Human Rights

The Hague, Dec 21 (AFP/PTI) The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor has said she wanted to open a full investigation into alleged war crimes in the Palestinian territories, sparking a furious reaction from Israel and condemnation from the United States.

The Palestinians welcomed the move by the ICC as a "long overdue step" following a nearly five-year preliminary probe by the prosecutor into the situation since the 2014 war in Gaza.

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 20 (PTI): National Highways were blocked and state-run buses from neigbouring Karnataka stopped at many places of Kerala on Friday by anti-CAA protesters,even s journalists, students and political party activists took out rallies against implementation of the controversial Act.

The killing of the two anti-CAA protesters in police firing and the detention of Malayali journalists in Mangaluru by local police triggered widespread protests across Kerala past mid night.

Chennai, Dec 20 (PTI) The BJP's Tamil Nadu unit on Friday held state-wide pro-Citizenship Amendment Act demonstrations and hit out at opposition parties, including DMK, for 'misleading' Muslims, among others.

Around 500 BJP cadres converged at Valluvarkottam here holding party flags and placards which read "I support CAA."

They raised slogans like 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'we will strengthen India's democracy.'

New Delhi, Dec 20 (PTI) A seven-member team of the National human Rights Commission on Friday visited the Jamia Millia Islamia University as part of its probe into the alleged police excesses following their entry into the varsity campus, an official said.

Lucknow, Dec 20 (PTI) All schools, colleges and universities across Uttar Pradesh will remain shut on Saturday, state officials said.

An order was issued to this effect on Friday night, a government spokesperson was quoted as saying in an official statement.

The government had earlier ordered closure of all schools on Thursday and Friday owing to severe cold wave condition.

The order comes at a time when protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act have rocked several parts of the state, claiming at least six lives in violence and arson.

Mangaluru, Dec 21 (PTI) Mangaluru city which is under a curfew remained calm under heavy police security on Saturday while prohibitory orders were lifted for two hours from 6 a.m to enable people to purchase essential items.

City police Commissioner P S Harsha said the curfew will continue till Sunday night in the commissionerate limits as a precautionary measure after the violent clashes between protesters agitating against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the police on Thursday.

Chennai, Dec 21 (PTI) Scores of CPI-M activists tried to block trains at the railway station here but were foiled by police, as protests continued against the Citizenship Amendment Act on Saturday in parts of Tamil Nadu.

Outfits affiliated to the CPI(M) including the Democratic Youth Federation of India, and Students Federation of India attempted to block trains at the MGR Central Railway Station complex here.

New Delhi, Dec 21 (PTI) Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad has been arrested in connection with the violence in Old Delhi's Daryaganj, police said on Saturday.

Aazad's outfit had organised a march from Jama Masjid to Jantar Mantar on Friday against the new citizenship law, despite not having permission from police.

On Friday evening, after security personnel tried to detain him during the march, Aazad surfaced inside the mosque. He had given the Delhi police a slip to reach the mosque.

Pune, Dec 21 (PTI) NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday said that like eight other states, Maharashtra should also refuse implementation of the new citizenship law, which he feared would hurt the religious and social harmony of India.

Dubbing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) "ploys" by the Centre to "divert attention" from serious issues plaguing the country, Pawar expressed apprehension that the Centre might dismiss the state governments opposing the new citizenship law.

New Delhi, Dec 20 (PTI) Violent clashes with police rocked Uttar Pradesh from Gorakhpur to Bulandshahr on Friday while thousands rallied in the national capital with tricolour and 'Save Constitution' banners as protests raged across states against the amended citizenship law and the proposed NRC, prompting the government to indicate it was ready to accept suggestions.