1. Manipur Violence: 7, including minor, held in viral video case; logjam continues in Parliament
2. Stone pelting at Meghalaya chief minister’s office, 5 injured
3. Rajnath Singh speaks with senior opposition leaders for smooth functioning of Parliament
4. 2 women who were ‘thrashed & stripped’ in Malda arrested for rioting. Viral video puts cops in spot
5. China urges India to stabilize ties for mutual benefit after BYD’s failed US$1 billion EV factory bid

What Else

6. PM to dedicate international exhibition-cum-convention center built at cost of Rs 2,700 cr
7. Army awards over 10 years sentence to soldier passing northern border info to Pak embassy staffers
8. Two Chinese nationals held for illegally crossing border second time via Nepal in Bihar
9. ‘Technical Malfunction’: 2 Fuel Tanks of IAF Fighter Aircraft Found In UP Village.
10. Central govt opens doors for private players in opium cultivation
11. NIA Files Charge Sheet against 3 Khalistani Leaders involved in terrorist activities
12. Most G20 members back RBI’s views on crypto
13. I-T dept sends 100,000 notices over under-reported income
14. Nepal: Chinese politburo member calls on Nepal President Paudel
15. Pakistan: PPP denies consensus on interim PM’s name
16. Pakistan: DIG Shariq Jamal found dead at his residence in Lahore: police
17. Pakistan: In meeting with COAS, US Centcom chief recognizes Pakistan’s efforts for regional peace
18. China vows countermeasures after CIA chief William Burns says agency is working to rebuild spy network

Manipur Violence: 7, including minor, held in viral video case; logjam continues in Parliament

• Two women gang-raped and murdered on day of viral video case 2 tribal women were allegedly gang-raped and murdered in violence-hit Manipur on the same day a viral video of two naked women being paraded, surfaced on Sun.
• Reportedly, this occurred soon after clashes in Churachandpur where the Kukis had protested against a proposal to grant ST status to the dominant Meiteis. (here)
• “Proof of State Complicity”: BJP MLA claims Ethnic Violence was Avoidable:Manipur BJP MLA Paolienlal Haokip, one of the 10 tribal legislators who in May wrote to CM demanding a separate administration for the Kuki-dominated districts, has alleged “complicity of the state”.
• The 10 MLAs, including 7 BJP had also alleged that the violence was perpetrated by the valley-majority Meiteis and was “tacitly supported” by the BJP-run state govt.

[Factually incorrect, as the initiation of violence was against the HC order which was to provide ST status to Meiteis]

• CM N Biren Singh had rejected the demand for a separate administration, saying “the territorial integrity of Manipur will be protected”. (here)
• Rajya Sabha disrupted by an uproar over Manipur violence: Rajya Sabha proceedings were on Mon rocked by the opposition uproar over Manipur violence.
• When the RS reassembled at 3 pm, having been adjourned 3 times earlier in the day, post heated exchanges between Chairman and TMC’s MP over Manipur (here)
• School Torched, 1 Hurt In Fresh Manipur Gunfight: The state govt’s order to reopen schools has faced significant challenges in violence-affected districts, the latest being miscreants setting fire to a school building near the border of Churachandpur and Bishnupur on Sat amid reports of gunfights between two groups.
• Rajasthan assembly passes resolution urging Centre to restore peace in Manipur
• West Bengal assembly to discuss Manipur violence I am ready for discussion on this in the House. I request the Opposition to let a discussion take place on this issue.
• The country must get to know the truth on this sensitive matter: Union home minister Amit Shah in Lok Sabha I am ready for discussion on this in the House. I request the Opposition to let a discussion take place on this issue. (here)
• Manipur plans to airlift Meiteis from Mizoram after caution from ex-militant group: The govt has planned to airlift Meiteis from Mizoram from Aizawl.
• This comes after an organization of former militants in Mizoram asked the Meiteis to leave for their home state for their “own safety”.
• The organization stated that there is “anger among Mizo youths” over the incident of two women being disrobed, paraded naked, and sexually assaulted. (here)
• Union minister’s house in Manipur attacked second time
• A woman’s rally outside the Imphal residence of Union minister R K Ranjan Singh, MoS external affairs turned violent when the protesters started throwing stones at it.
• They were demanding that the minister speak in Parliament about the worsening law and order situation in Manipur. (here)

Stone pelting at Meghalaya chief minister’s office, 5 injured

• A mob pelted stones at Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma’s office in Tura on Mon, injuring 5 security personnel.

