KOLKATA: India is considering releasing snakes and crocodiles along its frontier with Bangladesh, the Border Security Force said Wednesday, as New Delhi seeks to stave off unauthorised crossings. Bangladesh is almost entirely encircled by India and the border stretches for more than 4,000 kilometres (2,485 miles), large parts of which are unfenced across delta regions where Himalayan rivers wind toward the sea. Senior Border Security Force officer Manoj Barnwal told AFP that &quot;the use of reptiles&quot; was discussed in a February meeting with the Home Ministry. &quot;We have been asked to explore the feasibility of deploying reptiles such as snakes or crocodiles in vulnerable riverine gaps,&quot; said Barnwal, deputy inspector general of the paramilitary force based in Kolkata, near the border with Bangladesh. &quot;The plan revolves around leveraging natural deterrents like crocodiles and snakes in flood-prone zones, along the unfenced area where traditional fencings are either ineffective or not possible,&quot; he added. The border between India and Bangladesh cuts through the Sundarbans, the world&#39;s largest mangrove forest. &quot;It&#39;s an innovative move, but there are several challenges and it raises safety concerns,&quot; Barnawl said. &quot;How do we procure the reptiles? What impact might it have on the people in the villages sitting along the riverine border?&quot; &quot;We have asked our field units to study the feasibility of the approach and send the report as soon as possible,&quot; he added. Relations between New Delhi and Dhaka soured after a 2024 revolution in Dhaka ended the autocratic rule of the then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India. Bangladesh&#39;s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman is in New Delhi on Wednesday -- the most senior envoy from Dhaka to visit since the 2024 uprising -- in a bid to rebuild frosty diplomatic relations. India has constructed border fencing stretching hundreds of kilometres (miles), and arrested scores of Bangladeshis attempting to cross the frontier in the wake of Hasina&#39;s overthrow. The Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has long taken a hardline stance on immigration, particularly from neighbouring Muslim-majority Bangladesh. Top Indian officials have referred to migrants as &quot;termites&quot; and &quot;infiltrators&quot;. Rights groups have accused India of also pushing hundreds of Bengali-speaking Muslims into Bangladesh without due process.

Bangladesh

India

India is considering using snakes and crocodiles as natural deterrents along unfenced border stretches with Bangladesh, a proposal that highlights worsening ties, migration tensions and serious safety concerns for nearby communities.

India mulls reptile river guards on Bangladesh border

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Islamophobia and hate speech against minorities have seen a sharp increase in Kerala, India, Maktoob Media reported on Monday.&nbsp; Citing data compiled by the Islamophobia Research Collective (IRC), the report said at least 909 incidents of Islamophobia, including hate speech, discriminatory actions and prejudicial campaigns were documented in the state between Jan. 2025 and March 2026.&nbsp; Of these, 659 incidents were recorded in 2025, while 250 more were reported in the first three months of 2026 alone, showing a sharp increase in Islamophobia. The reports by Maktoob Media and Madhyamam News said the incidents were not limited to isolated remarks.&nbsp; Instead, the documentation described a broader pattern of inflammatory rhetoric, discriminatory mobilization and coordinated prejudicial campaigns targeting Muslim leaders, organizations, religious symbols and places.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2041327850389696584&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=bc7437aa505acff146a41911dbb9b72fe3304f9d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 897px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Madhyamam said the findings pointed to an &ldquo;unprecedented rise&rdquo; in hate speech aimed at Muslims in Kerala.&nbsp; Among those named in the documentation, right wing party, SNDP Yogam&rsquo;s general secretary Vellappally Natesan was said to have topped the list with at least 60 hate speeches in 2025.&nbsp; Political commentator Adv A Jayashankar and BJP leader PC George were also listed among those with more than 50 instances each.&nbsp; Maktoob further reported that members of the ruling Left, including ministers and MLAs from the Left Democratic Front(LDF), were also cited in the documentation, indicating that the problem cuts across political lines. A major part of the criticism concerns police inaction.&nbsp; According to both reports, IRC member Baburaj Bhagavathy said many complaints were either never filed or did not lead to meaningful police action even when submitted.&nbsp; Bhagavaty said this was especially troubling because the Supreme Court has directed authorities to take suo motu cognizance of hate speech, yet many such cases in Kerala allegedly saw no action.&nbsp;The complainants have been facing difficulties themselves, reportedly.&nbsp; Raihanath Kappan, the wife of Kerala-based journalist Siddique Kappan, who was arrested while attempting to cover the Hathras rape case in 2020, said multiple complaints she filed over alleged hate propaganda on YouTube were not registered.&nbsp; Another case involved writer KR Indira, whose past anti-Muslim remarks had drawn complaints, but where follow-p action was allegedly weak. Maktoob also said activist Usman Kattappana, who criticised those remarks, was himself booked by police.&nbsp; With Kerala already in election mode ahead of April 9 polling, Bhagavathy warned that Islamophobic campaigns could see a spike during the campaign period.&nbsp;That has raised fresh concerns about communal rhetoric and weak enforcement in a state often seen as more socially progressive than much of India.&nbsp;

