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Is it time for India to expand? Why the Chicken’s Neck needs to become the Elephant’s Trunk and strategic areas of undivided Bengal need to be brought back

Rukma Rathore
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Is it time for India to expand? Why the Chicken’s Neck needs to become the Elephant’s Trunk and strategic areas of undivided Bengal need to be brought back

The Liberation War of 1971 not only secured Bangladesh’s independence from the oppressive rule of East Pakistan but also transformed the historical and geopolitical landscape of the subcontinent. However, this achievement would not have been feasible without India’s support, which acted as a true friend and revitalized the fading aspirations of the Bengali people through their freedom. The relationship between the two nations persisted amicably under various administrations, despite its share of challenges.

However, the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has led to a significant downturn in the diplomatic ties between the two nations, primarily due to the Islamist ideology of the current regime under Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus which is not only watching silently the brutal persecution of Hindus and other minorities but is also determined to damage its relationship with India by making regular confrontational statements and hostile remarks.

Bangladesh eyes the seven sisters, invites China

A recent example of this was evident during Yunus’s visit to China, where he called on Beijing to explore an “extension” in the region, mentioning that the seven northeastern states of India are landlocked. “The seven states of India, the eastern part of India, are called the seven sisters (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura). They are a landlocked region of India. They have no way to reach out to the ocean,” he claimed while encouraging China to establish an economic foothold in Bangladesh by leveraging its strategic position as the “only guardian of the ocean” in the region.

“We are the only guardian of the ocean for all this region. So this opens up a huge possibility. So this could be an extension of the Chinese economy, build things, produce things, market things, bring things to China and bring it out to the whole rest of the world. That’s a production house for you,” he stated in a bid to lure the communist government to invest in his country.

“That’s an opportunity we should seize and implement. Nepal and Bhutan have unlimited hydropower, which is a blessing. We can bring it to our purpose. From Bangladesh, you can go anywhere you want. The ocean is our backyard,” Yunus conveyed.

Yunus is aware that India would be concerned about China’s increasing influence in its immediate neighbourhood owing to its expansionist tendencies. Bangladesh holds strategic significance for India, as multiple locations within the nation lie near the “Siliguri Corridor,” often known as the “Chicken’s Neck,” a narrow stretch of territory that links the northeastern states with the rest of the country.

It is important to note that this is not the first occasion on which he has made an outrageous statement to undermine India’s sovereignty and unduly amplified Bangladesh’s overreach. “If you destabilise Bangladesh, it will spill over all around Bangladesh, including Myanmar and seven sisters in West Bengal,” he threatened in an interview with NDTV, last August. It will be a volcanic eruption everywhere around us and in Myanmar and it would be a bigger problem because a million Rohingyas are in here,” he further warned.

Yunus took a special flight on 26th March, which was Bangladesh’s Independence Day, to begin a four-day official visit to China. During the trip, he signed a number of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and met Chinese Premier Xi Jinping. Dhaka’s top foreign ministry officer, Mohammad Jashim Uddin highlighted, “Muhammad Yunus has chosen China for his first state visit and with this Bangladesh is sending a message.” The remarks made by Yunus during the visit serve as a clear representation of the intended message.

Yunus’ suspicious remarks set off alarm

As was expected, the remarks drew criticism in India, with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma denouncing them as “offensive and strongly condemnable.” He emphasized the necessity of fortifying the Siliguri Corridor through the establishment of strong railway and road infrastructures both beneath and surrounding the area. “Historically, even internal elements within India have dangerously suggested severing this critical passageway to isolate the Northeast from the mainland physically,” he also pointed out.

Sarma added that “exploring alternative road routes connecting the northeast to mainland India, effectively bypassing the Chicken’s Neck, should be prioritized.” He further stressed, “Such provocative statements by Muhammad Yunus must not be taken lightly, as they reflect deeper strategic considerations and longstanding agendas.

A political and security analyst Chris Blackburn termed the remark as “very disturbing and needs clarification.” He raised the question of whether Yunus was advocating for China’s involvement in India’s seven sister states.

Sanjeev Sanyal, an economist from India and a member of the Economic Advisory Council to Prime Minister Narendra Modi also responded to the development. He wrote, “Interesting that Yunus is making a public appeal to the Chinese on the basis that 7 states in India are land-locked,” and questioned the significance of his statement.

Chicken’s Neck and strategic depth

The 20-kilometer-wide Siliguri Corridor, popularly known as the “Chicken’s Neck,” is the sole link between India and the northeast (north east) which is landlocked and covers an area of 2.62 lakh square kilometers, or roughly 8% of India’s total landmass. It encompasses the northern region of Uttar Dinajpur district and the southern area of Darjeeling district, bordered by Bangladesh to the east and the predominantly Muslim-majority districts of Kishanganj and Purnea in Bihar to the west.

99% of its borders are in proximity to its five neighboring countries: China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal and the remaining 1% of the land boundary through the corridor becomes an essential conduit for the security and economic prosperity. Northeast India depends on the Siliguri Corridor for nearly all of its needs, including food, medications, equipment, and building supplies. It takes a long time and costs significantly to transport items to the region from the rest of the nation.

Northeast could become isolated from the rest of India if this route were attacked or blocked. Hence, the corridor’s vulnerability continues to be major concern, particularly in light of China’s expanding influence nearby. This sentiment has been echoed by numerous experts, including senior military officials. The former Chief of Army Staff, General Manoj Pande, classified the corridor as “sensitive” and a major security priority for India.

Image via Medium

During a conclave in last October, Lieutenant General Rana Pratap Kalita, former chief of the Eastern Command expressed that conflict in Myanmar and political instability in Bangladesh have impeded other routes such as the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project and connectivity via the Chittagong port to Tripura due to which the Siliguri Corridor has become an even more vital channel.

He outlined China’s growing impact in Myanmar through the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CEMEC), which gives Beijing more clout in the area. The growing number of Chinese laborers, especially in the Rangpur Division of Northern Bangladesh in Dinajpur was an equally troublesome issue. He believed that these infrastructure projects, which are inconveniently near the Siliguri Corridor, might be a front for military or geopolitical objectives.

China’s growing influence in eastern Nepal, especially in projects near the corridor, also present a serious security risk because of India and Nepal’s porous borders. During the 73-day Doklam conflict in 2017, China aggressively pushed through Bhutan with the goal of securing the corridor, however, India prevailed in the stand off. The heightened Chinese activity in the Chumbi Valley of Tibet, which is in close proximity to the Siliguri Corridor, underscores the importance of securing this region.

According to General Kalita who quoted multiple reports, China has been building extensive infrastructure in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). These include airfields and military bases in addition to transportation networks, putting its military power in close vicinity to the Siliguri Corridor. China has constructed vital infrastructure, villages, and dams along the Arunachal Pradesh border which it claims to be part of “South Tibet.”

China reportedly built 90 new hamlets close to Arunachal along the LAC  (Line of Actual Control). More than 600 of these settlements have already emerged between 2018 and 2022. Satellite photos taken in May 2024 show development in places like Majiduncun and Zhuangnan, where there are both civilian and military infrastructure. Many communities, like those in the Tibet Autonomous Region’s Lhokha prefecture and the vicinity of Nyingchi (near Arunachal), lie between 5 and 30 kilometers from the LAC.

“If you construct everything on a map, the Chinese intrusion in western Bhutan, their activities in eastern Nepal, and northern Bangladesh will depict moves that point to the Siliguri Corridor,” he explained. This tiny patch of land is critical for both security and economic reasons because more than a million vehicles use it every day, carrying about 2,400 metric tons of cargo and bringing in ₹142 crores in revenue.

