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Bangladesh: Muslim students harass Hindu Professor, forcibly stop his promotion, targeting of minority teachers continues unabated under Muhammad Yunus

OpIndia Staff
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Bangladesh: Muslim students harass Hindu Professor, forcibly stop his promotion, targeting of minority teachers continues unabated under Muhammad Yunus

On Friday (4th July), Muslim students studying at the Chittagong University in Bangladesh harassed a Hindu Professor named Dr Kushal Baran Chakraborty and forcibly stopped his promotion.

Dr Chakraborty is an Assistant Professor of Sanskrit at the varsity. He was being considered for promotion to the position of Associate Professor.

As part of the procedure, the Hindu faculty was called in at the office of the Vice-Chancellor for an interview by the University board.

However, Muslim students gathered outside the office building in a pre-planned manner and began creating a ruckus. Many of them were members of the radical Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), the student wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

They demanded the cancellation of the promotion board and expulsion of the Hindu Professor from the varsity. To force the administration into submission, they locked down the building.

Later, Islami Chhatra Shibir leader Habibullah Khaled was seen inside the Vice-Chancellor’s office and harassing Dr Kushal Baran Chakraborty. He was heard yelling at the top of his voice and pointing fingers at the Hindu Professor.

Dr Chakraborty is a member of the Sanatani Jagran Jote and the Sanatan Vidyarthi Sangsad of the Chittagong University. He is a vocal Hindu activist, who speaks out against atrocities committed against the minority community in Bangladesh.

As such, attempts were made to demonise Dr Chakraborty as a ‘murder accused’ and a facilitator of ‘oppression’ under the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government.

Muslim students succeed in cancelling promotion of Hindu Professor

While speaking to the media, the Hindu faculty informed, “The allegations brought by students against me are completely baseless. I was not involved in any criminal offence. It seems someone is instigating the students.”

Dr Chakraborty was harassed and blocked in the office of the Vice-Chancellor for about 3 hours. He was later escorted to his house in a university vehicle in the evening.

In the meantime, the pressure tactics of the Muslim students succeeded as the varsity cancelled the promotion board. Dr Chakraborty informed that he was threatened by the Associate Vice-Chancellor, Md. Kamal Uddin

The university’s acting registrar, Mohammad Saiful Islam, also condoned the harassment of the Hindu Sanskrit Professor by Muslim students and dubbed it as consequence of the victim’s past actions.

Another member of the administration, Dr Shamim Uddin justified, “When students began protesting against his promotion, saying he was named in an attempted murder case, we decided to suspend the board meeting.”

Hindus stage protest

Hindus who are part of the ‘Sanatani Jagran Jote’ staged a protest at Dhaka University on Friday (4th July) against the targeted harassment of Dr Kushal Baran Chakraborty.

They also demanded the safety and security of the Hindu Professor. Activist Suman Kumar Roy remarked, “Today, dictatorship reigns supreme in this country. There is no rule of law here. It also seems that there is no democratic government in the country.

Hindus stage protest, image via Prothom Alo

Since the undemocratic ouster of Sheikh Hasina as Prime Minister of Bangladesh by violent ‘student activists’ on 5th August 2024, several teachers and Professors belonging to the Hindu minority community were forced to resign.

OpIndia had reported how students who gherao Hindu faculties and coerce them into resigning. If the Hindu teachers did not give in to their demand, they were threatened with physical harm and violence.

Bangladesh witnessed a drastic rise in Islamism after Muhammad Yunus came to power. He first revoked the ban on the radical Islamist outfit ‘Jamaat-e-Islami.’ Thereafter, he released the leader of the radical outfit ‘Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT)’ Muhammad Jasimuddin Rahmani.

At the same time, Muhammad Yunus downplayed the targeted attacks on the Hindu community by violent Muslim mobs. He has gone on record from lamenting about attacks on Hindus to saying that the claims of atrocities are ‘exaggerated‘.

Indore: NSA invoked against absconding Congress councilor Anwar Qadri who gave lakhs to Muslim men to trap Hindu girls

OpIndia Staff
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Indore: NSA invoked against absconding Congress councilor Anwar Qadri who gave lakhs to Muslim men to trap Hindu girls

Anwar Qadri, Congress councilor from Indore of Madhya Pradesh has been charged under the National Security Act (NSA) for orchestrating “love jihad” and using financial inducement to trap Hindu women. The action took place after Muslim men identified him as the person who paid them to target Hindu women, and convert them.

Rs 10,000 is also announced as reward for information leading to the arrest of Qadri, who is absconding and continuous efforts are made to nab him at earliest. Collector Asheesh Singh issued the order of imposing NSA against him on the evening of 1st July.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Addl. DCP) Rajesh Dandotiya told ANI, “A rape case was reportred under Banganga police station in the district in which Anwar Qadri is wanted, accused of having involvement in criminal conspiracy. A case was prepared by Sadar Bazaar police station against him and it was sent to the Collector for NSA. Following which, the collector confirmed the imposition of NSA against him (Qadri). Now, an arrest warrant has been released and he will be arrested under the NSA.”

The officer further said that continuous efforts are being made to nab the accused and soon he would be arrested.

“It was a rape case in which he (Qadri) was also made accused under the sections of involvement in criminal conspiracy. He is still on the run. Due to the criminal record of more than a dozen cases, an application was sent before the Collector for NSA action against Qadri. The collector has confirmed the NSA imposition. Now a warrant has been issued and the arrest will be made soon. A reward of Rs 10,000 was announced for his arrest and now NSA is also included,” he added.

Qadri has been booked under multiple sections of Indian Penal Code along with Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act. The Indore District Collector authorised the use of the National Security Act against him after considering the gravity of the charges and his prior criminal history.

Congress councilor Anwar Qadri, also known locally as “Anwar Dacoit,” is absconding after he was named in financing “Love Jihad” operations and being involved in multiple criminal activities. Notably, Anwar Qadri had given lakhs of rupees to his two henchmen, Sahil Sheikh and Altaf Khan, to trap Hindu girls, and then later convert them to Islam after marrying them.

Sahil admitted that he was given Rs 2 lakh to marry a Hindu girl. At the same time, Altaf also admitted that he too had received Rs 1 lakh. The councilor had promised to give the remaining amount after ‘the work’ was completed. A video of the statements of both is also going viral.

Sahil and Altaf were caught red handed by Bajrang Dal workers when they had gone to meet a Hindu girl in a public place.

