The long-running dispute between Shahi Jama Masjid and Harihar Mandir in the Chandausi zone of Sambhal district, Uttar Pradesh, has again gained prominence. A new petition has been filed in the Chandausi court demanding a temporary ban on Namaz in the mosque and seal the site. Notably, Hindu organizations say that the Shahi Jama Masjid was initially the Harihar Mandir.
The court has accepted this petition and fixed the date of 21 July 2025 for hearing. The petition was filed by one Simran Gupta, asking to ban the offering of namaz in the mosque until the survey and legal status of the disputed site is cleared. It has been claimed in the petition that this site was a part of the temple complex and archaeological evidence is also present there.
Simran Gupta argued in the petition that until it is decided whether the place is a temple or a mosque, no religious activity should be allowed. He has also demanded that the mosque be sealed and put under the supervision of the DM till the ASI survey and the court cases are settled.
In the meanwhile, the Allahabad High Court has delivered a crucial verdict allowing survey of the disputed site. The High Court has rejected the petition moved by the Muslim faction, thus affirming the order of the lower (trial) court to survey the controversial site. This ruling allows the way for a new survey of the mosque compound.
Keeping in view the sensitivity of the matter, the local authorities and police are alert. Arrangements are being made for the next court-ordered survey, and officials have averred they are determined to keep the process peaceful and unbiased.
Violence during previous survey
The issue made national news last year when riots erupted during the second round of court-ordered survey of the Masjid. A massive crowd had amassed at the location during the process, and tensions rapidly mounted into fighting. Five people lost their lives in the altercation, and a number of police officers were severely injured.
After the violence, 96 individuals were detained, and FIRs were registered against 2,750 unidentified individuals. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) that was established to investigate the case has now filed a 1,100-page chargesheet in court, identifying 22 individuals as the main accused. Among them is Samajwadi Party MP Ziaur Rahman Barq, who has been made the principal accused. Another individual, Suhail Iqbal, has been removed from the chargesheet.
Background of the case
The case initially emerged in December 2023, when a civil suit was lodged in Sambhal Court by four Hindu petitioners, Shankar Giri, Indresh Kumar Gautam, Ramashankar Giri, and Harishankar Giri. They alleged that the Shahi Jama Masjid is erected on the site of a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, which was traditionally referred to as Harihar Mandir.
The petitioners prayed for permission to hold regular worship of gods at the location, a ground survey of mosque premises, and an injunction against Islamic religious activities there. They alleged that traces of Hindu religious architecture, such as stone carvings, idols, and temple-type structures, were apparent within the mosque.
The Civil Judge (Senior Division), Sambhal, in January 2024, ordered a local survey of the site by a court commissioner. But the mosque’s management committee, Anjuman Intezamia Committee, opposed this in the High Court as being illegal and provocative. The court initially ordered a stay on the survey.
This has evoked a call from Hindu factions for the location to be identified as a temple, while the Muslim population insists that the location has been a mosque for centuries. With the court now permitting a fresh survey, all attention is focused on the developments to come and the next hearing.
Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh, Deputy Chief of Army Staff, has said a few things concerning the contributions of China and Turkey towards Pakistan during the Operation Sindoor, India’s four-day military operation against Pakistan in May. Speaking at an event hosted by FICCI in Delhi, General Singh said that China provided Pakistan with real-time information about India’s military movements during the operation, which began after the Pahalgam terror attack on 22nd April that left 26 people dead, mostly tourists.
As per General Singh, Pakistan was in the forefront, but it wasn’t alone. He described how China was backing Pakistan behind the scenes, providing crucial intelligence throughout the conflict. Pakistan received live feeds on India’s “important vectors”. While speaking at a military level, Pakistan informed India that they knew of a particular vector being “primed” and “ready for action,” patently displaying that they were receiving live feeds, quite possibly from China.
#WATCH | Delhi: At the event 'New Age Military Technologies' organised by FICCI, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Capability Development & Sustenance), Lt Gen Rahul R Singh says, "Air defence and how it panned out during the entire operation was important… This time, our population… pic.twitter.com/uF2uXo7yJm
General Singh indicated this was not surprising. He noted that 81% of all Pakistan’s hardware over the last five years has been from China, and, as a result, it is not surprising that China can play with a kind of “live testing ground” in Pakistan. He likened it to being like a laboratory, where China gets to observe how its equipment functions when put into real war-like situations without actually joining the battlefield.
Taking a swipe at Beijing, General Singh mentioned one of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, an influential Chinese essay on tactics employed in war and politics. He pointed to the strategy of “killing with a borrowed knife,” citing that China was employing Pakistan to harm India, rather than getting directly involved. “China, the old victim nice, would prefer to have the neighbour harm and not soil its own hands,” he said.
The general also mentioned Turkey’s role, which, he said, supported Pakistan diplomatically and perhaps in other ways during the operation. Post-conflict, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif visited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who pledged complete support for Pakistan. Erdogan also demanded greater cooperation in counter-terrorism and intelligence sharing.