“The Chinese will continue to be aggressive in their border management,” he noted, asserting that China has been using a tactic known as “salami slicing” in recent years, which involves making tiny, gradual efforts to increase control without immediately starting a major conflict.

Bangladesh and India have some transit agreements in place that allow the latter to use its ports, waterways, rail system and highways to facilitate travel to the Northeast. This has led to the transportation of certain items to the area via the Bangladesh’s rivers, its highways and the Chittagong port in exchange for huge revenue. Nonetheless, relying on Bangladesh is always treacherous because the transit agreements between nations are susceptible to being sabotaged by its turbulent politics.

An antagonistic government in Dhaka could revoke the accords and the present administration is revealing glaring signs of the stormy times that could emerge between the two neighbours.

India’s internal and external adversaries have been eyeing Siliguri Corridor

In India’s geography, the Siliguri Corridor is a painfully exposed artery. Every map view is a reminder of how precarious its economic and physical ties to the rest of the nation are. More importantly, India’s foes have detected this weakness and have periodically swooped in like sharks to exploit it. China’s aggressions, frequent threats issued by Muhammad Yunus regarding the seven sisters and statements from Islamist groups within the nation serve as a bleak reminder of the same.

Notably, the Siliguri Corridor’s vulnerability came into the national spotlight during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), when Sharjeel Imam urged Muslims to protest and sever the Chicken’s Neck with the objective to cut off Assam and the Northeast from the rest of India. “The time has come when we should tell non-Muslims that if they sympathise with us, then they must stand with us on our terms. If they can’t agree to our terms, they can’t sympathise with us,” he declared.

“I have said it in the past that if we can organise five lakh people, we will be able to permanently cut off Assam from India. If not permanently, then at least for a month or two. Create ruckus on railway tracks and roads so that it takes them (government) at least a month to clear things on ground. It is our responsibility to isolate Assam. They (government) will hear us only if we isolate Assam and India,” he voiced his nefarious agenda before the audience.

“The plight of Muslims in Assam is known to all of us. CAA and NRC (National Register of Citizens) have been implemented there. People are already being sent to detention centres. There is a bloodbath going on there. In six-eight months, you may find out that all Bengalis have been killed. So, if we want to help Assam, then we will have to block the way for the Army to reach there and also stop the supplies,” he contributed to the lies to fuel a violent uprising against India.

Imam then concluded, “We can do this. The Chicken’s Neck corridor that connects the Northeast with rest of India is inhabited primarily by Muslims. Remember, if the masses are angry, then that anger must be used for productive purpose. This is our responsibility. We should use this anger productively and not waste it on photo sessions.”

The tiny corridor remained firmly Hindu-majority until just thirty years ago. However, the unrestricted immigration of Rohingyas and thousands of Bangladeshi Muslims has drastically changed the region’s demographic makeup in recent years. Due to the massive influx of Muslims from Bangladesh and Myanmar, all of the districts in North Bengal and Assam that border Bangladesh now have a majority of Muslims.

A former joint director of Intelligence Bureau (IB) pointed out, “This demographic change in vast parts of North Bengal has become an acute issue and poses a grave and existential threat to national security. Many reports outlining this threat have been submitted by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and other agencies to the Union Government over the past couple of decades,” reported Swarajya in 2024.

Islamist groups with strong ties to jihadi outfits, such as the Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), which is associated with al Qaeda and the ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) affiliates in Bangladesh have also strategized to choke the corridor. These groups have been organizing large Muslim gatherings in the Chicken’s Neck and surrounding regions of Bihar and Bengal in an effort to radicalize the local population. These gatherings have been attended by radical Islamist speakers who have been inciting anti-Indian sentiments in the populace.

“The Muslims living in this area, all of them illegal infiltrators or descendants of infiltrators from Bangladesh and Myanmar, are being told they should assert themselves against India which persecutes Muslims. They are being told that they are in a majority in that region and have to wield force to defeat the Indian state and help establish Islamic rule. Many speakers from Bangladesh have been advocating the merger of this region with Bangladesh,” the former top cop disclosed.

He unveiled, “The Islamist blueprint for choking the corridor will include attacks on government installations and security forces and declaring the corridor as a liberated zone. The masterminds behind this know that a harsh retaliation by the Indian state is inevitable, and such a retaliation will result in a  lot of bloodshed. That is also part of their plan because it will then result in international attention being focused on the Muslim-majority region. The Muslims will then play the victim card and seek intervention by other powers.”

A serving deputy director of the IB mentioned, “As per the blueprint of the Islamists who advocate Ghazwa-e-Hind, crucial moves like launching subversive anti-Indian activities in the Chicken’s Neck corridor by disrupting communications and attacking and destroying vital installations will be activated an an opportune time when India will face internal or external threats.”

“The calculation is that at such times, the government cannot utilise all the power at its command to neutralise the revolt in the corridor. Prolonged trouble in the corridor may then invite intervention by external powers and international attention and can result in the corridor being severed from India,” the official added.

“It is not just the Muslims living in the Chicken’s Neck corridor who will revolt as per the plan of the Islamists. Their co-religionists living in Kishanganj and Purnea districts of Bihar, who are also infiltrators or descendants of infiltrators from Bangladesh, will also join in the revolt and all of them will get ready support from Muslims living next door in Bangladesh. This is a diabolical plan that will imperil India’s integrity if we continue to ignore the threat,” the retired official remarked.

Modi government’s initiative to secure the Chicken’s Neck, seven sisters

In February, Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that the Modi administration is fully cognizant of the risks facing the corridor and has developed a strategy to maintain seamless connectivity to the Northeast. He announced that the Indian Railways will be building four additional railway tracks across the Chicken Neck to improve connectivity. Furthermore, there are plans to introduce two more railway lines to the corridor soon, thereby reinforcing the railway infrastructure to Assam and other regions.

Threats from anti-national organizations that have previously sought to disrupt the corridor are being closely monitored by the authorities. The region’s border security has been strengthened, guaranteeing the safe movement of people and products. The government’s commitment to increasing investments in the Northeast and guaranteeing its economic connectivity with the rest of the nation had been highlighted during the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit. Meanwhile, Assam’s reliance on a single access point will be further diminished by increased connectivity, which will support regional trade, tourism and economic expansion.

India is looking into building a multimodal transportation corridor via Siliguri, which might include high-speed rail connections and subterranean traffic tunnels. One of the biggest infrastructure projects in India is the Arunachal Frontier Highway, also known as National Highway 913 (NH-913), which is expected to cost ₹ 42,000 crore. The roadway is a strategic response to China’s aggressive expansionism and development blitz in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Last year, Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Union Minister for the Development of the North Eastern Region, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for the northeast’s exemplary growth and emphasized the region’s notable infrastructure advancements, including the construction of over 16,000 kilometres of national highways and the expansion of railways, airports, and waterways. “In the last 10 years, we have built almost five and a half thousand kilometres of national highways. A region that has only 10,000 kilometres of national highways today has 16,000 kilometres of national highways,” Scindia stated.

He added, “In 60 years what was built? 60 per cent of that has been built in 10 years. 45,000 kilometres of Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sarak Yojana have been built in the last 10 years for 50,000 crores. That is as far as highways are concerned. If you look at railways, the pace of building railway tracks was roughly about 6.5 kilometres a month. It has now grown to over 19 kilometres a month. In the last 10 years, 2,000 kilometres of railway tracks have been built.”

