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The Madras High Court has constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the stampede at actor-politician Vijay’s rally in Tamil Nadu’s Karur district, which left 41 persons dead. The SIT will be headed by Inspector General of Police Asra Garg.

Justice N Senthilkumar criticised Vijay’s party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, for “abandoning” the site after the incident and said it had shown no remorse. The court also said that it cannot shirk its responsibility.

The stampede took place on September 27 when Vijay was addressing supporters of his party from his campaign vehicle. Read more.

Pakistan’s claims of having shot down Indian aircraft during the four-day conflict in May are meant to “save their reputation” domestically, said Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh. Singh described Pakistan’s claims as “manohar kahaniyan”, or tall tales, and said they did not matter to him.

“If they [Pakistan] think they shot down 15 of my jets, let them think about it,” Singh said. “I hope they’re convinced about it, and they will cater for 15 less aircraft in my inventory when they come to fight again. So why should I talk about it?”

The Air Force chief said that India, in addition to destroying several Pakistani aircraft on the ground, had downed five United States-made F-16 class and Chinese-built JF-17 class jets.

He said that Pakistan had not shown “a single picture” of any damage to Indian air bases. Read more.

Gitanjali J Angmo, activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, filed a habeas corpus petition in the Supreme Court challenging his detention under the National Security Act. She sought his immediate release.

A habeas corpus is a petition through which a court can order the authorities to produce a person before it to verify if they have been lawfully detained.

Wangchuk was arrested on September 26, two days after four persons were killed in police firing during protests in Leh seeking statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Demonstrators had clashed with and thrown stones at the police, and set fire to the Bharatiya Janata Party office and a police vehicle.

The Union government has claimed that the violence was incited by Wangchuk’s “provocative statements”. Read more.

Jammu and Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party leader Jahanzaib Sirwal threatened to quit the party after objecting to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Adityanath’s remarks on a row about “I love Muhammad” posters. The Uttar Pradesh Police had a “vindictive” attitude against Muslims, Sirwal alleged.

The BJP leader was referring to remarks made by Adityanath about “denting and painting” those allegedly involved in the violence that had broken out in Bareilly on September 26 and making them pay a price “that future generations will remember”.

The violence had erupted when a crowd carrying “I love Muhammad” posters clashed with the police outside a mosque. The police have arrested 72 persons in connection with the clashes.

Sirwal said that the situation in Uttar Pradesh went against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” or together with all, development of all, trust of all. An impartial inquiry must hold all wrongdoers to account, and not just one community, he added. Read on.

Also read: ‘BJP may reap benefit’: The politics behind ‘I ♥ Muhammad’ posters in Uttar Pradesh

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