Operation Sindoor was initiated by India on 7th May, in response to the ghastly terror strike in Pahalgam. India held Pakistan-based terrorists responsible for the murder of 26 individuals, most of them were tourists, and a local who tried to help them. India responded by carrying out pinpoint strikes against nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK). More than 100 terrorists were said to have been killed in the operation.
Pakistan retaliated by carrying out drone strikes across India’s border states, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri and Poonch districts. At least ten Indian civilians were killed, and various areas were damaged as a result of the strikes.
A ceasefire was agreed on 10th May, but Indian authorities later asserted that Pakistan had contacted them for de-escalation only 48 hours into the operation, demonstrating the pressure they felt.
In the case of sexual exploitation of Hindu girls by Mohsin Khan in Indore, victims have made new revelations about the coach who was arrested in Indore on charges of rape and sexual harassment. The victims told how Mohsin Khan used to call Muslim girls his sisters and he had deliberately targeted Hindu girls.
The Hindu girls were so enamored with him that in general conversations, they would even say that ‘for sir I am ready to be locked in a suitcase.’
This revelation has been made by a victim herself who was trapped in Mohsin Khan’s trap in a conversation with Organiser’s journalist Subhi Vishwakarma. In Subhi’s ground report, the girl can be clearly heard saying all these things.
MP Grooming Jihad
"Sir ke lie mai suitcase me pack ho jaungi.." told woman trapped by a Muslim teacher.
I visited Indore last month to investigate a highly controversial case involving Mohsin Khan, a shooting academy operator who trapped over 30 Hindu girls and has over 100s of… pic.twitter.com/GNAJqfZPdE
According to the ground report of Organiser, the victim said that Mohsin used to make lewd comments about Hindu girls and also used to have video calls with the girls on ‘Omegle App’ while being naked.
As per the victim, Mohsin used to say that all Muslim girls are his sisters, but Hindu girls are his target. He also used to ask Hindu boys to ‘use and throw’ the girls.
Mohsin used to stop Hindu girls from wearing Kalawa or applying Tilak. Mohsin Khan used to feed meat to those girls who did not eat it. This included Jain and Rajput girls.
‘I can eat beef, I can get it packed in my suitcase’
Mohsin used to give pills to girls in the name of helping them gain power and pills to boys in the name of stamina. The victim told that a girl started praying at 4 in the morning under the influence of Mohsin. That girl started saying ‘Assalam Aleikum’ or ‘Allah Hafiz’.
Another girl studying in the coaching even jokingly said that she could ‘eat beef for Mohsin or even let him pack her in a suitcase.’
Married women used to go to Mohsin’s flat by telling lies
Mohsin used to call several Hindu girls to his flat. His friends also used to bring married Hindu women to the flat. Many girls used to stay at his flat on the pretext of going to coaching or college.
Mohsin especially targeted minors aged 12 to 15 years. This also included a Dalit receptionist. The victim said that Mohsin even talked to a 12-year-old girl about her breasts.
The victim further said that Mohsin used to openly talk about his naked video calls in front of them.
Diatribe against Hindu leaders like PM Modi and UP CM Yogi
The victim further said that Mohsin would tell the girls to recite Kalma once and told them it is very holy. Mohsin also used to speak ill of leaders like PM Narendra Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath.
Mohsin would also stop the girls from going to the temple and would say, “You offer water to God, it is better to give that water to the poor.”
Mohsin used to compare himself to Virat Kohli. Mohsin used to make fun of things related to Hindu religion. Some students had told Mohsin that instead of offering chaadar, one should help the poor, but after that, Mohsin used to get angry.
The victim said that slips of paper were found in water bottles in Mohsin’s flat. Something was written on these slips.
Mohsin also opposed Israel. He would tell the girls not to eat certain chips or snacks because they were associated with Israel.
The Additional Commissioner of Police said that Mohsin has been charged under rape, POCSO Act, SC/ST Act and Madhya Pradesh’s anti-conversion law. The police are giving priority to the case and are committed to providing justice to the victims.
Officials say they are conducting awareness campaigns to prevent repeat of such cases..
What was the entire matter
Mohsin Khan, the coach of Dream Olympic Shooting Academy in Indore, used to trap Hindu girls, rape them and convert them by blackmailing them. Objectionable videos of 30 women were found on Mohsin Khan’s phone.
Mohsin had confessed to deliberately targeting Hindu girls in a video. Police have so far registered 8 FIRs in this case. These include charges of rape, POCSO Act and fraud.
In a recent post on X, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah made controversial remarks regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, sharing what many believe to be misleading information. In his post, he specifically mentioned the Hassan district in Karnataka and claimed that more than twenty people had died due to heart attacks. He attributed these deaths to what he described as a “hasty action” during the pandemic.
In the past month alone, in just one district of Hassan, more than twenty people have died due to heart attacks. The government is taking this matter very seriously. To identify the exact cause of these series of deaths and to find solutions, a committee of experts has been…
Invoking global health bodies like the World Health Organization and other regulatory agencies, Siddaramaiah asserted that these institutions themselves had acknowledged that vaccines were approved without long-term data, calling it a “calculated risk” in response to the global emergency.