According to him, the Northeast states had nine airports in his previous civil aviation portfolio, but now there are seventeen. “In the northeast three to four states are already connected by railways and we will connect the balance in the next two to three years. 19 projects are ongoing railways, close to about 88,000 crores worth of projects. Similarly, in my last portfolio in the area of civil aviation, we had nine airports,” the union minister noted.

“Today we have 17 airports. We had thousands of air traffic movements per week to the northeast in 2014. Today we have 1990 traffic movements in the northeast which means it’s almost more than doubled. We had a single waterway for transport in the northeast. Today we have 20 waterways for transport in the northeast,” he highlighted.

A dirty British ploy

The Siliguri Corridor is a cartographic remnant of the British Empire, much like the majority of South Asian borders. They drew the lines that lead to the Siliguri to preserve the border between Bengal and Assam when they withdrew and divided the country along religious lines to become the present states of India and Pakistan (which were subsequently split into East and West Pakistan).

In 1905, the British divided Bengal to manage the growing wave of nationalism, as it was the focal point of the freedom struggle during that period. The provinces were reunited in 1911, but the groundwork for partition had already been laid, leading to the Second Partition in 1947, which resulted in the foundation of a separate nation which was largerly opposed by the Hindus.

Image via GeeksforGeeks

However, the conspiracy’s roots originated in the British strategy of “divide and rule,” aimed at undermining the growing wave of Indian nationalism and creating a rift between the Hindu and Muslim populations. This tactic was employed repeatedly, often in collaboration with radical Muslim factions, ultimately culminating in the partition of the nation. The concept of Pakistan was initially introduced by Indian Muslim students at Cambridge University in 1930.

Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the father of Pakistan, had advocated for the division to establish Pakistan as a Muslim homeland to avoid living in a predominantly Hindu state. British imperialists, particularly former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, supported him because they believed Pakistan would be a loyal ally of the West and a barrier between the Soviet Union and India. The empire had long opposed democratization and had made it a policy to institutionalize identitarian divisions among its colonise to centralise its power. 

The calculated “divide and rule” approach of the Britishers repeatedly transmogrified into violence and ultimately lead to the bifurcation of the country which later turned into trisection as Bangladesh was carved out of Pakistan. The British divided India along religious lines, shattered the country arbitrarily and divided territory for Muslims, rather than returning the country to its original natives.

The British, acknowledged for their favoritism towards Muslims, devised a ruthless and divisive scheme, intensifying strife along religious and communal boundaries. As a result, following the partition, the aftermath was characterized not by animosity and violence, but also by the emergence of two Islamist neighbors, terrorism and significant geographical, demographic and diplomatic challenges for India.

Partition is the single cause for the northeast’s estrangement from the rest of India, their permanent landlocked status, lack of development over decades and almost surrender to China. The partition severed the region’s long-standing access to the sea via the port of Chittagong, which became part of East Pakistan in 1947. This disruption affected the natural routes for riverine transport, as well as the rail and road systems that connected the region, leading to negative economic consequences.

Consequently, this area became isolated from mainland India, resulting in a lack of support and attention from New Delhi, which significantly contributed to its underdevelopment and left it vulnerable to both home and foreign threats.

Discrimination against indigenious people and looming Islamist threat

East Pakistan was divided from Pakistan by a 1,000-mile section of India. It was also ethnically and linguistically distinct from the rest of Pakistan. The East Pakistanis are mainly Bengali whereas Pakistanis are largely Pashtun and Punjabi. The cultural heritage of the Bengali people is deeply entrenched in history, with approximately 98% of the population in Bangladesh identifying as Bengali in ethnicity. These major differences were a major source of contention between the two sides of the same country.

Notably, the eastern region of ancient India, which largely corresponds to present-day Bangladesh, was included in one of the mahajanapadas, specifically the ancient kingdom of Anga, that thrived during the 6th century BC. Bangadesh was a part of many ancient Indian kingdoms including the Mauryan and Gupta empires.

Image via IAS/Facebook

The Chittagong Hill Tracts region of Bangladesh is home to several Indian tribal groups, including the Chakma, Santal, Garo, and Tripura, who are acknowledged as indigenous or ethnic minorities. Over 54 indigenous groups live in Bangladesh and they are also found in the country’s flatland districts in the north and southeast. The government acknowledges the existence of 50 ethnic groups, yet it does not accept the notion of indigenous peoples. Traditionally, several of these groups have been Christians, Buddhists, or Hindu while some of them also practice animism.

The assignment of the CHT to East Bengal during India’s 1947 Partition, even though the region had virtually no Muslims, caused significant controversy among the area’s people. The government of Pakistan soon let Bengali Muslims to settle there, which infuriated the local populations. After its special status (protecting the diverse culture and indigenous inhabitants from foreign immigrants) was eliminated in 1964, the pace of Bengali Muslim colonization accelerated.

Large-scale government-sponsored initiatives to settle Bengalis in the Hill Tracts took place between 1979 and 1983. This strategy has been extensively pursued by successive governments with the intention of denying the indigenous peoples of the CHT their lands and forcing them to assimilate. Following Bangladesh’s independence, a delegation of Adivasis petitioned the new administration for the CHT to be granted autonomy again, but it was met with indifference.

The indigenous tribal population has been compelled to coexist with the majority community, lacking any special rights to protect their interests. Their appeals are consistently rejected, and their resistance has been violently suppressed by successive governments in Bangladesh. The situation is only worsening under the current regime. The demarcation of boundaries, created to fulfill the selfish interests of the British and Muslims, has placed these people at the mercy of extremists for their continued existence.

Moreover, the interim government led by Mohammad Yunus has allowed the Islamist anti-India lobby in Bangladesh to gain momentum. The lobby has been pushing against the aforementioned bilateral transit arrangements and could eventually succeed in having them canceled. Therefore, it is clear that India cannot rely exclusively on Dhaka’s reciprocity in order to utilize transit routes through Bangladesh as it would be irresponsible and unwise.

Permission to transport goods and even passengers via land and river routes through Bangladesh or its ports will be refused in the event of a conflict. This occurred when travel routes through East Pakistan were closed following the 1965 war with Pakistan. The lines weren’t reactivated until recently, with the signing of transit agreements with Bangladesh.

Islamists in Bangladesh have the ability to incite the thousands of Muslims of Bangladeshi descent who have made their home in the corridor to cut off the area’s communication with the rest of the country. All lines of communication between the northeast and the rest of the nation will be severed as a result and the country’s security could be gravely jeopardized in such an event.

Time for India to right the historical wrong

Major powers, including Russia, China, Israel, and the United States, have consistently sought opportunities to enhance their influence and expand their geography. The situation in Crimea and Ukraine exemplifies the same strategy exhibited by Russia. In fact, the invasion of Crimean Peninsula in 2014 which was part of Ukraine triggered the war between the two countries. The United States is well-known for its commitment to exerting influence worldwide. President Donald Trump’s recent comments about Greenland and the Panama Canal represent an extension of these same policy. China is notorious for instigating conflict to advance its unjustified expansionist goals.

Like wise, no self-respecting nation would tolerate unwarranted aggression, particularly from a significantly smaller country. Israel has a reputation for holding its enemies accountable, no matter the time, location, or year. The disparities between India and Bangladesh are substantial, not only in terms of land area but also regarding their economic power and military strength.

