkar to pay it as compensation to Saxena for the damage caused to him.
She was earlier convicted by the court on 24th May for the offence of criminal defamation under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code. Saxena had filed the defamation case against the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) leader for making derogatory remarks against him on a TV channel and issuing a defamatory press statement against him.
Medha Patkar and Vinai Kumar Saxena have been involved in a legal battle since 2000 after Patkar filed a case against him for publishing ads against her and Narmada Bachao Andolan. At that time, Saxena was the chief of the Ahmedabad-based NGO National Council for Civil Liberties. At the same time, Saxena filed two defamation lawsuits against her over her comments against him.
The defamation suit was filed in response to Medha Patkar’s statements in April 2006. In a panel discussion on a news channel, Patkar alleged that Saxena received civil contracts from Gujarat-based Sardar Sarovar Nigam, which manages the Sardar Sarovar Dam. The allegation was denied by Saxena.
In 2000, Saxena published an advertisement against Patkar’s Narmada Bachao Andolan which was opposing the construction of dams over the Narmada River. Afterward, Patkar issued a press notice against Saxena which prompted Saxena to file a defamation suit against Patkar before a court in Ahmedabad in 2001. In 2003, the case was transferred to Delhi following the Supreme Court’s order.
While convicting her, Judge Sharma ruled that Patkar imputed that Saxena was “mortgaging the people of Gujarat and their resources before Bill Gates and Wolfensohn and he was an agent of the Government of Gujarat”.
The court order stated, “It is evident that the accused harboured a clear intention to defame the complainant through her press note, given the deliberate and calculated nature of her statements.”
The Court added that by explicitly stating that Saxena was “pained with hawala transactions”, Patkar aimed to associate him with illegal and unethical financial dealings, which inflicted significant harm to his reputation and standing.
The court noted that this assertion, without providing any substantive evidence, was a clear attempt to malign his financial integrity and create a public perception of wrongdoing.
Judge Sharma further stated that the terms used by Patkar against Saxena were not only inflammatory but were also intended to provoke public outrage and diminish his esteem in the eyes of the community.
A fast-track court in Kerala’s Tirur convicted a Madrasa teacher, Abdur Rahiman (51), for sexually assaulting a minor girl who was under the age of seven at the time of the crime. Following the conviction, the court sentenced him to triple life imprisonment till the end of his life, 15 years imprisonment in various departments. The court also imposed a fine on the convicted Madrasa teacher and asked him to pay Rs 1.5 lakh. He will have to undergo an additional two years in prison, in case he fails to pay the fine. According to local media reports, it is enough to suffer the punishment together.
The convicted Madrassa teacher, Abdur Rahiman (51) was sentenced in Cheruparambi in southern Kuttur. The Tirur Police had registered a case against Abdur Rahiman on charges of sexually assaulting a student in a classroom in the Tirur area in April and May 2016.
Tirur Fast Track Special Court Judge Reno Francis Xavier tried the case and sentenced him. Subsequently, the accused was sent to Tavanur Central Jail.
It is pertinent to note that several Madrasa teachers have been convicted and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment in sexual assault cases of minors in Kerala in the last few days. On 27th June, Mathrubhumi reported that a teacher was sentenced to 29 years in prison and fined Rs 2.5 lakh for sexually assaulting a Madrasa student. It added that a special speedy POCSO court in Cherthala convicted Muhammad (58) of Chakalanikart house in Arukutty Vadutala.
Meanwhile, in another heinous case of crime against a minor, a convict was sentenced to 55 years of rigorous imprisonment. On 30th June, Manorama reported that a man named Edakkara Unichantam Pudhuvanchola Jinshad (27) was sentenced to 55 years of rigorous imprisonment in the case of torturing an eight-year-old boy. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 85,000 on the convict. The Fasttrack Special Court ruled that if the convict failed to pay the fine, he would have to undergo additional imprisonment of 21 months and the sentence should be served together.
Similarly on 25th June, AsiaNet reported that Abdul Karimi (64), a native of Cherp Padinjattumuri who raped a minor girl and impregnated her was sentenced to three life terms and six years of rigorous imprisonment. Judge Jayaprabhu of Special POCSO Court No. 2 also imposed a fine of Rs 3,75,000.
He was convicted on the charges that when no one was in the house, Karimi sexually assaulted the girl who was sleeping inside the house, after which the minor girl became pregnant. As per reports, the accused was abroad but he left his job and settled permanently in the country.