As Chief Minister, I have a duty to respond to the genuine concerns of people who have lost loved ones unexpectedly. When parents lose their young children or families lose breadwinners without warning, seeking clarity is not misinformation; it is an act of governance rooted in… https://t.co/JjssvDhNeV
Expressing sympathy for the public, he added that a government that truly values every life has a duty to investigate such incidents thoroughly. According to him, both the government and other responsible stakeholders must strive to uncover the truth, act upon it with integrity, and ensure the protection of citizens through transparency and genuine care.
To address the situation, he constituted a committee of experts under the leadership of Dr. C.N. Ravindranath, Director of the Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research. It’s important to note that the study by this expert panel is still underway to determine whether COVID-19 vaccines have any possible adverse effects. However, despite the investigation being in progress, Siddaramaiah directly blamed the BJP without providing substantial evidence and strongly disapproved of what he perceived as the party’s attempt to politicize the issue for electoral gain.
Continuing his criticism, he stated that the quick approval and mass distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to the general public may have contributed to the sudden deaths, citing several international studies that have allegedly pointed toward a potential link between vaccines and a rise in heart attacks.
This is not the first time congress have claimed fake allegations like this. Previously, it has been found spreading baseless claims, and rumors about Covaxin. Congress and Rahul Gandhi had tried to castigate the Serum Institute of India and its CEO Adar Poonawalla as greedy corporates who are looting the public. In April 22, 2021, the party claimed that the Serum Institute has fixed three different prices for the Covishield vaccines for supplying to the Central government, state governments, and private hospitals.
What Kiran Mazumdar Shaw said?
In response, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, the Executive Chairperson and Founder of Biocon Limited and Biocon Biologics Limited, countered Siddaramaiah’s claims. She stated that India’s COVID-19 vaccines were developed and approved under the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) framework, following rigorous clinical trials and safety protocols aligned with international standards. Shaw emphasized that suggesting these vaccines were “hastily” approved was factually inaccurate and contributed to the spread of public misinformation. According to her, while vaccines, like all medications, can have side effects in a small number of individuals, they have been instrumental in saving millions of lives. She urged that people recognize the robust scientific and data-driven processes behind vaccine development instead of engaging in retrospective blame games.
COVID-19 vaccines developed in India were approved under the Emergency Use Authorisation framework, following rigorous protocols aligned with global standards for safety and efficacy. To suggest that these vaccines were ‘hastily’ approved is factually incorrect and contributes to… https://t.co/uMEcMXzBV0
It’s also worth highlighting that during the height of the pandemic, swift action was vital to saving countless lives. India, despite resource constraints, not only vaccinated its own population but also sent vaccine supplies to other nations in the spirit of global solidarity. It is disheartening that such a nation is now being questioned and blamed based on unverified claims by its own leaders.
Study reports highlights
Extensive studies conducted by Indian health agencies including the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) have categorically found no proven link between COVID-19 vaccinations and sudden cardiac arrests. These findings directly contradict the speculative assertions made in the tweet.
Before attributing deaths among individuals aged 18 to 45 to the vaccine, it is necessary to evaluate whether those cases were the result of other underlying health conditions, post-COVID complications, environmental factors such as extreme heat, or lifestyle choices including substance abuse. Making baseless accusations against the government without sound scientific backing is not only misleading but also harmful to public trust in healthcare systems.
The Chief Minister claimed that the state government is fully committed to uncovering the true causes behind the sudden deaths reported in Hassan and elsewhere in Karnataka. In this context, the government has launched initiatives like Hridaya Jyothi and Gruha Arogya, aimed at enhancing public health surveillance and ensuring timely intervention. Siddaramaiah also advised individuals experiencing symptoms such as chest pain or difficulty breathing to immediately visit the nearest health center for medical evaluation.
Further reinforcing the safety of the vaccines, a 2023 study conducted by ICMR’s National Institute of Epidemiology, along with a prospective study currently being undertaken by AIIMS, concluded that India’s COVID-19 vaccines are both safe and effective. These institutions have strongly warned against spreading unsubstantiated claims linking vaccines to sudden deaths, labeling such statements as false, misleading, and devoid of scientific merit.
What’s more troubling is that certain opposition leaders appear to be using this sensitive issue to generate political attention, thereby creating panic among the public. Initially, these very leaders cast doubt on the credibility of India’s pharmaceutical industry, thereby weakening public confidence in homegrown vaccine development. Now, they are attempting to associate unrelated deaths with the vaccine, despite conclusive evidence to the contrary.
Criticizing the government’s policies and performance is a legitimate part of a functioning democracy. However, spreading misinformation and inducing fear among citizens, while simultaneously discrediting India’s scientific and economic foundations for political mileage, is both irresponsible and unethical. The government’s commitment to evidence-based policymaking and transparency in public health ensures that science, and not speculation, guides its decisions for the well-being of every citizen.
Power Tussles within the Congress in karnataka
Beyond the vaccine controversy, these statements can also be interpreted through the lens of intra-party power struggles. The timing of the tweet coincides with intensifying political rivalry between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Although the Congress party in Karnataka presents a public image of unity, internal factionalism appears to be on the rise.