Islamophobia in Kerala is rising sharply, with 909 documented incidents since Jan. 2025, as reports allege growing hate speech, cross-party involvement, and weak police action despite Supreme Court directives.


India's Kerala state records over 900 Islamophobic incidents since 2025: Report

ISLAMABAD: A blast at Manipur University and protests over a planned census have renewed focus on instability in Manipur, where displacement, ethnic tensions and insecurity continue despite official claims of normalcy. A bomb explosion at Manipur University on Sunday evening was a fresh sign that the conflict-hit state is still far from normal, despite repeated official claims of stability, the Times of India reported. According to local media reports, the blast took place near staff quarters on the Canchipur campus, damaging property and causing panic. No casualties were reported, but university officials described it as an attack on &ldquo;education, peace, and harmony.&rdquo; The blast came as opposition grows to the government&rsquo;s plan to go ahead with the national census. Thousands of internally displaced persons and the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee have urged authorities to delay the exercise until people forced from their homes by the violence are properly resettled. Critics say a census held now would distort population data and affect future political representation and development planning. The dispute points to the deeper crisis in Manipur. As The Economist recently noted, &quot;the state is still shaped by the ethnic violence that broke out in May 2023&quot; between the largely Hindu Meiteis and the mainly Christian Kukis. The conflict is rooted in long-running tensions over identity, rights and resources, and it has left hundreds dead and thousands of homes destroyed. Those figures broadly match international reporting. When New Delhi imposed President&rsquo;s Rule in February 2025, Reuters reported that at least 250 people had been killed and around 60,000 displaced. Yet even after such large-scale loss and displacement, both the state and central governments have continued to project an image of recovery and communal harmony. For residents of Manipur, the issue is no longer only the violence that erupted in 2023, but the unresolved fallout that continues to shape daily life. The blast at Manipur University and the objections to holding a census before rehabilitation show that security, displacement and political trust remain deeply contested.

A blast at Manipur University and protests over a planned census have renewed focus on instability in Manipur, where displacement, ethnic tensions and insecurity continue despite official claims of normalcy

