MSF slams Israel for labeling aid convoy strike ‘unintentional’

 

Doctors Without Borders, also known as MSF, has refuted Israel’s claim that the April 1 airstrike which killed seven aid workers was merely a “regrettable incident.”

The tragic strike hit a convoy transporting seven workers from the World Central Kitchen, an organization dedicated to providing food relief in crisis and conflict zones.

It was shortly after the workers had overseen the unloading of 100 tonnes of food that had been brought to the besieged Gaza Strip by sea.

“We do not accept the narrative of regrettable incidents,” said Christopher Lockyear, the secretary-general of MSF international, at a press conference in Geneva on Thursday.

“We do not accept it because what has happened to World Central Kitchen and MSF’s convoys and shelters is part of the same pattern of deliberate attacks on humanitarians, health workers, journalists, UN personnel, schools and homes.”

“We have been saying it for weeks now: this pattern of attacks is either intentional or indicative of reckless incompetence.”

Israel claims the tragic event was an unintentional mishap and is currently conducting an investigation into the matter. The regime has consistently refuted any allegations of purposefully targeting civilians in Gaza over the past months of its savage campaign.

Lockyear said the MSF continues to maintain a presence in Gaza but the organization is diligently evaluating the potential risks faced by its teams on a daily basis. “This pattern of attacks is either intentional or indicative of reckless incompetence.”

He said the tragedy showed that measures to ease the conflict were futile “in a war fought with no rules.”

“That these attacks on humanitarian workers are allowed to happen is a political choice.”

“Our movements and locations are shared, coordinated and identified already. This is about impunity, a total disregard for the laws of war. And now it must become about accountability.”

 

 

“Israel faces no political cost.” Instead, the MSF official said, “its allies enable this brutality with impunity and provide even more weapons.”

Lockyear also said the MSF had urged Israel to investigate a deadly attack on an MSF convoy in November and probe other incidents involving the organization, including an Israeli attack on an MSF shelter in Al-Mawasi in February. He said there had been “no explanation for any of the incidents.”

The MSF accused Israel on Thursday for systematically destroying Gaza’s healthcare system, describing scenes of carnage that no hospitals in the world would be able to handle.

Amber Alayyan, deputy program manager for the MSF West Asia, said the healthcare system in Gaza was flawed yet strong and progressing before the Israeli campaign. But “now we’re seeing the systematic and deliberate destruction of the healthcare system.”

The majority of injuries observed by MSF medical personnel in Gaza were caused by explosions, particularly from bombs striking residential buildings, Alayyan told a press conference at the MSF headquarters in Geneva.

She said children were arriving at hospitals with gunshot injuries caused by drones, and numerous patients were being trapped under debris before sustaining serious burns. “You get crush injuries to the abdomen, to the thorax; amputations are required for the legs and arms; and on top of that, patients suffer severe burns.”

“No healthcare system in the world can cope with the volume and type of injuries, and the medical conditions, that we’re seeing on a daily basis.”

“You could add 1,000 field hospitals; you’re not going to be able to replace the healthcare system that was in Gaza before the war.”

“We see gunshot wounds now in children from quadcopters – drones with guns.”

 

Air Force Aircraft Operate From Emergency Landing Facility In J&K

Air Force Aircraft Operate From Emergency Landing Facility In J&K

The defence ministry said that a large number of troops were airlifted. (Representational)

New Delhi:

As part of the ongoing exercise Gagan Shakti-24, Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft recently operated from the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) in the northern sector in Kashmir valley, the Defence Ministry said on Thursday.

The ministry said that a large number of troops were airlifted and subsequently air landed utilising Chinook, Mi-17 V5 and ALH Mk-III helicopters by night.

“IAF also plans to practise similar drills in coordination with the administration of State Governments for activation of ELFs in other sectors. Various IAF fixed and rotary wing platforms will carry out coordinated landing and operations at these ELF, requiring good planning and coordination with civil administration employing Whole-of-the-Nation-Approach (WNA),” the defence ministry said.

