AV 2nd September 2017

Page 1

Price 80p

First & Foremost Asian Weekly in Europe

Vol 46 | Issue 18

RAPIST GODMAN IN FOR 20 YEARS

TM

2nd September to 8th September 2017 Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

M1 CARNAGE:

8 INDIANS SPOT DEAD l EXCLUSIVE: Community extends assistance and support to victims' families

Rupanjana Dutta Diaspora in the UK is mourning the death of 8 Indians- six men and two women, who died in the horrific M1 crash on

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insaan

In a case that took most of northern India by storm, Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insaan's verdict last week came as yet another harsh reminder of just how bluntly blind faith can sting. This is not the first case of the kind, and won't certainly be the last. India has a certain reputation of savouring and fostering godmen. Most of them, if not all, are accused of crimes against women, criminal intimidation and even murder. Gurmeet, despite the endless chaos his supporters created, has been sentenced to 20 years in jail. Sentenced by CBI special court judge Jagdeep Singh, he is also served with a fine of over Rs 30,00,000. The judgment stated, “Both the prosecutrix/victims put the accused/convict on the pedestal of ‘god’ and revered him like that only. However, convict commit-

ted breach of gravest nature by sexually assaulting such gullible and blind followers. Such criminal acts of a particular individual/convict, who is heading a religious organisation known as Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa, are bound to shatter the images of pious and sacred spiritual, social, cultural and religious institutions existing in the country since time immemorial, which in turn reflects irreparable damages caused by the acts of the convict to the heritage of this ancient land.” The judge also took into notice the activities of the rapist sect chief to decide on the degree of compensation for his two female victims. The court also took note of Gurmeet's new-found penchant for making movies. “It is also a matter of record that during the course of trial, Continued on page 26

India, China pull back troops from Doklam

The long stand-off between India and China in Doklam has finally come to an end, with the Dragon agreeing to New Delhi's insistence on simultaneous withdrawal of troops for a resolution. After 72 days of sustained negotiations between top-level officials from both sides, the foreign ministry announced that “expeditious disengagement of border personnel at the face-off in Doklam has been agreed and is ongoing”. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that as Indian troops withdrew to their post at Doka La, Chinese

early hours of Saturday (26 August). Three others – including a 5-year-old girl – were critically injured and are receiving treatment in hospital. Continued on page 16

SEE INSIDE

Country remembers Princess Dianna on 20th anniversary of her death See Page - 6

Home Office figures challenge May's theory of 'Indian overstayers' troops along with their road-building equipment, were removed from the site. “This process has almost been completed under verification,” the statement said. Both the countries came face to face on June 16, when Indian troops had to physically stop the People's Liberation Army from building a road on

Doklam plateau heading towards the Jampheri ridge. While the Chinese will continue to patrol the region as it did earlier, there will now be no road construction activity. The withdrawal comes a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China for the

See Page - 7

Heavy rains wreck havoc in Mumbai

Continued on page 26 See Page 26


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.