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‘Jinnah wanted Pakistan, but without Indian Muslims. Gandhi and Nehru obliged’: Pak-origin ‘scholar’ reveals how Gandhi, Nehru contributed to Pakistan’s survival

OpIndia Staff
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‘Jinnah wanted Pakistan, but without Indian Muslims. Gandhi and Nehru obliged’: Pak-origin ‘scholar’ reveals how Gandhi, Nehru contributed to Pakistan’s survival

Ahead of India’s 79th Independence Day, an undated video stating Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi or Gandhi as he was popularly known actually saved Pakistan and even gave his life for it has gone viral on social media.

In the video, Ishtiaq Ahmed, a Pakistani-Swedish Islamist masquerading as ‘political scientist’, said Muhammad Ali Jinnah should be grateful to both Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru for stopping millions of Indian Muslims from migrating to Pakistan right after Partition, which, he added, prevented the country from collapsing under a huge population influx.

In the clip, Ahmed says, “Around 35 million people could have come from India. It was Mahatma Gandhi, by sacrificing his life, and Jawaharlal Nehru, by stopping the RSS’s attempt to push Hindus and Muslims out, who saved Pakistan. Jinnah must be thankful to the Indian government for keeping its promise.”

He then goes on to explain Jinnah’s approach — that he did not want Indian Muslims to migrate to Pakistan — but wanted Hindus and Sikhs living in Pakistan to leave for India. Pakistan, he says, didn’t allow Hindus and Sikhs to stay, driving them out completely, which had bloody outcome as days leading to the partition saw large scale violence, especially in territories belonging to modern-day Pakistan and Bangladesh, where Muslim League and its supporters went on a rampage against Hindu, Sikh, and other minorities.

Under the Partition agreement, a large number of Muslims from India were expected to move to Pakistan. Elaborating on the agreement, Ahmed said about 35 million people could have crossed over to Pakistan, plunging the newly-carved country into a deep population crisis. Referring to Hindus and Sikhs living in pre-divided India as “trash”, Ahmed said Pakistan had forced majority of them to leave the nation.

He then spoke about the Muslim migration from India to East Pakistan, or present-day Bangladesh. Ahmed said over 5 million from Bihar migrated to East Pakistan, leaving back 30 million Muslims in India, who would have come to Pakistan if it wasn’t for Gandhi and Nehru’s generosity.

In 1947, Pakistan’s total population, excluding the three provinces of Balochistan, was 33.9 million. Adding 30 million more would have been overwhelming. Resources were already so limited that people joked there wasn’t enough paper to write on, let alone other basic facilities. In such a situation, he says, Pakistan might have collapsed.

Allowing 35 million Muslims to stay in India was a huge favour Gandhi and Nehru did on Pakistan, Ahmed asserted. It is worth noting that BR Ambedkar, another stalwart who played a key role in formulating India’s Constitution, wanted a complete swapping of population between India and Pakistan, warning that if it wasn’t done in totality, the problem of Pakistan will continue to fester well into the future.

Gandhi and Nehru enabled Pakistan’s survival, but left India with unhealed communal scars

Ishtiaq Ahmed’s remarks expose a rather ironic historical truth. While Pakistan’s founding narrative has often been built on antagonism towards Gandhi, Nehru, and the Congress leadership, his video inadvertently acknowledges that without Gandhi’s influence and Nehru’s decisions, Pakistan might have collapsed in its infancy.

The Indian leadership’s choice to discourage mass Muslim migration effectively stabilised Pakistan’s population balance, even as millions of Hindus and Sikhs were violently expelled from the new state. This reality is rarely admitted in Pakistan’s official history, where Partition is painted as a triumph of Jinnah’s vision rather than an arrangement partially sustained by India’s restraint.

Tragically, on the Indian side, this history is swept under the rugs in the attempts of several successive governments to keep elevate Nehru and Gandhi as tallest leaders of India’s freedom movement, conveniently ignoring the fact that it was perhaps Gandhi and Nehru’s making that the “communal problem”, as Ambedkar referred to it, continues to plague India after almost 8 decades of independence.

Bihar SIR: Supreme Court directs the Election Commission to publish list of names of deleted from electoral rolls along with reasons for exclusion

OpIndia Staff
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Bihar SIR: Supreme Court directs the Election Commission to publish list of names of deleted from electoral rolls along with reasons for exclusion

The Supreme Court on Thursday (14th August) directed the Election Commission of India to publish the list of the 65 lakh names removed from the draft electoral roll during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar. The apex court directed the ECI to publish district-wise list of the removed names on the websites of the District Electoral Officers.

The court also instructed the ECI to specifically state the reasons for the deletion of the names, such as death, migration, double-registration and so on. It added that the list should also be displayed on the website of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar, and that the documents should be searchable through the EPIC numbers.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi gave the directions during the hearing of a batch of petitions challenging the Bihar SIR. The court said that the publication of the list will enhance the confidence of the voters in the Commission. “If you bring in the public domain, the narrative (against the ECI) disappears,” Justice Kant said.