Emergency Landing Facility operations provide an opportunity for IAF aircraft to undertake operations from such restricted landing surfaces while also being able to undertake Humanitarian Assistance in Disaster Relief operations during times of natural calamities to provide succour and relief.

“The capability to operate by night on these stretches of highways and the capability to transfer troops from such surfaces will greatly enhance the operational capabilities of Indian Armed Forces,” the ministry said in a statement.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Man Kills 2 Then Dies By Suicide Over Love Affair In Indore: Cops

Man Kills 2 Then Dies By Suicide Over Love Affair In Indore: Cops

Hrishikesh Meena said the accused hailed from Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh. (Representational)

Indore:

A man armed with a pistol shot dead a woman and her male friend after having a tiff with them and then took his own life with the same firearm on Thursday in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore city, in what police suspect to be a fallout of a triangular love affair, an official said.

The man, Abhishek Yadav (26), used a country-made pistol to fatally shoot the woman, Snehlata Jat (22) and her friend Deepak Jat (25) at the Swaminarayan Temple complex on Khandwa Road, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Hrishikesh Meena told PTI.

He then shot himself with the same pistol, which has been recovered by the police, he said.

Prime facie, the tragic incident looks like a fallout of a triangular love affair, but investigations are on to ascertain the exact cause of the killings, the police officer said.

Hrishikesh Meena said the accused hailed from Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh.

According to eyewitnesses, the trio was engaged in a conversation for about 30 minutes before things went out of control and the murder-suicide occurred.

“Abhishek Yadav and Snehlata had become friendly two years ago. However, of late Snehlata had started maintaining distance from the accused, which had upset him immensely,” said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Anand Yadav.

The accused first fired two bullets at Deepak Jat. A horrified Snehlata Jat clung to him after which he pumped two bullets into her as well, the police officer said.

After killing the two, Abhishek Yadav ran helter-skelter and finally entered into the premises of a private college where he placed the pistol on his temple and pressed the trigger, he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

DSP lodges complaint with CM Revanth Reddy against former CP

A departmental inquiry was ordered against him to probe the allegations of supporting land grabbers. He alleged Raveendra intentionally delayed the inquiry to block his promotion.

Published Date – 5 April 2024, 12:23 AM


DSP lodges complaint with CM Revanth Reddy against former CP

Photo: X

Hyderabad: A Deputy Superintendent of Police rank officer lodged a complaint with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy against senior IPS officer Stephen Raveendra alleging the official had placed him under suspension under fabricated allegations.

In his complaint, DSP M Gangadhar, now working at the Command and Control Centre, had said in 2021, while he was working as SHO Narsingi he was placed under suspension by then Cyberabad CP Stephen Raveendra to allegedly influence some land grabbers who attempted to encroach a land parcel at Janwada village.


A departmental inquiry was ordered against him to probe the allegations of supporting land grabbers. He alleged Raveendra intentionally delayed the inquiry to block his promotion.

Gangadhar alleged he had violated instructions issued by the government regarding the time frame for completing inquiries

Air Force Aircraft Operate From Emergency Landing Facility In J&K

Air Force Aircraft Operate From Emergency Landing Facility In J&K

The defence ministry said that a large number of troops were airlifted. (Representational)

New Delhi:

As part of the ongoing exercise Gagan Shakti-24, Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft recently operated from the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) in the northern sector in Kashmir valley, the Defence Ministry said on Thursday.

The ministry said that a large number of troops were airlifted and subsequently air landed utilising Chinook, Mi-17 V5 and ALH Mk-III helicopters by night.

“IAF also plans to practise similar drills in coordination with the administration of State Governments for activation of ELFs in other sectors. Various IAF fixed and rotary wing platforms will carry out coordinated landing and operations at these ELF, requiring good planning and coordination with civil administration employing Whole-of-the-Nation-Approach (WNA),” the defence ministry said.

Emergency Landing Facility operations provide an opportunity for IAF aircraft to undertake operations from such restricted landing surfaces while also being able to undertake Humanitarian Assistance in Disaster Relief operations during times of natural calamities to provide succour and relief.