Manipur University blast puts focus back on India’s festering crisis

ISLAMABAD: A sessions court in Varanasi has denied bail to 14 Muslim men who were arrested after having iftari -- a meal to break the fast during Ramadan -- on a boat on the Ganges River. Critics of civil liberties are expressing concern that the case is becoming a significant example of communalized prosecution and pre-trial punishment. According to a report by the Indian Express on Thursday, the men were accused after videos of the March 15 gathering circulated online; they were arrested days later, remanded to judicial custody, denied bail by a magistrate on March 23, and denied bail again by the sessions court on April 1.&nbsp;The original allegation was that the group ate chicken biryani during iftar on the river and threw bones or food waste into the Ganges, hurting Hindu religious sentiments and disturbing communal harmony. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2039345830126334102&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=ad6099de673681cafc55cfa6b48b11e690357ac6&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 825px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The complaint was filed by Rajat Jaiswal, a local BJP youth-wing leader, and the case quickly escalated from a local dispute into a broader communal controversy. Prosecutors invoked a wide range of charges, including promoting enmity, public nuisance, insulting religious feelings, and other provisions linked to public order and alleged pollution. While refusing bail, the Sessions Court said that the posting of the event on social media, prima facie, suggested an intention to affect social harmony, particularly in a sensitive religious atmosphere. The miscarriage-of-justice concern arises from the contested nature of the evidence and the overtly religious framing of the case from the beginning. The Wire reported that the complainant&rsquo;s version shifted over time on whether bones were actually thrown into the river, while an independent review cited in that report said the viral videos did not clearly show waste being dumped. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2039586123614494956&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=ad6099de673681cafc55cfa6b48b11e690357ac6&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 737px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The same report said defense lawyers argued that the accused were falsely implicated, that the complainant was not an eyewitness, and that no chicken or bones were recovered from the site. Taken together, the case has come to symbolize how an iftar gathering by Muslim youths can be rapidly recast as a criminal and communal provocation, with severe charges and prolonged incarceration preceding any final adjudication of guilt. Whether the prosecution ultimately proves its case or not, the controversy has already raised serious questions about selective enforcement, evidentiary standards, and the role of religion in policing public space in contemporary India.

Fourteen Muslim men remain jailed in Varanasi after a fast-breaking meal along the Ganges was criminalized, raising concerns over weak evidence, communal framing, selective enforcement, and religion-based targeting in India.

Jailed for breaking fast on Ganges: 14 Muslim men denied bail in India

ISLAMABAD: Concerns over the growing role of Hindutva-linked organisations in India&rsquo;s military education system, Sainik Schools, sharpened on Monday after the Indian American Muslim Council highlighted reports that a majority of newly approved schools have been allocated to institutions linked to the RSS, BJP leaders, and allied Hindu groups. The controversy centers on the Union government&rsquo;s expansion of the Sainik School system through a public-private partnership model launched in 2021.&nbsp; Under the scheme, private entities, NGOs and trusts can partner with the state to run new Sainik Schools, which are meant to prepare students for entry into the National Defence Academy and other military institutions.&nbsp; Critics say the model has opened the door to ideological influence in a system historically associated with secular, state-run military preparation. A report cited by The New Indian Express said that 62% of the first 40 approved schools were allotted to organizations linked to the Sangh Parivar, BJP politicians, their associates and Hindu religious bodies. The findings, based on government press releases and RTI (right to information) responses, have fuelled allegations that the scheme is being used not simply to widen access to military education system, but to reshape it along ideological lines. National Herald argued that the development represents a deeper institutional shift with possible long-term consequences for the armed forces. The original Sainik Schools, run by the Sainik Schools Society under the defense ministry, have traditionally been seen as feeder institutions for the military.&nbsp; Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh has said these schools have produced more than 7,000 officers for the armed forces. The concern is not only about who runs the schools, but about what values may be embedded in them.&nbsp; Among the institutions identified in the reporting were schools linked to Sadhvi Ritambhara, Bhonsala Military School in Nagpur, and entities associated with BJP leaders in several states. Retired military officers warned that ideological capture of military education system could erode the constitutional and secular character of the armed forces.&nbsp; Former deputy army chief Lt Gen Zameeruddin Shah said the government appeared to be trying to create an &ldquo;indoctrinated&rdquo; intake for the Army, while others described the trend as dangerous and unconstitutional. Together, the reports have triggered a wider debate over whether the expansion of Sainik Schools is becoming a vehicle for political influence over India&rsquo;s defense culture.

Most newly approved government-backed military preparatory schools in India were allotted to Hindu nationalist-linked groups, raising concerns about ideological influence over institutions tied to future armed forces recruitment.