In July 2024, this conflict became more evident when Vokkaliga seer Chandrashekar Swamiji publicly urged Siddaramaiah to step down in favor of D.K. Shivakumar. During the Kempegowda Jayanti event, where both leaders were present, the seer declared, “Everyone has enjoyed power. Our D.K. Shivakumar hasn’t become the Chief Minister yet. Please hand over power to him.” The uncomfortable body language between the two leaders on stage only intensified speculation about a brewing power struggle.
With caste-based loyalties being invoked and multiple factions within the party seeking greater influence, Shivakumar appears increasingly cornered. His repeated public denials about wanting the top post only seem to underline the reality of an internal crisis. The question now is not whether the power struggle will erupt, but when.
Trinamool Congress MLA Savitri Mitra has created a massive controversy in West Bengal by claiming that Muslims don’t do politics on religion, only Hindus do that. The Manikchak MLA made the controversial comments while addressing a preparatory meeting for the 21 July TMC Martyrs’ Day on 3rd July in Malda. She also said that TMC likes Muslims the most because they don’t protest.
Savitri Mitra said, “BJP is seeking votes in the name of Ram. If we can say Jai Shri Ram, why can’t we say Jai Jagannath? Are Ram and Jagannath different? We like Islam the most. Muslims don’t protest. But Hindus are doing politics over religion.”
The TMC MLA also mentioned that Hindus don’t have a system of learning about their religion, but Muslims can learn Arabic and Quran. She said, “We don’t teach Bhagwat Gita anywhere. But there is a system for Muslims to learn Arabic and read the Quran. BJP will not get votes in the name of Hindutva.”
BJP has slammed the TMC MLA over her open appeasement of Muslims. BJP West Bengal posted on X, “Openly mocking Sanatan Dharma, belittling the Gita, and pandering to vote-bank politics, this is the real face of TMC.” They further stated, “This isn’t just an insult to Hindus, it’s a direct attack on our culture, our traditions, and our identity,” adding that TMC will pay the price for this in 2026 assembly elections.
"Our favourite religion is Islam. Muslims don’t protest. But Hindus are doing politics over religion. Nowhere are we taught the Bhagavad Gita, but Muslims have provisions to learn Arabic and study the Quran."
BJP’s Amit Malviya said that Savitri Mitra is Mocking the Bhagavad Gita, targeting Hindus for “doing politics”, and openly favoring one religion over another, adding that this is not secularism, this is institutionalised Hindu hatred.
South Malda BJP General Secretary Amlan Bhaduri said that Trinamool leaders are repeatedly insulting Hindus in an attempt to appease the minorities. However, the TMC MLA defended her comments, saying that TMC is a party of Muslims. When asked about BJP’s criticism of her comments, she said, “BJP says Trinamool is a party of Muslims. We are Muslims. And BJP is a party of Hindus.”
The centre notified the “Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development Rules, 2025” on 3rd July in relation to the recently updated laws, pertaining to portal and database of the properties, audit and account maintenance, among others. The guidelines have been formulated under the powers conferred by Section 108B of the Waqf Act, 1995, which was introduced through the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025 and went into force on 8th April.
Section 108B permits the centre to set up regulations for the waqf asset management system, registration, accounts, audit, and other similar matters along with the process for paying maintenance to widows, divorced women and orphans as well as other issues. An important highlight is that Waqf properties will be uploaded and updated on the site.
Unified online platform
The Central Waqf Management System (CWMS) is an online platform where all waqf property, encroachment, development and financial data will be recorded and made publicly available. It must be shared in compliance with the new regulations to guarantee that information is easily accessible in digital format rather than being restricted to files in State Waqf Boards.
The oversight and management of the portal and database would fall under the purview of the Joint Secretary to the Government of India in the Ministry of Minority Affairs who helms the waqf division. The database and gateway will automatically generate a unique identification number for every waqf and each asset owned by the board for records that are genuine. It can be utilised to guarantee surveillance and monitoring of waqf and its properties in every state, as well as for all future references.
Each state government is also directed to designate a Nodal Officer who has a position at least equivalent to that as Joint Secretary. A central support unit must be set up in consultation with the centre to help streamline the uploading of waqf and property details, registration, account maintenance, audit and other related activities.
Accountability of Mutawallis
Every mutawalli (managers of waqf estates) must register on the portal and database using their email address and mobile number. He will then be able to access the portal and database alongside file information about his waqf and waqf-designated property. He will receive a one-time password via email and mobile for authentication.
The appointed government officer has one year from the date of the District Collector’s referral to conclude the investigation into the incorrect declaration of any property as Waqf. Following survey completion, the state government will provide the auqaf list, which will include:
the recognition and delineation of waqf properties
their occupancy and utilisation
information about the creator, the creation method and the creation date
the waqf’s objective
their current management and mutawalli
All mutawallis are now required to provide financial and administrative reports to the relevant Waqf Boards. Stricter tools for monitoring and provisions for suspending or removing irresponsible mutawallis have been reaffirmed.
Within 90 days of the list’s publication in the Official Gazette, the state government, through its nominated officer must upload the notified list of auqaf and each waqf’s details to the portal and database. After the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 (14 of 2025) came into effect, a waqf must apply to the board within three months of its inception to be recognised under section 36 of the act.