“We are not being critical of your not doing something…transparency will help create voter confidence. Why don’t you take an additional step of putting it up on the website, clearly identifying persons who are not there, with reasons, so that they can take remedial measures?” Justice Bagchi questioned.

The judges also instructed the Election Commission to publish public notices and mention therein, in simple “layman-friendly” language, the names of the persons who have been excluded from the voter list and also specifically note that such persons can produce their Aadhaar cards at the time of submitting their claims for inclusion in the voter list. The Court asked the Commission to publicise through social media, newspapers, and electronic media that the list will be published on the websites of the District Electoral Officers and the CEO of Bihar. The Commission has been given the deadline of next Tuesday (20th August) to implement the directions of the court. The next date of the hearing has been set for 22nd August.

Although the Court earlier agreed with the Election Commission that the Aadhaar Card is not conclusive proof of citizenship, it asked the Commission to include it in the list of necessary documents for inclusion in the voter list.

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), one of the petitioners, had filed an application on 6th August seeking the publication of the names of omitted voters with reasons. In its response to the application, the Election Commission apprised the court that it was not bound by the law to publish the list and assured that no names would be excluded without prior notice.

Petitions filed challenging the Bihar SIR, calling to a conspiracy to remove voters

A batch of petitions were filed before the Supreme Court by several opposition leaders like TMC MP Mahua Moitra, former AAP co-founder Yogendra Yadav, RJD MP Manoj Jha and organisations such as People’s Union for Civil Liberties, and the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) challenging the June 24 notification of the Election Commission regarding the conduct of the SIR in Bihar, which goes to the polls later this year. The petitioners are being represented before the Court of senior advocates, including Kapil Sibal, Prashant Bhushan, and Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

The petitioners urged the top court to put a stay on the SIR, alleging that it was a conspiracy to disenfranchise a large number of voters. However, the apex court rejected their argument and refused to put a stay on the SIR exercise, acknowledging that it was a routine exercise to update the electoral rolls by removing bogus voters and that the ECI was constitutionally empowered to do that. The court termed the petitioners’ allegations of mass disenfranchisement as a case of ” trust deficiency”.

At least 6 cops killed in attacks on multiple police stations and checkpoints in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, several injured

OpIndia Staff
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At least 6 cops killed in attacks on multiple police stations and checkpoints in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, several injured

Multiple police stations were attacked by militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan on Wednesday night. At least six cops were killed and around 8 were injured in eight separate attacks across the province.

The attackers targeted police stations, checkpoints and patrols across several districts in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan on the eve of the 78th independence day of the nation. The militants used rocket-propelled grenade launchers in some of the attacks, as per police sources.

In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Upper Dir, three cops were killed after their mobile was attacked, while another six were injured, the police said in a statement. Similarly in Lower Dir, two separate attacks on police checkpoints claimed the life of one police personnel, while another cop was injured.

Attacks also took place in Peshawar, where a police station and two police checkpoints came under the fire, resulting in one death and one injury. The police said that the attacks on checkpoints in Peshawar were successfully thwarted.

In the Bannu city, the militants attacked two police checkpoints using RPG-7 rocket launcher. However, the cops retaliated immediately, and no personnel were injured. An attack on a police post in Shangla district was also foiled successfully, as police responded immediately.

The police said that the attacks were carried out by Fitna al-Khawarij, the name used by the Pakistani government for Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. The name was changed last year, to expose their ‘misrepresentation of Islam’.

Pakistan now announces creation of ‘Rocket Force Command’ after humiliating losses during Operation Sindoor

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan now announces creation of ‘Rocket Force Command’ after humiliating losses during Operation Sindoor

The trauma inflicted by the Indian Armed Forces on Pakistan ‘Aand’ Forces during Operation Sindoor continues to haunt Pakistan’s military-installed government. After losing critical military assets and failing to counter the barrage of Indian missiles, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced the formation of a ‘Rocket Force Command’, modelled on China’s People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF). This new unit will oversee deployment of missiles.

On 13th August 2025, Sharif said, “This will be equipped with modern technology. This force, capable of targeting the enemy from all sides, will prove to be yet another milestone with regard to further strengthening our conventional war capability.”

As per a senior Pakistani official, the new Rocket Force Command is “meant for India”. 

It must be recalled that Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces on 7th May, as a direct response to the deadly Islamic terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 innocent Hindus. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Pakistan-based terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack.

On 7th May, India launched the attack and destroyed multiple terror camps. India warned Pakistan that it was a strike on terror camps and not on civilian or armed forces establishments. However, Pakistan decided to retaliate, rattled by the killing of over 100 terrorists. Pakistan launched missile and drone strikes, which were neutralised by Indian Air Defence.