“The capability to operate by night on these stretches of highways and the capability to transfer troops from such surfaces will greatly enhance the operational capabilities of Indian Armed Forces,” the ministry said in a statement.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Police take ex-DCP into custody by Punjagutta police

Radha Kishan is accused of being part of a conspiracy with some other persons to develop the profiles of private persons unauthorisedly, clandestinely, and illegally in the Special Intelligence Bureau.

Published Date – 5 April 2024, 12:20 AM


Police take ex-DCP into custody by Punjagutta police

Representational Image

Hyderabad: The Punjagutta police took former DCP Task Force P Radha Kishan Rao into custody from Central Prison Chanchalguda. A local court had granted six-day custody of Radha Kishan to the Punjagutta police who filed a petition before the court.

The former DCP was arrested on March 29 in connection with the phonetapping case.


Radha Kishan is accused of being part of a conspiracy with some other persons to develop the profiles of private persons unauthorisedly, clandestinely, and illegally in the Special Intelligence Bureau.

He had allegedly used the information in a partisan manner to favour a political party at the behest of some persons

Islamic Jihad warns Israel against harming Al-Aqsa Mosque

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad resistance movement has warned the Israeli regime against repercussions of harming the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Abu Hamza, spokesman for the Saraya al-Quds Brigades, the Islamic Jihad’s armed wing, said in remarks on Thursday that the “battle will not stop at the geographical borders of Palestine” if any harm was done to the holy Islamic site.

“What is happening on the ground confirms that the resistance factions continue to wage the battle of Al-Aqsa Flood with all determination. The resistance continues to repel aggression in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.”

“We continue, alongside the resistance factions, the enduring battle of al-Aqsa Flood on all levels with determination, bravery, and steadfastness.”

He also underscored the support given to the Palestinian resistance fighters by the chief of the Lebanese resistance movement and the leader of Yemen’s Ansarullah movement.

“From the heart of the battle, we salute our brothers in Lebanon’s Hezbollah, his eminence Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, and to the leader of the Yemen revolution, Sayyed Abdulmalik Al-Houthi, and to the leaders of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.”

“The pure blood in Palestine has started to blossom from Jordan to Tunisia, Bahrain, and beyond.”

The Islamic Jihad and other resistance groups have repeatedly warned Israel “not to play with fire.” The regime has imposed restrictions on access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The Islamic Jihad spokesman also denounced the United States for providing the regime with advanced weapons and other military equipment.

“Gaza requires us all to stand up to our responsibilities to shed blood in the face of the Zionist-American arsenal.”

“From the very first moment of the battle, our fighters were in the front lines and are still stationed at their posts,” he said, in reference to Operation Al-Aqsa Storm of October 7, 2023.

“We reject the occupation and will not allow it to settle on the land of Gaza, and the enemy must understand the message well.”

Massive participation urged at International Quds Day demos

The Islamic Jihad spokesman called on the international community, particularly Muslim countries, to fully support the oppressed Palestinian people on the International Quds Day.

“This year’s Al-Quds Day was distinguished by the unity of the fields. Al-Quds has united the fronts this year.”

The International Quds Day was designated by Imam Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic. It is marked annually across the world on the last Friday of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. This year, the event falls on April 5.

Abu Hamza also underscored the key role of Iran in supporting the Palestinian cause.

IIT Bombay Clarifies Placement Status Amid 36% Unplaced Students Report

IIT Bombay Clarifies Placement Status Amid 36% Unplaced Students Report

IIT Bombay has released these statistics to address concerns and clarify job prospects for its students.

In response to reports showing that 36% of graduates at IIT Bombay are yet to secure jobs this placement season, the institute has released data from an exit survey conducted among graduating students in the academic year 2022-23.

According to the survey result shared by the institute, only 6.1% of graduates are looking for jobs, while the majority of students, accounting for 57.1%, secured jobs through IIT Bombay’s placement process. Additionally, 12.2% of students opted to pursue higher degrees, while 8.3% chose careers in public service.

Furthermore, a breakdown of employment preferences among students reveals that 10.9% secured jobs outside of IIT Bombay, with 1.6% venturing into startup ventures. A small percentage, 4.3%, remain undecided about their career paths.
 