• Sangma, who was inside his office at the time, was unharmed in the incident but is currently stuck inside his office.
• The incident occurred while CM Sangma was holding a meeting with agitating groups who have been on a hunger strike.
• The groups, based in the Garo Hills, have been demanding a winter capital in Tura.
• Following a hunger strike, which had been going on for 14 days, CM Sangma arrived in Tura from Shillong on Mon to hold talks with the protesting civil bodies including ACHIK and GHSMC at the CM Office (CMO) in Tura.
• However, the situation took an unexpected turn when a mob gathered at the CMO Tura and began pelting stones. (here)

Rajnath Singh speaks with senior opposition leaders for smooth functioning of Parliament

• Union Minister Rajnath Singh had a telephone conversation with opposition leaders regarding disruptions in Parliament over their demands related to Manipur.
• (sources)- LoP in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and TMC leader Bandyopadhyay were among the leaders who have been contacted.
• Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and MoS Arjun Ram Meghwal have been reaching out to opposition leaders for the smooth functioning of parliament.
• With the opposition continuing their protests over their demands, Singh, who is also Dy Leader of the House in the LS, on Mon said that the govt is ready for discussion.
• The Def Min had last week also spoken in the House about the govt’s willingness to discussion on the Manipur situation. (here)
• Its 3^rd the consecutive day, which washed out without discussion.
• Floor leaders of I.N.D.I.A to meet Rajya Sabha LoP in Parliament on Tue: leaders of the newly formed Opposition alliance I.N.D.I.A will meet at the office of the Leader of Opposition in RS Kharge to chalk out the strategy for the floor of the House. (here)
• RS adjourned 3^rd time, Dy Chairman asks suspended member Singh to leave House: RS faced repeated adjournments on Mon and was adjourned till 3 pm following opposition protests over their demands related to the Manipur situation.
• Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar suspended AAP MP Sanjay Singh for the remainder of the monsoon session for “repeatedly violating” the Chair’s directives. (here)

2 women who were ‘thrashed & stripped’ in Malda arrested for rioting. Viral video puts cops in spot

• The 2 women at the center of the Malda viral video were arrested for rioting and other charges in a separate case related to the local poll, amidst a slugfest between the BJP and the TMC over violence against women.
• On the other hand, the police arrested 3 other women and 2 men Sat for assaulting the duo and a civic volunteer at a weekly market in Malda’s Bamangola area.
• The arrested persons were sent to 5-day police custody in connection with the episode that took place on 19 Jul.
• No theft charges were pressed against them.
• The two were arrested on 19 July itself — the day they were thrashed and stripped — following which they were produced in a district court.
• They have now been remanded in 14-day judicial custody. (here)

China urges India to stabilize ties for mutual benefit after BYD’s failed US$1 billion EV factory bid

• Just days after India rejected Chinese carmaker BYD’s US$1 bn bid to set up an electric vehicle factory citing security concerns, Beijing’s top diplomat urged New Delhi to stabilize bilateral ties for the benefit of both sides.
• Wang Yi met with Ajit Doval, NSA on the sidelines of a gathering of BRICS members in Johannesburg on Mon, calling for policies to “enhance strategic mutual trust” and “focus on consensus and cooperation”, Chinese FM readout

• New Delhi has not yet issued its account of the conversation, but the Chinese readout said Doval admitted that “the destiny of the two sides is closely linked, and it is necessary to rebuild strategic mutual trust and seek common development”.
• “The Indian side is willing to work with the Chinese side to find a fundamental way to resolve the border situation in the spirit of mutual understanding and mutual respect,” Doval said, according to the Chinese readout. (here)

[Similer statement came from Doval on Jun 5, 2020-(here)]

PM to dedicate international exhibition-cum-convention center built at cost of Rs 2,700 cr

• PM Modi will dedicate to the nation the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre center at Pragati Maidan on Jul 26, which has been developed for about Rs 2700
• The PM’s vision of having world-class infrastructure for hosting meetings, conferences, and exhibitions in the country led to the conceptualization of the IECC
• With a campus area of approx 123 acres, the complex has been developed as India’s largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination.
• The IECC complex comprises multiple state-of-the-art facilities including Convention Centre, Exhibition halls, amphitheaters, etc. (here)