Concern grows over Hindutva influence in India’s military schools

ISLAMABAD: Criticism of Gujarat&rsquo;s new Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has been mounting since the bill was passed this week, with opposition parties and Muslim representatives arguing that the measure hits the state&rsquo;s Muslim minority hardest while being presented as a neutral reform. India Today and Livemint reported after Tuesday&rsquo;s vote that Congress called the law &ldquo;anti-Muslim,&rdquo; while The Indian Express said the lone Muslim Congress MLA in the Assembly argued it would push Muslims away from Shariat-based personal law.&nbsp; The Gujarat Assembly passed the UCC Bill on March 25 after more than seven hours of debate, making Gujarat the second BJP-ruled state after Uttarakhand to adopt such a code.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2036709824415879430&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=740a9b38c14d0d39a71d741fee71624ba2b7d9b1&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The law creates a common framework for marriage, divorce, succession, and adoption across communities, but opposition lawmakers said the government was using the language of equality to override minority personal-law protections.&nbsp;Times of India said the code standardises family-law rules across religions but exempts Scheduled Tribes. That tribal exemption has become one of the sharpest lines of criticism.&nbsp;Opponents say a law marketed as &ldquo;uniform&rdquo; cannot credibly claim equal treatment while carving out one group but overriding the personal laws of others.&nbsp;Critics argue that, in practice, this makes the burden of legal change fall most heavily on Muslims, because Muslim personal law has been at the centre of the BJP&rsquo;s UCC politics.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2036693316675215476&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=740a9b38c14d0d39a71d741fee71624ba2b7d9b1&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 761px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The Quint, Indian Express, and Times of India all highlighted the contradiction between the bill&rsquo;s universal branding and its selective reach.&nbsp; The broader political context also explains why many Muslims see Gujarat&rsquo;s UCC as targeted rather than neutral. Gujarat&rsquo;s UCC is being challenged not simply as a civil-law reform, but as a majoritarian project dressed up as uniformity; its structure, exemptions and political framing show that minorities, especially Muslims, are the real target.

Gujarat’s Uniform Civil Code has drawn opposition for overriding Muslim personal law while exempting other groups, intensifying accusations that the BJP is using legal reform in ways that disproportionately burden minorities.

Indian Gujarat’s Uniform Civil Code sparks minority rights concerns

ISLAMABAD: A sexual-abuse case in India, involving the 20-year-old son of a BJP councillor in Goa, has triggered public outrage and political scrutiny after police arrested the man and shifted the investigation to the state Crime Branch.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to media reports carried by The Print, Soham Sushant Naik is accused of circulating sexually explicit videos, including those of minor girls, and blackmailing victims.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Economic Times reported that the allegations span roughly three years and may involve 25 to 30 minor girls, though that figure remains part of an ongoing investigation.&nbsp;The political sensitivity arises from Naik&rsquo;s family ties. Several outlets have identified him as the son of a BJP-linked councillor in South Goa.&nbsp; In a post on this issue on X, Congress said, &quot;<span style='color: rgb(15, 20, 25); font-family: TwitterChirp, -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;' id="isPasted">Soham Sushant Nayak, son of BJP councillor Sushant Nayak in Goa, gang-raped and sexually assaulted approximately 20-30 minor girls&quot;.&nbsp; <span style='color: rgb(15, 20, 25); font-family: TwitterChirp, -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;'>The post added, &quot;He then made videos of them and circulated them.He was doing this work continuously for the last 3 years, but the BJP government was silent&quot;.&nbsp; <span style='color: rgb(15, 20, 25); font-family: TwitterChirp, -apple-system, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline !important; float: none;'>It also highlighted that, &quot;The local police, government, and Chief Minister claimed they were unaware of the incident. A case was registered only after people took to the streets in solidarity with the victim&#39;s family&quot;.&nbsp;&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2037062525683179619&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=28c3122c7356918d167c3372c4e331288e97b585&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 702px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2037062525683179619"></iframe></div></div>The arrest came after large protests outside the police station in Curchorem, increasing criticism that the authorities did not respond quickly enough.&nbsp;&nbsp;Public outrage intensified, along with allegations that the accused may have been protected due to his political connections.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2036733674474144157&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=28c3122c7356918d167c3372c4e331288e97b585&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 883px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2036733674474144157"></iframe></div></div>The case has also revived opposition claims that politically connected abuse cases are mishandled under BJP governments.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the Ankita Bhandari murder case, renewed allegations surfaced in late 2025 naming BJP national general secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam and former BJP MLA Suresh Rathore in connection with the still-contested, unknown &ldquo;VIP&rdquo; angle.&nbsp;With the Crime Branch now in charge, the focus is on victim statements, the scope of the alleged abuse, and whether investigators uncover evidence that others helped shield the accused or suppress complaints.