(With inputs from ANI)

PM Modi arrives in Argentina as part of his 5-nation tour: Read why the visit to the South American nation is strategically important for India

Aditi
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PM Modi arrives in Argentina as part of his 5-nation tour: Read why the visit to the South American nation is strategically important for India

For the third leg of his 5-nation tour, PM Modi reached Argentina on Friday evening (local time). He arrived here following after concluding his two-day visit to Trinidad and Tobago, where he signed six agreements, and was conferred with the country’s highest civilian honour, ‘The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago’. PM Modi became the first foreign leader to receive the award. His first visit during the 5-nation tour was to Ghana.

PM Modi received a ceremonial welcome after his arrival at the Ezeiza International Airport, in the capital city of Buenos Aires. This is the second time that PM Modi is visiting the country since the G20 Summit in 2018. In the last 57 years, this is the first time that an Indian Prime Minister has arrived in the country for a bilateral visit. The Indian diaspora in Argentina accorded a grand welcome to PM Modi after his arrival in a hotel in Buenos Aires.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), during his visit, PM Modi will hold talks with Argentinian President Javier Gerardo Milei on a wide range of issues, including defence, agriculture, mining, oil and gas, renewable energy, trade and investment, to enhance the partnership between the two countries.

Argentina’s rich mineral reserves

The South American country is blessed with vast reserves of critical minerals such as lithium, copper, and shale gas, which make it a potential long-term energy partner for India at a time when it is trying to expand and diversify its energy supplies. Argentina has the world’s second-largest shale gas reserves, mostly untapped, and the fourth-largest shale oil reserves. It also has significant reserves of conventional oil and gas deposits.

Argentina is one of the three countries in the Lithium Triangle, along with Bolivia and Chile. Lithium Triangle is a region having rich Lithium reserves, located in the Andes Mountain range encompassed by the borders of the three South American countries. Lithium is an area of interest for India as it is a crucial component in rechargeable batteries of mobile phones, laptops, electric vehicles and grid storage, and therefore is essential for India’s clean energy goals. India has already made a move towards procuring Argentinian lithium with Khanij Bidesh India Ltd. (KABIL), a joint venture firm of the Indian government, securing rights for lithium exploration in the Catamarca province of Argentina.

Moreover, Argentina is also working on developing a large-scale liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, called Argentina LNG, to explore the untapped Vaca Muerta shale formation, which is a massive shale formation located in the Neuquén Basin of Argentina, known for its substantial unconventional oil and gas reserves. With Argentina aiming to expand its LNG exports internationally, the project, planned in a phased manner, intends to boost Argentina’s LNG exports up to 30 million tons per year by 2030. The country is also looking to expand its LNG exports internationally. It has also indicated its interest in attracting Indian investment in the upstream sectors.

Bilateral trade between India and Argentina

In the past year, the bilateral trade between India and Argentina went beyond $5.2 billion. India is among the top six trading partners of Argentina. Historically, the trade between the countries was focused on edible oils but the countries have recently expressed their inclination towards expanding their trade ties to include sectors like defence, energy, mining, and trade and investment. Argentina has indicated interest in importing Indian pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and IT services, while India is also looking to access Argentina’s agricultural market.

The economic visions of both the country seem to align as the Argentinian President, Javier Milei, who took charge in December 2023, expressed his openness to have economic partnerships beyond the West, and India is also manoeuvring to revive trade relations with MERCOSUR, (or ‘the Southern Common Market’), a South American trade bloc focused on regional economic integration. Argentina, a founding member of the bloc, has also expressed its desire to reform the MERCOSUR.

India-Argentina defence cooperation

The countries are also expected to hold discussions on defence collaboration, digital public infrastructure, and telemedicine. Argentina showed interest in India’s defence systems, like the Tejas light combat aircraft. It was also inspired by India’s large-scale digital governance platforms and affordable healthcare delivery models. Some future collaboration between the space agencies of the two countries, which have worked together in the past, might also be formalised for a low-cost satellite deployment. The two countries also share a common stance on the issue of terrorism. Notably, Argentina was among the first countries to condemn the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack. With a history of terrorist attacks, which happened in 1992 and 1994, Argentina has an understanding of the threat of terrorism.

Significance of PM Modi’s visit to Argentina

With the volatility in the Middle East, India is gradually working towards removing its energy supply dependence on the Middle Eastern countries and diversifying its energy supplies to evade any conflict-driven market fluctuations. PM Modi’s ongoing visit to five nations, including Argentina, is a significant step in that direction. Over the last few years, when some major conflicts have taken place around the world, from the Russia-Ukraine war that started in 2022 to the latest Israel-Iran war, India has learnt that the best bet is to have multiple options in the basket when it comes to energy supply. India’s decision to import Russian crude oil at cheaper rates following the Russia-Ukraine conflict, despite America’s threats, was in line with India’s strategy to diversify its energy supply. This is important for the stability of the country’s economy. With this vision, the Indian government is actively working towards establishing trade ties with countries which could be India’s potential energy partners.

After Argentina, PM Modi will travel to Brazil to attend the 17th BRICS Summit, which will be followed by a state visit. And in the finak leg of his journey, PM Modi will travel to Namibia. He has already visited the countries of Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago.

Muharram-Kanwar Yatra season begins, so do peace committee meetings — But are Hindus being set up as scapegoats in the name of harmony?

श्रवण शुक्ल
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Muharram-Kanwar Yatra season begins, so do peace committee meetings — But are Hindus being set up as scapegoats in the name of harmony?

Like every year, this time too, Muharram and the Kanwar Yatra are set to coincide. While Hindus undertake the Kanwar Yatra to offer water to Lord Shiva, the Muslim community commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussain during Muharram. Both are significant religious events in their own right, but when they occur simultaneously, reports of tension and violence often surface.

To prevent such incidents, police and local administrations across the country have begun organizing peace committee meetings, especially in areas with mixed Hindu-Muslim populations. However, one recurring question remains—regardless of whether violence occurs or not, why are Hindus often the ones blamed? What’s behind this pattern?

Where are peace committees holding meetings?

Peace committee meetings are being held in various parts of the country where Hindus and Muslims live together. They aim to maintain communal harmony during Muharram and the Kanwar Yatra. Some of the places where meetings have taken place include:

  • Delhi: Meetings were held in areas like Seelampur, Jahangirpuri, and Mandawali to discuss Kanwar Yatra routes, loudspeaker volume, and security.
  • Uttar Pradesh: District administrations in Ghaziabad, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Moradabad, Sitapur, and Rae Bareli have held meetings with religious leaders from both communities.
  • West Bengal: Peace committees are active in Muslim-majority districts like Murshidabad, especially after the protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025.
  • Bihar and Jharkhand: Similar meetings have been held in sensitive areas with participation from both communities.

These meetings typically include police, administrative officials, and community representatives, and focus on route sharing, timing, and preventing disputes. But many question whether these committees are truly neutral, or if they’re being used to corner Hindus.