Mandatory registration, audit and public disclosure
It is now mandatory for every Waqf Board to guarantee prompt registration and geotagging of waqf properties. Through the use of satellite mapping and digital land records, unregistered properties or those with unclear boundaries are to be brought under the official system in cooperation with state tax departments.
Another main features of the new regulations is audit reform. Every Waqf Board is now required to submit yearly audited accounts by a certain date. Audit delays will draw attention and even lead to disciplinary action. Additionally, a defined format for account maintenance has been announced in an effort to encourage consistency and prevent anomalies.
The regulations require that listings of encroached waqf properties be posted on the central portal, along with information about their recovery or legal status. It is anticipated that this will guarantee aggressive measures by Waqf Boards and serve as a public deterrent against unauthorised occupation.
Other provisions
The guidelines also outline how widows, divorced women and orphans should obtain maintenance. Furthermore, measures have been enacted relating to the method in which accounts are kept, audits are conducted registers are stored, etc.
The central government’s primary goal of reforming religious endowments and insuring that religious charitable properties are utilised for the benefit of the community, particularly the impoverished, is in conformity with the development. The 2025 regulations seek to immediately address the anomalies and encroachments in waqf management that have been brought to light by numerous audit reports and parliamentary committees over the years.
The portal will be used by the Central and State Waqf Councils as an instrument of surveillance in addition to being a digital record. Data such as maps, asset prices, lawsuit status and occupancy statistics would be made available to stakeholders and regular citizens.
Notably, the Union Minority Affairs ministry handed the proposed regulations to the Union Law Ministry for the execution of the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025. This is expected to be discussed during the next Parliamentary session during the monsoon session.
In India, waqf properties are administered under the Waqf Act of 1995. The main purpose of these religious endowments was to support charity or religious activities for Muslims but it has been plagued by widespread corruption. Hence, the centre has been advocating for more transparency and control through policy changes and amendments.
The Waqf Rules 2025 aim to prevent mismanagement and maximise community benefit by replacing previous frameworks with a data-driven, digitally controlled system. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has reserved its decision in response to pleas filed by multiple petitioners including veteran Congress leaders to halt the Waqf Amendment Act 2025’s implementation.
The Kerala High Court has issued a stern directive to the state government to immediately fill critical vacancies in forensic science laboratories (FSLs), citing severe delays in narcotics and child protection cases that are undermining Kerala’s fight against a spiralling drug epidemic in educational institutions.
Court order targets systemic failure
A bench comprising Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice C. Jayachandran ordered the State and Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC) to “coordinate and ensure vacancies are filled without delay,” warning that “continued inaction would affect Kerala’s criminal justice system”.
The court demanded a report from the District Judiciary Registrar on pending criminal trials, especially under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, linked to forensic staff shortages. The Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KeLSA) petition highlighted how unfilled posts of scientific officers and assistants cripple lab operations, delaying forensic reports essential for trials.
Forensic vacancy crisis: A justice system bottleneck
In 2024 alone, over 24,517 NDPS cases were registered. It is a 330% surge since the year 2021, yet thousands languish in limbo as understaffed labs fail to process evidence. The Calcutta High Court recently allowed FSL reports to be sent directly to trial courts to bypass investigative delays, underscoring nationwide forensic inefficiencies. Kerala’s FSLs operate “far beyond capacity,” with samples backlogged for years, forcing courts to release accused persons on bail in serious cases, including murder.
Drug menace grips campuses
Schools and colleges in Kerala are facing an unprecedented drug crisis, exacerbating the urgency for functional forensic labs. Studies from various organisations indicate that 17-60% of college students are using drugs, with engineering and medical students being most affected. Ernakulam district alone hosts 70 drug-selling points near educational institutions, as per a report by The Hindu.
In early 2025, 30 murders were linked to drug abuse. This drug-fueled violence includes student gang fights and matricide. A Pathanamthitta couple committed suicide because of their son’s substance addiction. The drug gangs are using superbikes for rapid deliveries, and for payments, they are using cryptocurrency, and the dark web transactions. They are camouflaging drugs as candies to target minors.
Why forensic delays derail justice
NDPS cases require forensic verification of seized substances to prove guilt, but vacancies stall analysis. The Supreme Court is weighing “default bail” for NDPS accused if FSL reports miss deadlines, fearing “irreversible consequences” for fair trials. Kerala’s conviction rate of 98.19% (exceeding the national average) is threatened by forensic delays, as trials cannot proceed without lab reports.
Reactions and next steps
The KPSC cited “procedural requirements and inherent time lag” in appointments, but the court dismissed this as insufficient justification. Apart from that, experts are demanding to adopt international models like Iceland’s youth engagement programs or Portugal’s decriminalization approach for users, alongside fast-track NDPS courts. The state government launched a 2025 anti-drug campaign, allocated ₹40 lakh for campus surveillance drones, and requires anti-drug affidavits from students during admissions.