Goa police have widened a sexual-abuse probe against a son of a BJP councillor after protests forced action, reviving scrutiny of whether politically connected abuse cases are mishandled under the BJP.

Indian BJP councillor’s son arrested in sexual abuse case involving minors

ISLAMABAD: Panic buying spread across parts of India on Thursday as motorists and households crowded fuel stations and gas agencies, with local media reporting long queues, &ldquo;no stock&rdquo; signs and pumps running dry across the country.&nbsp; The Economic Times said rumors of shortages and possible price increases had triggered unusually heavy demand, overwhelming local supply chains.&nbsp; A post on X by Indian International Relations expert, Ashok Swain, captured that anxiety vividly, showing vast lines of people, hundreds of motorbikes and dozens of cars packed around a fuel station.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2036796817896100275&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=28c3122c7356918d167c3372c4e331288e97b585&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 801px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Behind the scenes, the crisis runs deeper than isolated queues.&nbsp; The media reported this week that India is grappling with its worst gas shortage in decades after conflict-linked disruption around the Strait of Hormuz slowed or stranded ships carrying LPG, crude oil and liquefied natural gas.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2036920565433303103&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=28c3122c7356918d167c3372c4e331288e97b585&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 970px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>India imported about 60% of its LPG requirements last year, with roughly 90% of those imports coming from the Middle East, leaving the country highly exposed to the regional shock. Traders and data cited by Reuters said India&rsquo;s LPG imports in March could fall by nearly half.&nbsp; The government has responded with emergency steps, including diverting LPG away from industry to protect household supply and ordering the strengthening of natural gas infrastructure. The media also reported that India has been loading LPG onto empty ships already stranded in the Gulf to bring supplies home faster.&nbsp; At the same time, India is facing additional stress after Iranian strikes damaged Qatari energy infrastructure, raising the risk of lower LNG supply from one of India&rsquo;s key suppliers.&nbsp; The impact has extended beyond household consumers. The media reported that India has prioritized cooking gas supplies for homes, decreasing availability for commercial users, while reports said the government had partially restored commercial LPG allocations and offered states extra supply to ease pressure.&nbsp; Even so, local media on Thursday continued to report long lines, disrupted sales, and shortages at some outlets as authorities tried to contain the fallout.

Panic buying spread across parts of India as fuel stations and gas agencies saw long queues and shortages, while a wider Middle East-linked supply disruption hit LPG and oil flows, forcing emergency government measures and exposing the country’s dependence on imported energy.

