mondAY Countries ask citizens to leave Lebanon amid war fear 05 Many countries including the US, UK and France have asked their citizens to leave Lebanon as soon as possible august, 2024 epaper.morningstandard.in The advisories come amid fears of all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah following last week’s killings of high-profile Hamas and Hezbollah leaders by Israel facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard the uk 100 arrested as violence spreads Bricks were hurled, fireworks thrown and shops attacked as violent clashes involving antiimmigration far-right groups spread over the weekend Page 9 A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS l New Delhi l J8.00 l Several Western airlines have suspended flights to Lebanon and other airports in the region. The US urged its citizens to use ‘any ticket available’ to get out of Lebanon Amid tensions, Hezbollah said it fired a barrage of rockets at Israel’s north on Saturday night | P9 PAGES 12 August 1 India issued an advisory asking its citizens to leave Lebanon 545 people killed in Lebanon since the start of the war in Gaza. At least 115 are civilians Bill to overhaul Wakf Act likely on Aug 9 or 12 Govt sources say the move is to bring in more transparency and gender diversity R A JESH K U M A R T H A K UR While no official statement has been issued so far, top sources said the bill would be THE Centre plans to bring a aimed at ensuring “transparbill to overhaul the Wakf Act ency efficiency and accounta, in the ongoing Budget session bility” in the functioning of of Parliament, government Waqf boards. sources said on Sunday. It is In all, there are 30 Waqf learnt that the Cabinet meet boards functioning across held late on Friday evening India. “Waqf boards hold cleared the Wakf amendment huge numbers of moveable bill. Sources claimed the gov- and immoveable properties ernment’s move is in line with across the country, which demands from the Muslim are neither documented community itself for reform- n o r audited with i n g t h e Wa k f t h e g ove r n m e n t ‘Unlimited boards. m a c h i n e r y. T h e powers’ The bill, which Bill may propose a proposes 38-40 major According to sources, proper audit and amendments to the one of the objectives verification of propWakf Act, is likely of the bill is to check erty and assets, deto be introduced in clared as owned by the “unlimited Parliament either the WB in order to powers” of Wakf on August 9 or 12 ensure transparenboards, which can (the last day of the cy,” a top governeven bar plaintiffs Budget session). In from seeking justice ment source said in case it could not be an infor mal chat from the Judiciary. introduced in this with the media here Also, there are session, then it on Sunday . complaints of the would be presented “The proposed bill boards usurping in the next Parlia- property by misusing is aimed at seeking ment session, sourcbenefits to poor the Wakf Act es told this paper. Muslims, women With many states are gear- and children, and ensuring ing up for elections this year fair participation of women in and the next, the move could the boards. The bill is not spark heated debates and be- aimed at grabbing land from come a potential political is- Muslims by the government sue for the Opposition. nor is to give such land to nonAmong the major changes Muslims,” the government proposed in the bill is the man- source added. datory registration of all ‘The benefits of Wakf propmoveable and immoveable erties are strictly for the property under Waqf boards welfare of the community and , with the district collectors not meant for any individuals. concerned. Plus, all registered The bill will put a check properties must be uploaded on any such malpractice,” on the Wakf board’s portal. remarked a source. @ New Delhi Thousands gather in a rally demanding justice for people killed in recent clashes with the security forces | AP 100 killed in deadliest day of b’desh protests Y e s h i S e l i @ New Delhi Protests calling for Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation escalated on Sunday with nearly 100 people killed in fierce clashes between demonstrators and the the ruling party supporters. The violence took a communal turn with miscreants attacking the temples and houses of Hindus. A Hindu councillor from Rangpur, Kajal Roy, was shot dead. Devotees ran for cover as miscreants stormed ISKCON and Kali temples. Authorities have cut off mobile internet and an indefinite curfew was imposed at 6 pm. Among the dead are at least 14 policemen. “It was a bloody Sunday Social media sites like . Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are blocked,” Professor Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, a political commentator in Bangladesh told this newspaper. Many buildings were set ablaze during the protests. This Hasina huddles top security brass Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called a meeting of the National Committee on Security Affairs to review the situation, local media reported. It was attended by the chiefs of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the police We would want the students to carve out a future for Bangladesh. A revolution has already begun Pinaki Bhattacharya, exiled Bangladeshi activist includes the house of Sheikh Sohel, a cousin of Hasina, and the office of Beximco Group, one of the largest conglomerates in Bangladesh. In the Rajbari district, a statue of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman was vandalised. “These kinds of protests are unprecedented in Dhaka,” a source based in the Bangladesh capital said. The protesters are demanding that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resign. A call has been sent out to students across the country to participate in a march to Dhaka on Monday. This march was earlier planned for Tuesday . Hasina, meanwhile, said those protesting are not students, but terrorists. “I appeal to the countrymen to suppress these terrorists with a firm hand,” she said. Bangladesh Army chief vowed to restore normalcy in two days. Protests began last month over a 30% job quota that critics said favours those loyal to the PM. The Supreme Court last week gave a verdict restricting the quota to 5% but fell short of protestors’ demand to quash the quota entirely Protests resumed . on Friday after a brief lull. The protesters have rejected Hasina’s offer of talks. SC order on LG’s power to appoint aldermen today s u c h i t r a ka lya n m o h a n ty @ New Delhi The Supreme Court is set to deliver on Monday its judgment on AAP government’s plea challenging Delhi L-G’s power to nominate the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) aldermen. A three-judge bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala will pronounce the verdict. In its plea, the AAP-led Delhi government alleged that giving the L-G the power to nominate MCD aldermen would mean he can destabilise an elected civic body. Notably, the MCD has 250 elected and 10 nominated members. The plea further claimed that this was the first time since Article 239AA came into effect in 1991 that such a nomination had been made by an L-G by bypassing the elected government. “He (L-G) has bypassed this issue by ignoring the aid and advice of the state cabinet,” senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the government, told the apex court. Singhvi said that there were only two courses of action before the L-G in the issue — Either accept the names proposed by the government, or differ with the proposal and refer it to the President for further consideration. E x p r e s s r ea d Burglar stabs elderly couple in Vasant Kunj A 61-year-old retired IRS officer, Abhay Kumar Singh, and his wife Anupama were injured in a knife attack by an alleged burglar at his Vasant Kunj house in South Delhi early Sunday. They were rushed to the AIIMS and later discharged. Police have arrested one Jitender, 38, in connection with the case. P3 Realty firm’s CEO arrested from 2 more bodies found, 200 still missing in Wayanad Delhi airport after 60 km chase DNA samples of victims being preserved A r u n M @ Chooralmala (Wayanad) u j w a l j a l a l i @ New Delhi Four non-bailable and one bailable warrants A Delhi Police team went on a The CEO has four non-bailable warrants and one bailable warrant 60km chase to nab Sanjeev Ku- issued against him. These were pending at the Shahdara police station. mar Jain, CEO of Parsvnath The non-bailable warrant was issued against him on July 18, but he did Developers, from the IGI Air- not appear before the commission, said DCP Surendra Chaudhary. port. The suspect allegedly denied a residential flat to a home- lice (Shahdara) Surendra per that the case was given to Chaudhary said a non-bailable the Special Task Force of Shahbuyer in Gurugram on time. warrant had been is- dara district, which launched a Jain was trying to sued against Jain by the manhunt. “He was constantly leave the city, a senior Joint Registrar, Nation- changing location. Through one police officer said on al Consumer Disputes of his acquaintances, we found Sunday . Redressal Commission, a phone number that Jain was The CEO has four Delhi. “The non-baila- using. We put it under surveilnon-bailable warrants ble warrant was issued lance,” the DCP said. On August