In retaliation to Pakistan’s attack, India launched the second phase of Operation Sindoor and, on 10th May, between 2:30 AM and 12:30 PM, the Indian Armed Forces broke the spine of Pakistan’s air defence network. This time, key military structures were targeted, forcing Islamabad to beg for peace within hours.

India not only rendered Pakistan’s Chinese air defence system defunct during its attacks deep inside Pakistan by unleashing a barrage of BrahMos, Scalp, and Crystal Maze missiles, along with indigenously developed loitering munitions like Harop and Nagastra, hitting Nur Khan Base and Rahim Yar Khan Base among others, but also responded to Pakistan’s retaliation effectively. 

Realising that India has established total domiance over Pakistan Aand Forces, Pakistan’s DGMO dialled up to his Indian counterpart and begged for a ceasefire. Having secured an upper hand, India decided to heed Pakistan’s plea for mercy. 

The Pakistani political and military establishment may have managed to fool their largely Madrasa-bred populace that they somehow won the four-day conflict even after having their 11 airbases damaged, hundreds of terrorists killed, and air defence system proven humiliatingly good-for-nothing. However, the fact that Pakistan has to create specific ‘Rocket Force Command’ to counter India comes across as Islamabad’s inadvertent confession that India’s military superiority has left the Sharif and Asim Munir fretting. 

Perhaps, this fear of getting pounded by India again in the face of any Pahalgam-like misadventure in future, is coming out in form of “you stop our water, we will stop your breath”, nuclear threats using crude “Pakistan is a dump truck full of gravel, which will hit the shining Ferrari (India)” analogies, and now the creation of Rocket Force Command. After all, even though the Pakistani populace remains delusional, Pakistani military and its puppet government know that propaganda can win claps or perhaps elections, but not real war, certainly not against a mammoth enemy like India. 

S&P Global upgrades India’s sovereign rating to ‘BBB’ from ‘BBB-’ due to policy continuity, robust growth and fiscal management

OpIndia Staff
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S&P Global upgrades India’s sovereign rating to ‘BBB’ from ‘BBB-’ due to policy continuity, robust growth and fiscal management

In a significant boost to investor confidence, S&P Global Ratings has upgraded India’s long-term unsolicited sovereign credit rating to ‘BBB’ from ‘BBB-’, while also raising the short-term rating to ‘A-2’ from ‘A-3’.

The outlook on the long-term rating remains stable, reflecting optimism around India’s policy continuity, robust economic growth, and improved fiscal management.

Alongside the rating upgrade, S&P also revised its transfer and convertibility assessment for India to ‘A-’ from ‘BBB+’, citing an improved monetary and external environment.

According to S&P, the stable outlook suggests confidence in India’s ability to sustain its growth trajectory, driven by high levels of infrastructure investment and a disciplined policy environment.

The rating agency noted that the government’s efforts in fiscal consolidation, along with targeted spending, are helping reduce the weight of elevated debt and interest burdens over time.

However, the agency warned that any backsliding on fiscal discipline or a material slowdown in structural economic growth could exert downward pressure on the ratings. Conversely, a further upgrade may be possible if India significantly narrows its fiscal deficit, bringing net general government debt additions below 6 per cent of GDP on a sustainable basis.

India’s economic momentum was central to the upgrade decision. Real GDP growth averaged 8.8 per cent between fiscal years 2022 and 2024 — the highest in the Asia-Pacific region — and S&P expects this strength to continue, projecting average growth of 6.8 per cent annually over the next three years.

This strong growth, despite ongoing fiscal deficits, is helping to moderate the debt-to-GDP ratio. The agency said India’s reliance on domestic consumption, which drives around 60 per cent of GDP growth, offers resilience against external shocks, including recent U.S. tariffs and changes in energy import sources.

India’s fiscal position, historically a weak point in its ratings profile, is showing signs of improvement. S&P noted a gradual consolidation path, projecting the general government deficit to shrink from 7.3 per cent of GDP in fiscal 2026 to 6.6 per cent by fiscal 2029.

A key driver behind this fiscal improvement is a shift in government spending priorities. Over the past five to six years, budget allocations have increasingly favored capital expenditure. The Union Government’s capex is set to reach INR 11.2 trillion — about 3.1 per cent of GDP in fiscal 2026, up from 2 per cent a decade ago. Including spending by state governments, total public infrastructure investment now stands at about 5.5 per cent of GDP, putting India on par with or ahead of global peers.

On the monetary policy front, reforms such as the shift to inflation targeting have paid off. Inflation expectations are better anchored, and consumer price inflation has averaged 5.5 per cent over the past three years — well within the RBI’s target range of 2 per cent-6 per cent. Recent data shows inflation hovering near the lower end of this band, despite global volatility in energy markets.

S&P emphasized that India’s rating is underpinned by a vibrant economy, a strong external balance sheet, and democratic institutions that contribute to policy stability and predictability.

However, the country still faces structural challenges, particularly a high government debt burden, persistent fiscal deficits, and relatively low per capita income, which continue to weigh on its overall credit profile.