Significantly, Bangladesh’s recent aggressive stance has reached a critical point, as the nation seeks to engage with China, thereby undermining India’s regional authority. This development demands immediate action to prevent any escalation and to counteract any potential schemes designed to destabilize India. It is essential for stable sovereign nations to pursue every avenue to ensure the protection of their key interests and eliminate any threats.

Therefore, if India were to take possession of these crucial areas in Bangladesh, particularly those with a notable non-Muslim or Hindu population, it would not only address a potential threat, posed by Yunus and his government, but also bolster its strategic significance. For instance, if Chittagong were to revert to Indian control, the seven sisters would no longer be landlocked. Similalrly, the Siliguri Corridor would be less susceptible to threats or vulnerabilities, as alternative routes to the northeast will be available. This would also provide a valuable lesson in diplomatic relations regarding the limits of hostility that can be directed towards a nation like India.

Additionally, both the indigenous tribes and the present Hindu community in Bangladesh are facing significant oppression under the current administration, which has empowered extremist forces against minority groups. These communities have suffered from acts of rape, murder and looting, with their temples and places of worship being destroyed and desecrated, while the state has merely facilitated these atrocities.

The declining number of Hindus serves as both a testament to their unfortunate situation in Bangladesh and a plea for assistance. They have been separated from their homeland by arbitrary borders, and it is our responsibility to facilitate their return home. Who else can they rely on for assistance, if not their home country, India?

Image via The Indian Express

Interestingly, direct trade between Bangladesh and Pakistan has begun for the first time since their separation in 1971. The first government-approved cargo left Port Qasim in Karachi. Early in February, Bangladesh agreed to buy 50,000 tonnes of Pakistani rice from the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP), finalizing the deal. The development could be referred to as inevitable, as the two nations have never been more aligned in their fanatic ideologies, anti-Hindu violence and rhetoric against India. Their shared jihadi outlook has caused them to overlook even their violent past.

Conclusion

General AAK Niazi of Pakistan had threatened to change the lineage or ethnicity of the Bengalis. He declared, “Main iss h*r*mz*di qaum ki nasal badal doon ga. Yeh mujhe kiya samajhtey hain.” Major General (retired) Khadim Hussain Raja, who was general officer commanding of 14 Division in the then East Pakistan wrote, “He threatened that he would let his soldiers loose on their womenfolk. There was pin drop silence at these remarks. The next morning, we were given the sad news. A Bengali officer Major Mushtaq went into a bathroom at the Command Headquarters and shot himself in the head,” in his book “A Stranger in My Own Country: East Pakistan, 1969-1971.”

Niazi was compelled to surrender along with 93,000 Pakistani soldiers to India, the nation that delivered the Bangladeshis from a tragic destiny. It is now imperative for India to draw lessons from its past, acting in the best interests of itself and its populace, who were left vulnerable to bloodthirsty jihadists due to the cruel plot of the British during the partition. The time has come to free them from yet another Islamist regime and to bring the children of Mother India back to their rightful place.

Bangabhumi was a Banga Sena-envisioned movement that aimed to establish a Bengali Hindu nation for Bangladeshi Hindus in southwest part of the nation. The Banga Sena supported the establishment of Bangabhumi for Bangladesh’s Bengali Hindu community. The organization was set up in India shortly after Bangladesh gained its independence in 1973 to aid Hindu refugees from the country as they were singled out by the Pakistan Army during the atrocities in Bangladesh in 1971. Perhaps it is time to launch another such initiative, given that the plight of Hindus has worsened, leaving them vulnerable to the actions of Islamists in Bangladesh.

There is no doubt that the significantly stronger Indian military will crush any bold adventures into the Siliguri Corridor that threatens India’s sovereignty. The corridor is flanked and well guarded by the Indian Army and the Indian Navy can easily blockade Bangladeshi ports when needed. But perhaps a geographical expansion, taking parts of Rangpur, Rajshahi and Khulna, creating a broad circle all the way to Chittagong that borders Tripura, will be a better and more permanent solution. May be it is time for the Chicken’s Neck to be turned into the elephant’s trunk.

Jharkhand: Hindu women allegedly attacked with stones while seeking donations for Mahayagya, BJP condemned incident

OpIndia Staff
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Jharkhand: Hindu women allegedly attacked with stones while seeking donations for Mahayagya, BJP condemned incident

On 1st April, Hindu women collecting donations for a Mahayagya were attacked with stones in Koderma district of Jharkhand. The incident took place in Chhatarbar village where women from neighbouring Chechai village had gone as part of a religious tradition.

Women targeted while carrying sacred pots

They were following a long-held custom of seeking mangal (donations) from seven nearby villages for a Mahayagya that is scheduled to be held from 9th to 17th April in Chechai. Around 50-60 women were out to collect the donations and 11 of them were carrying sacred Kalash (pots) on their heads.

As they passed through Chhatarbar, stones were allegedly hurled at them from roodtops by the members of another community. Several Kalash were damaged during the attack causing panic among the women. They immediately informed their family members on phone about the incident.

Rapid response and heightened security

Upon receiving the alert, villagers from Chechai rushed to the spot. Police was informed that reached promptly and safely escorted the women out while dispersing the crowd. Senior officials including SDO Riya Singh, SDPO Anil Kumar Singh, DSP Rathibhan Singh, and local station officers arrived to take control of the situation. OpIndia tried contacting SDO Riya Singh but could not establish communication.

Heavy police deployment was placed to maintain law and order. Speaking to OpIndia, SDPO Anil Kumar confirmed police deployment in the area but refused to delve into further details.

A senior official told OpIndia that though reports of stone pelting were received, the veracity of the claims are being investigated. Further information about the incident will be released through official channels once the investigation is over.

Drone surveillance and search operations

Police have launched a rigorous search operation in Chhatarbar using drones to monitor rooftops and open spaces for hidden stones and other suspicious objects. SDPO Anil Kumar Singh said, “Drone surveillance is being used to scan rooftops for any unusual items. Those found guilty will not be spared.”

BJP condemned stone pelting incident

Bharatiya Janata Party’s state president and LoP in Jharkhand Assembly, Babulal Marandi, condemned the incident. In a post on social media platform X, he said, “Reports have emerged of stone-pelting by members of a particular community during a Kalash Yatra in Koderma and during the playing of Ram Navami bhajans in Giridih. The incident of stone-pelting on women during the Kalash Yatra is not only deeply condemnable but also a glaring example of the total failure of the state government and administration. How shameful and unfortunate it is that mothers and sisters taking part in a sacred procession linked to the worship of goddesses cannot even be provided basic security! When police officers are punished by the government for merely appealing for peace, it is only natural for miscreants to feel emboldened. The situation in Jharkhand has now become so dire that the Hindu community cannot even celebrate its own festivals peacefully. The circumstances are fast deteriorating to a level even worse than what is seen in West Bengal, where Hindu festivals are regularly targeted. Mr Hemant, stop putting the patience of the Hindu community through such a severe test. Take strict action against those pelting stones and set a strong example so that all festivals may be celebrated in an atmosphere of harmony.” OpIndia tried contacting Marandi but could not establish communication.

Age-old tradition disrupted by violence

The Mahayagya is considered a major spiritual event which includes seeking bhiksha from villages including Chhatarbar, Karma, Jhumri, Kariyawar Maisoundha, Puto, and Kanungobigha. This tradition was peacefully observed until now.

In a statement, police said that they will soon hold a peace meeting of elders from both communities to prevent further escalation and maintain peace in the region.