Fuel panic deepens India’s economic strain

<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; color: rgb(65, 65, 65); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" id="isPasted">ISLAMABAD: Maharashtra&rsquo;s proposed Freedom of Religion Bill has drawn criticism from civil society groups, minority organizations, and church bodies, which say the measure could deepen pressure on Muslims and other minorities by expanding state and police scrutiny over religious conversion and interfaith relationships. According to The Times of India, the bill proposes prison terms of up to seven years and fines for what the state describes as &ldquo;unlawful religious conversions&rdquo;, including those linked to coercion, fraud or marriage.&nbsp; The report said offences under the proposed law would be cognizable and non-bailable. The Economic Times reported that the bill defines unlawful conversion broadly, including conversion through allurement, deceit, force, misrepresentation, threat, undue influence or fraud, and said such conversions would be treated as null and void. &#39;Anti-love jihad&#39; lawA separate report by The Times of India said the bill requires prior notice before conversion, allows objections to be raised, and places the burden of proof on the accused to show that a conversion was voluntary.&nbsp; The report added that relatives and other persons could lodge complaints, triggering police action. The political language surrounding the bill has added to the concern.&nbsp; The New Indian Express reported that the measure explicitly covers conversions through marriage and provides for tougher penalties in certain cases.&nbsp; Further causing alarm, Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane described it publicly as an &ldquo;anti-love jihad&rdquo; law.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2033063620129730987&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=c464e5de9888d09f58d326e7e3d235c5a3269724&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 780px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>That claim itself has been disputed at the national level.&nbsp; In a written reply to the Parliament in 2020, India&rsquo;s home ministry said the term &ldquo;love jihad&rdquo; is not defined under existing laws and that no such case had been reported by central agencies. Opposition has also come from outside party politics.&nbsp; A joint press note carried by Indian Currents said civil society groups had called for wider consultation and warned that such legislation could criminalize personal choice and weaken constitutional freedoms. Critics quoted by various Indian media outlets say the concern is that the bill may be used less to prevent coercion and more to reinforce a wider Hindutva-driven climate in which interfaith relationships involving Muslims are increasingly treated with suspicion, complaint, and legal risk.

Maharashtra’s proposed Freedom of Religion Bill has triggered concern among minority and civil society groups, who say it could widen scrutiny of conversions and interfaith ties, especially involving Muslims.

Maharashtra ‘religion’ bill draws concern over minority rights in India

ISLAMABAD: On International Women&rsquo;s Day, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised &ldquo;Nari Shakti&rdquo; (Women Power), and official communications emphasized &ldquo;women-led development.&rdquo; However, data from India reveals a more unequal reality. This year&#39;s theme is &ldquo;Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,&rdquo; but for millions of Indian women, these rights are not fully realized in their everyday lives.&nbsp;The latest official crime data from India shows that violence against women remains widespread. The country recorded 445,256 crimes against women in 2022, or roughly 51 cases every hour, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.&nbsp; The largest category was cruelty by husbands or relatives, underlining how gender inequality is often most visible inside the home, not just in public spaces. The story of Kajal Sharma, the 27-year-old female SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) commando, beaten to death by her husband in January, is one of the most recent unfortunate cases of this, which got highlighted at the national level. Another form of violence against women, which takes us back to the dark ages, is female infanticide. Since the BJP came to power, official statistics have either not been reported at all or have been grossly misrepresented.&nbsp; In 2015, India&#39;s Ministry of Women and Child Development stated that approximately 2,000 girls are killed every day in the country, but the National Crime Records Bureau reported only 100 deaths due to infanticide per year.&nbsp; There are reports of entire villages in India that have no women across generations. The government, however, chooses to keep mum over the matter and gaslight with slogans like &ldquo;Nari Shakti.&rdquo; The inequality also runs through the economy and politics. In 2025, the World Economic Forum said India shows especially weak performance in women&rsquo;s economic participation and political empowerment.&nbsp;India&rsquo;s own labor survey points in the same direction. The Periodic Labor Force Survey 2023-24 reported female labor-force participation at 35.6%, far below the male rate of 77.5%. Meanwhile, the World Bank&rsquo;s &quot;Women, Business and the Law 2024&quot; report gave India a score of 74.4 out of 100, with poor marks on pay and parenthood-related protections.&nbsp;So on a day of celebration and official praise, the irony is hard to miss: India speaks the language of women&rsquo;s empowerment, but the numbers still show women fighting for safety, equal opportunity, and full rights.

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised 'Women Power' on International Women’s Day, data on violence, low female workforce participation, weak legal protections, and persistent inequality show that millions of women in India still lack safety, equality, and full rights.

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