Despite these hurdles, the upgrade marks a clear recognition of India’s improved economic fundamentals and policy framework — a development likely to bolster its attractiveness among global investors.

(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)

Pakistan: Barrick Mining, company that has been extracting gold from Balochistan, seeks $3.5b funding from US, other G7 nations after Saudi Arabia refuses to finance copper mining project

OpIndia Staff
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Pakistan: Barrick Mining, company that has been extracting gold from Balochistan, seeks $3.5b funding from US, other G7 nations after Saudi Arabia refuses to finance copper mining project

Balochistan, the untapped treasure trove of natural resources has once come under global spotlight. Not because of the oppression of Baloch people by Pakistan Army, not for the freedom struggle of Baloch fighters, but due to the renewed interest of global players in squeezing the disputed region of its resources. Now, Barrick Mining, the company that has been extracting gold from Balochistan, is seeking $3.5 billion to fund its copper mining project in the region.

Barrick Mining is seeking $3.5 billion to set up a major copper-gold mine in Balochistan after Saudi Arabia refused to finance this project. On August 11, CEO Mark Bristow announced that the company is preparing a “G7 financing package” for the Reko Diq copper-gold project. The Reko Diq mine is expected to commence production by 2028.

“There is a lot of interest to support Pakistan,” Bristow told Financial Times.

The U.S. Export-Import Bank, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, the Asian Development Bank, the International Finance Corporation (IFC, a World Bank subsidiary), and lenders from Canada, Japan, and Germany are all involved in the negotiations. 

According to Bristow, numerous financial organisations have expressed a keen interest in funding the initiative in Pakistan.

Barrick Mining’s CEO also said that with the backing from US government, Pakistan would be able to access the mine’s copper concentrate, adding that further processing would still be required to produce usable metal.

Balochistan has one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper-gold projects

Notably, the Reko Diq copper-gold deposit is considered as one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper-gold projects. Over the course of its 37-year mining life, it is expected to produce over $70 billion in free cash flow and $90 billion in operating cash flow.  Barrick Gold, the federal government of Pakistan, and the provincial government of Balochistan jointly own the project. 

As per a statement made by Tim Cribb, earlier this year, the mine is looking for $650 million from the International Development Association and the IFC, as well as $500 million to $1 billion from the U.S. Export-Import Bank. The project is also seeking an additional $500 million from other development finance organisations, such as the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Export Development Canada, and the Asian Development Bank.

Pakistan trying to get close to Donald Trump as tariff war with India rages on

Interestingly, amidst a fallout between India and the US over Trump’s tariff war against India for buying Russian oil, Pakistan has grown close to Trump through PM Shehbaz Sharif and de facto ruler Field Marshal Asim Munir’s sycophancy of the American leader. 

Pakistani military-backed government has frequently thanked Trump for his imaginary role in brokering India-Pakistan ceasefire understanding after India inflicted a humiliating defeat on Pakistani Forces during Operation Sindoor in the aftermath of Pakistan-sponsored Pahalgam Islamic terror attack. Pakistan’s Field Marshal Asim Munir has visited the US twice since India agreed to a Pakistan requested ceasefire. 

Impressed with Pakistan’s flattery, the Trump administration recently designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade a ‘Foreign Terrorist Organisation’, labelling Baloch freedom fighters as ‘terrorists’. 

Opposition of Pakistan in Balochistan

Over the years, the BLA struck Pakistani military and Chinese personnel along with Beijing’s projects in the province because they exploit the Baloch resources. The Baloch people, who are among the most marginalised communities in Pakistan, accuse the Pakistani government and China of exploiting their resources without providing any benefit to the locals.

US President Donald Trump recently unveiled a new trade agreement with Islamabad to jointly develop Pakistan’s alleged “massive oil reserves”. The announcement came just hours after he slapped the first round of 25% tariff and additional penalties on Indian imports. Weirdly, Trump claimed that someday Pakistan might be selling oil to India. 

The timing of the US declaring the BLA a ‘terrorist organisation’, Trump’s pro-Pakistan tilt, and growing interests of foreign companies in extracting Balochistan’s natural resources is crucial. First, the Baloch freedom fighters have so far not allowed the Chinese to set their foot properly in Gwadar for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Then there is the US repeatedly highlighting its minerals deal with Pakistan. Now we have Barrick Mining seeking funding for copper mining project, suggesting that Pakistan Army is selling off Balochistan for dollars, while Baloch people continue to be persecuted by the oppressive regime.

Earlier, the natural resources of Balochistan, be it gas or electricity, were diverted to Pakistan’s Punjab and other provinces despite Balochi people deserving the first share. Now foreign companies with US backing will also fill their coffers by profiting from the natural resources of Balochistan. OpIndia’s report on the possibility of Balochistan becoming the next oil war destination for USA can be read here.