Aligarh: “He is a Hindu, beat him up”, Muslims drinking alcohol on Eid stabbed a VHP worker, 2 arrested

OpIndia Staff
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Aligarh: “He is a Hindu, beat him up”, Muslims drinking alcohol on Eid stabbed a VHP worker, 2 arrested

In Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, Muslims drinking alcohol on Eid attacked a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) worker. The Hindu man had tried to stop Muslim youths from drinking alcohol. However, the Islamists celebrating Eid stabbed him all over his body and seriously injured him. The victim Hindu is undergoing treatment. An FIR has been registered in the case.

This incident took place in Salgawan village of Chharra police station area of ​​Aligarh. The maternal uncle of the victim Vikas Singh said that his nephew was coming to the village after finishing work on the day of Eid (31st March 2025). He saw 3-4 people drinking alcohol near the village.

Vikas tried to stop them from drinking alcohol in a public place. After this, the Muslims got angry. One of them, Aman, asked Vikas’s name. When Vikas told his name, Aman said that this person is a Hindu and asked his accomplices to beat him. After this, Aman attacked Vikas along with his companions Farhat and Arbaaz.

They caught Vikas and stabbed him. Vikas was seriously injured following the assault. Vikas somehow managed to escape from there. After this Vikas was taken to the hospital.

An FIR has been lodged in the Chharra police station in the case. OpIndia has a copy of the FIR. The victim Vikas has been referred to a hospital in Aligarh due to serious injuries. The police is now taking action in the case. It has also arrested the two main accused.

Chharra police station CO Dhananjay Kumar has said that an FIR has been registered in this regard and the two main accused have been taken into custody and are being sent to jail. The police has said that they are now taking further action.

OpIndia also spoke to VHP’s Brij Pradesh media in-charge Pratik Raghuvanshi on this issue. He said that the victim is a worker of VHP and the Muslims who attacked him knew him from before. Pratik Raghuvanshi said that the victim works as a driver and the Muslims attacked him because he stopped them from drinking alcohol.

Pratik Raghuvanshi has demanded strict action in this case. He has said that VHP will also take to the streets if no action is taken in this case.

No, Surat Police’s self-balancing e-scooters aren’t Chinese imports; they are ‘Made in India’ Freego vehicles donated by AM/NS India: Fact Check

OpIndia Staff
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No, Surat Police’s self-balancing e-scooters aren’t Chinese imports; they are ‘Made in India’ Freego vehicles donated by AM/NS India: Fact Check

Social media is awash with a video of Surat policemen driving self-balancing e-vehicles with the claim that the vehicles were imported from China. 

A social media user named ‘Dravidian Insights’, based in Tamil Nadu as claimed in its bio, shared the video on X, formerly Twitter, claiming that Surat policemen were riding a vehicle imported from China.

Source: X

The claim is part of a campaign to attack the Centre over its ‘Make In India’ initiative and less reliance on imported products, especially from China, a nation that shares tense relations with India.

Several other leftwing supporters on X furthered the claim that the self-balancing scooter driven by policemen in Surat was imported from China.

Source: X
Source: X

No, Surat Police wasn’t driving Chinese e-scooters: Read what OpIndia found

As the claims started doing the rounds on the internet, OpIndia began investigating the truth of the matter. A report published in Ahmedabad Mirror said that ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India), under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative Project Green, donated 25 self-balancing e-bikes to the Surat City and District Police. 

This initiative aimed to enhance law enforcement efficiency while promoting sustainability. The handover ceremony was a high-profile event, graced by the Hon’ble Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, underscoring the significance of this forward-thinking move.

The article also emphasized that these self-balancing e-bikes are designed to transform police patrolling, particularly in areas where four-wheelers struggle with accessibility, such as narrow streets, crowded marketplaces, and event venues. The e-bikes are expected to enhance police mobility, reduce response times, and strengthen crime prevention efforts.

During the event, Harsh Sanghavi remarked, “The introduction of self-balancing e-bikes marks a significant step toward smart policing. In densely populated areas like market zones and public spaces, traditional police vehicles face mobility challenges. These e-bikes will improve patrolling efficiency while also supporting environmental sustainability. I commend AM/NS India for their dedication to green initiatives and congratulate Surat Police on this progressive step.”

Mr Sanghvi also took to X on February 3, 2025, to express gratitude to AM/NS for donating scooters to Surat Police. “Empowering safety with innovation! #NewAgePolicing. 25 new self-balancing e-scooters added to our fleet. Grateful for AMNS India’s contribution to our green initiatives,” he tweeted.

The e-scooters donated by AM/NS were manufactured by Freego Electric Bikes, an Indian company, which produces self-balancing electric scooters called the “Freego” and focuses on green transportation with gyroscope technology and zero emissions.

It is worth noting that AM/NS India is a joint venture between global steel leaders ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel. Established in December 2019 following the acquisition of Essar Steel, the company operates as an integrated flat steel manufacturer, producing over 600 steel grades and serving industries such as agriculture, automotive, infrastructure, defense, and energy. While ArcelorMittal S.A. is a multinational steel corporation based in Luxembourg City, Nippon Steel is a steel company headquartered in Japan.

Therefore, the claim that Gujarat Minister Harsh Sanghavi and Surat Police were using Chinese-made e-scooters is incorrect. In reality, the e-scooters were manufactured by ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India (AM/NS India) as part of its CSR initiative, Project Green, making them Indian-made vehicles rather than Chinese imports.

No idea about cash, or where it came from, I was in Bhopal: Justice Yashwant Varma says to Supreme Court about burnt cash found at his home

OpIndia Staff
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No idea about cash, or where it came from, I was in Bhopal: Justice Yashwant Varma says to Supreme Court about burnt cash found at his home

The controversy involving Justice Yashwant Varma refuses to die down as the Supreme Court asked three questions to the judge about the fire incident at his residence and the burnt currency notes.

The first question asked by the apex court was how Justice Varma accounted for the presence of such a huge amount of cash in a room at his residence. The second question was to tell the source of the cash found in the said room.  And, the third important question was who was the person who took out the burnt notes from the room on the morning of 15th March 2025. The Supreme Court also directed Justice Yashwant Varma not to destroy his mobile phone or delete or modify any messages or data.

Responding to these questions, Justice Yashwant Varma said that he was not aware of any money or cash lying in the store room of the house. Justice Varma also claimed that neither he nor any member of his family had any knowledge about the cash. He also claimed that he and his family have nothing to do with the cash found in the said room, and no such cash was seen by my family members or employees on the night the fire broke out. Answering the second question, Justice Varma said that it is clearly evident from the answer to the first question that the answer to the second question, i.e. there is no question of clarifying the source of the cash.

Justice Yashwant Varma claimed that he was travelling in Madhya Pradesh with his wife when the incident took place and returned to Delhi on the evening of 15th March. On 17th March, he met Justice Upadhyaya at the Delhi High Court Guest House at 8:30 AM. When he was shown the photographs and video showing burnt currency, Justice Varma insisted that he had no knowledge of any cash in the storeroom.

In response to the third question,  Varma said that he did not remove the cash in question found in the store room of his residence. “As I have mentioned in the above question, we were neither shown nor handed over the sacks of burnt notes. The limited debris that was tried to be saved from the fire inside the room is still present in a part of the residence. Writing further in response to the question, Justice Varma said that as I told you, my wife and I returned from Bhopal on the evening of 15 March 2025 by Indigo flight number 2303. Therefore, the question of its alleged removal is not known to us,” Justice Varma said.