The institute has released these statistics to address concerns and clarify job prospects for its students amidst the ongoing economic challenges.

According to a report in the Hindustan Times, approximately 712 out of the 2,000 registered students are still without job offers this session. “It was a struggle to invite companies to the campus compared to last year due to the global economic meltdown,” said an officer from IIT Bombay’s placement cell, as quoted by HT.

“The majority of companies faced challenges in accepting the salary packages predetermined by the institute, requiring several rounds of negotiation before they agreed to participate,” the officer added.

The officer noted that, for the first time, students registered in the Computer Science and Engineering branch, typically highly sought-after, did not achieve full placement among those enrolled. The placement process at IIT Bombay is currently in progress and will continue until May 2024.

This year witnessed a rise in the percentage of students without placements, with 35.8% remaining unplaced, marking a 2.8 percentage point increase compared to the previous session. In 2023, the HT report states that out of the 2,209 students registered at IIT Bombay, 1,485 had secured jobs, leaving 32.8% unplaced.

A significant number of the 380 companies that participated in the placement drive were domestic, contrary to the usual trend of more international firms, it adds.

In January, reports surfaced that 85 students at IIT Bombay received job offers with annual packages worth Rs 1 crore. Later, the institute had issued a clarification stating that only 22 students had received packages worth Rs 1 crore.

“The phase-I placements (December 1-20, 2023) incorrectly reported the number of accepted ₹1 crore plus offers as 85. The correct number of accepted one crore plus offers is 22. All other data reported is confirmed to be correct. The Placement Office of IIT Bombay strongly regrets this mistake,” the official statement read.

Power dues: Uppal stadium faces blackout ahead of IPL tie

However, the discom restored the supply and gave the HCA a day’s time to clear the dues, failing which power supply to the stadium will be cut off from Saturday.

Published Date – 5 April 2024, 12:10 AM


Power dues: Uppal stadium faces blackout ahead of IPL tie


Hyderabad: Ahead of the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK) match on Friday, authorities of the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL) on Thursday cut off power supply to the Uppal stadium citing nonpayment of Rs 1.67 crore in dues by Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA).

However, the discom restored the supply and gave the HCA a day’s time to clear the dues, failing which power supply to the stadium will be cut off from Saturday.


This comes after the HCA turned a blind eye to the notices over pending bills sent by the electricity department. A notice regarding this was reportedly issued by TSSPDCL in February, much before the first match of the IPL began.

According to power officials, despite the pending bills, electricity was being used as usual at the stadium, following which the TSSPDCL operation Habsiguda circle stopped the power supply on Thursday afternoon.

The power department issued a notice to the HCA on February 20 asking it to clear the dues but it did not respond. It is learnt that the HCA had promised to pay the dues after the IPL match last month, but it has not done so yet, following which the power officials cut the power supply to the stadium.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the HCA has made alternative arrangements for power supply by arranging for generators to conduct the match smoothly. Earlier, a case was registered against the HCA for power theft, following which it approached the High Court. But the court ruled in favour of the electricity department.

Opinion: ED, PMLA and power

The coercive system under PMLA has transformed the legal process into a form of punishment, rendering pre-trial detention entirely punitive

Published Date – 4 April 2024, 11:58 PM


Opinion: ED, PMLA and power


By PavanKasturi

The Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) has made headlines since its application, and has often been questioned and contested by politicians who allege its misuse. In fact, around 200 petitioners challenged the powers of specialised investigative agencies dealing with economic offences, with over 80 petitions focusing on the PMLA. Although the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is endowed with investigative authority, it is not categorised as a ‘policeagency’, since it has unique powers under the PMLA, including recording of the confessional statements. Further, powers extend beyond merely punishing money laundering offences to include preventive measures and asset attachment. Despite its mandate to probe economic offences under various legislations, it is not bound by the Code of Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (CrPC), which provides a few procedural safeguards.


CrPC Safeguards

In 2022, in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary v. Union of India, several provisions of the Act were challenged before the Supreme Court. These included Sections 5 and 8(4), which granted extensive discretionary powers to the ED to seize accused property; Section 17, which permitted searches of suspected property without judicial approval, along with Sections 19 and 24, which reverse the presumption of guilt and presume accused guilty unless until disproved.