As Naxal terror faces near wipeout, several villages in Chhattisgarh set to celebrate Independence Day for the first time in 78 years

Rukma Rathore
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As Naxal terror faces near wipeout, several villages in Chhattisgarh set to celebrate Independence Day for the first time in 78 years

The Modi government’s successful and assertive campaign against left wing extremism has reached yet another significant milestone. On 15th August, the national flag will be raised for the first time since independence in 14 isolated tribal villages in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, reported The Times of India.

The construction of new security camps in interior regions afflicted by the red terror after 26th January, primarily in the districts of Bijapur, Narayanpur and Sukma, prompted the crucial development.

The Communist Party of India (Maoist) used to dominate these villages and on national holidays, there were black or red flags displayed around along with decrees via banners and leaflets, warning people not to celebrate Independence Day. Public expression of patriotism were prohibited.

However, authorities informed that this year has seen no attempts to stifle celebrations with any flags or diktats. “The tricolour will be hoisted at village centres in the presence of paramilitary forces, Bastar police, and residents. The 14 villages fall in the category of new camps set up after January 26, 2025, meaning they have never hosted any national festival before,” stated Bastar zone inspector general of police P Sundarraj.

He added, “Besides, 15 other villages where security camps came up after August 15 last year have already celebrated Republic Day but will be observing Independence Day for the first time.” According to him, the new security camps are serving as integrated centres for public outreach and progress.

The official further conveyed, “It is heartening to witness the joy and enthusiasm among the villagers in the interior regions of Bastar, who will be celebrating Independence Day for the very first time on 15th August. This historic moment has been made possible by the sustained efforts of our security forces and the establishment of new security camps in these remote areas in recent times. The presence of these camps has not only improved the security environment but also instilled a strong sense of confidence among the local population, enabling them to participate freely and proudly in national celebrations.”

“Youth and children are especially eager to witness the tricolour in their villages. Equally, our jawans deployed in these areas are excited to join hands with the villagers in strengthening the democratic fabric of our nation,” he added.

Wiping out Maoist terror

For the first time, the tricolour will be hoisted in these villages: Gunjepurti, Pujarikanker, Bhimaram, Kutul, Padamkot, Nelangur, Pangur, Uskawaya and others. The villages of Kondapalli, Kutul, Nelangur, Raigudem, Gomguda, and Pidiya are among the most severely Maoist-hit areas.

Residents will receive education on the history and significance of Independence Day in addition to flag-hoisting ceremonies. CRPF units and public officials are leading Tiranga rallies that are already taking place around Bastar.

The District Reserve Guard (DRG), Bastar Fighters, Special Task Force (STF), Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), CoBRA, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Border Security Force (BSF) and local police have all been deployed as part of the greater security measures for the event.

According to officials, the program highlights the combined efforts of the government and security forces to make sure that every person whether they live in urban or remote areas feel a connection to the freedom and strength of the country’s constitution. The firm relationship between the government and security forces is also reflected in the active participation of people in planning for Independence Day celebrations.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has repeatedly established the goal to eradicate the Maoist violence from the country by 31st March 2026 and centre is working aggressively towards that goal.

Recent achievements in operations have contributed to the high morale of security forces. At least 19 security personnel have been killed in clashes throughout the division, while 229 Maoists have been neutralised, this year. Furthermore, Maoists have murdered 28 people on suspicion of being police informants.

Similarly, on Independence Day last year, the national flag was raised for the first time in thirteen remote villages in Bastar area. The Tricolour was raised in Nerlighat (Dantewada district), Panidobir (Kanker), Gundam, Putkel and Chhutvahi (Bijapur), Kasturmeta, Maspur, Irakbhatti and Mohndi (Narayanpur), Tekalgudem, Puvarti, Lakhapal and Pulanpad (Sukma) hamlets marking an event that had never occurred there before.

Massive anti-Maoist operations underway

On 13th August, two Maoists were killed in a clash with security forces in the Manpur-Mohla-Ambagarh Chowki district of Chhattisgarh. They carried a total reward of at least ₹35 lakh. Vijay Reddy and Lokesh Salame died in an anti-Maoist operation along the Banda Pahad hill under the Madanwada police station area, according to District Superintendent of Police YP Singh.

According to him, a group of Indo-Tibetan Border Police also participated in the operation as a support group alogside District Reserve Guard (DRG). On 12th August night, the operation was initiated in response to information regarding the presence of senior cadres in the region.

Singh outlined that Reddy who was a part of Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee of Maoists had a ₹25 lakh bounty and divisonal committee member Salame held a ₹10 lakh reward. Reddy likewise carried rewards in nearby States, including Maharashtra and the particulars were being checked.

He was reportedly a prominent Maoist figure in the region which borders Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli and oversaw operations in the Maoist organization’s Rajnandgaon-Kanker border (RKB) division. This region is recognised as a training and cache site for Maoists.