The habit of blaming Hindus

In recent years, there have been several incidents where, despite violence being initiated by another group, Hindus were blamed. Some notable examples:

  • Jahangirpuri, Delhi (2022): Stones were pelted at a Hanuman Jayanti procession. Many, including police officers, were injured. Investigations revealed the attackers were from the Muslim community. However, peace committee discussions and parts of the media framed Hindus as the provocateurs.
  • Khargone, Madhya Pradesh (2022): A Ram Navami procession was attacked with stones. Shops and houses were burnt. Yet the administration and sections of the media blamed Hindus for allegedly raising provocative slogans.
  • Muzaffarnagar, UP (2016): A minor incident during the Kanwar Yatra escalated into violence. Later, police and local leaders pinned the blame on the Kanwariyas.

These incidents reveal a pattern: no matter who initiates violence, Hindus often end up being held responsible. In peace committee meetings too, it’s mostly Hindus who are advised to exercise “restraint,” lower loudspeaker volumes, or reduce crowd sizes in processions so as not to “provoke” the Muslim community. But are similar advisories ever given to the Muslim community? This remains a pertinent question.

Why are peace committees needed?

According to police, peace committees are essential because of past incidents of violence during Muharram and Kanwar Yatra. Some major examples include:

  • Ahmedabad Riots (1969): Clashes during Muharram and other events resulted in nearly 1,000 deaths.
  • Moradabad Riots (1980): Violence during Eid led to hundreds of casualties.
  • Muzaffarnagar Riots (2013): A small incident escalated into major communal violence, resulting in deaths and the displacement of thousands.

Police argue that peace committees help open channels of communication between communities, discussing matters like procession routes, timings, and security. However, many believe these committees are mere formalities, with the underlying goal of keeping Hindus “in check.”

Congress and the origin of peace committees

The roots of peace committees can be traced back to the Congress era. After the 1947 Partition, India saw a spate of communal violence in places like Noakhali (Bengal) and Bihar, leading to thousands of deaths. The Congress government then initiated the formation of peace committees (or Aman Committees) with the intent to rebuild trust between Hindus and Muslims, prevent religious tensions during festivals and to reduce the risk of violence.

However, critics argue that Congress used these committees to solidify its vote bank, particularly in Muslim-majority areas, portraying itself as a guarantor of Muslim safety, while repeatedly urging Hindus to “show restraint.”

Why only in Muslim-majority areas?

Peace committees are mostly formed in Muslim-majority regions like Seelampur and Jahangirpuri in Delhi or Murshidabad in West Bengal. The rationale is that these areas are more prone to communal tensions. But this raises key questions:

  • One-sided policy: Why aren’t similar committees formed in Hindu-majority areas? Or are they simply not needed there?
  • Pressure on Hindus: During Hindu events like the Kanwar Yatra, Hindus are advised to lower loudspeaker volume, keep processions small, and avoid Muslim-dominated localities—to avoid causing “offense.” Why isn’t similar caution enforced during Muharram?
  • Blame game: Even if violence begins on the other side, Hindus are often accused of incitement. Investigations often reveal that the Muslim community started the altercations.

This approach not only appears biased but also raises concerns about whether the administration is engaging in appeasement of the Muslim community.

Why are Hindus constantly advised?

During Hindu festivals such as the Kanwar Yatra, Ram Navami, or Hanuman Jayanti, Hindus are repeatedly advised to:

  • “Keep loudspeakers at low volume.”
  • “Avoid large crowds during processions.”
  • “Stay away from Muslim-majority areas.”

This is done to avoid provoking the Muslim community. However, such restrictions are rarely seen during Muslim events like Muharram. And when both festivals coincide, peace is sought from both sides—but in the event of violence, Hindus are still mostly blamed. This fuels a dangerous narrative: that violence from the Muslim side is somehow “understandable,” while Hindus must always exercise “restraint.”

Once again, peace committee meetings are being held ahead of Muharram and the Kanwar Yatra. Police and administration in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal are on alert. Yet, as usual, the advisory burden seems to fall more heavily on Hindus. If violence erupts this year, will Hindus be blamed again?

Many now view peace committees as mere performances, because:

  • Hindus always blamed: Regardless of who starts the violence, Hindus are often held accountable.
  • Political agenda: Some political parties use these committees to secure their vote banks.
  • One-sided advisories: Hindus are consistently urged to be cautious, while similar sternness is not shown toward the Muslim community.

All of this creates an atmosphere where Hindus feel afraid to celebrate their festivals freely, even in their own country.

Creating peace committees is not wrong. If they genuinely help maintain peace, they are a welcome initiative. But their functioning and intent need scrutiny. The habit of blaming Hindus repeatedly is not only unfair, it adds fuel to communal tensions.

If peace committees are truly impartial, then responsibilities must be shared equally between both communities. Violence should never be justified in any form. As Muharram and Kanwar Yatra approach this year, everyone hopes for peace, but for that, both the administration and peace committees must act with neutrality.

MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) holds joint anti-Hindi rally in Mumbai, Uddhav Thackeray says “We have come together to stay together” on his reunion with Raj Thackeray

ANI
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MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) holds joint anti-Hindi rally in Mumbai, Uddhav Thackeray says “We have come together to stay together” on his reunion with Raj Thackeray

While addressing the ‘Awaz Marathicha’ joint rally in Mumbai, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray said that he has come to “stay together” with his brother Raj Thackeray.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Shiv Sena (UBT) are holding a joint rally in Mumbai to oppose the alleged imposition of the Hindi language over Maharashtra by the state government.

“We have come together to stay together”, Uddhav Thackeray said while addressing the gathering.

The former Maharashtra CM stated that ever since the announcement of this program, everyone was “eagerly” waiting for his and Raj Thackeray’s speech. He hailed Raj Thackeray’s vocal skills and stated that he has always delivered an “outstanding” speech, so there is no need for him to speak.

“Since we announced this program, everyone was eagerly waiting for our speech today, but in my view, we are both coming together, and this stage was more important than our speeches . Raj has already given a very outstanding speech, and I think there is no need for me to speak now”, Uddhav Thackeray said.

Hitting out at the Centre and Maharashtra government, Uddhav Thackeray questioned what the government has done in its tenure of 11 years for Maharashtra and Mumbai, while referring to him being asked what the Shiv Sena (UBT) has done for Mumbai being in the BMC.

Uddhav alleged that the Centre has pushed Mumbai’s important establishments to Gujarat, and these are all attempts to break the “backbone” of Maharashtra.