Army awards over 10 years sentence to soldier passing northern border info to Pak embassy staffers

• Army Court Martial has awarded a 10-year jail sentence to a soldier, who was caught passing information to a Pak embassy in Delhi about military activities along the N border
• The soldier was in touch with Abid Husain alias Naik Abid- a Pak national working at the HC included the guard duty list of the formation where he was deployed
• The soldier also tried to pass on information related to the vehicles of the formation along with the list of movement of vehicles given the Covid lockdown.
• The soldier had access to trivial information only. (here)

Two Chinese nationals held for illegally crossing border second time via Nepal in Bihar

• 2 Chinese nationals were arrested at the Indo-Nepal border in Bihar’s East Champaran in Motihari for attempting to enter India without a visa.
• The Chinese nationals have been identified as Fu Kang and Zhao Jing, residents of China’s Jiangxi.
• According to the information received from the immigration officials, this is the 2^nd attempt by the 2 Chinese nationals to enter the Indian border. (here)

‘Technical Malfunction’: 2 Fuel Tanks of IAF Fighter Aircraft Found In UP Village. 

• Parts of an IAF aircraft were discovered in an agricultural field in a hamlet in Uttar Pradesh on Mon.
• After two fuel tank-like components were retrieved from an agricultural field in Balushasan village, Sant Kabir Nagar district, police quickly sealed off the area.
• The incident caused no injuries or property damage.
• The Indian Air Force verified that the fuel tanks belonged to one of its fighter aircraft that was flying on a training flight.
• According to the IAF, the fighter jet had a technical problem, prompting the removal of external storage. (here)

Central govt opens doors for private players in opium cultivation

• As a 1^st, the govt has taken steps to privatize opium cultivation in the country on a trial phase for 2 years after awarding 2 pharma companies licenses to use concentrated poppy straw technology for extraction.
• The move is estimated to bring in modern technology and increase yield for extraction of narcotic substances, like morphine, codeine, etc to cut down illicit diversion.
• In the trial phase, from Oct 2017-19, an area of 2 hectares has been allocated to Rusan Pharma Ltd and Embio Limited in MP, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
• India is one of the few countries that grows opium legally and produces opium gum.
• The produce is taken to Govt Opium and Alkaloid Works in Ghazipur and Neemuch where opium is dried for export and alkaloid is extracted to be sold to pharma. (here)

NIA Files Charge Sheet against 3 Khalistani Leaders involved in terrorist activities

• A chargesheet has been filed by the NIA against 3 “individual terrorists”, associated with banned Khalistani outfits BKI and KTF as their involvement with the recruitment and handling of India-based terror operatives with their international connections.
• The chargesheet also names 6 other associates who were working for the 2 outfits along with the mention of their find raising mechanism for BKI and KTF.
• Reports said that the NIA is now investigating the case and looking for 16 others who are absconding and arrested accused associated with the two outfits.
• NIA said the 3 gangsters-turned-terrorists and drug smugglers are based outside the country and have created their networks of operatives there to carry out terror activities in India. (here)

Most G20 members back RBI’s views on crypto

• A majority of G20 members are now in sync with the view of India’s central bank that cryptocurrencies could pose huge risks to the stability of the financial system
• These countries may work to institutionalize an internationally-accepted regulatory framework for crypto-assets while allowing individual jurisdictions to impose stricter regulations beyond that minimum threshold, even a complete ban.
• The initial enthusiasm shown by some countries has now waned as most of them have realized the macroeconomic risks and other challenges associated with them. (here)

I-T dept sends 100,000 notices over under-reported income

• Union Fin Min N Sitharaman informed on Mon that the govt has sent 1 lakh notices for non-filing of returns and misrepresentation of income.
• The minister added that the notices were sent where the income was found to be close to ₹50 lakh and they are expected to be cleared by the end of this fiscal.
• While addressing the 164^th Income Tax Day the chairperson, of the CBDT, said that for the fiscal year, 2022-23 more than 4 cr income tax returns have been filed so far and the govt has processed more than half of such ITRs, resulting in ₹80 lakh refunds. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