On 26th July, the Bastar police stated that at least four Maoist cadres were eliminated in a gunfight with security troops in the southwest of the conflict-plagued Bijapur district, roughly 400 kilometres south of Raipur in Chhattisgarh.

P Sundarraj mentioned, “Based on intelligence inputs regarding the presence of Maoists in the given location of Bijapur district, troops launched a search operation. A gunfight broke out in the evening. So far, four bodies of Maoist have been recovered along with the INSAS assault rifle, self-loading rifle and other weapons besides explosive materials and items of daily use from the encounter scene.”

Additionally, three Maosits were neutralized in a gunfight with security forces in the Gumla region of Jharkhand, on 26th July. They reportedly belonged to the banned CPI (Maoist) offshoot group Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP). Three automatic rifles, including an AK-47, two Insas rifles and a country-made gun were recovered from the location by the security personnel.

The Maoists were planning an attack on the security forces but the authorities received a tip-off about their hideout at the Ghaghra forest. The latter stated, “The ultras opened fire as soon as security forces reached the spot. Jawans fired in retaliation, killing three JJMP ultras. Two others, who were part of the group, escaped.” The operation was executed by Jharkhand Jaguar and Gumla Police.

A confrontation with troops ended the lives of two Maoists and seriously wounded a security guard, near the Birhordera area in Bokaro district of Jharkhand, a few days prior.

On 18th July, six Maoists were slain in an altercation with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district. According to P. Sundarraj, the gunfight took place in the Abujhmad region’s forest when security forces were conducting an anti-Maoist operation there after receiving information about the presence of cadres.

“Multiple exchanges of fire between the security forces and Maoists occurred since the afternoon. So far, the bodies of six Maoists have been recovered from the encounter site along with AK-47 rifle, Self Loading Life (SLR) rifle, other weapons, explosive material and daily use items,” he conveyed.

Maoists continue to lay down weapons

Simultaneously, many Maoists have also down their arms to join the mainstream. Jorige Nagaraju also known as Kamalesh, the CPI (Maoist) East Bastar divisional committee in-charge and a member of the State zonal committee (SZCM) along with his wife, Medaka Jyoteeswari alias Aruna, surrendered before Director General of Police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta in Vijayawada on 26th July.

A native of Poranki village in the Krishna district, Nagaraju spent 34 years as a member of the outlawed Maoist group in various capacities and carried a bounty of ₹20 lakh. Aruna who is from the Krishna district’s Kappaladoddi hamlet, spent 30 years working as a party cadre and had a reward of ₹5 lakh on her head.

The pair became dissatisfied with the Maoist central committee’s policy. They realised that the Maoist ideology was losing ground. The authorities pointed out, “Due to lack of public support, poor recruitments, death of senior cadres in Maoist party, disillusionment with the party ideology, he had decided to surrender and avail the benefits of the Surrender and Rehabilitation Policy.”

“On specific information, the Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district police unearthed three Maoist armed dumps in Mampa, Madugukota and Tangedukota forests from 23rd to 25th July and seized one AK-47, five SLRs, two INSAS rifles, five 303 rifles, two BGL weapons, one pistol, 16 BGL shells and 20 cartridges, 15 detonators, eight walkies, huge quantity of ammunition, a telescope and other material,” the added.

On 24th July 66 Maoist cadres with a total reward of ₹2.54 crore gave up arms in five districts of the Bastar division of Chhattisgarh. According to P Sundarraj, 25 surrendered in Bijapur, 15 in Dantewada, 13 in Kanker, 8 in Narayanpur and 5 in Sukma districts.

37-year-old Ramanna Irpa, alias Jagdish, alias Vikesh was a sub-zonal committee member with a reward of ₹25 lakh and four divisional committee members who were regarded as senior members in Maoist military were among those who laid down their weapons.

Surrenders coincided with a new security force program known as “Poona Margham” (new path). According to this plan, the security forces will put greater effort into contacting families of Maoists for help in convincing them to turn themselves in.

The police informed, “With the establishment of new security camps in interior regions and improved access to roads, transport, drinking water, electricity, and other public welfare schemes, development is now reaching the remotest villages. Widespread disillusionment with Maoist ideology, increasing internal conflicts within the outfit, and a strong desire to live a peaceful and secure family life are among the primary reasons behind these surrenders.”

According to Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, 1,521 Naxals surrendered in the last 15 months, which he described as “a strong indicator of the increasing reach and trust of the government in the Naxal-affected regions,” on 12th July. The announcement transpired after the surrender of 22 Maoists active in the Abhujmad area with a total reward of ₹37.5 lakh in Narayanpur district followed by the surrender of 23 Maoists with a combined bounty of ₹1.18 crore in Sukma district of the Bastar region.

India’s unprecedented war of Maoist terrorists

Operation Kagar (Operation Black Forest) had been launched by the central government to eliminate red-terrorism in India and liberate Maoist-affected regions. As a result of the success of this operation, many regions that were once under the violent control of Naxalites and languished in underdevelopment for years are now witnessing a resurgence of hope and have been integrated with the rest of the country, participating in its progress.