“They always ask us what we did for the Marathi people in Mumbai during our rule in BMC. They all forced Marathi people to go out of Mumbai, but now we are asking a question: in the last 11 years of your rule, what have you done? You have pushed away Mumbai’s important establishments to Gujarat. Businesses are being transferred to Gujarat. Big offices are going to Gujarat. The diamond business has already shifted to Gujarat, so you have made all attempts to break the backbone of Maharashtra and continue to do that, and you are asking questions to us”, Uddhav Thackeray said.

Earlier, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray launched a veiled attack on Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and said that the Chief Minister did what could not be possible for Balasaheb Thackeray, as he brought the two estranged brothers of the Thackeray family together.

Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray shared a hug at the Worli Dome in Mumbai as they held a joint rally after the Maharashtra government scrapped two Government Resolutions (GRs) to introduce Hindi as the third language.

The Thackeray brothers garlanded the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at a joint rally of their parties, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), at the Worli Dome in Mumbai.

Addressing the gathering, Raj Thackeray said, “I had said in one of my interviews that my Maharashtra is bigger than any politics and fight. Today, after 20 years, Uddhav and I have come together. What Balasaheb could not do, Devendra Fadnavis did it… The work of bringing both of us together.”

BJP leader Gopal Khemka shot dead outside his residence in Patna, CCTV footage shows killer fleeing on scooter after shooting him in his car

OpIndia Staff
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BJP leader Gopal Khemka shot dead outside his residence in Patna, CCTV footage shows killer fleeing on scooter after shooting him in his car

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and prominent businessman Gopal Khemka was shot dead late on the night of July 4 near his residence in Patna, Bihar. The incident occurred around midnight as Khemka was returning home.

65-year-old Khemka, who also owned Magadh Hospital, was attacked near Ramgulam Chowk in the Gandhi Maidan police station area. He was stepping out of his car when bike-borne assailants shot him at point-blank range. He was immediately rushed to a private hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

“An armed criminal shot at him from close range when he was about to reach his apartment located on the Exhibition Road late on Friday night. The businessman was rushed to a hospital where he died,” said Central City SP Diksha. The police have recovered one bullet and a shell casing from the crime scene. The SP said that CCTV footage is being analysed to ascertain the identity of the assailant.

The Bihar police have also formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case.

CCTV visual of the incident has emerged, which show a man wearing a blue shirt and a black helmet standing outside the BJP leader’s home. After some time  two cars arrived, waiting for the guard to open the iron gate. The first car was driven by Mr Khemka himself, while the second car behind him was driven by another man. 

As Khemka was waiting in his car, the accused ran towards him, shot him in his car, and fled the scene on his scooter. When the guard opens the gate after that, Khemka can be seen lying forward on the steering wheel of his car, with the person in the second car rushing out. As per officials, the BJP leader died on the spot.

Shockingly, the police arrived at the crime scene nearly one and a half hours after the incident. According to officials, Khemka was returning from the Bankipore Club when the attack occurred. The Gandhi Maidan police station is only 300 meters from the spot. Despite this proximity, law enforcement was significantly delayed. Shankar Khemka, the victim’s younger brother, alleged negligence and slow response by the police.

Purnia MP Pappu Yadav visited Khemka’s residence later that night to offer condolences to the grieving family.

In addition to his hospital business, Khemka also owned petrol pumps and ran several other enterprises. The murder has drawn parallels to a previous tragedy involving his son, Gunjan Khemka, who was similarly shot dead in the Hajipur industrial area of Vaishali district.

Patna’s Senior Superintendent of Police, Kartikey Sharma, has constituted a special task force to track down the perpetrators. However, no arrests have been made so far.

The incident sparked strong political reactions, with the opposition lashing out at the Nitish Kumar-led government over the deteriorating law and order situation.

“Nitish Kumar is completely disconnected from ground realities, and bureaucrats have taken full control. He is only focused on clinging to power and targeting our leader Tejashwi Yadav, who has been consistently questioning the state’s law and order,” said RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed.

Gopal Khemka’s son Gunjan Khemka was also shot dead by armed criminals in 2018. Gopal Khemka’s second son is a doctor in Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), Patna while his daughter lives in United Kingdom (UK). 

Rajasthan: Shahrukh and others lynch Hindu man near a mosque, set his vehicle on fire after it accidentally hits the cart of a Muslim seller

OpIndia Staff
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Rajasthan: Shahrukh and others lynch Hindu man near a mosque, set his vehicle on fire after it accidentally hits the cart of a Muslim seller

On Friday (4th July), communal tensions broke out in Jahazpur in Bhilwara district of Rajasthan after a Hindu man was beaten to death by a violent Muslim mob, following a minor accident near a mosque.

As per police and witness reports, four friends namely Sikandar, Sitaram, Dilkhush, and Deepak, were in Jahazpur when their car skidded and knocked over a vegetable cart loaded with onions and potatoes near Takia Masjid.

The cart was owned by a local seller named Raees Fakir. When vegetables spilled over and the cart fell over, Sitaram got out and folded his hands in apology, even promising to pay for the damage.

But soon the situation became violent. A group of some Muslim men, including Babu Khan, Wasim, Shahrukh, Saddam, Hasnain, Mohsin, Sahil, Islam, Tanveer, Sharif, Hanif, Abid, Idrees, Gulzar, and Murtaza, brutally assaulted the Hindu man.

Even though his friends attempted to stop them, the mob beat Sitaram mercilessly and he succumbed to injuries on the spot. The crowd also torched their car, cutting its wires so that no one could escape. Sitaram’s friends somehow managed to get him to the nearby hospital on a motorcycle, but doctors declared him dead upon arrival.

When the news of the murder spread, a huge mob of agitated locals massed at the government hospital, seeking instant action and justice. BJP MLA Gopichand Meena arrived at the scene and lashed out at the incident, calling for severe punishment for the perpetrators.

To manage the increasing tension, a large police contingent has been sent to the region, and all markets have been closed. One suspect has been arrested so far, and others have been taken into custody for questioning.

The brutal murder of a Hindu boy by a Muslim mob has caused unrest among the community, with locals demanding a proper and open investigation into what they are terming as a targeted and communal act of brutality.

Read all about the ancient origins of the Amarnath yatra and the mythological significance of the holy shrine

Aditi
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Read all about the ancient origins of the Amarnath yatra and the mythological significance of the holy shrine

The annual Amarnath Yatra was flagged by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday (2nd July) from Jammu. The 38-day-long yatra, which will continue till 9th August, commenced amid tight, multi-tier security arrangements.

The first batch of 5,485 pilgrims, who left for the holy shrine of Lord Shiva yesterday under the protection of security forces, has returned safely. A second group of pilgrims left for the journey on Friday morning.