Additionally, Section 45 requires a primafacie demonstration of innocence for bail — a provision previously invalidated by the Supreme Court in NikeshTarachand Shah v. Union of India (2017). Lastly, Section 50, allowing the ED to compel accused to make self-incriminating statements under threat, faced criticism for violating the fundamental rights of the accused under Article 20(3) of the Constitution. Despite all these problematic issues, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court upheld all the contested provisions. However, later in 2022, in Karti P Chidambaram v ED, the apex court allowed a review petition which is pending before it.

The Problems

A few problematic issues that make the PMLA a Frankenstein’s monster are: first, from a total of 5,906 cases registered as of January 31, 2023, only 24 trial cases resulted in conviction and there was only 1 trial case acquittal. The total number of confiscations stood at Rs 15,623.665 crore. This indicates that in only 25 cases trial has been completed.

Second, the transformation of the PMLA into a draconian law can be attributed to the 2012 retrospective amendment by the UPA government, where there was a dilution of its focus on serious crimes, particularly in terms of arrest and bail procedures. Originally the Act was intended to combat terrorist financing and drug money. However, due to the amendment, even cases under Section 420 of the Penal Code, which typically involve monetary transactions, can also be brought under the PMLA and be subjected to stricter bail conditions.

Third, the condition in Section 45, a drastic provision that turns on its head the presumption of innocence ie, the accused is presumed guilty until proven not guilty, is not only against our constitutional and criminal jurisprudence but also against the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) which is an international organisation tasked with establishing worldwide guidelines for anti-money laundering where India attained observer status in 2006 and has since been striving to achieve full membership.

More importantly, India is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights also mandates to presume the accused to be innocent until proven guilty.

Fourth, in 2017, the Nikesh Tarachand Shah case found Section 45(1) unconstitutional not due to inherent issues with the twin bail conditions (accused must prove primafacie that they were not guilty, and satisfy the court that they will not commit any further offence), but because the provision had the scope to be applied for non-money laundering offences as well which was possible after the 2012 amendment. However, the amendment in 2018 made PMLA a truly unbridled horse — it removed the entire classification of offences where the stringent bail conditions were previously applicable for offences above 3 years of punishment.

Fifth, the Supreme Court’s persistent legal stance leans towards endorsing the state’s complete authority to curtail individual liberty without establishing any safeguards whenever the state deems it to be a compelling interest. Even the above two decisions justified the conditions that reversed the presumption of innocence as a compelling state interest in addressing such crimes, thereby asserting that the shifted burden was essential to combat all money laundering whether grave or small. The problem exactly lies in this where all the alleged instances of money laundering are considered extremely serious and significantly tightens bail conditions.

Sixth, the arrest of incumbent Chief Ministers from Delhi and Jharkhand highlights a stark reality – the ED has been wielded as a tool of suppression throughout the present administration – targeting predominantly opposition parties, especially before elections. Of the 121 political leaders investigated, 115 were from the opposition. The stringent and unjustly coercive system under the PMLA has transformed the legal process into a form of punishment, rendering pre-trial detention entirely punitive.

The arrest of incumbent CMs of Delhi and Jharkhand highlights a stark reality – the ED has been wielded as a tool of suppression

Silent Pillars

The issues at hand not just revolve around the extensive discretionary powers granted to specialised investigative bodies such as the ED, where it can be used for practically targeting anyone but silence from other pillars of the state, notably the Election Commission. The nation with its eyes wide open is looking at the Supreme Constitutional Court, the sentinel of the quivive (on the alert), to cage the wolf that is speaking in its master’s voice.

The top court needs to establish guidelines to limit the powers exercised by the ED which uses them under the pretext of serving the state’s compelling interests. The rulers must also take heed – the power’s fleeting flame does not burn eternal, nor remain. The laws used to cast their might, once the time’s wheel spins and fortunes wane, they may regain what they sow.

Pavan

(The author is a Research Fellow at the University College of Law, Osmania University and Advocate in the High Court of Telangana)