Several dreaded Maoists renounced the path of bloodshed while many others have been neutralised. A strong military approach and zero tolerance policy implemented by the government led to a 77% reduction in Maoist violence between 2010 and 2021. Violent incidents have declined from 2258 in 2009 to 509 in 2021.

Maoist-affected districts has also significantly declined over the last ten years, from 106 in 2015 to 6 at now (Bijapur, Kanker, Narayanpur, and Sukma in Chhattisgarh, West Singhbhum in Jharkhand and Gadhchiroli in Maharashtra). Furthermore, the number of Maoist terror-related killings decreased by 90%.

There were 2089 Maoists slain in clashes compared to 63 earlier while 928 surrendered in 2024 as 718 did the same in the first four months of 2025. With the help of state police, the central military established 320 camps, including 68 helipads with night landing capabilities in Maoist-struck states between 2019 and 2025. Fortified police stations have increased from 66 in 2014 to 555.

The extensive work of the government, security forces and local administration along with authorities is reflected in the commendable success of the road to a Naxal-free India.

Election Commission gives a 7-day deadline to the West Bengal government to take action against election officers accused of adding fake voters to the electoral roll

OpIndia Staff
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Election Commission gives a 7-day deadline to the West Bengal government to take action against election officers accused of adding fake voters to the electoral roll

The Election Commission of India has given the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal a 7-day deadline on Wednesday (13th August) to take action against state election officials accused of adding fake voters to the voter list. The top election body asked the West Bengal Chief Secretary, Manoj Pant, to implement its August 5 order, which directed the suspension of four election officials, the removal of a data entry operator, and the filing of FIRs against them.

The development comes after the Chief Secretary was called to Delhi last week by the Commission for not complying with its order, after he wrote to the Commission on Monday (11the August), terming the suspension and FIR order “disproportionately harsh” and having a “demoralising impact” on Bengal’s officers’ community.

As per reports, the Chief Secretary told the Commission in Delhi that inquiries have been initiated against the officers, and appropriate action would be taken based on the inquiry findings. However, he is also said to have informed the Election Commission that he could not act against the officials without consulting the state government.

During a sample checking of voter application forms last month, the Election Commission found that the election officials allowed fake voter applications to be registered by misusing their authority. Two Electoral Registration Offices (EROs) and two Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) admitted during questioning that they shared their login credentials to the ERO.net portal with unauthorised persons.  

Moreover, the officials did not follow proper procedure for the registration of voter application forms by dispensing with the requirement of BLOs’ verification of the forms. Subsequently, the CEO of West Bengal ordered an urgent investigation into the matter and directed the District Election Officer (DEO) to form a team of senior officials and conduct a sample check of all the voter application forms disposed of during the last year, and submit a report by August 14, 2025.

Mamata Banerjee avowed to protect the erring officers

Notably, after the Election Commission’s action against the election officers, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee publicly alleged that state government employees were being intimidated and that she would protect them. “The state government employees are being intimidated. The officers were served suspension notices yesterday. Have the elections even been announced yet? Which law allows them to be suspended at this stage? It is our responsibility to protect you all. We will do that. We will not suspend them… I will continue to be your pehredar (guard),” Banerjee said at a public meeting in Jhargram last week.

There might be around 1 crore fake voters in West Bengal

Amid the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise conducted by the Election Commission last month in Bihar, Banerjee said that she would not allow the SIR in West Bengal. Banerjee’s aversion to an SIR, which is a routine exercise undertaken by the ECI to remove bogus voters and update the electoral rolls, in West Bengal lends weight to allegations that her government allowed lakhs of fake voters, especially illegal immigrants, to be registered in the state by obtaining forged documents. Pertinently, West Bengal is said to be among the states with the highest numbers of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. In the last three years, 2688 Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended and sent back to Bangladesh.

The claims were further strengthened by a recently published research paper, which revealed that West Bengal may include around one crore excess voters, recording an inflation of whopping 13.69%. The research paper tiled: “Electoral Roll Inflation in West Bengal: A Demographic Reconstruction of Legitimate Voter Counts (2024)”; is authored by Dr. Milan Kumar, Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Management Visakhapatnam and Dr. Vidhu Shekhar, Assistant Professor at SP Jain Institute of Management & Research, an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur and IIM Calcutta. Published on 7th August 2025, the paper relies on official data from electoral rolls, census, and civil registration systems to estimate the surviving voters from the 2004 base roll, additions through new cohorts (1986-2006 births), and adjustments for net permanent migration.

The SIR conducted by the ECI in Bihar uncovered over 60 lakh unverified voters. Around 35 lakh people were either untraceable or had permanently relocated, 22 lakhs were labelled as deceased, and 7 lakh voters were enrolled in multiple locations, while about 1.2 lakh forms are pending. The entire opposition, including Mamata Banerjee’s TMC, has been opposing the SIR by alleging that it is a conspiracy to disenfranchise large number of voters, a claim rejected by the Supreme Court.

