Latest news with #Violence
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
HC seeks U.P. govt reply in plea on implementation of SC guidelines
: The Allahabad high court has directed the state government to file a better counter-affidavit (reply) with regard to compliance with the Supreme Court's guidelines/directions laid down in Tehseen S. Poonawalla v. Union of India (2018) on preventing and addressing incidents of mob lynching and mob violence. The present petition seeks a probe into the alleged incident by a special investigating team (SIT) and ₹ 50 lakh as compensation for the family of the deceased. (File Photo) A division bench comprising Justice Siddharth and Justice Avnish Saxena sought the affidavit while dealing with a petition filed by the brother of a 37-year-old man killed on suspicion of slaughtering cattle in Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad district last year. The present petition seeks a probe into the alleged incident by a special investigating team (SIT) and ₹50 lakh as compensation for the family of the deceased. The counsel for the petitioner argued that the state had not implemented the mandatory safeguards outlined in the Tehseen Poonawalla ruling, which were mentioned as remedial measures, including the top court's directions regarding prompt FIR registration, nodal officer oversight, timely charge sheet filing and compensation. The high court, in its order, recorded that only the investigating officer had filed a counter-affidavit in the matter, and the U.P. government had not shown any steps taken in line with the binding directions of the apex court. 'Thus, the division bench remarked that the U.P. government should file a better counter affidavit/compliance affidavit keeping in view the directions of the apex court in the case of Tehseen S. Poonawalla within a period of three weeks,' the bench observed. Noting that the FIR should have been lodged by the police under Section 103(2) of the BNS (mob lynching) but was instead registered under Section 103(1) (Murder), the court stayed the investigation in the FIR until the next date of hearing. The court, in its order dated July 10, directed that the matter will now be heard next on August 5. In the present writ petition, the petitioner alleged that the state government has failed to formulate a Lynching/Mob Violence Compensation Scheme in compliance with the provisions of Section 357A of the criminal procedure code (CrPC), despite the explicit and binding direction in the Tehseen Poonawalla case, which constitutes 'grave' and 'wilful' violation of the rule of law. The petition also requested the court to direct the U.P. government to take disciplinary action against the police officials involved in the matter, as per the Supreme Court's directions to ensure accountability. It also requested the court to direct the government of India to launch public awareness campaigns against mob violence and lynching, highlighting legal consequences, as directed by the Supreme Court. At around 3 am on December 30 last year, Shahedeen and a few others were allegedly caught by a mob for slaughtering a cow for meat. While the others managed to flee, Shahedeen was left behind and was brutally beaten by the mob for nearly an hour. He succumbed to the injuries the next day. Later, Moradabad police booked Shahedeen and his alleged accomplices under the Uttar Pradesh Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act.
The Independent
5 days ago
- The Independent
Anti-migrant groups throw bottles at riot police in Spain during unrest
Anti-migrant groups in Spain have clashed with riot police for a second night in a row on Sunday (13 July), after violence broke out following an attack on an elderly man by unknown assailants. Footage shows protesters throwing bottles and various objects at officers in Torre Pacheco in south-east Spain, with locals scared to leave their homes. One resident said: 'We want peace... All the neighbours are complaining, I ride my scooter and I'm afraid of being hit by a bottle.' Violence broke out after the elderly man was attacked in the street on Wednesday, causing injuries from which he is recovering at home. The reasons behind the assault are unclear and no one has been arrested.
Reuters
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Israel strikes Gaza as truce talks faltering over withdrawal
Israeli strikes on Gaza left at least 16 dead and several wounded on Saturday (July 12), medical sources said. The attack came as talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza are stalling over the extent of Israeli forces' withdrawal from the Palestinian enclave, Palestinian and Israeli sources familiar with the negotiations in Doha said. This report contains graphic images. Sean Hogan reports.