Yatra taking place amid hightened security arranegements

In the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the government has ramped up security arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra. From the base camps in Anantnag and Ganderbal districts till the holy cave shrine, the yatra is being closely guarded. The government has augmented the existing security arrangements comprising the Indian Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, and local police. 180 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been added to enhance security. A total of 581 CAPF teams have been deployed for the security of the yatra. Out of which 219 teams are from the CRPF and the rest are from the BSF, ITBP, CISF, and SSB. The entire stretch of the yatra is under constant surveillance to prevent any untoward incident. The CRPF has also deployed a team of all-women personnel at the Baltal route to assist female yatris during their journey.

Considering the cold temperatures and the challenging terrain, authorities have made arrangements for medical teams, air ambulances, and emergency evacuation to ensure the safety of all pilgrims during the yatra. Additionally, a team of 30 personnel from the CRPF’s mountain rescue team (MRT) has been deployed along the two routes of the yatra. They will attend to any medical emergency that may arise. The pilgrims will face high altitudes, about 3,888 metres, and low temperatures.

Image via Shrineyatra.in

There are two routes to the Amarnath Cave, one is the traditional 48-km-long Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district, and the other is the 14-km shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal district.

Image via Shrineyatra.in

This year’s Amarnath yatra is expected to attract around 8 lakh pilgrims. Last year’s number was 5 lakh, the highest in the last 12 years. The holy journey to the shrine of Lord Shiva in the Amarnath cave holds immense religious significance in Hinduism.

Ancient origins of the Amarnath Cave

The Amarnath Cave is located in the Lidder valley of the Pahalgam tehsil of the Anantnag district, J&K. It is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites of the Sanatan Dharma. Since it is located at a high altitude, the shrine is covered in thick snow for most of the year, except for a brief period during the months of July-August. This period coincides with the holy month of Shravan as per the Hindu calendar. This is when devotees from across the country flock to visit the holy shrine for darshan of Baba Amarnath.

Image via X

Inside the cave is a Swayambhu (formed on its own) Shiva Lingam. It is a stalagmite formation is formed when water drops fall from the cave’s roof onto the floor and freeze, resulting in an upward vertical development of the Lingam. The pilgrimage to the Amarnath caves is an ancient custom mentioned in Kalhana’s Rajtaringini, Nilamata Purana, Francois Bernier’s memoirs, and many others. Different stories have been associated with the pilgrimage

Mention of the Amarnath yatra in ancient scriptures

As per Hindu scriptures, the Amarnath cave was first discovered by Rishi Bhrigu. It is said that for centuries, the Kashmir valley was immersed in water, and Rishi Kashyap drained it by creating rivers and tributaries. As the water receded, Rishi Bhrigu, who was on his way to the Himalayas, discovered the Amarnath cave. The Amarnath Cave also finds mention in texts like the Bhringish Samhita and the Amarnath Mahatmy. These describe the topographical details of the cave.

Folklore related to the Amarnath Yatra

According to folklore, Lord Shiva narrated the secret of immortality to his consort Devi Parvati in the Amarnath cave. When Devi Parvati requested Lord Shiva to reveal the secret of immortality, he agreed to her request but said that he would narrate the secrets at an isolated place where no living being is able to hear the secrets. And, so Lord Shiva, along with Devi Parvati, left for the Amarnath Cave. On their way to the cave, Lord Shiva left his Nandi at Pahalgam. He left the moon on his head at Chandanwari, the snake (Sheshnag) around his neck at Lake Sheshnag, his son Ganesha at Mahaguna Parvat, and the Five Elements (Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Sky) at Panjtarni. He performed the Tandav dance as he kept leaving his belongings behind.

Image via X

Thereafter, Lord Shiva entered the Amarnath cave with Devi Parvati and sat in Samadhi. Before that, he created Kalagni and ordered him to spread fire around the holy cave to ensure that no living being was able to hear him narrate the secrets of immortality. However, a pair of pigeons overheard the secrets of immortality. It is said that pilgrims often see pigeons around the Amarnath cave, surviving in such high altitudes and low temperatures, which affirms their belief in the folklore.

The fake story of Buta Malik

The Amarnath Cave has existed since time immemorial, but a fake, recent story related to the discovery of the cave by a Muslim shepherd from Batakot, named Buta Malik, became quite popular over time. According to the story, Malik took shelter in the cave after his flock strayed in the mountains, where a Sufi saint gave him a Kangri, a small pot filled with burning coal that is held close to the body to keep it warm. When he went home, he saw that the pot of coal had turned into a pot of gold. Overjoyed, he went back to the cave to thank the saint. But instead, he found only the cave and the Shiva Linga. 

The folklore of Buta Malik is told by his descendants and local Kashmiris, as the legend is an amalgamation of Hindu religious traditions and its relation to the local Kashmiri Muslim population. The fake story is also peddled by left liberals and historians as an example of ‘Ganga-Jamuni Tehzib’. However, even a cursory search on the internet can expose the falsehood of the Buta Malik story.

Terrorists attacks on the yatra

The holy Amarnath Yatra is conducted under strict security arrangements due to the threat it faces from Islamic terrorists. In the last three decades, the Amarnath Yatra has been attacked by terrorists around 40 times. The yatra has been the target of Islamic terrorists since 1990. The first terrorist attack on the yatra took place in 1993. After that, the terrorists kept attacking the yatra for four consecutive years, till 1996.
The biggest attack on the yatra happened in 2000. Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists opened indiscriminate fire at the Pahalgam base camp, in which 32 people died and about 60 people were injured. After this, there was another attack in 2001. 
This was followed by another terrorist attack on the yatra in 2001. In this terrorist attack, grenades were thrown at the pilgrims’ camp near Sheshnag Lake, leaving 12 people dead and 15 injured. Similar terrorist attacks on the yatra took place in 2002 and 2006. In these attacks, buses carrying pilgrims were attacked with grenades. There was another terrorist attack on the yatra in 2017. After this, the government strengthened security arrangements for the Amarnath yatra, and as a result, no major terrorist attack took place on the yatra.

For the peaceful completion of Amarnath yatra this year, the government made all the security arrangements well in advance.

Urdu is the real ‘North Indian imposition’, not Hindi: Somehow MNS goons, Uddhav Sena leaders, Dravidian-Tamil politicians to Kannada warriors of Congress, everyone seems to ignore the fact

Shraddha Pandey
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Urdu is the real ‘North Indian imposition’, not Hindi: Somehow MNS goons, Uddhav Sena leaders, Dravidian-Tamil politicians to Kannada warriors of Congress, everyone seems to ignore the fact

Linguistic chauvinism and hooliganism, have been an opprobrious element of the Indian socio-political landscape. In yet another incidence of self-declared preservers of the Marathi language, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers assaulted a 48-year-old sweetshop owner in Mumbai’s Mira Road suburb on 29th June 2025. The incident sparked state-wide outrage over escalating language-based violence and the tacit endorsement of such tactics by regional parties, especially the ones with negligible political standing seeking to fetch some relevance.