and one bailable against him on July 18, 3, the cops found the mobile warrant issued but he did not appear phone was located around the against him. These before the commission,” Delhi airport area. A police were pending at the Sanjeev Jain, team was rushed to the airport said the DCP. Shahdara police staParsvanath Developers CEO The warrants against where Jain was nabbed. tion. He was arrested Jain, the CEO of ParsInitially the police had infor, on August 3 and produced before the National Con- vnath Landmark Developers, mation that Jain was in Gurusumer Disputes Redressal Com- were issued in a case filed by gram. When a police team Rajat Babbar, the DCP said. reached his residence, the acmission on Sunday . Deputy Commissioner of PoThe officer told this newspa- cused had left for Delhi. Amid the continuing search for those missing in the devastating landslides in Wayanad, bodies of eight unidentified victims were laid to rest at a mass burial site at Puthumala near Meppadi on Sunday, the sixth day following the calamity . Around 30 pits were arranged at a 64-cent burial ground at Harrisons Malayalam Estate in Puthumala. The bodies were buried after official procedures under the Disaster Management Act were completed. Meanwhile, hopes of finding those still missing in the landslides at Chooralmala and Mundakkai are fading with each passing day. With around 200 people yet to be traced, the state government has initiated a DNA matching process for the unidentified bodies and body parts with the family members of those missing. DNA samples of the unidenti- DNA samples of unidentified bodies are being preserved before burial. A medical team will collect blood samples from the relatives of the missing persons to compare with the DNA samples of the unidentified bodies and body parts. Volunteers preparing graves for cremating unindentified bodies recovered from the landslide-hit areas in Chooralmala and Mundakkai | TP sooraj fied bodies and body parts are being preserved before burial. A medical team will collect blood samples from the relatives of the missing persons to compare with the DNA samples of the unidentified bodies and body parts. Despite extensive efforts in the landslide-affected areas and along a 40km stretch of river through the forest, only two bodies and 10 body parts were recovered on Sunday . The official death toll in the calamity stands at 221, including 97 men, 87 women, and 37 children. However, there are reports the number of deceased exceeds 300. On Sunday, the search operations continued at Chooralmala and Mundakkai, with more personnel and equipment being deployed in areas having a higher likelihood of recovering bodies. Advanced radars, drones, and heavy machinery are being used by the rescue teams. Forty teams are conducting search operations across six zones. Miracle on Turf: In a corner of Paris, Indian hockey rises from the beyond A LFRED Tennyson’s was historic, what they did on words aptly surmise the blue turf at Yves du Manthe emotional high oir on Sunday was more than o f t h e m e n’s just a miracle. It belongs hockey team. in the realm of fantasy . The English TMS @ olympics T hey now have the poet’s words “... someone chance to upg rade had blundered, Theirs the bronze they had n o t t o m a ke r e p l y, won in Tokyo. With Theirs not to reason why , and the romance associIndraneel Das Theirs but to do and die, ated with hockey Paris Into the valley of Death, will grow. Rode the 10 men...” The miracle did not It is the Olympics. If India’s come easy. Two minutes into 3-2 win against Australia the second quarter against Indian players celebrate after the shoot-out win over Great Britain | AP Great Britain, India were down to ten. What followed the next 43 minutes was a lesson in ‘you shall not pass’. I n d i a ’s n i n e o u t f i e l d e r s and PR Sreejesh did the improbable as they held out till the shoot-out where they won 4-2 (1-1 after end of 60 minutes). By the time it be g an, GB looked shattered. India were buoyant. Their body language was positive. The entire Indian team yelled and after Rajkumar Pal found the net, the fourth Indian to do so. Just before this, Sreejesh saved from Phil Roper, GB’s second miss. From coach Craig Fulton to every single player, they all ran towards the man who stood behind India and defeat. Sreejesh. Though exhausted, they still had enough in their bodies to celebrate. Their resilience resulted in one of the greatest escape acts in Olymp11 pic history  . no end to city’s civic woes Govt claims Master Plan-2021 is in force, but water-logging, encroachments, and laxity of civic agencies in the city paint a sordid picture | P4