Notably, the Supreme Court has formed a three-member committee to investigate the allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma who has been transferred to the Allahabad High Court after the controversy erupted.

While the videos of half-burnt cash at Justice Varma’s residence on 14th March 2025 brought the Delhi High Court judge under scanner, he was also named in an FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the Prevention of Corruption Act and an ECIR filled by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in an alleged fraud committed by Simbhaoli Sugars Ltd. against banks. Before his elevation as a judge to the Allahabad High Court in October 2013, Justice Varma was a non-executive director of the company. The company’s accounts were reported as a non-performing asset (NPA) in 2012. By 2015, the Sambhaoli Sugars case was declared a ‘suspected fraud’ case and was reported to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

No Elon Musk, Tesla cars aren’t being vandalised with the holy Hindu symbol ‘Swastika’, it is Nazi symbol Hakenkreuz

Shraddha Pandey
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No Elon Musk, Tesla cars aren’t being vandalised with the holy Hindu symbol ‘Swastika’, it is Nazi symbol Hakenkreuz

Tesla electric vehicles and superchargers have come under attack in many parts of USA and even in Europe recently as a ‘protest’ against Elon Musk and his role in the Trump administration as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Taking to X on 31st March, Musk responded to a video showing a Tesla owner confronting a person who defaced his Tesla EV with a Nazi symbol, however, instead of calling what it actually is, Musk called the Nazi symbol ‘Swastika’.

“Anyone who scrawls a swastika on a Tesla has obviously committed a hate crime,” Musk wrote.

Anti-Tesla ‘protests’ intensify

The spate of attacks on Tesla cars were not restricted to the US, where the company is based, and extended even to Italy as 17 vehicles were recently set ablaze at a Tesla dealership in Rome. Elon Musk had condemned these targeted attacks as acts of “terrorism”. In Sweden’s Stockholm and Malmo, two Tesla stores were vandalised. In France, 12 Tesla electric superchargers were targeted in an arson attack in the parking lot in St. Chamond recently. In the US as well, the vehicles of the Musk-owned EV giant have come under attack.

Earlier as well, several attacks on Tesla have taken place, including vandalism at Tesla showrooms and charging stations in the US and France. In one incident, a woman was arrested in Colorado for allegedly trying to set a Tesla dealership on fire. In another, gunshots were fired at a Tesla sales centre in Oregon.

The anti-Tesla agitation intensified further after Musk voiced support for the ‘far-right’ political parties in many European countries. For the first two months of 2025, the sales of Tesla EVs increased; however, in Europe, sales slumped 49%.

Earlier this month, Musk alleged that ActBlue, a fundraising platform, was involved in inciting anti-Tesla protests.

Difference between Nazi Hakenkreuz and Swastika

There is a huge difference between the two symbols – the sacred religious symbol – Swastika and the Nazi hate symbol – Hakenkreuz. When translated from its Sanskrit root, Swastika comprises ‘su’ meaning ”good” and ‘Asti’ meaning ”to be”. In other words, well-being. It dates back some 6,000 years to rock and cave paintings. Scholars agree that it originated in India. It has also been a symbol of good luck, prosperity, and all things auspicious for other ancient cultures, including the Vikings and Greeks, besides Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains.

In the Hindu tradition, the straight line after the bend of the arms of the Swastika is called Sarupya “to be of the same form as God), Salokya (to be in the same world as God), Samipya (to be near God), and Sayujya (to be in the same form as God). These represent different levels of divine union.

Swastika was first mentioned in the Vedas and it symbolises many things like Surya (the sun) and Brahma, the creator. It is seen as a power symbol and is also the emblem of Ganesha, the god of good luck. In both Hinduism and Jainism, the Swastika is used to mark the opening pages of account books, doors, and thresholds.

Back in 2013, the American Jewish Committee, one of the country’s oldest Jewish advocacy organizations, released a leaflet clarifying the distinction between the Swastika used for millennia by Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist cultures and the deformed Nazi version of it.

In the year 2021, the Oregon Education Department officially recognised the distinction between the sacred religious symbol, Swastika, and the Nazi’s ‘Hakenkreuz’.

The leftist Western media has long been deliberately using the term Swastika for Nazi Hakenkreuz in their reports despite the two symbols being absolutely unrelated. This repeated usage in the media reports and the political parlance of the West and Europe has long normalised calling the Nazi symbol as Swastika. However, over the years, the Hindu communities in Europe and the United States have raised strong objections to such offensive association of the Hindu symbol with the symbol co-opted by 20th century Jewish genocidaire Adolf Hitler for his dictatorial regime.

The Nazi Hakenkreuz (L), the holy Hindu Swastika (R)

Swastika and Hakenkreuz are not only distinct in design with Swastika appearing upright while Nazi Hakenkreuz (hooked cross) appears tilted to 45 degrees and usually depicted within a white circle on a red background. 

Elon Musk conflates Nazi Hakenkreuz with Swastika: Why he is wrong and what makes this conflation dangerous

Elon Musk calling it Swastika is a case of cultural ignorance and insensitivity. Elon Musk inadvertently conflated the Nazi Hakenkreuz—a symbol of hate and genocide of Jews, with the Hindu symbol Swastika—the ancient emblem of peace, prosperity, and good fortune. While Musk is not wrong in condemning attacks on Tesla vehicles, the billionaire has implicated an unrelated Hindu religious symbol in the process.

At a time, when Hindus and Indian Americans are already grappling with a surge of Hinduphobia and racism by American racists and Christian supremacists, Elon Musk’s failure to distinguish between Nazi Hakenkreuz and Hindu Swastika will just help propagate outrage against Hindus who have nothing remotely to do with Nazism.

Musk, like many other Europeans and Westerners, has so far ignored widespread criticism by the Hindu community against calling the Nazi Hakenkreuz as Swastika. The attacks and vandalism of Tesla vehicles is a crime for sure; however, pinning it on the Hindu Swastika is also a crime that drags an innocent community and its sacred symbol into the crosshairs of hate.

Kerala: CPM workers wave flags glorifying convicts in 2005 BJP leader’s murder, spark outrage

OpIndia Staff
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Kerala: CPM workers wave flags glorifying convicts in 2005 BJP leader’s murder, spark outrage

A temple festival in Kerala’s Kannur district has sparked a heated political controversy after flags bearing images of those convicted in the 2005 murder of BJP member Elambilayi Sooraj were waved by CPM workers. 

A video of the celebration by CPM workers has gone viral on the internet. The snippet shows a group of CPM workers enthusiastically dancing and waving the flag carrying pictures of BJP member Elambilayi Sooraj’s murderers. 

The BJP’s Kannur leadership slammed the act, accusing the CPM of using religious spaces for political propaganda and glorifying murderers. The contentious flags were waved during the kalasha procession at the Kuttichathan Madom festival in Parambayi on Sunday (March 30) night. The event, featuring DJ performances, slogans, and dancing, took a striking departure from traditional temple celebrations, which typically focus on devotional songs and rituals.

BJP Kannur South district president Biju Elakkuzhi alleged that the display was orchestrated with full awareness of the CPM leadership.

“Temple processions are meant for devotion, not political sloganeering. Yet, in CPM-dominated areas, we’re seeing deliberate attempts to glorify murderers and distort temple traditions,” Biju charged.

He further accused the CPM of systematically exploiting Hindu temples for political gain. “Turning sacred spaces into platforms for celebrating criminals is an outright attack on religious customs,” he stated.