The victim, Babulal Khimji Chaudhary, owner of Jodhpur Sweets and Namkeen, was targeted when seven MNS members, including identified assaulters Karan Kandangire (MNS deputy city chief), Pamod Nilekat (Vaahtuk Sena district organiser), and Akshay Dalvi (MNS worker), Sachin Salunkhe and Amol Patil, and others entered his shop demanding transactions in Marathi. The confrontation escalated when Chaudhary questioned their claim that the state assembly mandated Marathi usage in businesses and that the shopkeeper needs to hire all Marathi-speaking staff by a government order.

Marathi pride or politically driven linguistic hooliganism?: Regional parties using language as a tool to regain their diminutive political relevance

While the outrage over such blatant language-based harassment was yet to subside, the accused MNS workers were detained, interrogated, and released on bail in no time. Maharashtra has been a hotbed of linguistic aggression, where regional parties like MNS, and Shiv Sena (UBT) among others have long claimed to champion Marathi pride. However, their pursuit of protecting ‘Marathi Asmita’ has been more about dominating, harassing, and assaulting innocent non-Marathi speakers who are simply minding their own business.

Just days back, Shiv Sena (UBT) supremo Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray invoked the unity of ‘Marathi Manoos’ after the BJP-led government rolled back its government resolutions (GRs) on the introduction of Hindi in state schools. To turn things more dramatic, Uddhav Thackeray, joined by Sanjay Raut, burnt the copies of the said GR.

Maharashtra is home to people with diverse linguistic backgrounds, the heart of the Hindi film industry Bollywood, while the common Marathis are essentially not in support of intimidating and excluding non-Marathi speakers in the state, regional parties, especially MNS which has zero assembly seats but infinite arrogance, has been at the forefront of stoking linguistic tensions.

The ruling BJP-led government, however, has taken a mature stand and condemned violence against non-Marathi speakers in the name of Marathi pride. During a media interaction on 4th July, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “It is not wrong to be proud of the Marathi language in Maharashtra. But if someone indulges in hooliganism due to language, we will not tolerate it. If someone beats up people on the basis of language, this will not be tolerated. The police have filed an FIR and taken action on the incident, and if anyone creates such a language dispute in future, legal action will be taken.”

“We are proud of our Marathi, but injustice cannot be done to any language of India in this manner; we will have to keep this in mind. And sometimes I am surprised that these people embrace English and create disputes over Hindi. What kind of thinking is this and what kind of action is this? Therefore, strict action will be taken against those who take the law into their own hands,” he added.

While Hindi, Gujarati and other non-Marathi-speaking migrant workers and residents are harassed and assaulted by political goons, what remains a less-discussed aspect of linguistic politics is the curious exemption of Urdu from the ire of such regional language chauvinists. Despite its roots as a product of foreign Islamist imposition, Urdu gets a pass. While Hindi, an Indic language with Sanskrit origins and a shared Devnagri script with Marathi, is vilified as a ‘North Indian Imposition’ by parties like MNS, Shiv Sena (UBT), DMK and ‘Dravidian’ parties in Tamil Nadu, and Congress-backed Kannada language crusaders in Karnataka, Urdu has somehow escaped similar scrutiny.

The DMK government in Tamil Nadu made a huge hue and cry over the National Education Policy (NEP) since it allowed Hindi among others as a third language to be taught in government schools. OpIndia reported earlier, how the state government dubbed the NEP as the Modi government’s tool to impose Hindi on Tamilians even though Hindi is not mandatory and children can opt for any other language other than their mother tongue Tamil and English.

In March this year, a 34-year-old man from Pune, Maharashtra was attacked on a bus in Tamil Nadu by language chauvinists for not speaking in Tamil. Bhushan Mandalik came to Coimbatore to attend the Mahashivratri event at the Isha Yog Centre, he was going to Theni when Tamil language chauvinists asked him if he knew Tamil after Bhushan said that he was from Maharashtra and didn’t know Tamil, following this, he was punched in the face leaving him severely injured.

In Karnataka’s Bengaluru, an Odia restaurant was forced by Kannada ‘language warriors’ to remove Odia nameboard even though a Kannada nameboard was already put up. The Kannada language goon asserted that in Karnataka, the Kannada language and Kannada people should get first priority.

The language row in Karnataka has been simmering for years, with signboard disputes, hooliganism over Hindi signages in the Bengaluru metro in 2017 even though it was perfectly legal to use Hindi signages alongside Kannada and English, and private businesses caught in the crossfire. The fringe groups like Karnataka Rakshana Vedike and political parties like Congress have seized on ‘Kannada pride’ theatrics as a cheap vote-grabbing gimmick, magnifying it into a divisive us-versus-them narrative.

In 2022, the Linguistic department of the Jharkhand Government led by JMM’s Hemant Soren, issued a notification to remove Bhojpuri and Magahi as regional languages for the Dhanbad and Bokaro districts of Jharkhand, while Urdu was retained whereas Hindi was not recognised as a regional language even in any single district. This came even as a significant population spoke Hindi and other tribal languages. A massive uproar had erupted back then and the government was accused of appeasing Muslims.

Interestingly, back in 2023, the self-proclaimed Hindutva party Shiv Sena (UBT) had put up posters and banners in Urdu in a Muslim-dominated area with Uddhav Thackeray designated as Ali Janab Uddhav Thackeray in those posters. Apparently, Urdu is more close to Marathi than Hindi that’s why Hindi is intolerable but Urdu is not.

Even in West Bengal, where the Muslim-appeasing TMC government with a CM having a pathological obsession with fighting Kafirs, Urdu gets special treatment so much so that leaders like Firhad Hakim endorse the Urduisation of the state.

In Telangana too, CM Revanth Reddy launched a vigorous campaign earlier this year to revive Urdu in the state’s education system, even as his government continues its vehement opposition to Hindi a language he dismisses as “imposed.”

Similarly, the Samajwadi Party raised the demand for Urdu translations in UP assemblies, a move CM Yogi Adityanath rightly condemned as an attempt to “make children maulvis” rather than scientists. Meanwhile, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi weaponizes Urdu as “India’s language of Independence”, whitewashing its divisive history.