Supporter of Congress party, anti-farm law protests and active peddler of anti-Modi propaganda: Meet Sandeepa Virk, social media influencer arrested in ₹40 cr money laundering case

Dibakar Dutta
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Supporter of Congress party, anti-farm law protests and active peddler of anti-Modi propaganda: Meet Sandeepa Virk, social media influencer arrested in ₹40 cr money laundering case

On Tuesday (12th August), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested a social media influencer named Sandeepa Virk in connection with a money laundering case. Virk is a staunch supporter of Congress party and its leader Rahul Gandhi.

According to reports, the accused is 32 years old and has more than 12 lakh followers on Instagram. Sandeepa Virk ran a company called ‘HybooCare’, wherein she claimed to sell FDA-approved beauty products.

As per the ED, the company was not a real business and more of a ‘cover.’ HybooCare reportedly had no user registration system, a dysfunctional payment gateway and WhatsApp contact on its website.

At the same time, the company had no details about the team or its operations, besides poor engagement on social media. This first raised suspicions about ‘HybooCare’ being a front to move ill gotten wealth.

Sandeepa Virk solicited money from people by making false promises and through fraudulent pretences and used it purchase properties and fund a lavish lifestyle.

She was connected with a former director of Reliance Capital (now defunct) named Angarai Natarajan Sethuraman, who conducted illegal liasion work and diverted funds.

Involvement in 40 crore money laundering scam

Sethuraman also approved loans worth ₹18 crore in one case and ₹22 crore in another in violation of norms. As per the Enforcement Directorate, the loans were never repaid and the funds were siphoned off.

The revelations were made during raids conducted by the central agency in Delhi and Mumbai between 12th and 13th August.

The Enforcement Directorate informed that Sandeepa Virk benefitted from these illegal transactions made by Sethuraman. She was taken into custody on 12th August and was remanded to custody till 14th August.

Virk was booked under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The investigation in the case begun after a First Information Report (FIR) was filed by the Punjab police.

Sandeepa Virk was born and raised in Delhi. She had started her career in modelling before featuring in Punjabi, Malayalam and Kannada films. Later, Virk shifted her focus entirely on social media.

While her social media posts are largely apolitical, her X (formerly Twitter) account shows her heartfelt support for Congress party and Rahul Gandhi.

Sandeepa Virk peddles anti-Modi propaganda

Since 2020, Sandeepa Virk had been at the helm of anti-Modi propaganda. She has been relentless in amplifying lies and falsehoods of Congress-sponsored trolls and party workers.

The money laundering accused had shared tweets of Swara Bhaskar and Sanjay Jha, mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Screengrab of the tweet by Swara Bhaskar
Screengrab of the tweet by Sanjay Jha

Love for Congress party

As evident from her activity on X (formerly Twitter), Sandeepa Virk had retweeted several tweets of Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi and amplified the ideological stance of the party on an array of issues.

Virk, accused in high-profile money laundering case, was seen misleading the public on issues of inflation and fuel hike by sharing tweets of the Gandhi scion.

Active supporter of anti-farm law protests

The social media influencer had extended her support to the politically motivated anti-farm law movement, which attempted to undermine the Indian State in the garb of their Opposition to 3 revolutionary farm laws.


Bombay HC forms expert committee to assess public health impact of feeding pigeons after BMC banned pigeon feeding at Kabutarkhanas

OpIndia Staff
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Bombay HC forms expert committee to assess public health impact of feeding pigeons after BMC banned pigeon feeding at Kabutarkhanas

Amid the debate over Supreme Court ordering removal of stray dogs from Delhi-NCR region, the Bombay High Court has ordered a study on impact of pigeons on human health. The high court on Wednesday constituted an expert committee to examine the health impact on human beings due to feeding pigeons in public Kabutarkhanas or pigeon feeding zones.

A bench of Justices GS Kulkarni and Arif Doctor issued the order while hearing several petitions challenging the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) decision to prohibit the feeding of pigeons in some public places. The bench also directed the expert committee to ascertain whether such feeding can be permitted in a regulated manner.

The court stated that it relates to health issues, it would not be appropriate for the Court to form any final opinion on the matter. The bench said that it does not have the expertise to examine such materials and form any final opinion.

Therefore, the court directed the formation of an expert committee comprising members with domain knowledge to provide guidance on the issue. Accordingly, the state govt submitted the names of 12 experts for the committee, which was accepted by the court. The members include health dept officials, municipal officials, doctors and veterinarians.

The committee will look into two aspects.

First, it will consider the impact on public health arising from the feeding of pigeons, including the effect that pigeon droppings may have on public health. Secondly, the committee will examine whether specific places can be designated for such feeding of pigeons and to consider the nature of any regulations that may be required for the same.

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