Nepal: Chinese politburo member calls on Nepal President Paudel

• CCP politburo member Yuan Jiajun called on President Ramchandra Paudel on Sun.
• Nepal and China have historically been good neighbors and Yuan’s visit will help in strengthening the relationship between the two countries, President Paudel stated.
• On the occasion, Chinese diplomats to Nepal Chen Song, Foreign affairs expert Chalise, and the China Desk Chief of the Foreign Ministry were also present.
• Yuan led a 26-member delegation, which arrived in Kathmandu on Sun for a 3-day visit and also held a virtual meeting with PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is on a week-long visit to Italy.
• Yuan also called on the acting PM and Def Min Purna Bahadur Khadka and he thanked Yuan for the support of China in enhancing the capacity of the Nepali Army.
• The visiting Chinese leader said that there will be more cooperation in the field of training and capacity building in the future, read the statement. (here)
• China launches 5 ‘Silk Roadster’ projects: These are- the Silk Road Embarkment, the Silk Road Empowerment, the Silk Road Enjoyment, the Silk Road Enlightenment, and the Silk Road Enhancement. (here)

Pakistan: PPP denies consensus on interim PM’s name

• Minister for Climate Change and PPP leader Senator Sherry Rehman has refuted any agreement for the caretaker prime minister’s position, terming all such news as “fake”.
• The statement came a day after reports emerged, suggesting that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s name had been finalised for the interim PM’s position.
• Addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside PPP leader Faisal Karim Kundi, Sherry said that no decision has been made yet regarding the position
• “Stability in the country can only be achieved through timely elections and a non-partisan interim government,” she added.
• On the occasion, Kundi dismissed the rumors of reaching an agreement with PML-N over the position of interim PM.
• He asserted that no official or unofficial meetings in Dubai, or elsewhere, have confirmed the veracity of such news. (here)

Pakistan: DIG Shariq Jamal found dead at his residence in Lahore: police

• Shariq Jamal, dy inspector general of police, was found dead at his residence in Lahore’s DHA neighborhood in the early hours of Sat, police said in a statement.
• He was initially brought to National Hospital in Lahore where the doctors confirmed the death.
• The police indicated that the exact cause of death will be determined only after the autopsy was conducted.
• The body had been handed over to the heirs, following which it was buried, the spokesperson said. (here)

Pakistan: In meeting with COAS, US Centcom chief recognizes Pakistan’s efforts for regional peace

• US Central Command (Centcom) chief Gen Michael Erik Kurilla, in a meeting with Army Chief Gen Asim Munir on Mon, recognized Pakistan’s “continued efforts” for bringing peace and stability to the region.
• According to the media wing ISPR, Gen Kurilla called on Gen Munir in Rawalpindi on Mon (here)
• According to ISPR, regional security situation and defense cooperation were discussed.
• Both leaders were said to have reiterated the desire to further enhance bilateral relations in all fields. (here)
• Gen Munir has underscored the need for making the country’s economy self-reliant to end dependence on foreign loans, saying: “All Pakistanis must throw out the begging bowl.”
• The COAS said it has been decided that the military would not rest until Pakistan is steered out of the prevailing crisis [Besides, securing the country, they have to secure the country’s economic condition as well] (here)

China vows countermeasures after CIA chief William Burns says agency is working to rebuild spy network

• Beijing has vowed to take “all necessary” countermeasures following comments by CIA director William Burns that the agency has “made progress” in rebuilding its spy networks in China.
• Chinese Foreign Ministry on Mon said that the govt had taken note of the comment
• “China will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard our national security,” the ministry in a press conference.
• Burns, CIA director since 2021, said last week that his agency has been working to rebuild its networks after the Chinese govt caught some of its agents a decade ago.
• “We’ve made progress and we’re working very hard over recent years to ensure that we have strong human intelligence capability to complement what we can acquire through other methods,” he told the Aspen Security Forum.
• He also said the CIA is working to ensure it can provide early warnings about any plans to attack Taiwan “if that day ever comes”. (here)
• The authorities who oversee China’s cross-border financial data say it must receive greater state scrutiny, and that clearer boundaries and accountability are needed in data-processing activities that the nation’s central bank engages in.
• In draft guidelines posted on Mon, the People’s Bank of China said this enhanced scrutiny and oversight will apply to several areas, including currency policies, the cross-border yuan business, interbank transactions, settlements, digital yuan business, and anti-money-laundering operations. (here)