Hindi gets hate, Urdu gets embrace: Why an Indic language hurts regional language chauvinists but a language with literal foreign origins is acceptable to them

Language supremacists are outraged over Hindi and accuse the government of imposing the language on them even claiming that the Central government wants to eradicate regional languages like Tamil, Marathi and Kannada, however, they have no problem with Muslim-appeasing political parties patronising and promoting Urdu even to the extent of making it second official language or additional official language. In Uttar Pradesh, the Congress government made Urdu the state’s second official language in 1989 despite massive protests, just to appease its Muslim vote bank. Similar motivation drove state governments to recognise Urdu as a second official or additional official language in West Bengal, Delhi, Telangana and Bihar.

Unlike Hindi, which has its roots in Sanskrit and evolved gradually within the Indian subcontinent, Urdu emerged as a camp language in the court of Islamic invaders, blending Persian, and Arabic with local dialects. If we go into the history of Urdu, it is an imposed language. During the medieval period, Muslim invaders brought Persian and Arabic to the subcontinent. The campaigns were marked not only by territorial conquest but also by Islamic Jihadist barbarism including rape, killings, pillage, destruction of temples, desecration of idols, destroying Hindu culture and inflicting brutalities of all sorts on the local non-Muslim populace, especially their forced conversion to Islam.

Urdu emerged as a hybrid language of communication since the Muslim rulers faced the challenge of communicating with the populace that did not speak Persian (Farsi), Arabic or Turkish. The Mughal tyrants incentivised the use of Urdu, making it somewhat a prerequisite for access to administrative posts and courtly patronage. Urdu was widely promoted by the Mughals even in South India (Deccan), where the language became a lingua franca for intercommunication and came to be known as Dakhani in some areas, especially the Sultanates of Golkunda.

The Urdu language developed in Delhi over their years during Mughal era and further thrived in Lucknow. While the Urdu language is a blend of Farsi and Arabic and is written in Nastaliq form, it essentially uses Hindi grammar, in fact, many language experts opine that without Hindi grammar, Urdu is a just a dialect.

Beyond the glorification in the books authored by Mughal-loving ‘historians’, Urdu’s increased prominence symbolised the oppressor’s authority over the native population which had its own rich linguistic and cultural treasure, rather than voluntary ’embrace’.

Even in the 19th century, Urdu written in Nastaliq script was widely promoted by the Sunni Islamist Deobani Movement. Even after India’s independence in 1947, Urdu’s propagation and glorification persisted through Bollywood and political support to garner Muslim votes since the language was mostly known, spoken and written by the converted descendants of Hindus and other non-Muslim victims of Islamic invaders.

Bollywood lyricists and screenplay writers like Kaifi Azmi, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Javed Akhtar, Salim Khan, and several others played a significant role in mainstreaming Urdu in Hindi cinema, by embedding it along with Islamic religious concepts like Jannat, Hoor, Khuda, Maula, Mehram, even Kafir (infidel, as per Islam) and whatnot in songs, dialogues and stories, to romanticise its aesthetic and Islamic associations. Bollywood’s portrayal of Urdu as a language of sophistication and poetry not only obscured its historical roots which could be traced to Islamic invasion in the medieval era, but also marginalised pure Hindi, by portraying it as less refined.

On one side, Urdu gained prominence in cinema and literature in the post-independence era, and its cultural elevation continued with ‘secular’ state governments recognising it as an official language and allocating massive funds for its promotion. While Urdu enjoys preferential treatment just as the so-called oppressed, suppressed, depressed Muslim minority, the speakers of Hindi and other Indic languages are often at risk of being attacked or harassed by regional language chauvinists.

Be it in Karnataka, Maharashtra or Tamil Nadu, the language ‘warriors’ always target common and innocent migrant people who are simply trying to earn their livelihood. However, they never target Muslims for conversing in Urdu. Do Muslims in Maharashtra offer namaz in Marathi? Earlier this year, a Marathi language ‘warrior’ belonging to the MNS entered a Muslim-dominated neighbourhood and tried forcing people to speak in Marathi. However, he was met with a rather shocking reaction as the local Muslims cornered him and forced him to apologise in Hindi while holding his ears.

Apparently, the Muslim street veto and their tendency to resort to violence using any real or imaginary excuse, the language warriors do not dare to their language on Muslims. Meanwhile, politicians who bend over backwards to appease their Muslim votebank also never target the community for conversing in Urdu.

The attacks on non-state language speakers or outsiders, protests against Hindi and mindless villainisation of the Indic language are symptomatic of a broader disgraceful and divisive trend wherein Indic languages, particularly Hindi, are targeted to assert regional-linguistic dominance, while Urdu, a language foisted by medieval Islamists marauders and later entrenched by colonial and post-colonial policies remains sacrosanct since it is linked to Muslims and they must not be ‘offended’.

The outrage against a language by language chauvinists is directly proportional to the ability of the speaker of the target language to retaliate. Hindus and their religious beliefs are often targeted because the anti-Hindu elements know that doing so will not trigger a violent response, however, even quoting the Islamic text can trigger Sar Tan Se Juda-level outrage from the Muslim community. While Urdu is the real ‘North Indian imposition’, not Hindi, politicians deliberately ignore this common fact, since targeting Urdu does not align with their agenda.

Taking pride in one’s language is not wrong, and people coming to a state or country learning the language of the land is a good gesture, however, imposing one’s language on another, forcing businesses not to put up signboards in their native languages alongside state language is not only unjustified and illegal but also counterproductive. For genuine promotion and preservation of regional languages, constructive efforts should be made, attacking and harrassing people over not knowing Marathi or Kannada or Tamil serves no purpose but to fuel resentment and widen linguistic and cultural divides while the politicians enjoy two seconds of fame and political mileage. In fact, this whole language issue is about petty politics done by politicians to target the Modi government and to gain relevance by invoking regional pride rather than genuine concern for the preservation or promotion of regional languages.

DRDO is building a hypersonic bunker buster that can strike 3,000 km deep into Pakistan or China and destroy underground targets: Read what India has that even Israel doesn’t

श्रवण शुक्ल
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DRDO is building a hypersonic bunker buster that can strike 3,000 km deep into Pakistan or China and destroy underground targets: Read what India has that even Israel doesn’t

India is quietly preparing a new, game-changing weapon that could tilt the strategic equation in South Asia decisively in its favour. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is developing a lethal bunker-buster variant of the Agni-V missile—a weapon that could obliterate underground enemy facilities deep beneath mountains, concrete bunkers, and fortified command centres.

This isn’t just an incremental upgrade to India’s existing missile capabilities. The new Agni-V is designed to pierce through 80 to 100 meters of reinforced concrete or rock, carrying a colossal warhead weighing between 7,500 to 8,000 kilograms. Such deep penetration capability makes it one of the most powerful non-nuclear conventional weapons under development globally.

What sets this missile apart is not just its raw destructive power, but its ability to travel at hypersonic speeds, estimated between Mach 8 and Mach 20—that’s nearly 10,000 to 24,500 km per hour. At such speeds, enemy air defence systems become virtually useless. By the time detection happens, it’s already too late.