ABC News
10-07-2025
- ABC News
The Queensland CFMEU has attracted negative headlines and controversy for more than a decade
Violence, intimidation, misogyny and bullying – these are the shocking allegations contained in a damning report looking into the Queensland branch of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU). But the militant union is no stranger to headlines, having courted controversy and scrutiny for more than a decade. Here is a look back at some key moments in Queensland. More than a decade ago, a royal commission public hearing into the CFMEU in Brisbane attracted protests several-hundred-strong of union members who claimed it was politically motivated. In a show of solidarity, CFMEU secretary Michael Ravbar was hoisted onto the shoulders of protesters clad in high-vis vests. Today, that same man has had much of the blame for the alleged toxic culture detailed in a recent report laid at his feet. Mr Ravbar has rejected the allegations contained in the report from barrister Geoffrey Watson SC. That same royal commission heard damning allegations against some of the CFMEU's top bosses, including its then-president David Hanna. Mr Hanna stepped down from his role in 2015, following allegations he had benefited from about $150,000 worth of free work on his house and that tradesmen had billed work to developer Mirvac. It also heard allegations both Mr Ravbar and Mr Hanna had been involved in dumping documents which could have been needed for the royal commission. Mr Hanna told the royal commission Mr Ravbar had, in early 2014, told staff to cover up security cameras at the union's Brisbane offices, while boxes of documents were being removed for destruction. Mr Ravbar admitted to cleaning out files on the day the CFMEU branch was told to produce evidence for the royal commission, but stated he was cleaning out excess files following a recent merger, and did not see the email notification. Mr Ravbar was never convicted and those allegations were never substantiated. In 2018, Mr Hanna was found guilty of dumping and burning tonnes of documents that may have been needed at the royal commission, but avoided jail. A year later, in 2019, he was sentenced to two years in jail for receiving $161,000 in home renovations paid for by Mirvac. He was already serving a six-year sentence for rape. In 2019, the union was back in the headlines in Queensland, after it staged mass protests outside Parliament House. This time, members were calling for the sacking of the then-deputy premier Jackie Trad, over flagship project Cross River Rail, which unions claimed was being mishandled. Mr Ravbar warned if the Labor government wanted the support of the union, the deputy premier had to resign. When this didn't happen, the union made good on its threat and split from Labor's left faction two months out from the state election. Griffith University political commentator Paul Williams characterised this as a tipping point. "Clearly the CFMEU's voluntary separation from the Queensland Labor Party, particularly the left faction in 2020, is as symbolic as ever," he said. In 2022, members stormed the Transport and Main Roads (TMR) building on Mary Street and staged a protest ahead of an industry briefing. Mr Watson's report released this week detailed what happened that day. "The mob knocked a security guard to the ground, although he was not seriously injured," the report read. "Departmental workers and persons attending the briefing were forced to take cover. The police were called. The building was placed into lockdown." Then-premier Annastacia Palaszczuk labelled the behaviour as "disgraceful" and declared she would no longer meet with the union. The following year, the union's protests became more destructive. In April 2023, about 5,000 CFMEU members marched on the Commonwealth Parliament Offices at Waterfront Place on Eagle Street. The glass doors of the building, estimated to cost around $25,000, were smashed during the rally. "The principal reason for the protest was to force the federal government to abolish the Fair Work Ombudsman — the body responsible for prosecuting the CFMEU for its many breaches," this week's report stated. Mr Watson alleged the CFMEU's leaders refused to acknowledge the destructive behaviour as wrong. "[Assistant secretary] Jade Ingham brushed that aside: he told the mob — "I know the crack was probably already in the glass and that it wasn't our fault," Mr Watson wrote. "He was even able to blame the destruction of the door on foreigners — 'It was probably foreign product to begin with.'" July 2024 was arguably a turning piont for the CFMEU. The Federal Government placed the Construction and General Division of the union into administration last year, following allegations of links in Victoria to bikie gangs and crime syndicates. It came amid broader claims of bullying, intimidation and corrupt conduct. That same month, Queensland Labor premier, Steven Miles stated he would no longer accept political donations from the organisation while it was under investigation. The union fought the move to be placed in administration, but it was ultimately upheld by the High Court in a decision this year, a move that sparked more protests across the country. Which brings us to this week's allegations. Mr Ravbar has rejected the report's findings, stating it is "riddled with errors" and based on "selective and untested accounts". He also said to find that the union's culture was shaped by his leadership was an "oversimplification." The report has been referred to the Queensland police.
Scoop
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Prevention Of Family And Sexual Violence Agency To Drop Informal Name, Expand Advisory Board Diversity
Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence and Sexual Violence Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence and Sexual Violence Karen Chhour is today announcing it will no longer use the informal name of Te Puna Aonui and will adopt its legal name: the Executive Board for the Elimination of Family Violence and Sexual Violence. 'This decision reflects the reality that all people are potentially victims of Family Violence and Sexual Violence, as well as the wishes of disgruntled former advisory board members who have asked for the gifted Te Reo name to be returned,' says Mrs Chhour. 'They have raised their concerns with me around my decision to not extend their tenure as the Ministerial Advisory Board, as well as concerns around my decision to include other communities in a new, multi-cultural advisory board which will replace the current Māori-only one. 'I need an advisory board that can advise on all issues victim-survivors face, and one that reflects the diversity of our nation, not just the seventeen per cent of New Zealanders who identify as Māori. 'Yes, I am Māori, and proud of this. I am also a mother, a wife, and a survivor of both family and sexual violence. The idea that one part of my being is somehow more important than any other is something I don't accept, and I don't believe that the majority of New Zealanders would accept this either. 'It is also Government policy that Government departments, with the exception of those focused on Māori, will have their main names in English. 'By continuing with a Te Reo name I believe we risk potentially making non-Māori victim-survivors feel like their lived experiences do not matter. I can assure them that they do and will continue to. 'This is the right thing to do, it reflects our national values of equality. 'The important work of the agency will be strengthened by the incorporating Pasifika, Asian communities, and other groups who were deliberately excluded by the scope of the previous Ministerial Advisory Board for this portfolio. 'While Te Puna Aonui is an informal name, not a legal one, it will take time to update the agency's branding and letterhead. 'This is a positive tep forward for the Executive Board for the Elimination of Family Violence and Sexual Violence and for our national response to these hugely important issues.'