Biju also linked the incident to broader unrest, pointing to recent violence at the Manolikkavu temple festival in Thalassery under CPM’s leadership.

The controversy follows the March 8 ruling by the Thalassery District Sessions Court, which sentenced eight CPM workers to life imprisonment for Sooraj’s brutal murder on August 7, 2005. Among those convicted were T.K. Rajeesh, E.V. Yogesh, K. Shamjith, P.M. Manoraj, and Neyyoth Sajeevan. Three others—Prabhakaran Master, K.V. Padmanabhan, and Monambeth Radhakrishnan—were found guilty of criminal conspiracy.

Investigations revealed that Sooraj had previously been attacked by CPM activists six months before his murder, leaving him with a severe leg injury. After months of recovery, he was targeted again and killed.

Despite the verdict, CPM district secretary M.V. Jayarajan defended the convicts, insisting on their innocence and pledging to appeal the ruling. Meanwhile, party workers rallied in support, chanting slogans and following police vehicles as the convicts were transported from the Thalassery court to Kannur Central Jail.

Adding fuel to the fire, CPM-affiliated social media accounts, including Red Army and Porali Shaji, have since circulated videos celebrating the convicts—further deepening the political storm.

Idol vandalism, arson, rioting and more: How West Bengal is witnessing series of anti-Hindu attacks under the watch of Mamata Banerjee

Dibakar Dutta
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Idol vandalism, arson, rioting and more: How West Bengal is witnessing series of anti-Hindu attacks under the watch of Mamata Banerjee

The State of West Bengal has descended into complete chaos in recent times, with the breakdown of law and order and targeted attacks on the Hindu community.

The ruling Mamata Banerjee-led-Trinamool Congress regime has failed to contain the orgy of violence, arson, vandalism targeting Hindu places of worship, shops, business establishments and homes.

The situation has been further exacerbated by the appeasement politics of Mamata Banerjee and police laxity and inaction against the perpetrators. In March 2025 alone, West Bengal witnessed 8 attacks on the Hindu community.

Hindu shops and properties under attack in Naoda

On 9th March, BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari took to X (formerly Twitter) to inform that shops and properties belonging to the Hindu community came under attack at Patikabari bazar in Naoda block in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district.

Adhikari tweeted, “A couple of hours ago, miscreants have vandalised and set on fire Shops & Properties owned by Hindus at Patikabari Bazar, at Naoda Block of Murshidabad District.”

He requested the urgent intervention of the West Bengal police and the Chief Secretary of the State. The BJP leader called for the deployment of forces to bring the law and order situation under control.

Suvendu Adhikari also sought the deployment of the Border Security Force (BSF) to pacify the situation.

“If you are not able to control the situation, kindly request Hon’ble Bengal Governor for the deployment of BSF personnel so that the law & order Situation is restored and normalcy is reimposed as early as possible,” the BJP MLA emphasised.

BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya also shared the video of the attack on Hindu shops and properties. He blamed supporters of Mamata Banerjee of orchestrating vandalism and arson.

Idol of Goddess Shitala set on fire in Baruipur

On 7th March, a Muslim man named Sheikh Indu vandalised the idol of Goddess Shitala and then set it on fire. The incident occurred in Baruipur city in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.

Visuals of charred idols and the damaged Hindu temple could be seen in multiple posts on social media. The locals were able to apprehend the accused, Sheikh Indu, who was involved in the vandalism and arson attack.

The Baruipur police posted a tweet on 7th March claiming that the accused is a ‘person of unsound mind’ with ‘mental health issues.’

“Local people apprehended him and police took custody of the person. A case has been registered and investigation is on. The detained person is an outsider and has mental health issues,” it alleged.

Screengrab of the tweet by the Baruipur police

Attack on Kali temple in Basirhat

On 9th March, BJP leader Dilip Ghosh took to X (formerly Twitter) to inform about the attack on a Kali temple and the vandalism of the idol of the Hindu deity.

The incident occurred in Shankchura Bazar in Basirhat city in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. The BJP leader stated that the attack on the temple took place under the leadership of local TMC politician Shahanoor Mondal.

Hours later, the West Bengal Police on Sunday (9th March) took to social media to claim that there was ‘no communal angle’ behind the heinous crime.

The cops went on to claim that the extremist behind the vandalism of the idol of Goddess Kali has ‘mental health issues.’

Screengrab of the tweets by the Basirhat police district

Idol of Hindu deities vandalised in Nandigram

On 14th March, BJP’s national spokesperson Amit Malviya took to X (formerly Twitter) to inform about yet another attack on a Hindu temple. The incident occurred in Kamalpur village in Nandigram Block 2 in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal.

He shared a video wherein idols of Hindu deities could be seen in a vandalised state. “In Kamalpur, within the Amadabad region of Nandigram Block 2, local residents had been engaged in worship since last Tuesday,” Amit Malviya informed.

“However, when the puja and Ram Narayan kirtan continued uninterrupted, certain individuals—unable to tolerate the chanting of Shri Ram’s name—vandalized the site and desecrated the idols,” the BJP national spokesperson added.

Screengrab of the tweet by Amit Malviya

“This is a critical situation…The response of the police is muted…You can see that the cops are not doing anything,” a man was heard saying in the viral video. A cop was also seen intimidating the man recording the visuals of the desecrated Hindu idols.

Muslims run rampage in Mothabari, Malda

On 27th March, violent Muslim mobs ran rampage in Mothabari village in the Malda district of West Bengal. They vandalised public property and selectively targeted business establishments owned by Hindus.

A Hindu woman recounted the horror perpetrated by the extremists on her family. The video was shared by BJYM leader Achintya Mondal.

“Muslims have destroyed Hindu homes…Hindus have been forced to hide under their beds with their young kids and family…No one was spared,” a victim was heard narrating her ordeal.

The woman pointed towards Muslim homes in the village and showed how they have been left unharmed. “They carried out bloodshed… They have finished our homes, shops and took away our money and belongings. How will we survive now? Show us a way,” the Hindu victim broke down in tears.

She narrated how the residence of her son-in-law was also destroyed by violent Muslim mobs. “The police ran for their lives. They did not save us,” the Hindu woman lamented.

“What will we eat now? They have looted everything, including our grains…If Muslims continue these atrocities on us, how will we survive?” she asked.

While speaking to the media, a Hindu woman said that they are forced to hide their religious identity. “We have to remove our Sakha Pola and wear a head covering like the hijab. And we have to do it against our will,” she informed.

“Women are being abducted and subjected to torture…Stones are being pelted at our homes,” the woman further added. She informed that the Muslims are threatening to kidnap and murder kids if Hindu women do not comply with their diktat.

Our children are sitting at home due to their trouble…We will not be able to survive without working…Why should we be forced to remain confined to our homes?” another Hindu woman asked.

One visibly angry woman added, “No action is taken against them, even though they are the ones who have committed the crimes.”

Another woman narrated, “Our children are unable to go to school.” One Hindu woman emphasised, “We want peace. We need justice. Can we live under such atrocities? They are threatening to abduct Hindu women.”

Hindu-owned betel farms set on fire in Jhaubona

On 29th March, BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar took to X (formerly Twitter) to share videos of targeted attacks on the Hindu community in Jhaubona in Murshidabad district of West Bengal.

He informed that Hindu-owned betel farms were set on fire and shops were looted. Sukanta Majumdar highlighted how Hindus were subjected to violent attacks by Jihadi mobs.