Targeting enemy nuclear nerve centres

India’s primary adversaries—Pakistan and China—have invested heavily in underground military infrastructure. From hidden nuclear weapon sites to deeply buried command-and-control bunkers, these facilities are designed to survive conventional air strikes.

For Pakistan, critical sites such as the Kahuta nuclear facility, Kirana Hills complex, Noor Khan Airbase, and Masroor Airbase represent the backbone of its nuclear and missile programs. Similarly, China has developed numerous hardened missile silos and military bunkers along the Tibetan plateau and in its hinterland.

The Agni-V Bunker Buster is being specifically designed to neutralise such threats. With its deep-penetration capabilities and heavy payload, this missile gives India the ability to disable an enemy’s nuclear infrastructure in a matter of minutes—without needing nuclear warheads.

Agni-V bunker buster missile

Why a bunker buster is essential for India?

The South Asian security environment remains volatile, with both Pakistan and China posing persistent strategic challenges:

  1. Pakistan’s Nuclear Shield:
    Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal is the cornerstone of its military strategy. Its nuclear sites are intentionally hidden underground to ensure survivability in case of conflict. Facilities like Kahuta, nestled beneath mountain ranges, are nearly impossible to target with conventional bombs. The Agni-V changes that calculus.
  2. Chinese Military Buildup:
    China’s extensive underground missile silos, storage sites, and command centres, especially along the Himalayan frontier, provide it with considerable military leverage. In the event of a border conflict, India needs the ability to strike these hardened facilities swiftly and decisively.
  3. Geographic Challenges:
    The rugged terrain of the Himalayas and fortified bunkers in both adversary nations make traditional air strikes difficult. Bunker-buster missiles offer a more reliable, stand-off solution.
  4. Lessons from Global Conflicts:
    The June 2025 U.S. strike on Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility using the GBU-57 bunker-buster bomb underscored the importance of such weapons. That operation demonstrated how underground nuclear programs can be neutralised without resorting to all-out war. India has clearly taken note.
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Agni-V vs. America’s GBU-57: How India’s missile stacks up

Globally, the U.S. GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) is considered the gold standard in bunker-busting munitions. Weighing 13,600 kg and capable of penetrating up to 60 meters of reinforced concrete or 130 feet of rock, it is a formidable weapon. However, its deployment is complex—it requires the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, one of the most expensive and limited military aircraft in the world.

India’s Agni-V Bunker Buster offers several advantages:

  • Greater Payload: Agni-V carries up to 8,000 kg of explosives, compared to GBU-57’s 2,700 kg payload, meaning greater destructive potential.
  • Deeper Penetration: Capable of boring through up to 100 meters underground, Agni-V outperforms the American MOP’s 60-meter penetration.
  • Mobility and Flexibility: Unlike the GBU-57, Agni-V is a canister-launched missile, deployable from road or rail platforms. It doesn’t require strategic bombers, making it faster, more mobile, and significantly cheaper to operate.
  • Hypersonic Speed: The missile’s speed (Mach 8 to 20) means interception is nearly impossible. The GBU-57, dropped from 50,000 feet, travels at subsonic speeds, making it vulnerable to some defences.
  • Indigenous and Cost-Effective: Developed entirely in India, Agni-V reduces reliance on foreign technology and offers a more economical solution for strategic strike missions.
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Technological edge and precision

The Agni-V Bunker Buster incorporates state-of-the-art technology to ensure precision targeting. Its guidance system integrates:

  • NavIC Navigation: India’s own satellite navigation network ensures accuracy, independent of foreign systems like GPS.
  • Ring Laser Gyroscopes and Micro-Inertial Navigation Systems: These enhance mid-course correction capabilities, ensuring the missile remains on target even under electronic warfare conditions.
  • Two Warhead Options:
    • Airburst Warhead: Destroys surface targets like airfields, radar stations, and enemy troop concentrations.
    • Deep-Penetration Warhead: Targets underground bunkers, missile silos, command centres, and hardened storage facilities.

The missile’s canister-based design allows for rapid deployment from mobile platforms, enhancing survivability and tactical flexibility. In a crisis, this means India can quickly position and launch the missile, catching adversaries off-guard.

Global bunker-buster arsenal: How India fares

Only a handful of nations possess credible bunker-busting capabilities:

  • United States: GBU-57 MOP, GBU-28, and BLU-109 bombs. Delivery depends on expensive, limited bombers.
  • China: DF-15C ballistic missile with limited 20-25 meter penetration.
  • Russia: KAB and BetAB bombs, capable of shallow penetration (up to 5 meters).
  • South Korea: Hyunmoo-4 and Hyunmoo-5 missiles, 24-meter penetration, 600 km range.
  • Israel: Jericho-3 missile with 11,000 km range but only 800-900 kg payload.

With its combination of deep penetration, hypersonic speed, and heavy payload, India’s Agni-V Bunker Buster will likely rank as the second-most powerful system after the U.S. MOP—and arguably more flexible due to its mobile, canister-based launch capability.

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Pakistan’s vulnerable military installations

Several high-value Pakistani facilities would be within Agni-V’s strike range:

  • Kahuta Nuclear Facility: Pakistan’s primary nuclear weapons research and production centre, buried beneath mountains.
  • Kirana Hills: Secret underground tunnels and bunkers storing nuclear weapons and hosting tests.
  • Noor Khan Airbase: Underground weapons depots and command centres supporting Pakistan’s air force.
  • Masroor Airbase: Near Karachi, known for missile storage and nuclear warhead stockpiling.

Neutralising these facilities could significantly degrade Pakistan’s retaliatory strike capabilities in a conflict scenario.

The bigger strategic message

Agni-V is more than a weapon—it’s a statement. It reflects India’s growing defence self-reliance, technological prowess, and willingness to prepare for high-intensity conflict scenarios. In particular:

  • Credible Deterrence: The ability to destroy hardened enemy sites reinforces India’s strategic deterrence posture.
  • Self-Reliant Defence: Fully indigenous design aligns with India’s push for defence self-sufficiency under ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’.
  • Regional Power Projection: Signals to adversaries that India is capable of swift, precise, and overwhelming retaliation, even against underground targets.

With the Agni-V Bunker Buster, India is entering an elite league of nations possessing deep-strike, high-speed, bunker-penetrating missile technology. Its development underscores India’s intent to neutralise emerging threats proactively, ensuring no underground enemy site remains beyond reach.

In the evolving security dynamics of South Asia, where nuclear posturing and hardened military facilities are the norm, such a capability isn’t just desirable, it’s essential for maintaining peace through strength.

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