The path ahead
With Kerala reporting India’s highest drug-case rate (78 per lakh people) and 7.5 lakh adult users, including 75,000 children, the High Court’s intervention spotlights a make-or-break moment for the state’s criminal justice system. The government must now prioritise forensic recruitment to prevent the drug crisis from overwhelming Kerala’s future.
On Thursday (3rd July), Parliamentary Affairs Minister Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the opposition has extended in-principle support to the impeachment motion against Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Varma. The motion will be brought in the upcoming monsoon session starting from 21st July.
Minister Rijiju said that it is yet to be decided whether the impeachment motion will be brought in the Rajya Sabha or the Lok Sabha.
Minister Rijiju added that once the decision is taken about where the motion will be brought, the process of taking signatures of MPs would begin. The minister further stated that since it is a matter of corruption, the government want support of all political parties.
In response to a question concerning the committee’s report that proved the discovery of unaccounted cash at Justice Varma’s home, he stated that the three-judge panel’s report was intended to suggest further steps because Parliament could only dismiss a judge. Several burned sacks of cash were found in the outhouse during a March fire incident at Justice Varma’s Delhi residence.
In June this year, a panel consisting of three judges from the Supreme Court has proposed the dismissal of Justice Yashwant Varma. The committee recommended the dismissal of Varma from his position which is detailed in a 64-page report that was forwarded to both the President and the Prime Minister. The report explicitly mentioned that the burnt notes were discovered in the storeroom of his official residence.
Only Varma and his family were allowed access to the storeroom as no outsiders could access it. The investigation uncovered that during the process of extinguishing the fire, the firefighters observed “partially burned notes.” A witness even remarked that he had encountered such a vast pile of cash for the first time in his life.
The committee acknowledged that such a large quantity of notes could not have been kept there without the permission of Varma or his family.
How judges are impeached
Notably, the Judges (Inquiry) Act of 1968 states that if a motion to remove a judge is accepted in any House, the speaker or chairman, as the case may be, will appoint a three-member committee to investigate the reasons behind the request for removal or impeachment. The committee comprises the CJI or a Supreme Court judge, the chief justice of one of the 25 high courts and an eminent jurist.
The Committee frames charges and asks the judge to give a written response. The judge also has the right to examine witnesses. After the inquiry, the committee determines whether the charges are valid or not. It then submits its report.
If the inquiry committee finds that the judge is not guilty, then there is no further action. If they find him guilty, then the House of Parliament which initiated the motion may consider continuing with the motion. The motion is debated. The judge (or his representative) has the right to represent his case. After that, the motion is voted upon.
If there is two-thirds support of those voting, and majority support of the total strength of the House, it is considered to have passed. The process is then repeated in the other House. After that, the Houses send an address to the President asking that the judge be removed from office.
Indians have carved out a notable identity for themselves and are recognized for their potential to excel and prosper in any country they move to, regardless of the circumstances or challenges they may face. This is illustrated by the numerous success stories of the Indian community in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and other parts of the world.
Indians are characterized by their strong work ethic, conquering obstacles and their ability to flourish wherever they settle. They also stay true to their beliefs and culture while embracing and assimilating into their new environment. Notably, Indians have been migrating to various regions across the globe for centuries. Nowadays, they do it for work, education and better opportunities, among other reasons.
However, there was a time when they were forcibly taken to other countries as laborers and servants for the imperialists. Nevertheless, they survived the horrors inflicted on them and triumphed over the traumatic reality to broke free from the boundations of subjugation, pain and suffering to thrive and make a name for themselves.
PM Modi lauds Trinidad and Tobago’s Indian community
The history of the Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago, a dual-island Caribbean nation near Venezuela, is similar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is presently there as part of his five-nation tour, highlighted the same as well. “I know the story of the Indian community in Trinidad and Tobago is about courage,” he stated in his speech at an event at the National Cycling Velodrome in Couva.
He conveyed, “The circumstances your ancestors faced could have broken even the strongest of spirits. But they faced hardships with hope. They met problems with persistence. They left the Ganga and Yamuna behind but carried the Ramayan in their hearts. They left their soil, but not their soul.”
Image via Focus2Move
PM Modi reffered to them as “messengers of a timeless civilization whose contributions have benefitted this country, culturally, economically and spiritually,” and emphasised, “Just look at the impact that you have all had on this beautiful nation.”
Notably, the country’s first female and current prime minister, Kamla Susheila Persad-Bissessar, is a Hindu who traces her heritage to both South and North India. Her ancestors arrived in the country through the Indian indenture system and later settled there.
Splendid atmosphere at the community programme in Trinidad & Tobago. https://t.co/qlW5JqaCCl
PM Modi conveyed, “People in India consider Prime Minister Kamla as the daughter of Bihar. Like her, there are many people here whose roots lie in Bihar. The heritage of Bihar is a matter of pride for all of us.” He also mentioned the names of eminent figures in the country, including politicians, cricketers, and monks, to underline the incredible journey of Indians and the outstanding milestones they have reached.
“You, the children of girmitiyas (indentured labourers from British India), are not defined by struggle anymore. You are defined by your success, your service and your values,” he remarked and humorously added, “Honestly, there must be something magical in the doubles and dal poori because you have doubled the success of this great nation.”