“Another horrifying attack on Hindus under Mamata Banerjee’s appeasement regime! Jihadi mobs unleashed terror in Jhaubona, Naoda (Murshidabad), after the Mothabari rampage. Under the cover of darkness, they deliberately set fire to Hindu-owned betel farms, looted shops in Jhaubona & Trimohini Bazaar, and launched violent assaults on innocent Hindus,” he tweeted.

While demanding immediate action against Jihadi mobs, Sukanta Majumdar said, “Hindus are second-class citizens in Bengal! Mamata’s shameful appeasement politics have endangered the lives of Bengal’s Hindus, but we are not afraid!”

“The entire Hindu community is uniting against this oppression. No amount of TMC’s police brutality or jihadi terror will stop the resistance!” he added.

Muslim mobs attack Puja pandal in Purba Medinipur

On 29th March, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari took to X (formerly Twitter) to inform about an attack on a Puja pandal by violent Muslim mobs. The incident occurred in Dakshin Barbaria village in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal.

He stated that the Muslims attacked the Puja Pandal of Maa Chandi and severely injured 10 Hindu devotees using sharp weapons.

“The injured have been taken to the Mugberia Hospital for treatment. The photos & video annexed herewith are from this incident,” Suvendu Adhikari added.

“Selective targeting of Hindus continues unabated in West Bengal. Hindu religious events, properties and persons are being attacked by the Peaceful Community,” he pointed out.

Idol of Shitala Mata vandalised in Dakshin Dinajpur

On 30th March, BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar took to X (formerly Twitter) to inform about the attack on a Hindu temple in Keshabpur village in South Dinajpur (Dakshin Dinajpur) district of West Bengal.

In visuals that have surfaced on social media, it could be seen that the idol kept within the premises of the Shitala Mata temple has been desecrated and defiled.

“See the devastation at the Shri Shri Shitala Mata Temple in Keshabpur, Jahangirpur region of South Dinajpur. Under the cover of night, the temple was vandalized, and the idol of the goddess was shattered in a manner reminiscent of fundamentalist jihadists in Bangladesh.”

“If an immediate investigation is not conducted to reveal those responsible for this disgraceful and barbaric attack on this sacred place of Hindu faith, the Karyakartas of Bharatiya Janata Party, West Bengal, will soon give a fitting response to the incompetent police administration of the appeasement-driven TMC government,” he added.

Exclusive: Islamists attack Hindus during Gudi Padwa procession for chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ near a mosque in Malad East, Arshan and four other booked

OpIndia Staff
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Exclusive: Islamists attack Hindus during Gudi Padwa procession for chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ near a mosque in Malad East, Arshan and four other booked

On 30th March, Arshan Sheikh and four other Islamists were booked by Kurar Police for allegedly assaulting seven Hindu men for wearing saffron attire and chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ during a Gudi Padwa procession in Malad East. The incident took place near Noorani Mosque, located on Ranisati Marg in Pathanwadi, at around 5:30 PM. Reportedly, a group of Hindu men were travelling with saffron flags to attend a celebratory programme when the Islamists attacked them.

Rajkumar Choube, who runs a mobile repair business in Sakinaka, filed a complaint. According to the FIR filed based on his complaint, the assailants were dressed in white kurtas and net caps. They targeted Hindu men for wearing saffron attire. Choubey stated that he heard someone shout, “Beat all of them who are wearing saffron clothes,” moments before the attack happened.

When Chaube tried to intervene, the attackers verbally abused and beat him while saying, “Why did you people come into this crowd?” His friend, Sujit Sharma, immediately went to a police van parked nearby and informed them about the incident. Police rushed to the spot and managed to separate the attackers from Chaube and his friends. After that, the injured Hindu youth were rushed to hospital in a police van for treatment. Later, Chaube reviewed the video footage of the incident and identified Arshan as one of the attackers.

The FIR in the matter has been registered under Sections 118(1), 115(2), 352, 189, and 190 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police have detained Arshan Sheikh, who was seen in a viral video beating one of the victims with a wooden stick. The remaining accused are being identified by the police using CCTV footage.

Bajrang Dal, BJP and Shiv Sena demand strict action

The incident sparked sharp political reactions. Konkan Prant co-organiser of Bajrang Dal, Gautam Ravriya, said, “We are demanding strict action against the accused. The police should arrest them immediately. We have informed the police that the festivals of Ram Navami and Ram Janmotsav are approaching and should be celebrated without fear.”

Speaking to Opindia, Ravriya said, “When the Gudi Padwa procession was passing through in the morning, some Hindu boys were walking with saffron flags. A few Muslim boys from Pathanwadi saw them and objected. Chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ while holding a saffron flag is not a crime anywhere in India—both the Supreme Court and High Court have stated this in clear judgments. This incident wasn’t spontaneous; it was part of a well-planned conspiracy. It did not just happen here – it happened in Tiwari Chawl, Chembur, Kurla, and other places across Mumbai. This is a systematic pattern of jihad – targeting Hindu festivals, mob lynching, and mentally breaking Hindus so they can’t celebrate their festivals freely. We demand strict action from the administration. All those seen in the video must be arrested immediately, and their names should be added to the FIR.”

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam accused the local MLA of shielding the attackers and said, “Houses of those ‘jihadis’ who tried to engineer riots on Sunday and attacked Hindu boys should be bulldozed.” BJP MLC Pravin Darekar called the violence “extremely serious” and urged police to act swiftly.

Hindu youth allegedly targeted for chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’

According to eyewitnesses, the situation escalated when a few Hindu youths chanted “Jai Shri Ram”. Islamists claimed that the chants were raised during Muslim prayer time. One of the eyewitnesses quoted by The Tribune blamed Hindus for provoking Muslims, “Thousands were gathered for ‘Asr’ prayers. Suddenly, six people with saffron flags arrived and stood in front of the mosque, raising slogans.”

Notably, police have downplayed the religious angle in the matter and termed the scuffle a “misunderstanding”. Deputy Commissioner of Police Smita Patil said investigations are ongoing and urged the public not to believe rumours.

Political leadership urges immediate police action

Following the attack, the ruling party leaders have instructed the police to remain vigilant and act without any delay in such cases.

Maharashtra: Mob makes fake ID, posts anti-Ambedkar comment to frame youth, assaults him for it. What we know so far

OpIndia Staff
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Maharashtra: Mob makes fake ID, posts anti-Ambedkar comment to frame youth, assaults him for it. What we know so far

In the Shirur area of Maharashtra’s Pune district, a youth was attacked on 30th March over a social media post on Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar. The incident unfolded near Nakshatra Building in the evening when a 24-year-old Vaibhav Santosh Bhosale, a resident of Pawar Mala, was attacked by the accused Roshan Devre and three others.

A case has been registered against the four accused at the Shirur Police Station on the victim Vaibhav Bhosale’s complaint. The police said the accused created a fake social media account in the complainant’s name on 8th January and posted objectionable content against Dr Ambedkar on the Bhimsena Maharashtra Group. This stirred discontent among the group members. Under the pretext of resolving the dispute, the accused called Vaibhav to meet them; however, the accused assaulted the complainant.

As per a Punekar News report, the accused Roshan Devre kicked and punched Bhosale and brutally assaulted him. The accused also threatened the victim to give his mobile phone. Upon refusing, Devre allegedly threatened to kill the victim.

“One of the four attackers struck Bhosale’s right arm with an iron rod, while another hit him on the head with a fighter tool, causing serious injuries. Meanwhile, a third assailant whipped him on the back with a blue cable,” Punekar News reported.

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