“During my last visit 25 years ago, we were all captivated by the cover drives and pull shots of Brian Lara. Presently, it is Sunil Narine and Nicholas Pooran who evoke the same enthusiasm in the hearts of our youth. Over the years, our friendship has deepened,” he noted, aware of the craze for cricket in India and the Caribbean nation.
PM Modi additionally underscored the profound and historical connection shared by the two countries and stated, “Benaras, Patna, Kolkata, Delhi may be cities in India. But they are also names of streets here. Navratra, Mahashivratri, Janmasthmi are celebrated here with joy, spirit and pride. Chowtal and Baithak Gana continue to thrive here.”
He also invoked Lord Ram and spoke about the strong belief of the Indian community in the deity. “I am sure you all welcomed the return of Ram Lalla to Ayodhya after 500 years with great joy. We remember, you had sent holy water and Shilas for building the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya,” he recounted.
“I have also brought something here with a similar sense of devotion. It is my honour to bring a replica of Ram Mandir and some water from the river Sarayu in Ayodhya,” he stated as India reciprocated the heartwarming gesture.
“We deeply value the strength and support of our diaspora. With over 35 million people spread across the world, the Indian diaspora is our pride. As I have often said, each one of you is a Rashtradoot, an ambassador of India’s values, culture and heritage,” he reiterated regarding the vital role the Indian community plays globally.
Indian indenture system of the British Raj
An often overlooked facet of the history of slavery and Indian migration is the transition of indentured or bound labour. Indentured labourers from India were brought to several imperial colonies in the 19th century by the British Raj as a reliable and affordable source of labour, which marked the beginning of the contemporary Indian Diaspora.
It started with Mauritius in 1834. The 87-year British colonial indentureship system brought more than 1.5 million Indians to other countries as bound labourers. After their contracts were terminated, many of these immigrants decided to remain on foreign soils, creating prosperous settlements and carrying on their traditions.
More than 1.6 million workers from British India were brought to work in European colonies as part of the Indian indenture system, which replaced slave labour after the trade was outlawed in the early 19th century.
Image via mpm.edu
The system expanded when slavery was abolished in the British Empire in 1833, the French colonies in 1848 and the Dutch Empire in 1863. Indian indentured servitude in Britain continued until the 1920s. This led to the growth of Indo-South African, Indo-Caribbean, Indo-Mauritian and Indo-Fijian communities, as well as the formation of a significant South Asian diaspora in the Caribbean, Natal (South Africa), Réunion, Mauritius and Fiji.
Therefore, while the Westerns claimed to have abolished slavery in the 19th century, it actually continued till the 20th century, for around a hundred years, in another name. Slaves and then indentured labourers were needed to sustain the economic activities of the colonial powers across the world.
The white colonizers were evidently not content with plundering, killing, raping and enslaving the indigenous people in their own land. Hence, they also transported them overseas to exploit them further and subject them to inhumane treatment for the welfare of the British Empire.
The International Day for Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Abolition was established by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 1998 to honour “the tragedy of the slave trade in the memory of all peoples.”
Additionally, it created the global, cross-cultural initiative known as “The Slave Route” to record and carry out a “analysis of the interactions to which it has given rise between Africa, Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean.”
Brief history of Indian diaspora in Trinidad and Tobago
Before Christopher Columbus set foot on Trinidad and Tobago’s coastlines in 1498, not much is known about their past. Little tangible evidence of the Arawak and Carib Indian populations that predominated on the island by the 1300s is left.
The Spanish encomienda system, which pressured people to submit to Christianity and work as slaves on Spanish Mission lands in return for “protection,” essentially wiped off these communities. The Spanish Empire included Trinidad until 1796.
The territory was turned over to the British Crown in 1802, making it a recognised colonial subsidiary. English investors were eager to boost Trinidad’s sugar sector, which proved to be incredibly profitable. The majority of the employees on the island’s sugar and cocoa plantations were African slaves who had been brutally transported there in the 17th century.
Trinidad’s agricultural economy was on the brink of collapse when an act of Parliament in 1838 outlawed slavery in all British colonies. The freshly liberated Africans refused to continue to sweat it out at the plantations and departed the fields in large numbers.
The original passenger log of the first indenture ship Fatel Razack (1845) still available for viewing at the National Archives. (Source: canadaindiaresearch.ca)
The sugar and chocolate industries started experimenting with new labour sources to save them from completely collapsing. Therefore, Chinese, Portuguese, African-Americans, and, most significantly, Indians were brought to Trinidad as indentured servants in an attempt to improve the flagging economy of the island. Indians were the most tenacious and prepared workers and were reportedly termed as “valuable steady labourers.”
As a result, they were hired in more numbers than anybody from any other nation, and by 1891, there were more than 45,800 Indians living on the islands. The indentureship system was terminated by the Indian Legislative Assembly in 1917.
In truth, the abolition of the slave trade was merely a facade, as a similar, if not more brutal, practice was enforced in the ruled territories. Indians were forced to cross over Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean and cover thousands of kilometres in perilous as well as life-threatening conditions, only to serve British interests.
Life of Indian indentured labourers
The first ship carrying 217 Indian labourers arrived at Trinidad’s Port-of-Spain in 1845, signalling the beginning of the enormous movement of the community around the world. Most Indians in Trinidad came from the ports of Calcutta (Kolkata) and Madras (Chennai), which are located in the Gangetic Heartland of India, which includes the present-day provinces of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Bengal. Many ships carried thousands of Indians from India to the Caribbean between 1845 and 1917.
Living circumstances were appalling and the voyage was gruelling and difficult. The Indians faced mistreatment, substandard food and hazardous weather. However, these unfavourable circumstances allowed them to develop a kinship that transcended their differences. They were fed and allowed to rest for a few weeks after disembarking at Nelson Island before they were dispatched to the various estates that had originally asked for them.
The majority of migrants to Trinidad came from the areas marked in red: the states of Uttar Pradesh (left) and Bihar (right). (Source: Wikipedia)
Peasants were drawn from the countryside, frequently by dishonest recruiting agents and then sent to different crown territories. They were facing a bleak future, oppressive systems of exploitation, rising rents and crashing local handicraft economies as well as devastating famines. British Guiana and Trinidad were the Caribbean territories that received the most Indian labourers, with 240,000 and 144,000, respectively.
“There can be no history of Trinidad and Guyana that is not also a history of the humanization of those landscapes by Indian labor,” highlighted famous Barbadian novelist George Lamming. Many bonded labourers found that their lives on Trinidadian plantations were not at all better than those they had left behind in India. “The indentured ‘coolies’ were half slaves, bound over body and soul by a hundred and one regulations.”
They were pushed to sign a five-year labour contract called girmityas (a perversion of the word agreement) that severely limited their personal liberties following a three-month sea voyage, during which many of them perished. Indians had to reside on estate lands, fulfil a set amount of labour and put in long, exhausting hours harvesting sugarcane.
Return transit to their homeland was provided to all migrants who lived in the colony for ten years, in part by the plantation owner. As a result of the creation of communities in their new countries, this practice, which was common in the early years when a large number of Indians and other Asian groups returned home, significantly decreased over time.
Image via natt.gov.tt
Later, a legislation was established that gave labourers royal lands rather than return passage. Many Indians embraced this offer and settled in their new adopted nation. Until the 1960s, a large number of Indo-Trinidadians endured illiteracy, seclusion and extreme poverty.
As expected, the Christian missionaries saw their miserable condition as a golden opportunity for conversion and the first attempts to educate and westernise immigrant populations was made by the Canadian Presbyterian Mission in 1875. The Mission founded Hindi language schools in Indian areas and converted a large number of people to their religion. Indian groups would eventually embrace Western clothing, general habits and Creole English.
Indians were actively involved in their local businesses and politics by the early 20th century. They formed cohesive political organisations that have contributed to the transformation of Trinidad’s administration and policies, regardless of their continued symbolic marginalisation in society during the 1960s.
Conclusion
Celebrated on the 30th of May, Indian Arrival Day recognizes the first Indian indentured labourers who landed in Trinidad in May 1845 on board the ship Fatel Razack, but they did not come willingly but were compelled to embark on this journey with no alternatives. However, similar to other countries, Indians embraced the foreign land as their home, enriching it with the colors and traditions of India.
As PM Modi outlined, the children of girmitiyas have indeed made history. They showcased that their strength, resilience, and determination to survive and succeed were greater than all forms of British oppression and atrocities. Now, akin to Indians in others nations, they have also risen to prominent positions, making significant contributions to the achievements of not just their own community but also Trinidad and Tobago, just as their ancestors did, while continuing to honor their Indian heritage and roots.
A 19-year-old US pilot, Ethan Guo, who is on a mission to fly solo to every continent, is being held by Chilean authorities after flying into a Chilean-claimed section of Antarctica without permission.
Guo, who is also an Instagram social media influencer with more than one million followers, departed Punta Arenas, a city in southern Chile, last week. He was flying by himself in a Cessna 182Q aeroplane with registration N182WT. He had filed a flight plan indicating he would travel close to the city of Punta Arenas, but along the way, he diverted and flew directly to Antarctica instead.
Ethan Guo landed at Lieutenant Rodolfo Marsh Base, a Chilean airfield in the region of Antarctica. Chilean authorities say that Guo was not authorised to land there and that he provided false flight details. Cristian Crisosto Rifo, the Regional Prosecutor of the Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica region, mentioned that Guo’s act violated a number of national and international regulations and also threatened the safety of other flights.
Guo’s lawyer says that the teen did not mean to end up in Antarctica and only did so because he experienced technical issues during the flight. Prosecutors, however, say that he hides his true intentions from aviation officials.
Guo started his “Flying Solo” journey in September 2023 to travel to all seven continents solo. The trip is also a fundraiser for cancer research, and he aims to raise $1 million. His most recent post on Instagram was from the Philippines on June 24, and fans were eagerly awaiting an update since reports of his arrest came through.
For now, Guo remains in the Chilean part of Antarctica and can’t leave until officials permit him to return to Punta Arenas. Even after that, a Chilean court has said he must stay in the country for 90 days while they investigate the case.
